My Husband...

I never thought bed rest would have such a positive influence on our marriage but it has made it so much stronger. They say planning a wedding, building a house and having a baby are the most stressful times on your marriage but bed rest needs to be added to this list. I am a very independent person I don't like being out of control. I am not a control freak by any means I just like being able to do things myself and not having to depend on others. If I don't know how to do something I would rather figure it out that ask someone for help. Well God has taught me a lesson recently in patience and humility. I have become completely dependent on others and can no longer do anything for myself.  My husband has always been the most important thing to me and I needed him in many ways but not in every way if that makes sense. Now he is my rock I could not survive without him and have realized more every day what an amazing person he is inside and out. You love your spouse and respect them and of course think they are wonderful but until you see them in a situation like we are in you really don't know them. I have never felt so loved and cared for in my life. My husband does everything for me and I mean everything I ask and so many things I don't ask and he does it with a smile and a great attitude. I never realized how big his heart really was until now and  to hear him talk about our babies and to see how he cares about all of our well being so much it just makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Let me give you an idea of what he endures daily... he sleeps on a hard small sofa next to a hospital bed every night, eats hospital food every day, lives in 62 degrees AC and freezes all the time, gives daily sponge baths, shaves legs, washes hair, blow dries hair, changes bed pans, empties urinals, cleans up dirty room service trays, get snacks all the time at all hours of the day and night, runs a business from a hospital room, gets warm wash cloths for when I cry, gets cold wash cloths for when I am hot, gives out lots of encouragement every day, keeps a positive attitude for both of us, makes sure I get a hug and a kiss all of the time, wipes lots of tears away, holds my hand during contractions, helps me roll over in bed, rubs knots out of my back daily and massages aching legs. The most important thing is I know he will always be there for me or for us no matter what. My husband is the most devoted, loving, caring and sensitive man I have ever been around and I feel like God has given me such a wonderful gift and I am thankful we have had to go through these challenges because I think I would have missed out on really seeing what an amazing man I married.  

27 Weeks

We had an ultrasound last Thursday and the babies have grown so much. Baby A (Emma) is 1lb 15oz, Baby B (Noah) is 2lb 2oz and Baby C (Carter) is 2lb 3oz. Dr. Adam said several times we just could not ask for more at this point with all of the challenges we have been faced with to have them growing as well as they are and with my body actually cooperating and not trying to go into labor we are as in good a shape as we can expect. Since we are finishing up our 27th week I am finally letting myself get excited about meeting them! Since we have been in such a crucial stage the past few weeks and it was not 100% we would take them all home if we had them before 28 weeks I just could not let my guard down but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I know God is going to let me have all three of them now. 

I am on 32nd day of bed rest and I do want to get out of bed so badly. I miss so many things but even the little daily things would be nice to do again...take a shower, go to the bathroom on a toilet, sit up, feel fresh air and see what is going on below my belly button! It is a daily challenge mentally to stay focused on the big picture of growing healthy babies when your back is throbbing, you are being poked and prodded by nurses every 2 hours and you have not seen anything more than the hospital room you are laying in for more than a month. 

What keeps me going is when I feel all three of them kick and move around and I remember I am not in this alone. I want them to have a great start at life and not spend the first few months hooked up to IV's and monitors so I know the longer I lay here the healthier start at life they will have. It is amazing how much you can love something you have never seen or met I can't imagine what it will feel  like when I actually get to hold them!

April 15th, 2009 26 weeks

The Longer the blessing is in coming, the sweeter it will be when it arrives.  That which is gained speedily by a single prayer is sometimes only a half weighted blessing but that which is gained after a tug and many an awful struggle is a full-weighted and a precious blessing.  The blessing that costs us the most in prayer will be worth the most.” 

 Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Today will mark the 25th day we have spent in the hospital with many ups and downs along the way so the quote above means so much to the challenges we have been facing. We know it is all worth it in the end and like Charles says the longer the wait and the harder it it is the greater the reward. I can't imagine what it will feel like to finally meet my three little babies.

The babies are all doing well and growing every day they are so active my stomach feels like microwave popcorn at times. We are expecting to have another ultrasound this week and will be able to see how much bigger they have gotten. I have stopped leaking amniotic fluid and Baby B (Noah) seems to have plenty of fluid around him to make it for as long as we can go. On Saturday the 11th I started contracting and they tried to stop them with shots of Tributiline but it was not working so I had to be put on Magnesium Sulfate which is given through an IV. We were scared at first since we were not sure how my body would react and the side effects I would be faced with but God took care of me and I am responding very well to the drug. I have no side effects other that a dry mouth and a headache which is a welcomed trade off to the contraction pain I was feeling. 

Our goal is to just make it to 28 weeks which is April 30th at this point the babies are mature enough that we would take them all home it would be a long road in the NICU but they will survive. At 28 weeks you have a 100% chance of survival without any major complications vs the 70% we are faced with right now at 26 weeks. God has been very good to us giving us the strength to cope with the daily challenges of the unknown. We have given it to him and continue to lean on him for strength and know he will bless these babies with a healthy chance for life. 

I am monitored for 30 minutes three times daily for contractions and the babies heartbeats are monitored as well. They are definitely active little boogers they do not like the noise or the devices and are always kicking and pushing up on them. The nurses laugh and tell us they can always tell who is going to have an attitude when they come out. Otherwise my day is filled with the daily influx of hospital staff, TV, reading a book  and sometimes a nap if I am lucky. I have lots of visitors thanks to a wonderful group of friends and family which really helps the weeks go by.