5 Weeks Old!

Well the triplets are 5 weeks old and doing great! We had our first Dr. visit and the babies were so good they are very healthy and growing like little weeds. Carter is still the heaviest coming in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19 1/4 inches, Noah is next at 6 pounds and 6 ounces at 19 1/2 inches and then our little Emma at 5 pounds 11 ounces and 17 3/4 inches. They are in the 5 percentile of term babies and they were only  4 weeks old at the time. 

Carter is so sweet and very laid back he hardly cries and is always content to sit in the swing or bouncy and look at the toys hanging down. He is a great eater and loves to take walks outside. Noah is our little snuggle bug he loves to curl up on your chest and put his head in your neck. He is a little higher maintenance than the other two but we don't mind he is so alert and is always smiling up at you and making some really cute little noises. Emma is all girl and really does not like the swing or the bouncy she would prefer to cuddle up next to us in our bed or be rocked to sleep in your arms. 

We went for our first road trip this past week to Old Town Spring to get their newborn pictures taken and they were so good they love to ride in the car and slept so good the whole way their and back. True Expressions Photography took the pictures and they were so adorable I can't wait to get them back. 

Our typical week is spent in the nursery taking care of our little boogers we added a TV and cable since we came to the conclusion we would probably not be leaving the room much for the next few months. The babies eat every 4 hours and eat about 4 oz of formula so we make 16 bottles a day and still are going through about 24 diapers a day and a package of wet wipes about every 2 days. They usually sleep in between feeding for the most part but sometimes we spend a few hours taking care of a fussy baby that doesn't want to go to sleep. For the most part they are really good and are very happy babies. Mom and Dad are getting a little sleep deprived but we try to give each other at least 2 nights a week each of a 6-7 hour night of rest so we get recharged. We make a good team and have figured out the tricks of managing three infants on your own. 

We are so thankful for all of our helpers that come and give us some relief throughout the week and also for all of the people form our church and our friends that have brought dinner to us we would not be eating if it wasn't for you. 

Our First Week!

Well we have made it through our first week with them home. We have been blessed with really sweet and good babies that enjoy eating and sleeping! They have been so good I think they are easing us into the parenting thing and saving up all of the crying for when we get really tired :)! We have been sharing the feedings at night which has been working out pretty well allowing us both to get some sleep. The eat every three hours so 2am, 5am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 11pm. It takes about an hour and a half to change and feed all three babies and sometimes longer if they struggle getting back to sleep. Justin has gone back to work so he helps with the 5pm and does the 8pm when he gets home and does the 5am before he leaves for work. I go to sleep around 9pm and get up for the 11pm then go back to sleep at 3:30am and get up for the 8am. We just hired Maggie, a family friend, to help on Sunday and Tuesday nights she is going to do the 8pm and 11pm so we can really get some sleep those two nights. Our church Clear Creek Community has been wonderful and bringing dinner twice a week which has and is going to continue to be a huge lifesaver. We are so busy throughout the day that eating is the last thing you think about doing so when someone hands you a hot meal you remember to eat. We have had lots of visitors and just want everyone to know we definitely want to see everyone and want everyone to meet the babies but our Doctors have been very strict about not allowing anyone over that has been sick or around anyone that has been sick within a week and also to make sure everyone washes their hands and uses antibacterial gel before handling the babies. Also they have said no kids for a few months until the babes get more mature and have a more developed immune system. I went for my follow-up appointment with Dr. Adam and I have lost over 45 pounds so far which I was excited about. I have at least 10 more to go and I need to start doing some serious sit-ups to try and get this stomach back to normal but I am in no rush to start working out yet. I am still suffering some muscle atrophy from being on such confined bed rest but overall I feel so much stronger than I thought I would at this point.  We do have a Care Calender and if you wan to to come and help please take a look and sign-up for whenever works for you. 

The care calendar sign on is

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Our First Week

Their Home!

Well all three babies are home! Noah and Carter came home Thursday and Emma came home today. Our first night with the boys home was so great we finally get to enjoy them and get to really see what they are all about. Justin did the 12am feeding and the 6am and I did the 3am so we both got about 6 hours of sleep and it was not too bad. Tonight will be our first night with all three so we are not sure how well it will go with one person feeding all three. Justin and I love having them home and it is so great seeing them all together again. We already do 2 loads of laundry a day and go through 24 diapers at least each day which is just the beginning. They eat every three hours and all eat 30 minutes apart so needless to say sleep will be not existent in our house for a few months.

36 weeks!

The babies have grown so much and are doing fantastic we could not ask for anything more. Emma is now 4 pounds 5 ounces and Noah is 5 pounds and Carter is 5 pounds 1.4 ounces. They are all so different and have already shown their personalities. Emma is fiesty and already knows how to get what she wants. Noah is the flirt and a people person just like dad i, he is always looking at everything that is going on and is way to busy to take a bottle. Carter is so laid back and I think would sleep all day if we did not wake him up to eat. They are all so good and really don't cry much unless they are really hungry. Carter is in an open crib and will most likely be home by this Friday and Emma and Noah will not be far behind probably by the end of the week. We cannot wait to get them all home, we know it will be hard but it is still going to be so great raising all three of them. 

34 weeks Delivery Day!

Well the day has finally arrived and what a road we have traveled to get here! Justin and I both cannot believe we made it to 34 weeks it is amazing what the power of prayer can do! So many friends and family came to support us and it felt so good to feel all of the love and support before going into surgery. The whole process of getting an epidural and having the surgery went by so quick the entire process was only about 40 minutes and I was in recovery. Dr. Adam was fantastic she has all the babies out in 1.5 minutes and they were all fine. Emma came first at 3 pounds 11 ounces and 16 inches, then came Noah at 4 pounds 11.3 ounces and 17 inches and finally Carter at 4 pounds 11.3 ounces and 17.5 inches. They all breathed room air and the apgar scores were all perfect and the babies were very healthy with no issues. I was in recovery for about 2 hours and felt fine and was anxious to see my new sweet babies the proud Dad took a video of them al being weighed and measured and was so proud of his new children. We feel so blessed to have been given three gifts from God and all of them healthy and strong is just a miracle. God is great and we are proof that miracles still happen!

33 Weeks!

We have 1 week exactly to go before birth day and I just realized I will be home very soon YEAH!!! Our spirits have definitely changed since we are in the home stretch and know we are headed home soon and will be having some healthy babies. I have grown so attached to some of the nursing staff and look at many of them as my friends so I will miss seeing them every day but I am so excited to see my puppies and get back to the normal day to day things you have to do. We have been struggling with what type of help we are going to need if we should hire a night nanny or a day helper or anything at all. The anticipation of taking three little babies home has started to become overwhelming. We have no idea what to expect except for no sleep, tons of diaper changes and more bottles than we can even imagine. We know it will all work out and the most important thing is that they are healthy and we can take them home soon after delivery. Please keep us in your prayers for 3 healthy babies and a healthy delivery. There have been so many people praying for us and all of those prayers have been answered and got us to this amazing milestone and we thank you so much. Our endeavor is only just starting and three little faces are about to enter our world and completely change the way we live our lives. How exciting! We are so excited to meet them and know there are going to be lots of tears on the 11th when Dr. Adam pulls them out of me, we cannot wait to hear those three little cries. The babies will go straight to the NICU 2 from delivery unless there are issues they will go to NICU 3 so nobody can see them until they get discharged from the hospital. They do roll the babies by the waiting room after delivery so if you are here you get a brief look at them but other than that only grandparents and parents are allowed into the NICU. We are hoping and praying they will have a short stay usually they keep babies until they reach 5 lbs, are 36 weeks gestational age and can maintain their own body temperature. So we are thinking they will probably be here 2 weeks as long as they are feeders and growers and don't have any set backs. We will post pictures of the delivery and the babies as soon as we can and try to keep everyone updated on their progress through this blog. Thank you again for everyone's support and continued prayers.

32 Weeks!

14 Days to go!!!! We had an ultrasound yesterday and the babies are getting bigger and they all look healthy. Emma is our smallest she is at 3lbs 6ozs but is still in the 25th percentile and Dr. Adam is not worried and said she still looks great especially for triplets. Noah is at 3lbs 10ozs and is still in the 42nd percentile and then there is Carter our chunky monkey at 4lbs 7 ozs and he is in the 80th percentile. The wonderful thing is Carter is the baby that is diagnosed with a 2 vessel umbilical cord which means we ran the risk of a low birth weight since he may not be able to get enough nutrients due to only one artery in his cord. Obviously this is not happening with him and he is growing like crazy which is so great. Noah is the baby that ruptured on Week 22 and on Tuesday we ruptured again but he still has enough pockets of fluid around him to keep him healthy and safe. Since we had another rupture I am back on antibiotics and have to be careful of an infection so they take my temperature every 3-4 hours. So far I only had contractions the first night of the rupture which they stopped with medicine and if I don't go into labor in the first 48-72 hours I most likely will not. It has been 48 hours and no labor so it looks like I will be holding on for a little longer. I will be very surprised if I make it to June 11th considering how large my belly has got I feel like I might burst any moment. We are getting so excited to meet these three little babies it has been a long road and a long fight to get them here safe and healthy and I know it will be well worth it. 

31 Weeks!

We have made it to 31 weeks and still going strong. The babies are doing really well and they are still moving around a lot and like to kick and push especially during the daily monitoring. We will not have another ultrasound until next week but I can tell they are growing and getting bigger. I have read they start to gain a 1/2 pound a week starting now so hopefully we can get them to 4 pounds which would be wonderful. I have had a very eventful week since I was given some long awaited privileges. I can now take a shower every other day and also can get out of bed to use the restroom. I actually went outside on a wheelchair ride today too! Let me tell you that when you have not taken a shower for 9 weeks it is an amazing feeling one very hard to describe. The wheelchair ride was so great too it felt so good to feel some sun on my face and actually breathe fresh air after being cooped up in a room for 9 weeks you forget what humidity and heat feels  like and I actually miss it which I never thought I would say. It was definitely a challenge to get up and walk for the first time my legs felt very heavy almost like they had fell asleep and I was very unstable but on about the 3rd time to get up I was able to walk without assistance to the bathroom. I have a long road of recovery ahead of me one I did not realize until I actually got up to walk I did not realize how atrophied I would be so am worried about how I am going to handle three new babies, a surgery and no strength all at once?! I know God will get me through and give me what I need each day to make it like he is now. The home stretch is finally here and we have exactly 3 more weeks before birth day and we are getting excited and very anxious. The walls are definitely closing in on me and mentally it is getting harder and harder to muddle through these final days but I am taking it one day at a time and try to just get through one week at a time. Thank you to everyone that has called, emailed, text and come to visit it all means so much and helps me get through each day.

30 Weeks!

Well we have come a long way and we honestly never thought we would be able to get this far 2 months ago. We feel so lucky and blessed that we have reached this huge milestone. Dr. Adam did an ultrasound on Thursday and the babies each gained 2 ounces each so Emma is 3.0lbs, Noah is 3lbs 5 ounces and Carter is 3 lbs 6 ounces. They all look great and are still in the 40-47th percentile of singletons for their weight so she was still very happy with what she saw. She has scheduled us for June 11th for a C-Section unless I go sooner obviously but at least we have a date set! She also told me May 24th she is going to let me get out of bed and start using the restroom. She will have physical therapy come in and work with me and she wants me to start getting my strength back so I am so excited about being able to move around a little bit. I have been confined to this hospital bed for a total of  57 days so far and when I am able to get up I will have been in bed for 65 days! I am really starting to feel the effects of complete bed rest my hips are very soar and my back I don't think will ever be the same. I have lost so much muscle tone on my arms and legs I am so nervous to get up and move around I have no idea what it is going to feel like. I am so ready to go home I am tired of everything that has to do with this hospital. I want to eat home cooked meals, sleep in a regular bed, play with my dogs, take a shower and get rid of this IV I have had for 6 weeks! I can't believe I will be here for another 4 weeks it just seems unbearable. I am emotionally drained and have no idea how I am going to make it. I am trying to take it one day at a time but when I look at the calender it just seems so far away. My heart wants to stay here until June 11th so I give these babies the best chance possible but every other part of my body wants to get up and go home. I pray God gives me the strength to get through this last month I know I can't do it on my own. 

Baby Shower!

Sunday my amazing friends through a baby shower for me here at the hospital. I had such a great time and it was so nice to see everyone and have a break from my hospital room. Many friends and family came and everyone was so sweet and generous and the babies got lots of adorable gifts! Many of the guys came too and they all spent the afternoon at Pappadeaux's eating crawfish and it was a great break for Justin. I just want to say thank you to everyone and words cannot express how much we appreciate all that everyone has done for us. These little babies don't know how lucky they are and how much they are loved by so many people. 

28 Weeks!

We finally made it to a huge milestone! When we first started our stay at the hospital 28 weeks seemed so far away and we thought it would be a miracle if we could get to this point. Well God has continued to bless us and here we are still stable and working on week 29. We had an ultrasound on April 30th and the babies are doing wonderful! Each baby gained a pound over the past two weeks and have grown so much. Emma is the smallest still she is 2lb 15oz, Carter is 3lbs 3oz and Noah is 3lbs 4ozs. They measured a week or two farther along in many ways which is so wonderful we are so happy to see them develop so well. So far we have been very stable and have had very few set backs and continue to take it day by day. 

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.  

 

Our Progress...March 29th

Our first 22 weeks went by pretty easily we were so blessed with no complications and the babies were doing great and developing ahead of schedule. We went in March 21st for our 23 week check-up and things really changed quickly for us. The ultrasound revealed very healthy babies but my cervix had thinned so much I needed an emergency cerclage where they sew it closed so you do not go into labor. I was admitted to the hospital that very moment and was monitored for contractions continuously and was prepared for surgery the next morning. At 7am Sunday the 22nd Dr. Adam arrived and examined me and one of the baby boy's membranes had ruptured and we were in a critical state at that point. She could no longer do the surgery and I was going to have to remain on bed rest at the hospital until I had the babies. We are now at 24 weeks and 3 days and have completed a full week on complete bed rest. I have to say this is the most challenging experience of my life and I know Justin feels the same. Things are stable as of today but we know how quickly that can change so we just take one day at a time.

Our days in the hospital have been pretty routine I am monitored 3-4 times a day for contractions and I have had very few the entire time I have been here which is wonderful. I also receive a medication every 4 hours to keep me from having them and going into labor. As of today I no longer have an IV drip and IV antibiotic which is kinda nice. They also listen to the babies heartbeats 3-4 times a day and make sure they are all good and not in distress especially the little boy with a ruptured sac. They have all been good and we have discovered they are night owls. They are always moving around during the night monitoring so I guess they take after mom in that sense but seem to be a little hyper like their dad used to be when he was a kid! Justin has not left the hospital or my side and has been the best nurse I could have ever hoped for. He does everything for me since I can no longer get out of bed or raise my body above a 45 degree angle I am pretty incapable of taking care of myself.

We are facing very premature babies if I go into labor so as of right now all we can do is hope and pray my body and the babies all cooperate and get us as far along as possible. Every day they stay inside is one day they get bigger. Infection is our only enemy at this point and it is very common with a ruptured sac but since Baby B, the ruptured one, is up higher and Baby A is low we have a  better shot of avoiding it. We just keep praying God will work a miracle and get us through this without any more complications.