NICU - Day 14

• Mason had his first bottle today and finished the whole thing!
• Evan is officially out of his isolette....he looks so approachable now, like a normal newborn, the isolette was kind of scary looking.
• Mason is now back up to his birth weight.
  

NICU - Day 13

• Evan and Madison had their first bottle today!
• They are starting to wean Evan out of his isolette. He should be out within the next couple days and in a crib!
• All three babies are gaining weight.
• Evan passed his birth weight by one ounce (he's now 4lbs 3oz.)!
  

NICU - Day 12

• All three babies are doing wonderfully and they all were taken off their IV's!
• All three are still on Feeding tubes but they will probably start Madison on a bottle in the next day or two...she's been quite aggressive with her binky which is a huge sign she's ready to transition.
  
• A couple days ago they started adding extra calories to all 3 babies diets to help them gain weight. It seems to have done the trick...Evan gained almost 2 ounces in just one day!

NICU - Day 7

• Madison and Mason are doing great, nothing new to report for them.
• Evan is finally off of oxygen and on room air...YEA!!!
  

NICU - Day 6

• Mason is starting to gain weight!
• Evan is on Biliruben Lights.
• Evan is starting to gain weight!
• Madison was started on Caffeine and it seems to be helping her episodes.
• Today was Madison's first time being held by Daddy!
• Madison is starting to gain weight!
  

NICU - Day 5

• Today was Mason's first "Kangaroo Care" with Mommy. (Kangaroo Care is when you hold the baby skin to skin on your chest. Your body temperature helps regulate the baby's temperature and the sound of your heart beat is comforting to them.
• Today was Evan's first Kangaroo Care with Daddy.
• Today was Madison's first Kangaroo Care with Mommy.
• Madison is experiencing Apnea, which is similar to Bradycardia. Nothing serious.
  

NICU - Day 4

• Madison and Mason were both on Biliruben Lights today.
• Madison is experiencing Bradycardias but we are assured it is normal for preemies and if it continues she will be started on Caffeine which will help stop the episodes.
• Today was Evan's first time being held by both Mommy and Daddy.
• Today was Mason's first time being held by Mommy.
  

Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) - Day 3

• All three of the babies started feedings through IV's today.
• All three are starting to suck on pacifiers.
• Today was Mason's first time being held by Daddy.
• Today was Madison's first time being held by Mommy.
• Mason and Madison are both on room air while Evan is still on Oxygen.
  

The Triplets Delivery

31 Weeks 5 Days Pregnant

Almost 7 weeks in the hospital

Tuesday, August 18th 2009.

The day felt just like any normal day in the hospital. I had a non-stress test that went well.
When My husband and B were on their way out to visit me that night I felt...different. Nothing hugely different. I wasn't in any more pain and didn't necessarily feel any pressure or urge to push. I just felt different. My whole pregnancy Baby A sat really low in my pelvis so I've always felt pressure but it somehow felt a tad different that night. It felt as though the babies all shifted down an inch. My contractions seemed to be getting closer together as well, but they have always gone through hour stretches here and there where they're steady...then out of the blue they stop. So I wasn't really concerned and I didn't really think It was delivery day. I just had a feeling that I should call my nurse and have her monitor my contractions however, just to be safe. So that's what I did. My nurse came in and monitored my contractions and they were steadily close together and pretty big so she called the resident. The resident decided to come check my dilation just to be safe as well. It had been a little over a week since they last checked (I was at a 4 at that point). My Husband (L) and B got to the hospital by that point and L took B for a walk down the hall while the resident checked my dilation. Low and behold I was 6cm dilated. She said they were going to move me down to labor and delivery and try to hold me off for an hour in order to give Dr. E and Dr. K time to get there.

It was such a surreal feeling for L and I to think that the babies would be here within the next hour.

When they took me down to labor and delivery I started violently shaking. When Dr. E saw me he said he knew I was in labor...shaking is one of the signs of transitioning in labor. He was glad they caught it in time to perform the C-Section.

My Mom and C made it there in time to take B home with them. By the time they got there she was flipping out. She knew something was different and wouldn't let go of me or let anyone touch me. She was so clingy and sad...it broke my heart.

They then got me prepped and wheeled me into the operating room. I was so scared I started crying.

The actual c-section was so much quicker than I anticipated. Baby A was the first born and the minute I heard his tiny cry tears streamed down my face.

Half way through the surgery my shoulders were experiencing the worst sharpest breath taking pain I have ever experienced. They said it was from all the air in my uterus that traveled up my body. The anesthesiologist gave me a dose of morphine and it didn't seem to help at all so he gave me a second dose that then knocked me out. L said I was pretty funny to watch...I kept scratching my nose like crazy and then tried a few times to get involved in all the conversations going on.

After they finished the c-section they wheeled me back to the labor and delivery room so they could monitor me closely for the next hour. While we were there a NICU representative brought us some pictures of the babies....first time we had seen them yet and it was so surreal. Then L went back to the NICU to see the babies and take some pictures.

Baby A (boy) was born at 8:04pm weighing in at the smallest. 3lbs. 13oz. and 15 3/4"
Baby B (boy) was born at 8:05pm weighing in as the largest. 4lbs. 2oz. and 16 1/4"
Baby C (girl) was born at 8:06pm 3lbs. 14oz. about 18"

While L was in the NICU all babies were doing well. Baby B seemed to be doing the best of the three. They gave all the babies surfactant for their lungs and when they were giving it to B through a tube into his lungs it got clogged and he couldn't breath. They then asked L to leave the room and they called a code over the loud speaker and doctors and nurses came rushing in. They got B stabilized and he's doing a lot better but now he's the furthest behind of the three.

All the babies started out on cpaps and then they moved A & C to canulas and today A & C were on complete room air. We can't believe how well they're progressing.

They are all adorable and look so different from each other. A & B came out with a lot of dark hair. B's however is looking like it's lightening up. C came out with hardly any hair and what she does have is blonde.

They are so beautiful and we feel so incredibly blessed at how well they're doing.

L and I are still debating on boy names and can't quite decide on two yet. We're working really hard on it. We did for sure decide on our little girl's name.

I'm having a really hard time recovering right now. No offense to anyone out there who loves c sections but I personally cannot handle it. It is 5 x more painful than a vaginal delivery. Not only does my incision kill and I can hardly move but I got a lot of air bubbles during the surgery and they are extremely painful in my stomach and shoulders. The medications they're giving me make me really drowsy. I've only been able to see the babies twice so far.

The babies are in isolettes and we can put a steady hand on top of them but can't stroke them or hold them yet.

They are going to try to feed them through feeding tubes tomorrow and we might be able to do the kangaroo care with A & C. Kangaroo care is where you hold the baby skin to skin on your chest.

If all goes well for my recovery they'll let me go home either Friday night or Saturday. I will try my best to keep you all informed but things are really hectic and I'm in a lot of pain and feeling really drowsy majority of the time.

31 Week Belly Picture

Hospital Update 7

31 Weeks 1 Day Pregnant

6 Weeks 1 day in the Hospital

I know I haven't posted a belly picture in a while. I will try my best to do so within the next few days. It is unbelievable how much my belly has grown since 28 weeks.

This last Sunday Dr. P (aka Dr. Big Hands) came in and informed me that my Dr, Dr. E would be out of town for the next week on vacation. I was really frustrated at first because in the past 3 weeks I have only seen Dr. E for a total of 2 minutes, not even long enough to ask him all the questions I had and then he leaves for vacation without telling me. I'm normally not in the habit of wanting to know every time my doctors go out of town but in this situation where I could deliver at any time and I really haven't seen him in three weeks it made me really upset. I still think he's the greatest doctor however and want him to deliver me. I just think he spreads himself too thin. I wish he would've told me at the beginning he was too busy to take care of me.

Dr. P has been great this past week. He comes in every morning and asks how I'm doing. Although he is a lot quieter than Dr. E, I think Dr. P is a great doctor and If when the time comes Dr. E is unable to deliver me I will request Dr. P.

This week has been pretty uneventful. My stress test on Tuesday went normally. I have another stress test today. The only difference I've noticed this week is the contractions are definitely getting a lot stronger and more painful. The past couple days I have just had a really odd feeling and I think It won't be too much longer before I deliver.

Yesterday I asked Dr. P if he had any feelings or thoughts about what would happen or when I'd deliver. Dr. P was the last doctor to check my dilation. He told me with how my cervix was when he last checked, completely effaced, dilated to a four and really soft, he would be surprised and happy if I make it to 33 weeks.

So that's my goal, 33 weeks. It's crazy to think that's only 2 weeks away.

Another thing Dr. P informed me is that my week count is on Thursdays and not Saturdays like I've been told. WOOT WOOT! That is so exciting for me to gain a couple days without having to do anything!

I hope I can handle 2 more weeks. Right now I would love nothing more than to be done with this pregnancy. I know it's better for the babies the longer they stay inside but I don't think anyone, I repeat anyone can understand what I'm going through....even other triplet moms. Because every triplet pregnancy and person is completely different.

Not only am I so large it's difficult to get up and around, not to mention the babies are in my ribs and in my pelvis. So I'm feeling pressure everywhere. But also I have a pinched nerve in my back which is causing a sharp piercing pain in my groin....upper left leg. This creates an even bigger problem when trying to get up and around. The worst part about the pain is it prevents me from sleeping at night. For some reason when I lay down it's worse and I can't lay on either side I have to prop up my bed and try to sleep on my back....which is basically impossible for me. The other fun side effect this pregnancy has brought is a lovely rash all over my stomach....it is indescribable how painful and itchy it is. I've tried almost every cream and remedy I can think of and It hasn't helped. In fact, I think it's getting worse.

I asked Dr. P how much longer I'll have to get the progesterone shots in my tooshy (once weekly) and he said I will have them every week until I deliver....lovely. Not only am I sick of these shots (they burn for a few days after). But I'm also sick of the side effects they bring. I've broken out worse than I ever did as a teenager, nothing I use seems to help that either. It does start to clear up a day or two before my next dose of progesterone.....but then I get my next dose and they cycle starts all over again. I now know what they mean by the "pregnancy glow" I have a lovely greasy sheen all over my face.

One of the good things that happened this pregnancy is I didn't gain weight the same way I did with my last pregnancy. I still did gain quite a bit of weight. It was 4 pounds a week for a while there. My body has done really well with the gain and the only thing that has expanded is my belly....up until a few days ago, my feet, legs, hands and face are finally starting to show signs of swelling. This is a considerable amount better than my last pregnancy however because from the beginning of my last pregnancy I seemed to gain everywhere but my belly....it was great fun trying to loose it all afterwards.

Anyway. That's what's been going on the past week. Sorry if it came out as a sob fest. Some people like to know details while others don't. So if you're one of those ones that doesn't like details you can just skim or skip over this post all together.

Hospital Update 6

29 Weeks 5 Days Pregnant

5 Weeks in the Hospital

News for this week thus far...

Stress test on Tuesday went well.

Yesterday I saw my Doctor and he discussed my situation with the other high risk specialists. They decided to schedule me for an ultrasound today to measure the growth of the babies and the condition of my cervix. The last time they checked my cervix was a couple days after I was admitted to the hospital, which was 5 weeks ago. They decided if my cervix measured a 2 or smaller tomorrow I could go home. YEA! Finally something to look forward to! I have been trying however to not get my hopes too high.

My nurses check the babies heart rates twice each day. Once in the morning and once at night. Last night when she was listening to Baby B's heart rate I got nervous because he was lower than usual, around 120-130bpm and then it dipped all the way down to 112bpm. The nurse reassured me that it was just a variable because it only dipped for a second and that it was perfectly normal. I was still a little worried however because Baby B is my most active baby he's usually between 140-150 and he has never ever dipped like that or gone below 130. She said she would hook the baby up to the monitors to put my mind at ease.

She put a monitor on my belly and we then listened to Baby B's heart rate for 15 minutes, no more scary dips. She hadn't put on the contraction monitor yet however. She then decided, why not do it right and put the contraction monitor on. She wasn't concerned but it was protocol.
Immediately after putting the contraction monitor on I started contracting every 3-4 minutes. She waited 20 minutes and they were still strong and steady so she called up the Resident to see what they wanted to do. The Resident had them check my blood pressure and since it was in the safe zone they gave me another dose of nifedapine. She then instructed my nurse to continue monitoring me for the next hour and see if the nifedapine worked at all.

My contractions were slowing to 6 minutes apart....still not good but better than 3-4 minutes apart. The Resident said if my contractions were still steady after that hour she would check my cervix. I REALLY didn't want my cervix to be messed with. Especially since they were going to check it today and if it was good they'd send me home. I was worried if she checked it she might start something. So my nurse talked her out of it. They took the monitors off and I went to bed, to be woken up at 4:30 for another dose of nifedapine.

This morning I felt a considerable amount better and was anxious for my ultrasound to determine whether or not I'd be going home and to see how big the babies have gotten.

Finally around 2:30 they called me down for the ultrasound. The babies all looked great & here are their measurements:

A: 2lbs. 13oz.
B: 3lbs. 8oz.
C: 3lbs. 6oz.

Then came time to check my cervix. They used the ultrasound first and frankly...there was nothing left. The thickness measured .5cm. My Doctor wasn't in so Dr. P (aka Dr. Big Hands) checked to see if I was dilated. He was a considerable amount more gentle this time...I wonder if he got word I was complaining about his big hands. Anyway, he measured and it was bad news...my cervix is measuring between 3-4cm. No going home for me. I tried really hard to not get my hopes up and I think I did pretty well because I haven't cried yet, but I am still really bummed. 5 Weeks in the hospital is a long time. I wonder if I'll even recognize my house when I finally go home. Maybe the tears will come tomorrow.

Hospital Update 5

29 Weeks Pregnant

4 Weeks and 2 Days in the Hospital...

No change as of my last post and nothing new and exciting to post about.

I can tell you however after being in the hospital for so long I think my mental health is starting to go downhill. I guess the no sleep, no privacy, claustrophobic room, nasty food, compression stalkings and overall atmosphere of the hospital can do that to you though. (I could've made the list a considerable amount longer but I didn't want to bore any of you or cause myself to start the waterworks)

I have a semi-funny story. Well, I'm not at the point where I think it's funny, it still makes me upset but everyone else I seem to tell it to thinks it's hilarious.

So being in the hospital you have absolutely no privacy, as I'm sure some of you have experienced. With Doctors, Nurses, CNA's, Residents, Dietitians, Housekeeping, Church representatives, Phlebotomy, NICU Representatives, and Social Workers coming in and out all day my door might as well be a revolving door. It gets old after a while and I think the only way to get privacy must be to lock myself in the bathroom, which I have done on a few occasions to cry, I don't want anyone to walk in on my sob-fest. Well, back to my story...you'd think escaping to the bathroom would provide privacy, right? Wrong. While I've either been "taking care of business" or showering I've had the housekeeping walk in on me twice and multiple times I've had the little old couples that are church representatives come knock on my bathroom door while I'm showering....which I find kind of odd because I've been in bed spreading cocoa butter on my tummy on a few occasions when they've stopped by and the wives always shield the husbands from my exposed belly...but yet they feel comfortable knocking on my bathroom door while I'm showering...hmm. Maybe someday that will seem funny to me, but for now it just makes me more upset.

I finally requested a "Do Not Disturb" sign. So far, so good. The Nurses, CNA's and Doctors still just come in, but that's to be expected. I think it will take care of the rest of the unwanted visitors....but only time will tell.

And I've unplugged my phone in my room. I've been getting a lot of phone calls...and I'm not big on phone calls, especially when I'm trying to nap.

Sorry if this is all negative. It's just my life for right now and I guess writing about some of it makes me feel a little better.