| me at my parent’s house and one night at home to make sure the dogs and cats get some attention. September 9 2006- Back to visit babies today. They are going to start the babies on feedings tomorrow. They’ve had to wait so long because of the magnesium sulfate I was on. They have to wait until the Mag levels are low enough before they feed them anything. I’m not sure why or what the repercussions are, but tomorrow they should get fed. I’m pumping breast milk to have that given to the babes. They start gavage feedings first (through a tube in the nose) and then move onto oral feedings one “step” at a time. September 10, 2006- Tristan and Cassandra go moved out of their incubators today and into an open crib. Ryland should be joining them tomorrow if all goes as planned. They started the gavage feedings today and everyone did well. Not too much left over in their stomachs so they are going to continue with the same amount of feedings. They say in the next day or two we might move onto 1-2 oral feedings in a day. I can’t wait!!!! September 11 2006- All the babies started on oral feedings today. Ryland took his bottle down like a champ, just gulped the thing. I guess the littlest guy is the hungriest!!! All the babies did well on their feedings, but Ryland was so funny to watch him just devour it. September 12 2006- Tristan moved onto 2-3 feedings today, he took his 1-2 like a champ yesterday. They may try 3 feedings with Ryland too; it just depends on how he does with his 2 feedings. The babies are all doing so well right now, we could have them home in about 10 days or so, I can’t wait. September 22 2006- Tomorrow is COME HOME day for Tristan, we are so excited. I’m going home tonight with Mark to spend one night at home before the babies come home. I’ve been staying at my mom’s house since I got discharged and haven’t been home in my own bed, or to see any of my animals. So before we bring a baby home, I just want to spend one night at home. I can’t wait to go home and I can’t wait to bring a baby home. Being a mother has been all so unreal while the babies are in the NICU, maybe I’ll finally feel like a mother. |
THE BABIES ARE HERE
| August 31 2006- Had another OBGYN appointment today. The babies looked good; it wasn’t a growth ultrasound so we only got to see them for a few minutes. My contractions were closer together, but not too much in strength so the doctor sent me home but with explicit instructions to come to the hospital ASAP if my contractions got stronger. We went to my moms for dinner and by about 9pm, the contractions were every 3-5 minutes and STRONG. So, we headed up to the hospital where I was admitted for overnight monitoring. My contraction monitoring showed frequent contractions, every 2-6 minutes and the contractions lasted 1-5 minutes, some being painful, some not bad at all. So they put me on a dose of magnesium sulfate. I had been warned about the nasty side effects of magnesium sulfate and was prepared to climb the walls, but luckily I had no side effects at all; absolutely none. I had a pretty restful night, especially after they gave me a sleeping pill!!!! September 1, 2006- Today was a tough day. They had to increase my magnesium sulfate IV because my contractions were breaking through and I was starting to be in a lot of pain. They also gave me some Tylenol and percocet for the pain of the contractions. My cervix was closed when I got admitted last night, but today it had changed just a bit to a fingertip. By the evening I was extremely uncomfortable and our family was called and told that today might be the day. They all came to the hospital for a visit, parents, grandparents, Mark’s brother and family…everyone was standing by to see if today was the day. I sure hoped it was, these contractions were awful! September 2, 2006- Still hanging onto these babies. Everyday I can do that is better for them, and I had an OK night with some pain medication and sleeping pills, but I’m breaking through the pain medication this afternoon and am in so much pain with these contractions. The thing that makes it so difficult, is knowing that labor is NOT progressing. My water hasn’t broken, my cervix hasn’t changed anymore than when it was checked and was at a fingertip yesterday. They are going to try giving me morphine this evening for the pain. I refused it yesterday, because I was concerned about delivering the babies after being on morphine and having to have them get Narcan. But I am in so much pain, in what they call “dysfunctional labor” that I have to do something. My contractions are anywhere from every 2-6 minutes, but unlike true labor, some contractions last one minute, others last as long as 5 minutes. There is no pattern to them which is why my cervix is not changing, and some are lasting so long, which is making them all that much more painful. September 3 2006- Last night was a tough night. The morphine worked for about 6 hours, but then it didn’t work at all. I spent most of the morning and early afternoon crying in pain and then in frustration. I know it’s better to keep these babies in, but at this point, I am just ready to have them. I’m exhausted and in so much pain, that I am just ready to quit; easier said than done though. I must say, for the breeze of a triplet pregnancy I’ve had (seriously, no major problems, I have been SOOOOOOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!), these last few days are sure making up for that good luck. I got an epidural placed tonight for pain management. It seems to be working wonders. I can feel the pressure/tightening of the contractions, but not the pain. I wish we would have done this days ago. It would have made things a lot more manageable for me with the pain. September 4, 2006- What a great night of sleep I got last night. I feel so rested and ready to go for another week to keep these babies growing. This epidural is amazing, absolutely amazing. I did have to have the epidural replaced this afternoon because I pulled it out when switching positions, but it’s so worth it. I’ve spent most of today watching TV and resting. Catching up on some much needed sleep feels so great. Family has been coming and going and visiting all weekend and it’s been so nice to spend time with everyone. My doctor comes back from vacation tomorrow and I wonder what she is going to say about this weekend and how much longer she expects me to hold out before we go to delivery day. I can’t wait to talk to her. |
| September 5, 2006- The doctor doing rounds today was one I’ve never met in the practice before. My doctor is back from vacation, but in the Bellevue office. I expressed my hopes to talk to her via phone today, just to get a plan put together. My doctor called me back a little bit later asked me how I felt about a birthday today. I nearly jumped out of the bed in excitement. She said she’d have to call the NICU to make sure they could handle the triplets tonight, and she’d call me back so I could call Mark and tell him to get here right away. OH JOY!!!!!!!!! She called back and today is the big day. Delivery is scheduled for 4pm today. I just called my mom and she is on her way here. She called Mark’s mom and the chain of phone calls begins. I can’t reach Mark though. I’ve called the house and he’s not answering. He should be almost done at the gym but he’s not answering his cell phone either. I finally reached Mark. He went to run some errands after the gym and forgot his cell phone at home. What a day to do that! It’s 3:45pm and the delivery is scheduled to start (at least getting me into the OR) in 15 minutes. We live 1 hour away from the hospital. He might miss the delivery; I’m so stressed out about this right now. My doctor, bless her heart, went over some stuff to buy us some time before going to the OR. And then once we were in the OR, she went over some more stuff and the anestheologist too her time as well. Mark’s brother went downstairs to wait for him and Mark was going to drive up to the patient drop off circle and hand the car over to his brother so he could run into the OR. He MADE IT!!!! Just in time, with about 30 seconds to spare. He later told me that the reason why the 1hour drive took him 25 minutes was because he was weaving in and out of traffic, honking and flashing his brights, with his emergency flashers on. Surprisingly, everyone got out of his way and he got to see all 3 babies born. Tristan pushed his way out first, even though Cassie’s water broke while they were cutting into me. He was born at 4:59pm, weighing 4lbs 3oz and 17 inches long. Cassandra was born next at 5:00pm, weighing 4lbs 7oz and 17 ¾ inches long. Ryland was the last and the littlest, entering the world at 5:01pm, weighing 4lbs 2oz and 17 ¾ inches long. Mark and his mother went to the NICU to be with the babies and take pictures and my mom stayed with me in recovery. |
| September 23, 2006- We got a call today and Mark came into tell me that he is putting another carseat in the car. I told him that was great (thinking he was preparing for tomorrow when we expect Cassie to come home). He said it again and I said that was great. Then he had to actually say to me, “Honey, Cassie is coming home too!” So we brought Tristan and Cassie home today, they did great in the car ride. Mark drove home and I sat in the back with Cassie, and could see Tristan in the second row too. My mom is coming over tonight to help with the evening and night feedings and to help us get adjusted to the babies being here. Ryland is coming home tomorrow; we will finally be a family!!!! September 24, 2006-Today is Ryland’s big coming home day. Mark is staying home with Cassie and Tristan and my mom and I are going to get Ryland. I can’t wait to have all of them home. Well, today has been interesting. Before I went to get Ryland at Evergreen, I went down to the ER because the mastitis infection. It was diagnosed on Friday (failed to mention it before) but the antibiotics they gave me don’t seem to be working. So in the ER today they gave me an IV of antibiotics and some new antibiotics. I hope this helps with the infection. After a few hours in the ER, I feel much better and we are going up to get Ryland and head home. I can’t wait. We are home and the adventure begins with all 3 babies. My mom is staying with us again to help with the babies, even with the night feedings. It is so helpful to us!!! I think I am only sane because of her help. And Mark is such a great dad. Jumping at every opportunity to change a diaper, feed a baby, and bathe a baby…. He’s so great!!!! October 1 2006- The babies are doing so great. After being home a few days, they went from feeding every 3 hours to now feeding every 4 hours. It’s great for us because it allows for some more time for us to spend time with each baby and also allows us to eat, shower, and nap… all those necessary things. They are gaining weight and growing and are just doing so well. Mark and I are so proud and couldn’t be happier, these babies are doing so well and we are so happy to be parents and have the whole family under one roof!!!!! |
| FINALLY GOING HOME!!! |
| !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| September 6 2006- I woke up at about 1am and wanted to go see the babies. Mark wheeled me into the NICU where I got to see all the babies and I even go to hold Tristan. We made many trips from my room to the NICU today. Ryland is struggling a bit with his breathing and that’s very difficult to watch, his chest caves in when he breathes. I just want to pick him up and hold him. All of the babies are on Oxygen via a CPAP and will move to a nasal cannula in the next few days. September 7 2006- Back to visit the babies today. They are thinking about taking Tristan off Oxygen completely today, I am so excited for that. Ryland is still having a hard time breathing and they are all going to have to go under the billi lights for their jaundice. September 8, 2006- I’m being discharged from the hospital today, but am staying with my mom and will be able to come to the hospital to see the babies a few times a day. Poor Mark is traveling back and fourth everyday to take care of the dogs. He’s exhausted from all the driving, and will be spending one night with |