My, How We've Grown

This past weekend I made a decision. Over the next two weeks I'm going to do some serious decluttering in hopes of having a rather large yard sale soon. Saturday afternoon I tackled the boys' playroom. In 2 hours I managed to find a full bag of stuff to donate, a full bag of stuff to throw out and 4 full laundry baskets of stuff for the yard sale. Wow. The playroom definitely looks better now though!

At the very top of the closet in their playroom I came across something that nearly brought tears to my eyes. I found a preemie outfit. I couldn't get over how tiny it was! I'm quite certain it wouldn't have fit the doll I played with as a child, and yet when the boys came home in that outfit it was a bit baggy on them. Wow.

Simply taking a picture of the outfit on it's own really wouldn't show you just how small it is though. Taking a picture of it next to a pair of the boys' current PJs would though...

Know what else is a good visual reminder of how far the boys' have come? This picture of the boys when they were 3 weeks old followed by a picture of them from this morning - laying on the very same blanket they did 2.5 years ago.

I bet you can guess where this is going. Yup, it's my final plea for donations for this week's March for Babies. I think sometimes we (even myself!) forget just how tiny and fragile the boys were as preemies. That's easy to do considering how big they are now. We've come a long way in the last two and a half years! You know what though? Today another 1,500 babies will be born too early. Not all of them will be as lucky as my boys were. Some parents will have to say goodbye to children they just met and some will spend months in the NICU at the side of a baby who is on a health roller coaster. 

If you haven't donated yet and you have $5, $10, $15 or more to spare, please donate. Babies are counting on you! Donate here.

Random side note - how do you like the extra large pictures? Too big? Just right? 

Fight For Preemies

Did you know November is Prematurity Awareness Month? In fact, today is Prematurity Awareness Day! Today, bloggers all over the world, will band together to Fight For Preemies. There's still time to join us, by clicking the button below!

I'll confess, before I became a mom of preemies hearing that someone was a preemie didn't phase me much. I think the first time I ever heard the term was shortly after I met my friend Mariah (and we met in the 3rd grade). She was a micro preemie and I knew that meant she was early and had some medical problems but I didn't know what exactly that entailed. In fact, I don't think I truly understood what "preemie" meant until I found out I was pregnant with triplets and was told repeatedly that they would likely be preemies and spend time in a NICU.

A mom in a high-risk pregnancy could really freak herself out reading all the info out there about preemies and the possibilities. I tried not to read too much until I was past 30 weeks. I figured by then the possible problems my boys could have would be minimal. You know what though? Moms today don't have nearly as much to worry about as moms 10, 15 and 20+ years ago did! We are blessed to have so much medical research on our side now!

Sure my boys were preemies (born at 33 weeks and 3 days) but they never needed breathing assistance in the NICU, didn't come home with any heart monitors and in a matter of months were catching up to the 50th percentile in weight. When looking at my boys it's hard to believe they were born a month and a half early or that they ranged in weight from just 3 pounds 11 ounces to only 4 pounds 7 ounces.

Not all preemies are so lucky though. Just check out my friend Kara's story about her triplets' birth. Triplet number 1 (Lorne) was delivered at 23 weeks and the doctors prevented his brothers from exiting for another 3 weeks! 3 weeks people! I did not even know that was possible until I met Kara at a triplet mom dinner. Know what else I didn't know was possible? For a baby born prior to 24 weeks to not only survive, but thrive. Just check out Lorne's story here.

It's because of my own boys, because of boys like Kara's and because of the countless preemies that do not have the chance to grow up that I am fighting for preemies. It's because of them that I participate in the March for Babies every year. Just this past weekend I received my save the date card for the 2010 march and I'd like to ask my Kansas City friends to consider saving the date and marching with us (consider it my birthday gift!). The date for 2010 is May 1st (yep, my b-day) which is a Saturday! Last year team Three Cuties had 4 walkers and we raised just over $1,000. Imagine if we could double both of those numbers for 2010! Need more convincing? Check out the pictures of all the fun we had last year by click here.

ETA at 9:45am CST: Speaking of Kara, you must read her Prematurity Awareness Post for today! She breaks down what exactly bringing home a preemie can mean. It's not just letting your kid(s) gain weight and then bringing them home.... it can be SO much more than that. Click HERE for that post.

Don't forget! Every comment left this week results in one non-perishable item being donated to a local food bank! If you want to take part in Cans for Comments this week on your blog, there's still time to join in! Just click HERE for more info.

Early Personalities

Last night as I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, my mind drifted back to the boys' relatively short stay in the NICU. I don't know why I was thinking about that... my mind works in really random ways!

Anyway, I was thinking about something one of the NICU nurses had said about Chase. Chase was only about a week and a half old when one of the nurses told me that Chase was going to be our cuddler. I thought that was a cute thing to say but I thought "how could she possibly know what he's going to be like a year from now even?"

Turns out she was right! Chase loves to be held. When he gets up from a nap he hates to be put down right away - he'd rather cuddle with you on the couch for 15 or 20 minutes. When I'm sitting at the table and I feel a pat on my leg and hear "mama", it's usually Chase asking to sit in my lap. Definitely our cuddly kid!

That got me thinking about the other two boys. Nothing was ever "said" about them like it was about Chase, but there were little quirks if you will. Tyler was a master wiggler in the NICU. He could break out of any swaddle the nurses put him in. We routinely would walk in to his little "room" and find him underneath his blankets and curled up at the far end of his isolett. It was pretty funny at the time! Tyler is still our wiggliest kid! He was the first to crawl, first to walk and is a ball of energy. Oh, and we still find him huddled in the corner of his crib with blankets piled over him.

Mr. Jackson is a little harder to describe when it comes to his NICU behavior. He didn't "do" a whole lot (although I distinctly remember him pooping on a Neonatologist during an exam once). However, Jackson liked to open his eyes a lot. When the other boys were sleeping, Jackson would have his eyes open and trying to explore his new world with them. As a result Nick and I spent a lot of time next to Jackson's isolett! There was something about those eyes that was just so joy filled. It was like he was smiling with them all the time! When I look at Jackson now and see him giggling, or looking with wonder at something, I see that say joy, those very same eyes.

Who'd of guessed that a tiny infant, even before their expected due date would have such personality that would still be present 20 months later!

Video Clip of the Week - A Look Back

I don't have a brand new video to share with you today, but I'm willing to bet the video I have picked is one that will be new to most of you. Before I moved to Blogspot in October I had a family website that I shared photos, videos and stories on. This video was put together by Nick in honor of the boys' first birthday and posted on that site. I just cried again when I watched it. How quickly time flies!

I also picked this video for another specific reason. At the beginning of the video you'll see some footage from when the boys were in the NICU. When you look at my very large, very healthy toddlers it's easy to forget the start to life they had. It's easy to forget just why the March for Babies is so important to us. Please donate using the button over to the left or by clicking here. I'm still a long way from my goal and the march is now about 3 weeks away. Babies all over the country need your help! Even if you can only give $5, it will help.

March 30, 2007

March 30th, 2007 is a day I will never forget. It's the day my world was forever changed. It's the day we found out I wasn't carrying just one baby, but three.

Even though the day was 2 years ago I can remember it like it was yesterday. I remember being irritated at how late my appointment was starting - how dare they tell a pregnant woman to drink as much water as she can possibly hold and then make her wait almost 30 minutes for her appointment to start!

I vividly remember looking at the screen and immediately seeing what looked like two babies and then being told we were having twins. I remember having about 90 seconds to digest that news before the ultrasound tech found baby number 3. I then remember laughing and crying at the same time. I'm sure the color drained from my face too.

It's dark and grainy, but if you look closely you can see the three monkeys there... I was 12 weeks out when we found out and this "picture" was taken.

I remember crying in the bathroom afterward and then trying to make myself look presentable before heading to work. I remember arriving at the office, plunking down a whole sheet of ultrasound pictures and then watching the looks of disbelief when I told my co-workers I was having triplets.

I remember sitting at my desk and trying to focus on work (not an easy task!). I remember receiving a call from my doctor's office informing me I was being referred to a team of Perinatologists for the duration of my pregnancy. That's when it dawned on me that I was now considered high-risk. That's when the fear started creeping in.

As the weeks went on I read message boards, books and spoke to my new doctor(s). I learned that making it to 24 weeks was crucial and that if I made it to 32 weeks then we'd "hung the moon" as one doctor put it. I learned to expect bed rest and quite possibly hospitalization. I learned about the dangers of TTTS (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome) and how the doctors were watching the boys for signs of it. I learned about drugs that I would be given should I go into labor too early. I learned about what to expect out of NICU babies. I felt prepared and scared at the very same time. Each doctor appointment brought the "what if's". What if today is the day they find something wrong. What if today is the day I'm put on bed rest. What if today they admit me to the hospital for closer monitoring.

Even with those What If's though I knew I was in good hands. I knew my doctors had plenty of research to back up what they were doing. You know why? Because of organizations like March of Dimes.

Had my pregnancy not been as easy (I went 33w3d with no bedrest), there are medicines and procedures thanks to the March of Dimes that could have kept my pregnancy going longer. Had the boys struggled in the NICU (instead of just being feeders and growers for a couple of weeks), there would have been treatments, surgeries and medicines that would have helped them thrive thanks to the March of Dimes.

My boys may not have needed those treatments, surgeries and medicines but I know plenty of babies who did and there will be millions more who will need in in the future. March of Dimes is important to me and millions of other moms. Please consider donating by clicking on the March for Babies banner on the upper left hand side of this blog or here. Even $5 helps push me closer to my goal.

If you live in the Kansas City area, please consider joining me for the March by clicking here! It's a fun family day and raises money for a wonderful organization. Someday all babies will be born healthy, but until that day we need the March of Dimes.

Be Prepared To Cry...

Bonus post here...

I just read the newest post on Tripled Pink and knew I had to encourage all of you to read it too.

I will warn you right now, it will make you cry as it talks about the 1 year anniversary of the death of one of her girls.

Add Keira's story as one more reason why I walk in March for Babies. No mother should ever have to go through that!

Tripled Pink

You're Invited....

It just about 3 months the boys and I will participate in the Kansas City March for Babies and I want to invite you to join us!

Last year was our first year walking in it, and we raised just over $600 thanks to your generous gifts! I have even more readers now, so figured I'd shoot for an even higher goal this year - $1,000! Can we do it?

If you live in the Kansas City area we'd love to have you walk on team Three Cuties! I'm willing to bet you've either be personally touched by prematurity or you know someone who has (besides us!). Walk for them. Click here to sign up to walk with us.

Last year at the walk

If you can't come to KC to walk with us, please consider sponsoring me. You can click on the banner to the left. When you click on the banner you will also be able to see all the reasons why we walk. For now though, I think this says enough....

Semi-Lock Down

It's that wonderful time of year again.... Cold, Flu and RSV season. Yipee! Last year we were under strict orders to keep the boys home with the exception of doctor's appointments. Due to their prematurity (and yet not preemie enough to qualify for the RSV Synagis shots) they would have had a really rough time recovering from RSV and likely would have ended up in the hospital.

This year is slightly different in that the boys are quite a bit bigger and are very healthy, so would have an easier time fighting off RSV should they contract it. That doesn't mean it would be as easy for them as it would be for a full-term toddler, but it wouldn't likely be as devastating. Taking this into consideration we aren't going under full lock down like last winter, but we are taking some precautions.

For the bulk of cold and flu season we will not be bringing the boys to church. Two weeks of being home with sick kiddos was enough for me this month. No more plastic food sharing for my boys (that's what happened last time they were in the nursery)! We also ask that anyone that comes over is healthy - that's a no brainer though really.

Thankfully for the sanity of this mommy, I have been told it will be ok to take the boys to the store or the mall as long as I keep them away from excessive germs (so no playing on giant plastic fruit at the mall). I'm so glad I have the option this winter to load the boys up in the Choo Choo at Target or the mall. I think it will do wonders for my attitude!

The Difference a Year Makes

Nick and I were reminded several times this week just how much can change in a year...

Nick's staff Christmas party was this weekend and while there we saw 3 babies. One was a full-term 3 week old. We both marveled to ourselves over how tiny she was and had a hard time remembering our boys were that size not too long ago. Then about an hour later we saw preemie twins who are about 4 weeks old. They were even smaller than the full-term baby! Those tiny little fingers peaking out from under their blankets... oh man! How is it that our boys were once SMALLER than those 6 pound twins?! Now the boys are little beasts, who tear around the house like they've been walking for a year.

We also attempted Christmas pictures... oh boy. Last year the boys slept through most of the photo shoot with Lindsey and Erica. We got gorgeous shots as a result! This year is a bit different... Oh boy, is it different...

Last year's family picture:

This year's family picture:

Last year's Christmas Card:

This year's attempt at a Christmas Card (don't worry, we did get a much better shot than this!):

Prematurity Awareness Day

November is Prematurity Awareness month and today is Prematurity Awareness Day. Considering my own babies were preemies and I have friends who had preemies, I find this day and month very interesting (and important!).

Did you know that 1 out of 8 babies is born prematurely (born before 37 weeks)? 1 out of 8! I had no idea the number was so high. Today March of Dimes released a prematurity report card for the nation and individual states. The "grade" is based on how many of the births in each state and the nation as a whole are premature. The nation received a D. Kansas (where the boys were born) also received a D.

Sure, there has been an increase in preemie births along with the increase in multiple births but multiple births certainly aren't the only reason for a premature delivery. Sometimes there are circumstances that mom and doctors just can't do much about and that's where the research of March of Dimes comes in. Other times though the mother's lifestyle and habits could lead to a premature birth and that's where the education of March of Dimes comes in.

Last spring I walked with the boys in the March for Babies. We raised over $600 for prematurity research and education. If you're in the Kansas City area (or would like to come here to join us), we invite you to mark May 3rd on your calendar and consider joining us on the walk! Together we can work to give every preemie baby a fighting chance and reduce the number of preemie births to begin with.