Cake, Motorcycles and Bouncing

The boys were feeling in tip-top shape (with exception of the nagging cough that could hang around for a week or two more) by Saturday morning, which was a relief because we had places to go and people to see! Saturday afternoon as soon as the boys were done with their nap, we loaded up and headed to the hospital they were born at....

NICU Reunion
Each year the NICU the boys were at hosts a NICU Reunion for all the "graduates". This was the first time we've gone and the boys had a ball! Ironically enough, the reunion this year fell on Chase's "take-home" day!

We ate some cupcakes...

(Chase in blue, Jackson in blue and white, Tyler in white)

  

  

Sat on a motorcycle...

 

  

And got some balloons!

Birthday Party

Last night we went to another set of triplets' 2nd birthday party! This was actually the first party the boys have been invited to and it was at a fun indoor gymnastics/inflatable place. The boys had a ball bouncing on the long trampoline, hanging from the gymnastics bars and throwing balls around. Tyler was the only one brave enough to enter the large inflatable obstacle course. There was a fair amount of kicking and screaming when I told them it was time to go and another parent (the dad of the birthday boys) had to help me chase my kids down. 

(Jackson in stripes, Tyler in plaid, Chase in green)

 

  

  

  

  

  

Almost Ready to Come Home!

Originally post 9.8.07

We got some great news yesterday morning - the boys are almost ready to come home! Jackson and Tyler will be ready to come home Monday or Tuesday and if Chase picks up the pace on his feeding this weekend then he'll be ready to come home with them, otherwise he may need an extra day or two. So obviously the boys are doing quite well! Yesterday afternoon all three were moved into cribs, they're trying to take all their feedings either by me nursing them or from a bottle and if they're successful with that then their feeding tubes could be removed this weekend. Its all just happening so fast!

For those of you that have called or e-mailed, thank you for that! I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond or call you back though - I've been putting in 13 hour days at the hospital and I'm not allowed to have my phone on while in the NICU. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up with all of you over the coming weeks.

Chase

Jackson

Nick and Ty

Nick changing Tyler's diaper

First time together - Tyler, Jackson & Chase

NICU Life

Originally posted 9/2/07

Nick and I are so in love with these boys! We just can't get enough of them. It's amazing how content we are to just sit and look at them in their isolettes. We're definitely looking forward to the day they can come home with us and hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

All three boys are still progressing extremely well. They've all had their IVs removed, are taking food well and are starting to learn how to breastfeed (Tyler seems to be grasping it the quickest). All three boys spent several days under going photo-therapy for their jaundice but those lights were all removed yesterday as the jaundice has cleared up. It's so nice to see their regular color (not the blue tinge we'd been seeing from the lights) and to see their eyes again as while under the lights they had to wear goggle type things to protect their eyes.

Top to bottom is Jackson, Tyler & Chase. Look how huge that preemie diaper is on Ty!

Right now the boys are working on regulating their body temperatures. Basically the nurse turns down their isolette air temperature bit by bit (it's currently 86 degrees in there) and monitor the baby's body temperature to see if they are handling the temp changes. Once they can regulate their temperature they'll be moved into a regular crib, which will be wonderful!

Helen's Birth Update

Originally posted 8.29.07

I finally have a minute to breathe and update here!

First, thank you all for your prayers - they have obviously been working. Not only did I have a great pregnancy, but the boys are doing wonderfully in the NICU! I wanted to give you a little insight into the last 3 days while sparing you the gross details (like things we overheard during the c-section).

Monday morning at 4am my water broke. I don't think I've gotten out of bed that fast in months! Once in the bathroom I realized that for sure that's what was going on and I woke Nick up. Thankfully just hours before this all happened I had decided we should have my bag packed - "just in case", so we were able to grab our things quickly and were out the door in minutes. On the way to the hospital I called the on-call doctor to let him know my water broke and we were on our way. 15 minutes later we were walking (yes I walked in) into the Labor and Delivery unit of the hospital, where they hooked me up to heart monitors for all three boys and hooked up a contraction monitor. I didn't even realize at the time that I was contracting! The nurse checked for dilation and I was 3 cm, by the time the doctor checked me 45 minutes later I was 5 cm and I could feel some of the contractions! At that point the Dr. said we were having the babies and off we went to the OR for my c-section. It was so odd to suddenly go from no kids to 3 kids within 2 hours time!

After my initial C-section recovery in Labor and Delivery I was rolled up (bed and all) to the NICU so I could see my boys. They even let me hold little Jackson :)

The rest of my day was spent in bed, constantly being poked and prodded by nurses and doctors. Nick made several trips up to the NICU so that he could keep me updated. I'm feeling better and better each day, and there's talk of discharging me tomorrow perhaps (depending on how I feel).

The boys are doing remarkably well right now. They have yet to need any breathing assistance! All three are wigglers, but especially Tyler - he's constantly wiggling all the way to the edge of his isolette. Earlier today Tyler had his IV removed and the nurses are hoping Jackson and Chase will follow later tonight. All three now have feeding tubes in their noses and are taking food well. Chase is under some photo-therapy lights right now due to some jaundice, which is to be expected. All three boys have now been held by one of us - Nick held Chase yesterday and I held Tyler today! Hopefully we'll have some more pictures to post soon - my digital camera decided now would be a good time to not work anymore... grrr!

Love to you all!

Jackson 4lbs 4oz

Tyler 3lbs 11oz
Chase 4lbs 7oz