on thier own schedule...

Look very closely at Avery's face....what do you notice?? No feeding tube!! So even back at the very beginning of thier lives, the kiddos have decided what 'things' were necessary. The boys decided they were done with oxygen...as shown by them sucking on it rather than having the prongs up their noses, they took turns pulling out their IV's, and now Avery decided today she's done with her feeding tube! It's good and bad. As long as she can continue taking her full bottles, then she won't have to have it back in! But if she doesn't, then it will go back....but so far so good on the feedings without it! She took at full bottle at 3 for daddy, and another one at 6 for uncle alex! The boys are also doing very well taking their bottles!! At 6, Colby took his whole bottle for Halley and Zach took his whole one for me!! (i encouraged them to yank their tubes tonight too!! :) )
The 'food prep' ladies now put their food in bottles instead of the syringes which is another good step!! The only problem with their feedings is multiple nurses have reported to us that they are "night time feeders"....which means they eat much better and more consistently through the nights than they do the days. It's great that they're eating....BUT that means the whole family is on a night-shift schedule except for mom....and it will probably be easier to switch one person's schedule than 4...so i'm out numbered. Looks like we will be sleeping with the sun up and eating when it goes down!

Wish there was more to update on...but we're really just waiting for them to decided to take all their bottles, then we're brining them home!! So....in the mean time, here are a few more cute pics from the past few days....

Avery riding the rollercoaster (this happens everytime you un-swaddle her)

Colby looking cute
Zach saying hi

Avery sucking her paci/thumb...she's got a good system going on!

Colby cheesin for momZach sleeping peacefully...covering his ear....it gets noisy in the NICU sometimes!!

getting their man cards

My poor baby boys! Good news and bad news all at once-they got circ'ed today. Good news b/c that's one of the things they do within a few days of them coming home. Bad news b/c it had to hurt them. =( Mom and i stepped out and let the dr. do his thing, and the nurse gave us the report when we got back-Colby was the loudest, Avery was the second loudest (the reason behind her tears is questionable...we're wondering if it was b/c her brothers were getting hurt, or b/c they were getting more attention than she was), and Zach "took it like a man". I stayed late to give them extra cuddle time and to make me feel a little better, they didn't seem too upset by it. When i called for my 4am checkin, the nurse said the boys had taken 3 whole bottles in a row!! (Of course it's the nurse with the magic touch to get them to drink the whole thing, but we'll take it!!!) We still don't have a projected coming home date, but it's definitely getting closer!

A long time coming

<--Avery gets a little payback kicking Colby around

I know it has been 3 days since Kara or I posted an update on the blog. Strangely enough, it was 3 days since I had seen the babies. It was the worst feeling, knowing how much I wanted to go see them but not being able to. This week was a long week at work so it didn't afford the opportunity to get to the hospital. Today, Kara and I got to spend the majority of the day with the kiddos. There really aren't things changing at a rapid pace. All of the babies are doing great. We now have 4 pound babies with no umbilical cords. That's right, all of the cords have fallen out! They are all feeding more regularly but still are not up to the level that they need to come home. Avery and Zach are bottle feeding about every other or every third feeding and Colby is every 3rd to 4th feeding. Colby has turned out to be our little lazy boy. He figured since he came out the biggest, he could relax and let his brother and sister catch up. Uncle Alex and Hallie (sorry if I spelled your name wrong) came to visit today. They are in town for a few days so they are going to get to visit a couple times. Kara's Uncle Brad also came for a visit. We had a great system going for feeding time. One person held a baby while the other held the feeding tube. Wish it was goind to be that easy when we bring them home!

Here are the bath time pictures from yesterday!! http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=165zx8f1.47c7wxat&x=0&y=-ks3r1f&localeid=en_US

Today was pretty uneventful! I get a daily call from the resident with an update on the babies, and today she reported that she feels like a broken record b/c she says the same thing every day...but i'll take it! They're all growing, they're all improving with their bottles, they're all peeing/pooing, and they're all doing great!!! Zach is our champion bottle taker...he was up to 40% of his feeds yesterday!! They say that's how it usually works out for the little guy! (and don't worry about the wet spot on his outfit...mom spilled the contents of the alcohol swab on the outside of his diaper after she changed him, so we didn't bother to go for outfit #3!!)

When i got there today and was changing them before their 3 o'clock feed, i noticed Colby didn't have his cord anymore!! Yay! he has such a cute little tummy!!

Aunt Linda came to visit the babies this afternoon, and we all (me, mom and linda) decided we would be the perfect people to get paid to rock babies for a living...too bad they don't pay for that job! They do have a few ladies that volunteer as "cuddlers" who come a few times a week to rock the babies and give them some extra lovin!

Since the babies are doing so well, mom and i took advantage of the time for a photo shoot...so we piled the babies on!!

We have a 4 pound baby!!! And had lots of fun giving baths today!

So this has to be short and sweet b/c i'm already late getting in the shower (the story of my life)...and mom will be here soon to pick me up to go to the hospital.

Last night when i called to check on the babies and get their new weights....i found out we have a 4lb baby!! The new weights are: Avery-3lbs. 12.4oz, Colby- 4 POUNDS 1 OUNCE!!!, and Zachary-3lbs. 11.2oz. They are getting so big!!! And eating so well...and are really cute! ;)

Josh and i also got to give them baths yesterday! I gave Avery her bath while josh took pics, then he gave Colby his bath while i took pics, then Josh had to go to work, so I gave Zach his bath, but don't have any pics to show for it! poor little guy. i promise i won't always make him go last!!

More to come later!!! Check back tonight!!

malaria of the butt???

Sorry to everyone who didn't have an update to read with breakfast!! Once again, josh sat next to the computer while i slept last night, but he didn't pick it up to write anything. So here i go again....and for the rest of the week because he's back to work tonight.



Especially in the last few months of my pregnancy, while i laid on the couch for 2 1/2 months, Josh has really stepped up to the plate. He has worked relentlessly through my "honey do" lists, was the one who put the nursery together, and did an awesome job taking care of me. He was in a routine of getting home from work, "bussing" the ledge above the couch where i put all my dirty dishes, running the dishwasher (even limiting the amount of bowls i was allowed to use, b/c the top shelf of the dishwasher would get full and "if you put bowls on the bottom the things on top wouldn't get clean"), doing our laundry etc. While i wish that kind of pampering could go on forever...he's now switched into "daddy mode". From the second the babies were born, he was totally sold. He was down in the NICU at every opportunity he got (even when he would rather be sleeping and i woke him up to deliver a tiny syringe full of "mommy juice" to the NICU, he didn't complain too loudly). He's never changed a diaper before...and he was the one reaching his hands into the isolettes-changing diapers, cleaning cords, changing clothes, and tucking them all back in to their swaddles and positioners....he's been awesome. There have been moments though, that i wish i had a video camera to record all of his responses and reactions to the newness of everything. For example, poor Princess has a little diaper rash. (Truly i'm suprised they all don't have one, b/c they poop non stop!!). They have balmex cream to put on it...which josh hasn't ever used before. Well, Josh was on diaper duty, and he changed Avery and i asked how the rash looked. He said it wasn't little pimples like it was the day before...now it was more like "malaria of the butt". I think that says it all.

Josh is in trouble...and my kids are GENIUSES!!!!

So Josh set up the blog and was all about it for the first week...but now he's failing us! I was on blog duty thurs-sat nights since he was at work, so that left sun-tues nights for him.....and we've yet to hear from him.

Anyways... :) ....yesterday we spent a nice and relaxing evening with the babies. I like to stay until 7 so i can see who their night nurse is going to be, and as we were getting ready to leave, Josh's parents walked in! I was excited to be there while they were there b/c the other times they were visiting the babies, i was stuck in the hospital room! They got to hold the kiddos for the first time too tonight!!

We also got to be there for their 9:00 routine....which includes vitals, weights and diaper/clothing changes. This is what my little squirmy nakey babies (Avery and Colby) looked like! SO CUTE! They all continue to gain weight...and little Zachy has almost caught up to Avery in weight!! (Colby's still the big guy!)

Here's another cute one of Zach checkin out his brother!

And here's Colby looking like he wants to suck his thumb...but the paci got in the way!

Now on to my GENIUSES!!! They have been working with their bottles a few times a day...typically when they're most awake and seem like they might be interested (sucking their pacifiers, rooting etc.). They've all taken part of their bottles, but last night THEY ALL 3 TOOK THEIR WHOLE BOTTLE at their midnight feeding!!!!! I told nurse Amy she was hired and not allowed to leave b/c apparently she had the magic touch...but here we are at 33weeks 4days drinking an entire bottle! (when typically they dont' even start trying at bottle with the babies until 34 weeks!!!) Such smart little babies!!!

Colby was successful today!!!

Phew! I'm so glad to report that Colby took his bottle today!!! 10 mls!! And was fed by Mommy!!! No hard feelings anymore!!

Also, Avery took another 6mls. this afternoon from Daddy....and Zach took the bottle again from mommy...14mls!!

Now we just need a little more down each time....combined with all of them remembering to breathe and swallow in the process!! Once they take the whole bottle consistently for a few days, the feeding tubes will come out...and 48hours later (pending no problems) they will come home!! YAY!!!

We had lots of visitors today....Great Aunt Kathy and MarcyAuntie Kim and Brian They drove down from BG....and despite Brian's best efforts to take a baby (Avery) with him, there are still 3 sleeping beauties in their crib! ;)

And of course Mamaw came to see her grandbabies and brought Great Uncle Brad to meet them too!

It was a long day at the hospital for Mommy (and the babies!!)...but we finally got a picture of our whole family once daddy go there. Something we will cherish forever!

Oh yeah....one more priceless picture from today....

we tried bottles today!!!

The babies are doing great! They have officially been labeled "feeders and growers" now....which means that there are no obstacles to overcome at this point...they just need to master how to eat....and then they can come home!! So to get them going, we tried bottles for the first time today!!!!! It was Adorable! 2 out of 3 babies were semi-successful with the bottles...and they all 3 burped!! Both Avery and Zach drank out of the bottle 7mls. of their dinner!! (which was just under 1/4 of their bottle) Avery was our "demo baby", so the nurse fed her and showed us how to do it (not quite the same way you'd feed a "term baby"). She was wide awake and seemed to get the hang of it...but then just got too tired and went to sleep.Then Josh tried Zach. He also had some success. Then the poor little guy got the hiccups and didn't want anything to do with the bottle anymore. And then there was Colby....while he's the big guy, he's also the lazy guy who likes his food put straight in his belly for him. Of course that was who mommy was trying to feed...stinker!! I was hysterical through the process so that didn't do much to help him i'm sure. He was making the cutest, funniest faces and really wanted nothing to do with the bottle in his mouth. His little tongue would flick it straight out! Finally we called it quits when he dropped his heartrate (and made the monitors beep), and decided we'd just have to try again tomorrow. Who knows when or how long it will take them to get the hang of it...the NICU resident dr. talked to me tonight and said that a lot of times it happens all of a sudden and they just decide that they're ready to eat! As smart as our kids are though..i'm sure it won't be long! :)

They also got a visit from their Aunt Jamie and Auntie Shel!! Everyone agrees they are the cutest things ever!!!

1 week old!!

Here's some pics from yesterday...they are 1 week old!! http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=165zx8f1.4cbbvc85&x=0&y=1zwu3d&localeid=en_US
I'm anxious to get to the hospital today....they get to try bottles!!! YAY!!
Latest weights....Avery 3lb4oz, Colby 3lb9.5oz, Zachary 3lb3.5oz! All gaining weight and doing great!

not so nicu-ish anymore!!

After a call to the nurse to check on the babies last night, Josh and I were reassured that the babies were doing great (even though we weren't there to see for ourselves) and we finally got a good nights sleep....which was MUCH needed. We woke up with a phone call from the resident giving us the update-again all good news. She said that the babies all like to keep up with each other...what one does, they all do. She was anticipating that they would all be in an open air crib by the end of the day, maxed out on their food, and they all had their bili levels checked for the last time (unless they start looking yellow). We went to see them about 2 this afternoon and walked in to 2 out of the 3 babies in the open air crib (Avery and Zach)...and then within the next 45 minutes, Colby got his temperature checked and joined them! They all had thier pulse-ox monitors taken off (one less wire!!) and are down to a few leads that monitor their heartrates and their feeding tubes! THAT'S ALL! They don't look so NICU-ish anymore, and mommy and daddy couldn't be happier!! The nurse also said that since they were taking their pacifiers so well when they were getting fed (putting 2 and 2 together that sucking=full belly) that they would probably try a bottle next week!! (which is ahead of the typical timeline for their age...my kids are geniuses!!) Daddy very reluctantly had to leave for work...but before he left, here's the pic we took....

can you tell i'm a happy mama?? I spent the rest of the afternoon/early evening with them, and found out that at this point, i'm producing enough "mommy juice" that they were only going to have that through the night b/c i had so much stocked up for them!! Talk about motivation to wake up every 3 hours!

Oh yeah! We can't forget the big brother!! Cooper came home from grandma and grandpa's house last night and was VERY excited to see us. We put a blanket in each of the baby's isolettes with them and got their scent on it. After saying hi with lots of kisses for mommy and daddy, he finally settled down and took a nap. At first, he didn't care about the blankets, but before we knew it....

he was all snuggled up. He definitely knows something is up. While his mommy is still a little slow getting around...he fits on her lap again!!! He thinks "the big belly is gone...but where are the babies she keeps telling me about??" He can finally relax everytime i come home after all the uncertainty and confusion of last week...little does he know what's going to happen when i come home with 3 babies in the next few weeks!!!
Well...the pain meds are kicking in, and before i start blabbing about who knows what, one more pump, then off to bed for a few hours!! i'm ready to feel better, but know that as much as i want to spend every waking minute with the babies (or bragging about my sweet babies), a little rest while i can is the best thing i can to do help the recovery along!! GOOD NIGHT!!!
today's pictures: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=165zx8f1.506zw2hh&x=0&y=d0zn8r&localeid=en_US

Our New Tax Deductions

Zachary Kevin in his first outfit

Colby Alexander in his first outfit

Avery Grace in her first outfit

Happy tax day! Kara got to come home today!! We are stting on the couch trying to relax and unwind from a crazy couple of days. We just got off the phone with Holly, the babies NICU nurse for the night. She reported that all of the babies are doing great and fast asleep. Today was exciting. All three babies go to put on sleepers for the first time. They looked so cute all dressed up! It covered up the leads used to monitor the heart rates so they looked like they were ready to come home (except for their little feeding tube lines). I know they really aren't but they are making great strides everyday. They are all maxed out on the food intake. The next step is to put a protien fortifyer in the milk to add calories and pack on the weight. Since they were tolerating the max feeds, all of the IV lines have come out. The temperatures inside the cribs is coming down and the nurses have told us the lids will be coming off either tomorrow or Friday. I can't believe how fast everything is going. No oxygen, no IV lines, no tanning lamps, and pretty soon no heated cribs. The last line they are hooked up to is the nasal line that is feeding them. In the pictures you can see Zach's line was in his mouth. When we talked to the nurse, she said that he had pulled it out himself (not painful) so it was reinserted in his nose just like Avery and Colby's. The ugly piece of white tape on his upper lip is gone also. They all look so happy! We will be visiting them tomorrow before I go back to work.
This was not an easy day. It's not the typical homecoming that typically comes with having a baby. But knowing they are in good hands and well taken care of is reassuring. It's hard being home, not pregnant, with no kids, but we are going to try to enjoy our last few days of quiet-ness before we don't have that anymore!!

today's pictures: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=165zx8f1.5xqjm2c5&x=0&y=1zbb0i&localeid=en_US

And on the 4th day....

<- Mommy and Avery

So the babies are 4 days old and already they are developing their own personalities. Avery is the rambunctious, vocal baby in our lives. If she is not happy you will know about it. Colby definitely takes after his dad. He will get a burst of energy and it will last a while, but when he is ready to sleep there is no waking him. Today we took a two hour nap while he was sleeping on my chest (pic included). Zach likes to stretch out as long as he can and wiggles a little but he is usually quiet and relaxed. All 3 babies are off of their IV fluids. They are eating enough now so they don't need any help hydrating. Avery and Zach are no longer using the tanning lamps either. One day was enough to chase away the jaundice. They are all coming along so quickly it is truly amazing. Kara is still improving by the day. I know I wrote yesterday that she should be getting out today but that didn't happen. Dr. Coppage wanted to see her improve one more day, making sure that she would be able to get around on her own. She walked more today and got a shower. She spent about 5 hours in the NICU with the kids which is the most so far. It would have been longer but the doctor's kept calling her back to the room so they could take 2 minutes to check her out. We got moved to the 13th floor since she no longer required oxygen and we are getting discharged tomorrow (this time I am sure). I know she is looking forward to getting home and spending some time with the dog and get a nights sleep without the nurse's interruptions, but it will be hard to leave the babies here. I know two or three weeks seems like a long time until they get to come home but it will go by quickly. After tomorrow, if anyone is driving down 75 and wants to either visit the babies or just be a taxi, call us! She is not going to be able to drive for 2 or 3 weeks so we may be able to get her down to the hospital more often with your help, especially when I am working. I have included a link to more pictures. A lot of people have asked why I haven't posted more pictures but I am working on it. I mean, give me a break, we just had 3 babies ;)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=165zx8f1.b2sj5ofp&x=0&y=-37niz4&localeid=en_US

~Colby relaxes in mommys arms~

Today was another interesting day of twists and turns. As new parents we experience something for the first time everyday. When we walked in to the NICU today we saw Avery and Zachary under what looked like tanning lamps. At first I was kind of jealous because I am as pale as a ghost. Both babies were a little jaundiced so they get to lay out in the sun for a little while. It was somewhat disturbing or upsetting to see but the nurses reassured us it is perfectly normal and that the babies are fine. Since Avery and Zach were basting, Kara was only able to cuddle with Colby today. I shouldn't say she was "only able" because I don't want to diminish what that means to all of us. On an up note, all of the babies are getting close to coming out of their isolates and into an open air crib together. The temperatures inside the isolates are set at 34 degrees Celsius to start. As the babies are able to stabilize their body temperatures on their own the temperature gets lowered. The goal air temperature for them to come out is 28 degrees Celsius. Right now all three are under 29 degrees so they are almost there. If you want to know what that calculates to in Fahrenheit, you will have to google it because I don't have a clue. Also, Zach's nasal cannula came out today so he is breathing all on his own. Beth, the nurse said that he had yanked it out of his nose several times and either put it in his eyes or started chewing on the tube so it wasn't doing much good anyways. Kara is on her feet and moving around much better. She gets run down pretty easy but is feeling stronger by the day. She should be able to come home tomorrow (Tuesday). I am getting ready to wake her up right now to do our nightly feeding. Post more soon.

Lazy days

<-Mommy's first kangaroo time with Colby

Yesterday was a lazy Easter Sunday. It was by far the best Easter of our lives. Kara's mom and brother were here for a majority of the day and we got two visits from my parents who brought my grandma down. I stayed away from the computer so there were no new updates. Kara is up and moving around much better. Kara got to visit with the babies in the early afternoon but wasn't felling that well so it was a short trip. The staff had made the decision to take her off oxygen. That only lasted a few hours before she had to get hooked up again. Then we got a new nurse who we both agree was a godsend. Her name was Jeanie. Jeanie was hard nosed but compassionate at the same time. She lectured Kara on how she HAD to get up and move around in order to heal. She told Kara that she would be here to assist but it would be up to Kara to get herself out of bed and into the bathroom. She regulated Kara's pain medication which for some reason hadn't been done before and stressed the importance of baby visits. She pretty much ordered Kara to the NICU. Once we got there for an evening visit you could see Kara's spirit lift and she looked healthier. She started with holding Colby skin to skin (Kangaroo care). I did the same with Avery. After 45 minutes or so, she switched to Zachary and stayed with him another 45 minutes or so. It was as if all the pain and all her worries drifted away. She made the comment that it was the best medicine she has ever had. It was a special time. We then got the most rest/ sleep that we have had since Thursday. There were no doctor's in and out and Jeanie stayed out as much as possible. I am feeling refreshed and I just asked Kara if she was feeling the same. She said she wasn't as refreshed but she looks better. After lunch we are going to head back to the NICU for another visit. There is still no time table on when Kara gets to go home as she is still hooked up to oxygen. I don't think she is in any rush to be released because our room at the hospital is much closer to the babies then our house is. It takes us all of 2 minutes to get to them now as opposed to 45 minutes if we came from the house. I will let you know when something changes.

<-Mommy's 1st Kangaroo time with Zachary