Saturday, October 31, 2009

Triplet Update

Hello everyone,

All babies had a quiet night which was a blessing to hear for once. Babies are doing well and being monitored very closely as always...bloodwork, xrays, etc. We were going to be able to hold Katie and Nicholas today but Katie had to have a PIC line put in her leg,(small surgical procedure to place a central IV line for long term placement of fluids and tranfusions, they take out the belly button IV at that time also since that is temporary.) Nicholas and Anna have already had there long term PIC lines placed last week. Possibly able to hold tomorrow if babies are stable, still waiting to hold Anna since she is up and down on ventilator setting so much.

Good news to report Anna was first to open her eye-only her right eye but at least she finally has done something her siblings haven't beat her to! Ofcourse we have a very long road ahead but we have so much hope for them and always will. Thank you so much for all the comments they are so encouraging to us more than you all could imagine. Much love to everyone and be well!
Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Footprints...

New Pics!

Nicholas resting and comfy on his belly...


Katie Lounging

Louie & Katie - First diaper change!

Katie's first diaper change!


Anna sleeping peacefully...

Friday, October 30, 2009

Hello from Sarah and Louie...

First we would like to thank everyone over and over again who is supporting us through this difficult time. This is by far the hardest time in our lives, and this site has allowed us to read prayers and encourage us everyday, we never get through comments tear free for sure!!! We take one hour at a time.

The babies are doing well considering the "micropremie" title they have been given by the NICU, they all have daily struggles and will continue to do so as expected for months. Anna is exactly the way we imagined her, so calm and fragile just fighting away. She has fuzzy blonde hair with a little curl starting. Katie also arrived with the personality we imagined, fiesty with an attitude, a true fighter from the start! She even cried the loudest at delivery...the pediatric and NICU team informed us that babies born at 24wks gestation may not cry and we were lucky enough to hear all 3 cry for a few seconds. Nicholas is a good mix of Anna and Katie with his personality, fiesty sometimes and so calm on others and usually putting his right hand in his diaper. He is covered with intense strawberry blonde hair and sporting a dandy unibrow... I am pretty sure he got that from me if anybody remembers my younger years with carpets for eyebrows. My mother let me go for years before I finally found tweezers... Thanks Mom. All 3 are of course beautiful miracles so full of courage, they are loved more than life itself. People have always told us there is nothing more rewarding, and love like no other than when you become parents and boy were they right!!! We have never felt like this ever before that is for sure... so full of love, hope, and fear, riding the "parent rollercoaster." We have to stay strong though especially for the 3 children we have brought into this world at 6mos gestation who will need our strength.

Funny Louie story...Louie stood up during the C-Section to stay by the incubators as the babies were being delivered, he walked by me still undergoing my C-Section, obviously not realizing what a c-section would look like and almost hit the floor...later he said was close to yelling, "I'm out!" But all turned out well for him and he never did pass out. I was so proud of him. Unfortunetly I don't have any funny stories about me yet but I'm sure there will be one soon to come. I was lucky enough to experience pregnancy and feeling my babies kick and move for 6 mos-it was amazing. I was also able to experience 24+hrs of LABOR with those lovely contractions 3-5mins apart for 12-13 of the 24hrs, and then I was able to experience a C-Section. But all turned out well thankgoodness, as we have 3 beautiful children we are thankful for everyday!!!!!!!!!!!

As you all know we are at the hospital and in the NICU everyday for most of it. We are currently staying at the Sheraton because the Ronald McDonald house didn't have room available until 11/1 Sunday-the Sheraton gave us a free room for 5 nights...Nice huh? We are so thankful because we would of had to sleep in the car in the parking garage...just kidding. The NICU expects the babies to be there until a couple weeks before their due date of 2/10/10. So we have a long road ahead but we have hope and know even on the hardest days there will always be another one to follow that will be better! We will try to do daily updates with pictures throughout our journey and thank you for being patient with us.
Much love to everyone, we miss you all so much and hope all is well with you and your families... God Bless.

Love,
Louie, Sarah, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Sarah & Katie!

Here's a pic of Sarah and Katie doing Kangaroo Care. Sarah said yesterday was a long day in the NICU. All babies are hanging in there, but they all have their own daily obstacles to get through - never a dull moment. She hopes to be able to hold Anna soon!

She's going to call today and hopefully give me another update! I'll post as soon as I have more info.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Kangaroo Care

Sarah got to hold Nicholas this morning! They call it Kangaroo Care! I'll try to get another update with more info soon! :-)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Thank You!

Thank you all for the comments - Sarah and Louie say Thank You too! I'm passing along messages to them, and they will be set up with a computer soon, so that they can see all the comments you've posted. They're thrilled that so many people are responding. I am too!

Much love to all of you!
Gretch

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Update!

Update from Sarah:

The triplets are holding on strong and developing normally for premature babies! Anna and Katie were given medication yesterday for a slight murmur in the heart - Sarah assured us this is normal, as they tend to develop a muscle flap in their heart due to less blood flow, because they don't cry yet. Nicholas may be developing the same murmur, but they think he will recover from it without medication.

Sarah says that some days she and Louie feel comfortable with their progress, and other days they worry constantly. The nurses have told them that this is normal too, to expect the ups and downs.

Today Sarah is planning to be able to hold Katie! They'll lay her on Sarah's chest, and bundle them up together, so it will feel like the womb, and she can hear Sarah's heartbeat. They'll be taking lots of pictures that I hope to post soon!

Sarah says they all have their little personalities already. The nurses all joke that Katie and Nicholas are racing each other to get out of the NICU. Katie's leading the pack right now!

Nicholas is quite the little charmer. He managed to undo the velcro on his diaper and bare all to the nurses while he peed straight up into the air.

Sarah and Louie are moving to the Ronald McDonald house today and are planning to be settled in there by this evening.

They'll be getting vaccinated for H1N1, and we should be able to visit them this week - though it'll be awhile before we can see the babies!

Can't wait to hold those kids!

Love,
Cousin Gretch!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Testing!

Message from Sarah: We are heading to get the report on today's testing on the babies. Will let you know!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

PHOTOS!

Here they are! These were taken with a cell phone, so they're a little blurry - but we'll take what we can get! :-)

More Photos!

Anna holding onto Sarah's finger...


Katie with her hands together...


Nicholas - so precious!

Anna Pooped!

This is exciting! Just talked to Sarah on the phone, and heard that little Anna pooped! A good sign that all is working well! :-)

Sarah and Louie will be moving to the Ronald McDonald house on Tuesday!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Grandma is Home!

Grandma Linda made it home from her vacation and has heard the news! She's very sick with a bug, and we hope she gets better and can see the babies soon!

The babies are still holding on strong.
We heard today that little Anna grabbed onto Sarah's pinky!

Their feet are the length from the top of Sarah's thumb to her knuckle, and their legs are as big as Sarah's index finger.

So tiny!

Triplets are Born!

The news we have so far is that the babies have been born early!
Anna (1lb 6oz), Nicholas (1lb 7oz), and Katie (1lb 7oz)

Due to the outbreak of H1N1, they're not allowing visitors. I hope to get some photos soon!