Thank you

Brent and I can't express our gratefulness for the many cards, e-mails and notes of encouragement we have received. We appreciate the many people who were able to come out the the service. Everyone's love and support were evident. We had a good Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas. Some days are harder than others and I find myself looking at Matthew and Anna Kate and breaking down because they look like Andrew. But, I am glad that we have a constant reminder of him.

Matthew and Anna Kate are doing well. They both have an appointment at the cardiologist next week as well as an appointment at the Pediatrician. I will be sure to post information on their weights when we have them. But, both of them are doing well!

Obituary

Here is the link to Andrew's obituary from the Greenville News:

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OBITUARIES&pagename=obittext&searchdate=2008-11-23

Memorial Service

We will have a memorial service for Andrew on Monday, November 24 at 7:00pm. The service will be in the chapel at Mackey Mortuary on Century Drive in Greenville.

In Heaven with Jesus

Andrew's struggles on earth are over. He went to be with Jesus at 9:45 pm. As difficult as this is, it is an answer to prayer. Earlier tonight, we met with the neurologist and learned that about 3/4 of his brain was gone. The doctor told us that he would be be confined to bed, dependant on a feeding tube and totally unaware of anyone's presence. We prayed that the Lord would sustain his life as long as he willed. We were able to hold him and love him for the last three and a half hours of his life. God is a God of mercy and we thank him that he was merciful to Andrew.

I will post the information once arrangements have been made.

Extensive Damage

We will be meeting with a neurologist and others in the NICU mid-week. With the brain, there is no way to know exactly what the outcome will be. The CT scan showed extensive damage. They are going to try to give us some idea of a spectrum based on the damage they see. We know that God is able to do a mighty work-and we are praying that he does. The doctor tonight said it would not be likely that he will be able to walk, talk or even feed himself. Please continue to pray for healing, strength and wisdom.

Tough News to Hear

They got the results of Andrew's head ultrasound yesterday, and we got some tough news. Andrew has PVL (periventricular leukomalacia) which is a form of brain damage that can be devastating. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is characterized by the death of the white matter of the brain due to softening of the brain tissue. It can affect fetuses or newborns; premature babies are at the greatest risk of the disorder. PVL is caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the periventricular area of the brain, which results in the death or loss of brain tissue. The periventricular area-the area around the spaces in the brain called ventricles-contains nerve fibers that carry messages from the brain to the body's muscles. This was most likely caused by the brain bleed. But, the doctor said he also has it in other areas of the brain that they would not expect. So, they did a CT scan yesterday to see if there may be another problem that is causing the brain tissue to die. We need to meet with the doctors in the next few days. The doctor I spoke with yesterday gave me the impression that the damage was pretty extensive. He said he is at very high risk for cerebral palsy and decreased mental functioning. They said that we really won't know what the damage is until later when he should start walking/crawling, talking etc. What I have read is that kids with significant damage often can't walk or talk.

All of that said-I am brought back to the lesson I am constantly learning in the journey-despite what the doctors say and the tests show-GOD is constant. He is the unchanging piece of this puzzle. Brent and I prayed that we could have kids and that God would enable us to raise them to serve Him. That has not changed and we know that Andrew will be able to do all he things that God has for him in his life. He has touched so many people already. We pray that God will do a mighty work and that he will not see significant impact from the findings and that he will not have lasting complications from his other "issues". However, despite all of the "imperfections" that the doctors keep finding-he is perfect in the sight of God and he loves him and wants only good things for him.

He is feeding and has been doing well with that so far. He is getting a small amount of milk continuously through his NG tube. He has come down a little on his vent settings. His wound is continuing to heal and hopefully in the next week or so, they can give him steroids to help with his lungs.

Matthew and Anna Kate are perfecting the art of crying and screaming. So far, they are both pretty skilled in this area! But, all in all, things are going well with them.

I am encouraged by the many people praying for us and for our kids. This is not an easy time right now-but God's grace is sufficient. I have never been good with "unknowns". I am the type of person who wants to know what the end destination is so I can map it all out. For me, that is the toughest part of all of this. But, God in his wisdom only allows us to see what we need for the moment and promises to give us the strength to sustain us.

Update

Well, I wish I could say that things have gotten easier for Andrew, but that is not the case. They started feeding him yesterday and had to stop last night because his stomach became enlarged. They were able to feed on continuous feeds for most of the day before they had a problem and he has been able to move something through his bowels which are all good signs. They may retry feeding tomorrow or the next day. They did a chest x-ray today and his lungs are not in good shape. Today they have had to increase his rate on the ventilator from 25 breaths per minute to 35 and then to 40. He has a lot of secretions and they have started PT every 6 hours. Basically, they tap on his chest to try to break up the "junk" in there. The doctor explained that they often give steroids to kids who have lung disease like he does. The steroids help the inflammation in the lungs. But, they also can prevent wounds from healing. And since his incision has opened, they don't want to do that right now. Another difficulty is that he can't transition from the ventilator to CPAP because of the air that CPAP blows into the stomach. So, looks like it is going to be a longer road than we thought to get him off the ventilator. When they were doing his chest x-ray, it appeared that his heart may be enlarged. So, they ordered an echo on him-which I have not heard the results of. He is scheduled for an ultrasound of his head tomorrow. I am praying that it is improved. I thank God that we have not had to deal with that while all of the other challenges have been going on. It would be wonderful if it resolves on its own and a shunt is not needed. Right now, he couldn't get one if he needs one. They were able to come down on his pain meds a little today and he seems to be tolerating that well. So, that is good news. Although I haven't looked at it, they tell me his incision is looking better. Please pray that his lungs improve and that they won't need to go up on the vent settings. They are going to do another x-ray on Thursday. Also, continue to pray that his feedings will be successful and that we will see improvement with the hydrocephalus.

Matthew and Anna Kate went to the doctor on Monday and had a great report. Anna Kate now weighs 6.1 lbs and Matthew weighs 7.10lbs. They are both adjusting well to being home. Like many newborns, they are fussy in the evenings-but other than that-I can't complain. I am very thankful for all the help and support we have been getting. Brent's parents have been wonderful and my mom was a huge help when she was here. Almost every week, I meet someone new who knows about the kids or Andrew specifically and has been praying for them. Last week, I saw the cleaning lady at the hospital. She cleaned my room when I was in the hospital and she cleans the NICU. She asked me how the kids were doing at home and then told me that she is praying for Andrew. I was so touched that she knew his name. A nurse told me that another one of the nurses said his name is on the prayer list at her church. To my knowledge, I don't know anyone who goes to that church-but people are praying everywhere. I can't wait to be able to tell him when he is older about the many things God brought him through.

Too fast too soon

Well, they tried to take Andrew off the vent today and had to put him back on within 15 minutes. He is not ready to breathe on his own yet. It is a fine line that the doctors walk. They don't want to push him, but they don't want him to suffer life-long difficulties because of the interventions they are using. His lungs are at risk for damage because of the vent and his liver is having problems because of the fluids they have to give him because he can't eat. Please pray that he won't have long-term difficulties because of the medical interventions they are having to use. One of the doctors stopped by today and said his progress will be in small steps. He gained weight again today. We are still praying he will get rid of his excess fluid on his own without medical intervention.

Update

They have come down some on Andrew's pain meds and he is alert and looking around. His incision has started to heal-but that will take several weeks. I haven't seen it since it opened-but the nurses said it is pretty bad. The doctor want to try and get him off the vent today. I am a little nervous, because he can't go on CPAP because of his stomach. So, he will go from the vent to just a nasal cannula. He is still holding a lot of fluid and is over 8lbs. His head was very full yesterday and I am praying it is because of the adema and not the hydrocephalus. We have been so thankful that we haven't had any issues with his head recently. We are praying that continues.

We need to pray that when they start to feed him, it is successful.

Matthew and Anna Kate are doing well at home. It is amazing how much they look alike!

Matthew is home!

We brought Matthew home last night and he seems to be adjusting well. I must say, two is a lot different than one-and I can't imagine what three will be like!

It was hard going to the hospital today. Andrew's incision has opened up because he is so bloated and he is very restless and appears to be in pain. He has come down some more on the vent settings and is breathing some on his own. The surgeon said we should know in a few days if the reattachment went well or if they will have to come up with plan B. He said we are doing better, but there are still many hurdles to jump and things that could go wrong. My heart goes out to him and I want to help him. It is a very helpless feeling to watch him suffer. Please continue to pray for his recovery and that we will be able to lean on God for strength.

A Good Night

Andrew had a good night. They were able to come down on the ventilator settings and have been able to decrease his blood pressure meds. Since surgery, they have had him on medication that makes it so he can't move-basically, he has been paralyzed. They decided to slowly stop that medication and try to wake him up. The doctor said we couldn't have had a better night and that he thinks we have turned a corner. I can't tell everyone how much we appreciate their prayers. He has a long road ahead of him, but by God's Grace he will make it.

Some Improvement

Today has been a better day for Andrew. He has been taken off the oscillator and put back on the regular ventilator. The doctor said that on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most critical, Andrew was at least a 9 yesterday. This afternoon he put him at an 8 and said that if we get through the weekend he will feel much better about his chances for pulling through. We appreciate every one's encouragement.

Andrew Update

Last night I took an Ambien and Peg fed Anna Kate so I could sleep. So, I didn't call the hospital during the night. When we were there yesterday, they told use he could get worse before he gets better. Well, that is where we are now. I don't know all of the terms and functions, but one of his oscillator settings that has to do with oxygen exchange is as high as it can go. We are truly learning early in parenting, that our kids are just on loan from God. They belong to him. Please continue to pray for grace and strength for all involved.

Emergency Surgery

About an hour after I got home from the hospital, I got a call that they were taking Andrew into Emergency Surgery. His stomach ballooned up and was as hard as a rock. He was still having problems breathing and keeping his heart rate up. When they took him into surgery, they had a hard time getting him to breathe on the ventilator. But, that got slightly better during the surgery. They ended up taking out 23cm of bowel. There was a section right below the stomach that was enlarged, black and full of bacteria. It had twisted on itself and the doctor said it smelled like rotting fish. He said if they hadn't done the surgery, Andrew wouldn't be alive now. He is still a very sick kid and the next day or so will tell a lot. Please pray that he is able to recover. He is on the ventilator and may need to go on the oscillator if the ventilator isn't strong enough. Pray that the antibiotics will kill the infection and that the bowel that was reattached will heal and work correctly.

A better night for some than others!

Well, both Anna Kate and Mom survived her first night home. All in all, it went well, and I actually got about fours hours of sleep. I am not sure how that will work when all three are home, but we will wait and see!

Andrew had a rough night. They had to stop feeding him because he was acting like he was in pain. This morning he has been "forgetting" to breathe and has dropped his heart rate. They had to bag him for 30sec to get him to bring it back up. Those are all signs that something major is going on-but the Drs. don't know what that is. I am sure they will be doing some more tests today to see what they can find out. Please pray that they will have wisdom to figure out what is going on.

Matthew had a good night and did well with his bottles.

Andrew Update

The procedure to put in a new central line (Broviac) went well. Andrew did really well overall, but had to be put back on CPAP because his breathing was so labored. He hates CPAP, but last nights nurse said he did great on it and didn't complain at all. Which tells me he isn't feeling well. Hopefully things will balance out soon. They are going to try to start feeding him today or tomorrow. So, we need to pray that he tolerates it well.

We have an appointment with the Occupational Therapist at 2:00 to go over some exercises for Matthew and Anna Kate. Then, we will be leaving with a baby! Anna Kate hit 5lb last night. But, everything about her is so tiny! Tonight should be interesting!

Change in Plans

Well, we kind of got good news/bad news. The upper GI went through very quickly. So, they will not be doing the exploratory surgery tomorrow. He will still be having surgery to put in a central line. Although I am glad they won't be doing major surgery, I am frustrated that they don't know what the problem is. So, please pray that the doctors have wisdom to determine why he isn't tolerating feeding. They are going to start trying to feed him again soon.

And, if everything goes well-Anna Kate will come home on Wednesday! It will be something to finally have at least one of them at home. The new header on the blog is our birth announcement. The photos were taken about a month ago by a nurse in the NICU who is a photographer.

Surgery Tomorrow

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted-our internet has been down! Andrew is having an upper GI today in hopes that they will see where the problem is. The last one just showed slow movement-but no specific problem area. He is scheduled for exploratory surgery tomorrow. There is some problem that is causing his feeding intolerance. They think it may be a narrowing of the intestine or bowel at some point. So, they are going to go in tomorrow morning and try to take care of it. Hopefully, the upper GI will show something so they will have an idea of where to look.

We met with one of the neonatologists yesterday and he went over all of Andrew's head ultrasounds and the CT scan. The short version of a pretty long meeting is that at one point Andrew's ventricles were HUGE-it was a very scary picture-which was very alarming. It was at that point we were told he would need a shunt. Since that scan, the ventricle ratio had gone down and seems to have leveled out. That is good news. At this point, it is not a certain that he will need a shunt. We will have to meet with the neurosurgeon again to discuss the recent ultrasounds and get another CT scan. So-keep praying!! I told the doctors that we had a lot of people praying for Andrew and that was the reason for the improvement.

Matthew and Anna Kate are doing well. Both boys are over 6lbs and Anna Kate is 4lb 10 oz. Anna Kate is taking all of her feedings by bottle and Matthew is taking 2 out of 3 by bottle. She has an eye exam on Thursday and if all goes well-she will go home after that. Matthew will probably not be far behind. So, this weekend should be an exciting one.

Please Pray for our Friend

Please pray for a little girl named Olivia Hartig and her family. He mother, Brooke, is the daugher of one of the teachers at my school. Olivia was born a little over six weeks ago and her family just found out that she has a rare chromosomal disorder, Ring 9 syndrome. This is so rate, that she is only the 22nd person in the world diagnosed with the condition.

Her family are Christians and I told them I would pass their prayer request on to all those who have been praying for our triplets. Please pray for grace and strength for the family and for wisdon for the doctors they will be working with.

Update

Andrew is still on CPAP and his stomach x-ray today didn't look great. He is not tolerating his feeds as well as they would like. Although they don't want to go there right yet, the doctor told me today that there is a good possibility that he will need surgery to find the problem in his intestines. But, they want to wait a few days just to be sure it is needed.

Back on CPAP

Andrew has been put back on CPAP. His chest x-ray showed fluid in the lungs. So, they are going to try the lacix again. Please pray that it works this time. They still don't know what is causing the fluid build up.

Moving Around

I am sorry for the lack of information-I just realized that my last post did not upload. So, here is the latest news-Matthew and Anna Kate have been moved to NICU 2. It is very different over there. It is much quieter and the kids are actually in one of the Family Learning Rooms so there is a bed, bathroom, fridge and flat screen TV! When they get closer to going home, we could spend the night there. Matthew is taking 3 bottles a day and Anna Kate just started 2 out of every 3 feedings by bottle.

They moved Andrew to a crib today. Since the lower GI didn't show anything, they are feeding him again slowly. So far, he has done okay. He is still swollen and they are trying to balance out his nutrition. Hopefully, when he gets higher on his feeds, the swelling will go down. His head has not had any major changes in the last week. However, the swelling is making it harder for him to breathe and he is on a nasal cannula.

Although I am glad that Matthew and Anna Kate are in NICU II-it is kind of sad to have them separated. But, we are beginning a new leg on our journey!

Andrew's blood cultures did not grow any thing-meaning there is probably not an infection in his blood-but he does have a urinary tract infection. So, we are hoping that his symptoms were due to that and not an intestinal problem. They are still going to do the GI study on Monday-but if everything looks good, they may not do surgery to see what is going on.

Anna Kate is now over 4lbs and both boys are over 5lbs! Yeah! Anna Kate passed her hearing screening last night. She had been given the test three times and although she did better each time-I was beginning to get worried. I nicknamed her Verizon ("Can you hear me now?") but was sure she could hear something. One of my favorite nurses-was convinced the machine wasn't reading right and she didn't want me to have to wait and wonder until next Tuesday. So, she and another nurse stayed after work last night to give her the test again and she passed! The nurses in NICU-especially the kids' primaries-Sandie and Linda-have been wonderful. They have taken an extra special interest in the kids. They are both on vacation next week and it just won't be the same! I will really miss them.

On the bright side, Brent's sister, Brenda, and her family are coming up the end of next week. We are looking forward to seeing them.

The first attempt at group photos

Well, today we tried getting pictures of all three kids-it was interesting to say the least! I have to resign myself to the fact that it will be a miracle to get a picture where they all look good!

Andrew will have a lower GI done on Monday. They aren't sure-but they are predicting he will need surgery. At this point, we just want to figure out what is going on-and fix it!

Anna Kate will have her eyes and hearing checked next Tuesday. They did an ecocardiogram today to check and see if the small hole she had when she was born (VSD) has closed. She was getting a little tired with her bottles-so she is back to every other. They reduced her calories today. There is still a possibility she will come home late next week.

Matthew is still on three bottles a day. Otherwise, he is just hanging out trying to get the hang of bottles!

Anna Kate is in a Crib

Andrew seems to be feeling better. We are waiting to see if the blood cultures show an infection. They have stopped feeding him and are getting a surgery consult. So, we will see what happens. I added some new photos. Anna Kate is now in a crib and they moved her beside Matthew.

Eating and Growing

As of last night, here are the stats on the kids:

Matthew 4lbs 11.4 oz 16 6/8 inches long

Andrew 4lbs 15.4 oz 17 3/8 inches long

Anna Kate 3lbs 10.6 oz 16 1/2 inches long

Matthew is in a crib and is taking a bottle twice a day (soon to be three times. The nurse said he woke up screaming for his 9:00 feeding. He may be the one that keeps me on a schedule!

Andrew is progressing on his feeds. Although it is not "official" he has taken a bottle on three different occasions and done well. He did well after the tap last week, but his head circumference has gone up again. So, we will be meeting with the neurosurgeon the first part of the week to see about the possibility of a procedure before the shunt surgery. Andrew is hanging in there and is alert and seems to be happy.

Anna Kate is getting every other feeding by bottle. Because she is still small and is on higher calories, she is still in her incubator. When she is awake, she is very interested in what is going on around her.

Spinal Tap Today

They did a spinal tap on Andrew today. It went well and his head size went down by 1 1/2 cm. The neurosurgeon feels certain that a shunt will be needed. Based on his examination today, he also feels that Andrew has sagital craniosynostosis (one of the growth plates in his head fused early). He said because of that, he wants to move sooner in putting in the shunt. However, he needs to be sure that his stomach issues are cleared up. So, he will wait until he is on full feeding before planning the surgery. Our guess is 2-3 weeks. Andrew will require another surgery to address the craniosynostosis and will have to wear a special helmet for a while. The surgeon said that it is unusual for a child to need a shunt and have craniosynostosis. Because of both conditions, he may need a different type of shunt to try to help him have a normal head shape. So, we will see what happens. I am still praying that his suture is not fused.

Andrew was scheduled for another ultrasound today. Last night and this morning he started having desats (problems with breathing) and his head circumference increased by 1cm. I am waiting to hear from the Dr. to see what they are going to do. When I spoke with the nurse on the phone, she said she thought they were consulting the neurosurgeon and may go ahead with the ultrasound before they drain the fluid. They will either do a spinal tap or tap right into his head to relieve the pressure. I am waiting to see what the plan is. I have to give the little guy credit, at least he held off till the neurologist was back in town!

Both Anna Kate and Matthew are now on the lowest setting for their incubator. If they do well with their temps over the next two days, they will try them in a crib on Wednesday. Anna Kate is doing better with the bottle feeding than Matthew is-he doesn't seem quite as interested in working for the food. But, they will get it with time!

Andrew's upper GI results came back and the surgeons decided to start his feeds again. Although everything went through, it did go slower than they expected. So, if he has problems again, they will do another study. His head circumference stayed the same today and he hasn't had any problems. They stopped his antibiotics yesterday, so hopefully the infection is behind us. Both Brent and I held him today and he was alert and happy. He was 4lb 2oz.

Growth-in many ways

Andrew's cultures have been negative for several days and he is almost done with his antibiotics. So, his infection is gone. Today they did a GI study and we are waiting for the results. If there isn't a blockage or adhesions, then they will start his feeding back slowly. If there is a problem, they will consult the surgeon.

The head ultrasound we had earlier in the week was unchanged. However, his head circumference has increased 1/2 a centimeter each day for the last three days. So, fluid is building up and not draining. The neurosurgeon is out of town for the week. The neonatologist said they will not do an intervention until he shows signs of trouble. Those signs would include dropping his heart rate and spells of apnea. When that starts to happen, they will probably do another spinal tap to help relieve the pressure. Another concern is that there is a possibility that his growth plates in his head are fused. If so, they will have to be fixed surgically. His head is visibly larger and misshapen and that is hard to watch. He still seems to be in good spirits and is such a cute little guy!

Matthew and Anna Kate are "feeders and growers" as they call them. Anna Kate is now 3lbs! Matthew is 3lb and 12oz and since Andrew has been on fluids-he has packed on the weight and is about to break 4lbs!

I will post again when we get the results of the GI study.

First Bottles!

Today, I was surprised when they told me that Matthew and Anna Kate were both ready to get their first bottle today! Since they are 33 weeks adjusted age and both down to 30 minute compression feeds-it was time to try a bottle! The nurses were wonderful and waited until Brent and I got there. Both kids did great! They had 20 minutes to drink as much as they could. Anna Kate finished her whole bottle and Matthew almost finished his. Once they consistently do well with one bottle per day, they will move them to two and then to three. Once they are taking three bottles a day, they start trying them on bottle feeds only.

Andrew was alert today and seemed to be feeling much better. We are praying that the infection is going away.

Bath time!

Today I was able to give Anna Kate and Matthew a bath. It was a special time and both kids did really well. The nurse showed me how to take their leads off and put them back on after the bath. She was such a help and encouragement. It is a learning experience dealing with such tiny babies. I am thankful for great nurses like Sandie. They have all been wonderful in the NICU!

Andrew was a busy guy today. He has a fever this morning and his blood work showed that he still has an infection. So, the doctors consulted a specialist who ordered some of the tests. He had an abdominal ultrasound, an EKG, and some blood tests done. The results that we have gotten back look good, but he still has an infection that they are trying to fight.

I met with the neurosurgeon today and he feels that Andrew will need a shunt. However, he said it would be weeks down the road. But, we are still praying that the spinal fluid will drain on its own. The surgeon who evaluated his stomach said he doesn't see a need for surgery now, so we are praying that his stomach will heal and the infection will be treated with the antibiotics.

It was kind of a roller coaster of a day. But, I just remind myself that our joy and strength is found in Christ and He is unchanging.

A Positive Report

This morning when I went to visit I was a little surprised when I looked over and I was one kid short! Andrew wasn't in his incubator he was getting a CT scan. They forgot to tell me that they had ordered it and I was a little surprised. We had met with the Dr. yesterday afternoon after Andrew had a spell of not breathing and I was concerned that he just didn't look good. The doctor said he felt it was all due to his stomach infection and not the head situation. They will do an Upper GI on him in 10 days once the infection has been fully treated.

Today his stomach looked much better and they gave him another blood transfusion because he was anemic again. The doctors said the blood transfusion should also make him feel better.

The results of the CT scan showed that the blood has been absorbed! That is a huge blessing and we praise God for the news. The ventricles are still enlarged and there is still fluid on the brain, but there didn't appear to be any damage to the brain tissue-we are so happy about that! Now, we are praying that the spinal fluid will be able to drain on its own and that he won't have prolonged pressure on the brain. We know our God is the great physician and we are trusting him to do what is best! We appreciate everyone's prayers and support!

Update

All three kids had their eyes checked today. All three got a good report and seem to have "normal" preemie vision. They will all be rechecked in two weeks.

Andrew has avoided being put back on the ventilator-that is good news. The x-rays of his stomach are getting better each time. That is also a positive sign. We met with the doctor last night to discuss the brain issues. His ultrasound showed that the bleeding has not been reabsorbed. There is a very good possibility that he will require a shunt to relieve the pressure. However, we are still in a wait and see time. We are praying that God will cause the bleeding to absorb and that spinal fluid will be able to drain on its own. We are also praying that his feeding issues are due to an immature stomach and not an intestinal blockage or issue.

Matthew and Anna Kate are both on compression feeds. So, instead of being fed continuously through a tube, they are now being fed through a tube over shorter periods of time. Matthew just started and is being fed over a two hour period and Anna Kate is down to one hour. This is in preparation for getting their bodies ready for bottle feeding. Matthew also had his PIC line taken out and his IV removed. So, they are both making great progress!

Andrew

We just got a call that Andrew is not having a good day. His stomach is enlarged which could be due to a few things. He may have an intestinal problem and they are doing x-rays frequently and have a surgeon on stand by who is looking at the films in case it gets worse. It is possible that he simply wasn't ready for the amount of feeding he was getting and that the issue will resolve on its own. That is our prayer. Because of those issues he isn't breathing well. They had taken him off CPAP yesterday and can't put him back on it because it can cause air to build up in his stomach. So, they will probably have to put him back on the ventilator. On top of all of that, his head got larger over night, so they are doing the head ultrasound today and think they will need to do a spinal tap to relieve pressure from the brain. So, he has a lot going on right now. Please pray for God's strength for me and Brent and that these issues would resolve without further complication.

Andrew

Making Progress

We are happy to report that Andrew has had a negative culture for the past three days. So, it looks like the infection is gone. They are going to continue to treat with antibiotics for another seven days. Both boys are progressing with their feedings and are getting three CPAP breaks each day. The doctor said she hasn't heard a murmur on any of the kids over the last few days. So, that is wonderful news! Anna Kate has started compression feeding and is doing well. We have had clothes on her a few times and they are getting her out of her incubator a little bit each day. Andrew's head size has been stable and it still feels soft. They will re-scan his head on Wednesday. All three kids will have an eye exam on Tuesday.

Continue to pray for:
Matthew-to tolerate his feedings and CPAP breaks well and that his PDA will remain closed
Andrew-that the bleeding will reabsorb, and that he will tolerate his feedings and CPAP breaks
Anna Kate-that her compression feeds will go well, that she will gain weight.

A Good Report

Today I received some positive news about each of the kids. Matthew has been being treated for his PDA (the opening outside the heart). It had gotten bigger again and lots of blood was going through it. While he was being treated over the last two days, they had stopped feeding him milk. The recent medication worked to a degree and the opening has gotten smaller. So, they started feeding him again. The doctors are going to watch it and see how he does. He has had all of the courses of medication that he can, and if it reopens, it will have to be closed surgically. He has continued to grow and is now over 3lbs!

Andrew came off the ventilator today and is back on C-PAP. They also changed his antibiotics to help fight the infection. However, both boys are anemic and they treat that with a blood transfusion. So, both boys had that done today.

The tiny princess of the group is doing great! Today, she came off the photo therapy and off the CPAP. She is breathing on her own. Let's pray that continues! She is also up to her max on continuous feeding and they will start feeding her over a shorter period of time soon.

We appreciate the cards, e-mails, and facebook notes. I apologize that I have not responded to most of them. Please know we read them and they are an encouragement to us. Many of you have asked how you can pray for each child specifically. As of today, here are some needs:

Matthew-that his PDA will close and he will tolerate his feeding.

Andrew-that the bleeding in his head will be absorbed and not increase and that his infection will go away.

Anna Kate-that she will continue to do well with her respiration and feeding and will put weight on. She also has a different muscular issue with her heart that we hope will close as she grows.

Update on Andrew

The doctor met with me this evening and went over the results of Andrew's second brain ultrasound. The bleeding has gotten worse. It has gone from a grade 2 to a grade 3 and is still on both sides of his brain. The doctor said we are in a waiting game right now. They will redo the scan in another week. Please pray that we will see a significant decrease next week.

Regarding his infection, he does seem to be responding to the antibiotics. They will do another blood work up tomorrow to confirm that the antibiotics are working. But, he seems to be feeling better and was breathing more on his own today. So, that is some good news.

Pray for Andrew

Well, as my mother said when she was here, it looks like Andrew may be the Drama King! When they did the kid's cranial scans, Andrew had a slight brain bleed. The doctors said it was a grade 2 on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the worst. The nurses and doctors said the thought it would reabsorb itself. They planned on rechecking him today.

I got a call this morning asking permission to do a spinal tap on Andrew. They think he has an infection, but don't know where it is. So, they have run a bunch of tests and are starting him on antibiotics. Once they get the results back, they hope to be able to fine tune the medication. He was having difficulty breathing, so they put him back on the vent.

Matthew is tolerating his feeding well, and they are talking about taking him off his IV very soon. He is putting on weight and doing well on the CPAP machine. He is taking 2 hour sprint off it each day. He and his brother are on light therapy.

Anna Kate is also tolerating her feeding well. At present, she is off light therapy. She hasn't gained any weight in the last few days, but the doctors aren't worried.

Overall, everything so far has been in the range of normal problems for babies that small. I am just praying the can find the infection and treat it quickly.

Thank you for your support and prayers!

Recovering and Rejoycing

I went home from the hospital on Saturday and am recovering well from the C-section. My mother is here for the rest of the week, which has been a big help.

While I was still in the hospital, we were able to go the the NICU twice a day. Since I have been home, we have been going each night. Last night, the nurse asked me if I wanted to hold Matthew. I was shocked and thought she meant in the incubator. I was thrilled to hear I could hold him skin to skin. They moved Andrew and the two boys are in one area together and she was also taking care of Andrew. I got to hold both boys for 30 min each. It was wonderful. Brent got to hold Anna Kate outside of her incubator while still supported. It was a great night!

All of the kids are still on C-pap. They are breathing room air, but it has a little bit of pressure behind it to help keep their lungs open and remind them to breathe. Andrew and Anna Kate had to be taken off milk yesterday because their stomachs were getting hard. They are also watching Matthew for a heart murmur and a valve that hasn't closed. The nurses tell us this is all very normal for preemies. We are thankful things have gone so well thus far!

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog for some more pictures!

Happy Birthday-August 19, 2008!

Well, the short version is that the kids were born by emergency C-section on Tuesday at 2:22. It is ironic that this was the first day that the students were back at school and right at dismissal time!

It all happened very fast! The contractions had gotten back into a rhythm over the night-but weren't really painful. Then they changed my med back to the Magnesium that morning and the contractions didn't slow down and had gone from pressure to painful. So, they did an exam and by looking they thought they could see one of the babies sacs all around the cerclage. Brent was working in Clemson and they told me to call him or he might not make it. When they got me to labor and delivery the high risk doctor checked me again and I was fully dilated and she could feel a head. They then called it an emergency and told me my husband probable wouldn't make by the time they started. They wheeled me into the OR and then got the call that the NICU wasn't' ready for the babies and asked if we could hold off 15-30 mins. There was some disagreement and tension between the nurses and doctors. I had been praying for weeks that God would calm my heart and nerves when the time came-and he did! The all kept saying I was doing great and it was amazing how calm I was. God really give a peace that passes all understanding!

When they got me into the OR they did the spinal block-which wasn't fun. They laid me back down and started to do checks to see what I could feel. I kept saying-I can feel that etc.. They did a "test" without telling me and I quickly said, I just felt something scrape across my stomach. So within a minute they knocked me out. Brent had made it there, but wouldn't let him in because I had to be put to sleep.

The birth info is

Matthew Glen 2lbs 8oz, 15.25 inches, 2:22pm
Andrew Kyes 2lb 6oz, 15.20 inches, 2:23pm
Anna Kate 2lb 10z, 14 inches, 2:23pm

The doctors say the kids are all doing well. Both boys are off the respirator and are on a C-PAP And they think Anna Kate will be off in the next day or so. The next potential problem will be at 1 week old when they will do an ultrasound of the brain to see if there is any bleeding. Assuming, everything goes well, I asked the Dr about when they may come home. I told him I had heard it was normal for them to come home around their full term due date (Nov 7), He said that would probably be the latest they would come home and one or more of them may show signs of coming home in 7-8 weeks.

Right now, the Drs are saying I will go home on Sat. My Mother is coming on Sunday for a week to help me recover. We appreciate every one's continued prayers!

Making Progress

Well, although the had to up the dosage, the pump seems to be working. Today the High Risk group turned my care back over to my regular OB. So, that is good news. There was actually some talk of letting me go home. But, Brent and I decied that was not a god idea and my OB agreed that it is just safer to stay here.

I had been put back on IV fluids the last few days, but they stopped those today. So, it looks like I might get out of this hospital gown into my own clothes! Every little thing helps. If I am still here, we have another ultrasound scheduled for next Monday. At that time, they will check the kids' growth. Several people have asked for updated pictures. The have all been camera shy the last several ultrasounds. I am hoping to get some pictures next week that I can post. They say the bigger they are, the harder it is to get a good profile shot.

Brent and I will probably schedule a tour of the NICU in the next few days. The strongly suggest checking it out. I was too scared before. But, when I talked to my Dr. today, she said it may be reassuring because there would be a lot of babies in there that were born before 28 weeks.

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be two weeks since we got here. Let's all keep praying that we are here for at least another two!

Back on the Pump

Well, it seems that my emotions have settled down since my last post. That is a huge blessing! I was a wreck for a few days and the nicer people were to me, the worst it seemed to get. I appreciate everyone’s kind and supportive words. I have had several visitors and appreciate everyone taking time out of their busy schedule to stop and visit. It has made the time go by faster!

The last several days have been good overall. I have had a few times where the contractions picked up to every 3-4mins and they had to give me additional meds to calm them down. I have found that it is more of an art than a science when trying to stop the contractions. I had a different doctor on rounds this morning and he wasn’t to try a new approach. Today, they stopped the Magnesium and started me back on the terbutaline pump. So, we will see how that goes! I haven’t had many contractions in the last several hours. However, all the meds have caught up with me and I have been groggy and nauseous most of the day. I am so thankful I wasn’t sick all of my pregnancy. Despite feeling not that great, it is nice to not be tied down with all the IV tubes. So, we will pray that the pump will work for a while and give me a break from the Magnesium.

At times it can be frustrating working with many different doctors and nurses who all have a different approach and style. But, it has really taught me not to put my faith in man and man’s wisdom, but to trust that God will direct all their decisions. As I look at the clock, I realize I have been here 10 days. Let's pray for at least another 10!

We made it to 27 weeks!

We have passed the 27 week mark ! Today has been a pretty good day. The contractions have slowed down with the addition of a low dose of terbutaline. And, although I have slept a lot, today hasn’t been as much of an emotional roller coaster. That has been my biggest personal struggle over the last few days. Being out of control of my emotions is not something I am used to. It is hard to not be able to stop from crying when in your mind and heart you feel you are at peace. But, God teaches us things in every circumstance and I am sure I will come out stronger because of it! I appreciate everyone’s prayers and know that they are being heard. One of the teachers in my school said they were all praying for me and that I was almost a celebrity in their church! While that made me laugh, I know that there are many people praying for me these babies and I take comfort in that. We are blessed to have everyone’s support!

Waiting on God's timing

Well, it has been quite some time since I updated. Those of you who know Brent, know he doesn’t know how to turn the computer on-never mind update the blog! I kept thinking I would update after the next appt. Well, much has happened since the last update.

I went to the doctor on July 30. We decided to try me on the terb pump. I had been hitting my contraction limit of 5 per hour and they didn’t want to keep me on motrin because of a potential risk to the babies. My cervix was a little shorter, but still looked good. I started the pump on Thursday and all was going well. I had an appointment on Monday, August 4 for a growth ultrasound. That morning I didn’t have a good monitor strip and they had me remonitor due to the number of contractions I was having. I finished my second monitor strip at 2:00 and had a Dr. appt at 3:00. The ultrasound went well. All three kids weighed aprox. 2lb and were all measuring on target for growth. However, my cervix had shortened a lot since my last visit five days ago and I was feeling the contractions. They decided to admit me to the hospital and consider giving me steroid shots to mature the babies lungs. I was 26 weeks 2 days.
Mon day night was a scary time. They admitted me and at first I figured it would be like the last time I was in. They didn’t know what they would do regarding medication and my pump was almost empty. So, they sent Brent home to get some meds (the pump is done by a different company) in case we needed them. While he was gone, they started me on Magnesium and then told me I couldn’t eat incase they had to do emergency surgery. They were having a hard time getting the contractions under control and if one of the kids was in distress, they would do a C-section. They put me on the highest dose of Magnesium they could, and checked me out. I wasn’t dilated, so that was a good.

We didn’t leave the Dr office till after 5:00pm. When we thought we were settled in for the night, one of the neonatologists from the NICU came by to talk to us. He discussed the survival rate of babies born at 26 weeks as well as the potential complications and life long difficulties babies who are born that early may experience. Despite how early they would be, he told us the survival rate was 85%. He also told us about a lot of other potential complications. It was a lot to think about and pray about after he left.
On Tuesday morning they moved me from labor and delivery to a high risk room and reduced my Magnesium level from 3grams per hr to 2 grams per hour because my blood work came back with levels that were borderline high. They also decided to give me the first of the two steroid shots to help mature the babies lungs. They also told me to plan to be in the hospital till the babies come.

I am still on 2grams and I am really kind of groggy. I am contracting 6-8 times per hour and although they aren’t painful per se, they are getting stronger. They said they will continue with the Magnesium as long as they can and as long as I don’t start bleeding or leaking fluid.
We are praying that the contractions will not change my cervix any more and that they will be able to “stay put” for several more weeks. Each day is precious and we know that God will not allow them to come before the time he has determined.

We appreciate everyone’s prayers and support. The meds. are making me really weepy and groggy. So, I am not doing much e-mailing or talking on the phone. Brent is going to work during the day and staying with me at night.

I think that is everything for now. I just remind myself what an awesome gift God is giving us and that He is in control. I am reminded of the words of the hymn “Day by Day”:

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,
”This the pledge to me He made.

Day by Day

Well, I have been at home for a full week now and things are going well overall. They adjusted my medicine yesterday to a slow release form. I am still taking the same dosage, just twice a day instead of 6 times a day. It is great not to have to get up in the middle of the night to take the meds.

Overall, things have gone will with the home monitoring. I have had 3 or 4 times where my contractions have been too high and I have had to monitor again. I had one time with 11 and one time with 8 in the hour. Other times I have had only one. I am able to feel the bigger ones-but still can't tell how the hour has gone until the nurse calls with the report.

My mother made it in from Massachusetts and will be here until Monday. She has made and frozen meals and reorganized my kitchen for me-life is good!

The babies are moving more and more and I really think we have a future martial artist or soccer player in there!

I will continue to go to be checked each week to make sure the meds they have me on are not decreasing the fluid around the babies.

Writing from the Couch

Well, I am writing this post from my living room! I was discharged this afternoon and set up on home monitoring. I take procardia every four hours. I hook myself up to the monitor for an hour once a day. If at any time I think something may be wrong, I call them and hook myself up. My readings are monitored by a team of nurses who will call my doctors if they see a problem. I just completed my first reading, and everything looked really good. I only had one official contraction in the hour that I was hooked up and my uterine irritability was considered mild. Tomorrow I will be 24 weeks!

Definite Progress

Although I had to have another shot early in the morning, the doctor came in today and decided to see how I do off the monitor. She really feels that many of the contractions are due to having three little people in there and are not a huge risk. So, we decided to put me on the monitor twice a day which is what will happen when I go home.

They put me on the monitor this evening and I was having 4-5 contractions an hour with some irritability. The nurse checked with the Dr. and they said they were okay with that number. So, we will see what the Dr. says in the morning. I may be on my way home soon!

Adding More Meds

Everyday is unpredictable. Last night things had slowed down to 1 contraction per hour. I was hopeful we had knocked them out. Then, this morning at around 6:30 they had to give me an injection of terbutaline and then give me another one 20 minutes later. The doctors are trying to decide how aggressive to be since the contractions don't seem to be changing my cervix. And, chances are I will need a more aggressive treatment later on in pregnancy. They have decided to add Motrin every six hours to the procardia I am taking every four hours. As I type this I am back up to about every 3 minutes and am not feeling them. So, it is a waiting game to see what happens. I have set a goal to be able to go home by next Thursday. My mother is coming to visit for a long weekend and I really want to be at home. This morning the Dr. said that was a realistic goal. So, I am just hanging out another day!

Good News at the Ultrasound

I went for my ultrasound and everything looked good. My cervix has actually closed up some and is a little longer than it was before my cerclage. So, that means the contractions haven't had a negative impact. That was great news! They also checked the growth of the babies. I am presently 23weeks and 3 days. Matthew (baby A) is measuring 23 weeks 2 days and weighs 1lb 5oz. Andrew (baby B) is measuring 23 weeks 3 days and also weighs 1lb 15 oz. And Anna Kate (baby C) is the peanut coming in a 23 weeks even and 1lb 4oz. None of the kids were photogenic today, so I don't have any new photos to post. If all goes well, they don't need to see me back for another three weeks. They will check the growth again at that time. Maybe we'll gt some new photos then!

The contractions are better, but I still can't feel them. They aren't sure what they will do yet. One of the Drs. I saw today after my ultrasound said that she was going to be working in the hospital on Thursday and would see me then. So, I may be in here a little while longer! But, we are taking it one day at a time.

For all of you who have asked about Brent, he is also doing well. He has been staying at the hospital with me each night and promises that he is able sleep fine on the fold out chair/bed. He seems to be sleeping well, but I doubt he would admit otherwise.

Thanks to all who have called and stopped by! It is an encouragement to know we have so many friends and family praying for us and the kids! We are confident that the Lord has a perfect plan in all of this and are trusting His timing providence!

Still here

Well, today begins day four of my hospital stay. The internet connection at the hospital is sporadic, which is why I haven't posted before now. I am waiting for the Dr. to come around this morning.

When I got here they put me on Magnesium which stopped the contractions. After 24 hours they took me off an put me on oral meds. They weren't really happy with how I did during the night on Sunday, so the Dr. decided to keep me here on Monday and see what happened when the oral meds got into my system. Around noon, they gave me an injection of Terbutaline because the contractions had gotten back up to every 4 or 5 minutes. That shot almost stopped them. The nurse said they would give me another one if I got more than 6 contractions in an hour. At 4:00 am they gave me another shot. The meds in the shot are the same as what is in the pump they may have to put me on.

Although being in the hospital is never fun, I am thankful that I am not feeling the contractions and that I am able to get up to use the bathroom and move around a litttle. They have taken out my IV, so I am only hooked up to a contraction monitor. Really, it is not that bad!

The Dr. just came by and decided to try and increase my oral medication before putting me on the pump. So, they are increasing it to every 4 hours instead of every 6. Hopefully that will keep me stable. If not, they will either up the dosage or put me on the pump. I am hoping to avoid the pump as long as I can, since my body will eventually get used to it an the only option after that is back in the hospital with an IV for Magnesium.


So, it looks like I will be here at least another day. I have an ultrasound scheduled this afternoon at 3:30. So, if the internet is working-I may be able to post again this evening.

Contraction Action

Well, I have ended up back in the hospital with contractions. I had been feeling something on and off for a few days-but wasn't sure if what I was feeling was contractions. My Dr.s instructions said to call if I had more than 5 or 6 an hour and I really couldn't tell. I asked about it during my regular OB appointment on Wed. and they told me to call if something didn't feel right. Although I knew what they meant in theory, never having been pregnant before-especially with three-nothing really "feels right"! So, I called the High Risk Dr. on Friday just to be sure everything was okay. They put me on a contraction monitor and checked my cervix. They said the cerclage looked good and was holding-but that I was having contractions and they wanted to admit me. When they got me on the contraction monitor in the hospital, I was having contractions every 4-5 minutes. They put me on an IV drip for 24 hours and the contractions have just about stopped. So, they are stopping my IV and are going to see if they can be kept away with oral medication. They are going to see how I do over the night and decide what to do from there. Hopefully, I will be sent home on Sunday or Monday. We are just taking it one day at a time!

Glad to be home!

We arrived at the hospital a little after 6:00am. The procedure started at 8:00 and it was finished by 8:30. They said everything went well. I appreciate everyone's prayers regarding the spinal block-it was much better than I thought it would be. It wasn't bad at all. The procedure was strange because I could feel them touching me and could wiggle my toes etc. but it didn't hurt. I was taken to recovery and monitored for contractions. Although I didn't feel them, my body was contracting. The first medication they gave me didn't work, and they decided to keep me over night and gave me two additional medications. They monitored me and sent me home this afternoon with two antibiotics and more medication for contractions that I will take till tomorrow/ I am so glad to be home! Brent was great and stayed by my side the whole time!

I go back to my regular OB this coming week and back to the specialist the following week. We appreciate everyone's prayers and warm wishes. Although the doctor has not officially put me on bed rest. I plan to be staying off my feet as much as possible!

Cerclage tomorrow

At our Dr. appt today we saw that my cervix has continued to shorten and funnel. So, tomorrow morning they will be performing a cerclage. They will give me a spinal block (yes, I am pretty scared about that part) and then the Dr. will stitch my cervix closed. They said it is a pretty easy procedure and the Dr. who will be doing it has done many. They are hopeful that since we are doing it early, we will have good results. We have to be at the hospital at 6:00am and the procedure is scheduled for 8:00am. Hopefully, all will go well and it will be out patient.

Home Again

I am sorry it has taken me a while to get this post up. Things have been busy since we returned.
We had a very nice trip to Massachusetts. We were able to visit with my family and see some of Brent's family. I was able to take Brent to see Dublin (where I went to HS). I had wanted to do that for some time and it was nice to look around again. My mother and sister were VERY generous with the baby clothes and accessories! We came back with our minivan loaded with stuff for the kids!
When we got back, we went to the Dr. on Monday. Overall, the ultrasound looked good. Baby B has some cysts in the brain which they say are pretty common and will hopefully go away between 26-28 weeks. We are praying that will happen. The two boys weighed 13oz and were measuring at 20 weeks and 3 days. Anna Kate weighed 11 oz and measured at 19 weeks and 6 days. They were all within the normal limits.
I have had a lot of back/rib pain which they say is normal for the size that I am. I am growing quickly, my stomach circumference has grown 1.5 inches in the last week! I am really beginning to feel big and waddle. I can't imagine what it will be like at the end!
We go back next Monday. They said the length of my cervix was normal, but it may be starting to funnel. So, I may end up having a cerclage. I am pretty scared about having a spinal block for that procedure, and am praying that it won't be necessary.
Brent's sister, Beth, and her family arrived on Monday. My nephew, Kristopher, flew in from MA on Wed. He was supposed to be here on Tues., but they missed his flight. When he was 4years old, I told him he could come see my in SC when he turned 10. He flew by himself and loved it! Beth has two boys who are 9 and 10 and they have been having a great time! As I type this, Uncle Brent has the boys on the four-wheeler and is driving around in the mud somewhere! Beth's family leaves tomorow and Kristopher goes home on Sunday. It has been fun to have them here and Beth has been a huge help! She has sorted baby clothes, done laundry and picked up! It has been wonderful!

Northern Bound

We had an appointment yesterday and today. All looks good. One of the boys had turned and was head down pretty low, causing a lot of pelvic pressure. But they said everything was fine! My cervix hasn't changed and we go for our big ultrasound on Monday June 23 (our 2 year anniversary).

Tomorrow morning we are headed up North to see my family. It will be a long slow trip-but we are looking forward to it!

I will post again when we get back!

We went to the Dr. yesterday and had another good report. My cervix hasn't changed-so that is great! He said if all goes well next week, we should be fine to drive up North. The babies looked good. One of the boys has turned, so they are both looking to my left and Anna Kate is still stretched out on top! The said they will most likely stay where they are at this point.

The doctor said everything looked good with my weight gain. I have gained about 14 lbs so far and my stomach is 38inches around. Besides the back pain, I really feel good!

Yesterday was the last day of school for the teachers and I work another 5 days. We are getting ready for a yard sale on Sat. Many of our friends have been generous and donated things for us to sell. We are planning on using the profits to help furnish the nursery.

We go back to the Dr. next Thursday!

Matthew Glen, Andrew Kyes and Anna Kate

We went to the specialist on Friday and the ultrasound tech saw two boys and a girl! :-) Right now, Matthew and Andrew are back to back on the bottom and the Anna Kate is moving around on top. We were a little worried at first. Last week, the tech started on the left and the first baby she came to was a girl. This week, she started in the same spot and came to a boy first. My cervix looked good, but they want to continue to monitor me every week. That now makes sense, since we know how they are positioned! Our next appointment is this Thursday.

Looks Like a Mix

We went back to the OB yesterday and had another ultrasound. Everything looked good! The first thing they checked was the heartbeats. They had all slowed down from two weeks ago, but they said that was normal. We asked the tech to see if she could tell gender. She has been doing this 13 years and said she was at least 75% sure of what she saw. . . .two boys and a girl! We are very excited and hope to hear the same thing when we go to the specialist next week. They started checking my cervix and that looked good to! I go back to the High Risk group next Friday.

First Shower

Well, I must say that when I started this blog, I thought I would be better at keeping up with it! I apologize to those who check it often and are disappointed :-).

We had an OB visit last week and everything looked good. They did an ultrasound-but no one was cooperating and they couldn't tell any genders. It was still pretty early, but we were hoping to see something! The ultrasound tech did tell us that all of the heart beats were "fast" which according to the old wives tale means they are girls. One baby was 155 and the other two were 157. I am not relying on that and am still hoping for at least one boy. But, of course we will consider ourselves blessed with whatever the Lord has for us.

We go back one week from today and they are going to do another ultrasound. We are really hoping to see something then!

I am not 100%, but I think I felt a baby (or two) move today. It is very exciting. I am showing now and have been told that I am starting to waddle. I think that is more from some hip pain than my size! Besides the hip and back pain, I think I am doing great!

I have four weeks left in the school year. This is a very busy time and I pray that I will continue to feel good so that I can wrap up all of my lose ends before the school year is over. We are in the middle of State Testing-which makes for busy days.

We had a baby shower at the school yesterday. There are six of us who are expecting. Everyone at the school was so generous, and they did a wonderful job making each of us feel special. We were blessed with many gift cards to Babies R Us and lots of other useful baby "stuff". We are shopping the sales and stocking up on what we can. Hopefully in a week, we will have some more direction regarding colors etc!

Our first visit to the specialist

Today we had a consult with Dr. Chapman. She is a high-risk OB with the Maternal Fetal group at the Greenville Hospital. I really liked her a lot. (Interestingly enough, she is the daughter of Gary Chapman a Christan author who has written several books including The Five Love Languages.) She went over my medical history and talked about potential problems with a triplet pregnancy and how they will monitor me. I go back to that group on May 30 and will have my first ultrasound to measure and check my cervix. We are also hoping they will be able to tell us something about the genders then. I will almost be 17 weeks at that point. It may still be a little to early. . .but we can hope for the best! From that point on, for the next six or seven weeks, I will go in for an ultrasound each week to check on how my cervix is doing.

I am still feeling really good overall. I have a miserable cold right now that is totally wiping me out. But, I really haven't had too many other complaints except for an occasional headache. I am beginning to show and can only imagine how big I will be in the end! I have an appointment in a week with my regular OB and will post again after that. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

Dr. Appointments

Since my last post, I have had two Dr. visits. The one at 9 weeks included a string of ultrasound pictures that are amazing. Some of them were done in 3D and you can see the head, body, tiny arms and tiny legs. During that particular ultrasound "Baby B" was very active. We are wondering if that one might be a boy????

I went for my first regular OB visit today and everything looks great! I will have my first appointment with a Maternal Fetal Specialist next Wednesday. They will develop a care plan for me that will be followed by my regular doctor. I will continue to see them in addition to my regular doctor during the pregnancy.

We were very blessed to find a used minivan that we could afford. So, we are soon-to-be the proud owners of a Honda Odyssey! Although I really like my present vehicle, you can't get three car seats in it!

Back from Our Cruise to the Bahamas

Brent and I were fortunate enough to be able to take a short cruise to the Bahamas. We drove eight hours to Port Canaveral Florida and then boarded the boat. Overall, all went well. Brent got very sea sick the first night, but was much better in the morning. When we arrived in Nassau, we took a day trip to a local island and spent some time watching stingrays and relaxing on the beach. The second day was spent on the boat sleeping in and sitting by the pool. I came down with a pretty bad cold on the last day and was not a happy camper during Sunday's long drive back to Greenville. I am finally feeling better! I am very tired and sleep whenever I can, but am feeling good overall. I go to the doctor again on April 8.

The Big News

Well, Brent and I went to my first ultrasound yesterday and heard the words "There is more than one in there". Brent said his first thought was, "Yes, twins!" However, I was thinking-"How MANY more than one???" The doctor found three strong heart beats on all three-Babies A, B and C. I am reminded of Eph 3:20 God is" able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think".

We appreciate everyone's prayers. We are leaving tomorrow evening to drive to Florida to take a short cruise to the Bahamas. I am glad we are doing it now, since it will be a long time before we have the opportunity again!