NICU

The NICU is a tough place to be after having your baby. You look forward to that moment when you hear him cry his first cry while you look through watery eyes as they lay on your chest for the first time. I knew before my boys were born I wouldn't get that moment, and I thought I was OK with it until that moment was actually here. They were taken to the NICU where they would spend the first 10 days of their lives.

The NICU and I had a love hate relationship. I knew my boys were getting the best care possible, the nurses handled the night feedings and did all the heavy lifting which was wonderful for my recovery. The nurses were nice they helped me learn to care for three babies and helped the babies and I develop a schedule, that would be our life line when we were home.

On the other hand it was so hard to walk away without my boys every night and stay in a hotel across the street. I missed my oldest son so much. I couldn't say his name without crying my eyes out. Those damn hormones. It was hard to see my boys being tube fed when they were having trouble eating, and the endless pokes they got every morning. But again I knew it was for their own good.

After a couple days of being in the NICU I got into a routine. I would be there by 8am every morning for their first morning feed and to get the 411 from the night nurse. Throughout the day I would rotate who I fed changed and did skin to skin with, while pumping in between. Then I would go back to my room across the street around 11pm to try and get some rest.

We had a pretty easy NICU stay we were considered growers and feeders. This ment once the boys could prove they could eat and gain weight continuously we were free and would graduate from the NICU.

But we didn't get off that easy, two of my boys Ian and Isaac had a couple "episodes" where they stopped breathing and had to be woken up and reminded to breath. That's one of the scariest things you will hear is the alarm to the machine going off that's hooked to your baby. 

We got through 5 days without an "episode" and then the boys became jaundice, so we spent the next 4 days under the photo therapy lights.

Ten days is great for triplets it still felt like we were there for so long. I just wanted my family back together. I hadn't seen Isaiah for two weeks, Gabe was working everyday and would stay home since the hospital was too far and my three babies were across the street. Thank god for my sister staying with me or I think I would have gone crazy!

It was the greatest feeling in the world when the babies passed their car seat challenges and we walked out of the NICU with our boys for the last time. We loaded them up and we drove home. Our oldest son was there waiting for us and waiting to meet his brothers for the first time!

The Delivery

By the time Gabe arrived I had IVs in both arms and just finished my nasty and I mean nasty drink that settles your stomach for surgery. The nurse handed Gabe his scrubs to change into. They got me into a wheel chair and we were off to the OR.

This was the most surreal moment. We about to be parents again but to three little boys. I had no idea what was in store for me because this was my first c-section.

I left Gabe in the hallway as I entered the bright OR filled with nurses in blue scrubs. They walked me around to the other side of the table and helped me up onto it. I was getting very nervous both for my surgery and for the health of my babies. I started to feel guilty that I couldn't keep them in longer, but here we are there's no turning back now.

The anesthesiologist came in and introduced herself. She put in my spinal block which hurt way more then I thought it would and then they laid me down and put the sheet up in front of my face. I remember being really cold so they put warm blankets over my arms and then then they started talking me through what was going to happen next.

Gabe was then brought into the OR and the surgery began. Gabe was recording the whole process. I was awake but I wasn't fully aware of what was going on and I wanted to be able to watch it later.

I heard my Dr say something like "well hello there". I heard a little cry and my little Aiden was born at 1:17pm weighing 5.1 pounds. Followed was another small cry at 1:18pm and that was Ian weight 4.7 pounds and at 1:20pm I heard Isaac weighing 4.1 pounds.

I didn't see them right away because we did delayed cord clamping which is when the baby is born but the umbilical cord is not cut for 1 to 3 min to allow blood to enter the baby from the placenta. Then they brought Aiden and Ian over I kissed them and they were taken to get checked. Same thing with my little Isaac.

As soon as we heard the first cry Gabe and I looked at each other and we started to cry. This is a moment that words truly can't give justice to the feelings and love you feel for your brand new baby.

Gabe kissed me and went with the babies to the NICU where there was an army of nurses waiting for the boys. I don't remember much after this. I was trying really hard to stay awake. I had lost a significant amount of blood and had to have a blood transfusion.

I do remember the Dr asking me are you sure you want your tubes tide, I laughed and said YES no more babies for me! After surgery I was wheeled back into my room for recovery.

My sister was waiting for me in the room. I didn't want to be alone after surgery and I wanted Gabe to be with the babies.

Recovery generally lasts 2-4 hours. My blood pressure sky rocketed after surgery so I had to be put on magnesium. This is very unpleasant, you almost feel like you have the flu. It makes you so so thirsty but you can't drink a lot after surgery. I felt like I was dieing of thirst. This was supposed to help my blood pressure stablize and prevent me from having seizures since my blood pressure was so high. 

Gabe came in periodically to check on me and update me on the babies. Ian and Isaac were breathing room air and Aiden needed some assistance and was on the CPAP machine. He showed me pictures, told me how he changed diapers and how perfect they were. 

My family was finally allowed into my room at six. It was nice to see familiar faces to distract me from not being able to see my babies. This was the hardest part of the whole thing. I got to see them for a split second, I haven't even held my babies yet and they are four hours old. 

My recovery was taking so long at 7:30 I allowed Gabe to take our family to meet our babies. This was a hard decision for me because I wanted to see and hold them first, but it was just taking too long. 

Finally at 8:30 I was released from recovery and wheeled into the NICU. I was only in there for 30 min and only held and saw Aiden. I hadn't slept since the night before and the magnesium was really wearing me out. I was trying to not let the nurses see me falling asleep holding aiden, I just wanted time with all of them. They caught me so I would meet Ian and Isaac the next day. 

I was still on magnesium until 2pm the next day due to my blood pressure not getting better. So finally when I got off the magnesium I was taken to the NICU and was able to meet and hold all three of my baby boys. 

I was in love and so happy to be finally in their pressence! 

Gabe waiting to go into the OR

First time meeting my boys 

Meet Aiden Lee

Meet Ian Felix

Meet Isaac Gabriel 

Born 34 weeks and 1 day on June 16th 2015

💙💙💙

"The Triplets Are Coming"

By the time I finished my 24 hour urine sample I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, and it was official I would be staying in the hospital until the babies made their appearance. This was all happening so fast, I wasn't mentally ready for the babies to come yet, I needed more time!

We rushed to get things in order, my son went and stayed with my mom while Gabe set up last minute baby things at home. My sister and Gabe took turns staying the night with me in the hospital and I took full advantage of naps and showers.

Don't be fooled, hospital bed rest is no joke. There's vital checks every two hours, you can only lay in bed or sit in a chair, numerous blood draws, calling for help each time you have to pee and don't forget monitoring all three babies twice a day. I have to hand it to the ladies that have to be on bed rest for days weeks and even months. Shout out to you all for doing time to keep those babies cookin, it's hard work!!!

My second day of bed rest I was getting contractions, so they hooked a bag of fluids up to my IV to try and stop me from going into labour. I was 33 weeks pregnant and my c-section was scheduled for 35 weeks. Cook babies cook just two more weeks.

Easier said then done they had to stop my contractions two more times. My Dr ordered me a round of steroid shots. This helps the babies lungs to develop faster. They warned me it wouldn't feel good but they didn't tell me it would hurt like a mother ******. You could feel the medicine flow into your leg muscle and then feel as if your whole leg was on fire. Just one more shot in 24 hours. The things we do for our kids!

Then the Dr told me I was severely anemic. I needed to have an iron transfusion before my surgery. He said it was as if I already had surgery and lost a lot of blood. This needed to happen ASAP he said just in case I go into labour, so I can avoid having a blood transfusion.

Day four on bed rest. I was 34 weeks and 1 day and my contractions started back up again. My nurse hooked a bag of fluids up and we waited to see if they would stop. They were 15 min apart, then 10, then 6 then holy cow they were 1 minute apart and strong. This happened within about an hour and a half time. They went from bairly feeling my stomach tighten to eyes watering having to breath through each one.

The on call Dr checked me and I was 3 centimeters dilated. "were having babies today" she said. My sister called Gabe and told him to get here NOW while the oncall Dr called and informed the NICU, OR and my Dr that "the triplets are coming".

Nurses started pouring into my room to get me prepped for surgery while my contractions were getting stronger by the minute. We were almost ready to go and we were still waiting on Gabe and my Dr. they were both stuck in traffic and the babies were not wanting to wait.......

Getting Admitted

On June 12th I had an early Dr's appointment. Isaiah and Gabe were still asleep, so I decided to drive myself. I had to be on the road by 7:30 to have time to stop and get coffee!!!!

I honestly didn't want to go to this appointment, I had to go up there every week and this appointment was just to check my vitals and meet with my Dr. Pretty standard and boring.

I got to my appointment and first things first. I had to pee in a cup and get weighed. Ugh....my two favorite things to do. As if the number on the scale wasn't bad enough I had to stand on it backwards because my belly was HUGE and making the scale off balance!!!! The medical assistant walked me to the room and tested my urine for protein and took my blood pressure. Everything seemed fine. She left and to my surprise my Dr came right in.

He had me lay down and asked how I was feeling. I said "tired, but normal". He asked what I did before my appointment. "well it's 8:45 in the morning so I got up and came here". He said your blood pressure is 160/100 and you have 3+ protein in your urine. I didn't know what that ment so I asked "is that bad"? he said "Yes it can be, I need you to drink some water and lay here for 10 min while I monitor you. If your blood pressure rises were having babies today because your in danger of have a seizure and that's dangerous for both you and babies".

I was thinking crap gabes at home sleeping, he won't hear his phone so I'm going to have babies by myself today. Thankfully my blood pressure went down to 150/90, still high but not crossing that line of being too dangerous. My Dr said even though it's lower I'm admitting you and you will be on strict bed rest until your babies are born. 

I was just thinking what am I going to do. Gabe works and I have Isaiah I need to take care of. We had a plan and this was not it. I felt fine, I mean I was super swollen but I can manage. I really thought I was going to make it the whole way without bedrest! Plus this ment I was going to have three newborns soon. I was freaking out.

So I walked next door and got myself admitted into the hospital, and that's when the fun began. I had two IVs put in after multiple attempt since my veins were being "ghost veins". I had a 24 hour urine collection ( everytime I went pee it had to be measured) which never ended. The babies had to be monitored 3 times a day for an hour that would turn into 3-4 hours because baby A and C liked to play hide in go seek with the nurses and endless vital checks.

I was finely diagnosed with preeclampsia. They were managing my blood pressure by medication fluid and bed rest. For example if I walked 5 feet to the bathroom my blood pressure would sky rocket, the Dr explained it as my body was constantly running a marathon even while laying down. The weirdest part was when I could feel my heart flutter and feel the un even beats. I was being pumped full of fluids through ivs and drinking tons of water, but I hardly had to use the restroom because my kidneys were shutting down. This is also known as toximia and the only cure is to deliver.

This was just the beginning of the end. It was scary exciting nerve racking so many emotions at the same time. my Dr wanted to schedule my c section for 35 weeks. That's only 9 more days. I knew it was better for the babies to stay in but I honestly just wanted them out. My body hurt the bed was uncomfortable I was bored it hurt to breath and I missed my son. There's only so much to do in the hospital for 9 days. 

33 weeks 5 days day before being admitted and last belly picture 

28 weeks 6 days

day of my baby shower 

23 weeks

By the time I was 23 weeks pregnant I was measuring 35 weeks for a single baby also known as a "singleton". I was getting bigger and bigger by the day and becoming more and more uncomfortable. I felt useless at work, I basically slept ate and went to work.

Now that I was noticeably pregnant people started to get curious.

 If you've been pregnant you know exactly what I'm talking about. People stop and ask when your baby is due and if your having a boy or girl! These questions are a given when your pregnant and most people don't have an issue answering the. Its a very special time in your life I mean your growing a human show it off!!!

Now when people would ask me these question and I would tell them I'm not due for another 4 months, when it looked like I was due in 4 weeks they would say awe twins? "actually triplets!" The look of horror and shock would turn into omg how exciting for most people. For others the horror never left there face. It was very amusing to see all the reactions!

Anyway if you have even twins you know the questions get very personal. Multiple babies are fascinating to people and I know they mean well but some of the questions and comments really catch you by surprise.

For example "are these natrual"? can I ask what's a "natural baby to you". No I didn't use any fertility meds but if I had would these babies be unnatural? Another one is "I'm so sorry your life is over"! Actually I'm only 22 so I have much more life ahead of me, now I'll just have 4 beautiful boys to enjoy it with! My all time favorite " was this planned?" Let me anewer that with a question, how can we plan three babies? Even if someone was to take fertility medication you can't plan three, your hoping for at least one.

Being pregnant with three babies was quite the experience. I met people who were over the moon for me and people who didn't really think much of it. My favorite was when ladies would talk to my belly, someone even rubbed and kissed it while I was working!!!

These are some pictures of the babies ultrasound and my belly at 23 weeks!

Boys Girls or Both?

   By now our shock had turned into excitement while we anxiously awaited the appointment! We, OK mostly I was obsessed with what the babies Genders would be. I was 17 weeks pregnant and the Dr said as long as babies cooperated we should be able to tell this appointment. Sometimes it's harder to see Genders with multiples because their squished in there. I was stressing I just had to know!           

     The weeks before my appointment I was watching gender reveals on YouTube and old wise tales, and I drove everyone crazy talking about it 24/7!!! It was killing me and the days felt like weeks passing.
   With my first I had a feeling he was a boy. I had bought boy cloths and referred to the baby as "he", I was so sure and I ended up being right!
   Now with these babies I kept going back and forth to all boys, to 2 boys and 1 girl. The day before my appointment I told people I'm 95% sure it's 2 boys and a girl. I thought baby A was a BOY baby B was a BOY and baby C was a GIRL. Baby C was so calm and always allowed the techs to get all their shots, and never wiggled off the monitors. So since that baby was so laid back and the other two never made things easy  I figured it had to be a girl!
    We headed to my Dr's office and met my parents, Gabriel's  sister rode with us and my Grammy, sister and son were going to head up and wait in the waiting room. We weren't excited at all!
    The ultrasound itself was 3 HOURS long. We were doing the anatomy of the baby's, about an hour for each. Gabriel didn't want to find out the Genders, he wanted the tech to write them down, so when we did our gender reveal we would be surprised along with our family. Not knowing was killing me, so about 2.5 hours into the appointment I cracked. WE HAVE TO KNOW NOW!!!
    I convinced Gabriel to allow the tech to tell us, this appointment we also found out Baby B and C might be identical so then I thought is it 2 girls and a boy. I was making myself go insane.
     The tech went over each baby and showed us. Baby A is a BOY!!!! Baby B is a BOY!!! Baby C is a BOY!!! OH... MY... GOD..... We're having three more boys. I was shocked excited and couldn't believe their wasn't one girl in there. I mean we had an 80% chance that we would have mixed genders and a 12% chance of them all being the same gender. I guess we just had to beat the odds once again.
    Everyone knew we were finding out the Genders but we made everyone who wasn't there wait until the next day. We filled 3 balloons with blue confetti and popped them to reveal the genders! 
    It was official we were expecting three baby boys. What kind of trouble are four boys going to get into who are just a year apart in school. Can you imagine what my grocery bill is going to be when their 16?! This is going to be a crazy adventure!
    Here's a picture of my baby bump at 17 weeks and our gender reveal picture. It's hard to see the color of the confetti but it is blue!

Selective reduction?

   My first appointment was early in the morning, it was in Portland which is about an hour away! Gabe and I didn't know what to expect from this trip, but we were pretty excited to confirm there was three humans growing in my belly. We were anxiously awaiting the ultrasound results still thinking the first Dr got it wrong!
   We were seen shortly after arriving. I had to be weighed, pee in a cup you know all the joys of pregnancy! We went into the ultrasound room I laid on the table and we started looking for babies. By now they were a lot bigger then before. I was 15 weeks by now.
   The tech pointed to each baby and we saw three heartbeats once again. We confirmed no more no less just three little humans! They checked their growth their fluid and their cord flows and everything was checking out.
    After the ultrasound we went to meet with my Dr. He was a younger guy but when he talked you could just hear how intelligent he was. Now going into this appointment I didn't know what to expect, for some reason I didn't think we were going to go over so many risk factors for this pregnancy.
    My Dr hit us with things like increased risk of low birth weights, preclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, preterm labour, losing one or more babies the list goes on and on. I knew carrying more then one baby was going to be hard but this was making it sound impossible.
   Then the Dr talked to us about slective reduction. This is brought up when your pregnant with three babies or more. I had no idea what this term ment. My Dr explained that due to all the risks and complications that can happen during this pregnancy we can choose to reduce down to a twin pregnancy or a singleton pregnancy. I was baffled when the Dr was explaining this to us. You mean we can choose to have just one baby. The Dr said yes it's a procedure done that reduces one or two babies, your body would absorb the baby and your risks for this pregnancy would be greatly lowered.
    We were speachless after the Dr was done explaining all the details. I just looked at Gabriel and he looked at the Dr and said no we're not going to reduce.  The Dr said that's fine I have until my 18 week appointment to make my decision but the sooner the  better.
    After my appointment Gabe and I talked about it more, and the more we talked about it the more assurance we had that we didn't want to reduce. I mean how can you choose what baby to keep? So this just wasn't an option for us.
   Leaving that appointment any excitement I had was gone. I was actually scared. Gabe and I had to discuss if one baby is falling behind and the other two are thriving do we deliver in hopes to save all three or do we just take our chances. Also if it comes down to it who do they save, me or our babies?  This really showed us the big picture and the next months were going to be a bumpy ride.
    A couple days after the appointment we decided to go ahead an announce that we were having triplets. I mean there was only so long I could hide my growing belly.  So we took a picture of our oldest son wearing a big brother shirt and posted it!!!