Pediatrician checkup

The babies each got checked out by the pediatrician.  They each got several shots.  The biggest news is the weigh-in:  Collin at 7 pounds 12.8 ounces, Anniston at 6 pounds 13 ounces and Bailey at 6 pounds 7 ounces.  They are all doing well.  Mom and dad have managed to get out and do a few things here and there (thanks grandma and grandpa for babysitting or should that be babies-sitting?!).  Thanks for your continued interest and prayers.  Sorry it has been so long on the update.

JKABC  

Weekend Update (not the SNL version)

Hello all!  We are just hanging out at home feeding the three hungry mouths.  When you feed them once every three hours and it takes a half an hour to feed each of them, it is amazing how quickly the next feeding time rolls around!  I think we have a schedule worked out for the weekdays so that mom and dad can get some sleep (and dad can get to work).  Thanks grandma Bum for helping us out at the 8 am feed time.

We did take them out yesterday for their first (very brief) walk in the triple stroller!  It was a little cold, but they did fine.

Praise God for taking good care of our family.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  We have a scheduled eye doctor appointment this week.  Other than that, it should be relatively quiet.

JKABC

Collin's Ped Checkup

Collin went with his mom to the pediatrician for his initial checkup yesterday.  They weighed him in at 6 pounds 4 ounces.  He is getting so much bigger!  The whole family was going to go to the pediatrician, but the pediatrician's office is one place where there are usually sick kids.  Didn't want to take more chances than necessary.  So daddy and the girls hung out at home during that time.  Mom has her 6 week checkup tomorrow.  Hopefully all will be well and she will get the green light for increased activity.  We are looking forward to heading out tomorrow evening while grandma and grandpa watch the crew for a little while.  Thanks for the prayers and meals.  We couldn't make it without them.

JKABC

Staying Busy

Hello from home again.  We are getting settled in and used to taking care of our three little ones.  They are doing a very good job of staying on schedule.  Most of the time they are waking up to take their feeds (but not too early).  They are all eating a fair amount more than when they left the NICU.  We have a pediatrician visit today for Collin.  We'll get to see if he has surpassed the 6 pound mark.  It has been nice the last few days to stay inside and avoid the very cold temperatures.  Stay warm.

JKABC

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Great news!!!! Our little guy is home. Collin came home yesterday evening. Just another example of things changing at the last minute.  We took the girls to their first pediatrician appointment. All went well. We then headed up to the hospital to see Collin and to get all of their pictures taken together. It was too cute. We were informed on Thursday to go ahead and schedule Collin's pediatrician follow-up appointment mid to late this week so we did. However, when we got to the hospital they informed us that he would be going home tomorrow (today) sometime in the morning or afternoon. We were really excited about that because it was a whole day sooner than what we thought. We got back from getting the kids pictures taken and they came by again and informed us that he would be going home that day (yesterday). They felt that since we were already there, why not take him home. They didn't feel like keeping him for another 12 hours would make a difference. The only thing keeping him was him feeding orally and he was doing excellent. They got the discharge papers together and we were off in the van with our sweet Collin. It was the greatest day to have all of them in the van with us to go home. Collin gets to be with his sisters finally. Dad had to make one stop before we went home, well two, but one wasn't too significant. Dad had to stop on Dunkin Donuts. Hmmm. He says he is eating them for the kids and I say, "Why don't you let me eat them then?". I think Dad is playing with us. He really is eating them for himself.

Anyway, the night was great. Collin sleeps very peacefully so it wasn't too much different in that regard. Just one more mouth to feed and another sweet cheek to kiss on. The kids have really enjoy their swings a lot. We are just wondering what else we can possibly fit in our living room. We are outgrowing our house but it has been great.

Well, I am sure it has been a shock for everyone, including us, finding out Collin was coming home yesterday. We thank all of you for the prayers and support. Please continue to pray for their growth & development as they start their life at home.

Thanks again:-) We'll continue to keep you posted and we will keep the pictures coming.

JKABC

A Special Day

It has been a big and special day for us.  Collin & Anniston received their blood transfusion and took it well.  They will do another blood test this morning on Collin to see if his levels have responded the way they should.  Please continue to pray for little Collin & Anniston. 

Also some big news, Anniston & Bailey are home with us this morning.  We brought them home last night.  It was kind of bitter sweet for us.  We hate that Collin was not able to come home too but expected that they all wouldn't be coming home the same day.  It doesn't make it any easier though.  It isn't that he really knows too much different.  It is more us feeling like he should be home too with his sisters.  We are confident that Collin will come home soon.  We are thinking that this blood transfusion will give him some strength back and he will be able to take full feeds orally.  He has completed one full day of feeds up to this point and is working on his second.  We are so proud of him.  He has been a strong little guy.  Please pray that he continues on with his full feeds and that he will come home soon. 

We tried to include Collin as much as we could last night without putting him into the van and taking him with us too.  We took pictures with him and the girls and we hung out with him a little more before we left.  Dad is going up to the hospital today to spend the day with Collin.  He will also probably try to get some work done too while he is there.  Jason & I will probably switch off going up to the hospital to be with Collin.  We don't want it to be any different for him.  They have also told us that the girls can come back into the NICU to visit so that we can all be there.  We will probably still try to limit this though because of the cold and just the traveling back and forth for them.  I am sure it is hard on them being preemies.  

The girls have their first pediatrician appointment tomorrow to check weights, etc...  I am wondering if they will also check Anniston's levels to make sure her levels are also where they should be.  Please pray that they are.  Thanks for all of the referrals for pediatricians.  It has really helped us narrow the interviewing down and has given us more time to be with the babies at the hospital.  

I think that is all for now.  The girls will need to be fed soon so I probably need to relax for a while and/or get some things done.  We'll keep you posted with anything new and any new pictures.  

Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and support.

JKABC

Transfusions

Short early morning update:  Both Collin and Anniston will be receiving blood transfusions today.  Their red blood cell counts were very low and have been dropping.  We've been assured that this process is very safe and that the blood is screened for many issues.  Dad is still a little nervous.  They each get about 15 mL of blood.  Please pray for this little ones as this will be happening sometime this morning.

JKABC

Test Results

Anniston, Bailey & Collin all continue to do well with their feedings.  Collin has been a little tired again today.  We found out this morning that his blood test came back a little lower than the last test.  The doctors will do another blood test on Wednesday.  If Collin's numbers are the same or lower, they will do a blood transfusion.  Anniston will also be getting a blood test done due to her levels being low.  She will get a blood transfusion, along with her brother, if her levels are below a certain number on Wednesday.  Although not as low as Collin, they want to make sure her levels aren't on a continuous drop. This will shut off the bone marrow from producing the red blood cells which is the reason why the doctors have been so conservative up to this point so that his body would do it itself, however, since it has continued to drop they are needing to make a decision to give him a little help.  They believe that this will help him in the short term and eventually his body will mature enough to do this on its own.  Please pray for Collin's test on Wednesday that it will come back higher than the last one so that the transfusion can be avoided and that his body won't be interrupted in doing what it should do naturally.  If he does need the transfusion, we pray that it will improve his strength.  On the positive side though, Collin has shown much improvement.  His blood oxygen levels have been much better over the past couple of days.  We are glad for that.  

All of the babies got hearing test done today and they all came back normal.  I don't think we were too concerned about this test.  It seems as though they all have responded well when we are talking with them but it is a good affirmation.  I think that is all of the definitive news we have at this point.  We will keep you posted.

Thanks again for the continued prayers!!!:-)

JKABC

The Triplets Continue to Improve

The feedings continue to go well. We are so proud of all of them. They are working so hard. Collin has even shown signs of improvement. He seems to be doing so much better than even a couple of days ago. He has almost done a complete turnaround. Today they will do another test that shows whether or not his body is starting to make more red blood cells. He was kind of pooped out there for a while, however, the last couple of days he has been doing excellent. His coloring is better, his saturation rates are better, and he seems to have his strength back. Jason & I feel that Collin's test for the red blood cells will come back much better. As far as the PDA, we don't know. The doctors are still hearing a murmur and when they did the EKG a couple of days ago, they found that he had a moderate PDA. I am not a doctor but this seems to be doing better also. We wouldn't be able to know that for sure unless they did another EKG. I would think they would do another one before we go home because of the prior one showing he had one. I would think they would have a follow up but we will have to ask the doctors what the plan will be. They are still hearing a murmur in Anniston but she is doing very well and we are hoping this will resolve itself in time.

Thank you everyone for continued prayer for the babies. We feel them here at the NICU and we see the evidence of them in our babies as they grow stronger and stronger every day.

JKABC

PDA is back

Hello friends and family.  The results for Anniston's EKG came back with a clean bill of health.  Collin's came back indicating that he still has a moderate PDA.  The doctor talked like they would wait and see how things go to decide what to do about it.  The worst case is surgery to close it up.  While this would fix things permanently, it would also require him to undergo the risks of a surgery and place him back on the vent again.  We would appreciate your prayers for baby Collin.  We are praying that God would just close up the PDA, but we will trust him regardless.

They are all doing pretty well with their feeds.  The girls gulped down the majority of their bottles.  Both of them are over 4 pounds!  If all goes well tonight with little Collin, he should hit the 5 pound mark!

JKABC