40 weeks on Friday

The trips turned 8 weeks old on Tuesday.  Courtney's original due date of 40 weeks, July 1, is tomorrow.  While she failed to carry them to term, we still think she did pretty darn good.

Last weekend went well as we enjoyed an overnight stay from friends Jason and Lisa and their one year old Ryan.  They cooked us several meals, fed many bottles and entertained Austin.  It was like having a little mini-vacation. 

We have a lot of help in town this week with Court's mom returning on Sunday, and her good friend Chris beginning a two week stay on Monday.   Four adults for three newborns plus Austin levels the playing field........a bit.

The new feeding schedule is working out well and enables us to get just a bit more sleep. 
Each feeding is now anywhere  from 75 - 100 milliliters, or 2.5 to 3.25 ounces and takes 20 - 40 minutes. 

See some new pics below.  Yes, we have two triplet strollers...the side by side one is great for neighborhood walks so we can keep a close eye on all three, while the front to back works well when we need to pack up and go somewhere and are dealing with more compact spaces.  We of course get the awkward stares of amazement when we are out in public.  During our first stroller ride, we actually saw several cars pass by with the drivers mouthing the words, "Oh...My....God"

The latest

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since we brought Ryleigh home to join her three brothers.  Everyone is doing well.  The new feeding schedule:  600am, 930am, 1:00pm, 4:30m, 800pm, 1100pm, 230pm has worked well and  brought a little relief at night as opposed to the previous late night 1100pm, 200am, 500am schedule.

Court's mom has been under the weather the last week and is convalescing in Columbus after being such a big help in week 1.  A lot of different people have pitched in to help us out with the late night feedings this week including grandparents, aunts and neighbors.  Many other family members have come to help out during the day while I am at work. 

My sister Leslie helped put together a program to provide us some home cooked meals a few times a week for the first few months.  This has been a big help and we have enjoyed some amazing meals so far from the Murrays, Andersons, Dosecks, Nolls, and Prengers.  Many thanks to all of them for the incredible generosity.

Its certainly been hard so far, as expected, namely because the lack of sleep. But each day seems to get just a little easier and we feel so blessed that everyone is home and healthy and so many people have pitched in to help us out in so many ways.  

Have a great weekend!

First Family Picture

Prior to leaving for the doctor

Packing on the ounces

The babies were seven weeks old today and will be 39 weeks on Thursday.  Austin's birthday was yesterday and he received a lot of great gifts from family and friends that will help keep him busy in the weeks that follow. 

We had a doctor's appointment today, primarily to check weights, which were as follows-

Gabe  6 lbs, 9 ozs  (gained 6 ozs in a week)
Cayden  6 lbs, 6 ozs (gained 7 ozs in a week)
Ryleigh   6 lbs, 1 ozs (gained 6 ozs in a week)


Their doctor was very pleased with the weight gain and even thought we could stretch out the night time feeding just a bit.  My first submittal to Courtney of 800am, 1000am, noon, 200pm, 400pm, 600pm 1000pm was denied...with extreme prejudice.    Tonight is our first attempt with a slightly stretched out schedule, so we will see how it goes. 

Getting three babies fed, dressed and packed up to go to the doc in the morning, plus a two year old for daycare at the same time, is a major event as you might imagine.  Luckily, we have timed it just right the first two tries with minimal incident.

Supply and Demand

If you looked inside our deep freeze, it would appear we are a critical tier one supplier to Reiter Dairy.  Alas, we are not, this is what is needed to feed three babies.  The frozen bottles contine to grow as Courtney keeps up with the trips and more.  We will use this milk somewhere down the line.

The picture might not do the quantity justice....there are hundreds of bottles. 

A lot of work

Current Weights

As of Tuesdays doctor appointment

Gabe  6 lbs, 3 ozs
Cayden  5lbs, 15 ozs
Ryleigh   5 lbs, 11 ozs

They are each drinking 2 to 3 ounces per feeding. 

Ryleigh stretching

Gabe 1st bath

Cayden

First Excursion

The trips first doctor appointment was today.  We loaded up the mini-van with all four kids and dropped Austin off at daycare before heading to the pediatrician in Tipp City.  Austin thought it was pretty cool to have his brothers and sister in the mini-van with him.   He spent much of the ride trying to lovingly poke Gabe in the face....the first of thousands of provacations in that van I imagine.  

We received plenty of stares in the waiting room...and every nurse in the place wandered out to get a peek at our tribe.  Appointment lasted a couple hours since everything is times three.  Every one checked out fiine. Height and weight measurements were in the 90th percentiles on an adjusted preemie schedule. 

Photo Session from the Hospital

A few recent pics

Austin welcomes Cayden

G, C, R

Inspiration for the Day

Last night went fine....Ryleigh struggled a little bit sleeping with her new surroundings, and Gabe was sleepless for several hours too, but overall everything is going great. 

Below are two links to a couple of stories in today's paper that are very inspiring, and that make missing a little sleep seem so minor.  I now have energy for the day.  Both worth the 5-10 minute read.......

Simon Fraser


The Robinsons

Day 40 - Ryleigh Comes Home !

Ryleigh was released Saturday and we brought her home around 4:00pm.  Austin greeted her with enthusiam, and then quickly went for the present she gave him.  He is starting to get the drill: new baby = present for Austin.  At this point, I'm certain he is hoping there are no more presents.

We had started to get a decent system down for feedings with the boys....we will work out the kinks of adding a third in the coming days.  We are unwilling to accept any more babies at this point into our production rotation.  Don't check back later. 

The babies must eat every three hours - 800, 1100, 200, 500 pm AND am.  Diaper changes, bottle preparation and cleaning, swaddling, etc. of course are all part of every feeding.    Courtney nurses at least one baby each feeding while her mom and I have been bottle feeding the other two.  Courtney also must spend another 20+ minutes pumping milk.  I'm not sure how she does it....

Quick Update

We survived night two.  Courtney's mom is staying with us and has been a lof of help.  My mom and dad were great help with Austin Thursday evening and brought us supper.  The boys are eating well and sleeping good for the most part.  The tentative plan is to bring Ryleigh home Saturday afternoon.

Admittedly, at times it feels like this -

......and we still have one more coming !

37 days later.....

The boys came home tonight!  Ryleigh had a good day and will hopefully be ready by the weekend to be released.

Cayden had an amazing day......he narrowly passed his hearing test, passed his car seat test, talked them into releasing him with Gabe, and oh, yeah, had his wee wee trimmed.  That is more than I do in some months.

Austin was great with his two brothers...giving them kisses, wanting Cayden to take a bath with him...comparing their evening milk sources.  He loved the toy trucks his brothers gave him.  I think we have some great video, but it will take some effort to get it uploaded.  Maybe by this weekend. 

Initial thoughts -

• Gabe is a night owl, he is a few minutes away from not sleeping between his 8:00pm and 11:00pm feedings.
• We are incredibly blessed that the shocking news we received 6 months ago ("There's three!"), and the many highs and lows since then, has ended with the boys coming home at 37 weeks, and hopefully baby sister a few days later.
• This will be the challenge of a lifetime.

Mom saying see you soon to Ryleigh



Cayden saying lets get the heck out of here



Baby Eve?

At one point yesterday there was talk about both boys coming home tomorrow (Wednesday).  Cayden had a few events Monday night which will preclude him from coming home Wednesday.   Gabe is still deciding if he is in....or if he is out.   He had a few borderline events Tuesday, so it will be a game time decision.

What are these "events" I talk about frequently?  Thanks for asking.  Each baby has their heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen level monitored.  The acceptable levels are -

I.  heart - 220 to 80 beats a minute.  
An abnormally low heart rate results in a Bradycardia. Bradys are usually associated with apnea in premature infants. During these spells the baby will stop breathing for at least 15 seconds and the heart rate will start to slow, also referred to as an “A&B spell.” Gentle touching or other stimulation almost always restarts the breathing and increases the heart rate. Medications (theophylline or caffeine) are often used to treat these spells in newborn babies.
II.  respiratory - 100 to 15 breaths per minute.
III.  oxygen level - 85% or above.  When the blood does not have enough oxygen, it is called a desaturation. Desaturations can cause a bluish tint to the lips or skin and cause a baby to lose tone or become “floppy.”

Any time they fall outside these levels, their monitors go off, and depending on how quickly they correct and what they are doing at the time, it may or may not be a listed "event."  The doctors want the events to be largely over with before they are released.

In summary, maybe Gabe will come home Wednesday......maybe he will not. 

Baby pictures were taken at the hospital today -
Here is an example, more to follow after we purchase the related CD. 

Cayden, Gabe and Ryleigh

Unlicensed daycare

cribs one and two of three

cribs two and three of three

NICU Day 34

It was a good weekend for the trips.  Cayden was moved to open air today and Ryleigh was yesterday...so no more incubators/cages/isolettes for any of them.  Gabe is the champion eater, always finishing his two ounce bottle, and usually nursing the longest.  Cayden has also been eating well.   Ryleigh is the slowest, and lightest eater.  She still has some breathing issues at times while eating that will hopefully resolve itself this week. 

Sleepy Ryleigh

Cayden in the open air crib

There is still a good chance that Gabe will be able to come home this week some time.  I won't mention a day, since the last time I did that, things fell apart. 

We took Austin to Boonshoft Museum this afternoon to see the various animals.   He had a ball checking out the river otters, bobcat, meerkats, etc.  A little video is below.....

Improving, in Triplicate

Yesterday was a very good day for the trips.  Cayden is feeling much better, is no longer on oxygen, no longer has an IV in his head, and even had his feeding tube removed.  Well, not exactly, he ripped the feeding tube out and they decided to not put it back in, giving him a chance to show he could survive on only bottle and breast feedings.  He has also been event free for a day or so.  He told me Friday during our visit that he feels like a new man, and was going to wander the halls of NICU Friday night to scope out the preemie chicks.      

Ryleigh also had her feeding tube removed Friday...so no tubes for any babies.  Ryleigh has been eating well, and also has avoiding any measurable events for a day or so.  She continues to keep a watchful eye on her brothers.  She has developed quite a knack for pooping on dad's hand anytime he is changing her. 

Gabe is healing well from his circumcision, although there is look in his eyes indicating he has a lot of questions about the whole matter.  His smart monitor is scheduled to be downloaded on Tuesday, and if it reads well, and he avoids events between now and then, he might be able to come home then or shortly thereafter.  Undetermined how far behind his siblings will be, but as of today, it looks much shorter than just two days ago.

Courtney and I were able to go the hospital together for the 5:00 feeding yesterday.  It had been several weeks since that happened, as we try to go separately, to be there as much as possible, while also taking care of Austin.  Courtney was able to nurse each baby for 15+ minutes, with Gabe the champ at 25 minutes.

We ended the night with a great dinner at a hidden gem, Greenfire Bistro in Tipp City, wondering if this would be our last relaxing dinner together for the next couple years.
Greenfire

Cayden w/ no tubes

Gabe repping the 937

Miami County's Most Wanted

Justice was served swiftly today in a Miami County daycare....I took a call about 3:00 pm telling me that our little angel was suspended from daycare for the next three days.  He bit two kids which brought his cummulative total to greater than 12 bites, which in the daycare world means, SUSPENSION.  Sadly, I think the total of 12 is a pretty friendly count with consideration given to our unique situation.  Austin is getting his molars and anytime he teethes he tends to release his pain on the nearest flesh.  Discipline is tough because he hasn't been biting at home.  He did receive a stern talking to tonight and issued an "I'm Sorry" to both mom and dad. 

So, tomorrow his sentence will begin with a day spent hanging out with mom, grandma and cousin Taylor...maybe even a little swimming.  Lindsay Lohan should be so lucky......

Four weeks

Amazingly, the kids were four weeks old yesterday, and will be 36 weeks (I don't think gestation is correct, but you know what I mean) on Thursday . 

The doctor did not feel it was the right time to send Gabe home yet.  He wasn't comfortable with the few events he has suffered in the last couple days and continues to have.  He will reevaluate at the end of the week. He is still eating well, taking 50 ccs from a bottle and nursing for extended periods.  Gabe is now about 1/16 of an ounce lighter after his circumcision Tuesday.  Mom was even there for the traumatic event.  Dad wanted no part of it. 

Cayden has improved some with the antibiotics, but they are thinking he is suffering from sort of virus and going to revaluate his improvement today and decide on continuation of level of antibiotics.  He continues to suffer some daily events. 

Ryleigh is still sort of in the middle.  Still having events, but eating well.  Like Gabe, she is well over 5 pounds now with Cayden just a few ounces north of that.

All the trips passed their eye tests the first time, which means there eyes are fully developed, and they will not need tested again for a year.  I guess this is really good, b/c the eye test involves dilation and is stressful and is repeated weekly if they fail.

Mom and dad are fine and enjoying the last few days with Austin prior to all the change forthcoming.  Austin is a lot of fun right now, as he adds new words every day and strings more and more of them together.  We are grateful for all the help we have received from family, friends , neighbors, etc.  As an example, it is almost June and I have cut our grass exactly once.