One Week Old...

The babies are One Week Old Today! Even as I post this, I am reminded of their birthday...They were officially born at 5:18, 5:19, and 5:20.

Today was an important milestone for the babies. They all had brain scans this morning to check for any brain hemorrhages. It is standard practice for babies born before 32 weeks. I am happy to report that there are no signs of problems! John tried to convince the doctor to go ahead and say that they are also the most intelligent children he's ever seen, but I don't think the scans checked their IQs!! :)

All 3 babies are next to each other now in the Progressive Care Unit. They are still on monitors, in their own incubators, and being feed with a tube. They currently have their feeding tubes in their noses so that they can try to start sucking on passifiers. Aaron is the only one that has taken his passifier so far. It was so cute to see that tiny passifier in his little mouth. Organized sucking is one of the last things to develop, so it will be 2-3 more weeks before we even try to bottle feed them.

John and I got to Kangaroo hold everyone today, and it was a wonderful feeling. Being able to hold your baby skin to skin is something most parents take for granted, but is a special event for us!

Diaper Change!

John is an expert "temperature taker"(done at each diaper change under the arm with a digital thermometer)and I am getting to change everyone's diapers when I am there. Look how tiny the diapers are!

New Pictures of Avery

No, I'm not playing favorites! Just wanted you to see Avery without all her tubes! There is also one picture with my sister, Joni.

Diapers

Thanks for all the diapers! John organized the diapers in our kitchen nook. They are organized by size, with wipes being last. We've used your gift cards to buy diapers too.

The Trips Say their First Words Today!

John is absolutely sure he heard:

"Pittsburgh" --Avery

"Steelers"--Adam

"Rule!"--Aaron

Another good day for the Trips!

The Triplets had another very good day! In fact, Aaron and Adam have both been moved to the PPCU (Prenatal Progressive Care Unit)--which is a different unit from the NICU. It is located just around the corner from the NICU, and it is a "step up" from the NICU. Basically...the boys are doing excellent. The PPCU is actually the unit from where babies are dismissed. Of course we aren't ready for that, but it just shows how much progress has been made in the 5 short days since their birth.

Miss Avery is not far behind her brothers! The large Hudson prongs were removed today, and she is on a smaller nasal canula. Avery is breathing room air, the canula in her nostrils is just there in case she needs support. It looks like she may also be off the jaundice light tomorrow. I finally got a good picture of her little face, so I wanted all to see! Isn't she beautiful?

We are all doing Great!

Hello Everyone! John and I can't thank you enough for your well wishes, notes of encourgement, and of course your thoughts and prayers!

Like Sonja told you, I came home from the hospital yesterday. I feel myself getting stronger and stronger every day. We will be driving back and forth to the NICU on some days, and on others will be staying at a motel in Fort Worth. But, I know you aren't reading this blog to check on me...so here's baby news!

Aaron

Aaron is doing great! He will be off all IVs as soon as they run out today. He is only on a feeding tube (they all have one in their mouths) and sensors. The incubators help the babies keep their body temperatures at a normal level. Today I got to change his diaper, clean his umbilical cord, and hold him against my skin! It was an awesome feeling!

Adam

Adam is doing as well as his brother! No IVS, etc.. They are definitely indentical twins and they look just like their DAD! It is so funny to see the many mannerisms that they also share with John.

Avery

Avery is also doing very well! She is just a couple of days behind her brothers on getting things removed! She has been breathing room air for two days, so hopefully the oxygen prongs will be removed this weekend. She still weighs more than her brothers, and seems to enjoy baking in the "sun" (jaundice) lamp! We also got to change her diaper today! We will get to Kangaroo hold her when some of the tubes are gone.

Everyone is doing fabulous! The boys are off oxygen tubes completely. They only have an i.v. and feeding tubes. Avery is still under the jaundice light and still has her oxygen tubes, but is doing great as well.

Jill sounds wonderful on the telephone and keeps telling me that things are great! She and John both are so excited and grateful that everyone is doing so well.

She and John were on their way to see the babies this morning, and said she would take some new pictures.

The "A" Team is Staying Stong..

As of last night, Avery, Adam and Aaron were doing terrific. Jill got to hold Aaron and Adam and John held Avery. I'm not sure either parent could have been any prouder.

Aaron and Adam could possibly get the big oxygen tubes out in the next few days and they will be replaced with smaller ones. Avery is still doing great!

Jill is being discharged from the hospital today. Don't you know the feeling she'll have to finally have her freedom back?...8 weeks total bed rest, with the last 5 being in the hospital. FREE AT LAST! She was awesome!

We will report again soon, and since Jill is functioning again and can download pictures, maybe we can get updated pictures soon.

Avery Nicole Power

Last, but certainly not least... (just ask her Daddy)

3.0 lbs.
13.5 in.
5:20 p.m.


The have labeled her "The Drama Queen" at Cooks. She had a hard time getting her blood pressure stabilized, as well as her oxygen. They got the blood pressure problem corrected and working on the oxygen level. She is also doing great.

Adam Daniel Power

2.9 lbs.
14 in.
5:19 p.m.

He is on oxygen as well, and was just snoozing away. He's doing great!

Aaron Edward Power

2.6 lbs. 13.5 in.
5:18 p.m.
He is a little jaundice, so he is under the light for a few days. The tubes in his mouth are oxygen which is standard for preemies. The were going to try and give him a little formula through his I.V. and see how his little intestines/organs handled it. He is doing so well!

The "A" team has made it~

Aaron, Adam & Avery are HERE!! They arrived in that order @ 5:15 pm this afternoon. Everyone is doing great. The babies were been moved across the street to Cooks because Harris was limited on bed space. Jill should be back in room 381 by tomorrow. There will be more details to report tomorrow, but for today, the most important detail is the babies & Jill are doing well. Continue to lift Jill, John, Aaron, Adam & Avery up in your prayers.

Contest

Since the time is getting closer for Jill to have the babies, I thought it would be fun to have a contest and try to guess the day. If you want to play, just post a comment with your date. The winner receives bragging rights... unless someone wants to start a small pot of moo-la! My guess is July 27th. Good Luck!

Hope you had a great weekend! As you can see, my tummy continues to grow! That means that the babies are growing, and we are so thankful for that. Dr. Tabor will measure them on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm anxious to see how much they've grown.

Saturday morning I was eating my morning fruit plate snack. I rested the plate partially on my belly and partially on the tray. The babies were really moving around when --Kick-- the plate moved. John didn't see it, so when I told him to look, one of the babies kicked hard and a grape went flying from the plate! We couldn't quit laughing!!

A few things are changing. I'm retaining fluid now, and my blood pressure is up a little. Also, they call me a "night contractor." I start having contractions around 3:00 in the afternoon, and they usually stop around midnight. Remember, these aren't labor contractions--just the Braxton Hicks kind.

I'll let you know about the babies' measurements! Thanks for your support!

30 Weeks!!!

I can't believe we've made it to 30 weeks! We feel so blessed! I know that moms that are pregnant with one baby probably don't think a thing about making it this far. But as you know, those of us with triplets are just thrilled.

Here on the high risk floor, there are currently 3 triplet moms(including me) and one mom with quads. From what I understand, they are all hanging in there too!

My parents are coming down again this weekend. I think mom is going to repaint my toenails for me. Of course I can't reach them! When John took me outside today, I sat in the sun for about 15-20 minutes--and I got pink on my arms and legs! You know you are pale when you can burn that fast! The sun sure did feel good.

John keeps telling me how much Bella Bear has grown since I've been gone. He is going to video tape Bella and Cletus playing for me. I sure do miss my puppies.

Please remember to pray for Kevin and Amy, and their children Riley and Carter. They need our love and support.

Have a great weekend. Remember...if you want to come visit, I'll be here!

I want to first ask for your prayers for our friends. Amy and Kevin Ice are from Glen Rose, and they had triplets(3 boys) 3 1/2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, one of the boys passed away yesterday. I cannot imagine how bad they are hurting. Please pray for their other two boys, Carter and Riley, and pray for strength for the parents.

I had another sonogram today. Dr. Tabor checked heartbeats, amniotic fluid, movement, and "breathing." He said that everything looks great! Next week he will measure the babies again.

John and I would like to thank Steve and LaQuita Allen from Glen Rose. They delivered a whole palette of diapers to John at the bank this morning! (See picture) John said there are a variety of sizes too. We are continually overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and generosity!

I've been in the hospital for 4 weeks now! The time has gone by quickly. Wouldn't it be great if I was able to stay pregnant 4 more weeks? I would be 34 weeks!

Hello! It was another good weekend. Joni, my sister, spent most of the day with me on Saturday. She brought lunch to me from Cotton Patch, and it was really good. I had several visitors, and slept well from all the activity.

John got here early Sunday morning, and stayed with me until Monday afternoon. It was such a great feeling to have some alone time together. The hardest thing about being here is being away from him. He comes to the hospital so much, but the extended visit was really nice.

Health wise things are still doing good. The doctor ordered bloodwork just to make sure all of my organs were functioning properly, etc..and everything came back great! I also had to do a test to measure the amount of protein in my urine. The levels were elevated, but still in the OK range. Also, I'm still having contractions in the evenings, but again, nothing of concern. Apparently it is all normal, pregnant with triplets, kind of stuff!

Please continue to pray for the Ice triplets, and all of the other little babies in the NICU. All of those babies are so delicate, and I cannot imagine the worry and helplessness their parents must feel. Your prayers continue to work miracles in our lives, and I know they will also work miracles in the lives of others.

Much love to you all!

29 Weeks

We are 29 weeks now! This past week just flew by! We are just so excited with the way things are going. I keep thinking about what a blessing it would be to actually make it to 32-33 weeks (which is average gestation for triplets). But, I don't want to be greedy. Even if something happened, and the babies came now, there is an excellent chance of survival.

I have to admit, things are getting harder. My belly has gotten so big that I feel like it takes a build up of momentum to even turn over in bed! Also, it's harder to move from a lying to a sitting position, and the backaches are much more common. I know these are all typical symptoms of pregnancy, and I'm thankful for them, but it is uncomfortable!

I have officially been on bedrest for 7 weeks now...3 1/2 weeks of it in the hospital. Some days are easier than others for sure. But, we would be in the hospital regardless (either me in bed or the babies in the NICU), so I would rather be right here!

I love to put my hands on my stomach and feel the babies moving around. I just love them so much already, and feel like I'm getting to know their personalities by the way they move. You moms out there know exactly what I mean! It will be such an amazing day to actually see their little faces!

Another Sonogram

Well, Sunday night was pretty difficult. I had contractions every 10-15 minutes for about 5 hours. But, the good news is, contractions aren't labor. When the doctor came in yesterday morning, he reassured me that everything was fine and that it is completely normal to contract that much when you are carrying 3 babies. He said that my uterus is growing and stretching and trying to make room for the little ones.

I can assure you they are growing because we did a sonogram today! They are doing so well! Their weights are: (weight is figured through a series of measurements taken)
Avery: 2 lbs. 12 oz
Aaron: 2 lbs. 3 oz
Adam: 2 lbs. 8 oz

Aaron is in the lowest position. Poor little guy...he's getting squished!

Remember that Avery has her own placenta, so she's not having to share food like the boys are. Dr. Tabor calls her "The Little Princess."

John and I are very excited and continue to be thankful for each day that passes!

28 Weeks and Counting..

July 7th-8th: I felt really good this weekend! I am relaxing better, and able to sleep at night for a few hours at a time. I'm always needing to go to the bathroom since I have 6 feet pressing on my bladder!

I do get out of the room some. John takes me on a 30 minute wheelchair ride. That's always quite a trip! We cruise the lobby, check out the water feature, and then he puts me in the sun...or just outside if it's cloudy. It was really humid yesterday, but I love the heat from the sun. It really refreshes me.

Dr. Tabor did a quick sonogram yesterday just to look at the babies. They look so big to me! He said the amount of amniotic fluid around each baby still looks good. He will do a more detailed sono with measurements later this week. I can't wait to see how much weight they have gained!

It's funny when all 3 babies get moving at the same time. I can feel kicking, rolling, and balling up all at one time! Sometimes it takes my breath away! Sonja took a picture of me, and one with John and I that she will be posting. Gee whiz....my belly is BIG!

Also, I want to apologize that you may not have received a thank you card yet. Since I've been on bedrest for the last 6 weeks, I am only allowed to sit up long enough to eat. Christin Jones wrote some cards for me while I dictated, but we didn't get them all completed. Please know that I haven't forgotten you or your generosity!

Have a great week!

Tonight there is a replay of a recent Steeler game on NFL network. John wanted me to put the hospital remote/speaker close so that the babies could hear! They are getting to listen to their first Steeler's game! :) They are moving a lot, so I think they like it!!

Today was another good day! We are very excited because I will be 28 weeks tomorrow! 28 weeks is a huge milestone for development. I believe, statistically speaking, that at 28 weeks there is a 90% healthy survival rate for the babies. Thank you God for letting us make it this far. And hopefully we have many more weeks to go!

Tuesday, July 3rd: It's been two more good days! (And I've officially been in here 2 weeks) Yesterday Dr. Tabor returned from vacation, and was pleased to see that I am still pregnant!

Shannon Hulsey cut my hair when she and her girls came to visit yesterday! She even brought her wax so she could fix my eyebrows. Thanks Shannon! I was looking so scraggly. Her next visit may involve some hair color....the grey is taking over.

My parents are in town and have spent the last two days here. It sure has been nice getting those backrubs and headrubs from mom. I guess you never get too old for your mom to baby you. John got here first thing this morning. It has been two weeks since our last FFN test, and we were both anxious to do it again. The FFN is a swab test they do on me. It looks for some type of enzyme a pregnant woman releases when she is within 2 weeks of going into labor. Although the test is designed for singleton pregnancies, my doctor has faith in it for multiples too. And the result was NEGATIVE! Essentially there is about a 0% chance that I will go into labor within the next two weeks!!! Now, having said that, if there are any changes with the mild case of preeclampsia, then delivery may be necessary. Regardless, there is a strong chance that we will at least be safe for 2 more weeks. I am 27 1/2 weeks now, so putting me close to 30 would be awesome.

I say it often, but thanks so much for all your calls, emails, and visits to the hospital. They all mean so much to us. Thanks also to everyone who is calling John and offering to help him at home. He is doing a wonderful job balancing work, home, the puppies, and coming to see me. Please keep him in your prayers also that he is safe in all his trips to see me.

I hope you all have a wonderful July 4th!

The Weekend

Things went well this weekend. My doctor has been on vacation, and should be back tomorrow. The two other doctors that have been on call are also wonderful. They have both commented on how well I am doing. I know it is because of all the prayers, support, and excellent medical care.

Today John and I took a brief tour of the NICU. Amanda and Shane, our friends from Granbury that had triplets on May 28th, showed us around. There are many different rooms for the different needs of the premies. Even though you know the babies are getting the best care possible, it was still overwhelming. Please continue to pray that it will be many, many weeks before the Power triplets decide to make their grand entrance into the world!

Remember to keep those calls, emails, and visits coming! I enjoy them so much! :)