Growing, growing, growing...

All three babies have been gaining weight every day! Avery is up to 3 lbs. 1 oz., Adam is 2 lbs. 9 oz., and Aaron weighs 2 lbs 8.5 oz. The boys are still enjoying being in the same bed, and Avery will probably join them on Monday. Currently, she is queen of her isolette...I'm not sure how she will feel about being contained with her stinky old brothers! As the boys continue to gain weight, they will really fill out and quit looking like little old men!

Today my parents and John's mom came for a visit. Everyone enjoyed seeing how much the babies have grown and changed. It was so fun to see the smiles on our parents' faces. My mom says the pictures on the internet just don't do justice to how pretty the babies really are.

Their little personalities are already starting to shine! While I know many of their facial expressions are involuntary, you should see the faces they can make! Today, and I know this was on purpose, John was trying to put Avery's passifier in her mouth. She would have none of it--she squeezed those little lips together as tight as she could. I guess we know who is boss!

I have a few pictures from today, but for some reason can't get them to upload right at this moment. I will get them loaded as soon as I can.

Identical Means Identical!

The boys were co-bedded today! They are now in the same isolette. It was so exciting to see them laying together. Of course they enjoy touching each other and getting each other fired up. What really cracked us up is how many pictures we took when they were doing the same things. In all of the pictures Adam is on the left and Aaron is on the right. To keep them straight, all of Adam's monitor leads, etc. are marked with blue tape...Aaron's are marked with green. The only difference we noticed today was that Aaron's hair is a little lighter in color. But, we all know how that changes in babies! I hope you love these pictures. (We did not position the boys for any of the pictures...isn't that sweet how they wanted to touch each other?!) Avery will join her brothers when the doctor says it's OK!

Miss Avery

Just a couple more pictures of Avery!
















Feeding Update
All three babies are taking bottles at two feedings per day. They are also finishing them! I got to bottle feed Adam today. (Those pictures from yesterday were the nurse showing me what to do!) I also tried to breast feed Aaron. He suckled a little, but it was just too much work.


The babies are staying awake for longer periods of time. They are also opening their eyes when they hear our voices!

The Triplets Take their First Bottle!

John and I have had an amazing two days at the NPCU. Tuesday night we got to help weigh the babies, measure their heads, change their bedding, and hold them all.

Today was definitely an unexpected surprise! When the doctor made rounds, he said that all three babies need to start trying to nipple feed two times per day! We couldn't believe it...we thought we were at least two weeks from that! (Probably because of per ignorance!!) All three did it! Adam took the least amount of milk, then Avery, then Aaron. Aaron was our little champ today--he took the whole bottle! I cried!


It was ironic because I had just read an article about how hard the feeding process actually is for preemies. If you think about it, the tiny baby is required to suck, swallow, all the while remembering to breath. What another blessing that they could all do it! Believe it or not, I get to start trying to breast feed tomorrow! More progress for the little ones!! :)


I got to Kangaroo hold everyone today, and Dad held everyone too. Praise God for more answered prayers! While we took a million pictures today, here are a few.


Avery

Adam


































Aaron

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.