Little Feet, Big Steps. . .

For those of you who may be calendar impaired, the Trips are now one week old. Time has really flown by, it seems like just last week we were hoping they would be here soon. So with such a big milestone upon us I thought it might be appropriate to look back and reminisce about the first week with the Trips. Most people might wait until several years down the road to do such intense looking back but I prefer to do it while I can still remember it, and besides I am most definitely not "most people" (do you remember what quotes in this blog mean, I'll bet you don't). So in an effort to keep this whole discussion on topic and brief, I think that I will just get started and get the reminiscing moving right along. Cue the wavy lines and the doodoodoo doodoodoo doodoodoo sound effects. . .

Last week at this time (understand that I am writing this on Saturday evening and I know that most of you won't read this until Sunday at the earliest, but night time is when I can write, so I guess you'll just have to go with it and pretend this is Saturday and not Sunday)...we had just had the triplets and Charlie & Lizzie were both on CPAP and Megabella was just cruising right along. All three were in little isolettes to keep them warm and all three were receiving IV fluids and antibiotics. By Sunday morning, Charlie & Lizzie were both off the CPAP and breathing on their own just like Megabella. All three made some great strides in this first week. Looking back they needed a little help, but they were really strong all on their own.

Let's fast forward to today, one week old . . .

Megabella: Never needed any extra help breathing, and did pretty well maintaining her temperature after a couple of days. She did have some IV problems and needed a pick line instead. She also needed some extra time to digest her food, but is doing that very well right now and has kept pace with the others on quantity and will be at 40 ml by the time you all read this. She is taking most of her food by the bottle and less and less by NG tube. Most importantly they stopped all IV fluids today and moved her to a regular bassinet!

Charlie: Was on CPAP for 18 hours, but has been breathing on his own ever since. He had a little more trouble than his sisters maintaining his temps but is doing very well now. He was the first to take food, keep it down, and process it...also the first to take the bottle. However he is lagging behind now and takes almost all of it through the NG tube, though he is also taking 40 ml by Sunday morning. He also is off all IV fluids, and also moved to a bassinet today!!

Lizzie: Was on CPAP for 18 hours, but also has been breathing on her own since then. She did pretty well keeping her temps up and spent very little time in the broiler. She had some trouble with food in the beginning, but is now taking almost her entire meal by bottle and uses the NG tube very little, and not at all for most feedings. She is at 40 ml and will be moving to "whatever she wants to take" very soon. She is off the IV's today and also made the big move to a bassinet on her one week birthday!!

All in all, these three future monsters are doing very well, and hopefully will be heading home very soon. Christa & I are very happy and are thrilled to keep getting good news from a NICU doctor. We hope that Charlie will decide to nap less and eat more very soon, but for now are excited that they are all so healthy.

Well that was alot of reading and I know you are tired of what I have to say, so how about some pictures. . .

"Happy One Week Birthday, Lizzie!"

"Happy One Week Birthday, Megabella!"

"Happy One Week Birthday, Charlie!"


Daddy gives Charlie a pep talk prior to his 8:00 pm feeding.

Mommy snuggles Lizzie and laughs at Daddy while he's talking to Charlie...Daddy's funny!

"Good Night, Megabella...sleep well, Sweetie!"

This is what their new bassinets look like...the NICU nurses call them "convertibles."

The opening picture tonight, shows you Lizzie in her isolette...this is the bed that they spent their first week of life in. They ALL got to upgrade today!

"Good Night, Lizzie...sleep tight...don't let the bed bugs bite!"

"Just keep sleeping, Charlie...no sense waking up now."