Wild Weekend!!

First, and most importantly, the babies are perfectly fine! They enjoyed a rather calm weekend truthfully. It was their Mommy who had the wild weekend...and it started right around 6 on Friday. Out of no where I got really hot and sick while visiting the babies and was in horrible pain. Came home, talked to the doc and decided to just kinda take it easy and see what happens. After more sickness on Saturday and Saturday night Joseph took me to Urgent Care first thing Sunday morning, they sent us to the ER and it was determined that the gall bladder had to come out. Monday morning at 9 surgery started, the gall bladder is gone, I am at home now and feel 100% better. Apparently gall bladder issues after delivery are very common, so this wasn't too outta whack...not even for me!

And while I am here, I figured I better update on the babies and I have made some changes to "The Triple Crown" in hopes of getting more people interested. Babies first of course...they are all still doing awesome. They are in big girl and big boy beds maintaining their own body temps. They are also taking all of their feedings, often times more then they need. They are pooping. They are almost completely ready to come home...just two more little obstacles in our way, and one is going to prove tougher then the other. They have to pass their car seat test (I don't even know how they are going to fit in the car seat they are so small!) and they have to eat from a bottle using a full term nipple. Last week we had been switching them back and forth and I felt this wasn't working and asked them to just use the preemie nipple and let them eat and get the hang of it. Today we are going to move up to the next size and hang here for a few days. Then hopefully we can move up to the full term nipple. Needless to say...they are headed in the right direction and we are pretty close to home! Which is mind blowing, but I can't wait to have them home and here and begin our life as a family! It is going to happen soon...how soon, well we will just have to see, which leads me right into....

The Triple Crown Event...which sounded a lot better in my head I guess. I just wanted to find a creative way to raise money for Families of SMA in Memory of Jackson and thought the coming home guessing game would be great...I have only had one participant and I hope more of you join in. I know I gave you until this evening to get your pick in so we still have time! I am going to change up the rules a little bit though and go with this...make any size donation to Families of SMA and you get 1 pick on when the babies are coming home. Simple enough?! I hope more of you can join in the game and give even just a little to Families of SMA...can you believe it has been 3 years since Jackson passed away and they still need our help in finding a cure for this horrible disease. I hope you will help if you can! And a big shout out to Michelle and Adam for their awesome donation. I will fill in your guesses on the calendar and get the calendar posted soon!

And now I am off to put my feet up. Though I feel so much better I am still pretty swollen and need to get off of my feet. Thanks for sharing in our journey! As always,

please Remember Jackson!

All my love...Nichole

And no post is complete without a picture or two right?!

One week old party in Claire's big girl bed. Claire, Abby and Brayden!

And who doesn't love some little piggies?!

1 Week Old and The Hedgepeth Triple Crown Event

Oh my gosh...the babies are a week old already! I can not beleive how fast that first week went, and I even know how life in the NICU is and how fast it goes. Those babies are truely amazing and a gift sent straight from heaven above, as I cry writing that. I never thought that I would be able to look at them and love them as much as I do, but boy oh boy was I wrong. And then to watch Joseph with them...that's a whole box of tissues right there.

I first have to say thank you to all of you for supporting us these last 3 years, first with our battle against SMA and loving Jackson Cole so much, so much that we let him go, to keeping these triplets in until almost 33 weeks (which they will not say, 1 day away and they keep calling them 32 weekers). It is just amazing how well they are doing and I know it is because of all the love they feel and know is out there for them...

So...how are those babies doing you ask?! I keep saying amazing, but I can't think of another word. They are now 7 days old completely off all tubes and IV's (except their leads which monitor their heart and breathing rate while in their house, when we hold them these aren't even on them...it's our eyes that do that job). They are up to full feeds (28mL) and eat every three hours. Right now they are letting them eat as much (or little sometimes) as they want to see how close they are to that 28. If they can get their calories, gain weight and meet their goal for the day then they are in an awesome spot. In other words, in one feeding if they only take 20 mL but the next time they take 40 mL that's a total of 60 mL and they need to have at least 56 mL between those two feedings so they hit their goal. Now if they took 20 and 20, well that's only 40 and we aren't there. Make sense?! Another issue right now is maintaining body temps...which they are actually doing and could be moved into a bed, BUT considering they are only 7 days old, 32 weekers and working on feeding they are staying in the isolettes for now so they do not have to work as hard at keeping their temp up and feeding. Feeding is more important right now, so that is what we are focusing on. All in all, they say the babies could come home within the next couple of days to 2, 3, 4 weeks, it's just a wait and see kind of plan. We should also be expecting set backs at this point...I don't think these babies know the word failure so we are just going to keep chugging along and see what happens!

Quick update on Mom and Dad...I think Joseph is wearing himself thin being wrapped around not 1, not 2 but 3 little fingers already. They cry he runs and picks them up, end of story (we may have to start working on that!). He is still working full time right now (he was there for the delivery and took some days this week to help me get settled back at home). He will being taking time off when they come home, but probably only a week and saving a week for "vacation" sometime in the next 18 years! Me...well I am all swelled up again as we like to say. I gave birth to 11 pounds of baby and I'm down 5 pounds...those don't add up to me! I am back on Lasix and Dr. Hilton has asked me very nicely to go on bedrest, which I am trying to do. Just since being up 1.5 hours the swelling which had gone down nicely in my belly over night is already starting to come back. So...I am really taking it easy and have even conseeded to the wheelchair while at the hospital...the things we do for babies! Hopefully after a few days I'll look like a normal person again!

Each week I plan on updating about the babies and if one is off then I will update as needed about him/her. Right now they are all at the same spot and doing their thing. In honor of them coming home this month I decided to do a little contest. You can find information about the Hedgepeth Triple Crown over to the right, over there ------>. I will also try to end each post with some pictures from the week, but you can always see daily pictures on Facebook...are we friends?! I really hope that you check out the Hedgepeth Triple Crown...it's not what you are expecting I am sure. And if you can support our little idea, well thank you, and if you can't, I understand that too. So here are the pictures from our first seven days...

Friday...hello world! All I know is Abby has the A on her hat and I just noticed for the first time the 3 nurses standing guard behind Joseph...


Saturday...was a blur and I can't find a great picture!

Sunday...Kangaroo Kare!


Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...just lots of feedings, scheduling and holding of precious babies, who got to put on clothes. Here are some of the favs...

Three very different personalities! Can you guess who just hangs out where ever? The relaxed one? The drama queen/king?


Daddy getting crafty with three babies. My Mom has already given me my next idea...


And it's already been posted a time or two...but my perfect family. What you can't see...all of our love for one another, our determination to make our life with these babies the best ever, our promises to them, our dreams for them, our love for each other, and finally...our love for Jackson Cole deep in our hearts forever...


All my love,
Nichole

Coming Soon...

I have decided that instead of stressing myself over the blog I will try to have updates on the babies up on Friday. I can't put another thing on my plate right now and know y'all understand. So, later tonight or in the morning there SHOULD be an update on the babies. Thanks for the support!

Also, a bonus tomorrow. They are already mentioning the "h" word for the babies, which blows my mind, but whatever! I have come up with quite the little contest that I hope you can join us in...a guess the day the baby/babies may come home for a small donation all going to a great cause and even a little something for the winner contest. If you read my blog daily or have an opinion please take the poll over there -----> to help with part of the contest, or if you have an opinion that isn't an option leave it in the comment secetion. Thanks!

Talk with you tomorrow...

Nichole

The Hedgepeth's...Party of Two to Five in less than 2 minutes!

The babies arrived safe and sound Friday afternoon between 12:32 (Abby and Claire) and 12:33 (Brayden). Everything happened so quickly...I don't even know if I could explain how it happened. I woke up feeling a little "funny," the doc checked me, I was 5 cm, they sent me downstairs for monitoring, doc checked again, 6 cm, decided it was time to deliver and before I knew what was happening the room was full of family and friends, Joseph got there, away for a c-section we go. Several minutes after all the babies were here and checked out our family was complete...










Things continue to go so well...as of right now ALL babies are breathing on their own, they are not on any oxygen and they are eating 10 cc's (2 whooping teaspoons) every 3 hours.

There was a time when Claire was on a nasal cannula, but she has come off of that and seems to be doing a lot better and is a lot more comfortable. She still has a tube in her nose in case she has trouble taking a bottle, but that has not been an issue since the nasal cannula was removed. Tonight I got to give her a bath and that baby has some lungs on her. I am so impressed with how well she continues to do. At one point yesterday I would have said she is the weakest of the three...but now I would say they are all pretty even. Anyway...introducing Claire Elizabeth...










Brayden was also struggling with his feeds a little bit Saturday so they put in a tube for feedings for him, which he has NOT used since. He continues to defy the odds if you will...boys are notorious for struggling more in the NICU, but not my Brayden. He is doing everything on his own and comes in a close second at feeding time for getting the bottle down and burping. He has remained the most stable so far and is just amazing...I love my baby boy! Introducing Brayden Jae...










Abby, the runt if you will, continues to amaze me and seems the strongest of the 3...she is Joseph's daughter that is for sure, she eats a bottle and burps in about 3 minutes flat! I always secretly worried about Abby and everyone told me the smallest is usually the strongest and well, she is proving all of those people right! She did decide to see if we were paying attention once or twice by forgetting to breath, and they threatened to put her on the nasal cannula but that has not been an issue since Saturday morning. She is going to be one strong willed little girl! Introducing Abby Love...










Sunday had to be one of the greatest days of my life. Joseph and I got to do "Kangaroo Kare" which is skin to skin contact with the babies. This helps them in so many ways and it helps me with the milk issue (which is going so-so). Below are a few pictures from our session, which lasted from about 8:00 to 10:30...the best 2.5 hours of my life so far...and I am sure there are many more great times like these to come!

Here is Joseph with the girls. It takes a real man to whip off his shirt in public and hold his baby girls. I think the girls were excited to be together again, what do you think?










Here is Mommy with Baby Boy. They just slipped him right under my shirt. He got nice and comfy and enjoyed the time with Mom...










Here is a picture of all three babies together again...it's a lotta work to get them together, but the nurses have been wonderful and very helpful in any way that we ask. The order is Brayden, Claire then Abby...










And finally, the most recent picture of our new, completed, five member family...











So...that's the latest with the world's cutest triplets ever! My new goal in life is to spend time with them and get them home, but also to work on giving an update at least a few times a week. I can not thank y'all enough for being part of our journey and I hope you continue to be part of our journey. I love all of y'all. Until next time, as always, Please Remember Jackson!

Nichole (whose working on a new signature...)

Update from the World's Worst Blogger-Week 32+

So, it's 5:20 in the morning, I can't sleep and I thought hey...what a great time to update my blog (aren't you lucky that I can't sleep?)! There has been lots going on and right now my one and only goal is to keep these babies in and rest as much as possible. This morning I decided to rest at the computer. It also doesn't help much that I get all my emails and stuff to my new phone, which means there is no need to really go to the computer anymore...

Anyway...baby news, and there is lots of it! Last week I saw my fav OB Dr. H and she was so impressed that I had made it this far, so impressed in fact that she scheduled a c-section for today-32 weeks and 4 days-but only if the specialist, who is now Dr. F approved it. I saw Dr. F on Monday...he didn't approve it-blah. He had great reasons though and I left there feeling bad wanting to get these babies out. In a side note the babies continue to thrive (which is unusual for triplets this late in pregnancy). They continue to grow and gain weight. Their weights as of Monday are...Abby-4 lbs 5 oz, Claire-4 lbs 3 oz, and Brayden 4 lbs 2 oz. They continue to grow in the 45th-50th percentile which is very rare for triplets and the difference between the Abby and Claire is 3%, and 4% for Brayden and Abby. How can one have a c-section knowing they are doing so great?! I left Dr. F with the promise that I could schedule my c-section between 34 and 35 weeks, which isn't too far away. If an emergency occurs they of course and come out immediately. What is an emergency...1 of 3 three things-my water breaks, I dilate to 6 cm or I become pre-elcamptic.

So, where does that leave us you ask? Well I had to call Dr. H and cancel my c-section and she has since already scheduled another one for May 10th at 11:00...12 days away, which I can do, hopefully! That will put me at 34 weeks and 2 days and there are lots of rumors flying around that these babies aren't even going into the NICU but rather straight home with Joseph and I...holy s***! But we are ready, I can promise you that! I will continue to see Dr. H every week, maybe twice next week because her biggest concern is me dilating. If I get to 5 cm (I was 4 Mon) then I will go into the hospital on hospital bedrest...I'm not really good at that, so hopefully that doesn't happen, but considering I have had 0 sleep tonight and some doozies of contractions, it wouldn't surprise me if I went in the hospital today. Just have to wait and see...

And that folks is where we are at. Can you believe that in 12 days or less you will be meeting Abby, Claire and Brayden?! I know I sure am ready to meet them. Now...you know me and my rules and regulations and thoughts and opinions, so don't get too excited that you are just gonna run over here and meet them...there WILL be guidelines, but we'll get to those in another post (maybe around June-hehehe). For now I am off to get ready...I get really bored during the day so today Joseph is dropping me off at my Mom's and she is taking me to my appointment at 2:20 then hopefully bringing me back home afterwards. The best way to keep up with what is really going on is via Facebook...if we aren't friends friend me people, then you don't have to worry so much about this blog! Thank you for sharing in our journey...we are almost to the biggest day of mine and Joseph's life, then the next journey begins! As always, please Remember Jackson! All my love!

Longest Post Ever?! Take Two!

I know it has been forever since I have updated the blog, but things have been REALLY crazy, and I have already written this post once, but lost it, so I'm having to start all over again. Anyway, a week after going out on bed rest I ended up in the hospital and everything started to happen so fast. I am going to try to give a run down of what has happened, what we should expect to happen and what will probably happen...

First report...Babies

-I am super happy to report that all babies are doing great. They are in my belly where they belong and continue to grow and thrive. They have been monitored, measured, monitored, measured some more and scanned a lot. They have tolerated the pre-term labor very well and have been nice enough to stay put! I go for a growth scan on Thursday, so I will have updated weights then, though there are no promises that those weights will end up on this blog...just look at my track record lately! Anyway...the most important thing is all babies are doing GREAT!

Second report...Mommy (that's me)

-I have been doing well. The whole bed rest thing is really hard and though it sounds like a walk in the park it's not, especially when you know you have triplets coming and a lot to do to get ready for them. However, after last night's trip to the hospital for more monitoring (more info below) I decided that I have got to stop trying to be SuperMom whose all ready for babies and become SuperIncubator who cooks these babies as long as possible. I have so many people around me who are willing to help, and I just need to take advantage of that. As for my lovely stretched out body that you think could not stretch anymore...well we are good. I got as dilated as 4 cm, but have dropped back since taking it easy to 2-3 cm. That muscle can open and close which I never knew, but I guess it's a good thing that it went backwards for me. Just means more time for the babies. Being in the hospital took its toll on my too, I did not like that, which is just another reason to stay off my feet at home in my bed. Other then not sleeping much and some serious back pain I feel good for having three close to 3 pound babies in my belly.

Third report...hospital stay

-So on April 1 I ended up in the hospital for 5 days due to pre-term labor. The really crazy thing is when I went to the doc I just wanted conformation that everything was fine, I did not in the least bit think I was in labor. But once I got to the hospital and on the monitors it was obvious I was having serious contractions and thus began the process to stop labor. First step was my first steroid shot for babies lungs, followed by an ambulance ride downtown to the big hospital where they started two meds to try to stop labor-and those are the worse meds ever, stay away from them if you can!! I am still foggy on a lot of stuff and randomly remember things I said and did. Anyway, I got a second steroid shot, continued to dilate (was 2 at the doctor's office and got to 4 quickly). Saturday marked 29 weeks which wasn't great, but not to bad either and they decided to stop all meds and we were prepared for the babies to come. They had a different idea...after touring the NICU (just to get out of my room-hehehe) and having the neonatologist come down and talk to us labor stopped on it's own and everyone who was ready for the Hedgepeth Triplets was now bored. Monday they allowed me to go home to my bed where I would rest better, and that's kinda where we have been ever since...well until last night. Last night wasn't that big of a deal, it was more of a Mommy flip out. I hadn't felt the babies move and you know that sends me into a tizzy, so off to the doc I go who says it could be b/c of blah blah blah, and to go get monitored. Which I did for peace of mind. The babies did great, we came home and I am working hard on bed rest!

Fourth report...What to Expect Next

-No one knows. What we do know is that everyday the babies are in me is a day or two less they are in the NICU. As long as they show no signs of distress and I am not in active labor they will stay put until 34 weeks. If I do happen to go into active labor though they will not do anything to stop it at this point, which is a little scary, knowing they could come at any minute. I go back and forth on if I can make that or not, but I'm already close to 31 weeks, so what the heck is 3 more right?! We have made the decision that no matter how far I make it we will deliver downtown at CMC Main. This is a bad comparison, but I figure I'm having a liter of babies and one of them may be a runt who needs extra help and instead of having 2 babies here and 1 there I have decided they will all be at the best NICU available. That didn't go over to well with my OB, but he'll be ok! So our main goal is to grow babies and stay off my feet!

And that is where we stand. I am very sorry for the lack of updates, but as you can tell it has been a crazy few weeks ever since going out of work. I am so thankful for all the family and friends who have been so helpful! I am thankful for all of you who read these silly updates and pray for us...Lord knows we need them. I go back to the doctor Wed for a Mommy check and Thursday for the Babies check and though no promises are being made, I will try to do better about updating. As always, I want to thank you for sharing in our journey and I just ask that you continue to pray for Joseph and I along with these babies. I can not believe we are closer to the end then the beginning. What a journey it has been. And, like always, please Remember Jackson!

27 Weeks and 5 Days Equals

Some big changes in the Hedgepeth household. Today was my first official day of "modified bedrest." I didn't go crazy, but only because I do not have to stay in bed all day, I am allowed to do little things here and there and today I choose to go to lunch with my Mom and Aunts. So...why bedrest already you may be asking? Well that requires an update from my appointment Monday...

All is great first off, so no worries there! Little stink pot Abby has decided to move into position or "drop" if you will so she is now placing A LOT more pressure on my cervix. My cervix is still perfect, but you can just feel a head now. Plus with the added pressure of stink pots Claire and Brayden, that's a lot of pressure on the cervix. I never really thought I'd talk about cervixes and dilation on my blog, but it's pretty important stuff, so therefore I blog about. If hearing that my cervix is closed/tight/thinning/changing/anything else a cervix might do bothers you then sorry, but as long as it stays closed we are in great shape. There is also no dilation going on, but I'm sure you'll hear about it if/when I do start dilating! The scary reality of Monday's appointment was that Dr. Hilton thinks I've got about 3 more weeks left in me...THREE FREAKING WEEKS PEOPLE! That would take me to 30 weeks, and though early, she said anything after that would be a bonus! Saturday is a BIG day because it marks week 28 which is oh so important in preemie world. So...due to her little predictions, I am outta work and off my feet as much as possible but still able to do a few things here and there (which is a good thing...did you here 3 weeks?!). Now, I just have to work on not pushing it to much, resting and growing babies! Oh...and I did get my "prenatal cradle" in the mail yesterday (after I finished my last day of work) but I will be using that to hopefully push Ab's up a little bit and take some of the pressure off. It's a little uncomfortable, but you do what you need to do.

In other news...Monday is a big day too! We go back to the specialist for an ultrasound and finally another growth scan. The last time we got weights on the babies was March 1st....that's a REALLY long time when you are use to getting them every 2 weeks! The nerve of my doctor to go on vacation! I'm really excited to see how big they have gotten...according to the size of my belly they should weigh about 13 pounds each-haha! According to my book they should weigh about 2.5 pounds but they have actually always measured bigger then the book. I just can't wait to see how big they are. I promise I will update after that appointment, either Monday night or Tuesday sometime!

So, that is where we are...growing babies while on bedrest. My mind is always going a mile a minute and I'm getting anxious about where to have the babies and thinking about the NICU again and stuff like that. I really want Dr. Hilton to deliver these babies, but I'm not sure about the NICU at the hospital she has to deliver them at. I plan to go visit them next week if possible and if I'm not comfortable then I'm just going to have to make the decision to go downtown and have a doctor I've never met deliver but at least I know the NICU in and out downtown. We'll just have to see! Anyway...as always, thank you for sharing in our journey...can you believe we are almost done with this pregnancy?! We love all of y'all and I'll update after Monday's appointment! As always, please Remember Jackson!