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