Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Day 3


Brooke came off her iv around 10 am, so she was able to shower and move around a lot more easily. We had a great NICU visit first thing in the morning and Brooke got to see Lily’s beautiful eyes for the first time. Annaleigh’s nurse turned off the warming lights for a minute and took off the foam eye-covers that protect our middle baby’s eyes, so we got to see her cute little face for the first time. And then Charlie… boy was he active! He wiggled around and grabbed our fingers with a very surprisingly tight grip, and when we were getting ready to leave he didn’t want to let go of Brooke! Adorable!!!

Lilly is getting 1 cc of formula every three hours. She doesn’t digest it all, but she’s getting the motion down, and that’s more important right now. Charlie has water going into his feeding tube for the same reason. All of the babies are getting water, vitamins, and fluids via iv tubes.

Charlie had a central line put in today. Basically, it’s an iv that goes into a vein, through the body, all the way to the heart. It makes any emergency procedures that much faster if the central line is already installed. The girls will have them put in sometime in the very near future.

Lily has a little pink bow on her head (being held on with a little lubricant). Her bed is made up of all purple plaid and there’s a really cute girly sign that says “Lily” with all her stats attached to the front of the glass. It’s all so cute! Apparently the night nurse had some free time last night and started to make it homey for her.

During an afternoon visit, we got the chance to go with the three doctors while they did rounds of each baby. They spent about 10 to 15 minutes talking about Lily, and when they finished, Dr. Hiatt stopped and explained what they had just said to us. They then did the same for Charlie, and finally for Annaleigh. It was awesome! The basic discussion was that they are all doing very well for their age/size, and it was especially comforting that they let us listen in (so we know that we’re getting the exact information and nobody is sugar-coating things for us). It is yet another thing that has amazed and impressed us about this hospital.

One minor concern is that the babies will eventually need to have a blood transfusion. All premies eventually need them because babies of this size only have about two ounces of blood in their entire body. So every time they need to take blood for a test (and there are A LOT of tests, especially since every single test in the NICU is done two times to ensure accuracy) they lose a higher ratio than normal babies. They said that Annaleigh will most likely need blood in the next few days, and since it’s a long holiday weekend coming up, the doctors suggested we donate today. They usually have the father donate the blood, but since I’m on blood pressure medication I’m not able to donate. Brooke can’t do it because she’s lost way too much already and they don’t let moms donate until two months after a c-section. So we both turned to John, my brother. We called him and he was here in an hour, having left work and driven all the way here. We are very lucky to have him; he’s already a great uncle! Fortunately, a normal adult blood donation is more than enough to sustain the babies for a long time, so there shouldn’t be any need for anyone else to donate (but thank you for all the offers that we have already had).

The babies also got their first visit from their grandfather Ron and great-grandmother Nana. Ron brought them the first of what I can only assume will be many Dallas Cowboy toys, and Nana brought them guardian angel medals. There is now a guardian angel in each baby bed.

It was a busy day, but another good day. The babies hit 72 hours old and haven’t had any major complications- that in itself is a major miracle. Let’s keep the good days coming!

19 comments:

Katrina said...

Just checked in again having not been by for a week or so and sending my thoughts and prayers to you all and for your babies! Go babies. Way to go, Brooke!

Jessarella said...

Brooke,
So happy for you and your sweet babies. I love reading your blog. It sounds like your babies are lucky to have 2 awesome parents. Wishing many happy get big and strong thoughts for your little ones. ~Jessarella~ *PMB*

Anonymous said...

Brooke and Joe and babies.....CONGRATS!!!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers and good wishes.
Michele L from FTHS

#1SAHM said...

So glad that things are continuing to go well! Lily is beautiful! Is there any way they could get the blood from the heel (rather than doing venapuncture if that's what they're doing)? Anyway, I hope that they continue to recover! : )

Jen said...

Brooke and Joe your little ones are so amazing. Jim, Belle, and I along with our church our praying that your little miracles keep getting stronger everyday. If there is ever anything you need please let me know.

Love
Jen

KJ said...

Glad to hear how well they are doing! Our boys had to have two blood transfusions as well, so don't sweat that. Keep on trucking!

Linds said...

I'm so glad to hear that your sweet babies and Mom are doing so well. I will continue to send good thoughts and prayers to everyone.

Andrea said...

I'm so glad to hear that the little ones are doing well:) You have all been in my thoughts.

Doug H. said...

We are very happy that the Trips are doing well.

We have been praying for you guys every day (and I'm not even the praying type).

Anything you guys need or want it is yours.

This update also made me cry. John is a fantastic brother.

Doug H.

Kristi said...

Brooke,
I know you don't know me but I'm from saif and multiples. I have been following your blog daily now and want yall to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad the first 72 hours have been good and hope there is many more to come for your precious babies.
-Kristi (nolachick)

Staci said...

Thinking of you and Brooke and the babies every day...
Staci

E. Merritt said...

We feel forever indebted to the nurses in the NICU. They all were so gentle and loving with each of our babies. We were always amused by what they did in their spare moments (made signs for the babies' beds, dressed them alike, put special blankets on their beds, etc.). Stay strong. Your babies are already proving to be such fighters. Oh, and seeing their eyes-such a wonderful moment. Our smallest one was covered basically around the clock for the first week or so and when he wasn't he never opened his eyes. It was frustrating, but when he did it was well worth the wait. Four months later he is the most attentive and aware of his surroundings of the three.

Jenn (from the WC board) said...

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going well! My husband and I have enjoyed keeping up with your expanding family through this blog! Your family is in our thoughts and prayers!

~ Kiane (kianew) said...

I'm also from the SAIF board and have been following your blog daily. I'm so, so happy the first 72 hours have been good and I hope those sweet little babies keep doing so well! You are all in my thoughts & prayers :)

Tiffany said...

Fantastic news. I said lots of special prayers for your three babies last night.

Anonymous said...

From the SAIF board also...

I'm so happy to hear that the babies are doing well. I will continue to pray for them and you both. The pictures are just precious. Take care and I'm thinking about all of you.

Beth, brideinOC

Unknown said...

excellent news! I'm so glad the babies are doing well.

J said...

Thanks for the update! Everyone on SAIF is thinking of you guys and of course your precious little babies (Lilly, Analeigh and Charlie). Go little go! Keep growing and getting stronger.

Anonymous said...

I'm from the Multiples Board, private one. I am so glad they are doing well. The NICU is so hard to go through, our boys were 8wks early. You both are doing great and good luck. Our boys didn't have to have any blood transfusion though, I saw you said all preemies have them, so hopefully your other two may not. I wish you all the best.