Merry Christmas!

Our first Christmas has been busy but the babies are doing well.  Christmas Eve morning we started the day off with a bath for each baby, getting each one dressed in cute little outfits and of course a bottle before heading to Grandma and Grandpa Winslow's.  Yes, this took us all morning to prepare for a later afternoon and evening family Christmas. 

Today we are spending our Christmas morning preparing for another full afternoon and evening.  This morning Cora enjoyed some time in her bouncy seat looking at the Christmas tree.  Noah has been taking a nap out in the family room and Evelynn is wide-eyed again and is waiting patiently in the swing.  The dog is resting on the couch to prepare for an afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Van Langen's.  Yes, the dog is coming too. 

This is the first Christmas Jeff and I haven't made it to Mass but we couldn't chance an outing with a lot of people during this flu season.  Next week is their baptism and we'll be nervous enough taking the babies out for that.  They are all doing so well.

On Monday the nurse came to give another round of Synagis shots to help the babies with antibodies to help build up a defense against lung infections like RSV.  During her visit she weighed each baby and they are gaining weight quickly.  This time Evelynn was 9 pounds 14oz, Noah was .4oz shy of a full 11 pounds, and Cora was 9 pound 0.8oz.  We're trying to keep up with utilizing all of their cute clothes but at their rate of gain, each outfit only gets a few wears. 

There are more pictures to come but it's time to get back to getting ready for our Christmas.  Merry Christmas!

10 Weeks Old

It's hard to believe that Evelynn, Noah, and Cora are now ten weeks old, as of yesterday.  At our last doctor's appointment on December 8th all of the babies had large weight gains.  Evelynn was 8 pounds 11oz, Noah was 10 pounds 1 oz, and Cora was 8 pounds 1oz.  They're still on special formula but the concentrations can be mixed to the normal amounts now versus a higher calorie recipe. 

Amanda started back to work this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Grandma and Grandpa Winslow watch the babies then and on the other days Grandma Van Langen comes over to help.  The babies love a lot of attention but this is good because they don't mind having their picture taken.  It's 3:30 in the morning now and Evelynn and Mom are updating the blog because she has decided that it's a perfect time to show off her bright eyes.  Sleeping during the night is getting better but we still have our moments.  Typically they sleep between their every four to five hour feedings but sometimes, like now, when they're up for a feeding it's on their time when they are sleepy again. 

Enjoy the photos and thank you for following our story!  This holiday season we are truly blessed and have a lot to be thankful for.

Past Our Due Date!

We wanted to make an update on their actual due date but time goes by so quickly!  Their original due date was this past Friday on November 19th.  Things are going well and they are all growing so quickly.  On Saturday Mercy Home Care came to our home to give the babies their first round of Synagis.  They are getting antibodies to help prevent the development of lung infections, such as RSV, with the upcoming cold and flu season.  They will get doses of Synagis for three months; Noah will get it for five months because he met one more level of eligibility, due to needing some oxygen after birth.   This does not mean that they will be 100% protected from illness and we will still be very cautious to keep them healthy.  Our two big goals are still to stay healthy and to keep gaining weight.

On their due date we took pictures of each baby with their quilt they got in the NICU.  We wanted to be able to compare their birth photos with their size gains in the six weeks following to their original due date.  They've all double their size!  On Saturday the nurse weighed them and Noah now weighs 8pounds 7.3oz, Evelynn weighs 7pounds 6.3oz, and Cora weighs 6pounds 7.4oz.  Noah is growing out of his newborn clothing, Evelynn's almost too big for her newborn clothes, and Cora has grown out of the preemie clothes and is comfortable in the newborn sizes.

We will post their pictures with their quilts soon.  For now we must give the babies a bath, bottle, and get ready for a few hours of sleep.  Right now they eat every four hours at 8, 12, and 4 but each feeding takes an hour before everyone is done.

Back at Mercy but Going Home

On Monday morning Cora gave us a scare with a blood in her diaper.  We went to her pediatrician and discussed changing her formula supplement to a non-milk based version with easier to digest proteins.  Later that afternoon she had a diaper full of blood and we were advised to go to Mercy's ER.  We've been at Mercy on the pediatric floor for the past two days.  It was hard to withhold her feedings for a little over 24 hours.  Cora was able to have a bottle at 5pm last night.  Her feedings have been going well and her diapers are much better.  We just got the ok from the doctor to go home today and we will follow up with Cora's pediatrician tomorrow.  Evelynn and Noah will be excited to have their sister home! (and everyone else) 

Three Weeks Old (and two days)

It's hard to believe that Evelynn, Noah, and Cora are three weeks old.  We've been home for 10 days and they keep us busy!  We went to the pediatrician on Monday and will go back tomorrow.  Gaining weight and staying healthy are the two big goals.  At our last visit Evelynn weighed 4 pounds 14 oz, Noah weighed 5 pounds 5 oz, and Cora is up to 4 pounds 5 oz. 

As of this weekend Noah now fits into some newborn clothing.  Evelynn is also wearing some newborn sizes but can still wear some generous preemie clothes.  Cora is so long that her preemie clothes aren't going to last much longer, unless she wants to have bent knees at all times and elbow length sleeves.

Caina is doing well with the babies.  She wants to get nose to nose with them to see how they are doing.  A few licked hands and attempted pacifier steels when they are not in use, but Caina has almost taken an ownership with them. 

We're Home!

Noah got to go home on Wednesday and the girls joined us on Thursday!  It's been an exciting past few days.  Sleep for Mom and Dad is slim but the babies are doing great.  Cora is very laid back, smiles a lot, and eats more than Evelynn and Noah.  She definitely proves that she may be small but she is mighty.  Evelynn likes to cuddle and look around at everything.  Noah loves his pacifier and can get his arms out of his swaddle faster than anyone.  All of them want the security of being swaddled but they insist on having their hands out and by their face.  Cora and Evelynn have found their thumbs but have only sucked on them for a short time until they are reconnected with their pacifier.

Today Caina came home today and now our new family is all under one roof.  Our schedule is full Evelynn and Noah on 10:00, 2:00, and 6:00 feedings around the clock.  Cora's schedule is around the clock on the hours of 11:00, 3:00, and 7:00.  We are trying to become more efficient but for now we try to catch sleep whenever we can between their schedules. 

Thank you so much for everyone's best wishes and prayers.  We're busy but very blessed and very thankful for all of the great care we received in the NICU and from our families.  Thank you to everyone for understanding that we are a bit sleep deprived, excited, and enjoying our three babies and new adventure into parenthood. 

Ten Days Old!

Today was a big day for Evelynn, Noah, and Cora.  All are now able to eat on demand, but not to exceed a feeding time spacing of more than four hours.  Noah has been able to do this type of feeding schedule for a few days now.  He might actually be able to go home sometime this week!  Splitting them up like that is going to be so hard.  We hope that the girls are able to come home quickly too.  (I think they know something's up because both girls have been taking their feedings like champs and in larger amounts.  Everyday all of them are getting stronger and are at, if not an ounce away, from their birth weights.  There have been no definite "going home" announcements made yet by the physicians but things are looking better and better each day.   

We hope to do a group photo of them soon, if not tonight then tomorrow.  Mom had hopes of having all of them dressed in coordinating clothes but each time we try someone is due for a complete outfit change.  We are processing a lot of laundry and yes, we go through a lot of diapers!  We are having fun with our little ones and are so blessed.  We can already tell we will have many adventures along the way and we wouldn't change it for anything.  Thank God for our little miracles.

6 Days Old! Tomorrow is one week already

It’s about time for an update, but who would have thought that triplets would take up so much time? We are truly blessed and we discover something special about each of them each day. The day of their birth all welcomed this world with a strong cry which was wonderful to hear. Noah was off of his nose canella by 8pm the night he was born.

Over the weekend they all did great and each day they get stronger. Saturday all were trying to nurse. Mom was glad to be able to hold them and Dad got to do a few bottle feeds as the weekend progressed. All three got their first little baths on Sunday. So far, bath time is not a fun time for them. I’m sure one day we won’t be able to get them out of the water!

To speed ahead, today Noah and Cora were taken off of the light for their jaundice. Mom and Dad are so glad because now we can hold them for a little longer. Evelynn should be off of her light by tomorrow. Possibly tomorrow, or in a day or two, Cora and Noah may be able to go into a crib instead of their isolates. They will then need to be able to regulate their own body temperature. Evelynn should be soon to follow as she needs one day after the lights to make sure her levels are still good.

Overall, we are truly blessed and each day they grow stronger. Evelynn is our little one that doesn’t want to miss out on anything and is ready for her feeding about twenty minutes before schedule. We will be so glad when she can take off her “sun tanning visor” and we can see her bright eyes more than just during a feeding. Noah is pretty relaxed and has a combination of all of their personalities. He is also very aware of his surroundings. Cora is very curious and also keeps her eyes wide open while she is experiencing something new. Cora is the smallest, but she is the mightiest and is progressing the fastest. All are easily comforted by Mom and Dad which makes us feel like we can handle this parenthood of multiples.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!

We were also able to put clothes on Noah and Cora today!  Evelynn wore a little headband two days ago and should be able to wear clothes tomorrow.

The triplets have arrived!!

The babies were born within 2 minutes 10:16 & 10:17. 
Baby A  "Evelynn Grace" 4#  6oz   16"
Baby B  "Noah Steven"    4# 12oz  161/2"
Baby C  "Cora Wren"      3# 12oz  161/4"

Amanda & the babies are doing great.   Noah has oxygen per a nasal cannula but no problems.
Cora had a pacifier within minutes that covered her face!
Jeff accompanied the babies to the nicu & took several picutres.  They are very pink & healthy!
Amanda remains in recovery & will be transferred to the 2nd floor soon.

We would like to extend a big Thank You to everyone for your thoughts and prayers today.

Let the adventures begin!!!     Grandma Winslow

Week 33

Tomorrow will officially be week 33!  We had a doctor's appointment today and another ultrasound.  Things are still looking good.  We're still scheduled for October 8th.  There are no more appointments until then.  Being down to one week is crazy!  There will be a lot more to post in about seven days but for now this is all we have. 

Week 32

     We had another ultrasound today and the babies look good!  All have a good amount of fluid still and they have to be growing because Amanda's gained a little.  Even though Amanda feels big, the belly is still not of a shocking size that someone would wonder if there is more than one, maybe two.
     There won't be anymore estimations of their individual weights; we'll just have to wait and see at delivery.  All of the babies were still doing their practice breathing.  Baby B is still the most active.  We had to wait awhile for Baby A and Baby C to finish a nap before they did their practice breathing.  How they can sleep through Baby B kicking them, we don't know.  We have another appointment next week and this might be our last appointment until delivery!  It's crazy but so exciting that we have only two more weeks until we meet our little Winslow Triplets!

Week 31

We had an ultrasound yesterday.  Baby A was measured at 3 pounds 4oz.  Baby B was measured at 3 pounds 8oz.  Baby C was measured at 2 pounds 9oz.  The babies were doing their practice breathing and everything looked good.  The c-section is scheduled for October 8th at 10am.  Delivery will be at 34 weeks exactly if all goes well.  There will be weekly doctor's appointments until October 8th.  Only three weeks to go until we meet our little ones!