No Room to Question Why or What If?

Happy 4 weeks to the girls!!!! Only 2 days away from being a month old already! 

No Room to Question Why or What If!

Ever wonder why things happen? In the positives or the negatives? Especially during the hard times, the difficult situations and events life? I know I used. Key word - USED to. This pregnancy wasn't easy but it taught me one thing - don't question why! Don't ask yourself what if? And look at the positives that came out of a negative situation, event etc. Lets start from the beginning... Before we transferred our embryos in June, we had a total of 12 embryos. We decided to transfer 3 after our failed cycle in December 2012. Three days after my transfer I got a call that the remaining 9 did not make it to freezing and that we had lost them. I instantly started crying. I sobbed to my mother and cousin (Vero) for hours! I was so upset because all I could think about was that if those didn't make it then what were the chances that the three inside of me would make it? I doubted the treatment and the cycle. I was angry that we didn't have any embryos to freeze for back up - incase this cycle failed we would have some frozen embryos. I stressed myself out for days! All for nothing because 4 days later I tested and sure enough I was pregnant! It was that day that I learned my lesson of looking to much into the negatives. This is why - had any of the embryo's survived to freezing point I would have had to pay $750 for the first three months to store them plus an additional $250 every 3 months. If I did one or two embryos during a frozen embryo transfer then what of the rest? What if I never needed them? I would have to dispose of them at some point and well God made the decision for us in not allowing any to make it to freezing. See God knew that I would get pregnant and that I wouldn't need a frozen transfer in the future. He saved me a lot of money. I'll never forget my mother telling me these words, "Those extra embryos didn't make it because you're pregnant already and you won't need them." She only saw the positive possibility in what I saw was a negative situation. Then at 13 weeks I woke up bleeding and I went to the hospital. I was so scared that I was losing the triplets. I went with Tito, my Aunt Laura, my aunt Carmen and my uncle Martin. While I was having a 3 hour ultrasound that yielded no reason as to why I was bleeding, a family entered the emergency room and were placed right by me. The husband in the family suffered a heartache and died while in the emergency room with his family. My uncle Martin went over to them and comforted them with the word of God. I didn't know this until I came back to my room. I know my bleeding was scary and I could have sat there and complained to God and ask him why, but instead I thanked him because had this not happened to me, my uncle would have never been there to provide comfort to a family who had just lost a close member of their family. I'm I thinking to the extreme - absolutely not! Sometimes God places us in a hard situation only to be able to bless another person! Then of course you would think I had plenty of reason to ask God WHY... when I delivered at 25 weeks. Why did I have the rough delivery I had? Why couldn't we wait until my husband got there? Why couldn't I hold out for another week or so? Why, why? The Why's and the What Ifs are endless and yet I never ask either! God knew exactly what he was doing! So, what if I held on a little longer, for another week or more? The answer to that question would be that instead of celebrating I would be grieving the lose of Isabella and probably even Cianna. Why did the delivery happen so fast? Why couldn't we wait for Tito? Because at any second had I pushed even once I would have given birth vaginally to Hadassah and I would have lost Isabella and Cianna. How do I know this? Because Isabella and Cianna were both laying side ways in my belly and Isabella was completely wrapped in not only her umbilical cord but also in Cianna's cord. When Isabella came out her neck was flat - that's how tight the cord was around her neck. They never saw this in the ultrasounds and I had an ultrasound the day before I gave birth. My obgyn told me that if I even went three more days I would have lost Isabella and possibly Cianna. So although they came early and will be in the Nicu for a long time, God knew exactly what he was doing by bring them at 25weeks. Just three more days and I would have lost two of the three. I realize that sometimes we go through things that make us ask why? Sometimes we can't see the positives during the negative seasons at first glance but if you just give it time you'll see that God knows exactly why he does what he does in our lives. As I look back at my pregnancy I have no room to question why! Yes it was rough, it was crazy, emotional and so much more but the positives completely out weigh the negatives. I'm actually thankful for what I have gone through and I'm so much more hopeful for the future now. God wouldn't bring them early to save them and then for me to lose them - so these girls are coming home! They will continue to grow, and thrive and before we know it they will be here home, safe and sound and in my arms. Ok ok... in the arms of grandma, grandpa, daddy, aunts, uncles, cousins and mine ;) 

A Year Ago Today

Thought I would share with you all what a year can do... A year ago today, exactly on December 17th, 2012 I transferred two grade A embryos. The treatment cycle was supposed to be an IUI with injectable medications. That means I was taking injectable hormones to produce at least 2-3 follicles and then I would be inseminated close to or on ovulation day. However, I overstimulated and on December 13th, 2012 during a routine follicle check they decided to skip the insemination and instead retrieve the eggs and try in-vitro instead. Tito and I were very unprepared for the change in treatment. I was still working and couldn't take any time off. I was also finishing up my last semester for my Master's degree. I was stressed to the max, but still went ahead and did the In-vitro. So on December 17th, 2012 we went in and had two of our 5 embryo transferred. Two days later we got a call that our remaining three embryos did not make it to freezing and we lost them.  On December 29th, 2013 the blood test revealed that the embryos that were transferred did not stick and we were not pregnant. But here we are a whole year later celebrating our triplets being 4 weeks old! I never thought this day would come, but I'm so happy it has! 

Hadassah

Hadassah has had a great week! She got her chest tube taken out on December 11th. The steroids did wonders for her lungs. And she did so well that her settings on the ventilator came down greatly! So great that she was extubated on Saturday, December 14th, 2013 and is now on Cpap!!!! Praise the Lord! She did have a few hiccups with her milk feedings during the week. She stopped peeing and pooping so the feeds stopped. She was giving some medication to kick start her liver and organs to work properly. She finally went back on feeds on December 13th, 2013. As of today she is at 3cc every 3 hours. She, like Cianna, has some catching up to do, but all in due timing. All in all she had a great week. 

 Hadassah - December 11th, 2013

Daddy admiring Hadassah

December 11th, 2013

 Hadassah - December 12th, 2013

 Hadassah - December 13th, 2013

Hadassah on Cpap

December 16th, 2013

Isabella

Well, Isabella had a great week. She started at 1cc every 6 hours on December 7th, 2013 and as of today she is at 8cc every 3 hours! So here is how it works... 15cc every 3 hours is a full feed for her size and age, so once she gets to 15cc they will take out her Picc line and stop nutrients by IV. Therefore she will be only fed via her nose tube with my milk only! Isabella increases by 1cc every 24 hours (every day). So by Christmas Eve she will be at 15cc (God Willing). I'm so excited and happy about that! She is making such progress! She did have her PDA surgery on Tuesday, December 10th, 2013. The same team that did Cianna's came to Virtua to complete Isabella's surgery. (Dr. Fuller). Isabella did great and recovered quickly from her surgery. She hasn't needed blood transfusions or dopamine in the past week. Go Isabella! She is gaining so much weight and so quickly now that she is on milk feeds. As of today she is only 3 ounces shy of being 2 pounds. She still freaks out during her care and she doesn't like to be touched by the nurses. I'm praying she cuts that out so I can hold her soon. If she continues to do well with her breathing then they will extubate her and put her on Cpap like her sister Hadassah. All in all she has a great week.

Isabella after her PDA surgery.

December 10th, 2013

Isabella - December 11th, 2013

 Isabella - December 13th, 2013

Isabella - December 16th, 2013

She loves belly time and sucking her thumb!

Cianna

In my last update, Cianna was recovering nicely from her PDA ligation surgery and from her NEC. The past week she has been doing pretty good. Her settings on her ventilator started going down. She wasn't requiring any blood transfusions, morphine or dopamine. On Tuesday, December 10th she began her milk feeds at 1 cc every 6 hours and progressed to 1cc every 3 hours by Thursday, December 12th. I went up to see her on the 12th and she was getting an X-ray due to spitting up her milk twice with blood. So they stopped her feeds and monitored her closely. Doctors determined that she had gastritis. I went back on Friday the 13th and she was doing a lot better and no longer bleeding. However, they didn't start her feeds again. I gave Chop a rest on Saturday and then Sunday the 15th I got 3 calls from three different doctors regarding Cianna. Her hemoglobin was extremely low on Sunday morning ( a level 4). Her white blood cell count was also very high which indicates an infection. So they started giving her antibiotics and a blood transfusion. The little red dots on her fingers are now on her toes and the Doctors are unsure as to what is causing this. I went up to visit her Sunday night and she was doing better and still getting blood. Still not on milk feeds though. Yesterday, I called the hospital to get an update on her. She was doing a lot better! No more blood, but she is still on antibiotics. Doctors said that her blood test numbers show she is sick but Cianna herself isn't acting sick as she is moving around etc. Considering that she went through a lot this past week she still managed to gain 3 ounces! So she is now at 1 pound 6 ounces (2 ounces over her birth weight). Over all we have a lot to be thankful for! Happy 4 weeks baby girl!

Cianna - December 13th, 2013

Cianna - December 15th, 2013

Cianna - December 15th, 2013

Wide awake!

Kangaroo Care

It hasn't happened yet. I was supposed to hold Isabella on Tuesday, December 10th but Chop got there early and started working on her so no kangaroo care for her or me that day. The girls are all doing better but I don't want to push them to far too fast, so I know that time will come and the nurses and Doctors will all be there to tell me "it's time." I'm more excited about holding them then nervous now that Isabella and Hadassah are inching closer to 2 pounds. I'll keep you all updated ;)

Weekly Milestones

The girls are 4 weeks old today. I can't believe how fast the time has past by. In another two days they will officially be 1 month old! I can't believe it! Here are photos of the girls at 1 day old compared to 28 days old:

 Hadassah

 Isabella

Cianna

Breastfeeding/Pumping

So like always I mention this because lets be honest, I never thought I would be doing this. Even when I thought I was only carrying one baby I never planned on breast feeding/ pumping. I'm quite proud of myself here. I know it's nothing huge or major but I'm completing a goal I never really thought I would be able to do. So anyway, the pumping to getting a lot better! Every day my daily total of ounces is more and more, maybe by 1/5 an ounce to an ounce but still it's increasing! I'm chugging down the oatmeal though I HATE it. And I'm still taking the Fenugreek, which yes, its still making me smell like IHOP. I had a chance to sit down with the Lactation Consultant at Chop on Friday, December 13th. I was telling her how I usually get 2-3.5 ounces every 3-4 hours. I was telling her how I would really like more than that. I was actually pumping while talking to her. At the end of our conversation I had pumped for about 20 minutes and got 5 ounces!!!!! Oh yeah! I was so excited. So now I'm getting between 3-4.5 ounces every time I pump and sometimes I pump every 2 hours. So praise the Lord! I do actually pray and ask God for an increase in supply every time I pray. I'm weird... I know it ;)

Vero thought it was funny to catch me 

"checking" how the pumping was going. hahaha 

Weight Stats of the Girls & Myself ;)

Hadassah

11/19/13 - 1 lb. 6 oz.

11/26/13 - 1 lb. 4.6 oz.

12/3/13 - 1 lb. 4 oz.

12/10/13 - 1 lb. 10 oz.

12/17/13 - 1 lb. 11oz. (YAY!!!)

Isabella

11/19/13 - 1 lb. 3.4 oz.

11/26/13 - 1 lb. 3 oz.

12/3/13 - 1 lb. 1.6 oz.

12/10/13 - 1 lb. 11 oz.

12/17/13 - 1 lb. 13 oz. (YAY!!!!)

Cianna

11/19/13 - 1 lb. 4 oz.

11/26/13 - 1 lb. 1.2 oz.

12/3/13 - 1 lb. 2.1 oz.

12/10/13 - 1 lb. 3 oz.

12/17/13 - 1 lb. 6 oz (YAY!!!)

Jackie

Pre-pregnancy - 146 pounds

Delivery Weight - 180 pounds

2 weeks postpartum - 155 pounds

4 weeks postpartum - 154 pounds 

Special Thanks to Everyone

Tito and I would just like to thank everyone for responding to what we need. Thank you to my aunts, cousins and friends who took it upon themselves to forward what we need to their own friends and family on Facebook, churches etc. We have received some help and it is very much appreciated. Special thanks to my mother and father who help me with filling up my tank and driving me to and from Chop at least 3-4 times a week. I couldn't have asked for better parents that have helped me so much! Thank you to my aunts who feed me every time they come to visit the girls with me. Thank you to my cousin Veronica who spends every free day she has in the hospital with me. She truly keeps me sane by keeping me company. Thank you for all the hot chocolates ;) I love you so much Verito! Thank you Oasis's Women's ministry for the generosity that you have shown towards me and my family! Thank you for the gift! Thank you to everyone who is praying and reaching out to me everyday. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Thank you cards...

For those who gifted us, came to the shower, etc.... Thank you cards are coming your way. I have not forgotten its just been crazy since the shower. 

XOXO,

Jackie

So Many Changes

Hi everyone!!! I pray that you are all doing well... Tito, the girls and myself are all doing well. Praise the Lord! It seems as every day that goes by I get stronger and stronger and more at peace with all that is constantly going on. It's not easy, it never will be, but with Christ all things are possible! I want to clear something up about my last post. I never indicated that I had lost my faith or hope in Christ nor did I indicate that I wasn't strong for my girls or my husband. Everyday I ride a roller coaster that many of you reading this have never faced yourself so I know that it's hard for you all to understand exactly what I'm feeling. This blog is used for me to vent, and let out all the emotions that I face. The past week has been crazy with one or more of the girls going through surgeries or procedures. I've held up pretty well considering all that has happened. I think I cried more about not being able to see the girls everyday then what they were actually facing... see I'm getting stronger ;) Even the nurses and doctors say how amazed they are with how well I'm taking everything. One of the respiratory doctors always makes it a point to come by and see me. He loves my smile. Aww he's so sweet. But all in all I think we've had a pretty good week. It's crazy how much children change our lives. Everything I do, think, etc revolves around the babies and their well being. I never thought I could love so much until I had these girls. I can't believe they're mine, all three of them... its surreal! 

What We Need

I get lots of messages asking if we need anything. Tito and I are usually the ones helping others so it's hard to respond with what we may need at times as we don't want to be a burden to anyone. There are some things that we could use especially for the NICU Days. Now that the girls are separated between two hospitals and I'm not working we could use the following things:

1. Receiving blankets - for the girls isolette (incubator); bright colors are best
2. Tiny hats - new or home made (knitted)
3. Preemie sleepers - the one with snaps, not zippers
4. Tissues
5. Chapsticks - its so dry in the Nicu
6. To go snacks / hot chocolate packets
7. Hand Sanitizers
8. Baby toys / Stuff Animals
9. Holiday small decor for their rooms
10. Wawa Gift Cards - to help with gas or meals (I go up almost every day to at least one of the hospitals and it's taking a toll on us)
11. Food gift cards - being 45min to 1 hour away from hard makes it so hard on us to eat!

Hadassah

A lot has happened with Hadassah over the past week. On Sunday, December 1st, 2013 she had to get a new tube put into her right lung due to her right lung filling up with air. They also started her on steroids to help give her lungs a push. Out of all the girls Hadassah is the only one with lung issues. But we are praying and believing in a miracle that her lungs will progress and be healthy! Over the week she went from 1cc every 6 hours to 1 cc every 3 hours and as of December 4th, 2013 she has been on 2cc every 3 hours!!!! YAY for my baby! On December 6th she started antibiotics because she stopped peeing which can mean there is an infection. I was there with her for a few hours when she started peeing again - Praise the Lord! They had to stop her milk feeds for a few hours but she's back on them now. She is growing like a weed and looks so darn cute! She finally opened her eyes on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 and I was there recording it all! I cant wait to share with you all! Hadassah also has a heart murmur that will have to be closed in the future unless it closes on its own - which could happen. We are praying that this is the case as I don't want to see her go under surgery after all her lung issues. Can you pray for that?

 Hadassah - December 2nd, 2013

Her and I holding hands while she gets a pamper change.

Hadassah - December 2nd, 2013

Keeping her calm while she gets her care done. 

 Hadassah - December 5th, 2013

The dark spot on her right side is where her lung tube is. 

Isabella

Monday, December 2, 2013 Isabella's esophagus was checked and turns out it healed! So she got a feeding tube put back in but this time through her nose. These feeding tubes through the nose are a lot better then the mouth tubes as they last at least 30 days! She also started 1cc of breast milk today and will continue these feeds every 6 hours. So go Isabella!!!! She is doing well on her conventional ventilator and is completely off of the dopamine (blood pressure medication). Her little arms were a little concerning as she's had a lot of blood transfusions so her arms had lots of little needle marks and the skin was so dry. They started an oil on Saturday, November 30th and by Monday she was looking a lot better. As of yesterday, December 5th, 2013 she looked 100 times better! Only having a few marks still healing. Saturday the 30th was also the first time Isabella was placed on her belly to sleep. She seems to LOVE this. Almost every time I've gone in to see her this past week she's been on her belly. She looks so darn cute!!!! Isabella does have a heart murmur that will need to be closed by a PDA ligation surgery, but right now she is ok and they want her to grow some more before attempting the surgery. I'm so grateful for this as I just can't handle all my girls having the surgery around the same time. As of Friday December 6th, 2013 Isabella continues to do well. She is always wide awake and looking all over the place. I was there yesterday during her care and she pooped for the first time. That might sound minimum to someone else but thats a big deal in the NICU especially with Isabella's size. So you go Isabella! God I love her so very much!

Isabella - December 2nd, 2013

Isabella with her eyes open. 

Isabella - December 3rd, 2013

Isabella saying hello to everyone!

Isabella - December 5th, 2013

Belly time and sucking her thumb! 

Cianna

So we all know that Ciana had her drainage procedure. She is doing great from that! The drainage is not draining any measurable amount of fluid/stool in the belly. So the drainage should be coming out soon! As of yesterday, December 5th, 2013 the Drs predicted that within a day or two the drainage could come out. She continues to be on the antibiotics and is doing well. She is still on morphine to help with the pain of the procedure and basically to leave her sedated and not moving so she doesn't hurt herself. It's so sad but very much needed and I understand that. On December 5th, 2013 at 9:30am Cianna had to have a PDA ligation surgery. It took 20 minutes and was performed at her bedside. This surgery is used to go into the heart and close her heart murmur. At 10am I got a call informing me that she did great and was stable. I was warned that she would probably need a blood transfusion and dopamine to steady her blood pressure. When I got to CHOP at 3pm she hadn't needed neither of the two and I was so freaking happy about that! Her settings on her ventilator were high but that is common as preemies tend to be worse before they do better after a PDA surgery. But my Cianna looked great! Below you'll see some photos of her. The hardest part about Cianna is that she is in CHOP and I feel horrible not being able to see her everyday. I know other mother's see their children less then me but my heart can't take the distance! I can not wait for her to be back at Virtua with her sisters. I know the day will come! Yesterday was a little rough in her room. There are three other baby girls in the room and yesterday they were all being held by their mothers while I just got to stand by Cianna. That was hard and very emotional. I can't wait to hold my babies. I just want to comfort them and have them in my arms! Until then I'll hopelessly stand beside them waiting and longing.

Cianna - December 3rd, 2013

Look who's a blonde!

Cianna - December 5th, 2013

Taken the day of her PDA surgery.

Kangaroo Care

So here's how it works - they can't have any tubes going into their lungs from their sides (like Cianna and Hadassah have right now). And they have to be good with their stats and care. Right now the only one I'll be able to hold is Isabella but she doesn't do very well with a lot of stimulation or touching so for now I have to wait. But I'm crazy dying to be able to hold her!!!! I hope it's soon. The nurse yesterday was actually willing to let me try but Isabella was destating so I can't :(

Breast Feeding / Pumping

So I think it's going pretty well. I'm starting to get into a routine and I'm sticking to the pumping schedule as best as I can. I'm currently getting 2-3 ounces every 3 hours. But I want to get more! I'm currently 17 days postpartum and this doesn't seem enough. I am drinking a lot of water during and after pumping. I'm trying to eat a lot and I started the Fenugreek two days ago. I'm requesting a meeting with the Lactation consultant here at the hospital for Monday. I want to see if maybe I'm using the settings wrong on the machine. I'm not stressing over it as I know that can hinder my milk flow. I just truly feel lost, you know? It's funny how before the girls came I was dead against pumping and now it's all I want to do! LOL ... Oh and the Fenugreek - it makes my under arms smell like maple syrup. According to Tito, "Syrup smell is better then stinky smell." 

Weekly Milestone
The girls turned 2 weeks old on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013. They have survived the NICU for two full weeks!!! Go girls!!!! Girl power!!!

Weight Stats of the Girls & Myself ;)
Hadassah
Birth 1.6 pounds
Week 1 - 1.46 pound
Week 2 - 1.4 Pounds

Isabella
Birth - 1.34 pounds
Week 1 - 1.3 pounds
Week 2 - 1.6 Pounds

Cianna
Birth - 1.4 Pounds
Week 1 - 1.2 pounds
Week 2 - 1.21

Jackie (Me)
Pre-pregnancy weight - 146 pounds
Weight on Delivery Day - 180 pounds (wow)
Weight 2 weeks postpartum  - 155 pounds (Yeah!!!)

XOXO,
Jackie

Roller Coaster Rides

It's been hard to write... heck it's been hard to think. I'm processing a ton of information every day and it's not easy. Being a NICU mom is NOT easy. There are good days and there are bad days... my emotions are constantly riding a deadly roller coaster these days. I'm trying to stay strong when all I really want to do is cry. I wish I could hide and not have to face the day or anyone. How much longer can I smile and say that things are ok when I'm dying inside? I knew the second that I gave birth that it wasn't going to be easy but I never thought that it would be this hard. I'm not only going through the NICU drama but I'm also experiencing the typical after birth feelings of empty nest. I feel completely robbed of everything. I never got to truly enjoy my pregnancy and there was so much more I wanted to do and experience that I never will now. Where is the joy of being able to give birth and hold your child in your arms? Does it even exist? What does it feel like to hold your child? I don't even know. It's not fair. It's not easy going on Facebook anymore and seeing all my friends giving birth to full term babies and seeing their pictures flash of them holding and cradling their children. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them but it's hard when you have three precious daughter who you can't even hold. Gosh I feel like an emotional idiot. The last couple of days I've woken up in such a horrible mood. I can't stand myself. I have so much support and yet I feel so alone. I'm sorry for such a "down" intro to my post tonight, like I said in the beginning - this is all so hard for me.

HADASSAH

Hadassah, my joy, crashed on us when she was only 2 days old. She gave us a scare when her left lung collapsed. I was still in the hospital and Tito was the only who was information on one of his many trips to the NICU to take the milk. I knew something was wrong when he didn't come back as quickly as usual. He didn't even get to explain everything to me before I started crying. I was so scared as he told me that they needed to put in a chest tube to help suction out the air build up in her left lung. She, however, did well with the suction. And after 10 days had the tube taken out. Her lungs are the worst of the three girls. She is still having some problems with her left lung and her right lung has air build up around it on the outside. They decided to try the conventional ventilator to help her lungs heal and progress. She was placed on this ventilator last night (11/29/13) and is doing very well on it. She also started steroids last night and will be on them for a total of three days. The steroids are used to help her lungs mature faster. We are praying and believing that they will work! She also had her UV lines taken out of her belly button on Thursday, November 28th, 2013. The UV line was a tube that goes into her belly button and is used to provided IV and food to the baby. These can only be used for 7-9 days after birth and then they have to get a PICC line. Hadassah had her PICC line put in on Sunday, November 24th. They started breast milk feeds on Monday. Hadassah was taking 1cc every 6 hours until Wednesday when they started to give her 1cc every 3 hours. I know that is a small amount but still I'm so happy that she is tolerating the milk in her tiny belly. Today, November 30, 2013, Hadassah had her g-tube changed to a bigger size now that she is eating! I'm so happy for her. You know there are good days and there are bad, there are good news and there are bad news. I try to focus on the good, like how she's feeding and now on a step down ventilator. It's what keeps me going. I go almost everyday to visit her and I've seen how much she's changing everyday. Her skin is toughening up and getting that 'normal' skin color look. Her little ears are starting to form firmly and her hair is growing. She's our little blonde baby. She is trying to open her eyes to the point of straining. Even the nurse tried to help her out but nope they are pretty sealed. She loves to lay on her side all cuddled up. She is on morphine so she tends to be more still then her sisters. Today, as I spoke to her she moved around and tried to open her eyes. Her stats went up to a perfect 100 the entire time I was talking to her. Maybe I should stay and just talk to her 24/7... lol ... Oh and she's been on and off of the Billy Lights due to jaundice. She's been off for two days now so I'm praying this is it for her. As of today Hadassah is on morphine (for the lungs but is being weaned off), dopamine for her blood pressure, antibiotics as a precaution to avoid infections, and steroids for the lungs. On Friday, November 22 she had a heart ultrasound that showed a small heart murmur. She was placed on a three day regimen to help close the murmur but unfortunately it did not close. She will have a second round soon so I ask that you pray and come into an agreement with us that the second round will work! On November 22, she also had a brain ultrasound that reveal no brain bleeds - SCORE!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!

Hadassah's Hospital Crib Card

Hadassah all cuddled up...

The first time I got to touch Hadassah. 

November 22, 2013

Hadassah's Thanksgiving Card to Us and You;)

ISABELLA aka BELLA

At 3 days old we had another scare this time with Isabella. During a routine ultrasound they found that her esophagus had a small tear in it. They had to take her G-tube out and her UV line as her belly button started rejecting the UV line. She was the first that needed the PICC line. They tried on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and they couldn't get the PICC line in. On Monday, November 25th, 2013, the Doctor informed me that Isabella might have to go to CHOP to have her PICC line put in and then after 24 hours she would return to Virtua. Therefore they had to put Isabella on the conventional ventilator which they did and she LOVED it. She is doing so so so much better on the step down ventilator and I'm so happy. We are one step closer to CPAP for all three girls now but I know that won't be for another few weeks as they are still so tiny. Anyway, on this same day Dr. Lenny called and said that before we take her to CHOP he would like to try one more time to put the PICC line in. He arrived at the hospital around 9pm and guess what... HE DID IT!!!! Praise the Lord. God only knows how much we were praying that this would work and that she wouldn't have to be separated from her sisters. Isabella also has a heart murmur. She has done two rounds of the medication to close the heart murmur and they did not work. She will be monitored closely as if the murmur starts to affect any of her organs she will have to have surgery to close the murmur. We are praying that the murmur close on its own, can you please pray for that? She also had a brain ultrasound and had no brain bleeds!!!! YAY!!!! Right now they are monitoring her esophagus, The tear should heal on it's on. This upcoming Monday, December 2, 2013 she will be checked and if the esophagus is healed they will put her g-tube back in and start breast milk feedings!!!! She is currently on dopamine for her blood pressure, antibiotics as a precaution for infections, and that's it for her. She had belly time yesterday and I must say it was so darn cute to see her laying on her belly. Today she was on her back and moving around. The nurse said that she looked like she was dancing in slow mode. I shared with the nurse about how I worship through dance and the nurse (a Christian) said, "Oh then I can only explain that her movements where like she was worshipping God!" How awesome is that? Oh by the way, Isabella has both of her eyes open! She beat her sisters!

Isabella's Hospital Crib Card

Isabella on tummy time & under the Billy Lights

November 29th, 2013

Isabella with her Billy Light glasses on. And an IV in her left arm :(

Isabella with her eyes open

November 27th, 2013

CIANNA

Oh Cianna... she was doing so well!!! We were so happy that everyday nothing changed and she was doing great. She rarely gave the nurses an issue and was always so stable. That is until Monday, November 25th! On Monday I spent the entire day at the hospital with the girls. I got there at 1pm and I left at 8pm. I got home around 9pm and didn't go to bed until almost midnight. At 12:30am I get a call from Virtua that I need to come in asap and "be by Cianna's side." Side note: When you hear those words you think what... death, right? So you can imagine that state I was in the entire 50 minute drive to the hospital at 1am. Anyway, the Doctor explained that during a routine examine she noticed that Cianna's belly was a little discolored like a black and blue and her super and blood pressure were really high. She explained that Cianna was going to have to go to CHOP to be treated for NEC. I get to the hospital and we waited for CHOP for 3 hours. We followed the ambulance to CHOP with our hearts at our feet. We waited and waited for them to stabilize her and around 5am we were allowed into the room. The doctors explained that within 24 hours they would have to go a drainage on Cianna's belly to empty her stomach of any fluid/poop build up that her intestines was pushing out into her abdomen. So we waited and waited. The nurse started Cianna's care and asked if I wanted to help her out. I got to take Cianna's temperature and change her pamper. She peed me so I'm officially baptized. It was awesome! We waited until 3pm and no changes had been made. They told us to go home and get some rest. We had both been awake for 40 hours before we left CHOP. I was cross eyed from the lack of sleep and not to mention my feet were ridiculously swollen by the time I got home. Early Wednesday morning (1am) they did the drainage on Cianna. I called around noon on Wednesday and she was doing well. Her sugar and blood pressure came down and as of today every time they drain her there is less and less poop/fluid in her drainage. God is Good! Her belly is also coming down from the bloat and back and blue color. So I'm very happy! They did the PICC line on her yesterday and she is also doing well from that. Cianna has her left eye opened and is still struggling to open her right eye. Dr. thinks it's only a matter of time before she pops that right eye open. Cianna is not being feed by her g-tube as they don't want anything in her belly. She is on special antibiotics for the NEC which last anywhere between 10-14 days. So she has only about 5-9 more days to go. She is on dopamine for her blood pressure and morphine due to her belly issues. But all in all she is doing better. Her heart murmur is also still open. They can't do a second round of medication for the heart murmur until she is off her antibiotics. Cianna also had a brain ultrasound and she did not have any brain bleeds! Praise the Lord!

Isabella's Hospital Crib Card from Virtua

Cianna - You can see her darkened belly here. This was right before CHOP came to pick her up. 

November 26th, 2013 (Virtua) (2am)

Cianna's ride to CHOP

November 26th, 2013

Cianna sucking on a pacifier! A few hours before her drainage procedure. 

November 26th, 2013 (Chop)

Cianna all cuddled up and sucking on her fingers.

November 30th, 2013 (Chop)

KANGAROO CARE

So now that the girls have their UV lines out of their belly button I can start Kangaroo Care. I'm so excited and so nervous to finally get to hold my girls. Their stats (blood pressure, heart rate etc) have to be stable and they have been. I'm going on Monday and I'm going prepared with everything I need. Which reminds me that I need to get out to the store and get some things like baby blankets (those fuzzy ones). OMG I'm so nervous, they are so tiny!

BREAST FEEDING / PUMPING

This is so intense! I can't seem to get a schedule down pack especially with all the running around from hospital to hospital! I'm trying to maintain an easy every 3-4 hours schedule but it's not working. I decided to not do anything extra throughout the day and to start sticking to my pumping schedule. I would like to be able to pump until they at least come home. I can't complain I'm getting at least 3 ounces every time I pump but other triplet moms are making double/triple that amount. I know that rest and proper nutrition play a huge role in being about to pump larger quantities. How do I do that? I'm not the biggest healthiest eater. I don't even know where to begin. The normal calorie intake for my height and weight should be 1800 calories a day, now I have to add an extra 1500 (500 per baby)... what in the world? I barely intake the 1800 calories. In order to intake this amount of food I'll have to eat every hour! So any of you who have or are breast feeding... please give me any advice you have. I want to be successful here. Also for those who use/used the Medela Symphony which settings did you use? I feel like I may not being using the pump right.

VISITATIONS & COMING HOME TIMELINE
I know many people want to see the girls. Unfortunately, although we are allowed to have visitors, we are restricting the visits to a select few who are helping me get to and from the hospital. The girls are very small and fragile. Visits will continue to be restricted until the girls are home and even then on a less restriction. Preemie are can catch a cold or infection more quickly then a full term baby so until the FLU session is over visits will remain restricted. I have already asked close family and friends that if they plan on visiting the girls at my home before the FLU session is over, they must have the flu shot. Those living in my home must have the FLU and DTAP shots. You can never be too careful. As for when the girls are coming home... I was told to plan on their original due date so hopefully by March 5th (my birthday and their due date). For the record, babies born at 25 weeks DO NOT go home with the parents and often spend 3-4 months in the NICU. As for visiting me... you are all more then welcomed to come by... I just ask that you let me know if and when you are planning to stop by as I'm constantly in and out of the home visiting the girls.

WHAT WE STILL NEED
I've gotten a lot of text messages and Facebook messages, as well as my mother, asking what I still need for the babies. I have updated the registries (Target and Babies R Us) with what we still need as we are using the registries ourselves as a list for when we go out shopping. Feel free to go onto the registry to see what we still need. Thank you to those who have been bringing me clothes, etc. for the girls. We appreciate it all so very much! I finally started going through all the clothes and sorting them by size. It's a lot of onesies and pants. I think the girls are set with those until at least 6months! LOL So thank you all so much!

Weekly Stats on the Girls
Hadassah: Birth Weight: 1.6 pounds ... One Week Old Weight: 1.46 pounds
Isabella: Birth Weight 1.36 pounds ... One Week Old Weight: 1.3 pounds
Cianna: Birth Weight: 1.4 pounds ... One Week Old Weight: 1.2 pounds

SIDE NOTE:
I just want to say that I'm getting all of your text, facebook messages etc. I sometimes start to reply but never finish as I'm so busy. I'm so so so sorry for my late reply or no reply's. Please don't take it personal. I have A LOT going on right now. But thank you! I love you all!

EXTRAS:

 The girls at 2 days old!

November 21st, 2013

The girls top to bottom: Cianna, Isabella & Hadassah

November 28th, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day)

9 Days Old

Well... that's about it for the last 11 days... We just ask that you continue to pray for the girls health and well being, but also for our strength during this time. 

Xoxo,

Jackie

When 2 Became 5

Hi Everyone! I know it's been a long 6 days without posting anything. So much has happened and I just never got around to formulating my thoughts enough to actually come and write. I just want to warn you that this post is not for the faint of heart. I'm not holding anything back - the good and the bad - it's all here. I do ask that you respect one request - DO NOT COPY, SAVE, DISTRIBUTE, or POST any of the pictures of our girls. That is what this blog is for. We will be starting an album on Facebook where the pictures can be accessed at any time but we just ask that you give us time. Here we go...

24 Weeks & 4 Days - Sunday, November 17th, 2013
I know that in my last post I wrote about this date. After posting I had some visitors and I wanted to make a quick shout out to them. My brother Johnathan and his wife Erica came by along with my mother, father, a friend Tracy and future Pastor's of Massai Millville - Tracy and Sherlon Soman. They brought me laughter and lots of yummy food. My brother and his wife had their house warming party yesterday and I unfortunately couldn't make it due to be in the hospital. They were kind enough to bring me food today... happy tummy = happy mommy which = happy babies! It was such a nice visit and love to see my room so full of people who love and care so much for me, Tito and the girls. The hardest part - watching them all depart from the room. I cried instantly. I absolutely hate being alone here. Being alone allows for to much time and room to think and right now my thinking always leads to "what if they come tonight?" "What if I have to give birth right now?" Oh it's so scary and heart breaking. I tried to put myself together before the evening nurses came to see me but I failed. Poor nurse didn't know what to do with herself when she walked in my room and caught me sobbing. She just sat on the bed and held my hand. "It's going to be ok," she repeated over and over again. After settling down she took all my vital signs and then put me on the baby monitor. Heartbeats were great! And I wasn't contracting anymore. And for the first time since I came on Thursday ( 4 days ago) I didn't have to go to sleep with the IV fluids. SCORE!!!! Oh and here is a picture of Tito and I last night, I forgot to post it...

Yes - we both fit together on my bed =) Best husband in the world! PS: no my hair is not done. I have no energy right now to even think about doing more then washing it and brushing it limbo

24 Weeks & 5 Days - Monday, November 18th, 2013
Today was a little crazy. Morning vitals and heartbeat checks were all normal. The girls always give the tech nurse a hard time finding their heart beats but mommy always know where they are. I feel like a nurse now, lol, just kidding... I felt super tired today even though I had a great night. It was like nothing took my tiredness away and I spent most of the morning sleeping. Around noon Sabrina and Jasmine came by to visit me. It was so nice to see both of them. They made me laugh, which is always a plus right now. As soon as they were leaving my cousins Veronica & Laura came over. It was nice having a constant flow of visitors today. Especially with my mental break down yesterday. Unfortunately, I couldn't socialize for long as I had an ultrasound appointment downstairs with Maternal Fetal Medicine.  The entire ride down to MFM I was chewing my nails. Thursday's appointment yielded that I was 2cm Dilated and I was scared to know if I have dilated more or not by today. The first part of the ultrasound went well. Heart beats were great and the girls looked so cute! Hadassah was head down and ready for her grand entrance - but I yelled at her and told her "not yet." Isabella and Cianna were both lying side ways across my belly. Isabella was in my mid stomach and Cianna was high up by my ribs. We got some nice profile pictures of Isabella and Cianna but not of Hadassah as she was way to low and in the birth canal for a profile picture today. Then they did the internal ultrasound and the tech didn't even have to say anything to me. I saw with my own eyes that my cervix was opened wider and Hadassah's head was certainly  pushing down on my cervix. I watched in horror as the tech measured that I was now dilated at 3cm. She gave me my pictures and left to get the Doctor as I sat there alone. I tried to focus on the ultrasound pictures. I prayed and I spoke with the girls but five minutes turned into almost an hour and I couldn't keep it together for an hour, not alone! Niagara Falls began to pour out my eyes. I was angry and frustrated and beyond scare. I just kept asking "why me?" How much more of this can I take? How much more disappointment can I handle? I felt like I'm about to break or have some kind of mental breakdown. I can't do this anymore... The Doctor came in and basically said that everything is just status quo and that they will check me again on Thursday. He said that if I continue to dilate at the rate of 1cm every 4 days then I may make it another 28 days which is 4 more weeks. That made me smile. It gave me hope. 4 more weeks would place me at 28 weeks pregnant and the girls would be so much more better off. I returned to my room quickly after that. I took a nap and woke up feeling a little pressure. Not to be gross but I just felt like I needed to go #2. But I was so afraid to go thinking that if I went I would pop Hadassah out or something. I also started having some contractions that weren't painful at all. I didn't think anything of it. My cousin Laura and friend Annette were with me in the evening when around 6pm Dr. Kelley from the NICU came to my room and spoke to me. She brought handy flash cards with pictures of babies born between 24-25 weeks. She provided me with a lot of information as to all the risks and concerns that a 24-25 weeker can have when born so early and all the delays and scare test and problems that they will/can face in the NICU. Dr. Kelley told me that the lungs are the biggest issue that Preemie babies encounter as well as brain bleeds. There are 4 levels of brain bleeds and each bring on a set of difficulties for the babies. Basically she scared me half to death before saying that now a days with so much technology a 24 weeker can survive. When she left the room I felt so overwhelmed. Annette, the ever faithful God fearing friend I have looked at me and said, "You won't have to worry about all that." My mother and aunt Laura came to visit me just as Annette was leaving. We joked for most of the evening about how I still felt like I needed to use the bathroom and how I was too afraid because I didn't want to pop any babies out. Dr. Minter came in and saw me around 8pm. She reassured me that I shouldn't be concerned about todays ultrasound and that in just three more days I would have another ultrasound. She seemed to confident that I still had a few more weeks left and so did I! I went to sleep that night confident that I still had time. For the first time in 5 days, I didn't cry myself to sleep.

 Here is Cianna's Profile from today's ultrasound - 24w5d

Here is Isabella's profile from today at 24w5d

24 Weeks & 6 Days - Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 - THE BIRTH OF OUR GIRLS
Oh my heaven! I had the worst night of my life. I woke up at least every hour on the hour with weird contractions. I felt a lot of pressure and I would go to the bathroom and try to go but couldn't. When I got up from the toilet I felt like I couldn't straight from all the pressure. Being the inexperienced woman that I am, I thought the pressure during my contractions was backed up stuff, if you know what I mean. When I finally woke up around 7am I was finally able to "release" myself from the pressure. But then I still kept getting contractions about once to twice an hour and there was the pressure again. When the nurse came in for my vitals I told her what I was experiencing and she said she wasn't concerned but would relate the information to my OBGYN on call today. Then she put the heart monitor one and everything seemed fine. The girls gave the nurse a little hard time but nothing major. The babies heart beats need to be on the monitor for 20 minutes but that never happens with three tiny wiggling babies in my belly. So a 20 minute check turns into about an hour. So anyway, I felt very very very tired throughout the morning. I took a mid morning nap, got up and then ordered lunch. I order soup and a dinner roll. But I couldn't eat anything. I just felt so tired. So I fell asleep and woke up at 2pm with the strongest and most painful contraction yet! I went to the bathroom and checked to make sure I wasn't bleeding or anything. As I was coming out of the bathroom my OBGYN Dr. Huggins came into the room and saw the panic on my face as another contraction hit me. She helped me get into bed and called the nurse right away. She wanted me connected to the contraction monitor and baby heartbeat monitor asap! From 2-4pm I was connected to the machines. For the most part I was alone in my room as Dr. Huggins and the nurse watched my screens at the nurses hub. I felt the contractions get worse and with fewer time in-between. Around 3pm the nurse came and connected me to the IV machine. They poured 500ml of Fluids into me in about 30 minutes (that's super fast). From 3 to 4 pm I felt contractions that I never thought I would be feeling. I cried through them, I screamed through them, I literally climbed up my bed in so much pain. In between contractions I looked up how to breath during a contraction and I tried but seriously that crap didn't work. I think I said, "Oh my God," 1000 times. And I prayed that a nurse or Dr. wouldn't come in and catch me completely looking like a crazy lady as I tried to ride the contractions... alone. Every time I heard my door open I would put myself together. The nurse would ask how's the pain level on 1-10. I wanted to yell 1000 but I would always say "oh about a 3" with a smile on my face... LOL ... crazy lady here I say! Well at 4:30pm on the dot Dr. Huggins comes in and says, "I don't want to do it but you're contracting every 3-4 minutes and I have to check your cervix to make sure you aren't dilating." There is no secret that cervical checks are uncomfortable but I knew she knew what was best and I willingly became a participant of the check. When I saw her face as she checked me I just knew it wasn't going to be good news. When she finished her check she calming looked me in the eyes and said, "you're 6 cm dilated and Hadassah's head is right there. Call your husband, we are delivering these babies today." As the phone rang I heard Dr. Huggins shouting in the halls to "get the OR ready now! The triplets are coming! I need magnesium now! and a Crew!" By the time Tito answered his phone I was sobbing, "Tito get here as soon as you can they are taking the babies out today." But I'm here thinking that they wouldn't do for another hour or so to give him time to come. I hang up and call my mom, "MOM the babies need to come out now." I then hung up. By the time I finished the call there were at least 10 people in my room. "It's gonna get crazy and loud and it's going to get really busy, just breathe," Dr. Huggins said. Breathe?!?!?! I think I forgot how to do that. I was sobbing and I couldn't focus on anything.  There were nurses putting magnesium into my IV line, nurses taking off my clothes, nurses trying to put a catheter in, Dr. Huggins holding my hand as I rode the contractions in between, the anesthesiologist shouting questions and throwing papers at me to sign. I remember him asking how old I was and I was so lost in time that I said, "I think I'm 25!' He asked me for my weight and I yelled, "I don't know anymore." Before I knew it I was being transported to the OR. The magnesium was burning the heck out of my hand. I wanted to pull the dang thing out so bad that my nurse had to hold my arm down. When we entered the OR room I saw three bassinets that looked like something from the future with at least 4-5 people around each one. Dr. Huggins asked if my husband was here and I said no. That's when I heard, "we can't wait for anyone, these babies need to come out NOW!" So my tech nurse from High Risk OB - Samantha asked if I would like her to stay with me since I had no family here. I said yes and she stayed with me. They rolled me over unto the OR bed. They made me roll into a fetal position and Dr. Huggins took my hands in one hand and then with her other she pushed my hair back and leaned in very close to me. "Breathe, it's all going to be ok. You are doing great. Think about the precious baby girls and breathe. You're doing great." They put another IV in my other arm. At exactly 4:58pm they put in the back epidural and something else, I can't remember. It all happened so fast. They rolled me over unto my back, pulled up a blue curtain above my chest and I felt some pressure. I kept looking around the room. Sam was still by my side and even took a picture of me and her. At 5:05pm Hadassah was born CRYING!!! I could hear her so clearly!!!! At 5:06pm Isabella was born. She was not crying. I heard the Dr. Kim and Dr. Huggins talking about how wrapped in her umbilical cord she was. Then at 5:07pm Cianna was born CRYING!!!! Sam went to see the babies and came back to tell me that they are doing well and are so beautiful. I felt so sick to my stomach but they gave me medicine to stop me from throwing up. As they stitched me up I was telling them how on this very day 15 years ago I met Tito and how now the date just became even more special with the birth of our daughters. I felt invincible at this point but maybe it was just the morphine. The girls were taken out of the room fairly quickly. I got a peek at Hadassah and Cianna but Isabella was critical so they couldn't stop for me to see her. And honestly the little I saw of Hadassah and Cianna I can't even remember. Samantha left to go and find Tito. Dr. Huggins was telling me how great I did and how good the babies were doing so far. And before I knew it I was being wheeled into recovery where Tito stood dumb founded. "Congratulations you're a dad!" I said as I got into the room. Poor guy had so many questions.  I told him the whole story from beginning to end in between sobs and eating ice cubes. Instead of sleeping/resting I called my entire family, heck I even face-timed everyone in the waiting room. At 7:45pm I was in my Mommy & Baby Room, minus the babies. I was set up with everything I needed and then the gang was allowed in to visit with me. Visiting hours ended at 8pm but my nurses were so nice to let them come in and they stayed until almost 9:30pm. It was nice seeing everyone! At 11pm Dr. Kim from the NICU, also one of the doctors who helped deliver the babies, came to see Tito and I. Dr. Kim said that we could go and see the babies now. She told us that they were doing well. I was a little sore so Tito went on his own. Such a brave man! I waited impatiently for him to come back! When he walked through the door I could tell that he had been crying. His first words were, "They are doing good." I asked him why he looked so sad and he started crying as he said, "They are so small Jackie, so small, my babies." He broke my heart. But he took some pretty good first pictures of the girls. Here some shots from before Delivery to when Tito went to see the girls.

My last belly shot at around 12pm. It's crooked from Isabella rolling up into a ball on my left side.

 Samantha and I after the delivery. 

 Hadassah - 6 hours old 

1 pound 6 ounces

12 Inches long

Isabella - 6 hours old 

1 pound 3.6 ounces

12 inches long

Cianna - 6 hours old 

1 pound 4 ounces

11 1/4 inches long

All three girls were put on dopamine to control their blood pressure. All three girls are also on antibiotics. Hadassah and Isabella are on the HFOV (High Frequency Oscillator Ventilator) which makes them shake and provides a lot of little breathes for the girls. Cianna did not like the HFOV and gave Dr. Kim a very hard time so she is on a ventilator that is a step lower then the HFOV which is a GREAT thing. Cianna's ventilator is called  a Conventional Ventilator and it does not make her shake like the HFOV. 

So around 11:45pm my nurse came in and brought me a a Medela Symphony breast pump and all the supplies. She set me up to pump for the first time. Drops.. maybe 3-4 is all I got but the NICU wants it all. And I'll do anything for my baby girls so over the next few days we shall see how the breast pumping goes. I pray that I can produce milk and be able to provide such great nutrients to my baby girls. Wish me luck... I hear pumping hurts like a mother. lol 

So now I'm going to bed and so is Tito. I'm drained both physically and emotionally. We can not wait for morning to go down together to visit with the girls. 

I'm a mom!!!!!!!!! To three beautiful little fighters!!! I'm a mom!!!!!!!!

I'M A MOM. TITO IS A DAD... WE ARE OFFICIALLY PARENTS!!!

xoxo,

Jackie - mommy to 3 ;)

24 Weeks & 4 Days

I don't even know where to start. The past 11 days have been amazing, wonderful, filled with blessings, scary, nerve wrecking, heart wrenching and so much more! It's gonna be a long post, but there is so much to share...

November 7th, 2013 - 23 weeks & 1 Day - Surprise
Tonight my husband and I had the biggest surprise of this entire pregnancy (besides finding out it was triplets). Around 7pm three of my mother's co-workers came by the house with the excuse that they were coming to visit me as I had been feeling under the weather. What I didn't know was that they were coming by to deliver the three cribs for the babies!!!!! All three cribs were purchased by 23 of my mother's co-workers. Words can not describe how happy and grateful my husband and I feel towards each and everyone of these amazing women who felt it in their hearts to bless us with our cribs. I was so shocked that I couldn't even talk! God is good all the time and I pray that he blesses every single one of these ladies... abundantly!!!!!

November 9th, 2013 - 23 weeks & 3 days - Baby Shower
Was an amazing day! Today was our baby shower where we celebrated with family and friends. We had 106 family, friends and co-workers come out on our special day. My husband and I as well as the triplets were so blessed with so many things! We got all three mattresses, 3 high chairs, pampers, wipes, sleepers, outfits, socks, bibs, wash clothes, the diaper pail, bottles and so much more! My friends were so creative in their way of presenting their gifts as well... Everyone knows how much I love owls! The nursery for the babies is owls and so I got some pretty awesome owls made of diapers, bibs, and pacifiers. I even had 3 peas in a pod made of diapers, pacifiers, and receiving blankets. I mean people came up with such creative gifts. We are all so very thankful and grateful for everything we got. I must admit that about 1/4 of the way through the gifts my back and arms gave out. I was extremely tired and sore and therefore my husband had to take over in opening the gifts. It was funny watching him open the gifts and not know exactly what they were for... like the diaper pail LOL... Here are a few shots from the shower...

Here are five of my mother's co-workers who went in on the cribs. They have all been such a great support to myself and my mother during my IVF and pregnancy. We are truly blessed by these women.

Here we are with our 3 Mattresses one from each of our aunts - Carmen, Laura & Wally! Thank you so much!!!!

Here's Tito with his favorite bottles ... LOL ... Seriously the man fought me the day we went to do the registry... it had to be these or nothing... So babies you better like these bottles LOL - Thank you Vero, Vika and Chris for the bottles!

How cute are these? Here are 3 of 4 owl creations we received. They are so cute we haven't taken them apart yet! Thank you Chipo, Kristina, Krystal and Mimi! 

Hadassah, Isabella and Cianna's first church outfits!  Thank you Tio George and Titi Irene!

Out little peas in the pod thanks to Krystal, Kristina & Mimi. Sad story - my husband jam packed my car after the shower so they didn't make it. By the time we got home you couldn't tell what they were but at least I got some nice pictures of them LOL 

How cute are these hats? These were made by Ashley - she did a fantastic job with them. I can't wait to use them on the girls. 

The "CAKE." It's a strawberry filled, vanilla cake with buttercream frosting and pure white jimmy's. The message says "A gift from above, three baby girls to love." Sweets Eats Bakery did a fantastic job making this cake and Becky did a fantastic job cutting it LOL... I don't know how to cute round cakes... Anyway, So my mother and I were so busy with the gift opening that we never got to eat cake on the day of the shower. We finally had cake 3 days later LOL But the wait was worth it as the cake was very very yummy...

Here are the favors that I made for the shower. These are mason jars filled with Chocolate Chip cookie recipe and then I decorated the outside to look like owls. It took about a month to make 60 of them as I made about 1-5 a day LOL 

Following the shower we went home and I sat in the nursery and went through every single gift bag. I got to finally look at everything in detail and of course write up my thank you list. I also made a list of everything that we still needed with the help of my mother and then I crashed! It must have been midnight by the time I finally went to bed, but all in all we had a wonderful time and we thank every single person who came out and celebrated the future coming of our three girls. Your love and support and generosity has not and will not go unnoticed. We love you all so so so so so very much!

November 11th, 2013 - 23 weeks and 5 days - Obgyn Visit & Shopping Day
I spent the entire day with my wonderful mother. Our day started out with a check up at the obgyn. Heartbeats were great and the Doctor seemed happy with my progress to date. She measured my stomach... I'm 23 weeks but I measured 29 weeks O_o and then we were on our way to shop for the babies. We went to Burlington Coat Factory, Walmart, Target, Babies R Us and Boscovs. With a list in hand of the items we still needed my mother and I headed out and braved the stores. We got the changing pad and covers, health and grooming kits, wipes, diapers, and so much more and the best part of it all... it was all covered by gift cards that we had received from the baby showers. So thank you to everyone who gave us gift cards. They truly came in handy!

November 13th, 2013 - 24 Weeks - Work
Today was supposed to be my second to last day at work. I was super stressed out and overwhelmed trying to get my cases in order before heading out on maternity leave. Around noon I started having what I thought were Braxton Hicks. I drank 5 bottles of water in 20 minutes and nothing stopped them. I went home and laid down and eventually they calmed down.

November 14th, 2013 - 24 Weeks & 1 Day - The Day It All Changed
Today I headed to Maternal Fetal Medicine with my mother bright an early for a growth check on the babies. The ultrasound started out great! The babies are thriving and growing at the rate a singleton would be growing. Hadassah weighed 1.6 pounds; Isabella was 1.5 pounds and Cianna was 1.4 pounds. They were kicking away and waving and looked so beautiful on the screen. Then came the internal ultrasound to check to my cervix opening & length. Up until today my cervix has been closed and long at about 4 inches long. But during the ultrasound the tech seemed worried and wouldn't even talk to me about the cervix, he just kept saying "I'll have the doctor explain." Panic hit me as my mother and I waited in the consultation room for the Doctor who took an hour to come and see us. He first reported that the babies are doing great! Their fluid was perfect, their weight on target and growth perfect. Then he says, " My concern is your cervix. You are 2 centimeters dilated." He went on to say that I needed to be admitted into the hospital today and that I would need a series of steroids for the babies, medications to stop my contractions and dilated, and that I would be admitted until the babies are delivered which could happen as early as this weekend and as late as a few weeks from now. I started crying, I couldn't help it. I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I knew that the Doctors knew what they were doing but I just couldn't wrap my head around the possibility of giving birth to these girls this weekend. I knew it was too early and their survival rate would be minimal. I didn't want to lose the babies not after all we have been through to get here. So the Doctor sent my mother and I to go and have lunch and to come back at 1pm for the Echo scans on babies. I walked out of the office and I felt like I couldn't talk or move or eat. I called my husband, sobbing and trying to explain as best as I could what was happening. My mother called my father and aunts, brothers and sisters and before we knew it, it was time to go back to the doctors. We had the echo's done and everything was perfect with the babies hearts! I was so relieved. But then reality hit again and before I knew it I was being transported to the High Rick OD 3rd floor room #359 where I would stay for the long haul. My mother, father, Elvis, Aunts and husband all came to see me. But eventually they all had to leave. I cried myself to sleep. I knew this is the place I needed to be but I felt so alone. I missed my husband to the 1 billionth degree! I couldn't take it. And it was such a rough night. I had to get my IV put in as I was contracting. Then I got my first round of the steroid shot ( in the back side, which hurt like a mother). And the nurses were checking in on my every 20 minutes until about 3am.

November 15th, 2013 - 24 Weeks & 2 Days
Every hour that went by I said a thankful prayer to God for not allowing the babies to come yet. Every minute, every hour is an accomplishment and a second closer to delivering the babies later then expected. My contractions settled down and I was set to rest, rest, rest. I was told to only get up for the bathroom and that is it! I set up a Skype account and was able to Skype with my brother in Florida three times! It was such a blessing as I didn't have any visitors today. And then around 9:45pm my Prince (husband) showed up to spend the weekend with me in the hospital. He rocks my world.. just saying...

November 16th, 2013 - 24 Weeks & 3 Days
Another day down! Yay! I'm feeling better. I'm resting and the contractions are fewer in between. I'm getting my contractions, blood pressure and baby heart beats checked twice a day. The contraction monitor is easy and so is the blood pressure but the babies heart beats - not so much. They are tiny and have lots of room to move around in my tummy, therefore the give the nurses a run for their money every time they come to put those monitors on. Baby A - Hadassah is very low under my belly button but she is pretty compliant when we need to find her heart beat. Baby B - Isabella does not like to be found nor strained down by the pressure of the monitor therefore she spends all her time kicking the heck out of the monitor. Baby C - Cianna is always a pleasure to find and never gives us a hard time. But the end result is amazing as I sit and hear their strong and steady heartbeats. I got to skype with my brother again and my mother in law in California today. Skype is such a blessing! I had lots of visitors today. Becky, Ozzie, Jocie, Jasmine, my mom and dad all came by to visit me. My father brought my Cinderella Cheesecake - I was in total heaven! I'll always be his little girl. Tito and I spent most of the day resting, watching movies and tv shows. He brought the movie "The Heat" and I laughed so much! I must say that the food here is really great and I can order as many times as I want. In fact I was encouraged to order at least 6 meals a day because of the amount of calories I need to take in for me and the babies. I can barely eat 3 but I'm trying! I'm starting to settle into a routine here. I have my phone and laptop and my husband to entertain me. The nurses and techs are amazing and so sweet. I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed as this is all new to me but I'm getting somewhere. This is the best place for me and the babies - that's my comfort.

November 17th, 2013 - 24 weeks & 4 Days 
Well it's Sunday so you know what that means... Tito has to go home and get ready for church and then worker tomorrow. I spent the entire morning talking with him and going over what stuff we still need for the babies. We decided to keep our registry's open with the rest of the stuff that we need. It's more like a shopping reminder list for us at this point. We prayed together and rested. And around 2pm he left. And the second the door closed behind him the water works started. This is by far the hardest part. I miss him every second that he isn't here with me. But we have Skype and he calls about every 30 minutes to check in on me. On the bright side, the Doctor came in today and seems so happy with my progress. She told me that tomorrow I'll be going in for another ultrasound and cervix check. She and I are praying for the best and that the cervix be closed or not any more dilated. She did tell me that she has had patients at 2cm dilated for months. She seems very optimistic that theses babies are going to make it to longer in my womb. She doesn't have a short term goal but did tell me that anytime after 28 weeks would be idle and beneficial for the girls. No matter when they are born they will need NICU time. So I'm schedule to meet with the NICU doctor sometime this evening. I'm also waiting for the arrival of my mother, father, brother, Erica, Tracy and Sherlon who are all currently on their way to visit me today.

To Everyone:
I just want to thank everyone for your prayers and support. It means everything to us. We can use all the prayers we can get. Thank you for all the Facebook messages, the text messages, the Skype calls and general reaching out that you have all done.