March for Babies

As you all know, our three boys were born 7 weeks premature.  They each spent between five and six weeks in the NICU before getting to come home.  It seems like a lifetime ago that we were traveling back and forth to the hospital everyday.  It was our normal back then to spend more waking hours there than at home.  It was our normal to not eat dinner until 9:00 each night because we wanted to stick around for one more feed.  The NICU was a very big part of our lives but at the end of it all, when we finally were lucky enough to have our whole family under one roof, they were all healthy.  None of our boys came home on oxygen or a feeding tube.  They were...normal.  Tiny.  But as healthy as any other baby who comes home from the hospital.

We are beyond grateful for the care our boys received in the NICU.  March for Babies had a big part of this.  Their mission is "to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality."  March for Babies donations support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.  And they bring comfort and information to families with a baby in the newborn intensive care.

I recently discovered that March for Babies funded the research that developed surfactant therapy.  Surfactant is a liquid that helps coat the insides of your lungs.  It helps keep them open so that infants can breathe in air once they're born.  Both Nolan and Lucas had to have two rounds of surfactant shortly after they were born to help them breathe.  Knowing that March for Babies was responsible for this medical advance makes me that much more supportive and thankful for this organization.

Over the course of the last several weeks, I've been raising money for March for Babies.  I raised $440 which was added to our group (Multiples of KC) for a total of $1595.  I can't say enough Thank Yous to everyone who donated.

The March for Babies walk was this past Sunday.  It was a beautiful day.  We got up bright and early and (after feeding and dressing babies) headed downtown for the walk.  Our Multiples of KC group had a tent so we met the rest of our group there.  We got a few group photos and just kind of hung out until the walk began.

During the walk, there was a bridge that everyone had to pass over.  On that bridge were posters honoring babies.  They had white ones that said "Look at me now!" and pictured a baby picture and then a current picture.  Then they also had yellow posters that were "In Memory of..." posters. There were a lot of these and it was very emotional walking past all of them.  It just made me feel that much more blessed that my story had a happy ending.  Sadly not everyone gets that.

All in all, it was a good day.  I'm glad we went and we'll definitely be making it an annual family tradition.

Week 6 in the NICU

August 13th, 10:12am
Between my time on bed rest and the boys' NICU stay, today will be our 75th day hanging out in the hospital....and I'm happy to say it will (hopefully) be our last.  Lucas comes home this afternoon!

Leaving the hospital with Nolan

Nolan's first car ride

Lucas' first car ride

Lucas coming home for the first time

Week 5 in the NICU

August 4th 10:58pm

Got to hold Nolan and Lucas together tonight. Going to bed a happy mama.

August 5th 5:24am

One month ago today my life changed on a level that many can never understand. After 33 weeks of a very scary, difficult pregnancy, I welcomed not one but three beautiful lives into this world. I look at their perfect little faces and still can't believe they're mine. I love you, Oliver, Nolan, and Lucas. Please come home soon!

6:09pm
We've been waiting for this day. Oliver and Nolan finally decided their time in the NICU is up and they're ready to come home. They've passed their car seat tests and tonight we get to room in and sleep with them by our bedside. If everything goes well, we'll be taking them home with us tomorrow afternoon. Our little Lucas isn't quite ready yet and will camp out for another couple days. Hopefully it won't be long before he's ready too.

August 6th 1:25pm

Leaving the hospital with a very bittersweet feeling. So unbelievably happy to be bringing home Oliver but sad to be leaving behind our other two boys. Nolan decided he didn't want to leave Lucas alone in the hospital so he's going to stick around and keep him company.

August 7th 2:36am

So glad to be home with my sweet Oliver but feeling a lot of mommy guilt for not being with Nolan and Lucas. Missing my other boys like crazy right now. Trying to decide whether I should make an impromptu middle of the night visit. This is a lot harder than I thought it'd be...

August 8th 8:01pm

Asher baby update: Oliver has been home since Tuesday. He's been such a good baby! He has his first pediatrician appointment tomorrow morning. Nolan was going to come home with Oliver but ended up having some spells the night we roomed in. He's doing better now and we will hopefully get to take him home on Sunday. He weighs 6 lbs as of today. Lucas is still having spells on a daily basis so he'll probably be in the NICU for a while longer. He's currently weighs 5 lbs 4 oz.

Oliver - 1 month picture (the day before he came home)

Nolan - 1 month picture

Lucas - 1 month picture

Nolan and Oliver taking their car seat test.  Oliver failed the first time.

Taking Oliver home!

Decorations that Auntie Lisa put up

Week 4 in the NICU

July 27th 12:57am
Oliver is now off contact isolation. They've stopped antibiotics and if his labs come back okay, they'll start back up with feeds tomorrow. I'm sure our big boy (5 lb 5 oz now) is ready to eat!!!

7:53am
This morning James and I will attend our Homeward Bound class at the hospital. While we haven't yet been told when to expect our boys home, it's hopefully right around the corner.

1:29pm
This morning I got to give Oliver his first bottle in days. He was one happy dude!

4:40pm
Weight updates: Oliver - 5 lb 7 oz, Nolan - 5 lb 2 oz, Lucas - 4 lbs 6 oz

July 29th 6:42pm

I think a homecoming is in our near future! Not only are all our boys doing a marvelous job of maintaining their temp while in open air cribs, but they're now all tube-free and are taking all feeds by mouth. They've all been off oxygen support for a while. Now we just need 5 consecutive days without any "spells".

July 30th 8:02pm

Thank you so much to Cindy Newby from Portraits by Lucinda for capturing one of the most amazing moments of my life...getting to hold all three of my babies at once for the first time. No words can begin to express what I was feeling when this picture was taken.

Week 3 in the NICU

July 19th 9:41pmUpdate on the boys: Oliver is growing like a weed. He now weighs 4 lb 11 oz and did a great job taking a bottle from Mama this afternoon. Nolan now weighs 4 lb 5 oz and took his first bottle from Daddy this evening which he then puked up all over the place. Mr. Lucas got his PICC line out today! No more IV for this little guy! Despite having reached his maximum feeding, he's still our little peanut, weighing 4 lb 2 oz.

July 20th 11:16pm
Rough day today for Lucas. The NICU called this morning and told us he had bloody stools. They've done labs and X-rays...still not sure what's going on. He just got his PICC line out yesterday and now they had to put in a new IV...in his head. They've ceased feedings for now until they get things figured out. He lost some weight when they weighed him tonight. All I want to do is snuggle him...and I can't even do that.

July 22nd 3:57pm
Happy to report that our big boy Oliver is now over 5 lbs!!! He is also IV free now, as is Nolan. Good job, boys! While Lucas still has his IV, he is now breathing room air (no more nasal cannula) and hasn't had any more blood in his stools. Spent some extra time snuggling and kissing my little peanut today.

July 23rd 10:09pm
James and I are just so proud of our boys. Oliver (5 lb 2 oz) is now free of his feeding tube and has been moved to an open air crib! This is a huge step towards going home. Nolan (4 lb 10 oz) will most likely be moved to an open air crib tomorrow. Lucas (4 lb 3 oz) has worked his way back up to his goal feeding amount. He's no longer receiving any IV fluids and his stools are back to normal. Mommy and Daddy are very pleased with their progress.

July 24th 6:57am
The NICU roller coaster ride continues. Just got a phone call from one of the nurse practitioners. She said Oliver threw up multiple times last night. They've done labs and didn't find any indication of infection. An X-ray showed a build up of gas in his system. They put in an IV and have ceased his feedings for now. He also had a handful of apnea and bradycardia (significant decrease in heart rate) episodes during the night. Poor guy.

10:34pm
Oliver is being treated for possible infection with antibiotics. His labs came back normal but they decided it was the best course of action...just in case. He's currently in contact isolation. They had to move Nolan out of his room (just put them together yesterday) and James and I now have to glove and gown up to go in there and we can't take anything into or out of his room. He's not allowed to eat anything for the next 48 hours which he hates. Lots of tears today from both baby and mama.

July 25th 1:20pm
Nolan got moved to an open air crib. Good job, buddy!!!

Week 2 in the NICU

July 14th 7:17pm
All the little Asher boys had something to celebrate today. Oliver is officially above his birth weight. Nolan is doing well with his breathing and they're going to start weaning him off his oxygen. Lucas is no longer our "little one" and has surpassed Nolan in weight. He is a fraction of an ounce away from his birth weight.

July 16th 11:20pm
It's official....all three boys are over 4 lbs! Our big boy Oliver now weighs 4 lb 7 oz, Nolan is 4 lb 2 oz, and Lucas is 4 lb and half an oz. Good job growing, boys!!!

July 17th 10:09pm
At 12 days old, all three boys are now above their birth weight! We were waiting on Nolan who finally got there today...by just one gram!

July 18th 11:29pm
Yep...all three have started on bottles. And all three have had their isolette temps turned down and even got to rock t-shirts today. I get to bring up some clothes for them tomorrow!

Oliver - just as sweet as can be

Oliver - sucking his thumb

Oliver - making a cute face

Nolan - snuggling with Daddy

Nolan flipping off the camera

Nolan - not too enthusiastic about wearing clothes

Lucas - our "Little Peanut"

Lucas - snuggling with Daddy

Lucas - taking his first bottle

Week 1 in the NICU

Here are some highlights I pulled from Facebook about the boys' progress in the NICU during that first week of life:

July 6th 4:59am
It's been a little over 24 hrs since I officially became a mommy and I am so unbelievably in love. At 33 weeks, 1 day, our boys have done very well. Oliver (Baby A) is breathing on his own and has already started feedings. He's such a stud! Nolan (Baby B) and Lucas (Baby C) are on c-pap for breathing and had to be given surfactant late last night to help their lungs out. They both seem to be more comfortable now that they've had it. They've been such troopers. I have so much love in my heart from these precious little guys and just can't get over the adoring look in their daddy's eyes when he looks at them.

July 7th 4:19am
It's been a rough night. I thought that by knowing the boys would be in the NICU, that I was prepared. But I don't think anything can prepare you for that fact that you just had three beautiful babies, and you're only allowed to hold one of them...and even then it's only for a total of an hour a day. And being on the Mother/Baby floor is like torture. Hearing all these little babies cry just makes me sad that these moms get to have their babies in the room with them. I know my sons are in the best place they can be right now and I'm so grateful they're doing as well as they are...but it's all just a lot harder than I thought it would be.

July 7th 11:47pm
Update on Oliver: He is still continuing to breathe on his own. He was taking in feedings through a nasogastric tube, but his tiny body isn't yet able to digest anything so they've stopped the feedings for now. He's under a bili light for jaundice but is able to come off it for an hour a day so Mommy and Daddy can hold him. This is my favorite time of the day.

Update on Nolan and Lucas - both boys were on c-pap from the beginning to assist with their breathing. Since then, they've been intubated twice and given surfactant to help their immature lungs. They've been having to work hard to breathe even with the c-pap, so they're now on ventilators which is making breathing much easier for them. Neither have started feedings yet and probably won't for a while. They're both on the bili light for jaundice, receiving antibiotics, and are having a PICC line put in so they do not have to switch out their IVs so often (Oliver is also receiving antibiotics and is getting a PICC line put in). We're not able to hold either of them yet which has been hard for us but we'll hopefully be able to once they're breathing on their own.

July 9th 12:04am
Going to bed a very happy mama tonight. Not only am I in my own bed with my husband and pup, but the boys are doing awesome! Nolan and Lucas are both off their ventilators and back on c-pap...AND James and I got hold them tonight (for over an hour)!!! Such an amazing feeling!

July 9th 11:10pm
James and I continue to be impressed with our three little guys. Today was another good day. All three babies are feeding now through an NG (nasogastric) tube and they're all off their antibiotics. Nolan and Lucas are down to a 4 (the lowest setting) on their c-pap. Their nurse thinks they'll be ready to go off them tomorrow!Oliver got his PICC line put in today and was very brave during the procedure. He is off the bili lights and it sounds like Nolan and Lucas may be ready to go off them in the next few days too. It'll be so nice to be able to see all their beautiful faces!

July 10th 9:31pm
Logged 2.5 hours of baby holding today. Nolan and Lucas are both off their c-paps and are breathing through a nasal cannula. They're also off the bili lights...which means no more masks! We can see all three of our babies' faces!

 

   

NICU

I'm kind of mad at myself that I didn't blog about my NICU experience when it was happening.  It's something I wish I would have documented more.  Though I guess we were kind of busy!  I tried to keep people updated through Facebook about the boys' progress at the time.  I've decided to go back to those Facebook posts and transfer the highlights over into the Blog World.  That way if anything ever happens to Facebook, I'll still have them.

The Birth Story

July 4th is a very significant day for my family.  My grandpa passed away on July 4th when I was four years old.  My oldest sister got married on July 4th just a few years before James and I also got married on the same day.  July 4th was also the last time we saw James' dad before he passed away.

July 4th was ALMOST the birth date of our sweet baby boys.  Instead, it was the last day James and I spent together as a family of two.  This year our July 4th was spent in the hospital.  I was on my 35th day of hospital bed rest and feeling absolutely miserable.  Most of my hospital stay was tolerable, but that whole last week was awful.  My blood pressure was sky high and my nurse was concerned.  She ordered some labs and they said it looked like I might be suffering from preeclampsia.  The plan was to repeat the labs first thing the next morning.  If things didn't look any better, that would be "the day".  If the lab results were better, than we would go another week and deliver on July 11th as originally planned.

James came to spend the evening with me since it was our anniversary...and since he always did.  He brought Kahlua up to help lift my spirits.  It was a Thursday, which marked my 33 week point of pregnancy.  I was so ready to be done.  As James took my weekly belly shot, I was pretty confident it would be last one.  When I posted it on Facebook, the caption read: "I have the feeling this may be my last weekly photo: 33 weeks gestation, fundal height measuring at 50 weeks, total weight gain of 51 pounds.  Mama's ready to meet these boys!"  That night James and I watched fireworks from an empty hospital room down the hall from my room.  We had a perfect view.  Afterwards, he left.  It was around 11:00.  I took an Ambien so I could hopefully get a nap in before going on the monitor at midnight.

I vaguely remember my nurse coming in to hook me up to the monitor, but quickly fell back to sleep.  The next thing I knew, it was almost 3:00 AM...and I was still on the monitor.  My sessions were supposed to last an hour, but it wasn't uncommon to go longer if babies didn't cooperate.  When my nurse came back in, I asked her what was going on.  She calmly told me that Baby A was having heart decelerations.  This had happened before, so I didn't think it was that big of a deal.  She then said she thought we might have to deliver and that she was going to call the on-call doctor and see what to do.  She came back shortly and told me it was GO TIME!  I called James and told him to head to the hospital.  I then called my mom and told her what was going on so she and my dad could start the trek from Marion where they were camping for the weekend to Overland Park.

Things went really quickly from that point.  A couple nurses came in and prepped me for surgery.  I remember asking if I could go to the bathroom and they said we didn't have time.  Before I knew it, I was being wheeled down to the operating room so they could begin putting in the spinal block.  James still wasn't there and I was starting to get a little nervous that he wasn't going to make it in time.  He ended up getting there right as they were finishing up the spinal block...just minutes before they opened me up.  It all happened so fast.  I was told at 3:15 that I would be delivering that day.  By 4:08, all three babies were out.  So crazy to think how much your life can change in under an hour.

I distinctly remember:

• The feeling of relief as we heard each of our sweet babies cry as they were being brought into the world.
• Dr. Nichols telling us that Baby B peed on his way out.
• All the people in that room (almost 20 of them) working hard to make sure our boys were okay.
• Getting to see each baby briefly (and even getting to hold Baby C) before them being whisked away to the NICU.

Afterwards, James went up to the NICU with the babies as I was being stitched back up.  They then took me to recovery.  I figured I would have slept during that recovery time, but I was on an adrenaline rush and all I wanted was to go see my babies.  They told me I would have to wait a couple hours before I could go up.  In the meantime, James came back down and showed me pictures of the boys and updated me with their heights and weights.  I sent texts out to everyone, not caring that it was early in the morning.  My parents arrived shortly afterwards.  Around 7:00, I was able to go up in my hospital bed and meet my boys. At that point they had been named (James did the honors when he went up with them the first time).  

Baby A - Oliver James Asher - 4 lbs 1 oz, 17 inches long

Baby B - Nolan Michael Asher - 4 lbs 3 oz, 16.25 inches long

Baby C - Lucas McRae Asher - 3 lbs 15 oz, 16.5 inches long

Nolan and Lucas were both on oxygen so we weren't able to hold them, but they let us hold Oliver.  I'll never forget that feeling of holding him in my arms for the first time...and for that moment, knowing that my three boys were finally here and healthy.