Three for Thursday 42 Weeks Edition

Each Thursday, for the near future, I give updates on how our baby triplets are doing in the hospital.  They were born May 28th at 27 weeks gestational age.  Bella Marie born 1lb 14oz, Owen Charles born 1lb 14oz, and Noah Anthony born 2lb 4oz.

Owen Pissed that He's Not Coming Home

If I had written this post Wednesday morning instead of this morning, it might have a different tone than of disappointment.  We were informed on Tuesday that Mr. Owen would be coming home on this Friday.  We were jubilant.  We worked diligently to get the room ready. 

Then Mr. Owen had different plans.  A single spell was all it took.  He dropped his heart-rate and breathing while he was sleeping and the doctors decided he needed more time to mature before going home.  So we are hopeful for next week, perhaps early in the week, as long as he does okay the next few days. 

Things like this happen, I guess.  It is disappointing but if he were home with us, we would never know he was having a spell without him being on the monitors like he is at the hospital.  So he could fall asleep and never wake up, and we'd be powerless to stop it.  So, I understand, but am still disappointed.

He's 6lbs 2oz now.  A peanut compared to the other two but he bottles every feed and is allowed to eat however much he wants.  He seems to enjoy being held much more than the other two.  The nurses comment that he's quite the cuddle-bug.

Bella Wondering When She's Getting Out

Bella…I am going to try to write these next few paragraphs without having a coniption fit.  She has always had an issue with reflux.  She'll typically send back a few ml's of her food.  No biggie, babies eat, babies puke.  To me, she is doing great.  I can get her to take her full bottle, though it typically takes several minutes longer than it does for the boys. 

Well, the doctors are more worried about it, and I don't know why.  She's growing by leaps and bounds, and is now the heaviest baby at 6lbs 14-plus oz.  She is obviously eating enough to support this.  They want to do surgery and put in a GI tract if it doesn't stop.  I absolutely will not sign off on such a surgery. 

There is nothing wrong with her that she won't eventually grow out of.  This, I am certain of.

Noah - "FEED ME!"

Noah is actually sucking on his food tube above.  Unfortunately, nothing is coming out of it.  It's connected to a Ropogo to pump out his stomach.  He has an unknown infection, early indications is that it's a form of Staph.  Also, his intestines don't appear to be working, the food just sits there.  So they stopped feeding him on Friday and he is on meds for the next ten days.  Which means, it will be at least three weeks before he may come home.

He's just under 6lbs 14oz but now is getting puffy again thanks to the fluids he must be on in order to get his nutrition. 

I am quite worried about the intestinal issue.  They said that it's likely not NEC, but they're not sure why his intestines aren't moving food along.  Now we won't know for a few weeks since, like I said, they aren't feeding him. 

Many things are up in the air right now, and I apologize for the tone of the post.  It gets frustrating when you near a milestone and then fall flat on your face.  While I was never short of patience, I think I am learning a new level of it as well as the value of perseverance as personified in my children. 

When Owen does come home, that will cause some logistical issues that we will have to work out.  We cannot bring him back in the NICU so that we can visit the other babies, so there will be a lot of visiting the other two solo while one parent watches Owen.  Hopefully we won't have to worry about it much longer and they will all be home.

Till then….

- Charley