Thanksgiving

Yesterday was our first Thanksgiving with the triplets, and it marked the first time we took them out of the house for anything other than a doctors appointment. We had a great time with our friends Nathan and Tina, Matt and Joy, Tim and Traci, and Brenda.

With the exception of a full-blown triple baby meltdown when getting into the car seats, the kids did great! We've always been big fans of Thanksgiving, but this year was a special one. We're thankful to have our children home and healthy, and looking forward to many holidays to come - triple meltdowns and all.

From left to right: Graham, Grayson, and Avery. (11/24/11)

Feeders and Growers

It's been another good week for our triplets! Our doctors and nurses now consider Graham, Avery, and Grayson "F & Gs" or "Feeders and Growers". This might not sound like a very official medical term, but it actually means a lot. The main focus for the babies has shifted from stabilizing their vitals and monitoring respiratory ability to helping them eat more and gain weight. Well, they're gaining weight!

Graham hit a milestone this week when he broke 3lbs for the first time! He now weighs 3lb 9oz and is making great progress.

Avery girl is also gaining weight and is now at 3lb 14oz! She's just 2 oz away from 4lbs!

Like his older brother, Grayson also hit a weight milestone this week - he broke 4lbs! Gray now weighs 4lb 8oz. Grayson made some additional progress this week: he was moved from an isolette to a bassinet (an open-top plastic crib), and he tried out bottle feeding. Gray's been able to maintain his body temperature in the open air of the bassinet, but it looks like he isn't quite ready for bottle feeding. The doctors said we can try again later this week.

The medical staff have commented several times that the triplets are doing exceptionally well. One doctor even said, "They must have read the text-book. They're the textbook case!"

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. More updates to come!

Shannon and Graham. (9/10/11)

Shannon holding Grayson. He's doing well with the pacifier, and will have another shot at bottle feeding later this week. (9/11/11)

Avery and I. She still squirms so much - you can see her working her little hand out of her blankets. (9/17/11)

Shannon holding Graham. He seemed to really like sitting with Shan. I think he kept his eyes locked on her the whole time! (9/17/11)

Grayson's no longer in an isolette - he's keeping his body temperature regulated, and we're loving him being more accessible. (9/17/11)

Graduation

It's been a busy week for our triplets! All three babies "graduated" from Room A, the most intense and critical room in the NICU, to Room D - a quieter room in the NICU for babies who don't require respiratory support. It's been great - for the first time all three of our kids are right next to each other. When visiting we don't need to walk down a separate aisle to see one of the three anymore, and we don't need to scrub-in a second time to enter a second room (the babies were separated in different rooms for a few days).

Graham, Avery, and Grayson are all doing very well. All three are completely off of respiratory support and are breathing room air just like you and me. Graham no longer has any IVs, and Grayson and Avery are scheduled to have their last IVs removed tonight. All three babies are eating increased amounts of formula and milk via feeding tubes, and their little bodies are doing a pretty good job of processing the food. Each baby initially lost weight this week (normal for preemies), but all three gained the weight back and are now over their birth weights!

This week Shan and I were able to change diapers, take temperatures, and hold the babies! Our level of physical interaction is still very limited, and it really varies day-to-day based on how the babies are doing when we see them. We really love the opportunities we get to hold our kids, and we can't wait to take them home in the weeks to come.

We continue to thank God for his kindness to our family, and we trust Him with our little ones. Thank you for your continued prayers and support - we're so grateful to have friends and family like you!

The first time I held Grayson. His little eyes were open for the longest time just staring up at me. I loved getting to hold him, and I love this picture (in part because it doesn't show him spitting up on me 30 seconds later.)

Shan at work changing Avery's diaper. In six months we may be going crazy with diaper changes, but right now it's an opportunity interact with our children. I don't know if there have ever been two people so eager to change diapers! Shannon's quick, does a great job, and is already a pro!

Room D, the triplets' new home. Avery and Gray are on the left, and Graham is on the right. All three of our little ones in one room, on one aisle! We'll take it!

This was the first time I held Graham. We sat like this for just under an hour and his vitals didn't dip at all. He loved it!

Grayson

Three-for-three: Grayson had a great week! Like Avery, Gray started out having a rough time with feedings. His body wasn't processing the food that he was receiving quickly enough, so the doctors added a central IV, a pick-line, to deliver the nutrients he needed while his stomach learned to process the food properly. A few days after the line was inserted, Gray's body started to accept more and more food each feeding. He's now up to 26 cc of milk every three hours and he's still able to take more!

Grayson originally lost several ounces, but the increased feedings have helped him grow. Last night he weighed in at 4lbs 0oz! He lost an ounce today, but he's still leading the pack with weight. He and Avery also graduated from Room A to Room D just a few days after Graham.

Gray seems to be a very quiet, low-key little guy. The nurses were very impressed with him when the inserted the pick line. When they removed his two IVs and inserted the central line he didn't cry once! I was shocked when I heard this and I asked the nurse, "Could there be something wrong with him developmentally? I mean, should we test for anything?" The nurse said, "No, he's just a good little brave boy!" Way to go Gray!

We're so proud of this little man and we love him dearly.

Gray sleeping. (9/10/11)

Grayson wearing his first hat! (9/6/11)

Grayson flexing before his nasal cannula was removed. Like Graham, Gray loves to open his eyes and see what's going on when we read or talk to him. I held him two days ago, and he was fast asleep. When Shannon walked up and whispered, "Hi Gray, hi little Buddy", he seemed to immediately wake up, open his eyes, and lock on to Shan. It was really neat to see. (9/4/11)

Look at how much he's grown over the week! (9/3/11)

Avery

Like her older brother, Avery had a great week with each day seemingly getting better. Early in the week Avery was struggling with feedings so the doctors chose to insert a "pick-line" - a central IV that runs nearly all the way to her heart. This line enabled the doctors to deliver the calories, nutrients, and fluids Avery needed while her stomach was learning to digest food from the feeding tube. The line also allowed the doctors to take out the other IVs in her hands and feet and to not worry about having to add or switch new IVs every few days.

Their plan seems to be working! Avery is currently eating 24 cc of a special formula called EllaCare every three hours. So far, she hasn't had any residual which means her body is processing the food the way it should. She's doing so well that the doctors are planning to remove the pick-line tonight. Hopefully she'll be able to eat from a bottle in the next few weeks. Avery lost some weight early in the week, but she's put it back on and she now weighs 3lbs 4oz - her birthweight plus 3oz!

Avery is a squirmer. She loves to wave her arms around and wiggle her legs. The nurses like to swaddle her, but she's been pretty creative in finding ways to get her legs free :) Even though she likes to move around, she seems to calm right down when Shan holds her close or when I gently put my hand on her back. We love this little girl!

Our little Avery, hands waving and hat on. (9/6/11)

Avery girl looking at her mom for a picture. (9/5/11)

Avery's first outfit! Again, waiving her arm close to the camera. (9/5/11)

Sleeping. (9/4/11)

Graham

Graham's had a great week! Early in the week he was moved from Room A to Room D, which meant that he was stable enough to move to a room with a little less supervision. He's still receiving food through his feeding tube, but he no longer has any IVs, respiratory help, or need for the billi light. He originally lost some weight early in the week (normal for preemie babies), but as of last night he was 2lbs 14oz - his birthweight plus one ounce. He's currently eating 22 cc of every two-and-a-half hours and he's alternating between milk with a calorie boost and a special formula called EllaCare.

Since birth Graham has been the smallest of the three babies. This is surprising, because he's continued to lead the pack in development. Though he was small, he never required the assistance of the SiPAP machine to help him breathe. Graham also never had a pick-line inserted - he's been eating and digesting his own food since the feedings began. He may be small, but this little boy is a tough.

Graham seems to be a character and is extremely expressive! The nurses get a kick out of taking care of him and love to see all the faces he makes. When we read to him or just sit by his bedside and talk to him, he actually lifts up his head, turns toward us, opens his eyes, and furrows his little brow. I think we've even caught him smiling a few times!

Shan and I love our little boy and can't wait to get to take him home!

Don't worry, he won't have elf ears forever :) His cartilage is still growing and forming - normal for preemie babies. Is that a smile? (9/9/11)

The nurses have moved his feeding tube out of his mouth and to his nose. Hopefully this will allow him to start practicing suckling on a pacifier. By week 34 or 35 we hope that Graham will be able to feed from a bottle. (9/9/11)

Sound asleep. (9/4/11)

Early in the week Graham's red blood cell count climbed and the doctors chose to put him back on photo-therapy. He liked the tan, but his cell levels normalized and he's been off of the billi light for the rest of the week.

Our New Place! Sort of...

Shan and I have moved! Well, sort of. After exactly six weeks, Shannon was released from the hospital and we checked in to a room at the Ronald McDonald house across the street. We’re so grateful to be able to stay here so close to the babies! The Ronald McDonald house may not be the typical next stop after delivering a baby; here’s the background on how we got here.

When we found out we were pregnant with triplets, we immediately wanted to find two things: 1) An OB with experience and success with high-order multiple pregnancies, and 2) A reputable NICU. We quickly realized that our best option would be to deliver at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, but we live at least an hour away. Shan wouldn’t be able to drive after her C-Section, and a possible months-long hotel stay in the Pasadena area was not a financially feasible option for us.

We were so relieved to hear about the Ronald McDonald House. They have provided us with a place to stay, parking, and even some meals all for $15 a day. The house is also only a five-minute walk from the NICU.

The house is completely maintained and operated via donations and volunteers. Shannon and I have both volunteered at non-profit organizations before, but we've never been on the receiving end of this kind of charity. We really can’t begin to express our gratitude for the people who have made this possible for us.

Shannon and I have already planned, when the kids are old enough, the first of many Gerstheimer family service projects at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House :)

More to come!

Progress!

Shan and I have been making twice a day trips to the NICU to visit the triplets, and on yesterday's visit we had a few surprises: Graham and Avery had been taken off of the Bili light, and Avery and Grayson had been taken off of the SiPAP machines! This meant that Graham and Avery's red blood cell count had normalized, and that Avery and Grayson's breathing had improved to the point that they didn't need the machine's assistance!

With the Bili light off and the SiPAP machine no longer in use, Graham and Avery didn't need the "sunglasses" or the respiratory headgear anymore. We were ecstatic to see their faces! During last night's visit Shan was able to hold one of our babies for the first time. I think Avery liked it almost as much as Shannon :)

The babies also got to meet their Utah grandparents who visited them for a few days. In the last picture you can see my parents looking through the isolette talking to Grayson.

Less support from the machines, actually getting to hold Avery, and grandparents in town. It's been a busy few days, but days of progress. Lord willing, more to come!

After five days, we got to hold one of our babies. Here Shannon's holding Avery for the first time. Avery loved the feeling of being held and snuggled right up. I have my hands behind my back to make sure I don't touch the wheelchair or anything else. In the NICU hand washing is extremely serious and we work very hard to make sure we keep our hands bacteria-free.

Avery Mae without sunglasses or the SiPAP face mask on. The tube in her mouth is to help her with feeding. It was amazing to see her face!

Graham asleep and loving not having to wear his Ray-Bans anymore. Like Avery, it was an amazing feeling to see his face without any head gear on. The tube in his nose is called a "nasal cannula" and it gives him slightly more oxygen than room air. It's very different than the SiPAP machine however, as it does not breathe for him.

Our little Grayson. He's off of the SiPAP machine, but he's still under the Bili light (completely normal for babies his age). Here Gray's wearing a beanie to keep his eye protection in place. He loves to lay on his stomach. The nurses say it helps him feel like he has boundaries and almost replicates the feeling from the womb.

The Utah Grandparents visited the past few days. They loved getting to meet the grandkids and here they're watching Grayson wiggle around a bit.

Hospital Life

Looks like Shan's had quite the nursing staff... :)

The last picture is from today. We had a scare and almost delivered.

"Hand me the knife!"

Today we had an appointment with Dr. Bruce, our perinatologist (a doctor specializing in unborn babies). I really enjoy our appointments with him - he's a character. He likes to begin appointments by walking into the room and abruptly ordering the nurse to, "hand me the knife!" Of course, perinatologists never use knives to do ultrasounds, so the statement is really very funny after you realize that he's only joking (emphasis on the AFTER part).

Dr. Bruce had fantastic news for us today. Our babies are growing like weeds! Two of the babies are estimated to weigh 3 pounds, 4 ounces, and one of the babies is slightly outpacing the others at 3 pounds, 5 ounces. These weights are EXCELLENT for any baby at this gestational age, and especially for triplets! We're also really happy to hear that their weights are close together - no runts! A higher birth weight will really help the babies do well once they're born, and every little ounce counts.

Overall, Dr. Bruce was happy to be able to give us such encouraging news, and he concluded our appointment in his usual comical fashion by saying, "Congratulations! You're pregnant!!!"

"Terbfull Tuesday"

Shan's contractions have been picking up the past few days, and we're using a drug named Terbutaline to try and keep them under control. "Terb" is the nickname used on the wing for the medicine, and "getting terbed" means getting a shot of it (we're picking up the nurses' lingo bit by bit). It does a pretty good job of stopping the contractions, but it's not the most fun. It means a shot, and sometimes Shan doesn't feel well afterward.

So, we decided to have some fun with the room's dry-erase board. The nurses usually keep it pretty basic, i.e. name, date, and phone number, but we wanted to mix it up. We originally had "Terbless Tuesday" on the board, but we had to change the name after our wishful thinking hit a snag with the fourth shot of Terbutaline today.

Our nurse Sarah hasn't seen her new nickname yet... :)

A Look Back...

We just came across some pictures from early in the first trimester and we thought we'd post them. Shan and I took a quick weekend trip to visit her family in Scottsdale, and to share the news with her grandparents that we were expecting triplets.

I'm looking at the three ultrasounds in the first picture. I don't have a very good poker face, and I think it's pretty easy to tell how I was feeling :)

The second picture was taken when Shan was telling Granny that she could expect three new great-grand children...Granny was ecstatic!

Date Night - 29 Weeks :)

On Friday I "jail-broke" Shan from her hospital room for the third time in as many weeks. A few white-chocolate mochas, the fountains on patio, and a 30 minute wheel-chair pass made for a nice date-night.

Catching Up

I mentioned in the last post that I'm staying in the hospital to deal with some contractions I've been having. I thought I'd give a little more of an explanation and catch everyone up on recent goings-on.

Today is my three week anniversary of being in the Prenatal High Risk Unit at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. When I got here three weeks ago I was twenty-six weeks along in the pregnancy, and my doctor wanted me to come get checked out because I was feeling a lot of contractions. They were able to get the contractions under control fairly easily with some medication, but I can't go home yet. My body is irritated from having three babies growing and kicking around inside, and without close monitoring and medication I could go into pre-term labor any day (no thanks). So it's likely that I will stay here until the babies are born, and I hope that they won't come for a while!

I'm nearly twenty-nine weeks into the pregnancy right now, and we're really hoping to make it to at least thirty-two weeks (September 2nd) before delivering the babies. That's only another three weeks away! I would really love to deliver some time closer to thirty-six weeks - we'll see how things go. The doctors are very happy with how the babies are looking right now, even though they are still very little. Each of the babies is estimated to weigh over two pounds and is developing without any complications. We're so excited to meet them, and we're thankful for every day that they get to "cook."

I like to tell Tom that I'm punishing the babies for putting me in the hospital. They're grounded, and they're not allowed to come out of their womb for at least three weeks! :)

Keeping Up

Welcome to our new blog! Tom and I decided to start blogging as a way to keep our friends and family updated on our suddenly-exciting life.

Why is it suddenly exciting? Well, if you haven't heard, we're expecting triplets! Two boys and a girl. We're hoping to deliver some time in September. The babies and I are all very healthy, but the four of us are in the hospital for close monitoring and to control some contractions I've been having.

As you can imagine, we are receiving new information from our (super great) doctors on a regular basis, and it can be difficult to keep up with everyone as much as we'd like to. Our hope is that this blog will help us stay connected during this busy season. We'll post updates as we're able to, and we'll add pictures so that you can see what we're up to. We're looking forward to sharing our unique experiences with you!