Finally, an update w/ pics!

Jack (no hat)

Brooke (pink hat - imagine that!)

Ryan (blue hat)

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the delay in an update, life is a little crazier these days :-)  Where to start...

Thursday (after babies arrived)/Friday

After babies arrived, while still in the OR, the anesthesologists were monitoring my heart rate and it had increased drastically and was not responding to the medication they were giving me.  They decided to try another drug which caused me to spend the night in the cardiac care unit due to an atrial fibulation (sp?).  After a CT scan and a multitude of other tests, they still aren't sure why this happened but they finally released me back to labor and delivery (THANK GOD - I didn't fit in with the old people over there!) Friday afternoon.  It took some serious threats to get me released from there as we found out that Brooke was going to have to have surgery!  They had tried several times to put a feeding tube down her throat and there seemed to be a blockage.  After x-ray and ultrasound it was determined that she had TEF (Tracheosophageal Fistula).  This is somewhat common in babies (1 in 4,000) and is an abnormal connection between the trachea and esophagus; in other words the esophagus is supposed to be connected to the stomach, and it wasn't.  They were able to get her into surgery right away on late Friday afternoon.  The surgery was successful (it took 3-4 hours) and she was resting in a drug induced haze that evening.  

Saturday

After a couple of visits to the NICU during the night, everyone is happy :-)  Kyle came up to meet his brothers and sister today.  He was so cute...he brought each of them a card he made with Miss Cheryl and Nicole.  The nurses had a step-stool for him to see into the isolettes.  It was interesting to watch him examine his new siblings...paying close attention to their faces, feet and most importantly, his own picture that's in each of their beds ("oh look at dat, that's Kyle!").  After we met each baby, we went to have lunch.  Shortly after returning to my room he wanted to go back and see the babies again!  If only the adjustment continues to go so smoothly!  He was telling everyone he saw in the hallway that he saw Jack, Brooke and Ryan!  I'll post his pictures with the babies later.  

Jack (the big man) 

He is doing well, eating from a bottle!  Today they increased him to 8 oz a day and he's sleeping comfortably in between.  He's losing a little weight but within normal range.  He hasn't needed supportive oxygen at all.  As you'll see from the pictures, he has his big brothers hair and ears and the lightest hair.  The jury is still out on who he looks like!  

Brooke (the fighter)

She is still sedated for comfort and from pulling out her many tubes.  She is on a ventilator until tomorrow morning as they've had to adjust her drainage tube (in her side, under her armpit) in her incision, which can be uncomfortable.  Brooke has the darkest hair of them all and hers is rather soft.  Her skin is silky smooth...so sweet.  Fortunately Ed and I were able to hold her before she went into surgery as I won't be able to for several days!  

Ryan (the mover & shaker)

He's finally free from the bottom of the pile and is making up for lost time!  He likes to flip, squirm, roll over, etc.  He's being tube fed and taking smaller amounts - he's eating 4 oz per day.  He's sucking on a pacifier so that's step one!  Ryan hasn't needed oxygen either.  His hair is thinner and softer than Jacks.  He's a cutie too!  Ed had to laugh yesterday as Ryan sneezed about five times in a row...at least he got something from his mommy!   

 

That's it in a nutshell for the last few days.  Needless to say, time has flown!  I'm being released tomorrow but this will be our home away from home for the next month or so.  We're not sure how long everyone will be here yet but we'll take it day by day.  These are the first of many pictures.  My mom won't disappoint - she'll have to get a new computer to store all the new grand children's pictures :-)  

Thanks again for all of the good wishes, comments, thoughts and prayers.  Please keep them coming...I love to hear all of your comments as they lift our spirits.

Love, 

Jen, Ed, Kyle, Ryan, Brooke and Jack (wow, that's a mouthful but so fun to say!)