Preston is 4 pounds!

Preston is now 4 pounds and gaining!! We're so excited! Now all the babies are over 4 lbs. Also, Elise is up to 2 feedings a day without the tube; although, she still needs her feedings if she falls asleep during nursing. But it's better than before. Mollie was finally able to nurse. Preston will be my last one to latch on. That's okay. I'm just happy to get them closer to coming home!!

Three Peas in a Pod!!!

Preston moved in with the girls yesterday! Now, they're our three peas in a pod! We are so very excited. This is definitely a step toward the right direction. Now, they can breathe on their own, regulate their body temperature, and they're gaining weight every day. We're still working on getting their feeding tubes out. Elise did very well nursing yesterday. Mollie and Preston still need some work. But I know they'll come along. Your prayers are being heard!!!

It's beginning to get a little harder leaving them behind. Before, I was still in a healing process and it was okay for me to go home and rest. But now, I'm feeling much better and want to start taking care of them myself. I still have about another week before I'm completely up and running, but I feel 100% better than last week!

There is one thing I thought I would mention. Bronson will be taking off the first week they come home. It's going to be one hectic time with us trying to work around the babies and their schedule. Both our moms will be with us. That's 4 adults and 3 babies in our humble home. We'll be asking visitors to not stop by the first week. We'll need that time to adjust and not to mention, get some rest when the babies are sleeping. I'm finding out really quick that if I don't nap when they do while we're still at the hospital, I will burn out. I want everyone to come and see them, but at the same time I need rest so I can give them what they need. I know everyone will understand.

One Step Closer.....

Yesterday, I was able to nurse the babies for one of their feedings! It was only a trial run to see how the babies will do; but it's a step closer to them coming home. I will get to nurse one feeding every day until they get the hang of it. Then it will go to 2 feedings and so on. Once they can be nursed or bottle fed for all feedings, the feeding tubes come out!! This experience has been so wonderful. I love being so close to them. I can already tell they're going to be great children!! But what else can we expect from God's work???

Open Crib!

When Bronson and I went to the NICU yesterday, we got a nice surprise....the girls are now in an open crib! We're extremely excited. It's just one more step in them coming home!! I can't wait. Preston is still in his little incubator. Bless his little heart! He's been having some "bradys" lately. His heart rate drops, but he picks it up again by himself. I really don't want him to have any more episodes. So, if you need something to pray about...that would be it. Yesterday he had an episode that lasted about 19 seconds. I was a little concerned. I'm not fearful of him having them, I just don't want him to have any more. They're all gaining weight. And hopefully, they will be feeding without the tube soon. But once again, it's a process. I will have the lactation consultant work with me and the babies. They have to make sure the babies breathe while feeding. I can't wait for that!

Other than that, they're doing great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Year....new family!! We are so excited!! Last night we brought in the New Year with our lovely additions. It was so much fun (well, at least for Mommy it was!!). The girls wore their first little black dress and Preston looked so handsome in his little tuxedo. They were dressed for the party. Check out the "party zone" on their cribs. They were partying it up!!!

Well...no other news except they all have gained weight. Mollie is now 4 lbs 2oz (one oz from her birthweight). Elise is 3 lbs 15 oz (her exact birthweight) and Preston is now a whopping 3 lbs 10 oz. He's really putting on the weight now. The nurses did talk about putting them in an open crib (all three!!!) by this weekend. That's a step forward. Also, they may be feeding on momma and the bottle this weekend. I can't wait!!!So, we're making progress. Just another day closer till they come home.

By the way, I'm having a lot of people asking what they can do to help us. Right now, just prayers. Since they are being taken well care of in the NICU and my mom stays with us during the week to drive me to the hospital and cook, there's really nothing anyone else can do. However, when they come home....that's a different story. My mom and Bronson's mom will be spending a lot of time with us to take care of the babies. One thing they will not be doing is cooking and cleaning. I also have my sis-in-law and step mom coming to help as well (all alternating weeks). I'm working out something with Sonia at our church to set people up on bringing meals to us. On the weeekends when our moms go home, we may need a few people scattered throughout the day (both Saturday and Sunday) to help with washing clothes, loading the dishwasher, changing babies, feeding babies, etc. As soon as I find out what schedule we'll be on, I will send out a post and you can contact me and let me know when you would like to come.

Again, we are so thankful for each and everyone of you!!!

GUESS WHAT???

Our little Preston is now off his IV!!!! I had been at the NICU all day today (duh!) and then came home when Bronson got off work. We ate dinner and then went back up there after the nurses shift change. When I walked in, I noticed right away. The line was gone! Praise God!!! Also, our little guy weighs more than his birth weight! How cool is that? He is now 3 lbs 9.7 oz. Wonderful! Mollie has been gaining as well. She's up to 4lbs 1 oz. Elise is now at 3 lbs 14 oz. So, they're all gaining weight which is one of the requirements for coming home. Oh...and one more thing....the girls are now roomies! They were both moved to the same incubator. When Preston is ready, they will all move to the same crib. I can't wait!

On Sunday, we were informed that Elise has a heart murmur. Later that afternoon, technicians came by to do an EKG on her. I got to hold her throughout the whole thing. She did so well. I was very proud of our dainty little girl. They also did an ultrasound on her heart yesterday. Today we were told she has PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis). Not a big deal. A lot of babies have this. It's a hole in the heart. It normally closes on it's own a week or two after birth. If it doesn't before her discharge date, then the neonatologist will refer us to a Pediatric Cardiologist for further review. We're not worried at all because our God is on His throne and He's not shaken by this. So....why should we be???

Once again, I am overwhelmed by God. He is so good. And it's not because of how the babies are doing or that He gave me the desire of my heart. It's because He is who He says He is. And He will do what He says He will do. And in the middle of all of this, He's showing His glory. There's a work going on in the NICU and the staff. I can't explain it. This is bigger than me. Bigger than the babies. It's about people's lives being changed for His glory. All I can say is that you never know how you will affect people; especially when you talk about Jesus. Doors are opened, hearts are healed, and hope is found.

Some Pics

Well...I have a short time to post some pictures of our precious little ones. I was finally able to get some much needed sleep last night. It is so easy to over do it. Bronson and I will be at the NICU by 10:30 today. From top to bottom, Mollie, Elise and Preston.