Four At Once!!!

There isn't too much to report today, but everyone is doing great, and their weights are still going up little by little! Now we just need to get them eating well and they will be headed home!!

Jim had the distinct privilege of being the first to hold all four at once. I was a tad envious, but he's back to work now until the babies come home, so he doesn't get to spend as much time with them as I do. I was glad he got the honor of being the first to have all four piled on his chest! It was so sweet!

From left to right we have Teddy, Ollie, Audrey, and Melanie all snuggling with Daddy!

Jim also got to work on his multiple parenting skills as he held Melanie and Ollie while bottle feeding Ollie.
Finally, because I'm told that the world just can't get enough pictures....here are some cute ones I snapped today.

Trunk or Treat!

Tonight was "Trunk or Treat" at our church. This was a fun time for Bonnie, and gave her the opportunity to trick or treat for the first time in a safe, and distance-efficient manner.

Bonnie had two costumes from which to choose. Currently, her two favorite animals are puppies and frogs, and my mom happened to find the frog costume on the same day I bought a puppy costume off of ebay...so we first tried on her costumes at home and then took them both to the church, so that she could make up her mind when she got there....this way we avoided any last minute tantrums about not having the right costume available at the church........she trick or treated as a frog.

Bonnie caught on to this free candy gig pretty quickly, and her purse became a prized possession. After it was all said and done, she wouldn't let that purse out of her sight!

Quick Baby Update

All of the babies are doing great, and they are all now gaining weight! It is great to have them on the upslope!!!

They are also doing well at maintaining their body temps...they might be able to move to cribs soon!

Today I worked on mastering a new skill, holding two babies while giving one a bottle...here's a photo. The shot of me is not-so-flattering, but alas this is life.

I held three babies at once today!

Today was another great day in the NICU! All of the babies got to try out bottles today, and Ollie got to try out breastfeeding. They are doing so well! We are basically at the point that we just need to get them eating well and gaining weight. It is so exciting to think that they will be home in just 2-3 weeks! Above are some new shots, including one with me holding all three little nubs (Ollie, Audrey, and Teddy left to right) while I was doing skin on skin care with Teddy!

Big Baby Update!

The babies are doing GREAT!! I couldn't be more pleased. I spent most of the morning at the NICU, and when I got there the nurses reported to me that the babies were all done with their IVs and that they would come out later today (for Melanie and Ollie - Teddy and Audrey's were already out) and then the babies would be ready to bunk together!!! I got to hold them all during their feedings, and had a good chat with the neonatologist. Dr. Ceasar also told me that Audrey should be ready to try breastfeeding later in the week!

When Jim and Eyad went in for the afternoon feeding, they were in the process of getting the kiddos bunked together, and they got to hold them two at a time. You are about to see the first pictures of all four babies together!!! Jim and I will be going back tomorrow to get more pictures!









The Boys in their new digs:

The Girls in their house!

Pictures from the 22nd.

Here are some pictures from the 22nd when I was able to make a brief visit to he NICU.

Melanie

For Jimbo, My Rock!

Jim, you are the best husband and father anyone could ask for! This has been a difficult pregnancy for the whole family, and you have definitely stepped up to the plate. You started a new job this summer and are excelling in your new position, and you did all of this while being an outstanding father to Bonnie and picking up most of the slack left behind by your wife who just wasn't able to move as quickly or do as much as she usually did to keep the family running.

You provided for Bonnie, the Quads and me in every way and we are so lucky to have you as the glue that holds us all together!

The last two weeks have been especially stressful for you, as you suddenly became a single father to a bright and active two-year-old while your wife was having a mini-vacation at the hospital reading and knitting at her leisure! You handled your single-fatherdom with grace as you shuttled back and forth from home to daycare, work, and the hospital and back, over and over again. All of this falling upon you just two weeks before your board exams.

Your exams are tomorrow, and I know this has been weighing heavily on you. Even though you have not been able to study nearly as much as you would have liked, I have every confidence that you will do well!

You've earned a huge reward in heaven for all you have done. Your perseverance under a great deal of pressure has not gone unnoticed. I am VERY lucky to have been chosen both by you and by God to be your wife and mother to your children. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives. The depth of our love for you cannot be measured.

Update on the Babies!

All four are doing great!

Audrey came off of c-pap on the evening of the 21st. The other three came off the morning of the 22nd. They are all still doing great breathing on their own on room air only!

Yesterday (the 22nd) they all started taking formula feedings through a nasal-gastric tube. I've had the opportunity over the last two days to give several feedings. I even gave Audrey her very first feeding! They are all doing great with the feedings, and we are slowly increasing the amount that they get. Their nurse explained today that once they are on 100% formula/milk feedings and are no longer needing nutrition through their IVs that they will be able to take out their IVs as long as they don't develop a need for some sort of IV medication. She said that this could actually come within a few days! Once all of their IVs are out, they should be able to "bunk up" and share isolettes. The goal being to have two together in one isolette. That way, everyone has some company!

I was able to spend a fair amount of time with the kiddos today, and, in addition to the feedings, was elisted to help with a few other aspects of their care. So, today, I started changing diapers and taking temps! I changed my first little boy diaper today, although the nurse said that I hadn't truly changed a boy diaper until I got peed on during a diaper change. LOL!

Speaking of me...I'm recovering well from the C-section. Medications are keeping my pain in check, now and I'm getting around fairly well. I'm going to be discharged tomorrow, and they are actually taking the staples out of my incision before I leave. Yeah, I was surprised, too. I can't wait to be home with my family and sleeping in my own bed!!!!

Hats!

Much of my hosptial time (before the babies were born) was spent knitting four little hats!

For the knitters out there: I knit the hats using measurement estimates from the preemie project website, and just created a very basic pattern. It is knit in the round on thre DPNs with K2, P2 ribbing, stock toe-style decreases and I finished it off with an I-cord topper just for a litle fun.

I finished the hats just hours before my C-section and I finally remembered to take them down to the NICU this afternoon. So here are the babies in/with their hats!!!

Here's Melanie looking delightful in Pink!

Here is Ollie wearing his hat and being held by Daddy and Bonnie.



Next, we have Audrey in her hat. She is the smallest, and will be able to wear the hat the longest. She has a little room in her hat, whereas they just fit the others!


Finally, here's Teddy with his hat. He isn't able to wear his hat right now because he has an IV in his scalp. It is very common for neonates to get IVs in the scalp, so don't let that worry you!

Thank You to my Docs!

Let me start out by thanking the fantastic physicians and nurses at the University of Iowa department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After we found out we were expecting quads, they handled our situation with the utmost professionalism and kindness. They were informative and supportive, and most importnatly, they got us started off on the right foot with excellent prenatal care. They set the groundwork for a very healthy pregnancy. We deeply appreciate their caring and expertice. Plus, they are just a great bunch of floks to know!

Next, Jim and I would like to thank Drs Grant and Hughes who assumed my care after we moved down the Missouri. They did a wonderful job of looking after me and keeping me healthy for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was very closely monitored, and any issues that did come up were promptly addressed. They definitely get the lion's share of the credit for getting me to 33 weeks with my foursome! We understand that they have both decided to relocate at the end of the year. Springfield is losing two great physicians! Thank you so much keeping me healthy and for my four healthy babies, Ladies!

Let's Hear it for the Smurfs!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of the fantastic Labor and Delivery staff here at the hospital. They affectionaly refer to themselves as "The Smurfs" as they all wear lovely blue uniforms.

First, I'd like the mention that they made the "bedrest" portion of my stay very pleasant, and took great care of me. However, they really showed their stuff with the delivery. Everything in the OR was very calm and organized. Everyone had a place, and knew what they were doing. The delivery went off without a hitch.

I am especially grateful to all of the nurses and Dr. Ceasear, the neonatologist, who made sure that I got to spend at least minute or two with each baby, and who also let me hold and kiss Melanie and Oliver before they went to the NICU. I didn't get a second look at Teddy and Audrey, as they needed a little oxygen right off the bat, and had to report straight to the NICU.

Truly, the delivery was a very positive experience, and was much, much more pleasnat than I anticipated.

A couple special thank-yous are in order. First, to Holly, who was the mastermind that organized the whole delivery - many, many thanks! Well done! You deserve a round of applause.

Second, to Linda who was "my" nurse for the delivery. She prepped me for the delivery, looked after me during, and took care of me in recovery. She was very warm, kind, and encouraging through the whole process. She helped to calm me when I was anxious, and was loving, caring, and highly professional the whole way along. She is not only an exemplarly nurse, but an exceptional person. Here's a picture of Linda, the only smurf that I really have a decent picture of:

One final, thank-you to whomever it was in the OR that let me crush your hand while I was getting the spinal block. I had my eyes squeezed tight and my hand in a white-knuckle fist when someone took my fist and then let me wrap my fingers around theirs. I let go before I opened my eyes, so I'm not sure which smurf it was, but THANK YOU!!!

Checking In!

Nothing too exciting to report, yet this morning, but I'm killing time, so I thought I would add an update.

I had an OK night. Right now I'm in the "pregnant lady ICU" while I get Magnesium Sulfate for the preeclampsia. Because of the Mag, I was awakened quite a bit throughout the night for various pokes and prods. They will probably stop the Mag later this morning, and then move me up to the mother-baby unit. After I get settled in up there, I'm hoping they will let me go down to the NICU for at least a short visit with my foursome!

I spoke with the NICU nurses this morning, and it sounds like everyone is doing well. No changes from last night. Audrey is still off the c-pap and breathing well. The other three are still on the c-pap, but still are not requiring oxygen. They all had quiet nights.

Keep your eye on the blog for more updates and photos!