36 Weeks

Each week has felt like it has gone faster and faster to me, which is a good thing as it means everyone is continuing to progress and I don't feel like we are sitting around waiting for the triplets to come home because there is so much we can work on with them.  This week has mainly been focused on bottle feeding.  Jack is now allowed to take his entire 44 ml by bottle and, although he doesn't finish it every time, he is doing really well.  The girls are both allowed to drink up to 30 ml each feed.  Whatever the triplets don't finish is fed through their feeding tubes.  We were taught to use the side-tilt position to feed them as it makes the liquid easier to manage since it doesn't shoot to the back of their throats when they suck.  In future months we should be able to switch to the regular cradle hold, but for now this seems to be working best for all of them.

Jack

Alexis with me, Jack with Micah

Alexis

Faith

Although they do need to learn to eat their entire feeds by bottle before coming home, I am not that concerned yet as everyone has still been having some spells and I'd rather they work on their bottle feeding while they grow out of having spells, rather than have their spells be the only thing holding them back from coming home.

The triplets are already one month old, which is crazy to me as time as flown so fast.  Their one month stats were:

Jack: 4 lbs 12 oz (up 1 lb 9 oz from birth)
Alexis: 4 lbs 12 oz (up 1 lb 12 oz from birth)
Faith: 4 lbs 8 oz (up 1 lb 11 oz from birth)

Faith

Faith left, Alexis right

Alexis

Jack

On Tuesday morning the doctor decided to try everyone off their nasal cannulas as we'd prefer to go home without an oxygen tank or two per baby.  As of last night (Wednesday night), all three were still off! The nurses have warned us that there is a good chance all will have to go back on their cannulas if the number of spells they have increases (they are allowed two per 12 hour shift right now) or if it takes a toll on their bottle feeding since it is now taking more energy to breath, but I am hopeful that at least one or two won't need it as it would make things less complicated at home.

Alexis looking very excited to have the cannula out of her nose

Jack looking very relaxed now that his nose is free of the cannula

Faith sleeping peacefully without her cannula in her nose

The nurses are starting to talk about things we need to do before the babies can leave the hospital, which is exciting as it means we are getting closer!  We have to watch a few videos before we go on SIDS, car seat safety, and infant CPR.  We also need to bring in a car seat as each baby needs to prove they can keep up their oxygen when sitting in a car seat for 1.5 hours.  Although there could be setbacks due to feeding issues or spells, we are hopeful that the triplets will be home in the next week or two.  Prayers for them to stop having spells (Jack had gone two days but then had one last night, Alexis has been having one a day, and Faith has been having two per shift) and to start eating all of their feeds by bottle are appreciated.  So far everything has seemed to move quickly, but we have been warned that this part can be frustrating as it might seem like they are making progress and then there could be setbacks.

Here are some pics from the last week:

Alexis getting her diaper changed.  She often sticks out her hands and feet in protest.

Alexis on 4th of July

Alexis not wanting her pic taken

Faith on 4th of July

Jack on 4th of July

Jack

Faith

Faith not wanting her pic taken

Alexis

Alexis

Faith

Jack