Birth Part 2

After we had pictures of Danielle, Emma, and I done, I was told to get up and go to the nursery with the babies. I carried Emma from the OR to the nursery, Dr. Lipscomb walking with me telling me that this is how it’s suppose to be (walking the baby to the nursery). I walked into the nursery all eyes on me as I walk with the last of the Vereze triplets and I place her into the warmer. There was so much activity swirling around in that room. I just stood there and watched, not knowing where to look since there was more than just one to pay attention too. Each of the doctors were busy working, nurses were writing down orders and stats, respiratory was standing by each baby, and alarms were flashing and going off. It’s very overwhelming for one baby to go though that, but multiply that by three and it’s almost unbearable, and there is nothing you can do but stand back and trust the team that you have put together. It was scary to even touch them, they are so small and a room full of people are watching you and you don’t want to make a mistake. I took a deep breath and went from baby to baby checking in, getting reports, asking questions, giving them a quick pat on the back, taking a quick picture for the family and moving on to the next one. In the nursery I was told that Harper had a true knot in her cord, Sophia was in distress and her placenta was starting to come apart, and Emma was perfect. I was told by all the doctors that if it wasn't set up for them to be delivered today, they would have came anyways. The babies were all doing so well, Sophia needed some oxygen, all the babies were on monitors and IV fluids, but doing fantastic.

About 30 minutes after they were born and they were doing good, I left to update the family. When I saw them I just broke down, I couldn't hold it in we just had three babies and they were all perfect. After showing off pictures I went back to the nursery and soon after they opened the windows and the viewing area was open for the public. After the doctors were finished working on the babies I was allowed to bring in a grandparent so we brought in my mom and then Danielle’s. I think they fell in love instantly. It’s pretty hard not too since they are so cute. About an hour after birth Dr. Cutler and Dr. Alexander walked in heads held high, and all smiles, Danielle had done a great job during surgery and they were able to save her uterus. After that report it was like there was a collective sigh of relief from the hospital. I was then led out of the nursery to ring the bell three times (TMC has a button you push when a baby is born, it plays music throughout the hospital) we were officially the talk of the hospital. (I really wish I would have gotten a picture of video of Captain Cutler's A Team swagger walking in).

Emma 

Harper

Harper

Sophia

Your passport to the nursery

I left to check in on Danielle, who was finally awake in recovery and doing well, in high spirits and ready to see the babies. I showed her all the pictures I could and then went back to face time and show them off to their momma. Shortly after we were transported back to her room, our home away from home 318. On the way we went by the nursery viewing area, kicking out, what was the start of the constant crowd of people looking at awe of our babies and what we were able to accomplish. After Danielle was settled back in, the hospital’s PR person came to ask me some questions about the triplets, take some pictures, and see if it was ok if they do a press release and me do an interview with the media. I was really in shock, I didn't think that this would be something they would put on the news. Danielle refused to be on camera, so she left it to me.

It was so strange walking around the hospital and everyone knowing and saying  “there is that triplet dad” from the cafeteria, people waiting in the lobby, and other people working at the hospital. It all was surreal  and again strange that so many people would care. Around 1am the next day we were able to get Danielle up out of bed and into a wheel chair to see the triplets for the 1st time. You could see the joy and love on Danielle’s face with a slight hint of greed. I say greed because I know she was thinking in her head “OMG these are all MINE!”. If you know Danielle then you know of her great love of all things baby. She was in heaven. Her dream of four daughters at last accomplished.

I know I left some things out, but it was an overwhelming day with so many things going on at once it is hard to remember everything. I know that every doctor I spoke with and nurse had one thing they kept saying to me “this wasn't suppose to happen”. They were in shock and so happy that everything went off without a hitch. They couldn't believe that they were doing so well. It was a miracle!

This never would have happened without the nurses and doctors at Texoma Medical Center. I can’t sing their praises enough. They supported us, encouraged us, pushed us, and cared for us like family. We really felt like these people were invested personally into the care and well being of our children. We couldn't be happier  and more impressed with the care we received and so happy with our choice to have our triplets there. Four days later Danielle was discharged, babies had to stay, and it really felt like we were leaving family. All of our doctors, were fantastic and really went along with the hospital and nurses above and beyond, we are forever indebted to this group of people.

More to come from life from the nursery, and homecoming.

http://heralddemocrat.com/sections/news/local/blog-birth-denison-couple-welcomes-three-babies.html

Harper Ann Vereze

Emma Claire Vereze

Sophia Jane Vereze

Georgia looking at her sisters

Danielle's Drive By

Danielle's 1st View of the Babies

Harper and Emma (1st time we got to hold them (3 days later)

Harper and Emma (1st time we got to hold them (3 days later)

Complete Family (holding Sophia for the 1st time, a week later)

3 Days Post Triplets

What you collect staying in the hospital for 2 weeks

Sophia

Go on Bed Rest, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00!

On Monday we were officially grounded by Dr. Cutler, I frankly was surprised that we made it to this point, but with Danielle’s cervix of steal and Cutler’s un-willingness to move up the C-Section we are making it…for now. Monday morning as I was on my way out of town to visit family that we don’t get to see enough, Danielle called to say that she told Cutler that it was time, and so Monday started our 21 day journey to doubling our family. 16 days of bed rest, followed by 5 days post c-section recovery, so three weeks in the hospital! So far during this week there have been a few issues pop up, Tuesday Danielle was having contractions, so they were watching those very closely however, it wasn’t “progressing” anything so it was fine.

Yesterday, Danielle had an ultrasound and the babies have all each gained 10 oz in 10 days, these kids are going to be big! Emma is 1 oz away from being 6 pounds, and the tech said it looked like Sophia had hair and was waving her hands though it! Harper is going to be our mystery, we haven’t seen her in months and she is really hard to get any stats on since she is so low. Emma has also changed positions from being head down to across the other babies some how, I don’t know how any of them have any room to move at all! Hospital has been getting everything ready for us and ordering equipment and putting the finishing touches on the war plan with all the doctors and nurses. Everyone is on call just in-case Danielle goes into labor before our 9/19 deadline.

Today, Danielle got her 1^st round of steroid shots to help develop the babies’ lungs just in case they want to come earlier than our D Day. The cut off is 34 weeks, which is tomorrow but it can’t hurt to get them and be ready for anything!  

The excitement is in the air people!

Oh and thank you to everyone for visiting and praying for our family, we really do appreciate it more than we will ever be able to show!

31 Weeks Picture and Monitoring

Danielle had her non-stress test and BP monitoring yesterday and an ultrasound on her legs to check for clots. While Danielle was doing that I took Georgia “I can’t sit still for 2 seconds” Vereze to Chucky Cheese for some running around fun and pizza. They said everything was fine, BP was a little high but I think with us gone Danielle can relax so it goes down! Waiting for some results to come in tomorrow and then we are set for our 32 week appointment with Dr. C on Monday.

31 Weeks!



31 Week Update: We have a timeline!

Today Danielle went in for her 31 week appointment with Dr. Cutler, blood pressure was on the high side. (138/90 and 98bpm) Did our ultrasound to find the heart tones on the babies, all are doing well. Sophia is now head down with Harper and Emma. So that’s 30 toes, 6 feet and legs in Danielle’s ribs, and 3 small bowling balls in her pelvis.  After that they took her BP again, this time it was in the (150’s / 90’s). Dr. Cutler came in, standard questions, and starting Wednesday we will be having weekly appointments at Texoma Medical Center for fetal non-stress test to watch the babies and monitor blood pressure for a few hours. He said that we need to find out weights of the babies which we will find out on the 30th from Dr. Zaretsky, and after that appointment Danielle will be admitted into  Texoma Medical Center until the babies are born. So to recap

Today - Appointment with Cutler (BP, Heart tones)
Wednesday 8/ 22- Non-stress test at Hospital
Monday 8/27 - Appointment with Cutler (BP, Heart tones)
Wednesday 8/29- Non- Stress test at Hospital
Thursday 8/30- Dr. Zarestsky for growth and BPP(Biophysical Profiles)
Friday 9/7- 34 Weeks Checking into TMC until it’s baby time

All this hinges on Danielle’s blood pressure holding out. There is a good chance that we won’t make it to our goal, the high BP and preeclampsia will cause the babies to be born; not cervix or preterm labor it will be this. Danielle’s hands and feet are itching too which is a sign that there is a liver disease that only occurs in pregnancy. Both conditions are only resolved by having the babies. Dr. Cutler said that Dr. Lipscomb (the BEST and Georgia’s doctor) and Dr. Kalil will be  the attending doctors when the triplets are born. We know that Dr. Lipscomb trained to be a neonatologist and we have already talked to him about delivery and I believe that Dr. Kalil is a neonatologist as well so we will be in good hands.

So things have starting happening, I think I have had a lump in my throat all day! Updates will be coming more quickly I promise!

P.S. Taking suggestions for a phrase to alert those on the phone tree (text) when it’s baby time. Example from Juno (Thunder Cats are a go!) So get to thinking folks!

Welcome to the third trimester!

Before we start all of the third trimester updates, we need to go back to the 15th of July and Danielle’s baby shower for Harper, Sophia, and Emma. It was a great day with great people, my (Josh) mom and Tabitha threw us a great shower, and we were so happy to see everyone and Danielle was thrilled looking over all the baby stuff (in threes!). So a big thank you for all that attended, both for the support and the amazing gifts!

S.H.E's Cakes

Shower Games

Triplet Fruit Platter by Tabitha :)

26 Weeks

Last week we had Danielle’s maternity photos and Georgia’s two year photos done by our friend Jackie Miller at http://www.snapedgephoto.com/ and she did a great job! Danielle doesn’t like taking pictures of herself but she looks amazing, and I can’t believe how much bigger Georgia has gotten in just one year; she is so beautiful. Georgia is having some more photos done by Brittany Jackson at http://brittanyjacksonphoto.blogspot.com/ this weekend, so we are so lucky to have such talented friends to take all these pictures for us. (We are terrible about taking pictures with our Iphones and never doing anything with them other then posting them on Facebook.) Both are great photographers so you should check them out when you need pictures!

27 Weeks

27 Weeks

We celebrated Georgia’s 2nd birthday this weekend and thought it would be a great idea to have an outdoor sprinkler/pool party…EPIC FAILURE! Even with the kids in the water it was way too hot and the parents were the 1st to melt, so we retreated to the living room for gifts and cake (and of course the A/C). Last year we had a big blow out for her 1st birthday and the goal was to have a much smaller party since Danielle wasn’t going to be able to move around as well. Well it ended up being just as big as last year, but Georgia had a blast, raked in the loot, and I even think the parents enjoyed themselves, so overall it was a winner. So next year, remind me that it’s not going to be ok to have an outdoor party at the end of July in Texas, even with a pool and sprinkler! 

Curious George!

We are officially in the third trimester! Today we are at 28 weeks and 3 days and the countdown begins. It’s so strange to think that if we were still having quads we would have had our babies last week, I can’t even imagine! Dr. Z’s appointment was today, all the babies are so big, each are bigger than a normal singleton, we are so blessed and Dr. Z (and I agree) that Danielle would win a gold metal in triplet making! He can’t believe how well and great she is doing; her body is made to carry these triplets. He joked today and said at this rate she could go to 39 weeks, after he said that I think Danielle may have had tears in her eyes. She is in a lot of pain now, and not getting very good sleep anymore so even though bed rest isn’t ordered, it’s time for her to stop and get laid up! I told her yesterday at Wal-Mart that this would be her last WM trip until after the babies were here; which she disagreed with until about 30 minutes into the trip. Back to the appointment, Harper (A) is now the smallest at 2lb14oz, Sophia (B) at 3lb2oz, and Emma ( C ) at 3lb4oz; that’s over 9 pounds of just baby! Cervix is long (over 5mm) so really she can hold out until she is ready to delivery these babies. We asked him about the delivery today to get his opinion on hospital and let him know about our plan. He is very confident that we will have no problem getting the triplets to 4lb8oz (Texoma Medical Center requirement) by 32-33 weeks (TMC/Dr. C wants us at 34-35 weeks), and he didn’t have a problem with us having them there until we mentioned that it had been over 20 years since TMC has had a triplet delivery. That was the same reason he told us not to have the triplets the new Baylor McKinney, he wants a staff that has experience with triplets. So we are torn with what to do now, TMC would be the best option since we will be close to home, but I think the choice will be made for us so there is no point in trying to plan for it now! Really wasn’t able to get a good picture of the triplets, and it’s really had to see what’s what in there now anyways. The next appointment with  Dr. Z is a month away since growth is great and cervix is great, may start seeing Dr. C once a week but we will see after our next appointment what he wants us to do.    

At the point of no return…

OK,it’s been awhile since I have posted an update, so this post willbe very long since we have a lot of topics and pictures to post.

Let’sstart with Dr. C’s routine OB appointment at 23 weeks. Babieslooked great, all three had very strong heart beats and were as usualfighting with each other. Dr. C and Dr. Z decided that it was timefor us to start seeing Cutler every 2 weeks for a checkup, and cervixcheck. Talked to Dr. Cutler about how the delivery would work if wewere to deliver at Texoma Medical Center, he said that we would needto be at 35 weeks (9 weeks away) and the babies be at 5 pounds each.(Which really is almost unheard of…but keep reading) Our concernwas that there would not be enough staff to care for all of the girlsbut he reassured us that there would be numerous nurses and severalpediatricians on hand for the delivery.

Dr.Thyroid – Well after waiting a month to have her thyroid biopsy,the doctor’s office called to confirm a follow up appointment.Problem was that we hadn't even had the biopsy yet! So they rescheduled for the following Monday. I know that people makemistakes; I get it, but come on. (Another reason we steer clear ofWNJ) It’s just a good thing that they talked to Danielle and notme, I have a very short fuse right now! Biopsy completed, notsomething that you want to have done, it was quick but kinda painfulbut it may have taken some of the focus off of her back for a day.The results came back and everything is great! I think they want tosee her again around the end of September but that’s baby time sowe will try to slide that in somewhere down the line, but as of now Ican cross Dr. Thyroid off the list.

Wehave reached viability! Once we hit the 24 week mark we officiallyhit viability, a major milestone in pregnancy, so to celebrate weunpacked car seats, and the pack-n-play. Georgia loves playing withthem and putting her babies in their seats, and then kicking them outof the seat so she can get into it herself.

Weare getting excited about Danielle’s baby shower on the 15^th, I would think that she would be happy about seeingpeople and looking at baby stuff, but this momma has 1 thing on hermind…and that’s food. She doesn’t care about anything else butfood, so if you’re coming Danielle will more than likely be the onehovering at the food table. Dr. Z told her that she has a freelicense to eat (what, when, how ever much) he wants fat babies.

TheState of Texas has determined that Danielle Vereze is now officiallyhandicapped! The explorer has a new decoration hanging from themirror. Which to be honest we really need, Danielle is ok for veryshort walks, but anything too long she starts having contractions. SoI also ordered her a wheelchair so that she can keep getting out ofthe house and shopping but doesn’t have walk or use the electricchair. Believe me folks, don’t let Danielle drive the electricwheelchair! She used it at Wal Mart in Sherman a few weeks ago, andgot stuck in the baby department, so she backed up and rammed her waythrough to get out, I couldn’t even look at her for the rest of thetrip. The explorer is out of cargo room with a stroller andwheelchair in the back which is a good and bad thing, good becauseit’s less things that she can buy and bad because it’s lessthings that I can buy.

Tothe Nay Sayers- This time around, if you want to get Danielle going,tell her “you don’t look very big to be carrying triplets” thiswill send her right over the edge and I have to hear about it fordays later. We are going to start putting up bi-weekly belly shotssince Dr. Z confirmed Thursday that she is measuring full term and isonly 25 weeks. I really don’t know how she is going to go 9 moreweeks I think she looks like she did when Georgia was born, and shewas almost 9 pounds!

MyGeorgia Bear will be turning 2 in 3 weeks (July 30^th)and she is getting so big. Everyday she is doing something (good orbad) that makes me laugh and realize that all this is worth it. Hernew favorite thing to do is get in trouble (not hard) and run to theother parent, and fake cry and point and say “they mean”, I can’thelp but laugh when she does it. She has also learned one of the mostdreaded words for parents “Why?”. I don’t know if she knowswhat she is saying, but she sure will tack it on to the end of anyrequest! Sometimes when thinking about what’s going to be happeningin a few weeks, I get so stressed out and nervous, but I just have toremember how great life became when Georgia was born, and how muchhappiness and fulfillment we have gotten in just 2 years, and that’sabout to be multiplied by 4. I really don’t think we could do thisif we hadn’t already had Georgia to guide us.

Ohand our blog is also now on http://www.multiplesandmore.com/blogroll/  under blog roll and expecting parents. I think we are one of the fewon there that are still blogging and updating.

Also, I just want to show how many pictures we get from Dr. Z when we go to appointments, and we have gotten this many every time we go! The DVD wasn't as good this time around so the pictures of the girls that we get aren't there, so I had to take pictures of the ultrasound shots to post. 

Dr.Zaretskys' Ultrasounds- Great news! The hole in Harper's heart iscompletely gone, like it wasn’t ever there! The Ultrasounds arestarting to get very hard to do, since there is so much baby hangingout in there, and getting good pictures is near impossible. Harper ishead down so no more face pictures of her since she is pressing onDanielle’s cervix ready to go like she is the only one inthere. Dr. Z was thrilled with the babies and couldn't have beenhappier with the stats. He called Danielle a “Baby Making Machine”and wanted her secret (Lucky Charms and Sweet tea....and a lot ofeach). Babies should be a little more than 1 pound right now, but ourbabies are almost 2 pounds and each are measuring larger than what asingleton would be right now. So back to Texoma Medical Center'srequirements, it looks like we may have a fighting chance to get tothat mark, Dr. Z is confident that we will hit the 32 mark, but as hesays “his crystal ball gets fuzzy after that” So the next time wesee Dr. Z, unless there is a complication, is 30 weeks which isalmost baby time!

Harper-25w2d 1 lb 13oz

Sophia-25w1d 1 lb 12oz

Emma-25w5d 1 lb 14oz (once the smallest)

Emma's 25 Weeks

Sophia's 25 Week

Sophia kicking Harper in the butt! Pay back!

Sophia