Kangaroo!

Christine got to hold Abigail today. It's work getting all those tubes and wires out, but it's definitely worth it.

Ups & Downs

We've gotten reports on both Joshua and Abigail that their white blood cell counts have gone up, meaning there may be some infection they are fighting off. Joshua responded well to his antibiotics, and we'll hear how Abby is doing tomorrow. The doctors and nurses watch so closely and are very proactive that it is not a major concern now.

Our kids are doing pretty well for the situation that they're in, and they are in God's loving hands. We can't be overly worried about some of the ups and downs they go through over the next few weeks and months. That will be the norm rather than the exception. We have some very good doctors and nurses who are making good decisions on how to treat them, so we are very thankful for that. They are also good at letting us know at what point things get worrisome, so we will let them be our guide and not jump ahead of them.

Kangaroo!

Christine got to hold Joshua today. What fun!

I'm thankful

I'm thankful for so many things. Some things are big things while some are rather small. I'm thankful to be sitting up typing this post, to sit up while eating, to stand while taking a hot shower, to have the strength to take a shower each day, to be sleeping in my own bed, to have family and friends that have loved and cared for us in so many ways, to be able to go to church a couple days ago (for me it had been since August) and to be able to walk. I'm thankful for the 50 fingers and toes that were in my belly and that we have the joy of having 3 children today. I'm thankful for my husband-what a respectable, kind, gentle, unselfish and loving man. Most importantly, I'm thankful for the Lord. Despite our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He (God) remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

I'm a Big Kid Now?

The babies are progressing wonderfully. Besides the CPAP, a small bit of oxygen for Abby is the only significant assistance any of them is getting right now. They are all growing and are past their birth weights. Joshua has already boosted his feedings to 11 cc's. They are all supposed to graduate up to different incubators this week.

They are still very small, but it won't be that way for long. I wrapped my fingers around Elizabeth's waist, and I could almost touch my thumb to my finger (measured 20 cm officially). We're enjoying these neat moments while they last. It'll be fun to show them pictures of this when they get older.

Church Home

We finally made it back to church this weekend. It's been 13 weeks and we've missed it, even though we've been able to see some of the services on video. Thanks to everyone for welcoming us back; it's good to see you again.

We've been able to visit the babies every day so far, and today was no exception. They are doing great, staying active, and making progress every day. We feel bad for some of the other children there because we hear a lot of monitors going off and see several older babies still on ventilators and looking lethargic. Pray that we would find ways to encourage the other parents when we see them, because it is very hard on them and their families.

Caught Red-Handed

Another visit today; they're all doing well. Joshua is up to 2 lbs 4 oz, a big boy now. He's been feeding regularly and now get 6 cc's of milk every three hours. Abby is 1 lb 15 oz and is getting back to her 2 cc feedings. Elizabeth is back at 2 lbs, also doing 2 cc feedings.

Abigail is quite the character. She' developing a habit of pulling stuff off herself. Today I found her twice with big gobs of tape stuck to her hand. She was wide awake for awhile today, and she had her eyes open for a long time. We had fun watching her watch us.

Kangaroo!

We got Abby out so I could hold her today. She is so tiny that she feels like a feather. It's neat to feel her touch me with her little fingers and toes. She opened her eyes a bit, so I hope she is getting to know me.

No Shopping Today

We drove down to see the kids again today, of course. This time my family (Mom, Angie, and Brian) met us down there, and they got to see them too. Then we all went out for dinner.

No shopping today; it's too crazy out there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a pretty quiet Thanksgiving. We slept in and then drove down to see the kids. I managed to get our video camera working, so we got some good footage.

Abby was on the ventilator one day this week to get some rest, but she was off again the next day. The nurse said she took herself off; she pulled the tube right out of her mouth. She didn't need it anymore anyway.

Kangaroo!

The nurse helped get Elizabeth out so Christine could hold her. They had a great time together. It was Christine's first chance to hold one of them and be really close, and it was wonderful to see her get some good bonding time.

Kangaroo!

The nurse helped get Elizabeth out so Christine could hold her. They had a great time together. It was Christine's first chance to hold one of them and be really close, and it was wonderful to see her get some good bonding time.

Kangaroo!

The nurse helped get Elizabeth out so Christine could hold her. They had a great time together. It was Christine's first chance to hold one of them and be really close, and it was wonderful to see her get some good bonding time.

Settling In

I went back to work today after a week off. It's easier going back when the holiday is right around the corner.

Christine's parents cooked us a Thanksgiving lunch. They've been so helpful the past couple of weeks. It has been nice spending time with them, especially since they live so far away (Iowa) and we don't see them that often. They plan on going back home tomorrow.

Homeward Bound

We finally packed everything into the car (and her parents' car), and Christine & I drove home. It was the first time she's been outside in 7 weeks, so she was a bit overwhelmed. No more T-shirts and flip-flops; it's wintertime.

It was great getting back into our house. I hadn't been there in a week. Thanks to those who came over to get it ready for us; it was nice coming home to a clean house.

Kangaroo!

Christine & I went up to see the kids again before we left for home. Abby is back on the ventilator to give her little body some rest. She'll probably come back off in a couple of days.

We had our first chance at kangaroo care. They got Joshua out of his incubator, and I was able to hold him on my chest for almost an hour. He got really comfy there with me, and it was a very nice time.

Quiet Day

Christine will be staying one more day before going home, just to monitor her blood pressure. We'll have a chance to rest up a bit and relax (and watch some football--go Colts!).

A Better Day

I got a chance to hold Abigail today. While Jeremy & I were visiting, the nurse wanted to change her bedding and asked me to help. I put my hands in the incubator, and she placed Abby in them while she fixed everything below. What fun seeing the look on her little face!

Christine is getting around a bit better today. High blood pressure is still an issue, but it will improve with time. She has been cleared to go home tomorrow, so we are starting to pack up. It is amazing how much stuff we've accumulated in our seven weeks here in the hospital. Thank you everyone who has sent things our way. We'll see you soon.

His Days Numbered Three

We had a fun day visiting with family and going up to see the babies, but we are sad to say that it would not last. Our doctor came in to tell us that Isaac had a massive bleed in his brain this afternoon. His little body had been working so hard with so much help from a variety of medications and machines that he had always been at risk for complications such as this.

The more we learned from our doctor, and the more we talked it over, the right thing to do was to let him go peacefully rather than subject him to a futility of treatments. His entire brain was irreparably damaged by all the blood, and it wouldn't have been long before his body exhausted itself and his other organs shut down.

We gathered the family again, as we had done with Matthew, so we could all hold him and love him and pray for him as he passed on. He was able to finally breathe a few breaths on his own, and he did not suffer or struggle as he went.

It is so hard and so unexpected. For Matthew we had four months to prepare, but for Isaac only three days. A parent sees the potential of a life and has growing hopes for his family, and these things are forever changed. A parent has a love and a bond uniquely for each child. God has carved out spaces in our hearts for our sons, and there is nothing to fill the void but the Lord Himself.

2 Samuel 12:22-23
He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.' But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,4,6,11
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
A time to give birth and a time to die...
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance...
A time to search and a time to give up as lost...
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Our Dear Isaac

We got more updates on Isaac. His vitals dropped once late this afternoon, and it took the doctors about an hour to get his oxygen saturation back up and stable. It seems that there are some leaks in his lungs that allow air to collect in places it shouldn't, so they put him on a different special high-speed ventilator that won't stress his lungs as much while it delivers 500 breaths per minute. There is also some thickening of an area of his heart.

Although we are in no way sure about this, there may be some evidence that Isaac and Matthew or their placentas were somehow interacting in the womb, and that Isaac may have been dealing with stressful development due to this for quite some time because he had to work extra hard.

Anyway, while we are very concerned for him, there is a lot of room for hope for a full recovery. Over the next several days, it will be important to see steady improvement. We pray for this, and we know that God is faithful to hear our prayers. He works every circumstance to the good of those that love Him.

Kid-Watching

It's fun and amazing to see our newborns each time I go. They are so small and fragile looking, but at the same time they have all their well-formed parts and are so resilient.



Abigail is our little champ so far. Despite being the smallest, she was the first off the ventilator yesterday and was the first to receive some milk. Joshua followed the same track today, and Elizabeth might follow them soon.



Abigail and Joshua both love to wiggle and fidget around, moving their little arms and legs all over. The three open their eyes from time to time. I heard Joshua cry for the first time.



Isaac is still struggling quite a bit, and it looks like he's got a tough road ahead for the next several days. He's on a high-speed ventilator and a whole range of medications to open up the circulation between his heart and lungs and to manage his blood pressure and oxygen saturation. He looks pretty lethargic and swollen due to all the meds. He needs a lot of extra prayer that God would help him pull through with a healthy and strong little body.

Back to Home Away from Home

Christine finally got back to the Women's Hospital, and it feels good to return to our home away from home. There weren't signs from her tests of any serious issues, and we're so glad that things like congestive heart failure or fluid filled lungs aren't on her list of things to do this week. She is feeling better and better as her body adjusts and her fluids get back into balance. She is getting her strength back gradually. She is no longer hooked up to any steady medications, so she is free to move around some. We took her on her first wheelchair ride up to see the kids.

Calls from the NICU

We've been getting updates of the four babies' conditions from the neonatologist. Three are continuing to do well. They are monitoring and adjusting to some minor issues, but overall they are doing fine. They will be working their way off the ventilators and start getting fed soon.

It turns out that Isaac is having trouble with circulation between his heart and lungs, so his condition is pretty serious. The one medication that was an option seems to be working, though, and those blood vessels are opening up. We'll keep watching this situation over about the next three days, but right now he seems to be improving a lot. Keep praying that the improvement would continue!

The Name Game

We decided on names this afternoon. We've had a list narrowed down for quite a while, but we wanted to see the kids before we finalized things, and things have finally settled down enough for us to talk about it. Here is the run-down:

Isaac John, 2 lbs 5 oz, 15 in
Matthew Daniel, 1 lb 10 oz, 12 in (deceased)
Abigail Grace, 1 lb 13 oz, 14 in
Joshua David, 2 lbs 3 oz, 15 in
Elizabeth Sarah, 2 lbs, 14.5 in

Taking Care of Mom

Christine was having some trouble overnight with a fever, nausea, shortness of breath, and possible fluid in her chest. They gave her several medications, but it kept persisting. They decided to move her over to the main hospital this morning to get some tests done. Getting sick and moved around is not really the most convenient or pleasant thing to do after you've had five babies. Plus it is scary when you cannot tell what the outcome is going to be. We've been worried enough for our children, and we don't want more to add on top of it. The trials keep on lasting, but we are glad God is walking with us through them. We can't wait until Christine finally has a chance to rest comfortably and to see her newborn babies.

In the afternoon, the test results came back and everything was clear. Christine's fever has gone away, and her fluids are getting regulated more towards normal. She is feeling more able to move around a bit. The plan is to get her settled back in her room at the Women's Hospital tomorrow morning, and then she can go visit the babies in the NICU.

Family Time

It was great having family and friends there with us throughout the day. Thank you so much to those of you who were there and to those who were praying for us. It means so much to us. It is wonderful to see Christ working in and through those around us.

Late at night I took the opportunity to check out the rest of the babies in the NICU. I took each of our parents up there one at a time. They are a sweet bunch of babies. Three are doing really well and seem quite content, even though they are hooked up to ventilators, monitors, and medications. One of the boys is struggling and is on a high speed breathing machine. Hopefully, they can get him on the right treatments so he can improve.

Hello, Goodbye

Christine started getting her epidural at 3:30, and they had her in the delivery room a little while after that. Our nurse Kim was a big help in getting us prepared. There was a whole platoon of people there in the operating room: doctors and nurses for the surgery, and each baby would have a doctor, nurse, and respiratory therapist. The staff here at the Women's Hospital has been great, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else for this.



By 4:30 the C-section was under way. Baby 1 is a boy. Baby 2, the Little One, is also a boy. Baby 3 is a girl. Baby 4 is another boy. Baby 5 is a girl. They all came out so fast, and the longest part was getting Christine back together.





We knew since week 12 that the Little One would have the hardest time making it. He was at the bottom of the bunch the whole pregancy, having the weight of all the others on top of him, and he had low amniotic fluid throughout. My heart fell as I saw him come out. I knew right away that he was not in shape make it. They handed him to me while they delivered the rest, so I could hold him and he could spend some time close to us. He was very precious. He seemed so small. He would breathe a couple of times a minute, but that slowed after a while. After we got back to our room, his breathing had stopped, but he kept a pulse going for a couple of hours. We enjoyed our time with him as we held him and prayed for him. We let our parents meet him before he passed away.

Surprise! Let's Roll

I got a call from Christine at lunchtime. They have been doing biophysical scans twice a week, and today's showed some different results. The Little One is no longer scoring any points for movement, tone, or other functions. Since it has been continually getting harder to control Christine's contractions, Dr. Sumners recommended that we deliver this afternoon instead of waiting to make it a few more days or a week longer with a lot more medication. That way we can try to intervene before the Little One gets any worse. It is 28 weeks tomorrow, so the others do have a good chance of a healthy outcome.

We are praying that everyone makes it through the delivery healthy, and we are anxious to see how it goes. We're waiting to find out what is in God's plan for us.

Still Going

Christine is 27 and a half weeks now. We're both grateful for getting this far in the pregnancy and would like to get a little further. 28 weeks is a big milestone.

Christine has been getting discouraged by the neverending stream of problems like upset stomachs, congestion, lack of sleep, bloody noses, IVs, being cooped up, and adjusting to the swarm of doctors and nurses. It sometimes feels like more than she can handle. It gets hard to trust God and his goodness when things get so difficult, but that is when we need to the most.

The babies are increasing in weight and development. Almost 2 weeks ago four weighed in around 1' 10" with the small one at 1' 1", and they are getting bigger by the day. They are starting to do biophysical scans where they score points for movement, breathing motions, etc. and they are already starting to score well. The doctors are getting more optimistic by the day, and we are thankful.

Please keep praying for all these things. Thanks for all the notes, visits, and help!