One Little Man Home!!

Our Baby C, Tate Richard, was the first little one we welcomed home on Tuesday. It felt so good to be bringing one home but yet we were torn because we were leaving three others at the hospital. I know we have to start somewhere to get them all home so today was that starting point. We have started the final journey with the quads...bringing them home to be part of our family.

I spent the morning with the kids with about 7 other moms from our local mothers of multiples group. It was a beautiful morning and I know I will not be able to get out with these ladies for a while once we get this kiddos home. Paul and I then dropped off Natalie and Aubrey at school and they were so excited because they knew that their baby brother was going to pick them up from school. Natalie is still crying with drop off put she told us she wasn't going to do it anymore...there is hope! Then it was time to go love on our munchkins in the nicu. We got some quality time with Isabella and Rylan. Kenzie was busy completing her car seat challenge. It was then time to pack Tate up and go get the girls from school. They were ecstatic when they saw Baby Tate. They couldn't go wash their hands fast enough because they wanted to touch him.

Mommy, Drew and Rylan

Daddy & Isabella

Not the baby anymore!

Tate

My boys minus one

Getting home with him was a tad anxiety producing, only because I had three kids that literally wanted to be on top of him. Daddy came to the rescue and took all the older kids out to the spa so I could pump and relax with Tate for a little while. The older kids were big helpers when it came time for bath and I think they feel as though it is a task they can do all by themselves. It will be nice when some of the newness wears off! The best part of having Tate home is seeing Paul really loving and cuddeling with his son. It just melts my heart. Paul did quickly get out of feedings for the night though because he had to get up for work at 4:30 this morning. He was so sweet though and did rent me a movie to watch during feeding/pumping sessions. And the movie was so fitting, "What to expect when you are expecting". I do have to say I found it to be a pretty good movie at 2:30 in the morning! 

At Home!!

Aubrey loves being a big sister

First bath. Great startle reflex!

Mommas helpers. (Natalie looks like she is in one of those mirrors at the fair that distorts you!)

There is nothing better than the smell of a baby just out of the bath

He looks so small in his crib. He needs some siblings to cuddle with.

A cat nap before the 11pm feed

Tate Richard we are so glad you are home. We can not wait to see you blossom!!

Happy One Month

During my entire pregnancy I had such a hard time dreaming about what it would be like with four more babies. Mainly because I didn't know if we were adding boys or girls to the family and how many of each. I refused to allow myself to dream one way because I didn't want to have my hopes up and then be let down when my dreams weren't reality. And can I tell you how happy I am that I didn't get all caught up in the "perfect" scenario because what Paul and I have been blessed with far exceeds anything we could have imagined.

Daddy is only missing Kenzie who was still eating

Isabella and daddy in deep discussion

Tate all snuggled in and content

My peanut Kenzie. You were described as feisty within a couple hours of birth. You may be little but you are a strong willed little girl. I don't think we will ever be able to tell you no because you will just show us that yes you can do it. I am so amazed by you. You love to cuddle and I love our time together.

Kenzie and Tate (the peanut and the biggest)

Isabella you continue to be so easy going. I seldom hear you cry. But girl you continue to be so unlady like with the noises that come out of your bottom and the smell that follows. I think you will always have your bottom smeared in Burt's Bees just to give it a fresher smell! When you look around you have a glisten to your eyes and you are absolutely beautiful. You the most willing to share your smile with us and I believe you may even have a dimple on your right cheek.

Our first picture of all four together. Rylan thinks it's very overrated

Kenzie with the most adorable smile!

Pure Love

Tate, or as dad calls you Brutus. You are a spitting imagine of your big brother Drew. Even the way you sleep with both arms stretched above your head. I can wrap you like a burrito and in no time you have found a way to wiggle free. You love to eat and always wake 30 minutes before its your time. I am guessing you will always make the first round of feeds at home. You must have read the chapter that the early bird gets the worm!

Tate Richard

My little Rylan. You will always have a soft spot in my heart after the night we had with you when you were 24 hours old. Dad and I don't talk about that night very often because we both get very emotional thinking about how helpless we were as parents to help you. It is so true that a parent would give their own life for their child. You have amazed everyone with how well you have done. Your hair is amazing and people are always commenting on it but my favorite thing about you are your eyes. They just draw mommy in. You love to look around and we will often find you looking around in your crib even up to an hour after your feeding.

Rylan James

The four of you complete our family. God has given me the one thing I have wanted the most in life and that is to be a mommy. Thank you to all seven of my children for making that dream come true. Happy one month to the most amazing quads out there. Mom and dad love you so much and we can not wait to continue this journey with you.

 

The girls first day of school & baby update

Natalie and Aubrey have successfully completed their first week of pre-k! The girls are going to the same school they went to last year. It is run by two sisters and we have been so happy with our decision to send the girls there. Paul still has not gotten over the expense of preschool but that is for a different post! The girls were very excited to go back and the only struggle we have had is Natalie cries when we leave. She is our girl that needs her mom and dad. She loves trying new things but likes it best when mom and dad are doing it with her. She is also having a hard time adjusting to her friends from last year not being there. We chose to send the girls to the afternoon session this year because there is just no way we would have ever been even close to on time for the morning session. To feed four babies, get three older kids breakfast and ready for the day and either Paul or I presentable for drop off just wasn't going to happen by 8:30 in the morning. So we start school at 12:30 and this also excited me because I don't have to pack a lunch for them like I would have had to with the morning session. The only hard part was none of their friends are in the later class. They will meet new friends and that is what we keep telling them. Paul and I also love the afternoon session because there are only 7 in the class which means a lot of one-on-one time since there are two teachers!! Natalie does fine once we leave and I love how excited they are when we pick them up. Last year I would ask what they learned and I either got a "nothing" or I was told what snack was. This year has been very different in that they actually remember what they did and do tell us all about it. 

Drew believes he should stay each day too

We do not dress them a like any more but there are days that they will tell each other they want to be twins!

Natalie- age 4

Aubrey- age 4

I can't even imagine what it will look like with all 7 of them in one picture

Aubrey with Mr. A(choo)

Such a boy...find a toy and turn it into a weapon. How do they learn these things?

This week in the nicu has been great. The babies are showing more personality and it is so fun when they respond to mine and Paul's voices. Daddy even came up Wednesday evening and did his first bottle feeds with Tate and Kenzie. He has been great with the other kids and never complains about me going up to see the babies but since he spends the time with the older kids he doesn't get up to the nicu much. I can't wait for him to really connect to the babies once they are home.

Daddy watching over Isabella

Daddy's first bottle with Tate

Tate

Kenzie's turn

Post bottle snuggles...they are the best!

Isabella and Rylan are now getting bottles every other feeding and the majority of the time are finishing or get very close to finishing them. Isabella's light finally came on and she knows just what to do with that bottle when it is placed in her mouth. Rylan gets tired the quickest out of the bunch when it comes to eating but he loves to stay awake after his feeds and just look around. Rylan continues to have heart rate drops and should grow out of them by 36-37 weeks gestation (they will be 35 weeks on Saturday). 

Rylan (all the kids love to have one arm up except for Tate who wiggles both arms out)

Isabella

Tate and Kenzie now get bottles with each feed. Tate even got his feeding tube removed today so hoping he can continue to do well so he doesn't have to have it put back in. Kenzie could have her tube removed since she can literally down her whole feed in 5-10 minutes. That girl knows how to eat. We are giving her a little more time to show us she can eat well because she is still in her isolette but should be moved to an open crib sometime this weekend. She will then need to continue taking her feeds by bottle but also maintain her temperature. I have a feeling she will do this with no problems at all because she continues to want to outdo everyone. She is now up to 3lbs10oz!

Tate

All kiddos had lab work this week to check their blood levels and all of them are anemic but their bodies are making red blood cells so we are going to allow their little bodies to do their job. They will all come home on a multivitamin with iron that they will get twice a day. They also had eye exams yesterday and all kiddos showed immature blood vessels which is to be expected and we will be followed up in 2-3 weeks. Head ultrasounds were done today and I will hopefully get results of these tomorrow. We are so proud of our kiddos and are still amazed that we were gifted these most amazing miracles. Stay tuned because we may have some very exciting news by the end of the weekend...think homecoming for a little man!!

Monday, September 3: Labor Day

I just woke up...a two hour nap...one of those I was out cold for...feel like I am in a more zombie state now than before the nap...why do naps sometimes do this to us? It has been a rough weekend. The babies are all doing fine. I developed mastitis starting Friday evening and all I can say is does that hit you fast and like a freight train. I even had to skip some very precious nicu time with my littlest loves because I felt so crummy. Thank goodness we have antibiotics and that they work fast. Still not feeling 100% but I know I will make it. I have also had an emotionally trying time in the nicu these last couple days because of the issue of the kids developing MRSA. I think the issue that has been very trying for Paul and I has been resolved as of this morning so hopefully no more tears will be shed for this reason.

Daddy and his little girl, Kenzie

Kenzie and the girls

My Drew Bear

Okay now for the updates of the very important little people. They continue to amaze me but I will be honest I still don't feel like their mom. Yes if someone asked me how many kids I have I would proudly say seven but I still only feel like I have three. When I go up to the nicu I am so in love with the quads and think they are absolutely adorable but I do a round of diaper changes, bottle feeds and then it's time to pump and by then it's been three hours so I usually head home to spend time with the other kids and leave the babies with those nice people in the nicu. Their is little time for just cuddling or loving on more than one at a time. I go back in the evening and complete another of the above rounds and kiss them good night and tell them I will see them in the morning for a repeat of the day. So not how I have been a mom to my other three kids. Yes I know that the babies could not come home as 31 weekers but I feel like I have missed so much time with the babies...that all important bonding time. I do have to say it does excite me when I come in to their nicu suite and open their isolettes and start talking to them they immediately try opening their eyes. Just maybe they do remember me? The nicu journey has been such an eye opener for me. I work in the nicu and take care of these same babies everyday I go to work and reassure parents that I will take good care of their children while they go home and get some rest but I never really got it until now how those parents feel every time they walk out the door. I really don't think you can take these feelings away from a parent and I don't even know how to make it better for them but I can look them in the face and say I have been there and yes it is so very hard.

Isolette covers given to us by the wonderful Aly & Izy Foundation

We are slowly seeing items get checked off that the kids need to accomplish before they get the go to come home. We are hoping to have someone home in the next week to two! My best friend asked me if I wanted to try and bring them home all together or whenever someone was ready and I quickly told her as soon as they say one is ready I am running with that child. I will take them how ever I can get them but I do think it would be great to have them all at once so we don't get spoiled with one or two babies. Just give them all to us so we have complete chaos from the beginning!

Kenzie:

Is now a 3 pounder, 3lb4oz to be exact. So neat to see her start to resemble a baby more and not be so tiny looking. We use to call Aubrey our Ethiopian baby when she was a baby because she dropped to 4lb13oz when she was born. And here we are saying Kenzie looks great at 3lb! She remains in her isolette until she gains about another half a pound and then she will be at a weight they can try an open crib. She also gets a bottle every third feed and always takes at least half and sometimes finishes it. If the girls would spend less time looking around they would do much better but they seem to be very social. She was started on extra protein in her feeds to decrease her risk of getting osteoporosis. She seems to be tolerating it very well. She also got started on epogen which helps increase red blood cell production since she is anemic and the extra iron she was getting wasn't enough. She along with everyone else will have their labs rechecked on the 6th, an eye exam also on the 6th and follow up head ultrasounds on the 7th. We are busy praying for good results on all of the test. Kenzie's personality has definitely mellowed since her first few days. The girl just wanted a full belly! 

We have a big girl at 3lbs!

Our crazy but normal life!!

Of all seven kids, Kenzie is the first one that I think got some of my facial features.

Someone please tell me when the "real" smiles come back...so tired of these kinds of pictures!

Isabella:

The most laid back one in the crowd now at 4lbs2oz. I have yet to figure out her personality. She is a mix of both of her sisters. She has Natalie's forehead and eyes but Aubrey's lips and facial expressions. She has finally come off her caffeine as of yesterday and I am hoping once it is out of her system (usually 3-5 days) she will not have a rebound of heart rate drops. She is very funny girl with her feeds. She literally plays around with the bottle with her tongue for the first four to five minutes and then she will take a good amount and then again plays around and then eats. She does take full bottles but then some days she doesn't. I think she will have her daddy's passive disposition. She went into an open crib yesterday and has done great so far. She did get started today on eye ointment for some yucky yellow drainage.

Isabella hits 4lbs!

A visitor for Isabella, our good friend Ronnie

Tate:

So the last post I mentioned that Tate had a positive urine culture. The repeat culture also came back positive and so our little man already has had his first bladder infection. It was caught so early that his blood work didn't even show an infection yet. He is now on a course of antibiotics which I believe will last 10 days. I have a feeling when he is done with this he will probably be very, very close to be coming home!!! He had a kidney ultrasound today so I will talk to the dr more about this tomorrow. He has not had any brady's in the last couple of days and has done great bottle feeding every other feed so tonight we are advancing him again to bottle twice, feeding tube once. Next step is bottle every time. I brought in a mixture of bottles from Avent, Nubby, and Tommie Tippy to see what works best for the kiddos. I want to avoid Dr. Brown's at all cost due to the fact that each bottle has a million and one parts to wash and since I will need at least 32 bottles in a 24 hour time frame...ya you get the point. So far the kids are all taking the Avent well and today the kids nurse, who also has quads!, said that Isabella did awesome on the Nubby. Once I figure out what each kid does best with I am off to Babies R' Us to get more bottles since we need more than the 12 or so I have. Tate also got started on the epogen because of anemia and we are hoping his numbers look good on the 6th because otherwise he runs the risk of needing a blood transfusion. I am not against one but I would rather him not need it. So praying the meds do their job. Tate is back into an open crib after getting moved back to an isolette when he got sick and is tipping the scale at 5lbs4oz.

And Tate hits 5lbs!

Rylan:

My wide eyed, always awake little boy who is now 4lbs. He has quite a few nurses that are smitten with him. From his amazing hair to his calm personality and his big eyes, he will be a little heart breaker for sure. He has had the most brady's of the bunch but he recovers from all of them on his own. He will take a full feeding but does need the full thirty minutes and since he is the first to feed he doesn't often get this full time because if the nurses get behind with him they will be behind on everyone. One nurse takes care of all four babies. So with mommy he usually will take the full bottle because I make sure he gets his allotted time. I do want him to feed faster before coming home and be more efficient because crappy eaters are no fun when taking care of three other babies. For all the trouble Rylan gave us at the beginning he is giving us a break now. He also got moved into an open crib and is doing well.

And not to be out done, Rylan hits 4lbs the next day

We will have four, four week olds on Thursday! I have no idea how they have gotten this old already. I will be planning their first birthday in no time! I have a feeling it will feel like forever until they start sleeping through the night. I do have to say I will be much more excited to wake up every three hours for my babies than I am for an alarm and a hospital grade breast pump. The things we do for our children but I wouldn't do it any differently! Tomorrow is also a big day in our house because Natalie and Aubrey start pre-k. They are so excited and Aubrey tried her hardest to convince me this morning that today is tomorrow!! They are ready for their friends...I am ready for a routine and hopefully children that are a little worn out from school and don't have time to bicker as much with each other. A mom can hope. So our nicu routine will change again and we will be finding a new norm so we can fit in school. It should work out just fine, it just means mom is heading up to the nicu at 7:30 in the morning to do the first round instead of the second round. This does give me a three hour window at home while Drew is napping to accomplish the many task I need to do before the babies come home. Should have nursery pictures soon since all the cribs are up. Now just need to get sheets on, pictures found and hung, and clothing put away. I hope all those that are starting school this week have a wonderful welcome back.