Friday, February 19, 2010

Going Home


No, we aren't doing that anytime soon. But I do get asked that a lot. The question after "how are the babies doing," is "when are they coming home?"

Well. A few things need to happen. There isn't a magic day on the calendar that says when they will be home. It is all up to them.

Have you ever been freezing on a winter day and came inside a warm house and held your arms close together to help warm yourself up? Maybe you shivered a little? Your body knows what to do when you're cold.

Babies are born with that warming mechanism in place. However, when you are three pounds, when you try to warm yourself up, you use all your energy and burn all your calories and don't gain weight and get smaller and weaker and will never be able to warm yourself because you're too darn small!


So, #1: Babies need to be able to 'keep themselves' warm. When I say 'themselves,' I mean that they regulate their body temperature okay in room temperature with a bunch of clothes on and swaddled in blankets. Plural. Blankets. This usually happens around 4 pounds. They move from their little isolettes of warm air to the big wide world of open air. Ooooh. Open. Nice.

Here is our little baby a, all swaddled and dressed in real clothes. The day it happened, I kept thinking of Pinnochio. I'm a real boy! I'm a real boy!



And here is mom changing her little baby boy a in his big boy open crib! I'm a real mom! I'm a real mom!

And no, I never do my hair anymore. Sheesh. That started already?


So that milestone has been checked! As of tomorrow, all three little wee ones will be in open cribs. Unbelievable. I can't believe it's been six weeks since they were brought into this world via an operating room and lady who has no idea what she's doing!


The next biggest milestone or hurdle or major challenge for the crew is eating. With their mouths. Like Gabe mentioned in the last post, (those little rascals, how did they even get my password?) they can't go home with that skill in place. They have to learn how to eat, on their own, and be able to have all meals this way. Also as Gabe mentioned, I am trying to breastfeed all three. Good thing I'm naive, right? Good thing I actually have no idea how impossible or challenging this is really going to be. But I committed. So we'll see. It may be successful. Or I may be balled in a corner one day, crying, wondering who I am, where I am, and why do all these tiny things keep needing me? Joking. Maybe.


This little girl just may beat her brothers home. Considering she started out way behind and needed so much more assistance than the boys, this is a little miracle in and of itself. When it comes to our "practice" sessions of eating with mom, she is a champ. We ask so much of them! They are only 35 weeks. They are still supposed to be cooking and we ask them to try and eat and suck and be coordinated. But my little girl is catching on. I'm so proud of her. Although she is doing really well, I can't try with her more than twice in 24 hours. Given that she needs to eat on her own 8 times a day, we still have an uphill climb. But the older they get, the more they are able to tolerate.


Here she is, with her game face on, ready to practice.


Gaber! Our looker. Look at those big eyes, just checking things out. Looking and looking and looking. If he's not practicing eating with mom, he practices with his pacifier. Over acheiver maybe? Hmm?



So eating with our mouths and not getting sick.
Those are the goals.
See you at the finish line.
Love, the Babies






9 comments:

... said...

oh Kara you are such a good mommy already!!!! You have the PERFECT attitude of no one I've ever seen. You seem to be having a blast with the little crew! They are beautiful and I'm so glad they are doing well. Just think, next week you'll be full term... don't you just wish... NOT!:)They are such cuties and little blessings! I'm sooo happy for you guys!

Erin Colby
...I just realized I'm signed on with my mom's name, so I thought I'd sign it!

Mike/Margaret said...

They keep getting cuter on every blog. I can't wait to see them in their Red Sox outfits. Give them hugs and kisses.

Shauna said...

I can't get over Gabe's eyes...and I am pretty sure every Mom has those in the corner crying moments no matter what stage is going on:)

Megan said...

Ditto to what Shauna said about the mom in the corner bit...
Kara the kiddos look great! I can't wait to meet them!!!

Hamblin Family said...

They look even better this post than last! Every milestone is a miracle for any baby but especially these three little ones. Congrats! They'll be home before you know it! When that crying in a corner moment comes and it will come...it does for all moms, give me a call and we can chat. I always called someone when I couldn't take baby stress. It is hard sometimes but oh so worth it!

Kelsey said...

YEY! I am so glad to see how well they are doing! You can and will adjust to anything, even breastfeeding three people at once! Amazing things happen... you'll probably sprout a third nipple... won't that be surprising! ;)
-Kelsey

angie said...

i haven't been to your blog in awhile, but shauna's been letting me know how things are going! i'm so happy for you that the babes are doing better and better! wow! 3 babies!!! it's going to be good times at your house forever now!! oh, and EVERY mom has a crying in the corner moment so no worries!! ;)

Quinae said...

Kara! I found your blog through Steph and Amy's. Wow! Triplets!! Congrats! I am so happy for you and am excited for you to take them home. They sound like they are progressing by leaps every week. Soon you will be deliriously happy/sleep deprived with them all home and the NICU will be weird dream. I just started a blog myself. If you want to check our our family we are at http://quinaeharris.blogspot.com/

McNeil Family said...

Every post they look bigger and stronger! I'm so glad you're a "real mom" now! (I think that might be an understatement since you have three little babes...) They are so cute and sweet. I can't wait for you to have them all to yourselves. You're a trooper!