Clagett Triplets: The Life and Times of Brooke Brynn Lexi

Tiny, Colorful Toes

We have been talking about what to do in order to tell the girls apart. Today we finally cut the girls hospitals bands off of their ankles. They each got their toe nails painted a different color. This was a much harder task than I thought. They have VERY tiny toe nails. Brooke slept through the process, Lexi would not stop kicking and moving and Brynn just sat bright eyed and watched. Very different personalities already! Brooke has pink toes, Lexi has yellow and Brynn has purple (we picked out green for Hannah so she can have a color for herself) Hopefully this will work and we won't get anyone mixed up! I took pictures of their tiny, colorful toes they are so cute!

Life at Home

I guess I should start by saying that I can't believe that our trips to Baltimore have come to an end and that all three girls are home. I look at them and can't believe that they were all three inside of me. I think back to Dec. 7th at the shock of hearing three heart beats at my first appointment. Then to all the doctors who told us that this would not have a good outcome. It was not until we met Dr. Harman and Dr. Kush at the Univ. Of MD that we were told that we could do this and we would do this with a successful outcome. It is so amazing that all three of them are here, healthy and home. We are truly so blessed!

Now for life at home, one word would be busy! The girls are doing really well but we are learning quickly that three  babies require lots of diapers, diaper changes, wipes, bottles, burps and snuggles. We are trying to get a routine but so far thats not working so well. They all have their own agenda and we are just going with that for the time being. Everyone always asked me what my plan was while I was pregnant and I always said to have healthy babies. Now when people ask what are plan is now that they are here, well its to survive each day! The girls had their first doctors appointments today which was an adventure in itself. It was the first time using the triple stroller and their first trip out of the house. We are so lucky to have two amazing docotrs: Dr. Tesch and Zoe O'Brien. They said that the girls are doing amazing and growing quickly. They could not believe how much they look alike. I talked about the home nurse in an earlier post. Many people thought that this meant someone was coming in to stay at our house. I WISH!! The home nurse is great because she is coming once a week to do vitals and weight checks to send to the doctor. Otherwise we would have to take the girls in every week for a weight check because they were premature. Its a lot of work packing and loading all three of them up as we found out today so we will take the home nurse for as long as the insurance will cover it. 

Thanks so much to everyone who have volunteered to help take care of our little sweeties. They love the extra hands because it means extra snuggles for them. The kindness that has been shown to our family is overwhelming, thank you!

Erin

BIG SURPRISE!

Well Monday we got a big surprise when we found out the Brynn was coming home with us. She has been doing really well. She loves to be held which could be a problem when her sisters join us. We are getting home nursing care to make sure the babies are doing well. It started today for Brynn and the nurse said she was great. She weighed 5 pounds 1 ounce so she is gaining weight quickly. Hannah loved having her sister home with her. She calls Brynn "my baby" and loved helping to take care of her. She even told us that we were keeping her for "one whole day". I tried to explain that we were keeping her forever. Hannah left for the beach this morning with Ju Ju and Bull. It was harder on Mommy than on her. She was so excited, I'm just nervous about her being so far away.

Well our next big surprise came this morning as my parents and Hannah were pulling out of the driveway. The nurse from the hospital called and told us that Lexi and Brooke are ready to join their sister at home. When Brynn left the hospital on Monday the two of them had a really hard time. You would not think that they would even know that she was gone, but I guess they did. The nurse said that they cried like she has never seem them do in the three weeks that they have been there. She even got the doctor to come check them out because she could not get them to stop crying. The doctor said that there is a special bond with identical multiples and they knew that she was gone. So crazy!

Tom and I are busy making sure that everything is ready and will be leaving to pick them up this afternoon. I guess the adventure is about to begin.......

Stay tuned!

Erin

Brynn Is Coming Home!

We just found out that Brynn is being released today - not much notice but everyone is quickly switching to doing things for her homecoming. Tom has to take the van down and both he and Erin have to complete the CPR training before they come home. Will update with more details later.

Julie

No Feeding Tubes Today!

When Tom and I arrived at the hospital today, all three girls were without feeding tubes. They had all taken all of their bottles all day. When we came home this evening, they still did not have the tubes back in. If they get tired tonight and don't finish the bottles, the tubes will have to return. It was so nice to see them today without the tubes and all the tape on their faces. They looked so cute. Tom is going to add all the pictures we took today. They really are identical; it's crazy how much they look alike. The other wonderful thing about today was that Brooke and Brynn's beds were close enough together that with a chair in between I could hold both of them at the same time. This is the first time they have been close to each other since the day they were born. Poor Lexi's bed is on the other end of the room and with all of her wires she does not reach. We can't wait to get pictures of all three of them together. All three girls have been doing really well the last couple of days. They have been eating without problems and getting stronger and bigger. They all passed their hearing tests and car seat checks.

Closer to Home!

Updating the blog has been harder than I thought, sorry! The days pass by so quickly between caring for Hannah and trips to Baltimore. Hannah has been busy and has gone to Ju Ju and Bull's house for a couple of days. Brooke, Lexi and Brynn are making improvements each day. All three are on vitamins and iron.  Brooke is on more iron than the other two because her iron levels are the lowest. The doctors say that if they keep making progress each day it should not be that much longer before they can home. Maybe sometime in the next two weeks. Here are updates on each of them:

Brooke: She has been moved to all feeds by bottle. Whatever she does not finish by bottle she gets through the tube. I spent most of the day there today and she did really well taking her bottles and breast feeding. She is still having some Bradys while she is feeding. She just can't remember that when she is sucking and swallowing she also needs to be breathing. The doctor assured me that this just comes with practice. All three girls have been growing. When Brooke was weighed today she was 4 pounds 8 ounces.

Lexi: She is now allowed to take every other feed by bottle. She is being fed through her tube on the off feeds. When she is taking a bottle she works really hard but seems to have trouble finishing them. She usually gets some through the tube too. She is trying to keep up with her sisters, but gets tired really fast. She is gaining weight and was 4 pounds 1 ounce today.

Brynn: She is taking every feed by bottle and doing really well. She is on the same feeding schedule as Brooke and whatever she does not finish she gets through her tube. She hates her feeding tube and is becoming an expert in pulling it out. She is also the one who loves to be snuggled. The nurses say she is quiet all day, but when I walk in the room and she hears my voice, she starts crying until she is held. Brynn is still the largest and weighed in today at 4 pounds 12 ounces.

I have many people to thank this week: Thanks to everyone for the rides to Baltimore. I owe a big thank you to Father Mike from our church, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who drove me to the hospital and came to the NICU to bless all three babies. My dear friends Liz and Lisa who took me to the hospital and helped get all the girls' carseats to the NICU. It was so nice to have three people there at the same time because all the babies got held. Also a big thank you to my cousin Marcy who invited Hannah to their house to swim (thanks Erika for babysitting) and drove me to Baltimore and spent time with the babies.

When Tom and I moved into our new house last September we were blessed with the nicest and kindest neighbors. They have been so supportive and helped in so many ways. Thanks to Melinda and my Bunko group on the street who organized a dinner schedule that has been wonderful! The meals from our neighbors and friends have been most appreciated and so yummy. A special thank you too goes out to Linda Barry who managed to send a cooler of food from Frostburg - it was delicious!

Now we just wait each day for the girls to take all their feeds by mouth and not have to use their tubes. The doctors really feel this will happen soon. Tom and I have started to work on the list of things you need to do to be discharged from the NICU. It is so different than being discharged from a regular nursery. We had to watch two hours of videos and be trained in CPR . The girls all have to go through a car seat check (thats why their car seats are there) to make sure that they fit in them correctly and that their airways are not restricted while they are in them. They will each have to sit in them for two hours wearing all of their monitors to make sure they are safe to go home.

Keep the girls in your prayers and pray for "good eaters" the next couple of days so that they can come home soon!

Weekend Update-June14th

Lexi:

Well we have some really good news. Lexi not only joined her sisters in the Feeder and Grower room but also moved out of her isolette and into a "big girl" crib like her sisters. She is holding her own body temperature and doing really well in the new bed. They increased her feeds to 35 ml and she is taking it fine. She is allowed to try to nipple feed three times per day. Daddy tried to give her a  bottle last night and she took about 10ml and then was so tired. This means the rest of the feed had to go through her tube.  This is about what she has been doing each nipple feed. She still has been having a few Bradys each day. She is over her birth weight finally and when we weighed her last night she was 3 pounds 15 ounces.

Brooke:  She is also allowed to nipple feed three times per day and is getting stronger with the bottle. Yesterday she took her entire 38ml in a bottle for daddy. I think he must just have the touch because the nurses can't get her to do that. She has not had any Bradys for the last few days. When we weighed her last night she was 4 pounds 2 ounces - also over her birth weight.

Brynn:    Brynn has been doing better with the bottle the last few days. The last two nights she has taken her entire 38ml from a bottle for the nurses. She is also doing really well breast feeding. Her weight has gone up to 4 pounds 6 ounces. She has been having Bradys the last couple days which is unusual for her. The doctor mentioned reflux again; she said that sometimes they can have Bradys if they are refluxing. I would not be surprised if she is on medicine soon for reflux.

It is reassuring to watch all of them doing so well. We just need them to start taking more nipple feeds and become a little stronger.

Erin

Moving Up-June 10th

Today was a good day. Brynn and Brooke both got moved to the feeder and grower room in the NICU. This is the room they get moved to when all they need to do is learn to take their feeds by mouth. They are each bottle feeding 2 times per day but are struggling alittle with that. This means that most of their feeds are still tube fed. They can't come home until they are taking all of their feeds by mouth. They each were having some Bradys today which is not normal for the two of them. They were both put on vitamins and iron by mouth. Brynn has been having some reflux the last couple of days so she may go on medicine if it does not improve. The Feeder and Grower Room is where they will be discharged from to come home. The doctor explained that some babies get the feeding technique easily and go home quickly; others take weeks. It is really up to them now. The occupational therapist is still working with them on sucking and swallowing.

The hard part is that Lexi is still in the regular NICU. She does not know that her sisters are gone but it makes Mommy and Daddy sad. It makes visiting more difficult with them being in different rooms. Lexi is still on her IV to get fat calories and vitamins. She is also still in her isolette because she still does not weigh enough to come out. Her Bradys were better today and her feeds are increasing slowly. We need her to gain some weight and tolerate more at her feeds so she can join her sisters.

I feel like life has been so crazy, trying to be with Hannah and visit the girls at the hospital. I'm trying to take life a day at a time and not stress myself out. I know that they need to be at the hospital to get stronger but I can't wait to not travel to Baltimore everyday. After this, I don't want to ever go to Baltimore again. Thanks to everyone for all the calls and emails of support. All the rides to the hospital and meals have been such a huge help. Thanks so much for caring!!

Erin

Weekend Update-34 Weeks Today

I think this is the first time that I have actually typed a post on this blog. What a long journey this has  been. Starting on Dec. 7th with the shock of three heart beats, then all the appointments and sonograms, to being admitted three weeks ago and then the birth.  The last 34 weeks have definitely been filled with ups and downs but they are behind us. We are now on our new journey of getting the girls to grow, keep their body temperatures and feed so that they can join our family at home. It has been harder than I thought since we have been home. Trying to spend as much time as possible with Hannah while giving myself time to heal and feeling guilty about not being with the babies at the hospital has been difficult. My recovery has been harder than I ever imagined. A C-Section for triplets requires a great deal of "tugging and pulling" (as the doctors put it) which has made me so sore and made the recovery harder. I got a lecture last night in the NICU about taking care of myself. I'm trying to relax today but that is easier said than done. It is so hard to have them so far away.  Hannah has been adjusting but its been hard on her. She is really nervous when Tom and I leave for the hospital that we are not coming  back. Good thing she is so tough and seems to adjust fast. She visited her sisters last night and took them pictures that she had made specially for them. 

I have so many people to thank for so many things done to help us during the pregnancy and hospital stay. First Tom who slept by my bedside each night that I was in the hospital and helped me with things that most men would not want to even think about. He has been amazing juggling work, me, Hannah and the babies. I truly think he was meant to be the father of four girls. Next, my parents, JuJu and Bull and my grandmother, 88 year old Grandma Kate, who have dedicated the last 17 weeks or so to taking care of Hannah and me. My mom has been with Hannah around the clock for the last couple of months and has been the biggest help.  They have kept her on schedule and taken her to all of her activities. We would be lost without them. For those of you who know a three year old you know that this takes a lot of energy and patience. 

All the cards, calls, emails, prepared meals, and prayers from friends and family have helped to keep me sane and have the babies arrive healthy. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. My aunts, uncles, and cousins have been so supportive and so much help.The generosity that people have shown to us is overwhelming. It brings tears to my eyes to think of all the things that everyone has done for our family. Even people that I have never met have shown us such kindness. The girls are so lucky to have so many people that care about them.

To all the other triplet moms: Kelli, Cherie, Karen and Debbie who have been so kind and supportive. I think that you will on speed dial for the next couple of months. Thank You!!

The labor and delivery nurses at UMMC were amazing. They took care of me and helped me survive bedrest and the birth of triplets. I will always be grateful to Nurse Suzanne who held my hand and talked me through the c-section . She stayed with me in recovery while Tom was with the babies.  She kept me calm (which I did not think was possible) and allowed the doctors to get the babies out quickly and safely.

Now the NICU nurses who are caring for our three little girls. I call often and I'm sure drive them crazy. They are so kind and working round the clock to get the girls doing the things they need to do to come home: They need to keep their body temperature regulated, stop having bradys, not aspirate their food, and nipple feed all of their feedings.

So that brings me to the girls' updates. They are all doing well and I think they get cuter each visit. They are each getting occupational therapy once a day to work on feeding and sucking. 

Brynn: She surprised us yesterday when we visited. She was keeping her body temperature so she was moved out of her isolette and into an open crib. Very exciting news. They did warn us that some babies have to go back if their body temperature drops. But we will think good thoughts and hope that she can stay out. This also means that we can snuggle with her as much as we want. Her feedings were moved up to 30ml and she is not having any aspirates with that. Her bottle feeds are going ok. She gets really tired and loses interest fast. She is going to need much help with this. Hopefully that will come with time.

Brooke: Her feeds also went up to 30ml and her aspirates are getting better. She is getting close to holding her body temperature so hopefully she will be out of her isolette soon. Her bottle feeds are like Brynn's - she gets tired and loses interest fast.

Lexi: Little Lexi as the nurses call her is the smallest of the three and a little behind the other two. The occupational therapist said that she is the best feeder of the three which is so funny. She is still having bradys (where she forgets to breath) and can't come out of the isolette until they stop and she can hold her body temperature. Her feeds are 15 ml, which is half of that of her sisters and she is still having aspirates. She is doing better with the bottle than the other two. We just need to get her to tolerate more food at each feeding.

We will post new pictures soon! Thanks again to everyone. Keep the girls in your prayers.

Erin

Mixed emotions

Erin has been cleared to go home. Our ride will be here around 6:30pm. While it is great to be heading home it is very hard to leave the triplets behind. Hannah needs some well deserved Mommy and Daddy time. I think the one on one with Hannah before the triplets arrive will be good.

The latest on the triplets progression.

All three are off the lights and there bili levels look good.

Brynn: Her feeds have been increased to 20ml. They took her feeding tube out this morning and actually encouraged Mommy to breast feed at lunch. They said the breast feeding would really help her with the bottle. She did very well. They will continue to bottle feed and breast feed with Brynn. She has been the strongest of the three. She never had any Brady's or aspirate of the formula. She is also getting close to holding her body temperature as well. She is the most laid back and is always  happy. I think she may come home before Brooke and Lexi.

Lexi: feeds have been increased to 15ml which is 1/2 an ounce. They took her feeding tube out as well, but may need to put it back in. She would not breast feed, but took a bottle. This was awesome as well. Lexi is still having Brady's and aspirating the feedings. Lexi seems to be the  feistiest of the bunch.

Brooke:  Her feeds have increased to 20 ml. She was still tube fed at lunch. It took so long to work with the other two that they just needed to feed her so they used the tube. She will get her chance at breast or bottle feeding at 3:30. This will determine if the feeding tube can stay out or needs to be put back in.

They all made such great steps forward today. They have warned us that this can change. They could need to go  back under the lights or replace feeding tubes. For now we will be happy with the steps that they are taking forward!