2/22/11 - Yesterday was a momentous day in the Probeyahn household... Nathaniel got to come home from the hospital! We knew there was a possibility of him coming home this week, but didn't want to get our hopes up in case he took a down-turn. The boys all had their 2-month immunizations over the weekend and they were all feeling so poorly, throwing up and just plain uncomfortable. In order to come home Nate had to avoid any signs of de-sat or bradycardia after the shots and he did great! He also had to pass a car seat study where they placed him in his car seat for 45 min and he had to show no signs of desat or bradys.  He passed with flying colors! Lastly, the boys had another eye exam yesterday morning and that always gets them riled up. I truly didn't think Nate would end up coming home the same day as his eye exam, especially piggy-backing it on his vaccinations. But we got the call late in the afternoon that the Doc had given orders for discharge! We went in to pick him up and watch the required CPR video and truly spent most of our time comforting Mitch and Eli who were still feeling sickly from all the aforementioned procedures. But around 8pm we were home with Nate. I can still hardly believe he is here!

We are very lucky that he has done so well with his breathing and didn't require any type of home-monitor. However, since he's been home he has been quite congested. It was a long sleepless night (the first of many I know!) and he didn't seem very interested in eating. Mommy and Daddy fussed over him all night, trying many different things to help him get comfortable. I'm sure we will fall into a routine eventually but right now we're just enjoying every min and sleeping whenever we get the chance. As I type this Nate is lying on my chest sound asleep... finally! He is so darn sweet :)

2/23/11 - Well I started writing this post yesterday and of course, murphy's law, as soon as I wrote that Nate was sound asleep he started fussing! :) Today was a much easier day. Last night went more smoothly too. Nate had his first pediatrician appointment this morning and the doctor said he looks great! I spent an hour on the phone making follow-up appointments with specialists. Nate has to see an opthamologist, a cardiologist, an urologist, and a neurologist all within the next month. Plus we got in contact with Early Steps to initiate their services as well (more on this to come on a future post).

Matt went to see the other two boys last night and they were much improved. Mitchell was slated to begin weaning down to wall oxygen today, but he got delayed due to a brady episode earlier in the day. So hopefully tomorrow. Eli is still on a 2liter flow and a holding steady in the 30% oxygen range so he's got a way to go yet before he gets to wall oxygen. They both have to be on wall oxygen and saturating well for several days before they can come home. And they both will come home on oxygen too.

Ok enough updates for now. Here are some photos from Nate's homecoming!

I just discovered this site and its awesome! Although I am in the market for a baby carrier and they had them YESTERDAY so I missed the deal. Oh well. At least I know about the site now I can catch any new sales like that.

Its been nearly 8 weeks since the triplets were born! Nearly two months in the hospital, and its beginning to take its toll. Every day gets a little more frustrating that things aren't progressing as well as we'd hoped. Even more frustrating is that by appearances the boys look ready! They are all over 5lbs now! They are chubby and pink. But upon closer look you'll see that Mitchell and Elias are still on oxygen, and needing more than they've needed in over a month. Nathaniel, who was the sickest baby in the beginning, is the closest to coming home. He is maintaining his temperature, he is oxygenating well, rarely has apnea events, and is bottling 75% of his feeds! He just needs to be at 100% of his feeds to come home. But the frustration with him is that he's been in this state for almost 2 weeks, almoast as if he's just comfortable being "almost" ready!

All three have been learning to breastfeed, though none have gotten it down well. Mitchell seems the most successful at it but only when he's not too tired. Nate can do it, but seems disinterested. He will latch on and then not do anything. Eli is hit and miss. He will latch for a few minutes and suck and then give up. But at least all of them are attempting.

I digress, I must focus on the positive!

We've had the opportunity to get at least two babies at a time together lately. Mitchell and Elias are both tethered to the wall because of the oxygen so we can't get all three together yet, but Nathaniel is situated in the middle of the room between the other two and he is on a mobile monitor, so he gets to travel and visit his brothers! Here are some photos:

The boys are all in cribs now and one of our day nurses, Ann, made new name tags for them.

The last couple weeks, since the boys are more stable and have moved into the big room and open cribs, we've been able to have some visitors! Here are some photos... (click on image to open larger and view caption)

I can hardly believe its been 6 weeks already! The boys should be coming home in the next 2-3 weeks and I can't wait. I am definitely going through a nesting stage where I am cleaning and arranging everything for them.

I think I am finally set on the cloth diaper front, at least for now. I have 24 Bumgenius AIO xs, 12 tiny gpants, 5 tiny prowraps, 3 Booroi small covers and 5 dozen prefolds to get me through until they are about 10lbs. After that I have 6 gDiapers (size small), 6 one-size Flips, 3 Thirsties Duo covers (size small), and 2 Bummis one-size. I think the prefolds I have will get me through for awhile and then I'll have to size up. I also have disposable inserts from Flip and gDiapers for when we are out of the house. I am really looking forward to trying the cloth diapees on the babies (once they are about 6-7lbs).

Speaking of weights, here are my updates!

My big boy Elias is weighing in at 4lbs 5oz! Nathaniel is 4lbs 1oz and Mitchell is 4lbs 2oz. Now that they are all over 4lbs, they are all in open cribs! Its awesome! NO MORE INCUBATORS! And although they are still taking some of their feedings via the gavage tubes, they have started bottle feeding and are doing ok with it. They can manage about 1/2 their milk before they get too tired and the process becomes counter-productive. They have also all tried the breast, but none have really figured it out yet. It doesn't help that Mitch and Eli are still  on oxygen and thus have their feeding tube in their mouth, blocking their tongue from being able to properly latch. And Nate, although his feeding tube is in his nose, just hasn't quite figured it out. But every day I try. Overall they are doing great. I couldn't be happier! And I can't wait for them to come home!!!