Heathcott Party of Six

Soon to be parents for FOUR boys

Thursday, April 14th

I had a scheduled c-section on April 14th at 10am. I chose the 14th because it was my Grandma's birthday and Harper and I were both born on the 14th. I was very nervous about surgery because it was my first. When Cam and I arrived at the hospital my parents were in the waiting room and so was Mrs. Vicki. They calmed my nerves and made me laugh before I got called back for my pre-op. Luckily the nurses were very knowledgable and put my mind at ease. It wasn't long before I was being wheeled down the hallway and into the operating room. The anesthesiologist quickly gave me a spinal and before I knew it I heard Hampton cry at 10:53, Hogan at 10:54, and Hudson at 10:54. I had no idea that surgery had even begun. So much for being nervous, the surgery was a breeze!

Mrs. Vicki, Me, and Addy

Prepped and ready for surgery

Hampton, I think?

Hudson Barrett

The nurses snapped a few pictures of Cam and I with the boys and then they disappeared to the NICU while I went to a recovery room. My mom was able to come back to the room with me while Cam stayed with the babies. While recovering I got extremely nauseous and and started itching all over. Apparently I am really allergic to morphine, who knew? After two hours they wheeled me down to the NICU to see the boys. They were all on heart rate monitors, CPAP (receiving 6% room air pressure), and IV's that contained sugar, salt, water, and protein. I didn't stay long in the NICU because I was still nauseous and needed to recover from surgery. Later that afternoon Big Brother Harper met the boys, but was totally underwhelmed. He was more interested in getting a snack from Mrs. Vicki.

Daddy and Big Bro

Aunt Julie brought us "Trio" wine

Friday, April 15th, Morning

The boys had a good first night in the NICU. The doctors reduced their CPAP to 5% room air pressure. If they continue to do good, they they will move to a canula. Hogan lifted his head, not surprising because he moved the entire time while in utero. The original IV's were moved and Hogan and Hudson's are in their right hands. Hampton's is in his head because his veins are "tender." They are all going to town on their pacis and are showing no signs of stress. They have fussed a little, making the nurses believe they are getting hungry.

Mom and Hampton

Hogan

Hampton

Afternoon

Hampton and Hogan

The doctors did their rounds at 11 am and ordered that the boys be off CPAP. We can finally see their sweet faces. They are receiving a "puff" of air through a clear nose piece called a canula. We got to hold then at 2pm for a tubal feeding. I held Hampton and Hogan while Cam held Hudson. Such a proud moment. They were swaddled in our arms so when nurse Sherry put then back in their incubator she turned off the warmers! This means they will move to a crib soon! Right now their feeding schedule is 8, 11, 2, 5...

Hampton

Night

The babies are still doing well. Hampton's eyes finally opened for me. The nurses think he looks most like Cam. At feeding time, the nurses suction the food from the previous feeding out of the babies' stomachs to look at it and see if they are digesting it. So far so good! Hogan is winning by digesting the most and even pushed the nurse's hand away when she was going after a booger. He may be our fighter!

Saturday, April 16th

No more IV's for Hudson and Hogan! At least for the time being. The doctors will see how they do. Feeding tubes are now in their noses (not mouths). They will increase feeding amounts for those two. Hampton is keeping IV's and canula for now. Not far behind! Harper came and sang "Amazing Grace" again and Cam video-taped it! Precious. He had a t-ball game this morning and got the game ball! Great day for our family! Hampton is still our only pooper. We got to feed skin to skin today. God is SO good.

Harper and Me, watching a movie on the ipad

Night
Hampton wanted to be like his brothers, so he pulled out his IV, nurse Robin decided to leave it out! Yay! So now Hampton needs to keep up the breathing so he can be off the canula. We got to hold Hogan and Hudson during their 8pm feeding tonight. They increased the amount of milk they get tonight.

Sunday, April 17th

Today was another step in the right direction. The boys all moved to "open cribs." So now they are in the incubators like Harper stayed in. The doctor wrote orders for me to start nursing Hogan and Hudson! I nursed Hogan first and he latched on immediately....amazing! I tried Hudson next and he did the same thing! Hudson nursed for 24 minutes. He is going to get chubby quickly. Cam got to change Hudson's poopy diaper, the first of many!

We are feeling so thankful for our healthy boys. They amaze us each day. We are praying that they are home by Easter.

Monday, April 18th

Cam and I went to the NICU for the boys 8 am feeding. I nursed Hogan for 15 minutes and Hudson for 30! Hampton is still on the canula and getting tube feedings.

After the doctors did their rounds, they ordered the canula removed and gave me the okay to start nursing Hampton!

I nursed all 3 babies and it only took one hour! It has been taking an hour and a half but we are getting faster. Cam went back o the office this afternoon. I am loving being a mommy to babies! They are SO sweet. Harper came up for a visit and kissed all the babies. He sang then twinkle, twinkle little star. So cute! I got up to take his picture and he told me that I had a BIG bottom!! Wow, out of the mouth of babes.

Night

I am staying at the hospital one more night for "Care by Parent." I have been discharged from the hospital, but I get to stay in my room for a complimentary night to take care of the boys. I spent most of the afternoon in the NICU with my boys. I had skin to skin time with Hogan because his body temp was 97F. What sweet snuggle time. Cam is spending the night at home with my parents and Harper, so it is just me tonight. Hopefully all goes well. I am praying no one has reflux. Hampton spit up a lot today. Hopefully he had a full tummy or needed to burp. We are also praying that the boys get to come home by Easter.

Tuesday, April 19th

Last night at Memorial Hermann

Care by parent went well. I felt like I was in a hotel since I had no interruptions. I nursed all the boys at 8, 11, and 2. They got ordered to bottle feed tonight. So I hope that goes well. They are all one step closer to going home! The next thing that needs to happen is the removal of the feeding tube.

Wednesday, April 20th

Last night was my first night at home. It was pretty tough leaving the boys at the hospital. I cried twice, but I know they are in good hands. I called and checked on them and they all took a bottle. Hampton didn't finish his, but Hogan and Hudson did. Dad drove me to the hospital for the 8am feeding. They were a little sleepy so they did not nurse long.

I went back to the hospital for the 2pm and 5pm feedings. Dr. Roohey came in and told me great news, the boys have been cleared for 6 bottles!! If they finish those then the tube can come out. They have been cleared for circumcision and a hearing screening. They also moved to the step down nursery!! Praise the Lord! God answers prayers, this has been an awesome experience. If all goes as planned the boys will be home Saturday. We have some work at home to do! My family needs to get well. At the moment Cam has strep, Mom has vertigo, and Harper has a bum knee. I am losing my mind! I even took a shower with my sunglasses on my head and left my debit card in the machine!

Thursday, April 21st

Car seat test, Dr. Westmoreland came to visit

I went with Cam to take Harper to school. It felt good to get dressed and get out of a hospital gown. I neede to drive to the hospital so Cam made me take a spin around the block to make sure I felt comfortable. I drove to Memorial Herman and fed the boys at 11, 2 and 5. They are such great eaters. The boys were supposed to be circumcised at noon, but it got rescheduled for the next day because Dr. Westmoreland was super busy. Today the boys passed their car seat test. They had to sit in their seats for one hour with out refluxing or having Bradys. Harper came to visit the babies and we took lots of pictures.

Hampton, Hogan, Harper, and Hudson...One "H" of a family!

Good Friday, April 22nd

The boys got circumcised today. I wasn't at the hospital, thank goodness. We got cleared to go home tomorrow!! Just in time for Easter. Hampton just has to keep taking his bottles. I am thrilled to have my family together at home for Easter.

Saturday, April 23rd

Homecoming! We picked the trio up at 1pm right after their Hep B shot. Dr. Roohey discharged us and said these were the best triplets they ever had in the NICU. They were also the fastest to leave the NICU! When we left Hampton weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces, Hogan four pounds 9 ounces, and Hudson 5 pounds 1 ounce.

We got up at 6:45am on our last Saturday before the triplets were born, for Harper's first baseball game. Call us CRAZY! We loaded up the car early this morning with a super excited three year old who could not wait for his first game! He has been interested in baseball since his baseball themed birthday party in August. Everyday when Cam gets home from work they hit balls in the back yard.

Harper and his best buddy Cooper are on the Baltimore Orioles team. The team colors are orange and black which just happen to be Harper's favorite colors...."GO POKES colors!" YMCA baseball consists of a 30 minute practice followed by a 30 minute game. This is perfect for 3 year olds, well kind of, they really have a ~~short~~ no attention span!!

I went on a coffee run so I missed practice, but I was in for some laughs when I got back. It was hilarious to watch the chaos on the field. Every dad was out there trying to tell their son what to do, where to run, where to throw the ball, etc. There was a sea of people of the field, and little guys in oversized baseball gear. Adorable! Harper played pitcher and Cooper played 2nd base. Every time a batter hit the ball Cooper and Harper would run to the ball and tackle each other. It looked more like football than baseball! The dads could be yelling run to first, throw it to 2nd, but lets be honest they had no clue what they were supposed to do! Harper eventually caught on and got someone out the last play of the game. Proud moment for dad!

Cooper and Harper getting the ball!

After the game was over, we had to go to Academy and buy Harper come more baseball equipment. Cam walked out with a new baseball bat (we only have plastic at home), glove, bag, "real" baseballs, and a tee. I am not sure who is more excited Harper or Cam!