March 22 to 28, 2011

Once again this past week has flew by and our triplets are definitely growing!  We had tons of help from our families again.  Sarah's Aunt Jane finally got to meet the triplets and she brought us a cake from The Lovin' Oven.  Sarah and I also did some nights by ourselves, which was hard, but nice at the same time.  We also went for our first family walk!  The Peg Perego stroller worked awesome and Hayden loved running and throwing rocks.  Sorry it has taken so long to post an update, but I have been busy doing grad-school homework and trying to get a lot of it done before I go back to work.  I plan on going back part time the week of April 4th.  I go back full time the week of May 22nd.  My Grandpa Gescher was admitted to Salem Hospital and is on the floor I worked on up until this January.  He has PEs and DVTs.  Please keep him in your prayers.  The Statesman Journal and The Stayton Mail are going to do a story on our family within the next few weeks!  Thanks for following our blog and plan on updates about every week!

On 3/22/11, their weights were:

Hunter 7 lbs 5.5 oz (up 13.5 oz from 3/15/11)

Hadley 6 lbs 4 oz (up 9 oz)

Holden 6 lbs 13.5 oz (up 11.5 oz)

Hayden putting in Hunter's soothie

Our first walk

Hunter

Hadley

Holden

Hayden running and throwing rocks

Hayden loves playing catch!

So happy to be playing outside!

Thanks,

Casey

March 18-21, 2011

These past days have once again flew by!  My Dad stayed 2 nights and he got up at all the night feedings to help out!  He was off work this week.  My Mom also stayed and so did Nancy.  As far as meals, our parents both made us dinners.  My uncle Dennis, Aunt Loni, and Travis and Kim finally got to meet the triplets on Sunday.  They also brought them gifts and some baked ziti pasta that we froze for a dinner later.  My Grandpa and Grandma Lulay brought us a bouquet of daffodils and also a frozen lasagna and some homemade bread.  They visited a few times these past days.  My Grandma Gescher has come over these past days to help out too.  Katie, Kyle, and Olivia, and Ashley came over to visit and have dinner with us too.  I have been busy with school and am deciding when to go back to work part time since my PTO runs out soon.  I am putting in for Caring and Sharing at work in case staff want to give me some hours.  I am hoping I can stay home longer since things are still hectic around here.      

As far as the triplets, they are all growing like crazy and are much more alert.  Hunter seems to be awake the longest.  Hunter and Holden seem to switch days in being fussy and wanting to be held.  Hadley is still laid back and only cries here and there.  Sarah is now breast feeding 3 times in 24 hours and then pumps in between for the bottle-feeding.  We were told to not let them nurse more than this until they are full term.  They will already be a month old tomorrow and are now 38 weeks! 

Hayden sleeping in our bed, next to the triplets' bed

Attempting to get all 4 kiddos with Sarah in a picture

All snuggled in our bed

Hayden loves his brothers and sister

Hunter has big dimples

Matching outfits Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Barham got them

Thanks,

Casey 

March 12-17, 2011

Sorry it has been so long in an update on the blog, but things have been really busy and time flew by!  Where do I begin?  First of all both my Mom and Dad have been rotating shifts with Nancy.  On Monday, Julie Martin of ZoZoBugBaby photography came to our house with her friend, Kim Adams of Elite Photography to take pictures of the triplets and Hayden.  She had vendors donate blankets, hats, and onesies for the triplets.  She even made Hayden a shirt!  It was a lot of fun and took about 4 hours!  We had heaters going in our front room to keep them all warm.  My aunt Annie brought us some chicken enchiladas, salsa, and chips that night.  They were awesome!  On Tuesday, March 15, the Linn County Health Nurse came to our house to do measurements and weights.  The weights were:

Hunter: 6 lbs 8 oz

Hadley 5 lbs 11 oz

Holden 6 lbs 2 oz

Both boys are now 19 inches long and Hadley's was 18 inches.  Their heads were all perfect too.    

Bob and Nancy and my parents made us dinner throughout the week.  On Wednesday, March 16, my aunt Val made us her famous chicken pasta as well as salad and Skinny Cows.  It was nice to have her visit.  That night, Val, Katie, Nicole, Chad, my Mom and Dad all ate dinner together.  Val made a ton of pasta, so we got to have left-overs.  Nicole took Hayden for a walk, so I asked her to get our mail and I gave her the key.  However, after a half hour of her being gone we began to wonder.  She called us and told us the key wasn't working, so we talked her through it.  Then she said, "It is PO Box so and so" and we were like, "Um no, it is by our house."  She walked all the way there.  I felt bad because I should have told her where our mailbox was.  Oh well, Hayden had a blast walking and jumping in mud puddles! 

On Thursday, March 17, my aunt Michelle and my cousin Presley came over to see the triplets for the first time.  They brought us a big basket full of goodies!  Michelle helped feed Hunter and Presley held Hadley.  It was nice to visit with them for a few hours.  Michelle is going to be "Super Nanny" and help us out every week.  We really appreciate this and look forward to it.  My cousin Nicole made us some awesome pizza rolls for dinner on March 17th. 

Hadley all dressed up

Thanks,

Casey

March 10 and 11, 2011

My Mom stayed the night of the 10th and Nancy stayed the night of the 11th.  Days seems to run into each other since we are so busy.  On Thursday night, my sister Katie and Olivia, my sister Ashley and Creed, my Dad and Mom, and my Grandma and Grandpa Gescher ate dinner with us after my Mom and Grandma made it.  It was very nice of them.  We would like to congratulate Brooke and Ben for getting to finally have all of their triplets at home with them.  They got to bring Payton home on the 10th!  We look forward to some fun triplet play dates and big brother play dates too (they have an older son too, that is around 2 1/2 years old).  The evening of the 10th, we gave our triplets baths and Hadley loved it, but the boys fussed some.  Hadley acted like she was sun-bathing on the foam mat.  On the 11th, Nancy took Sarah and Hayden up to Portland for Sarah's follow-up appointment with Dr. Pandipati.  Everything went awesome and he told her that she is, "A perfect example of a triplet pregnancy and despite her severe preeclampsia she help onto our triplets until an amazing week-34 weeks 1 day."  This made Sarah feel really good.  She also got to take off her TED hose, but still has to continue her Labetalol.  We got to eat dinner with my Grandma and Grandpa Gescher again, along with My Mom and Dad, and Bob and Nancy because my Grandma made us dinner again!  We are still amazed what our life is now compared to a short time ago.  It is definitely busy, but fun and exciting!

Matching outfits my Mom got them

Hunter holding Hadley's hand

Sarah, my amazing wife and mom to 4, holding Hunter and Hadley

Thanks,

Casey    

March 9, 2011

Today we woke up early to feed the triplets before we had to leave at 8 AM for their doctor appointment.  Nancy stayed here with Hayden while we were gone.  It was helpful to have Nancy here last night to help with the feedings.  The doctor appointment went well.  We were the center of attention and everyone stared at us with our 3 car seats being carried through the office.  Dr. W checked them all out and said they were perfect and she was amazed how healthy they are and also amazed that none of the required any oxygen at all after birth.  She told Sarah how awesome she is and that she did great in carrying them to 34 weeks 1 day. 

The weights at today's checkup were:

Hunter: 6 lbs

Hadley 5 lbs 3 oz

Holden 5 lbs 9 oz

They have all gained great weight!  We came home and Hayden was happy for us to be home.  Nancy stayed here and helped us with things and made brownies.  She left around 5.  Then, my Mom and Dad brought dinner for us (we couldn’t eat meat since today is Ash Wednesday).  My Mom is staying tonight to help us. 

Quite the production in changing them,

undressing them, then weighing them.

Thanks,

Casey 

March 8, 2011

First day at home!  Today was a great day.  My Mom was here to help us get settled in.  Hayden woke up in a great mood and wanted to hold his brothers and sister.  He is very interested in being right there to help out.  Every 3 hours we fed the triplets and got them on a 7, 10, 1, 4 schedule for feedings.  Sarah is able to get enough breast milk for every feeding, so we are just adding Enfamil Enfacare to their bottles to boost their caloric intake (breast milk is 20 kcal and the doc wants 24 kcal).  This afternoon my Grandma Lulay and Grandpa Lulay came over to meet our triplets for the first time!  They loved every minute of it.  Then, Bob and Nancy came over.  My aunt and uncle, Mary and Dean brought us over some meals, eggs, and cookies.  We are so thankful for this since we don't really have any free time to cook!  Thanks again Mary and Dean!  Nancy stayed the night since tomorrow we have to take the triplets to their first pediatrician appointment at 8:45. 

Hayden holding Hunter for the first time and he loved it!

Hayden smiling for the camera holding Hunter

Hayden holding Hadley.  He only held Holden

for a short time, so no picture.

Thanks,

Casey

March 7, 2011

Day 50 in the hospital and the day we all get to come home!  They are 36 weeks today!  This morning Sarah and I were anxiously waiting to get to bring the triplets home, so we were up early and packed the rest of our things before the 8 AM feeding.  We met with Dr. K and he said that our triplets are ready to come home and told Sarah how proud she should be in keeping the triplets inside for as long as she did, especially with her severe preeclampsia.  I told Sarah the same!  All morning we did discharge stuff and we ran to Babies R Us to get the triplets "Swaddle Me" blankets for use at home.  Britt, another triplet mom, came by and visited us to give us some tips when we came home.  The schedule is a must, so she shared her chart she used with her trio.  We also met Brooke and Ben and 2 of their triplets on our way out.  We are praying that Payton gets to come home soon too!  After the 2 PM feeding, it was time to come home!  We were told by the nurses that it is very rare for all 4 triplets to come home on the same day, so we are very thankful for this!  When we loaded our triplets in the car, we were overwhelmed with the feelings and emotions we had going on.  It had been 50 days since Sarah got to be home.  When we got home, Hayden was anxiously waiting with Grandma Nancy for us and his brothers and sister to arrive.  That evening, Bob, Nancy, my Dad and Mom all ate lasagna that Nancy made.  It was the most amazing feeling to be home!  My Mom stayed the night to help us.  That night, when I was in bed, I couldn't help but stay awake and think about how blessed we are and that we have 4 kids sleeping under one roof for the first time!  We continued with the every 3 hour feedings as well.

Their outifts fit perfectly for their homecoming.  The boys' say,

"Thank Heaven for Little Boys."  Hadley's says, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls."

First night at home sleeping together!

Very Happy Hayden after his bath.  He loves finally being home!

Thanks,

Casey