April 14, 2011: The jouney has begun!

All three of our babies are thankfully doing well. I don't know that it's hit either of us that we are parents to three, but every day we feel more and more connected to our precious little ones and look so forward to seeing them every day.

We are thankfully able to call the NICU as often as we want to check on them, so we usually call early in the morning, several times during the day, visit with them, and then call again before we go to bed and in the middle of the night. The nursing staff is amazing- they are so friendly and care so much for our babies. It is very difficult that they are apart from us and not at home, but we also wouldn't want them to be any place else as they are getting the excellent care they need. We will look very forward to the day we can bring them home.

Here's an update on Bates, Brooklyn and Grace so you can know how they are doing- we would also welcome your prayers for them.

Bates has been doing very well. He now weighs 3 pounds 2 ounces! His heart rate is good and all three have been breathing on their own from the beginning (Praise God for that). He has been spitting up some  so the nurses are watching that, but they said he is doing just fine. He loves to sprawl himself out, cross his legs, rest his arms behind his head, and lounge in his bed- he's known to be the "laid back one." Bates was the first one we were able to hold and it was truly amazing.

Grace has been doing wonderfully as well. She loves to curl up and snuggle, and she especially loves to lay on her stomach. She now weighs 2 pounds 14 ounces. Grace was so sweet when they put her into my arms. She kept looking at me at first and then she was out for the rest of the time. We have also loved being able to hold sweet Gracie.

Brooklyn has been more up and down than the other two. She has given us a few scares with a higher heart rate, full stomach, and bradys' episodes (when the heart rate lowers which is normal for preemies). She had to get a blood transfusion yesterday to improve her blood count and heart rate, which is also a normal procedure. We are so thankful to God that she is doing great today! Her stomach has gone down and her heart rate has regulated. She is so tough! She also loves to snuggle and curl up, and just melts in your arms! We both have loved every second of holding Brooklyn- she is so adorable!

As you can see, every day is different, and every day we have to rely on God for strength and simply trust Him. It's still surreal that we are parents of triplets, but I couldn't imagine it any other way. Bates, Brooklyn and Grace have already brought us more joy than I could have ever imagined.

I'm off to the hospital to hold our little ones now! (: