Week 25

There are no words to describe the feeling I get when another week is conquered. Not only have we made it past the goal of week 24; we have made it further than what was anticipated! Our excitement from making it through another week was stirred up when I was told it sounded like there was fluid on my lungs and that delivery was highly going to take place. Xray came up to my room to picture my lungs, but I ended up going down to get a more reliable picture. As I prayed and anxiously waited to hear what was going to happen; we were finally told the new plan. I did have fluid on my lungs and the magnesium would have to stop. I would be given a diuretic to help rid some of the excess fluid. All I could hear was no magnesium which was the only thing to slow my contractions. My mind went into overload as to what this meant. We were told the NICU team would come to speak to us to inform us of their game plan; and I would be given one dose of turbutaline (a shot not commonly given due to the adverse effects it has on the mom) to help with the contractions as well as a twice weekly shot of progesterone (a hormone shot to help stop pre term labor). All I could do was to pray for God's will be done; if ever a time I realized I had no control....it was now.

Shots were given, prayers sent up, and the NICU team arrived. I tried to take in every single word the head Dr was saying without being overwhelmed by emotions. This proved to be a task in itself. Even with the information overload; I was calmed with a peaceful heart. It wasn't up to me, my Dr's or even the NICU team as to what would happen to my babies whether they delivered that day or several weeks later. All I knew is that God was looking out for my boys and he would help them persevere no matter what. The next couple of days were spent not knowing what would happen; but nonetheless another day went on! One man from the NICU team who had spoken to us stopped by our room everyday to see how things were going and to pray with us...this is who was on my and my boys team; a man of the Lord (this was a rarity with Dr's and I was even more at peace that this man was brought to us!)! This made our days brighter.

Not a day later and my lungs cleared enough for the magnesium to begin again, which was a blessing as the contractions began to pick up (a UTI and other infection did not help out the contractions). The day brightened as my sister arrived into town and our nurse fought for the catheter to be removed so I could become half way normal by getting to get up the few short minutes to use the bathroom. Although shaky and weak from the magnesium, it felt nice to get to move a few short steps. This was the first time since being admitted I got a good look at my growing belly; and HUGE was an understatement!! We were on a streak with advocating nurses as the night nurse advocated for a shower...not a hang the head on the side of the bed hubby hair wash; but a real shower. I suppose the night Dr's are more pushovers than the day (or the nurse was quite the arguer!)! because they gave in!!! Now this was nice and appreciated; how the little things are so easily overlooked!!!

Closing out the 25th week and a mix of emotions set in. I am thrilled to have made it this far, tired of hurting from the pregnancy itself and all of the drugs to prevent labor, anxious about what the future holds. over being on bed rest....but most of all I am blessed. If it were up to my body; I think the towel would have been thrown in by now; god thing it is not me and my strength but His.

Me at 25 weeks

Week 24

Week 24...the week we have all been counting down to; and we made it!!!!Jeffrey woke me up to banana pancakes and welch's sparkling grape juice in a wine glass! CHEERS!!!!! This is by far the best celebration! How blessed I am to have gotten this far, despite the many complications. Thank you God! It is hard to imagine just six weeks ago when we were first admitted that we would ever see this day; with all of the lousy news and complications we encountered...but we did. And it would be wrong of me to say that, "We did it." I did not do anything, nor did Jeff...God did!

Beginning Saturday, I noticed that my contractions were getting a bit stronger; but at this point I was still uncertain as to which movement or tightening were to be considered a contraction. Needless to say; I ignored it. By the time Monday came I had noticed that I was feeling something different in my lady parts during a contraction that I had not felt before. I questioned all day as to whether or not I should go to the hospital or if I was overreacting. I decided to let Jeff make the call. At first he said what I wanted to hear and that was we were never satisfied with night time residents making decisions about our high risk pregnancy so we would wait it out until the morning. He went to work out as Judy (his mother) and I was watching our Monday night show, Dancing With the Stars (when all you have to do is lay; one becomes an avid show watcher!!!)! The began tracking the contractions and saw that they were fairly regular and I was still feeling them down below. Jeff came home and still we both tried to ignore it as we continued our nightly routines. It wasn't an hour later when we knew that we needed to go to the hospital.

When we arrived; the process we had encountered quite a few times began: checked in, hooked to the contraction monitor, vitals taken, and the wait for the Dr's examination. The monitor was picking up the regular contractions and the Dr. did his exam. My cervix was unchanged which was wonderful. We were told I would be admitted and they would put me on IV Magnesium to try and control the contractions. Although this is not what either Jeff nor I wanted to hear; we knew it was necessary. Being on this drug is a drag to say the least: the sweats, vomiting and nausea, having to have a catheter to ensure the output equals the input (Mag can cause fluid build up in the lungs and can cause the kidneys to not perform well). These are the frequently felt symptoms; the others are checked for every hour but are I guess less common. However; God gives strength and a mamma's love for her children in inconceivable...so this too would pass. After enduring a long night of unpleasant contractions and side effects, things seemed to calm down. It was a day later we suspected things were not critical as they moved our room away from the OR. This along with the news that our babies and my cervix were doing well; once again made it all worth it!

There is nothing fun or entertaining about a hospital and carrying quadruplets takes a toll on a pre pregnant 106 lb. body. The fact that we have made it through the 24th week and the meds seemed to be working brings an entire new meaning to the term fun!!!

Week 23

Mother's Day...I have considered myself a mom for quite a few years having been a teacher and having my furry babies. But this mother's day was different; I truly felt like a mom. How special and strong the bond I have with my four growing boys. Every kick, push, or pain I feel brings me excitement! Feeling them makes them real which makes motherhood apparent. Although they are not "here" for me to feed, rock, or nurture; my womb is doing all of those things; they need me just as I need them. I know every mom has a bond with thier child; but I just feel a connection with my boys that is beyond description. This has been a roller coaster of a pregnancy and my boys have endured it all with me; they go through everything that I do which has made us all stronger, I believe.Jeffrey made my day even more special by surprising me with a card, bear, and pearl ring; something I will cherish forever! Closing out on our 23rd week we are coming up on a milestone week; week 24...something that seemed so out of sight just a few weeks ago. This is one Mother's Day I will never forget and which holds a special place in my heart!

My days all go by the same...I lay in the same recliner day in and day out, I have my daily show line up, I talk to my mom 20 times a day, & I look forward to the same time of day (lunchtime when Jeff comes home from work). As monotonous as my life is on bedrest; time passes! Everyday that passes brings me one day closer to meeting my boys and gives my boys one more day to grow healthy and strong. How can I not be blessed!? I guage my weeks by my weekly high risk appointments. It gives me something to look forward to as well as breaking up the monotony. I get a chance to be human again; I get dressed, put on some makeup, comb my hair and get to leave the house!!! What most people take forgranted; I cherrish! It is also the time that I get to be reassured that my body and the boys are holding on strong; ultimately allowing me to stay home another week!

I wrote out my list of questions, concerns, and medications I need refilled to bring to the Dr and off we went on Wednesday afternoon for my weekly outing. Once wheeled upstairs; my weight and vitals were taken. I am now at 145; up a pound from last week and all of the other numbers are looking good. We went with our normal ultrasound tech and she mesured my cervix and monitored each baby's heart rate, doppler velocity, and fluid. This time of the appointment is when I say a prayer knowing that God is in control. My cervix was unchanged and all of the babies looked great; even after I have been on the Indocin (to control contractions)  for about a week again. Relieved I was! The Dr came in to review everything and to take a look himself; which he seemed to be pleased on how everything was going. I have had an extreme pain in my right ribs that I thought was either a baby or an organ being pushed into them. I told my Dr about it and he took a look with the ultrasound. He said the only thing that was against my rib at the time was Grayson' manhood; and as much as his Daddy would like to think it was the cause of my pain, I an the Dr highly thought not. He said that usually your ribs expands over weeks to accomodate for when a belly grows; mine however has not had that same opportunity to grow and cannot keep up with my daily growing belly; hence the pain. I was already prescribed pain meds for when my back or cervix aches; but it does not ease the rib pain at all. He said this could be another variable as to when we would deliver; although I am praying thtat my body will begin to grow as it is needed to accomodate my four growing boys.

I am so blessed that everything is going well and look forward to being on bedrest for the health sake of my boys for a few more weeks! God is good and has proven that he is in control and can make anything happen out of any situation!!!!!!

Me at 23 weeks

Brock's big mouth at 23 weeks

Camden at 23 weeks



Grayson at 23 weeks (Keaton's picture is MIA at the moment)

                                                      

Week 22

I should know by now that we lead an exciting life and when things slow down something has to happen to make a spark! I lasted a day after last Thursday's apt before noticing an increase in contractions; so we did as we were told and went to labor and delivery (although by the time I decided I needed to go it was eleven at night; maybe next time I will listen to Jeff....maybe)! All I wanted was to get the ok to increase the Procardia; just what my Dr. told me to do. The issue with going at night is that none of my high risk Dr's are there and only residents are. She wanted to start with a vaginal exam before even monitoring; I found this completely not necessary as I just had a cervix check the day before. Going against my gut I let her. Usually when my cervix  is checked it is done in the matter of minutes; she couldn't find it using the transvaginal ultrasound after many minutes so then opted to do a manual check which I was really against! She did and found that it was closed; I do have a stitch up there so it is not going to open without me knowing! I was then hooked up to the TOCO to monitor for contractions which were showing up. Two hours later and they wanted to do another cervical check to make sure the contractions were not causing a change. It was a replay from before; to me, two completely useless exams other than to cause me more pain. We were sent home and still not told to take the extra Procardia...which is what we were there for to begin with!!!!

Saturday was my skype baby shower from Florida with my family and close friends. I must say it was just too cute!!! It was so nice to be apart of my shower even being this far away. Everyone got to sit in front of the camera and open their gift and/or card. We are so blessed to have the family that we do!!! I have begun to do some online shopping since I am restricted to laying down; but have got to get it in gear!!!!! The only thing that I missed was the food and dessert I saw everyone else chowing down on....if only they could have emailed me that too!

The rest of the weekend my contractions continued and by Monday I was in pain with them. This time I listened to Jeff and we went to labor and delivery early in the afternoon. We were hooked up to the TOCO where there were some extreme contractions and one of the Dr's I saw when I was admitted checked my cervix which had a small change but still looked great. She told me to increase the Procardia and to not be afraid to take the pain meds when it got out of control. So I did just that!! The rest of the week was uneventful but passed all of the same. I got several packages of gifts from the shower so have kept busy writing thank you cards.

Today we went for our weekly high risk clinic apt. Although I am not stressed or even nervous about something being wrong (I truly have peace that I will carry these boys until 28 plus weeks), I can feel my body automatically getting anxious. My cervix was 3.5 which has dropped; but as expected, and still looks great which makes me happy! All of the babies are doing great and baby B's heart is back to normal! I have had a lot of tightening on my right side which I questioned about; I am not sure if it is a contraction or a baby moving and pushing. I pointed it out to him where he could feel to decide. One he was confident was a contraction but another he was unsure. He said he would feel better if we were monitored for 20-30 minutes to make certain. After being monitored and having several contractions show up; he told me to start back taking the Indocin and to come back tomorrow afternoon to be re monitored. I am praying the contractions stop!!!!

A wife from Jeff's work hosted a cute little shower at our house; it was nice to have visitors!!!! Being confined in the same recliner only to get up to use the restroom gets a bit monotonous!! It didn't take long for me to realize that I am no good at shower games; I lost everyone miserably!!! The company was great and the food was a hit with me and my baking boys! Just as soon as I opened my gifts Jeff and I had to leave to go back to the hospital to be monitored. I had felt contractions all day; some of which were painful, so I had prepared myself to see many contractions. The TOCO strip showed contractions every couple of minutes; some of which being so strong they went off the strip. The residents on shift called my Dr to see what his plan was. A resident we had seen even prior to being admitted came to say that my cervix needed to be checked...UGHHH!!! My poor cervix never has time to recoop before being irritated with again; which ultimately causes more contractions. Nevertheless, he checked it and found that it was 3.5; unchanged from my appointment day. This was a relief to me and gave me hope that I would not be admitted. He left to call my Dr again to see what I needed to do. I anxiously waited praying that I would not have to stay. After a debate on what to do it was decided that the only thing different that would occur if I was admitted would be monitoring; all of the meds would stay the same. I felt that I now knew what to look for in a contraction/s that would require us to return (constantly painful; and as of now mine are fairly consistent with random painful ones). Relief set in!!!!

As in control and type A as I am; I have no control and have chosen to give all control to Him. I have learned that I would rather it that way. God wants us to rely on him for strength and allow him to take our burdens and worries away; especially since each of our destinies are already planned out and is ultimately his will. I rely on Hm solely and find complete comfort and peace in knowing that the four gifts he has given me will continue to grow and develop in the safe haven of my womb and when it is time (I pray 28 plus weeks) they will come. Until then I will appreciate every moment of bed rest and give thanks for allowing my body to endure!

Me at 22 weeks

Jeff and I at 22 weeks