Flashback Friday~our identical boys

Here is a special Flashback! 

I haven't posted one in awhile...this doesn't mean that we don't have them.  

Everyday I think of just how tiny our three once were.    

Carlos and Marcos are identical twins, they shared a placenta, while Ms. Sofie had her very own and an individual sac.

Sharing a placenta put them at a very high risk for Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Very early in the pregnancy, I underwent a procedure called Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) to rule out chromosomal abnormalities.  At the time, ultrasounds showed a concern for Baby B's (Marcos) bladder, it was enlarged.  We were so worried at the time and had no idea that the test will also confirm their sex.

I remember being asked on the phone if I wanted to know their sex and of course I said yes!

...my first thought? What will I do if there is three boys?!

So here they are...

First of many pics together...

The pics were taken by a special someone who wanted to make mama smile once she got home from the NICU.

What do I see in these pictures?
The NG-tube...Carlos's (left) thru his mouth and Marcos's thru his nose.
This allowed them to drink mama's milk every 3 hours.  Carlitos was our sickest of the three and was on TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) the longest.  He took what seemed forever to work his way up to full feeds. He patiently waited to receive breast milk, nurse and drink from a bottle. Perhaps that is why our identical boys have always had a weight difference.

What else do I see? Nothing on their face!! Our wonderful nurses were allowing them a little break from oxygen support.  This photo shoot took about 20 seconds and required a team of four, including RT (respiratory therapist)
And they are wearing clothes! A huge NICU milestone...

The pictures were taken on July 22, 2011.

They came home about a month later.

Happy Friday!
And Happy 10 years to us!
TEN years ago I married the most wonderful man, husband and father.
We just wanted one more...
and God blessed us with three and after getting through a high risk pregnancy, an almost 3 1/2 month NICU stay, sleep deprivation and exhaustion, we are stronger than ever!

August 17, 2011~Flashback Friday

Here is Marcos last year. 

August 17, 2011

The trio is 15 months actual age today.

 He was the first one to be tubeless, no nasal canula, no feeding tube.  I remember I couldn't wait until everything came off.  All of this meant we were getting so close to bringing them home.  And so I took a few pics of what my view was for months. 

Marcos's monitor satting at 96 with no assistance.  A glorious day.

After 24 hours the tape comes off.  And the 5 day countdown was on!

Daddy holding Marcos.

Not sure why I don't have any pics of Carlos on this day.  I will need to look back at my notes to see if he was already co-bedding with brother and sister.  I'm pretty sure he was.

Sofia was also getting close.  It became a race.  Here is a note I found one morning on Sofia's crib.  Nurse Nuna trying it out and challenging my girl. She did it! Her countdown began as well.

Sofia meets Tita~Flashback Friday

~Flashback Friday~

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law are visiting from AZ for the weekend.  

In Tita's honor, here are some pics of Tita holding Sofia for the first time.  

Pictures taken on July 14, 2011

I have recently found the little notebook that I took with me every morning to rounds.  

Things must have been looking up for Sofia because there are very little notes around this time.

On July 17, 2011, Sofia weighed 1310 grams or 2 lbs. 14 oz!!!!

This was huge, not bad for the ex-25 weeker.

She was getting 26 mls of breast milk every 3 hours.

And was on nasal canula, 2 liters, oxygen between 25-35%.....

Oh NICU memories!

Flashback Friday~Sofia

This is Sofia on May 26, 2011.

She was the first out of the three to be extubated, 9 days after she was born.

 She was my smallest, weighing 1 lb 2.3 oz.
Everyone called her a rock star. 

If my memory is correct...she lasted about 3 days 2 1/2 weeks before the tube had to go back in.  

That was hard, oh those ups and downs of the NICU.

She was intubated for approximately 6 weeks. 

Once she had her PDA surgery, she didn't look back and her breathing progressed quickly.

Flashback Friday~Marcos

Daddy found a bunch of pictures of the trio I had never seen.  They are not the best quality because they were taken with his cel phone.

We still don't know which baby is in the picture for sure, we can only guess.

I think this is Marcos and only because of the isolette next to me and the hat he is wearing.

Oh sweet baby! How far you have come!

Taken May 25, 2011

Day 9



Sofia takes a dip

Yep it happened!

Horrible diaper rash due to the antibiotic!

My poor Sofie!

Our weekend was spent airing her out and soaking her bottom.

The funny thing about this picture is the plastic yellow bin...we have about three or maybe four from our NICU stay.  When we were dipping her this weekend, we remembered this is where she used to get her baths in the NICU.  This tub was once too big for her! How far she has come!

Flashback Friday~Bath time

Marcos, it's bath time!

 Daddy gave you a bath in the NICU for the first time on July 23, 2011.

Daddy was nervous because you were so little.  Good thing your primary nurse, Nuna, was there to help.

He did a great job!

Now you are much bigger and Mommy tries really hard to give you and your brother and sister a bath at least 3 x a week....

Flashback Friday-The Golden Gate Bridge

This past Wednesday, we headed to San Francisco once again...this time with the trio, the strollers, and a huge diaper bag that included six bottles, breast milk, formula, diapers and extra clothes.  The babies had their first follow up appointment with the NICU clinic.  More to come on the actual appointment later...
But below are some not so great pics of the Golden Gate Bridge that I took on that day. 

 As I grabbed my phone and started snapping away I realized how far I have come.  When we first moved to the North Bay, driving on that bridge was pretty exciting.  We just couldn't believe that this well known monument was less than an hour away from us.  With our pregnancy, everything changed.  Our trips to the city were no longer fun.  They were nerve wracking, intense, full of anticipation and often fear.

Then the babies were born, and leaving our three one pound babies behind in a medically fragile condition in a city that was 30 miles away from our house was the hardest thing we have ever done.  And so the commuting began.  The first three weeks, we did it together.  The hubby took time off since I couldn't drive because of the c-section.  Then, on most days, I did the trip solo.  I remember the first time I drove myself to the hospital.  I still felt like a zombie going on adrenaline. It was no longer exciting.  Yes, I was getting closer to my babies; but, those first few weeks, even couple of months I would have no idea what I would be walking into.  In the NICU, a lot can change in a matter of seconds, and there was usually about a 3 hour window from my 6 am phone call and my 9am arrival.  Being so far away from the babies resulted in a lot of anger towards this bridge.   I could not appreciate the beauty, the sunshine or much of anything.  How could I while I had three fragile and tiny babies with a tube down their throat fighting for every breath? I was in my own world. Somehow my anger brought me closer to God.  Not sure at what point in the 102 days of traveling back and forth, I decided to pray each time I crossed the bridge.  I prayed for the health of our babies, strength, patience, wisdom but most importantly I asked God to help me accept his Will, his Plan, to help me accept whatever our future may hold.   And once I did, the anger started to subdue.  So the fact that I was reaching for the camera and taking some pics brought me some sort of relief even a sense of peace.  Nine months later, I can breathe a little easier.  I'm starting to move forward and deal with lots of feelings that had to be avoided.  I was in survival mode, and survival mode for me resulted in numbness.  So many days, I felt so cold, I felt like I should feel more, I should cry more, I was somewhat detached; but I got through it.

I was feeling pretty good that morning.  I was a bit nervous about the appointment but overall calm.  Feeling pretty accomplished for getting out of the house by 8am! Then I saw the bridge and I was happy to be able to appreciate it.  And then when we pulled in to the hospital's parking garage everything changed... I think I had a mini panic attack! Just out of nowhere, I found myself where I was nine months ago. Will the flashbacks ever stop?

Flashback Friday~Mystery baby

Love this pic!

Just not sure which of the three it is...

Maybe Sofia?

NICU brain...

Picture taken 7/14/2011

One year ago...

Today is December 27, 2011.  

A year ago today, we found out we were pregnant.  

I will never forget that day.  We were both so happy.  We could not believe that pregnancy test. 

Of course, I took like 3 or 4.  Each one of them quickly showed a positive test.  I remember not wanting to get my hopes up in case I went to the doctor and was told otherwise.  As if the morning sickness I started feeling 24 hours a day was not enough confirmation for me...

How crazy life is.  A year later, I'm blogging and pumping for my 3 little angels in the next room.  Sometimes we still cannot believe it.  My husband and I look at each other and still say "Three babies".  How did this happen? 

Ironically, today my husband found a business card.  A business card for the fertility doctor we started to see before Big Sis was conceived.  The doctor who told us we had a 4% chance of conceiving on our own.  The doctor who was about to start Clomid but was sure IVF was our only hope.  The doctor we never saw again once Big Sis was conceived.

God is truly amazing. Who would have ever thought we would have four kiddos?  A few months ago, while the trio was in the NICU, my mind was always foggy.  Not once could I see the future.  Not once could I see ahead.  I had to live minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day.  In the beginning, there were days I questioned my faith.  I had my angry moments.  I didn't understand why my babies had to be born so early.  Why they had to suffer and go through so much.  But as time went by, I accepted the fact that I was not in charge.  God had a plan for us.  I began praying for strength to get through whatever God had chosen for us.  This brought me some sense of peace.  I knew God was with us.  Having the triplets born at 25 weeks gestation was hard.  It's been a long and an exhausting emotional journey.  But God truly is amazing.  

Raising triplets and a five year old is hard.  Super hard.  I have my good days and my bad days.  On those bad days, the only thing I can do is pray.  Pray for patience and strength and be thankful for the blessings God has given us.  He picked us for a reason.  

Today, I can finally think of the future.  I can see our kids growing up together surrounded by love.

A memo to Carlitos

We had some wonderful visitors this past Tuesday! Two of our NICU nurses offered to babysit the triplets in the morning allowing mommy and Tita to do some Christmas shopping.  I was so happy to see Jen and Jacqui and so grateful for their help.  I've said it before and I will say it again....we have been blessed in so many ways and the staff at Kaiser, San Francisco hospital is one of those blessings.
Some of their nurses saw me at my worse, my lowest ever in life but the support our family received from them helped us get through many, many long days.  Their love and care for our babies helped them thrive and it is now so wonderful to share our little miracles with them in our home.

One of Carlitos primary nurse surprised me with the following memo.  So funny! This was after she saw my facebook update that morning that said:
 Another night we have 2 babies waking up only once instead of 2 x! Carlitos has not seen the memo!

Thank you Nurse Jacqui, I'll be sure to read this to him every night!!

MEMO

To:	Carlitos Sanchez
From:	Angelica Sanchez, President & CEO (Mommy)
CC:	Sofia, Marcos, Carlos, Bella
Date:	December 12, 2011
Re:	Triplets Night Time Sleep Schedule

I would like to remind you all that it has been over six months now since Sofia, Marcos, and Carlitos were born.  Wow that is amazing and everyone has done such a great job working together to get to this point.  I would like to tell you that it has been decided by upper management that it is time for the babies to sleep almost all night through.  One feeding is acceptable but as you all know times are tough and sleep has been a commodity that is hard to find.

 I commend you all again for all of the hard work you have done to get to this point. Bella, you have been such a wonderful big girl and big sister and have helped so much!  Carlos, Marcos, and Sofia, you have all been so strong and have really gone through so much with such success!  Carlos you have been a great Dad, providing for us all.   But, we must keep on schedule so please note the change as mentioned above.  I appreciate you all and thank you in advance for adapting to this change.

PS:  Please see attached memo from earlier this month re:  Santa’s Naughty & Nice List for further motivation!

Flashback Friday

I found this the other day.  

Daddy never told me he filmed this until much later.

This was Day 3.

May 20, 2011.

The first time I saw it, it was hard to watch.

It took months for me not to be scared and relive those first few days of their lives.

Now, each time I see it, I'm completely amazed. 

I can't believe these are my chubby babies sleeping in the next room.

I am so thankful God has blessed us with the medical advances that made our babies thrive.  

World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day, a wonderful day to celebrate the trio's half birthday.
Six months ago our lives were turned upside down...At merely 25 weeks gestation, our triplets were born.

Triplet A: Carlos Alberto weighed 1 lb, 4.1 oz

Triplet B:  Marcos Alberto weighed 1lb, 4.8 oz

Triplet C:  Sofia Maria weighed 1 lb, 2.3 oz

I quickly learned that my babies fell into a special category.  They were not just premature but were considered micro preemies; meaning they weighed less than 800 grams and born before 26 weeks gestation.

Today I am so blessed to have 3 healthy miracle babies home.

Will we ever forget?

Prematurity has touched our lives significantly.  I wonder if it will ever be a thing of the past.  I have become a bit obsessed reading information and blogs about premature babies.  As I write this, I struggle with the fact that my kiddos already have a label.  I sometimes think I should remove myself completely from the preemie world.  After all, the more I read and the more knowledge I gain, the more I anxiously await their future.  There has to be a balance. Some stories bring me fear while others give me hope. 

As a mom I will never forget the first time I laid my eyes on them.  Those first few hours of their lives, those first few days, those first few weeks will always be a part of me.  I have never felt so much uncertainty.  Not knowing what each day would bring is the worse feeling.

I will always remember what my babies looked like with tubes and IVs fighting to survive.  I wish beeping sounds would not remind me of their monitors and machines their lives were dependent on. I wish I could forget the days my babies turned "dusky" on me and the ups and downs of the NICU.

It just was not fair for my babies to come into the world so early and to experience such trauma.  I look at them now, and I am blessed.  They are doing so well.  I feel fortunate.  Our NICU experience included a long intubation for all three also knows as Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease, 3 PDA ligations, 3 lasic surgeries for ROP and 2 inguinal hernia repairs.  Now I know that all of this is quite common in the micro preemie world.   I also know not everyone is as fortunate as us.  I think of the baby girl in our room who did not make it.  I pray for that family and for everyone affected by premature births. 

The one thing this whole experience has taught me is not to question God's plan.  I pray every day for patience and strength to accept everything and anything He puts in front of us.

Below are some pictures of their first few days...

And here they are today:

Triplet A: Carlos Alberto weighs10 lbs 4 oz

Triplet B:  Marcos Alberto weighs 11 lbs 9 oz

Triplet C:  Sofia Maria weighs 10 lbs

I love you! You just keep on growing!

My Saturday morning

I love it when one of the babies wakes up before the other two and before Big Sis.

Today it was Carlitos.  He started waking while I was pumping. I had the hubby go in and get him before he woke up the others.  He hung out next to daddy for quite awhile.  Daddy went back to sleep. Carlitos played by himself. I kept pumping. The first am pumping session is a long one, we're talking like 40 min for about 16 oz of breast milk. When I was done, I got back in bed and chatted with my lil guy, even cuddled with daddy for only a few seconds before he started fussing.

I was about to get a bottle ready when thankfully I thought, let's nurse, not sure how much he will get but it's worth a try.  It doesn't happen very often, they mostly get expressed milk in a bottle.  He had a hard time latching on, he was mad and squirmy and I'm pretty sure I was more on the empty side; but, I just kept switching from side to side until he drifted away to dreamland.  My camera was nearby and managed to get these shots.

Carlitos was my sickest one in the NICU.  He was on a ventilator for about 2 1/2 months, maybe even longer.  He was the last one to receive breast milk through a feeding tube due to medications.  The last to nurse.  He didn't get as much mommy time so I'm always amazed at the fact that he can do it.  He is quite good at it when he wants to be.

This morning we got some good cuddling time.  There is not enough of that around here.  One of the downfalls of having multiples.  I always feel like we gotta rush through it all.  Awake, diaper change, feed, burp, and pray they go back to sleep.  Then it starts back up again.  After awhile I put Carlitos in the swing.  I knew chaos was about to begin.  It is getting a bit easier as they get older.  We are noticing a lot more awake time, and happy awake time is the best.  Lots of smiles, and cooing.  We love it.  Great way to start the weekend.

Five months ago

Five months ago, I was 25 weeks pregnant

Then my water broke

On May 17, 2011, you three came into the world

Scared out of our minds, we prayed and prayed for a miracle...

These are the first pictures that were taken of the trio.  

Unfortunately,we are not sure of who is who.

Triplet A: Carlos Alberto Sanchez, 1 lb 4.1 oz

Triplet B:  Marcos Alberto Sanchez, 1 lb 4.8 oz

Triplet C:  Sofia Maria Sanchez,  1 lb 2.3 oz

Happy Five Months to the three of you! And thank you for being the fighters that you are!

Post surgery

Here we are waiting...waiting...waiting...for the anesthesiologist and nurses to take my boy to the operating room to treat ROP with laser surgery in his eye.

Mama liked the gown, Daddy not so much.

 

 Who would ever think this baby weighed 1.4 oz at birth?

 The surgery was a success!  They treated both eyes and my little guy came back from the operating room extubated and hungry.  He was allowed to eat and hour after surgery and no IV was necessary!

This has been the smoothest surgery yet!

We were lucky to be admitted back to the NICU where he spent 98 days instead of Pediatrics.

He had some of our favorite nurses care for him and it was one big reunion.

Everyone is so impressed with his progress! And mama couldn't be happier.