Quads Being Raised As Triplets: January 2010

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

What a week, a sad week

Last week Tuesday January 19th I got the call that my Great Aunt Mary passed away. This woman is/was my hero. She was more like a grandma to my brother, sister, my cousin J and I. So I knew I needed to be there. I flew out to Michigan alone on Thursday, my brother, his wife and daughter flew out from TX, my sister drove from OH and my cousin aunt and Uncle arrived from NC.

I am terrified to fly, have I mentioned that before and I get sick at the thought of going on a plane and I was going alone, not to mention I would not see my kids for 4 days. I found myself crying at 2:30AM on Thursday holding Bridgette saying I can not leave my babies. But I knew I would regret it.

So Thursday morning I took a picture of me with each person in the family, I thought if I am going down at least they will have 1 last picture with Mom.

Alexis

Olivia

Samantha

Bridgette

Teddy

Don

Olivia blew me a kiss at the airport.

Sometime during the flight the thought occured to me that if I wanted the kids to have 1 last picture with mom I really should have downloaded them to the computer before I left. So I decided to focus on the new book I bought, "Twighlight", and try hard not to think about the movie Airplane.

I coordinated my flight to arrive when my brother and family arrived from TX so I could hitch a ride with them. I seriously did not want to be in Detroit alone, it's scary.

And here I am snuggling with my adorable niece E, while waiting for my big brother to arrive back with the rental car. :)

My sister drove in from OH and we shared a room at the hotel, here I am with my baby sister before heading out to the funeral.

My brother, sister and I got to ride in a Limo, I have never been in one, we followed Aunt Mary to the cemetary after a beautiful service. My cousin J and Big Brother did readings and they did an amazing job, I would have broke down up there.

My Aunt Mary picked out her spot a few years ago. Way up high and the sun shines on her. See the sun shinning on her, it was so very cold.

We had a great luncheon after with lots of family. This is me and my sister in law, E's Mom!!!

Me and my cousin J. This was the 1 and only cousin I knew growing up, she is 4 years younger than me, and I just love her so much!! :)

Here are cousin J and me Christmas tree Shopping in 1981. Aunt Mary was with us that day, my scanner is broken so I can not put the photo out with her in it. But this is one J had scanned a while back.

Can you believe the last time my brother sister and I were together was in 2005. So here we are now. I LOVE these 2 tons!!!

My big brother said it well when he said Aunt Mary had a knack for keeping people connected. Even though we did not know everyone, because of Aunt Mary we felt like we did. I had such a nice time meeting some cousins I had never met. I enjoyed a delicious Polish dinner at my cousins house. And felt like I had known them forever not just a couple of days.

I LOVE you Aunt Mary, hold my Maddie tight, I'll be there with you someday, hopefully not for another 64 years or so. You will always be a part of who I am and my children and thier children.

Friday, January 8, 2010

NICU Follow Up Clinic!!!!!

On Tuesday we made a trip to Childrens Hospital for the 2nd of 4 NICU follow up Clinics. The clinics are provided at no cost to families of preemies that were in thier NICU. They are following up with kids to see how they are developing and we could not be more pleased. Remember the babies are 16 months old but neurologically thier brains are only at a 13 month old level. Here are the results.

Samantha:

Samantha:
Height was 28 3/4 inches For a 13 month old she is in the 45th%, for a 16 month old 5th%
Weight 18lbs 14.9 oz for a 13 month old 45th %, for a 16 month old 3rd%
Head 18 3/4" for a 13 month old 95th% for a 16 month old, 85th%

Baylee Scales of Infant Development

Cognitive score - 115
Age Equivalence - 16months

Motor Score - 118
Age Equivalence- Gross Motor Skills - 13 months
Fine Motor Skills - 20 months

Language Score - 106
Age Equivalence- Expressive - 14 months
Receptive - 14 months
Way to go Samantha!!!

Bridgette

Bridgette:
Height was 29 3/4 inches For a 13 month old she is in the 75th%, for a 16 month old 25th%
Weight 20 lbs .3 oz for a 13 month old 70th %, for a 16 month old 8rd%
Head 19 1/8" for a 13 month old greater than 100th% for a 16 month old, 95th%

Baylee Scales of Infant Development

Cognitive score - 115
Age Equivalence - 16months

Motor Score - 124
Age Equivalence- Gross Motor Skills - 16 months
Fine Motor Skills - 17 months

Language Score - 106
Age Equivalence- Expressive - 16 months
Receptive - 13 months

Way to go Bridgette!!!

Teddy

Teddy:

Height was 30 1/2 inches For a 13 month old he is in the 85th%, for a 16 month old 20th%
Weight 22 lbs 3.5 oz for a 13 month old 85th %, for a 16 month old 15th%
Head 19" for a 13 month old 90th% for a 16 month old, 75th%

Baylee Scales of Infant Development

Cognitive score - 130
Age Equivalence - 18months

Motor Score - 110
Age Equivalence- Gross Motor Skills - 12 months
Fine Motor Skills - 18 months

Language Score - 94
Age Equivalence- Expressive - 12 months
Receptive - 11 months

Way to go Teddy!!

They want the numbers to be between 85-115 which are normal scores, anything below is a concern. Everyone was at or above. Grandma was in with Teddy and he was getting tired she said that he did not do things that she knew he could, but even with being tired he did great and is doing awesome.

We couldn't be happier with thier development. When they were born at just 27 weeks there we so many unknowns.

They are playing, talking and having fun. So many things that we had no idea if they would accomplish. We know they have thier special Angel helping them along the way. I wish I was able to write Maddie's scores.

Praise be to God for these beautiful

Healthy

Smart

Babies!!

We go back for a NICU follow up when they are 2 years corrected age (so December 2010) this will be the last time they adjust for prematurity, after December they will just be 2!! Then they go back for one last follow up when they turn 4 1/2.

Way to go babies Mama LOVES you so much!!!!!