Quads Being Raised As Triplets

Here we are right before the 3.25 mile walk. It was great to see so many people out walking and supporting the March of Dimes, there were so many happy outcomes and also people walking in rememberance of a baby or babies.

Things I learned on the walk, bring a wagon or something for the big girls. We spent half the walk switching them in and out of the stroller and carrying babies. :) All though they are big enough to handle a 3.25 mile walk. Next year we will bring the wagons. :)

A BIG THANK-YOU to everyone that donated and supported the March of Dimes. They are doing amazing things to help preemies and Moms.

The NICU reunion was great, Don took pictures on his phone so I do not have them on the computer yet. We saw so many families that we met in the NICU and everyone looked great!! I wish I had more time to visit with other families, maybe next year when it wont be so much chasing the little ones.

They feed us lunch and had games for the kids, it is a really good time and we look forward to enjoying it every year.

Thanks for peeking in on our happenings. :)

Here is Madeline, "Maddie", just seconds old.





Maddie was the 4th born of my quads. Weighing in at just 2 pounds 1 ounce and 13.5 inches in length. She was just a fiesty little thing.





Here is Maddie the morning after she was born, just 14 hours old, the nurses took this with a polaroid camera. Cute little button nose just like Samantha.



Look how blond she was. Just like Alexis. She is showing off her Ventilator used for breathing that first day. (Teddy and Bridgette would be on and off that ventilator for weeks)

Teddy at just 3 days old



Teddy was the 3rd born of my quadruplets. At only 27 weeks gestation he came into this world weighing 2 pounds 9 ounces and was just 14.75 inches long. Teddy, lovingly referred to as Mr. Moody Pants, by me in the NICU, struggled almost as much as Bridgette. Teddy was on breathing assistance for over 6 weeks and also had a small hole in his heart, that also closed, thankfully, without the need for surgery. Teddy contracted viral mennengitis, a urinary track infection while in the NICU which kept him on antibiotics most of his NICU stay. Teddy would choke and turn blue on less than 1/2 teaspoon of milk when he started feeding. Teddy would hold his breath and turn blue when they would do anything to him. Teddy came home after 67 days in the NICU, the same day as Samantha only to return less than 24 hours later, from stopping breathing and turning blue. We would find out that it was sleep apnea of prematurity, had I fallen asleep he may not be here, I had to stimulate him until paramedics arrived. He was given a blood transfusion back in the NICU and came home for good 7 days later, the same day as Samantha and Bridgette. They all came home on monitors.

Teddy had to endure 2 cold and flu seasons of getting monthly shots to help give him antibodies to fight off RSV. To most adults and full term children this is just a comon cold to preemies it can be life threatening. Teddy's immune system will not catch up to a full term babies immune system until he is 2 years old.

Teddy is now 19 months old, and healthy, thank you Dear Lord, at 18 months Teddy weighted a whopping 24 pounds 9 ounces (a 22 pound weight gain from birth weight) and is 31 inches tall. He is also hitting every milestone for his actual age of 18 months.

Teddy still has a weakend immune system from being premature and is at a higher risk for getting really really sick with a minor cold. He also has a PFO in his heart.

here is Teddy now







We will be walking this Sunday for the March of Dimes to help raise funds and awareness about prematurity.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this.
Please consider walking with us or making a small tax deductable donation: Click here to learn more or donate

Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Here is Bridgette at just 10 days old.

Bridgette was the second born of my quadruplets. She weighed in at just 2 pounds 5 ounces and 14.5 inches long. Bridgette struggled the most in the NICU, she had a hole in her heart that thankfully cleared up without surgery, she endured many blood transfusions, she had a blood clot below one of her kidneys, Bridgette had stage 2 ROP while in the NICU, Bridgette had chronic lung disease, she spent almost her entire NICU stay hooked up to breathing assistance. She teased us with coming home on oxygen. She was given a couple doses of steroids a week and a half before coming home, which got her off of the oxygen. After 74 days in the NICU Bridgette came home. Unfortunately she had high blood pressure from the last doses of steroids, which called for weekly and biweekly home healthcare nurse visits to monitor her the first 2 months at home until her blood pressure became normal. Bridgette also suffered from reflux and was on medication for several months to help control it.

Bridgette had to endure 2 cold and flu seasons of getting monthly shots to help give her antibodies to fight off RSV. To most adults and full term children this is just a comon cold to preemies it can be life threatening. Bridgette's immune system will not catch up to a full term babies immune system until she is 2 years old.

Bridgette is now 19 months old, and healthy, Praise be to God, at her 18 month check up she weighed 21 pounds 8 ounces and 31 inches tall. She is reaching all milestones for her actual age.

Bridgette still suffers from a small stigmatism and may need glasses in the future, she also has reacurring torticollis, which can be from her placement in the womb and a sudden growth spurt, we are working on stretches with her. She also is very limber and double jointed another side effect from being premature. Also what I call "preemie Head", more narrow and long than an adverage full term baby.

Here is Bridgette now

Here is Samantha at just 15 days old.

Samantha was born weighing a mere 2 pounds 9 ounces and was 14.5 inches long. Samantha was our "All Star" in the NICU, she needed very little breathing assistance for most of her stay. Samantha has over come many challenges of being born so early. She was sent home after 67 days in the NICU only to be taken back by ambulance in the early hours of the morning from choking on reflux and turning black. Samantha received many blood transfusions and ended up with another one the day she went back to the NICU. She spent an additional 7 days in the NICU before returning home for good.

Samantha had to endure 2 cold and flu seasons of getting monthly shots to help give her antibodies to fight off RSV. To most adults and full term children this is just a comon cold to preemies it can be life threatening. Samantha's immune system will not catch up to a full term babies immune system until she is 2 years old.

Samantha is now 19 months old, and as healthy as ever at her 18 month check up she weighed 20 lbs and was 29.5 inches tall. And was reaching all of the milestones for an 18 month old.

Samantha still suffers from reflux and has tight muscles due to prematurity. She is currently in physical therapy to help stop her from tip toe walking.

here is Samantha now


We will be walking this Sunday for the March of Dimes to help raise funds and awareness about prematurity.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this.

Please consider walking with us or making a small tax deductable donation: Click here to learn more or donate

Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

It has been a little while since I have updated. We have been busy as usual.

Alexis and Olivia are getting ready for thier dance recital next month. Alexis is looking forward to summer, she likes school, just does not like hving to get up early. Olivia is enjoying her class at ECFE, we only have 5 weeks left, WOW.

Samantha is in physical therapy once a week. She has been tip toe walking and we are working on stretching her muscles, and after just 3 sessions she has improved remarkably.

Bridgette and Teddy are growing like weeds, Teddy still is the heaviest but Bridgette has passed him in height. Both the little girls can say "Teddy", "Lexi", & "LiLi" (olivia), they all have a ton of words thier vocabulary has taken off. They are so much fun.

I am so excited that we will be walking in just 6 short days for the March of Dimes. It's not too late to join us in walking on Sunday or to make a small donation and sponsor us. Here is the link for more information: http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=1371944&si= .

After the walk we will be going to the NICU reunion. I am looking forward to seeing some of the Dr.s, nurses and families that I met on our 2.5 month stay.

Thanks for keeping up on our family.

This was a great Easter, Alexis wrote a note to the Easter Bunny and gave him a present.

Alexis then lined up everyones baskets and went off to bed.