Three Little Miracles

3 Month Pictures (a little late)

hassetriplets — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:55:25 +0000

Well it’s been a few months since my last post so I just wanted to let everyone know that we are all doing great. Its been a lot of work but it is so rewarding. We dont have much free time these days to post online, but I know there are a lot of folks out there that want to see some new pics of the babies. They are all around the 11 lb range now and they are a lot bigger than the last time I posted pictures. These were from thier 3 month birthday/fourth of July portraits.

Luke Hasse

Click on the pic to see a few more on our flickr page.

Grandmogie and Papa

hassetriplets — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:28:51 +0000

What on earth would we ever do without their help? From the moment they found out about the babies they have been amazingly supportive in every possible way. From taking care of us when I was too big to walk to c-section after-care, and now staying up at all hours of the night with the babies. Grandmogie and Papa have been there ever since the babies came home to help us survive this physically demanding 3-hour schedule and help us cope with miracles that outnumber us. Luke and I are both so grateful they are here.

Here are a few pictures of Aubrey, Mason and Makayla with their proud and loving grandparents:

Home Sweet Home

hassetriplets — Fri, 04 May 2007 03:15:35 +0000

Well the babies have been home for three days now, and this is the first chance I’ve had to post anything on the website. Kim and I are finally able to love on and taking care of all three of our little miracles in the comfort of our own home. The Hasse Posse, as nurse Gari Joe called them, came home Monday around 2:00 pm. We have been feeding them every three hours since than and it has been both tiring and rewarding. Kim’s parents have also been here to help us and I can’t explain enough how much of a life saver that has been. It has been such a joy to feed and hold them and to see their wonderful little personalities. We have had several people from church stop by already to help out with feedings and the help is just a blessing. Today was particularly special. This morning after a carefully timed 8am feeding all 6 of us (including Kim’s mom) loaded up in the van and headed off to have the babies first pictures taken. We had alot of fun taking some really cute pictures with the triplets and I think they turned out great.

Luke Hasse

Here are some of the pictures from today.

The Last Days in the Hospital

hassetriplets — Fri, 04 May 2007 01:48:49 +0000

Things got extremely busy after the babies started bottle feeding all their feeds because it was the nurses and our desire that we be there more and more often to feed them. In the last few days Luke and I fed them and bathed them in order to be ready for a new life at home that would revolve around 3 hour feedings. On Sunday night Luke and I “roomed in” with them which for NICU parents gave us the opportunity to have the hospital post partum experience and clear up any potential last minute issues or questions that arise.

Kimberly Hasse

Here is a picture of all of them in the step down NICU crib

Home is on the Horizon

hassetriplets — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:28:08 +0000

I’m sorry its been so ling since I updated but things have started to get hectic around here. Yesterday morning I was feeling like the babies would never come home so I calmly called the nursery and asked for a call from a Neonatologist to get an update and current treatment plan. He called back shortly after he rounded and told me that Makayla was being bumped to three meals yesterday and Mason and Aubrey would do the same starting today. They would then attempt to bottle feed four times a day each (every other feed) on Friday and try all feeds either Saturday or Sunday. He also hoped to be able to have us room in on Sunday with them and go home early next week. With my spirits lifted I went to the hospital yesterday and found all of their issolettes turned off (no heat). I then helped the nurse put them all in one big crib while Luke picked his mom up from the airport. This was a huge step for them and they have been able to hold their temps very well on their own since being moved. Today we got an awsome nurse who they had in the NICU decide she wanted to PO (bottle feed) Makayla all day and see how she did. She did wonderfull and Kayla (the nurse) got the Dr. to order that they could all PO whenever they looked up to it at the discretion of the nurse caring for them. In other words, they are all now eating from their bottles and doing excellent. The nurses think we may even get to room in on Saturday. This evening to get ready for their feedings they all had their temps checked and diapers changed. Well while I was changing Aubrey she passed gas on me. I looked over at the nurse next to me for a split second and Aubrey projectile tooted poo all over my shirt and her blanket. The things babies do. Luckily I got a clean scrub shirt to wear and the babies all ate in 10-16 min (very fast).

Kimberly Hasse

Grandma Hasse had a great time holding her grand babies in the NICU

Big Success

hassetriplets — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:21:26 +0000

Today was wonderful. Just when I was starting to get really discouraged about the babies eating they had a major sucess. With Aubrey taking 2 bottles a day and Mason and Makayla only attempting one, we had all of them to bottle feed at their 5pm feeding. All had 40cc put in their bottles even though their orders are technically for 34cc (Makayla), 35cc (Mason), and 37cc (Aubrey.) This makes up for any drool factor and gives them a chance to take a little more than prescribed. Well, all three finished their bottles for the first time ever!!! Yesterday Mason and Makayla only had 5cc left each, which was as close as they had ever gotten, and Aubrey finishes hers about half the time, but this was a first for nobody to require using their tubes. It was a real spirit boost and we are so proud of them all. Now Makayla has been put on two bottle feeds per day to see how she does and Mason is close behind.

Kimberly Hasse

35 Weeks Old Today

hassetriplets — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 01:07:06 +0000

Today the babies have reached their 35 gestational age which is one requirment to coming home. Both Aubrey and Makayla have crossed the 4lb mark and Mason in only an ounce away (so maybe tonight he will weigh in at 4lb). With 4 pounds being a requirement for coming home, they are doing well on that front as well. Their issolette temps are being decreased and the are weening them to room temp so they can lay in open cribs. Our biggest hurdle at this point is simply eating from a bottle. They understand the mechanics but the physical stamina required to finish all feeds is simply not there yet. Luke and I go twice a day for 1-2 hours to feed and love on them and their Mogie and Papa go for about an hour a day as well. It hurts so bad to leave them there but I’ve been told I don’t have a choice. Hopefully feeding will get better and they will be with us here where they belong soon.

Kimberly Hasse

Here is a picture of Aubrey and I working on a bottle

There is something so special about daddys and their little girls (this is Luke and Aubrey)

Here is Mason after a some hard work on his bottle

A full tummy makes Makayla a happy girl

Baby Steps

hassetriplets — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:09:03 +0000

Now that the most critical milestones have been overcome, Luke and I celebrate the small baby steps of trying to get the babies to learn to feed from a bottle (their last major hurdle). Yesterday Aubrey took her bottle at 2pm for the first time ever. Before, she had managed to suck but would get confused about the swallowing aspect. In the mean time, our youngest Makayla is still a little ahead in that arena and other than getting tired towards the end, is beginning to get the hang of bottle feeding. They still only try once a day because it uses so much energy and energy equals calories burned. Sweet Mason has a little of his laid back daddy in him and would still prefer not to work to eat yet, but he will hopefully catch on soon. Luke and I also held the babies for their gavage feedings and I got to have some skin-to-skin time with Aubrey.

Kimberly Hasse

Aubrey and I having some special skin-to-skin time together

On the Road to Home

hassetriplets — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:24:30 +0000

The babies are doing wonderfull. Aubrey had her picc line removed yesterday and Makayla had hers taken out today. Now they just really need to work on their suck and swallow reflex in order to feed properly. Makayla has come the farthest in that she got down 12cc of her 16cc meal by bottle at 2pm this afternoon. Mason showed little interest though and Luke and I are going to the NICU soon to help with their 8pm feeding. It is normally to close to shift change to go that early but if we go to feed it is apparently acceptable. I will update further if we make any progress this evening.

Update: We went to help attempt with the 8pm feedings for the babies. Daddy had Makayla and Mommy took Aubrey. Makayla was a champ and took all of her bottle. Aubrey started to suck on the bottle but then didn’t swallow. No worries, the staff said its just a reflex that will “click” when they are ready. Other than size our little peanut Makayla has always been a few days ahead of the others. As for Mason, he had had a little upset tummy so we didn’t mess with him in terms of trying to bottle feed that time. Instead he was completly naked and 100% happy as could be looking like an Ann Geddies picture.

Check out the rest of our pictures on flickr

Kimberly Hasse

Mason is happy as can be… No Clothes and tummy getting filled.

One Week Old and a Great Deal of Progress

hassetriplets — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:36:49 +0000

While I am finding my recovery to be frustratingly slow and painful, the babies are absolutely thriving like the miracles that they truly are. Today at 4pm we arrived at the NICU to find are baby Mason was completely on full feeds and his picc line (strong IV) had been removed. He still isn’t interested in bottles but we are hoping that will change soon. All three were off their billi lights and able to be swaddled comfortably rather than exposed and squirming everywhere. Then at 9pm we went in again and were shocked and thrilled to see them all in the step down ICU with just one nurse for all of them. This makes things so much more relaxed as we no longer have very sick babies all around who need procedures done and high levels of care. It also means that we shouldn’t need to be turned down to visit or have to leave because an emergency is coming into the NICU. Its very nice having one nurse because she knows everything about them (food intake, weight, temp…) so we don’t have to track down each or pull them away from any other babies since these are her only babies to care for. Before, a nurse had one of ours and one very sick baby (low maintenance and high maintenance) in order to keep acuity in line. They have made such amazing progess in such little time and we hope to be bringing them home very soon.

While the pain may not be diminishing as fast as I expected or want, my weight and size have changed dramatically in 7 days. To date, I have lost 23 lbs (it was 21 yesterday) of my 38 lb pregnancy weight gain and my belly has “changed.” Although I fear a tummy tuck will be the only thing to truly correct all of it, the size is returning back to normal.

Kimberly Hasse

Here is a Before Picture

And Here is an After