My Thoughts On Pregnancy...

Obviously, I've always wanted a family.  When you're little you think first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.  I just thought once I got married - a family would just come naturally.  Not so much.  Once we traveled down the route of using a gestational carrier I knew that would mean I would never carry a baby.  But at that point I really didn't care.  I just wanted a family.  Going through the process you obviously wish it was you carrying your own baby, feeling him kick/move/hiccup, being able to nurse, etc. but I was just so grateful for Jamie that you just kind of push those feelings aside.  You know that in the end the only thing that matters is you have a baby!!  

After the triplets were born - all those feelings of wanting to be pregnant disappeared.  I was just so incredibly happy with my three babies and that Jamie was healthy and doing well too.  I was so grateful for everything Jamie had done for us.  She was our freaking saving grace.  Things were perfect.  I was actually grateful that I didn't have to recover from a c-section or vaginal birth.  I could just jump in right away and be the best mom I knew how to be.  Once the process is over you just look on the bright side and see all the benefits of not carrying your own babies.  Yea, I couldn't breastfeed my babies, but oh well.  They got breast milk while they were in the NICU and formula is just fine.  Formula and a bottle meant that other people could help me feed the babies - which I needed anyway.  

Then six months later I get pregnant.  Are you kidding me???  Just when all those thoughts and feelings about wanting a baby so bad and wanting to experience pregnancy had gone away.  I was so happy with my little (big) family.  I felt like I had finally mastered (sort of) being a triplet mom.  I finally had things under control and felt like I could do it on my own.  Now…was I excited to be pregnant?  Of course.  Well, I think I was in shock for the first couple months, but then I was excited.  It's something I'm sure every girl wants to experience, but it just happened at the craziest time.  

I actually thought I would hate being pregnant.  I'm not one who loves being nauseous, getting fat, or possibly getting stretch marks.  But my pregnancy was pretty great (minus the acne).  My nausea was mild, weight gain wasn't bad, back pain was tolerable, and I didn't end up with any stretch marks.  Gaining weight during pregnancy is different than just getting fat.  For some reason it didn't bother me at all.  I actually liked my little baby bump.  I got to feel my baby kick and hiccup.  I got to talk to him.  I was able to exercise the whole pregnancy and still be a triplet mommy.  The last week was pretty uncomfortable, but I'm sure all prego women feel that way.  Regardless of how great my experience was, it made me appreciate Jamie SO much more for the sacrifice she made for us.  Now, don't get me wrong, I've always thought what Jamie did was incredible.  But going through the process on my own has exponentially opened my eyes to what a selfless act that was.  I seriously can't believe she offered to do that for us.  All the fertility treatments, shots, Dr's appointments, time of pregnancy and healing afterwards, carrying TRIPLETS…  I'm still in awe of her.  I'm not one to get emotional, but just thinking about what she did for us gets me every time.  I have three healthy, beautiful, perfect children forever because of her.  I still don't understand how we got so lucky.  Curtis and I have been extremely blessed. 

Studio 5

Studio 5 did a little segment yesterday on our story.  You can view it here.  I thought they did a great job.  They interviewed us back in February, then did a followup interview after the babies were released from the NICU.  It's just cool to have this amazing journey documented.  We are so lucky! 

Channel 2 News

Channel 2 news came and did a story on our journey.  They aired it on the 10 o'clock news on May 14th.  View here.  The interview took over an hour.  I was wondering how in the world they would edit that all down to a 5 minute story, but they did a great job!

 Cruz, Kash & Julie

 Getting interviewed.

Babies in the spotlight. 

 Jamie and her kids lookin' at the babies.  :) 

I love how much her kids love mine. 

Team Babies - Jamie's Side of the Birth Story

Jamie's Perspective:

I am not a wuss I promise.

The Triplets Birthday started at about 4:45 AM on Tuesday, April 9th. I got up to pee..... again and I remember thinking to myself I swear I just did this two minutes ago. Which wouldn't be uncommon at that point. I was getting up probably every hour every night. 

I went into the kid's bathroom this time because I remembered there was no toilet paper in ours. Leaving out all the unnecessary details I knew my water had broken. Remember I just went through this not even two years earlier. I woke up Tyler and told him the news. I think he said "yay, that's great!"

You see the few days and nights prior to this were rough. It was actually getting HARD to carry triplets and Tyler I know could sense this or maybe he was just listening when I would tell him this. Not being on any bed rest and my Dr. throwing out words like 35 weeks was getting scary. My whole goal in this process was to carry and deliver 3 healthy babies for Kim and Curtis but I wanted my body to make the decision when enough was enough. And that's exactly what it did. I was 32 weeks 5 days.

I went downstairs to call Kim. I don't call Kim very often. We text. So she knew something was happening. Call us both naive or whatever but in our heads we thought okay my water has broken but that's okay they will stop my labor and they will give me the steroid shot to help the babies lungs develop and then they will deliver in a couple days..... And going off when Esther's bag broke I have plenty of time to get to the hospital. I'm not going to rush it. Kim called Curtis in California and told him. He left immediately for the 12 hour drive.

I started doing my makeup, by this time I am soaking towels, put my hair up in a bun, had some painful contractions, packed my bag, Tyler got in the shower. We did this in about a half an hour. K I was in pain now. We go downstairs to leave and it hurts. Tyler tells his Mom what happened and that we are leaving, towel in crotch and all. We are kind of rushing now because of the pain.

The ride was HORRIBLE. Like in the movies. Every divot and bump in the road HURTS. I don't want to be talked to. I'm holding on for dear life to the hand thing above me. The contractions were right on top of each other. We finally arrive at the hospital and it's desolate because of how early in the morning it was, like no valet guy or anything to help us. Tyler has to run in and grab a wheelchair and then wheel me in. They immediately put me in a room and dress me into my pretty blue hospital dress. 

I can't even function or think anymore. Poor ladies needed to just get me admitted and do their jobs and I was no help to them. There were no breaks. I would contract and I swear two seconds later another would come. I just kept thinking how am I going to do this. And I kept telling the staff I have to go, let's go, I need to go, we need to go. 

They knew how active my labor was and how serious it was considering there were three babies and they were not supposed to come out vaginally. There were probably 10 people rushing around in there. They did manage to get an IV in and that's when Kim got there. I'm sure she felt terrible. I was shaking to death from pure pain. They had Kim and Tyler gown up (remember Curtis is in California) and then the nurse comes in in tears to tell Tyler he could not come in the room with us. The Anesthesiologist would only allow one person. Tyler was of course crushed. Not that he couldn't see the babies born but more because of if something did go horribly wrong he wouldn't be there with me.  I couldn't care less because all I wanted were the babies out. I didn't care if they had to take them out of my ear. I needed the pain to stop. 

They wheeled my bed into the operating room, I don't remember that ride at all. I'm entering la la land at this point. The Anesthesiologist is there to give me my spinal. He asks me to get into the fetal position and to NOT move. So dumb. I can't stop shaking and have you seen my belly? There will be no fetal positions going on. He continued and I squeezed that nurses hand until it was blue. 

But let me tell you. Those spinals...... yum. They work immediately. Starting with toes on up. It was the best. They started prepping for surgery. Mind you my Dr. has not arrived yet. So two girl Dr.'s were doing the surgery and when I say girls I mean girls. Anyone younger than me is a girl still. They did that little poke test. Can you feel this? Um... yah? I think? Can I? I knew they were poking me but it didn't hurt super bad... So they gave me another dose of the good stuff. So as you can imagine I was numb for, actually some parts are still numb. 

They do not allow anyone to watch you be cut open or sewn up. So Kim could only peek over the curtain when the babies were being pulled out. And don't worry, amongst the chaos I did remember to ask for a mirror so I could watch. I'm so glad I did. Baby A was born at 6:57 AM head first. Baby B was born at 6:58 AM feet first. And Baby C was born at 6:59 AM bum first.

They passed the babies through a window to the NICU. Kim followed and then Tyler was allowed in for the repair. Although he couldn't watch he could see the reflection in a light above. Uterus just on my belly while they sew it up and stuff in back in..... 7 births later and I think he's seen it all. I was still shaking but now just from adrenaline I'm sure. I just couldn't wait for them to be done. My Dr. finally made it and came to give me an update on the babies. He's so awesome. He told me what the babies weighed. A- 4lbs 9oz B- 4lbs 5.5oz and C- 4lbs 15oz. Yes people, add it up. 13lbs 13.5oz of baby in this belly. Tyler, the Dr. and I could not believe how big they were. It was such a blessing.

They wheeled me into the recovery room where Kim came to give updates too like their lengths. A- 17.5 inches B-18inches and C- 17.5 inches. I'm not sure where I was storing these kids but it all worked out.

What a day! And it was only 7 AM.....

Team Babies - Happy Birthday - April 9th, 2013

Over the past couple weeks Curtis and I have been slowly getting things ready - painting the nursery, putting all three cribs together, washing clothes, etc.  I had a feeling Jamie would get to 32 weeks, but with triplets it is SO unknown.  Our Dr. seemed confident she would make it to 34 weeks since her cervix was looking so good.  

I was hanging out at Jamie's house on April 8th - watching the Voice, playing Battleship with the kids like any other night.  I left her house late that night knowing I would see her in the morning at our 32 week, 5 day appointment/ultrasound.  We were both so excited to see how much these babies weighed and make sure everything was still going great.  The next morning I woke up at 4:48am to my phone vibrating.  I see a call from Jamie Dabo and my heart started racing.  I think I was still somewhere between a dream and reality when I hear, "Um...my water just broke."  I immediately jumped out of bed, flipped on the lights and said, "Ok, I'll meet you at the hospital."  Jamie said she was doing fine and she was going to get ready really quick and pack a bag.  I told her to text me when she left for the hospital and I would meet her there.  As soon as we hung up I called Curtis and woke him up with, "Jamie's water just broke!"  I thought for sure they would be able to stop delivery for at least 24 hours so I told Curtis I'd call him from the hospital and update him then, but he decided to just jump in the car and start driving to Utah.  I just remember telling him to drive safe and I couldn't wait to see him.  I got ready and headed to the hospital at 5:35am.  

By the time I got to the hospital Jamie was already in a gown, IV in place, fluids going, baby monitors on her belly and was already dilated to 3.5cm.  She was in so much pain, gripping the side rail on the bed so hard that her knuckles were turning white.  I felt helpless.  I was looking around at everyone like - someone help her!  These babies were coming - and they were coming NOW!  I called Curtis really quick with an update.  Our anesthesiologist was a douche and only let one person in the OR, so I gowned up and rushed with Jamie to the OR while Tyler waited in the Labor and Delivery room.  Things were happening so fast!  Her teeth were chattering from the pain.  She was at her breaking point and couldn't handle much more. They got her balled up on her side (as much as they could with 3 babies still in her belly) and put the spinal in.  She said she had immediate relief after that and felt so much better.  They put a catheter in, scrubbed her belly with betadine, drapped her body, and were ready to cut.  They wouldn't let me film the delivery or watch the actual c-section (lame).  I could only watch the actual births of the babies and snap pictures.  They got a mirror and flipped it so Jamie could see the babies come out too.  

 Putting the spinal in.

 Draping the belly.

 Baby A came out head first - born at 6:57am.

Baby A.

Baby B came out feet first - born at 6:58 am.

Cutting Baby B's cord.

 Baby B.

Baby C came out bum first - born at 6:59am.

 Baby C.

 Right after each baby was born they would pass them through a widow to a team on Dr.'s and RN's to get them stabilized.

After the babies were taken away - Jamie had to get sewn back up.  Tyler and I switched places so he could be with Jamie.  The nurses took me back to Jamie's room.  They wouldn't let me go back to see the babies until they were all stabilized.  It was the LONGEST 5 minutes of my life.  I was so nervous that they weren't doing well.  I called Curtis and gave him a quick update.  He still had 8 hours to drive!  :( Then I got to go meet my precious babies.

Meeting the babies was so surreal.  This moment was finally here.  I've been dreaming about these little miracles for years now.  I was in love from the first moment I heard a heartbeat, but meeting them in person was a whole nother experience.  My heart melted.  I was so incredibly emotional - not the crying my eyes out kind - but I was overwhelmed with emotions.  I wish I could explain it, but I'm not a very good writer.  I finally felt like a mom.  So crazy!

Curtis wanted me to wait for him to get there before we announced their names.

Baby A

4lb. 5oz. - 17.5in.

 He was doing so well.  No oxygen was needed.  He could maintain his O2 sats on room air. What a champ!  They put him on monitors to watch his vital signs.  He had to get an IV for prophylactic antibiotics, fluids, and nutrition.

 Baby A and Mommy.

 Baby B

4lb. 5oz. - 18in.

He was doing just as good as his brother.  No oxygen needed.  He was placed on monitors and got an IV as well.

Baby B and mommy. 

 Baby B

Baby C

4lb. 15oz - 17.5in.

Baby girl was struggling a little more than the boys.  She was having a hard time breathing on her own.    She was having chest retractions, nasal flaring, and grunting - all signs of respiratory distress.  She was having trouble maintaining her oxygen saturation so they placed her on O2 and CPAP.  The CPAP helps blow pressure in her lungs to expand them.  She also had an oral gastric (OG) tube placed down her mouth and into her belly.  It helps relieve the extra air they are blowing in with the CPAP.  She got an IV placed just like the boys. 

 After I met the babies I wanted to go check on Jamie and see how she was doing.  She's seriously such a rock star.  I've never had that much love and respect for one person in my entire life.  Truly the most self-less thing anyone could ever do.  She just gave us a family!  When people say, "My heart was so full", I never understood what they meant until now.  Amazing.

 They wheeled Jamie down to see the babies before they took her to recovery.

Baby A

Baby B

 Baby C

 The nurses asked me if I wanted to hold my boys.  Are you kidding me?!  Of course I want to hold them!  I called Curtis to see if he was ok with me holding them without him.  His response was, "Are you kidding me?  Of course you can."  :)  I knew he would say that, but I just wanted to make sure.

 Pure and utter love.  Holding my son for the first time is like nothing I have ever felt before.

Holding Baby B for the first time. 

I couldn't totally hold Baby C yet, so I just lifted her up and kissed her.

Later that day they placed an umbilical arterial line on Baby C.  They need to draw blood gasses frequently and make sure her oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels were improving. 

 My sister and mom came down that afternoon to meet the babies.

Changing Baby A's diaper for the first time.  He pooped the first day.

Taking Baby A's temperature.

Curtis finally got there at 3:15pm.  He drove like a mad man and made it in 10 hours.  We introduced him to Baby A first.  His face was priceless.  He got a little teary eyed.

Meeting Baby B.

Proud parents! 

 He definitely got emotional meeting Baby C.  I was trying to keep him updated on her during his drive, but he said I made her sound a lot worse than she really was.  I think I was using nursing terminology instead of explaining things simpler.  He was so scared that she was really sick, so when he met her and saw that everything was decent, he was so relieved.  She was definitely struggling more than the boys, but she was going to be okay.

She will never truly know thankful we are.  She seriously is on amazing woman! 

Daddy doing oral care on Baby B.

My sweet little girl. 

Curtis got to hold the boys the first day too.  He was so nervous.  He held Baby B first.

Then he got to hold Baby A.

 Jamie with Baby A.

Amazing.