{Quad Squad} 25 Weeks & A Video Greeting

We've made it yet another milestone! Today I hit 25 weeks, which has increased our quadruplets' chances of survival by an estimated 20% since last week. (Don't forget I have a medical degree and all, so my facts are never off, lol.) Getting to 26 weeks will see another significant improvement and every week we progress after that will be truly all the more amazing.

The quads have started growing and fast—I'm exhausted much more of the time than I ever have been during this pregnancy. Which comes in handy when you're on hospital bed rest and napping is one of the most efficient ways of passing the time. As always, though, things are never boring, I now have gestational diabetes. I took my one hour glucose test this past week, which I failed. My blood sugar levels were only slightly elevated but it still called for the three-hour glucose test. That one's just a daisy. After fasting all night (no, seriously, I normally eat two to three snacks during the night!), about 4:30am the nurse brought me the most sugary tasting drink I've ever had. It was like drinking a can of Mountain Dew with six extra packets of sugar in it. Gross! After that, they drew a vial of blood from the back of my hand every hour for three hours. It's totally the best way to start your day. (And that was total sarcasm, by the way.)

Turns out, I failed that test too. Again, it wasn't anything extreme but still failed. My doc said the main goal was for me to keep eating and gain weight so the babies can grow—so no diabetic diet for me. I don't have to change my eating habits or anything, the nurse just pricks my finger once a day after breakfast or lunch to be sure my levels aren't crazy. So far, so good. I knew gestational diabetes was common for multiples, but wasn't sure exactly why. So I read up on Google and it sounds like it's due to the placenta, which produces hormones that effect your body's ability to process sugar. The pancreas often has to produce two to three times the normal amount of insulin for a singleton pregnancy, and with four placentas to deal with, mine simply can't keep up. So ta-dah, gestational diabetes. My doctor even chuckled a little when he told me, he knows it never ends with this quad pregnancy, always something! He said it was actually not a terrible thing, since the extra sugar in my system will help the babies grow a little more. Where will they find the room!?!

I've had a couple rough days this week, especially the day after the glucose tests since I was exhausted from being up all through the night. So I've had no shame in accepting some Ambien lately to help me sleep. I feel weird taking drugs while pregnant, but I am in a hospital surrounded by medical professionals who know what they're doing. I've been assured time and again it's fine (just avoid it during the first trimester, they say.) Then I was concerned about getting addicted to it if I'm taking it while staying long-term here, but a nurse yesterday pointed out I'd be going home with four babies and should have no problem getting exhausted and falling asleep when my schedule allows!

My friend, Ashley, who was pregnant with her quads in the hospital down the street, had her babies last week. I'm thrilled for her—she was 28w5d and the kiddos are doing great. She was kind enough to share her birth story on her blog, which you can read here. They are already over a week old!

To celebrate 25 weeks, this time the husband brought fajitas. (Last week it was steaks for the big 24!) I decided I was sick of eating in bed so I moved to the chair nearby and my husband pulled the bed table up and loaded it down with all the trimmings. Yum!

We just got back from a quick wheelchair ride and a trip to the cafeteria downstairs for some iced tea and some yogurt—which I loaded down with toasted coconut, chocolate chips, sprinkles and fudge sauce. It was just what my gestational diabetes needed, I figured. The nurses that sent me off in the wheel chair told me to enjoy, I'd already passed my finger prick test for the day!

So it's off on another week, still trying hard to take it day by day. There are days I'm kinda depressed being stuck inside these walls and not getting to have my normal life. Sometimes 30 weeks seems like light years away, and other times I feel more determined that I'll make it. I've also spotted my first stretch marks on my stomach, they're very faint but they have arrived. I know, I know, 25 weeks with quads before they hit isn't bad. I knew they were coming at some point but still not exactly a thrilling moment, to be sure. Pressure on my bladder is growing, so now I'm up for bathroom breaks as often as 20 to 30 minutes. It's annoying since I have to take off my contraction monitor, haul myself out of bed and roll my IV stand with me. And my ligaments are starting to hurt from the sheer pressure and speed at which I'm growing and accommodating space for the quads. These babies better appreciate it all when we're done is all I have to say! Here are a couple of 4D photos of two of the quads, Harrison (C) and Kailey (B), they were cooperating during the ultrasound. Their little faces are so cute and the picture of all the arms and hands crack me up!

To sign off, I leave you with a video greeting to "meet" all my new followers and supporters and just thank everyone for being so positive and encouraging. Both the husband and I feel very loved!

{Quad Squad} The Wheelchair Route

I wanted to be sure to get a quick update posted today—the last two days here in my hospital room have actually been very busy between a few visitors, nurses, heart rate monitors, growth scans, various consultations and so on. It's amazing how much my door opens and closes sometimes!

The weekend was a great one, as I mentioned before the husband and I celebrated 24 weeks and our first point of viability for the quads. He brought me a steak from Texas Roadhouse—which I devoured every bite of!—and on Sunday his brother and his girlfriend visited and we ordered pizza.

Twice over the weekend, I got my first dose of outside air and sunshine. It was amazing!! I hadn't been outside in two weeks. My husband even thought to bring up my sunglasses so I could sit in the sun without squinting. It was pretty weird getting taken out in a wheelchair with an IV still attached to my arm. People give you funny looks as you get close to the exit like you're making a run for it. Or it could have been be me yelling "FREEDOM!" all the way out the door.

He parked me right in the sunshine and we sat and talked for a minutes, joined shortly afterward by a fellow preggers mom with twins at 33 weeks and her husband. She was also on the magnesium sulfate IV (the one that makes us all so sick) and was jonesing for some fresh air. It was a pretty hilarious site, us chatting wheelchair next to wheelchair, big ol' stomachs and IV poles and all. Later, a dad-to-be drove up with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat. He was making a trial hospital run as she was due soon and came up to us asking for the best way in to labor and delivery. Clearly, we looked like the experts! Both our husbands immediately told him exactly where to head when the big day arrived. Ah, how my life has changed.

I even managed to break a small sweat in the daylight, a luxury I actually relish. I am a sun baby to be sure! After we returned to the room, the husband and I watched movies and relaxed and he spent the night. He is such a trooper, I have cherished all the time he's spent with me at the hospital—and he never complains!

My newest "torture device" involves daily heart rate monitoring for each of the babies all at the same time for about 30 minutes. It's a semi-disturbing picture, but photos speak louder than words in this instance! They first have to locate each of the heart beats, which generally tend to stick in the same area, then they strap on a monitor and move on to the next one. It's uncomfortable, to say the least, but it gives the doctor a good "view" of their heart stability and that there are no blips or potential issues.

It's been a week of ups and downs for me, as far as hospital life goes. It's always the same story—one day I'm doing good and in great spirits and the next day I can hardly stand to be in here anymore. I'm constantly connected to my contraction monitor, my IV stand and leg pumps and was about to throw them all out the window today. It literally takes me several minutes just to get out of bed for a bathroom break... and that happens every 20 to 30 minutes these days! Ugh!

Last night I'd had a time of it and stood in my bathroom in front of my mirror and reminded myself that going ONE DAY at a time is the best way to go. It's harder than it sounds because, while laying in bed, your mind tends to wander and think ahead and contemplate the big picture. But I am determined to reel myself back in and focus on the next 24 hours and try not to go past that too much. It can literally drive me crazy. Long prayers each and every morning and evening also help keep me calm—I talk to God about my feelings, I re-dedicate the babies to him constantly and I pray for my doctor that he'll make all the right decisions, as I feel he's done so well up to this point.

Yesterday, at long last, was a growth scan for the babies and I was thrilled with the results! At 24 weeks and three days, here are their weights:

Trystan - 1lb 9oz

Kailey - 1lb 8oz

Harrison - 1lb 120z

Logan - 1lb 6oz

They are all doing really great and developing right on track. It's good that Harrison, our boy, is still the biggest because both the doctor and nurses have mentioned how girl preemies do better than boy preemies. So he'll need every advantage he can get! The nurses have also told me you can add about two pounds of extra weight per baby for the placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. With a rough bit of math, that means I'm carrying an estimate of 14 lbs. in my stomach!! And weeks to go...sometimes I have no idea how it will all work out but then again, being pregnant with quads isn't something I knew how to anticipate either. ;)

I also had a regular ultrasound and cervical check today, and my cervix is still holding strong and measured 4.2cm. It measured 3.7cm last week, which was also good. It's normal for its length to fluctuate and is obviously better for it to be going up than down. As long as there is "length" that means my cervix is still closed, which means my body is not about to go into labor just yet. I have been having quite a few contractions over yesterday and this morning, but the more I can keep myself horizontal the more inactive those become. That said, I'm signing off to recline in bed and try to get a little shut eye. Hospital life can be rough business, but I'm encouraged with our good results and am hanging in there another week! Thanks for all your comments and prayers, as always!

{Quad Squad} 24 Weeks!

Today is a very important day...we have reached 24 weeks! Here's a sort of breakdown on the details of preterm delivery for multiples from the book When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy.

Weeks 20-24—the border of viability: Most babies born during this time zone do not survive. Those who do must remain hospitalized for many months. Their chances of experiencing permanent adverse health effects are high.

Weeks 25-28—very early preterm: The odds of survival are better, but babies born during this period must still spend weeks or months in the NICU. They are at risk for long-term medical consequences.

Weeks 29-32—early preterm: Many triplets and quadruplets are born during this time zone. Although the babies typically remain in the hospital for several weeks, or more, the outlook is generally good.

Weeks 33-35—preterm for multiples: Twins are often born during this time period. If they are well grown, they generally spend a week or two in the hospital and are unlikely to experience any long-term serious effects of their early birth.

The percentage of survival for the quads drastically increases between 24 and 25 weeks and again at 26 weeks. It continues to rise after that, but most assuredly our next HUGE goal will be 26 weeks. In the meantime, every day we get past 24 is a blessing. I continue to pray that our little babies are strong, healthy fighters! They at least seem to have the fighting part down with each other in my stomach. ;)

These days my photos include no makeup, hospital bracelets, an IV and a curtain for my backdrop. Not quite like the pictures I prefer to take, but I refuse to give up on my weekly snapshots! The stomach is getting pretty huge, especially for my 5' 3" stature. I'm measuring 40+ weeks pregnant for someone my size and have gained approximately 32 pounds to date. I can tell the quads are growing, because I'm eating normal-sized meals for the first time my entire pregnancy and managing a few snacks in between. That's never happened! Normally there isn't enough room for me to store much food but they are blazing through the calories, I think.

(I feel like my face is getting a little more round and my eyes are pretty relaxed from the magnesium sulfate IV I'm on, but I'm sharing the pics anyway!) The husband continues to amaze me with his endless efforts to be sure I'm comfortable in my hospital room. He visits me every day after week and extensively on the weekends. Today, he'll be bringing up steaks from Texas Roadhouse for our early dinner to celebrate 24 weeks and he'll be taking me on a short wheelchair ride later! I haven't been out of my room in days and I've not been on a "joy ride" yet, due to either medications, contractions or feeling bad. But I think I'm up to a short outing today, I need to see something other than these four walls!

My mom has also been an enormous help during her frequent visits. Not only does she keep me company at the hospital during the day when she's here, she rubs my feet, arms and legs (which are all sore from inactivity and the magnesium IV), makes me tea, helps me to and from the restroom and more. And then she feeds and tends to the pets at our house when she's staying in town, which is a huge advantage for the husband so he can get to work on time. What an incredible mom! I've learned from the best. :)

Recently, some close friends of ours came up to visit and brought fajitas with them for our dinner. The husband and I love their two kids dearly and I was thrilled to see them after many weeks. Thank you guys for stopping by!

Things are continuing to go well at 24 weeks—because the babies have now reached their first point of viability, their heart rates will be monitored more extensively each day. I'm also looking forward to the anatomy scan I get this next week that will reveal how much they all weigh now! The husband and I hope they are all at least 1.5 pounds, but it's hard to say. I have no idea how I've got the room for four babies on any given day.

Thanks to you all for your amazingly supportive comments, emails and messages. I read each of them to the husband and they have truly brightened our days! Time to keep on truckin'...

{Quad Squad} My Temporary Home

After talking with my doctor this morning, things are looking pretty good. I'll be 24 weeks on Saturday and my body seems to have adjusted to the magnesium sulfate IV I'm on enough that I'm not absolutely miserable around the clock. It still makes me feel sick, nausea and extremely fatigued—but I handle it for the sake of the babies, I told him. So we're keeping with the mag IV...for good. Most likely until I deliver the quads. I figured that bit of news was coming, so at least I'm prepared. But my doc is so careful that he's still putting me on a 48-hour round of Indocin starting tomorrow, which, if you recall from my posts last week, is also an anti-contraction medicine. For me, it proved extremely effective and very little side effects. Doing this routine every week should keep my uterus and my body calm and buy me several more weeks of time, at least that's the plan! It's daunting sometimes to wonder how much longer I have to feel this way and if I can really take it, but fortunately today is a better day than yesterday so I'm having a surge of positive thoughts. This whole experience is overwhelming on a constant basis, but at least some occasions it's easier to deal with than others.

In other complaints, I think this pregnancy is finally catching up with me physically. I know that sounds weird, but up until the last two weeks walking around, sitting down in chairs and picking things up off the floor or whatever didn't really pose a huge issue. Yes, I got tired faster than the norm but I was still able to function. Now, I struggle to get in and out of bed, I'm frequently out of breath from the smallest exertion, my back is beginning to hurt and there's a lot of uncomfortable, sometimes painful, pressure you know where. (What, like that's a surprise!?) I'm sure some of the exhaustion is due to the magnesium sulfate, since it relaxes smooth muscles and tends to make you feel like a wet piece of spaghetti, but I think these babes are taking their toll. I'm 40+ weeks in term of size and girth for my pregnancy, even though I'm barely 24. And one nurse estimated I have about 12 pounds of weight in my stomach between the babies, placentas, fluids, etc. I have had some cramping for the first time and slight pains in my stomach, but they aren't showing up on the contraction monitor, so we're assuming it's growing pains. Which makes sense, this is the time the babies really start zooming up the growth chart.

Recently, they moved me rooms just across the hall to a slightly larger space with two windows instead of one and a bit more free area for chairs, furniture, etc. It's nice to not be super crowded. My door has been quite the highlight with all the nurses! Thanks to our friend, Laura, who had that banner made for one of our shower's she and her husband hosted at their home back in February.

I really have a hard time accommodating visitors, even though I'd love to see everyone. There are nurses, techs, consultants and doctors in and out of my room around the clock and sometimes I lay on my bed in the quiet and rest between it all. Having visitors is a bit complicated and the mag IV I'm on doesn't make me the most eager for conversation. Needless to say, I appreciate all the thoughtful offers to come visit and hope folks will hold on to that idea for when the babies come home—we'll need extra hands to hold 'em! In the meantime, encouraging notes, flowers and tidbits truly light up my life here in the hospital. People are so nice!

Here's a view from one of my windows, partially looking out over the zoo. I've yet to spot animals.

This is what I look like most of the time (photo below). I put together a blog post when I feel okay and do a tad bit of work here and there to keep up. The rest of the time I rotate between my left side and my right, watching movies and keeping still. The husband put the TV on a rolling table so it can be switched from one side to the other for my film watching pleasure.

In closing, thanks to everyone for all your wonderfully encouraging blog comments and emails! I've met so many new people the past two weeks through my blog and I really appreciate y'all taking the time to drop a line and introduce yourself—including a couple new quad moms! Next up: a post on how we chose our quad babies' names and a 24 week photo and update...

{Quad Squad} If I'm being honest...

This quad pregnancy is one of the hardest things I'll ever do in my life.

For 11 years I was a synchronized swimmer and lived by that all-too-familiar athletic motto, "No pain, no gain." Pushing past the hurt, the tired, the injuries and the frustration was just something I could do. I've had to endure some tough situations in my life, learn to be independent, fight for I wanted. There were those days where I felt I couldn't go on any more.

But all of it pales in comparison to this experience. As with any pregnancy, being responsible for growing a life and taking care of yourself for the sake of someone else inside you carries great burdens. You can't just throw yourself around anymore or push yourself to the limits because it could result in dire consequences. With a multiple pregnancy like mine, the effects are only intensified and the self-caretaking starts so much earlier on. It is a huge responsibility to carry and grow four babies and it's not one that comes lightly. Which is why I felt inclined to write this post...

I try really hard to stay positive. If you've been reading my Quad Squad posts, you know that I've said time and again it doesn't do any good to get worked up over things or stress myself out because I have no control over them and it would just strain my body anyway. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I told my husband recently that being in this damn hospital must've sprouted the water works. I've shed more tears in here in one week then I have in years!

Not one to cry very often, there are days during this pregnancy where I just have to let it go and bawl my eyes out. Some mornings I wake up and I'm just not sure how I can do another day. While the very next morning, I might wake up and feel so positive about things that I'm ready to conquer it again. I think it's important to feel the bad stuff with the good, because it's reality. And sometimes reality just sucks!

Just days past my 22 week mark, I got admitted to the hospital. In here, I wear four bracelets on my right wrist announcing everything from my lack of drug allergies to my last blood panel. But really I'm just convinced it's so they don't lose me. They put a yellow bracelet on there that reads "fall risk" in case I should decide to go galavanting by the nurse's station. Sweet.

My IV was relocated from my left arm to the back of my left hand and it hurts so bad. I can barely flex my entire hand as it is, and now I have two IVs pumping through my veins, which feel like they're about to explode. I just have to endure it until the end of tomorrow, which is when my weekly two-day sentence of magnesium sulfate ends. (For such an awful medicine, it's really great for the babies and calming contractions.) I'll be rid of the terrible side effects that make you feel like you have the flu complete with full body aches and leaves you feeling off balance and very whoozy. So if some of this post sounds odd to you, well, tough shit—I can't think straight!

This update is literally the biggest thing I'm doing today, the rest of the time I lay and watch TV or movies. Reading a book makes my head spin right now. My right hand is still nearly completely numb and has been since early last week. Doc says it's probably all the extra fluids in my body weighing down on some nerves. I can grab certain things with my hand, but other times it doesn't quite work all the way and starts to hurt. My stomach is getting so big for my stature that it's an immense struggle to get out of bed, much less turn over. The other day I literally got stuck on my back and thank God the husband was around to help me the rest of the way. It's like seeing a turtle flopping around in an overturned shell. Some stuff just ain't pretty, y'all.

And during all this, I have to gaze out my hospital window and wonder what the world is up to. I've been under such extreme circumstances for so many months, that it's starting to play tricks with my head. It becomes harder and harder to ever envision myself as being back to "normal" or feeling like myself again. I know I will, it just seems like that was another lifetime. Even being in the hospital and being pregnant doesn't seem real sometimes. Like I'm here, but this isn't me. It's weird. And I'm constantly wearing a contraction monitor that shows the activity level of my uterus and when it starts going up, I worry that my time may be limited.

I anxiously await each of my weekly ultrasounds to see the babies and know they are okay, and to be sure my cervix is still holding on and not trying to prepare for delivery. Yesterday I had a bit of spotting (light blood), but it stopped quickly and was very minimal. Doc said it was normal but it still gave me a scare. And when the nurse checked the babies' heart rates (they do this daily using a small handheld doppler device), Logan's heart rate plummeted three times while we listened, slowed down and finally picked back up but still sounded irregular. It made my own heart drop. What if something was wrong with her? They checked it twice since and she's been just fine. The doctor say says it's completely normal, sometimes the baby will manage to sit or even squeeze it's own umbilical cord in its hand. When the blood flow slows down, they release it. Like an awful game to give the mom cardiac arrest if she happens to hear it. C'mon, Logan girl, I know you're bored but let's not get that bored, okay!? At the end of the day, a nurse came by to ask if I was okay and I started crying. It just happened—the stress of those two events was enough to trigger the water works again and if I was growing flowers on my bed sheet I'd have a garden.

So you see? It's not all daisies and roses in here and this pregnancy really has been a challenge. But it's amazing what our bodies are capable of taking on and preserving through. I pray every day for God's strength that I can do what it takes to keep these babies growing, and I pray for each of them that they will fight for themselves and each other as we near the final weeks, however many they may be. I am so grateful for all the people who have selflessly spent hours praying for me, the babies and my husband—we are so protected by His angels! And I hope that by keeping things real and sharing both the ups and downs of our quadruplet journey, my husband and I are able to strike inspiration, hope and peace in the lives of others who are dealing with their own challenges. Truly, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...