Signs that The End Is Near

#1. Garth Buys a Minivan

For those of you who know me and have listened to my prognosticating...you know that I wasn't looking forward to making the next big purchase in my life - The Minivan. I sort of likened it to something like a root canal...best put off as long as possible, and when absolutely necessary - do it quickly and try to think about something else.

So yesterday I did just that. It took me exactly 23 minutes to choose, test drive and agree to make an offer on this little puppy. Then of course, I had to endure the agony of the "let me take that offer to my sales manager...." dog and pony show - which wasted another hour or so. End result: Toyota Dealership 1, Garth 0.

The real indignity here is the insult to the ex-girlfriend. She was a beautiful, German made lass, which I loved to drive and Mark always regarded as "our race car"! She purrs like a kitten, corners like a cheetah...ahhhh we will miss her. Of course, with her looks, she'll have no problem finding another boy-toy...but the hit to her self esteem - I don't know how she'll ever recover. For a BMW to get dumped for a Toyota mini-van is just plain ugly. Like, we're talking desperation here.

I console myself with the thought that this is just a fling...a short-term relationship that is doomed from the outset. Even Sherri agrees. Once the burping, pooping, screaming triplets have the capacity to buckle-up on their own...this little gal will be shown the door.

You're Invited to a Blog Party

OK, I know this is going to sound wierd...but lets have some fun! We (Sherri and I) are absolutely pumped that she's made it to the 30 week mark of this pregnancy...and I'd love to throw a HUGE party for her...but alas that would trigger unwanted side-effects that we'd rather put off for a little while!!! So....

We're going to have a Blog Party!!! (I just invented it!) In lieu of having all of our friends travel great distances to hang out with us in our master bedroom...we invite you to share our excitement and drop us a little message that we can enjoy! It is so neat to hear from everyone, so don't be shy...even if you don't know us. Please post and let us know where you're from. And you have to guess when the babies will come (ie 32 wks and 3 days...)!

We thank everyone for their good wishes, thoughts, gifts, meals, encouragement, etc etc. We now can celebrate the fact that the little babies will be born soon and they'll be happy healthy little dudes that are going to rock our world!!!

We love you all...

Oh yeah - if you guess correct on the arrival date you get to babysit while we go to Hawaii....!!!

Go Canucks!

I have nothing to tell you. Nope. Kinda wish that I did...it makes updating the blog much, much easier when things are falling apart! On the other hand- its much, much better for us that we are the most boring household in Washington State right now!

Sherri was sent home from the hospital on Wed...pretty much expected as they had been starting to hint about discharging her for a few days. We felt that if she was sent home one of two things would probably happen: either she would be back into the hosp within a few days, or we would be settling in for a nice, long happy stay at home. Thankfully, it seems like the latter.

The babies seem to be doing awesome, but their movements are slowly driving Sherri crazy. Before it was this faint little wiggle - now they just try to put each other into headlocks and karate kicks. They are much stronger now than they were a couple of weeks ago. We just thank our stars every day that we were able to keep these little guys in the oven past 28 wks. I just can't explain how happy and thankful I am that the team at Swedish took such good care of the babies-even though it was tough on Sherri for a few days- the difference it will make for the little guys is amazing.

Mark was almost giddy when mama came home. He really missed her so it was nice to see him so happy to be with his mom. Sitting in a hospital room with your mom for 1/2hr a day really doesn't cut it for a 3 yr old. He talks to the babies every night and wishes them a good night and "see you in the morning!". Its really cute and I have to try to get it on video.

So yeah...for now thats the update. The doctors now will just monitor Sherri's cervix, and at this stage will pretty much let her suffer as long as her body will take it. Unless something else goes wrong, it will be a scheduled c-section when her cervix starts to dialate past 4 cm or so. She's 30 wks on monday...



Oh yeah...the real news...what about them Canucks??? 7-2 win over LA? Nice! Go Canucks Go!Hopefully we see much more of this...

Planting "Mark's Tree"

We had a little fun this week and I took Mark to the tree nursery to pick out a tree. He has taken ownership of this little Pear tree and now calls it "Mark's Tree"! We have to water it every day...hmmmm chores already at 3 yrs!!



And today on the way to the hospital, we took Grandma Fern to see some local sights...and of course we managed to find a little ice cream!!




Hanging with mama in the hospital!

Cruisin Along...

Well, I can hardly believe that I'm writing this...but I can honestly say that things seem pretty normal around here. Of course, mama has decided to go on vacation...leaving Mark and I to survive on our own...but we can and do survive on cereal and good quality ice cream! She'll have her work cut out for her once she's done with the Swedish Four Seasons Hotel- getting us back on track.

All joking aside, I do feel pretty good about things - even though we had a tremendous scare it seems now like everything is right on schedule and all we have to do is wait. Sherri is doing great, feeling like her normal self, the contractions etc have pretty much gone away for the time being and the doctors I am sure are wondering why she's still in the hospital. It wouldn't totally suprise me if they sent her home for a little while, but we'll have to wait and see.

I'm absolutely lovin' the fact that the three little musketeers are getting big enough that we'll soon have little worry about their health at birth. I always said that if I had a crystal ball and knew that I'd be taking home healthy babies that this would be such a great experience...all the negatives are wrapped around concern for the health of the babies. So...as we approach 32 weeks the tension slowly starts to ease and I can feel the excitement return. I hope I'm not speaking too soon here, but on monday Sherri will hit the 29 week mark and you all know how awesome that is. Then just a few more weeks....

Calm

First of all, I must thank everyone for their incredible comments this week. Sherri had tears in her eyes as I read them to her, so I know how much they meant to her, especially when she was counting the minutes through the awful Mag treatment. You have no idea what it means...

The difference a few days make. Apparently, Sherri is the talk of the ward...and in a good way this time! I am extremely proud to say that she responded exceptionally well to the Magnesium and is now resting with next to no pain and very few contractions. When I say very few, I mean like next to none, which is practically unheard of in our situation. I keep checking in and expecting a turn for the worse - and so far she has defied all expectations and is doing - I dare say - excellent. Yes, she's tired and worn out - but c'mon...lets get real - a couple of days ago I was convinced the babies were here and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Garth, on the other hand...is a total wreck. I admit it and wish it was otherwise, but I must say that I had no idea how strung out I was as Sherri went through her ordeal. I don't know if it was care for my wife (of which I have lots) or concern for the health of the 3 babies...but the emotional crash was real. I'm not complaining, just informing.

We wonder how long it will stay this way. The babies are doing fantastic, moving and kicking again...which makes us feel really happy. We just want them to grow and pack on the weight, which thankfully they will be doing.

Sherri's mom is here and has been a HUGE help...we couldn't do this without the help of so many people. I'm afraid to mention names in case I miss someone, but our help with Mark has been amazing: especially Amber who takes care of him every day, and our next door neighbor Bonnie who just steps in when needed. Jelaine J has been an amazing encouragement and coach here at the hospital - a true professional in every way. Thank you all so much.

Mark is now screaming for me from the bedroom...I must attend to my single-parent duties!! I'll post more as the situation here changes. We are 4 short weeks from total success with these little dudes and I hope beyond words that we can get there!

Welcome to antepartum

This is the waiting place. I am currently sitting beside my wife, who has for the last 32 hours been fighting valiantly to keep these babies on the inside rather than on the outside. We sit in a rather odd part of the hospital...a ward filled with expectant mothers who all share one desire...more time. Hence, it is the waiting place. You don't see many people here. They, for the most part, are bed-ridden and if they feel like me, probably don't want small talk anyway so we keep to ourselves. The stakes are high. I look at the patient board and see a variety of gestational ages- 23 wks, 31 wks, 24 wks, 29 wks...etc...and in our case 27 wks 3 d with a big 3 circled next to it referring to the fact that we are the only couple here with triplets on board. We don't want to meet our little babies yet - if we do we are all aware that we may not hold them for long and their little bodies may be...well...just too little. We care desperately about them as only parents do, and I find myself getting emotional as I hope for the chance to take these little guys home some day and show them the life they deserve. Yes, I am overtired too.

I already must ask a favor from my little sons. It is now clear that no matter what happens, they will have to be little fighters. We are hoping for days and maybe weeks now, but ultimately these little guys are going to have to fight and there won't be much I can do for a while. Lets hope for the best.

Let me back up and give you the update on Sherri. Tuesday night we went to bed as usual and although we had had a tough day, there was no sign of trouble. I woke up to Sherri getting really restless about 2:00am and asked her what was up...turns out she had been having contractions that had woken her so we started to time them. I quickly realized that we were going to be headed to the hospital...6 contractions in 15 minutes...need I say more. Our dear friend Bonnie came over to be with Mark, and off we went.
Upon arriving at Swedish, Sherri was basically in full labor...a contraction every 3 min...not what anyone wants at 27 weeks. The nursing staff and doctors were amazing but they had a big job ahead of them...to stop this train that had left the station. Out comes the bazooka.
Apparently Magnesium Sulfate has some practical uses. One of them is that its a smooth muscle relaxant...particularly helpful if the smooth muscle we're talking about is a uterus. This is the drug of last resort when it comes to pre-term labor...injected straight into the bloodstream through an IV it hits you hard and fast. I'm speaking from an onlookers perspective here.
They start apologizing immediately. The nurses. The doctors. Everyone is apologizing. "I'm sorry, this will be terrible...". Dr. Tran..."my last name is a 4-letter word and you'll be using it that way soon...I'm sorry...". "This will be really hard on you Sherri, I'm so sorry...". Pull the trigger...poor Sherri...
Yes it is a smooth muscle relaxant. It is also the next thing to napalm and has a tendancy to completely knock you off your feet. Can't eat. Skin is burning up. Can't lift your arms. Don't even think about standing up. Puking. Can't sleep. You're on fire. All over. And it doesn't stop. No, not for 48 hrs.
The good news is: the crazy stuff seems to work. Her contractions started to slow within a few hours, and over the next 24 they continued to slow to where we're at now - 32 hours later at about 3 an hour...which in our "new normal" is ok. She still feels terrible, but at least we have bought a little time.

Now we wait. Like the others here, we don't know if we'll be here a few days or several weeks, maybe a month. They've given Sherri steriods to help the babies lungs develop faster, and spur their growth as there is no doubt we'll have preemies. The goal is still 32 weeks, but we are realistic...every day now is a gift. I am hopeful we get a couple of weeks at least. I am so proud of my wife- she's the toughest little supermom I know - and I do think we'll all be ok. Nobody ever promised us easy.
We are here at Swedish, the doctors ask for no visitors. This is quiet time. A sign on every wall reads- "Baby Needs to Grow, Mom Needs to Rest". Sherri is doing pretty good, as I said she's been through a lot, but we're up for it. We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers!

Random Pics

A few moments of our life lately...

Hanging out in the backyard...




Mark "checking" on the babies to make sure they're ok...


The smile says it all...we love Grandma's!!!


Grandma Donna went home today, next time she comes there'll be 6 of us!

26 Weeks and Counting

So we had a pretty good visit to Swedish today...yes the last post was an April Fools joke! I will be apologizing to my mother in law for years over this one!!
Sherri was released this afternoon - yes things are getting worse but so far they feel she is safe at home. We are now going in every week for check-ups, Sherri was hooked up on a monitor today and the contractions are still a concern. Her cerv. is continuing to thin and soon will be a real worry, but for now they feel it is ok.
Sherri is trying to be really upbeat, but I can tell she's concerned- as we all are. But things are generally really positive, so on we go!!

They're Here!!

Wow what a night. Talk about getting absolutely no sleep. Sherri has a history of extremely fast labor - but this was crazy. The Volvo hit 115mph on the I-5 off ramp - thankfully Mark was ok, since we didn't even have time to buckle him into his carseat. At least we made it. Thankfully.
Swedish Hosp. has the absolute best group of surgeons in the world. And they needed to be. I managed to gown up just in time, but forgot my camera, so don't have any pictures. Amazingly, the babies seem fine, although its still early and we'll keep you posted. Need to run and figure out this breast pump, so I'll post more later.