Wednesday, July 11, 2007

A Post from the Luxury Suite at Banner Good Samaritan

I finally figured out how to get on the internet from my room. Of course it helps that I am not whacked out on heavy duty drugs at the moment! That was certainly not fun. Hopefully I won't have to repeat the mag anytime in the near future. But for now, I am am feeling great (other than feeling really large!). Today they moved me to my "permanent" room on the antepartdom floor. All things considered, the room is not too bad and even comes with a mini fridge and entertainment armoir. I also had an ultrasound today to monitor the babies growth. I am happy to say that all the babies are growing well and are right around normal for 31 weeks gestation. The five babies weights were:

4 lb 2 oz
3 lb 5 oz
3 lb 9 oz
3 lb 10 oz
4 lb 3 oz

The smallest one is the one on the bottom of the pile, so it is understandable that she is smaller than the rest. Still she made it into the 35th percentile for 31 weeks gestation, so that isn't bad. The two 4 lbs-ers were both over 50th percentile for their age.

So, with all this baby in me, you can probably guess that I feel HUGE---kind of like a balloon about to explode. But I know I have to hang in there a few weeks more, so I am sure I will look back fondly at these days as the days when I was "little". OK, that might be exaggerating things just a bit. Not only do I have lots of baby weight in me, I have also gained 8 lbs since I have been in the hospital. Considering I didn't eat anything for the first three days, that only leaves one explanation----water weight! My feet, ankles, legs, etc. have gotten huge in the last few days. They hook me up to these machines that basically have a series of balloons the blow up around my legs and are supposed to help circulation. They also look stylishly like white moon boots.

My favorite part of the day here is when I get to go for "hydrotherapy". This is just a big tub that, yes, even I can fit in. The water is supposed to help keep up the babies amniotic fluid and hopefully help some of my swelling. It is very relaxing, so whatever the reason for the tub, I am quite fond of "hydrotherapy".

I have been very lucky since I have been in here to have many visits from my mom, aunts, kids, cousins and husband. It really helps pass the time--especially now that I am not so drugged up. I am so grateful for all the the kinds emails and comments that I have received from many of you----they really boost my spirits. It is not the easiest thing to sit up and type, so I many not get all the email's answered, but please know how much I appreciate them.

Please keep our family in your prayers! I will try to post when I can, but Jayson will make sure that the updates stay regular!
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23 comments:

Melissa said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better!!

So, do you have names picked out yet?

Unknown said...

Glad you're doing well. You don't know me but I am a Calif. OB/neonatal nurse of 34 years and have followed your story. I have never heard of 31 week quints that weighed that much-they always weigh half that. A 31 week singleton weighs about 3-2 to 3-12 lbs. so I wonder how the ultrasonographer is coming up with those weights.

Gail Neuman RNC

Anonymous said...

I feel like a huge broken record!! Seems all my comment say the same thing. Why change it now, right?

You're doing awesome---thanks for keeping us updated!!

Anonymous said...

Those weights are amazing! I had 31 weeker triplets, and my biggest was 3.4. You can grow em! Congrats,
kimberly and the Georgia Guinn Trips
www.guinnfamilyhome.com

Vivi Peterka said...

It is so good to hear that you are feeling better and the babies are doing well!!!!!
A bit more and they will be here!!!! :o)

Next week I will call Jayson to deliver the diapers and soaps!
We got almost 1000 diapers size 1-2 and dishwasher soap and baby laundry detergent

Keep up the great job that you have been doing!!!!!!

Viviane

Elliot's Magah said...

Hi There!

I am glad to see the quints are so big! That is awesome!!! The only problem is that your Preemie Tees might not fit. Maybe a should send you a new set? I will keep watching your progress and see how the babies are coming along. The gowns you have should fit to 5 lbs. If I need to send you a new set is there an address that would get to you quicker or should I send them to your Aunt Gloria? You can email me at preemietees@att.net

Debbie Besselievre
Elliot's Preemie Tees

Suzanne said...

woman! you hang in there! all you can do is the best your body will let you...don't feel like a failure if you can't get those little ones to 34 like you had planned. God will take care of them no matter what, so when they come is on HIS timing! i'm so glad to hear that you are off of that awful mag and are doing better! hydrotherapy sounds AWESOME! many prayers!

Suzanne said...

oh yeah, those weights are amazing!!! you are doing awesome!

Everyone Has a Story... said...

I am delurking to tell you that I was so happy to see you update today! I must of checked your blog 5 times yesterday looking for an update!
I have been following your blog (story) for a few months now. I can't quite remember how I found you but I did know some Wilconsons while growing up..any relatives in Monterey CA?
Anyway, I will be looking forward to your updates and would LOVE to see a picture of you at this stage! (If you feel up to it!) Hang in there and know that even strangers are thinking and praying for you!
~Kim~

Karen said...

Hi Rachelle! Having the internet will help you pass the time. Im so glad you are feeling "better" at the moment and the babies are doing so well. If you get bored you can call me, im pretty bored laying here all day too...still sick but a little better than before. My next dr. appt is on Wed to hear the heart beat. There better only be one in there! Love and miss ya, Karen

Anonymous said...

Way to go Rachelle!!!!! Let me know what else I can do to help.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! It is amazing that your babies are as big as they are!! I think you will have 5 healthy beautiful babies who will be able to come home soon after birth. Congratulations!

lltanderson said...

hi, rachelle! it's good to "hear" your voice again! glad to hear you're off the mag and feeling well again. i'm so happy to read how well the babies are doing. i'm hoping that the next 2.75 weeks go by very fast for you and include a lot of time in the hydrotherapy tub!

-lori, a big fan that you don't actually know :-)

Julianne said...

It's good to see a post from you again (Jayson did a great job, but it's nice to hear from you). It sounds like you and the babies and doing the best you can. I can't believe they are all so big! I'm glad you get some relief in the tub. It sounds heavenly.

Julianne :)

Anonymous said...

I have been following your blog for a few weeks now. I am glad everything is OK. In March I had my daughter, Leah, at 28 weeks...she is home and doing fine. I am also LDS.

Anonymous said...

Rachelle,
Wow! are we ever proud of you. I still find it hard to believe that this could be happening to my daughter-in-law. Sylvia

KimmieRo said...

We are still praying for you! You are doing great- God Bless you all!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rachelle, I am so glad you are doing ok. Keep hanging in there!!! I am always thinking about you!!!! Lyndsee

Anonymous said...

congrats on everything! im so happy that you and your babies are doing so well! you are always in my prayers and hopefully, you can pull off to 34 weeks! good job!

btw, give us a weekly belly pic! hahhaahaha when i was pregnant with twins, i had a blog that showed my progression every week and was quite interesting/fun!
good luck!

Anonymous said...

Hi. My name is Liz and I am the mum of a 2.5 year old boy who was born at 32 weeks and weighed 3 lbs 12 oz. I wish you all the best for your pregnancy and think you have done a great job to get your babies this far.

Heather Guymon said...

You are so amazing Rachelle! Keep the great attitude up. You lift my spirits with each post. We are praying for you.

Nancy said...

k you don't know me, but I think this is such a miracle. I know Karen Player and found you thru her. I hope you don't mind. I had twins 15 months ago and thought that was a big deal, but that is small potatoes compare to you. I think you are doing great and am so excited that you have made it this far. There weights are amazing, and I truely do not know how you are doing it. I think Heavenly Father gave you a body to carry all those wonderful babies. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

I think about you all the time;I'm excited to come and see you and those precious little babies.I don't know how you were able to function at all during those last trying days. Kathy Sue and I went shopping for clothes for your sweet babies. I think what you probably need the most of all is diapers but I really don't want to bring a lot of them to Arizona. With much love, G'ma Rappleye