Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

The day after Ann-Marie's birthday, Annie ate from Mommy about 125% of her regular feeding. The next day Ruthie did the same thing. Gracie that day ate 100% of her feeding. With this great news the nurses started talking to us about what we had left to accomplish before we could leave the NICU.

So the last few days we have been going through all the hurdles needed to pass to leave the NICU. We first went from 3-a-day feedings to 4-a-day feedings, which meant we were at the hospital almost the entire day. Then we had to do two back-to-back feedings in one day. Following that we had to do 12-hour on demand feeding (basically four back-to-back feedings). And finally we had to pass the "Rooming In" test where it's just Mom, Dad, Annie, Gracie, and Ruthie for 24 hours in our own private room at the hospital.

We are currently doing the 24-hour "Rooming In" step and so far the girls have done great. If all goes well today we will be bringing the girls home tomorrow!!!!!! If there are any issues we will bring them home in the next few days.

Being so close to coming home and the imminent craziness that will ensue with triplets, Ann-Marie and me have often felt like saying, "Let the Wild Rumpus Start" (from Where the Wild Things Are).

We have made some friends with the parents of other preemie babies and they have really helped make our long stays at the NICU more bearable. A few of their pictures are included below.

With the girls possibly coming home on Monday, the NICU doctors have asked us to please request no visitors at the house until H1N1, regular flu, and RSV season have passed. Due to the fact they are preemies, their immune system is not as strong as it would be if they were born full term and if they get sick during this winter, they will likely need to be hospitalized again. We look forward to when they are strong enough so others can come and visit. Thank you in advance for your understanding!!

We have witnessed so many miracles as we have made this journey through the NICU. Every day we can count them. Today's miracle is that all three are likely to go home the same day. The nurses and Neonatologists have commented multiple times how rare it is for triplets to all go home the same day.

We are so excited for them coming home. They will be coming home on oxygen and heart monitors. Hopefully they won't have to have them too long, it is based on the pediatrician's decision.

We are so thankful for Grandma and Papa Krueger for getting the nursery ready. The time for the girls to see their room is quickly approaching!

November 18th, the day Annie (on the left) ate 125% of her feeding.

This is Lily, the daughter of friend we made while in the NICU, Chely. She is exactly one day gestational age earlier than our girls and was born one day before our girls. We are scheduled to go home the same day from the NICU.

Tim (father), Amy (mother), and Ezra are other friends we made in the NICU.

We sure got a lot of comments when parents and nurses saw our three car seats stacked up in the nursery at the NICU:)

Gracie (left) and Ruthie (right)

Kandis (one of our primary nurses) came by to see our girls before they left the NICU. She's holding Annie.

Tawny, our nurse practitioner has watched over our girls for the entire two months we've been in the NICU.

Ann-Marie with Gracie on bath night which was Saturday night

Ann-Marie and Gracie with Kristy and Ruthie getting ready to bathe the two girls at the same time.

Ruthie (left) and Gracie (right) loved every minute of their nice warm bath

Nice and relaxed:)

This is Annie Miller, an Occupational Therapist at the NICU that was incredibly helpful in getting the ball rolling for us to come home.

Annie (left), Gracie (middle), and Ruthie (right) on Sunday

The girls' crib with oxygen tanks in the "Rooming In" room