What a difference one week makes!

Wow, what a crazy week it has been!  It has been a roller coaster for sure, but an amazing ride to say the very least.  The babies were born 8 days ago, I came home 4 days ago and today our family of 6 came together for the first time at the hospital.  

The babies continue to thrive even as small as they are.  Their gestational age is 32 weeks tomorrow and they are acting their age if not a little bit ahead of schedule.  All of the babies are off any additional nutritional supplements and are getting all breast milk and clear liquids just to make sure they do not get dehydrated.  Lucas is off all respiratory assistance, Ethan and Emili have nasal canulas for additional air flow only and no oxygen.  They are all tolerating their feedings and their volume continues to be bumped up almost daily.  Each of them continue to have fluctuating bilirubin levels.  Currently Emili and Lucas are on bili blankets.  The medical staff test their bili levels every other day and this back and forth game could go one for another week or two.  All of the babies were right around 3.8 lbs. today.  We feel extremely blessed with their good health and daily progress.  Thank you for all of your kind wishes, thoughts and prayers.

The RSV restrictions were lifted two days ago, which allowed Taylor to be able to visit the babies today.  You are also supposed to be 2 years or older, but they were kind enough to make an exception for Taylor since she is so close.  It was a very special moment for our family and one I'll remember forever!  I'm pretty sure Michael and I both could have broken down, but we both held it together very well.  Taylor didn't know exactly what to think, but it was very clear she wanted the isolettes open and the 'babies out'!  We visited with each baby individually and then went back and covered the isolettes up and said goodnight where she was able to blow kisses.  We are not sure how often she'll visit, but we do plan on making it part of her schedule.  :)

That is all we have as far as our babes go.  Below are pictures from the past week...

The first time Mommy and Daddy held Ethan and Emili.  

Mommy's first diaper change with Emi.  

Mommy snuggling Ethan for the first time

Daddy doing skin-to-skin with Emili

Mommy with Lucas on Day 4

Ethan with Daddy on day 4

Hello Miss Emili

Emi's first bow! 

Mr. Lucas @ 1 week before the nasal canula was removed

We tried to put socks on the babies, but even the preemie sock are entirely too big!  These are Ethan's piggies!  

Mamaw helping Ethan with his paci

My cousin, Lisa, came to stay with Taylor on Wed. and they both had a great time.  Lisa worked with Taylor on her first finger painting experience and was nice enough to paint a picture for each of her new siblings!  :)

Taylor got to go to Ava's school for grandparents day with Mamaw Ruster

And to put things in perspective this was Taylor the day she was born at 8.5 lbs.  :)  

Have a great week!

XOXO

The Kamp Trio have arrived!!

SURPRISE... the trio have arrived!!  

I got up at 2:40a Saturday, April 21, morning to use the bathroom and my water broke and contractions started 40 minutes later.  After speaking to the doctor on call, Michael and I headed to the hospital and in just a few minutes we learned we were going to meet the babies.  I was taken to the OR for a c-section accompanied by Michael; Ethan was born at 5:15a, Emili at 5:18a and Lucas at 5:22a.  What an unforgettable experience to say the least!  The following pictures are the first pictures we have of the babies in the NICU Saturday mid-morning.  

Michael and I can visit with the babies 24/7 in the NICU.  The facility and care they are receiving is amazing.  We feel fortunate and blessed to have such an incredible NICU staff caring for our precious babies.  The nurses care for all three like they are their own.  It really is a relief knowing they are in such great hands when mommy and daddy can't be with them around the clock.  

The following picture was taken on Sunday after delivery.  I was able to be up and walking but still going for a ride from time to time.  I am on the 4th floor and the babies are on the 3rd floor so it can be a bit of a walk.  

I know this next picture is dark, but it is mommy feeding Lucas 'mommy milk' from a syringe for the first time.  It was a special moment for the two of us!   

Another special moment was when Taylor, AKA: Big Sister, came to visit me for the first time in the hospital.  It felt so good to have her in my arms!  I know she has been spoiled rotten at home with our families, but I can't wait to get home and be with her again.  We truly have been blessed with such loving and caring families.  We all know this is going to be a marathon, but with the help of everyone we know we can get through the good and the bad.  Thank you all for your help so far!  

30 weeks

We had our second to last growth scan on Monday and the babies looked great.  We can’t see their faces well anymore because they are all facing my back and don’t have much room.  Baby 'A' weighed in at 3.10 lbs., Baby 'B' weighed in at 4 lbs. and Baby 'C' weighed in at 3.14 lbs.  I don’t know exactly what Michael and I were expecting, but I think we were both surprised how big they are. Hard to believe we'll be meeting these little ones in the next 6 weeks.  Our OB said we need to make it to 32 weeks before we talk about picking a date for my c-section.  I passed my glucose test and my blood pressure is remaining steady and we continue to pray it stays that way.  That is all I have for updates at this point.  I know it doesn't seem like much, but we like it that way.

We have had a rough few weeks with Taylor, but I think we're back on schedule now.  We started her in day care two days a week and it turned into all three of us being miserable.  She wasn't sleeping all day, which then turned into sleepless nights.  I can't physically handle being up with her all night and either can Michael when he had to work the next day.  She was such a different little girl (aren't we all without sleep??) and it wasn't pretty when she started to climb out of her crib.  She eventually made her way out with no injuries and we had to convert her crib the next night to a toddler bed.  Michael gets number one dad award because the night she climbed out of her crib he slept on the floor of her room while she slept on a crib mattress on her floor.  This is where having three extra crib mattresses came in handy...  lol.  So we decided to pull her from all day and start her with a lady in the neighborhood where she can go through lunch and come home for her naps.  This is her first week to be there, but she already seems to be a happier girl.  Please keep your fingers crossed that the transition continues to go well.  We know sleepless nights and feeling exhausted 24/7 are in the near future, but I wasn't prepared for it two weeks ago.  :)

On the bright side, our baby girl is still sweet as ever.  She definitely has her momma's sweet tooth.  This is a picture of her enjoying some Saturday morning donuts or in Taylor terms "Do-Do's".  I'm not sure she would ever stop eating them if we would continue to give them to her.  Her sweetness pops up even at times when you don't expect it.  Today we walked down to the pond and she saw the bass in the water for the first time and she was waving and blowing kisses to them.  She has so much love to give!   

We hosted Easter again and had another great day making memories with our families.  The little girls stole the show in their pretty dresses and white sweaters, but what else do you expect?!?!  They are all so beautiful in their own way.

Taylor - 22 1/2 months 

12 days after losing Grandpa Kamp, Grandma Kamp passed away on April 1.  They will always be remembered and never forgotten!  At 95 and 92 and 72 years of marriage they are such an inspiration!  Rest in peace Gigi-Pa and Gigi-Ma.