32 Week Triplet Update

Happy Birthday Stephie!!! And as long as she doesn't go into labor in the next four hours, the triplets will not be born on her birthday =).  And look at the picture of her... she looks great!  I would never guess there were THREE babies in there!
Speaking of the sweet babies, here's an update!
     Brylee and I went to Madison on Tuesday to help Steph with her bedrest, etc... and after her week 32 doctor's appointment on Wednesday afternoon, I talked her and Addy into coming back to Louisville with us.
      Now Addy and Steph are staying with Sam and I in Louisville until the triplets come, which is MUCH SAFER for Steph and the babies than staying in Madison.  I think the drive to Louisville was kind of hard on Steph, but she is glad that the next time she makes that trip she won't be prego! =)
       Steph and the babies are doing great.  Steph is still on oral medicine to stop the contractions...and is not thrilled about bedrest (she is at the stage where she is EXTREMELY uncomfortable), but really excited about the possibility of making it to week 34 (full term for triplets).  She's only had three contractions since she has been with us in Louisville.
      As for Brylee and Addy... I can't tell you the number of times a day we hear Addy, in her cute little voice, yell "Baby Brylee".  Lol, I think that is her new favorite phrase.  Addy is continually waiting for Brylee to respond with an "Addy" or "hello"... but not being able to talk yet, Brylee just smiles. The first night Brylee and I stayed in Madison, Addy would take the bumbo seat and put her bear in there so Brylee couldn't sit in it (Addy didn't want to share with Baby Brylee).  Now when Brylee is in her exersaucer at our place, Addy brings over Brylee's bumbo seat and actually WANTS to sit by Brylee.  I think the girls like each other -- everything Addy does makes Brylee laugh. =)
      As for Sam, Addy used to be terrified of him, and now.... well, she chases him when he gets home from work.  She loves some wrestle time with Uncle Sammy.  Anyways, things are going well.... I know Steph has really really really appreciated everyone's prayers and support!  We'll update everyone again after her appointment this Friday. 

Ha... How fitting!

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/schrager-lane-kiffin-flees-tennessee-for-USC-011210

Triplet Update

Ahhhh, so I can't sleep, I'm just too nervous/anxious...so here's an update on my sister & her sweet little babies.  Steph is 31 weeks prego and she had an appointment in downtown Louisville on Friday.  The specialist had told her to have her bags packed, b/c there was a strong possibility he was going to be telling her to stay with Sam and I in Louisville until she has the babies (or gets put on bedrest in the hospital).  Well, he checked her at her appointment on Friday and said things looked great.  So he said he didn't need to see her back for two weeks, and that she could stay in Madison until her next appointment. 
We were all surprised Steph wasn't supposed to stay in Louisville, but were happy that she had received a great report from the specialist. 
Well, anyways, yesterday afternoon Steph starts spotting.  So her and Zack head over to the hospital in Madison, and her contractions begin and are 7 minutes to 4 minutes apart.  So the hospital gives her water in an IV in case she is having contractions because of dehydration.  Well, after 20 minutes of water, her contractions haven't stopped and have actually increased to being pretty consistant at 4 minutes apart.  So they give her medicine to slow them down, and she stays the night in Madison at the hospital.
Right now, here are everyone's big concerns.  Steph is on two drugs to stop her contractions, but every time she moves the contractions start up again.  If she stays still they quit.  Well, right now, she is still in Madison, which is a small country hospital and about an hour and a half from downtown Louisville.  The hospital in Madison doesn't have a lot of experience with multiple birth C-sections, and also doesn't have a neonatal unit to take care of the triplets.  So if she delivers there, it's a lot more risky for Steph and the babies.  They all would have to be transported to Louisville after delivery.  So right now, they want to transfer Steph by EMS to Louisville, but she can't go into labor while on the road (which is VERY COUNTRY), b/c a C-section with premie babies in the middle of nowhere would be very dangerous as well. 
I just talked with Steph, and they aren't letting her eat in case they do an emergency C-section this morning.  She seems positive but is hating the feeling of being "drugged," and is ready to head over to Louisville, but is waiting for the shift change (the new doctor starts at 8:00 a.m. and he will make the final call).  Anyways, we're all praying that the transfer to Louisville goes smoothly and for a healthy mom and 3 healthy babies!
9:00 A.M. UPDATE: Talked with Zach this time.  The morning doctor decided that Steph is staying in the Madison hospital until noon.  Her contractions have completely stopped, so they are taking her off the IV medicines and monitoring her for the next three hours to see if they start back up again.  If the contractions do not start up again, then they are sending her home and she is to stay on strict bedrest and to continue to take oral medicine. They think a trip to Louisville today would be too much for her and potentially send her into labor.  But if by noon her contractions have started up again, they will have no choice but to send her to Louisville.
3:30 P.M. UPDATE:  I just talked to my sister, and she is still in the hospital.  She hasn't had anymore contractions, which has been wonderful...and so they finally let her eat at noon today and lay on her side.  The triplets have been having a little party in there, they are doing just fine.  If she doesn't have anymore contractions, they are letting her go home today at 5:00 p.m. and keeping her on the oral medicine.  She is on strict bedrest, and then in the next few days will figure out if she can make the trip to Louisville or not, once she's talked to her specialist again.  She is really really appreciative and thankful for all of the prayers!

"Don't Mess With TEXAS!"

Ok, sooooo I had to make that the title of this blog just to mess with Sammy! =)  Sam and I have a tradition of buying a magnet everytime we visit a new state together,  and while we were in Texas, I thought the "Don't Mess with Texas" magnet would be a good one.  Sam was like Brooke.... we can't get that magnet --I feel like it should be "Don't Mess with Tennessee!"  I thought it was funny, but he let me know I was just jealous that Indiana would never be a state that would have a magnet about people "messing" with it.  Haha, oh the rivalry between the north and south still lives - jokingly, in our household at least. 

But anyways, so... we went to Texas at the beginning of October and had a great time!  We jam packed as much as we could into our four day trip... and the picture above is my ALL TIME FAVORITE picture of me and Brylee.  This was Brylee's first time touching the ocean, and I LOVE this photo.... she just looks so small and little.  Sam says his photography skills were professional in that one.  =)

What to pack.... Brylee watching as I make a mess of her clothes

At the airport in Cincinnatti... Brylee ready for her first plane ride.  Cincy had a direct flight to Houston, which was really nice since we were traveling with a 4 month old =).

Getting ready for take off

And this is how Brylee spent the majority of the flight... the most comfortable passenger on the plane by far!

All of our first times to Texas!

Driving from the airport to downtown Houston

Brylee ready to go see the ocean for the first time

Family picture in Galveston, TX at the ocean... it was freezing that day, we weren't dressed for the weather

Cutest lifeguards I've ever seen =)

Brylee is trying to check for swimmers... daddy isn't

Sam and Brylee at Kemah Boardwalk

My two favorite jailbirds...I believe Brylee was arrested for being TOO CUTE =)

TEXAS

Next stop was NASA space center for the tour of NASA

Mission Control:  "Houston we have a problem"

This is it... the room the astronauts do most of their training

Rockets

After the NASA tour, Sam and I decided to try out some of the things around space camp

Haha, we thought this one was for adults... no, the guy was pretty much like "C'mon little guy you can do it..." like Sam was a 3 year old!

So mad I didn't get this shirt!

Me landing a space ship on the moon....

Sam tried next, and of course he finished faster =)

Sam touring a shuttle

After a busy day, Brylee back at our hotel cuddling with monkey

Best little traveler EVER! =)

Getting ready in the morning... Brylee is checking herself out in the mirror =)

Downtown Houston.... best Mexican fusion food ever!

Brylee got to eat too =)

NBA Rockets game

Who's hand is bigger?  Brylee or Tracy McGrady?

I think his size 16 foot is larger than Brylee's too =)

After the Rockets game.... Brylee and Sammy

Playing before we pack up to head back to Louisville in the morning

Brylee's First Fall! September 2009

Well, as many of you can tell, Brylee is going to have no shortage of photos of herself to look at when she is older! =) Anyways, here is our September (and I can't just skip posting a blog for September, b/c I just think so many of our pics of her are ohhhh, so cute! lol, I know I'm one biased mom! =) ) Anyways, September consisted of a trip back to Knoxville, Brylee's first baseball game, and just stuff around the Ville. =)

This is how she had to sleep... I was putting a pillow underneath her mattress for her reflux, but the angle was making her roll into the sides of her crib and the bumpers.  So I bought this thing at Target to hold her in place and it KIND OF worked =).

The official handing over of the maternity clothes... Brylee and I met Steph and Addy in Madison BEFORE we knew Steph was having TRIPLETS!

In Knoxville... first stop, one of our fav restaurants to meet Sam's mom... Parkside Grill! =)  You will NEVER find better bread anywhere!

Brylee was happy to see Granny Paulette

While Sam went to the UT football game the next day, I caught up with friends.  Here we are at my old boss's new restaurant in Bearden Hill.  Yum!

Then we visited with Lauren... Brylee loved her! =)

Brylee meeting Ryne for the first time (Adam and Mandy Knies's baby)

Roy took us out on the lake

Back in Louisville, Brylee fell asleep in a onesie that Sam LOVED from Mandy and Adam

Bumbo seat time

Cuddlers

Watching the Vols play

"Mom, where are my socks???" 

I see you!

4 months and 3 days old!!!

Watch out... I will eat you!!! =) haha, everything goes in her mouth!

I LOVE little hoodies!

September 30, Mwuahs from daddy XoXo