The gals have arrived! (Birth story)

 Our sweet girls have finally arrived! They were delivered via csection on Monday, January 27th. All are healthy and doing great in the NICU. No date for their homecoming yet but we are thankful they are growing and thriving. 

I may as well type up all the details while they are fresh in my mind because once I'm home, we all know my time to blog will be slim pickins'. Ha! 

Josh and I arrived at the hospital for my surgery right on time. I was super nervous the whole time. I don't know why a csection scared me so much but I think because I was high risk it made me more wary and emotional knowing I had two babies at home that needed me still too. Once they had me in the OR, the anesthesiologist began the spinal. It wasn't taking and she had to try a bunch of times to get it in the right position. That was TORTURE. Vaguely reminiscent of the three times I had to have the epidural with Graham before it took. I was beginning to panic inside thinking what else they could do if the spinal didn't work! Right when she called another colleague to come try, it took! Hallelujah. Blessed numbness. Josh was all scrubbed up and ready to go. Dr. Morris began the surgery and while he started, I got sick. Go figure. These girls wanted to make sure mom threw up one more time before they came out. After some nausea meds, I was feeling much better. Josh said it was amazing to watch them be taken out. Audrey was first (baby A) followed by Kate (baby b) and then Claire (baby C). Claire did try to make her way out second but Dr. Morris told her no way...they were following the order and sticking to it! Ha! They all cried right away and when I saw them my first thought was they were tiny AND huge and how did I fit three babies that size inside of me?? 

Claire is our chunky monkey. She's the biggest. She's the one who sucks the paci like a boss and has done the best with trying to latch for nursing already! She loves the bottle and is taking it every other feed. Her big eyes are my favorite and she's very alert and doesn't seem to want to miss anything. She's so extra. 

Kate is the chill middle sister. She goes with the flow (as she did in utero too). Sometimes she takes the bottle and other times she doesn't. She's not too fussy and just content to be held and loved on. Her little iv on her hand wasn't working, that is why she has one in her head. She was also a trooper through that process. You can tell her personality is going to be laid back and the mediator between sisters. I think Graham and her will be buddies. 

Oh, Audrey! You are the tiniest but the mightiest. You have been true to how we'd thought you would be...feisty and independent! You have the sassiest expressions and let us know when you want attention. You took the bottle today for the first time and took it like a champ. When it was finished, you promptly were ticked off and wanted more. Who could blame you...mama's milk from the bottle tastes better than food going right down a tube into your tummy!  Poor daddy, you've got him wrapped around your finger already. 

My recovery is going well and tomorrow will be my discharge day. Then begins the life of a NICU mama, driving back and forth! I'm excited to see Henry and Graham and even more excited and hopeful for the day that all 5 of my babies are home together! Thanks for all the prayers and love!