Updates are us

So, you've been missing the daily update calls on Heather, Emily and Caitlyn? Here is your opportunity to read all about it. We'll do our best to put up a daily wrap of the latest news on how our three baby girls are faring as they weather their first days bravely in this new world.

In case you missed the news, let's rewind a bit. At ~4:00am on Tuesday, April 13th 2010, Janet gave birth to three little angels. They came early, at 30 weeks, but from the get-go they showed true Fraser pluck (actually, one could equally say that their fighting spirit is due to their obstinate Carr genes, but I digress...). They were all a hair shy of being 3 and a half pounds, which is a pretty good weight considering they were triplets and were born so early:

in fact, they were in the 90th percentile for weight at their gestational age (nice parental boasting, eh?). There is no question that Mom did a fantastic job of hosting these lovely babies!

The girls' names are:
Caitlyn Laura Carr Fraser,

Emily Edith Carr Fraser and Heather Elizabeth

Carr Fraser. The middle names of Laura, Edith and Elizabeth originated from my Great-

Grandmother - Edith and her two sisters whom all lived to healthy ages. We thought it was fitting to bestow such auspicious names on our three new girls, and to let them know a little bit about from whence they come!

The girls have been in the Foothills Neonatal Intensive Care Unit since they were born, getting top grade care around the clock from teams of highly qualified neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and other medical professionals. We have been touched by their dedication and concern for the wellbeing of the girls, and their kind and considerate manner in the way they relate to us. Needless to say, the girls are faring quite well, although there is no question that they are challenged with some of the common complications of prematurity faced by many children of their gestational age. They will have their ups and their downs but, overall, there is considerable progress all around.

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The latest setbacks are concern about the possibility of infection with Caitlyn and Heather going back onto CPAP (moderate respiratory assistance). Caitlyn and/or Emily may go back onto CPAP at some point. They are all getting caffeine to help them deal with spells of bradycardias (temporarily slowed heartrate) and apneas (temporary cessation of breathing). These spells sound dreadful, but are relatively common in children whose central nervous systems are not yet fully developed, as is the case with many premature babies. All things considered, Mama and Papa are coping well the asystoles they are experiencing when the girls have bradycardias and apneas! All babies have enjoyed nice cuddles with Mama and Grandpa Bill, the latter of whom (obviously!) has come to visit them.

Mama came home from the hospital over the last weekend and is tired, but feeling well, and is happy with the girls' progress, not to mention the opportunity to be with her eldest.

Speaking of which, "big sister" Jennifer is thrilled with the arrival of her three little sisters, but she has not yet met them. When we asked her whether she would like to go to the hospital this weekend and meet her sisters, Jennifer positively vibrated with excitement, and said "YES!" most emphatically!

Anyways, thank you to everybody for your thoughts and congratulations. Your support means so much to us and if we haven't taken the time (yet) to thank you in person, please accept this temporary, stand-in, group thanks for everything!!!

Cheers,
Jeremy