Turtle pace!

It doesn't feel like it's been two weeks already since we took Maddox to the ER. Time goes by so fast, but his recovery has been so slow.

He's been diagnosed with Human Meta Pneumo Virus which is like RSV. On top of that he developed a bacterial infection. The virus cleared soon after he was put on the ventilator, but the bacterial infection lasted a bit longer. Clearing only three days ago. It left his lungs quite stiff. He is improving, but very slowly. When I spoke to the Dr. this evening he said most children with MPV are on a vent anywhere between 5 days and 3 weeks. Because Maddox had a bacterial infection he is looking for it to be closer to 3 weeks. It's already been a week and a half. It's incredibly hard to go there and not be able to hold him. I think if I could just get my little hands on him, I would take him and run.

Everyone here at home is doing fine. We still have the rough patch at night between 10 and 12 where all Jack does is cry and puke. Looking forward to the days when he will stop having reflux. Emma and Parker seem to be getting better with it. Drew is silly as ever. We can't wait for summer. Drew and Brian blew up his bouncy house in the living room last night. It's huge!! He absolutely loved it.

Time to go, it's almost midnight and Jack (believe it or not) is still crying and puking. I think he just wants to cuddle!

XOXO

Squadling update

I feel like it's been forever since I've been able to post. Wait...it has! Our computer decided it too needed a virus to add to our chaos. Since I've blogged last, Jack has come home and Parker was admitted. Parker spent two days in ICU and moved up to Peds yesterday. He has pnuemonia and asthma. He should be able to come home today. They are having a nebulizer sent to our house for treatments every four hours. He looks so happy today. Much better than the last week.

Maddox is doing ok. They switched a few meds on him and have started flipping him over every few hours. They are able to suction junk out of his lungs finally. Hopefully recovery for him will start to move a little faster.

Jack and Emma are doing well. Having fun playing with Drew at home. They watch Sharktale at least three times a day, jump on the couch like its a trampoline (can't wait to break out his bouncy house when it warms up), and chug chocolate milk like it's going outa style.

I will try to keep more posts coming as the kids recover from this nasty flu season.
Hugs!!

PICU update.

Jack and Maddox are still hanging out in PICU together. Maddox is still on the ventilator. He is fighting it and they've had to keep him sedated. The doctor said the actual infection in his lungs is gone, his lungs are so inflamed from it that his lungs have stiffened. That's why he's on the ventilator. It's going to be a few more days before he can come off of it. He is retaining a lot of fluid and looks like a marshmallow. They have given medicine to help...it's working quite fast, he's already peed all over his nurse and bed!

Jack is doing good. He is on a smaller amount of oxygen and can try his bottle again today. They are hoping he can move upstairs to Peds, and hopefully come home in two days. He was wide awake waiting for a bottle when I was just in their.

Everyone else is home and doing good. Parker spent a night here in Peds, with a horrendous cough. Emma is probably at home laughing at these sick little boys. Drew is good. Had a wonderful time with Brian and I at Chucky Cheese. He was so excited he couldn't even eat. I've posted the pictures on facebook. I can't wait to get him outside to play, I think we all have cabin fever.
HURRY SPRING!!!

XOXO

Squad Update.

Well, as we suspected Jack is now sick with something. He has joined Maddox in PICU. They don't have official test results back yet, but think it's that rare form of RSV that Maddox has. They told Brian, Jack too may be on a ventilator by morning. He was having difficulty breathing. The boys are five rooms apart so Brian doesn't have far to go to visit either of them. I haven't been there in a few days because I too have been sick. Feeling much better now, so I may go visit my little loves tomorrow. I have enjoyed the comfort of my own bed though.

As I'm typing this I thought I would share that Drew is waving a bib saying "Maddox this yours". It makes me sad...I had finally accepted that Maddox was in a good spot and knew Jack was headed the same direction days ago. But now that Drew is looking for them, it breaks my heart. So far Emma and Parker seem to be doing ok. We are praying they don't get sick. I have been sanitizing our house like crazy today. The fun continues tomorrow!!
Well I have two hungry babies...wish I had four.

Sleep tight everyone!!

More Maddox.

Well, we were going to move upstairs to Peds yesterday. Around 7pm I received a phone call saying Maddox was not breathing well on his own and they needed to put him on a ventilator. Brian stayed with him last night and will go again tonight. I am sick and just feel better in my own bed. We did have the other three evaluated today. Parker has nasal congestion, Jack is congested in his left lung, and Emma is 100% perfect...except for her puking due to reflux. Daddy says is soooo NOT sexy!

Drew is a hoot as always. We have been watching a lot of "Shark Tale". He has been doing really good with the big boy potty. He no longer wants to sit, he has to stand like Daddy. It's too stinking cute. Well, it's bottle time here so I have to run!

XOXOXO

Maddox Update

It's now Wednesday, and we are still in PICU. Maddox is doing better. They are letting him drink small amounts from a bottle, while still getting IV fluids. His fever has broke, and is on a decreased amount of oxygen. He coughs a lot and sets off his alarms every few minutes. I think he is afraid to cough. He holds his breath and drops his heart rate until he can't hold his breath anymore then coughs. He is in serious snuggle mode....I LOVE IT! If I could get comfy in the furniture here, I wouldn't put him down. I can't wait to have him back home.

Brian and I are both sick, along with Drew. Jack, Emma, and Parker seem to be ok, a little cough or sniffle here and there. It will be nice to have both of us home again to help each other out with the babies. 24hours alone every other day with the babies sure is tough. Makes 8-10 hours a day seem like a breeze.

More updates later when I know when Maddox might be able to come home.
XOXO

Poor Maddox!

Maddox was admitted to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital Saturday night with a cold and failure to eat. They said they wanted to keep him for observation. Once we got to the Pediatric Unit things started to go down hill. He was having a difficult time breathing due to some congestion. His doctor decided to put him on oxygen and as they were suctioning his nose and lungs he stopped breathing. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. All I heard was his monitor beeping like crazy, people running everywhere screaming RT, RT! All I could see of Maddox were his dangling feet. They then thought it was best to move him to ICU.

After we arrived in PICU, I was so tired I fell asleep on the couch. Once in awhile I would hear a beep or two but that was it. They have been giving him breathing treatments, continued with oxygen and fluids. They have tested for meningitis because he has spiked a fever. They were unable to get enough spinal fluid out for the test to come back 100% sure for 24hours. It has so far come back negative and they doubt anything will change. So that is positive.

As of right now, he is still in PICU, hoping to move back to Peds tomorrow if he has a good night tonight. He still has a fever and is on oxygen. He is a little bit more alert and is eating a little every couple of hours. Right now they are saying he should be home close to the end of the week. No specific day yet. We will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible.

Hugs to all!

You know you're tired when....

1. You find your husband reclined, snoring, and burping a baby during a 3a.m. feeding.

2. You fall asleep in the bathtub for 30 minutes and feel like it was two.

3. You fall asleep with your mouth full of food.

4. The bottle you have shoved in a babies mouth is now running down their cheek and onto your arm because you have fallen asleep.

Being completely exhausted makes having 5 children sort of entertaining. I find myself constantly thinking I need a nap, or telling myself "what am I thinking?" In the past 8 days (since all four babies have been home), this is just a glance at what we find ourselves doing. I keep thinking I need to keep a journal of funny moments or times when there is complete chaos. I have yet to do it!

Once again I know this is a short entry, but I NEED SLEEP and it's midnight.
Love to all!!

Our very first.....

We watched our very first Big Ten basketball game!

The quads are big fans like Brian and me of the Fighting Illini, if you can't already tell by their outfits. Papa Jack, Nama Susan, Uncle Randy and Aunt Georgann also came over in their Illini gear too. They had a good time holding the babies.

Things are going well with the babies being home. They sleep pretty well at night. We have them all on the same schedule. Drew loves them all. He loves helping with feedings, diapers, and of course playtime. They constantly get kisses from him.

Brian and I are completely exhausted...although we wouldn't change it for anything in the world. It's kinda funny when we find each other sleeping while holding a bottle at 2 A.M. This morning Brian managed to sleep and snore while burping Emma. I had no idea he could multi-task like that!!

If you ever want to visit, help out with things around the house, or babysit just call or email. We always need help.

Hugs to all.

Safe and Sound!

WOW! What a crazy couple of days it's been. It's been so exciting, nerve racking, and tiresome. We now have all the babies home with us.

Our first night together with the squad was good. Drew had a blast...we watched Sharktale three times. We were able to put Parker on the same feeding schedule as the rest of the kiddos and all went well. I pulled diaper duty while Brian warmed the bottles. We were able to do it together in about an hour. I think overall we each got about 6-7 hours of sleep. Not to bad for bringing home 4 babies!!

I know this is a short post, but it's lunch time and Parker and Jack are letting the whole block know about it.

Hugs and Kisses!!