Our Hospital Stay in NICU South -

I have been very unsuccessful at loading these pictures for everyone. Hopefully this link will recapture our stay in August at NICU South. All of our Nurses, Doctors and other families we met along the way will stay very close to our hearts. We really appreciate the kindness they have shown to our unique family and are glad to have our whole family home.

P.S. I included my growth pictures for all of you to see how big I got!!!!


http://picasaweb.google.com/jillmschwartz/Movies#5247006389174471666

K. Scully photography - A Must in my book

One of my good friends from Creighton has a unique style and creativity that cannot be matched. Kristin spent a day with us in our visits to the NICU North and provided me with this assortment of her days work. I first of all cannot thank her enough for her thoughtfulness and everlasting memory she has provided not only me but my babies as well of their start in life. Kristin you do amazing work .............. it's not work it's art

thanks again and I am lucky to share this with you

jill

( p.s. this site will steal you heart......... )

http://www.kscullyphotography.com/

once you have arrived at her site hit enter on/under the middle picture then go to client proofing , once there then type in one of 2 passwords both are very unique and worth reviewing.

quads b&w
quads color

if unable to log in try seeing the pictures on this site.....

http://flickr.com/photos/kristinscully/

1 month flies by when you have 4 new babies

Well I guess I have some updating to do.

The last pictures were from the first weekend that we were in the hospital.

Over the last month I was released from the hospital on August 12th. That day was particularly hard since I wanted to go home to see Chris, Jason & Kyle, but at the same time I finally was able to start getting to touch and hold let alone meet Molly, Kurt, Meghan & Cole.

As I moved back home, I seemed to miss what had been normal to me - breakfast in bed, familiar nurses and techs I had come to know well, wheelchair rides with transporters and family, particular Md's & their residents, and of course TV, The Shower Chair, and my next door neighbor Saadia.

It didn't take long and I was back to St. John's again this time visiting the NICU. At first we spent most of our time trying to make it before their schedules started or the limited time they could be held was gone. The staff accommodated us nicely especially with the extended family I had visiting in shifts each day. I would look forward to seeing them and meeting new nurses and talking about this miracle that seemed so unreal. They spent the first weekend working towards reducing their oxygen demands and breathing on their own. Molly and Cole both needed to be intubated briefly, given surfactant to help their lungs mature and recover prior to breathing on their own. By my departure all babies except Cole were breathing on their own - that was 8 weeks prior to their due date. What a miracle that was in itself.

Everyday I expected some setbacks or information that a baby or babies would struggle, need some type of support or have something major to be evaluated, but each day brought out more good news - all O2 demand negated, all bilirubin levels decreasing from photo therapy, no anemia problems requiring intervention, all ultrasounds to detect brain bleeds negative, hearing/vision screens normal, and all heart murmurs benign. All of the babies were moved to the South in 1 week a fast but much needed change from the critical north NICU. Thank god for miracles and a few good angels protecting these babies.

As each neonatologist would visit and discuss each child they would get an enormous grin on their face and say, "they are all doing so well, so well Jill, no worries get some rest." As the end of August approached, ( just shy of 2 weeks from my actual release) Dr. Chao thought 1 to 3 babies might be released from the NICU. Chris and I were shocked let alone suprised by the thought of three babies coming home in 2 1/2 weeks from birth. We prepared for them to be in over a month possibly more - not home in 2 weeks. As I discussed this home coming I started to tear up thinking I can't leave Molly here by herself - I just thought I'd never be able to get back. Now thinking about it I wouldn't be able to not with the demands of feedings around the clock and the exhaustion that follows you like a little cloud over your head, but you just seem to keep going. As I realized I was probably only talking about a week or a few days more I just couldn't bear it. I apologized to Dr. Chao because I realized there are much worse things I could be crying about right now ......... but he said every child is special and not every child is your own so that helped me realize I wasn't being selfish just wanting to not leave anyone behind.

So as the end of the day passed and the new day came I braced for this new change. I was glad they were coming but was still hoping they would stay longer to help me recover & get them home safely together. Again, someone was watching over us as the babies all slowed down together, I believe to wait for their sister Molly and to help me recover, but scientifically because the circumcisions fatigued the boys eating patterns and the now known "cold corner" of NICU south helped put Meghan into temperature fluctuations requiring a isolette.

Over the next week Molly caught up with intake of feedings, the boys started to eat well again, and Meghan regained her steady temperatures. ( For the NICU nurses that moved them I thank you - especially since it was your busiest time of a long 12 hour day.) As they kept improving it dawned on me they were all getting close to going home, but not until the nurse informed me to sit down that it was actually going to happen. It paid off and all of my babies arrived in pairs over the Labor Day weekend.

Janel's photos from Sunday Aug. 10th visit

08/08/08 - How lucky are We !!!

Hey All,

I would like to share with all of you our good news -The Schwartz Quads were born on 8/8/08.

Crazy as it seems the delivery date was originally scheduled for August 7th, 2008 @ noon, but Dr. Bartelsmeyer felt that I should push to go longer since all of the babies had plenty of fluid around them and I wasn't preeclamptic, and my pre-term labor pains seemed to be settling down because of strict bed rest.
So my husband and I met with him to discuss delivery vs. another date so.............. we moved the date back 5 days to August 12th ....... I thought it was attainable ............. looking back I was so done physically and mentally, but when your told your outcomes for the babies would be better what's a woman to do?

So instead of me deciding the babies and my uterus did.

On August 7th, at 8 p.m. I started to have contractions in an irregular pattern. They increased in intensity and duration, but the nurse and I realized my procardia was not taken and was due an hour ago - usually that quieted them down and eventually stopped or slowed them. Well this night they became regular over the next hour and more continuous to the point of needing to call Chris my husband into the hospital.

He had just left 2 hours ago with the kids and needed to arrange things for them. So he arrived at 10:40 and Dr. Webb proceeded to tell us we were going to have a birthday party tonight.

Thank God he (Dr. Webb) is easy going like me. It was happening so quickly I felt like I was the only calm one preparing me for delivery. As I proceeded to give out instructions to my husband and uncle we wheeled down to 2nd floor- by bed uggh!! Soon I realized we were not coming back for more bed rest and it was going to be midnight soon. The nurses were teasing me that they might have different birth dates 8/7/08 & 8/8/08 - I really didn't contemplate their statements too much just in awe of that it was going to happen tonight.

Soon my IV, epidural and family were all there. They told me their well wishes and gave me hugs and kisses before I left for the OR. As I wheeled into the OR, 4 open beds for the babies were on my right with at least 20 nurses, therapists and a neonatologist were standing waiting for Dr. Webb to appear. At this time I was crying and asked the anesthesiologist to give me something to relax, in about a minute I was ready for bed. (Thank god for drugs!!!!!!) On the other side a surgical team of 6-8 nurses and residents were on the Left. Then Chris appeared in his yellow scrubs and we waited for Dr. Webb. When he arrived they all clapped and away we went. I looked up at the clock and my husband said, "Jill you did it you made your goal - it's 8/8/08."

I wanted to deliver on a Friday and get past 32 weeks edging me closer to 33. At the time 8/8/08 didn't mean much but just a date to get to - to prove to Dr. Bartelsmeyer I could make it past 30 weeks and give Chris time off without taking much vacation time, but the biggest factor was to have their lungs healthy and developed. So 8/8/08 is lucky for me because that just what happened.

So Molly Joan and Kurt Thomas arrived at 12:47 and Meghan Kay and Cole James came at 12:48.I met them at 5 a.m. and have been watching them grow and get closer to home ever since. They are currently in the South Nicu and are off IV's, Breathing on their own, ultrasounds of their heads were negative, they are all early nippling at 33 weeks, have regained and surpassed birth weights and are working to control their temperature. Each one looks a little like both of my older boys but I don't believe they are identical. We won' t know till much later. I don't think they will be and I am glad for them to be different. It seems like this is still a dream but reality is approaching quickly.

As for the news, I thought it was nice and crazy at the same time. I was on heavy drugs and realistically was exhausted, but the news was looking for a nice feel good story of the day and I'm glad we were able to bring that to the St. Louis area. Chris and I were elated to share them with you all and look forward to getting our babies home soon.

For now I'm Glad to be home -Jill
P.S. the pictures are coming.................

Guess who arrived - 08.08.08

Hello all,

It is Aunt Jamie writing for Jill. I know everyone has been waiting to see pictures of the babies and wanting updates. So I let Jill know I would take care of it while she is in recovery. She wanted me to inform everyone she will write a story about the past couple of week so I will spare you my version.

Jill is doing great and is coming home tomorrow. As far as the babies, they are all doing great. Just spoke with Jill and 3 of the babies are breathing by themselves. One of them is still n oxygen but should be off soon.

Below are pictures of each baby and I have listed their names, length and weight in the order their picture appears.

Molly 16 1/4 inches long weighing in at 3.8 pounds, first born
Kurt 17 1/4 inches long weighing in at 4 pounds, second born
Meghan 17 1/2 inches long weighing in at 3.13 pounds, third born
Cole 16 1/2 inches long weighing in at 4 pounds, the baby of the family










Who would have thought that they would be in the paper and news this much. Here are some of their articles

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/parents-talk-back/parents-talk-back/2008/08/a-set-of-quads-pick-08-08-08-to-arrive-at-st-johns/

http://www.examiner.com/a-1527702~Quadruplets_born_at_suburban_St__Louis_hospital.html

http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7167089&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

IT'S AUGUUUUSSSST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quite a while ago, the babies started getting tested 2 times a week to check their well being and occasional growth. This testing is done twice a week it is called a Biophysical Profile. This test each week, tests each baby for four specific things. Heartbeat & Rate, Breathing, Amniotic Fluid Volume & Movement. Each portion is scored up to 2 points to determine their effectiveness. Biophysical profiles started after I received steroid shots back in my 27Th week. Each week, I was hoping the babies would score a 8 and so far each week they have done just that.

Another valuable test is the 3 week growth scan. This test gives us the growths of the babies, but also tracks their growth in percents which is more valuable to the physicians and gives a good outlook as to how well they are doing overall. After my last test, Laura the ultrasound stenographer, explained how well my babies have been doing. She said, "most people just want their weights and are happy, but the physicians' look at these percentiles." As she points to the computer screen I see 45% - 50% and a graph with four scrambled letters falling between a high and a low line. She continues to explain "that this means your babies are on track and have been since they started testing." Apparently, those percentiles show all of the measurements together over the months and although they are quads they are growing like a singleton. Your babies would be half way to how big they would be at full term. By them staying on track they have grown accurately to their gestational age. ( That means all of them not just one). So Mama is very proud of them!!!

So here are their 3 week weights...............................

Baby A (Girl) ...... 7/7/08 - 2lb. 7oz. ....................... 7/27/08 - 3lb. 4oz.

Baby B (Boy) - 7/7/08 - 2lb. 9oz. ............................. 7/27/08 - 3lb. 5oz

Baby C (Boy) ..... 7/7/08 - 2lb. 13oz. .........................7/27/08 - 3lbs. 9oz.

Baby D (Girl) - 7/7/08 - 2lb. 10oz. ............................7/27/08 - 3lb. 5oz.

Overall 3 lbs. in 3 weeks and an average 2 ounce gain per baby per day ........ no wonder why My Body is getting heavy. Please wish us luck as we continue this endeavor to stay on track and be healthy.

Jill

My Little Guys

At the zoo with Maw maw


On the Carasol with Maw maw


On the train with Uncle Jeff


Lake of the Ozarks


Father's Day Tractor Rides


Father's Day


At The Zoo


At the Zoo


Jason & Kyle on the Boat @ Lake of the Ozarks


Jason & Kyle are really being big boys .......... it sad that they have to endure such big changes so young. My extended family has been trying to keep them buzy throughout this last 6 weeks, but as we all know it's still not the same. They want Mom home, just as much as I want to be home.

My youngest (right now) calls me every morning before his daily ride with Dad and Jason too his destination for the day. When I left he was trying to put words together and couldn't converse well on the phone at all. Now, he says so many words together I have to ask him to try again or really decode as we go. I think he is learning so much right before my ears, sometimes my eyes. I noticed the other day he can decifer different colors and choose his options without having to whine for them. Dad must be working with him .......... at least it seems like it.

Jason isn't a phone person. He usually will be so active and focused on his current activity that talking to Mom is not an option at that time. When he visits, he is the first to say hi and come show me what is new or what he brought with him for us to play with. He always asks when I'm coming home and tells me what he has been up to. After reading this back to myself, I can't help but sit here and cry. I'm tired of having to not be with them. Last time Jason left I told him to make a calandar with his father for 2 1/2 more weeks and when he x's off all of the days I'll be home. - I can't believe their is an end in sight. Now it's adjusting to how do they get ready for four new siblings at home especially since their just finally getting their Mom back. This will be a big unknown - hopefully a nice smooth transition for everyone especially them.

I just thought I'd share more pictures of them with you from their favorite spots .....

JULY 26th - Article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Below is the link to the story.
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in the Lifestyles section on Saturday July 26th, 2008

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/parenting/story/D6F15A58C1BBF3148625749200150DED?OpenDocument

Hope you like the article, we thought it was very nice and I was glad they cut off most of my belly. The title in the paper was much nicer than the title online, but the article is the same.

Jill

My BUSY Weekend

Well so far I've coasted into 31 weeks........................ or so I thought. As the weekend approached my Doctor and my family were discussing how far I could go and were trying to set a date for delivery. If your thinking this seems strange, it is if your caring only one baby, but with four, 34 weeks is considered full term, so that means 3 weeks if possible.

Well the if possible seems possible, but scheduling is not so easy ..... to deliver the babies it takes 2 OR rooms, one for me and my doctors and staff & the other one for the 4 babies to go into with their staff. All in all coordinating over 16-20 people maybe more with 2 units involved (Labor & delivery and the NICU .) Finally, it seems as though this crazy pregnancy has some schedule and consistency ............... BUT as Dr. B. stated that's if you can go that far so we can set a date, but it can all change in a day. So I know my date, but it's a distance still to go, so when I get closer you'll know too.

So it's Saturday, the date was set, family was visiting and helping me finish my scrap booking of Kyle's baby book, big brother t-shirts, & isolette pics for my babies to see when were not at the hospital .....Well...................... I started to feel different. My uterus was contracting and I was starting to feel cramping and pressure. Enough so that I decided to lay down and relax. I started counting these feeling I was having. They were 10-15 min apart. I notified the nurse and continued to rest and focus on relaxing. The Toco monitor was picking up the contractions also ............... So in came Dr. Webb a very nice and handsome fellow who I've met 1 other time prior to today. He decided we needed to check my cervix ............. it had thinned 70-80% and my safety net or cerclague might have opened or is loosening. He said you know what this means................as he paused I could only think gee I guess it might be today, man I was hoping to go further, I can't believe it's my only nephew's birthday and I'm gonna do this to him, then my last quick thought was I guess Dr. Webb will be the Doctor Delivering me I hardly know him............................ his answer STRICT BED REST.
Auugh ....... I said what does that mean ............. no more wheelchair rides, just bed rest, bathroom privileges and a quick 10 minute shower. I replied, "I cannot wash my hair in 10 minutes, laughing", he said," just make them shorter". He put me on tocolytics (Procardia XL 30mg BID) to halt contractions and dilation. It's working!!!!!! He also said, "Jill you are and have been doing great", I agreed and said "I'm lucky I've made it this far without total bed rest and medication. I'm O.K. " He rubbed my shoulder and said "your gonna make 34 weeks." I think he was expecting me to cry, but instead I was elated not to have to deliver so unplanned instead. So the weekend continued and more steroids were administered to protect and mature the babies lungs and my bedhead and side laying have become my new comfortable position and look.

O.k. so that was Saturday. ...... On Sunday, at 5 a.m I woke up with more contractions. My 2nd dose of procardia was due at 5:30 so I got up to go to the bathroom. As I walked across the room still asleep I didn't quite comprehend my pants were getting wet. I sat on the toilet and went to the bathroom and woke up enough to realize or think - Did my water just break? I stood up and waited for more fluid to be released but nothing happened so I lied down, and waited. 15 minutes later, the same thing happened only less this time ............. of course I called the nurse . The resident appeared to check my cervix for leakage - lets just say this exam was painful and very awkward, but no fluid leakage .................she also stated that my sutures were intact and my cervix was closed, as she finished the exam (this could only happen to me - the speculum was caught in the open position, the bolt to open the device wouldn't release with out some Kelly clamps to loosen the bolt so after a few minutes I was free and scared to death that this device was going to be caught/stuck there requiring more issues.) Oh well a little scare but no harm done. Apparently, the contractions and walking forced my bladder to release. Just one more thing to deal with. Dr Webb said, "he's was surprised it hasn't happened before now".

The rest of the day was set up for growth testing of the babies and a Biophysical profile. That requires a whole different blog so hang in their I'm catching up with time.
Jill