Go Away Gustav!!

As I write this I am extremely stressed about the upcoming Him-a-cane!! My babies will be well taken care of, I know that for a fact, but the thought of not being able to get to them completely stresses me out. The road from our home to the hospital is basically like the path to Little Red Riding Hood's Grandma's, nothing but woods, some deer and probably a Big Bad Wolf or two!! Meaning, lots of trees that could potentially block the roadway and prevent me from getting to my Muffins!! I am going to do what I did with the whole pregnancy and put it in God's hands! He's been so kind and gracious thus far I know he'll see me through this!!!

Now, what you all really want to hear... Updates!!

Cannon - The Can-Man has moved out of the Pods and into the Progressive Care area of the NICU. He is rocking out! He is on nasal canula only, receiving full feeds which means his PICC line comes out in the morning! He has a heart murmur caused by PDA. Here's some info on what that is.........
What Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus?
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart problem that occurs soon after birth in some babies. In PDA, there is an abnormal circulation of blood between two of the major arteries near the heart. Before birth, the two major arteries—the aorta and the pulmonary artery—are normally connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which is an essential part of the fetal circulation. After birth, the vessel is supposed to close within a few days as part of the normal changes occurring in the baby's circulation. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent). This opening allows blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery, which can put a strain on the heart and increase the blood pressure in the lung arteries.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Patent Ductus Arteriosus?
A heart murmur may be the only sign that a baby has patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during the heartbeat.
Some infants may develop signs or symptoms of volume overload on the heart and excess blood flow in the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:
Fast breathing, working hard to breathe, or shortness of breath, or in the case of a premature infant, need for increased oxygen or ventilatory support
Poor feeding and poor weight gain
Tiring easily
Sweating with exertion (such as while feeding)
He is not having any problems with his PDA, but they are keeping a close eye on it and have given him one dose of Indomethacin (in-doh-METH-ah-sin) a drug that helps close a PDA in premature infants. It does not usually work in full-term infants. It works by stimulating the PDA to constrict or tighten, closing the connection. He will receive another dose tonight and one more tomorrow night unless it closes in the meantime which means he will no longer need it. If it does not close we will discuss further treatments at that time, one of which could possibly be surgery. Cannon is such a fighter, I think the medicine will work just fine!!!

Gunner - This is my time to brag! My Gun-Man has rocked out! He was struggling in the beginning but is now the big man in charge! He is on full feeds, nasal canula and his PICC line was removed today. He is getting 22cc's of breastmilk every 3 hours mixed with Milk Fortifier. 30cc's is an ounce so that's just awesome if I do say so myself! He looks like a Big Dude when you walk out of Avery's pod into his. He weighed in at a whopping 2 pounds, 15.9 ounces today so we're not far from his birthweight and at 3 pounds he gets to wear clothes so they told me to bring them with me tomorrow and maybe Hannah Noelle will get to watch her brother get dressed for the first time!!

Lauren - She is going to be my delicate flower! She wants all the attention! She is still on CPAP and has an average of two to three heart drops a day for which she recieves a medicine called Aminophylline which is basically a caffeine stimulant. This is not uncommon at all in preemies, again, one of the many reasons they're in the NICU at such a great hospital!! Lauren also has a heart murmur caused by PDA. She is recieving the same medicine as Can-Man for that, but her's is a bit more serious than his. Extra blood is flowing through the heart because of the PDA and is not allowing as much blood flow through her "gut." I'm quoting the doctor now. This is causing her to have some feeding issues. She is the only one still recieving nutrients through her PICC line, but she is now up to 5 cc's of breastmilk every 3 hours and is showing no sign of residual so they will continue to up it as they feel she can tolerate it. She is also having a little trouble with jaundice. Please say an extra prayer for her every night!!!

Avery - What can I say, she's amazing! She came out the smallest, but is fighting back! She's almost to her birth weight, on 17cc's of breast milk every 3 hours and getting her PICC line out tomorrow. She is still on CPAP because she just wants to be lazy every now and then! She and Lauren are both on the CPAP, but at 21% which is room air. She will continue to get Aminophylline for the few heart rate drops she has, but will receive it through her feeding tube instead of through her PICC line!

Hannah Noelle - I have to update on her too! She is doing well, but is showing signs of jealous bones! Who can blame her? If it was one baby I'd tell her to get over it, but with four it's just constant baby attention and she feels left out. She's getting better with it and loves them so much she just doesn't understand why everytime we receive a "prize" for the babies she doesn't have a prize. I tried to explain to her she got prizes like that when she was born too, it's just way over her head!! We're going to Libby Lou's tomorrow so I'm sure that will remedy everything for a day or two!

Mommy and Daddy - I have recovered amazingly well. It's amazing how much faster your body recoups when you're not having to get up in the middle of the night with a baby. I feel much better than I did after having Hannah Noelle. I'm sure part of it is also having to have the drive to get up and travel to the NICU daily. I had some swelling issues shortly after their birth and low and behold I was allergic to the medicine they gave me to treat that! I'm covered in hives! I itch, itch, itch!! I'm on steroids now and it's slowly getting better!! Matt is doing great! He's not getting to see the Muffins as often as he would like because by the time he gets done with football practice it's too late to get to Mobile before they close from 6:30-8:00 and you can only make so many 8:00 visits without completely tiring yourself out, not to mention trying to juggle Hannah Noelle. She still doesn't completely trust us to pick her up yet, she's scared they're going to make us stay at the hospital again. She told me if they told me I had to stay I had to tell them I had a tiny daughter at home that needed me! I cried like a baby! Every time we pick her up from school, choir, etc.. she is trusting us more.
As a matter of fact, speaking of trust, I just heard a little voice say, mommy, we're supposed to eat popcorn and watch TV, remember? I guess that's my sign to log off and go have a pallet party with my 3 year old!!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers! Thank you so much for your continued support and friendship!! Keep the comments coming, they all make me smile!! Love to you all!

Overdue Update

Sorry it's been so long, we're just extremely busy as you can imagine!!

Cannon - Off of CPAP and now on Nasal Canula.. you can see him much better now. Matt and I have both been able to hold him! I got to change his diaper and feed him through his tube! All in all, DOING GREAT!!!

Gunner - He is our biggest fighter!! He ended up being intubated two days after birth, but came back full speed ahead and is now even off CPAP and now on nasal canula only! He is doing great on his feeds and up to 10cc's every three hours! Go Gunman Go!! We got to see him naked while being weighed and his little booty, oh, oh, I could pinch it off!!!

Lauren - She is doing great!!! She is off CPAP also and is now only on Nasal Canula. She's having some difficulty with feeding and having residual, but is getting better!! She's got the biggest feet and hands of them all!!!

Avery - She is the only one left on CPAP, but is eating better than Lauren. She's up to 5cc's an hour, but her nurse doesn't want us to let her hear us brag on her! She said she is one of the feistiest babies she has ever had! She has been successful in ripping her CPAP out several times, taking her temperature probe off several times, etc. She ended up having to "seatbelt" her down three separate times! Go Avery Go!! Fight that nurse, show what you can do!!

All in all we are very amazed at our babies' progress! The next few days are still very critical and we ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers! Please also understand that this is a very trying time for our family, we are very busy and under amazing amounts of stress at the same time of being overly overly excited! We are not trying to ignore anyone or make you think we don't appreciate what you have done for us, we are just trying to focus on our family and spending as much time as we can with Hannah Noelle and then back and forth to see the babies. Visitors to the hospital are appreciated, but is often times very hard because we have to tour with you which takes time away from the limited time we already have to see the babies. Again, we are not trying to keep you away, but it is very difficult as I'm sure you can imagine!! When the babies gets home, please, please come as often as you want, as long as you're not afraid to change a poopy!!!! Also, the next two weeks I can't drive, so if you want to make a visit, can you pick me up???? Here is a picture of Hannah Noelle as she got to visit her brothers and sisters for the first time!!! Love to you all!!!!

News Story from WKRG

This is from WKRG in Mobile. Also, check out sunherald.com, we made the front page!!!

WKRG.com Video

Update From Mommy

I'm not up for the full birth story yet, will try to get that out to you tomorrow. It's been an absolutely crazy day. We were with the media for over two hours and spent another two with each other and the babies. There were so many numbers flying around last night some weights and lengths got a little skewed, but I've got them for you now!

Cannon Gregory Cochran - 7:49 p.m. 2 pounds, 11 ounces, 15 inches
Gunner Cole Cochran - 7:51 p.m. 3 pounds, 1 ounce, 15 inches
Lauren Kathryn Cochran - 7:52 p.m. 2 pounds, 10 ounces, 15 inches
Avery Caroline Cochran - 7:53 p.m. 2 pounds, 8 ounces, 15 inches

All the babies came out crying, they sounded like little tiny kittens!! I was able to touch Avery before they took them all to the NICU. I was in recovery for several hours so that I could go visit the NICU on the way back to my room. I got to see all babies and get updates on all four before returning to my room to "rest." With the smile I had on my face, there was no resting!!

All four were on 21% oxygen which is room air with nasal canulas to help push the air through. Yes, I'm no pro on the lingo, I'll learn more daily! Gunner who was the biggest is the wimpiest!! He is presently on 32% and is the only one that has not gotten to take a bath. The girls are nice and shiny and Cannon is too. Cannon is the only one that got to have formula today. I had pumped for them, Go Ta-Ta's Go, but they accidentally put it in the freezer instead of the refrigerator so it has to thaw out and they will try him with that later. He did very well with the feeding. I had the opportunity to hold everyone but Gunner, but by the time I got to Avery's pod (They're all in separate pods, they're trying to move them closer together) I was so tired and she looked so comfy I just let her be.

Lots of tears have been shed, but they're all happy tears! My Muffins are here and they're all doing great! My pediatricians from Pascagoula came over tonight to see the babies and to see myself and Matt!!! They both live in Mobile, but it was so special that they took time out of their day to come see us!

These are a few links to see footage that was taken, and, no, the first one was not staged, I did in fact interrupt their interview to tell Matt to get over here, it was happening!!

Click on "Video" under the picture of the baby blanket: http://www.myfoxgulfcoast.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7232820&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

There will be another one on www.myfoxgulfcoast.com in the next few hours that was taken today and has pictures of all the babies. Sorry that I sound like a blubbering idiot on it, but I was just so overcome with emotion!!!

You can also search WLOX's site, they will have footage and an interview posting also along with The Sun Herald.

Thanks again for all the prayers and support, we couldn't have done it without y'all!!! Please continue to pray!!
Love, Matt, Sandra, Hannah Noelle, Cannon, Gunner, Lauren & Avery.

THE MUFFINS ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

Sandra and Matt's precious babies are here! I don't know anything except that they all cried, they all have 10 fingers and 10 toes and Matt says they all look like him! He said Sandra was doing well. I'll post when I hear more - Matt called me from the OR and couldn't talk long.

***Update:***
Baby A: Cannon Gregory, The Big Brother was born at 7:50 pm, weighed in at 2 pounds, 11 ounces and is 15 inches long
Baby B: Gunner Cole, The Hog was born at 7:52 pm, weighed 3 pounds, 1 ounce and measures 15 inches just like Big Brother
Baby C: Lauren Kathryn, who we thought was Miss Itty Bitty was born at 7:53 pm, weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces and is 14 inches tall
Baby D: Avery Caroline, The Dancing Queen, was born at 7:54pm and showed up at 2 pounds, 8 ounces and came in at 13 inches!!!

Happy Birthday Muffins!!!!!!!!!

As soon as I learn more, I'll post it on here!

29 Weeks, 1 Day, Other Blog Story

Yesterday was a great day, I got a visit yesterday morning from a fellow quad mommy and daddy, Jaclyn and Torey Tubre. They also fed me!!! Visit their site to see pictures of their beautiful Cupcakes along with pictures from our visit. She is the one that named our babies the Muffins!! While checking out her blog make sure you watch the video named Tickled Tygerman, I promise you'll get just as tickled!! Today there was story in the Mississippi Press on the quads, Matt had an interview with WLOX and I had an interview with the Sun Herald so stay tuned for those stories! I don't get any of those papers so if you have a scanner, scan it for me and e-mail it to me, please!! I'm keeping on keeping on and counting down to 30 weeks, then I'll focus on 31. One week at a time, one day at a time!!! Grow Muffins Grow!!!! Keep us in your prayers! Love to you all!!!

28 Weeks, 6 Days. New Weights!!!

The new estimated weights are in!!! As you know we were concerned about Lauren's (Baby C)weight. Well, she's beefed up!! All the babies put on 7 ounces in the last two weeks and Lauren put on 8. The weights are as follows:

Cannon - 2 pounds, 10 ounces
Gunner - 2 pounds, 15 ounces
Lauren - 2 pounds, 7 ounces
Avery - 2 pounds, 9 ounces

Add all that together and, wham, I've got 10 pounds and 9 ounces of baby in my belly! Holy Smokes as HN would say!!
Everything is still on a day by day basis. We'll continue to monitor the growth, fluid, movement, heart rates, etc. I am doing great as far as the doctors are concerned. If you ask me, I'm doing horrible! I'm tired, I have a constant headache, I could go on and on. I know this is where I need to be and I know the babies are better where they are too, so I put on my smiling face and keep on keeping on. By the way, my appetite is out of control so if you come see me, you better have some food in your hands!! Just kidding!!
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers!!

Just For Hannah Noelle

My baby went to Preschool today and Mommy couldn't be there. She was well taken care of by daddy, Pae-Pae (who ironed her outfit when she was home last) and Mrs. Bridgette who dressed her, fixed her hair (yep, that's how my mommy does it is what HN said) and took some great pictures!! Rather than just be sad all day I decided to make a post just for her! She's an amazing little girl and deserves as much support as I have been given! I Love You Hannah Noelle!!! You will always be my baby girl!!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

28 Weeks, 1 Day!!! Same Ole, Same Ole!!

Well, guys, I'm still hanging in here! Yesterday was a huge day as I hit 28 weeks! If you would have asked me last week if I would still be pregnant this week, I would have said HECK NO!! My spirits were down and I was just all in all over it! My sissy came to the rescue when she arrived on Friday and brightened everything. I think I only had one bad day the whole time she was here. I'm ready for September when she moves here and can keep me on the up and up every day! Not promising that I'll still be pregnant, that would be 32 weeks and, well, I just don't see that happening!! I get my IV changed out every three days, don't really know why that's necessary if there is nothing wrong with that specific site, but what do I know. I'm running out of available veins though! I think I got stuck a total of 10 times today! Fun, Fun!!! I got moved out of L&D yesterday because there were too many deliveries downstairs and they needed my room and I was stable enough to move back to Good Ole Room 335. My doctor posted a sign on the door for no one to come in my room from 8 pm to 7 am. Isn't he awesome!!! Of course, the nurse has to come in at 9 and give me my sleepy time medicine and my Heparin shot and then she taps me at 1 and 5 so I can take my contraction medicine. The sleepy medicine allows me to just roll back over and go back to sleep. Oh, excuse me, did I say roll back over. It's more of a lunging throw my belly over, adjust my hips to a certain point then realize, oh, crap, I've got to go to the bathroom. And, with that medicine, I can't even walk to the potty by myself! Saying that, I need to send another shout out to my sissy and husband for waking up and walking me to the bathroom! The best part about moving back upstairs was Hannah Noelle got to spend the night with me last night. Bad part of that was I didn't do real good on my 8:00 contraction monitoring so they gave me all my meds early including the sleepy med (Nubain and Phenergan)(I'm sure I just massacred the spelling of those meds) early so that it would maybe relax the muscles and I would quit contracting. Within five minutes of the meds I'm out, I mean, talking crazy, out. I remember her saying, mommy, hey, look at this and trying with all my might to open my eyes, it just wasn't possible!! Anyway..... the babies all still look great, we're continuing to monitor their fluid levels and growth. We will have new estimated growth weights next Tuesday! I promise I will post more often, it's just rough the later in the pregnancy we go. Oh, and after the babies are born, you can blame Andrea if you don't get updates! I taught her how to login and Blog for me so that you will all have the news ASAP. Again, please continue to pray and Love to you all!!