I hate to do this, but from now on, all posts on this blog will be password protected.
Steve and I are home now in Boston. It’s so good to be back. I am not ready to talk in detail about what I went through because I am still sorting things out for myself, but I am sure that will come with time. But, I do want to thank all of you for everything. Really, we are completely overwhelmed with your love and support. The cards, the emails, all of your comments, the candles that you lit for us, the chocolates from a former blogger, and the three beautiful silver rings our girls names inscribed on the inside from Meg…we are truly blessed to have all of you. Also we want to send a special thanks to Serenity, who has become like a sister through everything. Love to each and every one of you.
Hi, all. It’s Serenity again with another ME and Steve update.
I am happy to report that I’ve talked with Mary Ellen twice this week.
On Wednesday morning, she was discharged from the hospital. Though she’s not physically 100% yet, she’s doing a hell of a lot better than she was, for sure.
But. Emotionally she’s got a long road ahead of her.
And she wanted me to tell you all that she really appreciates the prayers, and emails, and the calls, and the text messages, and the comments that you’ve all left here for both she and Steve. They mean so much to her, and she’s so thankful for this community.
She’s not allowed to try again for another 7-9 months. And even then, she’s told me that she’s not sure she’ll ever be ready to start TTC again.
And so she’s not sure when she will be able to come back to this space. Instead, she needs some time away to recover, and hopefully to begin the healing process.
I told her that if anyone would understand, it would be this community.
So if you don’t see any updates here for a while, don’t worry.
She might not be fine now, but she knows that she will be ok someday.
Hello everyone. Thank you so much for your love, support and prayers these past few days. As Serenity mentioned, ME is doing much better healthwise. We have a long road ahead of us, but I know that she is an amazing woman and will carry on.
Sylvia, Claire and Lucy were incredible, beautiful little girls. I’ll never forget them and they love they gave us. Thank you again for your support. Please continue to show that love and support to Mary Ellen, I know she is going to need it.
It’s Serenity again.
Steve called me this afternoon - with good news. Mary Ellen is off the respirator, and they’ve reduced her IVs such that she’s only got one right now. She was sitting up, alert, eating pudding just before he left to take a shower.
So physically she’s doing a WHOLE lot better.
Emotionally I’m sure that the journey is just beginning.
Steve wants me to let you know that he is really appreciative of all the support and love from all of you out in blogland.
(So am I, too.)
My hope is that I won’t have any more updates for you… because they will be home soon to write it themselves.
Love and thanks to all of you.
Hi all, it’s Serenity again.
I spoke with Steve this morning.
Their three little girls were born last night.
Sylvia was born still at 9:30 local time.
Claire and Lucy were born around 2:30 - 3am local time. Both of them were alive for about an hour and a half, but they too joined their sister.
Mary Ellen is currently in a medically-induced coma so that the doctors can help her fight off the infection - right now it’s in both her uterus and her lungs. After the birth, they took her into surgery to help clean out her womb in the hopes that it might help her better fight off the infection. She’s currently stable.
From Steve this morning: “I’ll never forget the way I feel right now. Both the pain of losing my three darling daughters and the love and admiration I have for Mary Ellen. It is awe-inspiring and overwhelming. I could not have picked a better life partner.”
He wants you all to know that he is very thankful for the kind words and thoughts and prayers.
Please keep praying hard for my friend. She’s gone through so much in the past couple of days.
UPDATE:
Just got off the phone with Steve again - he called to tell me that Mary Ellen is doing much better. She still has a fever, so she’s fighting an infection, but she was doing well enough for them to bring her out of sedation.
She got to see and hold her little girls before she went back to sleep.
Steve told me that she’ll be on the respirator for a little while more, but they’re going to try and take her off it soon, maybe tomorrow, to see how she does.
Keep the prayers coming…
It was a rough night for ME and Allie last night but all the infection tests came back negative this morning. I’ll be posting some ultrasound pics from Wednesday later today. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
UPDATE:
Hi all, it’s Mary Ellen and Steve’s friend Serenity. Steve asked me to update you all.
I’m afraid it’s not very good news.
Yesterday, Mary Ellen spiked a fever. Her doctor was concerned about infection, but thought that she might be able to fight it off herself. The tests on the babies came back negative, but during the night, she had a hard time breathing because her lungs started filling with fluid.
So the doctors decided to remove her cerclages and found that the first one was infected. She has a very bad uterine infection from it.
They are delivering the three girls today, and Mary Ellen is currently on a respirator to help her breathe. Steve is on a plane to get out to AZ, as is her parents and his parents.
I can’t tell you how upset I am to have to tell you this.
Please her in your prayers. Steve is going to call me tomorrow morning to update me on her condition, and I will update as soon as I have any more information.
UPDATE #2:
Just heard from Steve again, who was waiting on his connection flight. Not much to report yet. Mary Ellen is still on a respirator, and they’ve sedated her. They broke her water a little while ago.
Nothing we can do but wait. And pray. And hope.
I will update again tomorrow when I hear from Steve.
More news from the West:
ME had a second cerclage this morning. It was more difficult than they expected because the bottom baby was trying to escape but overall it went well. She is having some nasty side affects from the mag but is doing as well as can be expected. All 4 girls are looking good and trying to get some rest. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and especially thanks to everyone who has offered to visit her while in town. She would love for anyone in the area to stop by and say hello.
I don’t expect to hear much more today but will post if anything changes.
**Update**
So I talked to Allie. There is some threat of infection with the bottom baby. We will have to wait and see what is going on with her.
As far as cards, letters and emails, Allie has volunteered to coordinate that. She also thinks it would be nice if people could send her emails for ME and she will print them off and take them to her. I’ll post her email address below. She can also give you the shipping address if you ask.
allisonlynnmoore at gmail dot com
Hey guys I was wondering if we can get people to send emails and cards for Mary Ellen. Emails are of course faster. I can print them off and bring them to her. She is hanging in there without a complaint. I thought it would be nice for anyone and everyone to send her some encouraging words. I’m sure she would be happy to hear from everyone who is thinking of her and the babies to keep her positive and going. Let anyone know . Send stuff to my email allisonlynnmoore at gmail dot com. I can start bringing them to her tomorrow. The sooner the better! Love allie
ME moved to Phoenix today…
I took her and her sister to the airport this morning. I’ll keep you updated in how things are going and I’m sure she will post as soon as she can. Thanks - Steve.
**Update**
I just talked to ME and Allie. They are on their way to the hospital. The flight was uneventful and ME is doing well; no tightness, etc. She is going to try to dial me into her consult with the doctor, so I might have another update. If not, thanks for your thoughts and prayers - my girls really need them right now.
**Update 2**
Just got word from ME. She is resting yet nervous. They might do a second cerclage tonight, or they might wait until morning. They are also going to start mag sulfate tonight to help with the contractions.
So overall Day 1 was a success. It was emotionally and physically exhausting for everyone. She had a really long ultrasound today and all the girls looked great. It isn’t polite for me to tell, but two of our baby girls are a little on the chubby side, which is great, great news. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. I read ME some of the comments and she really appreciated them. You might be stuck with me for a few days until she gets set up out there, so hang in there. On to Day 2.
I am soliciting assvice here. There is a Catholic priest back home who is a very good friend of our family. My aunt, who has been amazing, spoke with him last Friday and he recommended I call a good friend of his who is a MFM specialist in Columbus and pick his brain. So yesterday I called him and he called me back last night and we spoke for almost a half an hour. He told me that in his opinion I should be on strict hospital bedrest immediately with no privileges on a terbu.taline pump, and that he may do a heroic cerclage depending on the tissue. He also said that I should be on p-17 shots not p.rogesterone suppositories. Something else that really struck me is that my doctor has said that if baby C proms, he will deliver all three period, whereas this doctor says that he would do everything he could to save the other babies.
I was really feeling conflicted when we got off the phone because I really feel in my heart that he is right on. I called a friend who is a fellow triplet mom and who happens to have a lot of connections in the world of multiple births. She recommended that I call the head of Phoenix Peri.natal (the mecca for multiple births) and if he feels that this guy in Ohio is right, or that he personally can salvage this pregnancy then I should drop my shit and go. The problem, of course, is getting there safely. Ohio would be easier than Phoenix.
I called my doctor this morning, M.ass Gen.eral who won’t talk to ne on the phone, and a doctor at New En.gland Medic.al, and they all told me that none of those treatments have been proven and that no one here would be willing to discuss any of the above until viability. My arguement is who the hell cares if they aren’t proven?! I know of many many triplet moms who believe with all their hearts that these very interventions saved their babies. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work! At least we tried! Besides, it can’t be any more detrimental than doing absolutely nothing. I can’t let my girls die and know I did nothing to save them.
As of now, I am waiting to hear back from my PCP who is affiliated with U.Ma.ss. He is my last hope for Massachusetts. If he agrees with the others here then I have some decisions to make. Two things to consider in addition to the travel are that the hospital that the guy in Ohio is affiliated with only has a level II NICU, but there is a level III close by. Also, Ohio has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Phoenix is ideal by far, and my insurance would still cover everything, but it’s getting there…
What would you do?
