The Skibness Triplets

Introducing Our Beautiful Daughters

Following an emergency c-section, we welcomed our three beautiful, identical baby girls into this world.

Cecilia Hope Skibness

Formally known as Runt, Cecilia was delivered at 1:56 p.m. on Monday, July 1, 2013.  Cecilia weighed 530 grams at birth or 1 pound 2 ounces.  

Isabelle Grace Skibness

Formally known as Baby B, was delivered at 1:58 p.m. on Monday, July 1, 2013.  Isabelle weighed 690 grams or 1 pound 8 ounces (1.5 pounds).  

Zoe Elizabeth Skibness

Formally known as Baby C, was delivered at 2:01 p.m. on Monday, July 1, 2013.  Zoe weighed 630 grams or 1 pound 6 ounces.  

Additional Information:

The girls are defined as "micro preemies" for both their birth age and weight.  By definition a baby born either before 26 weeks or weighing less than 1200 grams is considered a micro preemie.  The girls were delivered at a gestational age of 24 weeks, 5 days.  

The girls were immediately given to multiple neonatology teams and rushed over to St. Mary's for immediately treatment.  It is my understanding that before ventilator tubes were placed they all make little noises, however we were in separate rooms.  The girls are fighters and we are praying for them every minute.

Unfortunately I was not able to meet my daughters until Tuesday, July 2, but Adam was able to go over and see them on Monday night.  My parents and Adam's mom arrived Monday night and were also able to meet the girls.  Adam's dad arrived Tuesday.  

Our girls are simply beautiful, incredibly small but beautiful.  Please continue to hold them in your prayers as they have a very long road ahead of them.  

With all our Love,

Adam & daneille

Ready or Not...

The Girls Have Arrived.

Well despite my best efforts, the girls have arrived early.  

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Today has been pretty uneventful.  I am completely off the Magnesium drip, so basically I am human again.  We sent Mom home today so she could relax a little and help with Chunky Monkey (my nephew Jaxon).  Belle went home on Saturday night.  So it is just Adam and I  and we are trying to relax and breathe.  We were told that tomorrow there was a strong possibility I would be moved back to Anti-Partum.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Well this morning (aka 1 a.m.) was different.  I had been taking a sleeping aide and sleeping from approximately 10:30/11 p.m. until 4 a.m.  However, tonight I was up at 1 a.m. and then 3 a.m. and then again at 4:30 a.m. to use the bathroom.  At the 4:30 a.m. wake up I thought was dreaming I was having contractions.  

Since the nurses are required to assist me back into bed (I have these leg stockings to prevent a blood clot), I told the nurse I was feeling funny.  I told her everything and she called the doctors right away.  

Needless to say this was the end of sleeping for Adam.  Dr. Erik arrived and stated he needed to do an exam, which really did not go well.  After his second attempt he stated that I was now dilated to 3 cm and the babies needed monitored right away.  

At 6 a.m. the anesthesiologists were called in to discuss an epidural.  I told the doctors before that if at all possible I wanted to be awake for delivery.  As the doctors could not state how quickly things might progress they wanted to discuss placement of the epidural well before hand.  I would not be getting any medicine but the line would be there in case they needed it in an emergency.  This would allow me to stay awake during delivery if the girls decided to come quickly.  

I was still under the naive impression that I could fend off delivery at this point.

All morning I was monitored and having contractions.  The funny thing is my contractions were not horrible.  More annoying than anything.  I did not request medicine and I was able to breathe through them all, with Adam by my side.  

At about 1:30 p.m. I was having a hard time staying on my back.  I would get more contractions on my back then on my side.  Unfortunately, the nurse was having a hard time locating Runt's heart beat so before I could stay on my side we needed to talk to the doctors.

Dr. Todd showed up and did another ultrasound but did not like what he saw.  Runt appeared to be hiding behind my pubic bone now, even lower than before.  Dr. Todd had to do another exam (two unfortunately). When he finished he second exam he got very serious, looked at Adam and I and said "I'm sorry but it's time."

Next there was a flurry of activity as I was rushed into an emergency c-section because unbeknownst to me I had dilated to 10 cm and Runt was sliding down getting ready to make her appearance.  I was upset as we were still way to early but there was nothing more than could be done...the girls were coming.

Time Flies...

Background Information

Again I apologize for the delay, but as you know, if there is a delay it means I have been unable to get to a computer.  Let me fill you in on some of the details... 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Adam has to leave tonight so my mom is making the trip to Rochester to stay with me.  I am very grateful for this ~ as much as I state I am fine, it is extremely comforting to have someone who loves me with me while we try to stretch out our hospital stay.  The girls have a gestational age of 23 weeks, 4 days today ~ way too early for them to arrive.  Wednesday will be a huge milestone (reaching 24 weeks)!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Today the girls had a doppler ultrasound to review their heartbeats and check for flow through the umbilical cords.  With Runt being as small as she is, it is important to track the flow from through the umbilical cord to ensure she is (A) receiving enough nutrients and (B) still in there.

The doppler showed reduced flow to Runt, basically justifying her smaller size.  Right now this is not a huge cause for concern, but rather something that will be monitored for progress throughout the remainder of my pregnancy.  

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

HUGE DAY TODAY!!  The babies have reached 24 weeks, 0 days!  Developmentally this is huge!  The chances of the babies survival is vastly improved by keeping them in utero for the past week.  

In fact some of the neonatalogists had told us that if I did not make it to 24 weeks there was virtually nothing they could do for our girls.  It was a fight to have them state they would treat each girl as an individual as opposed to viewing them as a dismal statistic.  I am fighting for my girls and I will not let anyone give up on them.

Ps.  They are cantelopes today!

Thursday, June 27, 2013 ~ Morning

Today we had a growth/sizing ultrasound for the girls.  Runt really needs to gain some weight.  When I was admitted last week she was only measuring 360 grams.  We have been told over and over again the doctors need to her be at 500 grams for them to be able to help her.  Some doctors will jump in at 400 grams, but all prefer 500 grams.  Basically, she would be too small otherwise for even their equipment to assist her.

Dr. Baldwin (the fabulous fellow who is working our case) told me that she is hoping for 400 grams today and she would be thrilled.  I, of course, want 500 grams, but I was told this was overly ambitious.

Results...Runt is measuring at 419 grams.  Not quite the 500 I was hoping for, but definitely over the 400 Dr. Baldwin wanted.  This is fabulous news.

Baby B weighed in at 599 grams while Baby C weighed at 619 grams.  

All babies looked great and I think we're doing well.

Thursday, June 27, 2013 ~ Night time

All is NOT quiet on the western front.  Despite having a good day, I could maintain the status quo.  My water broke.

The water for Baby A broke and there was no gush of water or fluid like they warn.  I simply got up to use the bathroom and noticed I was wetter than normal.  I called in Nurse Jacqui who quickly called Dr. Todd (Stanhope) to check me.  Dr. Todd was there in less than two minutes.  

Background - Dr. Todd is the soon-to-be (midnight tomorrow) Chief Resident.  Great guy who has been called in every night to ultrasound the girls to check for location (the girls like to cuddle on top of one another at night).  We like Dr. Todd.

Dr. Todd arrives and is not happy with what he sees.  He does an examine to confirm that yes my water has broke.  When I asked if I needed Adam he looked at me and said yes, he would call him.  So Mom did ~ at 10:20/30 p.m. to inform him that my water was broke and they were once again moving to Labor & Delivery.

This started a long road ahead of us...But first, did you know that when babies have their own sacs, the mom will have three separate (in my case) bags of water that can break.  I only broke the water for Runt.  

Also did you know that, typically, when the water breaks a mom will deliver within the next 30 hours...Thankfully I did not.  The doctors were able to prevent labor from progressing/occurring with Magnesium, fluids and other medicines.  

Adam arrived by my side at 12:30 a.m. and did not leave it again.  

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Dr. Todd became the Chief Resident at midnight - I congratulated him and he wished me a Happy Birthday. As a present, he allowed the nurses to take me off of continuous monitoring to get a little sleep.  HUGE as due to the monitoring I was required to lay on my back, which for those of you who don't know, this is incredibly uncomfortable for a pregnant person and I had been in that position for over 48 hours.

Happy Birthday to me in Labor & Delivery trying to keep my girls inside.