Thursday March 12, 2009

Here it is one week later from the big first Birthday! One of my favorite scriptures is "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established!" This has always been quite pertinent as I help to proclaim the everlasting gospel and in my dealings with Law Enforcement.

Recently you read about my side of the story and the day that the Triplets were born. Next you got to read another point of view by reading Melissa's rendition of that beautiful day. Melissa's sister Mecale added her side in a comment to one of the previous blogs. Now we have a fourth compilation of that great day. Melissa's sister Mary shared her experience and what an awesome experience it is! Thank you Mary!

OK, now it is my turn to tell the story. And yes, Melissa is correct in saying that she was in denial about delivering. I however (call it inspiration), knew immediately that she was. I came back from picking up my kids to find her sitting on the couch and then telling me that she “thinks” her water broke. She didn’t want to call the nurse, but yes, being the older, bossy sister that I am, I made her call.

“Come on in and get checked”, they say.

So, we get prepared head to the hospital. First, my kids are so excited that they have to go tell the neighbors. While heading there, they run into a friend who is dropping off one of my other children. My friend, who Melissa has met a few times, grabs towels and helps Melissa into the car (who at this point is having contractions about 5 minutes apart…..but she still thinks that she is not going to deliver) while I am loading up the car and making sure we have everything. Just as we are leaving, my husband shows up to take care of my kids so we had a neighborhood send off of about 12 people.

I am calmly driving and hoping that we make it to the hospital in time. I figured with 5:00 traffic, it would take us 25 minutes. Which, I admit, had me a little worried because contractions were now 3-4 minutes apart (but, according to Melissa… still not delivering). I know that I told her several times to cross her legs because we were not delivering on the side of the freeway. I am a mother myself so I am very good at multi tasking. Yes, I was driving, talking on the cell phone, timing her contractions and telling her to breath. Only a mom can do that. I had called Scott at this point and he was on his way, but somewhere around Twin Falls at this point I think. I had also called the hospital to let them know we were coming. However, when we pull up to the emergency doors, no one is there. There wasn’t even a wheelchair to be found. Talk about bad service. I find a wheelchair and help Melissa in. OK, I can multi task, but driving a wheelchair is a little different. I think we only ran into the corner twice. I was just trying to lighten the situation, which worked because Melissa was laughing. I hand my keys to a security guard and ask him to park my car, ask where Delivery is, and off we go.

We get to the Delivery and finally, someone is waiting. At this point, contractions are 2 minutes apart and I know she is defiantly delivering. However, the nurse feels like she needs to assess Melissa and hook her up to some monitors first to make sure that she is. People, we are having a baby here! We don’t have time for this. Even though I am turning around or stepping out when Melissa needs a little more privacy, the best part is when the nurse thinks that I am Melissa’s “partner”. We cleared that up quite quickly. Melissa is still hoping that the contractions will stop at this point, but when the nurse finally gets everything checked and yells out the curtain, “We are having babies in here”, I believe she was finally convinced. I call Scott and tell him that we are going into delivery and sadly, we know that he is not going to make it. I could tell Melissa was upset that he couldn’t be here, but those babies were ready to make their entrance into the world.

So, I suit up in scrubs and get ready to go with Melissa to deliver. Then, we discover that the camera batteries are dead! They are ready to go into the OR, but tell me to run to the car and get the other batteries. So, off I run (literally) through the hospital, not really knowing where to find my car. Good thing the security guard didn’t care if my car set in the emergency room entrance because it was still there! I grab the batteries, run back up to the OR, and wait..and wait…and wait by the door and watch streams of nurses and Dr.’s go in. Finally, they are ready and call me in. Melissa looked excited, nervous, scared, happy, sad (that Scott was not there) and everything in between, so I figured my job would be to just make her as calm as possible. What better way to do that than a play by play of everything going on?! Once things started it all went very quickly.

“Get the camera ready”, says the Dr. “We are going to pull out Baby #1”.

“The batteries are going dead”! Mary replies in distress. (Yes, the even the new batteries are dead. Note to Melissa: next time you do this, make sure the batteries are charged!!!)

“Don’t we have any batteries around here that she can use”? says the Dr. as he calmly waits.

And off go the nurses to find batteries. None could be found, so I just had to turn on the camera when he was ready to deliver, and turn it off when he was done. Fortunately, that worked and we were able to get some pictures. Those tiny little baby legs were the first thing I saw when they were delivered and what cuties they all were. They were all doing extremely well and I was able to walk around and see each one being taken care of and report back to Melissa. Once all three were delivered and being taken care of, I look up and see Scott peeking in the OR window. I give him the thumbs up sign, tell Melissa he is here and make another round to check on the kids while they take care of Melissa. My job was pretty much done at this point. What an amazing experience this was. I am so glad that I was able to be there for Melissa and while I know she would have rather had Scott, I am glad that I had the opportunity to be there. Melissa was a real trooper through the whole experience and never once complained about anything. Thanks for letting me be a part of this whole experience.

Monday March 9, 2009

With close to 25 people for the birthday party Saturday night we can only describe it one way... what a GREAT time. Family came from afar and thankfully were able to travel safely. We definitely missed quite a few more of the family but with sports, activities, and other adventures it is always difficult to accommodate everyone's schedules.

For those of you that missed the party, we felt your presence and appreciate your thoughts. There will be plenty more opportunities to get together and share the good times. Here are just a few of the pictures that were taken during the party.

This picture just makes me laugh. Melissa and Taylor went shopping for some last minute items for the party. Melissa decided that Taylor could pick a present for each of the kids. For Carmen she picked a small, extremely cuddly doll with dark hair. For the boys she picked... And believe ot not, they play with them like there is no other toy...


Talk about not having enough hands to contain everyone.. We did light candles and he kids had help blowing them out.


Of course we need to include these pictures!

Thursday March 5, 2009

Today is the day!!! What a day it has been too...

Yesterday you got to read about the birth of Babies A, B, and C from my point of view. Now it is time to hear it from Melissa's point of view.

Well, you’ve had the opportunity to read Scott’s side of the story about the delivery of the triplets. My story of that evening is different. You see, I was in denial that I was actually going to have the babies that evening. I was thinking I was going to have it all planned out and that I was going to be told by the doctor when I was suppose to deliver. I was wrong… I was simply on bed rest (my sister’s couch to be exact) doing nothing when it all began. That’s what I was supposed to be doing, nothing. Mary was gone for a few minutes and when she got back I told her about some symptoms I was having. She convinced me to call the doctor’s office. Well, to make a long story a little bit shorter I was told by the nurse that I just needed to be checked out at the hospital. I was frustrated because I thought, here we go again, another false alarm. I called Scott and told him what I thought was going on. I packed a bag (just in case) and by then I was experiencing some contractions. I made my way to the car and to my surprise half of the neighborhood had decided that it was also a good time to visit the Warr residence. We took off for the hospital in quite the fanfare. So if you’re familiar with the Boise area traffic around 5:00pm you know that it’s a good thing we were going into Boise and not headed out. Mary was timing my contractions, talking on her cell phone and driving at the same time. I was trying to breathe through the contractions and be a backseat driver. I would tell Mary “BRAKE LIGHTS” and she would ask “are you having a contraction?”
As we “slowly” made our way, my contractions became only three minutes apart. I remember my sister telling me that in no way was I having the babies in her car on the freeway! The emergency department was supposed to be waiting for us to wheel me to the correct place. No one was there. Mary then became my wheelchair driver. We only hit one (ok maybe two) walls on our way. There was an actual line of couples waiting to be admitted to delivery. Luckily they knew we were coming and so when the admittance staff in labor triage saw us coming through the doorway they loudly asked “are you the ones with triplets?” after a quick yes the line “parted” and we were immediately let in.
Now, you have to remember that the nurse just thinks that I’m coming in to be checked out. Mary knows I’m going to have the babies and she’s trying to calm me and get the nurse to take us a little more seriously. I’m in labor but also in denial that I’m in labor, and the nurse is calmly going about her business like I can’t be in as much pain as I’m pretending not to be in. It was only a minute later when the nurse ripped back the curtain and yelled “We’re delivering down here - now!”
Things went into frenzy mode. There were people coming and going. People telling me what was happening and what wasn’t. My sister, who all this time is trying to answer questions for me, help me breathe, and trying to get cameras, clothes, insurance information, etc. is being called my “friend”. It’s funny now but at the time it really made me upset and finally I had enough of my sister being called my significant other and quite forcibly said “She’s my sister and her name is Mary. My husband is on his way from Burley, this is my SISTER!” So now Mary went from being called my “friend” to the correct title as the patient’s sister Mary. They were throwing scrubs at her and telling her to quickly change. As they were wheeling me into the O.R., I simply only remember that I was shaking like a leaf, wondering where Mary was, and trying to listen to the doctor and nurses telling me about what I was going to be going through. And, still I was thinking that maybe I wasn’t really in labor because I wanted Scott to be there. I hadn’t planned this without him and words cannot explain the emptiness I felt without him there. I wanted to tell everyone that no we couldn’t deliver the babies because my husband wasn’t there yet. They’d just have to wait. After all, aren’t C-sections supposed to be planned?
Well, the babies came and it was probably the same moment when Scott felt at peace that I too felt at peace that everything was ok, because during the C-section I felt panicky and at unease. I was worried about Scott, about the well being of the babies, and I felt like I had no control of the situation. But I remember laying there and my sister telling me that everything was ok but this time I really felt the feeling that it really was ok. I wasn’t scared anymore. Everything/everyone just seemed to slow down and I had an overwhelming feeling of calmness. Time seemed to be a reality again and I was able to truly focus on my surroundings. I was told Scott was there and my sister gave him the thumbs up signal that everything was good. And, it was. All three babies were born. All were breathing and being cared for and I had been blessed by God with three new miracles.
I wish I could tell my story to you instead of writing it out. Writing it just isn’t as fun as telling it. My sister has another viewpoint of that evening as well but I don’t know if she’ll want to write about it. When you get Scott, her, and I together it becomes quite the story. Thanks again for supporting us and for posting. We love the comments and hope you enjoy the blog as much as we do.

Wednesday March 4, 2009

March 4th last year was a Tuesday and as I remember it, pretty uneventful. So... I would like to recall your attention to the story that I originally posted about the kids and their arrival. It is quite lengthy, however, please enjoy it again. Tomorrow I will have Melissa's side of the story as the grand finale.

To be honest, it really makes me tear up as I read these starting stories and feel the emotions all over again. What a trip the first year has been... On with the beginning of the babies mortal entry to the world...

What a story! There's always two side to every story but with me doing all the posting you will get my side... Sorry as Melissa's is pretty good also...

Melissa called me yesterday afternoon at about 4:20. Her tone was a little stressed and she asked if I was, by chance, in Burley. I was in the parking lot of our Burley Office and knew that I needed to head towards Boise. She thought that her water had broke and upon completing a call to Dr. Lee's office she was told to head towards the hospital, and now!

I ran home, gathered my bags and hit the interstate. Mary called me about the time I was getting to Jerome and told me that they were about 10 minutes away from the hospital, Melissa's contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, and that it appeared the babies were on their way. I started making the appropriate calls to family to get them in route also. I was flying pretty low to the ground in my "White Jet" and just knew that I would make it just in time to see the babies.

Mary called me once again about the time I was getting to the Bliss area and while we were talking I could over hear someone saying, in a loud controlled manner, "I have Melissa Draper here... She is completely e-faced and at 5 cm... Well you had better hurry as these babies aren't going to wait for you!!!" Mary tried to explain to me the situation as the nurse was trying to get people to hurry. I finally told Mary that I did not think that I was going to make it in time . I then was told that we would have babies within the half hour... I was at least 45 minutes away... I WAS BUMMED!!!

I proceeded to hit the afterburner's on the "White Jet" in a final attempt to be as close as I could. Thank heavens Melissa was in Mary's good hands as Mary was about to see a "C" Section from the spectator seat for the first time and did not have to be directly involved.

For those of you that know the road to Boise, it was as I was dropping down the small hill just before the Port of Entry that I felt it. As I had been driving from Burley I was pushing the speed limit just a little and was pretty much on edge. I had been pushing my blood pressure higher by the minute as I would scan the horizon for any Black and White ISP cars. My head felt as though it was going to explode from the intense pressure that continued to build... I started down that small hill at mach one and felt the absolute most calming feeling completely envelope me. I almost melted into the seat as I knew then and there that I had new family members waiting for me in Boise. I knew that all was well and that I just needed to get there.

Mary once again called me about the time I was passing the BSU Stadium, within blocks of the hospital. Mary said, "Congratulations Daddy, all are here and accounted for." She then put Melissa on the phone as she had to know for herself that I was almost there.

I parked the "White Jet" and headed for the Second Floor of the hospital. I was met by a nurse and was swept away to the Operating Room that held my wife. I was able to look through the door and recognize Mary's familiar eyes as she was looking like quite the Doctor in her scrubs, hair net, and mask. Once I gave Mary a thumbs up and that I was O.K. the nurse then took me to see the babies...

In the NICU it was poetry in motion. There were so many people tending to babies but yet they made complete sense of the chaos that seemed to envelope the two rooms. Baby "B" and Baby "C" were contained in one room and Baby "A" in an adjoining room. I stood there in complete awe at the sight. Next it was time to meet our new additions.

Baby "B", or Breagan Scott Draper, was born at 3 lbs. 1 oz. and was 16 inches long. Baby "C", or Carmen Dawn Draper, was born at 1 lbs. 15.5 oz and was 13 inches long. Baby "A", or Ayden Scott Draper, was born at 3 lbs. 13 oz. and was 15 3/4 inches long. The boys were immediately put onto ventilators for breathing purposes. Carmen was put on a type of nasal canula as she appeared to be doing great in letting everyone know that she was pretty upset at the whole situation. Breagan did not like the vent and proceeded to take the tube out himself. He appeared to be doing better and was put on a similar contraption as his sister. Ayden continued on the vent until about 9 P.M. tonight when it was removed and he is now like his siblings.

Ayden, Breagan, and Carmen are doing GREAT!!! It almost scares me as to how great they are doing as I do not want to hear any bad news. The kids were born at 31 weeks 5 days. Ayden ultimately made the decision for everyone in the sense that he broke his bag and was proceeding to be born naturally. The doctors literally had to pull him from the birthing canal during the C Section. Carmen got a little excited during the process and proceeded to be born next as she pushed Breagan aside. Breagan was the last to exit his mother.

Melissa had a tough time last night after giving birth. Her blood pressure proceeded to sky rocket and was put on Magnesium to get it back under control. She was not happy about this but it was a smaller dose than before and was to be quite temporary. Because of the Magnesium she was completely confined to the bed until she could get off it. This made it so that she could not see the babies last night. She only saw Ayden at the time of their birth. This worried Melissa and I am sure added to the sky rocketing of her blood pressure.

Melissa was released from the bonds of the Magnesium this morning about 11. She and I was able to make our first trek to the NICU together around noon. It proved to be a touching moment as mother and babies were reunited. We were able to make another trip tonight just before getting Melissa to bed.

You would not believe these babies! They are so cute. Their little voices would just melt your heart! I will get some pictures on here as soon I can go through the 100 pictures that I already have of them. Do not let the amount of leads, hoses, and things hanging off these babies bother you as there are all precautionary. There nothing wrong with these babies yet that we know of. They are healthy. Carmen, even though she is the smallest, is outdoing her brothers in a physical sense. Each of the nurses thus far have commented on how feisty she is. She is truly a fighter and is proving it.... Once again, a true testament to the power of prayer from friends and family... thank you once again for everything.... It is only because of you....

Tuesday March 3, 2009

March 3rd last year was a Monday. I went to work as usual while Taylor spent the day with Grandpa and Great Grandma. I stopped by my parents after work to pick up Taylor and enjoy a meal prepared by my mom. Then it was back home and time for Taylor to be in bed. Really nothing eventful, thank heavens, as I definitely made up for it today.

Today was one of those days that just does not seem to end. You spin your wheels trying to accomplish everything and it seems as though you just do not get anywhere. However, I must say, that what I did get accomplished today must have been just what I needed to do as I had too many places to be and someone had to lose out somewhere. Oh well, it is just the beginning of many days of similar events. I am sure that my lovely wife can attest to something similar...

Monday March 2, 2009

March 2nd last year was a Sunday. Taylor had been sick the night before and slept fairly well. After alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen throughout the night we thought that she felt well enough to go to church.

Later that afternoon after lunch with grandma and grandpa Taylor and I enjoyed an afternoon sleeping, watching TV, and just generally laying around. The weather was once again being kind of funny in the true sense that if you did not like the weather wait for five minutes and it would change. Last year and this same time this year is quite comparable.

Carmen is trying to sit up by herself. She needs the assistance but has an awesome army crawl. Breagan is standing up on his own but does not like the continual fall to the ground. Ayden is getting better at standing on his own and is even trying to take a step or two on his own. Through coaching from his mother Ayden has walked as many as three steps on his own.

Sunday March 1, 2009

Here is a full circle for you... Just stay with me...

A year ago Melissa was in Boise with her sister and family. March 1st last year was a Saturday and a busy one at that. The night before, Friday night, I had a dashing trip to Boise as Melissa thought she was going into labor. After a quick trip to Boise I returned home to pick up Taylor.

Saturday morning we had breakfast as usual, I ran Taylor by my parents for the morning while I helped a friend move. Yes Mark, can you believe it! You and your wonderful wife have been in the new house for a year. What a miserable day. It snowed, the wind blew, but we were having a typical Saturday. After helping move furniture for a while a couple of dear friends from Utah were on their way through town on their way back to Provo. My parents, my sister and her family, Taylor and I, and Dale and Linda all met for a quick lunch before they continued on down the freeway towards their home.

Not long after Dale and Linda left, I checked on Mark and their progress and ended up responding to an accident towards Sweetzer. I returned to pick up Taylor and on to the Annual show of the Snake River Flats. Taylor decided later that night that she was sick and that her cold would take over her little body. What a night...

Thinking about Saturday March 1, 2008 makes me feel as though it was just yesterday. We were a family of three separated by miles of interstate and only a couple hours of drive time. Little did we know about the events that were to transpire in the week to come...

The theme for our family this week is "A Year Full of Firsts." This week we will celebrate the babies "First" birthday. Stay tuned for more firsts...