3 Weeks Old!

The babies are all doing OK. Kylee and Korbin do have a type of staff infection, but are being treated with antibiotics and are feeling better each day. She and Korbin are both back and doing well on their nasal cannula YAY! As of last night, Baxlyn weighed 3lbs, Brody 3lbs 5oz, Kylee 2lbs 14oz, and Korbin 3lbs 3oz! Everyone (as of this moment) is handling their feeds well, not too many residuals and not too much spitting up from little miss Baxlyn. Brody had his first spinal tap Friday night around midnight. He handled it well and they did get 2ccs of fluid out, which was good, but didn't make a significant difference in the total amount in his brain. They will continue to watch and do neurosonograms and proceed with more spinal taps if needed until he gains a little more weight... if the bleeding/swelling continues he may be transfered to Children's hospital to undergo surgery. Other than that he is doing well and is looking better than ever! I'd have to say he has the coolest hair in the NICU... OK no, I haven't checked out all of the other babies and their hair, but the nurses just can't get over how incredibly blonde it is and the fact that he has a little cowlick swirly thing going on right in front!

Dad giving Brody a bath for the first time!

Love this one of Baxlyn, holding her baby's hand and her passy at the same time... oh so sweet!

Our non-swollen Brody!

Baxlyn stretchin' away.

Just a few days before the babies were born, Bret's work had a baby shower for us that he attended. I know I'm a few weeks late, but I wanted to say THANK YOU so much to all of those who prepared it and those who attended. We both appreciate everyone's generosity and the many cards and words of encouragement. As soon as were safe, stable and able we will bring our babies by so you can see!

One of my favorite cards...

Bret's "Dad" apron and accessories for changing diapers!

One of the cutest diaper cakes ever!

Their first "real" shoes from friends Josh and Kim!

Their first personalized onsies, also from Josh and Kim!

(front and back)

(Kylee and Korbin pics coming soon!)

A Little Downer in Quadville

I told you it was a roller coaster ride :/

The other night Bret and I noticed Korbin not being as "lively" as usual, we thought he was just super tired. We would talk to him and he wouldn't open his eyes or grip our fingers. The nurses started noticing it as well and were concerned he might be getting sick. The doctor ran some tests and he is showing some kind of infection. We should know what it is within the next day or so. Miss Kylee is also not feeling so great and they have done the same tests on her. They are both back on CPAP and on antibiotics but are looking a little better today. Baxlyn had some blood work done as well and although she doesn't seem to be sick and is acting fine and alert, one of her levels were low. She, Korbin, & Kylee all had blood transfusions within the last 2 days. Brody is still doing well however, the doctor told us his little brain is still slowly swelling. They will continue to watch and measure his head before making the decision to do spinal taps or surgery.

Many of you are asking what you can do to help us. Unless you can heal my babies or put them back in my tummy.... pray! That's really all that can be done right now. As far as cleaning and cooking at the house, we're ok. I caught up quickly when I was finally able to get around. Now when the babies come home we will take you up on it ;)
Thank you all, please just keep praying :)

Not quite a family picture... yes, Korbin is missing.

He's not mobile just yet... but we will get there!

Kylee, Mommy, Baxlyn, Daddy, & Brody

Mommy and the girls!

Daddy feeding Brody!

Sorry it was a short update... gotta get back to sharing the love in the NICU :)
-Heather

Guess What Guess What!!!

This little Chipotle burrito is not an old pic of Korbin on CPAP it is in fact,

our Brody Love!!!!! When I came in yesterday my jaw hit the floor when i saw it, the nurses said "SURPRISE!".

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A nasal CPAP device consists of a tube with tiny prongs that fit into the baby's nose, which is hooked to a machine that provides oxygenated air into the air passages and lungs. The pressure from the CPAP machine helps keep a preemie's lungs open so he or she can breathe. However unlike the ventilator, the machine does not provide breaths for the baby, so the baby breathes on his or her own.

Oh we're so so so proud of him!

You think that's cool?!

Keep scrolling down....

Keep going...

Are you ready?!

BAM!!! NASAL CANULA BABY!!!

Watch out brother and sisters, here I come!

That's right, Brody has caught up with the others and is breathing room air! He was only on CPAP for about 24 hours and the nurses said he has not had and apneas or bradys all day being on nasal canula! This just shows you the power of prayer!

Korbin and the girls are doing well too. Korbin has the whole eating/digesting thing down and should start gaining weight soon. Brody and the girls are still working on it....

but they'll get there!

We received the list of names of those of you who are praying for us daily, it took our breath away. Hundreds among hundreds of names are on it... people we know... people we don't know... people from all over the world... Italy, Venezuela, Germany, Canada... just to name a few. Thank you all so so so much for praying :) I have not hung the list up in the NICU yet, Bethany said she is still getting many emails that she will add to the list. If you are interested, scroll down to the post labeled "PRAYER LIST". *As most of you know, and you have seen already, life in the NICU is a roller coaster ride. Things can change (for better or worse) within seconds. Please continue to pray that the babies continue to improve and reach milestones

needed in order to go home.* Thank you!

Bret and Heather

Baby Steps...

That's what were taking! Things are looking a little better each day. Here's a short update.

We got the results back from Kylee and Brody's brain scans. Kylee's ventricle is still at a 4, but starting to absorb! Her other is still normal. The doctors are confident she will continue to get better. Brody's levels have remained the same (3 and 4) however, he does have fluid/blood between the two ventricles. The doctors will continue to measure his head and continue taking ultrasounds to monitor the swelling of his brain. If it continues to swell they may perform one (or more) spinal taps to try to relieve the pressure. We are not at that point just yet, but if we get there it's a pretty safe procedure. If for some reason he does have spinal taps and the fluid build up continues, we will explore the possibility of putting in a shunt. Brody's chest tube was removed on Friday and since then he is a little less swollen. He started eating Friday night and has done well at digesting his milk! YAY BRODY!

Mr. Korbin is off his CPAP and he is loving it! He is now eating 8cc's every feeding. Kylee and Baxlyn are on continuous feeds to help them digest a little better. Baxlyn is dealing with a little bit of reflux but nothing too concerning to the doctors. Kylee is no longer a glow worm, she has given that role to her sister now, as Baxlyn's jaundice has slightly come back.

Our prayer pager is constantly going off, thank you all for the prayers! We apologize for not being able to answer every call and respond to every text and voicemail. We appreciate the calls greatly, but are very busy trying to rest and be there with our babies as much as possible. We will update and post more pics again soon!

Bret and Heather

Small Update

Thank you everyone for your prayers. Brody and Kylee had another brain scan this morning and we should know the results sometime this afternoon. When they told us they had levels 3 and 4 they said there's a good chance they could have cerebral palsy and/or developmental or learning disorders... however, it could mean God can completely heal their little bodies and they can live a "normal" healthy life. We will leave that up to him. Whatever the outcome, Bret and I know we will not be given more than we can handle and we are ready for whatever God has planned for us and our babies and we will love them each unconditionally no matter what their state.

Kylee had another type of brain scan yesterday because she has been having a lot of bradycardias (she forgets to breathe and her heart rate drops). When she bradys the machines start beeping like crazy and the nurses watch her closely. Sometimes she will catch back up on her own and get a few good deep breaths in to get back on track, other times they have to go in and physically stimulate her. Although it's very common among preemies she was having more than usual. She has been given little shots of caffeine to help her stay a little more alert, but she's still having lots of bradys. The brain scan they did checked for signs of seizures. Thank goodness the results were normal and everything looks fine... she's just taking her time getting this whole breathing thing down... oh it's tough being a preemie!

Brody's little chest tube (used to vent the air from his lungs) was clamped for a day or so to see how his body would handle it, it did well but they had to unclamp it again because of more air build up. Please continue to pray that his lungs get stronger. He is still under his photo therapy light due to his jaundice and still has to wear his stylin' sunglasses. Every once in a while he gets a little break and can take them off to peek around (as seen in the picture below with his baby). When Bret and I talk to him, even though he's heavily sedated, he can open his little eyes and try to find us. When we hold his little hand he grasps our finger, and when we gently push on the bottom of his feet his will stretch them out and push against us as if doing a little workout. It's these simple things that gives us hope for him and his little sick body :)

Baxlyn and Korbin are doing well. Korbin should be off his dreaded CPAP anytime now and on a nasal canula like his big sisters. He got to start eating yesterday... YAY! Kylee and Baxlyn have been eating for several days now, they're up to a whoppin' 5cc's! The three of them were off their photo therapy lights and then Miss Kylee's jaundice started coming back. Rather than making her lay in a diaper under the light, they swaddled her in a photo therapy blanket so she's much more comfortable. She looks like a little glow worm in her bed!

Here are a few pics of the quads with their first babies! My sister gave me my first baby when I was born and now she has done the same for my babies. I know they will love them forever Sis, thank you!

Korbin chillin' with his baby!

(sorry don't know why the boy's pics are sideways)


Brody Love and his baby!


Sweet Baxlyn and her baby!

And Miss Kylee snuggled with her baby!

That's the update for now! Bret and I currently have the prayer pager from our church, we keep it with us so people can page us to let us know they have just prayed. You can put in any random number you choose, we do not look at the phone numbers, call back, or try to figure out who it was. It is just a good reminder every time we hear it or feel it vibrate that someone just prayed. 972.209.1704

Thanks a million,

Bret and Heather

Prayer List

Hey everyone Bethany,

Thank to all who have been praying for the Cox Quads! Keep it up they still need it!

I wanted to let you know that I am creating a Prayer List that we will have at the end of each babies bed from now until they get to go home!
If you are interested in being on the list all you need to do is email me at pray4coxquads@yahoo.com
and give me your name and the city and state you live in.

There is no need to sign up for a specific time I just ask that you agree to pray for the babies and their mom and dad at least once a day!

Thank you so much!
Feel free to tell your friend, the more prayers the better!
Please email me by Friday Feb. 27th if you are interested!

As for updates on the babies:
All I really know right now is that we just have to wait and PRAY!

PRAY as hard as you can!

Hey everyone it's Aunt Bethany again.

They checked all the babies for brain bleeds today and Brody and Kylee need our prayers!

Brody has a level 3 and a level 4(the worst) brain bleed and the last thing I was told is that he will not be able handle surgery because his little body is so weak.

They also found a level 4 brain bleed on one side of Kylee's brain. They have not yet said if she can handle the surgery.

Bret and Heather are on their way to the hospital to talk to the doctors.

PLEASE PRAY!! Thank you to those who are and have been praying!

Baxlyn and Korbin are doing great! Praise God!