Preemies to Kings

Our tiny miracles turn FIVE today. It’s absolutely astonishing.

Henry Samuel Murray (cq), bathed in blue ultraviolet light in the NICU at St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Friday, February 9, 2007,  was the first in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was 2 lbs 11 ozs at birth.    The four brothers are all in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

What a road we’ve journeyed together, Sweet Miracle Boys!

Jenny Heminger, RN (cq, hands) checks digestion on Brooks Layton Murray (cq) in the NICU at St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Friday, February 9, 2007.    Brooks was the second in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was 3 lbs at birth.    The four brothers are all in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

I never thought I’d give birth to a baby that would be dependent on ventilators, tubes, wires, and monitors to survive.  I never could have fathomed the helplessness I would feel to watch one of my babies struggle to breath so much that he would have to be paralyzed, that a swarm of medical staff would gather around his bedside for hours monitoring him, turning up settings, and maxing out on meds to save his life. To be so afraid that his life was about to end that I couldn’t even bare to take his picture for his first few days of life.

 Jenny Heminger, RN (cq) checks Brooks Layton Murray (cq) in the NICU at St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Friday, February 9, 2007.  Brooks was the second in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was 3lbs at birth.    The four brothers are all in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

I never imagined not being able to hold or even touch my baby after my delivery. 

 Clark Thomas Murray (cq) rests in the NICU at St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Friday, February 9, 2007.   He was the third in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was 3 lbs 6 ozs at birth.    The four brothers are all in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

I couldn’t have pictured a baby so tiny that they would swim in preemie clothes and blankets. A diaper that fit in my hand, a bottle that looked like it was made for a doll baby, a blood pressure cuff that could wrap around my index finger…

Jen Murray (cq) watches as Nataline Foskey, RNC (cq) puts Murray's son Isaac Edward Murray (cq) back into his NICU crib at St. Vincent Women's Hospital, Friday, February 9, 2007.  Isaac was the last in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was four lbs at birth.  All four of the babies are in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

I didn’t anticipate the way it would feel watching skilled nurses caring for you, feeding for you, providing for you, when all I could do was sit and watch. Giving my milk was the only thing that felt like being a mother, but even then it came through a tube instead of nursing in my arms.

Jen and Brad Murray (cq) hold their son Brooks Layton Murray (cq) while he is being fed by Jenny Heminger, RN (cq, hand), at the St. Vincent Women's Hospital NICU, Friday, February 9, 2007.  Brooks was the second in a set of quadruplets born to Jen and Brad Murray last Friday, February 2, 2007.  He was three lbs at birth.  All four of the babies are in the NICU.  (Kelly Wilkinson / The Indianapolis Star)

I never imagined the overwhelming sense of gratitude I would feel not just on the day of your birth, but daily. A thankfulness to our great God for giving us not just one life but four. A joy for the ability to watch you grow, learn, and thrive. An absolute awe in how the Lord has provided…

Four heartbeats who weren’t given the most promising shot at life, are healthy and happy – living like kings.

quadruplet boys fifth birthday

NICU photos taken at St.Vincent Women’s by IndyStar