"How long are you in bed mommy?"

Well the babies aren't even here yet and I am already having a hard time keeping up the blog. :) I am winding down my 28th week which is a huge milestone in the pregnancy. I feel like we should have a party. After this week there is a big decrease in the chances for several disabilities. Last week (27 weeks) I had another growth ultra sound done and Caroline weighed 1 pound 15 oz, Gabe weighed 2 pounds 2 oz, and Ethan weighed 2 pounds 4 oz. The doctor was happy with their growth and my progress. Their growth will be checked again in a couple of weeks. Last Wednesday I came down with a terrible sinus/respiratory infection. Luckily I did not have to be put in the hospital, but Thursday night I did tell Michael I thought I was going to die. :) When you think not much could be more difficult than being pregnant with triplets, I assure you, being that sick and this pregnant took the cake. I am happy to say that a round of antibiotics and a week later, I feel much better. Being on bedrest is hard and more so the past couple of weeks than others. The babies are getting bigger and I get fatigued much more quickly when I am on my feet, even for a short time. So, most all day every day I spend in my bed, not even getting up to lay on the couch anymore. I received some very sad news last week when a wonderful, previous coworker of mine was killed in a car accident. She was an amazing person who did amazing things for the special needs children she taught. It broke my heart that I was unable to attend her memorial service. That realization was hard to swallow. Then, on top of that my sweet four year old came home from preschool the other day and says, "how long are you in bed mommy?" That statement brought tears to my eyes. He brings books to me and crawls in bed and watches tv with me, but it is hard not to be able to get up and with him outside, or to the store, or anywhere for that matter. In the long run, it will be so worth it, but it is hard and to say it isn't would be a lie. I am very lucky to have a loving, patient husband and a mom who is willing to sacrifice her weekends to drive here and help us out as much as possible. Both of our families have just been so supportive and I don't think there is anyone in our family who hasn't done something to help us. We are blessed and don't take for granted our friends and family. The goal is 34 weeks and that date is quickly closing in on us. I am trying to look at it as the more miserable I am, the healthier the babies will be. :) Again, please just continue keeping us in your thoughts and prayers over these next few weeks. Every week they stay put is a bonus! Thank you all for sharing this experience with us and the many more to come!!

Sweet but Uncooperative Babies

Lots going on in our world. We are 26 weeks into our pregnancy today. We started the morning with my trip to labor and delivery to be monitored. What normally takes a singleton pregnancy 20 minutes or so, took this mommy of three 2 hours! These babies refused to sit still. :) Two nurses and an ultra sound machine later they gave up on getting them all at the same time. The poor nurse had to resort to hold one monitor on my stomach at a time and chase the heart beat. Next we saw the ultra sound tech who did a couple of 4-d pictures. The bottom baby, who we haven't decided on a name yet, gave us a sweet picture and Caroline did too. Gabe, however, did not want to have his picture made. So maybe next time. I saw the dr and everything looks great. I received my first steroid shot today and go back tomorrow for the second. We will continue weekly visits. Week after next I get my blood sugar checked....not looking forward to that. If everything continues to go well, it looks like we will schedule these babies for a C-section the first or second week in April. We are praying very hard we make it. On the home front we are making progress....or Michael, family, and friends are making progress. I am laying in a bed watching. We have sweet friends that are painting a tree with animals in the nursery. I have lots of boy clothes but I need to get busy buying some girl clothes. Michael and I are trying to include Tripp in as much as we can with all the baby "stuff" so he doesn't feel left out. We have also been trying to make extra family time for the three of us. It is a sweet time for us, but a twinge of sadness knowing how fast four years flew by and in a few short weeks our family of three will officially become a family of six. If the memories to come are as a great as the memories we have already made then I can't wait. Looking forward to seeing my sweet, uncooperative babies in person...just not for a few more weeks!!

Another week come and gone.....

Today began my 25th week. With every week I become more excited and more anxious. I know how critical the next few weeks are for the development of these babies and all my energy is going into making sure I am doing what I need to do to keep them in my tummy. This weekend was a lot less eventful than last. Tripp had to go to the doctor on Saturday with fever, congestion, etc. Luckily, it was nothing too serious. The doctor ruled out strep, pnemonia, and mono. He said it was just a virus of the tonsils and would just have to run its course. He is feeling much better today and got to go to school. I know how exhausted my husband has to be from juggling everything: me, Tripp, work, and all the house hold duties. It would be a lot for anyone. Never once has he complained (or lost his mind). There are just not enough words for what he means to me because I could not be doing this without him. I would not have imagined that some thing like this would have brought a couple closer, especially since we are closer than most, but it has. Needless to say, he deserves a husband of the year award. I went to the doctor today and spent most of my day there. My sweet friend Lisa went with me for moral support. Friends are good assets in any part of life, but I am most thankful for them at times like these. I went to labor and delivery and was put on the monitors for about an hour. Next I went upstairs for ultra sound and doctor visit. Everything looks great. The babies look good and I am doing great. The doctor, again, seemed pretty excited. I go back next week for my steroid shots. One will be given on Monday and I will go back Tuesday for my second. This will expedite the development of the babies. I will be monitored again and checked via ultra sound and doctor. After next week I will continue weekly visits but it will become a waiting game. She said she would not hesitate to take them at 32 weeks, but she definitely would not let me exceed 34 weeks. I know I will take a big sign of relief after the 30 week mark. :) Ultimately, no big news and that is just fine with me. I think most people would probably tell me to enjoy it while it lasts. :) Please keep the prayers coming!!

Grow Little Beans, Grow!!!

What a crazy weekend! I have to say I am very thankful for family, and this weekend, most especially thankful for my mom. There were too many things going on and I was stressed just watching everyone else working around me. Saturday was Tripp's birthday party. We kept it low key and simple. I did my best to keep my place on the couch, but had to get up to see him open presents and blow out his candle. I over did it and paid for it. After his party I went straight to bed and slept for four hours and learned that I am on bedrest for a reason. Saturday night they went to the circus and Michael sent me lots of pictures so I wouldn't feel so left out :). Yesterday was my shower and part of me was tempted to try and sneak out, but common sense kicked in and I stayed laying on the couch. The kindness and generosity of people definitely filled my heart and I am just so very thankful for the outpouring of love and support. All the pictures were beautiful and everyone involved out did themselves. Well today was a big day at the doctor. I was pretty concerned that she might put me back in the hospital. I had my ultra sound done first. The babies are measuring in the 38-43 percentile. They all are weighing about 1.5 pounds and measuring at almost 24 weeks each. This is all amazing and God has taken care of as I am right at 24 weeks, and just stand in awe that the babies are right on track. Why are we always surprised when we see God answering our prayers?? The doctor checked me out and everything continues to look great. She is keeping me on my medication and bedrest at home. I am not happy about bedrest, but I will take my bed over a hospital bed any day!! So, really it was the best possible news I could have gotten. From here I go back in a week. I will go straight to labor and delivery to be monitored for contractions and then back up to the office for ultra sound and doctor visit. This is a critical time for development and we are going to do everything we can to keep these babies in place for another 8-10 weeks. Thank you for the all the messages, phone calls, and most importantly prayers. If I haven't been able to return a phone call or email, I am sorry. The medication lowers my blood pressure and then usually puts me to sleep. Just know we have felt everyone's love, support, and prayers. Thank you doesn't seem to be the word that fits, but that is all we can say. Well that and grow baby beans, grow!!

And So It Begins

Thank you everyone for the recent prayers and well wishes. Wednesday morning I took my iron supplement. An hour later I got really sick with vomiting. Soon after being sick my stomach began cramping and the cramping continued most of the day. It wasn't strong enough for me to be overly concerned, and I wasn't sure if it was just an upset stomach from the iron pill. I went to bed and woke up Thursday, not feeling great, but better. Luckily, I already had a doctor's appointment that morning. I was fine until I got to the hospital. By the time I got in the office, my stomach hurt so much I could hardly talk. Once I sat down, the pain went away.i didn't figure this was good going to be great news. I saw the doctor and she immediately shipped me off to labor and delivery. A little while on the monitor and it was confirmed I was having some small contractions. Unfortunately, with three, nothing is treated as "small," so being admitted was not a question. They began me on medal and fluids and soon the contractions stopped. Everything stayed quiet overnight and am not dilated, which is good. The babies look great on ultra sound and monitors. The OB called this irritability contractions. See let me go home today where I am to remain on bed rest. I go back on Monday for a follow up. For those unfamiliar with pregnancy and labor I will elaborate a little...because I don't know a ton either. :) some contractions are normal and do not indicate preterm labor. It is hard to be sure which contractions mean what, but as long as they are controlled the concern stays low. I will begin weekly mo into ring now in labor and delivery at least once a week and continue my meds to control contractions. Dr. Christine, the OB, did warn me that it is not unusual for women carrying triplets to end up staying on bed rest in the hospital for an extended period of time. This came us no surprise and we have been preparing ourselves for this to happen. If they do this, it is no reason to panic, it is just the best way to watch the babies and me to ensure the best care. The good news I'm home, the not so great news, I'm on bedrest. This throws a whole kink in my entire weekend. Tripp's party is Saturday and I have a shower on Sunday. I can work it out with the party that we can at least do cake and presents at our house. The shower,on the other hand, is not going to be as easy. I missed my shower with my first pregnancy because of bedrest and it looks as though I will be missing my second one. I never have enjoyed being the center of attention. Perhaps this is my bodies way of getting out of it. ;) Either way, Michael gets to be the stand in pregnant woman. I should make him stuff a pillow underneath his shirt. Good thing he loves me. The next few weeks will be very telling and I am thinking pretty eventful. 23 weeks is the week of viability and that is where I am. This means if the babies were born they have a good chance of surviving in the NICU. I am still praying for 34 weeks and I know every extra moment is better for everyone. Please keep us in your prayers...and if you see Michael Sunday afternoon, give him a hug. Love to all. :)

Trying to Find Balance....

I am heading into week 23 and I am feeling anxious.  The reality of only about ten more weeks until D-day is a bit eye opening and scary.  It has definitely lit a fire under my rear end, but unfortunately I really can't "get up and go!" :)

We were very thankful to see sunshine today and took advantage of it by getting out and visiting a couple of stores.  Five minutes into the second store I was done, but it was good to at least get out.  We ordered two other cribs today and that made me feel somewhat accomplished, but I know there is much more to be done.

My appointment Wednesday went really well.  The OB reviewed my report from UAB and confirmed that nothing out of the ordinary was seen and the babies are growing at a good rate.  As of now I will have weekly visits.  At 26-28 weeks I will get my steroid shot to excellerate growth/development.  I will also be sent to labor and delivery every week to have stress monitoring done to check for contractions.  It is a big dose of reality that we are already to that point. She measured my stomach and I am measuring about 32 weeks....and I believe it!!! The OB is super positive and I am thankful for all the good reports.

Tripp's fourth birthday is next weekend and it is hard to see my baby turning into a little boy. He is going to the circus next weekend....without me. :( I won't be able to walk and climb all the stairs involved to get there. This is his first time to go and it is so very hard for me to not be selfish and say lets wait until next year.  He deserves to go, but it is hard to swallow. Michael also signed him up for ragball today.  Tripp is so excited.  The season won't start until the end of March and run through May.  Again, very hard to think that I might not make it to all of his games, or any for that matter.  This little boy has been my everything for four years and I know this is just the beginning of having to divide my time with children.  I hope I can find a good balance and that none of my children ever feel more or less important than another.  Parents do this all the time and I'm sure in time, we will figure it out.

Lots of everything going on right now and I am going to keep reminding myself to take it a day at a time, because for the rest of my life there will probably be "lots of everything going on." If you see me out you may just have to remind me to breathe. :)

My Cup Runneth Over....

When we go for our visits we always have ultra sounds to check heart beats and see the babies. We went for my second anatomy scan today where they do an in depth scan of the organs.  As the ultra sound tech headed to the room, I noticed four other people were standing outside the door.  As we went in the room, all the other people followed.  At first I was worried that maybe there was something wrong that I hadn't been told about.  As they introduced themselves, it became clear I was being used as a learning experience. I won't complain because I received a lot of attention that I might not have otherwise.  The good news is all the babies look great.  They are all measuring about the same size, but are smaller than a singleton would be at this time.  This is no surprise and according to the dr in charge, no need to worry. I believe they are close to measuring in the 30th percentile and the doctor seemed very pleased with this.  No obvious abnormalities were observed and I may have one more scan in a month.  They are very certain of the two boys and a girl! :)

At the home front, things are good.  My newest symptom is insomnia.  For the life of me I can not fall asleep at night.  I am still waking up to get Tripp dressed and off to school, so I should be able to sleep.  Napping during the day hasn't been a problem but I have tried not to do that thinking it will help me sleep better at night.  I think that is the time where it is quiet and everything that has to be done and all that is coming runs through my mind.  Getting comfortable is also really difficult, despite the million pillows I am using to sleep with.

I googled "feeding triplets," and the videos and blogs that popped up made me laugh.  It was either laugh or cry at the thought of doing what these parents do...so I chose to laugh.  I will find my own routine and I'm sure I will also figure out what works and what doesn't. :) It was helpful to see what others are doing and that it can be done.

Michael and Tripp are being amazing with everything.  Michael is a one-stop-shop do it all husband.  Despite him being sick, he makes sure I'm keeping my feet up like I should. Tripp always is entertaining and continues to say things that make me laugh everyday.  Not sure what I would do without my boys.  As I type this Michael is snoozing on the couch and my child is trying to watch tv. Tripp came over and whispered "mommy, daddy's snoring is messing up the tv.". Ha.  Then he goes and put his face right up to his daddy's to get a better understanding of where the snoring is coming from.  Love them!

 I know there will be challenges and some days more down's than up's when it comes to adding three more, but I am getting very excited about the adventures to come.  If we can remember to laugh through the hard things and soak in the memories, then I hope there won't be a place for complaining.  Feeling so blessed that I catch myself waiting for the bottom to drop.  However, working on enjoying the ride because I know the destination.  Love to everyone for thoughts and prayers.