Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Doctor's Visit

The doctor gave me a great report yesterday.  The babies looked great.  I am now measuring 26 weeks at just 15 weeks pregnant!  Two weeks ago I was measuring 21 weeks.  I'm growing fast!  I have read that I will look like I am full term at around 28 weeks.

 My ultrasound pictures are not very good because I was not on the good machine.  The tech told me that I would be on the 4D machine from now on, so they can really get a good look at each of them.  I obviously have no objections to that! I see the Perinatologist next week, so I hope I get some better pictures to post.

Baby A (head on the right)


Baby B's (head on the left)

 Baby C looking at us!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Count Your Blessings

I have so much to be grateful for all the time, but this weekend I found myself stopping to count the many blessings I have been given this week.

On Thursday, a friend brought my family dinner.  It was so thoughtful of her.  Derek has had to pick up a lot of take out on the way home from work because it is has been difficult for me to cook the last couple months. We had a delicious home cooked meal.

Thursday night Derek's parents drove to Huntsville to help out around the house.  On Friday, while Derek and I were at work.  They cleaned the house, did laundry, took out the trash and went grocery shopping for us. I arrived home from work to a clean house and a stocked kitchen.  This is not the first time they have come down to help out since finding out I am pregnant with triplets. We appreciate it every time.

Friday was my last day at work.  Even though I only worked part-time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the job was wearing me out. I decided it was best for me to stop working now, so I can take it easy and prepare for the arrival of the babies.  I am so grateful that the director of the preschool has twins.  She was very sympathetic to my situation.  She already had a substitute teacher ready to step in and take my place whenever I felt I needed to stop working.  At the end of the day Friday, the director said she needed me to sign some paperwork before I left.  To my surprise there was no paperwork, instead the staff had thrown a surprise baby shower.  It was a wonderful way to end my time at the preschool.  I am grateful for their generosity.  I am so glad I had the opportunity to work at such a great preschool.  I will miss working with the teachers and children.  Luckily, I still get to see them when I take Ben to school.  He will continue to attend three days a week. 

On Saturday, we were in Chattanooga.  We were able to spend the morning with good friends that we don't get to see as often due to our move.  It was great to see them and their new house.  Before we left, they loaded our car with clothes, shoes, and toys that their son has outgrown.  They have shown us this same generosity many times since before Ben was born.  I am very grateful for such wonderful friends.

The rest of our Saturday was spent with my family to celebrate the February birthdays.  It was so nice to spend time with them, sit and talk, and simply enjoy each other's company.  I cherish the moments I get to spend with them since we do not get to see each other as often as we would like.

On Sunday, we were able to spend time with Derek's family before returning home to Huntsville.  I am very grateful to have such wonderful family and friends.

Before I end this post, there is one more person I need to thank. My husband, Derek, has been amazing these last few months.  He has been so supportive and understanding as I have struggled during this pregnancy, even before we knew I was pregnant with triplets.  He is in the busiest part of his work year, but yet has picked up the slack where I have left off and not complained about it.  He wakes up everymorning and gets Ben out of bed and makes breakfast.  He brings me breakfast in bed so that I will not get sick when I get out of bed. I couldn't ask for a better husband or father to our chidlren.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

14 Weeks


Yay! I've made it to the 2nd trimester!  Hopefully, that means that my nausea and lack of energy will begin to ease up.  My babies are now the size of lemons and I'm definitely showing!  I have to really get planning and prepare for the arrival of our babies.  Our goal is to make it to 36 weeks, just 22 weeks away.  On average, triplets arrive at 32 weeks.  That's just 18 weeks away. Either way, that's not a lot of time to plan for the arrival of 3 babies.  



How far along: 14 Weeks
Weight gain/loss: gained 3 lbs. Net weight: 0
Maternity clothes: No, but it won't be much longer.
Sleep: Sleeping hard and having weird, crazy dreams.
Best moment this week: Staying at home with Ben and enjoying the simplicity of one child.
Miss Anything? My energy and the enjoyment of food.
Movement: Not yet
Food cravings: Bagels with cream cheese, oatmeal, milk
Anything making you queasy or sick: Wierd smells, the thought of food, waiting too long in between eating.
Have you started to show yet? Yes
Gender prediction: Boy, Boy, Boy!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Weekly Wisdom: Make sure to get your rest!
Looking forward to: Seeing my family in Chattanooga this weekend!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Small Scare and 4D ultrasound Pictures

This has been the week of doctor's appointments. Monday I met with my OB, Tuesday I met with my Perinatologist and took Ben to the doctor for a sinus infection. On Wednesday, Ben and I stayed home from school since he was sick. I took full advantage of the day off and caught up on laundry, dishes, and other housekeeping items. It was such a pretty day we went on a walk to take advantage of the weather. When we got home, I quickly noticed I was spotting, just a little, but I called my doctor as I was instructed to do. I spoke with the nurse and she told me to come in imediately. At that moment, I became really scared. I called Derek to let him know and a good friend who came at a moments notice and took care of Ben. Derek immediately left work to come pick me up and we were off of the doctor for the third day in a row.

After the ultrasound, they determined that Baby A's placenta is over my cervix. This is referred to as placenta previa. They are hopeful that as my uterus grows it will move upward. There is little concern at this point, but I was instructed to take it easy.

The tech decided to do a 4D ultrasound to lift our spirits. The pictures are really neat! It's amazing that they already look like little babies after just 13 weeks!






Baby A with his hands in front of his face.


Baby B with his legs crossed and hands at his face.


Baby C exercising. We were able to watch him pull his legs in to his
chest and stretch them out with full force like he was trying to jump!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

My Little Valentines

At the perinatologist today, the tech asked if we wanted to know the genders of the babies if she could tell. Of Course! We have been anxiously waiting to know! If given the choice, Derek and I would love to have 2 girls and a boy to even things out or 3 boys for simplicity (if there is such a thing). We are also very aware that this pregnancy is God's plan and we will be happy with whatever we are given. The tech was able to provide a reasonably certain determination of the genders for all three babies. We are still very early in the pregnancy, but the evidence seems very clear! See for yourself....




Oh Boy!




Oh Boy!


Oh Boy!


Perinatologist Doctor's Appointment

In conjuction with seeing my regular OB, I also have to see a Perinatologist or maternal-fetal medicine specialist. This doctor specializes in high risk pregnancies such as multiple births. My perinatologist comes from Birmingham once a week. The visit consisted of a level II ultrasound in which they took several measurements of the babies including crown to rump, head circumfrence, nasal bone and thickness of the back of the neck. They also checked the blood flow, heart, umbilical cord, bladder, sex organs, brain, etc. The measurements showed the the babies were right on target for their growth measuring 13 weeks for 'baby a' and 12w6d for 'baby b' and 'baby c'. I am exactly 13 weeks today! We will visit the perinatologist again in three weeks.

Profile of Baby A



Profile of Baby B


Profile of Baby C

Monday, February 13, 2012

Ben Talks About the Triplets

Ben went with us to our appointment today. He gazed in amazement as he watched his babies on the screen. He repeat over and over, "mommy, tummy, babies." I can't wait to watch him as a big brother!

Check out this link to a video of Ben talking about his day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ZfVoWuMcc&list=UUTlVgLPfcFXMLCJULEihsnw&index=1&feature=plcp

Doctor's Appointment

Our doctor's appointment was great today. My uterus is now measuring 21 weeks and I am 12w6d pregnant. The babies were very active. So active the tech had to try very hard to monitor their heartbeats because they kept jumping and flopping around. Their heart rates were 156, 154, 152. I can't help but wonder what its going to be like when I can feel all three of them moving. I was able to feel Ben moving at 15 weeks, so I'm hoping it won't be long before I start to feel my little cubs.


The tech was able to tell us that each baby has its own placenta and sack, which is very good news. When babies share a when, one baby can get more nutrition than the other and this cause problems. Does this mean our babies are faternal? Likely, but not definitely! After doing a little research, identical multiples can have their own placenta and sack if the egg splits before the third day of fertilization.

Our little 'cubs'




Baby A


Baby A looking at us!


Baby B


Baby C