31 Week Update

We’ve been monitoring twice a week and today we made it to 31 weeks, which is the national average for triplets! Very good news indeed, however I am so worn out, that I am ready for these babies to join us on the outside. Get a look at these beautiful pictures and you’ll have an idea as to how tired I am. Not my most flattering I must say, but it is what it is. I’ve managed to gain 33 pounds now, which surprises even me, as I wonder how there is anymore room for food or babies. The heartburn is a nightly reminder! It is also incredibly difficult to sleep and be comfortable in bed, however I am adhering to doctors orders of modified bed rest.

Dr. Bohman says we will “let it ride” for a couple more weeks (how very Vegas). 3 or 4 more weeks if we can and if my body cooperates. This will depend on so many factors. First and foremost, it will depend on if anyone - the babies or me - become distressed. The second will be contractions. Right now I’ve had exactly 1 contraction in the almost 4 weeks we’ve been monitoring twice a week. I am beginning to swell up in my hands and feet, so that could become a blood pressure problem which will lead to babies being born sooner, but we’ll see. I sincerely want to go longer so that the babies spend less time in the NICU and could possibly come home with us if we can make it to 34 or 35 weeks. That would be fabulous.

The monitoring appointments take 2 to 3 hours each and they listen to each heartbeat and monitor for contractions. It also takes a long time because my specialist’s office doesn’t have a triplet monitor, only for twins. Then the doctor does an ultrasound scan to ensure each baby is moving. Sometimes they are stubborn. Baby A doesn’t move much and hangs out really low by my pelvic bone, baby B flops like a fish between the middle and the right side and Baby C moves around some and hangs out very high almost in my chest, which makes it difficult at times to breath deeply. So we are now in a holding pattern. Holding for whatever comes next. We will keep everyone posted as to what is going on as soon as more news is available.

On a lighter note, my sister Kristy, her husband and her daughter came from Winnemucca to bring some things from Grandma that will really come in handy! They also brought some much needed equipment from Abby. We had a great time together too! This week Carrie also came by to visit along with Bonnie who all brought some great gifts for the babies. I’m so grateful for visitors, it sure makes the time pass more quickly.

We’ve updated the listed to reflect the last gifts we’ve received. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support both with gifts and kind words. It means so much to us

29 and 30 Week Update

I can’t really believe it, but we almost at 30 weeks. We had a very lengthy doctor’s appointment today. The girls went with us and hung in there so well. They did an extensive ultrasound to measure each baby and look at the fluid around each baby to ensure all was ok. Each baby weighs about 3 lbs. and is about 15 inches. We are still in the same range as a singleton baby, which is great! Especially since I have gained just 27 lbs. The goal was between 40 and 60 pounds and it’s not for lack of trying. They know me at Krispy Kreme and Jack In The Box, as we are there at least once a week, sometimes more. Gotta love cheeseburgers and doughnuts. I’m so trying! What a cruel joke....I can only laugh. Never in a million years did I think that someone would be telling me to gain more weight!

The ultrasound also showed plenty of fluid around the babies. They look for 2 centimeters or more and we are well over 3 per baby. All the heads and bellies look good too. We could even see The doctor said we are doing very well and maybe could go past September 1. I’m hopeful we can, but as I said in my last post, my body is pretty tired and I don’t know where I have room to expand.

We then went on to monitor the babies. They put monitors on to look at heart rate of each baby along with measuring any contractions. Still no contractions, which is more good news and the heart rates are right where they need to be at between 140 and 160 beats per minute. They also drew my blood to check my thyroid. There won’t be any news on that until Thursday. So now I go twice a week to monitor heart rates and contractions. We’ll be at the doctor on Mondays and Thursdays now.

The girls are getting so excited too. They rub the belly and talk to the tummy. Gillian has been carrying her doll in the new stroller for the boys. It’s great!

These days at home are off and on. If I can get a good night’s sleep all is good, but if not, it’s a rough day. I have a lot of lower belly pain and when they move sometimes it’s painful. Chip has been so good about rubbing my feet and back almost every day. Sleeping is a real challenge. Chip told me last week that I sounded like I was 90 years old. Some days I feel like it! Getting out of bed is rough! I try to roll over and it’s painful. I’ll be sitting on the sofa and all of a sudden I will just get a painful cramp. That’s when I know they are moving around. It hurts underneath the ribs. I also have 3 times the blood volume of a not pregnant woman, so my veins stick out and I get weird rashes from my blood vessels pumping so much blood. These are things that aren’t fun, but I am so grateful that the babies are doing well and that we are getting this miracle. I’m truly excited to see these boys.

In the pictures above you can see where they showed us that one baby has hair. It’s amazing! Check out the bottom pic for baby b. The babies are so big now we can see neat stuff, but never more than 1 baby at a time. On the picture on the right, you can see a fisted hand next to the side view. It hurts my back to sit for the ultrasound, but I love seeing all the parts from hair to the blood flow to the heart. It is always reassuring to hear the heartbeats too. That part never gets old. We started our second video tape since we have so much ultrasound on video. It will be a great for them to watch later. Maybe I’m just being sentimental.

I also have an updated list of baby items we have/need, which will be posted in both the past post of “updated list of items needed and received” as well as after this post. Thank you again to everyone who has helped us, supported us and who continues to keep in touch. We can’t wait to call of you on the big day.

27 and 28 Week Update

We’ve finally reached 28 weeks. It seems like it has taken forever to get here. I have to say that we’re so happy that these babies are healthy and growing, but boy, my body is worn out and I have a very big stomach! Feet hurt, belly hurts, hard to sleep, all that goes with pregnancy....some days are hard, but it’s so worth it. It won’t be long now, and I sincerely hope that we can make it to September 1, which will be 33 weeks. I want them to come out so I can see these boys, but I also want them to stay in and grow as long as possible. The next monitoring is Monday, Aug. 6, so we’ll see what is happening then.

Last night we made our first trip to the hospital - in Summerlin - to be monitored. I felt as though the babies weren’t moving as much as in the past and it alarmed me. Immediately, I was thinking the worst and hoping for the best. Turns out the heartbeats were fine and we monitored for an hour or so and came home. Nothing to worry about thank goodness.

I also took the 3 hour glucose test, which was rough on an empty stomach, but it came back normal,which was very good news. It was also amazingly wonderful to get stuck 4 times considering how much I love needles. It will be so worth it when we can cuddle those baby boys. The glucose test was on 7/26/07.

I have been going weekly for monitoring, which has been very uneventful in terms of contractions. I’ve also finally quit working and went on leave as of Friday, August 3. It’s a little scary, as now I really don’t have much to do with with my mind now. At least with work I had that to keep me occupied, however I am also VERY tired because it’s really tough to sleep at night. So now I’ll have plenty of time to rest.

There’s been a lot going on though. The nursery is all done as far as paint and trim. Now we need to finish decorating. Bunny helped us at Babies R Us pick out a sea theme, which goes very well with the blue/green of the paint. The paint is fantastic! Chip wants more “boy” stuff, but I told him we need to pick a theme. Chip wants some baseballs and stuff. So....the theme may change.

Bunny left on 7//28 and Chip’s other sister Sue came in on 7/31. It’s been nice to see them both! We feel so fortunate to hear from and see so many people. Kristy and Jeff will visit in a couple of weeks, which will be fun and then hopefully mom and dad when babies are born.