28 Weeks

We're at 28 weeks today! We had a pretty eventful day yesterday and bit of a scare, but it's looking like things are under control. Let me explain...

The Dr. ordered an at home uterine monitor last week. This is something that many triplet or high risk mothers use at this stage of pregnancy. It is especially beneficial for multiple births, because a lot of times, you don't realize you're having contractions when you are.

Well... two nurses came to my house on Monday afternoon to show me how to use the monitor. When they first got to the house they took my blood pressure and it was rather high... we chalked it up to nerves and decided to take it again when things slowed down a little. Then, they hooked me up to the uterine monitor for an hour. After taking it off I said, "I'm sure I didn't have any contractions." (Famous last words!) The nurse sent my recording to the call center place and they reported that I had 7 conractions in that hour... too many! I was so surprised! Next thing I knew, I was laying on my left side (which is supposed to reduce blood pressure and contractions). The blood pressure was still very high.

The nurses left, with direction to lay on my left side and take the hour-long contraction test again in 30 minutes. All this time, they were in contact with my Dr. The second test only showed 2 contractions, so they were less worried. Apparently laying on your left-side really works! I talked to my Dr. last night and he told me to double up on my blood pressure medicine. Doing this and taking it easy has brought the pressure down. One side-effect of the medicine is I'm VERY tired! I didn't go to work today and have slept most of the day away... as a matter of fact, I could go back to sleep right now and it's 5:00 in the evening! Matt worked from home today to be my nurse and my grandma came over last night until he could get home. All seems to be under control and I have a Dr. appt in the morning, so I will know a lot more about what I need to do. I'll update again when I know more. Keep praying... I'm not ready for these babies to be born yet!!!

27 Weeks

I went to the Dr. yesterday, saw the girls briefly and heard the heartbeats. All is still going well. The Dr. said one more week (28 weeks along) and he wouldn't think twice about taking the babies if something went wrong. He said they're very viable at this point. I, on the other hand, would definitely think twice about them being taken... it would be a LOT of NICU time in the hospital. Either way, it was nice to hear they could survive outside of the womb if they had to. The good news is, there are no indications we will not make it to 35 weeks... I'm still amazed at how very smooth everything has gone. Please keep praying because it's working!

I filled out my FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) papers at work, which means I can start working less. I have 18 days of sick time I have banked from all my years of working at U.S. Cellular. If you don't use all of your time each year, the days are banked for FMLA, etc. So... I had to fill out the paperwork to be able to use those days. I plan to use about 2 sick days a week, which will be like working part-time, but still getting paid for full. I still feel pretty decent, but get so tired and don't want to push it. My mom says she's glad I have a good work ethic, but would prefer I focus on other things right now. Matt is always telling me to look at what's really important, and I think we all know what that is.

Last weekend was very productive. With the help of my mom, Chris Hudson and Matt, we sorted through all of the stuff I have received from my showers and started putting it away. We are so blessed and have been given so much to get ready for these babies! My cousins and friend (Jill, Tracy, Carrie and Beth and Misty)had a shower for me on Saturday and it was so classy and beautiful. I have amazing friends and family and have never understood that more than in this pregnancy.

Last night, with Chris and Rodney Hudson's help, we got all of the cribs put together! We washed crib sheets and blankets and pressed everything to go nicely on the cribs... Pretty sure I'm not going to have time to iron their crib blankets once they get here!! HA! Here are some pics I took this morning... We will start to decorate the rooms more in the next week... It's getting close to being done!!!

26 weeks!

I had a Dr's appointment yesterday and have great news to share! The babies were all almost 2 pounds and within 1 ounce of each other. Baby A = 1 lb 13oz, Baby B = 1 lb 14 oz and Baby C = 1 lb 15 oz! They're all still growing at the same rate a singleton baby would at this stage! We even saw a chubby little cheek in the sonogram... so they're putting on some weight. The Dr. says they will start to slow their growth at about 32 weeks because they'll run out of room.

I really do believe that prayers are working! Please keep praying because everything is going so smooth so far... From everything I've read, we are so blessed to have no major complications up to this point. And, the fact that I'm still able to work is such a great thing!

Now, for the little bit of bad news...I had to take a glucose test yesterday... testing for gestational diabetes and the test didn't come back good. This was just the first, 1 hour test. If you fail that one, you have to take a 3 hour test (I think as punishment... and I usually do so well on tests). I'll be taking this test next Wednesday, so pray that I pass and everything is all good.

Also, I started having some pains in my lower abdomen and back when I walk, so I called the Dr today. They were certain it's growing/stretching pains and said I'll be having a lot more of those in the next few weeks as the babies put on weight. She suggested a girdle or belly belt for supporting the extra frontal weight.

I read yesterday that the babies look exactly like they will when they're born at this point, only miniature. No more alien babies!!! For some reason, that's comforting to me, given my belly is starting to feel like they're playing basketball in there! When they start moving, they start moving! I think I felt my eye balls rattle last night with one big kick!

I'll update with more news soon...

Work Shower 3/4/09

Guests at shower...


I received a TON of gifts...



Jackie (a friend from work) made 3 homemade cakes and lots of cupcakes!



It was SO nice... I never expected such a beautiful shower at the office... I have GREAT friends and am so blessed!

Church Shower 3/7/09

My Table to open gifts... check out the cute bee diaper cake!

A good turn out... lots of people came!



The Backdrop behind me... it had the girls' names on it... made me cry!






Beautiful Cakes and food table

Each place setting had Burt's Bees stuff and a sonogram pic!


Just looking at the pictures from the shower makes me cry!! These ladies put SO much work into making this a shower I'll never forget! The pictures don't even do it justice!

25 Weeks

I have had a hard time finding time to update the blog... things have been SO hectic lately and I'm tired! I'm at 25.5 weeks now and still feeling pretty good. I have been definitely "sprouting" as a few friends at work have called it and last weekend mom said she thought I was growing before her very eyes! I still sleep ok, but can only sleep on my right or left side and, when one gets sore, it is next to impossible to turn over to the other. I literally feel like a turtle on her back when I'm trying to roll over. At a sonogram the other day, I discovered I can no longer lay on my back for long without passing out. As he looked at the babies, the room suddenly got very hot and I felt very nauseous. He said it was my uterus cutting off the blood vessels or something like that. I read that it might happen about where I'm at in the pregnancy... so nothing to be concerned about.

My wrists are still hurting, but have actually improved a little... I think due to a new ergonomic keyboard I'm using. My feet and ankles are still swelling and I'm starting to have a hard time wearing the one pair of shoes that still fit! I plan to go get a pedicure this weekend, so I can break out the flip flops without shame! The Dr. has been talking to me more and more about cutting back hours at work... he's not necessarily telling me to, but he always mentions it and asks if I want to continue working. I have a meeting with HR next week to discuss my options and I may start trying to work less hours each week... we'll see. I fear that being bed-ridden or home all the time, I would feel miserable. Though I DEFINITELY am going to make the best decision for my health as well as the babies'. I've been given a new project at work and it's been making it difficult for me to miss because I'm not feeling so good... I tend to get this way when on a big project and get pretty focused... we'll see how long that lasts!

The new master bedroom/bathroom/utility is complete and we are moved in! My brother and his wife (Chad and Nora) bought us a new dryer to go with our new washer, and it just arrived yesterday. My grandma has been doing my laundry, and even though it's been WONDERFUL, I'm kind of glad I can just do it at my leisure again. Crazy, huh?! Our families have really been so amazing through all of this... you really do learn a lot about love and support when you're in a situation like this. My mom and Matt's parents came over last weekend and worked all weekend. Mom and Cheryl helped me go through and clean out closets (something I've been needing to do for a long time). I can't believe how many clothes and shoes I threw out... Gotta make room for Babies! Cheryl has been painting the nursery this week and has worked really hard. I believe it will be finished this weekend... the painting anyway. Matt and I are going to buy the cribs, changing tables and furniture tonight. Again... a very large contribution was made by my Mom and Matt's parents to help us pay for all of this. We really are so very blessed to have the families we do. I think God not only considered Matt and I before giving us these triplets, He looked at our support system and said, "yeah... they'll be able to handle this!"

I've had 2 baby showers already and have received a TON of stuff!
Two ladies at work threw me a shower and it was just beautiful... I would have never expected it from work... usually people just go in and buy a gift, but my friends made 3 cakes and lots of cupcakes, they decorated the room beautifully and had all kinds of gifts for me! It was truly humbling and I am so grateful!

My church shower was BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to put pics out here and show it off! There were 13 hostesses and they REALLY did an amazing job! The bee theme from my nursery was incorporated and when I saw the room, it brought me to tears! The girls' names were scribed on art for the nursery and SO much more! Many of the decorations were given to me and I'll be able to use when decorating my nursery. I received 3 car seats, a stroller, my pack and play, and lots of gift cards and diapers and MORE! I literally opened gifts for an hour and a half and was rushing because I could see people were getting bored! What a Blessing!

My brother and Nora are giving us a beautiful polk-a-dot chair and ottoman to go in the nursery as well as a lot more of Andie's old stuff, and we found some people to haul it to Oklahoma for us. Since Michael and Mikka (our old Youth Ministers at the Church) have recently moved to Colorado, their parents were taking a trip back empty-handed this weekend, so we made arrangements for them to haul a trailor for us! This saves us so much time and energy and I am so grateful! I should have the stuff by Monday or Tuesday! :)

Another thing: Last weekend Matt was taking a load of stuff out to the shed, stepped down into a hole (from all the plumbing stuff that was done in the backyard) and sprained his ankle really bad. We thought it might be broken and went to the ER, but it was too busy and we couldn't get in for hours... so decided to wait until the next day to have it X-rayed. So, my nurse (Matt) was injured this week and wound up taking care of him!!! He could only stay off of it for a day before going back into work, so it's really swollen, black and blue and he's just limping around everywhere... not to mention, there's just too much to do around the house to ignore it... he's gotta be working... poor guy!!!

Matt and I are so blessed... what a crazy week it's been! We still have to finish painting the rest of the house... I say "we", but it's really Matt and whoever else can help (any takers?!). My prayer and hope is that we finish with all of the home improvements and get to relax and enjoy each other a little before the baby bomb drops!!!

One other exciting thing! I've been feeling the babies kick A LOT this week! And, I can even see them moving under my shirt now! It's funny! Poor Matt hasn't felt them once and it's really starting to make him mad. Everytime he puts his hand on my belly, they settle down! I told him a lot of it has to do with the fact that we're never sitting and relaxing together anymore... there's always work to do... who has time to sit around and feel bellies!!!

I think I've caught you all up on what's going on... more to come later!

The house is really coming along! The major construction is done! As a matter of fact, I think we may be able to move into the new master bed and bath this weekend! I am forever grateful to all the people who made this possible. So many have contributed, but two in particular: Rodney Hudson and my Papa have been there day in and day out, working to get this done. Last night, I dreamt all night about how I could possibly repay them for all they've done. I was dreaming up gift baskets and thank you cards, but it just doesn't seem to do justice what I feel and how thankful I am. Without this extra room, life would surely be much more difficult and stressful with 3 babies. Their generosity has been a witness to us and has really been so amazing. I've posted some pics above... Dale is working to finish up the electrical and we'll have appliances in the bathroom before we know it!

I am certain that all of the people praying for me and the babies is what is making things go so smoothly in this pregnancy. Even little kids are praying for us and I know God is hearing all of the prayers go up! I had a lady say to me on Sunday that the kids in her Sunday School class have a list of people to pray for and they never forget me and the babies! I was so touched, I almost cried. My 4-year-old niece recently said she prays for me and the babies every night and my brother said she prayed that they wouldn't get ran over by a Toyota either. I told her to pray that for other car brands as well! Eek!

I'm not sure if it's my hormones or the repetition of the following things, but I've been getting a little frustrated with:
1) The Question: "Was it natural?" First of all, this is a stupid way to ask it, and second, yes it was very natural!!! Would you like me to tell you the details?! It doesn't bother me from friends/family, but complete strangers ask ALL THE TIME... it's the first thing out of their mouths. I used to explain that I took Clomid, but then decided it's none of their business, so now I just say "yes". As soon as I explained about the Clomid they would get a look on their face like "oh... that doesn't really count then."

2) Being compared to the Octuplet woman! Yesterday, a lady taking my blood went into a full blown rage describing how she feels about the irresponsibility of "that mother." Well, I'm NOT HER!!! NOT EVEN CLOSE! And for the record, no, it doesn't make me feel better or more confident about "JUST" having three! I'm scared out of my mind!!!

Thank you for listening to my ramblings... remember, you all are my friends and family, so you're exempt from the above frustrations! ;) Is it hot in here?!