Hello Third Trimester!!!

28 weeks! 
I can hardly believe it! Another "milestone" reached. It's all easy and downhill from here, right? (HA!)

Now begins my twice weekly appointments to check the babies' maturation - for example, checking to see if they are practicing breathing, moving normally, and just watching for any signs of distress. I am already exhausted thinking about all of these ultrasounds and appointments but I will do whatever it takes to get these boys here healthy.

Let me recap the last couple of weeks real quick before moving on to my 28 week growth ultrasound.

Last week I had my OB appointment where I was informed that I did indeed fail my glucose test so I am now officially diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I meet with a dietician tomorrow to create a plan of action, but I've already started monitoring my blood sugar 4 times a day. I do not like pricking my fingers!

After my OB appointment, they sent me to the hospital to have my first steroid shot (just as a precaution) and to have a non-stress test. Well, the hospital informed me that they didn't have the equipment to properly monitor all three babies, so they gave me an ultrasound instead. My poor friend Amanda (who has been my lifesaver throughout this entire pregnancy and is my "on call" friend, anytime, day or night - seriously, every girl needs an Amanda), was stuck with me the entire morning while we visited doctors, got shots (FYI - steroid shots burn! But they are survivable.), and had an ultrasound. It's always fun seeing the babies though.

My parents came into town last week (just left yesterday), and it was so wonderful having them here to take care of every little thing and give my poor, long-suffering husband a break, especially since he just returned to work full time.  So week 27 was by far the fastest and easiest week of my pregnancy!

On to the week 28 ultrasound! My mom took me to the appointment (they didn't have to leave until yesterday afternoon) and I was glad she got a chance to see the babies, although they are getting hard to see very well since they are so big!  My sonographer (Wanda - I LOVE her) had to start with Baby C since they were all in strange positions. Their heads were all together near my rib cage. No wonder I have felt some serious movement going on these last couple of weeks!

C
I was excited to start with Caden because I wanted to see his growth. I was really hoping for two pounds minimum, and I about burst into tears on the table when she told me he was only 1 pound, 14 ounces.  I was so discouraged and I feel so helpless to help my poor little baby grow.  But other than his size, he appears to be doing fine. He's moving, has good blood flow, and his head is normal size for his age. It's just his body that's small.  I spent most of my consult with the doctor discussing him, and he basically said he's not even paying much attention to his size. Rather, he's more focused on how he's maturing, making sure everything is working the way it should. He said that growth restriction could be caused by chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects, but that his gut tells him that this is not what is causing it and that he believes Caden will be just fine. He says we will just need to be vigilant and watch for signs of distress. As soon as that happens (if it happens), we will deliver all three of them. But he's still hoping to make it past 34 weeks.

B
Then on to Brooks, Caden's twin.  He also looked great...and FAT! He weighed in at 3 pounds, 3 ounces! I about passed out when she told me that! We also caught him practicing his breathing at one point.

Since the babies are getting too large for the ultrasound screen, we didn't get many pictures yesterday, but here is one picture that we caught that cracked me up. You have to put on your ultrasound goggles, but once you see it, it's really quite funny:

 

This is a picture of Caden sitting his little bum on Brooks' face! I love seeing that brotherly instinct already coming out in them :)

A
Asher really shocked us too. He has always been either the same size or just smaller than Brooks. Well, this week he has taken the lead! He is now 3 pounds, 5 ounces!!! Yikes!  That means I have over 8 pounds of baby in me, and still at least 5-7 weeks to go!

All looked well with Asher, though he would not get into a position where we could get a good picture, so this will have to suffice. It's a sweet picture of what I like to think is Brooks kissing the back of Ashers' head. We actually saw his mouth close to his head and then he pulled back just as the picture was taken. Again, those brotherly instincts that warm my heart and make me even more excited to meet my little boys:

That's it for the update on the boys! As for me, I look like Buddha when I sit now. My belly is huge, and it aches constantly from the never-ending growth. When people touch it, it feels tingly - like when somebody touches your arm after it's fallen asleep. I have that numb, tingly feeling all the time now, combined with stretching pain.  My back is also always in pain. I've been trying to use a belly support for some relief, and it helps a little, but there's always discomfort somewhere. And of course, my lovely congestion and cough hasn't gone away, though it is a little more bearable lately.

I am still not officially on bedrest, though I do get winded walking halfway down the hallway!  My mother took great pleasure in secretly videotaping my pregnancy waddle while she was here. I'm sure my brothers are laughing at the video right about now...but if I know my sisters-in-law, they are laughing on the outside but sympathetic on the inside!

I haven't taken a 28 week picture yet, so the 27 week will have to do:

26 Weeks!

We're moving right along! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel slowly starting to get bigger!

I am doing fine. Definitely uncomfortable but I can handle it. I miss my bed and the horizontal sleeping position. I also miss my brain. I seem to be getting dumber by the day!  I can't seem to form coherent sentences anymore, and where I once used to enjoy using large and obscure words in my daily conversation, now I use words that are equally as obscure, but only because I made them up for lack of being able to remember the actual word!  For example: the other night I needed more ice in my water that had become too warm for my liking. I said to my husband, "Can you please go out to the kitchen and....uh....mmmm....RE-COLD this for me?" Seriously, how hard is it to say "put more ice in my cup?"  But for the life of me I could not come up with those words!

The ultrasound today went well, for the babies anyway. They were all having a party in there. Here we are, in alphabetical order:

Baby A: Asher is weighing 2 pounds, 4 ounces, well above average. He was comfy and cozy, down low in my belly. He's getting so big now that we can't see more than just a section of him on the screen at a time. They couldn't get a measurement of my cervix because he's too big, so they had to also do an internal ultrasound. The last time I had an internal, we could see all three babies and it looked like this:

This time, we could see my cervix and then, along the entire left side of the screen, we could see just a portion of Asher's tummy.  It really made it hit home just how small they were at 7 weeks and how big they've gotten!  Cervix is still looking good, thank goodness. According to my sonographer,  my cervix is "strong as steel". Yeah baby! My cervix is Superman!!!

We couldn't get a very good shot of Baby B. He basically is standing on his head right now. I almost had to stand on MY head just so the sonographer could get a shot of him. OK not really but I did have to take a very uncomfortable side position and just when I thought I couldn't take it any longer, she finished. Phew.  Brooks is a GIANT, weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces.

In other Brooks developments - he LOVES music. When my students start playing the piano, or he hears his Daddy singing, he starts to go crazy. I love it.

 

And on to Baby C. Ah, Caden. GROW child, GROW! PLEASE!  He only weighed in at 1 pound, 8 ounces today. Still moving like crazy, and looks great other than being really small. My Grandma told me yesterday that she dreamed he grew up to be a professional basketball player. So far he's not off to a good start! 

I've been nervous about Caden this week because I just don't feel him move very often. Every ultrasound shows he's practically doing somersaults in there but I rarely feel him. It was reassuring to see him having fun today.  I am grateful for weekly doctors' appointments that tell me he's okay. The last few days before every appointment are the days I start to freak out a little bit if I can't feel him move. A couple of nights ago I sat in one place for probably 2-3 hours with my hand on the left side of my belly (Caden's place of residence) just trying to feel any little movement at all, and repeated this several times over the next couple of days. Luckily, yesterday and this morning he gave me a few strong kicks that kept me from going over the edge. I hope he will get bigger soon so I can feel him a little more.

It appears that those worrisome last few days before each appointment are about to disappear, however. Starting in 2 weeks I will be going in for bio-physical scans twice a week. They will still only measure growth every other week, but will check other things like breathing, fluid, etc. twice a week to make sure they are all healthy and happy.

As far as delivery dates: last week at my 25 week appt., my OB again mentioned that they will take the babies at 32 weeks. This concerned me for two reasons: 1) My instinct is telling me that's too early - though where I get said "instinct" is a mystery since I have no expertise in multiples (though my high risk dr. today said I know them better than anybody). And 2) to have them before 33 weeks would cost me an extra $4500 because my new insurance won't kick in until then. So they MUST stay in there until September 1st. Of course my body may decide otherwise.  Hopefully I have trained my body better than to make such an expensive decision.

Anyway, I told Dr. P how much this concerned me and he agreed with me completely. In fact, he called my OB during our consult to discuss a more realistic due date (among other things, like steroid shots - getting my first one next week). They decided I should carry them til 34 weeks if I can make it, and if things are looking good, keep them in there until 35.  He apologized that this was going to be a long road for me, that I would have to be going in for so much testing for so long, but he promised me it will all be worth it and I know he's right. Besides, as uncomfortable as this pregnancy is, it just HAS to be easier having three babies on the inside than on the outside, right?!?

Today was the last time that my husband will be able to go to my appointments with me. It makes me sad! I love having him there, but he has to go back to work.

Also coming up this week: Pertussis booster (even though I had it a year ago, they are not taking chances. In fact, everybody that wants to have any contact with the babies for their first several months has to have one that is very recent - the more recent the better. More detail on that later) and my GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST. Yay. My favorite.  My sonographer told me today that she is pretty sure I will fail it because Baby B's tummy is big and he has a lot of fluid around him, both indicators of gestational diabetes.  We'll see how it goes!

An Exercise in Humility

I am choosing to call it humility because it makes me sound more noble than if I simply admitted that I was embarrassed!

The past couple of weeks I have grown so doggone tired of being in my house. At one point I would say I got downright depressed simply because I was sooooo bored and uncomfortable.

Last Friday I woke up feeling a tiny bit better than usual, so I decided a trip to Hobby Lobby was in order. The triplets' bedroom didn't have a single bit of decoration and I wanted that to change. So we packed up our family and off we went.

I walked (shuffled and waddled is a better description) around for a good hour and a half in Hobby Lobby. There is not a single place to sit down in there, unless you are lucky and find an empty display shelf - which I finally did, and lowered myself down to 6 inches off the floor just to sit down for a spell. But the rest of the time was walking and more walking - which I am not very good at these days as my joints and muscles are too busy holding three babies up to bother with helping me to do things like stand or walk. I felt like a rockstar, holding my own weight in Hobby Lobby.

Then I got home, and for the next 2-3 days I could barely get out of my chair. Hobby Lobby was a bad idea. Very bad idea. I decided if I ever got the notion to leave my house again, I would only go places with wheelchairs or plenty of seating.

This past Thursday, my husband and I both had the day off so I decided we needed to get to Babies R' Us and finish up our registry. They had a wheelchair, and I will tell you, it is embarrassing being pushed around in one of those! I kept second guessing myself, thinking, "I am being such a wimp. I'm only 25 weeks along. Do I really need this? You made it though 2 pregnancies never needing a wheelchair," etc.  But I knew that walking around the store would mean another 3 days spent motionless in a chair. I know it sounds like I am being dramatic, but sadly, it's reality. It is so painful to walk! To get into my Suburban takes every upper body muscle I have. To even do simple things like stand in one place and pivot my body is major exercise!

Then today, I decided to venture out (with my husband driving me, of course...I am not sure I even remember how to drive. It's been weeks) to Joann's for a few things to finish up the crafts that I bought at Hobby Lobby last week. I called ahead first to make sure they had some kind of a wheelchair. They have an electric scooter. Cool, I thought.

First, those things are kind of fun. But again, I felt so embarrassed as I drove around the store, this relatively young girl passing elderly ladies who could have beat me in a foot race with plenty of time to spare. I again kept telling myself I was such a wimp, I looked foolish, employees in the store must think I'm taking a joy ride and must be mad at me, etc. I saw people watching me as I rolled by, or passing me in the aisle that the scooter was taking up half of,  and I was just sure they were either inwardly laughing at me or cursing me (I'm paranoid). I felt very humbled by the whole experience, as I realized I needed to admit my limitations and accept them, no matter what the people around me were thinking.

I'm not used to feeling that way, and it was kind of a tough pill to swallow. I'm sure I will swallow a few more of those during this pregnancy. It made me feel a lot more compassion for people that deal with chronic pain in their lives. At least I know in a few months my body should be relatively back to normal - I mean, I should at least be able to walk again without wincing every step. But some people will deal with it the rest of their lives. As I was heading out of the store, I met an older lady who asked if I was done with the scooter, and as I was clearing out my stuff to give it to her, we were talking and she mentioned she had barely been able to walk for 35 years. I can't even imagine, and it really helped to put my small problem into perspective, especially as she told me her story while keeping a cheery disposition and then sending me on my way with a hearty congratulations.  She could've become bitter after that many years of pain but she was just the opposite. I thought she was rather inspiring. I hope I could be as positive if I were dealing with something like that.

On a lighter note, I am now getting asked the golden question "Are you due pretty soon?" and yesterday the cashier even asked me "Are you in labor?" I have to admit I take great joy in shocking them with the reply "My due date isn't for three more months," and then answering the confused looks on their faces by telling them it's triplets, and getting another look of shock. Great fun!

Tuesday is my next ultrasound. More then!

Quick 24 Week Update

Our 24 week ultrasound was on Tuesday. This time, I was nervous about two things: 1. Caden's growth, and 2. that vessel in Caden's heart they were "keeping an eye on".

Again, we started with Asher, moved on to Brooks, and ended with Caden. Asher looked great, weighing in the 86th percentile at 1 pound, 11 ounces, about a week and 2 days ahead of average. Brooks matched him note for note, also weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces. Caden was visibly smaller on the screen. We saw him a lot before it was his turn because he kept photo bombing the other boys!

The sonographer said that the vessel in Caden's heart looked good - insert huge sigh of relief here. My husband remarked that he noticed my breathing became much more relaxed and I wasn't coughing as much after she said that. The sick feeling in my stomach definitely went away! He weighed in at 1 pound, 3 ounces, about a week small I believe. Average weight for this age is 1 pound, 8 ounces. It wasn't as much growth as I was hoping for, but I will take it and just keep hoping he starts to catch up when the growth spurts really start later on in the pregnancy.

Another example of Caden photo bombing Brooks (20 weeks) The "blob" hitting B's face is Caden.

As far as when I will deliver, I talked at length with my peri about it and he is guessing between 32 and 34 weeks, hoping for 34+, of course. He said when it gets closer we will start having conversations about the risks of keeping them inside vs. the risks of being born earlier, if my body allows us that choice.  With a "growth restricted" baby and 2 babies that will likely be above average, we will be walking a very fine line. So now I am just hoping they all stay in there, healthy and happy, for as long as possible, as much as I know it will hurt! I know they will be doing daily testing towards the end to make sure that's the case.

Overall, a good appointment. Let's hope for lots more of those!

The Name Game

We've had our names picked out for nearly two months now, but I like to take time to get used to the name and see how it feels before I announce them. But in those two months our love for the names we've chosen hasn't changed one bit, so I think we are ready to announce and commit! And I am ready to start making all sorts of custom name this and thats! Personalized bats, baseballs, baseball onesies, baseball subway art...there seems to be a theme here.

We decided we wanted to stick with the "A,B,C" theme since we had gotten so used to calling them that and hearing the doctors call them that.  I did NOT want rhyming names. My tongue already gets twisted with the two kids I have, I knew I couldn't handle adding three names that rhyme to the mix. Besides, I wanted each to have his own identity. Though I want the boys to always be close as triplets can possibly be, I want them to feel like they are each individuals as well.

Although each name came to us separately and accidentally, we realized after we had chosen the three names that they actually coincide perfectly with our family values. The three things that are most important to us in this family (besides each other) are:

1. God: we are active and devout members of the LDS church and we believe in a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for us that we may live with Him again. Prayer and our beliefs play a big part in everything we do.

2. Baseball: my husband went to college on a full-ride baseball scholarship.  He is obsessed with the game, especially at the collegiate level. And me?  Well, I think baseball decor is just plain cute. And, non-sports fan that I am, if I had to choose a sport to sit and watch that wouldn't make me want to gouge my eyes out, it would definitely be baseball. I find it the most entertaining of all sports. That may or may not have anything to do with the uniforms...

3. Music: My husband and I are both music teachers and love what we do. As I mentioned in my "About Me" page, I am a huge nerd when it comes to all things musical. If I'd had triplet daughters I would've fought for them to be named Harmony, Melody, and Cadenza or something cheesy like that :) I would have lost, but I would've tried just the same.

The overall requirement of all boys names in our family are that they sound good when being announced over a loudspeaker at a baseball game. They likely will all have a baseball placed in their hands from the day they are born and their first Christmas presents will all be their own baseball mitts, that's just how our family rolls.

So here you go!

Asher at 24 weeks, trying to get his thumb to his mouth

Meet Baby A (the "singleton"), hereafter known as Asher Scott.

His name is Biblical (One of the Twelve Tribes of Israel...Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is my all time favorite musical so now when I get the song "Jacob & Sons" stuck in my head again I can at least think about my little boy).  It means "lucky, blessed and happy". And how lucky and blessed are we to be having triplets, especially when you consider it was a less than 1% chance even on fertility meds!  The idea was given to us by one of my husbands' students. I don't think I've ever known a child with this name (though since we picked it I've heard of it a bunch!), and it just kind of struck me when I heard it.

His middle name is after my Dad, one of the best and most Christlike men I have ever known. I was blessed with amazing parents.

Brooks at 24 weeks

Meet Baby B, hereafter known as Brooks Malcolm.

Brooks is a baseball name, the first name of famous baseball player Brooks Robinson (and from all I've read about him, a very upright and honest man). He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles. The odds of that happening in pro baseball are about the same as a person having triplets. And I might also add, Robinson was quite the looker in his younger years :o)  I came across the name accidentally one night while looking through a list of baby names, and I said it out loud, sure my husband would veto it. But instead, his eyes lit up and he said "There's a famous baseball player with that name!" and it was a done deal. It was a name I had never heard used as a first name before, but since then I have run across it a couple times (one of my husbands' previous baseball friends named his son Brooks, it turns out).

His middle name is after my husbands' dad, a retired police officer and truly the salt of the earth.

And, as if it were a sign from heaven that this was to be his name, look what I found when searching Etsy for baseball stuff last night:

I would love to buy it but never would pay $13 for one burp cloth! Not with triplets on the way!

And last but never least:

Caden at 24 weeks

Meet Baby C, hereafter known as Caden James.

Caden is short for the musical term cadence. Cadences in all their forms are one of my favorite things to teach and study in music. We named Caden first, during the scare with his birth defect. I wanted to be able to pray for him by name, just to feel closer to him.  In music, authentic cadences are the strongest type of cadence, so I like to pretend that there is an invisible "authentic" in front of his name since this is one strong baby boy. He's had a lot of challenges already and is still the smallest by far, but I know he's a fighter. In fact, that's what the name Caden actually means - "battle fighter". We did not know that when we named him, but I find it most appropriate. As my high risk doctor said today when I told him the name and meaning, "There are no such things as coincidences."

His middle name is after my husband. He's pretty much the greatest guy ever. I married him, after all!

I love our names and think they will all sound good being announced over the loudspeaker at a baseball game. Mission accomplished.

I can't wait to meet Asher, Brooks, and Caden in person. I already feel so blessed to be their Mommy!