People at work who don't see me for a few days in a row, say that I am changing on an almost daily basis, so i'm trying to be better about documenting the change.
Here's a photo Amelia took of me this morning.
Here's my attempt to take a shot of my stomach myself:
I can definitely see the difference since my birthday shot in this mirror...
We've had a couple of big sonogram and doctor visits in the last few weeks, and I continue to grow exponentially as well. Being on the recommended triplet diet of 3,200 - 4,000 calories a day and 200 grams of protein a day helps pack it on pretty quickly. Bonus, I can now eat Barefoot Contessa's Mac & Cheese without guilt. (12 oz of Gruyere? yes please.)
At 18 weeks we had our big long sonogram where they measure every part of the babies: head, legs, heart, bladder, foot etc. etc. This is typically a pretty long sonogram to begin with and having to measure all 3 it took well over an hour. All that laying on my back put quite a bit of pressure on my main vein causing me to get dizzy and nauseous. But, we got a ton of photos, many of which looked like this:
Yes, yes... we get it. That's a boy. And we were already 99.9% sure after the CVS, but if there was any doubt, people we have like 10 photos like this.
Also sweet little photos of teeny baby feet:
And we also got to find out where they are all hanging out. B and C were head-to-head at the top of the uterus, while baby A was relaxing horizontally at the bottom. Couldn't get a picture of all 3 together, but it looked something like this:
I know, you are in AWE of my sweet drawing skillz. So, poor Baby A was getting his head stomped on. At 18 weeks, they were all 9 oz each, and measuring about 19 weeks in size. Which is great news.
For our 19 week appointment this week we did a lighter sonogram but still got great photos. This week, Baby B who is apparently the go-between for his brothers was head down and head to head with Baby A. Here they are:
Look how close their heads are together! They must clonk each other all the time.
Here's baby C now, just chilling by himself at the top of the uterus:
I'm still working and feeling good. Pretty tired and sore by the end of the day. I've gotten to the point where if things fall on the floor, I literally have just said "F**k it, that's where that lives now." I am choosing a lower heel on a daily basis (sob) and painting my tonails is no longer something I can handle on my own. I'm taking it easy so that hopefully I can avoid bedrest and be able to still do a few things for myself. I get out of breath from the smallest tasks (load of laundry, giving Amelia a shower, buckling my seat belt), so Mike gets to do a lot more around the house, but for now at least I can buckle my own seatbelt. Small victories.
Happy birthday to me. So far, its been a lovely day, with a decent hair day, high heeled shoes that fit and didn't hurt, and burgers and fries at lunch w/ a wonderful friend.
Here's the face of 41 at 17 weeks pregnant:
and this
As opposed to last year which looked more like this:
and this:
and this:
Both birthdays great in different ways...
Well, the news is out there, and I have intended to write this post numerous times. But then the holidays came faster than expected, I got a terrible cold and all of a sudden weeks and weeks had passed, and I need to update!
So, yes. It is true. We are expecting triplets, and we were so happy to confirm in early December that they are all completely healthy, and they are ALL BOYS. Here's a photo of all three of them together (probably the last time I'll get them to pose so serenely in a single shot). We had this done at SF Perinatal where they treated us wonderfully and gave us these great 3D screen shots, after shooting me repeatedly in the stomach with a needle for our CVS testing. All worth it to know these guys are doing well.
The CVS testing is recommended for those of (ahem) "advanced maternal age" so, while it is quite a stressful process, the result of knowing so early they are doing well was worth it. Here's a shot of Baby Boy A sucking his thumb during the procedure. Unbelieveable how much you can see at only 11 weeks!
We've known since very early in our pregnancy that it was triplets, so we have had a little bit of time to get over the extreme shock. But every now and then it still hits us the difference we're going to have in our lives. From our mellow little family of 3 with Amelia who is almost 7, easy going, mostly self sufficient little girl, to doubling the size of our family with 3 babies at once.
The first question I get whenever someone hears our news is "What was your reaction when you first found out that it was triplets?" I'm not going to lie, my first reaction was to burst into tears. It was so overwhelming in so many ways. I was so excited that we were actually pregnant, but then imagining the risk of carrying 3, the change in our lives, are they all going to be ok, where will they sleep, wait, the car I have doesn't work for 4 kids, how's Amelia going to handle this.... (throat closing up, panic attack taking over...) It was not prety. The poor doctor giving me the news during our appointment. It wasn't just little tears, and holding myself together until I was out in the car. No, I fully went into the ugly Oprah cry with the sobbing, and the gasping for air.
Over the next few days, I discussed it with some immediate family and close friends and the reaction amongst all of them was pretty universal:
1) Hysterical laughter & disbelief
2) "OMG are you kidding me? No, you're joking, c'mon you're not serious?"
3) and a very very few close friends looked us right in the eyes and just said "Dudes, WTF are you going to do?!"
Well, we're going to have three babies at once, of course you amateurs ... baby-havers only one at a time. HA.
And, we're moving along. I'm 4 months now and they are all growing well. As am I. I of course didn't take a pre-baby photo because I felt like that would jinx it, so let's just say I looked something like this:
What? She's Brazilian, I'm Brazilian... same-same, tomato - tomato
And now, at 15 weeks at Christmas I looked like this.
I know, OMG right? This is apparently what 4 months with triplets looks like.
This is me wearing this same shirt at Christmas in 2004 when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant with Amelia. (Ignore my brother totally photobombing this photo) As you can see... pretty darned close to my current size, OMG.
So, I promise to be better about taking belly pics, keeping you updated on the boys' progress, etc.
Wish us luck!
I haven't posted recently because all of the online sales, and in-store bargains have been almost too painful to discuss. I have held strong however, having done some (not all yet) of my Christmas shopping, both online and in stores without buying for myself.
Ruelala.com is killing me though. Every 11am (EST) they have a new slew of great deals. Last week it was Louboutins which ... sob ... when do they EVER go on sale? And yet, I ignored. And today, it's Donald Pliner, maker of my favorite shoes I currently own (black & white giraffe print w/ red heel). And today, I am resisting the siren call of these lovelies:
Is anyone else suffering these sales and letting things go?
In counting down to Christmas it is SO HARD not to shop for myself as I find fabulous things for my family and friends. So, need to impose yet another shopping ban for myself and my house while getting through the rest of the year.
I think I need to stay off Ideeli for sure because it is so difficult to resist this cute little purse for $49.
I came back from Spain after almost 2 weeks - no shopping for myself the entire time I traveled (well, one little teeny dress on sale). And now I come back to the Nordstrom Anniversary sale?! How can I resist?!
Kate Spade on Ideeli. Austerity plan in light of the new house. Le'sigh.
I would wear the hell out of this $19 shirt by Vivienne Tam - shopping ban continues though. I should just not tempt myself and stay off Ideeli.
