So Shoe Me

31 weeks

We have made it to the 31 week mark and all is continuing to go well. On this coming Thursday I'll be at 32 weeks which is the average amount of time most triplet moms carry. Of course, I am a competitive person and in no way will be satisfied by average. We are still shooting for 35 or 36 weeks which is quickly approaching!

I spend most of my days laying flat, doing a lot of reading, tv and napping.

Here are a couple photos from my 31 week appointment. Front and side shots of me, and the sonogram was able to get a shot of Baby C's face - he's the biggest one. Check out the chubby cheeks! (on the baby - not me)

30 weeks! AKA "No Wonder I Can't Breathe"

We had our 30 week appointment today and we continue to get great news and progress. We did a growth measurement today and the boys continue to be ahead of schedule:

Baby A: 3 lb 10 oz
Baby B: 3 lb 11 oz and our little overachiever...
Baby C: 4 lb 3 oz.

The babies are at the 67th, 71st and 96th percentile!

This is such great news and I'm feeling finally some benefit to all those protein drinks I've been forcing myself to chug on a daily basis.

I am so glad to finally be off work this week too with this baby growth spurt - I'm pretty uncomfortable even spending my days flat.

Here are some photos from today:

The Princess Bride

I've posted before how watching TV with Amelia is like having my very own little color commentator in the room with me.  She also is a very active TV watcher with lots and lots and LOTS of questions. 

Since I'm on house arrest with this triplet pregnancy, I spend a lot of time in bed.  Consequently, Amelia and I spend a lot of quality time coloring, doing homework, reading books and watching movies in bed.  The other night we watched The Princess Bride which OMG came out in 1987 when I was only 16 years old.   I was worried it might be above Amelia's head, but she loved it - although she started asking a lot, I mean A LOT of questions throughout the movie.  I was cracking up and started texting the questions to my brother Jeff ... which I'm glad I did because now I can share them all with you. 

You can see the play - by - play of the movie by her questions:

• Why does she call him farmboy, doesn't she know his name?
• Why does he have to leave?
• Why does he only say "as you wish"?
• Why is she sad?
• Where are they going? 
• How did the Prince meet Buttercup?  How did he pick her?
• Why are those guys stealing Buttercup?
• Why are they in that boat?
• Are they going to be friends?
• Is that man in black a ninja?
• Can you cut your hair with a sword? (me: NO) Mulan did.
• I thought the farm boy died?
• Why are they fighting with swords and talking so fast?
• Is he going to kill him?
• Why are they telling each other things?
• Is he trying to get the princess back?  Does he know they have the princess?
• Is he dead?
• Just knocked out?  That's not dead, just really hurt.
• Is that giant going to hurt him?  TELL ME WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!
• Why can't we understand the giant's voice?
• Is that the prince? Is he trying to find the princess too?  I think he's going to lose
• I think the poison is in front of that talking man.
• What's a goblet?  Where did he put the poison.
• Does she know that he knows who she is and who he is and is he going to take off his mask?
• Is he giong to take his mask off now?
• Why isn't he telling her who he is?  This is hurting my stomach.
• Is he taking the mask off now?
• Why isn't he telling her?
• Why doesn't he just tell her?
• Why does he have a ponytail?
• What's in the fire swamp? (me: I don't know...) Yes you do.
• I like to make mean faces at the rats.
• How did they sink in the sand?
• Did they breathe in the sand?  What happens if they swallow sand?
• Why isn't he telling her there are 2 rats behind her.
• Did the rat eat her leg?
• Is her shoulder bleeding?
• What is the prince doing with him?  Is Wesley afraid?
• What's going to happen to his shoulder?
• HEY!  6 FINGERS 6 FINGERS!!
• Why was 6 fingers important again?
• What is Wesley thinking?  Does he like the jail man?  What's on the jail man's lip?
• Why is that old lady so mad?
• Can you pause it?  Because I need to go potty and I don't want to miss a thing because so far this is fantastic.
• What is torture?
• Is he crying?  Does it really super hurt?
• Why are they so excited for the wedding?
• He's not going to find the man in black because he's not wearing black anymore.  Plus, he's in jail.
• If she marries a prince will she get whatever she wants?
• I wish I were her so I could live in a castle.
• What's he going to do?
• Why is he mad?
• I thought he loved her?
• What's going to happen to Wesley?
• He's just knocked out too right?
• Why is Wesley so floppy?
• Is that real fire?  How does it not hurt that guy?
• Its really hard to get into a castle, right?
• Why does he run away?
• Is that her dad?
• What's he going to do now?
• Did Sonny Dolero win? (who's Sonny Dolero?)  That Irish guy.  (What Irish guy?) The one who kept saying "prepare to die..."  (oooh... Inigo Montoya.  And he's Spanish, not Irish)
• We won!
• Does she like the giant and Inigo now?
• Did they ask the prince to borrow those horses?  Does he mind?

PHEW.  WE MADE IT.

After that, Mike got her the book and has been reading it to her at night, so he gets all the questions now - she's very excited about the book.

 

 

 

29 weeks!

All is continuing well! We had a doctor appointment today and they continue to be pleased with my progress and no sign of these boys being born soon.

Here are some photos from today.

28 Weeks - Huge sigh of relief.

I hit the 28 week milestone this week, and it is a huge sigh of relief.  At this point of the pregnancy the babies could be born and have a wonderful chance of being born without any issues.  But, it doesn't look like they are going to be born anytime soon which is a good thing.   We had a growth measurement late last week, and the boys are measuring about 2.8, 2.9 and 2.11 oz respectively and are about 15 inches long.  They are all measuring about a week and a half bigger than average - which is great news. 

Our perinatologist put it very bluntly - as is his nature - "These boys are big, they aren't going anywhere, you're probably going to take them home almost right after they are born... you are SO SCREWED." (then he laughs at us)  He does that a lot.  He thinks its hysterical that we are having triplets.  Whenever we say something like "oh, I'm kind of tired lately..." he laughs and laughs and is like, "just WAIT!"  He actually makes us feel like this whole process is light and fun, and as long as we are doing all the right healthy things, we should enjoy every step of the process as possible. 

I'm continuing to grow, but the growth doesn't seem to be as exponential in the last week or so as it was a month ago.  Here is a photo from last week - I get dressed up less and less nowadays, so I don't have anything more recent:

Amelia has gone back and forth being excited for the babies.  The other day she said she actually was no longer interested in having 3 brothers since they were going to crawl around and get into all of her stuff.  Then on other days she gets very excited about them and wants to read them books:

One more week of me working at home and then I'm done!

27 weeks and showered with showers...

Another week down and another milestone!  I have the best friends and co-workers and have been SHOWERED with SHOWERS lately.  These babies are going to be the best dressed babies ever. 

This weekend my four college roommates flew and drove into town for a baby shower.  It had been years since we had all been together in once place together, and it was so wonderful to have them all in town.  I was too tired to stay up and play games with them, but we still had lots of time together which was wonderful.  I also got them all addicted to "Draw Something" and we all found ourselves on our phones pestering one another to hurry up and draw.  Here we all are on the way to the shower.

My wonderful friends Melinda and Mary threw me a baby shower at their house, the cake says "And Now We Are Four Who Could Ask For More."  Well, apparently Amelia could ask for more because she wanted everyone to sing "Happy New Babies" to her and blow out the candles.

And then this week my co-workers had ANOTHER surprise shower for me with my former partners from my former firm.  It was another great gathering.  Here I am at 27 weeks:

Here I am opening gifts and making a lovely horrified face at the thought of three babies in my belly.

Here I am demonstrating what it will be like when they are 18 months and walking around me.  OMG check out the belly when I sit.  I cannot even keep my knees together in a ladylike manner.

Here I am with one of my gifts.  My big line throughout this pregnancy is how I want to be "winning" at triplet pregnancy, and I feel very competitive at every doctor appointment and every milestone that I need to be doing everything as best as I can.  So, my line has been after every appointment when people ask how it went ... "Still Winning at pregnancy!"  So, of course, this t-shirt is perfect.

Also, it is a 4xl and i'm sad to say it may fit...

Doctor appointment tomorrow to check on the growth of the boys!

 

Big sister turns seven

Amelia -

How are  you already seven?  It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital.

And now you have become this little girl with her own thoughts and opinions and sense of humor.

For your birthday all you wanted was to have a "fashion show."  Fashion shows and dress up games are your absolute favorite.  Every time a friend comes to visit, it usually ends up in a parade of your various outfits and personalities through the living room complete with fancy introductions and presentations. 

When we started planning your birthday, I was at a point of this pregnancy where I was feeling so sick and tired I didn't think I was going to be able to participate in your birthday.  I contemplated having it a couple weeks early just so I could be there.  But, I just decided, to do your birthday on your birthday weekend, and hope for the best.  The day before your party, the doctor put me on "work at home" status, but not bedrest so I was able to be there!  It was so important to me to be there since I haven't been able to do as much with you lately, spending most of my days in bed these days. 

You were in heaven - getting to get fancy hair and makeup and pick out accessories:

You were very serious about the tea party:

Making sure to drink with your pinky out:

Happy Birthday to my little peanut!  Last birthday where you are the one and only!

25 Weeks

I had my 25 week appointment today!  Another week down yeay!  I didn't post after my last appointment at 24 weeks because I was so bummed that the doctor put me on work at home status.  But this week after taking it easy and working from home, my appointment today went so well, the doctor has said that I can go into work a little next week which is a huge relief.

Here's me at 24 weeks (I don't know why I can't rotate this photo):

And here is another non-rotated photo of me today

Today all the babies were head up and heads together.  Here's the sonogram:

And here's a lovely rendition of the rough position they are in right now:

Each of the boys is around 2 lbs now, and 13 inches long.  All continuing to go well!

Lies, lies, lies, yeah...

So, I've taken to lying.  You know, to strangers.  Who ask questions.  Because answering their questions ends up getting into some pretty personal, none of their business, awkward conversation-having.  Yes, I see the irony of having this discussion on a public blog, but it is just different than when I'm at a Target, and some random person overhears me say triplets and they come up and say "Oh my gosh are they natural??" 

I mean, I understand the question.  I think most people are hoping it wasn't natural, because if it was, then perhaps their own odds of being struck with triplets increases?  But, really - what does it matter how I ended up with triplets? 

Here's how the conversation typically goes if I let it progress with no lies:

Random Stranger:  Wow - you must be almost ready!  When's your due date?

Me: June 15th.

RS: (horrified and confused look), um, oh!  really?

Me: I know.  I'm huge.  It's triplets.

RS:  TRIPLETS?!!  (insert various response here) You poor thing! / How exciting! / Wow! / Were you surprised!? ....

Then the question invariably is one of two variarions: 1) Do multiples run in your family?  (To which I have started answering... "Now they do"  or 2) ARE THEY NATURAL?  DID YOU DO FERTILITY??

I mean - hello, random stranger... I really don't want to discuss question number 2 with you.  Because, typically, if I give them the real answer?  Immediately, I get the nodding of the head and the unspoken judgment of "well, she asked for this."  So, I've taken to lying to shut the conversation down.  Depending on how nosey vs. nice the person is / my responses to these last two questions have been lately : Yes, multiples run in my family.  Yep they are natural.  No, no fertilty, I'm just old.   The other day, while getting my toes done with my daughter some guy who I did not know asked me if it was fertility treatments... I pretended not to hear him.  He asked again... I pretended not to hear.  He came right over to where Amelia and I were and asked a third time.  I finally said, "I'm kind of having a day here with my daughter... so, I'm not really up to chatting with you about this."

Sometimes, if I'm particularly NOT IN THE MOOD for a discussion with a stranger about my stomach, I just don't even open the door to the discussion:

RS: Wow - you must be almost ready!  When's your due date?

Me:  Next week.  (Fin)

_______

Here's the thing.  I've gotten over the shock.  I've mostly gotten over the panic.  I'm in the point of my pregnancy, where I am absolutely over the moon happy about having these three little boys.  So, part of me wants to tell everyone I run into because, it's pretty freaking amazing.  I just wish that was the response I got, and I might be more willing just to be straightforward. 

And to the lady in the shoe department at Macy's who upon hearing my news said "Oh I am so jealous, I want a little boy and you get three!" ... Thank you.

 

23 weeks.

Another week, another appointment and all continues to go well.  This week, the 3 boys were all conspiring and had managed to get themselves into a position where all of their heads were right together. 

Apparently they are already planning little boy schemes.  Too cute. 

Only Baby B was willing to pose for a photo, as the other two turned away from the camera and were uninterested in saying hi.

I'm continuing to grow daily to the point where almost everyone I encounter thinks I'm due any minute.  (The stupid comments, highly invasive questions and judmental responses from strangers will be featured in an upcoming blog post.)

Here I am today:

I'm pretty much straight out front as you can see from this view:

And from the top?

Where are my feet?  I have to kick them out to enjoy my cute shoes and toes today: