Boy How Things Are Changing

This past week has been a week of change - and I still haven't fully processed all that the changes entail. Last Wednesday we had a tour of the NICU (just in case our babies would need to be there, we would be prepared). During the tour I was sharing with the case manager that I couldn't believe how good I felt and how the pregnancy was going "perfectly". A few hours later we were at a routine doctor appointment and ultrasound when the doctor informed us that I wouldn't be going home - I was to be admitted to the hospital. I was astonished. I needed to have a surgery done to ensure that my babies would stay in until the pregnancy was farther along. So, Thursday morning the surgery is performed. We thought everything was great - until complications started revealing themselves 6 hours later. Fear and anxiety kept pushing themselves to the forefront - despite our attempts to trust that God was still at work, that He was in control. A few hours later the doctors were able to ease our anxiety by letting us know that all three babies were ok, but they would possibly have to redo the procedure on Friday. So Friday morning the doctors run various tests to find out exactly what the complication was. By Friday afternoon we learned that the stitches that were put in to keep the babies in were also in my bladder. So, surgery again - to remove Thursday's stitches and then to put new ones in. Surgery went well and there were no complications. By Saturday afternoon, I was finally released from the hospital. But not to resume normal life. For the remainder of my pregnancy, I will remain on bed rest - not the take it easy and relax bed rest, but the you can only get up to use the bathroom and take a quick (sitting down) shower bed rest. So, that is my life for the next 3 - 4 months.
Another big change that we are getting used to - we bought a minivan a week and a half ago. That was one of the most stressful parts for me - having to get rid of my "green bean" (our Sunfire) and get a van. I cannot believe what a relief it was for me to actually get the van - the getting part wasn't stressful at all. We should have done it a few months ago! I loved driving the van for the few days we had it before I was put on bed rest. We feel confident that we made the right choice and look forward to loading it up with our precious children.
Wondering if there were any more big changes? There sure is one more! Since the beginning of our pregnancy, Jason and I knew that we did not want to find out the sex of our babies. We knew we were having three and that was enough for us. We enjoyed the suspense of wondering what we would have. And I enjoyed that we thought complete opposite of each other - a little competition to find out who would be right. Ok, maybe that is pushing competition a little to far, maybe I am just sick, but that is ok with me! :) I thought we would have two girls and a boy, Jason thought it was two boys and a girl. We felt tortured during our ultrasound last week, as the doctor needed to know the sex and we couldn't look. But, we had decided not to know and in the end we were thankful that the babies were being modest and that we didn't find out. I know, you are thinking that I wouldn't go into this whole long story if we didn't learn anything. You're right. On Thursday afternoon when we learned that there were complications to the surgery, I just had to know what we were having - I longed to be able to pray for our babies by name - not just location (A, B, and C). After much begging, the doctor finally shared with us that we are having two girls and a boy! We are looking forward to the arrival of Christina Joy, Haley Nicole, and Joshua Daniel. I love being right!

Reflections

Yesterday I sat and read some of my own posts from a previous blog, and felt the need to comment on what I had written.
Last August I had written a post after our first attempt at IVF had failed. When I look back to last summer, I only remember feeling devastated and hopeless. But during that time, I must have also felt hope, for I had written "We are confident that God has children already picked for us - we just don't know yet how they will become ours" - now that is hope - not just that God had a child picked for us, but CHILDREN. Little did I know that those children that God had picked for us would come as a "package" - triplets. I am speechless at the gift that God has given to me. I am also thankful that I rarely freak out at the idea of triplets - somehow I just know that we will be ok.

16 weeks and counting

I can hardly believe we are 16 weeks pregnant! The time has gone by so fast. We are excited to be reaching the half way mark soon! And despite what I had read in all the books I have been reading (and even warnings from the doctors) - I feel fantastic! I can only thank God for such a blessing. If I didn't have a growing belly and a never satisfied hunger, I would wonder if I was really pregnant. And I guess seeing them in ultrasounds helps to confirm that they are in fact there. :)
The past month I have been absorbed in researching diaper options. I never thought I would consider cloth diapers, but I am leaning heavily in that direction. I always thought there were two options, cloth or disposables. But once you decide to go cloth, there are hundreds of options to weed through! Flat diapers, prefolds, all in ones, one size fits all, and so on! And then even after you choose what type, there is a plethora of brands to pick from. Do I want the $2 diaper or the $20 dollar one? Which will stand up the longest, wash the easiest, ect. Will I just use cloth at home and disposables while we are out? Decisions, decisions, decisions! Glad I have a few more months to think things through! I would love any input if you have it!

Three Growing Babes

We had another ultrasound this week - and our babies are growing! Two of them are 2 3/4 inches and the third is just shy of 3 inches!!! It was a great ultrasound, and we were excited to be able to hear all 3 heartbeats! They love to move around in there - their arms and legs, and even turning their heads to "pose" for a picture. They were quite cooperative for some good ultrasound pictures!
For weeks we have been seeing them on the ultrasound, but somehow hearing the heartbeat made it seem more real to me that I am going to have triplets. I can hardly wait - we are so excited!!!
Another fun and exciting experience was buying our triplet stroller this week. About a month ago, I bravely walked up to a complete stranger because I saw that she had triplets and through that conversation, she offered to sell us her used stroller at a great price. After frequent emails and crazy schedules for both of us, we finally found a time that worked perfectly for both of us. So on Wednesday afternoon we went and picked up the stroller - and she included 2 car seats with it! We were a little disappointed that she had already sold one of the three car seats, but are hopeful we will find the same pattern so they will all match.
This past weekend my mom and I also went to a rummage sale that is sponsored by the Will County Moms of Multiples group - it was fun to meet another triplet mom and to get some GREAT bargains! We bought two swings - that are awesome. They will take up little space, as they are just a frame and you use the car seat for the actual seat. And my mom found a great deal on receiving blankets and a floor toy. Our house is going to be taken over by baby stuff sooner than we realized! Time to paint the room so we can have somewhere to put everything!

Almost Eleven Weeks

Tomorrow we will be 11 weeks pregnant! It blows me away how quickly time has gone by! Today we had another ultrasound, and we were amazed by how active our little babies are becoming! Their little arms and legs were just flailing and moving so much. What a blessing to be able to see them in action! And they are growing too - nearly an inch and a half now! It will be sad when we don't get weekly ultrasounds anymore, I love to see them growing and developing.
Another exciting thing - we have found someone selling a triplet stroller - for half of what it would cost to get a new one! Thank you Lord for having me run in to her at the mall a few weeks ago!

Pushy Sales People

I have been out doing some shopping for maternity clothes recently and have noticed a trend - pushy sales people! I almost have to wonder if they work on commission. A little overbearing if you ask me. But, they have cute clothes and ones that fit me well, so I will go back. And if it wasn't the pushy sales ladies that made me spend so much yesterday, I would have to blame my wonderful husband who kept bringing me more and more things to try on and then wouldn't let me put any of them back - unless I really didn't like it. So, we spent three times as much as I would have wanted. We laugh though because everything is costing us three times as much, so why not in maternity clothes too, right? The title "Outlet Mall" is rather deceiving though, because you think you will find great deals, but you really don't. And you still spend a lot of money!

Nine Weeks Along

We are now 9 weeks along and loving being pregnant. It is amazing to think that just a few months ago, I thought it would be impossible for me to ever be pregnant - just wishing that I could have one baby; and now, I am incredibly blessed by being pregnant with triplets. I continue to be in awe that God chose for me to become a parent.

Though it seems premature, we have started shopping around for strollers and cribs and car seats, etc. I have already found that stores don't understand the need for mom's of multiples. It is a little discouraging, but thankfully online shopping is abundant. I just wish I could actually see what I am buying before I buy it. Especially when we are looking at $60 just for shipping for a stroller. Yikes! Almost makes me want to just take a vacation to Ft. Myers, FL to pick it up.

I love deals - so I am really hoping to find some great deals in a few weeks when I go to a "Mom's of Multiples" resale. Yes, they actually have groups for moms of multiples. And now that I am joining those ranks, I just might find such a group to be helpful.

Each of the babies are about three-quarters of an inch by now and are continuing to grow at a good rate. The arms and legs are formed - and moving by now! The facial features are developed, but the eyelids are still in the process of developing. Even their teeth have started to form - which is amazing to me, since they don't even have teeth showing when they are born, but yet they are formed so early! And watching their heartbeats on the ultrasound each week is incredible! It makes it so much more real! I will be disappointed when I reach a point in my pregnancy that I won't have weekly ultrasounds, which is just a few weeks away.