thankful :)

Whew!  I made it through another appointment with no change in restrictions!! I was really thinking that by 26.5 weeks i'd for sure be confined to bed (actually I always was thinking 24 weeks, but survived that!)  Although we had to wait for 2 hours (thank goodness he had his Blackberry and Iphone on him or we'd be in trouble hehe), but the actual visit was pretty quick!  Babies are all doing well, and were amazingly all head down lined up together (see photo)

         Dr. also did the 4D ultrasounds again...crazy...but the pics weren't as good as last time--they were wiggling way too much to capture it!  I hadn't gained any weight since last visit-still 151, but she didn't seem concerned about that.  I am going to up my eating frequency (if that's possible!!) b/c I know this month is really critical in getting those babies ready for delivery!  Could be in a month at this point, although she is hoping for at least 6 more weeks (which would put me at 32-33 weeks)   I wish I knew exactly when it will happen, but I'm expecting some hospital bedrest if I make it to 31 or 32 weeks--they'll try to prolong it with me there, which i'd be totally fine with considering it means less NICU time!! Then again, I could end up there next week...you just never know!  But for now, i'm counting my blessings!

        Speaking of counting....I've also been counting my contractions unfortunately!  At least twice a day i hook my tummy up to a monitor (looks like an EKG machine), and have to lay still for an hour....if you know me, you know that's almost impossible :)   Then I send in the report to the hospital, and a nurse calls me back to report how many i had...it's been averaging 2-3 an hour (sometimes 4 which always worries me).  Apparently this doesn't mean preterm labor yet b/c with multiples you have more than normal.  The problem is that i don't feel any of these, so they could increase without us knowing!  Praying they will stay down so i can stay home!

      And speaking of home, you may wonder what I'm filling my time with here :)  

   Here is a random list of things i'm enjoying now:

- mindless TV: Today show, KLG and Hoda, Law & Order (esp. SVU), The Voice, NCIS, etc

- catching up w/ friends and neighbors at lunches or house visits

- eating, eating, eating!! 

- working w/ mom on organizing nursery (it is 98% done...pics coming soon!) and getting all the clothes ready! 

-reading:  Shopaholic series, Beth Moore devotionals, lots of baby books!

-Seeing movies at SMG:  really recommend Super 8...and the sweet potato fries there :)

-getting manicures and pedicures :) 

-did i mention eating?  :)

amazed!

Wow!  Cannot believe we're already at 24.5 weeks!!  Not only is this a big milestone for triplets (they are now viable and could survive if they decided to come this early-but they won't!!), but things are still going amazingly smooth!

Had an appointment yesterday, and Dr. Hare was really pleased with everything:  My weight gain (slowly but surely got up to 151 woohoo!), no major contractions or cervix issues (so glad I got the cerclage done early!), and the babies' weight!  In fact, they were ALL 1 pound, 7 oz.--she said she's never seen triplets all having the exact weight at this point, and she sees LOTS of triplets!  Not a lot of stuff surprises her, but this really had her going!!

AND the best part was she did 4D ultrasounds on them....we were so excited b/c we weren't expecting that at all, and she said for us not to tell anyone she did those (so it's just between us!)  It was absolutely AMAZING to see them in that way!  I thought we were already spoiled by getting ultrasounds every 2 weeks, but this just took it to a whole new level and knocked the normal ultrasounds outta the park! 

   I'm already in love with those little noses and sweet mouths!  Londyn was apparently talking or singing most of the time haha!

Speaking of Londyn...dr said she's going to be a little stinker heh!  She was trying to hid behind brother most of the time, and kept moving as soon as we'd find her...then cover her face w/ her hands.  that's why it looks pretty blurry b/c of all the movement they were doing!
This last pic is yesterday too, but the regular ultrasound....now do you see what i mean....can't even compare! 

Overall, things are going really well right now!  I'm still allowed to do my outing each day, and not confined to the bed. However, i do spend a lot more time laying down/relaxing on the couch b/c I get so tired, and the heat is really rough out there too!  So many triplet mommies I've talked to or read about in their blogs were not this "free" at this time, and many were already on hospital bedrest, so I am truly thankful and amazed at how much God is blessing us!  Keep it coming please :)

As of today, I'm also set up with a Home Uterine Monitor to track/assess contractions that I may or may not be feeling.  But that's a whole other story with lots to tell, so i'll save it for next time!

thanks so much for all your prayers....please keep them up!! Love you all!

no news = good news!



we get lots of pics every 2 weeks, but they
start to all look similar, so I'll spare you from
too many of them :)

 Well, we got another good report at the appointment yesterday!  Not much to report, which to me is a good thing!  Here were the highlights in a nutshell :)

-- Dr. didn't seem concerned at this point about going into preterm labor soon (but said that could change within a few days, you never know!)

- I'll start wearing a HUAM (Home Uterine Activity Monitor) in 2 weeks to measure contractions and send reports to her...yikes!

--Got away with NOT having to do a 3rd glucose test yay!  She was afraid i'd pass out like I almost did last time I had it done, and said "we don't have time for that" ha!

-- didn't get exact weights, but said they are each over a pound and looking good!
--I can still make one outing a day, and she encouraged me to "take time for me" while i'm still feeling up to it! 

This weekend I had another shower...babies are getting spoiled already!  My sweet Sisters-in-law and timmy's Aunt Liz hosted, and did an amazing job!  It was such a good afternoon at Cantina Laredo!!  Lots of family and friends, good food, and so many cute things for Londyn, Layton, and Lance Craig!  :)

 

A little scare, but doing fine!

Well, if you lived in Cinco Ranch or were at Kilpatrick yesterday, you might have heard the ambulance-- much to my dismay!  The good thing was all of this happened during recess, so the kids didn't have to be worried and watch the ems do their thing while the entire front office was in my room too ha!  Still not too sure what caused it, but basically my blood pressure dropped really low and I was seeing black for a while there.  It all came on so quickly, but my team and the rest of our admin were so amazing at keeping calm but taking control!  They truly thought of every detail, right down to pulling my sisters from their classes and getting mom and timmy there right away!  Fortunately, after a bit I got back to normal, and the EMS cleared me to ride w/ family to the hospital instead of riding in the ambulance (thank goodness!!)  At first they wanted to take me out in a stretcher (seriously?!?), but settled for the wheelchair!



Layton Jack



Long story short, at the hospital they just did some other tests and put an IV in to get some fluids, etc.  Today I spent the day at mom's (they wouldn't let me be alone in case it happened again), then we went to see the doctor and got good news!!  She thinks this won't happen again, as long as I eat WAY more protein and get it every few hours.  She said the babies are much bigger now and taking all my food faster than I can have any for myself, hince not good for my hypoglycemia or anemia!  But the BEST news is that i'm not on full bedrest yet! (she said i may never be depending on how things progress!!) Instead, it's more of "house arrest" where I need to rest most of the day, but am allowed one outing or "event" each day  (could be Target, dr. appt, baby shower, etc but only one!)  This was great news to me!!  She said now that i'm done working, i really must focus on eating often (till i'm sick of it she said ha!) and resting those babies! 



Lance Craig

It's so hard to not be at school, but I have to think of the bigger purpose now!

Londyn Grace

 All 3 measured perfectly she said...not too small, not too big! And each about 13 ounces, so almost 3 pounds total-- no wonder i'm feeling lots of movement all the time now!!

Sorry for the long post....wanted to get it all out so i don't have to keep explaining to different people!  Thanks so much for your concern and prayers...so thankful they are all ok!

a princess and 2 all-stars!!

I'm so happy to say that today we found out the genders of all 3~~~~  we're having a GIRL and 2 BOYS!!!  So so so excited!!  I got exactly what I wanted (both!!) and if you remember I actually made this prediction months ago!  And my sweet grandpa even had a vivid dream recently in which we had that exact line-up, so God was really preparing us I guess!!  All I know is that girlie is going to be one little princess and mommy's best friend, and the boys will tear it up on the same baseball/football/soccer team with coach dad!!   I think the mix is just perfect for our family!!


Here are a few pics from today... I color coded the boys/girl :)  Yes, a bit OCD I know!

 Still can't believe we found out today!!  All looked really good, and were 5 ounces each!  Dr. said that's the size of what singletons would be at this point, so that was good to hear!  That's one of the good parts about going every 2 weeks and having a high tech ultrasound each time...really get to see the growth and detailed development...so fun!!

Thanks for all your prayers!!  We are so blessed by being able to share our joy with all of you!!

Laur +3

little gymnasts at 12 weeks!

Happy weekend!  Well, we had another appointment, and all looked great!  They were squirming around and dancing like crazy in there!



3 peas in a pod :)



baby c--always swaying hands around

                                                                 

baby a--doing a headstand! hey, whatever
is comfy in there!

 

baby b--his/her cord was moving like crazy..
guess they were hungry

 Not only were their heartbeats all good (180s), but the ultrasound tech was 99% sure of the sex of 2 of them (not completely sure on "baby a" because of the headstand position). Not to get into too much detail, but apparently at this point they have a "tail" that either sticks out or up depending on boy/girl, and she could clearly see the direction!  I think it's still pretty early to say, but the dr. even said that the specialists we see next week may be able to confirm....that would be so fun!  Of course, we're not announcing it yet till more certain, but let's just say i was VERY happy with her prediction.

Also, this week we did the big "reveal" at school!  I'll post the video a bit later, but it was so fun to see everyone super surprised!!  I'm so blessed to be at such an amazing school--can't even express how much support, love, and encouragement it provides me with everyday!! I'm lucky enough to work with both my sisters, and my close friends!!  So amazing!

that's all I've got for now....still feeling yuck!  Timmy had the flu earlier this week, so I was "quarantined" to my parents house for a few days, only to end up with a virus later in the week!  Just trying to keep the fever down, but so thankful it's not the flu!  Have a wonderful day!!



Still smiling,

Laur + 3   :)

SO crazy!!!

Well, this is my very first blog post EVER, so you'll have to excuse me for anything I do wrong!!  Where do I even begin, oh ya....with a picture!!

YEP---that's THREE babies in my tummy!!  We are 10 weeks with TRIPLETS!  These ultrasounds were from today, and all 3 were moving around like crazy and had super strong heartbeats!  That's all i wanted to hear...just that they were alive and kickin'!  Here are some other pics from today...

Let me go back to the beginning in case some of you are just joining the journey!  My husband and I live in Katy, and have been married almost 3 years.  I'm a 3rd grade teacher at an amazing school 2 miles from our house, and Tim works for Weatherford doing Business Development.  Our life is so sweet together--wonderful family all close by, faithful friends, and of course our little pups :)   Since we started dating in high school, we always knew we wanted a family of our own....just never knew we'd get it all in one shot!  Last August we found out we were expecting, but then went on to experience a heartbreak of a miscarriage in October.  Ever since then, so many amazing family and friends have been lifting us up in prayer, and I think we must have had SO many prayers going up that God gave us a triple blessing!  All I kept praying for during that time was a peace that could surpass all understanding, not a pregnancy or anything like that...just a peace.  And I truly believe God prepared my heart so much for this time around.  Don't get me wrong...I definitely have many worries and fears still, but overall he has continued to remind me to be still and know that He is God.  Thank you Lord for that comfort. 

Since this is new to me, I'm going to make it short and sweet!  I will definitely try to be consistent in posting...that should be easier now that I have to really slow it down and stay on the couch most evenings after school!

sweet dreams....
laur + 3