26 weeks w/ 6 lbs of babies

I had my 26 week check at the high risk doctor yesterday. Everything looked great.

Presley - 1 lb 14 oz
Keegan - 2 lb 2 oz
Ashton - 2 lb 3 oz

They said Keegan had a big head that was measuring at 27 weeks and Ashton had a big tummy that was measuring at 27 weeks. Presley was on her tummy curled up trying to protect herself from her brothers who are kicking her in the head and hinney.

I haven't felt Presley much but man...Keegan ... his head is where my belly button is and his feet or by my bladder...he likes to tap dance on my bladder...sometime it feels like he is kicking his feet like he is swimming.

The doctor said he didn't want to see me for 4 weeks...that is at 30 weeks when its getting pretty close to when the babies are due. I guess I will see my other doctor every week until then.

He left me saying "Only a month and a half left....or maybe a month". That is scary.

I am doing ok. I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable. If a stand my back hurts, if I sit my ribs and sternum hurt, if I lay down my hips and knees hurt. I can now start to feel my skin get really tight over my belly...this is an unusual but kinda painful feeling. But I shouldn't complain because in a month its probably going to be 100 times worse!

So far blood pressure is great and not much swelling....so that is a blessing.

I have been working in the nursery sorta...I have been doing a lot of washing...folding...and somewhat organizing. I even made some art for the walls using the fabric that we are doing the bedding with.

Next appt is next Wednesday and I get to do the diabetes test again! Hopefully I pass again w/ flying colors!

These are pictures of me at 25 weeks...guessing I look about 9 months preggo w/ one baby.

Week 25

Oh My Gosh! My ribs are killing me! I think that one of those boys is trying to fit their fingers through them and the other boy is trying to fit his toes through the others. I didn't realize that ribs would be a hurting factor in a pregnancy...I guess it makes since but ouch!

I only have 2 more days of school until I begin bed rest...which for right now means that I can't be on my feet for very long and for however long I am on my feet I have to be off my feet for that long. So I can do errands and stuff around the house but I just have to be careful.

I was looking at the calendar the other day and realized that if my babies are born at an average time for triplets...I will be having them at the end of January! Of course I am going to try and keep them in longer....at least until February sometime.

The doctor says I am still doing good. Everything is as it should be...so yay!

Next appt is w/ the high risk doctor on Tuesday. Those are the fun ones where they do a long sono and I get to see the babies and how much they have grown!

And! I just spell checked my writing and there were no words spelled wrong, that has to be a first!

23 weeks....still doing good.

We saw Dr. Berry, the perinatologist, today. He told us that the babies must not realize they are triplets, because they are all bigger than average ( I am 23 weeks and 1 day). Baby A, Presley, measured to be about 1 lb. 5 oz. and was 22 weeks 5 days. Baby B, Keegan, measured 1 lb. 5 oz. and 23 weeks 3 days. Baby C, Ashton, was 1 lb. 7 oz. and 23 weeks 5 days. I am carrying about 4 lbs of baby... and I am measuring to be about 8 months for a single pregnancy. I AM GOING TO BE HUGE!

The sonogram was a jumbled mess. . . . . there were legs and arms everywhere. Dr. Berry said that all fluids, measurements (head, abdomen, bones), and heartbeats were normal.

One of the baby boys ( I think baby B) had his head resting on the other boys (baby c) chest....of course I couldn't tell but that is was the sonographer told us! Cute!

I am doing good, only 2 1/2 weeks left before bedrest begins...hopefully it will not be strict bedrest...at least for a while. I still have a lot to do in the baby room!

Thank you for your prayers, they are working!!

22 weeks

Well I am officially feeling the babies, its pretty cool. Keith has been able to feel them every now and then too. They are usually most active at night when I am doing nothing. I am also definitely beginning my tired/uncomfortable stage of the pregnancy. I have acid reflux ALL the time! Tums I used to hate...now I LOVE them. My back, feet, and ribs have also been hurting a lot! Even laying down doesn't help too much. Oh well...I guess its worth it.

We had a doctor's appt today. Everything looked good and so far no restrictions. She did tell us that between her and the high risk doctor my appt's will be weekly. Good thing I am only teaching for 3 more weeks...otherwise I would run out of all my days before maternity leave.

The nursery is coming along...we finally got a dresser and chest of drawers and have been able to start filling them. We also now have tons of clothes preemie - 6 mo, swings, bouncy seats, car seats, diapers, most of our cloth diapers. We are doing great thanks to the help of friends and family...and the Krug's!

Our first milestone we need to make it too is 24 weeks...the babies are viable then. The next one will be 28 weeks and the babies have 100% survival rate as long as nothing is screwy. Then its 32 weeks and that is the average birth time for triplets....last it will be 36 weeks when they won't have to spend too much time in the NICU. We are hoping for February babies!

Next appt is Nov 30 w/ the high risk doctor. We will get another detailed sono.

A break

Finally I am on Thanksgiving break and I get a whole week off! And then 3 more weeks of work and then its bed rest and baby time.





Not much new has been going on other than getting bigger! I did have a baby shower at the school and they sure did bless me! Then I had another baby shower with my friends and family! We got a lot of great stuff! I am definitely good on clothes until after 6 months!! We puff painted onsies! That was fun!

The past two weeks I have been pretty tired...more than normal I guess. But I guess that is normal for pregnant lady. I have also anxiously been awaiting baby movement. I am almost 22 weeks and really haven't felt much other than a twitch here and there. I am hoping that is them and not gas!

OH WAIT THERE IS NEWS!

Keith got a job! He is working for Karhu shoes and Craft apparel. Basically he is a sales rep for the company and his territory is TX, OK city, and Albuquerque. He will have to do some traveling...we are hoping not too much. But its a job! And he gets to stay in the running industry.

Next doctor appt is Wednesday and then the high risk doctor who will do a detailed sono is Tues, Nov 30.

Fears and the nursery

Yesterday a lot of fears set in. The little fears to the huge fears.

To start...how will my and the babies health be in the next month? When will I start to feel the babies? After 20 weeks, which will be tomorrow it seems thats when complications start to arise. Will the babies stay until 28 weeks, when their survival is at 100%? Will I have to go to the hospital and be on bedrest there? When I am at the hospital will the IV, epidural, surgery hurt?? Will the babies be born and be healthy?

And then...how do I take care of 3 babies at once??? How can we afford it? How am I going to be a good mom w/ no sleep?

I know that God is in control 100% and I can just do the best I can. The rest is in his hands.

In other news my belly is at 45 inches. I have a school shower tomorrow and then the big shower Saturday. It's pretty exciting. This is the fabric that Keith's mom and sister inlaw are using to make my bedding, curtains, and I think I might attempt some art work using the material. The colors are little off due to the lighting I guess? But it gives you an idea.

19 weeks doctor's visits

Well we went and saw the high risk doctor this morning. They took tons of measurment of the babies and everything is completley normal and they are at 10 oz right now. He basically said I would probably be good until the New Year and then all bets were off when they would be born. We are hoping for some time in February but you never know. He said I would be able to work until Christmas break unless something unexpected happened of course.


In the afternoon we went to our normal doctor and she said I was doing good as well.

So...so far so good!



Oh Yea...



Meet..... Presley Ann, Keegan Lynn, and Ashton Taylor.

18 weeks

Itchy

Last night I noticed how big my stomach has gotten...it's pretty big...but I know it is going to get MUCH bigger which is kinda scary. My stomach has also started to become pretty itchy and I know stretch marks are looming around the corner. Every morning I get up and go and get ready which now includes rubbing stuff all over my belly and almost every morning I lift up my shirt and I see red marks going in crazy directions all over my stomach. Being half asleep still, I start to freak out about my weird stretch marks and how I am covered in them. And then I realize they are sheet marks (thanks goodness).

Today I am going to register w/a friend who has triplets. She is going to show me what I need.

Last weekend Keith's parents came into town. His mother and I went to JoAnns and picked out some fabric and she is going to make my bumpers, quilts, blankets, and curtains (which is soooo nice!!). I may go back today and get some of the same fabric and I may attempt to use it to make art for the walls. The colors are lime green, brown, light yellow, orange, blue, and white.

Well the doctor's appt is Nov 2, which is a little over a week. This one will also be w/ the high risk doctor and they will be doing a 2 hour sonogram to measure every part of each baby and making sure they are healthy.

I haven't felt them kick or really anything yet. I am kinda getting anxious and nervous. I know that it will probably be happening soon but I am starting to wonder if they are okay. I'm sure they are I just have to be patient.

Please keep praying for:

Keith a job
Healthy babies
No stretch marks (I can dream right?)
That I can keep working until the Christmas break

New Minivan

I still remember the day very well—October 28, 2003. I was about two months (and only two paychecks) in to my first “real” job teaching and coaching at Krum ISD. As soon as the final bell rang at school, I headed to Jim McNatt Toyota in Denton. My plan: purchase a Toyota Tacoma—something every guys wants, his very own pickup truck. The only thing better than purchasing the Tacoma that night was the day I paid it off. It was one of those moments in life that truly makes you feel like a responsible adult. I had made a big purchase, never missed a payment, and had even paid for it ahead of schedule. Today, I said goodbye to my 2004 Toyota Tacoma. With our triplets on the way, there is just no longer a place for a pickup truck in our lives. So. . . . . . . . . . we purchased a minivan (more like something every guy fears). From the beginning, I dreaded the thought of cruising around in a minivan. However, last night as I was driving away from the dealership, I started to envision what life will be like once the babies are here. I thought about how nice it will be to have the space when we travel to visit friends and family. I thought about our babies falling asleep in their car seats. I know what you are thinking. . . . . . . . . those 3 kids are going to be screaming their heads off on those trips and I will be pulling over every 30 minutes to change a poopy diaper or clean puke up from the floor. I get it—I know it is going to be crazy and almost nightmarish at times. But, those small moments where good memories will be made in this Chrysler Town & Country is something that I am now anxiously awaiting.

We are past 16 weeks now, and according to The Bump the babies are the size of avocadoes. Holy Guacamole!!

Results...Dun Dun dunnnnnnnn

I am gestational diabetes free!!! Phew!

Next doctor visit November 2nd :-)

Dr. appt for 15 weeks

Every time I go to the ultrasound room I get cold and I shake uncontrollably. When I get nervous I get cold. I guess I'm nervous that the ultrasound won't go so well or they will find a 4th baby...but so far so good. And Keith let me borrow is jacket to wear in...that helped a lot! Our ultrasound lady was different this time and she was pretty awesome. She took the time to explain everything she saw and if we were on track or not. She also told us her guessed for the baby's genders....but I'm not telling until we know for sure. But here is your hint....it could be boys or girls.

I had to drink the orange stuff....which tasted like flat Sunkist...and it was pretty good considering I hadn't eaten in 12 hours. I found out tomorrow my results and I hope hope hope I don't have to go in for the 3 hour test.

We had to come back in the afternoon to see the doctor and she told us that the babies looked beautiful and were right on track.

She then forced me to get a flu shot...well she didn't force me but strongly recommend and I guess its kinda expected that preggo people get flu shots. I usually don't ever get one and I have never gotten the flu. But I figure since I work w/ kids...just in case. Hopefully it doesn't make me sick.

Our next visit we will be going to the high risk doctor to get an anatomy ultra sound where they measure every bone and look at EVERYTHING! Then that afternoon we go back our dr. and.... I don't know what she will do.

I hate that I have to take these full days to go to the doctor but I guess I have no other choice. I just don't want to drain my sick/personal days before I go on bed rest.

Speaking of bed rest... I started planning for the maybe 4 months I may be out. Uhhh this is hard. Since I have never taught 1st grade before I am kinda learning everything as I go. So...it's hard to plan ahead and not really know what I should be teaching at the point in the year. We are talking Dec - March. The teacher next to me was nice enough to loan me last years planner which has helped and she is going to let me dig for things to copy...if I ever get to that point! I need a lesson plan fairy to come do this for me.

Please continue to pray for:
Healthy babies
Healthy me (no gestational diabetes...I need my ice cream!)
Keith a job

Hello 15 weeks!

I am starting to have dreams about our kids. Last night I had a dream that one of the triplets arrived early (like months early). It was not a good dream. Not sure what it means.

We have our 15 week appointment tomorrow morning. Stephanie goes in for the diabetes test. She is on the clock now and cannot eat for the next 12 hours. She will have to drink a really sugary drink tomorrow morning to determine whether or not she has developed gestational diabetes. Please pray that she does not have diabetes!!

Recently, we read in a book that some research suggests twins begin to communicate within the womb (not sure how. . . . maybe they give each other hand signals, hopefully not the bird). With triplets, research suggests that two may communicate with each other and ignore the other. . . . . how sad!!

We were told that we will not find out the sex of the babies until 20 weeks; however, we have read on some other triplet blogs that some have found out at 15-16 weeks. We would love to know sooner what we are having, but at this point we are not getting our hopes up.

Finances have become a big issue. . . . . . . lots of purchases that will have to be made in the coming years. When you start putting all of this on paper, it simply does not add up. We know God has a plan for us, and we have faith that He will provide.

Keith

Triplet friends

Yesterday we went to the Krug's house who have triplets that are 3 months old. http://krugfamilytriplets.blogspot.com/ That is their link to their website, its pretty funny.

Well the visit was awesome. They reassured us, gave us lots of hints and tips, and just answered any questions we had.

I never thought I would say this but....I think they sold us on cloth diapers. The ones they had were really nice and seemed pretty easy and they were one size fits all so they could use them until they were potty trained. While thinking about cleaning out poopy diapers and washing them daily isn't my favorite...in the long run we will save a ton of money...and that is important.

They also told me I needed to make sure I am eating ...I think I am eating a lot, but Keith doesn't. They said I needed to eat 200 grams of protein. That is a lot of protein and not to mention its really hard to eat that much when you feel like you are going to puke after every few bites. And I am not a huge egg and meat eater...so....I guess I will learn to be. Keith did buy me some stuff to make chocolate protein shakes, I can do that.

They also told us they would hand down everything as the boys grew out of it....car seats, swings, clothes, blankets, ect. AWESOME!!!! I hope we have a family that we can do that to one day.

Well here is to 13 weeks and the babies are the size of peaches.

Belly Shot

13 weeks
Still waiting for my nausea to go away.

Dr. visit number 2

Well today was doctor day! We got to see the babies and they looked like babies!!!

Baby A was bouncing on its head and was exactly the right size. And it has a big nose...probably takes after me.

Baby B was standing straight up and it is 3 days bigger.

Baby C is on top under my intestines and is laying back chillin. Baby C was also exactly the right size.

The momma has gained 4lbs.

Our doctor showed me on her computer how they had to create a new folder for triplets...becuase of us! And the front desk ladies wanted to see the pictures. We are becoming famous...well at the doctor's office.

The doctor said everything looked great and heart beats were all normal. I am hoping next month they will be able to see what the gender is.

Next month is the diabetes test...yay. And then at 20 weeks I will see a specialist.

At 11 weeks I am still feeling pretty nauseous and food still doesn't sound good except for random things at random times. Like the other day, I had to go to KFC and get some coleslaw and I did...a big container of it! Hoping that in a week or two I will like food again.

Next appt: October 5

Things to pray for:

-Keith a job

-Healthy babies

-That I pass the diabetes test

Good news...Bad news

Bad news.....We got a monster bill in the mail from the doctor...
Good news....Now our deductible is met
Bad news....it starts over in January
Good news...insurance covers 100% after its been met

Good news...I have been feeling better this weekend
Bad news...I saw my breakfast for a second time this morning
Good news...I felt better after that

Good news...I went grocery shopping
Bad news...when I got home most of it looked disgusting

Bad news...It's already Sunday
Good news... I have Monday off

Good news...Dr.'s appt is Tuesday

Furniture

Tuesday we went and looked at furniture that my sister told me about...because her husbands brother is friends with a guy who's baby store went out of buisness....

Anyways, we got some great deals! We bought 3 of these cribs for $70 each.

We also bought this nice rocker reclyiner spinny chair . Minus the dots on it, that must be dust on my lens.

We also got 3 high end mattereses for 50 bucks each!

I think we made out pretty good and the babies now have a place to sleep...

A long week

I figured I would put a picture up so you could see my belly. Almost 10 weeks.

This last week was the first week back to school. It was a long week, as most first weeks are. I have found myself exhausted at the end of the day. Luckily I have a wonderful husband who is taking care of everything at the house. He forces me to go lay down when I get home and rest.

At school I find myself getting out of breath when reading a book to the kids. I also find myself standing more than I should but I am hoping as the students get into the routine of the day I won't have to as much. But its hard when you are teaching 6 year olds...I seem to always be putting out "fires".

Some coworkers have made comments about how I am starting to show...and they are right. I can barely fit into my jeans and pants anymore so I went shopping this morning at Motherhood. I got a few essentials that I will probably being wearing every week but I know that fall and "winter" are coming so I didn't want to buy too much and I figured that when I am closer to delivery I won't even be able to fit into maternity clothes.

Monday I will be 10 weeks, I can't wait to get to the 2nd trimester so my nausea will stop and I can start enjoying food again!

Working again

Last week I started back to work. I was a little worried about how I would feel and how I would get to eat when I needed to. But for the most part I felt okay, some days better than others and I really didn't get that hungry between meals. School officially stars Monday and I'm a little nervous because I will be teaching 1st grade for the first time and I am a bit nervous about how I will feel, especially being on my feet all day training 6 year olds on how to act and what to do.

I joined a multiples support group in the Austin area through www.austinmoms.org. I haven't done much w/ them yet other than look at some forums and classifieds. In October they are having a big children's resale sale which I am looking forward too. I hope to find lots of stuff for cheap! Buying 3 or everything expensive is not going to be easy.

My sister also emailed me and told me that her brother in-law that lives in Austin is friends w/ a guy who owns a baby store that just went out of business and he is trying to get rid of everything for cheap. We are going to check that out next week. Hopefully there will be some good deals.

Last week Keith saw a jogging stroller at a garage sale and he went and bought it. It was a single stroller but it was only 15 bucks and in good shape. He would really like to get a 2 or 3 seater...but that may have to wait.

We were reading a blog of another couple who has triplets and they were talking about premaking bottles. They said they would always keep three days worth in the fridge and that added up to be....90 bottles!! That is a lot of bottles! If we do that then we might need another fridge and a bottle donation day.

Monday I will be 9 weeks and on the verge of buying maternity clothes. They say w/ triplets you are 10 extra weeks bigger than a lady caring one. So I guess that means I appear as if I were 19 weeks along.

Next doctores appt Sept 7.

Baby Daddy Update

This is Keith, and I have hijacked Stephanie's blog. I may do this from time to time, especially when she is not feeling well so that we can keep the updates coming. So, here are my thoughts:

**After our first sonogram when we found out we were having triplets, Steph and I both called our parents. My folks didn't believe me, so I had to put Stephanie on the phone (I guess they trust her). When Steph told her mom, Barbara just said "You know God is not going to give ya'll more than you can handle." Steph's immediate response was "Well, He sure does think an awful lot of us." That's classic Stephanie! The truth is Stephanie is going to be a terrific mother. Since the moment I met her, I have known this. There is no doubt about it, these three babies are going to have the best mother a kid could have.

**We are fortunate that my former youth minister Lance Morrisett and his wife Jennifer recently had beautiful healthy quadruplets. (read their story here) They have already offered to help us out in a number of ways, but most importantly they have offered their prayers and advice. One of the big things Lance recommended to me was that we buy the book When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads by Dr. Barbara Luke. Steph and I have both been reading through the book, and I have to say it is absolutely fascinating. Here are a few things we have learned so far that I find really interesting:
--The male's family history has no bearing on the chances of having multiples.
--Two factors that have had an impact on the rising rate of multiples are: infertility drugs and women becoming pregnant later in life
--While only 1/3 of women of singletons experience nausea during pregnancy, more than half of mothers of multiples experience it
--Being pregnant with triplets, Steph will need to consume 4,000 calories per day to meet her nutrient requirements
--Ice cream is a perfectly okay for a pregnant mother, especially before bed (dairy products are digested more slowly so they help prevent hunger pangs during the night).
--And, this is the best--during weeks 7 and 8, the babies eyes develop and become pigmented. They also start to develop fingers, ears and toes. I get really excited when I think about this!!

Hungry

I am hungry all the time and the worst part is w/ my nasua nothing sounds good. I have to eat every few hours and even at night I wake up and have to go eat or my stomach feels like its going to eat itself.

My favorite thing to eat is turkey sandwhiches however the Doctor said I can not have deli meat. That was a bummer. But we went and bought a roast chicken and cut it up. That works just as well if not better.

My next favorite thing to eat is yogurt! I can go through a 2lb container in 2 days.

I also like Honey Nut Cheerios w/o milk. I feel like a kid eating them like that but they are good and don't hurt my tummy.

Welp, time to eat again...the wombmates are hungry.

7 week dr. visit

Tuesday we went back to the doctor to get another sonogram. This time we heard all 3 heart beats and everything look good.

We then went and talked to the nurse and then the doctor. Lots of information taken in! The doctor came in and started talking to us and I broke down and started crying. This is real and it is scary. I have to keep reminding myself that God doesn't give us more than we can handle and he will provide.

I told my principal today and broke down in her office too. She was very reassuring, encouraging, and understanding. I wasn't sure how she would take it...especially when I told her I would probably have to go on bed rest in December and they were due until late March. But she told me not to worry and we will get to that when the time comes. She made me feel a lot better!

The doctor gave me some medicine for my nausea and it seems to work but makes me VERY tired. I feel like I have slept all day and still feel pretty groggy. That won't do but neither will nausea.

Uh oh

Keith and I were pretty excited to find out we were pregnant. I didn't think I was at all. My basal temp chart was all over the place and I had no symptoms. Keith really wanted me to take a pregnancy test and I told him I would if he would go get them. It was still a few days before my period was supposed to show up and I didn't want to waste the money on them if I wasn't pregnant. However I thought it would be pretty funny for Keith to go buy a pregnancy test...just because it made him uncomfortable. Well it was positive...I took a few more through out the week to make sure.

About a week later we took a cruise to Cozumel w/ some couples from our bible study. It will probably be our last vacation for quiet a while. On the Cruise I noticed that the thought of food made me nauseous. But if you have ever been on a cruise its all you can eat. I wasn't sure if it was the cruise or me being preggo causing that. A few nights into the cruise I started spotting pretty heavily. By this time I was about 6 weeks. We scheduled a sonogram as soon as we returned.

Me and Keith were both pretty nervous...it took us along time to get pregnant and we didn't want anything to be wrong. As the lady was looking into the black and white mess she said "oh! Do you want to know how many?" My thought was "no!, I want one". Keith was crossing his fingers it wouldn't be 8. When she said 3...the blood drained out of my face and all I could think was how were we going to do this. Keith laughed, he was excited!

We have told a few people and our family and everyone is very excited! I still can't believe it. I've never really been around babies much and I don't consider myself to be a baby person but I guess I am about to learn.

Right now we are praying for:
healthy babies,
me to get over this nauseousness before school begins,
and for Keith to find a full time job w/ benefits.