"Oh, I spoke too soon. Looks like triplets."

Okay, I guess I left you hanging a little, so I better continue the story. But I just want to say that we are floored by the number of people that have been so sweet to read our story and share in our celebrations! We had no idea this news would be interesting to more than just our friends and family. Thanks everybody! News travels fast on blogs, doesn't it? Makes ya feel a little naked sometimes. But I always said, when we have a baby, I'm sure I'll be so excited I'll want to announce it to the world (never thinking the world would say anything back). I guess I did just that. The response was more than we deserve.

So on with the story.

My feelings on March 30, 2009 were all over the place. How can anyone prepare for the moment that they find out they have three tiny hearts beating in their body. I was only 6 weeks into the pregnancy, and it hadn't even been 2 weeks since we found out that our years of trying to get pregnant had finally become a reality. How much shock can one person handle in 2 weeks?!

I thought it might be twins. In fact, since the moment I knew I was pregnant, I'd been calling them "the babies" meaning two. I was right in a way. From the second that ultrasound appeared on the screen, we all knew what those two dark spots meant. I exclaimed in excitement that I just knew it was twins. And the doctor present confirmed it. We looked in one and saw the little vibrating smudge, indicating that the heart was beating. But as we looked closer, we saw in the other that there were two beating hearts. This is when the doctor declared the aforementioned quote in the title. There were three babies. Two identical, and one fraternal.

That, folks, has nothing to do with reproductive science. That is an act of God. As are all babies, whether they needed help getting here or not.

I will admit, I became completely terrified, even though I had thought of that as a possibility when we started treatments. But it was always kind of a joke when we'd say we'd be walking away with triplets. KC and I just sat there in silence taking in what this meant. My mind was racing, and I could barely hear what the doctor was telling us. She handed me a tissue, but I was too stunned to cry. The staff was not very happy with this outcome since they strive for healthy pregnancies, and multiples are not always that way. In fact, I think when we saw that it was three she gave us a "modified congratulations," which really kind of hurt. They started naming options like selective reduction, or waiting to see if Mother Nature decides to take one. They were talking about my babies like this. As scared as I was, I was not about to wish any of them away. They said they wanted to see me once a week, for the next few weeks to see how things are going.

Sidetrack: I struggled a lot in those few weeks. I'd be excited and ready one minute, and overwhelmed and depressed another. I know hormones had a lot to do with it, but also seeing the doctors sullen faces every time I got to see my babies (which was supposed to be an exciting time), always strongly suggesting we reduce it to a singleton pregnancy (taking away my precious twins). They almost had me wishing I had gotten pregnant with just one just to make them happy and get off my case. But KC always reminded me that they don't have the same values and faith that we have. They are all about science, and we are all about God and that's where our trust should lie. We would just nod at the things they would say, and leave, trying to shake it all off. I felt like there was a cloud hanging over that place and I just wanted to get out so I could be happy with all of this without them interfering. I think a lot changed when we went to our final visit to our fertility clinic and my mom was there with us. Before they could say anything she thanked them profusely for the blessing they have assisted in, and said how extremely happy everyone in our families are. They couldn't really say anything bad after that, so I think that's when my doctor started to smile with us when we saw our 8 week old babies moving about. And he gave me a hug and made us promise to come back to visit when they are born.

Anyway, backtrack. After that first visit, we walked out of the office just looking at each other, and the picture they gave us. We had to part to go to our different cars (KC was heading to work, and I was going home), and just kept looking back at each other laughing. As he was walking away from me, KC said across the parking lot, "Start thinking of three names!"

After that, I had to make the rounds of calls again. There was a lot of excitement, some thinking it was an April Fools Day Joke (since it was the day before April 1), and just plain amazement. I just can't believe this is happening to us, in my body. I'm still confused.

I immediately thought of the risks involved. I started googling, and was exhausted from all the searching. Then I started thinking of the costs. Then I started thinking of what was going to happen to my body. Three babies?! In one body!? It seems very impossible when it's your body that it's happening to, even when there are multiples born everyday. But, as I continued to research, I was happy to find so many darling families of triplets and other multiple births. I saw that it could be done, so I gained a little bit of confidence that I could do it too. At least enough to be able to lay down and take a nap.

I slept for a while, but woke up amazed that this all wasn't a dream. This was really happening, and KC and I are the ones living it. As the days went on, I started to research some more on the best books to read, how to get discounts on baby product for multiple births, and waiting for my stomach to start growing exponentially. And being sick, and surviving dizzy spells throughout the day. I always felt for the moms who had morning sickness. I was never jealous of that part of pregnancy. But I knew it came with the territory, and if I have to sacrifice a few months of feeling ill to have some babies, I am willing to take it on. I now have a huge appreciation for everyone that has given birth children. It's not an easy task. And I know the fun is just beginning.

So, our little life has certainly changed, and I've never been more excited, or more terrified for anything in my entire life. At some moments, I just want them all in my arms, kissing all of them over and over. And other times, I am so scared of when they will be here and trying to imagine feeding, changing, bathing, consoling, and bonding with all of them. I'm already missing my alone time with KC. But, I know we will be happy. Happier than we've even been. This is what we prayed for. Our family is becoming complete, and I truly couldn't ask for more. We have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams. We thank our Heavenly Father every day (even the most nauseous ones) for these children, and pray that they will arrive safely.

We have had several visits to the doctor being able to see our babies grow before our eyes. At the latest sonogram, the were wiggling up a storm. I think I actually feel it sometimes! I just can't get over the fact that they were tiny embryos a few months ago, and they grew to little people with beating hearts, and arms that wave at us when we get to see them. We are happy to say that we have started going to a specialty practice that has handled many successful triplet pregnancies. Yeah, it's not great going from one specialist to another, but I'm ready to do whatever give my babies the best chance to get here healthily.

I could go on all day, especially having kept it all in for the past three months while so much was happening. Don't worry, pictures will come, but I just wanted to get this bit on the table before I move to more recent events. We have sonogram pictures of them at 6,7,8 and 10 weeks, which are great, but we have an appointment this week which will provide some more detail, so I'll post those in a couple days.

Thank you again for all the kind words everyone. It makes me want to be a better person seeing how kind friends and perfect strangers can be. I brought me to tears over and over again, reading all the lovely things people had to say. I hope we can live up to all the gracious things that were said.

Now, I must eat.