The excitement never ends.

Of course I am being sarcastic, as excitement is usually not a good thing when it comes to high risk pregnancies such as mine. It seems my body will just not let up on these contractions, and wants these babies out despite the many medications we keep trying. The doctors are doing everything they can to keep them in as long as possible (which I hope is at least a few more weeks, and I think we can make it), as we are trying to stay calm, stay positive, and keep on praying. I hit a wall every other day or so, but try to stay distracted with my mom here (she decided to stay with me! Yay!), and watching movies and playing games, etc.

I have been blessed by many friendly visitors bearing gifts, meals, and great conversation, but I just had a talk with my doctor and he really wants me to keep as quiet as possible, so for the benefit of these little babies, I'm going to have to ask anyone who had a visit planned to maybe save it for later as now is a bit of a stressful time. He is also very nervous about introducing any germs into my little room. If I got sick, things would move along much quicker than we'd like. I love you all, and I wish I could have carefree visits with all my great friends I miss so much. But it's the doctor's orders, and I know he has my family's best interest in mind.

I do have more pictures to post, but I just wanted to get this post out here for the time being, until things settle down. Thanks for all the support and prayers.

Just some thoughts and happenings. . .

*I can't wait to sleep in the same bed as my husband again. Even though he sleeps on the uncomfortable couch next to me on occasion, it's just not the same. We cuddle in my little bed sometimes. It's nice.

*I officially hate monitoring (or when a certain nurse does it, rather. She makes me/mom/KC push down on all three heartbeat "hockey pucks" to keep the heartbeats in place for 30-60 minutes while lying on my back, and my belly doesn't like that at all, nor do our shaking hands. She's the only one that makes us do that. We don't like her.)

*I wonder how long my leg hairs will get by the time I can shave them again? Update: My mom just voluntarily shaved my legs for me. What a woman. That is love.

*I had another sonogram yesterday, and everything was great. I am very thankful for that news since 28 weeks is only days away! But when I jokingly asked if I could go home, the sonographer told me I was still their prisoner. Very funny.

*KC has finally sold my car. He is very relieved since now he can get crackin' on the van hunt. I was glad to not see the strangers drive off with my beloved vehicle. But it's weird to me that so many things will be different when I get home. My life just continues to go one without me. I wonder what else will be different when I'm freed from prison.
*My mom set up a tea party for me, complete with pastries, fruit, lemonade, and a tablecloth. It was so sweet of her, especially since it's hard work up an appetite for the same old foods every day.
*I've decided that french braids are the easiest/most comfortable way to keep my hair out of my face. So without make-up, I pretty much look like a 12 year old. And since I don't have my ring on, and my mom is with me all day, people probably think I am. Oh well.

*Is it just me, or do these clouds resemble stretch marks? I think I'm going a little loopy.

Picture post

Just in case you wanted a visual on the latest:

The pedicure my mom gave me before my appointment on Thursday. And boy did I need it!

Just settling in.

Strapped to all the monitors, and my leg pump things. My most attractive picture yet.

27 weeks and counting!

My support team. What would I do without these two?

And I'm sure there will be a lot more picture of our exciting adventures in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

New accommodations.

Here I am in the high risk pregnancy wing at Holy Cross Hospital in my lovely (and private, thank goodness) room. What a weird couple of days. Quite a roller coaster. Yes, I knew this was a possibility, actually more like a probability, but I'm the kind of person that likes to cross the bridge when I come to it, to minimize the worry and stress (not that it always works). Well, I'm crossing it now.

At my regular check-up on Thursday, I just had a feeling that something had changed. I told my mom and KC that I didn't have a good feeling about this appointment, so we should all be prepared. Call it maternal instinct, or whatever you want, but I was right. There was definitely progression getting me closer than they would like to pre-term labor. The staff had a little conference about what to do with me at this point. But since it was an on-the-fence kind of situation, they wanted to err on the side of caution to prevent us rushing back to the hospital in case of emergency (especially with the notorious traffic on our hospital route). Within the next 30 minutes, I was put in a wheel chair, taken to the registration desk, got everything worked out, and tucked in to my bed, allowing myself a few tears amidst all the hubbub. I mean, I am constantly amazed and full of gratitude at what is taking place in my body, and for the wonderful care we are receiving, and for how far I've made it already, but sometimes I crumble under all the stress. I try to stay strong for the babies, but I am only human, and a very hormonal and emotion one at that.

I was so confused when I got here. I felt like no one was talking to me or telling me what was happening. I felt like a number on a long list of people being looked at. I'm not someone who needs special attention or anything, but I was just a little scared and confused, and no one seemed to care. I started to freak out, trying to see myself living in these bleak surrounding for the next however many weeks, and just didn't feel like I could get used to it. Mostly I worry about the babies and how long I can keep them in. So I tried to say calm and have patience, while everything was getting worked out.

Eventually the busy staff made their way to me and I was introduced to my sweet nurse, among others. They hooked me up to the monitor, which took forever and was squeezing me so tight, it was hard to breathe. (They have a monitor on each of the babies, and one for contractions, so basically I have straps everywhere. I have to do that morning and night, and whenever it's necessary during the day, like if I feel more contractions than usual. It takes quite a while to find just the right place for the heart rate monitors for each of the babies since they are so wiggly. Sometimes I have it on for 2 or more hours before they get all the info. they need, and I get pretty annoyed.) But I was fine and I told KC he could go back to work and I'd be okay here with my mom. I'm so glad she is here during this transition. It helps KC to feel okay leaving me to go to work, and helps me so much to have a familiar face in all this new territory while he is gone. (I do feel bad that she has to be here all day, but she'd never complain. She insists she doesn't mind at all, and is in fact happy to be here knowing everything is fine. I just love her.)

I started to become more comfortable with my surroundings after a while, and my doctor even came to check up on me a couple times. A staff from the NICU came to tell us what to expect, and was very optimistic that I'd made it this far. We might take a tour of the NICU for KC to get used to the idea of being there. I used to work here when I took baby pictures, so I've been there lots of times. It will be a lot different when it's my babies in there though.

My first meal left here left much to be desired, but I didn't have a menu yet, so I didn't get to choose what I wanted. Now I have a multitude of choices, and I'm learning what and what not to order. It's actually not so bad, but it is nice to have snacks from home. We can put stuff in their fridge if we need as well. KC came back that night with some necessities, including my own clothes (blast those hospital gowns), my laptop, my water mug, and a few other things to get me through the night. We have made new lists every day, and slowly this room is feeling more like a temporary home, and less like a scary place with strangers all around me. It amazing what your own clothes, and your own pillows can do for you. It may not be so bad after all.

That first night, I told KC and mom that I was fine by myself for the night, since they weren't really prepared to spend the night. It was a little weird and sad to be all alone here, but it was my choice, I managed, and they arrived first thing in the morning. KC slept over the second night, and it was nice to see his sweet face in the morning. They are great sports about coming back and forth everyday, and I think we'll get the hang of this.

So let's focus on the positives. Mom and I had a fun day together yesterday. There was a cool lightning storm for us to watch, during which we played a few rounds of Quiddler. I get unlimited amounts of crunchy ice, and all the time in the world to read books, and watch movies to my heart's content. The staff is not intrusive at all, and I feel like they come pretty promptly when called. Another kind of fun thing is this contraption they put on my legs to prevent blood clots. Ir gets wrapped it around my calves and pumps air in and out, like a little massage. I just put it on whenever I want. Oh and, my doctors are very friendly, and will come in and just chat with me for a while. Just now I had a conversation with one, Dr. Pinkert, and after all the medical stuff was covered, he just sat on the couch in here and talked with me for quite a while. He's quite the candid fellow. He went on all about how he's also from the west, Arizona, and he got to talking all about Mormons, how he had tons of friends that are members, how he dated one, how gorgeous the temples are, and he even knew all the lingo (garments, wards, missions, Moroni, stakes-it was like he was a member himself). He carried on most of the conversation. I told him it was weird for me to hear a non-member talk so familiarly about the church since here it's more of a foreign subject. We were laughing and having a great time. He also said I am allowed to have occasional wheel chair rides outside as long as I'm not contracting a lot, and feeling okay. That sounds so great, since I've been staring at the same four walls for days. He just told me to hold off on the smoking, the jokester. More importantly he feels like we'll easily get to our next big milestone, 28 weeks next Saturday, and probably a lot beyond that. He, and all the other doctors in the practice are all so great at making us feel like we are their only patients and that they have all the time in the world for us. That kind of bedside manner is hard to come by.

I was given yet another new medication, Indocin, due to too much contracting (this stubborn uterus of mine) and it seemed to work for a while, but they are upping the dose to see if it will keep working, and things will calm down. But other than that, the outlook is hopeful, and even if the babies were born now, they have a great chance of being just fine. Sometimes I forget that this is all out of my hands. I am doing all I can to keep these babies safe. And with this great care we are receiving, and most importantly Heavenly Father watching over us, I am trying to keep my faith intact. I try to keep reminding myself that everything is going to happen how it's supposed to and it's all out of my hands. My mom often reminds me that even if it's hard, sometimes all I need is a particle of faith, and from there it takes over, and I can learn to rely completely on the Lord. It takes a lot pressure off our heads. I just hope I can remember that in the most trying of times.

So these posts always end up being so long, and so all over the place. Maybe I'll include some pictures when my camera is done charging. But like I said before, it's just my way to get everything out of my head, and down for the record. Hopefully things will stay calm around here, and I won't have much to write about except how excited I am to hold my little babies. That thought keeps me going through every hurdle we come to. They are totally worth every pill/medication, every contraction, every itchy/stingy stretch mark, every backache, and, well you get the idea. I'll do anything for my little ones.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure little baby B had hiccups a couple times. Hee hee.

Slowly but surely.

That's how I feel about the way time passes on bedrest. It feels so slow at times, but a new day always manages to approach, and before you know it, another week is upon you. But before I go on, I want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to my brother Drew, and my new sister-in-law Julie!! Who doesn't love a new sister?! They got married yesterday, and I couldn't be happier for them. My mom was so sweet to keep me posted on the days happenings as if I was there, even as busy as she was. She made me feel like I was part of the festivities, and my grandma even said she felt my presence there. So sweet. I hope Drew knows I would've been there if there was any tiny possibility. But with these babies lives in my hands, I'm sure he understood. It was so weird to be here alone most of the day, knowing about all the hustle and bustle that was going on over there. I heard he looked dashing, and she looked gorgeous, and it was a wonderful celebration. I can't wait to see the pictures, and you can bet there will be some posted here, as soon as they become available. I love you guys!

So now I shall get to the update. We were busy for a few days there, but things have since calmed, and all is well. I'm always up for a little excitement and change in routine now and then, as long as the my body can handle it. We had another appointment on Wednesday, during which they said that I am still looking stable thanks to the meds and bedrest, and the babies are growing as they should. They are right on schedule, all weighing within a few ounces of 2 lbs. which I was very happy to hear about. The little guy is still a few ounces behind the others, but at least he is staying consistent. That's important. They are very active, their fluid looks good, and their heartbeats are normal. What more can a mommy ask for?

So the doctor decided it was time to get the steroid shots to help develop their lungs more rapidly. It's a pretty standard option for anyone experiencing signs of pre-term labor, and is a huge help if babies are born premature. They call it a safety net, so the lungs are one thing they don't have to deal with as much if the babies need special care when they are born. They kept letting us know how much the babies will benefit from this, so I was happy to take that step. It's amazing how they have discovered things like this, but they know that they are talking about. I feel really great knowing we are doing everything we can for these little loves of ours. And we just hit 26 weeks! Every Saturday that we hit a new week marker is a huge relief to me. I can't wait until we're at a point that I'd feel more safe if something happened and they'd have to be immediately delivered. I feel like 30-32 weeks would be that time for me, and we are only several weeks from that point. I can do this! Contractions are staying within threshold range, and I'm feeling pretty good most of the time (especially when baby boy B stays off that nerve that makes it hard to walk).

After our appointment, We said goodbye to KC's mom and he took her to the the airport. She sure had a busy week taking care of us, but her help was greatly appreciated, and it was so sweet of her to take time from her busy life to help us out. KC probably got the biggest break of all, with all the cleaning/organizing being done, and the meals being lovingly prepared and ready when he got home from work. It had been a while since he's had that luxury. And I am happy to say that My mom will also be staying with us for a couple weeks, starting on Tuesday. We are so grateful for our families that are so willing to dedicate their time to us. So grateful.

So anyway, the shots were pretty simple. You have to get two of them, 24 hours apart. On Thursday, I had to go to the doctors office again to have the first shot administered. It's a little silly to go all the way there, since I had the meds, and I'm sure I have some spare needles around here somewhere. We are injection pros over here. But rules are rules. My friend Jan was going to stop by and visit, so I just asked her if she wouldn't mind running me to the office so KC wouldn't have to miss a couple hours of work for a little shot. She graciously agreed, and I loved seeing her, Wade, and Iris again. They stayed in the car as I quickly got the shot, and Iris was a little disappointed that I came out without any babies in my arms. She thought I was going to have them that day. What a funny girl. I told her that I wished I was that simple. Jan then offered to pick us up some lunch. A hot Potbelly's sandwich with salty chips, cold juice, and potato salad never tasted so good. We got the kids some chicken nuggets, and ate and chatted in the car as I reclined in her big, comfy, Expedition seats. A great way to kill a couple hours on bedrest. She was so nice to take time from her busy life to help me out, and I loved catching up with them.

A couple more girl friends, Becky and Merinda, came over that night to hang out so KC could get some after-hours work in. We talked for hours. I have really missed seeing my friends, so I was very touched that they came over for just to chill with me. I am one spoiled girl on bedrest. I hope I can pay it forward someday.

On Friday, I had to get the second shot, and a blood test, so KC took a couple hours off work to run me all over the place. So steroid mission accomplished. I got to leave the house THREE TIMES this week people. It has been a while since that happened. We were also pleased to have the Millers over that night. They brought a delicious lasagna dinner, and we were thoroughly entertained by funny 2 year old Nathan, and 6 week old Caitlin (Sp? Sorry Molly, not sure how to spell it.) What great friends I have. I am constantly getting phone calls, emails, letters, and visits, and feel very well looked after, and prayed for.

So, see what I was talking about with all the events going on? But even as much as we had going on this week, I am still pleased to say that the pregnancy looks pretty uneventful, which is great news to us. Let's hope the contactions stay low, and the babies stay in for at least another few weeks. Seems easy enough. Ha!

Cravings as of late.

I was woken up at 4 am to the familiar sound of my Terb. pump beeping at me that it is low on medication and needs a refill soon. (This happens quite frequently.) All I could think about during the hour that I was trying to go back to sleep after refilling the meds was a snow cone. I wanted one so extremely bad. It can't be ice cream, it can't be a Slurpee, or even a Ritas. I need a crunchy, icy, freezing cold, tangy/tart snow cone. I needed KC to get me some ice right then just to help me sleep without satisfying this specific craving. I have been wanting one for a while, but last night, it was more than ever. The sad thing is, I can't think of one logical place to get one. There aren't snow shacks on ever corner here, like there are in Utah. I might ask KC to go get one of those silly ice shavers at Target or something. That might help. I don't have many specific cravings, but the ones I do have usually revolve around things that are really cold.

Another weird thing I've wanted, but doesn't fit the criteria mentioned above, and I think this one has been around on and off for about 10 weeks, is cotton candy. Weird, since I hated sweets until about 19-20 weeks. I just want the texture more than anything I guess. It just sounds so good for some reason This one might be satisfied if my friend Molly finds me any at the Montgomery County fair today. If only a snow cone wouldn't melt on their way home. Usually I can't stand carnivals, or the smell/environment rather. But these two are pretty standard carnival/fair foods, and I can't stop thinking about them. Oh, when will the pregnancy oddities end?

And is it weird that anytime I hear, read, or see anything about Christmas, I become overwhelmingly thirsty? Maybe it reminds me of snow or something, but I usually gulp tons of water following any mention of the holiday.

Oh, and an update on the babies, and my latest appointment coming up.

Ups and downs.

So I had another post written in my drafts that was way too emotionally charged, so I'm glad I waited to post it, since now I can see how irrational I was feeling, a hopefully do better with this one. Things are going okay around here. Last weekend we had a few things that got me pretty irritated, and really worried, but I know it's just part of this high risk pregnancy process, and I'm trying to get used to it. It all started when my contractions started to creep up to a lot more than I was having before. If they are over the limit that my doctor determines as my threshold, they make me re-monitor after another shot of medication. I had to do this three times on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, I think. It just gets really nerve wracking when you are supposed to be under a certain number, and I can just keep feeling them come, and there is nothing I can do about it. After hours of monitoring, and not getting the results I want, I just feel so worn out, and feel like my body is failing the babies or something. (It took me back to the days when I was doing IVF and they wouldn't let us move on because my hormones were all wrong. Again, I couldn't do anything about it. Completely frustrating.) They threatened to send me to the hospital a few times if things didn't calm down. Luckily I always managed to have just few enough contractions to keep me home. But that could change any day. It's just a lot for my emotions to handle. I freaked out a few times earlier this week when I felt like I had just had it! I know I am supposed to stay calm, but when things go awry, I think back to all that we've been through to get here, and how much is at stake. Sometimes it's hard to keep being optimistic, you know? Sometimes a little break down calms the nerves anyway. Pent up emotions never helped anybody. So I consider it therapeutic, not irrational, hormonal behavior.

Anyway, I know we are in for a lot of hurdles like this in the next several months. This was just the first one, so I was a little taken off guard. They have since upped the medication dosage a little, which is what they are prepared to do, and they uppped my threshold too. I guess they think I can handle more contractions than what they originally thought without doing any damage. They said we have a lot of room to play with the meds if we need to, they just don't want to do it too soon if they don't have to. It seems the change in the medication is working, and my numbers are lower for now. And with the higher threshold, I don't have to remonitor as often, which is nice. They seem optimistic that we'll get these babies to a safe zone before they are born. I had an appointment on Tuesday and they are still happy to see that the therapy is working, and we need to keep staying optimistic as well. They did observe that I looked pretty spent. I told them that I was just getting a little stressed at times, and my nurse said soon these contractions will be second nature, and I'll relax a little. I'm probably just getting a little miffed because of the fact that I've been cooped up for about 2 1/2 weeks now and it's starting to get to me. Some days I tell KC that I really might go insane. Partly from the worry, and party from the cabin fever. Even though 25 weeks seems like an accomplishment, it still seems so early, and it really feel like we still have a long way to go, but I'm sure it will pass quickly enough. We've been through a lot more extended periods of hard times, and we made it through (though I felt like I was going insane then too). This should be easy, right? Ha.

Well, something that has really helped this past week, is that KC's mom Janice flew in on a last minute free flight she had to use. She got here on Wednesday night, and is staying for a whole week. Not only does she help me a lot during the day, but KC is sure getting a break since she is preparing us lovely meals. Not to mention all the vacuuming, bathroom scrubbing, laundry doing, and junk organizing she's been doing. What a load off!

I have also thoroughly enjoyed visits from friends. They have been so kind to donate their time (and books and dvds) to little old me. My family is so kind to chat through all my long phone calls, and I appreciate them calling me as well.

And I can't finish this post without mentioning that the babies looked great at our last appointment. They are so sweet and I love seeing them as often as I get to. All of this is making me even more anxious to see them outside of me, and to know that they are going to be okay. I just picture myself kissing, and holding them all the time, and just being so so so grateful that they are mine. I have had this fantasy for so long, that I can't believe we are merely weeks from the reality. Oh how I hope my babies make it to me safely.

So blogging isn't so easy for me. It is pretty uncomfortable to type, and usually takes me a week of typing and saving, and typing, and saving, before I am ready to post. So that's why they all end up long and drawn out like this. So I hope you had fun reading the lastest. We really are okay. I hope I made it sound like that. This bed rest just gives me too much time to think!

Holding down the fort.

I'm not sure who's going to be more relieved when this bedrest episode is over, KC or me. He'd never lead you to believe he's tired, but from all he does around here, it must be so. These are all the things he's accomplished on this fine Saturday, while I did nothing for him (though, to the babies, I am doing quite a job, keeping them alive and all.)

• Three loads of laundry, including the sheets, which to a person on bedrest is quite a gift.
• Rotated the mattress. Again, a nice thing to do for a bedrester. He also vacuumed the top of the mattress and pillows, to rid them of any accumulated dust. That's my allergy cursed husband for you.
• The sheets have since been put back on the bed, and the rest of the laundry is being folded as I type.
• Washed/detailed my car, and took pictures to start the selling process (sniff). Keep in mind it's freaking hot outside, and he was out there for a while.
• Went to the store to pick up some food for a baby shower that I was supposed to be hosting, but was kindly taken over by some great friends. I did want us to help as much as possible, thus providing the food. He came home with TONS of dvds and books from said friends. (One of which is season 1 of Animaniacs. What?! KC is pretty excited, in fact, it's on right now. Actually quite funny.)
• Since he had to get those groceries to the shower in a hurry, he went back to the store for our own groceries, where he was instructed to get the makings for root beer floats (today's craving, I guess).
• Mowed the lawn.
• Kept me supplied with lovely meals and snacks, sometimes being called in from the outside.
• And I'm pretty sure he has plans to go to work for a few hours tonight.

I never thought I'd want to participate in housework so much. I think I was starting to hit my first wall today. I'm sure I'll hit a lot in the next couple months. For some reason, Saturday is harder for me. I do love that KC is here to keep me company most of the day. But the fact that the weekend doesn't mean anything different for me is starting to make me a little crazy. There's no break, you know? And even though I'm all alone most days of the week (I have been blessed by kind visitors on occasion, and it's really helps), I always have KC's return to look forward to, and it gives a little structure to the day, if that makes sense. Anyway, I have too much to think about laying around all day. So most of my blog posts will probably be too wordy, rambly, and might not make much sense. I guess that's how they were before, but now maybe even more so.

Wait, wasn't this post supposed to be about KC? And here I am focusing on me me me. I hope KC is taking care of himself amidst all this hard work. I'll have to make sure of that. Oh, and here is a picture of a monitoring session, and the pump that is my constant companion. It's since been moved to my leg. They like me to switch locations ever 4 days or so. It's funny that I still forget it's there sometimes when I get up to go to the bathroom.

Anyway, until my next ramble. Oh, and I'm 24 weeks today! That is a big milestone for us!

What was I doing without a body pillow for so long?

I mean, I knew people liked certain pillows and sleep positions when they are pregnant, but I thought a pillow tucked here and a pillow lodged there would suffice. But they always ended up on the floor or lost in the bed several times during the night. I asked KC to pick one up during a Target run yesterday, and boy, and I glad I did. I don't think I woke up once during the night (that I remember). Not to turn over or even to go to the bathroom! Now that is saying something. And I'm pretty sure I woke up in the same position I started in. And there is no way this pillow can get lost between the sheets. With that and unisom, I'm bound to have sweet dreams. Thanks heavens for this new addition to my bed!

And to answer your comment/question Matty, I think you are right on with the angles. Sitting straight up would defeat the purpose of what I need, so they say to stay as horizontal as I can be most of the time. But they did say a recliner is okay. I like that idea. The doctor also told me yesterday that some people float around in their pool all day. How great would that be?

Oh, and no contractions this morning during monitoring! I always like to hear that.

Typing horizontally is not so easy.

Thank you everyone for you encouragement and well wishes. You guys are great! Here's the update.

So, we saw the doctor again today. The verdict is that the bedrest and meds are working and keeping me stable, which is good news. I was having nightmares that things were going to look worse. They didn't look much better, but definitely not worse. We are not in a bad situation, just trying to avoid one, which is very different. And during the appointment, the babies were as active as ever. My stomach is really creepy sometimes when we watch them moving. Mostly he girl. She was quite the spaz this morning, but I love her for it. I was relieved that the are all looking great.

The past few days of monitoring have been pretty good. Most of the time my contraction count is quite low, 0-2, and sometimes when I have a few more, my nurse, who calls me at least twice a day when I send in my monitor data, will have me administer a demand dose of meds to calm everything down. It usually does the trick. It's hard to distinguish between uterine irritability, and contractions sometimes, because they move so much, but I am getting better at it.

As far as life on bedrest goes, it's not so bad yet. We've been offered lots of help from our kind friends, and even dinners have been arranged. I'm so grateful for the thoughtful people we know, and I think KC is even more full of gratitude. We have a new system so he doesn't have to come home from work every day, though he does have to leave a little later, and possibly go in on some nights. He packs me big cooler full of lunch and snacks, and it's been working great. He is always running around getting things done, and he has a beard to prove how busy he has been. But you'd never hear a complaint from him. His priorities are me and the babies, and I am truly amazed at his patience and willingness to do whatever is asked or required of him. Here is how me set me up yesterday before he was off to work. with books to read and things to do (never mind the rest of the mess in the room.). And here is what my lovely day of food looked like. He always switches up my sandwich a little to make it interesting. What a guy.

And just in case you are curious, here is my 23 week picture. No make-up or hair-doing for me most days, so no making fun. The doctor said I'm measuring at about 35 weeks. Ha! And, the waiting is over on the stretch mark front. I'm seeing the beginnings of them now. I knew it was inevitable. Hey, any indication that they are growing is fine by me.

Here's to another couple months of bedrest, monitoring, tubes hanging from my body, counting fetal movements, weekly doctor visits, and cooler meals! We'll make it. The babies are worth every second.

Also, I didn't realize the irony of watching the Three Amigos until Whitney's comment in the last post. It was quite fitting, don't you think? Now I'm watching Bleak House. I'm sure I could find some irony there as well.

It was bound to happen.

We were expecting this at some point during the pregnancy, but not quite this soon. I went in for a routine check up on Wednesday, and found out I had been having a lot of contractions. I had suspected that, but wasn't quite sure, so I was glad this appointment as coming up to figure it out. The good news is that the babies all look great, though one of the boys is a few ounces behind the others (we are hoping he catches up by the next time we take measurements, or at least doesn't get too far behind). But the not so good news is that they did see signs of possible preterm labor, but we are catching it early enough to do something about it. The doctor did make it seem like this is par of the course when it comes to higher order multiples, and all we have to do is stop the contractions to keep the babies in as long as possible. So things are starting to change a little.

First the doctor mentioned starting me on "the pump" as he put it. Apparently, a nurse comes to the house, inserts a tiny tube into my leg or my abdomen (much like an IV) and that tube has a small computer attached to it that gives me continuous medication to prevent contractions. He would also like me to have a Home Uterine Activity Monitor so it can make sure everything is calm, and it will also alert my nurse if the contractions are coming too quickly. It's normal to have some contractions, just not too many, so they are hoping to slow them down a lot, if not stopping them altogether for at least the next couple months.

Of course that seemed like a lot of information, and I was getting a little overwhelmed. But again, they seemed like this was pretty routine, and this is why I am seeing them as often as I am. They reassured me that with these treatments, they are very successful in lengthening the pregnancy with healthy babies in the end. We are praying for that.

Oh, and they told me, strict bedrest until my next appointment which was next Thursday, but has been changed to Tuesday, thank goodness. That's right, shower, and bathroom breaks only, but otherwise, lying horizontally until further notice. They said things could possibly normalize and I might be back on my feet soon, but there is also a possibility that I stay in this achy position for the duration of the pregnancy, which we are hoping desperately that that is still 10 weeks away, at least. Since I was given instruction to stay in bed/on the couch, we've had to get creative with my meals and snacks, since I still need them pretty often to avoid feeling a little queasy. Sweet KC gets me breakfast, stashes me up with a bunch of mid-morning stuff to munch on, and comes home for lunch everyday to make me something, and supply me with afternoon snacks. Sometimes I even keep a cooler by the bed for things that need to be kept cold. It's just what we have to do right now, and we'll get used to it, I'm sure. (Even though I feel bad that he has to take on so many new responsibilities, my selfish and lonely self really loves him being home so often.) He has also been great to prepare dinners. Since it's the weekend, I feel like we can really prepare with grocery lists and meal ideas, and get things under control since it seems like we've been scrambling a little as we get into this bedrest mode. I'm sure we'll get the hang of it.

So that all started on Wednesday, and since then quite a lot has taken place. I have been on the phone with several different people, mostly people from the company that supplies the equipment, Alere, trying to get this pump/monitor stuff worked out. My nurse Elise, who is awesome, has also been on the phone with all of the same people for the past couple days. Everything was supposed to arrive along with a nurse by Thursday at the latest, but leave it to insurance to make things complicated. Apparently, they will only cover the treatment for about a month, and then we'd have to start paying out of pocket, which will be like $250/day. Yikes! Like I said, we want AT LEAST another 10 weeks of this pregnancy, and we need that money for the babies, so we didn't like this. The company that supplies the gear we need has filed for an appeal to lengthen the coverage and expect to have the results by Monday at the latest. But they didn't seem too optimistic. Elise started talking to their area rep. who didn't like that they were making us make these hard decisions. She advised us to start the therapy, while we wait for the appeal. If it doesn't go through, we might just have to stay in the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy, since they can't deny me hospital stay coverage. Not my idea of fun, but it's all for the babies, so what else can I say? We decided on that plan. In the meantime I have been taking oral Trebutaline. I don't like it at all. It makes m heart race, and my body shake and tremble. I could hardly type, my hands were shaking so bad. But it was slowing the contractions, so that is what matters.

Anyway, yesterday we finally got the okay to start. We got a big delivery of equipment and meds (We thought we were done with this kind of stuff- Ha!), and the nurse arrived at about 4:30. KC came home early so he could see what was going down. The nurse went over everything, including tons of paperwork, and signatures. She taught me how to insert the tube for the pump, since I'll have to change it every 4-5 days. It's a little needle that I inject into my abdomen or thigh. The needle comes out and the little tube holder stays in. The tube that I had primped with the medication that is in the little computer is attached. It is programed to give me medication as I need it, and if I need to, I can make it give me more. I also have to replace the medicine cartridge when it runs out. I'm used to needles in my abdomen, so this was no biggie. Just a little annoying to have tube and small computer hooked up to me for the next 2-3 months. I guess this is what diabetics feel like. (They really drill it into you that this computer is something like $5,000, so I better take really good care of it. There is even a special shower bag for it.) They say the pump has way fewer side effects than the oral medication. I am still shaking, but I am hoping that will go away soon. They said my body will get used to it.

So now, the monitor. It is just like the ones they put on you when they track your contractions at the hospital. I have to do it twice a day, for one hour each time. It is also hooked up to a small computer. There is a button on it for me to push whenever I think I feel a contraction. When the hour is up, we hook the small computer into a bigger contraption that wirelessly sends the data to my Alere nurse, who will call me with the results and tell me whether or not I was right with my contractions. KC usually takes care of all the computer stuff and transferring the data. When I monitored it yesterday, I thought I might've had about 3, and when we talked to them they said that I had possibly only one, and it was hardly relevant. This is great since before the meds, I was counting 6-7/hour. They are okay with 4-6 at the most, but would like there to be none, if possible. If they see a problem in my data, like tons of contractions, they'll either tell me to up the meds, empty my bladder, drink some water, and try again soon, or go to the hospital. Let's hope they stay low. I also take my blood pressure every day after the monitor, and report that to the nurse as well. We did it again this morning, and I had no contractions. I'm liking those results. I can also do an unscheduled monitoring if I feel like things are going awry.

On Tuesday at my appointment, they will have received all the data at my regular doctors office, and see what measure need to be taken. If it looks like it's doing it's job, they will have me continue as I have been doing it. Modern medicine has really helped us out with these babies, hasn't it? We are so grateful for it. We have faith that this will all work out.

Like I said, we knew this could happen one of these day. Needless to say, the pool is now out of the question. Bummer, but a lot of the aches and pains that led me there in the first place were probably due to my contractions. Who knew? Anyway, that was a lot of information, and mostly a brain dump from the last three days. Today, for one of my bedrest activities, I will enjoy The Three Amigos, my latest Netflix rental, and I can't wait. Hey, I gotta get excited about something, right? Oh, and it's nice to finally have KC here all day. I think he likes to play doctor. He's pretty good at it. Maybe I'll show you some pictures of all this stuff soon. Right now, I need to rest.

One happy pregnant girl.

I have been DYING to go swimming lately. During the first few months of pregnancy, it was the last thing on my mind. I just couldn't bare the thought of it with the dizziness and nausea. But, as the weather has heated up, and the nausea has become much better, and my belly has become significantly larger causing lots of joint/back pains etc, swimming seemed like just the thing for me. Not only does weightlessness seem so wonderful, but a little exercise would probably help that pain quite a bit. There is a pool within walking distance, but you have to be a member (which has a 2 year waiting list, and costs WAY too much) to enter. I can go with my friends when they go, and use their guest pass, which they kindly offer every time they go, and have even offered to just go to check me in, even if they aren't going to stay. But I wanted to be a little more independent than that. I was thinking about going to another nearby pool, that is nice because they have both indoor and outdoor pools. With rain being in the forecast all week, I thought I'd try this out. It's about $6.50 to get in, and that didn't seem so bad. I was about to get ready and head there, when I talked to my friend Jan, who asked if I had tried the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex. More specifically, the Aquatic Center.

I am SO glad I talked to her. A while ago I remember her telling me her kids loved it, and it is really inexpensive, and open year-round, but I had never taken the time to look into it. I quickly did a little online research, and knew this was the place for me. The prices are great! For the pool, it's only $5.00 if you want to pay per visit, but I went ahead and got the month pass for a mere 18 bucks. I'm pretty sure that is the best deal around. Also, for a family, it's only $30.00 for the whole month. They don't make you sign contracts, and it's open every day. You can sigh up for a one, three, or six month membership, and there is so much more to this place besides the pool, but that is all I looked into this time. When it's time to work off all this baby weight, I'm looking into the fitness center for sure!

So I took the very quick 10 minute drive to this place and found it very inviting. There's a competition pool, and a kids pool. The kids pool looked pretty awesome with it's mini lazy river, huge water slide, and all kids of splash mechanisms. There was also a ginormous hot tub, which of course I didn't get in, but it sure looked nice.

On the other side there was a lap pool for the more serious swimmers, and a more freestyle pool area where people could choose their own form or water aerobics, and move about as they please. That is where I hing out. I was so giddy to start swimming. So I donned my new bikini, and was all set. (Yes I wore a bikini with my large belly hanging out. I have no shame. My mother-in-law and I saw them on clearance at H&M while she was in town, and we couldn't resist. And the cute cover-ups that were on sale were roomy enough for me as well. Thanks for the prize, Janice. I want to get a lot of swimming out of it before the stretch marks make their grand appearance.)

I was a little self-conscious at first, being at least 20 years younger than the youngest person there, and showing quite a lot more skin, but as soon as I was in the water, and felt every tension released from my body, all my qualms had disappeared, even if I did hear bits and pieces of conversations about colonoscopies, and other topics that might be discussed among this crowd. With my low-impact work-out, I fit right in with the senior citizens, even looking to them for some techniques I should try. I swam for a blissful hour (taking a break to eat my sandwich). And since it's indoor, no sunburns, or sunscreen, which I am very happy about. I even enjoyed the padded benches available for the showers afterward. It's like this place was built just for me and my triplet belly. It was disappointing to get out. It almost felt like the ligaments were straining more than before as I felt the weight come back, but it just makes me look forward to going back even more. Now I know what I've been missing.

I might just make this part of my daily routine. I have a feeling that the movement of the joints, and the exercise to my muscles is going to help immensely with the growing pain I am feeling everyday, and hopefully help me to sleep better too. This place is truly a blessing to me, and I just know my money was very well spent. Area friends, you should come along!

I thought I'd also add, that a friendly lady kindly guessed that I am 8 months along. Ha! I wish!

I feel much better now.

It is just after 10 am and I am just getting up for the day.

Mission accomplished.

Sleep? What's sleep?

Lately, sleep has been more exhausting, than restful. I know what you are all thinking. That this will only prepare me for when the babies come, yadda, yadda, yadda. But hopefully then, when I actually do lie down in my what-I-used-to-think-was-comfortable bed, I may actually feel a tiny bit rested when I wake up. I usually wake up every hour or two during the night, and am pretty frustrated by morning. I think the rapid weight gain, mixed with the absence of exercise, causing pain in my back and my joints, along with the constant use of the bathroom, my tummy growling for food, and the babies saying hello in their funny yet violent ways, has really taken a toll on my REM Cycle. And it also doesn't help that KC was pulling an all-nighter at work last night to finish some overdue projects. I don't like a lonely bed. I've taken unisom for most of my pregnancy, but am trying to lay off it. It doesn't work sometimes anyway. So now I get it when I hear of pregnant people having trouble sleeping. I hear you loud and clear. But it's so true that the silly hardships of pregnancy are nothing compared to the rewards in the end. I'm counting down the days!

So now it is about 6 am, I've been awake since 4:30, ate a bowl of oatmeal, and took half of a unisom, in hopes that I sleep another few hours. Thanks for the venting session, and sorry about my complaints. I just know others out there can relate. And I definitely know it's all a small sacrifice for the little loves in my belly, but sometimes, they just gotta let mommy rest!

Bonker

When I was babysitting a few months back, it was a very common occurrence to be going about our daily activities, and then all of the sudden hear a loud bonking sound over and over coming from the sun room on the side of the house. When I first heard this, I investigated the incessant noise. While walking over to the room, I asked the kids what the noise was. Wade replied without even really looking up from what he was doing, that it was "Bonker", the aptly named red Cardinal that made a daily visit to the window. The kids were used to it, but I was stunned. Every day this poor little bird slammed himself over and over into the glass as if he were determined to get in one of these days. And he never learned his lesson either. This happened almost every time I went to their house, and we always knew when Bonker had arrived. He'd perch on the branch near the window, ram into it, go back to his perch, and do it all over again. Poor little fella.

At our house, we have a similar scenario, but it isn't always the same window or the same bird, as far as I know. But every now and then we hear a loud startling smacking sound on one of our several windows surrounding the house. They have even made me jump at times. I feel so sorry for the little birds, fearing that some of these loud smacks might lead to their doom. There was one rather loud one I remember, and it wasn't until a day or two later that I found this when I opened the blinds.

They must see the reflection of the trees or something, and just think they are having a nice flight, only to get blindsided. When will they learn? It kind of reminds me of this commercial, only it's them getting back at us for all that we put them through with our blasted windows.

A productive couple of days.

While KC's mom was here, we. . .

• Tested some chairs at the La-Z-Boy store. (I'm converted, btw.)
• Went furniture shopping for the nursery.
• Got rid of previously mentioned extra medications.
• Found some deals at the mall, including a couple shirts, and swimwear (I fantasize about the pool these days.)
• Went grocery, and Target shopping.
• Looked at paint samples at home depot. Tried one on our bookshelf. Didn't love it.
• Made kabobs and let KC grill them.
• Bought decided color of paint at home depot, along with a brush, roller, pan, and drop cloth.
• Watched Clifford (the Martin Short version) because Janice had never seen it, and had quite a laugh.
• Took naps.
• Finally bought a dresser for the nursery (also to be painted.)
• Ate some really good Chinese food, and had leftovers for lunch the next day.
• Saw the Air Force Memorial.
• Watched Passengers. Not a bad flick, but pretty predictable.
• Last but not least, gestated. This one I did on my own.(This may seem like a given, but I think it deserved mentioning. Every day is an accomplishment, and is sometimes pretty hard work.)

We were so glad Janice could stop by for a few days on her way home from Boston. She really helped me accomplish some things I've had on my list for a while. KC was pretty busy most of the time, but Janice and I didn't seem to run out of things to do/talk about, with the babies usually being the center of attention. We are planning on seeing a lot more of Janice, and many more family members in the near future, and we can't wait.

Now, I've got furniture to put together, and paint. Hurray, things are finally falling into place. But, as the nursery comes together, it seems that every other room gets neglected and/or cluttered from the stuff being moved from it to make room for the babes. Ah well, one step at a time.

Adios IVF meds!

After our final and successful IVf cycle, we were left with SO many extra medications. In cycles past, my body didn't respond to the lower doses, so we had to use a lot to get my hormones where they wanted them to be. So, my doctor, after he had learned what he thought I needed, ordered accordingly. But for some reason during this last one, my body needed a lot less medication to produce the desired result, leaving us with mentioned extras. So, as I've been cleaning and organizing, I filled a huge back full of our used sharps container filled with those wretched needles, hundreds of unused needles and syringes, and several boxes of unopened meds. A couple days ago, I finally took them to my clinic for others who are in need of some emergency extra meds like we have needed in the past. They have had some on hand to give us in a pinch, so I am glad to be able to pay it forward.


We were so lucky to have some coverage on medications. It was only about $30 per box (which we used about 10 or something per cycle), whereas if you aren't covered, it can be anywhere from $500-$1000 per box. I always felt so bad when I thought of those that weren't covered and had to use so many boxes like we had to sometimes. I think We would've spent another $15,000 without this coverage. So even though procedures weren't covered, meds were, and that as a huge help. So, if my leftovers can help someone save a couple thousand bucks, I would be very happy.


It is strange though, after seeing those things in my house for over a year and a half, it just seemed like part of the decor or something. And now it's just vanished, as if it was never there. I had my own little pharmacy. I even used one of those door organizer pocket things filled with needles, alcohol swabs, bottles of meds, and band aids to make my life easier. It was just our life, and now it's gone. Not that I'm sad about it or anything, it's just a huge milestone. But I am more than ecstatic to replace those spaces with pacifiers, bibs, and tiny socks instead. Sounds like a great trade-off. Out with the old, in with the new.

That was probably the last time I. . .

I've been saying this to myself a lot lately. As my tummy grows, simple tasks have become, well, difficult. Most recently, it has preceded thing like: paint my toenails, carry in all the groceries, or scrub the tub. And I'm sure I am bound to say it about many more things in the coming months. KC is always eager to make up for what I lack. Let's see if I can get him to give me a pedicure one of these days.

So, really this is just an update on some recent happenings. Our life seem pretty ho-hum, on the outside at least. Things are getting pretty wild on the inside. These babies certainly know how to move.The sweethearts can really turn this belly into a circus with all the weird lumps and bumps they create. I have a feeling this part will get crazier by the day, turning it more into a freak show. It's quite entertaining most of the time, except when one presses again my rib cage, or kicks my bladder in the middle of church. The little kicks are starting to look like popcorn popping from under my shirt. I always love it when they say hello, even if it is slightly uncomfortable sometimes.

The July 4th weekend was pretty fun with barbecues on both Friday and Saturday nights. The first was at the Wahlquists who moved from our ward to Virgina a while ago. It was fun to catch up with them and laugh at their rapidly growing little baby. We even got a little Guitar Hero out of it. Thanks guys!

The next was at with group of ward friends . The Stromsdorfers hosted and provided more meat than I ever imagined at a gathering with only 4 couples and their kids. It was all delicious, and it was lovely to sit out on their screened-in deck to enjoy the outdoors without the mosquitoes. The kids were playing in the kiddie pool, while we all chatted and laughed for hours. The weather was perfect, unlike some past 4ths when it's either been raining cats and dogs, or too hot to breath. Some went to enjoy fireworks, but we headed home. I can only handle one event per day in this body. I definitely heard some in the distance from my bed, and I thought of the years to come when I'll take my kids to see them. It isn't the 4th of July without fireworks when you're a kid. And I just want to say that even though the second picture isn't among my favorites for obvious accentuated reasons, I thought I better put it up to laugh at later. It is what others see after all, so I might as well own up to the fact that I look this way, instead of trying to ignore it. It is for my babies, and what's a better reason to get chubby.

Well, I had another appointment yesterday and it's always so nice to hear that things are looking great so far. 20 weeks is quite beyond the halfway point for us, so even though we only have a few more months to go, it still feels like forever before I get to hold the little ones in my arms. But I am glad for the little time we have left so I can get a few more things done. I don't move as quickly these days with pulled muscles, and and aching back, so time is precious.

We were delighted to see the ultrasound in 3-D this time. They are already having little baby mannerisms, and looking so precious. Of course the parents always think there is so much more to pictures than others do, but why not try to see who resembles who, and laugh at their facial expressions, even if we look like crazy, first-time parents while we're doing it. I loved seeing their little fists open and close, and gazing at their perfectly formed little fingers. There are tiny little people inside this belly of mine. It's really insane, if you think about it.

We only got some shots of the girl, and one of the boys. The other guy was facing away from us, but he looks just like the other boy, so you get the idea. Though, his little bum is right in his brother's face. I guess he thought that was good enough.

Here's the boy (with mentioned bum of other boy):

And here's the girlie.

Are we crazy to already be completely in love with these little alien looking creatures?

Thank you Fireflies

Thank you little friends for the light show you put on outside my windows every night. You just might make the miserable east coast summers worth all the sweat, humidity, and mosquitoes. You will be one of the biggest things I miss should we move away from this place someday.

Car seats. . .check!

The other day while I was talking on the phone to Melody, I was distracted by some commotion outside. I was a little miffed when I thought it was just the neighbors making noise. But I soon realized it was a huge UPS truck dropping off three very large packages on my doorstep. This is what I found.

The story of how these came about is a little funny, so I'll share. It started on a day that I felt like we simple MUST start getting on the ball as far as major baby purchases. Since car seats seem to be pretty high up on that list of priorities, we started there. We went to Babies R Us just to get a feel of what we were dealing with. There wasn't much of a variety to choose from, so I quickly glanced and moved on to other baby stuff, thinking we'd just go online to make the purchase. I'd seen car seats before, so it wasn't anything new to me, but KC was in a whole new world. He stayed in that aisle for quite some time pushing buttons, pulling straps, reading specs, lifting so see the difference in weight, and just anything else an engineer can think of when examining car seats for the first time. It hadn't crossed my mind that this was new territory to him. He was quite amazed at this new complex gadget that he'd come across. When he was satisfied with learning all he could, we went home and he started to search online. I was too tired to care about it anymore for that day, so I went to bed thinking we'd made enough progress and we'd work on it some more tomorrow. KC usually joins me a little while later since I retire so early these days. This time it was quite a while later. When I woke up and noticed the time, I asked what he had been doing all night, he responded with, " I now know everything there is to know about car seats." I couldn't help but laugh, but he was serious. He had read every forum, review, and car seat technicians advice he could come across. He found all these car seat crazy people who write on these forums, and as their signature after each entry they include how many kids they have, what kind of car seat they have/had each of them in, and whether they are rear-facing, or front facing, or when they graduated to front facing or seat belt alone, as if it were some huge milestone in their family's life. But of course it is all in acronyms that you are supposed to just know if you are in the car seat forum community. For example : DD born 4/11/05 in FF Pink Sky Britax Frontier. There was one lady who I guess you could call a "car seat purist" who kept her son rear facing for as long as possible (like those people who breastfeed until their kids are five). They usually include pictures, and this kids legs were all Indian style against the seat since he couldn't stretch out. They must've had some ceremony and shed a few tears when they turned him around. Did you know there were people like this out there?

Anyway, KC must've been so entertained that he stuck around those forums to learn as much as he could. Amidst the craziness, there was a lot of good information concerning preemies, and what the hospital technician will require when we take them home in their tiny state. When KC found what he wanted, he looked for deals, and finally found exactly what suited him in model and price. They are actually a new model that have rave reviews. He did a lot more research than I would've thought necessary, but isn't that a dad's job? I let him take the lead where he wants to, saving me the trouble of deciding myself. The bottom like is, they look like they will do their job well, and I can't wait to start using them.

Now, let's just hope they fit in the stroller frame I've finally decided on.