23 weeks!

I made it another week!

Just one more week to viability. yeah!!!!

This is my HUGE belly! You can see how it pulls my back. My poor, poor back. It screams from the painful knots at night and then I feel like screaming, but I don't have the lung capacity so I just whimper. I would cry, but I think it would hurt too much. It hurts to sit up and it hurts to lie down. I have dealt with painful muscles before after running marathons and this doesn't even compare. I WILL make it through!

I have been doing the Home Uterine Monitoring each day this week. A nurse came on Monday and set me all up. It monitors for contractions. I have to put this belt on twice a day that is hooked up to a computer monitor. After an hour of monitoring, I hook the computer up to a modem and then send the information to a nurse who calls with my update. I am allowed to have 7 contractions in the time I monitor and the most I have had is four. I have never even felt one! I don't even know what a contraction feels like since I had a c-section with Brooke. I have a lot of irritability in my uterus each time which are like mini contractions, but that is okay. I don't feel that either. I will have to continue to monitor for contractions from here on out. If I have more than seven I will have to get a pump that injects medication into my leg. I am just hoping to stay out of the hospital.

I have passed my husband up with my weight! Actually probably a few weeks ago since he only weighs 160. Poor Troy gets a workout trying to help me up from the couch or bed. He is very helpful and massages my knots each night. He will probably have to get his thumbs repaired after all of this from pushing on the knots so hard. If he eventually gets arthritis in his thumbs, you'll know why.

This is going to be a FABULOUS week! Monday my hair dresser is coming over to give me a haircut! Yeah! I am also going to get a pedicure at home this week because... I have my friend shower on Saturday! I am really looking forward to the shower and seeing everyone! I have the best friends and neighbors in the world and I feel so blessed they are hosting a shower for me.

The meals are still going GREAT! I just can't thank everyone enough who are bringing meals and signing up on the carecalendar. We LOVE it and it helps more than you can imagine. Thank you, thank you!!!!

Brooke getting ready to get her picture taken with real bunnies for Easter in the dress her Bubba got her.

Brooke and Troy changing the door on the laundry room so that it opens the opposite way. She is his little helper. Troy is getting so much done around the house! This weekend he is painting the hallway by the garage door and the laundry room. Brooke even helps him with the taping and she is pretty good at it.

22 weeks & dr visit

This is baby A (Reagan Faith). The pictures of the other two girls were not that great. I always think they look like smooshed aliens. They are much prettier when we are at the doctor.

Good news!
* My cervix is still closed and tight!
* No evidence of Twin to Twin Transfusion!
*Good levels of amniotic fluid!
* All three babies weigh 1lb. Yeah!
This is very good news because they are a little bigger than expected and Dr. Kirshon thought the identicals would be smaller than baby A since they share everything. Yipeee! He was very pleased with everything and we're still hoping for 34 weeks. Just 12 more weeks to go!
*not dwarfs or little people (I asked)
*no clef pallets (I asked)

Here are the official names:
A- Reagan Faith
B - Paige Anne
C - Kara Grace

We've had to have lots of Faith and Grace throughout this process and will continue to. Ann is after Troy's mom RoseAnn and my grandmother Anneliese.

How I am feeling...
My mood is good, but in the evening my skin on the sides of my belly feels like it is RIPPING open. I mean ripping! I felt like someone had a blow torch on each of my sides last night. I held my sides just in case I got a gaping hole and a baby might come out. I rub all kinds of lotions, creams and butters on my belly. It doesn't help, but I do it every day anyway. It is just growing so fast.
My back is a mess! My belly pulls on my back and I have so many knots. The only thing that helps the knots are when Troy rubs my back and pushes very hard on them.
And finally, I don't sleep at night. I roll from side to side to ease the pain in my back and go to the bathroom at least four times. The doctor said I could take Tylenol PM and did last night, but it didn't work! Before being pregnant if I took two of them I would feel drugged for two days. Last night was a normal night.
At least I am not having any major complications and my babies are doing great.
I have a lot to be grateful for, so I can live with the pain of my skin and back a little longer.

A nurse will be coming out to hook me up to a Home Uterine Monitoring system. For what I understand, I have to put this belt on twice a day and it monitors to see if I am having contractions (some women have contractions and don't even know it). It is hooked up to our phone line and a nurse will read it. I'll let you know how it goes once it is all hooked up. We had to check with our insurance first. It is covered, but we have to still meet our deductible, so it will be pricey.

I had a good week. Troy was in Canada and my mom stayed with Brooke & I. Thank you MOM! Brooke had lots of play dates since it was her spring break. Thank you Julie & Gracen, Wendy & Claudia!
She even got her picture taken with real bunnies for Easter. Thank you Rhonda & Kate!

I got out! After my doctor's appointment on Friday we went to eat dinner at Road House in Pearland. The doctor said I could go out to eat, but no standing. It was 4pm and I was ready to be out! I haven't been out to eat since at least January. January!!! I was looking around the restaurant like a foreigner, soaking everything in. It was wonderful.
On Saturday a neighbor had a crawfish boil and I went. I just sat in a chair in the whole time, but I got to socialize. Wow! It was amazing. Troy even peeled me a few crawfish.
Today I hope to sit outside in the sun. I need the vitamin D and my skin has never been so pale in all of my life. Well, probably since birth. If you come over, you will need sunglasses for my blinding skin. I am hoping a little tan will also help me look thinner!

We've been having fun playing wii thanks to Valerie and Mike. Brooke is really good at bowling and boxing. We may have to eventually buy one.

The carecalendar is awesome! We had some great food this week from:
Alexis-spinach & turkey stuffed shells
Tia - Goode Company BBQ potatoes
Shelley- Chick-fil-A sandwhiches and Rice Krispie Treats
Kathy - Lasagna
Thank you! Thank you!!! I can't tell you how much that helps out.

Troy doesn't travel any more until after the babies are born and Brooke is back at school this week, so things are going smoothly. That is my prayer...healthy babies, healthy mama and things to go smoothly around here.

21 weeks!

We only have three more weeks until the babies are viable! 24 weeks is a BIG number for triplet pregnancies. Viable means they can live if they were born. We certainly don't want 24 weeks because there would be a ton of health concerns. We are still hoping for 34 weeks (June 13). That is the ultimate goal. Once we hit 24 weeks, our next goal will be 28 weeks. I love setting goals and need something to look forward to, so we'll take it one step at a time.

As much as bed rest and being in the house all day gets to me, I certainly don't want the babies to be born too early. I want these babies to be as healthy as can be.

On Sundays Troy teaches a class at church and Brooke goes with him to Sunday school. I watch the service live on line. It is great! Today after they returned I got out!!! Troy took me to Dillard's to exchange make-up and then to Barnes & Noble. I even had Starbucks while there. It was magical! He had to push me in a wheelchair with Brooke on my lap (knees) and it was raining, but that was okay. I was out! I feel like the world is going on without me, but today I was part of it. It really helped my mood. I am now having some cramping so I am lying down on my left side like a good patient and drinking my gallon of water.

I feel the babies move a lot more and it is so wonderful. It really puts a smile on my face. They seem to be a bit nocturnal. They will fit in our family because Brooke doesn't like to go to bed at night and says that she is nocturnal.

This week Troy will be traveling to Canada Tuesday - Friday and my mom will be babysitting us. She was going to be off of work, but they changed her schedule and now has to work 5am-5pm. She'll still be able to spend the night and help with Brooke in the evenings. I am working on finding things for Brooke to do this week because it is her spring break. It is working out. yeah! This is Troy's last trip until after the babies are born.

We have a doctor's appointment on Friday at 2:20pm. We'll be taking Brooke to it for the first time. She is excited to see the babies.

Please pray for safe travel for Troy this week, no pregnancy complications and a good doctor's appointment. We need three healthy babies.

Here our the babies names. Reagan, Paige, & Kara (both Troy and Brooke like Kara). Now, I need some middle names. Any suggestions?

Thank you to...
Miriam for letting us (me) try her Spinach Stew this week. Troy or Brooke wouldn't try it, but it was so good! I think the word spinach threw them for a loop. I LOVE spinach!

Valerie & Mike for bringing me a Lenny's Sub on Friday and watching Ellen with me.

Rhonda - pushing me all around at bible study Tuesday in the wheelchair & spending the afternoon with me on Saturday and bringing me lunch. Also, taking me to Target! There is probably lots more. Rhonda's my angel.

Also, thank you Valerie for setting up the calendar for dinners on-line. It is awesome. We can see what meals are coming and when. It gets me so excited and something to look forward to!! I can't wait for stuffed shells this week and Chick-Fil-A from Alexis and Shelly! yummy!
If you are interested in checking it out go to:
http://www.carecalendar.org/
ID 13435c
CODE 7272

My life before, present, & future

MY PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE LIFE

This week was my last week of bible study (my one outing during the week) and it is the last week that I will be able to take Brooke to school. I just can't get myself and her ready in the mornings. I ended up out of breath with my heart racing just trying to get Brooke dressed. What has happened to me?

MY PAST LIFE...

My life has changed tremendously in the past few months. I went from running 3 marathons last year and teaching aerobics to... (well see for yourself below).

Brooke & I at the Race For The Cure this past October 2008. She wanted her own number, so Troy made her one. She wore that shirt to all my races last year. She even had her own "marathon chair" (lawn chair) to watch the races.

AUSTIN MARATHON 2008!!!

We were all supposed to wear those crazy socks, but looks like April had taken hers off.

Getting ready to run the Austin Marathon with my Cheetah girls! We all try to match each race.

I also ran Dallas & Houston last year. (Just one year ago.)

In January I taught my last aerobics class (only two months ago)!

MY PRESENT LIFE.....
THIS IS HOW I GET AROUND NOW!!!

My last day of bible study this Tuesday. Rhonda pushed me in a wheelchair while I held her daughter and Brooke held on to the side. We had it all figured out.

My new way to shop. Just FYI, these carts are very slow and beep VERY loud when you backup. It is amusing.

MY PRESENT LIFE AT HOME....

I am either on the couch all day or...

For fun I can work on my laptop or watch tv or...

Lie on the bed with my big Snoogle pillow. I also have to have a wedge pillow under my belly.

If you are wondering if it gets boring - yes.

If you are wondering if I sometimes feel stir crazy - yes.

If you are wondering if it gets depressing - yes.

Lying down all day also hurts your back and hips.

I know that this is the best thing for the babies and am willing to do whatever I can to keep them in until 34 weeks.

This is Brooke. She put a baby in her belly and said, "I am pregnant on bed rest." It was so funny! She even had my big water cup. Then she pretended to call the doctor and said, "I am tired of being on bed rest. I want to go up the stairs."


MY FUTURE LIFE.....

I will be pushing my triplets in this jogging stroller! I can't wait!

Brooke will be riding along on her bike.

5 months!!! (20 weeks)

I have made it to 20 weeks!!!

It feels so good to be in the 20's. The babies are actually viable (can live) at 24 weeks, so we are on the countdown to 34 weeks. Thirty-four weeks is still 3 1/2 months away (June 13th), but we are making progress. Some days feel like they go by fast, but many days are slow. There are times when I just don't know if I can make it, but I have to shake off the pity party, take a deep breath, say a prayer and try to change my thought process. It can be tough, I won't lie. The babies are moving and that is so wonderful and makes me feel really connected to them. It is a great feeling! Now, we just have to figure out names! I would like to be able to talk to them by name or know which one is kicking me. There are just so many to name! I am tired of calling them A,B & C. So far, we know we like Reagan & Paige. The last one is either Kara or Tori. I like Tori and think it is cute for Troy. Troy prefers Kara. We'll see what happens. Hopefully by next week.

Here is some 20 week baby info:

* 10 inches long (about the size of a banana)

* can detect sounds inside & outside womb

* swallows, sucks thumb & gets hiccups

Now... that is a belly! 5 months pregnant and I still have 3 1/2 to go. It feels like it is busting at the seams sometimes.
It's Rodeo Time In Texas! Brooke had "Go Texan Day" at school. She loves her pink cowboy boots with the silver tips.
Brooke's NEW room. It is pretty much finished, we just need some accessories! It is very pink & she loves her big bed.
We had a painting party on Saturday. My brother Ronnie and his girlfriend Sarah came in town from Austin and helped Troy paint the study (which will be the downstairs nursery). They also painted the formal living room. Sarah's sister even helped paint. My mom made us a yummy lunch. Thank you all so much!
Brooke helped to paint too! She had a roller just her size.

Thank you this week to:

Shawna - for a great dinner on Sunday. It was so nice to get out of the house and sit in your recliner (instead of mine). The company is priceless.

Lisa F - delicious homemade spaghetti dinner. Yum!

Rhonda - taking me to bible study & everything little thing daily

Bridget - Pei Wei & playing with Brooke while we were feeling down

Kim - keeping Brooke on Wednesday and taking her to cooking class Friday.

Sandy - carmel brownies! so good.

Dolores - burritos!! yeah!

Wendy - carpooling & taking Brooke to the park. I always enjoy your visits too.

Miriam - cupcakes! Brooke ate two of them.

Jamie - veggie soup & chicken dumplings (always thinking of us with your meals) & my blog!

Mom - philly cheese steak sandwiches (delish NJ meal), washing clothes, changing my sheets and just helping out

Sarah & Mom - taking me to Target & pushing me in the wheelchair.

My wonderful husband - painting, feeding me, cleaning up, helping me up, making Brooke's lunches and getting her clothes ready, rubbing my aching back and listening to me complain or have a pity party when I don't think I can make it another day.

Thank you to everyone who even just calls, emails or comes by. The days that go by slow are the worst and any outside contact helps.