Gestational Age: 25 weeks
Pregnancy Weight: 197.5 lb
Symptoms: harder time breathing when lying down, swollen ankles, sore back, stretch marks on BB,
Man, the days are just crawling by. I am holding my breath. I've been having braxton-hicks every day. Some days are filled with them. One day, I was having them every 15 minutes and only after an hour or so of lying down chugging water did it slow down to every 20 minutes. Even lying down all day sometimes doesn't slow it. I was starting to freak out that I wasn't going to be able to make it. Thankfully, the last two days have been real good, and I have just have them sporadically throughout the day.
My doc says to make sure we're ready for the babies because I'll be on bed rest soon. yah, right. Our house is a mess. I'm finally able to go on Amazon and order things, my first attempts were heartbreaking and would bring on sobbing fits as I realized I can only plan on enough for two babies. A part of me is scared to even do that. I think we're just going to buy one crib for now and then the second one after the babies come home and are doing fine. And of course, there's no place to put anything. Our house is so full of stuff, it is taking forever to sort through things. I'm just realizing that things are not going to get done. I have high hopes and dreams but not really.
Being home everyday is boring. I'm not mobile so I really can't take advantage of it to do things that would make me enjoy it. Like cleaning...or organizing. I have to lie down and I tackle a few tasks every day...so it doesn't make me feel like I'm making any headway. My dear mother, my dear absentee mother was supposed to come help me clean windows but she hasn't returned my call. The one time I call her in three years and she doesn't return it. That just figures. Sheesh.
I am getting tons of quality time with Scott although it's just us sitting at home. I wish we could think of things to do that my chubby, immobile self could do. I told Scott to get us a wheelchair and then he could push me around the neighborhood.
I love being pregnant. You feel special. Man, everyone jumps up and carries things for me. Brings me chairs. I need it so I greatly appreciate it. Oh, and the babies are so active. I think they take turns being awake so someone is always kicking. We went to see Dr. O yesterday and I smiled as the babies kicked his little ultrasound wand. That's my soccer girls.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
24 weeks (4 weeks until the big milestone)
Gestational Age: 24 weeks
My weight: 196 lb
Symptoms: Big belly, we've noticed the faint darkened line appearing that runs down the center of my tummy, the belly button still has a lip...it's fighting the urge to become and outie (plus, I push it in as much as possible), back starting to hurt when I lie down on my side (that sucks), feet are swollen little pillows and sometimes my toes get all tingly because of it
According to our book, each baby should be about 1 1/2 pounds. That's a singleton rate and triplets start to fall behind singletons as we approach the mid to late twenty weeks. But my babies were all over 1 pound last week so I'm pretty sure they all hit that for this week at least.
Last week, the doc ordered me to up my calcium and protein intake. I also read that pregnant women who don't have enough iron will be more tired and supply less oxygen to their babies. Since my baby has a heart defect, I can't have that happening. So, I've begun taking calcium supplements, plus a prenatal vitamin, and an iron pill. And I drink a breakfast replacement drink as a snack every day. I think it's better but I don't think I'm getting enough, I may have to up my calcium just a bit. But it's hard. The drink fills me up and one time I drank it and then I couldn't eat dinner. Stomach small and squished by now. I have to work on protein because right now the babies are starting to build up their fat stores and muscles. Too bad there's no protein pills.
Some days I have tons of braxton-hicks even when I'm just lying down or doing nothing and some days I don't.
I read the threads on triplet forums about parents who have lost one or more of their triplets. It made me realize how many people give birth super early...and these next four weeks are critical. so many of them were because they went into labor between weeks 23 and 28. It has scared me and even though our house is a mess, dirty, and completely unprepared for any baby, I'll have to just let it go and work on growing fat, old babies.
I tried to go on Amazon yesterday and look up some preemie clothes. I wanted to buy little hats and then I started crying when I didn't know to buy 2 or 3. Gizmo will be with us for a little bit and I want her to be dressed...but for how long will we have her. Then I saw these little preemie dresses and started crying. I should buy her a nice outfit. I started crying so badly, I had to stop shopping. I found this website blog about a mom who discovered her baby son had a terminal heart defect. he lived for almost 11 hours after birth and I just sobbed uncontrollably reading it. I know it will be such a blessing to be able to meet and hold and hug and kiss Gizmo...but I have no idea how I'm going to be able to survive losing her. I really hadn't thought about how hard it was going to be until I read this mom's account. Just last week, I was watching this special on the mermaid girl. This sweet 10 year old girl with mermaid's disease who wasn't supposed to live more than a few weeks. She was just captivating, what an endearing little girl. She came down with a lung infection and the family spent time with her in the ICU before she passed away. Oh, I just bawled and bawled. I just don't want to do it. I don't want to lose gizmo, I just don't.
Please Lord, keep all my girls safe. Keep them growing and healthy and happy. Thank you for them and every day I have them.
My weight: 196 lb
Symptoms: Big belly, we've noticed the faint darkened line appearing that runs down the center of my tummy, the belly button still has a lip...it's fighting the urge to become and outie (plus, I push it in as much as possible), back starting to hurt when I lie down on my side (that sucks), feet are swollen little pillows and sometimes my toes get all tingly because of it
According to our book, each baby should be about 1 1/2 pounds. That's a singleton rate and triplets start to fall behind singletons as we approach the mid to late twenty weeks. But my babies were all over 1 pound last week so I'm pretty sure they all hit that for this week at least.
Last week, the doc ordered me to up my calcium and protein intake. I also read that pregnant women who don't have enough iron will be more tired and supply less oxygen to their babies. Since my baby has a heart defect, I can't have that happening. So, I've begun taking calcium supplements, plus a prenatal vitamin, and an iron pill. And I drink a breakfast replacement drink as a snack every day. I think it's better but I don't think I'm getting enough, I may have to up my calcium just a bit. But it's hard. The drink fills me up and one time I drank it and then I couldn't eat dinner. Stomach small and squished by now. I have to work on protein because right now the babies are starting to build up their fat stores and muscles. Too bad there's no protein pills.
Some days I have tons of braxton-hicks even when I'm just lying down or doing nothing and some days I don't.
I read the threads on triplet forums about parents who have lost one or more of their triplets. It made me realize how many people give birth super early...and these next four weeks are critical. so many of them were because they went into labor between weeks 23 and 28. It has scared me and even though our house is a mess, dirty, and completely unprepared for any baby, I'll have to just let it go and work on growing fat, old babies.
I tried to go on Amazon yesterday and look up some preemie clothes. I wanted to buy little hats and then I started crying when I didn't know to buy 2 or 3. Gizmo will be with us for a little bit and I want her to be dressed...but for how long will we have her. Then I saw these little preemie dresses and started crying. I should buy her a nice outfit. I started crying so badly, I had to stop shopping. I found this website blog about a mom who discovered her baby son had a terminal heart defect. he lived for almost 11 hours after birth and I just sobbed uncontrollably reading it. I know it will be such a blessing to be able to meet and hold and hug and kiss Gizmo...but I have no idea how I'm going to be able to survive losing her. I really hadn't thought about how hard it was going to be until I read this mom's account. Just last week, I was watching this special on the mermaid girl. This sweet 10 year old girl with mermaid's disease who wasn't supposed to live more than a few weeks. She was just captivating, what an endearing little girl. She came down with a lung infection and the family spent time with her in the ICU before she passed away. Oh, I just bawled and bawled. I just don't want to do it. I don't want to lose gizmo, I just don't.
Please Lord, keep all my girls safe. Keep them growing and healthy and happy. Thank you for them and every day I have them.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
23 weeks 1 day We're staying here
Gestational Age: 23 w 1 d
Weight: 192.7 lb, but that was yesterday and I've been eating tons more so it should be way higher
Symptoms: belly button is starting to get a lip on the top, I think I'm getting an outie. feet sore.
Prayer Requests: Gizmo's heart. Astro keeps growing and keeping up.
We really prayed for a direction. Our doctor was presenting our case to a group of doctors from San Diego to see if there was a good chance that surgery could be an option for Gizmo if she makes it to delivery. Our doc called us on Friday. I chickened out and didn't want to be the recipient. So I made the doc call Scott and Scott told me in person. The doctors pretty much said that it could be possible but they wouldn't recommend it as an option to consider. She would be too small as a preemie and the risks were high. They recommended we deliver here and offer comfort care. The reassuring news was that a number of them seemed to think that she could make it to delivery.
It was a relief to hear, just a clear direction. We know where we are going and now we can just pray into it. Being in chaos was just emotional torture. As the relief wore off, it started to get more real and I started crying. Just randomly...driving home, in the bathroom. I woke up in the middle of the night and just thought about having to say good-bye to her and I started crying. Now we know what to prepare for but there's no way we'll ever be fully prepared for it. I so can't wait to meet her and I'm glad they think we have a good chance to. I'll be able to hold her and kiss her. But it will also make it a lot harder to say goodbye. Now that I know I'm most likely going to lose one baby, I cannot lose two babies. That's all I kept thinking about all weekend.
We followed up with our neonatal specialist today to see how the babies were doing. He was very positive. Said that the identicals seem to be sharing equally and that we just keep going forward. He also gave me some stern warnings about taking it easy and eating more. According to my weekly development book, our babies are going to be just gaining weight and fat stores from now until the end...so I have to. We want old, fattie babies.
Weight: 192.7 lb, but that was yesterday and I've been eating tons more so it should be way higher
Symptoms: belly button is starting to get a lip on the top, I think I'm getting an outie. feet sore.
Prayer Requests: Gizmo's heart. Astro keeps growing and keeping up.
We really prayed for a direction. Our doctor was presenting our case to a group of doctors from San Diego to see if there was a good chance that surgery could be an option for Gizmo if she makes it to delivery. Our doc called us on Friday. I chickened out and didn't want to be the recipient. So I made the doc call Scott and Scott told me in person. The doctors pretty much said that it could be possible but they wouldn't recommend it as an option to consider. She would be too small as a preemie and the risks were high. They recommended we deliver here and offer comfort care. The reassuring news was that a number of them seemed to think that she could make it to delivery.
It was a relief to hear, just a clear direction. We know where we are going and now we can just pray into it. Being in chaos was just emotional torture. As the relief wore off, it started to get more real and I started crying. Just randomly...driving home, in the bathroom. I woke up in the middle of the night and just thought about having to say good-bye to her and I started crying. Now we know what to prepare for but there's no way we'll ever be fully prepared for it. I so can't wait to meet her and I'm glad they think we have a good chance to. I'll be able to hold her and kiss her. But it will also make it a lot harder to say goodbye. Now that I know I'm most likely going to lose one baby, I cannot lose two babies. That's all I kept thinking about all weekend.
We followed up with our neonatal specialist today to see how the babies were doing. He was very positive. Said that the identicals seem to be sharing equally and that we just keep going forward. He also gave me some stern warnings about taking it easy and eating more. According to my weekly development book, our babies are going to be just gaining weight and fat stores from now until the end...so I have to. We want old, fattie babies.
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