19 Weeks!

How Far Along: 19 Weeks!

How Big are the Babies: The girls are as big as mangos (another BIG yummy) about 6 inches and 8.5 ounces (I still think they're much bigger than this). Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats each baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if the babies are premature (thebump.com).

Weight Gain: Going up and up each week now. In the morning, I am around 136 lbs. and at night more like 141 lbs. - AH! Not so bad so far, considering by the end of this pregnancy I hope to be in the 160-170 lbs. - BIG AHHHH!


Symptoms: Definitely a lot more tired these days. I am just worn out. I actually have some moments when I think, hmm, bed rest seems ok to me at this point...but those thought are very few. Backaches are TERRIBLE! Some headaches.

Oh, and I ran out of my B6 vitamin that I have been taking since the beginning of my pregnancy to help with the nausea (which it sooo did) and I didn't think anything of it until the other night, after a few days of feeling "just off" (a little nausea at times, tired, just feeling not myself) I realized I hadn't been taking it, so I am going to get it from CVS today and hopefully it gets me back on track. I swear that's what it's from.

Also, itchy tummy and itchy boobies. HEARTBURN...never in my life have I had heartburn, until now. Thirsty. Peeing a lot, of course. HUNGRY!

Emotions: Ok, this week. Just wondering how the heck we are going to get everything done in the house before these babies come... There is soooo much to do! i just want everything in it's place now...I can't wait. The showers seem to be forever away when I'll most likely be on bed rest, so I am just worried. I just want everything done and perfect now. I just tell myself, "breath, Holly, breath....it will all work out!"

Best Moment of the Week: At our yard sale this past weekend, my mom was telling everyone that we were cleaning stuff out because "we're getting ready to have triplets...my daughter's pregnant with triplet girls"....it was so funny to see the looks on people's faces, but was fun to talk about the girls and the pregnancy with total strangers.

Oh and seeing the girls in 3D at the appointment last Thursday...I know the post is very overdue, but coming!

Movement: All of the time, especially in the evenings, when were in bed reading...they love to kick their Momma! I mainly feel it in  my lower abdomen, which most likely is Madelynn, but could be Claire.

Maternity Clothes: Everything. My "small" maternity shirts are no longer an option. Looking to get some long-sleeve shirts for fall and another pair of pants.

Stretchmarks: Oh, I am so sad to say that I am getting a few on my inner boobies! Boo! I am still spreading myself with coca butter every single night, in hopes of getting none on my belly and no more on my boobies!

Sleep: Blah, not very good until about 4am, then I could sleep until 10am, which sometimes I do, on my days off during the week. But even on the weekends, Tim and I are both up around 7:30am, so I hardly ever sleep in on the weekends. Just during the week...when he's not home! Just up a lot and peeing constantly. But exhausted all day, and wanting to go to bed around 7:00pm every night.

Food Cravings: Everything and anything. I never am full. In the evenings, well from about 4pm on, I eat, eat and eat. I can not get enough of anything I can get my hands on to eat. Last night, Tim and I went to my parent's house for dinner and my mom made baked ziti (one of my favs) and everyone was laughing at me because I kept going back for more and more. My mom and sister were like, "it's so funny to see you eat like this"....LOL, I'm never full!! Tim, was like, "this is what she does every night. We have dinner, I do all the dishes and then Holly fills the sink with more dishes for her second, third and forth dinners..." HAHA! I get so mad when we're running low on food in the house because there's nothing that I want! I had to send my mom to the store the other day to get me bread and butter, because I had eaten all the bread and butter we had. It's crazy. I don' want anything to do with sweets or salty stuff though, more heavier things, like bread, butter, cheese, pasta, peanut butter, meat, but also lots of veggies...normally I eat a can of corn, peas, green beans or carrots while watching Dr. Phil or Oprah each day. Weird, I know.

Right now all I want is anything I can't have...or get my hands on in the house...mainly oysters and blue crabs (that's all I want soooo badly, so expensive, but I will be getting them soon). Onion rings and ranch dressing from Red Robin. Chipolte. Just don't want to waste our money on eating out --which we never do-- but it's so hard when I want everything. Just sucks!

Gender Predictions: Three little princesses!

What I Miss: Wine. Sleep.

What I am Looking Forward to: Seeing the babies next Monday at our Anatomy Scan, however not looking forward to being there for soooo long. I was told to "pack a lunch" because of how long it's going to take. Lovely. Hopefully, I don't have any episodes like last time. 

Also, the Lockheed Martin Corp. Picnic on Sunday..since Tim and my dad both work there, everyone knows about the babies. My dad has worked there for 21 years so EVERYONE knows him and our family too, so they tell me that there are a lot of people who can't wait to see me. Many of these people have known me since I was 2 years old, when I first went to the LMC Picnic (any my dad started working there). LOL- I used to win the hula-hoop competition every year and back in the day there was quite the competition for it, but I would always win and make the front page of the Lockheed newspaper...which was a big deal as a kid and teen. Everyone would be amazed how I could do all these tricks and blow anyone away with my skills----I know jealous, right?! LOL! I will try this year, in the backyard first of course, and if I can do it, watch out, because I will be 20 weeks preggo with triplets and still be able to beat all the others. HAHA..and maybe make the front page again! (I am such a dork, I know) I can't wait to bring the girls next year, and once they get old enough they will be taught to hula-hoop too!!

Weekly Wisdom: You don't have to do everything yourself. It's ok to have some help.

Questions: ??

And here is my baby bump photos this week. I guess I should stop saying "bump" because it's way more than a "bump"...more like a big balloon or a basketball!!!! (please excuse no make-up, we were on our way up to bed)

"Babies Shower" Dates Set!

Last week my mom came to me and told me about my shower that is going to be in Dover, Delaware on Saturday, October 23, 2010! I am so excited! I HATE surprises so I am very thankful to those who were on my side pushing for it NOT to be a surprise! I am so thankful to those who want to make it special for me and these little peanuts!

It will be so nice to be with family whom I don't get to see very often throughout the year and it will give my other relatives who live even more north, in New Jersey and New York a chance to join in the fun!! SO happy for that! I'm so sure it will be a time to remember!! My only wonder is how we are going to get things home, even in my parent's Tahoe, after seeing all the big boxes of some of the things we registered for! So, I am hoping people send things to the house, even though that is far less fun then opening at the shower, I don't want to be strapping things to the roof, haha!

Also, the following weekend, Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 2pm, my best friend is throwing me a shower at my house for all of my friends (and a few relatives too) who live in the area and can't make the Dover, DE shower (because honestly, I didn't think it was fair to have a shower in Dover, when all my friends and majority other family members live here, so she is more than happy to have one here...I LOVE YOU KIM!!!!) That was the invite that I showed a few days ago...I just couldn't stand not sharing it, I love it so much!! I am so excited to have a shower with all my friends in my house (I love hosting parties) with lots of yummy fall food and spiced cider! I LOVE FALL!

I already have a list of things to get done in the house before October 30th! But with the "bed rest" looming, I am trying the get things done before that begins! Wish me luck!

Easy Chicken and Dumplings!

Yum, this is one of our favorite recipes! I have "doctored" it up and perfected it in my mind, and according to Tim! I always make a double recipe and freeze the other half, which in our case is what I am doing with everything almost these days for that bed rest time that's approaching!

Anyway here it is! This is NOT doubled, but still serves around 4-6 people.

1 (32-oz) container of low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 3/4-oz) can of reduced-fat cream of chicken soup
2 (9-oz) packages of Purdue oven-roasted chicken, cut into small pieces
1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp. dried minced onion
1 (16-oz) can of refrigerated jumbo flaky layers buttermilk biscuits (the flaky layers makes them easy to divide into small pieces)
1 1/2 cups of frozen corn
1 1/2 cups of frozen peas
1 1/2 cups of frozen diced carrots (I use fresh sometimes, just boil for 35 minutes prior and cut them up small before adding to mixture)
1/3 cup of half n half (I like this because it makes it more creamy)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally for five minutes.  Then increase heat to medium-high and return to a low boil.

Pull biscuits apart into small circular pieces on a lightly floured surface and cut into thirds, about 1/2 inch thick pieces.

Drop biscuit strips, a few at a time into boiling mixture and stir constantly, while continuing to add them all. Once all the strips have been added, let simmer and stir for five more minutes.

Add frozen vegetables and half n half into mixture and stir. Cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent dumplings from sticking to sides on pot. 

Survivor Nicaragua!

So excited for Survivor tonight! I woke up this morning with a big smile on my face and now only 30 more minutes until the season premiere! I have only seen the last 20 seasons without missing any episodes, thanks to DVR's!  I was 14 years old when the first season was on, and I can remember it like yesterday, (we were vacationing at the Grand Canyon, and stopped to get KFC before returning to our hotel to watch Survivor..because we just couldn't bear missing it that evening)! My crazy family, but it's still something we all sit down to watch together and discuss, so I guess that's good! I just love Survivor and am totally addicted to it, along with a couple other stupid reality shows, which I'll share once they continue to come on for the Fall season.

There are a few of interesting people on this Survivor, like Jimmy Johnson...who Tim is rooting for even though we HATE the COWBOYS (which is one of the teams he used to coach) with a passion. We will see who else we like after the episode tonight! Ahh I can't wait...I'm such a dork!

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Shower Invites!

Aren't these adoable?!

I JUST LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18 Weeks!

How Far Along: 18 Weeks!

How Big are the Babies: The girls are as big as sweet potatoes (yum), about 5.6 inches and 6.7 ounces. (This is kind of off because last week at my appointment each baby was weighing at least 7.0 ounces.) Your babies have become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, they are finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon (thebump.com).

Weigh Gain: Probably up a pound from my appointment, so I am assuming, 134. Starting weight - 126 lbs., so total gained so far is 8 pounds. I hope to gain A LOT more! These babies need to fatten up, even though both of their parents are tall and skinny, I hope they get to normal birth weight before coming out! Come on babies...5 lbs. 2 ounces!!

Symptoms: Backaches, which the doctor said if I am having bad backaches, it's because I am doing too much. Lovely. Using the bathroom a lot, sore BIG boobs (growing by the day too), headaches...but other than that feeling great!

Emotions: Scared. Anxious. I realized this week, with some help from my therapist, that most first time moms are scared to death when it comes to carrying a baby, birthing a baby, and the whole thought of motherhood, a since I have three babies, I have an excuse to be a little more nuts about it and it's completely normal. Amen, because I was really starting to freak out and my anxiety doesn't help the situation. But I now have some good techniques to use when I go to the doctor so I don't have another panic attack! I'm fine, until I lay on that sonogram table and see my three babies and realize, "oh my Lord, those are our children...ALL THREE of them!" It will always freak me out, and I never expected it to.

I'm scared to go on bed rest. My next appointment will be 19w6d, and the doctor said if my cervix is at 3.0, bed rest will start, so that means that I will have (hopefully) 14 weeks until I'm 34 weeks, which is everyone goal. That's a long time to lay in bed, with no cable, not being able to fix meals, clean my house, feed my pets, do the laundry, get the mail, run errands, ya know all those things that make life go round each day. Thank God, I have a husband who loves to cook, and will vacuum any day, and will do everything I ask and more, but still it's not the same. I am a Type A Personality, I do things myself, because I am the only one who can do them that way and the way I like it to be done...(right, Melissa :) ) so I don't think I am going to handle this well. I am praying to God that he gives me the strenght to do it, understand it's ok to ask for help and have patience. Ugh, so hard for me!

Best Moment of the Week: I guess confirming the genders of the babies. A shock but glad to know now and not when they are born!! That's would have pissed me off. Getting more excited everyday to say "my girls" or "our girls" and hearing Tim say the same, it's so darn cute, and melts my heart. They will all be wrapped around his fingers and he knows it too! He already says, "I will no be the disciplinary parent, they will just say, daddyyyyy, plllleassseee and I'll always say ok!" We will have to work on that!

Movement: About once or twice a week, I can feel it on the outside of my tummy, but mostly it's all still only being felt internally. But looking forward to it more and more.

Maternity Clothes: Of course! Size "small" in maternity clothes it now way to tight around my abdomen and way too short to cover my whole belly at this point!

Stretchmarks: Nope!

Sleep: Getting more and more uncomfortable each night, since I swear I am growing by the day now! Using the bathroom a lot and just wide awake, but when I do sleep the dreams are still crazy (and some random nightmares).

Food Cravings: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I eat almost ever day now. Apples I love right now, lots of water still but I really don't need the lemon like I used to, hot chocolate I have been drinking in the mornings...and I don't know, I just eat all day long, anything I want!! Been eating a lot of cheese! Thank you to my MIL who bought me my FAVORITE cheese in the whole wide world from PA this past weekend (you can only get it at very few places around here, but all over in PA) !!! I have been shoveling it in! YUM!!!!!!!

Gender Predictions: (I guess I should have never taken this one out!) THREE PRINCESSES!!

What I Miss: Wine, and that will not change.

What I am Looking Forward to: A million and one things: Poolesville Day, Lockheed Martin Picnic, My Friend's Wedding, Mom of Multiples Baby Sale, Montgomery County Baby Bazaar, painting the girl's room, my baby shower in Dover, my baby shower here in town, fall, fall food, football (GO SKINS!), apple pies, apple cider, continuing to get the house ready for the babies, cleaning out stuff...ok, ok, that's enough! (that's only the rest of Sept and Oct!)

Weekly Wisdom: Slow it down, Mama! LOL! Put your feet up!

Questions: ??

And here is the growing belly photos...I want to get a cow costume for Halloween, because by that time I will be a cow! I can only imagine what I am going to look like by Thanksgiving and then Christmas...All I can think, is HOLY COW!



My flat belly button and stetching scar!



OB Appointment and Sonogram Photos - 17w3d

Today we had our our appointment with the OB once again. I think it seems like forever between appointments when I am standing there making my next appointment but then it literally flies by and I am already back in the office!

I was so excited to see how much the babies have grown since two weeks ago! It always blows my mind!

Tim was able to make this appointment and I was so happy to have him there, he hasn't missed but one, but he wasn't sure if he could make it due to being so busy at work, but he did.

I had my blood pressure taken, which was normal. My weight was 133.5 lbs...very good. And I did my urine sample, as I do every time to check the sugar. And then I went into the sonogram room and layed down.

First the sonographer checked my cervix. It has gone down/shortened, and the doctors are getting a little worried. 6 weeks ago my cervix was 4.7, then 4 weeks ago it was 3.8, 2 weeks ago it was 3.6 and now it was 3.4. The doctor said that if it gets to 3.0, my time of bed rest will begin. I am on strict orders not to lift anything heavier then my purse, no long walking, and LAY down and put my feet up, level with my heart every chance I can get. No sitting and no walking unless necessary. If I am sitting on the couch, that's not good enough, I need to be laying on my side and having my feet up. Also, this will help with the swelling that will most likely come in the future weeks.

Then the nurse came in and asked me if I was having any problems with urinating or pain/burning when using the bathroom, ect. I said, "no problems at all," and she explained that there was some white blood cells in my urine and that might be a start of a uurinary track infection or kidney infection, both which would be horrible. But good news is, is that I have no symptoms what-so-ever, and I did another sample at the end of my visit (2 hours later) and they are sending it out to the lab before starting me on antibiotitics.

After I was told about this, and having to lay flat on my back, I felt very hot suddenly and tried to get comfortable but couldn't. The nurse kept asking if I was ok, and I tried but I finally had to ask her to stop because I was going to get sick. Within 15 second I was head-over the trash can, sweating and turning bright red. I had some cereal for breakfast and I guess the milk didn't quite sit with me and then having to lay on my back, it was just too much for me! I was so scared, just with the news of my urine and my cervix, I get so panicked, so quick...and there's no stopping it.

After the little episode was over, the nurse was sooo sweet and thank God Tim was there, I felt so much better and they had me lie on my side instead of my back, which the doctor said he won't make me do ever again, amen! He said, I shouldn't worry about getting sick, it's a daily occurrence there and because I am measuring so large, my body is just reacting to the huge demand these babies are putting on me, and sometimes it will all catch-up when I least expect it. I was more mad that I was feeling fine, haven't take a zofran in weeks and then boom, all of the sudden...there I was, right over the trash can again! Eww!

I guess I still get a little shocked when I see 3 babies up there on the big-screen and realize that it's my belly that those 3 babies are in! It just blows my mind! I don't think I will get used to it, even after giving birth, it will take awhile at home with them before I realize that they aren't going anywhere!

So, I am measuring...10 WEEKS AHEAD OF WHAT I ACTUALLY AM!!!! The doctor said if I was carrying one baby, I would be 27-28 weeks right now! Holy FAT WHALE!!! That shocked me!

And the nurse went through each baby, checking the heart-rates, genders and lobes of the brain, along with blood flow of the umbilical cords. The heart rates were 154 (baby A), 146 (baby B) and 148 (baby C). All brains looked great (hopefully smart little one's in there) and all the blood flow with each of them looked great! They are all 7 ounces each (which is a lot more than thebump.com states for week 17).

So, back when the nurse was taking my blood pressure and weight, she asked me if I knew the sexes and I said yes, two twin girls and one boy. So she started with Baby A and confirmed both Baby A and Baby B are still prefect little girls. She went to Baby C and then asked us who was it that told us that it was a boy, and I literally jumped off the table and said "WHY"???? I told her who and she said that she was not seeing that it was a boy. I looked at Tim and now he looked like he was now going to get sick. She looked and looked and said, "looks like a girl to me"...WHAT??? She said she would check the sonogram photos from last time and have the doctor check too, but to her it was a girl. I was devastated, to be honest, in complete disbelief.

We waited forever for my doctor to come back in and the whole time Tim and I were so nervous!! I was screaming at my tummy, that if there is a Jackson in there, he better show his stuff and make us aware, because I was not leaving until I knew what Baby C was!!

The doctor finally came in and looked and looked. He showed us comparisons between Baby A and Baby B, with Baby C and sure enough there is NO PENIS. None, what-so-ever. All of the girls looks exactly the same between the legs and it was so clear! Even the doctor said, if this is a boy, he will be laughed at in the locker room, so you better hope it's not a boy! He said a penis would look like a rocket-ship and clearly there was no such rocket-ship on any angle of our Baby C for the 30 minutes the doctor looked!

We were shocked to say the least, we didn't even want to talk about it, really. It's hard. But I have allowed myself one day to grieve what never was and I am TOTALLY blessed to have three beautiful little girls in my belly. However, I will wait until the next appointment on Sept. 27th to really believe that they are all girls. That's when I'll have the gender anatomy scan and will completely confirm gender, but even now at 17 weeks, my doctor was completely sure there would be a penis if a penis was meant to be. He also said that in the very beginning of gender, the clitoris can be very swollen and look like the start of a little penis, but really it's not. I guess that is the price you pay for trying to find out earlier, even if the nurse (who used to be a doctor) tells you that she is 100% positive of the baby's gender! Boo!

The doctor asked if we had names picked out and when we told him, he said his oldest daughter is a Madelynn...and then he says that her name is Madelynn Christine....our name too! I almost died! How cool is that!? He loved Claire and Natalee (Baby C's real name now).

We did get some really good photos of the babies and I was so happy to get profiles of their faces. (even though my camera cost me almost $1000 bucks, I still get blurry photos of these sonogram photos...makes me so mad!)

Baby C - Natalee

Natalee's "big feet" as the dr. said

See the arrow...the three lines...proving it's another girl! 

Same thing...proving those three lines means a girl!

Baby A - Madelynn

Madelynn

Baby B - Claire

Claire

WOW!!!!!!!!

First of all, we don't know what to think.

There are a lot of emotions going through our heads at this point.

We're sad.

We're happy.

We're very, very, very blessed no matter what.

But, today we had another BIG SHOCKER!

Baby C is no longer never was a BOY, even after being told that "it" was a HE 100%.

Baby C is a GIRL.

She has been very mad that we have been calling her Jackson. She is not a Jackson. She will be a Natalee.

To be honest, (and no harsh comments, please) our hearts are sad today. No matter what is now, it has been our little boy the past two-plus weeks. Our little football player. Daddy's hunting and fishing buddy. My little momma's boy. No football games or little-league.

Just cheerleading, ballet, dancing, poms, gymnastics, basketball and softball...and lots of it! I pray they love sports like their Mommy and Daddy.

So, now, we have THREE PRINCESSES. Lord, please shine your light upon our home.

I feel bad that the twin girls will be identical and the other won't look like her sisters. I didn't want that. I never want that one to feel left out, or not look like her twin sisters.

Don't get me wrong, I thank God every day, multiple times a day for these beautiful babies, no matter their sex, but to us, today, it is a heartbreak for us as a family.

I promise to post about my whole OB Appointment later this evening, because there is A LOT to post about, but for now, I just want to have some time with my husband and family and to pray.

Please pray for us (especially in about 13 years from now), we are blessed and we know it. All that matters is healthy babies, hands down, 30 fingers, 30 toes...they will be beautiful, loved-to-the-fullest and we will love them all the same.

3 beautiful, little princesses!

Belly-button and Kicks!

Today I woke up and looked down on my tummy as I do every morning to say good morning to my little peanuts and I noticed something funny....my belly button sticking out!!! Totally freaked me out but I kinda pushed it back in...LOL...and then proceeded to take out my belly ring! Oh no...no more belly ring...I NOW HAVE OFFICIALLY HIT MOTHERHOOD! 

I called my mom immediately, and said, "mom....MY BELLY BUTTON IS POPPED OUT"...and she just laughed and said, "yup, that's what happens, hunny!"

All day I kept looking at my tummy and even now, it is stretched and as flat as it can be and soon will be all the way out, all the time! Lovely! Yuck, is really what I think.

Not to mention, all the scars from my previous surgeries are now stretching to capacity also...I hope they told tight and don't pop open, because sometimes I feel like the skin on my tummy could literally POP open these days! It's so weird, but I am guessing it's because it's stretching so much so quickly!

Also, today, Tim and I were sitting on the couch and felt Madelynn (Baby A) most likely (since it was so low) kick twice. As soon as I felt it I grabbed his hand and put it on my lower belly and sure enough, another big kick! It's getting tight in there quick!!

When my mom stopped over this evening on her neighborhood walk, I showed her my belly button and she said, "geeze, you look 6-7 months pregnant!" (And she said my tummy still looks cute even with a semi-popped out belly button!)

I guess it's all because I have been eating SO MUCH lately, the peanuts are really gaining weight and growing, along with my tummy on the outside! Makes me smile from ear to ear but it still so freaky!!

Can't wait until tomorrow for my OB appointment to see how much weight I have officially gained and to see how big the babies are! I hope we get some good pictures this time!!

Wordless Wednesday....HOLY CRAP!!!

The average diaper changes for triplets each month is

900....

so, for the first year, that's

10,800 DIAPERS!!

***HOLY CRAP!***

(anyone who is generous enough to provide us diapers before and when these babies are born, I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!)