Triplet's First Haircuts!!!!

Yesterday (03.14.13), my mom had a surprise day off and so she came up to spend the day with us. It was bitterly cold and super windy but I wanted to get out of the house for the day. The girls and I hadn't been anywhere since Sunday and I knew it would do us all good to get out somewhere. Quick story I want to note - I made the girls some waffles for breakfast and put some powdered sugar on them and when I gave Claire her waffle, she said, "snow, mama!" I LOVE that she thinks the powdered sugar is snow! :)

I did some thinking and figured we would just go play at the { free } play zone in the mall that's five minutes away. I knew it wouldn't be crowded since it was a regular school day and I was right. It was perfect and the girls ran out so much energy!! We took them in their choo choo wagon and of course got a lot of comments...all good on this day though! :)

The ants go marching one by one.....look how they all have the same footing!

Grandma!

These two are C R A Z Y ! ! ! ! ! !

Love this photo!

After the girls played for about an hour, we put them in their wagon and I pulled them around the mall. We stopped over at a salon and I asked how much it would be to get their first hair cuts. I've been going back and forth about getting it done for well over six months now. The timing was perfect with no crowds and when the stylist I wanted was there and said "only $6.95 since they don't have much hair", I said OKAY! 

Madelynn went first and she was perfect. Claire did fine too. Not a peep from either of them. I couldn't believe it! I was so proud! And then we got to Natalee. The girl just does not like anyone touching her. You should see when I try to clip her nails. You'd think she would get used to the fact that it doesn't hurt and I would never hurt her...but she acts like I am cutting her fingers off. I swear, tears and all. It's seriously a freakin' workout to hold her down, try to calm her and cut her nails at the same time. But I don't blame her. For the first few months of her life, she only had things that hurt her. Every time someone came close to her, it was to poke or prod her...so I know it's honestly just instinct. So she scream and had tears, but she sat and let Natalie (the stylist) cut her hair. And let me tell you, it looks so darn cute! They all look so grown up! My little ladies!

After their hair cuts, they got little certificates and then we walked around the mall some more since there were barely any shoppers, it was so nice. I snapped a quick photo in front of the fountain but none of them were looking. They saw the Easter Bunny and were more concerned about that!

Once we got home, they ate some lunch and went straight to nap. We had to wake them up at 4pm! They were so tired! Such a fun day and so glad my mom could enjoy it with us!

OB Appointment: 27 Weeks

March 13th, 2013 (27 weeks) - OB Appointment and Glucose Screening

Yesterday I had my Ob appointment. I drank the glucose on my way and had my blood drawn. Results in a few weeks.

Weight was 146lbs, so 11lbs gained at start of third trimester! :)

Talked to Dr. A about a few things:

1. The perinatalogist asked me if I had high-grade HPV with high-grade lesions/cells, and the answer is yes. It is the worst non-cancerous cells you can have before cancer. No where to go but to cancer.

2. I will have another colpo with a pap smear at 30 weeks and again at 35 weeks. If they at all show up cancer, then we prepare for delivery and do the hysterectomy then. Of course this isn't nearly as concerning to me as it was when I was only 24 weeks pregnant. I know Anna-Kate will be much healthier being born at most, 32 weeks (it takes up to two weeks for results to come back). And of course I will get the steroid shot for her lungs if I need to deliver early.

3. But as of now, the way it is, looks like around 8-12 weeks after Anna-Kate is born, I will have a hysterectomy. I will have a colpo and pap-smear six weeks after delivery and they will make a decision then. There seems to be a consensus now with all three doctors (OB, peri and oncologist). I am super glad about this. This is, after all, what I wanted from the beginning. Get it out of me. Take the fear away! 

4. I will not be a candidate for a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy because it's involving cancer. Apparently the lymph nodes have to be biopsied and they can't do that any other way but "the old fashioned way". So the doctors (my OB and oncologist) will use my same scar from my c-section. I will most likely be in the hospital for 3-5 days in Baltimore, where the oncologist does his surgeries. So we are looking at late August or early September for the surgery, just depends when AK is born.

5. Hopefully I will be able to keep my ovaries and tubes. This way I don't go straight into menopause  Of course without having my uterus and cervix, I won't ever have a period again! :) I guess something good has to come from all this, besides not worrying about getting cancer!!

6. Regarding Anna-Kate's shorter limbs, the OB is not too concerned. First of all, ultrasounds can be wrong. Second, there is confirmation of a nasal bone, so he really thinks if anything it could be dwarfism. He also thinks she could just be short. Or maybe just a little behind in development. But since her limbs are growing and everything else on her is perfect, he really says I shouldn't worry. I am praying that is the case. I will be worried though, she is my littlest baby and I want her to be perfect. But no matter what she is will perfect to us.

7. There are no other genetic testing or testing of any kind that can be done now that is worth risking. We just have to wait and see once she is born, if anything stands out. Praying she is just perfect in every way!

It was a good appointment and I am glad I got a lot of my concerns and questions answered. I go back in 3 weeks (4/3) to the OB and 4 weeks to the peri (4/8). I don't see the oncologist until 6 weeks after delivery.

Thank you again for all the wonderful prayers and thoughts. I appreciate everyone of them! (Some of you who have left blog comments do not have an email attached to your profile, so I can't email you back to say thank you, so please know that you are appreciated!)

Pernatalogist Appointment: 26w4d

Monday, March 11th I had a perinatalogy appointment. I am 26w4d.

The scan went well. Everything looks good. Fluid is good. Cervix is good. AK is growing well. She is still on the small side. She is currently weighing 2lbs exactly. Oh and she is head up, just as I expected..I've been feeling those little feet dancing on my bladder!

In reference to her limbs, they are still measuring small. Her upper leg bone (from her hip to her knee) on both legs are measuring very small. Small, like not even on the normal curve, yet. Her lower leg bones (from the knee to the ankle) are measuring on the normal curve but in the less than 5 percentile. Both are concerning. Both legs are measuring the same, so that is at least consistent. Arm bones are the same. In the low percentile but on the normal curve. 

Again he asked me how tall I am. How tall is my husband. How tall are our other girls. Again he asked if the genetic screening came back normal.

He doesn't have any answers as of now. He compared it to Emily's growth at this point in my pregnancy with her and she was growing normally. He said it is good that AK's limbs are all growing still. They are measuring longer than at the last scan, just not normal for gestational age at this point (it's about two weeks behind).

Of course this isn't what I wanted to hear, but still it's not the worse. I am rejoicing in the fact that she is healthy and like I have said before, if she just is a little shorter, no problem!

Here are some photos of our sweet little AK:

They couldn't get any good 3D photos because she was head up with her hands in front of her face.

As for the pre-cancerous cells. We talked long about that and I was glad to hear another doctor's opinion. He said hands-down, I should have a hysterectomy after AK is born. He said if it was his wife, at 27 years old, with five kids, 100% he would suggest a hysterectomy. He asked me a few more questions about the type of cells and lesions that were found and when I find out the answers tomorrow at my OB appointment, I will share.  I really was surprised and glad to hear that I am not crazy wanting a hysterectomy. Wanting this fear gone. The risk of cancer will never completely be eliminated but it will be a lot better! He said there is no reason to keep my cervix/uterus at all, especially since we are not having any more children. 

He also said that I could be a candidate for a vaginal hysterectomy, which would be awesome. Less time in the hospital, much better recovery times, less expensive and with four toddlers and a newborn (well a little one who is 2-3 months old) that is breastfeeding, I hope to have something that is easy then completely open surgery! We will see, and I will have to keep discussing everything with my OB and the oncologist.

Also, the nurse doing my scan heard what oncologist I saw and when I was mentioning his bed side manner wasn't the greatest and how he made my husband feel stupid for asking questions, she said she used to work for him and knows exactly what I meant. She said that he is a great doctor and one of the best in the local area related to oncology. I was again glad to hear this, because now I've heard it from two different people, both in the medical field. 

By the time most of you are reading this, I will be at my OB appointment and doing my glucose test. I'll share details on Thursday.

Happy Tuesday!

We had a pretty good weekend here! The weather was so nice and we spent lots of time outside! 

On Saturday, I did some meal planning in the morning for the next two weeks and cleaned up since we had family coming to visit from PA, which of course the girls loved. During naptime, Tammy and Aunt Bonnie stayed at the house and Megan and I went to get some more maternity stuff at Target. I got a few shirts and a pair of jeans. After the girls nap, we all went for a long walk and played at two different parks in our neighborhood. The girls were sooo happy to be outside, and so was I! It was seriously so beautiful with the sunshine and warm temps!

On Saturday night I found the girls in the corner of their room on the floor with all of their stuff, laughing, talking and giggling at 10pm! They seriously melt my heart!!!! I LOVE how they are best friends!

On Sunday, Tammy, Megan and I took the girls to get new shoes for the spring/summer!

Here are the big girls while waiting for Tammy and Megan:

They LOVE sitting on the coffee table.

They had so much faun and we're so well behaved. A couple funny stories to share...

Claire wanted ONLY the pinkest, sparkly, glittery, gemstone shoes she could find. She would pick them out and say, "oh momma!" Needless to say, we didn't get them. There were a few others that she was "looking at" and of course they were all pink and sparkly.

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While we were there, Claire said a new phrase, "oh shit" and I am sorry to say I am not surprised. Megan, Tammy and I almost busted out laughing before I quickly said, "just ignore that, don't even acknowledge that she said it!!" She then proceeded to say it all evening. Tim could not believe it! But she hasn't said it since. Honestly, I don't know if she was trying to say something else but then it just sounded like that, I don't know. We have been trying to watch what we say so much, but ya know, sometimes that proves to be really difficult!

So Tammy got the girls some really nice sneakers for the spring and I can't believe how big the shoes look on them! Every day they seem to get bigger to me!

We then went to Bob Evans for lunch and the girls again did great. The lady next to us even said how well behaved the girls were. At least once when we are out someone tells me how well behaved and good listeners my girls are and that is seriously the best thing you can tell a mom! I contribute that to running a tight ship, with structure, planning, and preparing!

We got back around 2pm and during their nap, I went to the grocery store which took me FOREVER. I try to not go when it's super busy (I prefer 6am on Saturday morning) like on Sunday afternoon, but we were just so busy that I had no other choice.

After the girls nap we went for another long walk in their choo choo wagon and then went to the park for awhile. When we got home Uncle Nathan and Emily came over to visit and we had a great meal!

Yesterday, (Monday) we had a low-key day, cleaning up the house, doing laundry and lots of playing. I finally started getting stuff ready for the Tot Swap which is next week/weekend. I cleaned out both closets in the girls rooms and today I am going to do all of my bins with stuff in them. Oh my Lord, we have SO MUCH STUFF!!!!!

Sorry it's so blurry...taken with my phone. Claire with all her jewels on!

I had my perinatalogist appointment in the afternoon and my mom came with me. Next post will be on that.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Snow Day { Bust }

Over the past few days, up until this morning, the weather report was for up to 18 inches of very wet snow. The storm, named {why are we naming snow storms now?} Saturn, was supposed to dump a lot of snow, heavy wind and be here for more than 24 hours. 

Well....it didn't really work out that way. It snowed, and yes, it was really wet. Oh, and the wind has been pretty bad. 

We went over to Tammy's house (she works from home) and Megan took the day off. We bundled up the girls and headed outside. While we were getting everyone dressed, Nana (on her break) fed the girls some waffles with powdered sugar and they were more than happy!

I don't think they could get any cuter in snow pants and their bear hats! Melt my heart!

Madelynn - Pink Pants
Claire - Purple
Natalee - Blue

Maddy is all ready to go!

Even Emme was so excited to go out!

So finally, we ventured outside...the girls went right out and loved it. We only had a few moments of meltdowns..ya know, when gloves fell off, the wind blew them over, or when we pushed them a little too fast and they fell off the sled!

I couldn't believe how much fun they had with being constantly pelted in the face with heavy wet snow...and the strong winds.

The bopsie twins ready to go!

Auntie Megan helped pull Natalee and Emily!

And of course there are no photos of me! Oh well! We were all exhausted when we got inside (the girls had the cutest little red cheeks!) and when we went home everyone took great naps (including Momma and Daddy!)! I am so glad we went out early because by the time we woke up from nap everything was pretty much melted and looked like a huge mud pit. I don't understand how all the "models" can predict 15-18 inches of snow and we get barely anything! UGH! 

Now...I am ready for spring.

Meeting with Oncologist

Yesterday evening I had my appointment with the gynocological oncologist - March 5, 2013. 

To say his bedside manner was cold, is an understatement. He never introduced himself. He never shook my hand, or my husband's. He barely even made eye contact with me. He was at some times, down right rude to my husband and I. He looked at Tim when he asked a question and pretty much barked at him for not understanding how you get cervical cancer...I seriously couldn't believe it. I was very polite and although he may not be as warm and cuddly as I had hoped for, I hope he is a good doctor. He warmed up a little bit through the appointment, but not much. 

So, anyway, he asked me a million and one questions, in which I gave him an extensive look at my history. He got a little attitudinal when he would ask me a question that pertained to when I was younger and had to turn the page he was writing on back over to add it. See what I mean. He literally acted like I was a bother and that wasn't too comforting when I am talking about the possibilities of having CANCER!

He stepped out for a few minutes and then came back to do the colposcopy. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt. One of the worst I've ever had. I didn't think after talking with him for 20 minutes that he was going to be the most gentle and I was right. He was a little nicer and I know he was just trying to get a good look, but OUCH! He said there was just a lot of pressure and discomfort because I was pregnant and my uterus is bearing down on the cervix and he is on the other side pushing against the cervix. I understood that and I wanted him to get a good look. 

Basically he said the dysplasia is very deep and for as far as he could see, especially on my right side. He was very clear that there is a lot of abnormalities. He said absolutely something needs to be done after I give birth to AK in order for it not to develop into cancer. He also said that the pregnancy hormones do make the cancer more susceptible to growing because it compromises your immune system. 

He will not do any biopsies during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

At this time he does not think I need to deliver AK early for any reason, unless it comes back at cancer at any time. Then things chance, just as I have been told. He couldn't give me and statistics on how likely it is to develop now {or later}. Nothing can be done when I deliver her {vaginally or c-section} and I will have to wait at least 8 weeks after birth to have any type or procedure or surgery. He said breastfeeding will make me heal slower so he will prescribe some medication to help me heal faster, since I do plan on breastfeeding again. 

As to what type of procedure or surgery I will have, we will have to wait to make the decision. He said a hysterectomy is not out of the question. Could be a leep procedure, a cone procedure or a few others. We will just have to wait and see what the pap smear, colposcopies and biopsies show after I give birth. But I am glad to know that something will be done!

He also said that even a hysterectomy does not completely cure my of possibly getting cervical cancer, just as I have read. It can come back decades later in the form of other cancers.

All and all I got most of my questions out by keeping his one foot in the door and mostly got good answers. I am praising God that I can hopefully keep AK in until she reaches full-term! And I will continue to pray that nothing changes between now and the end of summer when I have some sort of procedure to stop the cancer process. He wouldn't even talk about what happens if it goes to cancer. He only said hysterectomy and radiation, but we will cross that bridge when/if that happens.

Thank you again for all the prayers and support. I so appreciate it.

Next week I will be discussing this all with my pernatalogist (Mon pm) and my OB (Wed am).

{ Randoms }

I feel like my blogging has taken a back seat and I need to get back to it. It's just been crazy around here. Here's a little glimpse of what we have been up to...

Let's see...

Emily started climbing the stairs a few weeks ago. I have a video of it and I keep trying to upload it and it isn't working. Driving me crazy. There's a funny story behind how we figured out she could climb the stairs.

Emily is cursing around on all the walls/furniture and is ready to start running!

I'm really trying to learn how to sew on my new sewing machine. My wonderful MIL was gracious enough to buy me lots of patterns and some fabric and I have all these awesome ideas in my head, but honestly everything I read is like a foreign language to me! I think of myself as a fairly smart individual, I mean, I do have a Master's Degree...but the sewing manual, seems to be completely foreign to me! My mom used to sew all her own clothes (before kids) and my MIL is very talented too, so I hope with their help, I can really get going on it soon! My goal is to get good and open a business {one day}.

It's been really fun having my SIL here while her and I are both pregnant {her first and my fifth}. I have enjoyed our conversations so much about babies and pregnancy. I love telling her all the things that the books don't tell you...ya know, so she is prepared! :) She is only going to be here another month or so, and it will hard to say good-bye, especially for the girls. Luckily they are young enough that they won't remember, but still it has been so nice having her here. I hate that she lives in New Mexico and I hate it even more that my first niece or nephew will be so far from me! :( Hopefully in the next year or so, they will be moving back to the east coast and be much closer {and close to Disney World!}.

We are expected to get a big {possibly more than 12 inches} snow storm tonight and all day tomorrow. My heart is happy! I cannot wait to take the girls outside in the snow {a real snow} and pull them around in the sled! I also am so excited to have a family day in the middle of the week! What could better?!

Tonight I have my oncology appointment. I have my list of questions I need to ask and it's a must I get some answers before leaving. I never in my life thought I would be going to an oncologist, especially at 27 years old. A little freaky.

The big girls are OBSESSED with Caillou. OMG. OBSESSED. Like, don't even bother talking to them or asking a question while they are watching it, or you will get the death stare, like "excuse me, why are you talking to me, can't you see that I am watching my show!"

We went to visit some of my mom's side of the family this Saturday in Dover, DE {I forgot my camera}. It was the first ALL DAY trip for the girls {with NO naps} and I must say they were angels! We left here about 7:30AM, picked up my sister and went. We only stopped once at a rest area a little over half way there and let the girls run in the 30 degree weather and by the time we got in the car they were more than ready. We also stopped at my grandpa's grave but they didn't get out since it was really muddy and freezing. We got to my grandma's house about 11AM and they were so good. The only person who has met the big girls is my grandma {once} and no one else on that side of the family {expect my cousin, her hubby and their son!} has even met any of my girls. The last time I was there was for my baby shower in October 2010....so it's been awhile, but I've been busy! So it was nice for them to finally meet my girls! The big girls stayed up all day and played and played. We even ventured outside for a little and let them run! Emily did take a nap and then we ate dinner and left around 6:15PM. The big girls immediately fell asleep but that didn't last long. They watched Barney the rest of the way and we were home by 8:30PM and they went straight to bed. Tim and I were beat, it had been a long day! But now we know that we can do it for a long car ride in one day! Whahoo!

The girls got baby dolls with bottles from my grandma for Christmas and since we opened our presents when we were there, the girls just got them. To say they are now obsessed with their babies...feeding them, burping them, rocking them, it's so cute! I hope it continues when AK is born! :)

The Tot Swap here in town is coming up and once again I have so much to tag and enter in. Ugh, it gets so overwhelming in the beginning until I get going. I just procrastinate and then have to rush to get it all done! I am trying to decide if I want to go the the one that is a little farther away this week...depends on the snow and everything. I should just wait until the one here but I already missed the mom of multiples one, so I could easily go to this one! :) Just depends!

Okay, that's all for now! I will update about my appt later tonight or tomorrow!

Update/Results

I don't know what else to call this post, but an update, so that's what I am calling it. 

First, once again, thank you so much to so many of you (on blogger and not) who have reached out to me and our family. Your words mean more to me than I can explain. I appreciate each and every one of you and your thoughts and prayers for me and our family. 

Yesterday, I finally caved and called the OB. Ya know, not to beg for results (okay, maybe a little!) but because I needed a prescription refill called in. So, I left a message. Not even five minutes later the number showed up on my caller ID. Thank goodness Tim was sitting there. I said, "oh goodness, it's Capital Women's Care!" I picked up and the first thing I heard was that it was, in fact, Dr. A. My heart literally sank. I was so scared. He has NEVER called, always the nurse. I knew right then and there. He said that he had received my results the day before and was searching to find an oncologist for me to go to that took my insurance. My heart sank even more. In those few seconds, maybe a minute, I thought the absolute worse.

Then he slowly started explaining to me what the pap smear said. He told me the cells and the lesions that he found. He explained to me that it still is high-grade pre-cancerous cells and lesions, and told me the differences between the ones that were found. He explained to me that apparently what they are also finding are cells and lesions that are supposed to grow inside the cervix, not on the outside. He said he didn't know if this was because I am currently pregnant or not. He said it is concerning and he wants me to see a gynocological oncologist as soon as I could. 

Numerous times he talked about terminating the pregnancy, which would of course result in a live birth at this point...but still using the word, terminating..not so comforting! Even though this is still an option, it doesn't look like it will be any time in the next few weeks, AMEN! Every week that goes by is a true miracle....and I have been down this road before with the triplets. I asked him about getting the lung shot for AK and he said that would probably happen. I really think that helped the girl's lungs be as strong as they were for 32w2d at delivery. They barely had any respiratory issues, thank God! I started receiving the lung shots at 26 weeks, I believe, up until the night before delivery. 

So basically, I could very well be having AK early if the pernatologist and oncologist believe it is the right thing to do. There will be A LOT of questions asked to both of them. Most likely either the oncologist or my OB will do colposcopies with pap smears and/or biopsies every month until AK is born and of course if at any time it comes back cancer, we go from there. If it still stays the same, then we make plans to do something after AK is born. Very soon after.

I feel good about where I am now. I feel good about the knowledge I have gained over the last two weeks from help of family members, doctors in other areas and my own research. I feel like I know more and I have more under control. 

I was so worried about having to deliver AK so soon, but I just don't think that is what's going to happen in the next four to six weeks. AMEN!

So, my appointment with the gynocological oncologist is on Tuesday evening. I have my list of questions I am preparing and hoping to get some more answers. 

Again, thank you so much for the prayers and thoughts! I so appreciate it! I will update again on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.