OB Appointment - 21w3d

On Friday, we went for my sonogram. It was super quick, the quickest we've had and not so clear as we are used to. We also had the lady who had told us she was 100% positive that Baby C was a boy, when in fact SHE was not a HE...so I didn't trust much she said, but she is super nice so I gave her another chance.

All babies heartbeats are great, super loud and perfect. Their placenta's are doing good, lots of fluid, all looked great. All babies are almost one pound! Cervix is still good too, around 3.4. Whahoo, but my doctor was quick to say that bed rest is imminent (very soon) even with a good cervix.

My blood pressure was a little high but nothing to alarming. I went to leave my sample and forgot to use the cup...preggo brain! But luckily I was able to go again before I left the office, but I didn't hear the results. My weight was 142 lbs., which I was mad about because I am doing everything physically possible to gain weight. So well see by my next appointment. The OB isn't concerned, she said I was doing fine but to me I am not. According to my multiples books, I am not. So I still have 2.5 more weeks to catch up to what the books say I should be for triplets by week 24.

The only thing they are concerned a little about is the fact that I am contracting way more than I thought already. I was asking about the sudden tightening that I get when they move, but no that's a contraction I am told. The doctor asked how many I am having daily and I thought, way more than I should even say. One night last week I most definitely had over 20 throughout the night and that is apparently not ok. But how was I suppose to know. So since I now know what they feel like, I have been trying to keep track every day, but I get to 3-4 an hour and start to freak out because she said if I get more than 5 I need to call asap. But total for the day I get at least 20.  Sometimes right after I get up from bed or off the couch, I get one and sometimes just sitting, some are obviously stronger than the others but still I am glad to know what I am looking for now. I just thought it was the babies switching positions, and since space is limited I thought it was normal, but no, these are indeed contractions. So even more reason why I need to be laying flat and still drinking my gallons of water. It does scare me because I have a long way to go and I do not want to start visiting the hospital and being one of those women who are there every other day for silly things. I know the more I rest the better off I and the babies will be.

And of course there is nothing they can do for my back pain. Tylenol does not help at all. It's just better the more I lay down and once again it was suggested that I get a belly belt to help hold up my growing belly. I got it and love it but my back still hurts and hurts more up top when I wear it, but I don't have to hold up my belly going up and down the stairs or when walking.

Also, I asked about going until January 10th or 11th and she said that was fine. So we will schedule it in the first week of November. I can't decide what date I want, because I love even numbers and the 10th is an even between two odds, but I think the date 01.11.11 is kinda cool, so I don't know! We have a little time to decide. My doctor said, "you're going to be so miserable by that point or going to hate that you wanted to make it one more week". That's ok though, I want to make it past by birthday on January 4th, that's my personal goal, so really anytime after that is fine, I just want to keep down their NICU time as much as I possibly can. We will see, I only have so much control over what they want but be assured that I am going to do everything I can to keep their little tushies in there!

So, no photos this week, which was totally strange but we still got to see them...which is getting harder and harder because they are all legs and arms...you can't even tell who is who and what belongs to who anymore.

Ahh, I can't wait to meet theses little girls.

OB Appointment and Sonogram Photos - 19w6d

(OK.....THIS IS SUPER LATE...AND SINCE MY NEXT APPT. IS TOMORROW I THOUGHT I BETTER POST THIS QUICK. REALLY, I WROTE IT RIGHT AFTER THE APPT. BUT I WAS TO LAZY TO UPLOAD THE PHOTOS OF THE GIRLS....TERRIBLE MOMMY I AM!!!!!)

On Monday, September 27th we had our big 20 week anatomy sonogram!

We arrived around 8:40 am and didn't leave until 11:45! I was checked with weight (139 lbs.), blood pressure, urine...all is fine. Well, my urine now had something else in it (can't remember), but a very, very low dose of it, so no need to worry unless I develop symptoms. 

Cervix was till 3.4......HOLLA!!!! I was so happy! No bed rest yet for this Momma!

Each of the babies are perfectly healthy all around. Everything is in the right places, on the right side or left side, whichever side it's supposed to be on. Brains are perfect, hearts are great. We got to actually watch the four chambers of the heart opening and closing in slow motion...what an amazing thing to witness. Blood flow is all doing great too. They checked the brain (lobes, space..everything), the heart (everything with the heart you can imagine), the spine, each leg and arm bones, the hands, the feet, the kidneys, the bladder, the diaphragm, head circumference...that's all I can remember right now.

All the placentas are good and blood flow is perfect.

Each of the twins are 12 0z. each and Natalee is 10 oz.

We met with one of the doctors, (the lady who I really like) and I asked about setting the due date. She said that the due date will be as close as 34 weeks as they can get me. I was not so cool with that because 34 weeks is January 4th..MY BIRTHDAY! I do not want to have to girls born on the same day or preferably any closer to Christmas than that. I hate having my birthday so close to Christmas. She said that they do the elective c0sectins on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so either the 3rd, 4th or 5th, I'd have to choose between. Obviously it will be the 5th of January....BUT, I am going to try to get them to go until the following Monday, which is January 10th. That seems perfect to me, an even number, amen. 01.10.11, I like that day. We will see but she made it perfectly clear that they DO NOT like to go past 34 weeks at all.

I was a little concerned about this since it is the first time I have heard that I would only make it 34 weeks no matter what. I knew that was my goal, along with the doctors but I never expected that to be my due date. So I did some researching and asking around the past few days and here I what I found out: 1) Triplets normally are born on average at 32 weeks, 2) Triplets on average stop growing around 30 weeks gestation, 3) Triplets are most at risk for having complication going past 34 weeks, such as the cords getting wrapped around their necks because of the small living capacity they are in, 4) mothers of triplets are more at risk going past 34 weeks because there is just NO more room! There are many other things I am learning as I continue to research.

So looks like the babies will spend a few weeks in the NICU, with hopefully just minor issues seen with high order multiples, such as jaundice. They will probably get oxygen and IVs through their belly button...but basically it all depend on their weight. If they are born 5 lbs. 2 oz. (the standard normal birth weight) they could only spend a day or two in the NICU but the less weight they are, the more time they will need to spend there.

Of course there are pros and cons to any situation. Of course at this time I cannot imagine leaving my three little princesses at the hospital and going home after my 4-5 days in recovery. However, I know they will be in the best place possible for them to thrive and I will get some time to recover at home somewhat before they come home. Although, this poses many, many other issues, such as how I get to and from the hospital (since I won't be able to drive myself for 6 weeks) when Tim goes back to work after the first week. We think that if they stay in the NICU, Tim will stay out of work for a week and then take off the majority of his leave when the babies come home. Luckily my sister will be home from college until the middle of January and since she goes to school locally, she could take me to the hospital in the am before her classes (if they are still in there after the 15th), so I guess there are options. I just cannot imagine leaving my children there without me. I have waited so long for them and then to leave them, I only pray God gives me the strenght, and I know he will carry me through. It makes my worries about giving birth so much less than thinking about leaving my precious angels there without their Mommy and Daddy. It makes my heart hurt just thinking about it.

Anyway, so the appointment went well and my next appointment is October 9th at 9:00am and my SIL, Megan will be here from New Mexico and will be joining me!! I cannot wait for her to see the babies, since she won't be back until after they are born..unless they come early (she's also coming for Christmas).


 

Love my sweet little girl's piggy toes!

Claire

Claire

Claire

Claire

Natalee

Madelynn

Madelynn's hand

Wordful Wednesday: New York Style Pizza

I cannot get enough New York Style Pizza!

I am currently addicted.

It cannot be Pizza Hut or Domino's, and Papa Johns just won't do...it must be New York Style.

I simply LOVE it right now and apparently so do the three little princesses in my belly!

I went to one of my local favorite places, Mama Lucia's and was only going to get a slice or two for lunch, but once I smelled the pizza, I had to have more, so I ordered a regular. I told the owner, I just can't get enough of this pizza! He kinda chuckled.

I waited patiently, my mouth salivating.

He said, here ya go ma'am, I made you a large since I see you're expecting!

My eyes lite up. I smiled from ear to ear. I said, you don't know how happy you have made me, I am having triplets and this is so sweet of you!

He, along with the other cooks, waiters and hostesses all lite up and said, you're having triplets?

Smiling, I said, yes, and they are all girls too!

The owner said, that's amazing, where are you delivering?

I said, right across the street at Shady Grove.

He said, well you have your family call me when you're in there and I will personally bring your families some food!

A cook then popped his head up said, three weddings probably at the same time!

I said, three college tuition's at the same time!

We laughed and everyone was so excited and kept chatting that I should call the local TV stations and Radio stations...I could barely leave the restaurant.

It made my day and I will never forget it. What a sweet place Mama Lucia's is! I can't wait to bring the girls there for many, many BIG New York Style Pizzas!!!!

21 Weeks!

How Far Along: 21 Weeks!

How Big are the Babies: The girls are as big as bananas (about 10.5 inches and 12.7 oz. (even though ours are probably still measuring bigger)). The baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future children to eat as you prepare your own lunch (thebump.com).

Weight Gain: Starting weight was 126 lbs., currently 143 lbs. Come on pounds, I need to catch up!!!!!!!!!!!

Symptoms: Tired and weak some days, but feeling ok. My back is KILLING me every second of every day from the weight of my growing uterus. I am going to see what the OB will say on Friday, but I think I know what he'll say...I'm doing too much and should be laying down....but it hurts even more when I lay, when I sit...just walking hurts! I feel like a blimp. I cannot see my feet, it is really hard to shave my legs now, I need a chair in the tub just to take a shower. Tim has to pull me off the couch and the only way I can get out of bed is to roll out. Even getting up from the toilet is hard these days, I have to grab on to the sink to help me up.

Emotions: Doing ok this week. Excited, nervous, trying to enjoy every moment of everyday carrying these little girls. Love feeling them move inside of me, it always make me smile.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling the babies move all of the time, day and night, my little gymnasts!

Movement: All of the time! Day and night, they NEVER stop! They turn over constantly and I can easily feel their heads popping out on my skin, I love it. I will never forget this time of feeling them move in me.

Maternity Clothes: Of course, everything. Now wearing XL underwear...LOL!! Where is my body going?!?!

Stretchmarks: None any more other than a few on my boobies!

Sleep: Ugh, most nights are horrible. Still peeing a lot but some nights sleeping can be really good. Still don't get any good productive sleep until Tim leaves for work. And still dreaming like crazy each night! I could nap all day long but at bedtime, I'm wide awake. I hate it.

Food Cravings: Everything and anything. Macaroni salad from the Amish Market! I have also been eating a lot of pie, cherry pie, peach pie and pumpkin pie! Lots of water still everyday. Oh, and NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA!!!!!

Genders: Three little princesses!

What I Miss: Wine and sleep.

What I am Looking Forward to: Colorfest this weekend!!!!! Finishing the Oct 30th shower invites this week too with Kim and sending them out. Watching Tim finish the changing table on the deck, I LOVE it so far! And seeing my SIL, Megan this week, since she is home from New Mexico for a week! Also, counting down to my showers in 2 weeks and 3 weeks!

Weekly Wisdom: ??

Questions: ??

Here is my belly photos of the week!

I'm getting WIDE on the sides!

The Girl's Nursery - Part Two

We got the girls room painted and it looks beautiful. Tim fixed the windows and the screens, because someone who put them in, as with most things in our house, didn't know what the hell they were doing!!!!! We have fixed and changed almost everything, and it always looks so much better!

Anyway, I love the way the room turned out! We have already started filling it with everything and I am so excited.

Here's what it looked like when it was all cleared out! We still need to figure out what were are doing with the closet doors, Tim might spray paint them or we might get new ones (since, BIG surprise they don't even properly stay in the track or fit right).

I'll keep ya updated on more progress as we start putting things together in the room!

Mom of Multiples Sale and Rachel and Jonathan's Wedding!

This weekend was packed full of things, once again! Sure is making time fly though!

On Saturday morning, bright and early, I got up for the Mom of Multiples Indoor Fall Sale! It seems that I have been waiting forever for this sale, and here it is already! I couldn't wait to go...all the things sold are in prefect or very gently used condition and priced to sell! I just wanted to run around the place and relish in all the baby things..that I could actually afford! My super sweet MIL gave me some money to get some things if I found something I just had to have! So sweet and I was so grateful!

I got there super early (members can shop early at 8:30am and the public/non-members have to wait in line until 9:00am) and was waiting in line very anxiously. People that volunteer to help could shop starting at 7:00am and they were already bringing stuff out to their cars that thy had purchased and I was getting jealous!

I had a mental list of things that I wanted to look for...even though I haven't had my showers yet there were certain things I wanted to look at to buy.

When the line started moving and I was allowed in, I quickly scanned the room and thought WOW!!!!!!!!!! Where do I start?!?

I started with the snow suits since they were right there in the door hanging up and I easily found two lots of things and I thought I would never find three of the same, but I did and found these adorable little snow suits for the girls. They are Disney brand and have Pooh on them...MY FAVORITE! I got 2 for $8 and 1 for $7.

I also got a whole bunch of Newborn outfits and a few brand new 3 Month outfits that I had the tags still on them. My friend who had a preemie baby said that her son didn't wear 3 Month stuff until he was 4 months old...so I need to load up on the Newborn stuff and of course some preemie stuff that they can wear in the NICU and home. And some newborn hats, since thy will be born when it's freezing and since our house has HORRIBLE heat, I want to keep these babies bundled and warm. All of these I got from .50 to $5:

I then looked at car seat accessories and got three Eddie Bauer mirrors for the backseat to see each baby from the front. Also a brand new Eddie Bauer car organizer for the back seat of the passenger side to stuff everything and anything in. Also, I got two other netting to go over the car seats when we take the babies for walks in the strollers (I already had one) because so many people have told me that in public strangers will always want to touch the babies and with them being preemies, I don't want all these strangers touching my children and giving them germs, so the netting is a must in public places.

I had a bumbo but I got another one for $10 bucks! Whahoo!

And then we looked for mattresses and found two brand new BuyBuyBaby firm mattresses, one for $20 and one for $10! What a steal, especially when other mattresses that were much older and nasty were priced at $50 to $35 bucks! (Many people contribute things and they priced things they way they want to sell them, so many same items are sold for very different prices.)

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After the sale on Saturday, I rushed back home, grabbed my stuff for the wedding and my parents picked me up. Rachel and Jonathan's wedding was about 2.5 - 3 hours away and started at 3:00pm, so we had to get there with enough time to change and get to the ceremony.  Tim couldn't make it since he again was working all weekend! On the way there we stopped and had a great lunch in Berryville, VA and then went by a yard sale and saw a third crib mattress for sale and quickly stopped and it was $10 bucks, so we stuffed it in the back of the SUV and were stoked that we got 3 mattresses for $40 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have known Rachel since I was in 3rd grade and she was in 5th grade. We spent many, many summers together adoring...ahem....Jonathan Taylor Thomas...HAHA! We wrote to his fan club, like every week and were kinda obsessed. We always had lunch together, listened to music, would play stupid little games and who knows what else we got into. The winter of 1996 when we had a huge blizzard we built a big fort in my front yard...we thought we were so cool. Rachel's mom worked for my mom at the Day Care Center, so she would come over all of the time and I am so glad to have those memories.

Later on when our mom's became best friends, Rachel and her sister Melissa and me and my sister, Christine would spend a lot of time creating memories with our families. I can't even begin to count the fun times! We would go shopping all of the time together and talk and dream of our weddings and babies we would all once have, what we would become as real adults and so on. Melissa was first to get married, as she is the oldest and then was the first to have a sweet baby boy. I got married next and the next to get pregnant. I was so excited to hear Rachel was going to be the next to get married (she is in her last two years of finishing her doctorate in psychology) and who knows when my sister will get married (as she is only 19, she has a ways to go...finishing college is a MUST first). So far all three of us oldest girls have completed at least a Master's Degree and like I said, Rachel has moved on to her Doctorate, so Christine needs to at least have a Master's Degree in some helping profession to stay up with us. Melissa is a special education teacher, I am a social worker, Rachel will be a psychologist and Christine...well, we'll have to wait to find out what the future holds for her!

So anyway (I know I always ramble these days) the wedding was at a beautiful Christian Retreat Center in the Shenandoha mountains. It started super late, almost an hour and half but it was fine, the outside weather was so nice and just talking with everyone before the ceremony was fine! The food was all homemade by the groom and was wonderful! The music and deco was awesome too!

Here are some photos! By the time we left, I was so tired! My back was killing me and finally when we got home I took a shower and went straight to bed and slept until 11:00 am this morning!

My Mommy!



Christine, my sister.



Me and my dad, standing in the shade.



Melissa (bride's sister and good friend) and her son, Elijah



Rachel and her Daddy

Centerpieces made by Ann! So beautiful!



My beautiful parents!

 

Rachel and Jonathan's firsdt dance



The Girl's Nursery - Part One

(***I wrote this post a few weeks go and since then we've done a lot in the girl's nursery, but I wanted to start from the beginning!***) 


I AM SO EXCITED TO START OUR NURSERY!!!!

I mean, I have waited my whole life to decorate a nursery! And now, I am decorating for our THREE baby GIRLS we will be bringing home in just a few short months!

There are so many decisions to make and things to buy, I just relish in it all! I CANNOT get enough of it!

I had all these ideas back when I thought we were having two girls and a boy, because let's be honest, it's a lot more difficult to make a nursery for opposite sexes, but with finding out that they were all in fact girls, my nursery theme became a lot easier!

I always wanted a lilac/lavender nursery...but since wanting lavender accents and bedding, I didn't want to do the walls the same color. I love the idea of country green walls, white cribs, lavender bedding and small soft yellow accents. My OCD won't allow things to not match, so everything needs to match and match perfectly. I'm crazy, I know, but I have one time to get this right and I plan on it!

I have hated every bedding theme that I have seen and even with having only one baby, I would have still pieced together my nursery the way I always envisioned it to look. I didn't want it to be overkill and themey, so my ideas are coming together perfectly piece by piece. I love the lavender gingham bumpers, curtains and crib skirts. I have two lavender gingham crib skirts from Pottery Barn that I got at a thrift store for $3 bucks a piece BRAND NEW (normally they are $49.00 each) just in hopes that would have twin girls one day....but little did I know, I would actually need 3! So I only need one other crib skirt and target had one to match perfectly! It will all look great I think!

All of the bedding and nursery accessories are on our Target Registry under "Holly Gaydos". There were just too many photos to post.

We will be taking photos of the transformation as we get going on it, sooner than later, however with all the stuff we have going on for the next month and a half, we don't have one free weekend available to dedicate to the nursery...oh and did I mention it's hunting season too and getting Tim motivated for anything other than hunting is like pulling dog's teeth! Oh and let's not forget about football season, so there goes every Sunday too!

Here's what the room currently looked like right before I started painting:

The blue tape on the floor is marking where the cribs will go!

We have bought a country green paint that we are shortly, as time permits going to put up!! I just want to start putting things in order and getting things ready!!!! And once the walls are painted I feel that I can start moving along. Plus, we already have our changing table, so Tim just needs to spray paint it white (maybe during a half-time) and I can start putting things on it and in it! I have never been so excited to put desitin, q-tips, baby oil, wipes, ect. away before in my life! LOL!

Here is the green paint we bought:

And here is was my helper for the day before Daddy got home:

Me help, Mommy??? I don't think so. I'll lay here and watch you!



She even got paint on her tail!



My sister came over to help but just wound up playing with Audrey the whole time!

And then Tim got home after working 14 hours and painted the whole room! I love my sweet hubby!!!

 And I want to put my quotes up on the wall (they are white lettering) along with the girls names in block white wood hangings above each of their cribs and hang them with thick lavender ribbon...OH I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Ahh, so exciting!!! So I'll keep ya updated on the nursery as it comes together!!!

Busy Weekend...Poolesville Day and The Lockheed Martin Picnic

This Saturday was Poolesville Day! Since the past however many years, I don't think my family has missed a Poolesville Day, as lame as that may seem for some of us that live here in Poolesville. I don't care. Now that they have changed the date to late September (it used to be in August and was always SO hot) it's cool, crisp and a fun fall festival in our small town. Although, this one was a little hot, my poor feet were very swollen!

It's starts out with a parade am then the streets fill with people hunting down good food, local vendors, kids games and country crafts. The local curches have bake sales, all the bussinesses are giving away "freebees" and there are lots of raffels giving away everything from Pampered Chef to a free local pizza place dinner to a brand new car!

PAA Football - See Number 13, "Sofelkanik"..Niko! My little man who I have written about many times!



One day, Madelynn, Claire and Natalee will be cheering in the parade!


Since my mom owns and directs a day care center here in our town and is the longest one running, now for almost 25 years, we have a booth too! We enjoy decorating our booth with the fall theme and Winnie-The-Pooh bears, since our day care center is called Teddy Bear Day Care Center. It's so nice to see all the Teddy Bear Graduates coming by to say hello...my mom has graduates that are around 30 now that still come by and say hello to her. It's so sweet! All the sweet families that have been a part of our Teddy Bear Family come to say hello too and its just so nice to catch up with people, even just for a few minutes. Some families have stayed in the day care center for 10 years (multiple children), so saying good-bye to a family and kids after 10 years, is very hard for my Mom.


My parents and our booth!





Me -site decorator and my mommy!


This year it was even more fun because everyone was asking how Tim (he had to work and couldn't be there) and I were and the triplets. SO many people that hadn't heard that were once a part of the day care as I was gorwing up, couldn't believe I was married and now pregnant with triplet girls! Some of these families I started babysitting for when I was 13 years old and so it was just so fun to see the reaction on people's faces!

I was personally looking forward to the BIG brisket sandwhich with cole slaw and mango gelati! I'm mean let's be real...my life revolves around food right now!! One of the churches also has this "walking taco" which is so yummy, made with fritos (in the bag) and all the taco toppings...so I had to have one! LOL! I also had a cherry snow cone and a BIG funnel cake, which I ate every.sinlge.bit.myself!!!!

My swollen piggy toes..could not even bend my toes...OUCH!



My best friend, Kim!


It was such a fun day and I didn't have to hardly clean up at all! Whahoo!

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The Lockheed Martin Corp. Picnic which I mentioned a few days ago was on Sunday! What a packed weekend! But the LMC Pinic is something my family hasn't missed since I was 2 years old! It is a packed day with such fun activities for all ages of a family. They have pony rides, volleyball tournament, hourseshoe tournament, home-run challenge, skeet shooting, sand art, photo buttons/key chains, basketball tournament, bingo, moon bounce, field games, zip lines, and soooooo many more things!

We had two extra tickets this year since Tim and my sister had to work so I invited my best friend, Kim and her fiance, Roger...and I am so glad they could come! It would have been so boring without them there, but so much better chatting, eating and watching all the people dancing!

The food is AMAZING, which I had been dreaming about for days...or maybe weeks! BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs, baked beans, rolls, corn on the cob, salad, apple sauce, chili, ice cream, homemade-baked pies in apple, cherry, peach and blueberry, hot dogs, watermelon, hamburgers, cotton candy, popcorn, soft pretzels, nachos...and more! ALL FREE.....A PREGNANT WOMEN'S DREAM!!!!!! (I had three pieces of pie!)


This was just one of my meals!

The DJ plays games, sich as the hula-hoop competition, mummy wrapping challenge, the limbo, the elctric slide, booty call and all those other dance-to songs! It's so fun!

My dad aand Tim normally paly horseshoes (since my dad wins almost every single year) but this year Tim had to work and my dad wanted to make it back home by 4pm to watch the Redskins, so he didn't want to play. I was bummed because I love watching the guys play and since I couldn't really do many of the activities that I normally do, I wanted something to watch, instead of just sitting there eating everything....which I did! Oh, did I eat!!!!

It was such fun and I cannot wait to take the girls next year! I also was happy to bring home goody-bags (they put some out at the end and you have to litterally run over to grab them before they are gone but I always watch like a hawk for when they do..LOL) and I was totally begging the guy for a blueberry pie...but no such luck!

Still a super fun weekend and next weekend is going to be just as fun and exicting (with a good friend's wedding and the Parents of Multiples Indoor Baby Sale)!