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)!

Our Girls!

Awhile back when we thought we were having two boys and a girl, I officially put their names out there. But now that we had our complete confirmation that Baby C is totally and 100% a girl, along with her twin sisters, we wanted to officially put her name out there too!! We are just in love with these names and couldn't have asked for anything better. They will suit out family perfectly.

So the names of our sweet triplet girls will be:

Madelynn Christine

Claire Elizabeth

Natalee Lynn 

20 Weeks/5 Months!!

How Far Along: 20 Weeks/5 Months!!!!!!!!!!!

How Big are the Babies: The size of a cantaloupe (about 6.5 inches and 10 oz....HOWEVER, out babies are 12 oz each according to our OB appointment on Monday--post coming). Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed! (thebump.com)

Weight Gain: At the OB I weighted myself at 139 lbs....and the nurse goes, "oh, that's a nice jump!" LOL...but at night, I am more like 142 lbs. I need to gain A LOT more, I was reading a new triplet book that I just received from Parents of Multiples and it is FANTASTIC. It gives so much valuable information, especially on weight gain and nutrition. I could go on and on. Basically, since there is NO, or very few information on multiples, (not twins) but triplets and more, this book focuses a lot on triplets and quads and what a mother should do to ensure proper weight gain to produce healthy babies and I am far behind according to the book. I need to really catch up in the next 4 weeks to be on level and to maximize my chances of having healthy babies!! I will write more about this later in another post.

Symptoms: Heartburn (not nearly as bad as it was), tired, weak, sleepy, exhausted, worn-out, HEAVY stomach (I have to hold my stomach up going up the stairs...it's just so heavy!), not being able to get up by myself (Tim has to help pull me up), peeing a lot, hungry..can't think of any others right now.

Emotions: Ok...it goes from totally insane thinking of how are we going to get everything done in just 14 weeks now to ok, I think I'll take a nap...LOL. 

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling the babies all day and night! They NEVER stop! Must be little gymnasts in there! Also, confirming the c-section date for Jan 5th!!!!!! Oh and finishing the girl's nursery. It is so freaking cute! I love the color we decided on, and everything is brand new from the blinds to all the electrical fixtures (thanks to being married to an electrician)! Another post on the nursery coming soon)! Now, Tim is going to sand the changing table and paint it white this week, so when that gets painted and put in the room...ahh, I will really be getting excited. Not too worried about getting the cribs before the babies are born unless someone graciously purchases them for us, so just what I have so far is good enough for me right now! Can't wait until the showers and the boxes of diapers building up in the room!!!! :)

Movement: Every single day and night, all day, everyday; they never stop. When one of the twins move it feels normal, but when Natalee (Baby C) moves, since she is so high up on my abdomen, IT HURTS! I literally have to bend over and just let her move and then I can stand up when she's done.

Maternity Clothes: Of course. I even had to go buy some LARGE maternity shirts at Target yesterday! Say what?!? I need to get another pair of pants asap, so going to get on that soon.

Stretchmarks: Boo, on my boobies, just a few but none on my belly yet. Still putting on the cocoa butter every single day, going to start doing twice a day too! At 24 weeks, I will be full-term size for s singleton pregnancy, so right now I am measuring at 32 weeks, and with no stretchmarks, I feel proud of every week that goes by and I don't have any!

Sleep: The same as always. Peeing a lot and back and forth between sides and my back. Needing a nap at least once a day.

Food Cravings: New York style pizza! I had Sbarro the other day and probably could have eaten an entire pizza myself (I only had a slice) and now I cannot stop thinking about it. Also, a good friend of mine gave me a Chipolte gift card...SHE IS SO SWEET, so I plan on going tomorrow to treat myself to a BIG meal! THANK YOU SO MUCH MELISSA AND KENNY!!!!!!!!!! But really anything food-wise I can get my hands on when I am hungry!

Gender Predictions: Three little princess!

What I Miss: Wine. Good sleep.

What I am Looking Foward To: Our Maternity and NICU tour at the hospital and meeting the nurses and social worker in a two weeks! Seeing my SIL in less than a week (she lives in NM) so she hasn't seen me since forever ago (I can't even remember). And my baby showers now in less than a month!!!!!

Weekly Wisdom: ??

Questions: ??

And here is the BIG belly photos this week! Remember measuring about 32 weeks now. Phew!

When I look down, this is what I see..no feet!

Tooshie Roll!

There's an awesome country store in our town that sells vintage and country crafts, (nothing cheesy) and one of mine and Tim's old teachers works there. She taught psychology in high school but no longer teaches. She is still as sweet as ever and I love going to see her when I need a cute gift.

Last weekend when my parents and I had a yard sale, my mom wanted to donate a bunch of old silver that didn't sell to the store so I tagged along, because I thought she would die when she found out I was pregnant with triplets. (She almost died when she found out that Tim and I got married...because she knew both of us in high school and was shocked that we had found one another years later without knowing one another and being so far opposites, plus since Tim's mom was the school nurse, she knows his mom too.)

So I went into the store and she almost fell to the floor. She couldn't stop hugging me and when I finally could get out that we were having triplet girls, she really almost died. It was so funny! I just loved it though.

As I was walking around the store, which I could probably take one of everything, while my mom and her discussed the silver, she made me up a gift bag with the cutest things! She gave me three pink bear bibs and this awesome "Tooshie Roll"...which is a changing pad that rolls up and ties with a ribbon and is waterproof and all!! I absolutely LOVE it! SO freakin' cute! It's from a store in DC called, A Little Anna Faith: Sweet Gifts Without the Calories! They have some of the cutest baby gifts...and so unique!!



This is what it looked like all wrapped up!

 

And this was the design of the changing pad...pink paisley!



What I REALLY want to register for!

Why can't a pregnant woman register for things like a gift-card for a massage, a hair-cut, a pedicure/manicure, a spa day, a free lunch or dinner out...seems perfectly clear to me!

I know it's suppose to be all about the baby (or babies in my case), but let's not forget about the mommas here! I mean, she's the one carrying the baby/babies and I think moms deserve a little bit more than some nipple cream or no-leakage boob pads!

I know from now on, I will be getting mommas-to-be something for themselves because I think that's just nice and thoughtful! I know I can only get so excited over a diaper genie but a gift-card to get my hair-cut or a pedicure, now that would get me out of my seat...well maybe not completely out of my seat with as big as I am, but I would sure wave my arms...LOL!!!!

At least with having your hair done before the new arrival is born and cute toes to stare at, putting on nipple cream won't make ya feel so bad! 

I just think this is a good idea and I will be keeping it in mind for all the baby showers I go to in the future!

OB Appointment and Sonogram Photos - 18w2d

The last few days I have had some moments where I am doubled over in pain due to cramps in my abdomen and a few other symptoms. It started last Friday but them went away, and then some very light spotting started on Tuesday night and yesterday I had some really bad pain again down in my lower left abdomen, so this morning I called my OB. Of course they said come right in. So I finished up my work for the day and went right in. (I was actually passing the OB's office when they called at 1:30 and said come in...whahoo!)

So they checked my cervix which was fine, thank goodness. The only thing that they found was that Baby A's placenta is very low, not extended from the cervix like it should be, which can cause some light spotting. So, nothing to worry about because I will be having a C-section anyway, so the only issues would be if I was birthing one baby and wanted a vaginal birth, because then the placenta could get in the way of the baby's delivery..but we don't have to worry about that.

Then they checked all the babies over and over. I was really surprised how in depth they went into making sure each baby was doing good! It made me happy! All the babies were moving around like crazy, kicking and hitting one another. Baby A kept doing her "sucking" motions with her mouth which is so cute, Baby B kept sticking her tongue out and Baby C, well she is still a girl and has BIG feet!  All heartbeats were great and everything was fine!

We even got a few 3D photos; the girls are getting so big and so much easier to see on the 3D sonogram!

So basically when Dr. Pinckert came in, he said everything looked good and the spotting is probably from the low-lying placenta (which is no worry) and the pain/cramps I am having is from my ligaments stretching so quickly as the babies grow. He gave me some medication to take to help with the cramping but ultimately he said, "STAY OFF YOUR FEET HOLLY!" I said I was kind of trying to and he said he didn't believe me...which is true, it was a little lie. He said no wonder why it's worse in the evening and at night along with my terrible backaches, because I am staying on my feet too much. Sitting isn't good either, I need to be laying down and putting my feet up. BORING! It's ok though, this weekend I didn't have much planned so I will really be trying to take it easy.

I know I only have one chance to get this right and these little girls deserve the best from their momma!

So here are the sonogram photos, which was such a treat because I wasn't thinking they would give me any since it wasn't a real appointment! Looks like they are ready for Halloween...some of these pictures scare me, but then again they are developing and growing, but you can definitely see some babies coming together!




Madelynn - I love this one.



Madelynn and Claire

Madelynn - kinda scary at this point!

Claire - sticking her tongue out!

Claire

Natalee's BIG foot!

Natalee

Natalee



Natalee



Madelynn

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