17 Weeks!

I know this is a little late but since I had an OB appointment today, I wanted to wait to put all the information in one post. (SIDE NOTE--I only have Madelynn and Claire here with me right now, as Tim took Natalee with him to get some pizza (about 20 mins away) and man, is twins so easy compared to three! I can't believe how quiet it is! Not that I don't love my Na-Na-girl, but if you knew how "needy" she was, you'd understand!")

This appointment today, we did not have a sonogram..boring! Just listened to the heartbeat, which sounded great! I am so not used to being pregnant with one baby....I was speechless when the nurse said I wasn't having a sonogram! Say what? Oh yeah, just one baby this time....boring! LOL!


How Far Along: 17 Weeks

How Big is Baby: Average fetus is the size of an onion (5.1 inches, 5.9 oz.). Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints (thebump.com).

Weight Gain:  I've gained ONE POUND since my last appointment, one month ago!

Symptoms: I did get sick once this week...from brushing my teeth! And very thirsty, and peeing all.of.the.freakin.time! Hungry, especially at night! Definitely feeling like my organs are already getting that "smushed" feeling up in my torso.

Emotions: Doing great!

Best Moment of the Week: I think I may have felt the little bean move on Friday night...it felt very familiar! :) I can't believe he/she will be moving all around in just a matter a few weeks for me to feel!! (UPDATE--Definitely was the bean moving! I felt again after I wrote most of this post--- right before the earthquake, he/she was moving all around for about an hour!)

Maternity Clothes: Mixture of whatever I feel like wearing.

Stretchmarks: No new ones, and I expect non through this pregnancy!

Cravings: Sour kraut...I had it throughout the whole week, haha! And Krispie Kreme doughnuts! Now, of course anything Italian!!!!!

Food Aversions: Hmm....just listening to my body and when I have had enough, I do.not.swallow.one.more.bite!!!

Gender: Gender Appointment is Thursday, Sept 15th! Still keeping my fingers crossed it's a baby boy! I'm going to try and put a survey on the side to see what everyone thinks it is...so stay tuned and don't forget to vote (and let me know what you vote!)!

What I Miss: Wine and margaritas!

Sleep: Just fine, expect having to pee a million times each night!

What I am Looking Forward to: The gender ultrasound in three weeks!

And here is my bump photo this week with comparison to the girls! You can definitely see the difference in my belly size from last time, and I'm guessing it will be that way from now on!

 

OB Appointment and Sonogram Photos - 17w3d

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baby C - Natalee

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

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

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

Baby A - Madelynn

Madelynn

Baby B - Claire

Claire

WOW!!!!!!!!

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

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

We're sad.

We're happy.

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

But, today we had another BIG SHOCKER!

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

Baby C is a GIRL.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 beautiful, little princesses!

Belly-button and Kicks!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wordless Wednesday....HOLY CRAP!!!

The average diaper changes for triplets each month is

900....

so, for the first year, that's

10,800 DIAPERS!!

***HOLY CRAP!***

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

17 Weeks!

How Far Along: 17 Weeks!!

How Big are the Babies: The babies are the size of onions, about 5.1 inches and 5.9 ounces! Their skeletons are hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cords are getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints (http://www.thebump.com/).

Weight Gain: Well, hmm....starting weight - 126 lbs., today - 134 lbs.!!

Symptoms: Well, on a GREAT note, I have gone 11 DAYS without taking ONE ZOFRAN!!! Hello, 11 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jumping for joy! No nausea, no vomiting...nothing! One happy girl here!

And how amazing is this, the constipation has gone away completely since I have stopped the zofran! A-----MAZING!!!!! Some backaches which can be bad sometimes, still thirsty, dry eyes and HUNGRY all the time!

Emotions: So happy this week with completing the registries, finding out about my showers and starting the nursery! I'm on cloud nine!

Best Moment of the Week: Registering! I have waited my whole life to be a mommy and finally my dreams are coming true----times 3!!!

Movement: I think Tim and I felt the babies move on the outside for the first time on Sunday at his Mom's house. It was like a wood-pecker in my top right-hand side of my tummy going to town...I turned to Tim and was like, "FEEL THIS"...and his eyes lite up and he said "I FEEL IT!!!!" It went on for about 30 minutes and then stopped! Definitely was strange! Looking forward to feeling them more and more on the outside and not just pushing and prodding on my organs!

Maternity Clothes: Of course. I put on a pair of maternity capris that I got at a yard sale in June and man were they tight on my tummy!! It was not comfy and I though they would be able to last me the next month or so until I needed pants, but I don't think so at this point.

Stretchmarks: No, amen.

Sleep: Still ok, some nights are better than others. Some nights I wake up so thirsty, which makes me have to pee so much more, but I still get my best sleep after Tim leaves for work in the morning because I can roll around in the whole bed.

Food Cravings: Wine, beer...LOL...just the normal stuff, pasta, pickles, bread and butter, oh I did eat a lot of peanut buter and jelly this week, with potato chips and apples. And of course my ice water with lemon, all day long, everyday!

...took out Gender Predictions....

What I Miss: Wine.

What I am Looking Farward to: Seeing the babies this Friday for another OB Appointment and getting moving on the nursery! And cooler weather...having my air-conditioning off, apple pie, apple cider, decorating for fall!

Weekly Wisdom: Put it to God and all things will prevail. 

Questions: ???

And here is my baby bump photos of the week: