18-19 Weeks!

How Far Along: 18 Weeks! (I didn't post when I was 18 weeks, since I forgot to take my photo and was so busy preparing for vacation...so this is both for 18 and 19 weeks!) Now, 19 weeks!

How Big is Baby: 18 weeks- The average fetus is the size of a YUMMY sweet potato, about 5.6 inches and 6.7 ounces! Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon (thebump.com).

19 weeks- The average fetus is the size of a mango, about 6.o inches long and 8.5 ounces.

Weight Gain: I don't think anything but that one lonely pound.

Symptoms: Headaches, sore boobies, and my back has really been starting to hurt. Just peeing a lot of course and more and more hungry, especially in the evening. Belly popping out!

Emotions: Fine. I was pretty upset that I didn't get to have a sonogram last week at the OB, but I accepted that's just the way it is with one baby.

Best Moment of the Week: Hearing the heartbeat at the OB's office! That's always a wonderful sound and brings the biggest smile to my face! And going to the beach!

Maternity Clothes: Mix of both, but my tummy is definitely expanding!!

Stretchmarks: None, other than what's left from the girls.

Cravings: Pizza! And anything Italian. We had pizza twice at the beach, and I had an Italian cold-cut, which was divine!

Aversions: I can't think of anything this week.

Gender: Even though I would have loved a quick sneak peak at what this little bean is, I am kinda glad I didn't get my hopes up either way for a boy or a girl on the ultrasound, if we would have had one. If they would have said boy and in three weeks, it showed girl again, I would be totally pissed and vice verses, so I can wait until 20 weeks to be completely sure what is in my growing belly! Still keeping my fingers crossed for a boy, but another girl will be fine too.....IF we can decide on a name!

What I Miss: Wine and margartias!

Sleep: Totally fine! I try to take a nap every day right when I put the girls down for nap because, well I'm up a lot at night still and this baby deserves just as much rest as I gave the girls while in utero (even though I NO WHERE NEARLY rest as much as I did with them!).

What I am Looking Forward to: VACATION!!!!! (that was at 18 weeks) Now, I am so looking forward to next Thursday to find out what baby bean is!!!!

And here is my belly photos from last time and this time! I was so big last time...but I had three in there, I can definitely tell the difference!!!

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

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!