Categories
Pregnancy

Babies A & C

Thanks for your encouragement & support on my post on baby B. She is missed. But everyday since Tuesday morning I’ve cried less & tried to continue to be excited about the blessings God has provided for us.

The shock we were feeling after hearing about baby B meant I was almost too out of it for the scans of babies A & C. Almost. But they’re so cute & getting so big that I couldn’t help but be happy to see them. In short, babies A & C are doing great. Baby A is head down, legs up vertically along the right side of my tummy. Baby A’s feet are right next to Baby C’s head. Baby C is horizontal above my belly button & right under my ribs. They measure right on schedule & all body parts are there & accounted for.

Speaking of body parts, my MFM’s suspected guess from our 15 week ultrasound was correct. Baby A is a BOY! & the now not-so-elusive baby C is a GIRL! I cried when I heard; I was so happy to have a healthy one of each.

Now that I know where A & C are located, I’ve realized I’m feeling them all the time. What I had *thought* were baby movements for the last few weeks are baby A punches! Baby C is actually moving around kicking me as I type this right now. My MFM offered for us to come back in later this week or next week for another ultrasound to hear & see the babies for reassurance. But these punches & kicks are fabulous & just what I need.

Our MFM/ultrasound tech I guess didn’t see absolutely everything for babies A & C, so they want to have us do another high resolution scan. He said it’s very normal for multiples & I think they knew we wanted to run away. We are just going to keep the appointment we already had scheduled at that location for two weeks from Tuesday {Valentine’s Day}. I’m looking forward to seeing A & C again soon. {by the way, we’re working on names now & I’ll reveal when we know for sure.}

Categories
Pregnancy

Baby B

I’m going to make this a two part-er. This part? Not the “treat” in Suz’s Treats. Quite the opposite. It’s tough & I don’t know how to say it, so I just am.

At our 18 week high resolution scan yesterday, the ultrasound tech first spotted babies A & B. She went initially to baby B, searched for a second, said the words that I can’t forget “I can’t seem to find a heartbeat”. Silly, naive me thought, look harder, baby B can be shy! She measured baby A’s head then went back to baby B & measured it’s head too. Then she told us while baby A’s measured over 18 weeks, baby B stopped growing around 15 weeks 4 days. She tried finding any blood flow in or out & there was none.

She moved on to the scans of babies A & C; I was too in shock & too scared to say anything but Jason asked the question I was afraid to: what was going on with baby B?! She said something along the lines of it didn’t make it. I asked & she told us that baby B had been a girl.

She left the room {so I could change for her to check my cervix} & I just clung to husband & sobbed. She came back & then the doctor came in & he too seemed a bit in shock but was so awesome that I like him even more than before. To answer the question everyone seems to have, baby B’s small body is still there & will remain for the rest of this pregnancy.

So that’s the short of it. Our triplets are no longer triplets & I’m sad & for one of the first times ever, I’m kinda speechless.

I do want to thank my twitter friends for all their support yesterday {& today & everyday really}. It was amazing & so sweet to find 150+ replies after I tweeted about the loss of baby B. Y’all, love from family & friends, & the strength of prayer as well as babies A & C are helping us cope with this new turn of events.

Tomorrow, I’ll bring a treat {actually two!} back to Suz’s Treats & share photos & the sexes of our babies.

Categories
Pregnancy

Eighteen Weeks

I don’t love these photos, but they’re the best of the ones I snapped before heading to my friend Laura’s Scentsy party. I think the belly has filled out more on the sides ~ enough that it’s starting to fill out maternity tops like this Loft one as well as making me glad to have full paneled maternity pants like my new Target dark jeans.

How far along? 18w1d

Maternity clothes? Absolutely. This week I’ve been venturing into almost all maternity tops too although I did wear a super long regular top with a normal cardigan {unbuttoned} one day this week.

Weight Gain? not sure but I’ll probably find out at the next appointment.

Stretch Marks? none yet.

Sleep? Getting more used to sleeping on my side surrounded by pillows.

Movement? I *think* I felt tiny punches from two different babies in one day while sitting at my desk at work. Haven’t really felt that much in the last few days.

Genders? Still thinking boys/girls mixture but we’ll see for sure Tuesday.

What I Miss? The ease of just grabbing an outfit from a full closet. My choices are more limited but I know I still have enough to get me through. I did break down & buy 2 more full panel pants {they’re way more comfy for the triplet belly than the low panel ones} & a new top last Sunday at Target. All three were on sale at least 50% off though & I had gift cards.

Food cravings? Still the usual~ pizza, pasta, ice cream. I mentioned my daily food favorites Friday.

Food aversion? Y’all! I ate Moe’s Monday night! My first Mexican{ish} food in months. The Joey Jr was amazing. I haven’t jumped into any more Mexican adventures but very pleased that maybe my Mexican food aversion is over?!

Labor signs? No, thankfully.

Belly button in or out? Still an innie.

What I’m Looking Forward to? Our BIG ultrasound appointment in just two days! Can’t wait to see the trips again in high resolution & find out boys/girls. I’m also looking forward to celebrating the babies in the next couple of weeks with family & friends at showers.

Weekly Wisdom? Don’t leave your only pair of maternity pjs in your bed under the covers. Your sleepy kitty might somehow bury under the comforter, cuddle in between your pillows & decide to have a snack {a silver dollar sized hole in the side of your pants}. Thank goodness for Old Navy coupons, sales, & cash back.

Milestones? Eighteen weeks means I’m more than halfway done with my pregnancy. That’s kinda bittersweet because I really love being pregnant. I also know that while it’s been pretty smooth sailing so far, things will be getting bigger, crazier, scarier from here.

The trips have grown into the size of bell peppers for week 18 ~ 5.5 in long & 7oz. The baby center app says the baby{s} are moving & I’ll be really feeling them more soon. It also says blood vessels are visible through their thin skin & the ears have moved to the final position.

Categories
Food Pregnancy

Eating for Triplets

I’m guessing y’all might be wondering what it’s like to be eating for four. I want to remember it myself, so I thought I’d share a quick post.

I eat every two hours or very close to that. If I don’t, I know it & if you’re around me you’d know it too~ I’m hungry, cranky, & whiny. I’m actually better at keeping up with eating during the week. I pack a huge lunch bag full of food & supplement that with my work’s cafeteria. Over the weekends my schedule varies more & I get busy or am sleeping so I don’t eat & drink as regularly. I’m trying to get better at that, but for this post, I’ll focus more on weekday food. Remember my MFM wants me to eat about 3000 calories & I try to drink close to 100 oz of liquid {tons of water all day long}.

I’ve always done cereal for breakfast & continue to do so {around 8a on weekdays}. I switch between Honey Nut Cheerios & Frosted Flakes with Special K with red berries thrown in occasionally. My MFM suggested I switch from skim to whole milk for added calories & fat. I haven’t been able to make the jump to whole, but we do use 2% now.

For probably close to six or more weeks straight, I walked downstairs to the cafeteria & got two scrambled eggs with cheese & a plain bagel for second breakfast around 10:15a. NYE weekend though, I made scrambled eggs at home & they grossed me out so much that I haven’t eaten them since. Recently, I’ve been eating fruit &/or yogurt as a mid-morning snack. I’ve switched to Greek yogurt for the added protein. I’ve found I like Trader Joe’s drinkable pomegranate ones, Trader Joe’s mango Greek yogurt, & YoCrunch just came out with Greek yogurt that’s pretty awesome too.

Lunch {1230p} varies a little more than breakfasts. If we have leftovers from dinner the night before, I’ll sometimes bring them. I eat a lot of peanut butter sandwiches ~ either PB&J or PB&B {banana}. We usually have Target goldfish, pretzel crisps, &/or pita chips at home & those are easy for lunch/snacks too. Hummus works with those if we’ve got it. I usually also get a dark greens salad topped with a ton of veggies & fatty delicious Parmesan peppercorn dressing from the salad bar at work. If I didn’t eat my yogurt for second breakfast, I’ll eat it for lunch dessert. Oh & I’m sometimes wild & crazy & have sweet tea/sprite/diet coke to drink instead of water at lunch.

Second lunch aka afternoon snack is around 245p. I’ll have a cheese stick & leftover chips/crackers. Or an apple & peanut butter. Occasionally almonds & I always have dried mangoes on hand. Ok & maybe there’s a little donut slipped in! I tend to snack for the last couple of hours at work.

I usually nap &/or chill on the couch as soon as I get home from work & then am hungry for dinner 6ish. After the food planning all day long, I’m pretty over the idea of cooking/meal planning at night. Luckily, back in November my mom & aunt came over & stocked my freezer with mini-casseroles. We just finished the last of those. My sweet friend Kelly {hi!} brought over a few more casseroles a couple of weeks ago that work great for nights when I’m tired. We also tend to have frozen pasta bags & frozen pizza that can be made quickly. Jason’s been a bigger help than pre-pregnancy with cooking. I’ll eat chicken but don’t like to mess with it, so he’ll man the oven & can make a mean Kraft mac’n’cheese. We try to do some veggies with dinner also but veggies are one food group I know I’m not making Dr Luke’s goal in. If I want an after-dinner dessert, I’ve been recently grabbing a YoCrunch pie parfait {I love the triple berry pie flavor best}.

A couple hours later, depending on when I go to bed, I’ll either have a snack {maybe dinner leftovers} or jump to my pre-bed ice cream. I read early on in this pregnancy that eating dairy before bed will stay with you longer & let you not wake up hungry. This is so true for me! I occasionally have cereal but typically have strawberry or Oreo ice cream. Top them off with water, prenatal vitamin & iron supplement & I’m off to sleep!

While YoCrunch has provided me in the past with coupons & recently sent me samples of their Greek yogurt & brand new pie parfaits, I was buying & enjoying them before & the opinions written above are all my own.

Categories
Photography

Seventeen Weeks

I went to a sprinkle yesterday {a 2nd baby shower} & took photos once I’d gotten home from there & updating our Target registry. This is a new tunic I found on super sale at Boden. Love it & wish I’d bought another one! How far along? 17w1d

Maternity clothes? Oh yeah. Normal T-shirts are starting to show the bump underneath!

Weight Gain? up a little more than 16 pounds at the last appt. Don’t weigh myself at home.

Stretch Marks? none yet.

Sleep? Doing pretty good.

Movement? Still not sure that I’m feeling them but not sure that I’m not either.

Genders? Still thinking boys/girls mixture but we’ll see for sure next Tuesday.

What I Miss? Nothing at the moment.

Food cravings? Fruit & carbs taste best. I throw in veggies & protein because I have to. I’m planning a “what I eat for triplets” post soon.

Food aversion? Still haven’t eaten Mexican food but I did have salsa yesterday & it was yummy.

Labor signs? No, thankfully.

Belly button in or out? Still an innie.

What I’m Looking Forward to? Showers soon~ can’t wait to celebrate these trips with friends! & seeing the babies at the 1/31 appointment.

Weekly Wisdom? Feeling great these past few days. Started having some reflux at the beginning of the week, but Tums {or CVS brand Tums} are doing the job to make it better so far. So weekly wisdom, don’t suffer through reflux/indigestion unnecessarily.

Milestones? 17 weeks!! That means halfway to our goal of 34 weeks! The babies {according to baby center} are the weight/size of turnips. And this week they’re developing sweat glands {hope they’re not sweaters like their momma-to-be!