Check up!

We had another doctor's appointment today! The ultrasound was amazing. I can't believe how much they've changed and grown in two weeks. The three black holes are just proof that there are three. You can really see how they look like babies now! I haven't gained weight but was told they wouldn't yell at me this time because I have been so sick, but they will next time. I need to gain more weight to meet my goal of at least 75 pounds. In order to do this I need to eat around 3,000 calories a day. Sounds like fun, I know, but it is much harder than you would think, especially when you always feel sick and have an expanding belly! So I better force more meals into my day. They say it is very important to gain weight early in a multiple pregnancy because they will be premature. Also, it will help reduce the risk of pre-term labor. The doctor gave me some more suggestions about morning sickness. I hope they will work!

First Belly Pictures!

Here are our first belly pictures. Dale insists his belly will get smaller as mine grows. Right now he's the one that looks pregnant! These were taken around 8 weeks into the pregnancy.

First apointment with specialist!

Today was our first appointment with the high risk doctor that will be delivering our babies. We first had an ultrasound in which the babies look great. I can't believe they are already moving around at only 8 weeks and 5 days. We then met with the doctor. He was very thorough and informative. The appointment took about 4 hours total. I know the rest of my appointments shouldn't take this long, but from now on I will pack snacks! I will go to the doctor every other week and at 20 weeks and I will go every week until I deliver. I will deliver by cesarean. The doctor said most triplets make it to 33-34 weeks and should weigh a little over 4 pounds each. He also said to expect a NICU stay anywhere from 2-4 weeks for the babies. He said one good thing is that I am tall so I should be able to carry the babies well. Here are individual pictures of each baby. They aren't very clear, but still so cute!

The shocking news!

It's finally the day we go in for an ultrasound. I thought the time frame waiting to take a pregnancy test was long, but this last 3.5 weeks of waiting for the ultrasound has taken what seems like an eternity. And all the lies we have told people so they didn't know I was pregnant would finally be over today.

As we are heading to the doctor for the ultrasound Dale and I were talking about all possibilities. We were very nervous and excited. For some reason I had a feeling there weren't twins. I thought that there is either only 1 or there's three. Dale had a feeling there were going to be three. We arrived at the doctor for the ultrasound. "There's two" the doctor said. Dale was just about to say, few, I could have swore there were going to be three when the doctor said "no wait, there's three"! Dale and I just looked at each other in shock and laughed. Now all I wanted to see was three healthy heartbeats. As the doctor was going from baby to baby to check them out Dale and I just kept looking at each other going "OH MY GOSH". The ultrasound was over and all three babies looked great and had good heartbeats. I received some information from the doctor and a referral to a high risk specialist and we were on our way.

As soon as we got to the car I called my Aunt Regina. She was the only person that we told that we were pregnant. She referred me to her doctor and is why we now have three healthy babies in my womb. I'm so grateful for her referral! Anyway, my voice was shaking and I said "well Regina we just left the doctor, we are having triplets!" She giggled and was sooo excited and happy for us!

There was no way Dale and I were going to get anything done that day. Our parents were all at work, but we had to tell someone so we decided to stop by my grandmothers house on our way to vote! We walked in and I said "Grandma we have something to tell you that you must keep a secret, we are pregnant with triplets." She ran over hugged me and we cried. She said she would start packing her bags. (Several months earlier she predicted we were going to have triplets. I told her that if that happened she had to move in!)

The rest of the day took a while until our parents were finally off work to go tell them the good news. We went to my parents first because they were already home by 4:00 p.m. We just walked in and I just blurted out we are having triplets. They didn't believe us and then were so excited. My dad had to get Dale and him a beer and had to break out the whiskey so Dale and him could take three shots! I've never seen my parents so excited about anything! We then went and told my dad's parents before we headed to Dale's parents.

When we arrived at Dale's parent's house we just pulled in the middle of the driveway and went inside. Dale's mom wasn't home but we went ahead and just said to his dad and one of his sisters that we were having triplets. Of course they were very excited also! A few minutes later my mother-in-law walked in. Before she could say anything I said "we are having triplets" and her face completely lit up!

Everyone is so excited and we are grateful to have such a great family and support system. This is going to be an exciting journey!