28 1/2 Weeks

Yes, I'm a bit late on my 28 week post but I had a check-up today so I thought it would be easier to wait until today to update everyone on our progress.

Well, lots of progress :)

The babies weigh:

Baby A (Julianna) 2 pounds 15 ounces
Baby B (Alyssa) 2 pounds 14 ounces
Baby C (Rachel) 2 pounds 10 ounces

To make your math easier that's a total of 8 pounds and 7 ounces!! To make it harder for me - that's an ounce more than Caleb weighed the day I delivered him.

So, yes, I am uncomfortable!!! I would have to say that every day is a struggle and I get more uncomfortable but we are still going. As for the rest of things - the babies fluids look good, their kidneys all look fine, their growth is great, heartrates too. As for me, my cervix is beginning to shorten and the doctor has told us to pack a bag and bring it with us to our next appointment which will be next Friday, October 6th. I will be exactly 30 weeks at that point. He said the only reason he's not admitting me to the hospital now is because I'm doing so well but if I wish to go into the hospital he'd gladly admit me. No thank you!!

Basically, I am full term (and it shows - see picture) so I could go into labor at any time. If that were to happen I must get to the hospital immediately because obviously I don't want to dilate to the point where they he can't stop my labor. What fun :) Anyway, he did at least say that the babies look great and are growing very well. Their size is pretty amazing. Baby A is actually in the 60th percentile for weight! Pretty good for a triplet!

The babies are all sitting on about my right side. Baby A is sitting very low and she wouldn't look at us today. Baby B was the one doing gymnastics with her toes at her forehead and as usual she would give us a good picture - she even gave us a "peace" sign. Baby C is more in the middle now and is the closest to the top. She's always looking at us so her pictures don't come out as well either. It's harder and harder to really see anything in there anyway. The sonographer even commented that she was glad she was doing this weight and measure and not one when I'm further along :)

I guess that's about all for today. Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Even though the babies look great, are growing well and would have a very high survival rate at this point - we'd love for them to be in there another month longer at least so that their stay in the NICU would be even shorter.

If Kirk does the post next week it means I'm in the hospital so be sure to check in next Friday!

Name Change (6 months/27 weeks)

Well, we warned you that it could happen and we have made a name change. We have also finally come up with middle names.

Baby A: Julianna Mabel (Mabel is Kirk's mom first name even though she went by June)
Baby B: Alyssa Elaine (Elaine is my mom's middle name)
Baby C: Rachel Gabrielle (that hasn't changed)

Since they are not yet born it is still subject to change :) But, we are pretty sure this is what it will be. Now I have to get used to it and we have to talk Kaitlyn into Alyssa. We are all pretty used to Abigail.

Thanks for your patience! This has been really hard.

Today is also exactly 6 months - my actual due date is 3 months from today. And I am 27 weeks. Every day and every week are big milestones so please keep praying!

Check-Up

We had another check-up today and things seem to be going really well. All three babies look healthy and strong. They checked all the kidneys and we had no extra fluid in any of them. Last check both baby B and C had some fluid so we're thankful for the change.

My cervix is holding strong and all their fluids look good - doesn't look like a birth any time soon - praise God for that! We are hoping for at least another 6 weeks. More of course but I'd take 6 more weeks.

As for bed rest, the doctor we saw today was more strict. He does not think I should be able to go to church or go out to eat so I am now really restricted to being on the couch or bed with my feet up or lying down on my side. I can go to the doctor and the orthodontist but that's about it. At my last check the doctor said we would schedule the C-section but this doctor said it would happen on its own and there was no need to schedule. He did recommend we bring a packed bag from now on just in case I get admitted - not necessarily because the babies would be born but for a variety of other reasons.

I also now have to check my blood pressure, weight and glucose every day to look for signs of preeclampsia. If I find any I must call immediately. How fun is that? On a good note, I must not have gesstational diabetes because it wasn't mentioned and I forgot to ask - woops :) I'm sure he would have told me if things were bad though!

The babies look great. Their heartbeats are all good. They are all still girls :) Yes, I keep checking! Julianna was all tucked up with her knees by her face - a little gymnast. Baby B (see next paragraph for name dilemna) looked great and was more laid back. And Rachel seemed happy in there too! They are all kicking up a storm :)

And that brings us to our name dilemna. Julianna still has no middle name. This is very hard! Baby B now has 2 name options - we are deciding between Abigail and Alyssa. Lots of pros and cons for both. Feel free to comment if you want. We are stuck!

First Weights

Sorry that I'm a tad late on this post. I am 25 weeks today which is great. We went on Wednesday to see the doctor again and things are still going quite well.

Baby A (Julianna) weighs 1 pound 10 ounces
Baby B (Abigail) weighs 1 pound 11 ounces
Baby C (Rachel) weighs 1 pound 9 ounces

That's great news. They are all about the 50% percentile and are growing at the same rate. We are praying that they continue to do that. For me it means I'm already carrying almost 5 pounds of baby!!

They all look good. Baby B and C both had a little extra fluid in their kidneys but I wasn't asked about an amnio this time so I guess that will be okay. All their membranes were good and they were moving quite a bit. It was fun to see them stretching out their whole bodies as we were trying to get a picture.

At one point I felt someone kick me but the sonographer said that one baby had bumped into the other baby's head and then bumped me :) Never thought of that!

We go again in about 2 weeks and they'll check me again but we won't know weights again until the 26th of September.

Enjoy the pictures!
(with a little help from Kirk for those who can never "see" the baby in sonogram pictures)