"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139: 13-14
Thursday, June 28, 2007
12 more days???
we had our appointment today and the babies are doing great. my blood pressure was high and i am still dropping protein but not high enough to deliver the babies yet or cause serious concern. but, we have been officially scheduled for a c-section ~ july 10 at 3:30pm. there is a chance we could deliver early; but if not, that's the date! it is exciting to think we may only be 12 days away from meeting the babies. i wonder if Baby B will be 6 pounds by then?
Monday, June 25, 2007
the babies weigh in
Baby A: 3 lbs. 13 oz.
Baby B: 5 lbs. 8 oz.
Baby C: 3 lbs. 13 oz.
the girls are doing great! i am struggling with pain and a serious lack of sleep but we are praising the Lord for another good report of our three precious girls!!!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
another hospital visit
friday morning around 4am i began having contractions again. they ended around 6am after i drank a lot of water and tried what the doctors recommended. friday afternoon the contractions were back so i called the doctor's office and they sent me into the hospital around 3pm. i got another iv of fluids and they decided to keep me overnight just to monitor things. i had a ton of tests done while i was there and they all came back normal ~ praise the Lord! we were afraid that my time at home may be over and the time of hospitalization was upon us. however, they let me come home!!!
i had a terrible night friday unable to sleep and in a lot of pain from contractions and back pain. the doctor gave me 2 ambien, which did nothing (usually 1/2 an ambien knocks me out completely). after not sleeping all night and feeling terrible, the doctors offered morphine for the pain and said it would help me sleep so i took it. big mistake. it made me sick and then i was vomiting and still exhausted and still in pain. what finally helped was the anti-nausea medication they gave me around 9am. i was finally able to relax, get comfortable and sleep for awhile. thad was able to sleep some during the night on friday but not much. then on saturday he worked hard to keep the room quiet so i could sleep. i kept setting off this alarm on my iv pump because i would get it tangled up and he would have to work it free and shut the alarm off. he's such a good husband!
the high risk doctor sat down with me and thad on saturday afternoon to lay out the plan. he said that the contractions are from having three babies and not because i am in labor. i am still only dialated to 1cm, which i have been at for two weeks now meaning i am not really progressing in terms of needing to deliver yet. so, it would be better to hold off delivery as long as possible and encouraged me to put up with the pain and discomfort because it was better for the babies to be in as long as possible. he gave us the option of staying at the hospital through the weekend to continue the monitoring and being discharged on monday if that would provide more comfort or reassurance. but he felt fine with discharging us saturday night. we just needed to wait for one of the tests to be completed because it was a 24 hour test that began at 7pm friday night. we chose the saturday night discharge option and got home around 8pm last night.
we both slept much better last night and are thankful to be home. we see our doctor tomorrow and get to find out the weights!
i had a terrible night friday unable to sleep and in a lot of pain from contractions and back pain. the doctor gave me 2 ambien, which did nothing (usually 1/2 an ambien knocks me out completely). after not sleeping all night and feeling terrible, the doctors offered morphine for the pain and said it would help me sleep so i took it. big mistake. it made me sick and then i was vomiting and still exhausted and still in pain. what finally helped was the anti-nausea medication they gave me around 9am. i was finally able to relax, get comfortable and sleep for awhile. thad was able to sleep some during the night on friday but not much. then on saturday he worked hard to keep the room quiet so i could sleep. i kept setting off this alarm on my iv pump because i would get it tangled up and he would have to work it free and shut the alarm off. he's such a good husband!
the high risk doctor sat down with me and thad on saturday afternoon to lay out the plan. he said that the contractions are from having three babies and not because i am in labor. i am still only dialated to 1cm, which i have been at for two weeks now meaning i am not really progressing in terms of needing to deliver yet. so, it would be better to hold off delivery as long as possible and encouraged me to put up with the pain and discomfort because it was better for the babies to be in as long as possible. he gave us the option of staying at the hospital through the weekend to continue the monitoring and being discharged on monday if that would provide more comfort or reassurance. but he felt fine with discharging us saturday night. we just needed to wait for one of the tests to be completed because it was a 24 hour test that began at 7pm friday night. we chose the saturday night discharge option and got home around 8pm last night.
we both slept much better last night and are thankful to be home. we see our doctor tomorrow and get to find out the weights!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
keep on keeping on
the doctor said we are doing well and to keep on plugging along. my protein level was a little less today and my blood pressure about the same. she said there is nothing immediate that has to happen ~ she will continue to watch me closely. i am so thankful to be returning home today and not looking at hospitalization. i plan to sleep the rest of the day away in my comfy bed because i did not sleep much last night.
next week we see the doctor on monday and have a growth ultrasound done on the babies. i am so excited to find out what they weigh. then we head back to the office on thursday for another appointment and a non stress test. praise the Lord that everything is going well!
next week we see the doctor on monday and have a growth ultrasound done on the babies. i am so excited to find out what they weigh. then we head back to the office on thursday for another appointment and a non stress test. praise the Lord that everything is going well!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
so far so good
the test results came back normal. we see the doctor tomorrow to learn more about what (if anything) is next.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
31 weeks
the appointment today went well. however, i continue to drop protein in my urine and have a slightly higher blood pressure than normal, so they did another blood test for preeclampsia. we should find out the results tomorrow. sounds like i may be getting these blood tests done pretty regularly because based on the symptoms i am having, i am most likely developing an early form of preeclampsia. she said the next step would be to put me in the hospital and then deliver our little treasures! the doctor said she of course cannot predict anything but believes that we will not go longer than 34 weeks!!! she said we should be seeing our babies sometime in the next 3 weeks. the ultrasound went great ~ the babies looked wonderful. the fluids looked great and umbilical blood flow is right were it should be. she bumped our appointment up this week so she can see us again on Thursday rather than Friday! we will keep you all posted. please continue to keep us in your prayers!!!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
friday's appointment
our appointment on friday went well. i had a non stress test done and the babies did great! we had a little scare in that my blood pressure was a little high and i tested positive for protein in my urine, which caused alarm that i might have preeclampsia. if so, that would mean the babies would be delivered because of the harm it could cause to me. however, they took some bloodwork and the tests came back normal. for a couple hours there, we thought we would be seeing the babies this weekend ~ we are happy they are staying in longer but would have loved to see them. a nurse told me that each day they stay inside, it takes 2 days off the time they would have to spend in the neonatal unit. so we keep plugging away and are thankful for the time they have to grow before the births. it is such a comfort being monitored so closely by the doctors. next week we see the doctors on tuesday and friday. tuesday we will have an ultrasound to measure fluids again and then friday will be another non stress test.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
oh, the insomnia
i miss a good night's sleep. i am so tired but my body is protesting sleep; i cannot get or stay comfortable. since i am up, i thought i would update the blog on the doctor appointment yesterday. it went well and was informative. i failed 2 of the 4 glucose tests from the test last week, but the doctor does not want me to change anything like diet or take insulin or anything. she said it is likely just having a great deal of babies and placentas. she will watch the sugar level in my urine at each appointment. the appointments have now increased to TWICE a week. she said to consider the doctor's appointments my outings for the week . i go back on friday for another appointment and a non stress test.
i asked her to lay out the next 4 weeks for me and she said it is really just about watching me and the babies. if i developed blood pressure concerns or had contractions that were not controllable, they would talk about delivering the babies. otherwise, they are going to watch me for the next 4 weeks. i asked if all was well over the next 4 weeks if they would have me go longer and she said it is possible but that they would not go longer than 36 weeks. she seemed kind of skeptical that would happen. i have been so uncomfortable the past couple of days and i have a feeling my body is seriously going to object to another 6 weeks of this ~ but it is in God's hands. the latest discomfort is breathing. i can barely catch my breath. i am talking less and less because it takes so much out of me and i end up coughing. the doctor said once the babies deliver i will feel the pressure immediately resolved and will enjoy taking nice long deep breaths (she is the mom of twins and she said it was wonderful after her delivery)!
praise the Lord the babies are doing well. they looked great on the ultrasound and all the fluid levels are right where they should be. i just have to keep telling myself that i can do this ~ God will give me the strength to continue a few more weeks.
i asked her to lay out the next 4 weeks for me and she said it is really just about watching me and the babies. if i developed blood pressure concerns or had contractions that were not controllable, they would talk about delivering the babies. otherwise, they are going to watch me for the next 4 weeks. i asked if all was well over the next 4 weeks if they would have me go longer and she said it is possible but that they would not go longer than 36 weeks. she seemed kind of skeptical that would happen. i have been so uncomfortable the past couple of days and i have a feeling my body is seriously going to object to another 6 weeks of this ~ but it is in God's hands. the latest discomfort is breathing. i can barely catch my breath. i am talking less and less because it takes so much out of me and i end up coughing. the doctor said once the babies deliver i will feel the pressure immediately resolved and will enjoy taking nice long deep breaths (she is the mom of twins and she said it was wonderful after her delivery)!
praise the Lord the babies are doing well. they looked great on the ultrasound and all the fluid levels are right where they should be. i just have to keep telling myself that i can do this ~ God will give me the strength to continue a few more weeks.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
contractions have begun
i was having a really hard time falling asleep last night because i was feeling really achy. then around 1:30am, the aches became more pronounced pain so i called the on-call doctor. she recommended that i watch the pain for the next hour and call back if they continue. well, they continued so around 4am we headed off to the hospital. they put me on an iv drop to try to stop the contractions, which helped.
it was really interesting to me because the lower stomach pain i have been feeling was also registering on the contraction monitor, which they called "uterus irritation." one of the residents asked me if i wanted morphine so i could sleep through them. we declined thinking it was a bit extreme considering that that is the pain i have been living with the past 2-3 weeks.
the nurses were surprised that i had made it to 30 weeks with this being my first trip to the hospital. the on-call doctor recommended that i get another dose of steroid shots because of the contractions and being so close to a safe time for delivery. so another shot and then one tomorrow morning. then they will monitor the babies and my contractions again to see if there are any changes.
we are both pretty tired today and trying to catch up on sleep. please pray that this week goes well for the family. the funeral for Thad's grandpa is Tues at 2pm. i won't be able to go because of the doctor's appointment at 3:30pm, which i am having a hard time with. i wish i could go to support Thad and celebrate Grandpa's life with the family but the funeral is in Sparta and i know it would be too much.
on a lighter note, lynnette threw me a shower on Saturday morning. it was so special! i really appreciated seeing some friends that i have not seen for awhile and feel every one's support. my mom read some verses about raising children in the Lord and my sister had one of the coolest games i have never heard of before. she had an envelope and birthday card for the girls for each birthday from 1 - 18 years old. each person got a year to write a note to the girls wishing them a happy birthday. my year was their 13th birthday, which was so fun to think about ~ the year they become teenagers!!! i got a little choked up too thinking about them at that age and hoping that they are becoming women who love the Lord and want to serve Him. it was such a special present to receive and we look forward to reading the cards with the girls in the years to come!




it was really interesting to me because the lower stomach pain i have been feeling was also registering on the contraction monitor, which they called "uterus irritation." one of the residents asked me if i wanted morphine so i could sleep through them. we declined thinking it was a bit extreme considering that that is the pain i have been living with the past 2-3 weeks.
the nurses were surprised that i had made it to 30 weeks with this being my first trip to the hospital. the on-call doctor recommended that i get another dose of steroid shots because of the contractions and being so close to a safe time for delivery. so another shot and then one tomorrow morning. then they will monitor the babies and my contractions again to see if there are any changes.
we are both pretty tired today and trying to catch up on sleep. please pray that this week goes well for the family. the funeral for Thad's grandpa is Tues at 2pm. i won't be able to go because of the doctor's appointment at 3:30pm, which i am having a hard time with. i wish i could go to support Thad and celebrate Grandpa's life with the family but the funeral is in Sparta and i know it would be too much.
on a lighter note, lynnette threw me a shower on Saturday morning. it was so special! i really appreciated seeing some friends that i have not seen for awhile and feel every one's support. my mom read some verses about raising children in the Lord and my sister had one of the coolest games i have never heard of before. she had an envelope and birthday card for the girls for each birthday from 1 - 18 years old. each person got a year to write a note to the girls wishing them a happy birthday. my year was their 13th birthday, which was so fun to think about ~ the year they become teenagers!!! i got a little choked up too thinking about them at that age and hoping that they are becoming women who love the Lord and want to serve Him. it was such a special present to receive and we look forward to reading the cards with the girls in the years to come!
~here are some pictures from the brunch~
Friday, June 8, 2007
29 Weeks Update
We had the appointment today and the babies are HUGE!!! The "twins", Babies A & C, both weigh 2 pounds 13 ounces and Baby B weighs an amazing 4 pounds!!! It is incredible ~ over 9 pounds of baby at this point. The babies look good and we are getting more and more excited about their arrival in approximately 4 weeks! Next week's appointment is Tuesday at 3:30pm.
Grandpa Ken
thad's mom called tonight to tell us that Grandpa Ken went home to be with his Heavenly Father. Grandpa had knee replacement surgery this past wednesday. he was supposed to have both knees done but the surgery had to be cut short because his blood pressure rose too high. it seems as if his heart was unable to take the surgery and then he was unable to recover.
i have been having a difficult time sleeping since hearing the news. i feel so sad for Grandma; he was her best friend. i am thankful i was able to see them a couple weeks ago. thad was up at the hospital last night and this afternoon and he said that it was good to be able to rub his hand and say goodbye. we would certainly appreciate your prayers for the family and friends as we all deal with his passing.
i have been having a difficult time sleeping since hearing the news. i feel so sad for Grandma; he was her best friend. i am thankful i was able to see them a couple weeks ago. thad was up at the hospital last night and this afternoon and he said that it was good to be able to rub his hand and say goodbye. we would certainly appreciate your prayers for the family and friends as we all deal with his passing.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
glucose tolerance testing
the doctor's office called today and said that the 1 hour glucose tolerance test that i took last
week tested high and that they want me to take the 3 hour test. so tomorrow morning at 8:30am i will be taking a 3 hour test at the doctor's office. i am not really sure what they will do if i test high during this one. i guess it means i have gestational diabetes ~ but i am not sure what that will mean in terms of diet changes, etc. at first the doctors were saying it would not be a concern because of having triplets and not having to worry about having too large of babies. but now it sounds like they are concerned that if i am "spilling sugar" in my urine (that's what they called it) that the babies might be born with low sugar and have the potential to have breathing problems. so anyway, that is the latest. it will probably take a couple days to get the results back on the testing. we will keep you all posted. as always, we appreciate your prayers!
week tested high and that they want me to take the 3 hour test. so tomorrow morning at 8:30am i will be taking a 3 hour test at the doctor's office. i am not really sure what they will do if i test high during this one. i guess it means i have gestational diabetes ~ but i am not sure what that will mean in terms of diet changes, etc. at first the doctors were saying it would not be a concern because of having triplets and not having to worry about having too large of babies. but now it sounds like they are concerned that if i am "spilling sugar" in my urine (that's what they called it) that the babies might be born with low sugar and have the potential to have breathing problems. so anyway, that is the latest. it will probably take a couple days to get the results back on the testing. we will keep you all posted. as always, we appreciate your prayers!Sunday, June 3, 2007
amanda & tim's wedding
Thursday, May 31, 2007
more good news!!!
we had a doctor appointment yesterday and received more good news. the babies look great with a good amount of fluid around them and umbilical blood flow. the technician had a hard time telling who was who because they have been shifting so much, which explains all the rib and back pain i have been having the past week. oh well! baby B is even growing hair that we were able to see on the ultrasound - it was great! the doctor is very happy with how well things are going. our next appointment is friday, june 8. we will keep you posted.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
update
the weekend was great! we had two wonderful showers where we were surrounded by family and friends and felt a great deal of love and support. we received wonderful gifts for our three little treasures. thad was blessed by extra hands helping him work on house projects friday night (until midnight) and all day saturday. thanks so much to Thad's parents, Thomas and Betty, and Adam. we are so grateful for all your help - i hope we can repay you sometime. i was amazed by all that got done!
we had a doctor appointment yesterday morning with the high risk doctor. all is well - praise the Lord! the babies were even in sync with the same heart rates at 158. CRAZY! thad spoke with our primary doctor today who reviewed the chart from our appointment yesterday and said she wants to begin seeing me every week until the babies are born. nothing major - with only 7 weeks to go she said it is time to come on a weekly basis. i am excited about getting to see the babies each week and hear their heartbeats.
we also had an appointment yesterday afternoon with a neonatologist and got a tour of the neonatal floor at Spectrum. it was really helpful to see the floor and hear from a very kindhearted doctor in the unit. it was also a little overwhelming to hear about potential problems and see these tiny babies hooked up to various contraptions. i am comforted by the thought that the Lord loves our babies even more than we do and will be with them through it all. i also learned the neonatal floor is open to us as parents 24/7 so we can spend lots of time there with them. plus they will put the girls by each other, which is comforting. the nurses and staff seemed really caring and knowledgeable.
needless to say, yesterday was an extremely long and tiring day. i was completely worn out. it doesn't take much these days to tire me out. this upcoming weekend we will be having another house project weekend. my dad will come into town (my mom has been here since monday afternoon) and he and thad are moving the washer and dryer to the first floor from the basement. a group of my coworkers are coming on saturday to help with various projects around the house - what a blessing! we have so much to be thankful for.
we had a doctor appointment yesterday morning with the high risk doctor. all is well - praise the Lord! the babies were even in sync with the same heart rates at 158. CRAZY! thad spoke with our primary doctor today who reviewed the chart from our appointment yesterday and said she wants to begin seeing me every week until the babies are born. nothing major - with only 7 weeks to go she said it is time to come on a weekly basis. i am excited about getting to see the babies each week and hear their heartbeats.
we also had an appointment yesterday afternoon with a neonatologist and got a tour of the neonatal floor at Spectrum. it was really helpful to see the floor and hear from a very kindhearted doctor in the unit. it was also a little overwhelming to hear about potential problems and see these tiny babies hooked up to various contraptions. i am comforted by the thought that the Lord loves our babies even more than we do and will be with them through it all. i also learned the neonatal floor is open to us as parents 24/7 so we can spend lots of time there with them. plus they will put the girls by each other, which is comforting. the nurses and staff seemed really caring and knowledgeable.
needless to say, yesterday was an extremely long and tiring day. i was completely worn out. it doesn't take much these days to tire me out. this upcoming weekend we will be having another house project weekend. my dad will come into town (my mom has been here since monday afternoon) and he and thad are moving the washer and dryer to the first floor from the basement. a group of my coworkers are coming on saturday to help with various projects around the house - what a blessing! we have so much to be thankful for.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
this weekend
i have not created a post for a few days now because i have been in a lot of rib and back pain. it is getting better though, which is such a relief! my mom came last week Tuesday to take me to the doctor appointment and help around the house. it has been such a blessing having her here working on projects for me and taking excellent care of me. in fact, i am most likely headed back to Corunna with her this week Thursday for a couple days because of the family shower in Corunna on Saturday. Thad plans to stay back in GR to work on a few house projects he has not been able to do because of the chemical smells being dangerous to me and the girls. so he hopes to work Thurs & Fri evenings and all day Saturday on finishing the stripping project in the living room. if anyone is interested in helping him out, we would be extremely grateful. he had used a heat gun on the majority of the crown molding and only has a couple areas to go. then he will use chemical stripper to get the remaining paint off. next will be staining and sealing the woodwork. it is the crown molding up high between the ceiling and the walls so if you are available and handy on a ladder, let us know. i feel bad for Thad because he has been working so hard every day and usually on his own. i would love for someone to be able to help him out.
i will be heading back to GR Saturday evening with my sister after the shower. then on Sunday, Thad's parents are throwing us a shower at their house. should be a great weekend. thanks everyone for continuing to support us and pray for us.
i will be heading back to GR Saturday evening with my sister after the shower. then on Sunday, Thad's parents are throwing us a shower at their house. should be a great weekend. thanks everyone for continuing to support us and pray for us.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
our awesome niece and nephew
Kristy sent me these pictures this week of Chloe and Bryce and I had to share them on the blog. They took the kids to the Tulip Festival a couple nights ago dressed up as little Hollanders. They are so stinking cute!!! Bryce looks like the ride over on the ship was a bit rough. Kristy said he was not excited about wearing the outfit and the only way she got Chloe to wear her outfit was by saying she looked like Snow White! How funny. Our girls are going to love their cousins.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
THREE GIRLS!!!
Well, the ultrasound technician was pretty sure Baby B is a girl! Three girls in the home...good thing we have two bathrooms. We had a great visit and another wonderful report. My cervix is nice and long, which is such a blessing. The high risk doctor said that he was confident with the length of the cervix that I would not go into premature labor in the next two weeks. He gave me permission to travel to Corunna on May 19 for the Family Baby Shower - another blessing!
When I saw my regular doctor today, I told her about this cold that I have had for the past couple weeks and how I got better and then it came back and I am sick again. She said with the babies pushing up on my diaphragm so much, that I am a good candidate to get pneumonia so she put me on an antibiotic to avoid that. She also said there is not much I can do about the back and rib pain. And unfortunately, she said it will only get worse. She said I am measuring at about 36 weeks even though I am at 25 weeks, which explains why strangers keep telling me I look like I am going to pop any day now. Overall, she was really encouraged by the way things look so far. It was so reassuring to hear that all is well with me and the babies. What an answer to prayer.
The babies looked great via ultrasound. They are really cute (not that I am biased or anything!). Each baby gained weight over the past two weeks - Baby A weighs 1 lb. 11 oz. (up 7 oz.), Baby B weighs 1 lb. 13 oz. (up 8 oz.), and Baby C weighs 1 lb. 7 oz. (up 4 oz.). I am proud of our girls and praising the Lord for all of the blessings he has been giving us.
When I saw my regular doctor today, I told her about this cold that I have had for the past couple weeks and how I got better and then it came back and I am sick again. She said with the babies pushing up on my diaphragm so much, that I am a good candidate to get pneumonia so she put me on an antibiotic to avoid that. She also said there is not much I can do about the back and rib pain. And unfortunately, she said it will only get worse. She said I am measuring at about 36 weeks even though I am at 25 weeks, which explains why strangers keep telling me I look like I am going to pop any day now. Overall, she was really encouraged by the way things look so far. It was so reassuring to hear that all is well with me and the babies. What an answer to prayer.
The babies looked great via ultrasound. They are really cute (not that I am biased or anything!). Each baby gained weight over the past two weeks - Baby A weighs 1 lb. 11 oz. (up 7 oz.), Baby B weighs 1 lb. 13 oz. (up 8 oz.), and Baby C weighs 1 lb. 7 oz. (up 4 oz.). I am proud of our girls and praising the Lord for all of the blessings he has been giving us.
Monday, May 7, 2007
the new nursery
when we learned that we were having triplets, we had to pick another room for the nursery because the first one was too small for three cribs. the only problem was that the room for the second nursery was a work in progress. thad and i had begun stripping the woodwork in the room and had just finished the hardwood floors. it was no where ready to be used as a nursery for our three little treasures. fortunately, thad's mom has been over several times a week to work on the room (stripping the windows, staining and sealing the woodwork, patching and sanding the walls, etc). this past weekend, the new windows were put in the nursery, which are a huge blessing. the room is much quieter now with the new windows! tonight is incredibly exciting because the first coat of green paint is going on the walls. the new nursery looks wonderful and i am encouraged that we will soon be able to set up the cribs and baby furniture! (i guess it is the "nesting" i am going through because i want that room ready for the babies the sooner the better!!!!)
Saturday, May 5, 2007
sisters

ever since i have been on bed rest (5 weeks now), my sister has come EVERY week and picked up laundry to do for me and thad. i cannot begin to tell you what a help it has been. lynnette and i were talking the other day about how i always used to say that i wanted to have two girls someday so they could experience the relationship of having a sister. in my opinion, babies A & C (maybe B too) are so fortunate to have a sister(s). don't get me wrong, my sister and i had our hard years when i was a bratty little sister and we did not really like each other or get along. but now, lynnette is my best friend and i thank the Lord for the blessing of having a great sister!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thad's Graduation
Well, he did it! Thad finished exams last week and officially graduated on Saturday. We are so proud of him and relieved it is finally over. Thanks for everyone who has been praying for him during these past two years, especially the past semester with him beginning a new job and learning we are having triplets!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
baby B is still a mystery!
these pictures were taken at today's appointment. the babies are doing well! the ultrasound technician tried very hard for us to find out baby B's gender but it did not happen. baby B is facing my back rather than A and C who are facing my stomach, which was making it difficult. the tech had me laying on my side and rolling over slowing time many times to try to see in between those legs, but B was being modest and we still don't know the gender. oh well, there is always next time. and more importantly, we were thrilled to learn that the babies are doing well. the hearts are on the left sides of their bodies and pointing in the correct direction. other organs looked good and the babies weights are right were they should be.
we saw the high risk doctor today and he said he was very encouraged by things so far. we have hit a critical week this week in terms of viability should i go into preterm labor at this point. each week is another milestone in terms of better chances that the babies would make it should they have to be delivered early. in addition, he saw no evidence of twin to twin transfusion, which is a scary concern with having a set of identical twins. the tech said that baby A and C are the ones that split from one egg, so they are our identical twins. baby B has not changed positions as much as babies A and C are. at times A and C were both laying sideways across my belly. it was cute seeing both of their heads side by side; but it made the task of the technician's more challenging. baby A would then shift back into her position in the middle. she kept popping up in the pictures the tech was trying to take of the other babies - what a ham! baby B kind of seems to be doing his/her own thing on the side while A and C are moving all over each other. it was cute. we got a vhs tape of the ultrasound so beware to any visitors, we will most likely have to watch it!
after the appointment, i had to go over to the hospital to get my first steroid shot. the shot helps promote lung development, which is important due to the fact that triplets are born premature. tomorrow i head back for shot number two. the walk through the hospital is exhausting. i can't believe how tired and out of breath i get. i also talked to the doctor about this pain on my rib cage. he said it is very common with multiples because the rib cage is actually moving to accommodate a rather large and fast growing uterus. he said my uterus is growing three times faster than with a single birth, explaining all of the aches and pains. my new best friends are tylenol and a heating pad on the sore areas. our next appointment is may 8, 2007. we'll keep you posted!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
what a week!
it has been a fabulous past couple of days. my mom came on wednesday to help us with cleaning and running errands. she was such a great support to me as she helped talk me through my times of overwhelming excitement and then the times when i panic and feel as if i am not sure i can do this. she also helped us get a lazy boy rocking chair, which is heavenly, and also pick out a new scratch and dent refrigerator, which should hold many more bottles and baby food than our old one! the old fridge got moved upstairs for the overflow - what a blessing!
friday was the twins/triplets sale, which proved to be well worth the time. we got some amazing deals and it was so fun hanging out with the two grandmas. at the sale i met another triplet mom who reports her three kids are in kindergarten and doing well. it was encouraging and i can see i will enjoy joining the Mothers of Multiples support group after the babies are born. (i will be posting pictures of some of the great finds from the sale soon!)
after my mom left on friday, the house was spotless and i rested
until some friends came over who threw us a shower. liz, amanda and stephanie brought some wonderful clothes and baby items they/family members were no longer using or had found at garage sales. we even received our first crib on loan - pretty exciting! we received so many beautiful gifts and they even made us a diaper cake. it was so fun!


nate and jessa came in time for the shower on friday night. nate and thad headed to the pickwick
to watch the tigers game. the rest of the weekend was so much fun having nate and jessa here! jessa was so helpful for me taking me on errands saturday morning and talking baby stuff. the boys went morel hunting with adam. jessa and i sorted baby clothes with our friend lisa and her son, nathan, who stopped by. after a nap, jessa, kris, sophie and i headed up to honey creek inn to meet the boys for dinner. what a fun weekend. i am a little tired still from all the activities so i will probably sleep all day monday.


tuesday is our next doctor appointment and ultrasound. i love our appointments and the confirmation it brings that all is hopefully well with the babies. and there is a good chance we will be able to find out baby b's gender.
this upcoming weekend is probably going to be one of the many highlights of 2007 - thad's graduation. i am so proud of him. for the past two years he has worked so hard earning his MBA. i have hated it at times because of the stress it has caused him but i have also seen so much growth in him. and it allowed him to get a great job at spectrum health as a strategic market analyst, which is allowing him to use so many of his great gifts and skills! i could not be more proud of him. after all, he did give me the precious gift of three little lives inside of me.
friday was the twins/triplets sale, which proved to be well worth the time. we got some amazing deals and it was so fun hanging out with the two grandmas. at the sale i met another triplet mom who reports her three kids are in kindergarten and doing well. it was encouraging and i can see i will enjoy joining the Mothers of Multiples support group after the babies are born. (i will be posting pictures of some of the great finds from the sale soon!)
nate and jessa came in time for the shower on friday night. nate and thad headed to the pickwick
tuesday is our next doctor appointment and ultrasound. i love our appointments and the confirmation it brings that all is hopefully well with the babies. and there is a good chance we will be able to find out baby b's gender.
this upcoming weekend is probably going to be one of the many highlights of 2007 - thad's graduation. i am so proud of him. for the past two years he has worked so hard earning his MBA. i have hated it at times because of the stress it has caused him but i have also seen so much growth in him. and it allowed him to get a great job at spectrum health as a strategic market analyst, which is allowing him to use so many of his great gifts and skills! i could not be more proud of him. after all, he did give me the precious gift of three little lives inside of me.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
frozen drinks
Sunday, April 15, 2007
cute girls clothes
Thursday, April 12, 2007
babies' registries
many of our friends and family have been asking where we are registered. as new parents to be and the added element of having 3 babies at once, it has been an interesting task. so we did our best and ended up registering at Target, Babies R Us, and JCPenney (Thad wishes we could get it all from Goodwill or the Salvation Army - his favorite places to shop!). many of the items are online only, which i tried to avoid but it was difficult as i have been working on the registries online versus going to the stores themselves, which sounds extremely exhausting. i will keep the registries updated if we get items given to us or loaned to us that we no longer need to register for. we put diapers and wipes on the registry because we will certainly go through a lot. however, i just picked some that were recommended to me to put on the registry and i am in no way picky about what type of diapers we get. to be honest, i don't have a clue about diapers; my only thought is the cheaper the better!
we are EXTREMELY happy to accept and/or borrow used baby items. many friends and family members have already been offering lots of helpful baby items like clothing, cribs, and car seats, which we are truely grateful for. we cannot thank you enough.
we are also hoping to get some baby items at these upcoming events: there is a twins/triplets sale (sponsored by Mothers of Multiples) April 20 at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center, where the two grandmas and i will be searching for some good deals. there is also a baby stuff sale at Third Reformed Church on April 21 . plus, it is almost time for garage sales!
we are EXTREMELY happy to accept and/or borrow used baby items. many friends and family members have already been offering lots of helpful baby items like clothing, cribs, and car seats, which we are truely grateful for. we cannot thank you enough.
we are also hoping to get some baby items at these upcoming events: there is a twins/triplets sale (sponsored by Mothers of Multiples) April 20 at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center, where the two grandmas and i will be searching for some good deals. there is also a baby stuff sale at Third Reformed Church on April 21 . plus, it is almost time for garage sales!
Monday, April 9, 2007
It's A Girl! It's Another Girl! It's a ?
We had a great visit to the doctor's office today. The babies were extremely active and close to each other making it difficult to find out the gender. But the technician said she is pretty sure Baby A and Baby C are both girls!!!!! Baby B had his or her legs curled up against it's body making it impossible to determine the gender. Baby A is in the middle with her head down, Baby B is on the left side with the head up, and Baby C is laying sideways with her head on the right and her legs on the left. All three babies are doing well! Their heartbeats were nice and strong. We are so excited to be their parents and praising the Lord for our healthy babies.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
name ideas????
naming the babies. Well, we are hoping to find out the sex(es) before making a decision, but we have appreciated many of your helpful suggestions. Chloe, for example, has recommended many viable options we are considering: Mello, Lello & Jello and Hayla, Kayla & Chelle. How can you beat the suggestions of a 3 1/2 year old?
Something crazy I read this weekend - triplets will go through 24-30 diapers a day! I am still trying to wrap my mind around that.
We have another ultrasound and doctor's appointment tomorrow. We will keep you posted on how it goes, especially if the babies cooperate and we learn the gender(s) tomorrow! Thanks for following us on this incredible journey.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
one week down!
my first week of bed rest is over. the highlight of the week was hearing from many friends that i had lost contact with. i really enjoyed hearing from so many of you through emails and postings on the blog. life has been so busy that i lost touch with many of you and, as thad says, this week everything slowed down for me and allowed me to reconnect with many of you. it has been wonderful!
my outing for the week was a concert at calvin college. dad and mom vh took thad and i (and the babies) to a sufjan stevens concert last night. the babies seemed to enjoy the concert because they were moving around quite a bit. thad and i enjoyed the night out too. thanks dad and mom!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
TRIPLETS!!!!!!!!!
we found out we are having triplets last week friday (3/23/07). it was most definately the biggest shock of our lives! (especially considering we were not on any fertility drugs.) we had no idea twins or triplets even ran in our families. but we have gotten over the shock and are so thankful to God that all babies are doing well; two are nine ounces and the little one is seven ounces.
we hope to use this blog to keep our friends and family updated on all the medical appointments and as i grow as big as a house. we ask everyone for their prayers that the babies contiue to remain healthy and get all the nourishment they need - it is going to get a bit crowded in there.
i am off work on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy, so i would love visitors :)
for those of you who were (like us) expecting a due date of 8/21/07, we are now looking at a due date of 7/10/07, which will be 34 weeks. the doctor said by that point the babies have grown as much as they can under the circumstances of being in close quarters with each other and trying to all get the nourishment they need. it may be sooner than 34 weeks but that is what we and the doctors are hoping for (we have two doctors now - one is our regular obstetrician and the other is the high risk pregnancy doctor). the goal is to keep the babies in the womb as long as possible as long as they are continuing to gain weight. pray, pray, pray!!!
we hope to use this blog to keep our friends and family updated on all the medical appointments and as i grow as big as a house. we ask everyone for their prayers that the babies contiue to remain healthy and get all the nourishment they need - it is going to get a bit crowded in there.
i am off work on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy, so i would love visitors :)
for those of you who were (like us) expecting a due date of 8/21/07, we are now looking at a due date of 7/10/07, which will be 34 weeks. the doctor said by that point the babies have grown as much as they can under the circumstances of being in close quarters with each other and trying to all get the nourishment they need. it may be sooner than 34 weeks but that is what we and the doctors are hoping for (we have two doctors now - one is our regular obstetrician and the other is the high risk pregnancy doctor). the goal is to keep the babies in the womb as long as possible as long as they are continuing to gain weight. pray, pray, pray!!!
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