October 31st Update

I think many of you know, but I went into the hospital late Tuesday night with preterm labor. I had Davey's dad drive me to Decatur, and Davey (who had just gotten to work) met me at the hospital. I wasn't even sure if I should go in, but finally decided I'd better at least get checked.

After 2 shots of terbuteline, my contractions weren't stopping, so they put me on Magnesium Sulfate, which is a very strong drug given through an IV to try to stop contractions. After that didn't work, they put me in an ambulance and transferred me to St. John's Hospital in Springfield. (the same hospital where the triplets were born)

After hours of very strong, very frequent contractions (I was rating them at about a 6 on the pain scale, and at one point I had no breaks between contractions, one right after the other, just seconds, not minutes apart), they finally began to let up. They would seem to come and go all throughout the day and evening. I'd have a break from contractions for an hour or more, sometimes several hours, then they would pick back up again and become painful and frequent.

During an u/s on Wednesday, they discovered that there is a TON more fluid around baby than there should be. And also that baby is much larger than he should be- he measured 3lbs 3oz, when he should have been right around 2lbs 2oz. They have diagnosed me with Gestational Diabetes, as it seems to be the only thing that fits for extra fluid and large baby- but they're not 100% sure. My blood sugars have been good the last couple of days, so I'm not sure if that's the cause or not.

They started me on betamethasone Wednesday morning, which is the steroid shots for the baby's lungs. Fortunately I got my 2 doses in, which is what they really want before you deliver.


After my uterus finally calmed down yesterday, they decided I could go home on Indocin, which is also a medicine that is supposed to stop contractions. It is a very strong medicine that can be dangerous for the baby, so I have to go to Springfield every 3 days to have an u/s done to check on baby and the fluid levels around the baby. Indocin works by making baby pee less, which is very helpful for my uterus due to all of the extra fluid already. This drug can cause heart problems in the baby,(it can cause the PDA valve in the baby's heart to close prematurely) which is why I have to go in every 3 days for an u/s.


Lots of scary stuff, but we're taking it day by day at this point. I will post an update later about what my instructions are, and what our big game plan is for the next few weeks.


I need to go lay down for a bit now, but I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all of the prayers and comments from those of you who have been following my Twitter and Facebook- it means so much to us. ^_^

Pregnancy Week 28

You know how the past 27 weeks just flew by? Yeah. Well this week time came to a screeching halt. I find myself counting the days now until I deliver. Last week I would get a backache or something and say, "Only 9 weeks and 4 days to go...", or I'd just be exhausted and say, "Only 9 weeks and 2 days to go..."

I'm defnitely to that point. The point where being pregnant is no longer fun and cute...instead it's uncomfortable and you feel like a whale.

I am so there.


But I am so willing to take the backaches and acid reflux for the next 9 weeks so that we have a healthy baby! Just because complaints have begun does NOT mean I'm ready to give up by any means. I would carry this baby for another 7 months if it meant he would be born healthy.


Signs and Symptoms

- Backaches. Major backaches.

- More acid reflux than I had been having.

- Fatigue keeps getting worse, as expected.

- Contractions were much better this week- hoping it stays that way!

- Baby should weigh in at about 2 1/2 pounds now, and about 15 inches long.



My most recent belly shot taken tonight. See why my back is hurting? ;o)

Pregnancy Week 27

Hello 3rd trimester! It's been 6 years since I've seen you! I almost made it to my 3rd trimester with the triplets, but not quite.

I had a doctors appt today, the usual- blood pressure (112/60, yay!), pee in a cup (no sugars or protein in urine, yay!) and being weighed (we won't go there). I also had my gestational diabetes test today. The stuff didn't taste too bad (little tip, I chose lemon-lime this time, much better than orange), but it gave me a headache and made me a little dizzy for a while. The baby FREAKED out from the sugar rush, and was kicking me so hard I thought his little foot would come out of my abdomen. Not even kidding. :)


This past 2 weeks my contractions have really picked up, and 3 times this week they've been so frequent I was timing them. Anywhere from 10 min apart, to 4 min apart. After an hour or two they've let up though. I mentioned this to Dr. P, and he said that if they get strong, or if I am ever debating whether or not to come in, to come in right away due to my history.

Not sure if I had mentioned this before or not, but I had preterm labor with Kadence at about 30 weeks. I spent the night in the hospital, and they gave me meds to stop the contractions. I was put on bedrest after that. So triplets or not, preterm labor is apparently something I have issues with.

It's so hard to make that call on whether or not to drive to the hospital or not- especially when it's 9:00 at night. Decatur is an hour and a half away. I'd like to say I can just follow my mommy instincts-I knew something was wrong when I was in preterm labor with Kadence, but had no clue I was in labor with the triplets. I only had 5 contractions in 3 hours, and was 6cm dilated.

I'm not letting myself get stressed about this stuff though. I try not to think about it until the contractions begin, then it's kind of hard to ignore. ;o)


Facts and Symptoms


- Frequent contractions. Hoping they ease up, but not getting my hopes up for that. Braxton Hicks I can handle, they don't bother me. But when I'm timing them, I get a little nervous. I always drink a huge glass of water and lay on my left side when they kick in.

- Back aches! OUCH! Thanks to my big old belly, and the fact that I'm carry really high, my back has been hurting a lot. Heating pads, hot baths, and tylenol don't seem to help when it's hurting a lot. Any other suggestions?

- Fatigue. I can definitely tell the 3rd trimester is here. That energy I had during the 2nd trimester really started to dwindle over the last two weeks. It's 7:15 p.m. and I could totally go to bed right now. :)

- Excitement. ^_^ Just 70 more days until we meet this little guy! Tomorrow it will be 9 weeks, 6 days. So crazy that I can say 9 weeks!!! I never did get around to getting baby things out last week, I really need to get that done soon!

26 Weeks, 2 Days, 4 Hours, 16 Minutes

Well, I am officially further along now than I was when the triplets were born. Actually at the time of this posting, I have made it 4 hours and 16 minutes further than I did that day. And that's such a great feeling.


Today I only had one "moment" where I broke down. I looked at the clock and it was 2:30. I thought back to the day the trio was born, and figured that at that moment, I was having my ultrasound done to see what was going on. They of course saw Eli's head right away, and sent me back downstairs. Nurses started running around my bed, doctors came in, and they told me I was 6cm dilated, and that I was going to have an emergency c-section. They promised me they'd wait for Davey before they started. Which looking back I know they were just telling me that so I wouldn't freak out even more than I already was. Davey didn't make it in time for their birth- missed it by just 15 mintues. Man that was a scary day...

So I got online and watched the NICU video that I made, and I cried. I cried for what me and Davey went through, I cried for all of the pain that Elijah, Joey and Rowan went through, and I cried for Kadence because I feel that I totally missed her being 3 years old with all that went on that year.


So I had a good cry, wiped my tears away, took a deep breath, and didn't let it get me down again for the rest of the day. I did, however, watch the clock until it read 4:13, the time Eli was born, and 4:14, the time Joey and Rowan were born, and let out a huge sigh of relief when it read 4:15.

26 weeks 2 days was behind me.


I know it sounds silly. And I shouldn't have been worrying about it in the first place... There were, after all, 3 babies in there when I had the triplets- this time there's only one. It was a complete irrational fear, and I know that.

But still...it was a milestone that I needed to get past. It has been a day that I have feared since the moment I found out I was pregnant way back in April. 26 weeks 2 days...I HAD to make it past that day. HAD to. For the sake of my family, and most importantly, for the sake of this little baby boy. I've been here before, and there was no way I was going back. I had to get past this day.



And I have.






And I can breathe again.

Pregnancy Week 26

As you probably guessed, week 26 holds a lot of emotions for me. I think the most emotional day will be Wednesday, when I'm at the gestational stage I was at when the triplets were born. So I'll save that post for another day- I'm sure I'll have a lot to write on Wednesday, as I'm sure I'll be an emotional mess. ;o)

Onto happier news..

The countdown is definitely on. So crazy to be saying that. Here this pregnancy has just flown by, yet it still surprises me that in a little more than 2 months, we'll be bringing a baby home with us. 77 days. Makes me nervous when I look at it that way. Lol.

Signs and Symptoms

- Contractions have picked up this week for sure. But it's completely normal at this stage of the game. I don't get nervous until they start becoming regular. Twice now they've been 10 minutes apart, and I've had to decide whether or not to call the doctor or not. Both cases the contractions calmed down on their own, thank God.

- The baby should be over 2 pounds now! Yay!! If he's gained an ounce a day since my last appt, he should weigh around 2lbs 5oz today. Give or take a few ounces of course. He's ahead of where his brothers and sisters were! Eli was the largest triplet weighing 2lbs 3oz at 26 weeks 2 days.

- Nesting has begun! With just 2 months left, the nesting phase has hit in full force this week. My bedroom is spotless (that's where the baby will be sleeping for the first few months) and I've made a list of things we need to bring back upstairs. i.e. baby swing, bouncy seat, baby bath tub, bassinet. It's exciting and crazy all at the same time. I'm so glad that I get to experience having a baby in the house one more time. With the triplets every single day went by in a blur. And though life will most definitely be hectic here after this baby is born, I'm hoping I have a bit more time to hold him and really take in that newborn baby stage.

- My little sister is getting married in 12 days!! I had mentioned that my dress didn't fit, and that I was getting it altered. I went in and tried it on and it FITS! Only had to let it out an inch. Thank goodness because that's all she could let it out. Lol!

Kadence's Birthday Pictures :)

A few pics from Kay Kay's 6th Birthday! So sorry for the lack of posts...I have been posting all of my updates and photos on Facebook- it's so much faster!! But I know a lot of you can't see those updates, so I try to post on here when I get a free minute (or 20...). Takes me about 1 minute to upload all of these on FB, about 20 to upload them here on Blogger. Absolutely ridiculous.


Anywho, Kadence had a great day I think! We celebrated with her class by me taking in some yummy cupcakes- it was so cute to finally meet all of the little kids in her class. ^_^

Then we had a small party here at home with just Mommy, Daddy, the babies, Gaga, Papa, and Sarver Gaga. It was a fun time!


Kadence outside her classroom







The cake I made for her- she loved it!



The gift she had been begging us for- Barbie Salon



My little girl is growing up so fast!!



This is the face of an excited little girl. :)



The boys "hunting" while watching the hunting channel.



Daddy giving the kids rides around the living room



Rowan karate chopping the air with her balloons!

Pregnancy Week 25

My appt on Friday went great!!

Baby is measuring a week ahead still, and according to the u/s, weighed 1lb 11oz. If you remember, Rowan weighed 1lb 13oz at birth, and Joey 1lb 14oz. So he would now be the exact same size that they were when they were born. That is just incredible to me. I look at this two different ways: I cannot believe that this baby inside of me is that "big" already, and I also cannot believe that the triplets were that small when they came into this world. So crazy!

His head measured 2 weeks ahead (but really only 1 week ahead compared to his body), but she said there is absolutely nothing to worry about. If there were extra fluid on his brain, they would have seen it in the u/s's. She said, "he just has a big head." Ha!


My Mom got to go with me to the appointment, and she was SO excited to be able to see him on the ultrasound. At one point he yawned, and then stretched soooo big. It was absolutely precious. ^_^

Here he is stretching out- see how his neck is stretched out really far and his head is back? So cute!!



My cervix looks fantastic, measuring 3.77cm long.



The countdown is on now...only 12 weeks left until we meet this new little person. ^_^

Pregnancy Week 24

I'm a few days late posting this, but I don't have a lot of new info to share until my doctors appt tomorrow. (it was supposed to be Tuesday but got cancelled because the doctor had a meeting or something)

I'm doing really well, hardly any complaints. ;o) I'm growing like crazy, and with the baby measuring ahead by at least a week at my last scan, I'm wondering if he's now more than a week ahead of where he "should" be. In a normal circumstance, I wouldn't be concerned about him being a big baby, but with me having to deliver by the time he's 7 pounds, I'm worried that he'll reach that weight before his lungs are mature. But this is just me being a worry wart. Sort of. Lol. It is a valid concern.

I'm going to have the doctor do the gestational diabetes test tomorrow (it's time for it anyway), that might be one of the reasons he's measuring larger. But unlikely since I've never had it in any of my prior pregnancies. We'll see I guess... I'm also going to ask him to do a quick scan tomorrow to see where he's measuring at this point. Hopefully he won't have any problem with doing that.

I'll try and post more tomorrow after my appt!