Practice makes perfect

This weekend Keith and I attended our second of two full-day Multiples classes at the hospital where we will be delivering. Seven hours straight of learning about birth and babies is a long time but I do realize that it is not even a drop in the bucket to having them 24:7. We received some good paperwork and tips including everything from how to get gas out of your system after having a c-section to learning unique ways to hold your baby. We did receive a brief swaddling lesson and, as you can see below, Keith and I practiced our skills at home. Hey, they say that practice makes perfect and if you can swaddle a 140-lb pregnant woman then surely you can successfully and securely swaddle a baby.

I am growing quickly but I've now learned that it's not quickly enough. After spending time reading a highly acclaimed and recommended multiples book written by a doctor and nutritionist I have learned that I have gained less than half the weight that I should have gained by this time in my pregnancy and am drinking just over half of the amount of water that I should be drinking. This book recommends that triplet mother-to-be's eat a whopping 4,000 calories a day and drink 128 ounces of water a day! I'm lucky to get 2,500 calories and that includes eating a healthy bowl of ice cream each day too! The urgency is that, in a nutshell, after 24-28 weeks it is impossible for triplet mothers to eat the amount of calories to meet their babies' metabolic demand so it is crucial to have all of that nutrition stored up in your body. And a good nutritional program can be the cause for babies that are a pound heavier and babies that don't need much time in NICU. Needless to say, I am now stuffing myself appropriately and uncomfortably and should start expanding quickly. I've decided to include my last somewhat-slim picture of myself because, if all goes well, I will be expanding around the rest of my body too - not just my belly. The book even wants me to measure my upper-arm circumference to make sure it's expanding appropriately. Who knew there was ever a reason to purposefully try to make your arms fatter? Well, for healthy babies, I will do anything.

X-Rated!

This week's doctor's appointment confirmed the sexes and we have a picture of our little boy to prove it (left). Everyone kept me entertained as I watched them move in my womb. Baby Girl "A" gave me a good view of her little face while Baby Girl "C" showed me her face and profile even though she was preoccupied with hiccups. Baby Boy "B" gave me the best show of all. Proving that he is chilled out just like his daddy, he was all stretched out lying on his back with his feet in the air resting against the placenta and we even caught him yawning on camera! He might as well have had a cold drink one hand and the remote in the other watching a football game because he sure looked comfy. In fact he was using his sister's chest as his pillow!

I have started to feel them move but not the "butterfly" feeling that has been described to me by other mothers. Instead, with their crowded surroundings, the babies feel more like little popcorn popping and bubbles bursting and I noticeably saw a bump protrude from my stomach a few days ago - we think it was someone's bottom or legs. I've got a little more baby on my left side so my tummy is a little uneven.

Per doctor's orders to get more daily calories (3,000 to be exact), I have added Chocolate Ensure drinks and Blue Bell ice cream milk shakes to my diet. Definitely the toughest part of my pregnancy!

As for what I am doing for just me, I have started taking prenatal yoga classes which I love and am active in my neighborhood's women's bible study which has wonderful teachings and a great group of women.

(Pictured below: Front left side of A's face, B chilled out and yawning, C's profile)

It's a..., It's a..., It's a...

We are thrilled to have found out that we are having 2 GIRLS and 1 BOY!

We are really excited and at an early 16 weeks all babies are developing on schedule and looking good. The babies are essentially in a triangle right now with one baby's head at another's feet, etc. and the girls, Babies "A" and "C", are cuddling forehead to forehead with one set of feet near the boy's head and the other set of girl feet at the boy's feet. (Our doctor said they are already plotting against their brother!) He's happy to have his own space though!!

My mom was with us at the doctor's office to receive the news and while Keith went to work to celebrate on the job I celebrated with my nieces and a few family members afterwards at our house. And of course I incorporated chocolate into the announcement! (P.S., our niece, Avery, is excited about the cupcakes, not the news. Rightfully so!)