The babies

Here are the first really humanoid pictures we got last Tuesday (at 12 weeks). Eddy had to take a photo of them so they aren't the best quality but you get the gist. You can even see their umbilical cords:)

Triplet A:













Triplet B:












Triplet C:












Aren't they beautiful?

Really tough decisions

We had our first appointment at the University yesterday and it didn't go exactly as I hoped it would. We had an ultrasound initially before we saw the Dr. and immediately we saw all 3 babies and all 3 heartbeats. It was such an amazing difference from 3 weeks ago; they look much more human now, and they were moving and kicking around off the walls of their sacs like maniacs. I started bawling when I saw them moving around; like somehow this dream is more real now.

Our tech was really, really thorough and explained everything she was looking at. We have some amazing images I will post later, both 2 and 3-D. We even have an early idea of the sex of Triplet A and C! Of course this could be wrong but as of now we think A is a girl (thank you God) and C is a boy. Triplet B didn't want to cooperate with this. Apparently at this stage all babies have a weenie thingie (yes, that is the correct medical terminology) that either angles up (boy) or down (girl). We will be interested to see if her predictions hold true.

So she also did the nuchal fold translucency screening and was a bit worried about what she saw on Triplet B. The space in the back of the neck was larger than what is considered normal. What this means is that the baby is at an increased risk for major chromosomal abnormalities or heart defects. I was so crushed to hear this and the thought of losing another baby... I don't even know how I could ever go through that again.

The Dr. came in to discuss our options: 1) Do nothing right now 2) Do CVS testing and get accurate genetic results in 5-10 days 3) Wait a few more weeks and do amnio, also to get genetic results back.

Because this is triplets I am already considered very high risk. If the baby turns out to have a lethal chromosomal abnormality we could decide to terminate just that fetus. God, I can't even type this out without bawling. I don't know that I could ever do that, even knowing that the baby will die and endanger the lives of the other 2. This is the absolute worst-case scenario and I PRAY that we are not forced to come face-to-face with such a decision. The thing is that we have to have the CVS done on Monday if we decide to go that route (there is a limited space of time that the test is able to be done and we are quickly moving out of that range). We could also only decide to terminate after getting the CVS results, as waiting to do amnio would put that out as an option, it would be too late.

I think we are leaning toward doing the CVS on Monday. I am terrified though because there is a slight risk of miscarriage with the procedure. The thought of that; I don't know if I would be able to live with myself, it would be my fault.

Now I am just really praying that we will find out that nothing is wrong with triplet B. Please God, let the baby be okay.

So now if you all have any prayers to spare I could really use them.

New plan

After a lengthy discussion with my regular OB this past Monday, we have decided against me going to the perinatal practice at United in St. Paul; mostly due to the fact that they have over 20 physicians on staff and you rarely get to see the same one.

Instead, I will now be going to The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center at University of Minnesota Medical Center. This is where her other set of triplets went and things were really wonderful for them. They have 5 physicians on staff and I will likely see the same one most of the time. I like to be able to develop a relationship with my care provider, especially in this circumstance, so I think this will be a better fit. My first appt. is this next Tuesday and I am nervous, as always. I just want to be reassured that all 3 babies are there and doing well. Please think good thoughts for us.

Not quite sure

Where 3 babies are going to fit in my body???












I am just over 10 weeks in this photo. If you look really closely you can see my vampire-like veins on my belly feeding my uterus plenty of blood. It probably doesn't help that I am normally almost transparent.

The fact that this is not a normal easy PG like I had with Quinn set in on Friday when I spent several hours at the transfusion center of the ER getting pumped full of fluids. I have had horrible headaches that will not go away with Tylenol, along with some full body heaving- they figured I was probably a bit dehydrated. It did help but the headache returned the next day. I have already been referred to the high-risk specialists at Minnesota Perinatal Physicians and consequently will be delivering at United Hospital. United has a specialized NICU unit that our babies will likely be spending some time in after birth. Apparently most triplet births also go at about 30-32 weeks which means we are looking more at February and less at early April. I am conceivably done with 1/3 of this PG. Nuts.

Please keep your fingers crossed that these babies want to cook a good long time.

I will do anything to get 3 healthy babies out of this experience.

Holy f-ing sh!t

So we go to our latest ultrasound yesterday, just so I could get another peek at the twins before my appt. on the 18th. Eddy decided to meet me there from work because he has been really nervous since I got PG (due to us losing the baby in Feb.); I told him I had a good feeling and it was fine if he didn't come. For once, thank God he didn't listen to me. Now I had to have a full bladder before I got there which is no easy task. Doreen (our sonographer) found the twins right away and immediately we saw the 2 beating hearts. She zoomed in to measure baby A and get a heart rate which all looked great. Then she starts to zoom in to baby B and she is taking more time, really moving the probe around on my extremely full bladder, and then she says, "ummm... I think I see 3 heartbeats!" I think I told her to, "'shut up. That is not possible". Well apparently it is possible and we are having triplets... naturally which is like an insane statistical anomaly. This is absolute insanity and it hasn't even really begun to sink in yet. We prayed so hard for *a* baby and now God has given us three! I think he has a wacky sense of humor.

Triplets???

Triplets!!!