[CaribbeanQueen]

Hope everyone had a happy 4th (and a nice, long weekend!).

I am happily coasting into trimester #2 (still extremely grateful that everything is going well!). We've told extended family and some friends, so that definitely makes it seem real! 6 months to go!

[carina]

CQ ~ Congratulations on entering your 2nd trimester. That truely is a great feeling. Now if I could just get through these 20's I would be coasting....

[disneybaby2005]

Hi ladies! Sounds like all is going well! CQ-congrats on trimester 2! I hope you're continuing to feel well. Carina- Pretty soon you'll be in the 30's and wondering where time has gone!

Just wanted to let you know I'll be back online around July 20....we leave for FL./Disney tomorrow!! We'll be visiting my grandparents for a couple of days first, then off to Disney for a week! Can't wait for fun! I'm glad it will help pass the time and get me that much closer to the FET!! I'm going nuts waiting for it!

Hope everyone continues to feel well while I'm gone!

[CaribbeanQueen]

Carina--in just a few short weeks, you'll be in the 30s, then you'll be GOOD TO GO! Do you have a prediction for the due date? When will your c-section be scheduled?

Disney--Hope you have a fun vacation! It does sound like it will help you pass the time, and that's a good thing!

My 13-week belly pic won't resize for some reason.... I'll figure it out eventually! I gained 8.5 lbs in trimester I. I'm going to get big again! Love it!

[carina]

Disney ~ Enjoy your vacation. There is nothing like a good time to help pass the time in between cycles. Enjoy some frozen cocktails for me!

CQ ~ I'm keeping my eye out for that belly pick. No worries about the weight gain - you'll loose it in no time BFing.

My personal goal for this pg has been 35wks all along because I know that's when the sucking reflex should be there & I would love to avoid bottles until they are 3wks old in order to prevent nipple confusion. My Dr says if I do not have any complications he is waiting until 37wks to do my c-section. He is shooting for rooming in/take home babies, which sounds great to me! His goal puts me at Sept.17th...we'll see. I think that is a bit of a miracle, especially because I am not someone who had my DD 2wks late & needed to be induced or anything. That tells me that eventually I will go into labor & that seems to happen before 37wks in triplet pg...

[CaribbeanQueen]

Hooray! I resized my 13-week pic so that it would attach! So, this is my little baby belly!

Believe me, Carina, I am not worried about the weight at all. It came off fairly quickly last time too (another hooray for nursing!).

When our friend had the triplets, the boy's water broke @ 33 weeks--that was still considered a fairly long gestation (he was @ the bottom and was getting smushed by his sisters!).

You're getting soooooo close!

[carina]

CQ ~ Nice belly pic! You are getting there!

I know you are right about your friend making it to 33wks. That was great work on her part & certainly a safe time to deliver now a days. I would not be complaining if I make it that far.... I am just shooting for no nicu time, though I know it is rare, but if you are going to have a goal?

[carina]

I had my OB visit a little early this week because my Dr's office is closed tomorrow, Tues, my usual day.

The appt went very well. My Dr. told me that the babies are in a good place now. He said 28wks is a huge milestone. It made me so happy to hear. He said the next big milestone will be 30 & then 32. He said that his instincts tell him that I am going to make it 32 & he said that would be great! He offered some personal information, that his son was delivered at 32wks 16yrs ago & did great. We are still that I will make it to full-term 37wks, but it is nice to know that we are doing so well already. BTW ~ I know that my OB is very conservative so I really take his comments to heart. When the nurse got so excited that I reached 26wks, he didn't say a thing. I could read it all over his face that 26wks was not where he wanted to even consider me delivering.

Hope all is well with all of you!

[CaribbeanQueen]

Carina--It's great that you and the babies are all doing well! We knew that you'd be great with carrying those babies as long as possible. You've had a great attitude, and you're very nurturing to those growing tots... Just keep doing what you're doing!

[carina]

My ultrasound didn't go so great on Thur.. Here's the story... I went to the hospital for my 28wk1d growth ultrasound, cervical check & doppler flow study (which is to check to make sure the umbilical cords are all freely flowing/providing proper nutrition). The good news 1st - baby a weighs 3lbs (75% singleton), baby b weighs 2lbs 7oz (47% singleton) & baby c weighs 2lb 3oz (24% for singleton), all at least slightly above singleton average size, which is 2lbs 2 oz for this age. My OB & MFM specialist are both pleased with the weights, as are we! The doppler studies were all fine too - thank goodness! Now for the bad news - my cervix shortened from 3.56 to 1.9 since my last u/s 3wks ago. My OB & the MFM specialist agreed that I should be admitted right then & there. Once up in L&D they hooked me up to the monitors & saw that I was contracting every 3 min.:-( I started crying & panicking.
Regardless of everything that I have read in books & on the internet, I was in total denial about the fact that things could or should I say would, ever change for me so suddenly. I have a non-eventful singleton pregnancy in the bag, so I really thought I was going to coast through this one too. Keeping in mind that was only planning to coast to 35wks or so. Its not like I was crazy enough to think I was making 40wks or anything!

Anyway, after 3 sticks to start the iv (I am always are hard stick) I insisted that they get an anesteologist, who go it on the 1st try. Once they got a 1/2 bag of fluids into me the contracts were down to every 5min, then 10min and by the 2nd bag every 20 min! They then moved me to antipardom.

My OB came to visit me in the early evening & was very optimisic. I began to relax as I was assured that I was not having any babies just yet. My OB came back in this morning & did a fetal fibronectin test (which looks for proteins on the cervix that are not supposed to be present from weeks 22-34. When these proteins are preset it means labor is coming, though it is not known exactly when. On the other hand if the test is negative/no proteins present, there is a 98% chance that you will not go into labor for at least 2 more weeks). My test results were negative! Thank goodness!

Based on the fibronectin test results, the fact that my cervix is not funneling or dilated & my contracts have slowed to just a few-5 an hour I was sent home, but not before receiving my second & final steroid shot to help mature the babies lungs.

On Mon. I am getting an at home uterun monitor delivered & will be hooked up twice a day or when ever I am concerned. It is connected to a nursing center. If I have too many contractions the nurse will call to most likely tell me to drink allot of water, lay on my left side & put the monitor on for another hour. If in the 2nd hour I am still experiencing to many contractions they will call my Dr. directly & then he will call me with instructions. I am very happy & feeling lucky that my insurance agreed to pay as it is very expensive & many insurance companies do not (gotta love insurance!). Anyway, I think the monitor will take out some of the guess work & help me to relax.

So with reality set in my current goal is to make it to 30 weeks - out of July. Then we'll take it from there. I would feel very blessed to make it to 32 wks, but am not getting too ahead of myself. The neonatologist came to see me yesterday & said that reaching 28 wks was a hugh milestone & every additonal day makes a big difference.

I am now accepting the idea of having our babies in the NICU & not taking them home with me when I am discharged from the hosiptal. Now my goal is to have babies that I can hold & give kangaroo care when they are stable, hopefully very soon after birth.

Moving forward...DD is increasing from parttime to fulltime preschool on Mon.. DH is working from home until the babies are born & then he'll begin vacation time once they are home. I am on strick bedrest, only allowed to shower every other day & get up to go to the bathroom. No problem! I will do whatever it takes to keep these babies cooking. I have said many times that I would be happy with 4 pounders & one more month should grant us that as long as they continue to grow at the same rate they have for the past few months.

So that's our story. Hope all is well with all of you. We'll keep you posted as to how everyone is doing on the inside & out :-)

[mom2davis]

Carina- I know that had to be so scary. I'm glad that you are able to keep those babies inside. I will keep you and the babies in my prayers. Do you have names already picked out? Leaving your babies will be hard, but if you are prepared that should help.

CQ- I'm so glad that evertything is going well for you. I can't believe you are so far along already.

Disney- Hope you had a great trip. What's next for you?


Well for... I'm getting divorced. My life has totally changed but it is for the better I truly believe. We do have 5 embryos that I'm not sure what we are going to do with. We haven't discussed it yet.

Loveyou all

[CaribbeanQueen]

Carina--wow, what a story... I'm glad that you are home now and RESTING. It's comforting to know that your monitor will be hooked up to the nursing center. I would've been worried out of my mind too if the contractions had started coming that fast... I suppose that it's common in a multiple pregnancy, but it sounds like your doctors are really on the ball. It's also great that your DH can be at home with you to help you and to keep an eye on everything. I am sure that makes you feel better too... Your babies are getting to be a good size now, and that's great! We're all here for you, hon, in these remaining weeks, so feel free to post like crazy to pass the time. Sending you wishes for an UNEVENTFUL several weeks until it's time for your babies to be born...

Gina--I'm sorry to hear about your divorce. It's tough on everyone even when it's the best decision. I hope that the process goes smoothly and that Davis is okay. Will you and your husband be on good terms afterward?Let us know what you decide to do with your embies.... I'm sure that's a tough decision too.

I'm doing well here--just cruising right along. Next app't is in 2 weeks, so we'll see what the little tater tot is up to then.

[disneybaby2005]

Carina- I'm sorry to hear what a rough road you had lately. I'm sure it had you very nervous. I, too, wish you an uneventful bed rest. That has to be difficult, but for the absolute best!! We're here with you every step of the way!

Gina- glad you checked in! I've been thinking of you and Davis. Divorce involves a lot of emotions, but in the end may you find peace and contentment. Best of luck in deciding what to do with the embryos.

CQ- the anatomy scan is coming up soon! How exciting! Any movement yet?

My trip was a lot of fun and I wish it wasn't over yet! It really helped to pass the time....now that I'm back home, I really wish it was time for the FET already...however, that means wishing away my summer vacation, and I don't want THAT to be anywhere NEAR done!!!

I did find out from the lab that only 3 embies were frozen, not 4 like our doctor had told us. They are grades 1, 2 and 3 respectively. I think we'll thaw all 3, but put back the 2 best (if more than 2 survive the thaw!) Time will tell!

[CaribbeanQueen]

Welcome back, Disney! Glad you're having a nice summer! Your FET will be here before you know it! I vote for transferring all 3 frosties--we need another set of triplets around here!

Yes, anatomy scan is next.... We're not finding out the gender, though! I've had a few weird "bubbly" feelings, but nothing consistent. I felt DD intermittently at 16 weeks, so I am thinking that within the next week or two, I'll start noticing more! I am definitely growing right along here--I am going to be big, big, big! Love it!

[carina]

Disney ~ I couldn't be happier to be carrying triplets, but this highrisk pg business is serous sh*t, especially when you have DD to think about. I have to worry about being hospitalized for weeks, not getting to read my DD books before bedtime among missing out on so very many other things in her life right now, even being at home on bedrest. If I was carrying a singlton her & I would be enjoying this last summer together just the 2 of us, hitting the beach, going to the zoo, etc... Ultimately DH, DD & I are going to have a big family & a home full of love, but the journey is going to be anything but easy over the next year+... If you are not into all that - be careful (as I know you will be). We all know it only takes one! I was really ambitious, but as we all know I really didn't have to be. However - no regrets! I am sooo happy & excited to be the momma of 4!

CQ ~ Good for you for not finding out the sex. It is so much fun not to know. We were surprised with DD & actually after she was born we forgot to even ask or look to see what she was. Just goes to show you how little it matters. This time I obviuosly just felt I needed to know, but I guess I could have made do if I was really determined.

Gina ~ I wish you allot of luck & happiness as you begin this new life. I hope you are DH are able to come to some agreement about the embryos & DS. We're here for you!

* Well, I could not be happier today. I just got back from having an ultrasound of my cervix & it has grown!!! My OB explained that the cervix is a dynamic organ & at times will lengthen, though usually it just continues to shorten & worst case scenario he thought it would begin to funnel. I was so afraid that the worst would be true because in that case he was going to have me admitted to the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy. So, while I am still on strict bed-rest, with my home monitor, etc., I am so happy to be at home!!! I am once again feeling very optimistic and hoping to make it to 34-35 weeks (fingers crossed!).

Thank you all for the words of encouragement & positive vibes!