Triplet Pregnancy Update - 32 Weeks

I can't believe we've made it another two weeks! Yay!!!

Here I am!

Yeah...I think I only have a few tops left that still fit. Even Josh's 2XL Ts are getting too short now!

How am I feeling. Well...honestly...I have my ups and downs.

Mostly I'm doing ok overall. Of course I'm uncomfortable. I just can't hardly do anything...so mentally, I'm suffering the most. It's the worse feeling to have so many things I want to do...but I just can't do it. I know growing my babies is my top priority...but it's still annoying because I'm such a control freak. I'll be laying down resting and just making mental lists of things I wish I was actually doing.

I still can run short errands...but I think that'll be ending soon. Or maybe do a load of laundry or some dishes, but I am now really trying not and push it as I know labor could happen any day. 32 weeks is the average triplet pregnancy...so...YIKES!

I get the most pain in my lower back (from walking). And around my hips, especially while laying down and sleeping. I wake up and have to flip multiple times a night...but overall, I'm sleeping ok I guess. My belly does contract on and off once I'm walking or doing dishes or something...but nothing regular or painful, and it stops as soon as I rest.

I am still finding it hard to eat and rarely have an appetite. But...I'm trying to eat as much as I can each day. I'm still craving fresh deli-meat, and I still can't wait to eat a sandwich from Jimmy John's after I give birth.

I actually feel bad for Josh, too. He says he's ready for the babies to come. I think what he's really ready for is for me to not be pregnant since I'm so moody and uncomfortable. I know it's hard on him in other ways since he gets the brunt of my whining and complaining. Especially in the evenings...from about 4pm on...I'm usually not the happiest person. LOL! It's hard because I don't want to be so unhappy either...but I'm just annoyed. Then...I feel bad for feeling annoyed because I know I shouldn't be annoyed. LOL!

It really is my goal to make it another 2-3 weeks longer if I can, and if the babies are doing ok of course. I want the babies to be as big and healthy as possible. I really want their NICU time to be short.

I've had family and friends over to help clean and organize and I'm SO thankful for their help. It's the weirdest feeling directing them on what to do while I just lay there...and makes me so uncomfortable. I don't know why accepting help is so hard for me to do!

This last weekend we got our furniture moved downstairs. So after Christmas we will finish moving the rest of our stuff downstairs and getting it organized. Then, we will begin the nursery set up and organization!!! It's getting VERY real now as each week passes! We still need to purchase car seats...but I think that's the last of the big purchases we need. Also, Josh even said we should figure out some type of theme and try and decorate the nursery a bit. It's so funny to hear him say that, but I've done NO planning of that sort. Poor triplets!

I head back for another appointment the day after Christmas. So I'll try and update later this week...we should find out how big the boys are, and also hopefully get a tentative birth date for them. Exciting...and scary, too!

Daddy Goes to PreSchool!

So Friday was M's last day at school before her winter break, and it was also their holiday party day. Josh and I were happy to spend the morning with M, and I was so glad that Josh finally got to observe M at school. I'll let most of the pictures do the 'talking.'

Practicing writing her name. Josh and I were impressed!

Working on a holiday craft.

Making a snow globe.

Josh was a hit playing puppets with all the kids!

Alphabet Bingo with her friend Barrett's mama.

Visit from Santa!!!

We love her school and teachers SO much. She is so happy while she's there - which is so comforting for us.

Foto Friday - Santa Picture!

Yes...Foto Friday on a Saturday. My intention was to post this yesterday. :)

M and Santa! 

(It took her a while to warm up to him since she told me she only likes the Santa that's at the mall...)

And, I think we have our first awkward family photo?! How weird is my body position??? I felt like I was going to crush Santa's knee! And, the photographer cut off the top of Josh's head.

Thanks to Grandma Tracy's Ruhl and Ruhl office for hosting this fun event!

It's almost Christmas! Yay!

Triplet Pregnancy Update - 30 Weeks

I honestly can't believe I made it to 30 weeks! 

And, I'm still moving and somewhat active! My house is a complete wreck, I look and feel pretty tired, and I'm pretty moody (I think I cry or almost cry daily - poor Josh) - but hey...you can't have it all!

Here I am! 

Yeah - I'm ginormous. And, my belly has definitely dropped a bit. No wonder people stare at me! I kinda still shock myself. Bev wanted to know how big around I was. I didn't want to do it at first, but curiosity got to me, and I let Josh measure my 'waist' and I'm about 48" around. Um...yeah...that's 4 feet! BUT...most importantly, the babies are doing well!!! 

I had an ultrasound last Tues. and today. These are quick ones where they do an anatomy check and fluid check and then monitor their movements and breathing (well, they check to make sure they are practicing some breathing at some point within a half hour). They all have been passing with flying colors each week. I have another u/s like this next week. My next growth u/s to find out how big they are will not be for another 2 weeks (at 32 weeks) - sometime around Christmas I'm guessing.

A couple u/s pics from last week.

Baby B at 29 weeks giving us thumbs up.

Baby B at 29 weeks already has visible hair!!! That's what those lines are under the word 'hair.'

The babies are already showing their personalities a little bit. Baby A and C (one of the twins and the fraternal) are both head down. Baby A is on the bottom (poor guy) and C is on my right side. Baby B (the other twin) is on my left and is head up. Baby B is the most active and the most 'photogenic.' We always seem to get the 'best' pictures of him. Baby C is definitely the least active. We had to wait for some time today for him to decide to move and show us that he's practicing his breathing. And, I think Baby A will be the most easy going - as we witnessed him getting kicked in the head today by Baby B. And, he's constantly having his brothers basically laying on him a lot. 

Here's some pictures from today's u/s.

30 weeks - A's face.

30 weeks B's - profile. She told me he's sticking out his tongue.

30 weeks - C's little baby rolls. I think it's just skin - I don't think they are that chubby yet...but I could be wrong.

So, how am I doing? Overall, I think pretty good all things considered. Of course I'm uncomfortable and I can't stand, walk, or sit for long. I've seemed to have lost my appetite, and have to force and remind myself to eat - unless is Mexican from Las Lomas (a restaurant in Muscatine) - I feel like I could eat that at any time. I'm still drinking just one Ensure drink a day. And, I'm drinking as much water as I can.

I'm feeling a bit more stressed as I know the babies will be here anytime in the next 2-6 weeks. We have a lot to do...but I know it will get done. Of course normal holiday stress and preparation is on my mind. And, I've also been thinking more about Madison and how her little life is going to change so drastically soon - a post on that will probably come soon.

Well...that's it for now. I'm going to try and sneak in a quick cat nap before M wakes from her nap!