As most of you know, we are expecting triplets! Paul and I were in complete shock when we found out about the triplets back in March, but we are super excited about expanding our family with these 3 sweet blessings. Towards the end of May, we found out that we will be having 2 boys and a girl. Perfect for our family! We could not be more excited about learning what it's like to raise boys and we are so excited for Sophie to have a sister, too. Sophie is excited about her 3 siblings and she talks about wanting to hold them, feed them bottles, change their diapers, read to them, and sing to them. We know she will be a great big sister! Sophie also thinks she has 3 babies in her tummy....it's so cute!
This pregnancy has been anything but a normal pregnancy. I had morning/all day sickness when I was pregnant with Sophie, but I was able to continue working and function normally for the most part. With this pregnancy I was so sick all day and basically just laid on the couch all day feeling miserable. The all-day sickness finally went away around 15-16 wks with the help of some new meds. My pregnancy has been considered high risk from the beginning because of the fact that I'm pregnant with triplets. I see a Maternal-Fetal Specialist in conjunction with my regular OB.
On July 2nd at 21 wks, I went in for an apptm with the MFS and was told my cervix had shortened to 1.25 cm. I was admitted to the hospital for almost 24 hrs for observation and to check my cervix again. It shortened to 8mm but thankfully, I was allowed to go home on bed rest. On July 14th, I went back to the MFS, and found that my cervix was immeasurable and I was dilated about 1cm and having some contractions. I was immediately readmitted to the hospital. I called Paul very upset and he started to head to the hospital. I sent him a text when I got to a room to let him know where I was. When I was previously admitted at the beginning of July, I was taken to a High Risk Perinatal room. This time, I was taken to a Labor and Delivery room, which really scared me. In my text, I told Paul, I'm in labor and deliver room B10. Paul only read "I'm in labor" so he said he turned on his flashers and drove about 90 mph to get to the hospital!
That day was probably one of the hardest days of our lives. Paul and I met with my OB, another MFS, and a neonatologist. They were basically all preparing us for a possible delivery of the babies. The neonatologist was the hardest to hear. She was nice, but had to let us know the severity of the situation for the babies chances of survival and chances of long term complications. I was 23w1d and we were told if we delivered before 24 wks, the babies would have a 30% chance of survival and 90% chance of long term neurological complications if they did survive. At 24 wks, the chance of survival is 50% and risk of long term complications Is 75%. The hospital leaves it up to the parents to decide if we want them to do everything in their power to keep the babies alive if born before 25 wks. After 25wks, the hospital automatically tries to keep them alive. Paul and I cried, prayed, and felt peace about having the doctors keep the babies alive if born before 25 wks. We knew the chances were not in our favor, but we know that God is in control, has a plan for these babies' lives, would receive all the glory no matter what, and that He is not limited by statistics (especially since we were told our chances of conceiving triplets was 0.4%!)
While we met with doctors, I was hooked up to several monitors and put on IVs and meds to slow/stop the contractions. One of the IVs was magnesium sulfate to help decrease the chances of long term neurological complications if the babies were born. The mag sulfate makes you extremely hot. Paul was having to stand over me and fan me until we got a real fan in the room. That IV made me feel absolutely miserable. I ended up throwing up that night and thankfully just barely missed throwing up on the nurse as she came in to help me!
The next day was kind of a blur. I don't remember a whole lot other than I was still hooked up to the IVs and taking meds. The MFS took me off the mag sulfate that morning bc of how bad I was responding to it. You are supposed to stay on it 24 hrs but with me throwing up, she thought it was doing me more harm.
The following day, a Wednesday, I was considered "more stable" and moved to the High Risk Perinatal floor. I thankfully have a nice view out my window, more space than the previous room, a DVD player, and a mini fridge. I've been told that I will be at the hospital until the babies are born so this will be my home away from home. I was able to stop my IV and other meds by Thursday. They kept my IV access in for a few more days just in case I needed meds quickly. Thankfully, I haven't needed anymore meds and got the IV out that Saturday. That first week in the hospital was very mentally and emotionally exhausting. We were so thankful when Sunday rolled around and I was still pregnant!
I am now 25w4d and babies and I are still hanging in there thankfully. We were told that every day the babies stay is equal to 2-3 days at least that they would have to stay in the NICU. So each day the babies stay in is a victory! God is so good and we are beyond thankful to have come this far. When I was admitted over 2 wks ago, we did not think we would make it 2 days, much less 2 weeks.
I am on strict bed rest, meaning I can only get up to go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and take a quick shower (sitting down). Otherwise, the doctors want me lying down or sitting at a 45 degree angle or less. I am not one to break rules so I'm doing my best to lay down all day, although I'm starting to get very antsy. I was just allowed to have "stretcher privileges" this week so when Paul comes to see me, he sometimes takes me for stretcher rides outside. The first time outside was after 12 days of being here and it felt so great to get fresh air. I definitely get some strange looks on the stretcher outside, and most people are not discreet about it either. They straight up stare! I just smile and wave back.
I have thankfully been pretty "stable" since I've moved to my new room, and I'm hoping and praying to stay that way for many more days and weeks. We have been so blessed with family and friends coming up to see me, bringing us delicious food, helping us take care of Sophie, and praying for us. We have been overwhelmed with the amount of people who have told us they are praying for us. We feel everyone's prayers, and we are so grateful and so blessed. We have a long road ahead of us so we continue to ask for your prayers. We are so thankful to God for sustaining us and comforting us on this journey. We could not get through this without Our Heavenly Father. He is our Creator, Maker, and Giver of Life. We know God is sovereign and we trust Him with our lives and our babies lives. We have peace knowing that God already has our babies' birth dates picked out and that He loves them more than we do (which is hard to imagine because we are so in love with them already)!
James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."
Psalm 39:7: "My only hope is in You."
Gender Reveal Party
Knoxville Shower, 19 wks pregnant
We painted the nursery and assembled the cribs before I was put on bed rest thankfully. I'm 20 wks in this pic.
Some sweet friends threw me a baby shower while I was on home bed rest.
My OT friends and I get together every year for our "Friendaversary". This year's Friendaversary looked much different than in the past. I was on home bed rest so we ordered take out and watched movies. My awesome friends also washed baby clothes, helped organize the nursery, and made freezer meals. I am so grateful for all their help.
Day 3 of hospital bed rest. My sweet friend, Katie, washed my hair with no rinse shampoo. Bless her sweet soul! I am looking super rough after an emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting few days.
First time going outside in 12 days on hospital bed rest.
Spending precious time with my family outside.
Sweet Sophie girl wanting to look like Mommy.
