Last lap of the 4th month...

Monday we will be 20 weeks, or 5 months! Part of me feels like 10 weeks and the other part feels like 40 weeks. But overall, I feel so great. I feel my best if I get a swim in and if I eat something of meaty or other form of substance every 2 hours. (Sleeping isn't exempt from the hunger monster, so sleeping is getting harder - especially w/ the most restless and crampy legs. I sold varicose vein treatment - but never knew why people got laser treatment for venous flow and reflux until now). Thankful for my nerdy compression hose right now.

The movement is getting a little more real in my mind. Baby A or B is actually kicking or something everyday and I feel rumbling sort of all over throughout the day. I love feeling anything in there - the movement of life has to be the best part of being pregnant. Especially now where they are still moving so gently and sweetly and not karate kicking my ribs!

I woke up at 4 am staring at the clock and imagining what it will be like to feed not only my hungry stomach and mouth, but to feed three innocent little birds!

It's Saturday morning and we are both up before 7 am - (me because I am so hungry I feel like I just ran a marathon and Scott because his head spins every morning w/ what he says is work and where we will live, etc .. and I know he's probably just grabbing the "oh shit" handles in his head every morning thinking about providing for the Hackman 5. )He continues to amaze me and remind me that I did a good job picking my hubby and father of my kids. He surprised me w/ flowers and a card this week and stayed home from what could have been a last freedom trip w/ the guys to Vegas because he said he didn't want to leave "us" :)

I just have to make note that I had my first dream about having a baby born w/ a full set of teeth. He also was talking and acting like a 20 year old. I had a huge milk supply (bonus!) but was drowning the baby in milk and he was biting me back. Ah! I hope things go smoother than this dream! I must only dream about one baby at a time...last night was all boy! But those dreams make you so excited because you wake up with that feeling of "that was my baby!"

We are off to eat breakfast w/ the senior citizens and drive around and try to guess where the best neighborhood to raise triplets is...

19 wks pictures

Daddy ready to roll with triple the fun stroller! We were lucky to snag a Peg Perego from a family in our multiples group - so thankful for this group o' multiples

Can barely see my toes at 19 weeks

Look at that uterus! Those babies are everywhere in there, so much for a cute little bump! They are worth it!

19 weeks and hungry

The past week, thankfully, has been pretty uneventful. A few hormonal ups and downs and a few visits back to that 1st trimester yuck, but overall, great energy and I still get around pretty good. That's the hard part, I think I am Miss Energy and have to remember I can only run one or two errands, not 5 or 6. Today I was at the mall and had no shame to plop down in the middle of Von Maur like the old men do and listen to the piano player in the comfy chairs. I had to! Along with snacking on the peanut m&m's in my purse for energy. (I figure it's protein)

Still love being in the pool - I feel lightweight and sort of still like an athlete because I can move around and use muscles.

My appetite, somehow, has gone up. I have to eat some sort of protein (like McD's cheeseburger works nicely) right before bed or I will be up between 4-7 am starving and not able to sleep. I can eat salads and fruit and good stuff again, but still need red meat. I am so disgusted at the amount I have been consuming steaks and burgers. Although, I really failed at my opp to be a preggo overeating at the state fair. It was so hot I couldn't even think about anything fried. I only had corn and a grilled cheese...yep, I failed miserably.

Sleep is getting pretty restless because I can't get comfy and my legs started to get really achy over the last week from all that blood flow. For some reason, my fav and most comfy time to sleep is from 7 am - 9:30 am -- poor Scott has to watch me sleep every morning. But as always, he is supportive and calls mid morning to check on me and tells me how glad he is I get to rest and be at home.

Next checkup is next week! All seems to be good for now! How sad we had a huge dinner w/ Grandma and Grandpa McKean 2 hrs ago and I am already thinking about my leftover filet as a bedtime snack....

18 wk appt

Yesterday's appointment, although long, boring and made me really sleepy - was all really good news! I am SO thankful for boring and uneventful weeks and appointments. That has been my prayer... no news = good news.

Got a 3rd confirmation it's 2 girls and a little man. They really have grown (we didn't get weight) but the tech traced along my belly where each little head started up to their butt and it's pretty much my whole midsection. They look a little more cramped, but Dr. Dungy said we have really active babies - so that is good! They had their hearts checked again, and although wouldn't stay still for good pictures, all hearts and valves looked great! Baby A, although isn't allowed to come down that birth canal, is doing the right thing and has turned his little precious head down towards the cervix. So now his butt is about halfway up my right side (which explains the hardness I keep feeling on my right side -- so weird to feel body parts!) and his sister, Baby B, has her feet on his butt and her head meets her sister's head, Baby C, right below my belly button. Baby C wraps around and her feet are towards Baby A. So they are making a perfect circle in there... and are making it really interesting for mama, as they are all favoring my mid section over to the right side with the heavy body parts! Scott is in awe of what is in there and he always tells me "good job babe" , like I did something really hard, at the end of an u/s :)

Still no karate kicks, but lots of wavy feelings and slight undefined feelings in there. I saw a NP this week, so no major timeline updates - but my cervix is still around a length of 5 and doesn't change at all w/ pressure (they press on your uterus to mimic a contraction to see if your cervix changes). No swelling and my blood pressure is great! So I just have to keep up with my rest and keep doing what I'm doing! I added iron supplements back in today - I have seen HUGE difference in energy and how I feel since mine ran out - I CRAVE red meat again. I think it's true, those little people take what they need and leave mama to fend for herself.

All in all I have been feeling good - just have had some weird revisits with feeling sick this week. I puked today when Scott kissed me goodbye w/ his cologne on! My meals are much more successful if small because if it's too big it will live in my throat. Current happy food ..still loving oatmeal if from a packet :), fruit and yogurt and loving anything grilled cheese and have had a couple killer brownies - its like pregnancy makes those brownies taste better than ever! Still don't love ice cream..I'm not giving up on you ice cream...I know I will love you again.

17 wk pictures

View from our window at French Lick - overlooking the miracle Pluto water well and gardens.

The babie are growing forward, sideways and backwards...

17 weeks and 4 days - Babymooners

Last year Italy and Paris ... this year, Southern Indiana. Oh how life changes with the good news!

Since everything is on super speed with this pregnancy, Scott and I went this week on a few day trip that served as our last getaway together, aka, babymoon. I can see where the baby moon comes into play - it's like your honeymoon because it's the two of you, but you spend most of your time talking about names, overeating (I have a new love for buffets) and talking about plans for the babies. It's a lot less romantic, but still fun because Scott and I had a lot of fun just being away from home and reflecting on the 3 years of marriage that we have been blessed with, and how fitting we get 3 babies in our 3rd year. It was in the high 90s and a heat index of over 100 everyday, so I couldn't do much but swim and, again, eat..but we slipped in a few massages and a steak dinner, so some of it felt reminiscent of our normal vacations. Overall, it was good and I think I grew everyday. But I was able to eat most anything I wanted without feeling sick and not a single headache (even ate ice cream again!). Maybe the cutest thing is watching Scott tell everyone that will listen we are having triplets. I can always tell it's coming, and I just wait for the stare. I think the whole town of French Lick knew! He is a good daddy to be. The nicest thing he has said to me was yesterday when I said, "Do I look like a huge person in your wife's body?" He said - "No, I just look at you and feel proud". Made every pound feel beautiful.

One thing I learned -- those things that you used to do when you weren't pregnant, and you would see a pregnant girl at and think "wow, I wouldn't do that if I was pregnant" and then you get pregnant and do it anyways...follow your initial thought of "don't do." All I have to say is an outdoor Reds game on the way home yesterday in a heat index of 115 with no real escape to AC is a very very bad idea. I was scared I was cooking the babies and was so thankful when the rains came in the 7th inning...Thank God.

We have been talking a lot about names know that we know the combo. We aren't sharing names...there has to be some tradition and privacy in this pregnancy ... but we are close to settling on 6 names. Unbelievable!

I have to say this week is the most energy I've had the whole pregnancy. I almost feel antsy like running around the neighborhood. But I won't :) No major aches or pains and don't feel huge and swollen in the heat. I have noticed I have to use my arms to get up from reclined positions because my abs aren't as strong and the growing belly works against getting up. No idea what I weigh - I just wait for the doctor to weigh me - I get too mad. I think I've gained more than any 17 weeker ever. I look at pictures of girls at 30 weeks and thats how big I look.

We bought our first outfits for the trio - premie and newborn sizes! So cute, little tiny pink leopard and blue and brown. We stopped at the Carters Outlet and had crossed eyes at all the babies and kids in there. We have no idea what we are doing. So we just bought 2 girly onesie sets and 1 boyish onesie set and a few white onesies and left. They look like I am going to dress my dolls! I wish I had a nursery to put them in, but we are still waiting on that offer for our house! So no nursery plans yet...I do love gray and yellow - but no real plans yet.

Still no real kicks or solid movements - just lots of flutter feelings. It almost feels like a really faint drop in my belly like on a roller coaster. It's so faint, and mostly comes from my right side (Baby B) -- so not really sure what it is. I'm ready to feel them!

Off to make homemade pizza - I am so happy to be able to cook again!

16 weeks 5 days

Settling in for yet another summer nap with the blinds closed so I don't know it's sunny and nice outside. I'm watching the Baby Story, which is really against my rule of no watching The Baby Story..but I can't help it! It makes me so excited to cuddle our little loves.

Last night was my 2nd multiples group. I LOVE going. It is like rocketfuel for me. I came home last night and Scott thought I was drunk I was so excited. I just feel like I got picked for the right kickball team and love how normal they are all. I leave feeling like I am supermom and nothing can stop me from raising these 3 lives. I love seeing pictures of real life, healthy triplets and meeting other GGB combos! Makes it real! How encouraging is it that all of these woman have trips (2 of them have quads!) and they all are able to get out,have a martini, look great, bring homemade appetizers and are actually sane and cool? Oh...and as I drove up thinking the whole block would be minivans...I noticed Escalades, Honda Pilots and other "normal" cars...I learned from everyone - you gotta have your "getaway car" ...hmmm...I'll take a convertible. Other tidbit, everyone agreed, if the trio is crazy, remove one and all will be peaceful. The other thing I learned from the party (really not that important)- I love chocolate covered pretzels with caramel. Somebody made those turtles w/ rolos,m&ms and pretzels..babies like! (I'll blame on them)

This is my craving of the week. Yum. Finally a sweet!

This week has been great. My energy is up and I feel healthy from my swims. Have had lots of fruit and veggies. Ella and I had a movie date and lunch (although my eyes were heavier and bladder was fuller than a 7 yr old), and I had a lunch date w/ my friends and a nails date with Melissa! I give myself an activity a day. I am reminded from all the mommies to continue to take it easy, drink lots of water and to rest even if I don't feel like it. So back to my snoogle pillow, water and a baby story..

16 weeks pictures and stories

Baby A - (top left)our little man. Daddy is soo happy to see that boy part! He is smooshed by his sisters and spends most of his time in a ball. He was not shy about showing off his boy parts...and he even found his boy parts with his hands while we were watching- oh no! He weighs 5 ozs and has a heartbeat of 147

Baby B - (2nd pic from top) the mover of the group. We really thought she was a boy - but nope, she is a she! Girl parts look like 3 little white lines (they call it a hamburger) and it was clear! She and her brother are best buds and they always are touching and cuddling. I put in a picture of them both sucking their thumbs and cuddling. So cute :) She was moving her mouth like crazy -- she already had something to say! She weighs 5 oz and has a heartbeat of 150

Baby C - (3rd pic down)Oh our little diva. She has always clearly been a girl to us. Gives us her pretty lips and nose profile shot every time. She doesn't seem to need the cuddles her bro and sis do and she sprawls out with her legs out straight and lounging...(other babies always in a ball!) She squirms a lot, but seems a little more calm. She is also the piggie - she weighs 6 oz (1 more oz than 2 others) and has a heartbeat of 152

Baby A and B cuddles - (bottom pic)

16 weeks - Confirming our Fate

We had our 16 week anatomy check with Dr. Dungy-Poythress yesterday. This is where they check all the body parts...measure the head for roundness (if shaped like a lemon, could mean spinal issues), check for the 4 chambers of the heart, and look at the stomach, diaphragm, kidneys, spine and brain. All looked great on each baby. AND....not that we cared about this :) .. but it was confirmed that we have 2 girlies and a little man :)

Sort of weird to already know...and I think I'm still trying to process the information. I just keep thinking, how weird I know exactly where each baby is located and every ultrasound we get to know the babies a little more. We had a lot of play time with them today...the techs always let us just watch them play and move around. Both the tech and Dr. said our babies are very active - which is great to hear! New pictures of the munchkins below. Mama is off to swim (only semi exercise Dr. Box is allowing me...and NOT for much longer!) and to finish some more registering at Target. Oh..and I will probably regret sharing this...but I've gained a whopping 27 lbs. That is so scary. But Dr. Box wants me to have that weight...and she keeps reminding me...you will be fit and strong again, the babies just need you now. (The benefits of a doctor that has had triplets living in her belly, she remembers the feeling of fear as your body goes from lean to mean in 16 weeks)

Baby pics and updates in next post (zoom in on your computer - the pics are tiny!) There is a pic of each baby's profile, face and boy or girl part :)

End of 15 Weeks - Our Village

Our 15th week ended with being surrounded by lots of our loving family and friends -- many of the members of the village for our babies. (not the whole village...but most!)

It's amazing that simple stuff like picking up a cake, decorating and showering will already zap my energy before even getting to Scott's birthday party - but it does! But Scott's surprise 40th ended up being perfect and he was so surprised and happy. He was so emotional when we walked in...and he was so confused - he thought it was a surprise for a baby shower :) So many of our great friends were there to support him. And so many smiling faces and hands rubbing my belly...we are blessed. I lasted until almost midnight - which was really borderline turing into a pumpkin for me. My belly felt heavy tonight and everyone couldn't stop staring at what has become a very visible uterus. As long as they are staring at my belly and not elsewhere...

Sunday was brunch with some of our family and we loved having Miles, Ella and Cohen and Colsen running around our house. The pod already have such loving cousins waiting to be their friends and grandmas and grandpas waiting to love them.