Heads Up Seven-Up ... or The Numbers Game

Hi Everyone!  I can't believe its been a few weeks since the last post.  Time seems to be going so fast these days, and the Lil' Ones aren't even here yet!  Lots of stuff has been going on... Sid went to LA last weekend to visit with family and help his Dad with an outpatient procedure.   Aaron turned 42... not normally a noteworthy event (especially after 30!), but turning 42 means that this is the year I get to meet our babies, so that is something worth looking forward to after a birthday !

On the Baby Growing front, some great things are happening.  As of today (7/28/11), we are closing out week #29, and heading into week #30 - WOW!!  Last week, Heidi had a doctor appointment where an ultrasound to check the heartbeats wound up showing some evidence that the babies were beginning to excercise their lungs - a GREAT sign.   Today, I was able to visit Sacramento for another "Level 2" ultrasound, where detailed measurements are taken of limbs, head, abdomin.   All measurements are looking good! (more on that in a second).   Heidi is looking wonderful, and in such good spirits.  I have to imagine if I had three babies bouncing on my bladder, and beating me up from inside at all hourse of the day, I would be WAY more cranky than she is... what a wonderful person she is!    Heidi and I were also able to go on a private tour of the hospital labor & delivery, as well as seeing the Nursery and NICU facilities.  It was more than a little eye-opening to hear the cries of newborns, and think that in a few weeks, our babies would be joining in the commotion!

From the Ultrasound, we found out that the Three Little Monkeys have been moving around a lot!  All three are now in Breech presentation (head-up).  The picture below shows all three heads in a row!  I wonder if they are conferring on how to get us wrapped around their little fingers as soon as possible?  (Little do they know, we are already there!)  I also can't help of them so close together like little "standing" passangers on a bus... holding on thru the bumps in the road.  Hopefully they don't "pull the cord" to get off the ride for a few more weeks still. 

A few weeks!!  EEEK !! Amazing, huh?  After almost 30 weeks post-transfer, and months before that working through the pre-arrangements (ED selection, Surrogate Match, Wiring Funds, Doctors, Lawyers, more Doctors, and More Lawyers...) we are almost at the point of having our little ones join us on the outside.  Hearing the doctor talk about plans for C-Section scheduling and other preparations kinda left Heidi and I in a little bit of a daze - we both looked at each other like "OMG...we are so close!".  

So here is the current stats and Plans....

• We are currently at 29 weeks, 5 days gestation
• Baby A (Girl) is measuring at 30.2 weeks - Approx 3lbs, 7 oz
• Baby B (Boy) is measuring at 31.1 weeks - Approx 3lbs, 15oz
• Baby C (Girl) is measuring at 28.5 weeks - Approx 2lbs, 13oz
• In the last 4 1/2 weeks, the babies have developed approx:
• Baby A - 5 weeks (ahead of the curve)
• Baby B - 4 1/2 weeks (right on schedule)
• Baby C - 4 weeks (a little behind, but still within standard development)
• Plan is to pass 32 weeks, and stretch (sorry Heidi!) it to at least 34 weeks.  Most Triplets (90%+) are born around 32 weeks gestation. 

The Doctor called Baby B (Boy) "our little Porker" - he has had the most room, and is obviously growing well.   I was concerned with Baby C development, but the doctor wasn't given the rate of development - but I will feel much more comfortable when she is at least over 3lbs... only +3oz to go!   I sure hope all of them are at least 4lbs at birth, but time will tell ... shortly!

The Brain Trust... Literally!  Three in a Row

Heidi - Still smiling !  :-)

... Children... Your Chariot(s) await...

Ok, we are weak... We debated over buying a new car, and discussed the pros and con's, but when it came down to it, its so fun to buy a new car... (until the payments start that is)!   We are now the proud owners of a 2011 Ford Expedition.  The funny thing??  We owned the same color, make and model 10 years ago - we had a 2001 Expediton, white with beige trim and interior.  We loved the car, but couldn't justify such a big car for just the two of us... well, obviously that has changed (or almost about to!).   While another color was really my preference, this one had all the bells and whistles that I wanted, plus a bonus for Sid - A/C in the front seats!  (It goes without saying for those who know me that my list already had heated seats on it... I know, we live in the Desert, but it is really cold in the winter...haha).   So, 5 hours after test driving, we drove it home... really, WHY does it need to take so long to buy a car?  Besides the obvious selling points about having more room, the Expedition has 3 latch systems in the rear seat, where the Edge only had two, and has a 3rd row seat - (volunteers anyone?).   Luckily, we got a great deal, and everything worked out well. 

Sunday we tackled the job of unpacking the three car seats, bases, and assembling the Snap-and-Go strollers (yes, strollers - plural - one double, one single..), and setting it up in the car.  So far so good... although we did think the Expedition would provide much more seating space, it wound up about the same as the Edge.  Seriously, the Ford Edge is an AWESOME car, if it works for you, you should look at it.

Double stroller with car seats

Sid is placing the seats in the base

Ready for our three peas in a pod !

Stroller storage... need to work on space optimization though...

15 years of Milestones... and more to come...

This week was our 15 year anniversary. 15 years!! Wow... We can't be old enough for that kind of milestone yet, can we?? Where Did the time go?  Like any relationship, we've had our share of good and bad,  happy and sad - and we are still together!  Guess we are in it for the long haul now - neither one of us is letting the other away with three kids to take care of soon!    
Here are some pics from when it all started...

Sid & Aaron - Nov 1998 - Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Sid & Aaron - Hebe & Hector's House - About 1999

Aaron & Sid - Long Beach - About 2001

And Here is where we are headed 15 years later....  What an amazing ride, and its just starting all over again !

Nursery Furniture arrives - July 12, 2011
(We know, Bumpers bad, shelf over crib will be moved... haha)

Week 25 Pictures

Heidi @ 25 Weeks... Looking Great and Happy !

Hi Everyone!!  Thanks for coming back and checking out the blog.   Isn't Heidi looking great in the picture above?   I just can't imagine what any woman goes through during pregnancy, let alone a Triplet Pregnancy!  Everytime we call and hear her cheery voice on the phone, we are continually remided how lucky we were to have her and her husband choose us to work with through our journey together.  We couldn't ask for any better people to share this experience with!  I hope these kiddo's are patient with us after the great care they are getting in California... Sid and I will need to learn as we go!

So there have been some notable milestones in the past few weeks.  Firstly, the week of 6/20/2011 was the "Golden Week" - Week #24, widely considered to be the "week of viability" should the child(ren) be born that week; although not without danger, after week #24, chances for survival are much better.  Luckily we are now past that point (currently in week #26 as of today 7/7/2011), and looking toward the next milestone at 32 weeks.

Also, another round of doctor appointments and Level 2 ultrasound were done a few weeks ago.  Overall, all signs are positive.  However, Heidi has developed a case of Gestational Diabetes.  The O/B Doctor was "expecting" that (she could have told us!), as a multiple pregnancy increases the risk.  Luckily, with monitoring and diet changes, it can be kept under control.    Heidi's diet had nothing to do with this happening, but since it did happen, she has to limit some foods - some of her favorites unfortunately!  Like the trooper she is, she took the news hard at first, but has adjusted well.  The worst part about it is that she had to go to a class, and is monitoring blood sugar levels, so lots of extra work for her unfortunately.

Some pictures from the latest Ultrasound appointment are below.  Babies A & B are showing off profile shots (with some extra hands & feet in Baby B's shot... its getting cramped in there!).   Our Baby C was apparently bored, as she was caught "yawning".   We keep saying, she is going to be the feisty one!

Thank you, one and all - friends and family, as well as strangers that happen by the blog - for all of the comments, love, and support - they mean more than we can express.  It is humbling to know how many people (around the world) are cheering us on, praying, and wishing us well.  We are blessed to have received lots of great generous gifts to welcome our bundles to the world.   Those that know me, know that I'm a little OCD, so its not surprising that I've tallied the diaper and wipe count (just over 2,000 diapers, and almost 1,400 wipes)!   Sid and I are both excited, and a little anxious, but overall we can't wait to begin this new chapter of our lives !

Baby A Profile... She is at the bottom of the pile!

Baby B - He is living large... has the most fluid in the sack, and the most room...

Baby C - This is a "Vogue" face shot ! :-)

Lorelie the U/S Tech wrote us a "note" and listed the estimated weights