Another Angel in Heaven

Never a day goes by that we aren’t fully aware of how fragile this pregnancy is and how blessed we have been every day to have this most amazing experience of having a baby, or in our case, babies grow in my womb. It is something I truly never thought was possible for many years due to countless doctor’s assessments. Even to this day, I still believe that this pregnancy is a miracle from God and nothing less.

This week we were given very sad news. We are so heartbroken to share with you that we have lost Baby C this week. Jay and I have grieved tremendously over this precious baby, but we are thankful that God has a room in heaven made just for our little angel. And I know that our baby will be surrounded by other angels who have gone before us.

Please join us in prayer for Baby A and B as we fervently ask for good health and continued growth. The ultrasound showed that they are still doing well and are on target. This pregnancy remains high-risk and we are reminded how blessed we are to have made it this far. Blog posts will continue as normal next week.

A Fig, Small Plum, and a Lime

Depending which resource you use, the size of the baby is compared to either a fig, a small plum, or a small lime at 11 weeks. Since we have one of each, I thought it was quite fitting! By this point in gestation all the major organ systems have been created, and from this point forward it is a matter of growth, development, and integration of the body systems. Pretty amazing! The most noteworthy developments this past week include hair follicles, tooth buds, and nailbeds on the fingers and toes. Additionally, although it is too early to feel it yet, the babies are working on their acrobatic moves in utero.

This past week I had about a 36 hour period relief from nausea and vomitting out of the blue and it was blissful! I hadn't felt that good since week 4 of  pregnancy!! Unfortunately, the before and after this 36 hour window was sandwiched with "not so good days," but I was thankful for a little relief. I thought I was going to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm reminded sometimes hourly that I'm still hanging out in the first trimester, and with multiples, the hormones are raging even more. Otherwise, I'm feeling good and trying to take every opportunity to take it easy and not overdo it. Below are pictures from the last two weeks of belly growth...Jay thinks it gets bigger every day...and he might be right!

10 weeks

                                                                       

11 weeks

What is a Kumquat Anyway?

Three kamquats have made it through the most critical portion of development-the embryonic period, which lasts the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. You might ask the same question as me—what is a kumquat—other than googling an answer, I had no idea! For those of you who want a better idea of the size of each baby, kumquats are comparable in size to prunes.

During this next stage of development, the fetal period, the tissues and organs grow and mature. Vital organs such as the kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver are all starting to function. However, it is the fine details that are even more impressive! Nails are forming on fingers and toes, hair is growing on the skin, the legs and arms can now bend, spinal nerves stretch through the spinal cord, bones and cartilage are forming, and teeth are developing under the gums. God truly is amazing!

Each week is getting a little tougher from the nausea and vomiting standpoint, but staying alive! Unfortunately my weight gain has not been as strong due these issues, so trying to do what I can to get food down and stay down!

Some of you may have noticed that I did some construction to the blog-site. Keep in mind, I’m an amateur at this blogging (although some of you have been keeping up with my more informal dialoguing since the day I left for college!), so I’m learning as I go! I was hoping that once the blog was updated that it would automatically send you an email to check the blog, but for some unknown reason (even to my computer nerd husband), it is not sending the automatic updates. I apologize...Until we can maybe improve this feature, just check the blog each Friday afternoon. Also, some have mentioned that they could not post comments; however, I know believe for those that had trouble in the past, if you select "anonymous "when you post the comment that it should work. Sorry for all the confusion...I'm a novice to blogging!! Have a great weekJ

Martini Anyone?

Another week down, now into the 9^th week of pregnancy. Oh it seems like we have come so far along this journey, yet we have so long to go! Our little babies are now the size of green olives, about 1 inch in length.  I had an OB appointment yesterday at 8 weeks and 5 days and both baby A and C were measuring exactly per dates and Baby B is still measuring 2 days behind. All three babies had very strong heartbeats ranging from 180-182—that is 3 beats every second!!!  Below you will see ultrasound pictures of the three babies. Rest assured, although it might look like there are pictures of 4 babies, and some might even question about the big empty sac on the one picture, there are only 3 babies! It is impossible to get all three babies on the same snapshot, and even trying to get two in the same shot is getting more difficult.  After you see how the babies have grown, then you will see how I have grown!! Course, my belly isn’t all that huge overall, but for only being 9 weeks, you definitely know there is more than one baby!

This week in development, the spleen and gallbladder, the two last organs in development, have formed.  The eyes are now fully formed, but will remain shut until about 24 weeks gestation.  By now, 99% of all muscles can be identified and nerves are running throughout the entire body. Blood is circulating both oxygen and nutrients.  Additionally, sex organs are beginning to develop, although it is much too early to find out the gender of the babies.

I’m continuing to do well through the pregnancy so far. The exhaustion truly hasn’t hit yet, although I’m making every effort to get extra rest. Everyone that I talk to that has had multiples keeps trying to tell me, “this is not a normal pregnancy.” When carrying more than one baby, the demands on the body are much higher compared to a singleton pregnancy and it is a very good reminder to take extra good care of myself. Jay has been absolutely fabulous—picking up the extra chores around the for me. However, he still has some lessons to be learned yet…he was so sweet to make me a wonderful meal for lunch the other day but didn’t think the smells of soy sauce would wake me up fresh out of my post-call nap to be hanging over the toilet! I’ve also learned after coming so close to puking in the food store (I was lucky enough to make it outside to the parking lot), that carrying a puke bag isn’t such a bad idea—super hot hugh?! Well, we are learning slowly but surely about pregnancy on all sorts of levels!! See you next week, and maybe there will be new lessons to be learned by then!

Baby A:

Baby B:

Baby C: