Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Baby A, Baby B & Baby C

It’s a classic story: A couple with two kids is on the fence about whether they want a third. They decide to go for it and, surprise, along comes #3 and #4!
But this story has an extra element – for the first 9 weeks, it wasn’t just three and four, but also #5. This is the story of how we found out we were expecting triplets, the story of how we are now expecting girl/boy twins next April. (Or, if history is any guide, more likely late March).
Here’s the family photo we took the morning I peed on the stick in July:
Emilia definitely was not stoked about finding out she was about to become a middle child haha
About a week later, while we were on vacation, I started to have some cramping in my lower abdomen. It didn’t feel like anything I had felt with the first two pregnancies, so I decided to call the doctor to see if I was miscarrying or if something else was wrong. I had a feeling from the moment I took the pregnancy test that I was going to miscarry, so I felt somewhat prepared if that what was actually going to happen.
At five weeks on the dot, the nurse told me to undress waist down and wait for the doctor to come in. I was spread eagle for only about 15 seconds when the doctor said, “OK, I’m going to need you to hold your breath for what I’m about to tell you.” I sighed and thought, “This is the feeling that many women go through when they are about to be told that their baby doesn’t have a heartbeat. Everything happens for a reason.” I took a deep breath and the doctor said, “I see 3...possibly 4.” My eyes bulged out of my head. “Babies!?!???!” She then said something about needing a few minutes to look around and confirm how many sacs there were and that I probably would not hear anything she was about to say for the rest of the appointment. She was right.
I was SHOCKED! I just stared at the ultrasound machine as she was moving the wand back and forth and back and forth, trying to decipher just how many embryos were in my uterus. That’s when the tears started to flow and I just cried. I cried for a long time. How was I supposed to take care of that many babies? How could my body fit that many babies? How did this happen? Wait, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
She finally confirmed that I was expecting triplets. She said that all three babies were in their own sacs, and that they’d all have their own placentas, which is the best case scenario when expecting triplets. But she also said that while two looked really healthy, one sac looked a little small and abnormal. The smaller one was measuring at 4 weeks 1 day and the two bigger ones were measuring at five weeks on the dot. She said that the smaller sac could have implanted a week later, but also warned that it could be a sign of other issues that may cause it to miscarry. The embryos were designated as A, B and C based on their relative positions. Babies A & C were the larger babies, and baby B in the middle was the smaller one. We still call each baby by that name to this day.
Triplets automatically qualify a pregnancy as “high risk,” which meant I was to see the doctor every week until about week 10. At each appointment, baby B was growing, but slowly compared to babies A & C. Ezra and I knew that we may lose baby B at any moment, but the little guy/girl just kept on chugging along.
When I went in at 9 weeks and 2 days, we found out that baby B didn’t have a heartbeat anymore. The few people we had told at that point asked me all day if I was doing OK. I was definitely feeling a lot of emotions. In once sense I was relieved, because the idea of triplets felt overwhelming from the start. In another sense I was sad. I had just lost a baby. But because of the early cramping and inkling that this pregnancy would be different, I felt like I had already grieved baby B long before I found out that he/she was gone. Baby B was gone. But I still had baby A and C, who were both growing very strong.
A lot of people have asked, “Where does baby B go?” I wondered the same thing that day. It turns out that baby B will most likely be hanging out and keeping baby A & C warm and cozy until A & C decide to make their big debut. (Though the doctor said it might also “absorb,” whatever that means.)
I’m now 4 months along and I’m starting to finally feel like a normal human. This third pregnancy had been rougher than the first two combined. But thankfully, I’m not vomiting on the side of the road anymore, and I can finally eat foods other than crackers and string cheese. I’m also getting more energy back.
We are expecting a baby girl and a baby boy, and we are both pretty stoked to be evening out the boy/girl ratio. Emilia and Zeke are pretty excited as well. Emi keeps asking Ezra if he has a baby in his belly too, especially right after meals. I like the way she thinks :).
Here’s a pic of all three babies when they were about 8 weeks. Baby B still shows up much the same on the most recent ultrasounds:
8 week ultrasound

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

baby C3.0 & 4.0 - 15 weeks

Yup!  I'm pregnant again.  But this time with twins! We originally were expecting triplets but we lost baby b at 9 weeks.








How far along? 15 Weeks
Maternity clothes? YES! My uterus doesn't give a F this time around and I needed them at about 12 weeks along.    
Weight Gained:  1lb, total of 8lbs gained
Exercising: not a chance.  I don't have time and I certainly do not have the energy.  
Stretch Marks? Nope
Symptoms: This pregnancy I was sick as a dog from weeks 6-12.  I was throwing up multiple times a day and just felt boat sick all day long. At 12 weeks, it magically call disappeared. 
Sleep: I've been sleeping really solid about 8-10 hours a night :).  Going to bed between 9 and 10pm.  
Miss Anything? Wine 
Number of times I get up to pee each night: None  
Movement: Not yet!  Hoping to by maybe next week.  
Food cravings: Carbs and more carbs
Best moment this week: Seeing Amy Schumer live with a few girlfriends 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken and deli meat
Have you started to show yet? Yes def.   
Gender prediction: we found out last week we are having girl/boy twins 

Belly Button in or out? In!
Mood:  Busy!  So busy with two toddlers running around the house and prego with twins!  
Looking forward to: Vegas this weekend with Ezra's friends for halloween!  

Friday, August 1, 2014

34 Weeks :: 3rd Trimester

Belly Pic:


















How far along? 34 weeks
How big is the baby? Cantaloupe  
Weight Gained:  2lb gained this week, total of 28lbs gained
Waist Size: 39 in, total of 9in growth (measuring around the belly button)
Exercising: None, I've been really tired and super busy with the little guy 
Stretch marks? Nope
Symptoms:  Just tired and extremely sensitive 
Best moment this week:   We've been going out to really yummy dinners this week with friends and family.  
Number of times I get up to pee each night: once 
Movement: yes, tons and tons of kicking!   
Food cravings:  SWEETS!  All I want is icecream and cake.  
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nothing
Have you started to show yet: I'm ginormous this pregnancy 
Labor Signs: no
Belly Button in or out? It's kind out haha!  
Mood:  super sensitive about everything. I've been a ball of tears lately :) 
Looking forward tohaving a day with ezra this saturday.  July and Phil are watching Zeke so we are going to do something fun just the two of us.  



Thursday, July 31, 2014

31 weeks :: 3rd Trimester

Belly Pics:


 


How far along? 31 weeks
How big is the baby? Coconut 
Weight Gained:  1lb gained this week, total of 25lbs gained
Waist Size: 37.5 in, total of 7.5in growth (measuring around the belly button)
Exercising: Pilates twice 
Stretch marks? Nope
Symptoms:  SO. TIRED. ALL. THE. TIME.  other than being tired, i'm feeling great.  This pregnancy is way easier than the last.  
Best moment this week:   Just being home and relaxing. We've been traveling like crazy people so it's been nice to just be home.   
Number of times I get up to pee each night: once 
Movement: yes, so much kicking going on in my ribs. ouch.  
Food cravings:  SWEETS!  All I want is icecream and cake.  
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nothing
Have you started to show yet: I'm ginormous this pregnancy 
Labor Signs: no
Belly Button in or out? flat, almost out. 
Mood:  getting excited to meet this little princess.  
Looking forward to: Being home this weekend and getting a lot of chores and errands accomplished.  

Thursday, July 10, 2014

28 Weeks :: Third Trimester


Belly Pic:



















How far along? 28 weeks
How big is the baby? Kabocha Squash 
Weight Gained:  2lb gained this week, total of 21lbs gained
Waist Size: 36.5 in, total of 6.5in growth (measuring around the belly button)
Exercising: Pilates twice 
Stretch marks? Nope
Symptoms:  That weird ear thing where I can hear myself talking
Best moment this week:   Hanging out in San Diego with Ez and Zeke for our anniversary and father's day.  We went to the zoo and just hung out at the hotel.  
Number of times I get up to pee each night: once 
Movement: Lots of kicking going on in there 
Food cravings:  Dark Chocolate/Sweets   
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nothing
Have you started to show yet: I'm ginormous this pregnancy 
Labor Signs: no
Belly Button in or out? flat 
Mood:  so tired all the time.  
Looking forward toHeading to Columbia with Ez to celebrate Karen and Jodie getting married!  I'm nervous to leave Zeke all week but he is going to have so much fun with my mom!  

Saturday, June 21, 2014

25 Weeks :: 2nd Trimester


Belly Pic:

















How far along? 25 weeks
How big is the baby? Eggplant 
Weight Gained:  1lb gained this week, total of 17lbs gained
Waist Size: 35 in, total of 5in growth (measuring around the belly button)
Exercising: Pilates twice and I'm going to try and make it to a spin class tomorrow in the morning :).   
Stretch marks? Nope
Symptoms:  Getting braxton hicks cramps like whoa.  I had the Dr. check my uterus last week at my appt and she said everything is fine.  Guess this pregnancy is just more intense!   
Best moment this week:   Heading to SF for the day with my friend Catherine to go check out some small businesses for the So Cal Children's Museum  
Number of times I get up to pee each night: once 
Movement: Lots of kicking going on in there 
Food cravings:  Dark Chocolate/Sweets   
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nothing
Have you started to show yet: For sure.  Looking huge lately. 
Labor Signs: no
Belly Button in or out? In! 
Mood:  feeling blah again.  this baby is sucking the life out of me.  
Looking forward toheading to a-town to celebrate Kristen's wedding and then off to Cabo to celebrate Ashley's 30th bday!