Oh Man!

Well, I think that growth spurt they were talking about last week is definitely happening! It's 4am and I woke up to a stomach begging for food. Currently eating a bowl of cereal, hoping I will be able to go back to bed. Might have to start putting granola bars on my bedside table!

Just a few more days until our next ultrasound. Can't wait!

Love, Nellie

17 Week Update!

Hey everyone!

So, we are at 17 weeks. Kind of a weird number, but another number closer to 36, so we'll take it! I got my bloodwork results from last week. They were scanning me for gestational diabetes because with triplets the risk is much higher (as is my pleasantly plump figure). They test twice, once now and then again around 24 weeks (which is when most singleton pregnancies test). Good news! No diabetes here! Let's keep our fingers crossed that it stays that way. The only other thing is that they found that I am a little bit anemic (red blood cell levels are a little low). This, again, isn't too surprising for a triplet pregnancy. My blood volume has doubled to help the wee ladies grow big and strong and sometimes you run out of iron to help make the red blood cells. Anyway, I was started on Iron supplements so that should take care of the problem. Other than that, everything else is pretty much status quo. Waiting for the girls to get big enough so that we can feel them!

We have also motivated into "we need to get ready for these babies!" mode. Nathan has been working on the nursery with building shelves in the closet, taking the bed downstairs, getting ready to paint, etc., while I have been on the phone and computer finding out about day care, home nursing care, and how the heck we are going to be able to afford these three kids! Day care center vs nanny, full time vs part time work, how long can I take off, what if I am on bedrest in a month, what if the babies are in the NICU for 6 weeks, etc. It's all pretty overwhelming, but the more I get educated, the better I feel. I was excited to see that there is a Greater Portland Mother's of Multiples group (Thanks Ellen Reath!) right here and they meet monthly. I joined yesterday and can't wait to go to the first meeting!!

Ok, off to work. Here is the 17 week update and some photos for your enjoyment!!

How your baby's growing: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. (FYI- our girls were 5 and 6 oz LAST week!) She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

It's a Girl... and Another Girl...and I'm not kidding... Another Girl

I'm really not sure that there is much more to say. I am pretty speechless at this point. haha. Please don't send too much pink!!

All three girls are looking great. They are big and healthy and no sign of any troubles. So, we will be back in 2 weeks to check them out again.

Three girls! Oh My Goodness!!!!

love, Nellie

16 weeks!

As promised, here is the 16 week update. Avocados!

How your baby's growing: Get ready for a growth spurt (Really? I feel like I'm already in one!). In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Back to Reality...

Nathan and I returned from our amazing week in Jackman last night. We had the most wonderful, relaxing, best weather vacation we have had in a while. Sort of sad to come back to the real world, especially when it's 95 and humid outside! I went to Babies-R-Us today just to find some AC...and see if it was possible to fit three car seats in the Jeep Cherokee. Turns out you can, although it will certainly be a tight fit! Now I am hiding down in the basement with the two dogs where it's nice and cool.

I've realized that it's time to start figuring some stuff out, like the nursery, car seats, stroller combos, child care, etc. It's pretty overwhelming, but we have a pretty good network of people that are sending used stuff our way which is great! I figure that I might as well start now because in a matter of months things are going to start getting pretty chaotic around here!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we are back in town. The big 16 week mark is tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates and photos. Wednesday is our next ultrasound. We are hoping to find out genders at that appointment, so definitely stay tuned for that!!

Love to you all...

Nellie

PS- See below for ultrasound pics from last time. I just added them today.

A great ultrasound before our vacation!

Hey everyone!

We just got home from our ultrasound. I will never cease to be amazed at how fast they all are growing. All three of the babies look great!! Still no sign of the previously noted hygroma, which makes us very happy. Each and every one of them is moving like they are auditioning for Saturday Night Fever. I will put the measurements, heart rates and pictures below. Just wanted everyone to know that Nathan and I are headed out of town for about 9 days. We will be back next Sunday. So, probably no updates until we get back. Hope everyone has a good week.

lots of love, Nellie

Baby A: measures 9.25 cm. HR is 153.
Baby B: measures 8.80 cm. HR is 153.
Baby C: measures 8.72 cm. HR is 150.

14 weeks! The Time is Flying By!

Not too much to report today, other than the 14 week babycenter update. I'm happy to report that my energy levels are really starting to improve... and my belly is realy starting to grow. Nathan and I decided that today was the first day that we would start taking weekly pictures of the babies from the outside. I will try to be brave and post them here. :) Lots of love to everyone. Keep thinking positive thoughts that everything will look great at the ultrasound on Friday.

love, Nellie (and Nathan and the Lemons)

How your baby's growing: This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.