BABIES ARE COMING!!!

33 Weeks, 1 Day

I just realized that I hadn't updated you all with delivery info...
We will be delivering tomorrow, Thursday, December 2!!!
The babies had run out of room, and after 34 weeks that becomes unsafe for babies as well as myself.  I will be 34 weeks, 1 day when I deliver!  They say 34 week babies do just as well as 36, so I'm at a great spot!

Soon-to-be Mommy and Daddy

Again

All Thanksgiving Pics!

I went in both yesterday and today for steroid shots, to speed up their little lungs, so hopefully they won't be intubated, but we just won't know anything until they're all here!
I have to give a "shout out" to my amazing husband.  I'm sorry to have to break the news to others, but when people say they have the "best" husband, it's not true because I do!!!  I can't even explain to you how great he has been.  He does not let me lift a finger, does all of the cleaning, cooking, laundry, groceries, hoists me off the couch because he doesn't want me to struggle at all, walks behind me up the stairs with his hands on my legs trying to help me walk(this is a little odd:), and the lists go on.  He works all day and has to come home to do these things and I'm sure he's ready to be over with this part yet has never complained.  I don't know what I did to deserve him, and can't put into words how blessed I feel. I can't wait to see what a great Daddy he will be.
I'm doing okay.  As of right now the final weight gain is.....drumroll please....SIXTY POUNDS!!!! They wanted me to gain between 50-60, so I did!  I am definitely ready to get them out now.  I can literally barely move, my stomach is so heavy it hurts.  I'm going to miss seeing them move all around in there though and I'm sure this is the only time I will be pregnant so I'm very emotional right now. I will cry for absolutely no reason at all!  I had my last appointment today and cried leaving!  I'll cry if I look at a cup of milk, I mean there is no rhyme or reason!  I just think back to the beginning of this journey we've been on and can't believe that I'm going to meet my 3 little miracles in 2 days!!!  God is AMAZING!!! I'm beyond blessed to have made it this far and I know it's because of all of your prayers and positive thoughts.

Delivery info...
I will deliver at 10:00 on Thursday morning at St. Luke's on the plaza.  I know I have a lot of friends and family coming to the waiting room during the delivery.  (If you don't know my family, it's My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Italian style), so here is all of the info....

Directions:When you go to St. Luke's instead of going into the parking garage in the main hospital, you will keep going to the light on Wornall.  Go right and you will see right in front of you the Women's Center.  You can valet for free or find any spot.  When you go in the doors, the second you walk in there is a set of elevators that say Labor and Delivery.  They'll ask you what you're there for, so just tell them you need to get to the waiting room for the Lucas delivery.  It'll take you straight to the room

Visiting Info: Okay, so I know that everyone is going to want to see the babies on Thursday and we won't know until they're here and how well they're doing who is going to get to see them.  So, I just wanted you to have a heads up on that. I will be there until Monday and the babies should be there for 2-3 weeks.  I will be going there every day, for the majority of the day (until I get kicked out), so I would love company at that time too.  The NICU does have strict rules.  When flu season is in full swing, only Chris and I will get to go there (hopefully we'll be gone by then though).  Other than that you can come anytime Chris and/or I are there and we'll let you know if any rules change.  They do not let any children other than siblings to the triplets (which they don't have any) into the NICU.  I know a lot of my friends with kids had asked and I'd hate for you to drive all the way there and not get to come in.  Even Luci, Hayden, Jack, and Lily wont get to see them until they're home :(

RSV:  So, I'm really going to try not to worry about all of the what-if's but I am a new mom to begin with and with preemies I'll be in over drive, so I apologize in advance!  But, for now I wanted you all to be aware of RSV.   You can click on it to find out more, but basically it's respiratory tract infection that can be dangerous for babies that are born full-term.  The risk significantly increases for babies born before 36 weeks.  We are in RSV season and our babies will be born at 34 weeks and have not quite developed lungs, so please just use your best judgement before coming to see them.  If you or someone in your house has recently had a fever or cold, if you're  feeling even a sniffle, if someone next to you sneezes and doesn't cover their mouth,  if your kids have been sick, please stay home!  The babies will be there when you're feeling better!

Okay, I think that's it for now.  Christina is going to update my Facebook status once they're here, so if we aren't friends on there or you aren't on Facebook and would rather get an e-mail just let us know!

We love you all and are so thankful for you and the support you've given us!  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for an uneventful delivery and healthy babies!!!
XOXOXO

Eventful day and Babies soon...

Started off the morning with the shower that Chris' work threw us!  It was so nice of them and yet again, we are overwhelmed by how blessed we are to have such generous people in our lives.
Next, we had our non-stress test.  The babies passed with flying colors!  After that was our sonogram to check for growth.  The babies had not grown at all since our last scan 2 1/2 weeks ago.  This is completely normal, as they've just run out of room to grow.  Sooooooo they will be taking the babies via c-section sometime within the next 10 days.!!!  While I've known since day one that this would happen, I've been doing so great that I assumed I still had a few weeks left until it did, so needless to say, I did panic a bit.  The doctor assured us that I'm still doing great and there is no cause for concern.  They are still developing, they are just out of room to grow.  We've had over achievers the whole time and they've averaged out, but they are not going to get anything else from me nutritionally, so the time has come! I have been telling Chris for the past week that I thought they were out of room because of they way they are moving.  I can just tell that they aren't able to make the movements they want. Sometimes they will even move halfway to where they want to be, stop and go back several times.  Poor kids!
I'll be 33 weeks Wednesday and they still want me to get to 34, but not past, so we'll know the date for sure by the end of the week.
I'm super excited and ready to hold them, but I'm very anxious about having preemies and having to leave them in the NICU.  I know it's the best place for them, but I just don't want to go home without them, so I'm super emotional about this.  I'll be doing lots of mental preparation over the next week.  After my appointment we took a tour of the NICU.  It is very bright and cheerful and I know it'll be a great place for them.
So, that's the update!
Please keep us in your prayers that the babies stay healthy and we have an uneventful delivery.  We will let you all know when we know the date for sure.
We hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be grateful for this year.
XOXOXO

32 Weeks and counting...

31 Weeks

Hi all,
I don't have a super exciting update this time, other than the fact that we've made it to 32 weeks, which is a MAJOR milestone in a triplet pregnancy!!!  I am just amazed that they're still in there!  The past two weeks we have been doing non-stress tests twice a week.  I'm getting to be pretty good friends with Julie and Patty, the nurses that do the tests!  The babies have passed each one and seem to be doing well!  Today Max was sleeping, so they had to wake him up with a sound stimulator.  They just put this little bull-horn looking thing up to my belly and made it sound and he woke up!  Weird, huh?The girl's weren't really fans of this.  They started going crazy when they did it!

I did meet with the doctor today.  They're still thinking 34 or 35 weeks, which is just TWO MORE WEEKS away!!!!  My bags are packed and I'm physically ready to go.  Not quite ready to go mentally though. I just want to keep them in there as long as I can to get them good and healthy!  She did say today that developmentally 32 week babies are pretty much the same as 34 and 36 later on with learning and other developmental factors, which is great news.  If they were born tonight, they would be fine!  The fact that I've made it this far is amazing and each day from here on out is just in the dr's words "gravy!"

Baby Land

We've been getting everything in the house ready over the past couple of weeks. As you can tell from the picture the Lucas household has turned into Babies R Us.  Which is ironic because when we were struggling to get pregnant and I'd have to go to Babies R Us for gifts, Chris would refer to it as Babies Aren't Us!!! We(AKA Chris) just have one more swing and bouncy seat to put together and we're good to go!

Aunt Sissy painting girl's room

The nurseries are pretty much done, we're just waiting on our wall letters and some thing I really can't explain (because I can't picture what she is talking about)that Christina is making to go on the tree.  I promise, I will post pics as soon as they're complete, but here she is painting a tree on the wall in the girl's room.  Too cute!

I've been struggling a lot lately.  I can barely move the babies are so big. I'm pretty much down all day now because any time I get up I get a Braxton Hicks contraction and during my non-stress tests I'm getting contractions every 5 or so minutes.  I can never feel those though.  They said it's normal for my uterus to be irritable at this point.  I did get my first real contraction the other day and had one since.  Not really interested in going into labor own!  That was awful!

Mia's bottom sticking up!

I'll do my next  growth scan to see how big they are, but today she said she'd guess 4.5-5 pounds!!!  I can't wait to see how big they are on Monday!  While I will not reveal my weight, I have gained a whopping 53 pounds!!!  So I'm basically the size of a house!  I'm measuring 44 weeks pregnant!!!  My stomach is pretty much lop-sided now too.  Mia always has her butt sticking straight up, so it's really funny looking.  You can see it sticking up in the picture!

They are just constantly moving.  We play music for them a lot at night and they just start going crazy.  Pretty sure the girls will be dancers, just like their mama ( my friends will know how humorous this is).

We hope you are all doing great!  I am counting down days to Thanksgiving!  I have pretty much lived to be pregnant on Thanksgiving and I'm going to do some serious damage!   Please keep praying for the babies and that we make it 2 more weeks! I know that your prayers are why we've made it this far!  My goal is 3, but I don't want to be too greedy.

I will give a quick update when I know how big the babies are on Monday.
XOXOXO

30 Weeks, 1 Day

First Non-Stress Test, 30 weeks 1Day

Had my first non-stress test today!  So, what they do is strap 3 monitors on my belly and monitor the babies for 20 minutes.  They are looking for so many movements within that 20 minutes and when they move their heart-rates need to go 10 above where they were at the resting rate so many times.  They passsed!!! It really wasn't my favorite thing I've done so far though.  As you can tell by the picture they had those belts on so tight I was being squeezed everywhere and it really wasn't the most comfortable thing I've ever done.  I will be doing this twice a week from now on, so I guess I need to learn to like it!
After the test we had a full sonogram.  They are so large now it's really hard to determine what's what and we the only pictures we got today were of limbs, but I'll get a full scan each time from now on (probably only a couple more) to check for growth.  Stats today were as follows:
Molly: 30 weeks, 2 days 3 lbs, 8 oz
Mia: 31 weeks, 3 lbs, 10 oz
Max:32 weeks, 2 days, 4 lbs!!!

Pretty sure Chris was taking pictures without permission
so this is the face he got!  It really showcases my belly1

They have grown a ton since last time!!!  The doctor was happy with how everything went today.  He said, obviously he's not psychic, but if he could guess he'd guess I'll make it to 34 or 35 weeks, which would put me somewhere between December 1st and 8th.  They'd like for me to make it to 36 or 37, but they're already getting so big that they're going to run out of room here pretty soon (as you can tell by my stomach!).  He said I should have my bags packed and be ready to go, which I do not yet.  It could be any day now!  Soooooooo, please keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming!  My goal is to make it to 36!  He said 30 weeks is a major milestone and every 2 weeks from here on out is too.  I'm not having many contractions, so hopefully I can keep these babies in here growing.  The thought of leaving them in the NICU really stresses me out and the longer I can keep them in the shorter their stay will be and the healthier they will be.  If I happen to go into labor on my on before that (my body thinks it's full term) they will stop the labor and give the babies steroids to get their lungs to develop until I'm 34 weeks. Hopefully that will not happen!!!

29 weeks, 5 days HaLlOwEeN!!!

All in all I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm obviously super uncomfortable, I mean I am almost carrying 12 pounds worth of baby around and as you can tell by the picture I'm about 5x the size of Chris and my face is starting to really plump up, but I'm only having 1 contraction every few days, so I can't complain! Being able to be home and relax helps tons!
In other news, I did not pass my first glucose test and had to take the long one.  I passed that!!!

While we did whatever we could to prevent it , we waved the white flag and ended up buying a mini-van.  I'm not going to lie and pretend that I did not cry in the salesman's office or leaving the lot, but I've come to terms with it!  We even brought an SUV home, but the stroller hung out the back, so we ended up getting the new Honda Oddyssey. I don't know that I can use the words "cool" and mini-van in the same sentence, but I think it's prety cool!  It has a lot of really neat features and it's going to be most convenient for us and nothing else would fit this..

The nurseries just need a few finishing touches and I'll post pics.  They're really cute if I do say so myself!

We hope everyone is doing great and as always appreciate all of your love and support.  We know that without all of your prayers, this pregnancy would not have been as uneventful as it has been.

XOXOXO

27 week, 5 day Check Up

27 weeks, 1 day

Hi All,
I am 28 weeks, 1 day today.  I went to the doctor Monday, which was my 27 week 5 day check up.  It was a full scan, and we actually got lots of good pics this time!  I am way too tired to scan them all right now, but I will add them soon!
The babies looked great!  They all had a good amount of fluid and are still symmetrical.  Stats are as follows:
Molly:  2lbs, 7 oz. - 27 weeks 5 days
Mia: 2 lbs, 12 oz. (chunky monkey)-28 weeks 1 day
Max: 2lbs, 9 oz.- 28 weeks, 2 days

They are getting so big now!   They still think I'll make it to 36 or 37 weeks, so hopefully I'll get some 4 pounders!!!  I know that is tiny for a singleton, but that would be amazing for triplets!  Fingers crossed...

Max had been the largest until now, I guess Mia had a big growth spurt. We think she is going to be the ornery one!  I don't know what it's called but she kept kicking the thing they put on your stomach when they're doing a sonogram.  You would just see it bumping up.  It was pretty funny.

My appointment went well.  Everything is still going really smoothly!  I had to take the glucose test.  I have no idea why people always talk about how nasty it is.  I had always heard bad things about it.  I LOVED that orange drink!  Chugged it down.  Had no problem. Well, except for the fact that I didn't pass!!!  Normal ranges are 130-135 and mine was 135.   So, since I'm borderline, I have to go back tomorrow for the 3 hour test.  Boooooooooooo! They did say that since I'm at 135, that's a pretty good indication that I'll pass.  I guess we'll find out.  I'm not happy about the fact that I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair and not eat for 3 hours, but I can't lie, I am excited about getting more orange drink!!!
I measured 35 weeks pregnant and  I have gained (as you can tell by my face in this very unflattering pic)  42 pounds!
I have been going twice a month for the past few months and starting on the 4th I will be going not once, but TWICE a week!  I assumed that I'd be going once a week next, but nope!  They will do non-stress tests on the babies each time and sonograms, I believe every other time.

Yes, my husband is sporting a a wife beater/migya(for my Italian friends).  

For the past month we have been getting the nurseries ready.  The girls will be in one and Max in the other.  They'll be in pack in plays in our room for so long that I figured by the time they go to their own rooms it will be nice to have the option of having 2 rooms in case I need to separate sleepers.  Chris painted the girl's room Friday night.  If you come see it, you need to bring your sunglasses. It is a little brighter than I anticipated and if you know me this made me very nervous for a couple of days, but it has actually grown on me.  It looks really cute with their bedding and once we have up curtains, wall letters, and whatever other decor I think it'll look really good, so we are going to keep it as is.  We have enough to do right now and re-painting is just a pain.  The rooms are coming together and I will post finished product pics soon.

I get more and more tired with each passing week and can barely walk down the hall I'm so uncomfortable.  I can't imagine what my stomach will look like and how I will move by the end! I've started to get Braxton Hicks when I'm up doing things, so I've really minimized activity, if it's even possible to do less than I've been doing. Thank God for good family and friends that are already bringing us dinner because I have no idea what we'd be eating.  Chris is a huge help and does cook some, but he's tired when he gets home too, so we love our meals on wheels!!!
I'm starting to swell too.  And has anyone ever had carpel tunnel (sp?) during pregnancy?  I can barely move my hands at night.  It's so strange!  I also think we should put a porta-potty by our bed for the number of times I'm getting up to go to the bathroom at night.  I think Chris thinks I'm kidding, but I really think it'd be nice !:)

We hope you are all doing well and of course appreciate the continued prayers and support!  xoxoxo

25 weeks 4 days

 Went to the doctor on Monday and everything was going great!  We had a limited scan, so we didn't get measurements.  They measured the fluids in each sack and heart-rates, which were all perfect!  We'll have another full scan at our next appointment.
I've gained........(drum-roll please).....36 pounds, as you'll see below!  I've starting to swell a lot now too, so not working couldn't have come at a better time.  I pretty much spend my days sleeping now.  I can't even describe how exhausted I feel.  Sometimes it's to the point that I can barely move.  I've been getting up around 10 or 11. I'll eat, do some kind of task (if you count 1 episode of Desperate Housewives and 2 of Grey's a task) and that cycles all day long!                                                                        

The babies are very active now! I can feel them moving around all day. My stomach has pretty much turned into a freak show!  When one starts, they all start.  It looks really funny. I will try to take a video and post it soon.  There are just waves everywhere.  Mia and Max tickle me a lot too.  Obviously, not on purpose, but they'll make a certain move and it so funny.  Last night all 3 of them had hiccups at the same time took, which felt really funny! I am also starting to see different body parts poking out too. I have no idea what they are, but you'll see a big bump on my belly.
My doctors seem to think I'll make it to 36 or 37 weeks, so I have anywhere from 7(which puts me at 33weeks  and is average) to hopefully  11 weeks left!  I can't believe how this time has flown by.

We are working on the nurseries now, and I'll post pics soon and here I am at 26 weeks...

Okay, so I usually think it's odd when people post pics of their bare belly wearing only a bra on facebook (no offense, if you've done this, more power to ya!), but I am not wearing only a bra and I figured that while I don't have stretch marks, I may as well show off this big ole' triplet belly. 

I realize that the once small mole on my stomach  that has grown into a now large one along with the tight-wearing-thunder-thighs are just as flattering as a pregnant lady in only a bra, but it's not every day that you see a triplet belly and once the stretch marks come you will not get a glimpse!

We hope everyone is doing great and I'll post again soon!  xoxoxo

24 Weeks

Here I am at 24 weeks.  Growing by the second.  I went to the doctor Monday and my uterus is already almost the size it would be at full-term, so I'm getting pretty large and in charged!!!
The appointment went really well.  I had another full scan so other than laying on the table for 2 hours and dozing off several times it went great!  Dr. Gibbs said there's no reason to believe I won't make it to 36 or 37 weeks, which would mean that I'll bring them home with me!!! 
I guess what will happen is I'll go in for my stress test (haven't started these yet) or weekly appointment and the babies will either have stopped growing because they will run out of room or something may not be okay with me (nothing major, blood pressure, or something) and they'll tell me they're taking them that day or that week.  So, we really won't know until it happens. 

The babies were doing great!  All of their measurements were within normal ranges and zero abnormatlities.  They are getting too big to get good pictures.  Molly is the only one that cooperated for a picture.  Here she is sucking her thumb.
They are as long as eggplants now and weighed as follows:
Molly: 1 lb, 3 oz.
Mia: 1 lb. 4 oz.
Max: 1 lb. 6 oz.
Poor Molly and Mia were on top of eachother, which made it extra hard to get a good picture and makes take a really long time for the technician to make sure she's on the right babie's parts.  Max, is laying clear across my stomach under my ribs, completely sprawled out "in the penthouse," (which is what all of the techs have said)!  He would not give us a profile pic, however, he did give us another picture.  WARNING:  The following is x-rated...

Every picture we got of him was of his P.P.!!!  He was not shy.  I'm sure he'll be thrilled one day that I shared this with the world!
On another note.  My last day of work was today.  I've really been struggling with exhaustion and how uncomfortable I am.  By the end of the day I can barely walk I'm just too warn out to keep working.  I hadn't anticipated being sad, as I can't wait to catch back up with my daytime TV,  but I absoluely love my class this year and have loved working at Winnwood the past 7 years, so I had a hard time leaving.  I am super excited to start this next chapter though.
I go back to the dr. on October 4, so more I will post again soon.
xoxoxo