Anniversary of the Big News

Typically I post a recipe on Friday, but today I have to remember a very important day for us instead. I sometimes will work that into a recipe post, but I can't come up with an appropriate item to offer up with the contents of this post. Three servings of pickles and ice cream? A stiff drink?

Yesterday marks the three-year anniversary of the day Jeff and I learned we were not expecting Baby Number 2, but Babies Number 2, 3 AND 4.

So when I woke up, I rolled over and told Jeff that every March 10 we should celebrate the fact that I am alive and the shock of that news didn't kill me.

There are many, many things I can't remember from my pregnancy and the first year of the boys' lives, but I will never forget the moment when the ultrasound tech said, "I see three." If I live to be 100, I will recall that with perfect clarity.

There is a story about that day that I haven't told here, and it really deserves to be told.

Before we had our ultrasound I had called my mom and told her that based on my hormone levels, the doctor thought I might be having multiples. She (a little jokingly, I believe) said, "Well, I'll come a week for each baby."

After Jeff and I left the doctor's office, I called my mom from the car. When she answered I said, "Mom, I need you to come for three weeks."

"Three weeks? Why would I come for three weeks?" she said.

I replied, "You said you'd come one week for each baby. I need you to come for three weeks."

I waited for the news to sink in.

"Why would I come for three weeks? Two babies, two weeks," my mom said, clearly baffled.

Clearly, she had twins on the brain.

"Mom, listen to me," I commanded. "Three babies. Three weeks."

Finally it registered. My mom hollered at my dad, who couldn't have been more than a few feet away, "She's having triplets!"

My Dad replied calmly, "I already figured that out."

Seems we weren't the only ones in shock over the big, big, big news!

But I lived to tell that tale, and I'm here to say what wonderful news it turned out to be.

Clockwise from top: Alex, Sam and Isaac ~ 3 days old

© Trippin' Mama 2011

What a Difference a Year Makes

One year ago today we found out we were expecting not one bundle of joy, but THREE! Our reaction to the news was the topic of my second post on this blog, way back in May 2008.

My sister probably put it best when she described our feelings about expecting triplets as "manic." Sometimes we were thrilled and excited, and other times we were just plain freaking out.

The first moments after we found out about the triplets set the tone for the pregnancy. We were relieved and happy that all three babies looked great, but were immediately hit with the sobering news that there was about a 60% chance that we'd lose at least one of the babies in the first trimester. Then the discussion turned to trying to carry the babies to 24 weeks, which was minimum viability. No one ever brought that up during my first pregnancy, that's for sure! It was truly like a roller coaster ride -- scary and thrilling all at once.

But God works in mysterious ways, and here we are one year later, enjoying many blessings. We were blessed with an uncomplicated pregnancy of 36 weeks and 3 days, just shy of full term at 37 weeks. (That's not to say it was easy!) We delivered big, healthy babies and just one spent some time in the NICU for a minor issue. We were blessed to get to know better so many wonderful people who wanted to help with the boys in those first months, and we were blessed to have so many of our family members come to help, too.

I'll never forget my first sight of those three little sacs on the ultrasound screen. Even in my moment of panic, I was relieved and overjoyed to see three tiny hearts beating away madly. I fell in love with my three boys right then and there, and I can't imagine life without them.

Samuel: You were our Hercules baby, holding up your brothers for all those months. You have become a real charmer with your red hair, big blue eyes and sweet smile. You know how to flirt with the best of them!

Isaac: You endured being squeezed in the middle. You are a real talker these days, cooing and gurgling at everyone. You were appropriately named, as Isaac means "laughter" in Hebrew, and you are the giggliest baby of all.

Alexander: You entered the world as the youngest, but biggest of my babies. And you have a big heart to go with your stature. You are our joyful, jolly Buddha baby, bringing smiles to everyone you meet.

The greatest blessing of all is to have Sam, Isaac and Alex as part of our lives. Our arms may be fuller than we anticipated, but our hearts are too.

The Day We Got the News

March 10 was the day we found out that we were expecting triplets.

The second the ultrasound started, two little sacs leaped onto the screen. I said, "I see two."

The nurse said, "I see three." And there they all were.

The room immediately got 150 degrees hotter. I thought I was going to be sick to my stomach. A million thoughts went zooming through my head, but the whole time Jeff just held my hand and kissed my forehead and kept saying, "Everything will be fine," over and over and over.

Of course, we were thrilled to be pregnant, but three babies was more than we'd bargained for!

The doctor explained that it was not unusual to lose a triplet in the first trimester, while the others would be fine. He wanted us to know that was a possibility, but he said was not preparing us for that because all the heartbeats were good and strong and the yolk sacs looked great.

We left the doctor's office in a state of shock. We were joking and laughing (what else can you do, but laugh?), but were also a little frightened. I'm sure we looked pretty overwhelmed, too. We were happy, but that was clouded by concerns about potential complications, worries about losing a baby or having babies born too soon or too small.

The day we found out I wrote the following:
"I believe that God never gives us anything we can't handle. With a little time, I know we'll adjust to the news and come to enjoy this great blessing and challenge. But first there's just a little shock to get over."

Nice understatement at the end!