22 weeks: Pardon my belly, it moves on its own

This week we had our second (and final) comprehensive/anatomical ultrasound. The wonderful news is that everyone seems to be ok. This time the appointment only lasted about an hour as the first ultrasound tech did such a great job capturing most of the needed views. At this appointment, they have permanently assigned the babies to a specific letter. So now (and going forward) - Alpha is at the bottom, Beta is on the left and Gamma is on the right. They will be monitoring their individual growth from here on out. At this point, the babies can't rearrange themselves amongst each other but still have plenty of room to flip around within my belly. In fact, Gamma made a point of doing this several times during the ultrasound.

They estimated the weights of the babies to be Alpha 1lb 6oz, Beta 1lb 3oz and Gamma 1lb 1oz. This puts the babies into the 94th, 62nd, and 37th percentile for growth of a singleton baby thus far - great news! The doctor said my goal is to get to 35/36 weeks. I just know that in a couple more weeks, Brant is going to need a wheelbarrow to haul me around anywhere. I have about three hours of energy a day, the rest of the day I spend either laying on my side or sleeping. I am usually such an antsy person, but now my full time job is growing babies and my body seems to need lots of rest. The doctor also mentioned that I need to eat as much as possible. I guess we are in the prime weight gaining period. The time before the babies get so big that I can't eat - so I am trying to fully embrace this and partake in ice cream often.

While resting one afternoon (all I pretty much do anymore) I was feeling some pretty strong movement. Upon examining my belly, for the first time I could see it move when someone was playing. It is a little bit awkward to get used to, reminds me a bit of those alien movies, but overall it cracks me up. Also, Brant was able to experience a 'power kick' which he later described as a similar feeling to that of a reflex test to ones knee - these kids seem strong. Beta and Gamma like to kick when I am squishing them by laying on their side, but unfortunately I can't lay on my back or my stomach so someone has to be squished. This leads to a lot of flipping throughout the night, poor Brant - he keeps getting less and less of the bed.

21 weeks: Big girl

Do you remember the commercial from the 90's - where the little girls sing 'I'm a big girl now'. I think it was for pullups of some sort, anyway, I have been hearing that song in my head all week.

The week started with an infant care class at our hospital. The information was a semi-useful and we left with an abundance of handouts. I must admit though, if we have a question about something we will likely consult with our friends and family before sorting through this ream of paper not knowing if our answer is even to be found. What was most fascinating at the class for me was the size of the other expecting moms. All were due in April except me but I have to say, I definitely held my own when it came to belly size. While there were some people bigger than me, there were also some smaller. When I said I was due in July - several looked shocked....that is of course until I said we were expecting triplets, then they just looked horrified. I have grown to appreciate this response - it cracks me up. Brant and I are so excited to meet our little ones (but not too soon).

Brant began to notice a pile of socks in the living room. Turns out that each night while resting, the tightness of my socks around my calves got to be too much and I would take off my socks and throw them into a pile. While hysterically laughing at the idea, Brant suggested that we go to get some 'bigger socks'. I resigned myself to the need for 'big girl socks' and our pursuit began over the weekend. Even men's socks are too tight. While I'm sure the size of my calves has increased, I really think the problem is that my body is trying to circulate so much blood these days that any tightness is extremely uncomfortable when it previously wouldn't have bothered me. At costco we settled on some anklet socks therefore eliminating the outstanding question of the socks fitting too tightly on my calves. Soon enough it will be flip flop season and then socks will no longer be needed. phew!

My final 'big girl' experience this week came when sitting in a chair at Nicole's house. A chair I have sat in for years, a chair that has never wooed or whined when I previously sat onto it....until now. Upon sitting in this chair and only shifting my weight slightly to save Nicole's phone from Peter a leg of the chair gave way. Not slightly, not cracked, but totally gave in and split all the way through. I was devastated but laughing too hard to cry. Who knew that when inviting me over these days, you must not only prepare for the large quantity of food that I consume, but now you must also test out your furniture to verify it can withstand 'big girl kari' :)

20 Weeks: New job

What a week! My body has begun showing the signs of wear from sustaining four people. I have developed a couple of minor infections including a gum tumor and several bloody noses. All of which will go away after delivery - so they are nothing I can't deal with for several more months. As far as complications go, I would take these over other issues anyday - all mangeable. We even had our first trip to the emergency room, but thankfully everyone is ok. After all of the above, my doctor decided that it was time for me to go on bedrest. I have a new full time job: growing babies. We really need to get these kids to June and the hope is by resting and eating as my primary tasks, the kids will continue to grow big and strong. So far I have gained 33lbs - which coincidentally is the average weight gain for a singleton pregnancy - but I am only 20 weeks!

After the news of my imminent bedrest as we were leaving the doctors office, I was so thrown off by no longer officially working that I apparently decided to lose my cell phone in the medical building. Thankfully, the woman who found it called 'mom home' and then Brant was able to go back to the medical building and get my phone. Phew! That would not have been fun. Thankfully, since my phone is held together with tape, I'm sure the woman realized that it was worth nothing to anyone but the owner. Either way, I owe that woman flowers on my next doctor visit.

I believe we have a triangle! While the kids still seem to overlap a bit it seems that they have finally reached the inverted triangle as expected. Alpha is at the bottom, while Gamma is on my left and Beta is on my right. They can still move around within their areas, but the days of reordering themselves is probably up, they are just getting too big.

Up until now, I have been feeling Beta move primarily. According to the ultrasound tech, Beta is in the front of his sac while Gamma and Alpha are in the back. This explains why I primarily feel Beta moving. Beta's movement has been gentle tickles but enough for Brant and me to feel, which is fun.

I imagine Alpha will demand the most cuddling once born due to his squished nature at the bottom right now, he is getting used to tighter spaces and will likely want to be held and swaddled endlessly - we are excited!

Ohh Gamma. While Brant and I were watching a superhero action movie this weekend, I began feeling what I can only describe as bubbles popping in my belly. After several more 'bubbles' I realized this is Gamma punching, kicking or stretching. When the movie was over Brant and I were discussing this new movement which feels much harder than Beta so far - and Brant suggested that maybe Gamma is a super hero and was practicing fighting off the bad guys like in the movie. Then the following morning when I flipped off of my left side (where Gamma is) I felt a bunch of movement from him too. I guess that was Gamma kicking Brant out of bed!

19 weeks: Top ten list

Top ten things I didn't appreciate enough before getting pregnant:

10. Considering style before comfort. These days it is not about WHAT I look like, but HOW comfortable it is. Those stilettos will see daylight again, just maybe not for another 6-9 months.

9. Walking at a brisk pace. Spending time in Boston, my walking pace definitely increased from the west coast days. I have recently become 'that person' that is walking so slow in a crowd. People occasionally huff at me when walking by. In the future, I will probably huff a little quieter when there is someone walking slow in front of me.

8. Clumsiness. I don't know if it is a balance thing but I have apparently decided to drop things more often than normal as of late. Most recently I decided to toss the brita water jug from the counter (and yes, for those of you wondering - dropping it onto wood floors does cause it to crack and spill everywhere. luckily, easily replaced).

7. Leaning over. Something as simple as washing my face has become more of an adventure. I find myself doing a squat in order to lower myself to the sink level. Bending at the waist just doesn't happen anymore. I guess I am getting some exercise this way.

6. Sitting at a desk. Besides my inability to focus, which is a whole separate issue - I have recently discovered that my belly doesn't fit under my desk anymore. Slouching has become crucial just to get near enough to the desk. Of course Brant reminds me that I could just lower the chair, but that would be too obvious.

5. Symmetry. I don't know if this happens to every pregnant person, but the symmetry of my belly definitely changes daily. Sometimes when looking down at my belly there is a serious slope. I can't remember the last time I saw my belly button in the middle of my belly - let alone into it.

4. Reaching my feet. When did my feet get so far away? I have a whole new appreciation for putting on socks. Especially those tight fitting knee-hi socks for those cold winter months. I find I have to turn my leg sideways just to get to my foot. Soon enough, I probably won't be able to see my feet at all - then maybe it won't matter if I have socks on. Thankfully - I have slip on sneakers - phew!

3. Incontinence. I have a new found sympathy for those with long term incontinence. I find myself visiting the restroom at least every two hours. Alpha (who seems to be resting on my bladder) and I have discussions about how during the middle of the night I prefer to only wake up once for this purpose - sometimes he goes along with this plan, but most nights he doesn't. We have discussed prioritizing this visit in return for the prompt visit upon waking up as scheduled in the am. Currently we are still under negotiations.

2. My lap. I never realized how much I used my lap, until I had less of it. Something as simple as resting a plate on my lap is no longer as convenient as it once was. My lap is so much further away and includes a decent sized obstacle when food is travelling from lap to mouth. Maybe there should be bibs for pregnant woman instead of just babies.

1. Squeezing by. Gone are the days of squeezing by someone in a crowd. I have found that turning sideways does almost nothing for my attempt to fit through a tight space. I do find it an entertaining game to run into Brant with my belly while still being several inches away from him everywhere else. He hysterically responds, 'Well hello family'.

Obviously no actual complaints, but these are just things that make me chuckle throughout the day when I run into them. Still growing/eating and trying to get as big as possible. My new goal is to make Brant's eyes water when I sit on his lap. Still just getting a whimper - but I have several more months to accomplish this goal.