22 weeks

I've reached 22 weeks last Thursday. While this hardly seems monumental, it was the week I anticipated being on bed rest. I have a friend who had triplets approximately 5 years ago and she was on bed rest at 22 weeks, and so from the beginning this has always been my bed rest date. The good news is: I am not on bed rest. When will I be, nobody knows. It is dependent on a couple of things: 1. Contractions: more then 6 per hour= bed rest 2. Shortening of my cervix less then normal= bed rest. So far, I've had a few contractions which causes immediate panic in Shawn but laying down helps. We met with the specialist on Friday and my cervix is still above normal. They did not recommend anything special besides no lifting over 30 lbs, except they also recommended not lifting groceries.

I have no pictures to post of the triplets as they are only pictures at this point and have to be scanned onto a disc. They all were very healthy and measured appropriate for their gestation (i.e. age). Their weights were Baby girl: 1 lb, Baby boy B: 1 lb 1 oz, and Baby boy C: 15 oz. "Three peas in a pod" as the doctor put it. It is imperative that they all continue to grow and be similar in size as this means health. If one starts slowing down this would mean that they would need to be born sooner then is healthy. In addition to good growth the fluid around each baby was healthy. All good news. It's funny watching each baby. If their movement is any indication, Baby boy B and especially our little girl are going to be very busy. They are a little hard to get measurements of because of all of their movements. Baby boy C, whom the US tech stated was her "favorite," moves but not quite to the extent of his siblings. He makes sure to give us great pictures. But don't let that fool you, as the tech was working to get heart measurements of his brother Baby boy C gave Baby boy B quite the karate chop to his face. He won't be anyone's doormat. Even if he is the youngest (which is most likely as they will be born in order A to C).

We've finally agreed to first names of all three babies, however, that will have to be a surprise to you. We have shared with our immediate family but want 1 surprise for everyone else. We've yet to finalize middle names but we aren't too worried about this.

Here is a picture of my growing middle. Yes, it can be uncomfortable at times. BUT, I continue to sleep fairly well. A HUGE blessing. I think at this point with Evie (belly size, I mean-not gestation) I was VERY uncomfortable at night. I had restless leg, post-nasal drip, and heartburn. Luckily, the little bit I've had of each of those has been short-lived and not disruptive of my sleep. I am having a baby shower on May 15th (1-3pm), in my home town, because well lets face it...one baby is expensive and three is outrageous. So if you are around you can come and view my sure to be huge abdomen. I know everyone is curious to get a real life look at it. It's not often that one gets to see a woman pregnant with triplets, after all. I'm a bit of an anomaly.

And just because no one is complete without a recent glimpse of our precious Evelyn. Here she is:

Signing daddy's birthday card. She wrote in it several times over several days. She concentrated on it very hard. She lately signs these very tiny squiggles. I'm assuming it's her interpretation of what our signatures and writing looks like. However, it can be hard to detect on paper as it will be two very small squiggles. Adorable in my opinion of course. She's gotten a little more attached to daddy. It's been a blessing, and somewhat bittersweet on my end. Inevitable, since I've spent more then my fair share of time in bed with one pregnancy illness or another. She does still love her mama though so I'm not to sad. She asks me several times a day "where daddy go?" and she also asks Shawn before work. She has also asked him to not go to work. It's all very adorable and sweet.
She wanted a picture taken this day. She's so cute. "Cheese!"