30 Weeks: Finally into the 30's!!!

This Week's Developments:
* The girls should be about 15.7 in long now and weigh in at almost 3 lbs each (like heads of cabbage) according to babycenter.
* Their eyesight is continuing to develop, but even at full term will start out with 20/400 vision and only make out objects a few inches from their faces.

This week we felt incredibly blessed to hit another huge milestone- 30 weeks! I still believe we will make it at least into the beginning of February, so we shall see! The average delivery of triplets occurs at 31 weeks for various reasons, but they are considered term and would be scheduled for C-section if we make it to 34-35 weeks. Thankfully Brent was able to get out of his track meet in Kentucky this Thursday-Sunday since it would be impossible to get back from there if I go into labor. His athletes still jumped incredibly well today without him present which is a big relief. I woke up Thursday to a wonderful surprise from my favorite L & D nurse. To celebrate hitting the 30 week mark, she brought in 3 containers of mini cupcakes and 3 pink bags full of candy labeled "A" "B" and "C" for each of the girls. She gave "B" (Michaela) different candy than the other two that included gummy bears since she is the biggest and usually the most active of the three. The nurses get to know the girls' personalities by strapping me up for monitoring each shift learning their activity and kicking patterns as well as their sizes. Michaela "B" is the only baby we have assigned a name so far. We thought since she is the biggest, it suits her to have the longest name. We still feel the need to meet A and C to determine who is Hayley and who is Reagan.

My Goodies




Today we had our first biophysical scan which scores the babies on various criteria including breathing patterns, movement, tone, cord flow, etc. Since it was done first thing in the morning when the babies and I are usually asleep, it took awhile to get them up and moving. As far as I could tell from the ultrasound tech, they all did very well, but A and B did better than C who was not quite awake to show us a lot of her movements. The tech was not concerned so I will not be either. She said that the specialist stated we would probably be starting biweekly ultrasounds at this point to monitor the girls since we are at 30 weeks now and they want to make sure they are not getting to squished or in distress. All three showed some breathing practice and still have good amniotic fluid measurements. I should be getting another growth scan next Friday as long as they have remembered to schedule everything, and would be delighted if all the girls are at/above 3 lbs by then. We got face shots of of A and B today. B is sucking her thumb in her picture! Of course C is still face down towards my back, so no peeks at her pretty little face!

A with her little face squished



B with her thumb in her mouth.



I started a list of things that triplet mamas are sick of hearing based on my own experiences, and since then it has expanded and Brent has added some things said to him that annoy him as well:
1. Three girls?!! Your poor husband!! My poor husband is very happy about his three little daddy's girls thank you very much
2. Wow, triplets! Instant Family! You must be done after this! Thank you for making a very difficult and personal decision for us on whether or not we will expand our family further in the future
3. Are they natural??? No they were created by scientists and shoved into my uterus.... This question hadn't bothered me much since I have been so open with our struggles and fertility treatments, but hearing it daily from strangers is really getting old.
4. How will you do it?! We don't have a choice, I think we will figure it out
5. Your life is over Need I comment on this one?
6. I would really want to have twins but definitely not triplets! You do realize you are saying this to a mama 30 weeks pregnant with triplets, right? Maybe that is something you should say to your friend AFTER exiting my room?
7. You will love them until they hit the teenage years, then they will completely turn on you Thanks for judging the entire female population, but I will wait and see. I certainly didn't turn into a parent eating zombie when I became a teenager
8. I can't believe you have three babies in there, you aren't that big! Hey now, I worked hard for this huge belly and 60 lbs of extra weight, don't take that away from me!

I'm sure there are things I have forgotten. Any multiples mommas out there, please add the things people say to you that bug you to the comments section!!

Brent just took my belly pic, to technically it is 30 weeks, 1 day





Total Weight Gain: ~55 lbs

As always, we appreciate all of the prayers and the many gifts, cards, and visitors we have received! We would like to request continued prayers for the girls to grow and develop well and to be born when they are ready with no long term complications. Also, continued prayers for our housing (rental home going to foreclosure sale on 2-1), and my job situation (still awaiting approval for extension through January) are much appreciated so that we can spend the next several weeks focusing on our girls and not job or house searching!