Our family is complete! We continue the story of growing our littlest members. . .

Friday, January 28, 2011

It's my anniversary!

Yesterday was the one week anniversary of my arriving at the hospital, and I have to say it went faster than I thought it would.  I've become sort of famous on this floor, as triplets are rare and I'm the only semi-permanent resident here right now.  Every day it seems I meet a different doctor and more nurses, but they're all very helpful, want to make sure I'm comfortable (and eternally eating) and have all the information pertinent to my situation.

Since I last wrote the babies have had two biophysical exams; this is essentially an ultrasound that looks at their breathing and movements.  In Willmar the exam chair is more like a table, here it's kind of a dentist chair.  One would think something ergonomic would be easier to relax on, but that's not true.  Even with a belly full of babies I'm still a pretty normal sized person and yet I always feel like I'm going to fall off the chair.  Today I asked the tech how people bigger than myself manage to stay on this chair and she said they just hang over the edge.  Lovely.  All of our babies are "reactive" (wiggly) beyond their age, and their practice breathing is good.  Turns out babies at this age only breathe for like 30 seconds every 30 minutes or so, just to practice, so we have to watch each one for quite awhile sometimes to catch them doing it.  At least I'm comfortable in the narrow dentist chair while we wait for them to breathe.

I've had some company the last couple of days - my mom, Axel, and grandparents visited me on Wednesday for a couple hours, so that broke up the day.  They brought me some popcorn (I would not make it here without popcorn) and the little waxy chocolate Donettes (another guilty pleasure), which Axel helped himself to and used my bedsheets for a napkin.  He was much more comfortable here this time, found the buttons on the bed right away, and pretty soon had kicked me out so he could lay with his blankie and watch Tom and Jerry.  Just like home!

Yesterday more visitors - friend Sarah came for a few hours so we could catch up, then cousin Jodi and her little Quinn showed up as Sarah was getting ready to leave, so we visited some more.  This took up the middle six hours of the day (awesome).  Somewhere in the middle of this the nurse took my blood pressure, which was a good 30-40 points higher than usual - this was a bit alarming, I thought, but the nurse said it's probably from all the laughing we were doing.  I guess it's worth it then, as I don't usually sit and laugh by myself (as the crazy triplet mom in room 7).  Before the nurses know my name they refer to me as 'the triplet mom".  There's worse things I suppose.

This evening Jesse will be showing up with some fresh clothes, some Cheetos (I have no willpower anymore), and my own bed pillow.  And himself, of course.  For much of our dating life we only saw each other on the weekends as we always lived at least an hour apart, so it's kind of like reverting to that, except without the actual dates.  I did, however, get permission today to take wheelchair rides, e.g. to the cafeteria instead of eating in my room.  So perhaps Jesse and I can go out to eat later.  Tomorrow Axel will return to us and spend the night here - that should be interesting!

People are still asking what they can do for us, and I may have thought of something.  This is easier for people who live near us. . . when I talked to Jesse last night he told me he missed me (awww) because there was nothing to eat.  We usually have some kind of leftovers in our fridge, and of course now there aren't any.  SO, if you want, feed Jesse.  It will probably not work if you call and ask him what he wants, or if he wants to come over and eat, you'll most likely just have to show up with some food.  He's not picky, and would enjoy some home cooking.  Last night he ate Ramen noodles, which he does actually like, but can't survive on them for weeks!  He can cook, but I think is kind of bummed out to take the time.  Also, you probably don't want to bring a dish you want back, because he will not remember to get it to you or even whose it is.

Finally, there is an end in sight.  The doctor told me yesterday that because of the placenta previa I will deliver no later than 34 weeks.  She said some doctors might even say 32 weeks.  It will depend on the growth of Baby C and the overall health of the three of them, but that is the latest it would go.  That day is March 8, less than six weeks.  The countdown begins.

Oh, and my address is:
Alison Nelson, Labor and Delivery
North Memorial Medical Center
3300 Oakdale Ave N.
Robbinsdale, MN 55422

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Bedrest: as much fun as it sounds

I'm watching What Not to Wear, and there is a hilarious woman on there who is soon turning 50.  She's very concerned that if she wears anything feminine people will not take her seriously, that she will be objectified and will only be noticed for her chest.  I can only hope that is the case when I turn 50.  What a goofball.

As I expected, bedrest is pretty much boring, but very relaxing and restful at the same time.  It's a strange phenomenon that lying around makes a person more tired, but that is certainly the case.  Things are still very quiet on the baby front, so no news is good news.  I feel just as good as I did last week, and have had no more complications since arriving here.  The weekend was nice - Jesse stayed on the hide-a-bed chair from Friday to Sunday, and I think welcomed the relaxation, too.  We toured the NICU on Saturday, and the nurses told us all about the care the babies receive and how things will go down if our babies make an early entrance.  There were only three babes in there, all under three pounds right now . . . the ones I'm currently growing are already that size, so we're in good shape if I can keep 'em in even longer.

Sunday the fam-damilies came to visit, bringing Axel and his birthday party.  Ten people, including a 3 year old and his noisy toys, in a hospital room for many hours is a lot, in case you were wondering.  It was a memorable gathering, though, and so good to see Axel.  He wasn't sure how to act around me at first, but after I let him move my hospital bed up and down he was back to normal.  After he called the nurses a couple times we had to stop that game, but at least he enjoyed himself at his makeshift party and had big hugs for me before he left.

Yesterday and today have been pretty uneventful.  The babies' heartbeats get monitored for an hour twice a day, and I have a regular routine of pill-taking.  A physical therapist brought me a guide to bedrest exercises today, with the idea that I have some muscle tone left when I am done here.  Today I ventured out to the water dispenser, which was pretty exciting since I hadn't left the room since Saturday.  I also updated my address book with all the little labels I've saved from Christmas card envelopes, a good job done.

I've gotten a lot of comments about being a hot dog on a gurney behind a golf cart, and people have apologized for laughing at that.  No need for that - it was funny, and we need to laugh at those kinds of things.  I definitely plan to put it in the movie version of my life.  And you will really laugh when the golf cart slows down and honks at the hallway intersections, because that is what it did.

So you know, I think people can visit whenever, I don't believe there are visiting hours.  If you want to stop by, feel free.  Hopefully you will be lucky enough to catch me on a day I put some make-up on and have done my hair.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

First times

So things have changed quite a bit over the last two days.  It's been full of new experiences for sure.  I think I wrote here on Thursday morning that I had a check-up on Wednesday and things were going pretty well.  A couple hours later I got a call from my doctor that the specialist in the Cities was concerned about the size of Baby C, and that I should come in and start the tests that I was going to start the next week anyway.  They also thought I should have a steroid shot to speed up the lung development of the babies, should they need to come out before we'd expected.

I will try to give you the facts without being very graphic.  Just a couple minutes after I started my ultrasound I asked if I could use the bathroom, and suddenly had a significant amount of bleeding.  The doctor had us continue the ultrasound, and then go upstairs for a non-stress test (which I was to do anyway) - this checks the babies heartbeats and movements for 30 minutes, and monitors contractions.  Unluckily, I was having pretty frequent contractions, and given the bleeding they checked me into a room and contacted the doctor on call.  He consulted with the doctor in the Cities, and pretty soon I was being strapped to a gurney and heading for the roof.

First time on a gurney.  First time on the roof of Rice Hospital.  First ride in a helicopter.  It wasn't much of a ride - six inches from the ceiling, buckled down with just my face sticking out (before I left Jesse told me I kind of looked like a hot dog - thanks honey!).  Luckily it was a short ride, only 30 minutes or so, to North Memorial in Robbinsdale.  I was supposed to go to Fairview, but both labor and delivery and the NICU were full, and North Mem. takes the overflow as it is serviced by the same team of doctors. 

So I got here Thursday night about 8:30 - this was perhaps the most interesting part.  Instead of pushing me down the hall on foot, they hooked up the gurney to a golf cart and pulled me through the medical center.  First time on a gurney being pulled by a golf cart.  They gave me some medicine to stop the contractions and hooked me up to a bunch of stuff.  After a while they decided this was not an urgent situation and nothing drastic needed to be done, but wouldn't let me out of bed.  First time using a bedpan - not fun, FYI.  I called Jesse to tell him he didn't need to rush down here that night, that the next morning would be fine; that way he could get some things together and sleep in his own bed that night.  Turns out he didn't sleep much.  Awww.

The next morning they decided since I had no more bleeding and the contractions had stopped that I could get out of bed and use the bathroom myself.  Hooray!  Later in the morning I had a very detailed ultrasound, so they could see for themselves here everything that was going on.  Everything still looked good, but the doctor's news for me was not what I wanted to hear.  I am not leaving here until the babies are born.  Whatever happened to me was not preterm labor they determined, but should I have more significant bleeding they plan to take the babies right away.  Because of this they need me close by.  I asked if they would let me hang out in the hospital in Willmar, but they said I'd have to come back here were anything to go wrong, so I have to just stay put. 

This news gave me my first triplet-pregnancy-related cry.  That's fine, I probably needed it, except then this woman who worked in the ultrasound department (I'm not even sure what her purpose was) blurts out "Are you crying?"  Yeah, dummy, I am.  She then tried to comfort me by saying I was in good hands and had nothing to worry about.  I believe her, I just wanted to go home.

I left our house on Thursday afternoon with what I was wearing, my coat, and my purse.  I didn't even have my cell phone because it had died and I put it on the charger, thinking I would have it again when I got home, except I didn't go home.  I left the hospital with even less, wearing a crappy gown, though I did manage to get my purse on the gurney.  Jesse came yesterday after lunch and brought me some clothes, the laptop, my phone. . . but at that time we had no idea how long I'd be here.  Did not expect it to be weeks. 

Today we were supposed to have Axel's Tom and Jerry birthday party - he loves Tom and Jerry, and has seen each cartoon many times, so that is what he chose for his theme.  We ordered Tom and Jerry balloons, plates, napkins, even a cake.  I guess this is the first thing that will be disrupted by my sudden change of address.  Tomorrow our families are coming to the hospital so we can have some cake together, and Axel's going to spend some time with Grandma Mary, which he was going to do anyway this week, so that's nice. 

This is certainly going to be a restful time for me, and I'm trying to keep that in mind - best for the babies.  It's still a huge bummer to have to be quarantined to a room two hours from Jesse and Axel, my house, my stuff.

The good news is that I now feel as good as I did Thursday morning before any of this started, and the babies are all doing well.  They'll continue to watch the growth of Baby C, and his/her growth could determine how long the babies stay inside.  If it really starts to lag they'll probably have to take them all out.  Everyone seems to be impressed with the size of the babies, and is confident they'll all do well once out, but it is my job now to keep them in as long as possible.  The nurses here are very nice and good to us.  The hospital food is actually quite good, and there is free WiFi, allowing me to keep up my blogging, emailing, and Netflix.  Woohoo! 

This has become quite rambling and long, and I apologize for that.  It's hard to organize my thoughts.  We were not expecting this change of pace and are probably going to need a little time to figure out how to do this.  This turned out a little sadder than I meant it to.  Sorry!  A couple people have asked for my address and I have no idea what it is, but I will find out.  I will probably be on the computer regularly - not much to do in bed right now! - so will update as often as I can, and will check my email often.  Feel free to get in touch with me, and with Jesse.  He may need company, too, though he'd probably never say that.

That's all for now I guess.  Here comes the snack lady.  Thanks for reading, and for your concern.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Strong legs

As I watch a skinny Drew Carey host The Price is Right, I see now that there are a bunch of schools closing early here.  Is it the cold?  The wind?  Sometimes I forget that it's maybe not that nice out - winter bedrest is kind of a treat.  I like being ordered to not go out in the weather.

It's been a busy week at the Nelson house.  Maybe it just seems busy because I've become accustomed to doing nothing.  The highlight, of course, was Axel turning 3 on Tuesday.  After much discussion on how to celebrate his birthday, he decided we should go to McDonald's and eat Chicken McNuggets.  So that is what we did.  Earlier in the day he had helped me make a Funfetti cake, even cracking the eggs himself (only one piece of shell in the bowl and one whole egg out of the bowl - not bad).  When we got home we lit candles on his cake, which he blew out and we relit about four times so he could do it again.  It doesn't take much to make a three year old happy on his birthday!

Yesterday we had the weekly baby check-up and every third week ultrasound.  Sad news in the weight gain department again.  No more Cheetos.  The babies heartbeats are still strong, back up a little from last week.  Baby A (pi's right leg) has flipped around again and is head down, matching B.  A and B are 2 lbs 6 oz and 2 lbs 5 oz, respectively, so our pi has strong legs.  Baby C (the bridge on the top) is turning out to be kind of a runt, weighing in at only 1 lb 13 oz.  It's been the smallest all along, and so far the growth is not too much behind the bigger two.  However, the fact that it is significantly smaller now means they'll be keeping a close eye on it.  The ultrasound tech said she could measure each baby 50 times and get 50 different results, depending on how wiggly and cooperative they're being.  That is why, the doctor said, they track growth over time.  Baby C could be getting less nutrients than the other two, or it could just be a smaller person.  Both grandmas have suggested this is a girl, so it will be interesting to see if they are right.  Hopefully it is just a smaller person and doesn't have growth issues.  If it gets to the point where this baby is not getting what it needs, it will be time to take it out, and it's not possible to take one and not the other two, so we could meet them sooner than we were hoping if that is the case.

Next week, at 28 weeks, I start weekly ultrasounds to track movements and breathing of each baby, what they call a biophysical, and a nonstress test.  This will take up the better part of a morning.  If there is a cause for concern, they will start these tests twice a week.  The medical staff and I will be very close when all is said and done!  But surely it is good to be proactive.

Last night the Lions in town had a waffle supper, which I had been looking forward to for awhile.  With almost seven pounds of baby in me I only had room for one waffle, though.  Doh.  THEN, we had to come home and watch Wheel of Fortune, because Jesse's senior prom date was a contesant.  She was the big winner and everything.  I told Axel that Daddy was probably going to run off with this woman on TV since she had come into some money.  He looked at him very plainly and said, "No, don't do that."  I guess we get to keep him.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Shopping with scissors

First, the good news.  I do not have gestational diabetes; the nurse called to let me know this morning.  I had asked her if my can of Squirt would affect the results after I took the test and she said it could, so we were both curious as to the results.  I'm pretty sure I had a can of pop before my first diabetes test, so that might be the secret to passing it.

And now I must tell a comical and pregnancy-related story.  Well, first a back story.  Quite a few years ago, I was in Target in Mankato with my cousin Mariah.  We were scoping out the clearanced school supplies and I came across a very fun scissors.  It was a safety scissors for young kids featuring a Millennium Falcon (from Star Wars) design.  The scissors was inside a package. . .  For whatever reason, I decided to run with it, perhaps to prove that running with scissors was not dangerous, especially since it was a safety scissors inside a package.  So I take off down the aisle and proceed to fall down.  Seriously, I fell.  I don't know if I tripped or slipped or what.  No one saw it but Mariah and I, and we laughed and laughed.  It was like a lesson just for us.  Do not run with scissors.

So today I ran a couple of errands in Willmar, and since I was alone I thought I would take the opportunity to stop by the mall, having not been there for a long time and not been there alone for even longer.  Plus I needed some shampoo.  I pulled into the handicap spot right outside Herberger's and headed inside.  I took about four steps past the rug and I fell.  Before anyone freaks out, it wasn't a serious fall really.  My fur-topped wedge snowboots were still a little wet and apparently slippery, and as I took a step my foot slid forward and I dropped to one knee.  No one saw me (luckily, because it took me a couple extra seconds to get up), so again it was like a lesson just for me. Who was I kidding?  I was not supposed to be shopping.  Apparently not even a quick stroll through Herberger's.  So I stepped to the carpet, wiped my boots off, and waddled down to the Penney's salon to purchase my shampoo.  Then I left.  No more shopping, God, I promise. I also may understand groin injuries now, which I used to scoff at when they were mentioned during professional football games. 

As for the handicap permit, it's kind of awesome.  When we got it the other day we were in a forest green '97 Cadillac Deville.  Pulling that car into a handicap spot was a totally normal thing to do.  Today I was driving a sportier Monte Carlo, so I'm pretty sure no one believed I was handicapped.  Unless they saw me fall in Herberger's.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Orange drink and pi

Well, I went to the doctor yesterday.  Not too much to report, sorry to say - but that's good news, too, I suppose.  I was tested again for gestational diabetes.  Anyone had that test?  You drink a little jug of sweet orange noncarbonated liquid.  If you went to the New Richland elementary school and remember having the "orange drink" at the Halloween parade, you can relate.  I've seen it in the grocery store since then, and that's what it's called: "orange drink."  I haven't heard yet from the doctor if I have gestational diabetes - the nurse will call me I suppose.  Apparently excessive thirst is one of the symptoms of gestational diabetes, and I've been excessively thirsty lately, however it turns out our house is at 25% humidity right now so maybe that's why.  Hardly leaving the house is causing me to dry out.  Me and the Christmas tree that is still in our living room.

The doctor's visit was short otherwise. . . I am sad to say that I did not not gain weight this week.  But I guess I can't do that every week.  I may have to stop looking at the scale pretty soon; it helps to remind myself that there are four people stepping on the scale.  The babies' heartbeats are all strong - quite a bit lower than last week.  Maybe the Squirt I drank before my appointment had a calming effect.  They're still very active - yesterday they almost spilled the bowl of puppy chow I placed on my belly.  Darn kids.  They're certainly related to Axel.

Baby A, though the biggest, has been the least wiggly, but seems to be picking up now.  We refer to them at check-ups as Baby A, B, and C.  If you were standing face to face with me, the babies are positioned in kind of a pi symbol (you know, 3.14...).  Baby A is the right leg, B is the left leg, and C is the bridge across the top.  That's where they've dug in and that's where they'll stay.  Next week we have another ultrasound, so that should be a more exciting baby update. 

Bedrest is actually not as bad as I thought.  It helps that it's winter and cold and relatively unpleasant outdoors.  I also highly recommend Netflix!  We said a person could almost cancel satellite service and just watch this stuff all the time.  No commercials.  However, as I get older I love watching the news (my dad would be so proud) and the news is not on Netflix.  Neither are the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, etc.  I guess we'll keep the dish, too.

Thanks, everyone, who has been supportive of this idea to write about what's happening.  It's nice to know people are thinking about us, because I do feel kind of isolated in our big green house.  Writing this and reading responses is a nice connection to the outside world!  I'm so looking forward to the nice weather, planting a garden, playing "bat and ball" with Ax, doing whatever can be done outside with three infants (what would that be exactly?).

Friday, January 7, 2011

For those who have been wondering. . .

About once a day I talk to someone who has herself wondered how I'm doing or been asked by someone else how things are going.  Since I will now be on the couch for many hours a day I've got the time to keep you all informed.  This is not meant to be self-serving in any way, it's just a place for people to check on the status of our baby-growing so they don't have to wonder anymore or call my mom and have her not return the call.  Sorry Auntie Joyce.  So feel free to check back as much or as little as you want.

So here's what we know as of now.  All things considered, things couldn't be going much better for me and the three buns in my oven.  As for me, I feel good for the most part.  My back hurts (the consequence of adding 30 pounds to my front in just a few months), but my $12 heating pad has taken care of that.  I can still put on my own socks (bonus!) and bought some slip-on shoes to avoid tying.  I've also resorted to a wardrobe primarily consisting of Jesse's big shirts and sweatpants.  I recently purchased some purple sweatpants at Target, because that just seemed like something a fat girl should wear, purple sweatpants.

You may be asking how I suddenly have the time to do this.  Answer: bedrest.  Well, modified bedrest I'm told.  It was suggested by the multiples specialist in the Cities that I start this at 22-24 weeks.  Now at 25 weeks, my doctor has put that into action.  I returned to work at school after holiday break this past Monday, and after doing a bunch of other things that day had a couple contractions, which were my first this go 'round.  I stayed home from work the next couple days until I went to the doctor, and told her what happened, to which she said, "Yeah, you're done."  So yesterday I cleaned out my desk and left the workforce indefinitely.  :Yikes!  The people at school have been so caring and accomodating through all of this and for that I am grateful.

Anyway, I've set up camp in the corner of our living room sectional, building a nest of pillows, blanket, the heating pad, the remotes, phones, and laptop.  And here I will be for many hours each day.  I'm told it's fine to shower and use the bathroom whenever I need; I can get things to eat or drink (which reminds me, we are out of Tootsie Rolls); and throw in a load of laundry here and there.  Basically I am not to be on my feet for more than an hour at a time.  I've made a list of books I'd like to read and we subscribed to Netflix, the kind that instantly downloads to the Playstation 3.  I may never leave the house again.  I figure I should take advantage of the time now, because I doubt there will be much lying down in a few months.

As I said, I'm 25 1/2 weeks along now.  As of last week at our most recent ultrasound, all the babies are right on track growth-wise, about 1 1/2 pounds a piece.  Their heads are the size of oranges already, plus their bodies - no wonder I feel full and can't breathe.  They're all very wiggly already - one not as much as the others, so hopefully we'll get one calm one out of the group.  I kind of did this to myself, as I said before I knew we were having three babies that whatever it is can't be worse than Axel.  That's not true.  Three Axels would be worse.  Love you, Ax.

People have been asking what we need or what they can do for us, and honestly I don't know what to say to that.  I'm not good at asking for help, but I promise to try.  We probably don't need anything right now, as we're used to being a little messy here and I'm still allowed to do occasional housework and cooking.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and maybe someday I will come up with something for you to do.

I should probably stop writing now, if anyone's still reading this.  I promise in the future they won't be as long, just trying to lay the foundation here for people who have been out of the loop.  Closing with the highlights of this week's doctor appointment:  I gained no weight this week, and I get a temporary handicap permit.  Could have used that for Christmas shopping.

a.