Someday someone will have to explain to me where time goes. I really have no idea how a week has passed since Steven, Samuel and Amaya were born (though I do suspect the 6 day hospital stay had some impact).

After a bit of drama trying to regulate my blood pressure, I was released from the hospital on Saturday. I’ve been prepared to come home without my babies since I learned I was carrying triplets and I knew it would be difficult to leave them behind but, really, there’s no preparing for how it feels in the moment. Everything about arriving at a hospital pregnant and leaving without your babies is wrong. Fortunately, I’ve been home for 2 days now and I can feel that I’m going to settle well into a routine of daily visits to the nicu.

Right now, there are a handful of things we can do to care for the babies. Jason has mastered the art of feeding prep – clean the eyes & mouth, umbilical cord care, diaper change, temperature and shift in location of pulse ox monitor. MASTERED IT. I’m still trying not to stand too much so I’ll have to catch up soon. That said, I’m already working on breast feeding. Amaya is a little champ! She’s gung ho and doing a great job getting milk. Hopefully she’ll keep it up. Her brothers are a bit more ambivalent but they’ll get it eventually. Did you know that breast feeding requires the coordination of 26 different muscles? If I had an alternate food source, I’d be ambivalent, too!

We’re also able to do skin to skin kangaroo care which is amazing and also a kind of torture because you can’t fall asleep with a baby on your chest but there’s nothing you want to do more than sleep with a baby on your chest! Here are some recent photos of us cuddling with our kiddos. Our hearts are full.

Jason and Samuel.

Jason with Amaya and Steven

Jason with Amaya and Steven

Joanna and Samuel.

Joanna with Samuel and Steven

Joanna with Steven

Mommy, Daddy and babies in our nicu “room”

I let out a little squeak of a cry as I started to type this which is probably part hormones and part disbelief, still, that my pregnancy is complete and our babies are here. After a painful and difficult weekend, our babies were born – somewhat unexpectedly – on Monday, January 20, 2014.

Steven Ronald – born at 3:17pm, 3lbs 9oz – named in honor of our fathers.

Samuel Robert – born at 3:19pm, 3lbs 14oz – named in honor of our maternal grandfathers.

I had gained about 20 lbs of water weight in a week and my blood pressure was creeping up. At 33 weeks, it was an easy decision to deliver.

Delivery morning, before the doctor appointment that would seal the deal.

Waiting at L&D

Showtime!

Steven, then Sammy, then Amaya! And, suddenly, we’re a family of 5!

These were taken by Jason immediately after Steven, Sammy and Amaya were born. I’m 99% sure I’ve got Steven and Sammy identified correctly.

Sammy!

Here are some family photos of the new and expanded Team Cline.

These kids are amazing. All breathing room air right from birth and taking feeds of breast milk at 24 hrs old. It’s almost starting to sink in that they’re our children. All three of them!

I did it!! I’m 32 weeks today!

I remember my first appointment at 8w2d when Dr. Keeton and referenced 32 weeks as my gold star goal. It seemed so far away and a bit overwhelming to think about. Only 50% of triplet pregnancies make it this far and I really want the biggest, healthiest babies I can grow (and the least NICU time possible so these babies can come home to their mommy and daddy where they belong). Every day from here on out really is bonus but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to hold out as long as possible.

This week starts 2 ultrasound appointments/week and today was a big one with another growth scan. (Maybe my last of my pregnancy!!)

Fluid looks great for all three babies and their biophysical profiles were spot on. As expected, rate of growth slowed a little but they’re all in fantastic shape for triplets. (Remember, the percentiles are for singletons, not multiples).

Baby A: 3lb 7oz (26th percentile)
Baby B: 3lb 12 oz (36th percentile)
Baby C: 3lb 12 oz (35th percentile)

Way back when I said I’d be happy if the babies were all 3 1/2 lbs or more at birth so it looks like I’ll get that wish. Now I’m just getting greedy as I hope for more weight and more time. 🙂

I’m doing fine. Very uncomfortable and it gets worse by the day but the end is in sight so I’m keeping my eyes on the prize. A big relief is that I think we now have all of our nannies set. Just a few details on our weeknight overnight nanny but I’m cautiously optimistic.

My dr also walked through the c-section process in detail with me. Demystifying it helped a lot. I just need these babies to stay and grow as I count down to 2/5. Grow, grow, grow!

Another week down! The babies are still doing GREAT. In fact, the ultrasound tech couldn’t believe how well they’re doing. Heart rates look good and so does their fluid. I’m already counting down to 32 weeks – in large part because I’m excited for another growth scan. In larger part because every day that passes is one more day that these babies are baking and one day closer to the end of this pregnancy.

It’s definitely getting more difficult by the day. I can’t walk, sit or stand upright without discomfort and spend 22- 23 hrs/day in bed. I’ve been having braxton hicks contractions every 6- 12 minutes since week 23 and the contractions are starting to get more painful. At my doctor appointment today they monitored my contractions but, based on everything else they’re seeing, still feel like I’ll make it to my scheduled c-section on 2/5 so it’s just something I need to put up with. It does help to know that it’s just a part of my pregnancy, not something alarming. As I’ve mentioned to Jason, I’ll put up with my own discomfort (with some complaining) as long as the babies are okay.

Speaking of Jason, I could cry just writing about how amazing he’s been through my pregnancy. He’s patient, helpful, empathetic and the best cheerleader I could ask for. <3

As many of you have seen, our nursery decor was installed on Sunday! I love it. One of the designers at Fathead designed it for us and then our custom install team arranged to have it installed for us. I included some pictures of the nursery along with a photo of me from this morning. If I look tired it’s because I am. And, if it looks like I’m full of babies, it’s because I am. 🙂