Below is the image father-to-be came home to on Monday, as the washing of the infant diapers has begun. Washing, you say? Yes, indeed, for we are going to use cloth diapers -- or at least give it our absolute best effort. They're far more economical as well as more comfortable for baby (ies) than disposables. They're better for the environment too, which doesn't hurt. They're also made remarkably well these days, much better than the old days when they basically consisted of a thick piece of cotton meant to be mathematically folded at perfect Euclidian angles and shrewdly pinned, with all sorts of inclement weather waiting to happen.
Velcro rules.
Today, as you can see, cloth diapers come in pretty colors too.
Thanks to generous baby shower gifts and contacts with some Moms of multiples, we have stacked up a profound supply of these little gems, as well as two "Bum Geniuses." Words don't do the Bum Genius justice. Look it up and enjoy.
When we tell people who know we are having triplets that we will be using cloth diapers, they generally spontaneously exclaim in surprise (especially the Moms). But when they learn that we don't have a diaper service in this area, something more remarkable happens (only to the Moms): they gasp and, before they even realize they have done it, put their hands over their mouths. Like you see people do at horror shows.
We're actually starting to enjoy witnessing the shock.
Rest assured, friends and family: on visits, we will use disposables. But, in the meantime, if you're in the area, bring your clothespins....
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The belly -- week 29
A quick note to catch up here and show a photo from March 18, one week ago, before we jump ahead and prepare to add a photo from week 30, which began today.
Is she uncomfortable? Yes.
Is she doing well? Yes, and staying off her feet as much as possible, and resting as much as possible. Naps are our friend.
Is she getting big? You decide. Or is "getting" not quite the right verb tense....
Is she uncomfortable? Yes.
Is she doing well? Yes, and staying off her feet as much as possible, and resting as much as possible. Naps are our friend.
Is she getting big? You decide. Or is "getting" not quite the right verb tense....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Week 29 begins -- and a doctor's update
We began week 29 today, and all is going well. Last Friday, we had an extensive doctor's visit that included a comprehensive fetal ultra-sound, maternal pelvic exam, a meeting with doctors and other staff from the delivery and NICU personnel (nurse, chaplain), and a tour of the NICU. The heartbeats remain in the 140-150 bpm range, and the babies continue to grow each like singletons, which made the doctor and nurse (and us) quite happy. The boy weighs 3 lbs., his sister weighs 2 lbs. and 13 ounces, and their sister weighs 2 lbs. and 7 ounces.
We continue to be impressed by this hospital. Everyone we have met is professional and helpful to an exemplary degree. The meeting included a review of what happens in the delivery room on the magic day and the typical process that unfolds in the days afterward. The neonatologist had reviewed our records and said he saw no reason to be concerned about any major issues. The staff also were happily surprised that our typically reserved MFM specialist had exclaimed that morning, while reviewing the exam results, "This is great!" "She doesn't usually talk like that," they said.
The NICU tour was a powerful experience. We saw a few of the "pods" where infants at various levels of development are cared for. There were fleets of nurses in each pod. The pods are gigantic rooms filled with isolettes, basinettes, equipment and gauges -- and beds for the parents to sleep on. Parents are allowed to visit their children in the NICU freely, up to 20 hours every day, and one guest at a time can join them during certain hours.
In one pod, the administrator who has been shepherding us through this entire experience and served in this case as our tour guide introduced us to triplets born 10 days before at 31 weeks and five days -- two boys and a girl. We met the Dad, who looked exuberant and exhausted. Mom was busy nursing behind a curtain. All were doing well.
We also saw in a different pod a father holding on his chest a baby recently born at 23 weeks. The child was smaller than the length of his forearm, and yet there he was, breathing on his own, sheltered against his father.
Finally, we saw the delivery room and the post-op room where we will likely be camped out for the four days Momma stays in the hospital after delivery. There is also a recliner nearby and this is where Pappy will likely be sleeping. This will be just like college, so he is looking forward to it.
Sometime in the next nine weeks, we will become parents.
We continue to be impressed by this hospital. Everyone we have met is professional and helpful to an exemplary degree. The meeting included a review of what happens in the delivery room on the magic day and the typical process that unfolds in the days afterward. The neonatologist had reviewed our records and said he saw no reason to be concerned about any major issues. The staff also were happily surprised that our typically reserved MFM specialist had exclaimed that morning, while reviewing the exam results, "This is great!" "She doesn't usually talk like that," they said.
The NICU tour was a powerful experience. We saw a few of the "pods" where infants at various levels of development are cared for. There were fleets of nurses in each pod. The pods are gigantic rooms filled with isolettes, basinettes, equipment and gauges -- and beds for the parents to sleep on. Parents are allowed to visit their children in the NICU freely, up to 20 hours every day, and one guest at a time can join them during certain hours.
In one pod, the administrator who has been shepherding us through this entire experience and served in this case as our tour guide introduced us to triplets born 10 days before at 31 weeks and five days -- two boys and a girl. We met the Dad, who looked exuberant and exhausted. Mom was busy nursing behind a curtain. All were doing well.
We also saw in a different pod a father holding on his chest a baby recently born at 23 weeks. The child was smaller than the length of his forearm, and yet there he was, breathing on his own, sheltered against his father.
Finally, we saw the delivery room and the post-op room where we will likely be camped out for the four days Momma stays in the hospital after delivery. There is also a recliner nearby and this is where Pappy will likely be sleeping. This will be just like college, so he is looking forward to it.
Sometime in the next nine weeks, we will become parents.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A True Story of a Special Gift
The following is a true story from the father-to-be.
As you know, we are having identical twin girls and a boy sometime in the next nine weeks.
Two weeks ago, my mother gave us a gift that had been left for me by my maternal grandmother before she died nine years ago. What it contained may surprise you as much as it did us.
All her life, my grandmother was doing kind things for other people, especially using her skills in crocheting to make blankets, hats, and the like.
By the time she passed away in May 2000, shortly before her 91st birthday, four of my five siblings had had their children, and she had made all those great grandchildren of hers gifts she knitted.
Before she died, she started asking my mother if my one brother who, like me, had not yet had children, was going to get back with his wife, since they were divorcing. My Mom said that that was not likely. For months my grandmother asked this question. My Mom kept telling her that my brother and his wife would not be getting back together.
“That’s strange,” my grandmother would say, “because I keep seeing him with twins.”
In 1998 she gave my mother a large bag that she said contained gifts for my brother and me for when we had children. She said she didn’t think I would have children for a while. She was still convinced my brother would have twins.
In 2003, my brother and his new wife (who had gotten married in fall 1999) had twins, a girl and a boy. My mother opened the bag our grandmother had left. Inside were two plastic bags. One bag contained two sets of items wrapped in tissue paper. My Mom gave those gifts to my brother. They were items Grandma had crocheted. They were two sets of baby blankets and hats. They were different in design from one another and gender neutral, one white and one yellow and white.
That left one plastic bag remaining. Two weeks ago, my mother gave to us what it had contained. When we opened the gift, we were stunned. What was it? Items for babies that my grandmother had crocheted and packaged together in the remaining bag. Specifically, there were three sets of baby blankets and hats, each in separate designs. Two sets were pink and white (one pink, white and green), clearly meant for girls, and one set was blue, clearly meant for a boy.
Someday, we will give them to our children – our two girls and a boy – and tell them what their great grandmother left them, somehow as if she had known they were coming.
We have placed below a picture of the hats.
As you know, we are having identical twin girls and a boy sometime in the next nine weeks.
Two weeks ago, my mother gave us a gift that had been left for me by my maternal grandmother before she died nine years ago. What it contained may surprise you as much as it did us.
All her life, my grandmother was doing kind things for other people, especially using her skills in crocheting to make blankets, hats, and the like.
By the time she passed away in May 2000, shortly before her 91st birthday, four of my five siblings had had their children, and she had made all those great grandchildren of hers gifts she knitted.
Before she died, she started asking my mother if my one brother who, like me, had not yet had children, was going to get back with his wife, since they were divorcing. My Mom said that that was not likely. For months my grandmother asked this question. My Mom kept telling her that my brother and his wife would not be getting back together.
“That’s strange,” my grandmother would say, “because I keep seeing him with twins.”
In 1998 she gave my mother a large bag that she said contained gifts for my brother and me for when we had children. She said she didn’t think I would have children for a while. She was still convinced my brother would have twins.
In 2003, my brother and his new wife (who had gotten married in fall 1999) had twins, a girl and a boy. My mother opened the bag our grandmother had left. Inside were two plastic bags. One bag contained two sets of items wrapped in tissue paper. My Mom gave those gifts to my brother. They were items Grandma had crocheted. They were two sets of baby blankets and hats. They were different in design from one another and gender neutral, one white and one yellow and white.
That left one plastic bag remaining. Two weeks ago, my mother gave to us what it had contained. When we opened the gift, we were stunned. What was it? Items for babies that my grandmother had crocheted and packaged together in the remaining bag. Specifically, there were three sets of baby blankets and hats, each in separate designs. Two sets were pink and white (one pink, white and green), clearly meant for girls, and one set was blue, clearly meant for a boy.
Someday, we will give them to our children – our two girls and a boy – and tell them what their great grandmother left them, somehow as if she had known they were coming.
We have placed below a picture of the hats.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lactation
Friday, March 5 marked our first meeting with someone we expect to get to know well, our lactation consultant. She is a registered nurse with international certification. But what is really important is how intelligent, helpful and kind she was. Besides that, it turns out she lives about two miles from our house -- and she kindly offered to come over and help us any time we need (we just might take her up on that). She was an encyclopedia of information, and reassurance, as she talked through the basics of this uniquely feminine skill we are going to be witnessing soon, assured us she and her fellow specialists would be there every step of the way -- literally from the moment the kids are delivered, and shared with us insights from her career, and from her experience as a Mom.
On this visit to the doc's, Mom-to-be also got another check-up, and again everything is as good as it can be. The little heartbeats are now from 137 bpm to 141 bpm, which is excellent.
Tomorrow we start week 28, and Thursday we have our next full check-up. Below we have added two new pictures, one of the beautiful Momma, and one of the rapidly expanding belly. Wow.
On this visit to the doc's, Mom-to-be also got another check-up, and again everything is as good as it can be. The little heartbeats are now from 137 bpm to 141 bpm, which is excellent.
Tomorrow we start week 28, and Thursday we have our next full check-up. Below we have added two new pictures, one of the beautiful Momma, and one of the rapidly expanding belly. Wow.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Latest Visit with the Doc
This is a quick report, and a goodie: Friday's doctor's visit produced the following two remarks from the MFM (maternal fetal medicine) specialist in whose care we have been since learning we were having triplets: To the Momma, "You're doing awesome." Of the results of all the exams, "Things couldn't be going better."
We'll take it.
We'll take it.
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