The Adoption Chronicles

This morning we got to our u/s appointment at the Maternal Fetal Care Center at 8 AM. We only waited a few minutes and were called back to our room. The ultrasound went well and they mostly measured each babies anatomical parts - femurs, head circumference, counted fingers and toes, stomach, kidneys, cerebellum, both sides of their brains, female and male "parts," and their spinal cords. Each baby weighed 7 ounces each! They are so tiny still!!! I'm just really glad they are all still growing bigger and that they are all the same size! It was interesting to see each detailed part of their bodies, but poor Clint I think he'll need a massage after having to hold his head and neck in an awkward position for so long. I was on laying on the table of course with a nice pillow and great view of the monitor which is mounted (like a flat screen) on the ceiling pointed down for perfect viewing. Clint was in the (probably uncomfortable) chair to my left and the sonographer to...

Baby B looking a bit "alien-like" from this view. I love when they move their arms and hands around. They seem to have their hands by their chin a lot or close to their head like in this photo. The three bambinos all together!!! Well, their heads at least!

Baby B's right hand and fingers. Her thumb is tucked, but we did see it. They all have 10 fingers and toes. A cool shot of baby B looking down at her sister. You can't see baby A in this u/s photo but she is below baby B. I don't have a picture of it but during the u/s we got to see baby A and B head to head looking like they were loving on one another. It was really sweet. Their heads were both in my lower abdomen on the left side, closer to my left hip. I could feel them (lots of pressure too) as the sonographer used the u/s machine to wave over them on that left side. They move around a lot though. It's just so fun and interesting to see them in real time on the monitor. I might feel something but to be able to actually see what is going on and what they're up to in there is really neat. There was a lot of movement I didn't feel. Our sonographer said it's because when they're punching or kicking a lot of times it's within the amnioti...

Photo showing baby B's a girl Little feet :)

Just look at him stretch out his back and neck! Wow! Just wait little guy, its going to get a lot more crowed as you three grow!

They were right even at 13 weeks! What we thought were girls are still girls! Yea!! Video shows baby B (girl parts) and femurs .

Video of Baby B's legs (she crossed them for us - so cute!) and her feet and toes! Video goes on to measure other things but notice starting about 1:25 we caught her having hiccups. She is so adorable!

In this video we caught all three heads next to one another. You can't really see their bodies in this one but you can see the tops of their head only. Glad they could still try to get them in one shot!

The sonographer was trying to get all three babies in one photo. The video starts out us laughing and talking about how all the techs compete to see who is the best at getting all three in one photo! We're talking about "bragging rights." Anyway it's just fun to watch the babies moving instead of just an u/s photo.

I took these videos with my video phone - so they're not the best quality and it was hard for me to hold it perfectly still (I was too busy watching the actual ultrasound screen) - but its neat to watch anyway.

It's hard to be creative as to what you eat at this hour....I think it's going to be crackers for lack of leftovers or having to drink more boost....

Well, here I am again...3 AM. What else is there to do at 3 AM anyway besides update my blog? Actually I could think of a thousand things I have to do (even have them all on a list) but I'm too sleepy. That sink full of dishes is going to have to wait until morning (no dishwasher should be "interesting" with 3 babies). Its really fun though even lying in bed not being able to get comfortable because my babies have been entertaining me the last few nights. I've felt them moving for a couple of weeks now but it was much more gentle n the beginning. Now I can feel them moving more frequently and know its really them rather than a hungry belly or whatever. I was just in bed (awake for over an hour) with my hands on my belly feeling those little guys squirming around. It won't be long before they run out of a lot of room to play in there. I thought I'd better get up since I did feel kind of hungry. I ate dinner at 630-700 then had two bowls of cereal before bedtime...

Here are the 16 week photos. I know what you're thinking "are you sure you're only 16 weeks!" Yes! Start weight: 115. Current weight: 136. Now gaining 60 lbs doesn't seem so difficult since I've already gained 21 (probably more now since I last weighed at my OB appointment on Thursday morning). Also, I just have to say "sorry Grandma." She was scared I'd be one of those people posting my acutaly belly photos on my blog....well, I swore I wouldn't do it but you just have to see it to believe it! It's getting huge! Probably from all those animal crackers I keep snacking on!

Well, as you can probably tell I love pictures. Clint has informed me that a blog is for writing....not only photos! Ha-ha! What can I say? I love pictures! Anyway, here's an attempt to actually write how I'm feeling and what I'm doing.... I cannot believe we're already 16 weeks along! Clint reminded me last night that we're basically 1/2 way through since the babies will most likely come between 29 and 36 weeks! Our doctor told us our first goal we should shoot for should be right at 32 weeks. If we can go longer than that the longer the better-obviously. However, they won't let me go past 36 weeks. I will have a c-section by 36 if they have not already arrived by that time, well, I'll have a c-section regardless really. The weeks seem to be flying by. Friday's come so fast! I do love being pregnant but I also cannot wait to meet our little babies! I know they'll be here before we know it! I feel like I've been "nesting" for weeks now...

Me with my dad in Napa Valley at the Culinary Institute. 15 Weeks!! 15 week photo and the view from Dad and Janet's new Vellejo, CA house.

All together! May be one of the last ultrasounds where we can get them all together in one shot. It was difficult to get them all in this one. Baby C kept turning the other way. I love how baby B looks like she's covering her ears. I'm not listening :) Or I guess she could be dancing with her hand on her head. Chicken dance baby B?

Baby C's profile. I think he was stretching in this photo. He looks straighter than in this one. Profile of our boy. You can see his spine too. He looks like he's just relaxing in there. Just hanging out crossing his legs! Ha-ha. Just in case anyone doubted the first u/s photos of Baby C being a boy... Baby C's heartbeat. Looks and sounds great! Again saying "hello" to everyone.

Baby A saying hello! Baby A's head or stomach (I can never tell them apart on a u/s) and on the top is baby B's legs - a photo from below. She looks like a girl to me too! Baby A - see the legs? This is a photo from below. Looks like a girl to me! Profile. She's getting bigger! Baby B. Look at that cute little foot up top! 5 toes! Baby B. Baby A's heartbeat on the ultrasound. It's fun to watch and really cool to hear too! All their hearts were between 140 something and 150 so they're prefect!

15 Weeks (will be 15 weeks on Friday February 12th) Fat stores are starting to accumulate under your baby's skin, and that's good: they'll provide energy and help keep the little one warm after birth. Your baby is now big enough that you may feel it when he kicks or poke you! Taste buds have been present in the mouth since the first trimester, but only now, at 15 weeks, does the fetus develop the ability to taste: he can now tell the difference between sweet and bitter. And, speaking of food, your baby is getting ready for diapers. Meconium, a dark green fecal material, is accumulating in the bowel and will form the first bowel movement at or near the time of birth. 14 Weeks At week 14 your babies measures about 4.5" (12 cm) in length, about the size of an avocado, and weighs almost 4 oz (110 g). The babies have grown numerous bones at this point, many of them still unconnected. Bones will go on lengthening and ossifying (hardening) throughout your pregnancy. At birth,...

14 weeks. Our crib.