25 week Appointment: A Thankful Heart

We had our 25-week ultrasound yesterday, so we got the say “hello” to our three sons. I have to say, it is getting a little crowded in there. One of the boys had his elbow in the other’s face…one was sucking his thumb…and they were ALL kicking around, especially after I drank my high-sugar drink for the glucose test.

 It is amazing to take a peak into their little dark world. They are so safe in there. I remember the intense desire to protect Evelyn from the outside world when I saw her in the ultrasound pictures. They are so innocent, untouched, unharmed; they haven’t been pushed, their feelings haven’t been hurt and they haven’t experienced rejection. But I know in 11 weeks (or less!) they will enter this world. There is so much joy to experience, yet my heart already breaks when I think about the culture that will try to strip them of their innocence. And I am humbled (and I know John is too) that God chose US to raise them, and teach them right from wrong. It is an overwhelming sense of responsibility, one that John and I do not take lightly. 

We finally agreed on their names (well, first names) and we feel they are ones that reflect the type of men we dream of them becoming. We are not revealing their names until they are born and we don’t know which name will be given to what baby; but John and I both are really confident in our choices and excited to introduce them to the world. But not yet. ;)

 I am really optimistic that I will carry them close to full term (36 weeks). I had another great doctor visit. I am doing great (blood pressure low, no diabetes, normal weight gain) and the babies are doing really well too. Two of them are about 1.5 lbs, and “triplet B” is 2 lbs! The doctor said that their weight for 25 weeks is at a normal weight for a singleton pregnancy! So, I am carrying around three legitimately 25 week sized babies! It is so appropriate that we had our appointment the day before Thanksgiving because as I drove home on that beautiful late fall afternoon, my heart was soaring with gratitude. I know we still have 2 months to go, but so far, all is well.

When I came home, I showed Evelyn the roll of ultrasound pictures. She grabbed them from my hands and spun around the room with them saying, “SISTERRRRSSSSS!” Again, I had to remind her “brothers,” but nonetheless, I think she is starting to understand that there are “babies coming.” She will probably grow up thinking that having three babies at once is normal for a while. I forget sometimes too, that this situation is not "normal." Just today I was talking to another pregnant woman at the gym, and I later told John, “She’s pregnant too, but with one baby.” John just looked at me and replied, “Well, I assume that everyone is just pregnant with one baby. That is usually how it happens.”

Anyhow, here’s to a happy Thanksgiving, a day when we are supposed to reflect and give thanks. I have SO MUCH to give thanks for it’s actually ridiculous. And I hope that I can hang on to this grateful spirit all the other days of the year too. I try. I really do, but life has a way of weighing me down sometimes.  However, no matter how "I feel" at the moment, I know in my heart how blessed I am. 
 Now off to my in-laws for some turkey and mashed potatoes…the boys have to keep growing!

A wave to mommy and daddy

"Brother A"