GUESS WHAT???

Our little Preston is now off his IV!!!! I had been at the NICU all day today (duh!) and then came home when Bronson got off work. We ate dinner and then went back up there after the nurses shift change. When I walked in, I noticed right away. The line was gone! Praise God!!! Also, our little guy weighs more than his birth weight! How cool is that? He is now 3 lbs 9.7 oz. Wonderful! Mollie has been gaining as well. She's up to 4lbs 1 oz. Elise is now at 3 lbs 14 oz. So, they're all gaining weight which is one of the requirements for coming home. Oh...and one more thing....the girls are now roomies! They were both moved to the same incubator. When Preston is ready, they will all move to the same crib. I can't wait!

On Sunday, we were informed that Elise has a heart murmur. Later that afternoon, technicians came by to do an EKG on her. I got to hold her throughout the whole thing. She did so well. I was very proud of our dainty little girl. They also did an ultrasound on her heart yesterday. Today we were told she has PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis). Not a big deal. A lot of babies have this. It's a hole in the heart. It normally closes on it's own a week or two after birth. If it doesn't before her discharge date, then the neonatologist will refer us to a Pediatric Cardiologist for further review. We're not worried at all because our God is on His throne and He's not shaken by this. So....why should we be???

Once again, I am overwhelmed by God. He is so good. And it's not because of how the babies are doing or that He gave me the desire of my heart. It's because He is who He says He is. And He will do what He says He will do. And in the middle of all of this, He's showing His glory. There's a work going on in the NICU and the staff. I can't explain it. This is bigger than me. Bigger than the babies. It's about people's lives being changed for His glory. All I can say is that you never know how you will affect people; especially when you talk about Jesus. Doors are opened, hearts are healed, and hope is found.

Some Pics

Well...I have a short time to post some pictures of our precious little ones. I was finally able to get some much needed sleep last night. It is so easy to over do it. Bronson and I will be at the NICU by 10:30 today. From top to bottom, Mollie, Elise and Preston.

The Burcham Triplets Have Arrived!!!

The Burcham triplets are here!! On December 23, 2008, Mollie, Elise and Preston made their first debut. They arrived at 3:41, 3:42 and 3:43 pm. Mollie was the first weighing in at 4 lbs, 3 oz. Elise was the second, weighing 3 lbs, 15 oz. And Preston was the third, weighing 3 lbs, 7 oz. They were all about 16 inches. It was quite a shock (for me, at least) to see them so soon.

Before I begin, I would like to say THANK YOU to all our wonderful family and friends who have called, text, left messages, PRAYED, and visited us. The outpouring of love has been extremely overwhelming and very humbling. For those of you I have yet to call back, I will. Please give me some time. I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk to everyone. Bronson is trying to get back with all of you as well. We've just been so enamored with our three precious ones that time has literally come to a stop for us.

Okay....now that I have that out of the way, I can begin to tell you what happened. As of my last post, we were waiting on the results of my urine collection that was turned in on Monday, December 22nd. I received a call Tuesday, December 23rd at 11:00 am from my doctor stating that my protein levels did escalate and at a dangerous level. He didn't want to wait until after (or during) the holidays before delivering. He told me I would be having the babies at 3:30 that day. Needless to say, I was not ready to hear that news. As soon as I informed Bronson, my mom and I were on our way. We tried to call as many people as we could. Certain people were to let others know. I was at the hospital by noon (Bronson was already there!). At that time, they took me in and prepped me for surgery. Since I was at risk for seizures (or worse, heart attack), I was put on magnesium sulfate. This is a smooth muscle relaxer. So, in addition to all the other meds they were pumping in me, I had this other to deal with. The surgery itself only lasted about 10-15 minutes. The OR, Labor and Delivery, and NICU staff are AMAZING!!! My mom got to film the delivery and the NICU nurses brought the babies to me and Bronson after each birth. I got to kiss them before they were sent to the NICU!! How awesome is that?? I am so blessed.

By 9:00 pm, I got to see those three bundles of joy. I was able to hold Preston. So exciting!! The only downfall is recovery. Having a C-section is not for wimps!! Well.....having a baby period is not for wimps! I felt like I had a little bit of a hard time recovering. So, for all of those who called within 24-48 hours of delivery.....I have no idea what I said to you! Not only that, the constant talking ended up making me sick. My mom became extremely protective of me during that time. Like always, I started over doing it. Well....I wanted to make sure I got to talk to everyone. Unfortunately, it started costing me more than I could afford.

Okay, enough about me...all about the babies. They all three are amazing!! The girls had to go on CPAP.....but our little boy didn't have to go on anything! And he was the smallest of the three!! He's our little fighter. And active! Boy....I'm thinking he may be a little hyper like his momma! Poor Bronson! Anyway...the girls were off their CPAP by the next morning. Mollie had her breathing tube taken out by noon. They are all three on feeding tubes as they have not learned to suck yet. They were all three on IV's; however, the girls were recently taken off. Apparently their veins can only handle the IV for so long before they give out. So, when that happens, a PICC line needs to be placed. This is a central line that is inserted up their leg or through their arm. I had to sign the consent on Mollie Friday morning. I was not a happy camper, but after watching the NP (nurse practitioner) try an IV in Mollie's head three different times, it was all I could do. Since the PICC line is a sterile procedure, I had to leave. Well, they ended up not being able to do it. So, the only other option was to increase her feedings and see if they will replenish her fluid intake. It's not ideal for the nurses, but I believe she is just ready to "graduate" to the next step! So far, she's been doing excellent. And just think, she hasn't had an IV since Thursday night. The same thing happened to Elise Saturday morning. Bronson had to sign the consent this time. But, just like Mollie, the PICC line didn't work on Elise either. They have now increased her feedings as well. Unlike the staff....I'm viewing this as a very positive thing! I know these babies are a work of God (all babies are) and I believe they are here to show God's glory! They already have amazed the staff there. I'm not surprised.....our God is incredible!!

Now, as for them coming home....the doctors usually say around their original due date (Feb. 17th) is when we can expect them to be taken home. However, they are doing wonderful! So, I'm thinking they will only have to be there 3 weeks from their delivery date which will be January 13th. I'm believing God for that. It would be God showing off if they come home before then.

I promise I will post pictures soon. We just got home Saturday night (very emotional) and I had to crash. In fact, I shouldn't be on the computer right now, but I know there's a lot of you that want to know updates. Now that I'm back to answering my phone....please call if you would like to come visit the babies. I will be there pretty much everyday, all day. The staff does have a shift change from 6:30 to 7:30; so the NICU is closed during that time. That's a.m. and p.m. Other than that, you're more than welcome to drop by. Please understand that if you have children under 16, they can't come back to see them. Also, if you have any type of cold or virus...especially with fever, you will not be allowed to go back there. That's for the safety of our trips, as well as all the other preemies in the NICU.

Once again, thank you for all the prayers. Bronson and I have felt them every waking moment. I can't think of any other way to pay you back but to pray for you. Please feel free to let me know what I can pray for you for and I will....with a fervent prayer!! God bless!!!

Quick Update

I have not heard from the doctor's office today. The "collection" was turned in at noon and nothing has come from it. I have an appointment tomorrow at 3, so maybe I'll hear something then. Thank you again for all your prayers.

YIKES!!! D-Day could be right around the corner (but let's hope not!)

Well.....I'm sure a lot of you would like to know the update on my "special" collection I had to give the doctor. I received a call yesterday from my doctor stating that in fact, there were elevated protein levels in my urine. Bummer! But the good news is that it's only a mild case of preeclampsia. Apparently, for mild cases, your level of protein would be anywhere from over 300 to 1999. Mine was 470. Not too bad. So, here's the plan. After he talked with my high risk doctor, they decided to give me a steroid shot yesterday and today (exactly 24 hours later). This will aide in the development of the babies' lungs in the event I will have to deliver early. Beginning on Sunday afternoon, I will then do another 24 hour urine collection (yay me!). If the levels have increased, coupled with an increasing blood pressure....there will be a possibility they will take the babies Monday or Tuesday. I'll be 32 weeks. Although the usual term for triplets is 32 weeks, I'm praying for longer. I've known 2 people in my life (very dear to my heart) that delivered triplets past 36 weeks and they were able to take their babies home with them. So, it is possible. I also know several women who delivered their triplets anywhere from 26 weeks and 32 weeks and their babies spent several weeks to several months in the NICU. My heart just aches for them. But God is good and their babies are healthy.

Either way, I have to believe I have done everything in my power to keep these babies in and healthy. I know in the beginning I didn't grasp what an awesome journey God was sending me on. It wasn't until one Wednesday night in August that it was revealed to me that anything I do directly affects these precious little ones. So, from that point on, it was my mission as a mother-to-be to begin my ministry.....Ministry of Motherhood. Like a fierce fighter, I have done exactly what was asked of me from eating well and eating a lot to resting and taking it easy. I had to give up a few things that I love for something far greater....but isn't that what motherhood is all about? It's a special title that I have longed for since I was little. And now God, in His endless mercy and grace has given it to me. Not for it to be all my own.....but for me to share it with others because I know....they are first His precious little ones before they're mine. And whatever is in the palm of His hands is what I accept. For He knows far better than I do what I can handle and what I can't. This is not only a lesson in love, but in hope and trust. I'm just so thankful that He's allowing me to experience it.

So, was I fearful at first of all the what-ifs? Of course. But then I realized that perfect love casts out all fear.

Before I end this post for today, I want to let everyone know, even the anonymous, that I appreciate all the comments and words of encouragement you're leaving. It has helped tremendously in lifting my spirits. It's great to know that I have people....even people who I don't know pulling for me. You are truly a blessing. I can only hope to return the favor one day.

31 Weeks

I am now 31 weeks!! Yay! Yesterday was my regular weekly doctor's visit. Well...it turned out to be an all day event. They split my appointment into 2. I had the ultrasound at 10:00 am. Again, the biophysicals were done on all babies. The two girls passed with flying colors, but the boy did not want to cooperate and show us his "breathing". After an hour and a half (yes, that long on my back), Julie, the radiologist, had to give him a 0. He failed his first test! Bless his little heart. She said not to worry about it. If I was further along, then it would be cause for concern. But because I'm only 31 weeks, it's okay. He will have to do much better in 2 weeks. After that, mom and I went to eat. The second half of the appointment was at 1:45. For the second week in a row, my blood pressure was elevated. This time, it was 140/92. That's pretty high. Dr. G tested it again after I settled down a little bit. It went down to 137/89. He was a little concerned although I didn't have any protein in my urine (which would indicate preeclampsia). So....he sent me to the labor and delivery for further testing. They took several viles of blood; checked my blood pressure at least 4 times (3 times it was still elevated, one time it was normal: 116/65 - I was laying on my side at that point). After spending what felt like an eternity there, they finally released me. I do have to "collect" my urine for a 24 hour period. Sorry to be so specific...but it's the joy of being pregnant with multiples. I'm praying they find no protein and nothing else that would determine this is preeclampsia. If it is, then I will probably have to be admitted in the hospital until I deliver. I would not want that. I still have tons of stuff to do at home (not that it's more important than my or the babies' health). I would just rather take care of everything this week before anything happens so it won't be a burden on anyone else.

I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas season so far. I apologize ahead of time for not sending our cards out or keeping in touch with a lot of you. For those that I have received cards from, thank you. It has brightened up my day. I appreciate it!

Doctor Visit

Great news! Everything is going wonderfully! Dr. Rowe is so pleased with how I'm doing and how the babies are growing. Babies A and C are just about 4 pounds and Baby B is about 3. So, I have approximately 11 pounds of baby in me right now (and that's not including the placentas or amnio fluid). Crazy! I was hoping for at least 3 1/2 pounds on all. I was a little concerned that Baby B was only 3 pounds...but Dr. Rowe said she is right on schedule. He was ecstatic that the other two were almost 4. Either way....I'm happy. Mollie has her mamma's thighs. Poor girl! He did say she had a full head of hair (that's from her daddy). Looks like Elise doesn't have any hair.....just like me when I was born. It's neat to see how they're already taking after us. Our son likes to suck is two middle fingers and Mollie is sucking her thumb. I would really like for Elise to catch up on her weight gain. So, if you're wanting something to pray for, pray for that. It's important to me that they're all born well over 4 pounds. They have been practicing their breathing. And in the next couple of weeks, they will develop the ability to regulate their body temperature. Then we just need to make sure they can suck; and given that two of the babies were seen sucking their fingers or thumb, I'm hoping this is not too far off a goal for them to accomplish.

I'm okay with carrying them as long as God will allow me. There's no doubt that I have felt uncomfortable at times. But nothing bad enough for me to want them to be born too early. I would rather go through anything to make sure they have an advantage when they enter this world. I ask God for strength for another day, another week. I know this is nothing compared to what lies ahead of Bronson and I. This is the easy part. But God is faithful. He amazes me everyday. It's incredible what His creation (the human body) can do. I know after this, I will never be the same....inside and out.

30 Weeks - Another Milestone!

Another milestone! I'm finally 30 weeks! I'm so happy. Now I have at least 2 more milestones...32 weeks and 34 weeks. I had my regular weekly doctors appointment on Monday. Everything was fine. I did have a little bit higher blood pressure this time: 124/90. That has never happened before. But it didn't seem to bother Dr. G. I haven't dilated. Yay! And the contractions have slowed a lot since Thanksgiving week. I think I'm finally in the set of mind where I'm ready for them to arrive. But of course I want to keep them in as long as possible. I did notice slight swelling in my right foot and ankle. Very strange. The left is fine. Oh well.

Oh....Bronson and I did get a little bit of a treat this last visit. The radiologist was able to do a 3D/4D picture of Mollie. Everyone advised me not to get it only because with 3 babies, it wouldn't be worth it. I would be paying for nothing. Anyway, she just wanted to see if it would go through. It did somewhat. It's at the top of this blog. Look for the brightest part of the picture....that would be her nose. Then follow up to her eyelids in the upper left hand corner. She has her Daddy's nose.

I get to go to Dr. Rowe (high risk) tomorrow. I am so excited!!! I really look forward to seeing him. And we'll get an update on how big the babies are. I'm hoping they're all over 3.5 pounds. That would be wonderful!

29 Weeks

I was 29 weeks on Tuesday, December 2nd. I apologize for not writing anything until now. At my last visit, Monday December 1st, we found that everything is still great. I have not dilated, the contractions are slowing a bit and the babies are all doing well. I had a much better week than Thanksgiving. That week was really hard on me. I'm glad it's over. This week, December 9th, I'll be 30 weeks! I feel like I'm approaching a milestone. I'm so excited!! I have an appointment with Dr. Rowe (high risk) on Thursday. I can't wait! I will get to find out how big the babies are and a more detailed report on how they're doing. I really look forward to those appointments. As for my measurements.....my waist is now 45 1/2 inches! I never thought I could stretch that far.

Well....that's it for now. I'm still holding out for 36 weeks. And God willing, it looks like we're on our way!

27 Weeks

I'm 27 weeks and now starting to feel the contractions. I'm a little concerned, but I'll see the doctor on the 24th and will be discussing this with him. Other than that, I'm doing okay. It's the 3rd week of bed rest. I thought I would have so much time to do what I want to do; however, exerting any kind of energy is harder than I thought. So, please be patient when I don't return emails, post more recent blogs, etc in a timely fashion. I really get tired!

The girls' nursery is coming along nicely. I'll have to take a picture and post it. I'm so grateful for the overwhelming response from family and friends. Bronson and I have barely had to purchase anything so far! We're saving it all for the diapers!!

Well...that's about it for now. I'll update the blog once we receive more information from the doctor.

26 Weeks

One week down, hopefully 10 more to go!! I'm now 26 weeks and the goal is 36. The babies are all 2 lbs and over. Baby A - 2.3 lbs, Baby B - 2.1 lbs, Baby C - 2 lbs. Dr. Rowe was extremely happy with the way we're all progressing.

The second week of bed rest is proving to be a little bit more challenging. It's becoming increasingly harder to move around and get comfortable. My waist is now 44" and I have gained 40 lbs. I would have to say I'm about as big as a mom-to-be with a singleton that's about to deliver.

Bronson is doing well.....about as good as a first time dad expecting triplets can be! He's finally getting used to the idea that I'm a little limited. But it is a tremendous help that my mom is down for the week. She comes on Mondays and leaves on Fridays.

The nurseries are starting to shape up. The girls' room is almost done. We will start clearing out the boy's room this weekend. Hopefully we'll get it painted soon. Just seems like everything is falling into place. Thanks to everyone who is praying for us. We appreciate it!!!

First week of bed rest

I have made it to 25 weeks!! Now, only 13 more to go. Yes, I'm praying for 38 weeks and over 5 pound babies. I would like for them to be at least 6 pounds, but I'll take 5. This week was my first week of bed rest. It's a little different; especially for me. I'm so used to be up and running around....not happening now. I just lay on the couch for most of the day. Too bad I'm not much of a TV watcher. There is nothing on anyway. I thought I would keep myself busy with stuff I've been needing to do (that I can do laying down). But I decided to take this week and do absolutely nothing. It has surprisingly gone by very fast. I can't believe it's already Friday. Now, if the weekends would just go slower, I would be happy.

This Saturday is my third and final baby shower. I'm so excited! I can't wait to see everyone. Not only that, anytime I get to be out of the house, it's a treat. Mom will be down and will begin her stay with us on a weekly basis. I'm very thankful for that....for the company and for the fact that she will be my arms and legs. Anything I need done, she'll get to it.

Some of you have been asking what we need or what we would like. Well, to make it easier on you, right now....I need company. Phone calls, emails or stop-bys (please call first) would be appreciated. Not so much texting though. I have run over my limit almost every month and really don't want to pay the extra charge. Bronson needs my mom! Well....to do the cooking and cleaning. I think he misses me doing it all. But once the babies are born, the focus will be shifted to them. At that time, it would be helpful to bring meals over, stop by and change a diaper or two or three, maybe feed a couple of babies. If the baby thing is not up your alley....throw in a load of clothes, fill the dishwasher or run the swifter over our wood floors. Anything would be helpful. I should have a chart of all what needs to be done....so there should be no question about it.

Okay...that's it for this week. I'll continue to keep you informed. And please continue to keep us in your prayers.

I'm 24 weeks now and my bed rest has officially started. Today was my last day of work. It was heartbreaking. I know I'm not "leaving" for good.....but this is all I've known for 12 years. I had a wonderful boss and became close to my office manager who I call my second mom. It was much more than a career or place to work. It was family. If you think about it, you spend a third of your life at work. That's a huge chunk of your life! I have been extremely blessed to have worked at Highlander Financial. For the most part, I was able to call the shots on what I did on a daily basis. I always had a boss that would support my decisions and Judy (Office Manager) who would help me see the big picture of any situation. I'm really going to miss it.

Now, I'm starting down a new journey of my life. I'm excited and a little apprehensive. But I have a lot of support from family and friends and know Bronson and I will do just fine as parents. This has been a long awaited experience. I'm glad it's happened the way it has with us. It allows us to appreciate the joys of being parents.

From this point forward, 80% of my day needs to be either on the couch or in bed. A little rough, but I know with a good attitude and a positive spirit, I'll make the best of it. For anyone that wants to know what to pray for us......pray that we make it to February 3, 2009. That is the day I would like to have the babies. I will be 38 weeks and to carry triplets that long would be a miracle. And since these are miracle babies.....it would only be appropriate.

This week I'm 23 weeks. Now I know why the doctor wants me on bed rest. I'm starting to really slow down at work. I try to spend most of my day sitting at my desk. My last day is a week from tomorrow. I still have mixed feelings. I really like my job, but I'm ready to be a mom.

The babies are incredible! I can't believe how much they move!! Bronson and I just lay back on the couch and watch them. I still think Bronson's a little creeped out by it. It does look like aliens are in there. Pretty cool. I haven't felt hiccups or anything from them. Just kicks and turns. Our cribs came in this week. And the downstairs is still overflowing with all the gifts from this past shower. I am so overwhelmed with gratefulness and appreciation from all my family and friends. They really pulled through for us.

That's it for now.

22 Weeks

I've just about completed my 22 weeks of pregnancy. Going into the 6th month beginning next week. I had an appointment with Dr. Rowe (high risk) on Thursday. He was extremely pleased with me and the babies. I'm doing well (as are the babies). All of the little ones are over 1 lb!!! That is a huge milestone for me. Their hearts are all in working order and they are developing beautifully. Bronson and I are truly blessed!! He did say I need to stop work as of October 31st. So, on Friday, I gave my two weeks notice. I would have to say that it was one of the hardest thing I ever had to do. I have worked for my boss well over 11 years (12 years with the company). It was an emotional experience. But I know God has a plan and will work everything together for good.

This past Saturday was my first baby shower. Wow!! What an overwhelming day!! Bronson and I received an outpouring of love from family and friends. I was really touched to see everyone come together to celebrate this special occasion with us. It means a lot to both of us. The gifts were unbelievable! Bronson even said if we were having only one child, we would be set!

For those of you who don't read blogs because they're too long, I will begin to write short entries from this point forward. So, with that "said", I'm closing down for the night. Thank you again for your continued prayers.

21 Weeks

Here I am at 21 weeks. As you can see, I had to change outfits. I can no longer wear the blue top or other black pants. I figured it's to be expected. I feel great! Tonight was my first meeting with the WMOM (The Woodlands Mother of Multiples). Had a great time!! Met several women who have had triplets and received a lot of advice. I can't wait till the next meeting!! Well...I'm not going to write too much tonight. I'm tired and need to get some sleep. Oh yeah, the babies are kicking every day now. They respond to Bronson's voice (which I think is very cool!). Hope everyone has a great week!

Moving Along....

Just thought I would let everyone know that we have finally felt and seen movement!! It's amazing! You can literally see them kicking. It's as if we bypassed the fluttering feeling, butterflies, etc. and went straight to full fledged karate. And as if they were showing off, two kicked at the same time on either end of my stomach. Pretty cool! Once again.....this is just the beginning! Bronson is loving it!

20 Weeks and Counting.....

Family and Friends.....I have made it to 20 weeks and still not on bed rest!!! Woo-hoo! Typically 20 weeks is the time when a expectant mom-to-be of supertwins (3 or more babies) goes on bedrest. My high risk doctor said I shouldn't have to go out for another 4 to 6 weeks. He's extremely pleased. I'm doing very well. Better yet, the babies are doing wonderfully!! They are about 6 inches now and growing like crazy. I had my checkup this morning. I have now gained over 30 pounds!!!! I'm so excited! So far, I have followed just about everything the doctor has told me to do. I think I'm getting the hang of taking in my 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day. Seems like I'm eating all day long. I LOVE my protein shakes...and drinking TONS of water. I feel good. This weekend is when I had my first actual flutter. We think it's the boy. I know I will feel them move around a lot in the upcoming weeks. But again...not pushing it. I'm sure there will be a lot of that to come. Bronson is doing great as well. He's gearing up to be Daddy! He's also had to take on other roles already. Now that I'm "out of commission", he's been my caretaker more than he would care to admit. But he's doing a fantastic job. I'm grateful to have him by my side. I think he's finally getting used to the idea of having 3 kiddos on the way. He's going to be a great father!

After the Storm

I hope all of our family and friends in Houston and the surrounding areas are all okay from Hurricane Ike. Bronson and I stayed home. Lost power around 1:00 am Saturday morning and didn't get it turned back on until Monday night about 6:30 pm. We're fine. Had minimal damage to the roof (yes, ceiling is leaking a little bit) and a section of the back fence is down. Needless to say, we really got to know one another all over again!!! We've had a great time with our "Uno marathons" by candlelight. Okay...update on the babies. This morning was supposed to be another doctor's visit with my OB. Unfortunately due to the hurricane, he's out of commission. This Thursday I had another appointment with the high risk doctor, but again, they're out of power. We'll have to reschedule in the next week or so. As you can see from the above picture, I'm growing every week. This is my 18th week. Just think, I'll be twice this size by the time the little ones are born. I'm wondering where they will all fit! My abdomen is stretching every day. I have felt a couple of flutters, but nothing significant. I'm expecting to feel them this week or by the beginning of next week. We haven't registered yet....but will soon enough. This hurricane has really put a damper on everything. I praise God that we didn't experience anything life threatening or lose our belongings. Drop us a line if you have any questions or want to know anything we haven't written about yet. Until then......

Update

Not a whole lot is going on right now. My next regular appointment is September 16th and the high risk appointment is September 18th. The babies are definitely growing this week. I feel like my lower abdomen is stretching to its limits. I'm sure this is just the beginning. I'm doing pretty well on the diet. I think I'm only bringing in a little over 3,000 calories a day; mainly because I'm only eating healthy foods. It's a little hard when you're not eating fast food or any sweets. Some of you have tried to leave comments but had to sign up. I went ahead and opened it up for anyone to leave comments. I think I will be feeling them move this week. So far, I've felt little flutters here and there. Kind of neat. I'm not pushing for feeling them any time soon. I know once I do....they will be keeping me up all the time! I'm trying to post pictures but I'm still new to this website. I'll see what I can do. Will write more later this week. Oh....in the picture posted here, I'm 17 weeks along (as of today).

Just the Beginning....

Okay....the appointment on Thursday, August 28th: Confirmed....2 girls and 1 boy!!!

Dr. Rowe was wonderful!! He said the babies are developing beautifully. He had nothing but positive things to say....one of them being: you are very blessed!!! I have pictures and a dvd. As soon as I can upload the video to youtube, I should have it posted. Please be patient with me as I take FOREVER getting anything done these days. But I promise that I will do my best to keep this updated as much as possible.

The fun stuff...what did Dr. Rowe tell me to do to have a successful pregnancy???? I must take in at least 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day, drink no less than 100 oz of water a day, drink 2 to 3 protein shakes a day, 6 calcium caplets (in addition to the prenatal vitamins) per day, and have anywhere from 6 to maybe 8 small meals a day. Anyone that knows the way I eat would say "no problem....Jennifer can do that in her sleep". Think again! It's harder than it seems. But I'm slowly getting used to it.

I had another appointment today with my regular OB. My mom joined me on this one. She got to see the babies squirming around on the ultrasound. As you can imagine, she was ecstatic. Our little boy was showing off....and the girls (as I hoped they would be) were very modest.

I'll see Dr. Rowe in 3 weeks and Dr. G (OB) in 2 weeks. Seems like all I will be doing is seeing the docs.

By the way, we have been thinking of names. Nothing is set in stone as of right now....except for Baby A..the first born. Her name will be Mollie. I've had that name picked out for years. Bronson is leaning toward Van for the boy. And Baby B, well....we have several ideas, but still need some time to think. Middle names are undecided.

Oh....here are some pics of the babies (and of me at 16 weeks). I tried to put them in order, but this blog has a mind of it's own! You'll have to look at the top of the picture to see if it's Baby A, B, or C. Baby A - Mollie. Baby B (name undecided - our second girl)....also...if you look in the right upper corner, you'll see feet of another baby. It's so cute! And Baby C.....our little boy.

Our Journey

I have finally started our blog! I never thought I would finally get to do it. To bring those who don't have a myspace up to speed, below is what I have posted:

I found that this may be the best way for me to get all the news out of what's going on with Bronson and I. And it's the perfect way to tell you how awesome our God is.
Most of you know that Bronson and I have been married for 12 years now. Three years into our marriage, we began to try for kids (well...we never did prevent). It wasn't until during the 3rd (1999) year that my mom suggested we go to a fertility specialist. Needless to say, we were not in a huge hurry to get pregnant (well....Bronson wasn't!).

In 2003, we had extensive testing. Of course, Bronson passed with flying colors. Absolutely nothing wrong there. It took almost a year for the doctor to diagnose me as part of 1% of the population....."unexplained infertility". Couldn't tell me what was going on.
From that point forward, I was believing God for a miracle. In His Word He tells us to be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28). He also says that I will be a happy mother of children (Psalm 113:9). There's another scripture that says children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 128:3). So...having a family is God's idea. Having children is His will. And for those who know me....that's what I believed wholeheartedly. Besides, God also said, "And this is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14).

Month after month disappointment came and went. We tend to keep ourselves busy. And besides, being a part of a children's ministry at church was major therapy for me. In 2005, I began to proclaim "double for my trouble" and prayed for twins. If you read the story of Elijah and Elisha....you would understand. At the end of December, we had a visiting pastor (Pastor Greg Thurstonson from Dominion Church in League City) come to our church. Toward the end of the service, the pastor was praying for certain people....and then he came up to me. Long story short, he started praying for children for Bronson and I. And then the unimaginable happened.....he proclaimed double for my trouble. He had no idea who I was, nor did anyone tell him what was going on. It's amazing how God really works. It wasn't too much longer after that when another visiting pastor called me out during service and stated that I would have children. And once more....a new teacher in the children's ministry I'm currently over told me of a dream she had of me in the hospital after I had given birth to no other than.....twins. She didn't know me well at the time or anything that I was going through. In fact, she told me that I was in the bed and the two babies were in their "cribs" off to the side of me. She couldn't see if I was holding either one of them (there's a reason I'm mentioning this). That was in January or February of 2007.

In July 2007, I decided to go to a new doctor because I believed I had endometriosis and my current doctor thought otherwise. After one visit with Dr. Edwards, she scheduled me for a laproscopy the following week. Needless to say, I had it, as well as a ligament attached to my fallopian tube causing it to bend. She said it would be 3 to 6 months and I should get pregnant. After the 6 month, I went to another fertility specialist (other than the one I went to in 2003). I told him of the surgery and he said that if I would have gotten pregnant before then, I could have had an ectopic pregnancy. Wow! God is so good! I'm so thankful He made sure I dodged that catastrophe. Since I was adamant on not using fertility treatment, the specialist suggested that he monitor my cycles to see what was going on. The first month, everything seemed fine. But no pregnancy. The second month, my body didn't produce the hormones necessary to conceive. I knew then that I did need treatment and God placed people (doctors) here on earth to help.

I was told the treatment I would receive may take 2 to 3 months before I would get pregnant. I was also informed that I would have a 50 to 60% chance of conceiving, 20% of that being twins and only 5% triplets or quads. Well, I knew in my heart we would conceive twins. I've been praying for a girl and boy twin for quite some time. Anyway...June 9th is when we found out that we were pregnant (took the first try). I was elated! But ready for the next step (confirmation of the twins, seeing the heartbeats, getting past first trimester, etc.) That Friday, June 13th, it was confirmed that we had 2. God is amazing!!! Little did I know that He had a little something extra for us. He always goes beyond anything we could ever imagine or hope for.

Plans were in place....I already had someone lined up to watch them when I went back to work, their names were already picked out, etc. On Tuesday morning (June 17th), I woke up feeling very different. I told Bronson I believed there were more than 2 in there. He was not amused. I tried to explain what I was feeling and why. I tried to prepare him that there's a great possibility there's at least 3. Again, he was not receiving it very well. Later that morning, our doctor's appointment revealed what I already knew. On the sonogram.....3 embryonic sacs showed. Bronson's mouth dropped, I died laughing!!! By Thursday, the doctor saw me (I had been seeing RN's this whole time) and confirmed that all three were developing. Talk about having your plans go out the window. But sometimes I believe God must get our attention on the things of Him and His plan.....and off our own agenda. Now that we're faced with triplets (and not any more.....I think), we must completely and totally trust in Him and what He has in store for us. I no longer can tackle this challenge. It must be Him working through me. This is much bigger than Bronson and I. I firmly believe that with the Lord, all things are possible. But it's only by Him and not by our own strength. I can't tell you how honored I am that He chose to glorify His name through our challenges. This is nothing that Bronson and I did alone. It is only by God that life is given.....and life more abundant!!!

July 1: We got to hear the heartbeats for the first time today. Talk about amazing!!! It was a wonderful experience. Our babies!!! God is good!
August 21: Okay.....I have waited way too long to post anything. But I have been so tired (and sick). Not to mention, I'm still keeping my crazy, busy schedule. We had a wonderful, relaxing vacation. Cruise to Cozumel and then 4 days at the beach in Destin, Florida. It was well needed. I've posted some pics from the beach. I'll have more posted later. The babies are fine. Two are 8 cm and one is 7 cm. So far, the radiologist believes there are 2 girls and 1 boy. All of that will be confirmed on August 28th (next Thursday). I am so excited about that!!! I have finally been able to figure out my diet and what works for me. I was struggling there for a while. I eat a lot anyway....but apparently, I wasn't eating enough for 3 babies! It's a little overwhelming.