These past few days, I've been thinking a lot about last year's Thanksgiving...remembering how I spent it hiding out in the bathroom injecting myself full of hormones. Just praying that it'd all work out and we'd get our baby.
Funny how much things can change in a year.
This time of year, people like to fill their Facebook pages each day with something they're thankful for. While it's a nice sentiment, I like to save my Facebook status updates for cute baby pictures. So instead, I've decided to blog 30 reasons why I'm thankful. You may sense a theme...
1) My loving supportive husband. We've been through a lot as a couple...particularly these past few years. From our struggle with infertility to our very difficult pregnancy to babies in the NICU and overall just having three babies! He's been a good sport about it all. He's such a good daddy and does a good job of taking care of us all.
2) Oliver (AKA Ollie, Ollie Pollie, Chunky Monkey, Cheeks, Bruiser, Tank) - He's certainly our Big Guy! I love his smile and his chubby cheeks. I love that when he gets excited, he screams with delight. I love that he sucks his thumb and that loves eating as much as I do! Ollie was the first baby born, the first I got to see, and the first I got to really hold. I can't imagine life without him.
3) Nolan (AKA Nolars, NOLO, Sweet Boy) - Nolan was the least amount of drama in the womb and also in the NICU. He was the biggest at birth, but never again a day after that. He loves to snuggle and loves to hear Mama sing. I love the throaty gurgling noses he makes and how he'll blow bubbles from his mouth when he's supposed to be eating. I can't imagine life without him.
4) Lucas (Lukey Pooky, Pooky, Little Peanut, Sweet Pea) - I think Lucas will always be our Little Peanut. He may be small in size, but certainly not in personality. I love how much he and Nolan are alike, but how they also have their differences. I love that when he cries, he actually says "wah" or how sometimes it sounds like he's saying "Mom! Mom! Mom!" (Nolan does this too). And I love the look on his face when he sees his girlfriend Ceiling Fan! I can't imagine life without him.
5) Getting pregnant - James and I had a very difficult time getting pregnant and finally had to resort to IVF. Insurance didn't cover any of our treatment, so we could only afford to do it once. I'm so very thankful that it worked the first time. Sadly, for many it does not...
6) Financial stability - I'm so grateful that we were able to afford to do IVF. For us, it was possibly only chance of getting pregnant. So thankful we were able to make it work, financially.
7) Modern science - I'm thankful for the innovative technology we have these days that allows a baby to be made in a petri dish. Everyday, more and more research is done to help make procedures like IVF more successful. It's changed our lives!
8) Dr. Brabec and the staff at RRC - Our fertility doctor is great at what she does. She gets results. So glad we found her! I'm also thankful for the lovely front desk ladies at RRC who always had a way of making me feel better if I was down. And for Nurse Marci who I got to know very well in my time there. She was wonderful.
9) February 7th - Many people don't know this, but 12 weeks into my pregnancy, I had major bleeding. I'll never forget that day. I woke up at 4 AM and noticed the blood. I tried to stay calm and go back to bed, thinking I'd call my doctor's office when they woke up. After laying in bed for 10 minutes sobbing, I realized there was no way I could wait until the office opened, so I called the on-call doctor. He told me to go to the emergency room. It was a very scary time. I was so fearful that I was losing one (or all) of the babies. Luckily when we got in for an ultrasound, all three babies were fine. This was a big turning point for me. Up until then, I was having a very hard time accepting that I was going to have triplets. It wasn't something I was happy about yet. However, when I knew that something could be wrong with one (or all) of them, I knew that they ALL had to be okay. That was when I realized I was meant to be a mother of three.
10) Dr. Newby - I really liked my OB. I wouldn't say that I had that many more doctor's appointments with her during my pregnancy (because I saw a perinatologist), but I got to know her well towards the end when I was on hospital bed rest. She would do rounds every morning and come check on me. She just always seemed to genuinely care and was easy to talk to. She's also helped me out a lot since the boys were born. I'm very thankful for her.
11) Midwest Perinatal - Almost all my ultrasounds during my pregnancy were with a perinatologist (high risk pregnancy doctor). While most women have just a couple ultrasounds during their pregnancy, I had about 20. These doctors monitored my babies frequently throughout the entire pregnancy, particularly at the end when I was on hospital bed rest. I worked with four of them, but the one I saw the most while I was in the hospital was Dr. Finley. He was the doctor who originally broke the bad news to me that two of our babies were MoMo twins (a really risky situation). Despite this, he was always my favorite and I'm thankful he was my doctor.
12) My antepartum nurses - I spent 39 days in the hospital on bed rest. My nurses during that time were wonderful. Many of them I will never forget. One in particular, came to visit me on the Mother/Baby floor after the boys were born and brought cute little triplet onesies that she made. She also visited the boys in the NICU a couple times and recently came over to the house to see them. I'm thankful for all my nurses, but Nurse Sarah will always hold a special place in my heart.
13) My friends - I'm so thankful for my supportive friends. I was so scared to go on hospital bed rest, but I had people visit me everyday. Some of my best memories with my friends include Hospital Book Club and Hospital Game Night! My girls definitely helped me get through those 39 days! They were also great at visiting and helping out with meals and stuff while the boys were in the NICU and after they came home.
14) Lisa - While she falls under the "friend" category, she really is so much more. She was there for me every scary step of the way during my pregnancy. From the day I told her I was having a baby to the day I told her I was having two babies to the day I told her (through lots and lots of tears) that I was having three babies! She was always so excited for me and went above and beyond to plan two very elaborate baby showers. She (aside from James) was the one who visited me in the hospital the most and also the one who visited my boys in the NICU the most. She has taken on the "auntie" role with these boys and they are so lucky to have her. Not a week goes by, where Auntie Lisa doesn't come to snuggle the boys...and we can always count on her if we're in need of some extra help. She was the one who drove me home from the hospital after living there for 39 days. She was the one who had my front lawn decorated with "It's a Boy!" signs when the boys came home. She was the one who set up all the help I had during the day for those first couple months . She was the one who came to help snuggle the boys after they had their shots. I feel like I can never repay her for all she's done...
15) Making it to 33 weeks - While my boys were born 7 weeks early, I'm thankful that I was able to make it as far as I did. With three babies in me, I was measuring 50 weeks pregnant when they were born. By the end, I was huge and miserable. But I was able to deliver three healthy 4 pound babies...and by golly, I think that was pretty phenomenal!
16) Dr. Nichols and Dr. Arroyo (and everyone else in the delivery room) - These were the two doctors who delivered the boys. My doctor was out of state when they were born. These two were the ones on call that night. I knew them already from doing rounds while I was staying in the hospital and they actually happened to be my two favorites (aside from my own doctor). I had to have an emergency c-section and they did a great job of getting the babies out quickly and safely. At the same time, we had about 15 other people in the delivery room ready to take care of those boys as soon as they came out. All these people contributed to us having a successful birth.
17) NICU staff (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, etc.) - Our boys were in the NICU for 33-40 days. We got to know the doctors and nurses rather well during their time there. We are forever grateful toward them for taking care of our boys when we couldn't. Our most memorable nurse was Ashley who had Oliver for the first four days of his life. Not only was she really good with the babies, she was good with the parents as well. James and I were both terrified, but she did a great job of showing us how to care for our tiny little ones. She taught James how to change his first diaper and was the one who showed him how to hold Oliver for the first time. She was the one who wheeled me back downstairs when I got really dizzy and sick up in the NICU. She'd come check on us and the boys every once in a while just to see how we were doing. We just loved her!
18) My family - I've seen my family more since these boys were born than I ever have before in my adult life. My parents and sisters Maggie and Nicole have been so helpful in coming up and helping us take care of the boys. They've fed babies, changed diapers, and helped out overnight. I'm so grateful they live close enough where they can come on a monthly basis.
19) Helpers - My friend Lisa set up a sign up genius for people to sign up to come help out with the boys. I'm very thankful for all the help I've had. During the first couple months that the boys were home, I had someone here with me for a couple hours almost everyday. It really helped me keep my sanity! I'm particularly grateful for Sally (another triplet mom) who came over regularly to help out...and always brought me Starbucks and all kinds of advice on how to survive!
20) Support Group - I've joined a couple multiples groups since I found out I was having triplets. It's been really nice to have the support of people who have been there. I feel like I have resources to turn to with any questions I may have. I'm really grateful for this.
21) Our photographer - I'm so very thankful for Cindy coming into our lives. Not only has she taken phenomenal photos of our boys, but I can tell she's truly fallen in love with them. She's come over a number of times to help out with them. I just know she's going to make a great mommy some day!
22) Our home - So glad we got a four bedroom home! I'm really grateful we have this house that we were able to bring our boys home to. It will be fun to watch them grow up here.
23) The health of our boys - There were so many times during our pregnancy that we didn't even know if all three of these boys would make it. Not only are they all here but they're all healthy and thriving. I feel so blessed that these boys don't have any of the long term health problems that preemies so often have.
24) My own health and resilience - My body went through A LOT this past year. From the loads of hormones being injected into my system to suffering through the pain of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrom) to the three (very cute) little parasites that took over my body to not being able to really walk or move around for 6+ weeks. My body isn't fully recovered from all it went through, but I think it's done pretty good, considering everything!
25) Dr. Brunner - We had a bit of a tough time finding a pediatrician, but I guess they say good things come to those who wait. My friend Sara recommended her and I'm so glad she did. We love her! When I mentioned to some of the NICU staff that we were thinking about interviewing her, they all knew who she was and said she spends a lot of time up at the NICU. I still remember one of the doctors saying, "She brilliant! And she's great with preemies. She could totally be a neonatalogist!" When I met her, I just knew she was the one!
26) Breastfeeding - I'm thankful that I was able to do what I thought impossible and breastfeed my three babies for the first 12 weeks of their lives. Since then, Nolan and Lucas have been diagnosed with a milk protein allergy and have to be on a special formula. Oliver is still being breastfed. I'm so glad my body was able to do this for them!
27) Staying at home - I've been fortunate to be able to stay home from work this year. I really don't know how I would have been able to go back, but I'm glad I don't have to think about it anymore. I love that I get to spend my days with these three beautiful boys everyday! I'm already a little sad thinking about going back next year!
28) Baby snuggles - There are few things that beat that feeling when you have a sleepy baby cuddled up on your chest. I had to wait a while to be able to do this with my boys whenever I wanted and you can bet when I got home and was able to snuggle them without worrying about wires or cords that I did it every chance I got. It makes me wish they'd never grow up!
29) Sweet baby smiles - I love that my boys are at the age where they're always smiling. It is simply the cutest thing ever.
30) Brothers - It's already so fun to watch the boys interact with each other. They'll reach for each other, hold hands, and just watch each other. I'm so grateful that they will always have two best friends by their sides.
