I Had a Dream...

So, I had a dream a few nights ago...let me tell you all about it. I dreamed we had three girls. I guess with all the talk over the weekend at the shower, this was on my mind quite a bit. We will find out very soon--May 11th is my ultrasound. That is less than two weeks away. I have also had some panic thoughts on the health of these babies. We were told the ultrasound would be three hours long. I keep thinking about how I will be worrying about each one until they tell me they ALL have ten fingers and toes, normal kidneys, four chamber hearts, stomachs, normal measurements and head size and normal anatomy elsewhere. That is three hours of worrying. Once we know all this, the future ultrasounds will be easier.

I have been feeling the babies move quite a bit. I felt them for the first time a few weeks ago--really early. It was around 12 weeks. Especially in the last week or so, I have felt them move a few times a day. I think I am only feeling two of them and their little kicks are in the same place that the doctor heard the heartbeats at my last checkup. The third one we think (poor little thing) is behind the other two since that heartbeat was faint at the last check up. In the last few days I have noticed the kicks are moving up so these little rascals are getter bigger (as is my belly!) I can't believe I am just about 17 weeks. Since most with triplets deliver around 32 weeks, I might be past the half-way point. Just seems odd to think that. Two other things in this pregnancy I have noticed that have been different from my first one. I have had a few braxton hicks contractions. These started at 16 weeks. I called the nurse and she told me to slow down and if I get more than 5 in a hour to call back. I have only had a few at a time and some days I don't have any. I had these when I was pregnant with Jack, but I remember I was around 20 weeks or so. I have slowed down, basically because my back has started hurting again. Again, I noticed this around 16 weeks. Some days it is hard to walk by the end of the day. Reminds me of my good old gymnastics days--except I can't take flexeril or any other goodies. My back pain began later in my first pregnancy, but I remember going to physical therapy by 28 weeks. I was heavier with my first pregnancy and attributed that to the back pain. When I called the nurse last week, she thought it was because of the way my uterus sits on my pelvis. Anyway, at least I don't have to go to 40 weeks.

I thought it would be fun for everyone to guess what the genders of the babies are before the ultrasound. Let me give you a little bit more information. I dreamed Jack was a girl too before he was born. So my 'mother's intuition' on these things is not so good. I really thought I was having a girl with Jack. I am also about 90% wrong when I guess the genders of other people's babies--seriously. Whatever I guess, that person ends up having the opposite. When my sister-in-law came to visit last month we checked out the Chinese calendar. It told me I had a 50/50 chance of having a boy or girl. Nice. That really helps. Not that the calendar is always right, it too told me I would have a girl with Jack. Go figure. Finally, my friend Sarah, who is a math teacher, did all the percentages for me and I will list them below:

87.5% chance of having at least one boy
87.5% chance of having at least one girl
37.5% chance of having two boys and one girl
37.5% chance of having two girls and one boy
12.5% chance of having three boys
12.5% chance of having three girls

As for my guess, I think I am going to stick with the mother's intuition--three girls. (I wouldn't be surprised if I have 3 boys because of this guess)

If you have a few minutes in the next few weeks, please say a few prayers the babies are healthy.

Two Tired Boys

I couldn't resist...sorry John

Baby(ies) Shower

On Saturday, my family put together a baby shower for us. It was so nice and unexpected since this is my second pregnancy. I guess when you have multiples, everything "normal" is not so normal anymore. Saturday was a beautiful day and it was so nice to be surrounded by friends and family. The generosity, love, and support was amazing! These babies are so lucky to have such wonderful people in their lives.

My good friend Sarah and her daughter, Abby, from Ohio were able to make the trip and we were so thankful to see and visit with them. Jack and Abby played all the time together last year before we moved, and it was nice to see them picking up right where they left off--with one major difference...they both don't stop talking!!

Here are Abby and Jack playing together before the shower

My Mother, of course, really made a perfect cake! Can you believe this entire cake is made from scratch??

Everything was edible on this cake, except the babies. I kept those and thought they would be really cute on their cakes at their first birthday. The pea pod is made out of fondant, a type of icing. I think my mom is in the wrong profession! She really has a talent.

Shower at the Frazier's house

Two cousins--Noah and Jack
This was the best picture I could get of them together. As they get older, I wonder how much trouble they will get into?

Thank you everyone for spending the day with me and all the prayers, thoughts and wonderful gifts. John and I are so blessed to have all you a part of our lives.

Morton Arboretum

On Friday, I took Jack and my niece, Margaret, to the Morton Arboretum. Since it was Arbor Day, it was free admission. Friday's weather was picture perfect--sunny and in the low 80s. There were millions of people there and I had a hard time keeping track of Jack. Thank goodness for Margaret's help!! Remind me next time to skip the free days and pay the admission price so I can visit the Arboretum without the rest of the city of Chicago!!!

Margaret and Jack

Jack

There are not too many pictures because we didn't stay too long--maybe an hour at most.

He is Risen! Easter Day Fun!

Jack now has two bears he calls Bella and he carries them everywhere!

What a beautiful day to celebrate our Lord's rising! We celebrated Easter at my mom and dad's with all my siblings and their children. It was such a nice spring day and Jack and his cousins were able to play outside. The kids found Easter eggs in the morning after discovering their baskets of candy and toys. We went to church and we even had an Easter egg hunt outside. The kids loved the jelly beans in the eggs and the money was a big hit too! We had Easter dinner at my mom's which is turning into a large crowd! Aside from my three siblings and their spouses, there are 7 grandchildren with 5 more on the way to be here before Halloween! It is nice when everyone is able to spend time together for holidays because we all live in different states. The cousins get along so well and it is nice to see them play together. These are times to cherish and memories we will have forever.

Jack and John were able to spend some time with Jack's other grandparents, Mimi and Papa, on Saturday afternoon while I was at my sister's baby shower. Jack loved his marshmallow peeps and golf balls and other candy in his basket from them. John was teaching him to swing the golf club on Sunday afternoon. Maybe we'll see him in the Masters someday?

Jack's Easter Basket

Waking up on Easter morning. Jack loved his new toys and the candy was great!

Jack found Easter eggs with his cousins. He was the youngest, so we had to push him along and hold the others back. Wait until next year Jack, there will be younger children!

Before church, Braden and Jack pose together

Jack and me before Church

Dad and Jack

Grandmom and Granddad and Jack

Easter egg hunt outside

After such a busy weekend, we left for home Sunday night. Jack was exhausted! He was asleep two minutes into the car ride and didn't wake up until we pulled into our driveway 3 hours later. When John carried him inside, he told us he wanted to go to bed. So our little guy slept from 5pm last night to 7am today. You have to know Jack to realize this is a rare occurrence. He is NOT the best napper or sleeper. I guess all the weekend activities wore him out!!

Sarah's Shower

We made it into Fort Wayne for Easter weekend, filled with many, many things to do! On Saturday morning we had a baby shower for my younger sister who is expecting her first baby late July. She and her husband flew in from Texas. It was nice to visit with them and see many of my aunts and cousins at the shower. Of course, my mother went all out on the shower, probably because it is her "baby" and last shower she will have to host for her girls!

The basement of my mom's house--all ready for the guests!

There were quite a few people there to celebrate with Sarah!One of the diaper cakes and some of the food at the shower

America's Favorite Pastime

Baseball is back!! I love this time of year. Today is opening day at Fenway!! Go Sox!! Actually the game today was rained out. But there is always tomorrow!! GO SOX!!

End of the First Trimester

I had another appointment today. There really isn't too much to report. The doctor used the Doppler to hear each of the babies heartbeats. Two were really distinct. One was behind the other two so the heartbeat was faint. They were beating in the 150s and 160s. Other than that, I measured fine and my blood pressure was great. I won't go back for 5 weeks. I made my next appointment for Monday, May 11. This is the same day as our ultrasound. Hopefully we will know the genders after this appointment. (Get your guesses in now!) The doctor today mentioned that we will probably get ultrasounds done every 2-3 weeks starting around 18-20 weeks so they can start to measure the babies individually. I can't believe it is the end of the first trimester. These babies will be here before we know it!

PS Happy Birthday to my little sister. Can't wait to see you and John this weekend!!

Easter Eggs

We colored Easter eggs on Sunday. This was the first year that Jack really enjoyed to 'help'. His favorite thing to do was plop the eggs in the cups. He really liked to see the eggs when we took them out. He was amazed how they changed colors! He also enjoyed the stickers. Our eggs have SO many stickers on them. I think we used up the entire sheet of stickers, so we had to stop! He cracked open one of the eggs and tried to eat it, however, it was mixed with shell so he didn't like it.

Getting ready. Jack didn't know what we were doing yet exactly.

The cracked eggThe endless supply of stickers were finally used up!

Szczepanski's Come Visit

This past Friday and Saturday my brother and his family came to visit us. My sister-in-law, Ryann, and I had fun taking the kids to the Dupage Children's Museum on Friday.

Emily, Jack and Thomas

EmilyJackThomas, Emily and Jack play at the water table

(Kevin and Ryann are in the background)

We ate pizza on Friday night and had fun shopping for Ryann's new baby, due in May! They left on Saturday afternoon. Jack had fun playing with his cousins and can't wait to see them this weekend!