Dr. update today- 30 weeks

Today was not quite as encouraging. While the girls and I are still doing well, the doctor was concerned over my contractions. Although I have been experiencing them for months, they have certainly increased in frequency, duration, and intensity. Today they decided to monitor them and found that while I am not having labor contractions yet, at this rate they may not be far behind. They are iffy now on whether I will even make it to 32 weeks. If I do go into labor before 32 weeks they will give me something to stop it for a few more days and so they can also give me steroid shots to help develop the babies lungs. Apparently the steroid shots work best when given 48 hours or so before the babies are delivered, so they don't want to do them yet.

I am still hopeful as so far I think we have defied the odds in our pregnancy- and of course with God anything is possible.
Whatever happens, though, I was touched by the verse I read today that:
"From the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:5-6
He has begun a great work with these girls, and He will be faithful to carry us through.

Had another doctor's appointment today and they measured the girls:
Baby A: 2 lbs, 11 oz
Baby B: 2 lbs, 14 oz
Baby C: 2 lbs, 9 oz

The average for a singleton at 29 weeks is 2 lbs, 6 oz so our girls are doing great! Everything looks good and the doctor thinks it is very possible that I will make it past 32 weeks. He said by 33 weeks the babies should be over 4 lbs and it would be really good for them to reach 4 lbs before they are born. At the rate they are growing I think they can reach 4 lbs even before then!

28 weeks and counting...

We are glad to have reached the first major milestone in a triplet pregnancy- 28 weeks! At this point the babies would have a 95% survival rate if born so that is pretty cool.... but I am doing so well still that I know we can make it a lot longer.
The next big milestone is 32 weeks, which is the average for a triplet pregnancy, and the survival rate is 99% then. I would really like to make it to 34 weeks. Just a little more time in my belly could mean weeks less for the girls in the NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit). My close friend had twins at 34 weeks and they didn't even spend a day in the NICU so that's really encouraging. Also, the last reflex to develop is the sucking reflex and it develops around 34 weeks so until then they wouldn't be able to breast or bottle feed.
I am not getting around much now and my 50lb belly feels enormous, but overall I still feel well and there are no problems or complications! This really is so unusual- I follow a lot triplet pregnancy blogs and many were hospitalized from 4-7 weeks before delivering their babies at around 30 weeks. My doctors are impressed and we are just so thankful to God every minute.
Here is a picture of me and my belly at 28 weeks:
Alex took the picture so it is a little lopsided, but you get the general idea (that I have a huge belly!)



















Here is the babies' room that my parents painted for me- Thank you Mom and Dad!
My mom is also sewing curtains, and we plan to put the babies' names over their cribs (if we ever decide what they will be) :)











































And here are some pictures of Alex as I can't leave him out!
Here he is painting some letters for the girls' room- I was trying to see how they would turn out, even though we don't have the names down for sure yet.















He went on a camping trip with Chris and Erik and made himself his own little fire next to the bigger one.




























Thanks for your prayers! Keep them coming!