So, where do I begin? The journey truly began a long time ago with my dreams and aspirations to become a mother. When I was twelve years old I had an irregular cycle and when I went to the doctor she told me that I would never be able to have children. Those words have been with me since that age--I can't remember much else about that day except those words. They became the words that haunted me and I gave them power in my life. I won't go into all of the details, yet that day changed me. I began a process of becoming a very inwardly-focused person as I did not want anyone to know my "secret." I went through my teenage years with these false beliefs about myself about not being adequate as a woman, yet at the age of 18 I was finally given a diagnosis. I soon left to go to college and my healing journey began. I met the now love of my life within a few months of starting college. We did the typical date, then break-up, then date again--he is a slow learner :) However, when I finally allowed myself to become open I found acceptance and love. During that healing process, God gave me several pieces of scripture. The first one was Psalm 139: 13-16, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." I was able to find healing in that passage as well as in the stories of Hannah and Naomi. So, Michael and I continued to date--Michael continued to love every part of me despite not knowing what our future would hold as far as children. So, then we got married :) We have now been married a little over 3 years and I can honestly say that it has been the best three years of my life.
So, let's fast forward a little bit. I started taking pre-natal vitamins in June 2011 to begin preparing my body. We had a doctor's appointment in June and scheduled the big-day for September 13th. We were excited! It was information over-flow and overwhelming as we tried to remember all of the correct dates and take all the medication at the scheduled time. We did the first round which took six weeks and then we returned to the doctor for blood work to determine if it had worked. We found out a few days later that it had not worked. To say I was disappointed would probably be an understatement. Everyone told me, "It's okay, it's just the first round." However, that is not what it feels like. I would tell myself everyday that today would be the day that I don't think about it (ha!) --like that would ever happen. So, they increased the medications and we began Round #2. We got a positive reading mid-cycle and we were excited! I was for-sure that God had truly answered my prayers in this round. I went and saw my doctor on 12/9 and got the call a few days later--the medication didn't work. It hurt. I got the call as I was leaving one of my visits and I just cried the whole way back to the office--it's amazing I didn't get in a wreck! So, the doctor began the 3rd round and increased the medication again. My heart was not in it this time and I was discouraged. We returned to the doctor six weeks later and I told him that I didn't need the blood work--I knew it didn't work. They did it anyway. I was right. The doctor trusted my instincts and referred me to the Nashville Fertility Center.
So, we had our first appointment on Feb. 7th. That day felt like a whirl-wind. Our doctor was friendly and spoke quickly. We tried to gather all of the information and let it soak in. Within a few hours of the appointment I was paying $100 to take a class on how to give myself a shot. I'm not sure why one would ever pay for something like this--but it is all a part of the craziness :) We began our battle with insurance and we eventually got it somewhat taken care of. I started injecting myself every night and then I would go to the doctor's office for an ultrasound every few days. I had an ultrasound tech at NFC, Patty, that I will always remember--she was patient with me and continually offered me words of encouragement. So, they did the final procedure and then you have to wait 14 days. I know to most people that does not sound that long of a period. It's just 2 weeks, right? Wrong. It was the longest 14 days--every day I would obsess about it. I would look up pregnancy symptoms online and decipher if maybe I had some of them. Craziness continues :)
I got a little impatient mid-14 days and I decided to take a pregnancy test. Michael tried to talk me out of my craziness, yet he was excited to know as well--I can be very persuasive! It was negative. My heart hurt--I was really anticipating it to be positive, yet it had only been 7 days. Michael encouraged me to keep going and tried his best to talk sense into me :) So, on day 13 I could barely contain myself. I had to work late that night and I knew Michael and I would get home at the same time. However, he decided to sign up for over-time and work extra! I couldn't contain myself (Michael said it was okay) so I took a pregnancy test. It was positive! I finally felt like all my years of heartache and praying had finally been answered. I tried to stay a little bit of a realist but it was difficult. I took another pregnancy test the next morning and it was also positive. So, I went to NFC for blood work and they called me the next day to say that I was "definitely pregnant." I went back the next day for more blood work because they wanted my numbers to double. Mine tripled. I asked if this meant I was having multiples--they said it could be or I just have a "really strong pregnancy." They scheduled an ultrasound for 2 weeks later.
So, we arrived for our first ultrasound and we were excited to see our baby! They began the ultrasound and the ultrasound lady, Patty, told us to not be alarmed throughout the ultrasound and she would answer all of our questions. We should have been scared then. We found out that we had twins with the possibility of carrying triplets! Baby A had a heartbeat of 115 and Baby C had a heartbeat of 110. However, Baby B had a yolk sac, but no embryo. We met with the doctor afterwards and she tried to re-assure us that we would only have twins. However, I felt like she kinda stuttered when she realized that Baby B had a yolk sac. Michael thought we would only have 2 but I wasn't so sure about that. So, we returned 1 1/2 weeks later to find out "for sure." And we found out. Baby B is a bit of a procrastinator and didn't want to make it's appearance. However, Baby B had caught up with everyone else and was only 1 day behind Baby C. We got to hear all of their heartbeats of the Doppler. It was a surreal moment to say the least. It is amazing to know that I have three living beings inside of me and to see their little body structures. We were amazed. We met with the doctor again and she seemed to try and apologize/explain our situation. We quickly told her that we were not upset about this and we were blessed with these three babies. She showed me my numbers again and told me that according to research I should not have these babies. It was just the sign I needed--to know that God has a plan for these babies and to trust that He will complete the good work that He began with these babies. I'm not saying we won't have our challenges, yet we are trying to be as optimistic as possible.
So, here we are. We are having triplets. Michael says that to me at least 5 times a day-- I asked if you say it several times if it helps the news sink in. He said it does. I'm not quite sure I understand yet or that I have fully wrapped my mind around having three babies. We were a family of 2 and now we are a family of 5. Amazing. We feel so blessed. There are a lot of challenges that we are about to encounter--getting a new car, buying 3 of everything, preparing our house, finding additional financial resources, finding a high-risk doctor, staying healthy, and the list continues. We will take this one day at a time and I will try not to worry (for real)--after all we have a triple blessing to be thankful for :)
So, we invite you on this journey. I don't know what the future holds for us, yet we are excited. We will update you with pictures and exciting news--as well as our needs and concerns. And hopefully by mid to late October we will be able to show off our triple blessings :)
