Week 12

I mark the progression of my pregnancy by Dr.'s visits and usually am filled with anxiety to get to the apt. and see the growth and development of my four bundles. Jeff has been with me every step of the way and I know he gets equally excited about the apts. as I do; not only for the opportunity to see the babies but also as a relief to hear that they are still thriving and growing strong. Today's visit was still well anticipated; but in a bitter sweet way. Jeff was sent to Vegas for a TDY last Thursday and today was the first visit that he has missed. Making the journey from the dreaded Wilford Hall parking lot up to the fifth floor to OB and  anxiously waiting the ultrasound and remarks from the Dr. was just not the same without my other.

I am beyond honored to be a military wife and so proud of Jeff''s accomplishments in the Air Force; but I forget just how lonely and trying TDYs are until they are present again. Not to mention that the soaring hormones (times four) have my emotions sitting on top of my shoulders just waiting to explode!! I find this TDY more difficult than the previous ones he has been on; not only due to pregnancy but also with all of the time I have to sit and think....and over think!!! Not having a job (other than the job of eating 5000 calories and the baking of four babies) makes it difficult to fill my day and socializing (Internet not included) comes far and few between. I also know that allowing myself to fall into the doldrums is not conducive to the health of myself and more importantly for my four blessings. God brings people in our lives for a reason and timing is all on him. My mother in law called this past weekend and gave me some truly inspirational and comforting words. As much as I think that the time apart from Jeff is torture and of no good, she made the point that   moments like this is when God wants us to confide and grow closer to him as he is a jealous God and does not want to compete with even our spouses. How true that is! Although I still hope that time goes by faster than not!!!!

Although I did not get the ultrasound with all of the bells and whistles since the computers were down, I still got an ultrasound (nothing high tech) on the Dr.'s laptop. It never ceases to amaze me at how the babies grow and develop in the span of a couple of weeks. All four had great heartbeats and all four were bee bopping around in their safe haven. A hint of disappointment hit when I was told there would be no fancy ultrasound (I was really hoping to get the chance to see the sexes); but I am still so grateful I get to see the babies at every visit! Today was yet another day of praise, thankfulness, and relief that my bundles are doing so well!

I am still waiting to become "that pregnant lady" who has the blissful pregnancy with no nausea or complications and could be pregnant all of the time...needless to say it has not happened quite yet! The nausea and headaches are still persistent. i saw the endocrinologist this week who opted to wait to do an MRI until after delivery. He could not completely rule out the tumor being the cause of the headaches but said the tumor had not caused any negative effects of hormones so better left alone. The OB was still concerned with the headaches and prescribed a new medication to try and see if it eases both the aches and the nausea (if they still continue he feels a referral to a neurologist is needed). I will depend on prayer! He was impressed with my consistent weight gain despite the nausea; so I was proud my hard eating work paid off! At the next apt. is two weeks he said he will schedule the half day anatomy apt where we will then find out the sex of each as well as their growth progress. For being 12 weeks pregnant, I am rocking a rather large bump! My jaw dropped when the OB said I should expect it to double within the next couple of weeks as the babies start doubling in size!!!! It will no longer be a bump....I will have a MOUND!!!!

Excited, thankful, blessed, overjoyed....they are all great words; but nothing can describe my feelings towards the four growing babies inside! I can sit and dwell on Jeff being away, let the headaches get the best of me, and allow the nausea to knock me down....but I can't. God has given me so much to be thankful for that overrides all of the other ailments. Whether I am "that pregnant lady" or not; I will enjoy every day of it regardless of what comes my way...Alone I could not do it; but with the watchful eye and powerful hand of God, anything can be done!!!

11 weeks

Week 10

I suppose all first time moms go through the worry phase; as the unknown is scary. With every stretch, cramp, pain, ache....feelings of anxiety overwhelm me. I am trusting and faithful that all is and will be great under the Lord's watchful hand; but it must be the mom instinct to automatically worry. There is no better feeling or since of relief than on the Dr. appointment days when the ultrasound tech confirms each of the fours viability. Every emotion streams through my body and my mind; and a, "Thank You God" follows the spotting of each of the quads.

Today officially marks week 10 of the pregnancy. However; by looks alone, my belly states otherwise. People (vital nurses in the OB included) are shocked when they ask me how far along I am and the answer of 10 weeks is given. Their face says all, "There is no way.....Look at your belly!!"! When I share with them that I am expecting quads, their face speaks for them once again!

Week 9 was anything but fun....an ER trip, sharp pains, extreme nausea and fatigue, and splitting headaches. As trying as last week was; it was automatically forgotten when I got to see each of the precious four blessings. I can endure anything for the health and safety of my babies (and many prayers)! I laid in awe as the appearance of each baby was no longer that of an alien....they were little babies!! All of them were moving about with their little heads bobbing up and down. Baby A was especially feisty as he/she (although the tech said she thought there was a good possibility it was a boy; we will know for sure she said in a few weeks) was all over the place, hands and feel flailing about!

Having gotten pregnant and infertility being the only issue my pituitary tumor has caused; I forget about its presence. However; the high risk OB told us what I have read about and would rather not think about. My tumor is categorized as Macro (bigger than 1 cm; micro being smaller than 1cm) and with that comes a high chance of it growing at least 1/3 its size in a normal singleton pregnancy. Since we are having quads he deduces that my chance will be even greater although there is no certainty (there is no research for pituitary adenomas and quad pregnancies). My chart states that I get an MRI, see the endocrinologist, get a  visual field test and complete eye exam every 6 months. The time has come for all of it to be completed and he said as long as they skip the dye for the MRI, the babies will not be effected. I will keep confidence in God that the tumor goes unchanged; but am thankful for the concerns and effective monitoring.

Getting the necessary 4-5000 calories a day has been my nemeses!!! I have made an effort to eat every two hours and to constantly drink. My hard work is paying off as I have gained 9 pounds!!! It made my day that our Dr. thought I was doing great (since Jeffrey thought the opposite)! It was also reassuring to know that I was given permission to splurge!!! This was beyond  exciting as there is just no way I can stomach Boost drinks!!!!! DQ, here I (plus 4) come!!!!

I can not thank God enough for this incredible journey! It is truly a miracle to look and see four babies growing and thriving inside me. Whenever things are tough (like last week) or feelings of worry arise as to how we will afford four kids; I have to remind myself that there is a reason why we were given this gift and with God overseeing all, we will be taken care of!!!!!



Week 10