Almost 35 weeks!

We had our 35 week doctor appt yesterday (a day earlier than normal) because my doctor is going to be out of the office today and tomorrow due to lectures (he is a Harvard professor). Overall it went well. It is so hard to believe that it was the last time we will have an ultrasound before we meet these kiddos. I was laying there during the scan thinking it felt like yesterday when we saw all three of them in black and white for the first time (which was almost 30 weeks ago)... and now the next time we see them, they will be in color, living and breathing, in our arms,Wow - just  unbelievable! Truly, I cant explain in writing all the emotional feelings I have knowing that tomorrow we will be 35 weeks ... the  ultimate and almost impossible goal line. All I can say, is that it is completely surreal ... and at this point I am actually looking forward to the next 4 days of spending time with family and friends before life gets completely turned upside down (in a good way of course, ha). So, as of yesterday or babies are still 'little' growning beans! As for weights - Amelia is 6.8 lbs, Scarlett is 5.1 lbs, and Jameson is 6.11 lbs. Again, these weights are all approximate and can be off  by 10-15% one way or there other ... but even if they are 15% less than the guesstimates, we are talking about some good sized kiddos. Matter of fact, I have a number of friends that delivered full term babies smaller than my littlest one, which amazings me. And the craziest thing is that when our babies go to the NICU for observation, they will likely be some of the biggest ones in there. Just unreal. We still dont know if they will do a lot of NICU time, or if they will even be able to come home with us next weekend. Being that their weights are so great we are in hopes they will be ready to come home next weekend (less back and forth to Boston) but its really judged and dependant on their maturity. They will observe them to see if they can breath on their own for at least 48 hours, no brain bleeding, maintain their temperature, gain weight, keep up sugar levels, and be able to 'suck and swallow' on their own. No matter what they will be watched for 18 hours in NICU then they will determine how much time and assistance they may or may not need.

At this point I am just planning to lay low (as I have been) due to the heat and keeping the pressure off my hips and ligaments as much as possible. I am noticing a big change in sleep patterns (or lack of!) over the last week or so. Its been hard being up through a lot of the night when my body is so tired but the pain is too  much to be able to sleep through, however knowing the end it truly in sight in the next 5 days makes it all doable.

People keep asking us if we are ready ... and my response continues to be ... "ready or not, here they come!". I know cliche and silly but its really how I feel. I am ready to be done being pregnant and be on the path to healing, and I am so excited and ready to see what these babies look like and finally hold these miracles in my arms. What I am not sure I am ready for ... is sharing the love I have for Caroline. I know everyone who goes from one kid, to two, or three, or even four say the same thing and they all keep telling me its just magical how your heart grows. I do believe it - and I cant wait to feel it. I am also worried about the madness that is to come .... the thought of our simple life changing to be chaotic and uncontrollable for the foreseeable months, freaks me out. I am confident that Scott and I will find a groove and it will just work, eventually ... but its the time to get to that place that scares me. We cant afford for Scott to take time away from work on a Leave of Absence, so its going to be hard on us to balance his full time work schedule and my ability to care for four small children. We are planning that the next 3-5 weeks will be a really big transition time, between the hospital time, my healing and recovery, bringing these babies all home safely, learning them and their needs, adjusting Caroline to having crying and needy babies around with stressed parents, and having a revolving door due to helpers and visitors. So needless to say, we are aware of whats to come, but how to will navigate through it all ... that is the part that I don't know if I will ever be ready for :-) ... so, "ready or not, here they come"!!

Ok, going to pop the heavy laptop off the belly for now, but I wanted to share the latest information and sizes from yesterday's visit. If I dont get a chance to pop on again, I will be sure to post as soon as I am able with the details of the birth, sizes, and hopefully a few pictures! Until then, stay cool and enjoy your weekend!  Love to all and thank you again to EVERYONE who has been the pillars to get us to this miraculous point!!