Back from retirement already!

So, Monday was "work day" at our house and my dad came and helped out a ton. While he was there he told me that his tooth had been bothering him and that when we went to get his teeth cleaned they took some xrays. He showed me the xrays and sure enough...he needed some serious tooth intervention! I called Dr. Gordon who I used to work with and who my dad still goes to for his check-ups. He graciously offered to let me come and use his office to work on my dad. So, yesterday, we met up at Dr. Gordon's office and had a marathon dental appointment. We worked on 3 of his teeth! My dad was a great patient and it was so much fun to be back in the office with Dr. Gordon and the staff (Diane, Jamie, and Heather). I was definitely a bit stressed about doing such long procedures (especially on my dad) while I was already having such a hard time even just moving around. But, I survived and so did my dad's teeth! Yeh!
I also went on Wednesday to another dentist's office here in the City who I know because he wanted to know if I was interested in making a set of dentures for one of his patients. I met with the patient and he was a super nice guy (82 years old native San Franciscan). I decided that he would better be treated by a specialist and referred him to UCSF. I spent about an hour doing a consultation and just chatting with the guy. At the end he says, "How much do I owe you for today?" I said, "Well, it was just a consultation so don't worry about it. I'll make sure you get referred to a good doctor at UCSF". He said, "So, you'll send me a bill?" I said, "No, don't worry about it! Today it's on me!" He starts getting out his wallet and says, "Okay, fine! This is for for the triplets then!" I looked at his friend and said, "No!" His friend says, "You better just take it or else he's gonna get mad!" So, I laughed and said okay. I put it in my pocket and didn't realize until I got home that he gave me $300!!! Holy cow! I was in complete shock! Thanks, God! Now that I am unemployed I am even more grateful!
Hopefully, that's the end of my dental treatment for awhile. It's been fun to do some side work but I really do need to take a break. So, if anyone else gets a toothache...please don't call me! Ha! Just kidding! I will be happy to help as much as possible but just know that I am much slower moving than before! :)

Work Day at Jardine Casa (23 Weeks)

Sheri and Jose just left this morning to go back to Colorado, but boy did we make them work! They were so much fun to have here and they were amazing troopers! They painted, moved furniture, cooked dinner, and cleaned. They were such an amazing help! Thanks so much! We were able to finally say farewell to the foosball table on Saturday. Whoohoo!!! On Monday, with the help of my parents who were also an incredible help, we were able to paint the babies' room and put together 2 dressers for their room. We painted it a sunny light yellow that really brightens up the room. So, even when it's foggy outside (like it's ever foggy in SF??) it feels sunny in the room. It was a super productive day and I am excited to finally start to see the transformation from the foosball/office/guest room into the babies' room. It is definitely a lot of work, but it is starting to all come together.
I am officially off of work! Yeh! I was initially sad but I know it's for a good reason. Eric says my full-time job right now is to "grow babies"! He has being amazingly supportive and is taking on a lot of the duties around the house that I have always done in the past. It is surprising to me to discover, but I am very much a doer and a worker and to have to rely on other people to do things for me or around the house is quite challenging. I still feel like I should be able to do it and my body quickly reminds me that I can't. So, I am trying to listen to my body and to not be stubborn (as Eric says) and to only do my job...to grow babies! I know soon enough I'll have more responsibility than I'll know what to do with. So, until then I am going to try to relax and be a good patient! :)

Mini Meal

Sheri and Jose flew in from Colorado yesterday and it has been super fun! The first place we stopped after picking them up from the airport was the Millbrae Pancake House for breakfast. It's one of our favorite breakfast places and they usually have pretty big servings. I ordered a 2 egg, bacon, sausage and pancake combo. When they brought it to me it looked like a kids size portion. I said, "This is enough to feed 1 of my babies!" I was quite disappointed at the small portion (see picture). Normally it would've been the perfect size, but since I am eating for 4 I seem to need a bit more food than before! Luckily everyone else's portions were quite large (see Jose's plate) so I managed to get enough food!

The coolest "diaper cake" ever!

I finally got a picture of the "diaper cake" that Kim and Amanda made for my baby shower at work. Isn't it the coolest thing ever? I love it! :)

Grow babies grow! (22 Week Ultrasound)

Today we had another "big" ultrasound and boy were they on the move! All 3 babies are continuing to grow like weeds. My parents were able to come to the ultrasound today which was very fun having them there. They were excited to see the babies moving around. In fact, my mom finally got to feel them kicking. It seems like they've been moving 24/7 recently. They are quite the active little ones. The doctor says that it still looks like there is 1 boy and 2 girls. Yah! And they are all growing well. I have gained 36 pounds and feel huge. The doctor says that I am measuring at 32 weeks (8 months). He also was very excited because he said my cervix looks super long! Whoohoo! Apparently the cervix shortens when you are getting close to labor. Since pre-term labor is their main concern, a long cervix is a good thing. I also had a class today on "Detecting and Preventing Pre-term Labor". I have to spend 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening laying on my side and feeling for contractions. Each week a nurse is going to call me to discuss the findings and I will have 24 hour phone access to the nurses. So, they are definitely wanting to keep an eye on everything, which is good.
One of my favorite things is that the babies already respond to our voices. When we talk to them, they start kicking! Every morning Eric gets up before I do and takes a shower. He comes back in and sits on the side of the bed before he leaves. He usually is whistling and he puts his hand on my tummy and says "Wakey wakey, babies!" And every time they start kicking! It's amazing!
Anyway, the doctor says that as of today the babies weigh:

Baby A: 1 pound 10 ounces
Baby B: 1 pound 3 ounces
Baby C: 1 pound 1 ounce

All very good weights! Grow babies grow!

Last Week of Work (22 Weeks)

Hi folks! I am officially 22 weeks and this is my last week of work. It's definitely bitter sweet. I am very sad to stop working because I have enjoyed working at the clinic for over 3 1/2 years and I will greatly miss everyone, including all the super staff and patients. I do plan to return for a couple days a week at some point. So, I am not thinking that this is my last week ever. But, I am definitely feeling the need to rest. As much as I enjoy my job, it's getting harder and harder to just function. I am having to sit further and further away from the patient and it's getter more and more uncomfortable. If I drop something...forget it! It will stay there forever because my ability to bend over and pick things up has come to an end. Oh well!
Since I will be off work and trying to rest as much as possible, I will likely end up being bored out of my mind. I have always either worked or been in school full-time, since I can remember. So, please call me, email me, and come to visit! I need you! I am afraid of being bored and lonely and I can only take so much daytime TV! So...please come and visit!
We have a busy next couple of weeks. Next weekend, Eric's sister and brother in law, Sheri and Jose, will be flying in to stay with us. They are going to help us paint the babies' room. The day after they leave, Eric's mom will be flying in to stay with us for almost a week. She'll be here for the following weekend and able to come to my baby showers. We are looking forward to all of them coming!
We have another "big" ultrasound this next Wed. I am hoping they will be able to confirm that there is 1 boy and 2 girls. Please continue to pray that they are all still growing well and are healthy!

Happy Mother's Day! (21 Weeks)

I wasn't really thinking that today was my first Mother's Day because I don't feel like an official mom yet. However, the babies were kicking like crazy all day today letting me know that they were there! So, I guess this was my first official Mother's Day and it was probably the easiest one I'll have for many years to come. It was a very relaxing day. We went to IKEA and picked up a couple of dressers for the babies room and made it back to church this afternoon. Amazingly, I am in the phase of feeling well with occasional bursts of energy. I am, however, starting to feel the effects of the 30 pounds I've gained, on my body. I am having a difficult time sleeping and poor Eric is having to share the bed with me and my 4 pillows. But, so far I am managing and hoping to make the most of it because I am only half way to my goal weight gain of 60 pounds! Yikes!
Yesterday, I had a nice day celebrating Mother's Day with my mom and the other moms on her side of the family. We started off getting a pedicure, since I can't seem to reach my toes anymore. My mom gave me a very special necklace and earring set that my dad gave her on her first Mother's Day when she was pregnant with me! Very sweet and very special!
I did have a quick doctor's appt. this last week that went really well. As soon as the doctor walked in the room he said, "Wow! You've gotten bigger!" I said, "Yah, can you believe I've gained 30 pounds!" He says, sympathetically, "Well, I wouldn't worry about the weight." I thought, "Worry? Are you crazy? I am ecstatic! I wasn't sure I could do it!" So, I am quite proud of myself for packing on the pounds so far. Eric is very sweet and says, "Well, you still don't look pregnant from the back!" So, I guess...so far so good! :)

3 Speed Catapult Chair (20 Weeks)

We were looking for recliners last week. Our goal is to get something that will be comfortable for Rebecca to lounge in during the weeks of July and early August. I think I found the perfect solution. This lift(or Catapult as Tim says) recliner would work perfect. Rebecca is not quite too sure about it, though, since she isn't 80 years old! Tim and Lindsay postulated an innovation last night that you could select 3 different lift speeds:

1.) Gotta go to the bathroom
2.) Really gotta go now!
3.) My water just broke, get me outta here!!

The babies are kicking like never before. The little boy is on the bottom and probably the most active of the three. Rebecca says that they knock with consistency when they are hungry. They knock pretty regularly during the day but thankfully, they are not keeping her awake at night. Maybe that will be a prelude to their sleeping well once they are out of the womb.

Finally, last night was our Foosball table going away party. The new home of the Tornado Foos will probably be in Novato at Guy and Christie's garage. There it is sure to get some good use from Young Life kids and volunteers. It will be sad to see it go but I can tell that we are ready for a new life stage. The party was quite fun with a good crowd of 20-30 friends from all areas of life. It did wind down by 11pm, much sooner than the days of old. I remember having a party on 9th Ave that lasted until around 2am. Funny thing is that it was a welcome relief to have everyone here and still get to sleep at a decent hour. The notable event of the evening was a 6 foot high ball of flame produced by pouring water on the citronella candle out on the balcony in an attempt to put it out. It turned into quite the impromptu pyrotechnic show. Does anyone know the physics of why a little water on a candle would produce such a huge flame?

Rebecca has filled out the baby registries at Target and BabiesRus. There are two showers coming up on May 31st and June 1st. Things are in motion now!