We're getting closer!!!

Hello, friends and family! Our adventure continues and starts to get a little more interesting this week!

Over the past week or so Katie really hasn't been feeling herself and I have heard on more than one occassion "I don't feel good...". Well, yesterday (Thursday) we had an appointment with our high risk OBGYN, Dr. Zaretsky. Katies blood pressure at the beginning of the appointment was 132/78, overall not bad, but not super good either. If the number reaches 140 on the high side or 90 on the lower side, she gets admitted for evaluation with the concern being preeclampsia, which can lead to a stroke. So, we're sort of watching that pretty close.


The check up on the babies went GREAT, they are really doing wonderful. Moving around, kicking, cord flow is still awesome and the heartbeats are as strong as ever. So, really from their side, things are good, which is a huge blessing! We got a nice 4D shot of Baby A, she's a real cutie!


After the look at the babies, the Dr. did a cervix exam. Katie's cervix has begun to "give" a little. It was at about 4.0cm two weeks ago, it is now about 2.6cm. 2.5cm is considered short and mandatory sedimentary activity takes place. So, we're close. We are at 31.5 weeks at this point and we were posed with our first real decision so far. Steriods? Sterioids in premies has proven to aid in lung development. There is really no downside to the steriods and they really are a precaution in case she does go into labor early. She could make it to 35 weeks and never had needed them, but that wasn't a gamble that either one of us were willing to take at this point. So we chose to go ahead with the steroid shots just in case.


We went to the Labor and Delivery department at the hospital this morning and got our first round of the sterioid shot. We go back tomorrow, exactly 24 hours after the first shot and get the second dose and that is it. We really need a good 48 hours of those sterioids in her for the steroids to completely take effect. It was pretty funny, we thought we were going in this morning for a quick shot and out of there, and turns out the hospital had different plans! They had her in a hospital bed in a gown monitoring the heartbeats with all sorts of cords wrapped around and hooked up to her, like she was going on a ride to Pluto! 4 hours later...we got released and we were on the way! Crazy morning. We did learn a ton about the hospital, the birthing process, the NICU, etc. from the nurse so it was OK.


Katie is really doing great, her spirits are high and she is doing a wonderful job hanging onto the babies! If we could get past another 3-4 weeks there would be a real good chance that we would have some babies to take home when they are born. Every day she is able to hold those babies in right now saves a 3 day NICU stay, its that important. The doctor is very encouraged and very pleased with the progress so far, he isn't worried in the least. He thinks she is going to make it to 35 weeks!


We are both getting real excited, we're ready to see and hold these babies, not just see them every week on a TV screen. We want to continue to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, we are feeling them everyday in our hearts. We are so blessed to have have wonderful friends and family, thank you again.


Love,



Todd and Katie

The big 3-0 is the way to go!

Hello!  We've made it to the big 3-0, we are in week 30!  Simply amazing.  Things at the Messerle household continue to go pretty darn well considering!  

Katie has had several doctors appointments over the past three weeks, since we got the news that Baby A and C were growing on the small side.  Katie really understood what had to be done and ever since that visit she has been eating us out of house and home!  She has been wonderful eating a good breakfast, a good lunch and healthy dinner each night, and in between drinking 3 Carnation Instant Breakfasts.  Her hard work eating, has really paid off.

We had a doctors appointment last Friday with our regular OBGYN in the morning and she has gained 12 lbs. in three weeks!  Her blood pressure was great and everything looked good.  In the afternoon we went into our high risk OBGYN's office for a look at cord flow and fluid in the sacs.  That visit went very well too, the babies had great flow in and out of their cords and the fluid is holding steady.

Today we went back to our high risk doctor, Dr. Zaretsky for full measurements of the babies.  He had been on vacation for about a week and he wanted us to wait for him to get back in town so that he could do the measurements himself.  Honestly, it is such a zoo in there I am not sure how in the heck they know what belongs to who for Pete's sakes!  The cord flows and the fluid continued to look great, her blood pressure was perfect and the heartbeats were 130, 130 and 140.  We got all the measurements done (abdomen, femur, skull and upper arm bone) and the babies have really grown!!  Baby A now weighs 3lbs. she was at 1lbs. 9oz three weeks ago, Baby B is at 3 lbs. 4 oz., he was at 1 lbs. 15oz. and Baby C also weighs 3lbs and he was at 1lbs. 11oz!  We've got over 9lbs. of baby!  Baby A has almost over doubled in weight and B and C have put some good weight on too!

The doctor was SO happy, he was PUMPED, I thought he was going to high five and belly bump me right there in the office for goodness sakes!  He kept saying, "this is fantastic, this is just fantastic!"  Compared to where we were 3 weeks ago, this was a huge turnaround and improvement, trust me, that appointment 3 weeks ago wasn't a huge thrill to be at.  He wouldn't even talk or discuss possible delivery timeframe, he said the babies are doing so good and Katie is tolerating the uncomfortableness at this point so we are going to go as long as we can!

A doctor's appointment wouldn't be a doctor's appointment without the now famous cervix check!  Although Katie's cervix had shortened a little that is to be expected with 9lbs of baby pressing down on it.  He still was giving her the honor of the Cervix  of Steel!  There was no funneling or weakening in her cervix and it looked very strong.  There is a bit of good news for Katie and that is that at our next appointment at 33 weeks will probably be our last cervix check.  I know, I am bummed too!  There really is no point after week 33 if it gives out, it gives out and here they come!  A GREAT appointment and we are looking forward to our next measurements appointment in 3 weeks!

From a preparation standpoint we are pretty well ready for the babies.  The nursery downstairs is done, I got the crib put together in our bedroom this weekend and it looks great, and some of the other stuff like bouncy seats are all put together.  We are doing our best to stock up on diapers and wipes right now!  Dr. Limoscenero's OBGYN practice and her associates are aware of our situation, the NICU has copies of our file on hand and the hospital is aware of our "INCOMING!" status.  I am doing my very best to keep Katie down and rested as much as possible, for those that know her, that isn't easy sometimes!  Although she likes to get up and go out and do stuff, we're really at the point where one small trip or errand out of the house really takes its toll on her and she starts to hurt.  I have a feeling even small trips out of the house are going to be history here pretty soon.

These pictures of Katie were taken last weekend (June 7th) before went to church.  I don't mean this bad but she really is bigger now only a week later, no joke.  She looks and is doing great!  She's my girl!

We continue to be blessed and honored to be parents and we are so thankful for the thoughts and prayers that have come our way.  Thank you, we both feel them in our hearts everyday.  I will continue to keep the updates coming as new information arises, right now we are keeping momma chilled out and resting waiting for our babies!  We hope that this note finds everyone healthy, well and enjoying the summer!

Love,

Todd and Katie

Insert "Jeopardy TV Show" Theme Song here...

That is really what it feels like for us! Hanging out, waiting and praying... Yesterday was week 28, we are so blessed to have a trouble free pregnancy so far. Thank you Lord!

We had a doctors appointment this morning with Dr. Limoscenero, her sonographer was in charge of checking cord flow and fluid in each of the sacs. Once again, everything looked great! I really don't think there has been any change in the flow or in the fluid in the past couple of weeks that I can tell. The babies were moving all around in there and it was hard for her to get really good readings on the cord flow, but she got it done.

She then checked the infamous cervix, this was her first look at the cervix and she was shocked at how well it is doing. It is still long and strong, no sign of funneling or any sort of weakening at all. She said "Goodness, you have an amazing cervix!" I then broke out into the "Cervix Dance" and said "You have just cemented a place in our blog! Welcome!" I joke about this but really it is so important. There are so many women that have funneling and have to have cerlage's (they have to have it sewed up!) just to keep the babies in. Katies body is doing just great growing these three. The nights are really tough on her, she is so tired and uncomfortable, but she is my "Superwoman"! :)

We had a great converstation with the doctor as well. She said that Katie will be in the hospital a minimum of four nights when the babies are born, she explained the whole birthing process to us and really took her time to put us at ease a bit. I suppose I have a gameplan if things "go down" unexpectedly! We are so lucky to have such a great doctors watching over us. We go back to both doctors next Friday for a check up and cord flow and fluid measurements, then back on Monday June 15th for another set of complete measurements of the babies.

Our girls crib came in today, so we are going to pick that up tomorrow. We have a couple of items we still need to get but other than that we are pretty set I suppose. We have a low key weekend on tap, I have some work to do around the house, church Sunday morning and hopefully some relaxation time. We hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend! Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers, we can feel them everyday!

Love,

Todd & Katie