We're Here Safe and Sound

What a day! All I can say it thank goodness for Grandma Hare's suggestion that we get a wheelchair. The process of getting to the gate in Houston was a breeze. Once we landed in Phoenix, it was a different story... Wheelchair handlers and sky caps were in short supply, so Stephen had to do most of it himself. At one point, he had to push 3 large suitcases, 2 computers, body pillows, etc. and then pull me in the wheelchair at the same time. I went back and forth from being embarrassed to giggling uncontrollably!! For someone who gets out of breath getting out of bed, the wheelchair was a life saver... I just wish that we had taken a picture of it...

Exhausting day plus a 2 hour time change = Bedtime @ 6:30!

Happy Easter!!

17 Weeks

Quick doctor trip last week -- All babies are healthy and everything is well with me. Only one more week until I have to be on bed-rest. Life is CRAZY trying to get everything ready to go with work, home and baby stuff.

First Hand Experience With Quads & Quints

I went to Austin to visit a mom and her quintuplets (7 1/2 months) -- Rachelle Wilkinson. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I prepared myself for complete chaos. Only two babies were up when we got there and they were playing happily... Over the course of 2-3 hours all babies were up, fed and playing happily... no chaos at ALL. Now I am sure there are days of craziness, but the day that we visited was very encouraging. I left with the feeling that okay, maybe I can do this.

Rachelle and her mom gave us great advice and I really felt like I left armed with not only information, but a ton of ADORABLE clothes.

I also got to meet a mother of quadruplet girls from Dallas that was visiting her mom in Katy -- Misty Urech. Her girls are 16 months... Again, I was sure that I would be met with chaos. But the girls were so cute and played so sweetly. Every now and then one would have to be pulled off the couch or wanted to be held, but we had a 2 hour conversation without any major interruptions.

Both Rachelle and Misty went to Phoenix and Dr. Elliott to have their babies. They both had very positive experiences and I felt like our decision to go to Phoenix was reinforced.

Amy Ellen Misty & 4 of the Quints -- (The other was napping for pic time)

Rachelle & Ellen

Halfway There!!!

16 Weeks

15 Weeks

I am growing fast... It is getting harder to eat and move around. (I have heard the term "waddle" a few too many times) But overall, I am doing well. I am determined to get to at least 32 weeks, so I am halfway there! Yippee!

We're Heading to Phoenix....

During our search for a doctor, we kept hearing and seeing the name of a doctor in Phoenix who is the leading expert on high order multiples... Dr. John Elliott at Phoenix Perinatal Assoc. At first, I told Stephen there was no way that I was moving, but the more we talked to people and the more research we did, the more I opened up to the thought of maybe going. Dr. Elliott's average gestation for quintuplets is 4 weeks longer (32 weeks) than the national average (28 Weeks) and the babies have a lower morbidity rate. We had a phone consultation with Dr. Elliott and I LOVED him. He was very clear that I am in a risky situation, but that there is no reason that I couldn't have healthy babies. His practice has processes that they follow that offer a good chance of success for women. At the time that I talked to him, he had delivered (2) sets of sextuplets, (8) sets of quints, (92) sets of quadruplets, and (500) sets of triplets!! He was so kind and encouraging, that I was determined to find a way that I could go. He even gave me his cell phone number... That has never happened to me before!

Oh, the logistics of trying to figure out if I could go. Would my insurance let me go out of state? Where would I live? Who would take care of me? Can we afford it? And the questions kept coming... One by one we knocked them out and in the end everything worked out just perfectly.

So come April 1st, I am going to be on bed-rest in Phoenix. The first 3 weeks, Stephen, my best friend, Misty, and my sister Amy are going to take weekly shifts with me. Then my wonderful mother is going to come and stay with me the rest of the time, so Stephen can stay in Houston and work. (We have a relief for her a week every month so she can come home... my girlfriend Kari from California is taking the first shift!!)

We are renting a condo in Scottsdale for April-June and then we are renting a larger house for July and August. (Thanks to Bill's cousins, Mike & Kelli for letting us rent their gorgeous home !!) Then I hope to be home by September.

I am a little terrified of leaving Stephen and my entire support group here in Houston, but know without a shadow of a doubt that our babies need to be born in Phoenix. On the other hand, I am looking forward to getting there and starting the next phase of our journey.

3 Girls & 2 Boys

Picture of Two Babies Heads Looking From Above

Baby E (All babies look pretty much the same.)

We went to the doctor on Friday and we got a great update. All of the babies are the same size, have strong heartbeats and are as healthy as can be. They were all moving around so much, I wonder how I don't feel them. Everything was good with me as well. One of my biggest concerns is my cervix thinning too early, but I don't have to worry about that for another two weeks when I go back to the doctor again. We also got to see the sexes of the babies.... We have 2 boys and 3 girls. I am strictly taking the doctors word for it because it was very hard for me to tell what we were looking at. As the doctor was doing the ultrasound, he was measuring Baby D... as he was pushing down at the top of my rib cage, (The same place I get horrible heartburn,) I asked if this was the baby causing all the heartburn and he said yes it was. And guess what -- it is a little boy. Imagine a boy causing heartburn?? :) We didn't get any great ultrasound pics, so I just added a couple from the previous times.

30 Pounds And Growing!!

12 Weeks

14 weeks

For a girl who has spent her entire life battling the bulge, it was a dream when my doctor told me that I had to eat 5000 calories a day! (I have to gain 75-100lbs!!) Cheeseburgers, Chinese Food, Mexican Food, all of the food I never allowed myself to eat is now on my diet. I never thought I would say it, but I am now getting tired of having to eat this much of this type of food. At my last doctor's vistit, I had gained 30 pounds and my body is groaning at the extra weight. Even though I am following orders, I must say I was a titch horrified when the nurse had to move the bottom block on the scale over one to the right!