Can we freak out now?

Okay, we've been pretty calm through this whole thing.  In March when we found out we had three viable embryos to nurture, we went to Perkins and sorted things out over some buttermilk pancakes and eggs.  Everything was calm, we were very positive and really, the pancakes were excellent.  

Fast forward to the last ultrasound when we were pulling for all three, hoping that all was well.  It was, and still is as far as we know.  Still, everything was pretty calm, and we were more concerned with finding ways to keep Kelly from feeling the 'pukies' coming on than we were actually getting prepared for anything.  

So as I pondered things in my luxurious cubicle this morning I decided putting each week of the pregnancy on my work calendar would be a good idea.  I did so and was careful to take note of any possible travel conflicts that may occur later in the pregnancy.  At the precise moment I entered in 'Week 28' on September 2 it hit me that this whole deal is coming way (sorry, I meant WAY) faster than I thought.  

What we've learned is that after 25 weeks, all bets are off with labor.  We are hoping to get to 32 weeks, which would be roundabouts Sept 30.  Quick math: 32 weeks - 13 weeks (now) = 19 weeks to attempt and prepare for our little life-changers.  

 I suppose it's all how you look at it - 19 weeks to get ready for three doesn't seem like much time, but 19 weeks doing something else, like, uh Guantanamo would seem like a lot.  I'll take my chances with our offspring.  

Of course we have a list of things to organize, buy and learn in 19 weeks.  How insignificant everything else seems (mostly work) compared to getting ready for this.  I apologize in advance to my co-workers for any erratic behavior that may come in the weeks ahead.  Can I get a witness here?  

I actually rode the Quota tonight to clear my mind after getting rattled by the rapidly approaching due date.  Makes me miss having Kelly on the back, which she most certainly won't be doing any time soon.  Check out that motorcycle momma! 

This was en route to Elkader, IA in 2005 from Cary, IL where my sis used to live.  Kelly was a trouper, and yes, that is all our stuff on the bike.  I would call this 224 miles of relationship building.  

Now the next thing is to figure out how to get three kids on the bike.  I'm thinking sidecar (yep, that's a Quota)! 

Hey! It's crowded in here!

If the 6cm-long kiddos could talk I can only imagine what they would say.  

We had an appointment this past week in Iowa City to check everything out.  What we found out: 

All three tykes are still with us; they have all their limbs, hands and feet; all of their organs are developing the way they should; and the ultrasound tests for birth defects were negative.  

Kelly also took some blood tests and was poked and prodded a bit.  We gained more respect and admiration for our high-risk pregnancy physician, Dr. Kelly Ward.  She's near our age, is very professional, knowledgeable and eminently empathetic.  

So the best part of the whole deal was seeing the little ones roll around on the ultrasound monitor.  

Judging from only about a half hour of viewing time, we have already formed some opinions about the three: 

Baby A: Sitting the lowest, and smack in the middle, this one's a little ornery.  Couldn't get a good picture, showed us the rear end several times and did not stop moving.  I also thought I saw a scrotum, but the ultrasound tech assured me it was only the bladder.  It was the most scrotum-like bladder I had ever seen.  

Baby B: Sitting higher than A on Kelly's right, this one was very cooperative.  Textbook perfect profile shots, no rear ends and we even got a wave; yes, we have a picture of the little hand close to the picture that looks like a wave to us.  Awww.......However, this one was also a little rowdy, jumping around when we weren't trying to get the picture.  

Baby C: Sitting the highest on Kelly's left, this was the embryo we were a little concerned wouldn't grow well.  Only four short weeks ago, this one was the smallest and had a weak heart rate - but still falling in the 'normal' category, although we were skeptical.  Now we have a comeback.  Not only the largest but now with the strongest heartbeat.  In addition, this one just looked perfectly peaceful.  Of course, Kelly thinks it's a girl! 

The rest of the week was better for Kelly.  Morning sickness is subsiding, but rearing its ugly head a couple times daily.  Our regular readers may be wondering what the menu du jour is for Kelly's unpredictable gastric situation.  We have a new one: shrimp po' boys.  

A coworker of mine has the restauranteur's recipe that sounds dee-lish with hand battered shrimp, most definitely traditional cajun.  Ours is quick and dirty, easy peasy lemon squeezy, the 'Hamburger Helper' of po boys.  

Shrimp Po' Boys  

French bread

Cole slaw in a bag

Ranch dressing

Frozen popcorn shrimp

Bake the shrimp @ 450 for about 10 min; mix in some ranch into the coleslaw until it is lightly coated (can always add more); cut bread into reasonable sizes, then take out some of the inside so you can fit more stuff in the sandwich; put stuff in sandwich.  

The past month has been sprinkled with little moments where things are calm, everyone feels good and the world doesn't seem so bad.  For some reason, the po boys did it for us this week.  

Potpourri

The last week could be described as uneventful.  Some of the happenings: I took a trip to St Joseph, Missouri for a work-related conference Sunday through Wednesday, Kelly continued her half-days at school and we received our stimulus check (holla!).  

So, what to do with $1200 from W.  Kelly really wants a brand new Desert Eagle, but she's already so wild with her Glock I think we'll look at something else.   

I'm thinking about buying some BNSF stock because with diesel around $4/gallon, our nation's freight shippers will be looking for less expensive options to get their product from A to B. Plus Warren Buffet recently acquired the controlling share of BNSF.  A local source tells me he toured some BNSF routes, including the southeast Iowa area with some BNSF honchos. He actually stopped in Fort Madison (they had their own private railcar).  

Or how about a stroller like this...

Each kid can recline in full comfort with plush Italian fabrics (seriously) cradling their supple backsides.  And it's $1500.  

Kind of doubt we'll drop $1500 on a stroller but we will likely need something for three.  

($1500 reminds me of my dad always saying he wasn't going to 'spend $1500' whenever we asked for stuff when we were kids.  Me: Dad, can we get some chocolate chip cookies and ice cream at the store? Dad: Fifteen hundred dollars?  For ice cream?  It was his all-purpose response for anything he didn't want to spend money on. Trust me, he hasn't forgotten it!)

Well, enough about the stimulus checks.  Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this week was a dish that didn't make Kelly sick: Honey curry chicken salad.  Yes, that same curry that comes in 15 different levels of hotness from mild to tooth-melting in your friendly neighborhood Indian restaurant.  

Here is the recipe (in rough amounts, I'm kind of a 'by feel' type of cook): 

10-ounce can of chicken breast

2 tbsp dill relish 

2 tbsp mayo (we usually use Hellman's) 

1 1/2 tsp curry powder (we have mild) 

1 tsp honey

Pretty simple, but it's enough to feed both of us for dinner.  It'll make two sandwiches or it's good with crackers, too.  

Kelly is feeling better, but her trigeminal neuralgia has started coming back. 

We have pills to help control the pain, but she is trying to avoid prescriptions during the pregnancy.  Hopefully the diminishing stress of being nauseous will make the TN go away.  

We also wanted to let everybody know about Kelly's brother Tim, who is in Iraq with the Marines. He is trained as a heavy-equipment operator and drill sergeant but is doing urban patrols now. Our prayers are with him to come home safely.  He has two kids at home, Regis and Sophia. 

Regis is a cheeky little guy - here's a video of him singing 'Lola'. 

That's about it from Team Norris.  Think of us on Tuesday where we have our first big appointment and must go through a battery of tests.  It's an all-day affair, hopefully it will be manageable. 

Here's a shoutout to all the moms out there (and moms to be): Happy Mother's Day!