How Big Is It?

It's big.  Looking at any other part of Kelly, one couldn't tell she was pregnant.  From the back, everything looks good.  Did I say that?  Yes, yes I did.  

Our life has turned into a movie featuring her belly and its contents.  I must say, it's a good movie.  The ending should be really good, but I won't give it away.  

I have started to wonder what the structural makeup is of the belly, given its amazing position cantilevering out from her body.  Pictures really do not give it justice.  

We've been to the Louvre in Paris, the National Gallery in London and the Royal Art Museum in Brussels, not to mention the Met in NYC and DAM.  But this belly is the best sculpture of any I've seen, changing everyday and entrancing all in its gaze. 

Okay, ready for a picture? 

Sure, we didn't pose for this one long, but Kelly was ready to lie down a bit.  

Our last appointment was fine, we are in week 26 and all the babies' heartbeats are rock solid. 

What else is happening?  Kelly went back to school on Monday this week, much to our mutual chagrins.  Working all day has really taken a lot out of her, but this has also reminded us of how fortunate we were to be pregnant at the time we were to take full advantage of the summer off. 

Our activities around the house have slowed down, too.  The basement is about as done as it will be and the last activities before The Event include finishing touches on the nursery and painting our old-school built in gutters on the house.  The paint has peeled off the tin covering, causing corrosion and consternation.  

Kelly has loosened the leash enough for me to squeeze in a couple of home brewing sessions.  I now have approx. two cases of English Bitter in bottles and another 5 gallons of Extra Special Bitter fermenting as we speak.  What were we to do, watch the Hawkeye's first game without any home brew?  Come on over and try some, it tastes really good, I promise. 

The Olympics has also captured our attention.  Softball, volleyball, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, bicycling, track, etc.  Too bad it's only once every four years...we think it would be fun to go to an Olympics sometime in the future.  Time to start planning! 

A Great Day

We ran out of fingers and toes.

 

Trying to count friends and family that showed up at the Perkins Park shelter, we quickly ran out of digits.  Kelly's sis and

 my sis arranged a family/close-by friends shower, and it turned out beautifully.  

Weather? Check - low 80s and a steady breeze.  

Food? Check - Kelly's mom and others provided the substance with great meat and salads, and 

Earl Grey iced tea (the tea was awesome, if you have some Earl Grey in the pantry, brew it with ice, it's mucho delicioso!).  

Kelly and I were overwhelmed with generosity as everyone brought amazing gifts for the triplets.  We are well taken care of and have an amazing start to our family life.  We are so thankful for everyone that has thought, prayed and talked to us about the next phase in our lives with the kids.  It's all helped so much!  

Old friends were reunited, family was reacquainted and it seemed like everyone had a good time.  Thanks everyone for a great day!! 

.....

Sometimes we all need a little pep talk.  Kelly gives me talks when I am unenthused about work, or virtually anything else.  It really helps.  I've been giving Kelly some when the burden of carrying three kids seems unbearable.  Sometimes it's all I can do to help.  

Since the Olympics are upon us, I have been telling Kelly to keep going because she is not unlike an Olympian.  The percentages of having triplets versus being an Olympian vary depending on how you compare it - but let's be clear; Kelly is pulling off an amazing feat.  

Our last appointment, at 24 weeks, showed that the kids are all above 70 percentile for weight, which is amazing for triplets.  Baby C was 87 percentile, at 1lb 13oz.  That's a bruiser.  And her ankles aren't even swollen yet (some call them 'kankles?').  

Also from our last Dr. appointment we had a little scare.  Kelly was slightly dilated (Quote from Dr. Ward: "Well, I felt a head and somebody's hand was holding my finger").  Ooookay.  We went to the Labor and Delivery dept.  for some monitoring and steroids to help the kids in case Kelly dilated even more and had to labor.  

As it turns out, the dilation wasn't a big deal, but Kelly did get some good 'roids.  A congressman called and wanted her to testify in front of the Ethics on Pregnancy panel, but refused on basis of inconclusive tests.  Roger, Mark and Sammy gave us some good advice on that one.  

We're keeping the kids comfortable, hopefully, and waiting for the moment we've been looking forward to for some time.  In the meantime, some home brewing, organization and making meals ahead is on the docket.