The Things a Bored Woman Does on Bedrest

I couldn't help but post these, and share with you one of the many things I have found to pass the time in bed. I found this site called Daily Makeover where you can download a picture of yourself and add celebrity hair, makeup, etc. It's pretty entertaining! I'm looking for a new style after the babies come. What do you think? Should I go blonde, short, tussled...? Haha!

I'm definitely not doing the "whack your hair off after the baby" thing based on this pic.

Great News at 26 Weeks!

(26 Week pic coming soon)
Yesterday we went to our weekly appointment at the clinic. My blood pressure was nice and low and I had gained two pounds since last week. The doctor was happy to tell me that there had been no change in dilation or effacement since the last time she saw me. She mentioned Baby B's weight because it was a little lower than the other babies last week. She told us not to worry yet, but that she would be watching to make sure she didn't get too far behind the others. She said that it could have simply been the position that the baby was in that day or she may just naturally be a smaller child. We won't be able to see how much they weigh for another two weeks, because they cycle what they look at each time. Yesterday, they checked their cardiac activity and next week will be fluid. She told me to keep up the bedrest, I received my injection, we had our ultrasound and then we were done for the week.

I was so tired by the time we were done. It takes a lot out of me to get a shower, put on clothes, wait forever in the waiting room and get through the appointment now. I'm sure the inactivity of bedrest really zaps my energy and the babies are getting so heavy that sitting up or standing wears my back out. The upside is that I slept great last night.

Things at home are going well. Gray makes me breakfast before he leaves for work and sets up anything else I'll need like my laptop, magazines, books, water, and snacks. This week, he has been able to come home to fix me lunch and work from our home office, which has been so nice. On Monday, my friends Adriane and Emily came for a short visit and to drop off some delicious baked ziti! Gray and I were able to eat it two nights in a row. It was a huge help to us knowing we had something that was all ready to eat for dinner, and Gray could take a break from cooking. Thanks so much Adriane and it was great to see you girls!

Our next doctor's appointment won't be until next Thursday due to the clinic's schedule. Only two more weeks until our next milestone!

Contraction Tracker

I've been tracking my contractions today on my clipboard, and I haven't had more than two in an hour so far. That's much better than yesterday. The bedrest seems to be working. :)

The last picture we took before the hospital and bedrest. I'm wearing the "Be Nice to Me....I'm Having Quads!" sweatshirt that my mother bought me. I wear it all the time, although it's beginning to get a bit tight!

Hospital Pictures

Gray helping the nurse monitor heart rates.

Susan, Me, and Mama

Gray and Me

First Bump in the Road

On Tuesday after meeting with our doctor, we found out that I was dilated 1 cm and my contractions were coming more consistently. Our doctor told us that I would need to be admitted to the hospital as soon as we left the clinic in order to monitor my contractions for as long as needed, and so that I could have a round of steroids injected to start the development of the babies’ lungs. We were not sure if I would be staying for just a little while or would be checking in for the long haul.

I was really surprised and upset to hear the news. Everything has been going so well and I just wasn’t expecting anything to happen so soon. At the same time, I knew that the hospital was the best place to be so that they were watching me 24/7 and aware of my progress. One of the doctors at the clinic told me that one good thing about being in the hospital is that the responsibility is off of you, as far as having to decipher what is going on with your body. I tried to keep that in mind as Gray and I drove over to the hospital.

When we got there they put me in a labor and delivery room and started getting me hooked up to monitors and an IV. There was one monitor for every baby and a monitor to track my contractions strapped around my middle. The IV took forever because my veins are hard to find. After two needles and three nurses they were able to get it in. They checked to see if I had dilated anymore and there was no change. They gave me a steroid injection so that the babies’ lungs could start to mature in case the babies are born earlier than we hoped. After all of that, they wheeled me down to the room I would be staying in. They left the monitor on for contractions until late that evening and came in several times to check the babies’ heart rates.

After eating and getting lots of water down, my contractions began to subside and the doctors felt like I could be off of the monitor for the night. In the morning, they checked the babies and my contractions again and everything looked better. They told me that I would either be able to leave that evening after my second steroid injection or the following day. Gray and I were so happy to hear that I wouldn’t have to stay there and would be able to go back home for bedrest. Before we left, we were able to visit the NICU, see the preemies and meet some nurses and doctors that work there. It was unbelievable to see how tiny the babies were, but Gray and I both agreed that the visit made us feel better, knowing what to expect and seeing that they were all doing so well.

Now we are home and I’m on strict bedrest. They’ve told me to lie down except for bathroom breaks and a quick shower. My mother is here taking care of my every need and making sure that I’m constantly hydrated and eating consistently. I am so happy that she is here and that my daddy is coming up on Friday. I don’t know what I would have done without my sweet husband. Gray took care of everything and as always made me feel much calmer about the whole thing. While he was calling relatives with updates, a nurse asked me if he was a doctor. He has picked up all of the lingo and is well informed and she thought that he definitely knew what he was talking about. I love him so much! Last night he made a “Contraction Tracker” for me to use during the day. I’m tallying my contractions so that I am better aware of them and know when to call the doctor.

I’m feeling better today because I got so much sleep last night. I am feeling contractions at the moment, but I’m watching them to make sure that there aren’t too many in an hour. Thank you so much for all of the prayers. The babies’ weights are now:

Broox: 1 lb 11 oz.
Jane: 1 lb 4 oz.
Virginia: 1 lb 10 oz.
Rainer: 1 lb 14 oz.
They are doing great, but we still want to keep it up for several more weeks.

24 Weeks: Viability

We have finally made it to 24 weeks! This is a huge milestone for quadruplet pregnancies. If the babies were born today, they would have a chance of survival. Of course the risks are still extremely high and the chance of the babies developing health problems is as well. Here is the information I have about the Critical Time Zones from my go-to book on multiples, When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy.

Weeks 20-24: The border of viability – Most babies born during this time zone do not survive. Those who do must remain hospitalized for many months. Their chances of experiencing permanent adverse health effects are high.

Weeks 25-28: Very early preterm for multiples – The odds of survival are better, but babies born during this period must still spend weeks or months in the NICU. They are at risk for long-term medical consequences.

Weeks 29-32: early preterm for multiples – Many triplets and quadruplets are born during this time zone. Although the babies typically remain in the hospital for several weeks, or more, the outlook is generally good.

Weeks 33-35: preterm for multiples – Twins are often born during this time period. If they are well grown, they generally spend a week or two in the hospital and are unlikely to experience any long-term serious effects of their early birth.

I know it all sounds scary, and it is, but I am just so happy to feel like we are in the ballgame now. Speaking of ballgame, this book, that I refer to constantly, relates the critical times zones to a football game.

“…we tell patients at the Multiples clinic to think of each of these times zones as a potential touchdown. The goal is to make your pregnancy last all the way through whatever time zone you are in now, add another touchdown to your score, and then stay in the game. The more touchdowns you get before you deliver, the more likely you are to win big in the end…”

I thought that was a great way of putting it. It helps having a goal week, reaching that and then setting a new one.

At our appointment today, the first thing they did was a blood glucose test. I, along with another pregnant lady with twins, split a bright orange drink that resembled a Sunkist. It was absolutely loaded with sugar, and I think we were both glad we didn’t have to drink the whole thing. We were told to report back to the lab in exactly an hour to make sure that I wasn’t developing gestational diabetes. After that, we were taken back to meet with the doctor. She checked me out and told me that everything was fine, but that at this point, I need to restrict my activity even more so. She also told me to closely monitor the contractions that are happening randomly in my uterus. She wants to make sure that they don’t start happening more than 3-4 times in an hour. After talking to her, we quickly had the babies’ heartbeats and fluid checked. It all looked perfect. I’m hoping that we’ll get an update on their weights next week. They only do it every 3 to 4 visits. I guess you get to see more growth that way.

Finally, we made it back to the lab and they pricked my finger to check my blood. Fortunately, the glucose tests came back fine. They did find that my iron levels were low, however. They took some blood and gave me a prescription for an iron supplement that should work everything out. The nurse told me that it wasn’t that surprising with so many babies soaking up my iron reserves. While doing research this afternoon on iron deficiency during pregnancy, I also found that restless legs can be a symptom of the problem! Maybe getting more iron will rid me of RLS that keeps me up so much in the night! Anyway, after my progesterone injection, a finger prick, blood being drawn, and a prescription for iron supplements, I’m back at home for another week to rest and cook the babies. 28 weeks here we come!!

Oh by the way, the open house went really well. Our realtor said it was the best one he had been to in six months. Right now, we have a couple of people who seemed interested so keep your fingers crossed. It would be great if we could sell our house sooner rather than later.

Thanks for all of your comments on the blog. I so enjoy reading them while I’m here at home.

23 Weeks!

Yesterday was our weekly appointment. We still got great reports for the babies and for me. The doctor told me to continue with the same restrictions. She also said that the babies’ growth looked terrific so far and to keep gaining weight at the same rate. The clinic is setting up a meeting and tour with the director of the NICU at UAB sometime soon. I’m looking forward to getting a look at everything and hearing about the process that takes place as soon as the babies arrive. They say that it’s important to prepare for where they will be and understand what will be happening to them, so you won’t be so shocked by all of the wires, tubes, and monitors that they will be hooked up to. We also got to see the babies again via ultrasound. The babies have sort of shifted so that Broox takes up my lower and lower left abdomen, Jane and Virginia are curled up tightly together on my right and Rainer is ruling the roost across the top of my abdomen. I feel him kicking a lot and I think it is because he has so much room. All of the babies are active and I can now see their movements by simply looking down at my stomach. I’ve heard that by the end you feel like there is an octopus in your stomach.

Gray will be out of town for a couple of nights for a business/hunting trip. Luckily for me, my sister-in-law is coming to visit me for the rest of the week. I’m looking forward to visiting with her and having company during the day. I’m hoping she can help me add some cute touches to the house. We are trying to sell our house and people are coming over Sunday afternoon to check it out. Hopefully, someone will be interested.

Happy New Year!

We had our weekly checkup on Tuesday and all of the babies are doing well. They took their measurements and they are all weighing in right at a pound. That is the average weight for a single baby at 22 weeks so we were thrilled. I am still doing limited bedrest and haven’t experienced any problems yet. Every now and then, during the day, I have a painless tightening in my stomach now. The doctor has assured me that this is normal and to expect it. As long as they are pain free and happening sporadically, she said that they are nothing to worry about. She told me that if I ever have contractions along with cramping three times or more in an hour to come in to the office. I am definitely noticing my body needing more rest over the past couple of weeks. I spend more time in the bed or lying on the sofa now because of being tired and persistent back aches. Some days I feel better than others. I think it also has to do with how well I slept the night before.


Yesterday was a great day! Gray was able to come home a little early from work. It was his 35th birthday and also New Year’s Eve. We had plans to eat an early dinner at a nice restaurant here in town with two of our good friends Christin and Trenton. We had their four course New Year’s Eve dinner and I think I ate every bite. It was delicious! It really felt good to dress up and go out, even if it was just for a little while. The waiter even made a sparkling juice concoction for me so that I could join in on the festivities. Gray and I were able to stay up long enough to see the ball drop on t.v. in New York, but then I was out. I’m kicking myself that we didn’t take a picture. It will be a New Year’s Eve that I will always remember.


This morning I woke up excited. I keep thinking about how this is the year that our lives will change forever and in the best way imaginable. This is the year of our children’s birth! These were some quotes that seemed fitting today…


Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.- Elizabeth Stone


Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of life. – Maureen Hawkins