One, Two, Three

For nearly three months, I was on complete bed rest in the hospital. The extent of resting included a bedside commode and the ability to bathe only every three days. There is definitely something in the number three for my husband and I, because after all of that, a happy, healthy set of triplets was born. Now, we say that we were blessed three times for the three years we spent trying to become pregnant.

My husband and I both grew up in the small town of Brenham, Texas, which is best known for its famous Blue Bell ice cream factory. Although we knew of each other, we were reacquainted at a wedding, and our own wedding happened shortly afterwards in February of 1996. A year later, we decided it was a good time to start a family. We tried to conceive every month for an entire year. I kept track of my periods and my temperature for the entire duration and felt that something just was not right. In the spring of 1998, we went to the doctor to learn more. The doctor said he needed to see that we were actively trying for a year and was impressed with the charts I had. The bottom line was that the doctor saw that we were trying all the right things at all the right times. Due to my records we were able to further the process medically.

The next step was to rule out reasons for infertility. First, we tested my husband, since that is the easiest and least expensive test. His results came out fine. Next, it was my turn. Ovulation was ruled out because with my charts and ovulation kits, we knew that ovulation was clearly occurring. I also took a blood test, which showed that my hormone levels were fine. Next, I had a hysterosalpingogram(HSG), an ex-ray dye test that was injected vaginally to view the flow of fluid on a sonogram screen. What we saw was that my fallopian tubes were enlarged with fluid build-up. This meant that my tubes were blocked, and we now understood the reason why I was not becoming pregnant.

Although my blockage looked severe and the doctor could not promise results from the surgery, in October 1999, I went for a laparoscopy. The doctor was very pleased with the outcome, but he warned me that as with any surgery, there is a risk of more scarring. That meant that even though the tubes were now cleared, they may not function properly. I felt physically recovered in about a month, and within two tries, I became pregnant in December of 1999. Clearly the surgery had worked! Then, I heartbreakingly miscarried in January of 2000. I was told this was not related to my medical history, but just a common occurrence that can happen to anyone.

Because of the miscarriage, the doctor wanted us to wait for three full cycles before we tried to conceive again. We were told that I was more at risk for a tubal pregnancy and also that the chances of becoming pregnant after an HSG or laparoscopy were better early on before scarring sets in too much. By May, I was still not pregnant and we discussed other options with my doctor. He explained that our insurance would cover two IUIs or two IVFs. The IUI is less expensive, as opposed to IVF, which would be $8,000 to $10,000. We figured that if it is covered, we should try the IVF, because we can always try the less costly IUI later.

That summer, we tried IVF and everything seemed to work as well as a textbook, according to the doctors. They couldn't believe when I did not become pregnant. My husband and I decided to try on our own for a few months again. Around that time, a friend of mine said she knew a pregnant teenager who was looking for someone to adopt her baby who was due in a few months. My friend said the teenager was blonde-haired and blue-eyed, just like me. Although we discussed it, my husband and I decided to continue trying on our own. We decided to try IVF one last time in December. Although this time the procedure did not look "textbook," we found out I was pregnant in February. The doctor told us recently that he uses us as an example to his other patients that you just cannot predict what will happen. The day of the first sonogram, we saw two sacks with a heartbeat and a third sack, half the size of the others, with no heartbeat. We went back one week later and that third little sack had caught up with the others! I was pregnant with triplets! I tend to think that third sack was my little girl.

I continued to be monitored regularly for a high-risk pregnancy and after only 12 weeks, I was experiencing cramping. By 16 weeks, I was already feeling uncomfortable and cut down to half-days at work. By 18 weeks, I was on complete bed rest due to pressure and tightening. At first, I was on bed rest at home, but by week 23, I was in the hospital with regular contractions and strong lower back pain. At 28 weeks, I was dilated to 6 centimeters and 50 percent effaced. In case you wonder how I passed my long days, I will share a few techniques that helped. I had a calendar on my wall and put a big red "x" each day I made it through. I also created a paperclip chain for each baby, adding a color paperclip for each day I was in the hospital. Those chains became very long! I also decorated my room with cards, brought in my laptop computer to access e-mail, worked on cross-stitching, and had plenty of visitors and phone calls.

At 29 weeks and two days, my water broke. It was time for the c-section delivery, which included about 25 physicians, nurses, and staff in the operating room. On August 4, 2000, the triplets were born. McKenna weighed 2 lbs, 15 oz, Hayden was 3 lbs, 7.6 oz (both 16 inches) and Evan was 2 lbs., 14.5 ounces (16.5 inches). I was told that they were big for coming so early.

The babies were required to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for many weeks. Hayden came home with us at seven weeks and the other two at 10 weeks. It was a difficult recovery for me at first because my muscles had weakened in my legs after so much bed rest. I had to spend almost three weeks in a wheelchair, but I felt much better after the first month. While they were in NICU, I was able to breastfeed by pumping and continued until they were about six months of age. The first six months were definitely the hardest, but by January, I was feeling somewhat normal again!

Now, our days are definitely an adventure. We do get out and about, although I prefer to use a single and a double stroller, rather than the triple. We turn heads and get stopped every step along the way with the triple stroller! For a few months, the babies had some modeling jobs. By 11 to 13 months, they all began walking. Now, they are interacting and laughing at one another. It has been so much fun to see them grow. After all that we went through, we call them our miracle babies, and my best advice is to believe in miracles.