September 22, 2009

September 22, 2009 is like my D-Day; it is my "day which will live in infamy."  I shall call it T-Day.  It is the day my life changed forever.  That's right - it's the day I had my first ultrasound and found out I was pregnant with triplets.  Today is the first anniversary of the day that changed my life forever. 

I was scheduled to have an ultrasound at 9 weeks, which apparently is rare.  The doctor decided to code it as "viability" because I had some minor spotting that was concerning.  For the first ultrasound, they like to have the father present to go over genetic history.  At first, Robin didn't want to come - he didn't think it was necessary, but I convinced him to come.  I'm so thankful he was there.

I'm on the table looking up at the ultrasound on the monitor.  I have no idea what I'm looking at or looking for.  The ultrasound tech is very quiet, but I don't get the vibe that anything is unusual.  I think she's just checking everything out.  I'm not sure what can even be seen at such a early stage in the pregnancy.  The first words out of her mouth are, "were you taking fertility drugs."  I'm completely taken aback.  I have no idea why she would ask such a question.  The obvious answer doesn't even occur to me.  I so "no" in a tone that probably expressed some offense.  Now, you have to remember, she hasn't said a word yet - maybe some small talk like "is this your first pregnancy", etc., but nothing about the baby.  Immediately after I said "no," she said, "well, you're pregnant with triplets."  Boom, pow, punch to the stomach.  What?!?!  Within seconds, the image of a huge stroller pops into my head, and I burst out crying.  My husband started laughing.  And, just like that the ultrasound was over. 

I can't even really remember too much after that.  I'm not sure if she had someone else come in to confirm or not.  I do remember being taken to another room where a doctor came in (I'd never met this doctor before) to "answer any questions I might have."  She also informed me that they cannot see me because they do not handle higher-order multiple pregnancies.  I was directed to see Dr. Kent Heyborne at Swedish.  As we left, I felt like all of the staff was staring at me.  I was still crying.  I'm sure the people in the waiting room thought that I had lost a baby or something. 


I'm so glad that Robin was with me that day.  I thought I was having a bad dream or an out of body experience.  I'm not sure that I would have believed that it really happened had I been there alone.

I had planned to not tell ANYONE about the pregnancy until we hit the 12 week mark, which is when the chance of miscarriage dramatically drops.  This news, though, I could not keep to myself.  In the car ride home, I kept trying to call my mom, but she wasn't answering.  So, I called my dad.  Then I tried my mom again, but she still wasn't answering.  So, I called my good friend, Erica.  I've known her since we were in junior high.  She knows me well, and she started laughing.  Of all the people she knows, I was the last one that would/should have triplets.  Karma got me that day.  I was very sad.  But, don't get me wrong, I'm so happy today.  I don't know what I would do without my girls.  They light up my life, and now, instead of making me cry, they make me smile all the time - especially when they smile.  It melts my heart.