Frugal Fridays Breakfasts

Planning breakfasts ahead of time can save you tons of money. and time. This past week while I have been without Danny's help, and while struggling with morning all-day sickness and fatigue, I am so grateful for my fully stocked freezer and pantry of breakfast goods.

A peek in my freezer:

2 dozen breakfast burritos

2 dozen pieces of French toast

2 dozen pumpkin walnut muffins (do to their extreme healthiness, the children are limited to two each)

frozen bananas for healthy and not-so-healthy milkshakes

My pantry:

homemade Granola cereal

Multi-grain Cheerios

Quaker Oat Squares (these don't last long because my kids think they're cookies)

Corn Chex (boring but helpful with morning sickness)

Rolled Oats

Canned Peaches, Pears, Applesauce

Peanut Butter (for milkshakes if it's breakfast time)

In a matter of minutes I can feed the whole tribe without too much thought. Breakfast burritos take 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave. French toast takes a couple minutes in the toaster oven. Cereal is pretty much instant. And Oatmeal takes about five minutes to do a batch for all the kids and me. Peanut Butter-banana-vanilla yogurt-milkshakes take maybe 2 minutes to assemble and blend. These are my favorite to make for the kids. I just have to remember to wash the blender.

If I eat breakfast right away in the morning with the kids, I combat morning sickness and the grouchies. Then if I'm going to run errands I won't grab a breakfast from Burger King of McDonald's out of desperateness.

Read more Frugal Friday tips by clicking here!

P.S. I feel the need to explain that I do NOT give my children all these choices each morning. The only morning they get real choices is with cold cereal. Then they get two options- three if it's a particularly happy morning for me. Otherwise their choices are like: Do you want your breakfast burrito on a purple plate or a blue plate? Do you want butter, syrup, or butter AND syrup on your French toast? What color cup do you want your breakfast milkshake in? Do you want brown sugar and milk in your oatmeal or peaches and milk?

Joys of Pregnancy

Last night I drooled in my sleep. a lot.

I don't recall ever drooling when pregnant with my other kids. But drooling at 10 1/2 weeks pregnant, even with twins, seems absurd. and gross.

I need to change my pillowcase.

Pregnancy WFMW

I tried really hard to think of a Works for me Wednesday for today. But I've got pregnancy on the brain. So, my WFMW for today is maternity clothes. They work for me. At 10 1/2 weeks pregnant. They are my go-to clothes. *sigh*



Some past WFMW posts that still get hits:

Preschool Flip-Binder
Reusable Nursing Pads
Kitchen Edition (Ice Cube Trays)
Teaching Kids in Car
Cake Box Cookies
The Mommy Store/Disciplining Lifesaver

Kiddie Kwip: Crack

Gabbers observing Bun climbing onto the couch, "Bun, I see your crack. That's not modest."

Bun, totally freaked out that he has a crack, "Mommy, Gabbers said I have a crack. I need a band-aid!"

I tried to reassure him she didn't mean an "owie" or a cut and it was just his bum she was talking about. He seemed satisfied. I thought everything was okay.

Later Bun came up to me concerned about this crack somewhere on his lower back. I tried showing him what Gabbers was talking about. He seemed to understand. I thought everything was okay.

Later that evening when Danny came home from work, Bun said to him with a sad face, "Daddy, I have a crack." Danny stifled a laugh and gave me an inquisitive look as if asking me to explain. I told him. Bun was still upset about this whole crack ordeal until Danny explained to him that everyone has a crack and it's just where your bum is. He said, "Sometimes people call it a bum crack." I thought everything was finally okay.

Sunday, my friend came to sit by the kids and me during sacrament to help out. She's sweet and nice and doesn't have children yet. Bun was shy at first smiling at her, not saying much. Eventually he started whispering to her about all sorts of things. Bun got more comfortable and was talking in his normal three year old voice. When out of the blue, Bun declared LOUDLY, "Everybody has bum crack!"

Dear Journal, Monday Musings

Dear Journal,

This past weekend I got a multitude of good mail. I received cards from two dear friends: Laura at The Peanut Patch my bloggy friend, and my friend Anne-Marie, an Air Force friend who moved away. Both were wonderfully uplifting and encouraging cards. Thank you so much!

I also received my new apron I ordered from Smockity Frocks blog. It is the Roses and Gingham apron and ADORABLE! Bun was especially excited for me to have a new apron. He said, "You got a new apron?! Now you can make us something!" Gabbers was a little disappointed that this does not necessarily mean she gets my "old" Strawberries and Gingham apron.

I received a book I ordered from Amazon or eBay or something. The book is called When you're expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads. I had ordered it when I was expecting triplets. But since I'm still expecting twins, it still applies. This is the best book on having and surviving and thriving in a multiples pregnancy. I felt like my doctor, as wonderful as he is, wasn't qualified to give me instructions on having multiples. I had asked him if I should have more calcium or something. Should I take more vitamins? Drink more water? His reply was to eat whatever I could keep down. But I felt like I really needed more than that. This book talks about how important it is to gain weight and in my case to eat 8 servings of dairy, 10 grain, 4 vegetables, 7 fruits, 2 eggs, 3 servings of meat, and 6 servings of fats, oils, and nuts EVERY DAY. And on top of all that to drink eight 16 oz. glasses of water a day too! It details the direct result of heavier twins that go closer to term.

I decided it was worth a try. When I read it I nearly puked at the thought of that much food- since I can't even eat a whole apple or banana in one sitting. But there were lots of tips and great advice on how to fit the food into my day- and night.

Last night before bed I made a milkshake out of vanilla ice cream, a banana, dash of cinnamon and whole milk. I shared it with the kids and they thought I was the best mom in the whole world!

In the middle of the night when I had to check on Hammie who was having a nightmare, I decided to get a glass of milk since I was up. That kept my nausea in check through the morning. Then Pookie woke me up saying, "You promised to make me a big breakfast." So this morning I made French toast out of a couple loaves of whole wheat bread I made last week and fried them in bacon grease. I was able to keep my best mom in the whole world title. The kids were so excited about the French toast since it had been probably 6 or more months since I last made it. They weren't hardly interested in bananas or other fruit that went along with the "big breakfast." I made an extra loaf and flash froze it on cooling racks in the freezer for a future breakfast.

I'm feeling pretty good about myself this morning. Danny has been gone one day so far. I just have to think about one day at a time instead of an overwhelming 5 weeks.

cellphone = puke

Dear People that call me,

My cellphone stinks. I'm not talking about the plan-- though it's not a very good plan, but decent for this area. No, the actual phone stinks. I can hardly handle talking on it. I've just come to realize the stench of it this week. And everytime someone calls me on it, I almost vomit.

Please call the house.

The relocating of Pookieville

For all ye speculators, we will be relocating Pookieville to the central coast of California. Yes, it's much warmer. We will be sad to leave our friends and the safety here in the Frozen North. We are excited for the weather where we are going. I personally am very excited for the wonderful hospital near our new home. Gabbers was delivered there over five years ago.

Pookieville needs a new name- since Pookie is not the only resident. Any suggestions?

Today in numb3rs

4 days- Danny leaves for training

5 weeks- the length of the training

1715 miles- the distance to the training

15 days- time after Danny returns back to the Frozen North to pack up and move family

1800- how many miles to our new base

3- number of pounds I've lost since being pregnant

2- number of babies I'm still carrying

9 weeks 1 day- what the bigger baby is measuring

8 weeks 4 days- what the baby who lost her roommate is measuring

1- number of preschoolers I'm potty-training

253,987- number of jelly beans I've used for bribery in the potty training

139- number of dishes sitting in my sink (and on the high chair, dining table, and countertops) while I blog

30- how many minutes MAX I can go without food

Dear Journal, Three became Two

Dear Journal,

There were two gestational sacs. And there were two babies in one sac and one in the other. One of the babies in the shared sac passed away.

Dear Journal, the laundry list

Dear Journal,
Today I go in for another ultrasound. My doctor wants to try to determine if the triplets each have their own gestational sac. We have been praying for three separate gestational sacs and three separate placentas. The complications are increased exponentially if they are sharing. Originally in the ER, the ultrasound technician, Shana, determined there were two gestational sacs- one baby in one, two babies in the other. The next day at my regularly scheduled OB visit my doctor thought he detected three separate sacs. That was two weeks ago today. Hopefully they will be a little more defined and obvious today.

Last night I had a dream (Danny says it was a nightmare) that when I went in for my ultrasound my doctor found five gestational sacs with six babies. I think I need to not watch Jon & Kate plus 8 anymore.

This past Friday I had a bit of a procrastinating day. I had big plans to completely catch up on laundry. There were a couple of loads to be washed still- but more than that, there were about five loads that already were washed and needed to be folded. As I was folding the laundry I had visions of three more piles of tiny clothes to fold too. That was too much for me. I stopped folding and went and watched back episodes of Jon & Kate plus 8 on http://www.tlc.com/.

I justified myself saying that I would be learning some organizational tips and general sanity tips by watching that family of two sets of multiples. Then, still feeling a bit too guilty for shirking my household duties, I decided to bead socks as well. I beaded socks for five different girls. Then I started thinking about how I might have three tiny pairs of girl feet growing inside me and I should bead socks for them as well. But I didn't because I have a bagful of size 0-6 month socks already beaded. I decided I'd wait and find out for sure around 20 weeks how many boys or girls I'm having. Then I'll make IDENTICAL beaded socks. Brilliant plan. Oh yeah, the laundry. *sigh* This is my fate.



P.S. If anyone has any good organizational tips for how to handle four children in diapers (hoping for four if Bun every finishes his training it will just be four) please leave a comment or link.

P.P.S. I mean like, where to keep all the diapers and wipes, or should I use my cloth, scheduling changes, stuff like that. I'm open to suggestions right now.

The Triplets Story part 6: Danny's response.

Grinning, worrying I was giving it all away already, I said, "Good. I need to tell you something. You should probably sit down."

Danny didn't want to sit down. He gave me this look that said, whatever you're about to trick me with isn't going to work. He continued making peanut butter and honey sandwiches for the kids.

I said, "Okay, then I'll just tell you with this." I reached into my coat pocket and as I pulled out the Combos snacks I said, "I'll tell you with this clue. I just wanted to say that the combo for this pregnancy is . . ." I pulled out the 3 Musketeers bar and said, "this."

I tried really hard not to grin. I tried to keep a straight face while he interpreted my message.

Danny set down the butter knife he was using to make sandwiches. He looked at the two treats and said,

"No."

I grinned, "Yes."

"No," he said in disbelief.

"Yes," I said with even more confidence.

"No," he replied yet again.

"Yup," I said almost laughing.

"Naaaah," he persisted.

"YES." I insisted.

"You're lying. No way."

"It's true," I cheesed really big. "We're having triplets."

"You would've told me on the phone if you found that out," he very confidently said.

"I know! It was really hard not to. But Candace helped me stay strong," I giggled.

Danny, still staring at the Combos and 3 Musketeers bar, no longer making sandwiches and barely breathing said weakly, "I need to call my mom."

"No way! Me first!" I demanded. "They're in my stomach, I get to call MY mom first."

"What are we going to do with 7 kids? SEVEN kids?! We'll have 5 in diapers if Bun doesn't figure out potty training. We'll need to buy a bus. Not even Pookie is big enough to sit in a seat without a booster. My gosh, TRIPLETS!" He got it. My clues worked.

"Candace gave me this," I said pulling out the Hershey kisses. "You might need them more than me."

Danny chuckled.

I said, "We're having triplets! Can you believe it! I always thought twins would be cool. I never expected going in there and discovering I was having TRIPLETS! Man, I'm going to have stretchmarks from my neck down to my ankles."

The Triplets Story part 5: Am I dreaming?

"What?! Is it in the uterus? There's three? I'm having triplets?!" I blurted. "Am I dreaming? Is this really happening Candace?"

I was in SHOCK. I was ELATED! Not only was there nothing wrong with my ovaries, and nothing to really explain the pain (except a few cc's of liquid in my abdomen- most likely blood), I was now expecting TRIPLETS!

Candace and I could not stop laughing. Shana asked me to hold really still while she got Baby C's heartbeat. Shana labeled each to distinguish which one she was looking at. The baby closest to my cervix and slightly larger was labeled "Baby A." The other two, who appear to be in the same gestational sac were labeled "Baby B" and Baby C."

Candace asked Shana if we could get a picture to show Danny. Shana apologized that the machine wasn't hooked up to a printer and couldn't print. But I wasn't too discouraged because I knew I had a regularly scheduled OB appointment the next day; my OB always does a first trimester ultrasound to determine the due date.

I think the tech, the nurse, and the doctor all asked me the following questions:

Do twins run in your family? Did you take fertility drugs? Do you watch John and Kate plus 8? Have you heard about that woman who just had octuplets?

Then the doctor said, "Do you still need pain killer?"

I didn't. I was in so much shock that the pain seemed greatly reduced. The doctor joked about a painkiller for my husband.

"Candace," I said, "I have to think of a really great way to tell Danny."

We talked about what comes in threes or little rhymes or something. It was Sunday, so I wasn't going to go shopping at a store- or three tiny onesies might've done the trick.

"Three blind mice," Candace brainstormed. "One, two buckle my shoe. Three, four shut the door. Five, six, seven- gifts from heaven?"

I laughed, "Pretty creative. Maybe we could check the hospital vending machines for a candy bar or a snack that could tell the news." I was thinking a Baby Ruth bar and Mike and Ikes; but feared that would jinx me into having 1 girl and 2 boys. My preferences are leaning toward 2 girls and 1 boy. ;) Our resources were limited.

Another friend from church, Liz, showed up. I blurted, "I'm having triplets!" Liz was excited for me as well. Liz was also there to visit our friend Jill who was still recovering upstairs. On our way to the vending machines we ran into Alona- another friend from church. I wanted to tell Alona, but had decided I should probably let Danny in on the secret before I told anyone else.

Candace offered me a ride home. I called Danny and told him that everything was fine and she'd bring me home. It was REALLY hard not to tell him over the phone. But it's not every day you get to announce to your husband that you're expecting TRIPLETS!!! So when I called Danny and didn't tell him the news, I had to focus on Candace so I wouldn't crack. I crack so easily.

We headed down to the hospital vending machines. Twix? No- that's too similar sounding to twins. Nerds? hahaha. nah. I think it was Candace that spotted the Combos and said, "You could say, 'The Combo for this pregnancy is . . .' as a start." So I bought the Combos and the 3 Musketeers bar. It was kinda of silly, but it was something.

We giggled about the craziness of it the whole way home. Candace promised she wouldn't tell anyone except her husband Brian. I told her she could, but she insisted this was my special thing and she wouldn't. I was still in a daze wondering if it could all be happening.

We pulled into my drive-way. Candace gave me a bag of Hershey kisses saying I needed them. lol I thanked her profusely for everything- staying in the ER with me, helping me figure out how to tell Danny, and for driving me home. She's just so awesome.

As soon as I walked into the house Danny said, "Welcome home. How are you feeling?" He was being the perfect daddy making peanut butter and honey sandwiches for the kids. :)

Grinning, worrying I was giving it all away already, I said, "Good. I need to tell you something. You should probably sit down."

to be continued . . .



Read the start of the triplets story

What I'm daydreaming about . . .

This is the worst part of being nauseas times 3 during Valentine's week:

I keep seeing tempting pictures of goodies. I want to bake these. I also want to bake some of these from Cynthia's blog. They look so delightfully fun to make. I doubt I'll be able to eat more than one- but I want to baaaaaaake. I LOVE to bake.

So, please indulge me (haha no pun intended), which do you think Danny would prefer:

a. a messy kitchen with a boxful of cake bites or profiterole puffs

b. a clean kitchen and no treat

Dear Journal, oh the nausea!

Dear Journal,
I apologize that you will have to wait at least another day for the next installment of the triplets story. Today my nausea and fatigue are out of control fighting for my attention. I am so queasy that I have to eat a little something about every 30 minutes to keep it at bay. I don't feel like eating anything, but I know I will regret it with even more intense nausea and vomiting if I do not.

Now I head to the kitchen to have a bite of apple. I hopefully will be back soon to type a little more.

The Triplets Story part 4: How many do you count?

Right after the doctor left I decided to get comfortable and perhaps nap. I had just found a good position where my gown and warm blanket covered me and just closed my eyes when another knock came at the door and in rolled the ultrasound machine with Shana, the technician.

Shana first prepped me for an abdominal ultrasound. She had the monitor facing her. I was concerned and really wanted to see. So I asked her if I could watch and she agreed and turned the monitor toward me. I couldn't really tell what I was looking at. She was trying to see if there were any cysts on my ovaries.

Shana said, "As far as I can tell the ovaries look okay."

Then she turned the monitor back toward her. I was relieved. She typed and said, "hmm" a lot. She continued to type. Then she said,

"Well, clean off this goo and then use the bathroom. Then we'll do an internal ultrasound."

So I de-gooed my stomach and hurried out to the bathroom. That's when I discovered my friend Candace was there and made it past the security to my room. :) She had overheard someone at church asking Danny, "How is your wife doing?" So she came over to keep me company knowing that ER visits could last for hours.

During the second ultrasound, Shana, the tech, first checked the ovaries again. I worried a little, we hadn't discussed the baby yet; I wondered about the baby's heartbeat. Then she turned the monitor toward me and said,

"How many do you count?"

Candace and I were speechless. To be honest, I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at. Then I said, "Twins?"

Shana said, "Yes. I thought that's what I saw with the abdominal ultrasound; I had to be sure."

I couldn't stop laughing and exclaiming, "Oh my goodness Candace! I can't believe TWINS! What is Danny going to say?"

Candace was clearly thrilled as well saying things like, "This is incredible! This is so great!"

Then Shana asked me, "Please be very still while I get their heartbeats. They are still very tiny."
It's really hard to hold still once someone has told you you're expecting twins. So I tried not to laugh knowing my abdomen was shaking when I did. I just kept grinning at Candace and whispering, "I have to think of a great way to tell Danny."

Shana was taking a really long time scanning and typing. There were occasional "hmms". Candace and I had so many questions, but tried not to say anything because Shana seemed to be very intent on something.

After much silence I said, "Umm... I'm sorry I'm probably still moving. I'll hold still. I'm just so excited."

Shana replied, "Oh, that's okay. It's just... I think I see another heartbeat."

to be continued . . .


The Triplets Story part 3: ER people and their questions
The Triplets Story part 2: Unexplained Pains
The Triplets Story part 1: The pregnancy tests

The Triplets Story part 3: ER people and their questions

I told a couple people that I was leaving church to go over to the ER to have my pain checked out. I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want them to worry about me. But Danny and I decided it would be better for just him and Ham to take me to the ER and he'd be back for the three older kids. That's why we had to tell someone- so they wouldn't think we abandoned our 7, 5, and 3 year old.

Danny and Hammie dropped me off at the ER and headed back to church. I told him I'd call him when I was done. (ER visits seemed to be at least three hours on average for us.) I was slightly nervous. Last time I went to the ER during pregnancy they told me I was miscarrying and that they couldn't even see a baby (during the ultrasound).

I checked in with the triage desk at the ER. Then I sat in the lobby waiting my turn. Then the nurse called me back. She took my vitals, asked why I was there, asked what number pregnancy this was and how many live births, commented I was going to be busy with five kids, told me her life story (because that's what people do- and it was very interesting by the way), asked me to describe my pain and then rate it on a scale of 1-10. I felt like it was a 6.5 to 7. She wrote 7. Then she sent me back to the lobby.

Forty minutes later I came back to the desk and asked if there was a bed I could rest on because I was crampy and uncomfortable. That's when the nurse said, "Yes we actually just got one ready. Come this way."

She took me to the room and handed me a gown and said she'd return with a warm blanket. When she returned to my room with the warm blanket she told me to change into the gown and that the doctor would be in soon. While I was changing a nurse knocked and opened the door within a split-second of the knock. I covered myself as best as I could with gown and she apologized for not waiting longer after the knock. I was embarrassed and rushed to finish changing.

I called my friend Trish on the phone right after changing. The doctor entered the room without a knock and I quickly closed my gown over my rear-end (which luckily fit). I tried to modestly climb onto the bed and cover myself with the blanket.

The doctor asked me the same questions: why was I there, what number pregnancy, how many live births, and my pain level. He said, "Wow, I only have three kids and that's plenty of work." And of course you know what my reply was. He told me he'd get some Zofran for the nausea and something stronger than Tylenol for the pain- but assured me it would be safe for the baby. I declined the Zofran. I told him I only experienced nausea when my pain was really bad- but the nausea wasn't bad at all.

The doctor said he'd have someone get an IV started for me and also an ultrasound was on the way.

to be continued . . .



The Triplets Story part 1: The pregnancy tests
The Triplets Story part 2: Unexplained pains

What the heck am I going to do with triplets?!

Dear Journal,

Since finding out I am pregnant with triplets I have been on a high, kind of in shock, and very much giddy and giggly about it.

Today I took Gabbers, Bun, and Ham downtown with me to pick up a joint food storage order and to go to Denny's for their free Grand Slam breakfast. I wanted to leave the house early so we could go to Housing Maintenance on base first and get our free monthly furnace filter and replace part of a light fixture. Ham was sleeping in late because he's had a cold for a couple days. Gabbers and Bun were playing Starfall. I was sitting in the middle of my messy living room staring at the floor. But that part isn't important. =P

Halfway to my friend's house (who I was following to pick up the order), reality hit and I started bawling.

What am I doing? I don't know how to have triplets. What am I going to do with triplets? How could I take triplets out to run errands like this along with at least three other children?

I turned up the music so Gabbers wouldn't hear me sobbing like a loon. Bun had fallen asleep as soon as we left the gate. Ham was staring off in a phlegm-filled stupor. I called my mom and blubbered to her.

I don't know why people think I can do this. I don't know why Heavenly Father thinks I can do this. I don't even know how to prepare for this. I'm not a patient mom at all!

Mom reassured me with comforts of the church members will help us wherever we are. Whether we are here in the Frozen North or near family in Utah or on to our new base wherever that may be- I will have lots of help. And I will need to accept it.

The Triplets Story Part 2: Unexplained Pains

January 25th, while at church, the abdominal pains started. The pains seemed like a cross between menstrual cramps and a strong stitch in your side from running right after eating. They were mostly in the area of my left ovary. It was achy and constant. Some moments were more painful than others. I tried to convince myself the pains were "implantation pains" or just achy pregnancy pains typical of the first trimester.

This continued on through Wednesday, and then they stopped. I figured I had been blessed for completing all my visiting teaching by that afternoon.

Late Saturday evening, January 31st, when I was trying to finish up some preparations for singing time, the pains came back. I was a bit more freaked out this time because my dear friend Jill had just the day before experienced a ruptured Ectopic pregnancy. She could have died. She was still in the hospital recovering from blood transfusions and surgery. Not long after the pains started again on Saturday evening my friend Trish called to see if my pains had gone away. I hadn't told her about the pains returning. She described to me what happened with Jill and her pains going away and returning.

Sunday, February 1st, during church the pain level increased. I'm not sure, but maybe some of it was anxiety about Jill and her pains.

I finally decided to go get checked out. I had my referral already from my OB orientation. I saw no reason not to go- especially knowing I have really great insurance. It was better to be safe than sorry.

to be continued . . .



The Triplets Story Part 1: The pregnancy tests

The Triplets Story part 1: The pregnancy tests

January 14th, after library story time downtown, I took the three younger kids to the mall to run some errands. I stopped in Target and picked up a double pack of Target's generic brand of pregnancy tests. When I got home I took one test, and waited and watched. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. There was nothing at one minute, three minutes, or even ten minutes. The test was completely a dud. Not even the test window showed the "guaranteed line." I was annoyed and reasoned Well, I think I had a period in December anyway so it's probably too early anyhow. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I called Danny and told him about the cheapo crap test I took and that I'd be calling the company in the morning for a refund. He said I shouldn't take the second test for a few more days- at the very least, I should wait until the next morning. He knows I burn through pregnancy tests like candy. I buried the "defective test" in the trash.

Danny got home from work later that evening and as he was helping the children get dinner ready, I went upstairs to use the bathroom. That's when I noticed someone had dug the pregnancy test out of the trash and it was lying on the top. Both lines were visible. This was HOURS after I had taken it though. I came shrieking down the stairs, "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!" Danny said before I could tell him, "I saw it. And it doesn't count because it was past the ten minutes anyways." I reasoned with him that obviously some kind of hormone was there to make both lines show up. He argued that they were "evaporation lines." But they were dark purple- very deliberate lines. So I did what any sane girl would do, I called my sister (Leslie) to get her opinion. She was excited about the possibility with me and encouraged me to take the other test. Then if it didn't work like it was supposed to, I could get new name-brand tests the next day and a refund from the Target generic brand company. I waited for my bladder to fill, determined not to water-down any hormone with too much water. When I had the tiniest inkling of a tinkling, I went upstairs discreetly, got the test and took it into the ducky bathroom. I locked the door. I took out my cellphone to time the three minutes. I took the test and just as soon as the cap was on and I was setting it on a flat surface like the instructions indicate, both lines were there!

The next morning I called my primary care physician to get a referral for an OB. They directed me to the lab to get a pregnancy test from them. Danny got off work early so I could go to the lab and take the mandatory-for-referral pregnancy test. I requested it be a blood test so it would be the most accurate.

The nurse from my primary care physician called me within 1 1/2 hours to tell me it was positive and to give me my info on my date for attending the OB orientation- or what Danny and I call, "The How to be Pregnant Class." You have to attend the OB orientation to get your prenatal vitamins and referral to the OB. I called the lady in charge of the OB classes the next day and explained to her that I've attended three of those classes since being here and could I possibly cut this one short. She agreed to let me do paperwork and pick up my vitamins. The class was scheduled for January 27, but I had already picked out my OB by then and set my appointment for after that time.

to be continued . . .

Famous last words

I actually said to the ER doctor before my ultrasound,

"The transition from three to four wasn't hard. I don't know that I'll really notice a difference having five kids."

Dear Journal, Oh. my. goodness.

Dear Journal,

I'm having triplets.



P.S. I'm totally serious- and in shock.