30 Weeks Today!!

Today I am 30 weeks! I have made it to another milestone on my journey. I always love Tuesdays, because that is the day the "week" number changes. I was reading the blog of Suzanne, another Texas gal who is pregnant with quads, and she had a link to this chart, which I found interesting:

http://us.geocities.com/aguila4.geo/table.html

The chart shows outcomes for premature infants by gestational age. The highest the chart goes is 30+ weeks, but the 30 week data is pretty great. I know that at 32 weeks, the stats get even better, so when I reach 32 weeks I will breath a sigh of relief. After 32 weeks, every day the babies stay put is worth three days in the NICU, so I am still aiming for my 34 week goal. It is hard to believe that it is only 4 weeks away---that in all likelihood the babies will be born this month.

This was a week of visitors. First to come was my friend Natalie from Austin and her sister Katie. They were in town for their sister's wedding. The first thing Natalie says to me when she sees me is, "Wow, you are HUGE!!!" I think everybody needs a friend who just tells is like it is! She took some pictures while she was here. She didn't send them to me, but she did pass them on to my husband---he posted one on his blog this week at: http://www.wilkinsonquints.org/blog/jaysonblog.html.

Next to arrive was my sister-in-law, Alicia, and her husband and two kids. They have been watching Riley and Kaiya for the past two weeks in St. George, Utah. We haven't gotten together in about 2.5 years, so it was really great to see them again. They are wonderful for taking in my kids for two weeks. Riley and Kaiya had a great time at their house and loved getting to know their cousins who they don't see very often.

Of course one of the best parts about Alicia coming is that she brought my kids back! It was wonderful to see them again. It had been about five weeks since I last saw them and I really missed their sweet personalities and cute smiles. Both of them gave me a big hug and then hugged my belly and kissed it once for each baby. I had forgotten how much energy they have, especially in contrast to my life on the couch! Riley has found it particularly hilarious that I have to go to the bathroom so frequently. He asked me why and I told him that the babies were always kicking my bladder. He thought that was hilarious and he proceeded to go around the house, giggling and telling everyone what I had told him. Finally, someone asked him what a bladder was. He thought about it for a second and replied, "I have no idea!"

After Alicia and her family left, Jayson's Aunt Gloria and Uncle Larry along with their son Danny and his family arrived. I had actually never met them, so it was wonderful to finally put some names with some faces. Aunt Gloria is very generous and came bearing all sorts of baby gifts. She is awesome!

The last person to arrive was my mother. She is planning on staying here until after the babies are born, for which I am so grateful! She is such a big help with my kids and with other things around the house, not to mention what a great support she is to me. She also concurred with Natalie's assessment of my belly and has been taking pictures of it every chance she gets. I'll try to post one soon.

My next visitor arrives tomorrow----my husband, Jayson! I am very excited to have him come, since I haven't seen him in over 5 weeks. It has been hard to be seperated from those that I love most during this pregnancy, but I am confident that this is where I am supposed to be, and that this is where the babies will have the best possible chance. I know that the sacrifices my family are making will all be worth it in the end.

30 Weeks Today!!