29 Weeks and Counting...

Myrtle Beach, SC 

Triez Family Spring Break Trip 2015

How far along? 29 weeks since yesterday. Many people have been asking, "when are you due?" After I tell them, most people say, "wow, you still have all summer to be pregnant." I generally smile back because I know they are thinking how hot and uncomfortable I'm probably going to be. And yes, I am not looking forward to being pregnant and hot, yet again, but I want this pregnancy to slow down! I then usually share, "well this is my third pregnancy through the summer, so I'm used to being hot. This baby can cook as long as he wants because I need time to get our house and my mind mentally prepared for him!"

Maternity clothes? Yes. I  wear layers to work  because the mornings are still chilly, and most of my non-pregnancy cardigans fit fine without being buttoned. 

Stretch Marks? Just my same old momma scars :)

 
Miss Anything? SUSHI! One of my BFFS, Bethanie, and I are going out for dinner tomorrow night, and she suggested Chinese, and all I can think about is sushi! Mike, if you're reading this, maybe you could sneak some into the hospital after our little is born?

Movement: It is starting to be getting stronger every week. After my 28 week ultra sound (they didn't catch everything they needed to at my 20 week ultra sound) I found out that I still have an anterior placenta, yuck. The nurse practitioner that I met with thinks that my placenta will keep growing out with my uterus instead of floating up and back like I was first told. However, she said that it shouldn't have any effect of my labor and delivery. 

Food cravings: Iced tea and fruit

Anything making you queasy or sick: The Braxton Hicks contractions do at times. 

Gender: Bouncing Baby Boy

Labor Signs: Well, I thought that Baby Boy was head down because I've been feeling him move lower in the past few weeks. However, at his recent ultra sound for one minute his head was down, then it was over to the side, and then over to the other side, so he was still moving around a lot. 

I also started having 4-6 Braxton Hicks contractions an hour last weekend. After checking with my doctor's office they had me come in to make sure that I wasn't going into pre-term labor. However, the tests came back negative, so he is safely growing where he should be! I am still experiencing these contractions, mostly at work and at night, but I haven't had as many since last weekend. 

Symptoms: spider veins and swelling
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: It depends on the weather. The cooler I am the better mood I'm in!

Looking forward to: the single digit countdown to summer vacation! Grace has 4.5 days left and I have 9.5!! Let the countdown begin!

Coming up...Next time I will try to post about our spring break trip. To the right is one of the only pictures of me from the trip, on the pier at Myrtle Beach, SC :)

25 Weeks!?

A walk down memory lane tonight. All of the pictures below are me at 25 weeks pregnant with all of my lovelies. 

Baby T #3 

(Baby Boy and no, we are not keeping his name a secret, we really haven't decided yet!)

Double photo bomb! Grace and I were all dressed up to go see "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day" at the Civic Theater. Thanks for taking us mom and friends!

Baby T #2

(Baby Girl, Faith Diana)

I remember that this was my first pregnancy photo while pregnant with Faith!

Baby T #1

(Baby Girl, Grace Kathleen)

At 25 weeks I was so excited to finally have a baby bump!

How far along? 25 weeks as of Thursday. Mike and I just realized there are only 15 weeks left until my due date...um...huh? And I was just notified on one of my pregnancy apps that there are only 103 days left until my due date! Can we say time needs to sloooooow down (anytime would be nice, we are not quite ready for a third just yet!)

Maternity clothes? Most of the time. The maternity shirts look and feel better, so I've been trying to weed out my regular tops for now. I have to with pants, however I have a few regular skirts and dresses that still fit fine.

Stretch Marks? Nothing new...Thank you Bethanie for the stretch mark oil, I am religiously moisturizing my belly morning and night. Fingers crossed that I don't get any new ones!

 
Miss Anything? vino...need I say more?

Movement: At my 20 week ultra sound I told my OB that I was worried about the lack of movement I had been feeling. It turns out that I have an anterior placenta, lame. This means that my placenta is in front of the baby and when he kicks, he hits the placenta first before me. However, it is supposed to continue to float up and back as the baby develops, and tonight he has been wild! Kicks and rolls all around, I would love for Mike or the girls to finally feel him move. 

Food cravings: These are not as strong as they first were, anything that doesn't give me heartburn is good. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: There's really no time for this with your third pregnancy. Every time I've been pregnant I feel like I am tougher than before. The only thing that really bothers me is my heartburn.

Gender: Boy :) I also get to see him again in a few weeks because they couldn't get a good enough photo of his face at the 20 week ultra sound. 

Labor Signs: Too early

Symptoms: Rounding ligaments, varicose veins, heartburn
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Generally good, I just still get pretty tired at night. Oh and if I'm hangry, watch out, just ask anyone in the Triezenberg home!
Looking forward to: Summer!!!!!

Whoa Mama

Everybody's a critic...I have been waiting for the day for one of my lovely third graders to point out my ever growing stomach. Today was the day. "Wow Mrs. T, your stomach is getting really big!" From third grader J as we are walking down the hall to lunch. "Yes, J, that is what happens when you're having a baby," I responded with a smile. "Right, right, uh huh." Retorted the girls in my class shaking their heads at the foolish, boy, J.

This child, my second born, wrapped her arms around my waist the other morning and buried her head in my belly and said, "momma, your belly's big!" 

This child, my first born, likes to caress my bulging tummy and then tries to sit on it like it's an extra seat. (I then proceed to shove her off and then the tickling commences).

I had my 16/17 week doctor's appointment this week, and all is still well. The heartbeat was in the 180's at my 12/13 week appointment, and this time it was in the 160's. Two days after my 30th birthday, we will find out if our third born is going to be a bouncing baby boy or girl! 

How far along? 17 weeks as of yesterday, 3 weeks until we are half way there...wait...what?!?!
Maternity clothes? Most of the time, it's just more comfortable for me and my engorged belly.
Stretch Marks? Nothing new...fingers crossed!
Miss Anything? I was disappointed when I remembered that I couldn't partake in the yummy looking sushi a week or so ago.
Movement: Some here and there, it mostly feels like a wave of small movement, and then it's gone.
Food cravings: Mainly juice, but tonight I was really craving burgers, so I made some and they were delicious!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really, I just don't want anything, or anyone putting pressure on my stomach.
Gender: We hope to find out in just less than a month!
Labor Signs: Too early
Symptoms: Rounding ligaments, varicose veins, and dry eyes.  
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Generally good, I just still get pretty tired at night.
Looking forward to: Spring break and warmer weather! I think we have decided on a boy's name, however we have no clue what to name our little if it's a girl. Good thing we will have plenty of time to figure it out!

Thank you for your love and prayers, have a blessed weekend!

Again?!

Their first responses when we told them about baby #3 was, "are you lying?" From Grace, repeated several times that day, and "No!" from Faith :) Well, since we told them on Christmas Eve, the reality of it has started to settle in, and they enjoying seeing my weekly pregnancy app updates/photos. However, since it is early in the pregnancy, when I show them pictures of what the baby looks like right now they either say, "eww! Or, it's ugly..." Additionally, Grace is excited for bunk beds and sharing a room with Faith, however she had Faith crying this morning of the idea of losing her crib and her bedroom...

How far along? 10 weeks on Wednesday. 1/4 of the way done...what?!
Maternity clothes? Not yet, however I'd rather just not have anything tight on my stomach right now. 
Stretch Marks? Already have them from Grace...Faith treated me well, so hopefully this babe does too.
Miss Anything? It was kind of annoying to not have a glass of champagne at New Years...  
Movement: Sometimes I think I feel something, but it's probably just gas.
Food cravings: Not really, Doritos and macaroni salad tasted awesome last night though.
Anything making you queasy or sick: pretty much only if I have something tight on my stomach.
Gender: ? I would like to wait until he or she is born to find out the gender as well, but Mike would like to find out, so we will find out soon enough :)
Labor Signs: Nope.
Symptoms: Rounding ligaments, feeling very tired, bloated and lazy.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Generally good, I do get very cranky at night, due to being very tired. Oh, and if I'm hangry, watch out!
Looking forward to: Deciding on a boy and a girl name, and hearing the heartbeat at the beginning of February. 

Have a great rest of your weekend, updates will come when I can!

Saturday Mornings

Saturday mornings are my favorite. Usually everyone is asleep when I get ready for work (or crying and screaming "don't leave mommy, don't leave!") But Saturday is a day when even Grace sleeps in (if you call 7 AM sleeping in...) On the weekends I try to make a homemade breakfast. Some of our favorites are my pancakes and waffles (made from scratch, no mix necessary), but recently I have been adding a new breakfast to our Saturday morning routine, French Toast Casserole.

This is where I got the original recipe from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/french-toast-casserole/. It looked so yummy, that we had to try it!

Ingredients:
Original recipe makes 1 - 8x8 inch pan

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

5 cupsbread cubes

4 eggs

1 1/2 cupsmilk

1/4 cupwhite sugar, divided

1/4 teaspoonsalt

1 teaspoonvanilla extract

1 tablespoonmargarine, softened

1 teaspoonground cinnamon

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan.

2. Line bottom of pan with bread cubes.

 

 

 In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. pour egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand for 10 minutes.

 

 

 

2.     Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden.





 * To make this my own, I also added syrup to the top before I put it in the oven to bake. I would also recommend keeping it in the oven a little longer than the recipe asks. I think I took mine out just a smidge too early, it never really firmed up, but it was still delicious!

 

I also added powdered sugar and a little more syrup to the finished product. Even though it takes some time to bake, the making of it is very quick, and simple. (The only type of recipes that I like!)

 

 

 

There's my girls Grace demanded that she wanted frozen waffles for breakfast, and that what I had made was "yucky." (And for the record she never tried it!) She smugly munched on her waffles while I sipped my coffee and devoured my awesome french toast casserole, the kid doesn't know what she's missing! Faith enjoyed pureed apricots, and Mike had yogurt, my breakfast wasn't on his diet. Alas, I still had a fantastic breakfast. None of them know what they are missing!

Who's Who?

OK, so I knew that our children would like somewhat like us, but I didn't realize how much they could look like each other!

 

 

Sleeping beauties, both before one month old, Grace is the top one.

 

 

Silly girls! I believe this is around two to three months for both of them...



Faith

                                                                                        Grace

 

 



 

Playtime! Ok, so this one isn't fair since they are on the same play mat, and in the same jammies,

the left one is Grace and the right one is Faith.

So, there you have it! My family photo albums now must include the names of the people (especially the children!) in the photo, so when we look back, we will know who is who!

One more, just for fun...

 

Faith 3 months

Grace 7 months

 

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

We're Back!

 

 

 

Life has caught up with me, and I have 6 months to catch up on...here we are 6 months ago.

 



 

I was exactly 41 weeks pregnant. This is about an hour before my contractions started. Faith decided to test our patience, but when she decided to come, she was ready! We started timing my contractions around 10 AM. They started out around 4 minutes apart, but quickly advanced to 2-3 minutes apart. Grace was a great distraction, she kept me laughing while I bounced on my yoga ball (thanks Kelby!) and I focused on my breathing. At two minutes apart, Mike had lunch ready for Grace and Erin, and was pushing me out the door!

 



 Mike safely got us to the hospital around 12:15 PM...she was born an hour later, here is one of our first pictures together! I bounced on my yoga ball while we checked in, and when I was supposed to be laying down in triage. (I will never understand why they have a birthing mother lay down...gravity, folks!) The nurse checked me into triage to excitedly explain that I was fully dilated, all she could feel was my bulging bag of water. Bethanie, AKA Aunt B, made it just in time before Faith's arrival! I could either wait to have an epidural, or push Au natural. Faith's time in my stomach was up, she came out wide eyed into the world, drug free!

 

Because she had an extremely fast birth, some of her umbilical cord tore. After an hour of her, and me being sewn up, we were reunited and she nursed like a champ!

 

 

Grace, Erin, and Marc were quick to join us, along with many other loving family and friends. We are so blessed!

 

My next post will show some comparing of my two little beauties, see if you can guess who is who!