It's been a bittersweet day. A very special Christmas, but sad at the same time since we had to leave Blair, but I know its what is best for her. I called the nurses today and she is doing great, they moved her to a regular crib so she is out of her isolette, which is another step in the right direction.  We will call tomorrow morning to see if she can come home tomorrow or Saturday morning.

We will celebrate the babies Christmas when we get her home. We did get to go to church last night with Maggie and Harlow and I cried during Silent Night, the church was dark except for candlelight and I was sitting with my whole family(except for my special baby girl Blair Hope) and it was just the most perfect thing ever. I love being a mommy more than anything in the world and my 5 girls and my wonderful husband mean more to me than anything.  I feel like our family is whole now, complete. I look at my girls and at Matthew and this warm feeling rushes through me, its more than words could ever explain. 

Matthew and I have said numerous times in the last few days what a long journey it has been to get to this point and what a true miracle it really is. I carried those babies for 35 weeks and they are perfect in every way, its such an awesome feeling.

Maggie and Harlow are home and doing great. Our first night at home was a long one, not miserable but we had a late evening with church and opening a few gifts and Christmas Eve supper with my mom, dad and Bubba. It will take us a little time to get into a routine but we are doing great so far.  Today the big girls woke up and came downstairs and we finished wrapping a few gifts and then my mom, dad and brother came in for breakfast and we opened all our gifts, it was really nice and everyone got great gifts.  Then the girls and I went to my Grammi's for a few hours this afternoon and got to visit with everyone. Matthew stayed home with Maggie and Harlow and did an excellent job as I knew he would. It was a more quiet Christmas this year since we didn't have to rush places but I loved it, if only Blair would have been home this would have been the most perfect Christmas ever.

I will try to post some new pics tomorrow, its feeding time again and I am in desperate need of some sleep.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and safe Holiday travels.

~The Stracke's~

The girls are all making progress Maggie and Harlow are out of the warmer beds and in a regular bed and doing great.  Blair hasn't had to eat from the feeding tube again since the first time she is taking the bottle well and drinking what she needs to be.

Maggie is a champion nurser and has no problems there. Harlow finally latched on well this morning and nursed well for me, hopefully Blair will want to next.  They started talking about all the things we need to do before we go home, so that seems promising to me. I get dismissed today, and we really don't know what we will be doing. THe babies dr. is suppose to come by later today so we should know more about the babes later this afternoon.

I will keep everyone updated!!

We are all doing good. Blair had to have a feeding tube put in her nose today because she wasn't eating very well.  She is a slow eater, so Matt and I have been trying to go down for all the feedings and get her to take the amount thats needed, she had the feeding tube put in this morning but has taken all her other feedings today just fine, so hopefully it was just a one time thing.  Maggie has totally figured out the nursing thing and has nursed today great, so I am happy about that.  The other 2 girls don't seem as interested but I will try again tomorrow with them.  I added new pictures so check them out.  Uncle Mark came down yesterday to see his new nieces, we are very happy he did, it means alot to us that he did. And he got to hold Blair also :)

I am feeling ok, very very tired, I had my staples removed this morning so I am able to move a little easier, but its still slow going.  After having Hadleigh I bounced out of bed and was ready to go home 3 days later, this time I guess the extra year and a half of age must have got to me, cause I am super tired! LOL! Or maybe my body is just extra tired after growing those big healthy baby girls. ;)

Hope everyone is enjoying the pictures, I appreciate ready your comments letting us know you are thinking of us.  It makes my days go by faster to have something to read.

We should know some more info tomorrow on everyone and what we will be doing.

Love, Amber, Maggie, Blair and Harlow

I finally got the pictures to upload so check them out. Babies are here and doing great. My c section went well, it seemed to take forever but I was so anxious to meet my girls and hear them cry. All 3 girls are in the NICU as we had assumed they would be. They are doing great, all breathing on their own with no oxygen. They do have an IV in their feet for nourishment.  They have all made pee and poop so thats reassuring also as silly as it sounds.  Matt and I both got to go in and hold them this morning which was awesome.  I am hoping to be up and walking around on Friday so that I can go into the NICU and hold my babes some more.

My mom and dad made it down here with Alexis and Hadleigh and they couldn't wait to hold their baby sisters unfortunately they will not let them into the NICU since its RSV season, but they got to see them behind the glass and that was ok enough for them.  I am so happy my parents made it before the weather got horrible, as they and my brother were all able to go in and hold all 3 girls, something that they desrved very much since they have helped us so much the past 35 weeks and it meant the world to them I know.

I have been resting off and on all day I am just really ready to have all the tubes and wires off me and shower and be able to see my girls!!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, it means so much to know that so many people were thinking and praying for us and still are.

Yesterday was a huge day for us and Matthew is such a proud daddy!  And being the wonderful husband he is he has told me a million times how awesome I did for keeping those girls in there all that time and getting them here healthy!  the girls really do look great very healthy.

Maggie is named after my great Gramma Pavel's mom who I never met but my Gramma Edna meant a LOT to me and she just recently passed away and one of the last times I saw her smile was when I told her we were using the name Maggie, so I know she is watching my babes from heaven and it makes me so sad that the girls won't get to meet their great-great gramma, but we know she is with us. Lynn is my middle name, my mom's middle name and my Grampa is Lynn.  Maggie has fair skin compared to the other 2 abd her big sisters.

Blair was nameless until she came out, mommy just was struggling to come up with a name for her, but now that she is here and I saw her I knew Blair was perfect for her. Hope is her middle name because he older sister's middle names are Grace and Faith. Blair has darker skin and dark hair and was the little peanut since her sisters were squishing her in there.

Harlow is a name we loved because it is unique and when Hadleigh says "harlow" it melts our hearts! We love her name and it fits her well.  Reese was used because we loved the name and Matt's mom's maiden name was Ries. Harlow is the chunk puuta the bunch and she really does look bigger than her sisters, she has darker skin and hair as well. 

I will try to add some more pictures later when I am able to go see the girls.

It almost scares me to think I only have 5 days left to be a mommy of 2.  I am so ready to meet these 3 babies though that I know will just add even more joy to my heart.  I have the best husband in the whole world who has been so supportive to me through all this.  The last 2 weeks I have been a real crab, no other way to put it, everything under the sun irritates me.  My girls have taken a lot of my crabiness too which I feel horrible about, but they still love me ever the same.

I had my appt. with Dr. Fleming on Friday, all 3 girls look great!  He is so proud of me for hanging in there and doing so well, he says I have made his job really easy.  Dr. Fleming and I have a date for 8 a.m. on the 18th I am so excited! :)

All 3 babies looked wonderful and Baby A weighs in at 4 lbs. 11 ozs. Baby B&C weighed in at 4 lbs. 13 ozs.  so I gotta eat several ounces in the next 5 days to get them all over 5 lbs. HAHA!  I think I can probably do that. 

Matt and I were laying in bed last night talking about how things will be and its amazing to think about how much our family will be changing in just a few short minutes, there really are no words to describe it.

I promise to post names, weights and pictures on here as soon as I am able. So stay tuned for more details! :)

Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season with your families.

~Amber and girls

I have had quite a few questions in the last few days, so I decided to try to answer them all here.

1. Why won't your doctor let you go longer than 35 weeks, since everything is going fine?  The answer to that is because usually only bad things start to happen with triplets after 35 weeks, the placenta starts to fail, the mom can gets preeclampsia, etc.

2. Will your babies be healthy and able to come home right away since you are doing so well?  The answer to that one is only known to God at this point.  I carried my first daughter Alexis for 41 weeks and 1 day, it was a normal healthy pregnancy. I labored with her for over 24 hours and pushed for 3 and then had an emergency c section. She came out blue as blue could be and was rushed off and put in special care with a hole in her lung. She was born at 7:35 a.m. it was almost 9 p.m. that night before I got to touch my baby girl. So there really is no way of knowing what will happen. I am fairly sure that since the triplets will be 5 weeks early, that they will be in the NICU for at least the day they are born, and I do know that they will be in good hands.

3. Is there anything we still need?  There are still things on all the registries of things that are both wants and needs.

4.  What can we do to help once the babies get home?  Right now I can't really say as I have no idea if we will be bringing all the babies home together, how much extra care they might need, etc. Meals would be something that would be very helpful at any time.  We are not very picky eaters either so we are flexible.  As far as helpers for the babies, I really appreciate everyone offering, but I just don't know what we need at this time. I also need to be careful since we are in full swing RSV and flu season.

I had another checkup with Dr. Albin today and everything still looks fine. Babies are all moving and have strong heartbeats, my b.p. was fine and I am still not dialated.  All is well. Less than 9 days to go and I am very excited.  I enjoy being pregnant and would do this all over again in a heartbeat, but I am very anxious to see my little girls!  Thanks for keeping us all in our thoughts and prayers.

I also have a to give a special shout out to my MOB friends that have been a wonderful ear on all the things I need to vent about and for all the awesome stuff they have sent me so far.  Also must say Thank You to my BFF Suzi for the support and also her creativity, thanks to her I got my Christmas pictures and letters out in no time, she really is a wonderful friend!

2 weeks from today at this time I hope to be holding all 3 of my baby girls!  I am getting so anxious.  I had a dr. appt Tuesday, what I thought was going to be my last with Dr. Albin but he wants to see me one more time.  Everything looked fine, babies and mommy are doing great.  I am really starting to feel the end nearing, I am so exhausted the past few days, but still have so much to do.  My mom is keeping the girls this weekend so I can do one last good cleaning of the house and wrap my last few gifts.  Hopefully I get it all done.

The girls are really getting excited, we have been putting things away in the nursery and making sure we have the essentials we need, there's still more stuff we need, but it will just have to wait.

The 18th will be here soon, and I can't wait to bring home my 3 bundles of joy for Christmas!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

~Amber and girls

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Mine was great, I got to spend time with my family and visit and I ate lots of yummy foods! We went to my Grammi's and there's always plenty of food there, and I had to add to the feast. Everyone was amazed at how much I brought, what can I say I LOVE to cook!  I also got alot of crap for my belly/table!  They are all very excited and anxious to see the triplets and hear their names. Its nice to have some family that is interested in our journey.

I had a dr. appt. with Dr. Albin on Tuesday and things looked great, babies all are moving and have strong heart rates. My blood pressure was fine and I am still not dialated or effaced. My doctors are amazed at how easy this has been for me, and I really can't complain, I enjoy being pregnant and it has been a pretty smooth ride.

We have set our c section date for December 18th, I am on the countdown now.  I know some of you are so anxious to hear how we are doing and even a couple friends anxious to come see us, so I will try to let you know as soon as I know how the triplets are and I am out of recovery. As far as visitors I really don't think anyone will be able to see the babies so please don't be disappointed. I however would still love for you to stop by, I just know the rules at the hospital and want everyone to be aware of that.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that you are now gearing up for Christmas, I have my shopping complete and gifts wrapped so I am ready for whatever is to come.

Enjoy your weekend! ~Amber and girls