"Where There is No Struggle, There is No Strength!"

Hey there, this is Loren speaking. Usually I am just the one typing what the triplets tell me to, so this is a little intimidating. I am sure you are wondering why the triplets aren't sharing the latest updates, but it's my turn to share the updates. The babies' last update stated that mommy needed some extra rest, so they put her on a modified bed rest. Alecia had a few days of resting and taking advantage of me in my naughty house-hubby costume. (Sorry for the disturbing mental pictures!!) Before cabin fever was able to set in, it was time to see Dr. Wildey again at Altru on Monday. Another ultra sound was completed to check on all of the babies, as well as their cord flows. 

We are talking --- lots of talking!

The babies were definitely showing off on Monday, too. Baby A (boy) was pretty bored with the appointment because we snapped a picture just as he was yawning. Baby B (girl) was practicing her gymnastic moves as she stretched her legs over her head just as the ultra sound technician took a photo. Baby C (girl) was trying to one-up her sister by stretching her legs so far above her head that her knees were touching her forehead. They are already starting to compete with each other by showing off. God help us now!!

The doctors also checked the cord flows of each baby. These cords are used to let mommy give nutrients to each baby. It is important that each baby is showing signs of flowing nutrients to each individual baby. With our frequent ultra sounds and staring at a little TV of body parts twice a week, we could tell something was different. Baby B and Baby C's cord flows decreased, with Baby B's almost absent. This was tough news! We know the risks all too well of what this means. Dr. Wildey informed us that as long as the flow is not reversed, the babies can continue to rest in mommy's tummy. If the flow shows any signs of reversal, it would be time to meet the babies. Knowing that this is a very possible situation, Dr. Wildey said it's time to let Alecia rest in the hospital and receive an IV of magnesium to help with neurological protection of the babies. It was a rough night of trying to monitor the babies and keep Alecia comfortable.

Another ultra sound was scheduled for Tuesday morning. We were pleased to know that even from last Wednesday, each baby showed signs of growth!! As for the cord flows...they were slightly improved, but still at a scary measurement. Dr. Wildey, Dr. Panda, and Dr. VanEerden all agreed that it was time to become permanent residents of "Hotel Altru". With our celebrity status in these here parts, Alecia and the babies are receiving excellent care! They are even letting us stay in the "Beyonce Suite".

They say that you never really know how strong you really are until you need the strength the most. Right now, WE ARE STRONG! We are strong because we know that these beautiful babies are in good hands of doctors who are treating them as their own. We are strong because Alecia is in the hands of compassionate, dedicated, and truly amazing doctors. We are strong because the staff at Altru has gone above and beyond to make us feel OK. We are strong because of the plethora of texts, phone calls, emails, hugs, thoughts, and prayers we have received for our growing family. We are strong because of our friends, family, and work-families are willing to drop everything to help in any way. We are strong because we know we're loved! We are strong because of you! No thanks can and will ever be enough to express our gratitude to those who have reached out to us. Just know that your kind thoughts, words of encouragement, and prayers of strength have done more than any medicine could EVER do for us and our babies! We are truly humbled by your love!!

I am strong because even though the tears are falling and this journey has been very bumpy and unpredictable, I am maneuvering throughout holding the hand of the most strong, amazing, and truly beautiful person I ever could dream of, my best friend and wonderful mother-to-be, Alecia!

As we wait in the "Beyonce Suite", we think. We think about all of you and how lucky our growing family is to have you in our lives. Our stay here is very unknown. We do know that each day the babies stay relaxing in Alecia's tummy means another day of growing and developing. Babies A, B, and C could arrive within days, weeks, or months -- we don't know. However, we do know that the babies will arrive when God wants them too!

June 25th, 2012
Admitting Day 

Once again, thank you for everything!! "With a new day comes new strength!" You do not realize how much you all lighten the darkest of our days! We love you all and cannot wait for you to meet the Triplets. However, we're hoping you have to wait quite a bit longer!!

Until next time...

 :-)  :-)  :-)

27 Weeks + 3 Growing Babies = BED REST!!!

Babies 1, 2, and 3 here, broadcasting live from mommy's tummy. Another busy week here as we've had some more changes. We visited Fargo on Wednesday to meet with our perinatologist. It had been over two weeks since we ventured down there, so there were lots of questions from mommy and daddy. The biggest question that they had was 'are we growing?' And they were ecstatic to hear that the answer was yes!!

Here are the lastest weights:

Baby 1:

2 pounds

Baby 2:

1 pound 6 ounces

Baby 3:

1 pound 9 ounces 

The doctors are pleased with our growth and hope for more ounces and pounds in the near future. Mommy and daddy were quite surprised to see that we still have space to practice our gymnastics. Speaking of space, we've all picked our favorite places to rest. Baby 1 likes to be head down and on mommy's right side. Baby 2 likes to be everywhere, especially squished between Babies 1 and 3! And Baby 3 likes to lay right across the top of mommy's belly looking over the others.

Mommy and daddy have been reading us books, letting us listen to music, singing to us, and talking to us everyday. We like to spend time with them. We really like when mommy plays 80's music for us and daddy tries to sing along. We can tell when daddy misses the words, because mommy's tummy jiggles. She must be laughing at him...she does that a lot!

Speaking of mommy, she has had a little bump in the road, too. With lots of measurements and tests, it's now time for her to take it easy, so she is officially on bed rest. Mommy and daddy expected it to happen sometime, so it wasn't too much of a shock for them. Mommy had to take a break from work, going out of the house, cleaning, making food, and pretty much anything else that requires her to be standing or sitting upright. She basically has to be laying down or reclined back. With all of these new adjustments, mommy is doing very well. She keeps herself busy reading, talking on the phone, watching tv, scrapbooking, eating, and watching daddy cook, clean, and take care of her. She likes the last part!! Who knew that daddy was such a good housewife? But in all seriousness, mommy and daddy said they'd do anything to keep us baking in the oven for as long as possible. If that means that daddy has to wear an apron and play the part of Martha Stewart and mommy has to sit or lay all day long, they'll do it.

Here's mommy looking beautiful!
By the way, this is 1 of her 5 times daddy said
she could stand up during the day!! :-P

We will continue to see Dr. Wildey in Grand Forks two times a week and our Fargo doctor every two weeks. Mommy and daddy are nervous for each appointment, but their worries are quickly subsided as they know we all are in very good hands.

Thanks again for tuning into our broadcast. We will keep everyone updated as we can. Keep praying, sending positive thoughts, and enjoying the summer. Take care!!! 

Coming At You Live!

Hello out there and thanks for tuning in today! 

The Hoheisel Triplets are coming at you live from mommy's tummy! 

Another week older means we're growing even stronger!

Awww! Look at those cuties!!
We wonder who we'll look like?!?

Here's the latest headlines:

- We made it to 26 weeks!! We're growing stronger each and every day.

- We had an amazing Baby Shower in Minot last weekend! That Auntie Jenny of ours throws one heck of a party. It was great to see so many of our family and friends. Mommy, daddy, and us babies are truly blessed!! Words cannot express how lucky we really are!

- The colors pink and blue have taken over the house! You know how daddy loves to have everything in order? Well, we are really breaking him of those OCD habits. With everything so uncertain and out of his control, mommy is sure he is going to have a breakdown one of these days. I think mommy is enjoying it!

- Daddy survived Uncle Branden's bachelor party in Bismarck! We heard some pretty funny stories about the weekend!! And I guess we were even part of the celebration...

- Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary this past week!! 3 years later and soon to be 3 babies--WOW! 3 just might be their magic number this year.

- We are moving like crazy! Who knew that 3 babies in a small belly would still have enough room to practice our gymnastics?!?

- Mommy had a few steroid shots last week. The shots are meant to help our lungs and brains develop. They do this a lot with babies because it helps us become stronger in case we decide to arrive sooner rather than later. If we were to decide to make our appearance earlier than expected, our doctors are very confident that we'll be strong enough to meet everyone...after a little time at the spa (aka: NICU). 

- Mommy is having bi-weekly appointments at Altru to check that we are getting enough blood flow. This is being done to ensure all of us babies are still receiving mommy's nutrients. It is getting harder for the ultrasound techs to get good pictures of us because we're kinda short on space and we never stop moving.

- We are visiting Fargo on Wednesday. This is a huge appointment for us. Let's keep those fingers crossed, and more importantly, keep those prayers coming!! Hopefully we'll have more news after Wednesday. We are so thankful that we have a great team of doctors and nurses working together to make sure we continue to do well, as well as making sure our mommy is also safe and healthy!

Thanks for tuning in this week. As each day passes, 
we continue to grow stronger. 

Keep saying those prayers, sending positive thoughts, 
and crossing those fingers for us all.

Until next time...

Another Week, Another Accomplishment!

Here's a quick update, and we'll have more next week after another appointment. It has been very busy around here. Grandma and Grandpa Hoheisel got to see us at our Fargo appointment on Monday. We were all well behaved and very photogenic!

Daddy heads to Bismarck this weekend to celebrate his little brother's bachelor party and Mommy heads to Minot for her Baby Shower. We can't wait to see everyone on Sunday in Minot! It will be a busy weekend for all. Oh, and we turn 25 weeks tomorrow!! WOWZA!

Hey, it's me, Baby Boy (1)!
After our appointment, we found out that we're doing great!
I am weighing in at 1lb. 7oz. I'm right where they want me to be!

Hi there, it's me, Baby Girl (2)!
I am growing!! I am weighing in at 1lb. 1oz. Still a bit too small,
but the main thing is that I'm growing! 

Hello, it's me, Baby Girl (3)!
Yes, I need to gain more weight, too. I am weighing in at 1lb. 2oz.
But that means more ice cream for me!

We'll talk soon! Stay safe out there, friends! 

We love you all!

24 Weeks...WOWZA!

Look at our beautiful mommy as she heads to take
care of other little miracles!

It has been a very busy week...oh, and by the way, we're 24 weeks today!!! As many of you people in the field of medicine know, this is huge! It means that we're technically viable. For people like our daddy who don't know as much about babies, it means that we could be born today and still have a super chance of meeting you all...after a long vacation in the NICU. However, it would be great to meet all of you...buuuut we're staying in here as long as we can!  So you'll have to wait to pinch our little cheeks a bit longer...hopefully 3 months longer.

Our first Memorial Day was spent with lots of family and friends at Northgate Dam. It was great to see the Hoheisels, Mobergs, Knutsons, and Biwers. The weather stunk, but we had a great time laughing and spending time with the greatest family and friends in the world.

Over the weekend, we met the newest heartbreaker of our family. Avery Rae Melby was born on Saturday to our Auntie and Uncle Melby and we love her already. We were able to visit the little bundle of joy when she first got home from the hospital. It is going to be so much fun being so close in age to her. Cousins are the first best friends, right?

 ~ Mommy and Avery Rae ~
Two beautiful girls!!

On Monday, May 28th, daddy officially felt us move for the first time! That daddy of ours sure is a softy because we are pretty sure there were a few tears and sniffles. Since then, we haven't stopped moving. Mommy and daddy feel us all the time. Another great milestone for us...and them.

On Tuesday, mommy and daddy got to see a few more pictures of us. We had another appointment at Altru with Dr. Wildey. He sure is taking great care of us. We all boosted our weight a little bit and are growing well. Of course, some of us are a little bit smaller, but we're hoping to keep growing and growing in here.

Also on Tuesday, we said "SEE YOU LATER" to our Uncle Clayton. He headed down to Texas to be with his family. It was hard to see him go, especially since we always heard him because he was never quiet when around...and he made us laugh because mommy and daddy were usually laughing too. Everyone is still pretty sad, but they know that it is a great thing. Us at 624 Park Drive know that he will be back...for sure! 

We have another appointment on Monday in Fargo, so we'll have an update soon. Grandma and Grandpa Hoheisel are coming to see us, too. They are going to try to take a sneak peek at us in here. Let's hope we all cooperate and are well behaved so everyone can see more pictures of us.

We will talk to you all soon!

Keep all those prayers, kind thoughts, and positive vibes coming our way!

Love,

Baby 1, Baby 2, & Baby 3

Look at our new ride!
Thanks to some very generous friends of friends, 
we're now riding in style!