9 weeks, answers to frequent questions :-)

Well, I might not look very big, but I feel my tummy is already the size of when I was 4 months pregnant with Jenna!  It is just growing so fast, I guess that's what happens when you have 4 babies in your belly!  That, and the recommended 4,500 calories I am suppose to eat each day...!!!

I am overall feeling good, as long as I keep up on my rest and eat about every 2 hours.  When I get hungry I get nauseous, and that's no good, but (I think) it means they are doing well so we'll see!  We have another ultrasound in 4 days and Andy and I are excited to see how the babies are doing.

So many of you have asked some questions, that I would be happy to answer since I am kind of a nosy person, too!  First of all, yes.  We are overjoyed at the news.  Yes, we were seeking fertility help.  We did not do in-vitro, but I was taking medicine to stimulate my eggs to grow.  I have taken these meds before and had procedures before that did not take, so multiples were not really on our radar--- we just wanted to get pregnant!  After taking the meds and the nurses took an ultrasound of me before the procedure, there was again no indication that even one egg would be mature enough to take, let alone a few.  In the fall we did another procedure with an egg that looked more promising, with no positive results.  Needless to say, this is very rare!
We were told the chances of this happening were less than 1%.  The only way we can account for this is that God had other plans, and He is ultimately in control!  Now, at the last ultrasound we were told 3 looked very healthy but one was smaller, so we are a little concerned that one or more might not make it.  As crazy as it seems, we really hope all can survive healthily!!!

One thing that amazes me is how tired I am.  My body simply cannot handle much activity, and I need to rest and lay down often.  I also need to nap, or I become a zombie!  I have never been a napper and I have always been a go-go-go person, so it is a very different, and difficult lifestyle, to get use to!
Unfortunately, this means my part-time job as a school occupational therapist, which I love, needs to stop for the time being.  I am struggling a little with this, but even I admit running around schools doing fine and gross motor activities with a bunch of energetic kiddos is exhausting even on regular days... and not that I am "gestating", I need to conserve all the energy I have.   I also know I need to take all next year off, since I will have my hands full, but it's hard to halt a career I love.  Ultimately, though, family comes first.  I know this, but MAN!  those hormones can make me a little crazy.

One more thing-- as much as I HATE the idea, it makes total sense:  we need to get rid of our 2 wonderful dogs.  So anyone out there who would like to take our beautiful piggy 8 y.o. female boxer Scout and our lovable, loyal 10 y.o. chocolate lab male, let me know!!  We asked some friends and have even posted them on craigslist :-(.  Don't want to give them a new home, but our home simply won't be able to handle 4 new babies, a toddler, and 2 inside dogs (and heaven forbid they become outdoor dogs!!  Spoiled pups!).

Gotta lay down.  I'm exhausted.  And hungry.