During my pregnancy a friend of mine and old colleague was diagnosed with breast cancer and she was starting with her treatment. I remember how we worked out that the amount of weeks that I have left with my pregnancy was the same amount of weeks that she had left with treatment. And in my mind this was a silent motivation, as I knew she was fighting a battle of survival, and I, on the other hand, one of life. Ironic!
With every scan, the fetes grew into a baby and all 3 of them were doing very well. We were very blessed. And later we discovered that the babies were now baby girls. So, we could start thinking about baby names. Where to start, Mr V and myself had a baby girl name even before we have gotten married, Caitlin. But what about the other 2. The name that he chose, I didn’t like, the name I chose, he didn’t like where to find common ground? At the end we decided that he will choose one name and I will choose another and that will be that. The names will be given in the same order when they are being born. So, the verdict is out: Caitlin, hubby chose Megan and Me Bianca. Strange enough Bianca wasn’t one of the names on my list. I was laying in bed one afternoon, after being at the doctor’s with stomach flu and reading through a book of baby names and comparing it with the names on my list. And it was like a sign from above, Bianca it will be. And, today, I think it suits her perfectly. It is just as short and sweet as my little baby girl.
I never had a problem with having only girls. I hoped for 2 boys and a girl, I just couldn’t understand that you will have so many children all at once and all of them being the same sex. I thought a bit of variety will brighten up things. And, one day, when I was pushed down Mr Price Home by my mother, I realised, that having all the same sex, is just less admin and much easier. Now, they can all wear each other’s clothing, etc, etc. Where as a boy will not like pink, but a girl might like blue.
Nausea, what a little bugger. Shoe!!!!! I, at some stage, actually thought I was about to die. I just couldn’t keep anything in. And at that stage, my new assistant was receiving training in Johannesburg, so I had to be at the office. Our Assessor find me most of the afternoons, lying on my back, behind my desk, on the floor, with the phone next to me. I just couldn’t keep my head up. Ginger lollies, ginger biscuits, Stoney ginger beer, you name it, I tried it. Thank goodness my doctor saw the light and gave a pill. I almost vomited in Woolies over the cashier. Almost in my own kitchen over a very nicely prepared fish dish. I just couldn’t stop it. My mouth was constantly watering. It was terrible.
Cravings, I didn’t have much of. There were some phases. I had a huge watermelon face, it helped with the nausea, and it was the only thing I could keep down. I remember, Mr. V getting home and I was sitting with half a watermelon on my lap eating it with a spoon. And then, of course, I had a mint fit. I just couldn’t get anything minty enough for my taste. Until I walked smack bang into Elizabeth Brown’s ice cream. What a blessing. No meat, of course.
Talking about nausea....................another very grouse thing. My gums were so sore. And at some stage it was bleeding so much. I went to see the dentist just to make sure I wasn’t getting any infections. While I was brushing my teeth, the blood used to stream out of my mouth. Luckily that was only for a short time.
When finding out that you are expecting triplets, allot have to change, and go BIGGER!!! House!! Car!!! At that stage we were living on a farm in a one bedroom house. And I was driving my dream car, a blue brand new Subaru Impreza 2.0R. What a ride!! Anyway, we had to get rid of both of them and cater for more. Looking at houses with ¾ bedrooms, looking at VW Caravelle, and still thinking about financial survival when the children are born. Keep in mind medical expenses, diapers, milk, etc. And we still need to eat. So, with help from family we started building a 4 bedroom house out on the farm, building started in February 2011 and I was due in May 2011. (So, no pressure there.) I had to sell my much beloved Subaru, which I did, to a Japanese dude in Cape Town. And took over my hubby’s green ghost busters mobile. (Which I didn’t love as much as my previous car). But hey, you gotta do, what you gotta do. After we have fitted the pram in the back and the car seat in the back that was that. I will be driving the green monster until we are ready for the next vehicle.
Another way, just to show how things work out, my bestest friend lives in London, I love her to bits. She was a couple of weeks behind me with her pregnancy, which was nice, because we could go through the motions together. Only very sad that she lives so far away and I couldn’t see her more often. But we have shared one very special day together, while being pregnant. And now, the children are about 2 weeks apart.
So, in January, my Godchild had his first birthday party, and from there on, the New Year just started off with a bang. It was Pre-natal classes. And more scans. And booking a bed at the hospital, but not knowing exactly when they can expect me. And with that some surprises. Like the very silent atmosphere in the pre-natal class when I was to declare that we are expecting triplet girls. And my hubby not being at my side, but rather at the building site. At that stage the builders were almost working 24/7 to finish the house.
With multiple pregnancies, there are a couple of more difficulties than with normal one child pregnancy and birth. We obviously had a caesarean, no option there. Then the worry of premature babies, will they be in ICU, will my husband and I survive that? How long will they need to be there? Will we be able to cope? What about an Au Pair or Nanny? Prem nappies? Prem teats and dummies and bottles? It’s difficult enough to just make a decision about nappies and bottles as it was, now you must keep in mind the fact that the girls might be too small to use the normal products on the market. Then still thinking about all the crap that comes from filling in the UIF forms, and then in my case, not even qualifying for UIF. Which I feel until today is a load of crap. Also, looking at prams is like buying a new car. All the brands and styles, colours and types. O my word!!!!!
In January I also started doing interviews for a nanny/Au Pair. I had no clue what I was looking for or what to expect. Or even what to pay her. All I knew I wanted someone with experience and it will be a bonus if she had her own child before. And she must be able to sleep-in. So after a couple of advertisements we met a girl that was send to us from one of the Educare teacher in town. And that was a disaster. After another interview and going through some more cv’s. I found her........an angle send from God. And until today I will not be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for Rosey. She loves my kids so much. And they love her in return just as much. She has become a true family member in my house hold.
I had a safe haven once a month with a couple of girlfriends, which was also pregnant at that time. And we were about a month apart. Once a month the 4/5 of us will meet up for breakfast/lunch. The rules were as follows: You can complain as much as you want to, no one is allowed to judge. You can eat as much as you want to, no judgement. You can eat WHAT you want to, no judgement. This was truly a safe haven. And I loved it. We all had the same fears and excitement to share. And today we share birthdays.
A couple of things happened in between:
8 February – We went for the 4D scan at the Medi-Clinic. My hubby thinks it was a waste, I’m glad that we went. It was very confusing and you didn’t know an arm from a leg. But I was happy.
12 February – Two dear friends of mine took some preggy pictures of me. At that stage I was 25 weeks along, and already feeling like a small elephant. What a treat!!!
13 March – My sister, mother and some friends surprised me with a babyshower. I have say, they did a great job and it was so nicely decorated. One of my closest school friends surprised me from Cape Town and it was just so much fun spending time with her.
30 March – The girls went for a weekend away. That day, at the warm baths, I thought I will break my back trying to climb out of the swimming pool, still in my bikini, of course. And I haven’t been away since then, scary!!
14 April – My offices moved premises and that happened during my pregnancy as well. On this day we had the opening of the offices and I was about 33 weeks pregnant. I haven’t seen my feet for ages. And my back was killing me. But I went, even if it was only for the speeches.
Closing:
9 May 2011 – The girls were born. When I went into hospital I weight 80kg and picked up a total of 20 during my whole pregnancy. I went to the gym up until 32 weeks of my pregnancy and the only reason why I stopped was because I just couldn’t fit unto the machines anymore. I was itching all over my body from all the supplements. And was sleeping very little, but I was ready, happy and excited.
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