J&J Baby Diaper Fund

Jamie and I met in 2008 at a classy dive bar known as the Shanty.  Married in 2010, we soon started "trying" to get pregnant.  I'm using quotes because we weren't really trying but... hey we weren't NOT trying (know what I'm saying ;)

Fast forward a couple years and we decided to step it up a notch.  This is the time when I can truly say we were "trying."  Three to four cycles of Clomid and an attempt of IUI, we still had no babies.  As we went through this longer and longer, we started to talk with others who also had trouble getting preggo.  All of this at that point was completely unknown to us.

After six to seven years of not-not trying and trying, we decided to take a shot at IVF.  We found a good Dr in Arizona we really liked and booked a trip.  Jamie flew out first and then I later drove out with our dogs Bruce and Bobo.  We stayed in a pool house off of Airbnb in the hills of Tuscon.  Beautiful house and with amazing owners.  More on that later.


As Jamie first got out there, the news from the Dr wasn't so great.  Her egg count was still pretty low and certainly not where they would have liked it to have been.  We were already facing long odds with this whole procedure and things were looking dimmer and dimmer by the day.  Being the brilliant Dr that we had, she had decided to give Jamie a few more days to "cook" them eggs.

The big day (egg retrieval) had come and afterward, they had retrieved 3 three eggs.  It was good, but a typical retrieval can be anywhere from 10-20 eggs.  So again we were looking at long odds.  But we stayed upbeat, saying "it only takes one."  Then we started to get lucky.  Of the three eggs, two fertilized and were later implanted.

After the implantation, we were planning to hit the road.  We had been in AZ for over two weeks and our AirBnB had new guests checking in the next day.  But our amazing hosts, who we had talked to while staying there, offered up their main house for us to stay in.  So instead of driving home for 8 hours right after the procedure, we stayed in this beautiful home for a few more days, for free might I add (thanks again Sharps!)

We get home and just need to wait about TEN f@#$ing days to find out (not easy).  In the week leading up, Jamie started to have typical cramps that precede a period and our hearts just sank. But with each passing day, her period didn't come and we were still in it!  When the blood test finally came, it was official, she was pregnant! And not only was she pregnant, her HCG levels were through the roof.  Something we heard could be an indicator of twins (remember we only had two eggs put in there).

They say morning sickness isn't an accurate name because it can happen ANY time of the day.  Poor Jamie was sick ALL day and ALL night.  No exaggeration, our dogs would hide in corners of the house and/or yard for fear of the "Dragon" (the sound she made from all the wretching).

At seven weeks pregnant, we finally got in to see a local Dr for our first appointment.  This wasn't at all what we expected.  When the Dr started the ultrasound, he couldn't find anything and he and his nurse were both completely silent.  He eventually found a little heartbeat and we were relieved.  But there was no sign of a twin, which can be common where one stays and the other leaves.  Oh well, at least we got one!

A few weeks later it's the day before Christmas eve (a Saturday) and Jamie's nausea completely stops, really strong cramps start and she's bleeding more than what's considered normal.  We call our Dr but they cannot see us until Wednesday because of the holiday.  Deciding to keep things calm we just stay home and try not to think about it.  Christmas Eve comes and the same symptoms persist.  After talking with my sister, we decided to just go and figure out what's happened and head to the ER.  Well when it's Christmas Eve, almost all Drs offices and urgent-cares are closed.  So everybody heads to the ER.  We wait outside (it was that busy) for five hours before we're ever seen.  I'm thinking we look at the ultrasound, hear a heartbeat (or not) and we know what has happened.  Nope!  Jamie is wheeled into a private room for the ultrasound and I'm told to wait outside.  After about an hour, she comes out but has no idea (she didn't get to see the screen or know what was going on either).

At this point we had come to grips with either outcome, remembering that no matter what, it'd be ok and we still have each other.  In all honesty, I wasn't expecting good news.  But for how difficult of a situation this was and how a hospital was the LAST place I'd like to be on Christmas eve, it was strangely a good time.  And there were several ironic/divine things that happened...
1) While waiting outside, there were three people who needed our help.  One guy was starving and we shared some food.  The next guy was blind and needed help getting picked up by his Uber.  And finally, an old man needed help putting his walker in his car.
2)  When wheeling Jamie down to the ultrasound office there was writing on the wall saying "believe" that caught my eye.  I know this sounds "woo-woo" but I'm being 100% honest when I say that's not something I'd normally even notice.  And it popped out at me three times!
3)  Every time a baby is born at the hospital, they play that lullaby dadada.  Guess how many times, it played while we were there?  If you're not sure please start back with No.1 and you'll get it eventually ;)

After seven and a half hours at the hospital on Xmas eve, the Dr finally comes in with the news.  Expecting the worst, he just comes out and says "Mrs. Hellems, you're pregnant with triplets."

My jaw drops.  "How can this be?  They only put two eggs in there?" I asked the Dr.  At that point both Jamie and the Dr. remind me of 7th-grade biology and how an egg can split.  They're called identical twins, you may have heard of them.

So that is how we found out.  Yes, triplets.  Not even twins, triplets.  Three babies.  Three. Of. Them.

Which brings me to why you're here.  Our GofundMe.  Let me show you some quick math...

A newborn baby will typically use 6-8 diapers per day.  Jamie and I are preggo with triplets.  We will be going through 18-24 diapers per day.  We need ALL THE DIAPERS.  Every $40 should get us through the week.  Please help :)

As I write this, she's 21 weeks preggo and we got two boys and a girl.  I'll post more pics and updates.

Special thanks to our families and close friends who helped us get here.  You'll forever be part of our village :)