Yay! We can now deliver at the hospital near our house. The girls are now far enough developed that we won't have to be transferred to a specialty hospital. All these small milestones are really adding up. Every week they stay in the healthier they will be! Average birth for twins is 36 weeks, just 3 weeks away! I know I keep saying this, but it just blows my mind. The three people I know who have had twins (all boys) delivered at 34, 35 & 37 weeks. Our girls are going to be here any time now!
My doctor pretty much said the same thing at my appointment this week. He said I am doing really good, which was nice to hear from him. I haven't had any contractions, just the couple braxton hicks a couple of weeks ago. Because of that he decided to go ahead and schedule the 38 week cesarean. He still doesn't think I'll go that far, but he wants it on the books just in case, he also wants to make sure there isn't any miscommunication at the hospital when I do go into labor about them doing a cesarean.
My next appointment is in two weeks. After that I start going every week. He thinks it could be any time once my weekly appointments start. He also told me not to worry about pre-term labor anymore. We obviously want them to stay in as long as they need to, but when I go into labor that means they are ready to come. I was so nice to hear that!
That is the big news of the past week. It's actually been a pretty fast week. Craig was gone from Tuesday morning to Thursday afternoon. I didn't sleep much the first night and was sore and tired on Wednesday. I met some friends for lunch that got me out of the house for a little bit. Then I cleaned up the house as best as I could Thursday morning so it would be clean when Craig got home. I know I hate coming home to a dirty house and chores to do. It took me the majority of the day, and I really didn't do much only dishes and vacuuming. I'm just very slow and have to take breaks because I start to get breathless if I do too much.
There is still A LOT of tile left to be done. I'm really worried we are going to run out of time. The last thing I want to happen is to have the house being put back together while I'm recovering from a cesarean and taking care of two newborns. There is no way it will actually get done! We are going to take advantage of this weekend. Its one of Craig's 3 day weekends and I've set up for a couple of friends to come and stay the entire day today.
Hopefully the guys can a good days worth of work done on the tile. While us girls get some things done like cleaning out the other half of the girls' closet, and the small things that not longer belong in their room. Rearranging the kitchen so I can start to fit their bottles and such in the cabinets. Brushing out the dogs, cleaning the pool. All things I can no longer do on my own, and that have been pushed aside so Craig can work on the tile.
Family Pic
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
32 weeks
That gives us 4 weeks to get ready (6 if they are stubborn). Most single pregnancies, the baby is gaining about 1/2 pound per week. However, I read on a twins website that in twin pregnancies, the babies gain less weight per week in exchange for increased lung development. Also, for some reason, girls tend to develop faster than boys. So I think we are in good shape to plan on having babies in 4 weeks!
I turned into the grumpy pregnant lady this week, and I don't really like it. The poor dogs have gotten the brunt of it. Craig had the good sense to go to the gym every night this week, so he's pretty much been spared. We also have an agreement where I can just tell him that I'm uncomfortable or feeling grumpy and he knows to back off and not get mad at me if I get snippy.
I think the majority of my grumpiness comes from not being able to breath properly. The girls are fighting for space and will often move in opposite directions to the sides of my belly. That does not feel good, and makes breathing even more difficult. Craig says when they do that it looks like I've swallowed a Cheerios box because my belly becomes almost square.
The combination of now being 8 months pregnant and lack of oxygen has made me very sleepy during the late morning, so I've been getting some naps in. They pretty much only last an hour though because which ever side I'm laying on gets sore. Which, I'm told, is just par for the course. I have to say though that it is all completely worth it. I would gladly go through this all again if it means we have healthy babies.
I have a doctor appointment on Monday. Its the first of the every other week appointments. I haven't had any real contractions or even anything out of the ordinary, so I'm sure it will be another one of the quick and boring appointments. Which is always a good thing. I'm glad the appointment is on Monday because Craig will be out of town Tuesday through Thursday. It will give us both peace of mind before he leaves for three days. My Mom and friend Heather will be checking on me during the time he's gone, so I'll be well cared for.
I turned into the grumpy pregnant lady this week, and I don't really like it. The poor dogs have gotten the brunt of it. Craig had the good sense to go to the gym every night this week, so he's pretty much been spared. We also have an agreement where I can just tell him that I'm uncomfortable or feeling grumpy and he knows to back off and not get mad at me if I get snippy.
I think the majority of my grumpiness comes from not being able to breath properly. The girls are fighting for space and will often move in opposite directions to the sides of my belly. That does not feel good, and makes breathing even more difficult. Craig says when they do that it looks like I've swallowed a Cheerios box because my belly becomes almost square.
The combination of now being 8 months pregnant and lack of oxygen has made me very sleepy during the late morning, so I've been getting some naps in. They pretty much only last an hour though because which ever side I'm laying on gets sore. Which, I'm told, is just par for the course. I have to say though that it is all completely worth it. I would gladly go through this all again if it means we have healthy babies.
I have a doctor appointment on Monday. Its the first of the every other week appointments. I haven't had any real contractions or even anything out of the ordinary, so I'm sure it will be another one of the quick and boring appointments. Which is always a good thing. I'm glad the appointment is on Monday because Craig will be out of town Tuesday through Thursday. It will give us both peace of mind before he leaves for three days. My Mom and friend Heather will be checking on me during the time he's gone, so I'll be well cared for.
Friday, August 14, 2009
31 weeks
We are just plugging right along. Another week down, about 5 left to go. I'm getting more excited about having these girls, and more nervous that we just aren't prepared.
I had a doctor appointment on Tuesday. It was another one of the simple boring appointments, which is a good thing for now. I did get to ask the doctor about the c-section. He doesn't want to schedule one for now. Scheduled ones are usually done at 38 weeks and he doesn't think I'll get that far. However, if these girls get nice and cozy and decided to stay put longer than expected then he will go ahead and schedule one for the Monday after I turn 38 weeks. Which is October 5th. So that is the latest date the girls will be born. He had me scheduled my next three appointments all 2 weeks apart, but told me that I will probably have more in between them. He agrees that they will be born around 36 weeks!
On Thursday we met some of Craig's co-workers for baby shower. It was really nice and the girls are even more spoiled now. We were blown away by the generosity of everybody! I have to comment on the cake and the diaper cakes. I have never seen diaper cakes like these! They each had a receiving blanket, a burp cloth, onesie, hair bows and bottle. So neat. The cake had two teddy bears, actual complete teddy bears that were made out of cake. Very impressive.
Craig is still working on the tile. He is getting help from a friend all three days this weekend. He thinks he should have it done in two, maybe three weekends. Its cutting it close, but I hope he's right.
I am going shopping this weekend hoping to get the last few things we need, and maybe even a few things we don't need.
I had a doctor appointment on Tuesday. It was another one of the simple boring appointments, which is a good thing for now. I did get to ask the doctor about the c-section. He doesn't want to schedule one for now. Scheduled ones are usually done at 38 weeks and he doesn't think I'll get that far. However, if these girls get nice and cozy and decided to stay put longer than expected then he will go ahead and schedule one for the Monday after I turn 38 weeks. Which is October 5th. So that is the latest date the girls will be born. He had me scheduled my next three appointments all 2 weeks apart, but told me that I will probably have more in between them. He agrees that they will be born around 36 weeks!
On Thursday we met some of Craig's co-workers for baby shower. It was really nice and the girls are even more spoiled now. We were blown away by the generosity of everybody! I have to comment on the cake and the diaper cakes. I have never seen diaper cakes like these! They each had a receiving blanket, a burp cloth, onesie, hair bows and bottle. So neat. The cake had two teddy bears, actual complete teddy bears that were made out of cake. Very impressive.
Craig is still working on the tile. He is getting help from a friend all three days this weekend. He thinks he should have it done in two, maybe three weekends. Its cutting it close, but I hope he's right.
I am going shopping this weekend hoping to get the last few things we need, and maybe even a few things we don't need.
Friday, August 7, 2009
30 weeks
We have "growers & feeders." I’ve been told that is the term the NICU uses for babies born from this point on. Generally from here on out babies only need to learn how to eat and get big enough to go home. We are, of course, hoping they stay in a little longer, but its nice to know we are pretty much in the clear.
I forgot to mention last week that I passed the dreaded sugar test. I was worried about it because I was at high risk for developing gestation diabetes. Because of that my doctors kept me on metformin. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons I passed because I have been addicted to carbs.
My blood work did, however, show that I was slightly anemic. So, I started iron supplements. It took a few days, but wow! I have had so much more energy since Monday. The only problem I have is that my energy now out weighs my physical ability. That can be frustrating at times, but at the same time, it is great to have energy again.
I am past ready to have their room in order. Craig is still working on the tile. I’d say he’s about half way there. On top of that he now wants to have the carpet replaced in their room and the office before we set it up. I don’t know how that is all going to happen before the girls are born. I’m starting to get very nervous about being ready. I know their room can be finished afterwards, but when will I find the time to finish it after they are born? Besides wouldn’t it be much more convenient to have things like diapers and clothes easily accessible?
I had another level 2 ultra sound yesterday. The girls are measuring right on track. Allison is measuring in the high 40 percentile (about 3 lbs 1 oz) and Emmily is measuring in the low 50 percentile (about 3 lbs 7 oz). The weights are estimated by measuring the circumference of their bellies, the circumference of their heads and the length of their femur bones. I don't have those exact measurements, but Emmily's femur bone was noticeable longer than Allison's. It seems that Emmily has my legs, and Allison has Craig's.
Here is Allison's picture. She is waving her hand.
Here is Emmily's picture. You can see her ribs and spine.
Allison is totally breech. She is head up with her little bottom down so low that her legs are forced up. Emmily's head is next to Allison's but still a little higher. She is all stretched out still and her legs go over the top of Allison's belly. Even though they are side by side, their sacks are connected one on top of the other. So while they can't really switch positions, they can float around within their fluid sacks. They still have some time and a little bit of room to move, but the tech said they don't always move into better positions.
I have an appointment with my regular doctor Monday afternoon. I plan on talking to him about the c-section. I know most doctors like to wait until after 37 weeks to schedule one, but twins are normally born around 36 weeks. So, I'm not sure if he's going to schedule one or just wait until I start having contractions. I guess I'll find out on Monday.
I forgot to mention last week that I passed the dreaded sugar test. I was worried about it because I was at high risk for developing gestation diabetes. Because of that my doctors kept me on metformin. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons I passed because I have been addicted to carbs.
My blood work did, however, show that I was slightly anemic. So, I started iron supplements. It took a few days, but wow! I have had so much more energy since Monday. The only problem I have is that my energy now out weighs my physical ability. That can be frustrating at times, but at the same time, it is great to have energy again.
I am past ready to have their room in order. Craig is still working on the tile. I’d say he’s about half way there. On top of that he now wants to have the carpet replaced in their room and the office before we set it up. I don’t know how that is all going to happen before the girls are born. I’m starting to get very nervous about being ready. I know their room can be finished afterwards, but when will I find the time to finish it after they are born? Besides wouldn’t it be much more convenient to have things like diapers and clothes easily accessible?
I had another level 2 ultra sound yesterday. The girls are measuring right on track. Allison is measuring in the high 40 percentile (about 3 lbs 1 oz) and Emmily is measuring in the low 50 percentile (about 3 lbs 7 oz). The weights are estimated by measuring the circumference of their bellies, the circumference of their heads and the length of their femur bones. I don't have those exact measurements, but Emmily's femur bone was noticeable longer than Allison's. It seems that Emmily has my legs, and Allison has Craig's.
Here is Allison's picture. She is waving her hand.
Here is Emmily's picture. You can see her ribs and spine.Allison is totally breech. She is head up with her little bottom down so low that her legs are forced up. Emmily's head is next to Allison's but still a little higher. She is all stretched out still and her legs go over the top of Allison's belly. Even though they are side by side, their sacks are connected one on top of the other. So while they can't really switch positions, they can float around within their fluid sacks. They still have some time and a little bit of room to move, but the tech said they don't always move into better positions.I have an appointment with my regular doctor Monday afternoon. I plan on talking to him about the c-section. I know most doctors like to wait until after 37 weeks to schedule one, but twins are normally born around 36 weeks. So, I'm not sure if he's going to schedule one or just wait until I start having contractions. I guess I'll find out on Monday.
Friday, July 31, 2009
29 Weeks
The girls are really growing! And boy are they moving around a lot.
Most of the week by week info I've read said they are about 3 pounds now. I just can't imagine two kids that size coming out of my body. It's crazy when you stop and think about it. They have also reached the stage where all 5 of their senses are developed and their lungs are fully capable of breathing. If born today they would have a 90% chance of not only surviving but of needing very little medical intervention. I'm so proud of them already. Its been a long road, and so amazing to see them transform from two little balls of cells to fully developed babies.
My legs and hands are still swelling, but not too bad. I do have a hard time staying comfortable. I can't sit or lay in one position for long at all anymore. I went to see a movie on Sunday and it took me two days to stop being achy from it. So I guess no more movies for me for a while.
I have another level 2 ultra sound on Thursday next week. Hopefully we'll have more pictures for next week's post. I'm actually really excited about this ultra sound because I think that Allison has dropped. I can feel her either kicking or punching me much lower than she used to. I really wish Emmily would drop as well. My ribs would feel SOOO much better. It will be nice to see exactly where they are and how they are doing.
Most of the week by week info I've read said they are about 3 pounds now. I just can't imagine two kids that size coming out of my body. It's crazy when you stop and think about it. They have also reached the stage where all 5 of their senses are developed and their lungs are fully capable of breathing. If born today they would have a 90% chance of not only surviving but of needing very little medical intervention. I'm so proud of them already. Its been a long road, and so amazing to see them transform from two little balls of cells to fully developed babies.
My legs and hands are still swelling, but not too bad. I do have a hard time staying comfortable. I can't sit or lay in one position for long at all anymore. I went to see a movie on Sunday and it took me two days to stop being achy from it. So I guess no more movies for me for a while.
I have another level 2 ultra sound on Thursday next week. Hopefully we'll have more pictures for next week's post. I'm actually really excited about this ultra sound because I think that Allison has dropped. I can feel her either kicking or punching me much lower than she used to. I really wish Emmily would drop as well. My ribs would feel SOOO much better. It will be nice to see exactly where they are and how they are doing.
Friday, July 24, 2009
28 Weeks
I can't believe it, another week down. The girls are getting bigger and stronger every day.
We had 3 exciting days in a row this week. First was our baby party on Sunday. We had such a good time. Everyone and everything was very relaxed, which is just our style! We were definitely overwhelmed by the number of people that were able to come. The girls got so many cute outfits and lots of baby gear that we definitely needed. Allison and Emmily are very spoiled already! Thank you to everyone!!
On Monday, I took Shadow to have surgery on his tail. He had a benign tumor that needed to be removed. The doctor had me stay there and help to hold his head while they have him his shot. It was so sad to leave him like that. He was a good boy for them though and he's been handling it like a champ! He tried to lick at it a couple of times on Tuesday. I actually thought I was going to have to go and get an Elizabethan Collar for him, but he's leaving it alone now.
Tuesday I had another check up. The did the gestational diabetes test while I was there. I was very nervous about the drink. I've heard so many stories of how difficult it is to drink and some people even having a hard time keeping it down. I was very happy because I didn't think it was bad at all. Kind of like a very sweet orange Gatorade. The last few sips were the hardest, kind of like trying to finish off the last bit of the chocolate frosting from a triple chocolate cake. The doctor appointment went well. He said he thinks I am doing a very good job. He gave me some tips on meds I can take and how often and told me to try and keep my feet up as much as I can to help with the little bits of swelling. I will go in for our next doctor appointment in 3 weeks, and our next level two ultra sound is in two weeks.
Wednesday was my day to revel in the new goodies the girls got over the weekend. I washed, organized and hung all their clothes. I unpacked all their bath stuff, stored their diapers and washed their new blankets. I had so much fun daydreaming about how they will look in their matching outfits and got different ideas of things I want them to wear for pictures. We still have furniture that doesn't belong in their room, so I couldn't get everything organized and set up, but I got a very good start! I purchased 80 hangers for them and actually ended up using ALL 80 of them. Their Aunt Rachelle gave us a big tub of clothes that Kenzee has out grown. That on top of all the adorable outfits they got at the party, their closet is stocked for the first 3 or 4 months. I even put a few things aside to take to the hospital with us.
My Mom had a great idea of asking everyone to bring books instead of cards. The girls have quite a little library going already! I've even started reading a story or two to them a day. I can't wait for them to have a regular story time before going to bed.
I am getting more and more excited the closer we get. If they are born at the 36 week twin average, then we only have 8 weeks left!
We had 3 exciting days in a row this week. First was our baby party on Sunday. We had such a good time. Everyone and everything was very relaxed, which is just our style! We were definitely overwhelmed by the number of people that were able to come. The girls got so many cute outfits and lots of baby gear that we definitely needed. Allison and Emmily are very spoiled already! Thank you to everyone!!
On Monday, I took Shadow to have surgery on his tail. He had a benign tumor that needed to be removed. The doctor had me stay there and help to hold his head while they have him his shot. It was so sad to leave him like that. He was a good boy for them though and he's been handling it like a champ! He tried to lick at it a couple of times on Tuesday. I actually thought I was going to have to go and get an Elizabethan Collar for him, but he's leaving it alone now.
Tuesday I had another check up. The did the gestational diabetes test while I was there. I was very nervous about the drink. I've heard so many stories of how difficult it is to drink and some people even having a hard time keeping it down. I was very happy because I didn't think it was bad at all. Kind of like a very sweet orange Gatorade. The last few sips were the hardest, kind of like trying to finish off the last bit of the chocolate frosting from a triple chocolate cake. The doctor appointment went well. He said he thinks I am doing a very good job. He gave me some tips on meds I can take and how often and told me to try and keep my feet up as much as I can to help with the little bits of swelling. I will go in for our next doctor appointment in 3 weeks, and our next level two ultra sound is in two weeks.
Wednesday was my day to revel in the new goodies the girls got over the weekend. I washed, organized and hung all their clothes. I unpacked all their bath stuff, stored their diapers and washed their new blankets. I had so much fun daydreaming about how they will look in their matching outfits and got different ideas of things I want them to wear for pictures. We still have furniture that doesn't belong in their room, so I couldn't get everything organized and set up, but I got a very good start! I purchased 80 hangers for them and actually ended up using ALL 80 of them. Their Aunt Rachelle gave us a big tub of clothes that Kenzee has out grown. That on top of all the adorable outfits they got at the party, their closet is stocked for the first 3 or 4 months. I even put a few things aside to take to the hospital with us.
My Mom had a great idea of asking everyone to bring books instead of cards. The girls have quite a little library going already! I've even started reading a story or two to them a day. I can't wait for them to have a regular story time before going to bed.
I am getting more and more excited the closer we get. If they are born at the 36 week twin average, then we only have 8 weeks left!
Friday, July 17, 2009
27 Weeks
I thought this was going to be a slow week, but it turned out to be just the opposite.
The girls have been very active this week. We've gotten to the phase where it can actually hurt when they move. Few times this past week each of them have made me jump and say "ouch." Emmily is still doing a number on my ribs. They have been sore every day this week.
Craig was able to feel each of the girls move last weekend. We went to one of his co-worker's to watch the UFC fight on Saturday and Allison was kicking and punching quite a bit. Craig said she's going to be his little fighter.
On Monday we had our hospital tour. It was incredibly informative. I was very sad to find out that I will only be able to see them for a minute before they will be taken from the operating room while my cesarean is finished up. Craig will be able to go with them to the nursery (its actually the NICU, because that's the only nursery they have) and they will stay there until I get into the recovery room, about 45 minutes. They will do all their screenings and tests while in the NICU, so I won't know how they are doing until my surgery is done. The thought of them being away and not knowing how they are for so long has me pretty upset, so I plan on talking to the doctor about it on Tuesday to see if they will let someone come and let me know.
I've kind of started packing for the hospital. Nothing major at this point, just collecting sample size toiletries and putting them aside in a bag. I've also made a list of things to take with us so I have an idea of what we have and what we need.
Monday I also had to take Shadow to the vet. We found a lump on his tail. Turns out its a benign tumor. We can choose to do nothing, but the more it grows the less of a chance there is they will be able to remove it. I guess there isn't much skin on the tail, so if it gets too big, they can't stitch it back up. The vet on Monday wanted $880 to do the surgery. YIKES! To be fair, this price also included cleaning his teeth and a biopsy (if we chose to do one) of the tumor.
Thursday I went to another vet we had been to that is all the way across town (about an hour away). He's only going to charge us $225 to do the surgery. He said Shadow doesn't in any way need his teeth cleaned. Actually, I guess most large dogs who are on dry food never do. Also he's 99% sure the tumor is benign, so there is no need to do the biopsy. So he is scheduled for his surgery Monday morning at 9:30.
This weekend is our baby party at my sister's house. I am starting to get very excited! I've had several people say how excited they were to show me what they found for the girls. How can anyone not be excited when hearing that?!?! For everyone who is in town, we look forward to seeing you. For everyone who is out of town, we will miss not having you there.
The girls have been very active this week. We've gotten to the phase where it can actually hurt when they move. Few times this past week each of them have made me jump and say "ouch." Emmily is still doing a number on my ribs. They have been sore every day this week.
Craig was able to feel each of the girls move last weekend. We went to one of his co-worker's to watch the UFC fight on Saturday and Allison was kicking and punching quite a bit. Craig said she's going to be his little fighter.
On Monday we had our hospital tour. It was incredibly informative. I was very sad to find out that I will only be able to see them for a minute before they will be taken from the operating room while my cesarean is finished up. Craig will be able to go with them to the nursery (its actually the NICU, because that's the only nursery they have) and they will stay there until I get into the recovery room, about 45 minutes. They will do all their screenings and tests while in the NICU, so I won't know how they are doing until my surgery is done. The thought of them being away and not knowing how they are for so long has me pretty upset, so I plan on talking to the doctor about it on Tuesday to see if they will let someone come and let me know.
I've kind of started packing for the hospital. Nothing major at this point, just collecting sample size toiletries and putting them aside in a bag. I've also made a list of things to take with us so I have an idea of what we have and what we need.
Monday I also had to take Shadow to the vet. We found a lump on his tail. Turns out its a benign tumor. We can choose to do nothing, but the more it grows the less of a chance there is they will be able to remove it. I guess there isn't much skin on the tail, so if it gets too big, they can't stitch it back up. The vet on Monday wanted $880 to do the surgery. YIKES! To be fair, this price also included cleaning his teeth and a biopsy (if we chose to do one) of the tumor.
Thursday I went to another vet we had been to that is all the way across town (about an hour away). He's only going to charge us $225 to do the surgery. He said Shadow doesn't in any way need his teeth cleaned. Actually, I guess most large dogs who are on dry food never do. Also he's 99% sure the tumor is benign, so there is no need to do the biopsy. So he is scheduled for his surgery Monday morning at 9:30.
This weekend is our baby party at my sister's house. I am starting to get very excited! I've had several people say how excited they were to show me what they found for the girls. How can anyone not be excited when hearing that?!?! For everyone who is in town, we look forward to seeing you. For everyone who is out of town, we will miss not having you there.
Friday, July 10, 2009
26 weeks
One more week down. Statistically they have an 80% chance of survival if they were to be born today. I haven't had any contractions or even braxton hicks contractions, so I'm positive these two are quite comfy and plan to stay put for a while.
I'm still swelling a little in my ankles and feet, but not as much as a couple of weeks ago. Really the only complaint I have is my ribs and upper back. I'm sore all day, and by the evening they really hurt.
I think both girls (at different times) had the hiccups this week. I could feel their entire bodies move. It was very cute, even though Allison's were at 3:30 in the morning.
Craig has tried a couple of times this week to feel them move, but he couldn't feel anything. I could still feel them moving, but I guess they just weren't kicking quite as hard.
We wanted to make sure to do the hospital tour in July while we know I'm still mobile. Turns out they only do them a couple times a month. So, we are scheduled to go on Monday. I'm actually excited about it because we'll have a lay of the land, so to speak. We'll also learn all about their safety procedures and what to expect when it is time to have the girls.
That's pretty much all from us this week. Craig's still working on the tile. He wanted to take today off to work on it, but he ended up having to go into work for a few hours. I've been taking pictures, and will post them as we get closer to being done.
I'm still swelling a little in my ankles and feet, but not as much as a couple of weeks ago. Really the only complaint I have is my ribs and upper back. I'm sore all day, and by the evening they really hurt.
I think both girls (at different times) had the hiccups this week. I could feel their entire bodies move. It was very cute, even though Allison's were at 3:30 in the morning.
Craig has tried a couple of times this week to feel them move, but he couldn't feel anything. I could still feel them moving, but I guess they just weren't kicking quite as hard.
We wanted to make sure to do the hospital tour in July while we know I'm still mobile. Turns out they only do them a couple times a month. So, we are scheduled to go on Monday. I'm actually excited about it because we'll have a lay of the land, so to speak. We'll also learn all about their safety procedures and what to expect when it is time to have the girls.
That's pretty much all from us this week. Craig's still working on the tile. He wanted to take today off to work on it, but he ended up having to go into work for a few hours. I've been taking pictures, and will post them as we get closer to being done.
Friday, July 3, 2009
25 Weeks - 100th Post
How perfect did this work out? In the blogging world, the 100th post is considered a big deal. That posting is always special in some way or another. For me, it just happens to coincide with a big milestone in my pregnancy, 25 WEEKS!!!! Our girls are officially viable!
This is probably something that most people wouldn't even give a second thought to. But for those of us that have been through the heart ache of infertility and witnessed the pain others in our support groups have gone through, this is a very big deal.
Of course there are a million things that could go wrong between now and their birth, and another million that could happen upon their birth, but the point is... they will be born. They can now survive outside of my body, should they need to. Granted there would be a considerable amount of medical intervention to support them, but they can survive.
We will be able to see them, hold them, take pictures of them and just love them. Its something that can not be taken away from us now. We are having twin girls. Two sweet, sweet baby girls. We can dream about how they will look. What color will their eyes be, how much hair will they have, will they look so much a like that we won't be able to tell them apart, will they have subtle differences that only those closest to them will notice, or will they have big difference so everyone can tell who is who?
The girls are growing normally, right on schedule. We've seen through ultrasounds that their hearts, brains and spinal cords are forming perfectly. Most of the hard work of development is done, now all they need to do is continue to get bigger and stronger. I'm already so proud of my girls.
I wonder if Allison going to be our wild child who tries to do what she wants when she wants, like she seems to be doing now? Is Emmily going to be our cuddle bug, always worming her way into tight cuddles like she does in my ribs?
I realize that some of our family and friends have already allowed their thoughts to flow along these paths, but I haven't much. The instinct to protect my heart until this week came was too strong. But this magical week is finally here. The past two days have been incredibly emotional for me. The release of fears, the acceptance of birth. It has been simply overwhelming.
Our girls are coming, and we only have 11 more weeks to wait!
This is probably something that most people wouldn't even give a second thought to. But for those of us that have been through the heart ache of infertility and witnessed the pain others in our support groups have gone through, this is a very big deal.
Of course there are a million things that could go wrong between now and their birth, and another million that could happen upon their birth, but the point is... they will be born. They can now survive outside of my body, should they need to. Granted there would be a considerable amount of medical intervention to support them, but they can survive.
We will be able to see them, hold them, take pictures of them and just love them. Its something that can not be taken away from us now. We are having twin girls. Two sweet, sweet baby girls. We can dream about how they will look. What color will their eyes be, how much hair will they have, will they look so much a like that we won't be able to tell them apart, will they have subtle differences that only those closest to them will notice, or will they have big difference so everyone can tell who is who?
The girls are growing normally, right on schedule. We've seen through ultrasounds that their hearts, brains and spinal cords are forming perfectly. Most of the hard work of development is done, now all they need to do is continue to get bigger and stronger. I'm already so proud of my girls.
I wonder if Allison going to be our wild child who tries to do what she wants when she wants, like she seems to be doing now? Is Emmily going to be our cuddle bug, always worming her way into tight cuddles like she does in my ribs?
I realize that some of our family and friends have already allowed their thoughts to flow along these paths, but I haven't much. The instinct to protect my heart until this week came was too strong. But this magical week is finally here. The past two days have been incredibly emotional for me. The release of fears, the acceptance of birth. It has been simply overwhelming.
Our girls are coming, and we only have 11 more weeks to wait!
Friday, June 26, 2009
24 Weeks
Technically, this week is a big milestone. The last week of the 2nd trimester and the first official week the babies are "viable." Only here in Tucson, the hospitals don't consider viability until 25 weeks. So one week left!!
Allison has been my squiggly worm this week. She is moving all around, and I often can see her head sticking out on one side or the other. I've had more ice cream this week than I normally do, so I think she must be like me and really like it!
Emmily has been hurting me all week. Which means she's moving around up in my ribs. I've pretty much concluded that I'm going to have sore ribs for the duration of my pregnancy.
I don't know if its due to the higher temperatures, just being pregnant, or a combination of both, but I have started swelling more. I have to make sure I don't keep my feet down and in one position for long periods of time.
This along with one side or the other of my ribs hurting, has made it more difficult for me to get a full night of sleep. Honestly though, I'd go through all of this a hundred times again if it means the girls are safe. I'm just happy that we have two healthy girls growing and that as of now (knock on wood) we haven't had any big complications.
Allison has been my squiggly worm this week. She is moving all around, and I often can see her head sticking out on one side or the other. I've had more ice cream this week than I normally do, so I think she must be like me and really like it!
Emmily has been hurting me all week. Which means she's moving around up in my ribs. I've pretty much concluded that I'm going to have sore ribs for the duration of my pregnancy.
I don't know if its due to the higher temperatures, just being pregnant, or a combination of both, but I have started swelling more. I have to make sure I don't keep my feet down and in one position for long periods of time.
This along with one side or the other of my ribs hurting, has made it more difficult for me to get a full night of sleep. Honestly though, I'd go through all of this a hundred times again if it means the girls are safe. I'm just happy that we have two healthy girls growing and that as of now (knock on wood) we haven't had any big complications.
Friday, June 19, 2009
23 weeks
Another great week!
Emmily has been hurting my ribs often this week. I had another level 2 ultra sound yesterday and got to see just what it is that she is doing. She is laying completely stretched out from one side of my ribs to the other. She didn't feel like letting the tech get a profile picture. She kept shaking her head, like she was saying no, no, no. Then she started stretching her head back as far as she could. So the pressure I'm feeling in my ribs his her moving her head and shoulders around. Here is Emmily's profile picture.
We, or should I say Craig, it still working on getting all the carpet up so we can lay our tile. We picked up the tile last weekend and Craig unloaded it all into the garage. He's only got the carpet under the furniture left in the great room, then the hallways and living room left. Most of the work will come in getting the tack strips up along the walls. That is the goal for this weekend; get the carpet and tack strips up so the tile can start going down next weekend.
I hope all the Dads have a great Father's Day.
Emmily has been hurting my ribs often this week. I had another level 2 ultra sound yesterday and got to see just what it is that she is doing. She is laying completely stretched out from one side of my ribs to the other. She didn't feel like letting the tech get a profile picture. She kept shaking her head, like she was saying no, no, no. Then she started stretching her head back as far as she could. So the pressure I'm feeling in my ribs his her moving her head and shoulders around. Here is Emmily's profile picture.
I think it looks like she has her Daddy's cheeks. Craig, of course, thinks I'm crazy and can't really see anything. This is the first time she's let us get a profile picture of her. Last time she was laying on her belly.
Allison was being a silly girl, too. She was curled up in a ball with her head down. Only moving a little bit. Then when the tech went to take her sister's measurements she moved around and had her head up. She kept poking her head onto the screen like she was trying to hit her head on her sister's. She is definitely taking up the most space and turning all around. Here is her picture from yesterday.
We, or should I say Craig, it still working on getting all the carpet up so we can lay our tile. We picked up the tile last weekend and Craig unloaded it all into the garage. He's only got the carpet under the furniture left in the great room, then the hallways and living room left. Most of the work will come in getting the tack strips up along the walls. That is the goal for this weekend; get the carpet and tack strips up so the tile can start going down next weekend.
I hope all the Dads have a great Father's Day.
Friday, June 12, 2009
22 weeks.
YAY!! Only 3 weeks left until the girls will be viable should something go wrong and they need to be born early! I can't even tell you what a HUGE relief that day will be after everything we went through just to get here.
I did have a doctor appointment this week. Nothing big, just another check-up. This is the first time they actually measured my belly. I assume it was the right size, because they didn't say anything. Then the doctor used the Doppler for the heart rates of both girls. This is also the first time they've done that. Up until now, they've used the ultra sound (which they didn't do this time). Anyhow, fairly uneventful. I do, however, have an appointment for another level 2 ultrasound next Thursday in the afternoon.
This week, Emmily has discovered the back side of my rib cage. She must've been kicking me a ton the past two days, because that area is really sore. I don't really feel her movements much anymore, just the side effects of them. She is fully in my ribs now. Allison, on the other had, I feel almost all day long. She moves and kicks and punches all the time. I think she might be our little cheerleader.
We will be spending the weekend and the rest of the month tiling the house. Well, I really won't be much help. We actually get to go and pick up the tile today. Very excited to get rid of the carpet!!
I did have a doctor appointment this week. Nothing big, just another check-up. This is the first time they actually measured my belly. I assume it was the right size, because they didn't say anything. Then the doctor used the Doppler for the heart rates of both girls. This is also the first time they've done that. Up until now, they've used the ultra sound (which they didn't do this time). Anyhow, fairly uneventful. I do, however, have an appointment for another level 2 ultrasound next Thursday in the afternoon.
This week, Emmily has discovered the back side of my rib cage. She must've been kicking me a ton the past two days, because that area is really sore. I don't really feel her movements much anymore, just the side effects of them. She is fully in my ribs now. Allison, on the other had, I feel almost all day long. She moves and kicks and punches all the time. I think she might be our little cheerleader.
We will be spending the weekend and the rest of the month tiling the house. Well, I really won't be much help. We actually get to go and pick up the tile today. Very excited to get rid of the carpet!!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
21 weeks
I can officially no longer bend. I've been doing well with squatting down to do things, but that's no longer working for certain things anymore. Specifically, getting into the dryer and bottom rack of the dish washer. Its more of the up and down and having to bend into the dryer and dishwasher to get things out once I'm down. I feel bad that Craig has to take on those things, but I am trying to do as much of the work before that as I can.
We decided on name spellings this week. We will have Allison Cate and Emmily Sophia. If you scroll down to post of the ultra sound pictures, Allison is Baby A and Emmily is Baby B.
I picked up our 2nd crib this week. It has been discontinued, so there was only one left in town. Of course it was at the store on the opposite side of town from me. That's okay though, I was able to meet a friend for lunch afterwards. We met at the mall. I waited on some couches outside Dillards. In this mall, Dillards has the MAC make-up counter outside the store, next to the couches where I was waiting. The MAC Counter was playing music, kind of loud, not obnoxious, just loud. Well, the girls LOVE IT. They were both kicking and moving like crazy. I was only there about 10 minutes, but they kicked and moved so much during that time, that I was actually sore! My Mom said to remember this when they are teenagers and start turning up the radio.
That's about all that really happened baby wise this week. They are just growing and getting stronger every day. My next check-up is Monday afternoon.
We did buy tile for the house this week. It won't be in until Friday, next week. Which is good, because we have to get the carpet and vinyl pulled up first. Of course by we, I mean Craig. Its really not something I can do right now. Maybe I can sit and scoot on the vinyl and try to pull some of that up. Probably would take 3x as long to get done that way though.
We decided on name spellings this week. We will have Allison Cate and Emmily Sophia. If you scroll down to post of the ultra sound pictures, Allison is Baby A and Emmily is Baby B.
I picked up our 2nd crib this week. It has been discontinued, so there was only one left in town. Of course it was at the store on the opposite side of town from me. That's okay though, I was able to meet a friend for lunch afterwards. We met at the mall. I waited on some couches outside Dillards. In this mall, Dillards has the MAC make-up counter outside the store, next to the couches where I was waiting. The MAC Counter was playing music, kind of loud, not obnoxious, just loud. Well, the girls LOVE IT. They were both kicking and moving like crazy. I was only there about 10 minutes, but they kicked and moved so much during that time, that I was actually sore! My Mom said to remember this when they are teenagers and start turning up the radio.
That's about all that really happened baby wise this week. They are just growing and getting stronger every day. My next check-up is Monday afternoon.
We did buy tile for the house this week. It won't be in until Friday, next week. Which is good, because we have to get the carpet and vinyl pulled up first. Of course by we, I mean Craig. Its really not something I can do right now. Maybe I can sit and scoot on the vinyl and try to pull some of that up. Probably would take 3x as long to get done that way though.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
20 weeks
This had been an eye opening week.
First, I knew my ribs had expanded. It was inevitable considering there is a baby in them, but wow!! My rib measurement went up 3 sizes!!! My bras have been getting tighter and tighter, and I just wasn't having any luck finding anything to fit me. I went to Motherhood Maternity and got measured, and it all made sense. They don't make bras in the actual size that I need. LOL! Only my ribs have expanded, nothing else, so far. So I got two inexpensive ones that are the proper rib size. It is so nice to not have my ribs crushed anymore.
I had no idea that your stomach muscles actually split during pregnancy!! I have no stomach muscle control at all any more. And I just simply can't bend. Trying to unload the dishwasher and pulling clothes out of the dryer made me so sore. I'm definitely going to need Craig to help me more with anything that involves a lot of bending.
We decided on names this week, as well. Just not the spelling of the names. We are planning on going with Alyson Cate and Emilee Sophia. Basically we took our top 4 names (Alyson, Emilee, Sophie and Katie) and rearranged them until we came up with first and middle names that we liked. I'm putting the spellings that I like here. Craig would like to go with Kate for Alyson's middle name and I think he's leaning more towards traditional spellings for their first names.
All in all, I think I'm very lucky. I was worried at first with all the research I had done that said all your symptoms and possible problems are doubled with twins. But really, I have felt pretty good. I don't think any of my normal pregnancy symptoms have been worse than a singleton pregnancy. I've definitely had to slow down sooner than I probably would've otherwise, but that really isn't a big deal.
We will take another picture this weekend. I still haven't posted my 18 week picture because we are having problems with our big computer. After taking the picture I'll try to put them on a portable device and upload them from the laptop.
First, I knew my ribs had expanded. It was inevitable considering there is a baby in them, but wow!! My rib measurement went up 3 sizes!!! My bras have been getting tighter and tighter, and I just wasn't having any luck finding anything to fit me. I went to Motherhood Maternity and got measured, and it all made sense. They don't make bras in the actual size that I need. LOL! Only my ribs have expanded, nothing else, so far. So I got two inexpensive ones that are the proper rib size. It is so nice to not have my ribs crushed anymore.
I had no idea that your stomach muscles actually split during pregnancy!! I have no stomach muscle control at all any more. And I just simply can't bend. Trying to unload the dishwasher and pulling clothes out of the dryer made me so sore. I'm definitely going to need Craig to help me more with anything that involves a lot of bending.
We decided on names this week, as well. Just not the spelling of the names. We are planning on going with Alyson Cate and Emilee Sophia. Basically we took our top 4 names (Alyson, Emilee, Sophie and Katie) and rearranged them until we came up with first and middle names that we liked. I'm putting the spellings that I like here. Craig would like to go with Kate for Alyson's middle name and I think he's leaning more towards traditional spellings for their first names.
All in all, I think I'm very lucky. I was worried at first with all the research I had done that said all your symptoms and possible problems are doubled with twins. But really, I have felt pretty good. I don't think any of my normal pregnancy symptoms have been worse than a singleton pregnancy. I've definitely had to slow down sooner than I probably would've otherwise, but that really isn't a big deal.
We will take another picture this weekend. I still haven't posted my 18 week picture because we are having problems with our big computer. After taking the picture I'll try to put them on a portable device and upload them from the laptop.
Friday, May 22, 2009
19 weeks
WooHoo!! I'm officially 1/2 way to 38 weeks (full term for twins) and only 6 weeks away from being through the critical stage! I couldn't be more excited about that.
We still don't have names for these two precious girls, but we are working on it. Right now we have a list of 6 names we agree on. Now we just need to pick our favorites from there.
I am feeling them move around more and more. Usually I can tell which one I am feeling, too. Baby B is up in my ribs, and will likely stay there since her sister is blocking her from moving down. Baby A has moved up the the middle of my tummy. They are getting stronger, too. The insides of my lower ribs have been pretty sore the past few nights. Baby B must be practicing her dance moves or something.
Only a couple of new things this week. I noticed just how easy I can over do it. I was out of the house for a total of 3 hours running some errands. By the time I got home I was sore and exhausted beyond belief. So I definitely need to learn to take breaks even when I'm feeling okay. It is really easy to cross the line of over doing it in a short time period. The other odd thing that happened is that I noticed one day that my left foot started to swell just a little bit one day. I was sitting on the couch for a while and didn't get up and move or change positions. It went away as soon as I propped my feet up. So need to make sure I'm not in any certain position for too long.
I started having some back/hip issues a few weeks ago. I've even had to visit the chiropractor. Basically the joints where my hips attach to my back are moving out of place. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't. Its just a little scary because when it happens, I have a hard time lifting my left leg. Just because it won't move. Apparently this is all completely normal. My joints are loosening up and the babies (or at least one of them, probably baby A) just happens to put just enough pressure in that area. I have noticed it more when I'm in a sitting position rather than a standing or laying down.
We do have an 18 week photo, I just haven't gotten a chance to load it to the big computer (I've been using Mom's laptop.) I will try to get to that in the next few days. Have a great Memorial Day everyone!!
We still don't have names for these two precious girls, but we are working on it. Right now we have a list of 6 names we agree on. Now we just need to pick our favorites from there.
I am feeling them move around more and more. Usually I can tell which one I am feeling, too. Baby B is up in my ribs, and will likely stay there since her sister is blocking her from moving down. Baby A has moved up the the middle of my tummy. They are getting stronger, too. The insides of my lower ribs have been pretty sore the past few nights. Baby B must be practicing her dance moves or something.
Only a couple of new things this week. I noticed just how easy I can over do it. I was out of the house for a total of 3 hours running some errands. By the time I got home I was sore and exhausted beyond belief. So I definitely need to learn to take breaks even when I'm feeling okay. It is really easy to cross the line of over doing it in a short time period. The other odd thing that happened is that I noticed one day that my left foot started to swell just a little bit one day. I was sitting on the couch for a while and didn't get up and move or change positions. It went away as soon as I propped my feet up. So need to make sure I'm not in any certain position for too long.
I started having some back/hip issues a few weeks ago. I've even had to visit the chiropractor. Basically the joints where my hips attach to my back are moving out of place. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't. Its just a little scary because when it happens, I have a hard time lifting my left leg. Just because it won't move. Apparently this is all completely normal. My joints are loosening up and the babies (or at least one of them, probably baby A) just happens to put just enough pressure in that area. I have noticed it more when I'm in a sitting position rather than a standing or laying down.
We do have an 18 week photo, I just haven't gotten a chance to load it to the big computer (I've been using Mom's laptop.) I will try to get to that in the next few days. Have a great Memorial Day everyone!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
18 weeks
I started to feel the babies move this past week!! It started last Friday, but I wasn't really sure until Saturday. Through out the week its gotten more frequent and stronger.
I seem to feel Baby A mostly in the evenings when we're are watching TV. Baby B seems to be our night owl. Last night I woke up a little after 3 to use the bathroom, and could feel her kicking up a storm. At first I though, how cute. Then I realized that in a couple of weeks when I can feel every move she makes, it won't be so cute to feel her moving around at 3 am.
We are still working on picking out names for these two. So far we've decided against all the names we had liked earlier in the pregnancy. And Craig really doesn't like my favorite name. So it might be a while before we can really decide.
All in all a very exciting week! We got to see them and find out they are both girls and I can feel them move!
I seem to feel Baby A mostly in the evenings when we're are watching TV. Baby B seems to be our night owl. Last night I woke up a little after 3 to use the bathroom, and could feel her kicking up a storm. At first I though, how cute. Then I realized that in a couple of weeks when I can feel every move she makes, it won't be so cute to feel her moving around at 3 am.
We are still working on picking out names for these two. So far we've decided against all the names we had liked earlier in the pregnancy. And Craig really doesn't like my favorite name. So it might be a while before we can really decide.
All in all a very exciting week! We got to see them and find out they are both girls and I can feel them move!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ultra Sound Results
We had a PERFECT ultra sound yesterday!
The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. The first one is Baby "A" which is a GIRL! You can see her nose and lips, then the little shadow below her belly is a little leg kicking.
The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. The first one is Baby "A" which is a GIRL! You can see her nose and lips, then the little shadow below her belly is a little leg kicking.
The next picture is Baby "B." This is also a GIRL!! She was practicing her tummy time during the ultra sound and didn't want to roll over for us. So on her picture we have a good shot of her spinal cord. In the second picture, you can see her little bottom sticking up in the air so we could see if she was a girl.
Both girls measured about the same size. Baby "A" is about 7 oz, and Baby "B" is about 7.3 oz. Both hearts and both spinal cords look great.
Baby "A" was moving around quite a bit. Even when we were looking at Baby "B" we could see her little foot coming on the screen like she was trying to kick her sister's head.
Baby "B" wasn't quite as active. I think that has more to do with her being on her belly than anything else. You could see her little legs moving around like she was riding a bike.
They will be keeping a close eye on these two little girls. I will be having these higher tech ultra sounds every 4 to 6 weeks. Then closer to the end I will get one every week.
Friday, May 8, 2009
17 weeks
I guess my belly is growing a little faster than Craig expected. He's been all out shocked a few times this past week by how big it is. I told him he's beginning to make me think there is something wrong with the way I look. He said, there's nothing wrong, its just weird to him. I'm only 17 weeks, if the thinks this is big, just wait another 10 weeks.
This past week I also started experiencing indigestion. So far its generally starts around midnight. A couple of Tums before bed has been pretty helpful. But twice this week, I had it during the day, and wasn't really able to eat much for dinner. Both of those days I woke up a couple of times a night to take more Tums.
I had a doctor appointment yesterday. They are pretty boring. I had my weight, blood pressure and urine checked. Then a quick ultra sound to see the heart beats. I guess the Doppler doesn't work to well for them with two. The doctor said this is probably the last time he will be able to get them on the same screen during an ultra sound, so he gave us a picture.
This past week I also started experiencing indigestion. So far its generally starts around midnight. A couple of Tums before bed has been pretty helpful. But twice this week, I had it during the day, and wasn't really able to eat much for dinner. Both of those days I woke up a couple of times a night to take more Tums.
I had a doctor appointment yesterday. They are pretty boring. I had my weight, blood pressure and urine checked. Then a quick ultra sound to see the heart beats. I guess the Doppler doesn't work to well for them with two. The doctor said this is probably the last time he will be able to get them on the same screen during an ultra sound, so he gave us a picture.
We also have our big ultra sound on Monday. This is the one where they will look at the babies' hearts and spinal cords. And if they both cooperate, we will get to find out their sexes. Which is very exciting to me!! I was hoping Craig would discuss names with me so we can start calling them by their names after the ultra sound, but he won't. I guess a few more days won't hurt too much. We do have a couple we discussed right before the IVF, but I have a feeling we're going to need a new one, too.
I will update again after our ultra sound on Monday.
HAVE A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Piper is at it again...
This puppy cracks us up on almost a daily basis.
Usually in the mornings when I let her out of her kennel she says good morning by rubbing up to my legs and getting all kinds of scratches and pets. Then she runs to the back door so she can tackle Shadow as they go outside.
This morning was a different story. Instead of saying hi to me or Shadow, she immediately ran into the closet and came out carrying Craig's socks in her mouth. The only thing I could figure is that she saw Craig throw his socks at the hamper the night before, but he missed because the lid was closed. My guess is that she remembered that and went to see if he had picked them up or not. She got lucky.
I couldn't get her to give up the socks for anything. She slipped past me at the back door, so I couldn't get them then. She didn't even let go of them for her morning "potty" break.
Once she came back in the house she tried everything she could to get me to chase her to try and get the socks, which I simply won't do. I just went about my regular routine. When I walked into the family room to turn on the morning news, she came up to me and put the socks right in my hand, then ran off.
Usually in the mornings when I let her out of her kennel she says good morning by rubbing up to my legs and getting all kinds of scratches and pets. Then she runs to the back door so she can tackle Shadow as they go outside.
This morning was a different story. Instead of saying hi to me or Shadow, she immediately ran into the closet and came out carrying Craig's socks in her mouth. The only thing I could figure is that she saw Craig throw his socks at the hamper the night before, but he missed because the lid was closed. My guess is that she remembered that and went to see if he had picked them up or not. She got lucky.
I couldn't get her to give up the socks for anything. She slipped past me at the back door, so I couldn't get them then. She didn't even let go of them for her morning "potty" break.
Once she came back in the house she tried everything she could to get me to chase her to try and get the socks, which I simply won't do. I just went about my regular routine. When I walked into the family room to turn on the morning news, she came up to me and put the socks right in my hand, then ran off.
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