Tuesday, April 19, 2011

34 weeks and praying ...

We had our 34 week ultrasound today!

Baby A weighs 5 lbs 7 oz, gaining 13 ounces in 12 days. He is in the 49th percentile.

Baby B weighs 4 lbs 11 oz, gaining 8 ounces in 12 days. He is in the 28th percentile.

They are stealing nutrients from each other which is the Twin to Twin Transfusion we were concerned about. It is nothing major, but is the reason why Baby B is smaller and has less fluid. He still had around 8 units of fluid. She was not worried about it.

I am almost 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. The good thing is I am NOT contracting! Hopefully it stays that way :)

Both my doctor and my specialist are very happy with the babies and the pregnancy. They wanted me to make it to 34 weeks, and I did. They are perfectly fine with the boys coming anytime from here on out.

We are praying I can hold these babies in until at least May 1st when I am 36 weeks.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Maternity Pictures ♥

I had always intended on taking Maternity pictures at some point in the pregnancy. When my world was turned upside down at 27 weeks, I was unsure how I would be able to do them.

On my way to an ultrasound in the hospital, I noticed they had an atrium with greenery. Not the most beautiful place, but would definitely work.

Sandy takes the most beautiful photos. I knew I wanted her to take them!

So, she loaded up and came to the hospital! :)

Lacey got all the "props" I wanted for the pictures and my outfits from home.

At 27-28 weeks, I still had my nose, smile, complexion, and I was not HUGE. 

Well, at 32 weeks that is not the case! ;) Swollen everything, and I was as big as a singleton full-term pregnancy. I knew I still wanted these pictures to remind me of a time in my life that I would never get back. 

Here are a few of my favorites:













A special thank you to Sandy for taking these amazing photos, and being so sweet!

Bedrest Activities ...


I knitted the boys 2 newborn hats :)

33 weeks ♥

I had my 33 week ultrasound on Monday.

My cervix shortened from 2.6 cm to 1.9 cm in a week. They do not seem to incredibly worried about it, but I am staying in the hospital.

I am 2 cm dilated. I was 1 cm when they admitted me 7 weeks ago. This was the first time I was checked again for dilation.

I am 50% effaced. I know that is a change since being admitted, but was never told the percentage until this point.

The boys fluid levels are starting to show discordance. One baby has 18 units of fluid, and the other baby has 8 units. My specialist is going to check me in 10 days rather than 14 days to see if it has changed. So, I am drinking extra protein shakes with my meals to hopefully help it even out. If it gets unsafe for the babies, they will take them earlier than expected. I will see the specialist Monday, April 18th.

In the ultrasound, we could see that the boys have HAIR :) I was born with a head full of ... BLACK HAIR. Yes, so if my boys come out with black hair, they are really mine ;) My hair turned blonde a couple months later. Brandon was born with strawberry blonde hair, and had WHITE hair as a child. I am excited to see what our boys will look like!

I told my doctor today, the first thing I want to know when those baby boys come out is if they have Brandon's dimple in his chin :) I cannot imagine they would NOT have it, but I have wondered about it the entire pregnancy!

Thank you for all the prayers, we appreciate it more than you know ♥

Saturday, April 9, 2011

From the mind of a 4 year old ♥

My youngest niece, Grace Audrey, is 4 years old. She has the most amazing view of the world. 

Crystal, Libby, and Grace came to visit me in the hospital last weekend. The girls hear us say that there are two babies in my belly all the time, but we do not know how much they grasp the concept.

The girls are rubbing my belly and talking to the boys. They are pushing their bellies out acting like they have babies in their bellies.

This is the conversation that we had:

Libby: how did the boys got into your belly?
Me: when you are married God gives you a baby when you decide you want one.
Grace: how are they going to get the babies out?
Crystal: they are going to cut them out.
Grace: is it going to hurt?
Me: No, it will not hurt me at all.
Grace: OH ... so they are going to use a butter knife.

I CANNOT HOLD IN THE LAUGHTER AT THIS POINT! She knows that a butter knife is safe, it does not hurt. So, in her mind of course that is what they would use if it is not going to hurt me.

Grace: They don't have beds in there do they?
Me: No, they don't have beds but they are comfortable.
Crystal: You know there will be 2 little babies coming out of that belly that are EXACTLY alike.
Libby: Ya, like the same eyes.
Me: That is right Libby.
Grace: Ya and the same socks!!         

I don't think she quite gets it ;) Sweet girl!


PRICELESS moments with my nieces ♥

Thursday, April 7, 2011

32 Weeks & Counting ...

We made it to 32 weeks! YAY! :)

On Monday they checked my cervix, and it was measuring around 2.6 cm. They are very happy with the length.

On Wednesday I went to "Tea-Timers." It is an hour of time spent with the other women on bedrest! I LOVE IT! :) This week we learned how to knit a newborn hat! I completed one & plan on doing another.

I have become close with another twin mommy here on bedrest, Laura. She has "MoMo" twin girls. This means her girls are identical, in the same sac and same placenta. It is the most high risk twin pregnancy after conjoined. Mine are "MoDi" the next highest risk after "MoMo." Mine have their own sac, same placenta. We speak a lot throughout the day on the phone and keep each other sane :) We can complain about the same nurses, and share our good news when we have it! It is nice to share the experience with someone! I look forward to playdates with our kiddos!


Today, they measured the boys! Dr. Adam is my specialist that takes the growth measurements. I was telling her about the right baby being so active and the left baby putting me in less pain. She told me I have such a great attitude and perspective on things. :) She said she hears a lot of complaining, and it is nice to have someone with such an awesome attitude. This made my night!

Baby A went from 3 lbs 14 oz to 4 lbs 10 oz, gaining 12 oz. He is in the 49th percentile.

Baby B went from 3 lbs 5 oz to 4 lbs 3 oz, gaining 14 oz. He is in the 39th percentile.

I guess since I teach math it is difficult for me to hear percentiles less than 50. I feel like I am being greedy because I know the boys are doing great.

I felt hiccups for the first time this week! :) I was SO excited!!! Right baby is the one I can feel them with and he is the bigger baby. He gets them throughout the day and EVERY NIGHT around midnight.

We have picked a delivery date! We are shooting for Friday May 6th!!! Four weeks to go! 28 days!! YAY! I will be 36 weeks 5 days! My specialist only lets Identicals go to 36 weeks. Statistically, white boys tend to do the worst, so I am hoping the extra 5 days will make for minimal NICU time.

I will have another growth ultrasound in 10 days!