Monday's appt update. Where to start, where to start? Would you like the good news or discouraging news? Should I start with the news that is shortest and easiest to say? Since I can't hear you, I'll start here:
Good News - Simply put:
*There are 2 active babies
*They are now both head down
*My cervix is no longer an issue!
The other news is not as easy. So today we had a growth ultrasound, scheduled monthly check-up on their weights. We never expected them to be overachievers - there's two of them that have to share food and space. Baby boy has always been smaller, as usually one twin is. They have been charting their growth since 20wks and today when the tech was transferring the babies' numbers for head, abdomen, and femur size, I saw their marks drop fairly low on the graph. But the ultrasound tech said nothing, not her place or degree to make comments so we moved on to the next portion of the appt: the NST (non-stress test).
The NST is easy. I sit in a chair with monitors on my belly recording both babies' heart rates and an extra monitor to record any contractions. I push a button when I feel any/either baby move and they can see if the heart rate reacts appropriately. After about 30 min of monitoring, one of the doctors shows up. He says he only gets to see us with bad news. After reviewing the ultrasound, he found the babies' weights (3.6lbs and 3.1lbs, respectively) and growth gestational age to be falling behind, below the 15th percentile. He had already called the maternal-fetal specialist and they were expecting us shortly. Apparently the placentas are functioning somewhat abnormal. So they did another ultrasound where they could see the umbilical cord blood flow and determine what the problem was and how severe. Good news here: the babies themselves scored "normal" based on movement, heart rate, practice breathing. But both cords are showing abnormal blood flow movement between the placentas and babies. The specialist doesn't think the babies need to be delivered now, but we will have these appts at their office every week, along with weekly NST's at my regular OB.
Well, Craig and I decided it is good we are getting 2 babies for the price of one pregnancy because if this is a precursor for how all my pregnancies would go, it would be a touch decision to try again.
Oh another "fun" thing we are doing this week is interviewing/looking for in-home childcare. Yeah, my least favorite "new parent" task so far. It's not like the town I grew up in where no matter where you took your kids, you felt safe because somehow you or someone you know knew that person. As of now we have a back-up plan; we know her daughter, we feel comfortable leaving our children with her. She actually offered to watch the twins when I was barely 20wks pregnant, but she lives 20min in the opposite direction of both our jobs! Anyone want to come and live in our home for less than minimum wage, watch 2 babies at once - sent us your resume! HA!
Just got a phone call from the OB's office. They want me to do steroid shots this week to help mature the babies lungs in case they are born early or in the next week. Ugh. Still hoping to keep them in for 4 more weeks!
Tuesday, March 15
Sunday, March 13
Maximum Capacity
If there was a meter or gauge on the front of my abdomen, the arrow would be on the "F" for FULL. But you know when you fill your tank with gas and you can go past the "F", I figure that's what I'll feel like in another couple of weeks! The past week has been me trying to figure out how to roll out of bed and find a comfortable sitting position when I'm not in bed - both nearly impossible tasks. It's like watching a beached whale. Not because of sheer size, but I don't know how to maneuver this weight so I get "stuck" like a whale does when it makes it to the beach:) There are heads poking out of my side; appendages flailing everywhere. I wish I could add 2 inches between my rib cage and pelvis so that I can push their head and feet out of my ribs. Oh and because there isn't enough room for them (all my fault), they are rearranging my organs and the nightly heartburn is intense! I do have something to get rid of it, but it is SO chalky and foamy that I have to gag it down. So to complain a little bit: my back hurts, there are uncomfortable pieces of my babies in my ribs, and I don't want to drink anything because then my bladder becomes a trampoline.
I'm a little bummed that Craig and I weren't able to take the "Twins Childbirth" class through the hospital. 1. Singleton pregnancies ARE different from twins. 2. We could have met other couples in the area also having twins. We were supposed to start the "Twins" class 2 weeks after I was put on bed rest. So we cancelled and signed up for the online class - which was good for Craig because even though I didn't learn anything new I haven't already read in my pregnancy books, it was easier than Craig having to actually read:) The online class was interactive with videos so it held Craig's attention. Thankfully my "multiples" book (on loan from my favorite multiples mom) has a couple good chapters on bringing 2 babies home, NICU, breastfeeding, and whatever comes along. Because not only are we first time parents, we are new parents with 2 babies. I'm a planner; I like to be prepared!
Not a whole lot of happy thoughts in this post so I'll try to end with some. My good friend Nikki came to visit Friday night before leaving for Colorado - to see her fiance and finish some wedding planning:) I haven't seen her since we went dress shopping for the wedding in December and she brought boppys for the babies! We also received the cutest preemie outfits from a couple of ladies I work with. Our ever faithful bed rest visitors Melissa and Rich stopped in shortly last night, because Rich was on call, and brought cute little "rub-y" tag animals (you just gotta see them!), super soft blankets, and a monetary gift to use on ourselves when we can "go out" again (which feels like forever away - I crave a nice dinner with wine and dessert, getting a little dressed up). Melissa also brought over her dog Miller, who is smaller than our cats and annoyed Marty with all his energy!
So I have two appts this week. Yay to get out of the house twice in one week; Nay because I never get out of the doctor's office in a reasonable amount of time.
I'm a little bummed that Craig and I weren't able to take the "Twins Childbirth" class through the hospital. 1. Singleton pregnancies ARE different from twins. 2. We could have met other couples in the area also having twins. We were supposed to start the "Twins" class 2 weeks after I was put on bed rest. So we cancelled and signed up for the online class - which was good for Craig because even though I didn't learn anything new I haven't already read in my pregnancy books, it was easier than Craig having to actually read:) The online class was interactive with videos so it held Craig's attention. Thankfully my "multiples" book (on loan from my favorite multiples mom) has a couple good chapters on bringing 2 babies home, NICU, breastfeeding, and whatever comes along. Because not only are we first time parents, we are new parents with 2 babies. I'm a planner; I like to be prepared!
Not a whole lot of happy thoughts in this post so I'll try to end with some. My good friend Nikki came to visit Friday night before leaving for Colorado - to see her fiance and finish some wedding planning:) I haven't seen her since we went dress shopping for the wedding in December and she brought boppys for the babies! We also received the cutest preemie outfits from a couple of ladies I work with. Our ever faithful bed rest visitors Melissa and Rich stopped in shortly last night, because Rich was on call, and brought cute little "rub-y" tag animals (you just gotta see them!), super soft blankets, and a monetary gift to use on ourselves when we can "go out" again (which feels like forever away - I crave a nice dinner with wine and dessert, getting a little dressed up). Melissa also brought over her dog Miller, who is smaller than our cats and annoyed Marty with all his energy!
So I have two appts this week. Yay to get out of the house twice in one week; Nay because I never get out of the doctor's office in a reasonable amount of time.
Friday, March 11
Who knows where thoughts come from, they just appear!
Where do I begin in the random-ness of this post? Oh, yeah...shrimp now being served at Taco Bell? Are your insides gurgling just thinking about it? I won't pretend that I don't eat there; Craig is a closet Taco Bell junkie. Although our visits have been less frequent than in the past...of course that could be because T-bell is synonymous with drinking and hunger pangs after bar close. T-bell cuisine could already be used as a cheap colon cleanse (did I go too far?) but now they are adding seafood. Food poisoning is awful by any means but I just think a T-bell seafood meal resulting in food poisoning would be x1000.
Yay, Craig has off today! Don't worry I have a list of things for us, I mean him, to do around the house! Now that he has the living room situated for babies, there are odds and ends that I want done before we get too deep in newborns. Our bedroom was suffering for a while and finally received a new coat of paint over Christmas vacation but the walls haven't seen decoration love since.
Don't see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World unless you are 13 and a huge video arcade game fan. What a waste of an evening! (Not that we had alternate plans.) And we recently saw Due Date - Zach Galifainakis steals the show in this one. Inception has been sitting on top of the DVD player for almost a month. I guess we haven't been in the right mood to watch it - first, it is a tad longer than most movies; second, it will require full-brain attention which doesn't happen every day.
Anyone else feeling a little Armageddon-ish with all these earthquakes/tsunamis in the last couple years? It's creepy and unsettling.
Today is Cap'n Crunch french toast breakfast. Sounds amazing, I know. Next I want to try peanut butter Cap'n Crunch - yum! I'm not complaining, since usually I eat prepared food in the morning like yogurt or oatmeal, but it's been 50 min since I told Craig I was hungry and can hear him in the kitchen...hope everything is going okay.
Yay, Craig has off today! Don't worry I have a list of things for us, I mean him, to do around the house! Now that he has the living room situated for babies, there are odds and ends that I want done before we get too deep in newborns. Our bedroom was suffering for a while and finally received a new coat of paint over Christmas vacation but the walls haven't seen decoration love since.
Don't see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World unless you are 13 and a huge video arcade game fan. What a waste of an evening! (Not that we had alternate plans.) And we recently saw Due Date - Zach Galifainakis steals the show in this one. Inception has been sitting on top of the DVD player for almost a month. I guess we haven't been in the right mood to watch it - first, it is a tad longer than most movies; second, it will require full-brain attention which doesn't happen every day.
Anyone else feeling a little Armageddon-ish with all these earthquakes/tsunamis in the last couple years? It's creepy and unsettling.
Today is Cap'n Crunch french toast breakfast. Sounds amazing, I know. Next I want to try peanut butter Cap'n Crunch - yum! I'm not complaining, since usually I eat prepared food in the morning like yogurt or oatmeal, but it's been 50 min since I told Craig I was hungry and can hear him in the kitchen...hope everything is going okay.
 |
| Good thing we set this up early for them! |
Tuesday, March 8
When is 27 too many?
Answer: when it is the amount of girl scout cookies I ate in an 18 hour period this weekend. And really there are 28 in a box of Thin Mints, but somehow Craig escaped with his life when he took one from me. I can't say why I ate the entire box from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening; yes, I do love me some cookies and usually I just bake whatever I'm in the mood for - I can make chocolate chip cookies by memory. So maybe I was jonesing for cookies in general. Or it could be all the hype. Those girl scouts torment us by only offering cookies once a year and you order them like two months before you actually get them, so the anticipation is a killer. I'm afraid to open the next box of cookies. It's like once they are opened, there is no stopping, no putting them away for another day.
Fat Tuesday. That's today. Sometimes I forget that Fat Tuesday preceeds Ash Wednesday. Lent is so late this year. Not that we will be 'celebrating' either one of these events, well we are pretty good at joining our Catholic peeps in the "no meat" Fridays tradition. Every year I ask Craig what he's gonna give up for Lent or maybe I ask him in order to remind him of the Lenten season. He never tells me what he gave up; same as this year. But I put the bug in his head. I started to think of what I could sacrifice this year. Usually I go with something food related (not advisable while pregnant) or watching my "potty mouth" (but I'm not in a position to use foul language). So since I can't go anywhere or do anything, I think I'm going to give up labor/delivery and/or birth for the next 40 days. Back when I was 12 or so weeks pregnant, my ultimate goal was to stay pregnant until Easter (making me 38wks). I thought it was a reasonable goal; that's considered full term for twins and why wouldn't any expectant mother not shoot for the best outcome. Well, since then you know the story and it's been a goal just to make it one more week pregnant. But now I'm involving big guns upstairs in my Lenten sacrifice, so it has to stick right?? Have I proved yet that I've totally lost my mind on bed rest?
So peace be with you my friends. And even though this is the church's season for fasting and sacrifice, I know you are all gonna get your Friday night fish fry on, probably accompanied by an Old Fashioned (make mine a whiskey-sour, please, mushrooms, no olives).
Fat Tuesday. That's today. Sometimes I forget that Fat Tuesday preceeds Ash Wednesday. Lent is so late this year. Not that we will be 'celebrating' either one of these events, well we are pretty good at joining our Catholic peeps in the "no meat" Fridays tradition. Every year I ask Craig what he's gonna give up for Lent or maybe I ask him in order to remind him of the Lenten season. He never tells me what he gave up; same as this year. But I put the bug in his head. I started to think of what I could sacrifice this year. Usually I go with something food related (not advisable while pregnant) or watching my "potty mouth" (but I'm not in a position to use foul language). So since I can't go anywhere or do anything, I think I'm going to give up labor/delivery and/or birth for the next 40 days. Back when I was 12 or so weeks pregnant, my ultimate goal was to stay pregnant until Easter (making me 38wks). I thought it was a reasonable goal; that's considered full term for twins and why wouldn't any expectant mother not shoot for the best outcome. Well, since then you know the story and it's been a goal just to make it one more week pregnant. But now I'm involving big guns upstairs in my Lenten sacrifice, so it has to stick right?? Have I proved yet that I've totally lost my mind on bed rest?
So peace be with you my friends. And even though this is the church's season for fasting and sacrifice, I know you are all gonna get your Friday night fish fry on, probably accompanied by an Old Fashioned (make mine a whiskey-sour, please, mushrooms, no olives).
Saturday, March 5
58 days...
8 weeks. Not that I'm counting. That's how long I've been on bed rest. I have only left the house for appointments, which for my sanity were once a week for a while but unfortunate because that meant something was abnormal, and my sister's wedding. I was trying to rationalize out loud to Craig how it's probably better to be on bed rest in winter because what am I really missing? It's easy to lay around when the weather is snowy and/or cloudy and cold. I haven't had to bundle up to go outside or trudge thru the un-shoveled sidewalks to get to work. But if this was bed rest day 58 in the summer, sure I would have missed some great things: Summerfest, parties, the beach, most likely a friend wedding or two, Craig's softball tournaments (but really that's like bed rest because I sit for long hours and watch game after game), or just doing anything outdoors. Although if it was summer, I could "bed rest" outside in my favorite lawn chair. Just imagine the rockin' tan I'd have by now! And Marty loves chillin outside in the grass in summer - we actually have to trick him to come back in.
So that was the one-sided conversation I had with Craig in the doctor's office yesterday. Sometimes I just need to talk and he listens and if he doesn't add to the conversation, I just keep talking! By the way, my appt was unremarkable. First time in 8 weeks and 7 appts that we got out of the doctor's office in under an hour. Maybe because it was Friday afternoon and they staff was motivated to leave on time or that all was well with me so there was nothing to talk about. No appt next week but soon we will start going twice a week for non-stress tests (NST), growth ultrasounds, and general doctor follow-ups. If my cervix doesn't change at the next appt, we can stop checking on that. And some of you know how they ultrasound the cervix, so it will be a relief to be able to leave that "area" alone until a baby comes out of it!
Hope everyone has a good weekend, even though is seems a little crappy out there. Craig is playing softball today, so send him warm thoughts! (I know you're thinking softball already? But he's missed 2 tournaments for sure and I guess you can play softball year round. It's local and whatever helps him feel like he's not on bed rest too.)
So that was the one-sided conversation I had with Craig in the doctor's office yesterday. Sometimes I just need to talk and he listens and if he doesn't add to the conversation, I just keep talking! By the way, my appt was unremarkable. First time in 8 weeks and 7 appts that we got out of the doctor's office in under an hour. Maybe because it was Friday afternoon and they staff was motivated to leave on time or that all was well with me so there was nothing to talk about. No appt next week but soon we will start going twice a week for non-stress tests (NST), growth ultrasounds, and general doctor follow-ups. If my cervix doesn't change at the next appt, we can stop checking on that. And some of you know how they ultrasound the cervix, so it will be a relief to be able to leave that "area" alone until a baby comes out of it!
Hope everyone has a good weekend, even though is seems a little crappy out there. Craig is playing softball today, so send him warm thoughts! (I know you're thinking softball already? But he's missed 2 tournaments for sure and I guess you can play softball year round. It's local and whatever helps him feel like he's not on bed rest too.)
Thursday, March 3
Oh Em Gee
So I've been hearing alot about this and it's all over the television and I just gotta talk about it: what is up with Charlie Sheen??! I mean it is obvious he has lost his freakin' mind but keep it to yourself! There was no need to go on prime time t.v. and awkwardly answer personal questions. I have heard it all - mostly because daytime television is the backdrop of my life nowadays (while I'm working on the computer), and EVERYBODY is talking about it every day. Even when the t.v. goes off in the afternoon and the radio goes on, Charlie Sheen is.STILL.THERE! The radio was using this "Charlie Sheen quote generator" from his recent interview. In case you've been under a rock this week, here are some of Sheen's classic one-liners:
*I have tiger blood.
*I'm not bipolar; I think I'm bi-winning.
*I'm on a drug - it's called Charlie Sheen.
*I have one speed, one gear, it's GO!
*I cured my addiction with my mind.
*Dying is for fools.
*I'm tired of pretending I'm not a total bitchin' rock star from Mars.
*Duh, winning. (a repetitive statement of his)
This guy has 3 divorces, 4 children, and now lives with 2 girlfriends. I just don't get the people that are given everything don't have enough sense to know what to do with it. That's it really; I just needed to get that out or just to talk to someone. Craig is at the batting cages tonight, going to a poker/dinner in Oak Creek tomorrow night, and has a co-ed softball tournament this weekend. He's lucky he has the day off next Friday to hang with me:) But it is March already - we are in the home stretch!! Fingers (and "legs") crossed for 6 more weeks. Craig has finished putting the baby gear together and now it is strewn about the living room...kinda like, now what? Next week when Craig has more time, we can start arranging for our new life. Bed rest was making my skin crawl but I was pretty sure I wanted these babies to stay inside because that's all I knew - I wasn't ready to take care of them on the outside! But things are different/changing. I'm feeling more ready, ready to see them, hold them, not be confined to the bed or couch;)
It's a birthday shout out to Ma Bonin and everyone's favorite surgeon Rich Carballo!
*I have tiger blood.
*I'm not bipolar; I think I'm bi-winning.
*I'm on a drug - it's called Charlie Sheen.
*I have one speed, one gear, it's GO!
*I cured my addiction with my mind.
*Dying is for fools.
*I'm tired of pretending I'm not a total bitchin' rock star from Mars.
*Duh, winning. (a repetitive statement of his)
This guy has 3 divorces, 4 children, and now lives with 2 girlfriends. I just don't get the people that are given everything don't have enough sense to know what to do with it. That's it really; I just needed to get that out or just to talk to someone. Craig is at the batting cages tonight, going to a poker/dinner in Oak Creek tomorrow night, and has a co-ed softball tournament this weekend. He's lucky he has the day off next Friday to hang with me:) But it is March already - we are in the home stretch!! Fingers (and "legs") crossed for 6 more weeks. Craig has finished putting the baby gear together and now it is strewn about the living room...kinda like, now what? Next week when Craig has more time, we can start arranging for our new life. Bed rest was making my skin crawl but I was pretty sure I wanted these babies to stay inside because that's all I knew - I wasn't ready to take care of them on the outside! But things are different/changing. I'm feeling more ready, ready to see them, hold them, not be confined to the bed or couch;)
It's a birthday shout out to Ma Bonin and everyone's favorite surgeon Rich Carballo!
Tuesday, March 1
2nd Day of Visitors and Fun
Yesterday my favorite toddlers were over to visit, with their mom of course who is also my favorite:) Thankfully my mom was also here to help corrale the boys because you can imagine I'm not much help once they take off! Annie and my mom swam through all my shower gifts, looking at all the great things we received; listening to Annie reminisce about *tiny* sized diapers and LOVING the little girl clothes! Brady was hugging up on Marty and may have stepped on his awful floppy paws, to which Marty let him know with a less than gentle kiss. Brady recovered shortly without a mark and soon they were friends again because Brady had food and doesn't know how quick Marty is when a half of pancake is flailing around at mouth level. If Marty hangs on to see our babies turn into toddlers, it's possible he will be the only one eating! Or at least the floor under their high-chairs will be spotless:)
After the all the morning fun I went through the shower gifts myself, doing all that I could from a floor sitting position. So I pulled out all the clothes, burp cloths, towels/washcloths, and blankets; cut off all the tags and plastic holds, inspected their washing requirements and made piles for Craig to put in the washer when he got home! Later that night Craig put some of the baby gear together: play yards, bouncers, and swing. One of the pack n plays will stay assembled - it was of course the more intricate of the 2 so we hope to not have to take it down for a long time. The other one will be used for travelling but we put it together so we wouldn't find any surprises once the babies are here and we're struggling to put their bed up! I picked it based on ease-of-use reviews; it has less bells and whistles but was much easier for Craig to set up.
After the all the morning fun I went through the shower gifts myself, doing all that I could from a floor sitting position. So I pulled out all the clothes, burp cloths, towels/washcloths, and blankets; cut off all the tags and plastic holds, inspected their washing requirements and made piles for Craig to put in the washer when he got home! Later that night Craig put some of the baby gear together: play yards, bouncers, and swing. One of the pack n plays will stay assembled - it was of course the more intricate of the 2 so we hope to not have to take it down for a long time. The other one will be used for travelling but we put it together so we wouldn't find any surprises once the babies are here and we're struggling to put their bed up! I picked it based on ease-of-use reviews; it has less bells and whistles but was much easier for Craig to set up.
Jax and Brady sitting still long enough to get this picture! Cutest ever:)
Apparently Marty couldn't be too far away from me so he had to sit as close as possible
while I went thru the gifts.
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