Where has the time gone?

Holy cow!! I can't believe it's been 5 weeks since I updated the blog. I'm so sorry to those of you who are loyal followers. Obviously, we have been very busy with our two precious babies! They are wonderful babies (well, except when they tandem cry) Haha. I'm not kidding. Tandem crying is definitely the hardest part of having twins. It's especially difficult when either of us is taking care of them by ourselves. They really love to tandem cry right as Craig walks in the door at the end of his work day. No break for Daddy. But truly, we are enjoying parenthood.

We are a bit less exhausted now too. Emerson and Mallory seem to be on a fairly consistent schedule of eating every 3-4 hours, which is helpful when we are trying to plan any kind of outing. Speaking of outings, we have been out and about quite a bit and they both enjoy riding in the car. We know this because they immediately fall asleep. :)

I've been keeping myself busy as a stay at home mom and I'm enjoying my new role. I've joined an exercise group called Stroller Strides, where I have met other stay at home moms. They meet 3 times a week, although I've only committed to one day a week for now. It's hard to get out the door by 9am, but we will get better at it eventually. Through Stroller Strides, the babies also attended their first play group. The play group is once a week and made up of many of the same moms and babies. All of the babies are older than Emerson and Mallory, but several of the moms are working on their 2nd baby. So soon enough, they will have many playmates.

2 week check-up

The babies had their two week check-up today. They were weighed, measured and poked in the heels for a blood test. The big news is that they are each over 5 lbs now!! Mallory weighs 5lbs 1oz and Emerson weighs 5lbs 2oz. We were so happy to hear this news because it means they are getting plenty to eat, which in turn means we're doing our job as parents.

We have noticed some distinct differences in their personalities in the last two weeks as well. Mallory is our sassy girl. She likes things her way, all the time. She won't eat if she has a poopy diaper, but she screams while having it changed. If she hears her brother crying, she has to start so she can be louder than him. She's our handful baby. Emerson is easy going. He doesn't mind if midway through his feeding he has to be stopped and set down while we deal with Mallory. I've had to do a few tandem feeds just to keep them both happy. We're enjoying the fact that they have such different personalities because we really want to have two individual children...not "the twins".

Home at Last!!

We have now been home for almost a week. My mom was here during the week helping me out while Craig worked. She went home on Friday afternoon and will return tomorrow to help again this week. The following week my dad will come to help out. I think after 3 straight weeks of help, I will be able to handle things during the day on my own. The night time feedings are getting better, although it's always a challenge when both babies are crying at the same time. We've tried to stagger their feedings so that they aren't both ready to eat at the exact same time. We are still feeding them similarly to how we did when we left the hospital. I let them nurse for 15-20 minutes then give them each an ounce of pumped milk or formula to supplement. Hopefully soon they will be ready to just nurse so that I can stop hooking myself up to the torture device also known as the breast pump!

When they were released from the hospital Mallory weighed 4lbs 4oz and Emerson weighed 4lbs 8oz. They had an appointment with their pediatrician last Wednesday (two days after release) and she was 4lbs 6oz and he was 4lbs 9.5oz. With such small babies, our ultimate goal is continued weight gain, so we are happy they are both doing so well! They have another appointment this week, so I will update with their new weights at that time. I am also meeting with a lactation consultant this week to see if the babies are strong enough to just nurse yet.

As for me, my incision is healing really well. I feel pretty good and can even wear my non-maternity shirts! The pants may take awhile longer...baby steps. :)

Feeders and Growers

The babies were both doing well the next day and we were informed that neither babies were breathing well on their own and did not require additional oxygen. This was a a big hurdle for us because it is extremely common for preemies to need some oxygen. They were also assessed daily for jaundice and we also dodged that bullet. Overall, our NICU exprience was minor compared to many stories we've heard. Our babies were designated as "feeders and growers" meaning that they just needed to eat and gain weight to be released. Of course, the catch was they had to gain weight for several days in a row AND be able to get all their food from breast or bottle. This was a challenge for us because it took 4 days for my milk to fully come in and they were not strong enough to take all their meals that way. After trying to use a small tube taped to my breast that the babies sucked on while nursing, we ended up having to use gavage tubes for each of them. Gavage tubes go through their noses and into their stomachs. It was hard to see them with tubes taped to their faces, but we knew they were getting the nutrition they needed. After a few days of using the gavages and nursing them, Emerson still wasn't gaining the weight he needed to. The conclusion was that he was nursing too long and burning more calories than he was taking in. So, as a last resort and after much thought, we opted for a breast and bottle feeding. The babies each nursed for 5-10 minutes, then took an ounce of breast milk or formula (if I didn't have enough pumped milk) for the rest of their feed. They both gained weight and were released to go home after 8 days in the NICU. It was a happy day for all of us!! Our insurance company approved my stay for 4 days after surgery. After I was released, we were allowed to stay at the hospital with the babies in a room a floor above them. Craig stayed with me most nights in my cramped room. Every 3 hours around the clock we would get up and go downstairs to the NICU to feed the babies. After each feeding, I would pump then go back to bed before the next feeding. It was a rigorous schedule and I found myself very teary much of the time. I was sooooo ready to be home and I was extremely sleep deprived.

June 20th Surprise

I cannot believe it's taken me so long to update this blog. As all of you know, Emerson Robert and Mallory Rose joined our family on June 20. I was 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant and NOT ready to have these babies. This is how it unfolded...

I woke up around 12:30am on June 20 to go to the bathroom. On my way back to bed, I noticed I still had the urge to urinate, so I started heading back towards the bathroom. On my way, I had liquid leaking and as soon as I got next to the toilet, I had a large gush of fluid. I instantly knew it wasn't urine and somehow figured out a way to go back into the bedroom to tell Craig. I said, "Craig, wake up." "My water just broke." He jumped out of bed and said, "What?" "Oh no". We were both in shock that this was happening so early. Everything to this point in the pregnancy had been smooth sailing. We had a special ultrasound done on Friday (two days before) that indicated that everything was fine with the babies. It's amazing how quickly everything changes.

I made a phone call to the emergency room who then paged our OB's office. Within a few minutes, one of the OB's called back and calmly told us we might want to go into Labor and Delivery to be "checked out". He made me sound like I must be mistaken that my water had broke. Little did he know...

After we got checked into our room on the Labor and Delivery floor, they monitored the babies and my contractions. They also did an exam to see how I was progressing and tested the fluid to see if it was amniotic fluid (it was). Since it was the middle of the night, and I was having a scheduled c-section, they wanted to wait until morning to perform the surgery. So, Craig and I waited in the room and tried to sleep. I say try because I was having contractions so I was unable to get comfortable. Oh yeah, I still felt like I was peeing myself over and over again. Apparently (a nurse informed me) the body continues to make amniotic fluid even after the sac breaks.

Throughout the wait and as I was being wheeled into the operating room, we kept hoping both babies would be okay. We had heard horror stories about unhealthy preemies and we were terrified. At 10:13, Mallory was born and at 10:14, Emerson arrived. Both babies were put on oxygen in the operating room, but were healthy. Just small. Mallory was 4lbs and Emerson was 4lbs 9oz. I balled my eyes out as soon as I heard Mallory's cry. It was a sound I had waited for my whole pregnancy. It turns out that Mallory's cord was wrapped around her neck, which may have been the reason her water broke. Emerson's water was fully intact, so he was surprised he was being born. Both babies were taken to the NICU where they were assessed for various issues common with preemies. Craig was able to push them in their bassinets into the NICU and stay with them for awhile during my recovery.

It was the best Father's Day gift I will ever be able to give Craig!!

34 weeks & ultrasound

The ultrasound this morning went well. The babies are doing great, have plenty of fluid, healthy placentas and they are each estimated to weigh 5 lbs! We are pleased with this news because that means they're growing at the exact rate they should be. They are in the same positions, more or less, although her head is further to the left side now. Her head was right in the middle at the last ultrasound, 4 weeks ago. I think she's had to stretch out a bit to continue growing. It's honestly a wonder either one of them is growing because they're packed in there like sardines! I don't have any pictures of them because they're getting too big and squished to get anything clear enough. The ultrasound tech looked for hair today and says Mr. Cherry has a little bit. Unfortunately, Miss Apple is too low to be able to tell. Craig had a lot of dark hair when he was born and I was completely bald, so maybe we'll have one of each.

Zapper

I went in this morning for our first non-stress test (NST) and a regular OB appointment. The NST was first...the nurse hooked up a monitor to each baby using a TON of the ultrasound goop (messy!). She had a hard time finding Mr. Cherry's heartbeat at first because the little guy is so busy. She would find it, and he would quickly move. Miss Apple was very cooperative and once her monitor was strapped on, she did really well. The NST is designed to monitor each baby's activity level. The doctor wants to see each of their heart rates go up 15 points and stay up for a minute or so. Obviously, if they are active, that is more likely to happen. If the heart rate stays up for too long, it can mean the baby is distressed. About halfway through the test, the OB came in to check on things. No surprise that Mr Cherry passed with flying colors (he's A LOT more active than Miss Apple). She decided to take a little snoozer during the testing, so her heart rate wasn't changing. Our OB kept muttering something about a zapper and I was oblivious to what she was talking about. She then left the room, and returned with a tool that looks like a small flashlight. She put it on my belly and pushed a button. It made an odd zapping noise, but didn't feel like anything. However, Miss Apple was then wide awake and eventually passed her testing as well.

The actual OB appointment was pretty routine. My blood pressure is fine, urine test came back normal and I'm continuing to gain weight (eek!). I am now measuring at 42 weeks, so I'm the same size as a mom with a single baby who is 2 weeks overdue. Everyone keeps telling me how small I am, but I do not feel small! I feel like my belly is literally growing everyday, which isn't far from the truth. For the rest of my pregnancy, each baby will gain about 1/2 lb every week!! Wow.

I'm still fairly uncomfortable, but hey, what do I expect with a twin pregnancy, right? It's getting difficult to roll over from side to side at night and I'm generally most comfortable on my left side, so I stick with that. Some nights I still don't sleep well, but some nights I sleep great. I continue to have back pain, and rib pain, especially as Mr. Cherry continues to grow from side to side. His head and butt are nearly always visible as my belly gets distorted where he is pushing.

We have an ultrasound tomorrow and another NST on Friday. More updates to follow.

33 weeks--Coeur d'Alene Lake Brunch Cruise

Craig's brother, Keith, and sister-in-law, Pauline, were in town for a few days from Edmonton. We took them on a brunch cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Here are a few pictures of the growing belly from that trip.

Hospitals and Socializing

It was a busy week of primarily socializing, but I need to add a few updates here. Craig and I had our hospital pre-admission appointment early in the week. I've discovered I really hate hospitals and thankfully, I've never had to spend the night at one. I realize that is about to change and I think that's why as soon as we entered the building my hands were sweaty and I became nervous. I really hope I'll be overwhelmed with excitement when we actually go to have the babies. The appointment went well, with a nurse asking us an abundance of questions, including some that surprised me. They asked about our birthing plan, what kind of medication I want during and after having the babies, if I was going to nurse them, etc. We also got a "tour" after our appointment, although, we both got the impression the nurse was in a hurry. It was a super fast, "here's the recovery room", "here's the overnight rooms" with very little time for us to actually look in the rooms.

I also had another massage appointment. They seem to be helping relieve some of my back pain, as well as hip pain while sleeping. She is giving me plenty of tips on ways to make my last pregnant weeks as comfortable as possible.

Like I said, I've been socializing as well. Last week I met a good friend for pedicures (no longer a luxury, now a necessity) and lunch. I also had dinner with a group of ladies I'm thinking about joining called Stroller Strides. They are a group of moms that have a three-day a week exercise program, as well as play dates and Moms Nights Out. It sounds like a good way for me to tone up my body and also a great social network. I enjoyed having dinner with them, as they are all around the same age as me and lots of fun to be around!

This week I have loads of appointments, so I will be blogging again soon...

Cruising Along

32 weeks pregnant. 8 months. It's hard to believe everything has gone so well so far. I haven't updated the blog because I really didn't have much to report. I'm enjoying being done with work now so I can relax when I need to. It's also been good to get a few things done around the house, but primarily, I read and watch TV. I've been asked repeatedly if I'm bored. NO WAY!! I'm not crazy...I know what's coming. We are going to be so busy in a few weeks that I cannot complain about some down time.

I had an appointment today with our OB. She was so happy with my good health and told me several times how well I'm doing getting to 32 weeks without any issues. My blood pressure was normal again, as were the proteins in my urine. She believes the preeclampsia was a false alarm and that something else was temporarily elevating my blood pressure (stress, anxiety, etc.). I am now measuring at full-term...well, full-term if I was having one baby. No wonder I'm so uncomfortable now!! It seems like it's impossible for me to get comfortable sitting or standing for any length of time. I've also developed carpal tunnel, which is apparently somewhat common. Oh, all the things no one ever told me about pregnancy. :) I only have problems with it in the morning when I first wake up. My hands are stiff and achy, but it only lasts for an hour or so. The top of my belly is also pretty sore from the babies continuing to grow up towards my ribs. Ouch. My back continues to be sore, though I will continue to get regular massages until the babies are born because it seems to help.

In two weeks I will start non-stress tests twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. These will continue for the duration of the pregnancy. The purpose of the nonstress test is to evaluate the babies heartbeats and movements, as well as the frequency of contractions. External fetal monitors are hooked up to each baby. If the heart rate of one or both of the babies doesn't react to the movement or the baby doesn't move at all, the doctor worries about fetal distress.

We have nearly everything ready for the babies arrival now. We need to install the car seats and pack our bags, then we will be ready to go. We will probably do both of these in the next couple weeks so there won't be anything to worry about. Can't believe it's getting so close!! Some days I'm really done being pregnant and other days I want it to last awhile longer. I really love feeling them move around and I know I will miss that.

Preeclampsia Update

I had an appointment yesterday with my regular OB/Gyn. She was happy to report that my blood pressure is much lower now and I still don't have proteins in my urine. For now, I'm off the hook for pre-eclampsia. She does, however, want to keep a close eye on it. I will continue to take it pretty easy and will have a few more appointments every two weeks, instead of every week. She wants me to let her know if I have *any* issues at all so they can get me in right away to check my levels.

We talked pretty extensively about the actual delivery. Obviously, if our little guy continues to stay transverse we will be having a c-section. She wants to schedule it, but has to follow the hospital rule of no non-emergency c-sections before 38 weeks for twins. So, if all stays the same with my preeclampsia and the babies positions we will have a scheduled c-section on or around July 13. However, if anything changes with my situation or the babies, we could have them at anytime before that. Also, if I go into labor when I get closer to my due date, but it's before 38 weeks, she will go ahead with the c-section or vaginal birth (whatever we have decided at that point). Hopefully that all makes sense. She really doesn't want to help us make a decision on what we're going to do until 36 weeks to allow adaquate time for our little man to turn head first. We will have a 34 week ultrasound to check both babies positions.

Home

I'm really enjoying being done with work. My time at home has been a mix of relaxation and actually getting a few things done. Thankfully, the baby stuff is essentially ready to go, so I've had time to do other things. I still wake up early as if I were going to work, but now I have time to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, read, watch TV, take a nap, and occasionally get something productive accomplished. I'm currently working on organizing all my recipes. I'm taking them from an overstuffed box of folded recipes and putting them in a nice recipe book with dividers. I love to cook, so even though I worked on it for over an hour yesterday, there is still much more to do.

I've been feeling pretty good, aside from typical pregnancy aches and pains. My back still bothers me, but that's not surprising. I'm still sleeping really well I I count myself lucky for that. And despite what everyone told me, so far I can still eat a normal amount of food. We will see how that goes as the days go on and the babies continue to push against my stomach. I've noticed a shift in my energy level. It seems like simple activities such as grocery shopping have become quite a chore for me. I usually need a break after being on my feet for even 30 minutes or so.

Now, I present to you the latest belly shot. Do you think it's getting bigger?

30 week ultrasound

Yesterday's ultrasound went really well! The babies are doing great, have plenty of amniotic fluid around them and both placentas are healthy and doing their job. They are starting to get more fat on them, so they have little cheeks now...so cute! Our little girl is still hanging out low....really low now. She is just under my pubic bone and very deep towards by back. Maybe that's why it hurts all the time. Haha Her estimated weight is 3lbs 2oz. Our little guy is still transverse (horizontal) and very high (just under my ribs). He was being a bit shy and didn't want to show his face. In fact, his arm and hand were in front of his face most of the time. His estimated weight is 3lbs 3oz. As we get into the 3rd trimester and our baby boy is still transerve, we are looking at a very likely c-section situation. We still have a few weeks for him to decide to go head first, but for now we are getting ourselves used to the idea of a c-section.

After my ultrasound, the tech found a nurse who took my blood pressure and tested my protein levels in my urine. Both came back normal!!!! So, for now the preeclampsia is under control. They still want me to take it easy, but I'm allowed to do things as well. I can't explain how much relief and freedom I felt from hearing that news! Huge fist pumps for good blood pressure. :)

I have a check up tomorrow and will have Craig take a new belly picture tonight. Stay tuned for another update soon.

The first video below is our little girl. It looks like her eyes are opening and closing, but they weren't...it's just the way the 3D ultrasound made it look. Her video is a full face shot, with her hand by the right side of her face.

The second video is our little guy. His is a profile video and he's on the left side. Like I said, he's kind of hiding behind his arm and hand so you have to look carefully.

Is this a joke?

What's the funniest thing about pregnancy? It has to be the fact that at every appointment the pregnant woman is asked to pee in a cup. It makes me laugh every time because I can't see where I'm going. I just sit there and do my thing and kinda hope just a bit of it has made it into the cup. Do you think they have hidden cameras in the bathrooms that the doctors and nurses sit around and watch at the end of day...you know, they don't get a lot of humor in their jobs.

Screech!!

My smooth sailing pregnancy came to a screeching halt yesterday. On Wednesday morning I noticed that my ankle (only one of them) was pretty swollen when I woke up. Not a big deal I thought, happens to most pregnant women. Then, while eating lunch at work I noticed some very odd squiggly lines that were flashing like a strobe light in my field of vision. Uh oh. I instantly thought of the pregnancy books I've read. Vision changes usually indicate a problem with blood pressure. I called yesterday morning to get into the doctor. Unfortunately, my doctor was out yesterday but they got me in with another doctor at the office. They tested my urine for proteins....passed that test with flying colors. Then the nurse took my blood pressure. It was pretty high considering how low it had been only one week before. I was diagnosed with mild preeclampsia. :( Preeclampsia, if kept under close watch can be controlled, but not improved. The doctor told me it won't get better until the babies can be delivered, and that it will likely progress. He also mentioned that I would likely not make it to the full-term 38 week mark, but would instead deliver around 36 weeks (June 30). For now, I'm not on bedrest but he wants me to take it very easy and keep my feet elevated above my heart when I'm relaxing.

It's a good thing I'm done with work today because he was going to ask me to be done. The news of getting preeclampsia has been difficult for me. I'm a very active person (even at 7 months pregnant) and it's so hard to be told I can no longer do all the things I wanted to do before the babies arrive. The good news is that it's not too bad yet and at least we have nearly everything ready for the babies arrival. I'm trying to focus on the fact that I need to relax anyway, so this is just a way to force me to do so. It will be a long time until I can take naps whenever I please, so I will try to take advantage of that situation.

All in all, the news could have been so much worse! I've made it to the 3rd trimester with no complications and very few symptoms. I feel lucky to have had that experience.

3rd Trimester!!!!!

I'm 7 months pregnant now and officially in the 3rd trimester! I know I keep saying it, but it's hard to believe we're in the home stretch...it's gone so quickly! It's crazy to think that in a maximum of 10 weeks we will be parents of not one, but two babies. Wow.

I had an appointment today and my doctor was surprised I wasn't experiencing any Braxton Hicks contractions yet, but she was glad I wasn't. I gained another 3 lbs in the last two weeks and I'm still measuring 7 weeks ahead...so I'm the same size as a mom carrying one baby at 35 weeks!! My blood pressure was normal, which becomes a big concern as we approach the end of the pregnancy because preeclampsia is more common with multiples and high blood pressure is one of the first symptoms.

My doctor also agreed to help me try to get some Aflac benefits during the time before I have the babies, which is great news. Now I don't have to go all that time without pay. Well, if it gets approved by Aflac.

I have some great "from the mouths of babes" one liners to share...have I ever mentioned how much I love working with kids?! A three-year old at school told me the other day that when our babies are born they're going to say, "Wah, we want to go back in your tummy". :) Another child (6 years old) who has autism, was staring
intently at my belly a few days ago. After some time, he said, "Why you not have a kaleidoscope on the outside so we can always see what they're doing?". Um, good question...but a kaleidoscope? Hmmmm....

Nursery and Update

We have been busy getting everything ready for the nursery. It's been a lot of fun as my mom, my dad, Craig and I have each had a hand in preparing it. A few weeks ago my dad and Craig put the cribs together, followed by the bedding arriving for me to make up the cribs. This weekend my mom and I did some elephant murals on the walls to add some decoration. Next week our dresser/changing table arrives, which will be one of the final touches to the room.

I talked to my boss last week and informed her that I'd like to be done working on May 28. There have been some budget cuts at the state level (my job is funded through Medicaid) so she asked if I could be done on May 14 instead. They are going to have to temporarily layoff two people, and I figure it's only fair that one of them is me because I will be on maternity leave during that time anyway. So, long story short, my last day will be May 14. There are several projects I'd like to get done around the house as well as some last minute things to do, so it should be fine. I will be almost 30 weeks along by then.

I had a funny/embarrassing moment recently. A few nights ago, Craig and I went out to eat. The waitress showed us to our booth and I had an uh oh moment when I tried to slide into my seat. "Excuse me, I think we're going to have to move to a table." Pure embarrassment.

I'm continuing to feel pretty good. I sleep well at night, other than having to get up 3-4 times to go to the bathroom. I always get right back to sleep though. My only issue has been my back. It continues to hurt. I've tried many things to make it feel better, but they are all temporary. I think it might be time to schedule another massage appointment. I really am very thankful that everything has gone so smoothly and that I'm still feeling so good!! :)

I can feel her!!!

Last night as we were lying in bed dozing off, I could feel Apple moving. I put my hands down low on my belly where she "lives" and I got to externally feel her kicking for the first time!! This is a big deal because her brother who "lives" at the top of my belly always takes the limelight and moves, kicks, pushes, etc constantly. She is low and deep enough that I feel her moving but it cannot be felt from the outside of my belly by anyone, even me. Hooray for another pregnancy highlight! :)

Birthing Classes and Dr. Appointment

It's only Tuesday, but it's already been a busy week for us! Last night we had our first birthing class. It was pretty interesting. We learned lots of things, but the primary focus was on relaxation techniques for labor. We learned about how to do massage during contractions, and ways to labor more comfortably by walking around and moving into various positions to ease the pain. We have classes for 6 weeks, 2 hours each week. By the time we're done I suspect we will be much more comfortable with the whole labor and delivery process. One of the most exciting things we learned was that the hospital we're delivering at is very well regarded. The class is in no way affiliated with the hospital, so that was great to hear. We were told that they are 1 of only 50 hospitals in the U.S. that is "baby friendly". That means that the babies will be given to us right after delivery and will remain on my chest to bond for at least the first hour. The apgar tests will also be done while they are on my chest. In most hospitals the baby is taken to be weighed, measured, etc. That is not the case at our hospital. The other aspect about "baby friendly" is that no bottles or pacifiers will be given to them without us okaying it first. In fact, they are a pro-nursing hospital and do not allow formula samples to be given to their new parents. We found all of that reassuring because we would really like to be successful with nursing and need all the help we can get because we know it will be very hard with two!

I also had an appointment today. My intention was to ask her several questions, including my most pressing question about being done working at the end of May. I have been thinking for a week or so that the end of May would be a good time to be done. I will be 32 weeks along at that point and if I only make it to 36-38 weeks, I would like to have some time to relax at home before the babies arrive. I also think I will be too big to effectively do my job. Unfortunately, my doctor said I'm doing so well that unless something changed with my health or the babies, she would not write me a note to release me from work. That wouldn't be a big deal, but I would like to use my short-term disability benefit that I've been paying into for the last year and a half. On a happy note, I'm doing really well!! My glucose test came back in the normal range, so no further testing for gestational diabetes. I'm measuring at 33 weeks and I'm only 26 weeks, which is normal for a twin mommy. I only gained 2 more pounds in the last 3 weeks, but she is very happy with my weight.

I will see the other two doctors in the office before I deliver, in the event that one of them is on call and is our delivery doctor. I will also begin seeing my doctor every 2 weeks and will have another ultrasound in 4 weeks (when I'm 30 weeks along). I will begin non-stress tests at 34 weeks and those will be twice a week. They are routine for multiples and designed to measure the babies' heart rates when they are moving, as well as monitor any contractions I may be having.

Our doctor also told me that by our 36 week ultrasound, we will better know the final positions of the babies and will be able to make a decision about our options for delivery.

Whew...this is a long post!! I think I covered it all. Until next time...

25 week ultrasound

Our normal ultrasound tech is recovering from foot surgery, so we had a new lady today. She was very nice, but not as skilled at getting good baby pictures as our regular lady. However, she did tell us that both babies are doing great!

Apple is still way down low and fairly deep and now weighs 1 lb 12 oz. She was all curled up in a ball with her hands and her feet in her face (sounds comfy, huh)? Her head is on my right side and her butt is still pretty darn close to her little brother's face,more towards the left side. They don't measure length at this point, but one of my books says they should be about 13 inches.

Cherry was all stretched out and quite active today. He takes up the top part on my belly with his head on the left side and the rest of him stretched over to the right side. He is completely transverse. We could see his face when she first started the ultrasound, but by about halfway through he decided to roll over and face my back. He weighs an ounce less than his sister, at 1 lb 11 oz.

We will see what happens with their positions as far as either of them being head down at our next ultrasound, in about 6 weeks. That visit should give us a good idea of whether a vaginal delivery is even feasible.

As you can see, I put up a couple pictures. The first is of our little man's profile. The second is of her face and you can clearly see her nose.

Changes

Life is full of change and obviously preparing for twins has been full of change for Craig and I. Yesterday I finally tackled the "bomb went off" room aka the nursery. All the things from my shower, plus many things given to us by friends were taking over all the floor space in the room. So, I began sorting through things and hanging up the little bitty clothes that our babies will soon be wearing. After several hours, that room is beginning to look like a nursery and the little clothes hanging in the closet have both of us excited about the huge change our lives are about to take.

Another big change as of Friday, is that everyone at my job has had their hours cut. I will now be working 32 hours a week instead of 40. While this isn't a big deal for us, it will impact my Aflac short term disability policy that I was planning to use for 8-12 weeks after the babies are born. My benefit amount will now be based on 32 hours/week instead of the 40 hours I've been working for nearly 2 years. Like I said though, life is full of change and I will adjust and make the best of this as well. My tenative plan, as long as everything continues to go well with the pregnancy, is to be done working May 31. I will be 32 weeks along then and I think that's a good time to take some time off to rest, finish last minute projects and enjoy some time to myself before I'm a full-time mommy!

We have another ultrasound this Wednesday. I will post pictures if we get some good ones! I'm interested to see if Cherry's position has changed. He moves around constantly and I keep feeling his head or butt pressed up against the sides of my belly. He was up and down last time we had an ultrasound, so I'm thinking he is now side to side.

6 months!!

My eyes look a bit scary in this picture, but just focus on the expanding belly. I have 2 little stretch marks to go with my belly. Try as I might to avoid them with twice a day Cocoa Butter applications, they came. Oh well, the joy of pregnancy.

Baby Shower and Sugary Drinks

My doctor's appointment this week went really well. I only gained 3 lbs in the last 4 weeks (not as much as I would like), but the babies are obviously still growing well. My belly is now measuring at 30 weeks!! Yowsa! No wonder people keep asking when I'm due. :) I asked my doctor about a pain I've been having on the top right side of my belly. She examined the area and pushed on it a bit, but concluded that my ribs are expanding and that's why it's so tender. Ouch. I guess I will have to get used to it though, because as I get bigger I'm sure my ribs will continue to expand. I was given the fun, extra sugary, orange drink as well. My "glucose challenge" will be just a few days before my next appointment. As most of you know, I will drink the a fore mentioned delicious drink (I'm trying to convince myself that it will be good) in 5 minutes, then have my blood drawn exactly 1 hour later. This is a test for gestational diabetes. I believe I will receive the results at my next appointment, which is scheduled for April 20.

We also have an ultrasound scheduled for April 14. We are looking forward to seeing how much our little babies have grown!

I've been feeling increasingly sore by the end of the day. My belly and back need a break by 5:00. I've been coming home to put my feet up and rest for most of the night. Some days, I even take a little nap before dinner. I'm really hoping to work for awhile longer, but my body may have other ideas. I've been asked several times how long I plan to work. My answer is that I have no plan. I will know, or my doctor will tell me when I can no longer do my job. My biggest concern is that I want to make sure I'm doing my job well. If I can no longer run my kids programs at school, I will need to call it quits. For now, I'm still working full time.

Last Sunday my friend, Ivy and my mom threw me the best baby shower a girl could ask for. I had friends there from Germany, New York and Denver as well as many friends from Coeur d'Alene and Moscow. My sister-in-law surprised me by being there.
It turns out she's a great liar too! She had tricked me (not an easy task) into thinking she wouldn't be able to come. What a nice surprise. My friend, Christy, who came from Denver was also a surprise and I hate to admit I even cried when she walked in the door. I was just so overwhelmed with feeling loved and cared for by all the guests...there were 30 in total! Such a wonderful celebration for the babies! Needless to say, their room is full of all kinds of great gifts!!

Pediatricians & Backaches & Kicks..oh my!

We've had a fun couple of days because we can feel the babies moving/kicking all the time now from the outside of my belly! They are most active at night, after dinner is made and I'm finally relaxing for the day. Thankfully, they aren't big enough (only 1 lb each) to keep me awake, but they are very active as I'm drifting off to sleep too.

My back has continued to hurt and always in the same spot. I'm convinced that one of the babies is sitting on a nerve or something because if I push on the right side of my belly, the pain is temporarily relieved. I know the back pain will only continue to get worse as they grow, but truthfully as I read through my pregnancy books, it could be much worse. I have had a pretty uneventful pregnancy and I'd like to keep it that way. :)

After talking to a few friends at work, I decided which pediatricians I'd like to meet and interview. Last week, Craig and I met with a doctor who had been recommended by several people. I went prepared with a typed list of questions and he actually said he appreciated my list...haha. What a guy. All of the questions were answered, he had a great sense of humor and he also has twins!! We both left the office feeling very confident that we didn't need to interview anymore pediatricians because we had found ours! We found out that our pediatrician or one of the others from his office (depending on who is on call) will be in the delivery room with us. He also told us that one of the pediatricians from his office will visit us each day we're at the hospital after their birth. We were quite impressed with the amount of time they will be spending with us and our new babies.

Many of you have asked me to write an update on how I'm feeling and what I'm craving each time I blog. Here is the latest: I feel pretty good most days and my energy level has been great. However, today I had to take a 40 minute nap when I got home because I was really dragging. I'm up to 3-4 trips to the bathroom during the night even though I stop drinking fluids 1 hour before bed. My belly has grown 1 1/2 inches in 2 weeks, so I'm learning how to get around with a larger middle. Work is getting a little bit harder because I can no longer bend down to help kids. I have also retired the child size chairs for a larger, office-type chair for comfort purposes. I'm also still extremely absent minded. I forget EVERYTHING!

As for cravings, my latest thing is carbs....LOTS of carbs. I've been craving sweets, bread, potatoes, pasta, pretzels...really anything loaded with carbohydrates. I also continue to love milkshakes, something I was hoping would pass.

I have a doctor's appointment next week, so I will add a little update then.

21 weeks

Here's the belly!! My how it's grown since 18 weeks.

Nursery Bedding

We decided on this bedding not only because we loved it, but because it came in two great colors....one for our boy and one for our girl. Perfect. April will be our month to get the nursery ready. We've been busy getting the room next to ours cleaned out and ready for our two bundles. When we finish decorating and getting everything set-up, I will post pictures.

Movement!!!!!!!

Our babies are serious movers and shakers! At the end of last week I was at work, helping a kiddo and I swore I felt Cherry move. I didn't want to get too excited though because I thought I might be imagining things. I wasn't. They both move around so much and it's one of the most amazing things I've ever felt! It is unlike anyone described to me. It feels like pressure on the inside of my tummy, then I can feel wiggling. I'm already so in love with these babies! Looking forward to Craig being able to feel them too.

I keep getting asked if we have names picked out, and that's a big negative. We have lists of boy and girl names, but we've made no effort to narrow them down. We're thinking if we make a decision before we have them, we might just keep it a secret. I know, I know...some of you hate secrets, but we like them. :)

A delayed thank you!

I've been meaning to send a HUGE thank you to my FIVE lovely lady friends who have loaned me tons of maternity clothes!!! I have only had to purchase a few items. Thank you to Megan, Chelsea, Amber, Christy and Katie!!! I knew there was an advantage to being the last of my friends to have babies. :)

19 weeks

I cannot believe I'm already halfway through this pregnancy...and that's if I make it to my "maximum capacity" (38 weeks).

My appointment yesterday went well. My doctor is happy with the ultrasound pictures and says I'm doing great. Hard to believe, but I only gained 3 pounds in the last month even after eating a ton of food and laying around for a week in Mexico!! I'm measuring the same as a woman pregnant with a single baby at 27 weeks! Now I understand why my back has been bothering me. The past few days I've had a hard time sitting for long periods without getting a backache. I think it might be time to go get my first pregnancy massage. :)

Above is an 18 week belly picture while we we were in Mexico (hence the swimsuit). It was taken on our first day there (hence the super white I haven't seen sun in 6 months skin).

I'm off to take a nice bubble bath...maybe that will help my back. Ahhhh....

Let's try this again

Sorry about the small font. I can't seem to figure out how to enlarge it. I'm going to try to reload the videos too.

We're having......

a GIRL and a BOY!!! We feel so lucky to be able to experience raising one of each. Congratulations to those of you who voted for one of each. The 7 year old boy with Down Syndrome at school was 100% correct, as he predicted baby A to be a girl and baby B to be a boy. He was quite proud of himself when I told him today.

Our ultrasound was very interesting as the ultrasound tech looked at each of the babies hearts, kidneys, spines, brains, etc. She assured us that both of the babies look very healthy and are developing perfectly! They are each about 8 oz and 7-8 inches long (although she didn't measure this). Now that they are bigger, all the measuring is done with the head circumference, the femur length and abdomen size. They are both measuring at about 18weeks 5 days. Our girl (Apple) was quite a mover and shaker. She was very active during the whole ultrasound! She also put her hand up when the tech was trying to get a 3D image of her (kind of a "talk to the hand" moment). Our boy (Cherry) was more calm, although still moving quite a bit. During his time in the lime light, his sister decided she should put her back end in his face. So funny, but poor guy! The first video below is our boy with his sister's bottom in his face. The second is of our little girl. You can clearly see her arm and toes. Cute.

I still have hives, although they look a lot better. I've started taking Benedryl for itching...and sometimes they itch REALLY badly! The Benedryl seems to help control it. Other than the hives, I still feel great! My belly is getting firmer and I continue to gain a good amount of weight. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, so I will update with anything interesting (if there is anything).

It's been awhile...

I haven't been a good blogger lately and I don't have a good excuse. I guess there isn't much new going on. The biggest change is that last Thursday I broke out in hives on my arms and legs. No big deal because there were only a few of them...until I woke up on Friday morning! They were ALL over my arms and legs, but no where else. And let me tell you, they itch SO badly!!! I called my Ob/Gyn immediately because I thought it must have something to do with pregnancy since I hadn't started using any new products, laundry soap, etc. She got me in that afternoon and she confirmed that it was indeed a rash associated with pregnancy. She told me to use Cortaid cream on it twice a day and call her in a week if it wasn't better. It's healed pretty well, but I still have a lot of hives. Sooo...it looks like I might need something stronger. Ah, the joys of pregnancy.

I really am enjoying my 2nd trimester so far regardless of that. I've been feeling energetic and overall pretty good. I'm still waiting to feel the babies move. Everyday I hope it will happen, but not yet.

We leave on our babymoon this Sunday morning, and will find out the sexes of these little ones (if they're spread eagle) shortly after we return. If you want to vote in the poll and haven't, the clock is ticking. March 1 is the deadline. Currently boy/girl is one vote ahead of 2 girls and 2 boys is way behind.

Belly Picture

I'm almost 16 weeks along and I've grown since my last belly pic, so I thought it was time for another one. :)

15 Week Appointment

I've lost my mind! It has become increasing difficult for me to remember anything. I now believe in baby brain. I always laughed when pregnant women would speak of baby brain, but it's true...my babies have taken my brain. I even have trouble coming up with the correct words when I'm talking to someone.

I had my 15 week doctor's appointment yesterday and everything went well. It was a pretty fast appointment that consisted of weighing me, taking my blood pressure, measuring my belly from top to bottom and listening to Cherry and Apple's heartbeats with a monitor. For those of you keeping track, Cherry and Apple no longer have the same heartbeat. Apple's is still in the 150's, but Cherry's is now in the 140's. I realize this is meaningful to some of you who are superstitious. I asked my doctor about my weight gain and size and she says to keep up the good work! She told me that as long as I'm eating a well balanced diet and taking a good prenatal vitamin, that I should be in good shape. I am doing both of those things, so I guess I'm right on track. I think it's almost time for another belly shot because I have grown! I've been measuring myself around and I grew 1 inch from week 13 to week 15!

I've noticed that no one has commented on our blog name. I thought it was clever. Is it too cheesy? Honestly. Thank you to everyone who voted on our poll! Boy/Girl and 2 Girls are tied as of today. If you haven't voted, make sure you do! It will be fun to see who was right! The kids at school have been telling me their votes too, although I haven't put any of them into the poll.

Our "big" ultrasound to hopefully (fingers crossed that they cooperate) find out the sexes is scheduled for the morning of March 1. My mom is driving up from Moscow to go to that appointment with us. She's such an excited Nana!!

Snoogles are for Snuggling

I've been waking up with sore hips from trying to assure I stay on my sides all night. I finally decided something had to be done so I began researching pregnancy pillows. I of course, ordered the one with the best reviews and it is called a SNOOGLE!! I love the name and it is amazing!!! I'm so glad I decided to get something. It wraps all around my body and has a part of the pillow that goes between my knees to help with hip pain. It is working wonders! Craig even admitted to me that he has snuggled up to a few times, thinking it was me. The only disadvantage is that it takes up quite a bit of space, so Craig is worried that as my tummy grows he may get kicked out of bed. Poor guy. I hope not. This is what it looks like:

We've been getting more serious about deciding on cribs, dressers, and other baby related items. Last week I called to register for a childbirth and breastfeeding class we will take in April. Everything is going very smoothly so far. I'm hoping I will be able to feel the babies moving soon....I almost 15 weeks already. Time is flying by!

When we first found out we were expecting, we made the decision that we would plan a "babymoon" vacation. On February 21, we are leaving for a 6 night stay in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Here is a link to the resort we're staying at, if you're interested. http://www.iberostar.com/EN/Riviera-Maya-hotels/Iberostar-Grand-Hotel-Paraiso_3_117.html It will be a time of complete relaxation, with several swimming pools, a white sand beach by the ocean, at an all-inclusive, adults-only resort. We are really looking forward to having a nice vacation before our babies arrive!

I have an appointment on Wednesday, so will update after that.

13 week ultrasound

We had a really good time at our ultrasound today! It was an hour long look at our little ones and every body part! The main test that was being run was a pre-cursor test for Downs Syndrome andTrisomy 18 (another birth defect). The ultrasound tech measured the amount of space behind the neck of each baby and also pricked my finger for 6 small blood samples, both of which are being sent to a processing lab. Apparently with those two pieces of information they will be able to tell if either one of the babies has early signs of either disability. Throughout the ultrasound, MANY pictures were taken....she gave us four to bring home to share with you. :) The first one is Baby A and the second is Baby B.

Here are each babies stats (this is the best I can remember):

Baby A is lying up and down with feet down. It's heartbeat is 158 and head to rump measurements are 72mm.

Baby B is lying side to side somewhat. It's hearbeat is 152 and head to rump measurements are 67mm.

They were both moving around a lot and it was fun to watch them float around. :)

I've started taking belly measurements, and although I won't make those numbers public, my belly has definitely grown! I would say I definitely look pregnant now instead of just a little thick around the middle. I'm still feeling great and seem to have regained much of my lost energy from the first trimester.

Unfortunately, we don't have another ultrasound until early March, when we will find out the sexes. Seven long weeks without a look at our babies. I hope I don't go crazy waiting! haha

VOTE!

I set up a poll for you to vote on what you think we're having. I have no feeling one way or another, but I'm interested to see what you all think. It will stay open until I am 20 weeks...when we should be finding out the sexes. Happy voting!

From the Mouths of Babes

I have to share this because I thought it was adorable. A five year old in my class at work was touching my belly a few days ago. She said, "Wow Nicole, your belly is pretty big. Are you having a baby?" I replied, "No, I'm having two." Her eyes got really big and she said, "At the same time?!" Ah kids. Gotta love 'em.

As a major side note, I ate two eggs last week and they didn't make me nauseous. I'm officially over my egg aversion! Yay!

12 weeks!!!

I made it through the first trimester! A huge sigh of relief...

We've starting telling more people about the pregnancy now that we're through the most fragile stage. Today I told the girl who was asking 6 weeks ago if I was pregnant. I apologized for having to lie and she understood. She's had a baby, so she understands why it's a good idea to wait to tell people.

I've had lots of questions about whether we want boys, girls or one of each. I think we will be very happy with whatever we are given. We just feel fortunate to be expecting and to have made it so far without any problems.

I will write more after our appointment next Thursday and should also have some good 3D ultrasound pictures of the babies! For now, you'll have to be satisfied with my first belly picture!

I'm a normal pregnant woman now

It's weird. I don't know if I like being normal. I got so used to the weekly ultrasounds, the numerous phone calls and appointments in Spokane with our fertility specialist. It's going to take me awhile to get use to being normal.

That all being said, the first appointment went well. I met my very friendly nurse who was really excited about twins. She gave me a lot of good information in the form of books, journals and folders that I need to sit down and read. She also informed me that I get to pee in a cup each time I go visit them. Oh joy. Thankfully, I had downed a water bottle on my way to the office this morning (I guess I was thirsty), so I was ready to provide a "sample". She did all the typical nurse stuff (weight, blood pressure, questions about medicines and vitamins I'm taking). I then got to go into my OB's office to meet her. My first impression was that she was very business-like, but that she seemed knowledgeable. She told me all the important information about making sure to eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, get enough calcium and take my prenatal vitamin. She also asked me a million questions about my health, Craig's health and our families health history. The only point of contention came when she told me that with twins she likes to do a scheduled c-section around 38 weeks. I'm not against c-sections, and I realize because we're having twins I may have to have a c-section but I thought it was interesting that that's her normal protocol for twins. I told her that if both babies were head down and about the same size I really wanted to try to deliver vaginally. She replied that we could decide when it got closer, but that I needed to realize the possible risk to myself and the babies if after the 1st one was delivered, the 2nd went breech and she had to do an emergency c-section. Okay, I understand that. I will continue to discuss it with her and try to persuade her, but ultimately she's the one with the experience delivering twins (2-3 sets/year), so I should probably trust her. The next part of the appointment was fun...she did a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound on a machine that was about 100 years old! I'm not kidding. The thing was ancient! It was great to get a peek at the babies though. They are both growing really well...they went from 18mm to 42mm in 2 weeks!! They more than doubled their size!! Wow! They were both moving around a lot. She said they both looked great. I'm not going to post the pictures because they aren't very clear.

My belly is getting bigger, though I've only gained 5 lbs. I asked my Dr. about weight gain and she told me not to worry about that, but just to focus on eating well. As a result of the growing belly, I've been using Palmer's Cocoa Butter twice a day, every day since I was 6 weeks along (thanks for that tip Susana).

I'm still feeling great. My energy level seems to be improving and my after work naps are only necessary on occasion. I'm quickly approaching the 2nd trimester. I'm not sure where the time went, but I'm really trying to enjoy every moment of pregnancy!

I have an ultrasound on January 21 (I will be 13 weeks). Apparently the office I'm going to only uses a 3D ultrasound machine, so we are looking forward to seeing our babies in 3D in a couple weeks! That will be an hour and a half appointment and our first external ultrasound. Exciting!

Thank you Amber!

I had lunch with a dear friend, Amber, today. Amber and I went to school together in 6th grade before I moved to Moscow. We have continued to stay in touch over the years and since she only lives 35 miles away from me, we decided to meet. Amber has two sets of twins, so it was nice to hear her advice on various pregnancy and baby related items. She also brought me a huge Rubbermaid tote full of maternity clothes!!! Yay! Some of them look huge right now, but alas, I'm sure it won't be long before they fit me perfectly. :)

I am looking forward to our appointment on Wednesday, when I will officially become "normal" as I meet my OB for the first time. I'm crossing my fingers for an ultrasound so I can see how Cherry and Apple are doing. I also have a list of questions to ask, so I hope I get enough time to ask them all.

Still feeling great...somedays I have to remind myself that I'm pregnant. Bet that won't last for long...haha