35 Weeks!!!!

Yesterday, we hit 35 weeks! It's been the first whew date that we've set since the girls got old enough to survive outside the womb at a mere 24 weeks. Then 28 weeks. Then 32 weeks.
And here we are: if they are well and don't have any health problems, they are allowed in the well-baby nursery at our hospital now! But if they can make it to 36 weeks, they only have a 10% chance of having underdeveloped lungs (and being in the NICU for that reason)...so that's our new goal!

What a tremendous blessing and a huge relief!

I dreamed yesterday that I was in the hospital in labor ready to have the twins; but they didn't have me on monitors, hadn't done ultrasounds, and hadn't even checked me to see if I was dilated! Somehow the nurses thought I was concerned about how to swaddle the babies, and I couldn't convince them that I was really more concerned about delivering them! Ummmm...so you think I'm anxious and READY for these little girls arrival!

I go back and forth. I definitely would like to see them wait until 36 weeks. I definitely want to meet them right now! But then again I know I probably won't ever feel these sweet kicks and movements and punches in my belly again. And that makes me sad.

So I'm trying hard to savor every moment!

I went to see my OB today and had an ultrasound. Both girls looks good! Baby A weighs 5 lbs 7 ozs and Baby B weighs 5 lbs 6 ozs! Now, if you are a math person (or can convert ounces to pounds), that's only 3 ozs shy of 11 pounds of baby! I am so thankful I am tall...but that's still a LOT of baby! In fact, it's a little over 2 of these honey dew melons!

Baby A is still as breech as she can be! In fact, her little bottom is basically sitting in my pelvis (and her favorite pastime is to kick my bladder)! Baby B is quite transverse (head on my top left and bottom/feet on my top right) and sort of wraps her little body around the top of my belly. She is a mover and a shaker, and I'm fairly certain will give her big sister Addie a run for her money when it comes to dancing!

They put me on the monitors again; and finally everyone behaved and stayed on the majority of the time so they could get a good reading! Whoohoo! Heart beats looked great. I am still having contractions, but I still can't feel them. So until I can, we're going to keep on keeping on! My doctor is very pleased with where we are (and we know it's only by the Grace of God that we are here!)! I can see myself becoming a little more challenged each day, and I am so thankful that both Paul and my mom are so willing to go out of their way to help (and do!) for both Addie and me! Bathing Addie. Cooking dinner. Running the vacuum cleaner. Oh how very blessed I know we are!

Here are two pictures of the girls. It's getting harder and harder to get pictures of them because they are so big and have such a small space to manuver in!

Here is the top of Baby A's little head...otherwise known as her brain!

Here is the back of Baby B's little head with her little ear sticking up! Precious!

The new recommendation by the whatever pregnancy association is to wait to induce/do a c-section with twins until 39 weeks. Friends, that's May 10th! Oh My Word! But today he said we'd play it by ear; and if I make it that long, it maybe more like 38 weeks depending on things!

So please pray for:
1.) the health of these babies (specifically lung development)!
2.) a safe delivery, no matter when it might be (specifically for them to remain not in distress)!
3.) the transition that our sweet Addie will inevitably go through!
4.) our patience and sanity...really!

There is no explination as to why we've made it this far along with these twins, especially given the trauma both my body and they endured. But I can assure you that we are daily (hourly) thanking our God for it!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

34 Week Appointment

Not much has changed.

Both girl's heart rates continue to be strong.

My levels look good. 

Both girl's hate being monitored with the non-stress test about as much as I do. One of them always jumps off the monitor or kicks the other one off.  While I love getting to hear their heartbeats each week, I officially dread laying there, on a hard exam table, on my side, with gel all over my belly (by the end), praying my hips don't crack and stomach doesn't split open, all the while watching the girls literally jump on and off the monitor! Even my OB came in today and said, I think we've tortured you enough! Seriously!

I did get a few answers today:

• If I go into labor right now, they will try to stop it up to 36 weeks.
• If my water breaks, they will deliver the babies (this starts at 34 weeks) because the risk of infection is greater than the risk of prematurity. (I knew this about singleton pregnancies, but I've read many cases where they have held off on delivering multiples up to 2 weeks even after water has broken if there is still enough fluid for the baby...wow!)
• At 34 weeks, the number of healthy babies born is now equivalent to the number of unwell babies that are born. 
• The new recommendation is to not schedule a c-section/induction until 39 weeks with twins. I near about fell off the table when he told me this...but if Addie's delivery is any indication of this one, then I'll probably go into labor earlier than that. (not that anything about this pregnancy has been even close to the one with Addie...but still.) That puts our target dates from April 12th (35 weeks) to May 10th (scheduled section at 39 weeks).

I have another appointment next Tuesday with an ultrasound to measure the girl's weights. If (and I don't know for sure) they gain about 4-6 oz a week, they would be about (Baby A) 4lbs 4oz to 4lbs 8oz and (Baby B) 4lbs 8oz to 4lbs 12 oz right now. The average singleton gains around a half pound each week from weeks 32-34, but twins are different (and from what I've been able to find, gain about half that each, or 4 oz).

So now we play the waiting game! Monday is a huge milestone at 35 weeks and the following Monday (36 weeks) is even bigger. We continue to pray that these girls would grow and develop, that the perfect doctor will be on call if they decide to arrive before my scheduled section, that they would turn to be head down if that's the best means of delivery for them, and to prepare all of our hearts and minds for their arrival!

Love to you all!

OB Visit: 33 weeks 4 days

I totally forgot to update yesterday after my appointment.

I am now officially 33 weeks 5 days! Whoohoo!

If what the ultrasound tech said is accurate, each baby should have gained about 4 oz over the past week. That would put Baby A at 4 lbs and Baby B at 4 lbs 4 oz. Which means I'm carrying 8lb 4 oz of baby, the size Addie was when she was born at 38 wks 4 days! 

That would be 2 of these (minus the prickly leaves, although from what I'm feeling, that's debatable!):

I had to do another non-stress test (they put an external monitor on each baby's heartbeat and my uterus).  Again, the worst part is laying on an exam table for 15 minutes in a strange position trying to stay still so as not to move the monitors! Stressful! Except yesterday, he kept me on it for almost an hour!!! Not. Fun. At. All! For those of you that have been pregnant or are pregnant, you know how impossible it is to stay in one position for any length of time...especially when you're measuring over 40 weeks in size!

Seems that Baby B (our wild one...no, not the bad one, just the wild one!) kept moving and her heart rate kept dropping so they couldn't get a long enough solid read on it.  It was a little very unnerving. I think he was about to send me for another ultrasound, but he finally got it! 

I am having fewer contractions than I was last week, which is great!  When I asked if I still had to "stay off my feet and rest," Dr. W's response was: We need to make it to 36 weeks.

Now let me clarify why I've been striving towards 35 weeks: at our hospital, babies can enter the well-baby nursery at 35 weeks if they are...well! From what I understand, and I maybe wrong, weight doesn't so much matter as much as their gestational age, ability to breathe on their own, ability to maintain their own body temperatures, and how much they can eat on their own!

So in the mornings, I try to get at least one errand run with Addie or do at least one activity with her. In the afternoons while she naps, I prop my feet up and rest or sleep! It's working so far! I have had to get creative with laundry, dishes, and just keeping things picked up. I kinda think my #1 priorities are keeping these babies where they are and caring for Addie though!

Several of my sweet friends have asked/emailed about how I feel about the strong likelihood of having a c-section. Well...to be completely honest with you, I'd rather not. I'm still hoping Baby A might turn (we have a friend who's baby A was head down the day before her delivery and flipped to breech that night!). BUT...I think my biggest peace comes from that fact that none of this is a surprise to God. He already knows the position each baby will be in at the time of their delivery. He's carefully orchestrated every aspect of this pregnancy (from conception to surviving my surgery to their perfect growth even when I wasn't to right up to now and delivery). My prayer has always been that we would have the perfect doctors on call and ready for whatever method of delivery is best for all 3 of us. If that's a c-section, then that's what I want. I do have to remind myself that it will most likely be much different from my surgery (3 inch incision vs 7 inch, little blood loss vs almost a liter, routine procedure vs exploratory, being prepared for it vs being in shock/trauma, etc). And most importantly I have to remind myself that His plan is far bigger than mine!

And that's about it! I go back Tuesday (nothing wrong but they didn't have any appointments on Thursday). Another non stress test.  And we go from there!

We hope your family has a wonderful Easter celebrating Christ's resurection!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Already?

Don't panic. I'm not already in labor. Doctor's appointment went well. Ultrasound looked great.

Here are the details:

I am 32 weeks and 3 days.

Both babies are still girls! :)

Baby A: 3 lbs 12 oz
Baby B: 4 lbs

Fluid and placentas both look good.

Both babies are breech and have little chance of rotating. Really, one is more breech and the other transverse. Yeah, I'm a tad disappointed. I really wanted to Baby A to be in position to deliver vaginally. But...this cuts out a lot of guess work. No delivering one vaginally and the other possibly via a c-section. No turning. But anything can change...so we patiently wait, and know there are blessings in it too!

And honestly, I figured I was in the clear.

Until they put my on the non-stress test monitors.

First of all, they make you lay on your back. Do you know what happens when you lay on your back and you're 32 weeks pregnant with twins? The babies lay on your inferior vena cava (I think that is it), cutting off blood flow back to your heart, making you nauseous and lightheaded.

Second of all, they make you lay there for 15 minutes!

Third of all, Baby B would not cooperate. She wiggled and moved and got off the monitor and then got Baby A off the monitor with all her moving.

But the big surprise for me is that I'm already having contractions! Whoa.

Apparently you can find runs of contractions in even singleton pregnancies at this stage. I cannot feel them though; and until I do or something else changes, we patiently wait!

The doctor's words:
1.) drink lots of water
2.) stay off your feet and rest

I can deal with the waiting. I can follow #1.

But #2? I do have a 2 year old. Thankfully, he never used the word bed rest or even partial bed rest. He did remind me that there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop these babies from coming. That's good to hear from a doctor, seriously. We mom's have a enough mommy guilt as it is!

So...I'm going to stay off my feet as much as possible. Paul can do the grocery shopping. I can limit my trips from the back of the house to the front and back. I can sit while I cook (or Paul, the better cook, can just do it!).

And we will patiently wait!

Our ultrasound tech was amazing. Talked to us about the babies. Genuinely enjoyed doing the scan! I was so thankful after our last experience! 

Check out these angels:
I love it that their heads are so close together! And they both have hair! I could have told you that 2 months ago with the amount of reflux/indigestion I've experienced (old wives' tale, I know; but I believe it!)

And a sweet Baby A profile:

Sweet Baby B profile with an open mouth!

And check out that foot! We saw a hand too with these long fingers but didn't get a picture.

Precious Blessings!

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him...
Psalm 37:7

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Whew!

Why the Whew! you ask?

I went to the doctor today. 30 weeks and 3 days. I measured the equivalent of a 36 week singleton pregnancy. Blood pressure good.

The girl's heart rates were 144 and 145. We're fairly sure they are both head down right now, but next to each other instead of one in front of the other. That's a blessing!

The weight you ask...how about I lost 2 whole pounds! Lost! I think the scales must have been off or misread two weeks ago. That brings my total weight gain to 23 pounds. I am not complaining...nor am I bragging! I really should have gained a little more by now. (like 28-30lbs). I did eat most of a bag of M and M's on the way home. Yes, they were delicious, and no I don't feel guilty!  :)

Will I be attempting to eating low carb anymore? I think not! I've worried for the last 2 weeks about what I ate. First it was that I couldn't eat (weeks 10-16). Then I gradually started eating again. After that, I truly started loving food. Not in a bad way...but it just finally tasted so good! I even quit thanking God for my food and instead thanking him that food tasted SO good!!! And then to move to having to worry about not eating so many carbs?

Bottom line, the girls are doing great. There are no signs of them coming anytime soon...and I'm so thankful. Please continue to pray that they hold on until at least 35 weeks. That's only a little over 4 weeks away!

There are a couple of basic scenarios that could play out here: (clearly, there are a dozen more, but these are some basics)
-I go into labor naturally and deliver without a c-section.
-I go into labor naturally and require a c-section due to the babies' positions.
-I have to schedule an induction or c-section.
-I have to be induced and both babies are delivered without a c-section.
-I deliver Baby A but have to have a c-section for Baby B.
-I have to have a scheduled c-section.

If I do go into labor, please pray that the perfect doctor for my situation will be on-call. I think they are all pretty good at c-sections, but I'm specifically praying for one that can turn babies. If Baby A is head down, I can try to deliver; but Baby B might have to be turned. There are a couple of doctors in this practice that are known for their ability to turn babies. If that's what is needed, then I'm praying one of them will be on-call.

There are 2 verses that keep coming to mind for me. I know I've used both of them in several blog posts, but they are a constant source of comfort to me:

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:7

Too Much...?

Yup. Too much! I've gained too much weight over the past 3 weeks according to my OB.

I know weight is a taboo subject, but I'm going to talk about it anyway. It's been a huge issue for me with this pregnancy, and it's imperative that I gain enough (but not too much) to help reduce my chances for preterm labor/delivery! 

Just to recap things here:
I lost 10 lbs by 10 weeks.
I didn't gain much of anything for the 4 weeks following.
I finally caught up to my pre-pregnancy weight (where the doctor starts counting) at about 16 weeks.
I put on about 16 lbs over the next 9 weeks.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends (with twins) 4-6 lbs during the first trimester (I lost 10) and 1 and 1/2 pounds per week during the second (19-22lbs) and third trimester (13-19lbs), totaling between 35-45 pounds.

That means by 28 weeks I should have gained approximately 28 lbs. I'm at 25 lbs. 

But over the past 3 weeks (weeks 25-28), I gained 9 whole pounds!

Too much too fast apparently. I was just making up for lost time, eating high carb high fat foods quite proudly! But if I keep that up, I could potentially gain 24 more pounds over the next 8 weeks. Ummm....no!

So I've been instructed to go on a low carb plan. Cut anything white in half portions: bread, potatoes, noodles, etc.

Kinda ironic after what we've been through isn't it!?!

Babies heart rates were perfect: 150 and 156. I actually measured 33 weeks, but that's in comparison to a singleton pregnancy. I kept saying I felt like I was 8 months pregnant...and that proves it!

So, all in all, great report. I'll cut down on those carbs; but to be honest with all of you, I'm pretty proud of that 9 pounds. :)

And because I really don't like doing posts without pictures as much, here's a picture of another variety. In copying my friend Kitty (who's about 3 weeks ahead of me pregnant with twin boys), here's the fruit of the week: Chinese cabbage, which weighs approximately 2 and 1/4 lbs and is about 15 inches long, the same as each baby.

And if you're really interested (and care to see more than I'm willing to post), here's a picture of what the girls should look like. I'll go ahead and tell you that I'm hoping Baby A is still head down, but I'm pretty sure Baby B is still transverse. I guess we'll find out in 4 weeks at our next ultrasound for sure!

Happy Thursday! :)

one. two. THREE!

Addie has a music (still known around here as meeky) CD with Ring Around the Rosy (known as Ashes Ashes by her) on it.  After singing the song, a voice on the CD says: Ring around you. Ring around me. Everybody jumps up when I count to three. One, two... and Addie always yells THREEEEEE!

That's how I feel right now...like yelling the number THREE.  

Three people. THREE!

---------------

With every step we take in preparation for these little ones arrival, it becomes more of a reality to me.

Bedding...for two.

Cribs...for two.

Car seats...for two.

Matchy matchy outfits or coordinating outfits...for THREE!

Lord willing, we will bring home two healthy infants.  Addie will have two little sisters. There will be two itty bitty tiny babies to love and nurture and cherish. Our family will go from having one child to THREE...

As much of a worrier as I've always been and as easy as I could become overwhelmed, God has granted us this amazing peace throughout this pregnancy...even over the bumps and hills and mountains we've faced and crossed. It's not something that words can explain, you know, because it's that peace that surpasses all understanding!  

Yesterday was a huge benchmark for this pregnancy: 28 weeks. I've been eying this date on my calendar, longing for it in fact. Twenty-four weeks was the first goal. And these last 4 weeks have flown by.  Before we know it, we'll be 32 weeks and then, hopefully, 36 weeks. Part of me wants to push the pause button and the other part of me wants to hit fast forward! Thankfully, I can do neither!

So I'm trying to cherish these moments when my back doesn't hurt and I can actually take a deep breath, when I don't feel like a baby is going to pop out at any moment due to the pressure, and when I have even an ounce of energy.

---------------

I watched Addie as we walked into music class yesterday. This baby isn't even a toddler now...she's a little girl. She loves to snuggle. She just sits in my lap or next to me sometimes for way longer than any almost 2 year old sits still. She tells me she loves me without me even telling her first. She tells me what she's done at MMO and who she's played with. She loves her friends and loves to be outside. She reads her books by finishing the sentences we're reading to her. She sleeps in a big girl bed and goes to sleep on her own! She talks about wanting the babies to be born right now so she can hold them. She calls them by name and calls them her sisters.

(oh...and a side note: she can scream louder and with a higher pitch than any human being i know. She often chooses to do this at the most inopportune times, like when I'm checking out in a store and can't do a thing to stop her. She hates leaving anywhere she's having fun and doesn't hesitate to express that. She can turn into a wailing rag doll heaped on the floor in seconds. She's deliberately testing limits right and left. She can cut her eyes at me like a 13 year old who's about to roll them. She's, without a doubt, a strong willed child. )

And I love every stinking ounce of her! 

When I picked her up from Mother's Morning Out today, she was walking around the room loving on a baby doll.  We are praying this transfers and minimizes her transition to having two baby sisters!

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Well...since I'm feeling good and wearing black, I took a quick 28 week 1 day belly shot. I'm not posting it here, but you can click here to see it.  I'm just not big on belly shots/maternity pictures. I don't know why. I don't mind snapshots of me with others or something like that, just nothing formal and focused on my belly! I love looking at them of other people, but I just don't really think I want them taken (or really just published) of myself. Just me. :) But I have a few friends who I can't see in person who keep begging for one...so there you have it!

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I'm off to finish planning Addieboos 2 year old birthday party. I'm frantically trying to get a top smocked for her because I refuse to let that kind of thing go just because I'm pregnant! You know...all the while I'm sitting on the bed with my feet propped up resting...

Thankful...indescribably thankful!

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

25 Week Ultrasound

Well bottom line, the girls are doing great! That's what matters. They are measuring perfectly and Baby A weighs 1lb 10oz and baby B weighs 1lb 11oz. We could not ask for anything more! Praise God!

But our ultrasound tech today had a lot to be desired. She was curt and short with us, something our other two techs have never been. They always took the time to let us see the girls, watch them move, ooo and ah over them, find fingers and toes, make sure they were still girls, everything. This one took measurements faster than I've ever seen and jumped to the next screen! We were back there for less than 10 minutes.

There was one point where she was measuring one of the girls heads and there was something moving on the screen. We all piped up and said...is that a hand/arm or a foot/leg? Whatever was there was literally on the screen for 5-8 seconds, plenty of time to make it out if you knew what you were looking at. She just sat there like we were crazy and then was like, oh, i don't know and it's gone now and kept going.

Therefore, I have not a single good picture to show you! They were hardly readable and the ones that were showed half a head and the heart or something completely random like that. I was so disappointed, as Paul's mom got to come with us today. We did get to hear the little heartbeats and watch the very quick measurements be done, but it made me sad that she didn't get to see what we've been able to see in the past.

I got weighed again and have gained 16lbs from my prepregnancy weight. The doctors won't count it, but I've technically gained 24lbs from the weight I was after I lost so much right before and after surgery. They may not count it...but I do! So, I guess I'm just "all baby" as they say. I still feel like I look like I did when I was 8 months pregnant with Addie, and I'm outgrowing clothes by the day. My doctor is very pleased with the growth and measurement of the girls. Therefore, I will keep eating and keep eating and keep eating!

Our number one prayer is for these babies to go full term. (remember, full term for twins is 36-37 weeks). That puts us mid to the end of April. As of today, Baby A is head down face up and in the delivery position. This is what we'd have to have in order for me to even attempt a traditional delivery. But that's all in God's hands. A lot can (and will) change from now to then, and we know that God has it all worked out perfectly.

Stay tuned for a sweet Flashback Friday and pictures of Addie and the little girl's newly painted rooms soon! Have a great weekend!

Simply Amazing

We went for an 18 week ultrasound today.

Two words: Simply Amazing!

And if you haven't heard already, we confirmed that we're having...

two

sweet

perfect in every way

healthy

baby

GIRLS!

Yes, we are beyond Thrilled. Amazed. Thankful. Joyful. Relieved. Grateful. Excited. Blessed.

No, we haven't figured out how we'll pay for cars or college or weddings, how we'll handle three hormonal girls within two years of one another, or when they'll be allowed to date. Thankfully that is years down the road.

I'm a little more concerned with getting the nursery ready, finishing Addie's big girl room, transitioning her into a big girl bed, potty training, how to carry two infants while supporting their heads in addition to carrying a toddler (bc it will happen!), nursing twins, and how to grocery shop with 2 infants and a toddler. Really. All far more pressing than weddings! :)

Yes, we have names picked out.

But no, we're not sharing until they are born. We'll get enough unsolicited advice about having three girls (we already have!). So I figured that was one less thing we'd (I'd) have to worry about. Once they are born and named, people tend not to be as likely to share thoughts on things that won't be changed!

And the biggest question we're getting: are we disappointed in anyway that we're not having a boy. Absolutely positively not! Our number one prayer for these babies has and continues to be for them to be born healthy and full term! We would not trade having three girls for anything!

So without further ramblings from me...meet our confirmed baby girls:

Baby Girl A

Sweet little hand waving to us!

And I think she's already learned to pout!


Baby Girl B

Sweet little foot!

And I may regret posting this one later. I'm not big on naked baby bottoms in pictures, but there is certainly nothing cuter! When the ultrasound tech discovered this, I could not not share it. Baby B had rolled herself over and stuck her sweet little bottom straight up in the air. Could not resist it! That's her spine along the top and head to the left.


We are absolutely amazed at God's goodness. He continues to provide for and care for our family in so many ways. Without a doubt, we give Him all glory and praise for his provisions for and for the health of these babies!

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Ps 136:26

14 Weeks

As of today, we're officially out of the 1st trimester and into the 2nd.

14 weeks!

Always a milestone with a pregnancy...especially this one!

My 2nd trimester with Addie was fabulous. I ate like there was no tomorrow. That nesting instinct kicked in, and I got more done than I ever dreamed. And bottom line, I felt great!

Not that anything with this pregnancy has been like my pregnancy with Addie. But we're going to go with the above for the 2nd trimester anyway!

For the last few days, I've consistently shown that I've gained 4 pounds! Now...I'm still down 6, but we're on the way up instead of staying constant. I looked down the other day and realized I was a little wider than before and have a wonderful little pooch that's started sticking out! Yippee!

Each week, Paul and I get an email from babycenter.com (highly recommend the site if you haven't been there before) about our babies development. I don't normally post them; but like I said, this is a milestone week!

Here are a few facts about our twins:

• They can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, possibly suck their thumb, and grasp! (and we know Baby B can rub her little face!)
  
• From head to bottom, they measures 3 1/2 inches - about the size of a lemon - and they weighs 1 1/2 ounces each.
  
• Their bodies' are growing faster than their heads, which now sit upon more distinct necks. By the end of this week, their arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of their body. (Their legs still have some lengthening to do.)
  
• Their livers start making bile this week — a sign that they're doing their job right — and their spleens start helping in the production of red blood cells.
  
• Though you can't feel their tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilists' hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

You might have noticed the widget on the sidebar of the twins floating around.

This is how they started out looking:



And this is more what they look like now!



Yes, it utterly and completely fascinates me!

My goals for this week were to not throw-up and take some pictures! I only threw-up once (I'll take that!), but I didnt manage to get any pictures. However, we did go to Birmingham to visit our friends the Lewis' where Allison took some fabulous pictures and we had a delicious dinner! I figure I can call that a success!

Addie's eating significantly better, and she's waking up less at night. Although now it's gone from 5-6 times a night to 2-3. Still not fun. Period! She's more affectionate than she's ever been before, and I just love it!

Addie did end up falling and scraping her knees Saturday before dinner. I think this was the first time she's hurt herself and been able to label it. An owie she has, and she knows how to use it for all it's worth! Paul said she asked for milk in the car and all he had was water. So her reaction: owie, owie, owie! I was clipping her very long fingernails and toenails the other day; and each time I would clip, she woulds softly say "ow!" I think after her fall, she really knows what an owie is now!

But my favorite is when you ask her for a kiss. If it's not her idea, she'll put her hand over her face/on her head like you've just asked a 10 year old to clean her room and dramatically let out a big sigh or yell. Goodness. Maybe she'll be our only drama queen between the three of them! I haven't a clue where she could have gotten it from!

Hope you have a wonderful week! :)

Every good and perfect gift is from above...
James 1:17a

Miracles

Our doctors visit today was fabulous...

...and long! My OB had an emergency this morning and was supposedly running 45 minutes behind. We had not seen him after well over an hour. So...

we did our ultrasound first!

One word: perfect!

Perfect heartbeats. Perfect sizes. Perfect wiggles. Perfect kicking. Perfect hands rubbing perfect little faces. Perfect rolling. Perfect mouths. Perfect eyes. Perfect looks. Perfect profiles. Perfect fingers and perfect toes.

You get my point.

And we asked the ultrasound tech to see if she could maybe tell us what they were (even though both of us had a hunch that turned out to be correct)!

For now,

we're having...

are you ready for this...

because who knows if we are...

two girls.

Two perfect little girls.

Our only hope and prayer throughout this pregnancy has been for healthy babies. Then with my surgery and being faced with losing the babies lives as well as my own, we continued to fervently pray for their health! Sure, I've said that I'd love this or I'd love that. Little boys are wonderful. One of each would be great fun. But now there is only one thing on our minds:

Thank heavens for little girls!

And we are so thankful!

I'm not going to go out and chose fabric for the nursery or buy a bunch of girls clothes. Oh wait, we have enough girl's clothes for two anyway. Ok. So I'm not going to go out and buy a bunch of matching girls clothes. Although I did find the cutest pink seersucker bubbles and a matching dress for Addie that I ordered last weekend. On major sale! What a hunch!

But that's beside the point!

We have two healthy babies, measuring perfectly; and we could not be more joyous!

Here are some pictures of our suspected girls!

Meet Baby Girl A:
She already loves to curl up in a tiny ball; but when she's on her back, she's constantly kicking up at her sister. She's lower than her sister in placement, so it's a bit harder to get her picture. She's already quite a roller...

...and even turned her face to look at us!

Meet Baby Girl B:
She loves to lay on her back and show us her precious profile! She sweetly rubbed her little face with her hand several times. And her mouth...

...is already open, ready to tell us all that's on her mind! I can't wait to hear all she has to say!

And for now, these are our girls! Praise God for these little blessings! They have already been labeled miracles, and we agree!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

because...

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The Very Best Medicine

I was talking with a friend recently about how hard it is for me not to be able to care for Addie. The morning sickness sort of eased me into this, but at least I could pick her up then. No more.

Don't get me wrong...when I was in the hospital, Addie was in the best of care with my mom and Paul. A whole lotta love and consistency. That's what she needed then and that's exactly what she got!

Since we've been home, we've kept her with people she sees on at least a weekly basis: Mandy and Cady, DiDi, my mom, or with us. It's paid off. I felt selfish at first about it; but watching her turn back into our happy, fairly easy going, energetic little girl has been worth it! She's obeying more. She's throwing far fewer tantrums. She responds to us like she used to.

And for her resilience, I am grateful.

But it doesnt make it any easier that I can't bend over and pick her up. I can't sit on the edge of the tub and bathe her. I haven't changed a diaper in over a week, probably longer (ok, so I haven't missed that!). And worst of all, I cant go scoop her up out of the bed and cuddle with her.

But she's the very best medicine. She gets me up in the morning by running in and yelling Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Hi, Mommy! She demands to get Up! on the bed and then promptly demands to see my Owie! Owie! More owie! Then she blows on it? She hasn't had enough owies in her short life to know that you blow on them...but she does! Sweet thing. And then she promptly finds a way off the bed, sometimes landing on her bottom on the floor exclaiming, Whoa, Addie! (where'd she get that?)

I listened to her read herself a book tonight: Millie Moo. Baby jibber jabber followed by an elephant sound. Baby jibber jabber followed by a monkey sound. Baby jibber jabber followed by a bear sound. Baby jibber jabber followed by a fish sound. Baby jibber jabber followed by something I couldn't understand. Baby jibber jabber followed by Moooooooo! She's started reading an opposite book: up/down, young/old, short/long, day/night, awake/sleep, and wet/dry. My mom taught her that. I cannot lie. She came to the hospital reading it! I mean, clearly, I know she's not reading...but she is!

And it's hard because all I can do is watch. But I'm thankful. Because I can watch. And she can crawl up in my lap and wake me up in the morning. And she still has a mommy!

And for that, I am thankful. God is good. He keeps providing for our family over and over again. Financially. Care for me and Addie. Food and more food! Flexibility with Paul's job. We are so blessed and so thankful!

And besides Addie being the very best medicine, we have these little ones:

Who you can hardly see on these ultrasounds...but their heartbeats were perfect. Little hands rubbing a face. Wiggling like little fish. Legs kicking. Healthy. Little. Miracles!

And the incision no longer matters. And the fact that I hate food right now doesn't matter. And not being able to hold Addie no longer matters. Because all of that is temporary.

But our family will forever be the very best medicine!

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A few quick praises and prayer requests:

• Praise! My staples are out! I feel so much...more flexible? I don't know. They were holding me together pretty tightly, so I can move (and sleep) easier! Now I'm being held together by tape...reassuring, huh? (oh, and the 2 layer of sutures under the skin!)
  
• Praise! Addie and Paul both seem to be adjusting to this new normal, slowly but surely.
• Praise! For God's provisions! Period. All of them!
• Request: continued rest for all of us. This last week took it flat out of our family. God has provided me with a lot of rest, but Paul really needs some down time. Pray that he will have some in the next few days!
• Request: continued health of the twins. They look fabulous right now, but we are all too aware of the possibilities of problems due to my emergency or just for twins in general. Please pray for full term, healthy babies!

Thank you all again for your sweet words of encouragement and many prayers! God has used each one of you in mighty ways to minister to our family in one way or another! Thank you for being His hands and a feet! Have a wonderful week!

Whew!

So I met with my OB today.

He said that the 34 week mark is A goal but not THE goal!

It's a goal because most twins born at 34 weeks are normal (his word, not mine).

But...almost all twins born prior to 36 weeks will have to remain in the NICU. Once 36 weeks is met, only 10% remain in the NICU; and by 37-38 weeks, the rate drops to a mere 2%!

He said THE goal is 37-38 weeks.

So although everything almost everything will be ready by the end of February, we should have 6-8 more weeks after that!

Whew!

Released

It's strange for me to start sharing our fertility journey of these twins having kept it quiet for so long. But it's something that I think people need to be aware of. I think most of us have been touched in someway by someone who has walked this road. Either a relative or a friend or a friend of a friend. It's much more talked about and accepted than it was years ago.

We met with our fertility doctor, Dr. Long, today. He's with the Alabama Reproductive Technologies (ART) Program. It's based in Birmingham, but they have offices in Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Huntsville. The only times we had to travel to Birmingham were for the initial appointment and then any Saturday or Sunday appointments. Since cycles don't take weekends, they are open on the weekends for procedures that cannot wait until Monday or be done on Fridays, such as monitoring blood work/ultrasounds or doing IUI's.

Anyway, we had a video conference with Dr. Long.

He's fabulous. Calm. Knowledgeable. Matter of fact yet gentle. Speaks and yet listens. Doesn't make you feel stupid.

We talked basic pregnancy stuff like food and nausea and medicine and weight gain and the babies' health. He reiterated that no matter how much (or little) nutrients I get, the babies will get what they need. Amazing how God works! We talked about the H1N1 vaccine and the pros/cons of taking/not taking it.

And then we talked some about twins.

According to our doctor, 80-90% of women deliver twins via c-section. I've read as low as 50-60% online though. It all depends on how twin A is positioned and what twin B decides to do! :) We'll see!

95% of twins are born before 37 weeks.

The magic number: 34 weeks.

All organs, lungs, everything is developed by 34 weeks with twins. After that, they are just getting bigger.

Again, absolutely amazing how God works! Two babies are squished into a much smaller space. Therefore, they develop faster so they can come sooner! Amazing! Perfect!

Our first goal: 28-30 weeks (end of February)

Our second goal: 32 weeks (mid-March, Addie's birthday)

Our final goal: 34 weeks (beginning of April)

I had 37 weeks in my head. You know, end of April.

I was a little taken aback to think that we've basically got to have everything ready by the end of February, just to be safe. That's about 4 and a half months.

And then he released me to my OB. No more weekly ultrasounds. I will miss those!

So who wants to help us move the guest bed, sofa, and desk out of the guest bedroom and box up the books? And paint. And make bedding (after we find out what we're having). Like soon...

Ohhhhhh, nevermind...I'll worry about that later. For now, I'm just going to try to get some food down!

Fun times coming...

Perfection

It's always been hard for me to listen to others talk about babies not being babies until they can survive outside their mother's womb. Maybe it's because we struggled so long to get pregnant. Maybe it's because I firmly believe that God creates life using only two cells. Maybe it's because of what I've seen, with my own eyes, in my own womb. I could care less what the medical definition of a baby is. Life is life!

And we have two of them we're privileged to be watching grow and thrive!

Not only are our 9 week old babies' heart beating rapidly, every organ in their bodies has already been formed. Every organ! And now they are perfecting themselves. Along with fingers. And eyes. And earlobes. And teeth. And chambers of their hearts. And though we can't see it yet, we've either got 2 boys, 2 girls, or a boy and a girl!

At 9 weeks, we saw two wiggling, squirming, kicking, very much alive and thriving babies, who have without a doubt already captured our hearts!

Baby A did several stomach curls for us!

Baby B splayed out arms and legs for us to see!

Blessed. So blessed that it's still unbelievable for me to say we're having twins!

Perfect. Simply perfect in every way!

Happy Monday!