Pictures All Around

First of all, make sure to go here and guess when you think the girls will arrive! All of you, grandparents, long-time friends, and non-commenting "blog stalkers" (as you call yourselves ;) too! There's a prize involved!

I both love and dislike when Addie does this...but she actually asked me to take her picture here, so how could I object!?! Maybe her relationship w/ the camera is improving! Not sure how she's going to react to my new big camera...but more about that later!

My appointment went well yesterday, and both girls heart rates were fabulous on the non-stress test.  I'm having stronger contractions, but nothing to be overly concerned about. My OB did move my scheduled c-section date up to May 3rd. Whoohoo is all I can say! I gathered that he's concerned about my scar from the surgery combined with the size of the girls. I am still wishfully hoping that I will just go into labor sometimes during week 37 and not even make it to that point! BUT, the longer these little girls stay put, the stronger their little lungs will be. And that's worth every minute of uncomfortable aches, racing to the potty, shortness of breath, dizziness, and crazy blood pressure jumps.

We got a surprise ultrasound yesterday too. I won't share details since everyone is guessing weights; I'll just say that it once again confirmed why I'm exhausted and uncomfortable carrying this much baby around!

But the tech got some great shots of the girls. I could just sit and watch them all day! They were (as usual) very active, still very breech/transverse, and growing bigger by the minute (ok, that's an exaggeration, but it's how I feel!).

Here's Baby A: perfect little profile!

Here's Baby B: perfect little profile + a hand sticking up there on the left!

And here are their heads. This is the best the tech could get of them both on the same screen because of their position and size.

And you can go here to see a 36 week 1 day belly picture! I promised myself that if I made it this far, I'd have to take another one! Kinda interesting compared to 33 weeks + 2 days and 28 weeks + 1 day! And I felt big then! Ha! They are just growing farther and farther out front, but growing babies means maturing lungs!!!

Happy Wednesday!

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!

Baby A's Ultrasound Pictures

9 Weeks               


13 weeks


18 Weeks




32 Weeks

36 Weeks

Baby B's Ultrasound Pictures

9 Weeks

13 Weeks


18 Weeks






32 Weeks

36 Weeks