35 Weeks (and 4 days) - Much to Think About...

Our OB appointment went really well today. When our doctor walked in, I had this deja vu moment. I remember very clearly our very first appointment when she told us how HAPPY she'd be if we could make it to January. Then I suddenly realized that it was January.

Yay!!

Here's a bullet list of points my OB appointment today

• We had our last(!) growth ultrasound today. I think I'll miss the ultrasounds that last 30 minutes while I sit and watch the screen of our babies and then clean massive amounts of goop off my stomach.
• Babies are growing!! Baby A is 5 lbs 6 oz & Baby B is 6 lbs 8 oz. These aren't totally exact but that's a close estimate (maybe a pound off either way).
• I'm dilated 1 cm (a fingertip).
  
• My doctor okayed my continued absence from work as to try to keep these babies in as long as possible.
• Funny note: Baby A is lodged against my left pubic/hip bone and isn't budging. We learned that while he is wedged in there, he has his hand behind his head. I have been feeling weird sensations of kicking and scraping. The fun started tonight when he was doing that WITH the hiccups. Definitely a feeling I will never forget!!
  

Now to the debate:

During our ultrasound we learned that Baby B is still not in the vertex (head down) position that is needed for a vaginal delivery of both babies. All I have every wanted is a vaginal delivery for both of these babies. Doctor W. said today that if I were to go into labor tonight with one head down and the other transverse, we could delivery Baby A vaginally but Baby B would be via C Section. That sounds stupid to me; why go through both types with double the recovery? She agreed and said if that was the case then we might as well just do a C section for both.

Now hours after my appointment, I realize I should have asked her if there is any chance that she could turn the transverse baby in order to delivery him vaginally as well. I'm just not sure with her comfort level and if she would do that. I was really hoping IF AT ALL POSSIBLE to avoid the C Section. After all there are so many strikes against it in my opinion. To name a few: longer recovery time, possible respiratory problems with the babies (vaginal birth forces air through their lungs.. etc), and a very real possible need to have a C section again in the future. Then again, this is a special case and may just necessitate a C section.

In the meantime, I guess we'll just pray really hard that Baby B decides to get with the program and head on down like his brother. ?? Does anyone know of any ways to get a stubborn baby to move to the head down position? My mom suggested to mop the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. Who knows, maybe I'll give it a try!! ?? Or Any other views on C sections?

One last note... my doctor joking added that she's on call this weekend so if I want to have these babies this weekend, she'd be at the hospital. My husband and I looked at each other and laughed at that! It's sure crazy that we're just about there!

God's plan

I stumbled upon another person's blog today and they had this scripture:

But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day."

Habakkuk 2:3

It is interesting to note that the King James Version reads it this way:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Either way, it brought me a great measure of hope. I know it has always been in the "plan" for me to have children even if I may have doubts along the way. Slowly, steadily, and surely the time is approaching and this dream is finally going to become a reality. Even though I am SO anxious to meet these little boys, I know that it is better for them to be inside as long as possible. I also KNOW it will not be late by a single day (in the eye of our Heavenly Father).

Christmas Moments to Remember: 2009

Christmas Eve:

• The smell of a cooking turkey in the crockpot all day - totally made Christmas Eve for me
• Organizing the nursery together - putting the Jayhawk bedding and decals up
• Making dinner together: Turkey, stuffing, cheese ball, corn, gravy, and mashed potatoes
• Watching "The Christmas Carol" and "Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir."
• Spending time together and keeping Maddie from getting into the presents

Christmas Day:

• Maddie woke us up at 5 and then we slept until 6:30
• Christian went out and turned on the Christmas lights and then came and got Maddie and me. We let Maddie go first and she was so excited
• We first helped her unwrap her presents so she'd be playing with toys while we unwrapped ours
• We unwrapped gifts
• took a nap, talked to family, and went to see "The Blind Side."
  

Gifts I was excited to receive:

• Lovely plush bathrobe (Christian did wonderfully) - I needed one for the hospital
  
• new, soft slippers
  
• lotion, body wash and perfume all in my favorite scent (I realized then where my coupon went, he stole it! .
• GPS navigation device for the car - a lot of fun and no more Mapquest!!
  
• Beautiful glass Vase and cookie drying racks
  

34 Weeks (Nursery Pics and Update)

Well, I've made it to 34 weeks! I can't believe it's come so quickly and am really starting to wonder if we're ready for these babies. Per everything I've read, they would be healthy if they came now; although they may have to stay in the NICU for a couple days to a week. We asked Dr. W. at last week's appointment and she said that usually after passing the 36 week mark (Jan 10th) the babies would be able to come home with us from the hospital. Through this pregnancy I have followed many twin blogs with the hope that I can learn and see when their twins were born. Most of the babies that came before 36 weeks came on their own due to prior complications or the woman's water broke. I guess we need to keep in mind too that complications could develop at any time that would mandate an early exit.

This last week's appointment wasn't that exciting (how can they be when you see the Dr. every week!). She wants me to stay on an antibiotic for the rest of the pregnancy because she feels that I will continue to get bladder infections if I don't. Take it from me; bladder infections are no fun! My goal for my next appointment on Thursday to gain some weight since I didn't at my last appointment. We are really looking forward to our appt on January 7th (if we make it..). This would be our final growth appointment to see how much the boys weigh. I'm hoping that they both would be 6 lbs. We'll be continuing to pray for the best.

Lastly for this post... here is a nursery picture. Christian surprised me with KU Jayhawk(what else!) baby crib bedding and then we bought stickers for their walls. He has been quite the organizer as he had spent a lot of time in there organizing and getting things ready.

Here's the picture:

32 Weeks!

Here is the much awaited 32 weeks post... I'll divide it so it's easier to read.

Doctor's Appointment

Last Thursday we went to our much anticipated doctor's appointment. I say much anticipated because I had been released from the hospital on the Sunday before on strict bed rest. We were really hoping it would be relaxed to modified bed rest. That way I can still take Maddie out for her bathroom breaks during the day.

Thursday's appointment:

• Baby A is 4 lbs 6 oz ; Baby B is 4 lbs 13 oz
• Both look to be healthy
• Baby A is still head down and Baby B is in the process of getting there. On Thursday, he is in the fetal position with his head buried in his brother's stomach with his legs lodged in my ribs. Hopefully he'll turn all the way and finally be head down
• My Cervix went from 3.6 to 2.5 which is pretty common after all the contractions last week. However now every week they will be checking to see if I'm dilated and how it looks from the inside. Thursday's the official verdict was a "softish" cervix.
• Doctor told us that as long as we can hold them in another 2 weeks, she would be fine delivering them Christmas week IF I went into labor then. This is so good to know that IF they do decide to come early... they will be healthy!!!
  

Saturday Baby Shower

On Saturday, my wonderful ward threw me a great baby shower. The whole morning before the shower and through it all I had to keep pinching myself. I couldn't believe that this baby shower was for me. We have waited so long for this our moment to come!! It seems like I have been to baby shower after baby shower for my siblings, friends and the like. Some I have had to hold back tears wondering when it would actually be for me and my baby. Never did I dream I would have one for me and my babies!!! People in my ward are so kind; we were really blessed. I know that we'll continue to be blessed when they arrive.

Here's a sampling of what we received

• Countless adorable outfits
• lots of diapers (we definitely will need more but it's a start)
  
• baby bath tub and bath supplies
  
• diaper genie
• blankets
• and much more!

Plus, we received a big box of gifts from my husband's mom which I'm so excited for. Next step is to cut tags off and wash all the clothes and get them situated in the babies' room/ nursery. I think that is the plan for tonight's Family Home Evening.

The Twins first Hospital Stay

Ok.. so I know I should have informed you all sooner about this but everything is now under control...

Friday evening some things started happening. For one, I was going to the bathroom every 4-5 minutes (not fun) and wondering what was happening. First I wondered if it was amniotic fluid but then 10 minutes passed and now there's blood. I really started worrying! I called to my husband in the living room and we called the doctor who told me to go the ER. Turns out... I had a very serious Bladder Infection. I was thinking, now problem, they'll write a script and then home I'll go. Not so fast!!!

While they were doing all the lab work, they had me hooked up to 3 monitors. One for contractions and the other 2 were monitoring the heart beats of the 2 boys. Come to find out... (I didn't know this) I was having contractions 3 and 5 minutes apart which wasn't good. So they told me they were keeping me the rest of the night in order to give me medicine and slow the contractions. Because it was already midnight and my husband had been sick, he decided to go home to bed and come back early in the morning. It was good thing too because I ended up staying in Triage until 4am (when they had a room ready for me). All in all this meant no sleep on Friday night...

Saturday was a long day as we spent it in the hospital. I slept (when I wasn't prodded by nurses) and Christian was by my side watching College Football games on the flat screen. Good thing the Labor and Delivery unit has ESPN. It made for a happier husband. They were all great games ending with Texas barely escaping from Nebraska which made me mad. I finally got to go home on Sunday morning and Christian was so very helpful. The house was a mess and he set to cleaning while I relaxed on the couch.

Since Sunday, I've become quite good about counting contractions and making sure they are under control. Plus I'm on a ton of medications. Unfortunately this has meant a stricter bed rest but I know it is for the best. I'm so grateful for my husband and members of my ward that have made this easier. Hopefully this will be relaxed a bit after my appointment on Thursday... More to come on the next post... maybe this afternoon!

Productive yet Modified Bed Rest

When my cervix began to shorten, my doctor recommended that I discontinue work at least until the 36th week. After a couple weeks resting, my cervix went back to normal but the doctor thought if I were to return to my normal level of activity, it would surely happen again.

My husband predicted I'd be really bored but I've surprised him. The days have seem to flown by as I have learned new things and made things for these babies. I have so much left to make and buy for these little guys. Hopefully they don't come before Christmas!!

Here's a quick list (as per the attached picture

• 6 Crocheted newborn hats
• Crocheted baby blankets
• Fleece blankets in Jayhawk crimson and blue
• 14 burp cloths
• 1 crocheted baby onesie (I just finished it last night; I was surprised it was so easy).
  

As my trips out of the apartment are quite limited to small jaunts out to eat or to JoAnn's; I have made most of them out of scraps of yarn/fabric that I had in the house. Going out is an adventure; I tire so easily now and can't make it very far. When I asked the doctor about it, she said it was because I was so little that the weight of the babies are pushing down and wearing me out.

This week has been a bit of a tiring one for me. My husband came down with a virus on Sunday night. The fever lasted for over 2 days and he was miserable. He doesn't get sick very often. I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time in our whole marriage (6 years). As I was wearing myself out taking care of him; he said to me at one time: "I need to do more for your when you're not feeling well." I thought, well if that's what it takes...then it's been worth all the effort for me! It was so hard to see a 31 year old so sick with the chills and just so weak; thankfully it wasn't the swine flu.