36 Weeks with Twins

I really can't believe I am still pregnant with these guys. They just continue to plug along all comfy in there, I thought with my height (5'2") they would've arrived by now but I guess they are content!

My stomach has dropped and it's getting harder and harder with each day to carry them. My c-section is scheduled for July 2nd if I don't have them before that.  I went out and bought little 4th of July onesies for them! Next week we have a growth ultrasound scheduled on the 27th, I am so anxious to know how big they are. We are estimating around 6 lbs each. Whooaaahhh!!!

It's clear that my doctors primary concern is for the babies to stay put as long as possible.  Because they took me off work I have been able to rest and take things easy, I am positive this is why I have been able to carry them this long. 

My blood pressure continues to do well since being off work and the babies are doing so well with the non-stress tests. My biggest complaints are the heartburn and the stretchmarks which actually feel like burns at this point.  I am also experiencing quite a bit of pain around my original c-section scar, I guess it's scar tissue that is being pulled and causes a burning sensation.

Here is a picture Adam took the other night while I was sitting on the couch. The babies move around so much and it looked like one of them actually sat up, my stomach was so deformed looking. 

Here is to 36 weeks, working on 37!!

34 & 35 Weeks

I wish I had some fantastic news to share but not a lot has changed in two weeks other than becoming very uncomfortable.

We are estimating the babies to be between 10-11 pounds together at this point. I can still feel and see a lot of movement but can no longer tell who is who.  I love watching Madelyn's face when she watches the babies move, her giggle is priceless! I always ask her which baby she thinks it is and she always says Carter.  Carter is either already her favorite or he better be prepared for his big sister to show him who's boss.

I am continuing my twice weekly non-stress tests, so far they have all gone well. I keep thinking one of these visits they won't let me leave.  My blood sugar is being controlled pretty well with diet and a small pill dose of insulin. I am finding it more and more difficult to sleep and walk.  I can barely turn over in bed anymore, I really feel bad for Adam, I know he hasn't slept well either for a few months now.  As for walking I feel pretty good until mid-day and then the weight begins to take it's toll and I slow way down.  My newest issue is the itchiness of my stomach, it's unreal how much it itches from the stretching.  I slather it with cocoa butter numerous times a day but it's not helping much.  I have even made myself bleed a few times from scratching, maybe that's TMI but I am trying to document all of the details.

During this whole experience I have found it difficult to find a lot of "real" information on being pregnant with multiples.  Because of that I decided to document the good, bad and ugly.  I don't intend to sound negative because overall I have had a good pregnancy. Just trying to keep it real!!!!

Hope to meet these two boys soon!!

33 Week Update!!

So far this week I have had a non-stress test, ultrasound and doctor visit...and it's only Wednesday of a short holiday week.  My next visit will be Friday for another NST.

The boys are doing great! Their heartbeats are baseline around 130-140 beats per minute.  Carter is weighing in at 4lbs 8 oz. and Colten at 4 lbs 11 oz.  Yep, you can do the math!  It's extremely hard to get their length now because they're all bunched up in there but we believe it's about 35 inches of total baby. They are positioned like the number 7 across my belly and Carter is already sitting on Coltens head, poor little guy!

My blood pressure is great since my doctor took me off work and I haven't had much swelling yet, knock on wood.  I have a feeling with the higher temperatures coming that is probably short lived.   Both boys seem to be very active starting at 9:00pm, that's when I am most uncomfortable.  The back and pelvic pain is getting more and more intense as well and making sleep more difficult.  Overall I can't really complain, I have made it to 33 weeks with twins and that's an accomplishment in itself.

I can say that going out in public is becoming increasingly annoying.  People are just rude!!!  I told Adam a few weeks ago that people stare at me. He said "oh, it's just your imagination".  Well, after a weekend outing with me he agreed that people do stare and it's mainly women!  I actually had a lady come up and ask me "if I was having twins?"  I replied, "yes, actually I am having twins".  It's a good thing for that lady that I am, because she probably wouldn't have enjoyed my response otherwise!  So, I urge my fellow ladies to flash a smile at those  very preggo mommies you see rather than stare.

That's all for now, we will continue to keep everyone updated over the next month!!

Madelyn's Last Day of Preschool

Pictures from the first and last day of preschool 2013.  It's amazing to me what a difference 10 months can make.  Ms. Luisa was her teacher this year and at first Adam and I were a little apprehensive about her, mainly because she was new and seemed a little young.  We quickly realized she was a great teacher and took extra time with Madelyn when she needed it.  Madelyn will miss her friends this summer but most of all she will miss her teacher.  I asked Maddy what her favorite thing about Ms. Luisa is and she responded "her hugs"!  I think that says a lot!!  

Thanks for a great year Ms. Luisa...and for teaching our girl some Spanish too!

32 Weeks with Twins

               View from my NST's.

Not much has changed since my last update other than being another week farther along. 32 weeks was another milestone for me, at this point in my pregnancy my doctors and I are just hoping for another two weeks at a time. My next goal is 34 weeks, if I can get to 34 then the percentage of possible issues and NICU time will drop significantly.  Next week I have a growth ultrasound scheduled where we can see how big they are and how much room/ fluid they have. 

Fatigue has returned, it's horrible in the first trimester and returns again in the third.  So if you call or text me and I don't respond right away it's probably because I am snoozing!

31 Weeks with Twins

I can't believe we are getting down to the last few weeks before our baby boys will be here. It brings all kinds of emotions, we are excited, anxious, scared and the list goes on.  

Quick update on what is happening at this point, at 28 weeks I failed my 1 hour glucose test. Yay for me, this meant I got to do the 3 hour glucose test.  I had the same scenario when pregnant with Madelyn but I passed the 3 hour test with  her, this time I wasn't so fortunate.  I guess it's more common to get gestational diabetes with fraternal twins because I have two placentas, something about hormones and having to regulate 3 people. I now monitor my blood sugar 4 times a day and have a specific diet to follow, I also take a small dose of insulin in pill form twice a day.

Last week I started twice weekly Non- Stress Tests (NST) at the hospital. I go to labor and delivery and the nurses hook me up to two fetal heart rate monitors and a contraction monitor for an hour.  They are watching for contractions but more importantly they want to see both babies heart rates fluctuate by 15 beats per minute over the baseline for 15 seconds.  My first NST was a little difficult because it was hard to determine two seperate heart beats, they were very similar and the nurse felt she kept getting Baby A's heartrate and Baby B wouldn't stay still.  She eventually got it and both babies passed. 

I will also see my doctor in the office once a week from here on out. This is to see how I am doing and monitor my blood pressure for any signs of preeclampsia and pre-term labor.

Many people ask how I am feeling, I have really tried not to complain (except to Adam) because I know how fortunate we are to be having another baby, let alone two. I have been doing well overall but at 30 weeks something changed and this got a lot harder.  Both babies are very low and putting a lot of pressure on my pelvis and bladder. Some days I feel like I might as well hang out in the bathroom. Sleeping is becoming much more difficult and uncomfortable, I can't seem to find a good position and as soon as I do, I wake up to use the bathroom. As most of you know I am only 5'3" on a good day so the babies have no place to go but straight out, this is causing increased back and hip pain. All in all I am trying to stay positive, I know it will all be worth it when we see our boys faces for the first time!!

Twins Update

Yes, that's right...we are going to be welcoming two baby BOYS this summer!!  I think I am still in shock that we are going to have two rambunctious little boys the exact same age.  I can say rambunctious because they are already quite active, the feeling of two babies moving around in your stomach is something I can't really describe but just know there is a lot of activity going on in there.

Madelyn is getting used to the idea of two babies joining our household, she has been very helpful in getting the nursery ready.  Anytime the door is opened and the light on in the boys room she is immediately there to help, I have even found her playing in there with her baby a few times.  The other night we went through all the books on her bookshelf and picked out which books she is to big for now, she was happy to pass them along to her brothers.  She is going to be a big help!!!!

We have decided on the names for the boys, we have had one name picked out from when I was pregnant with Madelyn.  We wanted to incorporate family as best we could so the names will be...Carter David and Colten Stephen.  Many of you know that Carter is Adam's middle name and we have been hoping to use that for a boy for quite some time, the middle name David is after my (Sara's) father.  The name Colten we liked and if you know me then you know I am OCD and had to have something that sounded good together and had the same amount of letters.  Once we decided on Colten we knew the middle name would be Stephen after Adam's dad.  So there you have it, Carter and Colten!!!!

I had a doctor appointment yesterday with an ultrasound, we decided it would be fun to take Madelyn with us so she could see the babies and get used to the idea of mom having doctors around in preparation for the hospital.  I have explained how the babies will be born, she is in the stage of asking LOTS of questions.  I explained the c-section and how she was born, she has asked about my scar before so I figured I would try to explain.  She must have understood because on the way to the appointment yesterday she asked if the doctor was going to "cut my stomach open and let the babies fall out".   She watched the screen during the ultrasound but was more concerned about what was happening to me and all the other equipment in the room. 

Both babies are doing well, Baby A has a heart rate of 156 and weighs 1 lb. 7 oz., Baby B has a heart rate of 152 and weighs 1 lb. 5 oz.  They both had full stomachs and bladders so we know they are swallowing and producing waste appropriately, we were happy to see this.  Baby A seems to be hogging most the room and Baby B is having to fight for room, I can feel him up under my ribs a lot and that's because A is pushing him out of the way.  For some reason I have a feeling it will be this way for years to come, both of them fighting for "space".  I have appointments every two weeks right now and will have my next ultrasound in 4 weeks.  The doctors will then begin keeping a more watchful eye on their growth and development.

Adam and I are busy getting the house in order and doing our best to get things organized in the next 4 weeks because after 28 weeks who knows when they might decide to make an appearance.

Now, I am off to take a nap!!!