15 Weeks & Christmas

December 26, 2011

So much has happened in the last 4 weeks since my last update. First, we had the NT scan at 12w3d and both babies looked beautiful.  They measured perfectly and tests came back with very low risk for Downs or any of the Trisomies.  We didn't have that testing done with Ryder so this was new for us.  We were both happy to see such great results!

On December 22nd, we had an elective gender ultrasound to try and see the gender of the babies before Christmas!  This was the first time we brought Ryder with us to "see" the babies.  Baby B was VERY cooperative and willing to show that she is A GIRL.  Baby A refused to show us.  She kept her legs crossed with one hand between her legs. She was NOT going to show us.  Although it would have been great to get double girl confirmation, since we are having identical twins, we only needed one to cooperate to know that we are having 2 girls!  I still cannot believe we are having 2 girls!!!  We are very excited and Ryder is too!!

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas!  This was such a special Christmas for us.  Not only will it be our LAST Christmas as a family of 3, but it was also Ryder's FIRST Christmas EVER not being sick.  His first Christmas he had HIVES everywhere when we discovered he was allergic to penicillin.  Last year, he had a double ear infection and received his 2nd set of tubes a couple weeks later.  So, as I said, this year was very special for us to enjoy a healthy Christmas!  It was the GREATEST gift we could have been given.

1st Christmas- Allergic Reaction to Pennicilin

2nd Christmas- double ear infection

3rd Christmas- HAPPY AND HEALTHY!!  

Today also marks my 15th week of pregnancy!  I cannot believe how quickly its starting to go.  It's also becoming very taxing on my body.   So much more different than my pregnancy with Ryder.  Carrying the extra weight has been harder than I realized.  I'm doing the best I can to follow Dr's orders and get 3-6 hours of rest, with my feet up, a day.  Most days I'm able to get 3 in.  And the days I don't, I pay the price the following day.  I'm getting a little nervous about how difficult its going to get, but I'm just taking one day at a time. I'm still mostly enjoying being pregnant in spite of the restrictions.  After our loss, I realize even more so what a gift these babies are.  I know this will be our last pregnancy, so I want to enjoy it.  

15 weeks 12/26/11

Christmas Snuggles with my favorite little man

Our last Christmas as a family of 3

11 week update

November 28th, 2011

Here we are at 11 weeks!!!  The 2nd trimester is in sight!  On Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, I had a regular appointment with our OB.  It was nothing out of the ordinary and the FIRST time I was in the office without getting an ultrasound.  It was close, though.  Dr. Rosenberg went to listen to the heartbeat with the doppler and had a hard time finding it.  I immediately thought, "Oh great, here we go again!".  He said he was going to try ONE more time and if he couldn't find it, we'd go do another ultrasound.  He looked just below my belly button and to the right and sure enough, there they were!  He was shocked at how high up they are already.  I was just so grateful to hear that beautiful sound!  I felt like I just dodged a bullet.  After we listened it was time for my exam to make sure everything was good.  Everything was fine and he cautioned me that I may experience some bleeding after the exam.

The next day I woke up and had a lot of bleeding.  It was more than I was comfortable with, but bleeding seems to be the theme of this pregnancy, so I didn't panic.  We packed up and headed out for Thanksgiving in the Mountains!!!  We had a great time and unfortunately, the bleeding continued all the way into Sunday.  This morning, Monday, I woke up and it was lighter but still there.  I phoned my dr and of course he said, "You better come in.  Let's do another ultrasound and see how these kiddos are doing."  They got me in right away and we saw 2 beautiful and strong heartbeats!  Here is Baby A:

                                                Baby A at 11 weeks looking right at me! :)
Baby B didn't give us much to see, so hopefully he will cooperate more at our 12 week appointment so I can show you how big he's gotten too!  During the ultrasound, we discovered that I have placenta previa.  That means my placenta is blocking my cervix.  My dr told me there is still a possibility of it moving away from the cervix but this is most likely the cause of my bleeding.  I've been instructed to take it VERY easy, rest with feet up at ANY given opportunity, and a c-section will be in order if it doesn't move.  He also told me that they will NOT allow me to go past 37 weeks.  I can't take ANY chances of going into labor on my own.  It's a little unnerving, but I'm hopeful it will move.  If it doesn't, I have bedrest in my future.  I asked "How much?"  Dr R. replied, "Let's just say it will be a long haul!"  I told him my goal was to make it to 30 weeks.  He laughed and said, "You might want to lower your expectations."  I will do whatever it takes to get both of these babies here safely!!!  Anyways, since I was there, my doctor said we might as well go ahead and get some labs done.  My most favorite part of pregnancy.  Joe wasn't with me to witness, so as promised, I take pics of anything he misses.  7 GIANT viles of blood later…

Finally, I went home to rest!  Luckily, my busy season is wrapping up and I have time to sneak in naps daily.  Before I crawled into bed for a little R&R, I thought I better get an 11 week belly shot in too!  Looking back at old pics, this is about the size I was with Ryder at 17weeks!  WOW, I'm going to be one BIG Momma!

                                                               11 weeks and growing