27 WEEKS- The countdown is ON!

March 19, 2012- Monday

I'm so excited to be 27 weeks!  We are getting so close!  At my OB appointment last week, Dr. Rosenberg, broke down the rest of pregnancy for me.  He explained that from now until 30 weeks will be the most critical time for us.  We really want to get through the next 3 weeks without any issues.  If we can get to 30 weeks, and something went wrong and we had to deliver early, the babies would still most likely be ok.  Once I hit 34 weeks, if I were to go into Labor, they wouldn't even try to stop it.  They would deliver the babies and they would most likely do well at that point.  He also told me that we will not go passed 38weeks, so that countdown is officially ON!  We have a maximum of 11 weeks to go.....

27 weeks and not sure how much longer I'll fit in this chair

27 week belly- still lucky with no stretch marks :)

The ART of manliness

March 12, 2012

Today is our 26th week of pregnancy!!!  Another week down and 12 more to go.  This week, I can't think of anything more appropriate to blog about than my husband. People often tell me what a great job I'm doing in this pregnancy and those words mean so much to me.  But I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I owe so much to my husband.  He takes the meaning of being a MAN to a whole new level.

It's hard to even know where to begin.  From day one of finding out we are expecting twins, Joe has been my rock.  I know its cliche but its true.  After the shock wore off and we arrived home from finding the news, I had a total breakdown.  I started crying wondering what we were going to do. How would we afford two more babies?  We needed new cars, the day care costs, and the the concerns flooded me.  Joe was so calm and reassuring.  He told me it would be great and we would make it work.  Since that day, he has continued to be calm and reassuring in the face of each concern we've had along the way.

Now, here we are at 26 weeks and things are way different than I had ever imagined they would be.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have a hard time letting others do things for me.  I'd rather just do it myself.  I have to rely on Joe for so much.  And he does it, without asking, and without complaining.  Not only does he tie my shoes every morning, but he makes dinner, he cleans the house, does our laundry, and takes care of Ryder.  It's absolutely amazing to see him in action. He has sacrificed so much of his time to take care of our family.  It's truly an art to see how he manages to do 30 hours worth of work in a 24 hour time span.

I have to just end with how our day went today, a very typical day in the life of my husband, the man.  Ryder wakes up around 6:30am.  Joe rushes out of bed to get him to the bathroom and takes him downstairs to play while I try to roll myself out of bed.  He makes the family breakfast, gets Ryder dressed, and himself ready for work.  I pack Ryder lunch.  By 8:30 (we were running late this morning, thank you day light savings) Joe has Ryder loaded in the car and they are off to school and Joe heads into work.  Before I start my work day, I email Joe our grocery list.  He not only works all day long but goes and gets the groceries and comes home and makes dinner.  After dinner, I was really struggling with more contractions than we feel comfortable with.  Joe sends me to bed and he and Ryder build towers and play trains.  I'm laying upstairs listening to Ryder's giggles and can't help but think, "Wow. I truly married an amazing man!"  After they finish playing, Joe gives Ryder a bath, gets his pajamas on, and brings him into me to read him a bedtime story.  While Ryder and I read, I can hear Joe downstairs doing dishes.  When the story is over, Joe puts Ryder to bed.  Seriously, I'm awe stricken.  Now, Ryder is in bed and Joe is getting on his bike for a little ride that he couldn't squeeze in during any other time.  While managing all the needs of our family, he is still vigorously training for a running race.

Words cannot truly express the gratitude I have for my husband.  I am absolutely amazed by the lengths he will go to take care of our family.  He has selflessly given of his time and himself in so many ways.  When i think about how hard this pregnancy is, both physically and emotionally, I look at my husband and am reminded how lucky I am.  It's not just hard on me, its hard on him as well.  He doesn't complain.  He just does it.  He makes things happen.   For those of you that wonder how I am getting through this pregnancy, the answer is simple.  His name is Joe Walsh!  I couldn't be more proud of him or happier to call him my husband.  He's truly the backbone of our family.  We love you, honey!

The man behind it all <3 <3 <3

25 week update

March 9, 2012

Today I am 25w4d!  I can't even believe it!  Yay for the pace of pregnancy picking up!  Today was my bi weekly appointment with our MFM to measure the growth of the babies, check dopplers, and fluid levels.  I am so excited, relieved, and grateful that the babies are doing so well.  Baby A measured 1lb 9oz ( my little peanut) and Baby B measured 1lb 12oz!  They are measuring 9% difference in size (down from 16%) This is the BEST news we could have received today!!!  It still blows my mind to think I am carrying over 3lbs of babies!!

Baby A with her foot up by her head- showing off her flexibility ;)

Baby B's Big Foot

My MFM told me that my uterus is already measuring at full term.  (NICE).  He asked if I have had any contractions.  I explained to him that I typically get a few each day, with no regularity, and that they are almost always in the evening after a long day.  OR if I've been on my feet for too long. He advised that if I get more than 4-6 in an hour to call my OB right away.  He also said he wanted to do the Fetal Fibronectin Test today.  The test measures fFn secretions from the cervix which can be indicative of preterm labor.  If it were to come back positive, they'd admit me to the hospital and give me steroids to help develop the babies lungs. He performed the test and boy did it HURT!!  It was fast, though, and I was glad when it was over.  Next it was time for the cervical check and my favorite, the contraction simulation.  He told me to watch the screen as he applied pressure to my stomach and joked, "This is what happens to your cervix when you lift up your son."  We watched the screen and nothing happened.  He said, "WOW.  Yours didn't even budge, impressive!"  He measured my cervical length and it was well above average. He told me how impressed he is with how well this pregnancy is going. He said this is not what they typically see with ID twins!  What a great appointment!  Its a great way to start the weekend.  We couldn't have asked for a better check up!!!

Big Brother so excited, might as well have a cupcake!

ATTN: FF MOMMIES

This post is for my FF Mommies!
Did you know you can find us on Facebook.... wait am I allowed to say Facebook on my OWN blog? hmmm.... ;)

If you want to join us you can befriend me here and we'll get you added to the group:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542472448

It's not all rainbows

I'm 25 weeks today.  I'm thrilled to be this far along and getting to the homestretch, but its not an easy road.  It's definitely NOT all rainbows.  I try to see the best in each and every situation but tonight, I'm having a tough time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  My poor husband is such a trooper and takes on all the extras and listens to my complaints with stride.  To give him a break from the complaining, tonights blog was written.  So here's the naked truth on my twin pregnancy.

I wake up in the morning feeling super stiff and achey.  I slowly roll to the side and let the babies shift before I try to stand.  Upon standing, I really need to take a minute and again wait for them to adjust to my new position.  They are both positioned very low and standing and walking is painful at best.  It's a lot of weight on my pubic bone and makes each step an effort to take.  If I spend too much time standing, the contractions start.  I know its my bodies way of telling me its had enough.  I think at least a thousand times a day, "Just put one foot in front of the other"  or "One day at a time".  Lately, its become "One minute at a time". 

Most days, I work a full day but try to find a good hour or 2 in the middle of the day to lay down and "rest".  Sometimes, I am able to doze off and those are my better days.  After work, I gear up for my time with my favorite little guy.  I absolutely adore our time together but often feel so trapped.  I can't play with him the way we used to.  I can't go on bike rides, I can't wrestle, and I can't get on and off the floor anymore without help.  We find creative ways to spend quality time together, but I really miss playing the way we used to.  I keep reminding myself, soon enough I'll have my body back.  It's a worthy cause.  

Let's fast forward to bedtime.  Oh bedtime.  I have a love/hate relationship with you.  I love you because its FINALLY the time of the day where there are no demands on me or my time. I crawl into bed as soon as we put Ryder to bed.  I start my night laying on one side and can tolerate it for about 30 minutes.  After that time, my hip will alter between achey and numbness and eventually just begins to scream with pain.  I take all my pillows and readjust to the other side.  After a little while, the same thing happens on the that side.  Next, I rearrange the nest of pillows so that I can lay sitting up: 2 to support my upper back and neck, one under my knees for support, and another one to support my lower back.  This worked for a couple weeks but now its my least favorite.  The pressure on my tailbone is absolutely unbearable in this position.  The girls instantly start to squirm and kick and I'm pretty sure they don't like it either.  Once I have repeated those steps several times, I pack up the pillows and go downstairs to the couch.  I go through a similar process on the couch.  That eventually becomes unbearable as well and I drag myself back up to bed.  Nights are so long.  All I want to do is sleep. My body is exhausted.  My mind is non functional, and yet, I'm still awake. Most nights I alter between the bed and couch 3-4 times.  And before I know it, Ryder is waking up and its time to get him ready for school.  And it all begins again.  Sigh.

I really don't enjoy complaining.  But I really felt the need to get this out.  For all of you who think that having twins makes me "lucky" or is so "fun".  I wish you could experience this stage in the pregnancy.  The truth of the matter is its very hard work and extremely physically and emotionally draining.  With that said, I love these girls so much and am so thankful for them.  The truth is, I'd do it 100 times over for them but am DAMN glad I only have to do it once!  

Never a dull moment

March 3, 2012 (Sunday)

One of my FAVORITE things about being Ryder's Mom, is there is truly NEVER a dull moment.  At the ripe age of almost 3, he is really testing his limits to see what works and what doesn't.  And let's just say that this kid has both his Mom AND his Dad's stubbornness, double whammy!

Last night, Ryder did NOT want to go to bed.  He tried every stall tactic in the book: I have to pee, I'm thirsty, I can't see, My lips are dry, I need another hug, I don't wanna goto bed, I need you, etc.  When these weren't working he resorted to a good ole fashion temper tantrum.  I told him that I would not be coming back into his room so he really needed to just go to bed and I left.  He blew a raging 60 minute fit- screaming, kicking the walls, and thrashing his room.  When I knew he was finally sleeping, I went in to check on him and note the damage.  This is what I found:

He sure can be a pain in the butt, but I sure love him to pieces!  I guess he thought if he went naked, I'd come in. lol.  And now, its 8am and he's still sleeping.  God, I love that kid!

24 weeks: Fasting and Feasting

February 29, 2012

On Monday, we celebrated turning 24 weeks, which also marks viability.  This means if I were to have the babies now, they’d have a chance at surving.  (Although, they still need to bake for quite a ways longer.  For the 24 week appointment I had to see both my MFM and my OB.  We started with the MFM on Friday and did an ultrasound on the girls to check their fluid levels and dopplers (i.e. their blood flow to and from the umbilical cords).  So far, the girls are doing great!  We also learned that their size discordance has decreased.  They are now 9% difference in size which is such an exciting update!   They seem to be sharing the placenta very well.  This was definitely reason to celebrate.  

I’ve been craving yellow cake with chocolate frosting for awhile so I decided I’d make some cupcakes to celebrate. I also knew the gestational diabetes test was coming up so I thought I’d better get my sweets in now, just in case!  They were a delicious snack:

Today, I am sitting in my OB’s office doubling up my appointment with the dreaded gestational diabetes test.  I arrived at 9am and started with a blood draw.  After they took my blood, I was given a lemon lime glucose drink.  I had exactly 5 minutes to finish this delightful drink.  Yes, I’m being very sarcastic.  Even after fasting for 12 hours, this drink was horrendous!  I wish they had coffee flavored or couldn’t they find a way to make us eat a burger and fries to do this test?  I’m starving.  After I finished the drink, I went down the hall to see Dr. Rosenberg.  First we started with a urine sample and I have no idea how pregnant women pee in a cup!  Seriously, I barely got ANY in the cup.  I just can’t see what I’m doing because of my massive belly.  I managed to get enough to dip the stick and gave it to the nurse.  We then took my weight and marveled at how much I’ve gained.  (to be announced at the end of pregnancy).  She took my blood pressure which was OUTSTANDING for twin pregnancy.  Shortly after, Dr. Rosenburg came in and measured my fundal height (i.e. belly).  I’m measuring 32 weeks for a singleton which is where I should be with twins.  We also listened to the babies on the Doppler and discussed my current state. 

We talked a lot about my lack of sleep, hip pain, and how I’m managing with work.  I told him I’m still doing ok.  He raised an eyebrow and said I really need to start thinking about being done with work.  He said being on my feet for a full day should be out of the question at this point.   He still wants me in bed as often as possible and if I can manage to get in bed for a few hours in the middle of the day, he would recommend it.  He told me if I feel ok to work he will allow it but he’d really like me to be done by 28 weeks.  

We also discussed the impending c-section.  I have some concerns about my placenta being in the front and asked how that will affect the surgery.  He told me that its usually high enough that its not affected.  However, if it is too low, he can’t move the placenta.  He will need to cut through it and move fast.  EEK.  I hope that’s not the case. It gives me the heebee jeebies just thinking about it.  I asked when he will schedule the c-section if I don’t go into labor on my own.  We are looking at 38 weeks, the first few days of June.  He said 2 out of 3 women will go into labor before 38 weeks with twins.  If I go into labor before 34 weeks, they will try to stop the labor.  If it happens after 34 weeks, we’ll just go in for the surgery.  I really have a feeling we will make it to 38 weeks.   We finished up and scheduled my next appointment for 2 weeks. 

After my appointment, I walked down the hall and back to the lab.  I had about 30 minutes to kill before my next blood draw.  When they called my name for the 2^nd draw, I stood up and saw spots.  I actually felt a little drunk and light headed.  After the second draw, I waited another hour for my 3rd blood draw.  After that, I was able to go home!  Joe picked me up right on time and we grabbed some food on the way home!  BEST PART OF THE DAY!!!


I'm glad the test is over and even more glad to have passed!  The last thing I wanted was to have one more doctor to add to the team.  All in all, things are going great and we couldn't be happier!