Week 34

We made it to week 34!! I'm really not sure how much longer we'll make it, but at least this first, and very important, milestone was made! I figure every extra day from here out is a blessing so we'll take what we can get.

I guess my belly has grown some in the past couple weeks... maybe I shouldn't have worn the slimming color of black, ha! :) (Jason laughs every time he sees how big my stomach is... even thin layers of clothes seem to hide its actual size). I can no longer fit into typical large and xl maternity shirts without the bottom of my belly showing, and even some of Jason's larger tshirts don't do the job anymore.

My dr. appointment last week showed that the babies are doing good and I'm holding pretty steady. I'm still taking procardia which is helping ease some of the abdominal contractions (still not experiencing much back or pelvic pain with them), however my dr. will probably take me off of it within the next couple weeks. Once that happens I will probably start having true contractions. Our next appointment (on Tuesday) will be another growth check so I'll have an update on sizes.

I've definitely hit the uncomfortable stage; I'm hot most of the time and don't sleep much at night (which I realize is just good practice). Unfortunately, all of my nighttime movements mean that Jason doesn't sleep much either, but thankfully this is the start of his spring break week so maybe he can get caught up on sleep before the babies come. I'm also starting to swell, a little in my hands, more so in my feet.

I'm also getting anxious... I know the end is near, but I hate not being able to know exactly when that is going to be. I'd much rather know an exact date than monitor every feeling and movement. We're definitely ready to meet these little guys though! :)

Again, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We'd love to make it another 1-2 weeks, but we realize it's in God's hands and he'll bring these 2 safely into the world when the time is right!

Week 33

We have graduated to a new fruit set this week. Here's an outline of what these little ones will be up to in the next few weeks:

Your baby's the size of a honeydew! (Or durian fruit?, butternut squash, coconut)

He weighs about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches.

• He's keeping his eyes open while awake.
• He's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.
• His bones are hardening.
• Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid.
• Her liver and kidneys are in working order.
• Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.
  

I'm still feeling pretty good. No big changes so that's good. We have our next appt Monday morning so hopefully things are still holding steady. Next Thurs (March 29th) will mark our first goal of 34 wks and then we'll just keep going from there!

We thank you so much for the prayers and support! We're definitely nearing the end which is exciting and scary at the same time! :)

Maternity Photos

With Meg on bed rest, we decided to just shoot some maternity shots at the house, that way she would be up as little as possible. I think they came out alright, and will definitely do the job of documenting the experience. Enjoy!

Week 32

So we have made it to 32 weeks! To say that these past couple weeks have been intense and have passed slowly is an understatement, BUT I am still at home and we're making it day by day.

It's been so very nice being home. You don't realize how much you don't like the hospital until you're in it. I kinda thought it would be very similar to being at home- laying down, watching tv, wasting time online, but it was very different. I'm sure I could have made it more like home if I had to stay longer, but hopefully the next visit will be to have these little ones!

I had a follow up appointment this week (and I'll have another one on Monday). They measured the babies and they are weighing 4.3 and 4.1 (Brooke being bigger than Barrett). My doctor was very happy with their weights (there must be something about being over the 4lb mark that's better if you should deliver early). And I am holding steady. My doctor did not feel a lot of pressure on my cervix and thought that the babies might be laying a little higher than previously seen (all due to the Procardia which I take 4 times a day). My belly size is measuring 38 weeks so I'm still growing! They are still ok with me driving myself in and as long as the ultrasounds aren't running behind they do a good job getting me in and out.

I am definitely feeling some of those late pregnancy symptoms: reflux, difficulty sleeping, waking up multiple times at night, and the babies are burrowing and kicking my ribs like crazy! As Jason said though, it's better that they're pushing on my ribs than my cervix! They are moving a lot, and I guess still have some room to turn around, or at least Barrett does. Evidently he's just pushing Brooke out of the way and claiming as much space for himself as he can.

I think we're going to try and do some maternity pics this weekend. Jason will just take some basic shots- nothing fancy, but that way I can have them. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do them or not and then I realized that this may be our only pregnancy so I think it would be a good idea. I will for sure get another belly pic taken and posted soon!

I guess it's also time to officially pack a hospital bag so that'll get done this weekend too. I didn't want to jinx myself and pack one and then have to go to the hospital like the next day, but since I've already been there once and for sure will be again in the next few weeks it's probably necessary! :)

back home!

Meg was able to leave the hospital today and drive back home herself. I made her promise she wouldn't walk the half-mile it takes to get from the hospital to the parking garage, and she obliged. As they wheel-chaired her out, she ran into the head NICU nurse who told her every day the kids stay in the womb is 2 they won't spend in NICU. That's great news after hearing about wimpy white boy syndrome (poor Barrett).

She's very relieved to be back at home with the 4-legged kids and looking forward to a more comfortable bed without someone prodding her every few hours. Her doctor is still optimistic we'll make it to 34 weeks, and with twins, they don't pay much attention to cervix length once you get to this point. They just want her to stay hydrated and pay attention to any signs of labor.

Even with them saying that, I've advised Meg to do headstands when she's not eating.

"Turn that baby right side up by J. Star, on Flickr"

Hospitalization

Meg went in for her biweekly checkup yesterday and her cervix had shortened considerably, and she was having some contractions. She has been in the hospital since lunch time yesterday for evaluation. She had elevated levels of white blood cells, which could signal an infection. An infection could be causing the contractions, so they're giving her lots of fluids and antibiotics. The contractions have slowed since they started that.

Her doctor is going to give her a test that checks for preterm labor around lunchtime, and the results of that will let us know whether or not she is close to going into labor. If she isn't, they'll let her go home to rest. If she is, then they'll figure out what's best to do next. I'll keep you posted with any updates!

* * * Fast forward 4 hours * * *

Just got the fetal fibronectin test results back and they were negative. That's great news! She will likely go home tomorrow because they are making sure her sugars stay regulated since she got a steroid shot yesterday. Hopefully we won't be back for a few weeks!

thanks again for your prayers!
Jason

Week 30

Hurray! We have made it to 30 weeks! This was one of my initial goal weeks. My next goal is 34 weeks.

Here is an updated belly pic showing weeks 28 & 30. (I can never figure out which way I'm supposed to hold my arms so I'm sorry for kinda hiding my belly in the most recent pic!)
This week has passed pretty quickly. It's definitely getting harder to get up from a seated position and turning from side to side is a bit of an event (especially when I'm tired!). I think I am starting to hit the bathroom more frequently, and I have days where all I do is eat! :) Still battling reflux and I'm definitely hot all the time which makes me feel even sicker. I am so glad that I am able to experience this pregnancy during the winter... I feel for all of you who went through summer pregnancies!!!

Mom is in town for my baby shower and it has been wonderful having her here! My house hasn't looked this clean and organized since we moved in! :) Now the task is keeping it this way...
The nursery is getting finished; we have the decorating left to do, but the room is arranged and the bedding is put on the cribs. I will post before/after shots once it's all done as well as hopefully post some pics from the shower.

I go back to the doctor mid-week for a check-up to look at cervix length, amniotic fluids and heart rates. I'll have another growth ultrasound in 3ish weeks.

Week 29

Your babies are the size of acorn squash! For the next 4 weeks think of the babies as the size/length of acorn squash, cucumbers, pineapples, squash.

Babies already measure about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, they weigh about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds but they've still got a ways to go -- can you believe they'll triple in weight before birth?

At 29 weeks our babies are:

• Getting a little cramped in there, since he's growing so fast. But you probably already realize that, since you're getting all those jabs and kicks.
• Growing white fat deposits under his skin, and his energy is surging because of it.
• Feel a subtle twitch? It might be baby hiccupping.

We had another growth check last week and both babies are measuring at 3lbs, 5oz. That puts them in the 67th percentile for weight. Hearts continue to look good and everything else is looking good as well.

My cervix is holding steady at 24mm so the doctor felt confident prolonging visits to every 2 weeks instead of weekly. (granted this will only last another month or so as we near the end!)

The babies are definitely moving a lot, and getting hiccups a couple times a day. I am dealing with continued reflux, pain at times in my left leg and hip from laying on my left side so much, baby boy lodging in under my ribs at times, I'm very thirsty, which then leads to more frequent trips to the bathroom, and some difficulty sleeping. I tend to wake up between 3-4 every morning and have difficulty getting back to sleep.

Bed rest is still manageable. Jason re-enrolled us in Netflix and we bought a Roku which allows us to wirelessly connect to the internet without using the computer so I definitely have entertainment. I'm halfway through making the mobile for the nursery and hopefully will get it finished soon. Jason has to cut a couple pieces of a dowel before I can finish so hopefully he can squeeze that in with everything else he's trying to do!

We're both doing pretty good managing everything though. And I kinda feel like we're getting ready to enter the home stretch. I'm excited to have Mom come in this next weekend so we can finish the nursery and get some of those other to-do list things done!

Anyway, more pictures of things to come soon. (And I have not gotten a 29 week belly picture taken so I'm thinking I'll just wait till 30 weeks and we'll work up to the weekly picture!) So sorry to make the picture lovers wait a few more days!! :)

Week 28

We have arrived into the 3rd trimester!! It's very exciting and yet a little scary to realize that we have anywhere from 6weeks+ before these little guys arrive into the world. I have most things organized in my head...the only problem is that I can't get up to actually complete those plans! There's still plenty of time though and I'm planning on putting Mom to work when she comes to visit in a couple weeks! :)

As for the weekly update on the medical side of things: My appointment on Tuesday revealed very low amniotic fluid levels, which is a bi-product of the indocin I'd been taking. So we stopped the indocin which increased fluid levels, but that also means that my cervix may continue to shorten.

At the follow-up visit on Friday, measurements looked good. I was holding steady between 20-23mm. We also had a Biophysical Profile completed where they looked at the babies heart rates, muscle tone, movement, breathing and amniotic fluid levels. Both babies passed all areas so that was good.

Next week is another growth check so we'll see how big these guys are getting! They definitely continue to move all the time, but there's enough room for them to be doing somersaults. I keep waiting for them to run out of room, but it's not happening yet!

As promised, here is my 28 week picture. I'll also include the 24 week picture so you can see the difference in size. It was requested that I begin weekly pictures so I'll try and start getting a picture up weekly! :)

Folding a Fitted Sheet

There’s probably a correct way to fold a fitted sheet, but I’ve got my own way. It’s not perfect, and it often doesn’t come out rectangular, but it works. The past few months have felt a lot like folding fitted sheets: trying to accomplish all the things I was not used to doing. I think I’m finally in a rhythm now, but the past few months have definitely brought a lot of changes to our house.

The dogs are on a 3-times-a-day schedule instead of whenever they begged Meg to go out. The cleaning gets done a little throughout the week instead of in one fell swoop on Saturday. The alarm clock goes off earlier, and I go to bed later. The times they are a changin’.

Most of the questions that come up are “how?” questions. I know everything will work itself out and God has a plan. I don’t worry about it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it!

Week 27

This past week came and went pretty quickly, and more importantly, uneventfully. My follow-up check at the dr revealed that my cervix remained at the 22mm mark. I am continuing the indocin until at least week 30 but not longer than week 32 as it can cause problems for the babies if I'm on it longer than that. My cervix is still funneling but it has been for weeks now so that wasn't of concern to my dr.

Blood sugars are looking good, as long as I don't go back for second helpings. :) I can now just fax weekly numbers in instead of having to drive to the office.

Babies are still looking good. Good heart rates and they're definitely moving. We had a couple quieter days, but they have picked up the pace the past 2 days. Jason was able to catch them moving last night and I think it freaked him out a little bit!

Bed rest is starting to make me a little stir-crazy, but I've been on it for almost 5 full weeks so it's definitely moving by. Another 9ish weeks is do-able! :) We have visitors coming in for the weekend so that will help pass time! The nursery is coming together. Jason finished the beadboard and the cribs and rocking chair are assembled. There's still a lot of organizing to do, but Lesley assures me it's one of her favorite things so maybe some of that will get done this weekend too! :)

This is the last week of the 2nd trimester so my posting next week will be the beginning of the home stretch!

Week 26

This week has been crazy full of doctor visits, scares and reassurances all the same. Sunday we had our first little scare. I began having some pretty severe cramps mid-morning. We called the doctor's office (thanks to some persuasion from Jason-I was too scared to want to call) and she recommended to drink a lot of water and lay down on one side. If the pain didn't subside we were supposed to go into the hospital. Thankfully, within a few minutes of laying down the pains went away and have yet to come back.

Wednesday was my normally scheduled ultrasound. This one was a growth check as well. As much as I love ultrasounds and being able to see the little guys, the whole process has become completely uncomfortable and unbearable at times due to the pressure that's being put on my blood vessels having to lay down on my back for even 5 minutes. So, after a lot of breaks with me turning on my side she was able to get the measurements she needed.

Baby girl weighs 2lbs, 3oz and Baby boy weighs 1lb, 14oz. Both of those weights are within a pretty average range for 26 wks pregnant. (Maybe this will be the pregnancy that breaks the Barrett-Cobb/Taylor-Dean 9+ lb baby trends!)

Unfortunately during the ultrasound they noticed that my cervix was continuing to shorten. The doctors put me back on indocin, the medication I took previously to help with fluid levels and to stabilize my cervix. They also went on ahead and injected me with a series of 2 steroid shots to help with baby lung development should they come early. We also re-did the fetal fibronectin test which looks to see if I'm at risk for going into labor within the next 2-3 wks. Thankfully that test came back negative and a physical check of my cervix revealed that it is not even attempting to open up- 'hard as a rock' as my doctor put it.

My bed rest has been stepped up a little bit though. I am still on 'modified rest' so I can still get up quickly and shower, go to the bathroom, make meals, but instead of being able to sit and recline I must lay down and I'm not allowed to lollygag when standing. :) I've been scared enough this past week that I'm doing a good job of it. The coffee table has become my new work station with drinks, books, remotes, snacks, etc. Anything I could need throughout the day is piled up on it! :)

My goal is to make it another 10 weeks. 36wks has been my goal week since we found out we were pregnant with twins, so by power of prayer and positive thoughts I'm hoping to still make it to that date (April 12th!) :)

Week 25

Your baby's the size of an eggplant!

During month six, the average fetus measures about 13.6 inches to 14.8 inches and weighs about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.

Ok, so the website I get the sizes from changed up their format. This month, think of the babies as the size of eggplants, heads of lettuce, a cauliflower bunch or a rutabaga.

Milestones they will be hitting this month include:

• She's enjoying her new sense of equilibrium -- she now knows which way is up and which is down.
• She's growing more fat and more hair too!
• Her eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open.
• And her eyelashes are now grown, too.
• She's getting her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.
• She's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.
• She's practicing inhaling and exhaling with her rapidly developing lungs.
• It's official: Baby's showing brain activity! And her brain will keep on getting more complex
• She's starting to develop more fat, so her wrinkly skin will start to get smoother.
• Her lungs are mature enough that she'd probably survive if she was born now. Wow!

My weekly appointment went well. Cervix measurements are holding steady and babies' heart rates are looking good. We have a growth check next week so I'll have an update on weights then!

I also visited with the specialist and nutritionist. The meal plan I am now on isn't too bad. It's a 2300 calorie plan so there's plenty of food. It's more about monitoring how much of each type of food I eat. So, carbs are spread out through the day and sugars are definitely limited, if not completely cut out. But I still get to have all the foods I normally eat and love, just more controlled (3 helpings of mac and cheese is no longer approved) :) I also learned how to check blood sugar levels and the prick is not bad at all. You really hardly feel it. As long as I manage sugar levels on the diet there's no need to take oral medications, but the specialist did warn that as the babies' placentas get bigger the diet modifications may not work so either additional changes to diet or oral meds may eventually be prescribed.

Bed rest is going well. I have moved into a reading/dvd watching stage and I am becoming a master at wasting time looking online. I would always be hit by things I wanted to look up online, but never had the time or a computer right at hand to do so...now I do, so as things pop in my head I waste time looking them up!

Pregnancy symptoms felt lately include: reflux, difficulty breathing when I get to laughing really hard, and the muscles in my inner thighs kill lately (I think it's due to having to propel myself side to side when laying down and propel myself up to a sitting position without the use of my non-existent ab muscles!) Bending down is still hard and I definitely waddle when I walk. :)

Week 24

Ok, this is the last week at a papaya size (though I think our little ones have surpassed that already). It has been a very busy week with many ups and downs.

Due to the excess amniotic fluid seen a week or so ago, they decided to go on ahead and do my gestational diabetes screen early. I failed the 1-hr test by one point so I had to endure the 3-hr test on Wed. Absolutely one of the worst experiences of my life!

I started out with an initial blood draw after fasting overnight. Then I had to drink a gross orange sugary substance (if you are pregnant ask for the fruit punch option!!!). Blood was again drawn 1,2,3 hrs after drinking the drink. About 30 minutes after drinking the drink I became hot, sick to my stomach and my vision started blacking out. I stumbled my way to the nurse's desk and asked to lay down. I then stumbled my way to a room with recliners, certain I was going to faint on the way, but once I laid down the vision cleared up. I still felt sick, but at least everything had stopped spinning. Once the blood draws were over I ate a sandwich and came back for my weekly ultrasound.

The results came back yesterday (Thurs) and I had enough of a discrepancy in levels for them to diagnose me having gestational diabetes. I will meet with a specialist and nutritionist next Thurs to set up a diet plan and learn how to check my sugar levels. Thankfully, the diet should correct all of this, and it's only 10-12 weeks worth of diet modification. You don't realize how many carbs you eat in a day until you have to start watching them! :(

However, the ultrasound looked great. Babies fluid levels were normal and heartbeats were normal. My cervix length is holding steady, so I really can't be upset over anything! They are planning on giving me a steroid injection next week (I think) to help develop the babies lungs, just in case I should go into labor early.

My dr. gets a kick out of measuring me to see how big my belly is and at this visit I measured the size of a 31 week person having only 1 baby! So, even though everyone keeps saying I look small for having twins, I am really quite a few weeks bigger than if I was only having 1. :)

Here is the latest belly picture (week 24) as well as a collage of the pics taken so far...

Week 23

We are at week 23, and I've made it halfway through my first week of bed rest. The bed rest side of things isn't too bad so far...I have friends stopping by every couple days which helps.

We've had quite a few dr appointments in the past few days, mostly to re-measure my cervix and a typical growth check on the babies. As I think Jason posted, the babies look great and are definitely growing. They are kicking like crazy lately and constantly moving. Our ultrasound techs have difficulty getting the pictures and measurements they need due to the babies moving. I can feel, and see, kicks through my clothes now and they are starting to respond when the dogs bark real loudly. We are still in the papaya size range, and I'll get a new belly picture up next week!

As for me, the doctors put me on indocin which is an anti-inflammatory drug. I was on it for about 36 hrs when we had a re-check. At that point my cervix had lengthened 2 mm and the excess amniotic fluid seen had decreased to a normal level. I am now off of the indocin but will hang on to it and may be put back on it later if symptoms continue. We're basically in the middle of a balancing act, making sure the babies don't press too hard on my cervix and yet still have what they need to grow. The ultrasound tech, who I've had about 4 times now, advised me to pack a little bag with a change of clothes, toothbrush, etc just in case. She said that from her experience, particularly with multiples things can change and you can be admitted without warning. So here's hoping that doesn't happen anytime soon!

Thank you for all of your prayers so far, and just keep praying that these little guys remain comfortable and happy inside for about 12 more weeks!!

10 things I'm thankful for

I'm so thankful to have faith in God through times like this. I don't know how you can go through life without the hope that comes in Jesus.

I can honestly say that since we've gotten the orders for Meg to go on bed rest, we haven't worried at all. We knew everything was going to work out, and that the babies are doing well, and that's all that's important. Sure, the wheels began turning, and we started crunching numbers and scheming ways to make it all work, but it was never a time of worry.

We almost immediately started counting our blessings. That's not us talking -- that's God! So without further ado, here's what I'm so thankful for:

1. Our families that would do anything in their power to help us at this time.
2. These are our first kids and we don't have to arrange for childcare while Meg takes it easy.
2. Friends who immediately ask, "What can we do?"
3. Friends and family who are coming to visit, bring food, and entertain Meg.
4. A steady job with great insurance.
5. Sweet dogs that are able to "hold it" much longer than they've ever had to in the past.
6. All the free baby stuff. The nursery's full!
7. Meg's patience in all of this. Sure she'll get cabin fever, but her attitude's been amazing!
8. Community group members who say, "The house looks clean!" when they come over, even if they're stretching the truth.
9. Your prayers.
10. And lastly, believe it or not, this has turned me from an "I can do it later" person to a "What needs to be done?" person. For those of you who know me well -- that's a miracle in itself!

bed rest.

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Meg and the twins. We went in for another ultrasound yesterday, and the babies are doing great - 65th and 55th percentile for weight when compared to singletons (I’ve learned a lot of new words!). They’ve both got giant Dean noggins. We had a minor concern over Christmas break, a “focus” on the ultrasound which has since gone away, but they’re looking great.

Unfortunately, Meg’s cervix has shortened, and even with her “taking it easy” this weekend (which is pretty much impossible for her!), continued to do so. Her doctor has placed her on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

It’s not very strict at this point -- she can still shower and get ready in the morning, fix herself breakfast and lunch, etc., but they want her to stay off her feet and reclined as much as possible. She will go back to the doctor Thursday to do a fetal fibronectin test that will see if she’s at the risk of going into preterm labor. If that test comes back negative, then bed rest will fix the problem. If that test comes back positive, I’m not sure what is involved at that point. (Pray it’s negative!) She’s got appointments scheduled every week for 6 weeks to monitor things. She will be able to drive herself to them, but at this point will be the only time she gets out of the house.

A lot of you have already asked what you can do for us – at this point I don’t know. I wish I was the one going on bed rest – I’d be fantastic at it! I’d already picked up most of the household chores (and I’m very impressed that Meg has tolerated a not-as-clean house) so in that respect it’s just a little more work for me. I’m sure Meg will get pretty bored, so phone calls and visits are welcomed… just remember I warned you - I’m the one cleaning the house now!

We’ll keep you posted. As always, prayers are appreciated!

Love you all!

Week 22

Your Baby: Month 5

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Our babies are now the size of papayas. This past week I have been able to feel them kicking from the outside. It's exciting to feel though it's not real consistent yet so it's hard to share with others. Jason has been able to feel it a couple times though.

I'm feeling pretty good. I still get tired and winded easily and I'm still having reflux, but it's not too terrible. I think the nursery is next on Jason's 'to do' list so hopefully we'll get some 'in progress' pictures up soon! I'm learning to take it easy and let Jason take over more of the household duties, though having to sit still more is really hard for me to do. It's definitely worth it though to keep these little guys safe and healthy.

We have another growth ultrasound on Monday so we'll be able to see just how big these guys are getting! At my last appt (on Tuesday) I was measuring at a 28 wk size so though most people comment on how small I am for having twins I really am bigger than the average 22 week person. :)