Archive for April, 2007
The babies are doing great, couldn’t ask for more. They really are exactally where we want them to be. That’s the exact words of our Doctor on Thursday. We are of course overjoyed.
As of Thursday Baby boy is 3lbs 4oz and Baby girl is 3lbs 2oz. Baby girl is still head down and in first position. Baby boy is feet down, but this is okay since they expect him to turn after baby girl is born.
The only thing we have to ensure is that baby boy and baby girl don’t try to come between May 6th & 12th. Our Dr. will be on vacation, and we’d *really* like him to deliver. Of course, we’d like to wait till at least May 21st and if James had his way it’d be till June 1st as he’s under some really big programming deadlines right now.
The Ultrasound isn’t so much fun anymore. The twins literaly take up my entire ‘belly’. So there is very little room to get any angles, let alone determine which part is for which twin. Thankgoodness for them being in seperate sacs and being different genders. So, we did get photos, but only four. They are in the gallery. We will have another, our last ‘big’ one, May 18th at 34 Weeks 2 Days.
I’m feeling okay-tired. I hide it really well at work, but it’s getting harder and harder. I am carrying around 6 1/2lbs of baby already, not to mention of everything ‘else’ that goes with baby. The Dr has said that bedrest is bascially going to be determined by how I’m feeling and the contractions I’m having or not having. I am starting to have them again-but they are seeming to be more from my position.
Weight is good, I’m exactally in the middle of the range that is expected on a predictor I found on-line that calculates your weeks and start weight to your current weight. Blood pressure and swelling are also just fine. This is wonderful!
Thursday and Friday were a bit difficult emotionally however, as my Uncle passsed away on Tuesday and because of my travel restrictions we were unable to attend the funeral or viewing. Our thoughts however, were and are with my Dad and surviving Uncles/Aunts and cousins. This is the 3rd Uncle to pass away who had cancer and the 4th who has cancer of 7 sons. 
Thursday night, we then finished our last Lamaze class. We finished up with transition (the most difficult but shortest phase of labour) and pushing. We toured the birthplace, which is actually better than the other hospital we toured ‘in case’. The rooms are much larger, and thankfully they have the same security measures in place. Then she went over some postpartum topics.
We saw our Dr. running around while we toured, he must be the on staff Dr. on Thursday nights, because he asked us the previous Thursday if we’d been at the Lamaze class. I think we both kept thinking and seeing ourselves there. Me in the bed, James on the pullout sofa and our parents sitting drinking coffee at the little dinnette area. Then the two warming beds and two bassinettes (which we’re required to use when we leave the room).
I’m 99.9% sure we’ve (I) decided that at this point, how things are now, we aren’t going to get an epidural for the sake of incase when it comes to baby boy. If I want one because of pain, that is different but we aren’t getting one of out precaution.
We had a most WONDERFUL suprise in the mail on Saturday. I post on several scrapbooking boards, but more often on one than any others, and have been friends with a group of women which I followed to this board for years, at least 4. They got us a certificate for 6 freezer meals (which we’ll split into 2/3 meals each so it’ll total 12/18 meals) from Dinner Helpers. They included the assembly, so I won’t have to stand on my feet assembling the meals-we’ll just pick them up. James and I are both shocked and overwhelmed by their generosity.
Saturday we went to a Rummage Sale put on by a Mothers of Multiples Club in our area. We got a few clothes that are ‘matchy’ for baby boy and baby girl. Plus a few more things just for baby girl, as she still needed a few more things to catch up with baby boy. I did get a pair of newborn Nike shoes for baby boy for $1.
I plan to join this club, it’s mostly for Moms and they have a monthly meeting to disccus stuff, then many events are for couples and kids. Including a trip to pumpkin patches, they are in the parade, ect. Depending on the twins and my status I might attend the next meeting on the 17th of May, but since I’m going to be 34 weeks I’ll have to see.
We also picked up a Diaper Champ at a consignment store. We’re almost ready-we need a few more things but are looking really good. We used our $45 in gift cards from some of my co-workers to Toys R Us and bought a case of 1/2 diapers, a pkg of newborn and a small pkg of premie diapers (just incase). Figuring out the cost and number of diapers we’ll go thru a week is pretty awakening.
Today James installed the babies carseats and affixed their names to be hung in their room at a later date-the adhesive needs at least 24 hours to dry and I’m not sure if we’ll hang them-then anyone who comes between now and when they are born will see their names…. so I’m not sure.
I think we are going to take the Infant Care Class in May. Turns out our insurance reimburses us for some classes, including Lamaze, Infant Care and Breastfeeding. I think I’ll take the breastfeeding one alone-James didn’t want to go :).
April 22nd, 2007
My cousin Roxanne and friend Silvia put on a wonderful shower! It was lovely and James and I can’t thank them enough for their generosity. And thank you to everyone who has been a part of the pregnancy and has been so generous towards our twins.
I seemed to be small to most, even myself somedays. I assure you though I am looking like I would look with one baby at 36/37ish weeks. My Aunt Billie was able to come and her daughter had Quads, the two survining boys will turn 19 this year! It was really good to see family I haven’t in a really long time, Aunt Terri and Kayla. Hopefully this’ll be a spark to keep us all in contact more frequently as some it’s been too long. My Aunt Carlyn was also able to be here, which is extra special since she is a twin herself, my Nan on my moms side had boy-girl twins, sadly, Uncle Curt I belive was stillborn.
We have just a few things now that we still need to pickup, but nothing so pressing that if the babies would come tomorrow we’d be lost without. We plan to pickup a few of those things with the gift cards and money received and hold onto the rest for diapers and wipes.
I am in the process of uploading new photos in the gallery. Some of the shower, a new belly shot and the creative ones I posted about yesterday that James did in the park. Maybe James will post something soon, I’ve been after him. Seems we’re going back and forth between who is lacking in posting. Later today I might update the nursery photos since we hung things on the walls and it is pretty much done now, except to hang baby girl and baby boys names above their cribs.
*updated* I forgot to mention that over the weekend we bought the stuff to create a belly cast. I dont’ think we’ll be putting it on display around the house, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do since forever, when we were trying to conceive. But I have found some really cute decorated ones, so I think it’ll end up in my art room. I’m really excited about it. I’ve done casts of my hand/face and such in art classes previously so instead of buying a kit we just had to pickup two $4 pkgs of the cloths to use. *update ends*
April 16th, 2007
Nothing eventful. Just a regular old appointment, there were no changes in measurements or the babies positions. Baby girl is still way head down, ready to be born first and baby boy is still breech.
Baby boy has discovered his hand/fingers don’t have to be permanently attached to his face or in his mouth-haha. I mean, he has learnt he has hands and they can move other places, he’s been quite active lately. Usually I don’t feel anything but his kicks but this last week I feel movements (which have to be hands since he didn’t flip) about an inch above where his head is.
We had our second Lamaze class, and learnt about the second stage of labour and pain options during labour, which would be done at this stage. Analgesics which are systematic and do pass to baby but are not invasive. They are given by a shot in the thigh or via an IV. Then, the lovely epidural which is an invasive procedure, however, doesn’t pass to baby but has a risk of hitting the spinal cord, even if the risk is small.
James is amazing. I don’t think I will ever be able to put into words. He asked for paper during the class and took a zillion notes on what his role is during each phase, the other husbands have yet to take notes, or even the wives. James wants to be sure he’s able to remember and do the right things at the right times. I did note though he didn’t remember to write down to take care of himself.
I don’t honestly think anyone will ever realize what this man does, did and continues to do for me every single day and I don’t just mean thru the pregnancy. He has always been there and most concerned for me and our future. Yeah, maybe its pregnancy hormones, but he truly is an amazing man.
Anyhow, afterwards class I told him some concerns I had. As we were moving thru the labour positions during the class I kept saying, this works, no shoulder blades, you have to let me move, ect. And I just wanted to be sure he wasn’t taking it the wrong way. I wanted him to know that what works at first might not work 10 minutes later or that it could easily become annoying or distracting. And apologize in advance for any ‘annoyed’ looks or tones I might use. I don’t want to do this, but honestly I don’t know how things will go and I just wanted to talk about it before.
He again, being amazing said that he’ll hold nothing against me during that time and he just wants to be the best he can be for me and the babies. He’s really been amazing thru the entire pregnancy. Just last night he put away all the dishes; he filled my foot massager with water and set me all up to use it, since I can’t lift it. Then he took care of putting it all away. Later he propped my swollen feet up under pillows to try to reduce it. He has yet to miss an appointment with the Dr. I think it’s quite uncommon for them to see the spouses there all the time. He hangs up my jacket while I check in and holds my purse while I get weighed. He watches eagerly during every mini ultrasound to catch any glimpse he can of his baby girl and baby boy.
At the class, I think James was quite shocked by the process of the epidural. He said something afterwards about thinking it had been nothing more than a larger needle that goes into your back. He kept turning to me and shaking his head while the nurse went over what will happen and how it’s done. It’s really nice to see him so supportive, not that he wasn’t to begin with though. This was something I think that was harder for him to understand my concerns over, especially when thinking it was a difference of needle size.
I was glad to have one very important question I had be answered. That was, how do they know when to stop (the needle)? So, they don’t hit the spinal cord. The answer is that there are layers they can feel the needle go thru and when they reach the layer the epidural is placed in they will receive some clear fluid back. Additionally, there is another layer that is gone thru before hitting the spinal cord, which is the layer a Spinal block is put in at-this would be used for a c-section.
Afterwards I said to James my feelings were that the woman maybe ended up moving, or the Anesthesiologist t slipped accidentally and that the percentage (which the Anesthesiologist can give us) in which it’s happened is very low, especially considering that 50% of mothers use one. While none of this makes me or us any closer to wanting to say yes to one if given the option (that we don’t have a planned or emergency c-section before labour beings).
James said that he didn’t think we should place too high value on that moment of seeing the babies born, leaning towards trying without and if it ends up needing to be an emergency where they knock me out completely than that’s what it is. At this point, we just don’t know what the right choice is.
We both want the natural process for obvious and not so obvious reasons, but we need to decide what’s best for baby boy-since he’s the one not flipped yet and who could potentially be in danger. So that’s our new struggle.
Unfortunately no one saying they did this or that worked for them, or this is what they’d do really will help with our choice. So eventually I think we’ll just ‘know’ what’s right like everything else.
I honestly have no fears of being able to handle the labour without medication-it’s just that unknown for baby boy. The fear and tension that goes with it is part of what Lamaze teaches you to let go of, and I just don’t have any apprehensions about that part of it. It’s only temporary, right? I feel very in control of my pain and fears so that’ll help a gazillion times over. Sure, I’m open to that I might change my mind as well.
Our family/friends shower is in a few hours, so we cleaned up the house yesterday and did a few last minute things this morning. Yesterday we went out to the local park on the lake and James wanted to take along the camera to get some shots of “mom” and I was confused. He meant of me. He doesn’t remember seeing photos of his mom pregnant with him or his sister and was something he wanted to capture. We need more photos of you. Plus he got some practice with the camera. I’m going to upload some on the photos he took, they are quite reflective and moving actually and the shower photos, probably tomorrow while I’m off work. I have plans to bake cookies and freeze dough balls too, for after the twins are born. So check there Monday sometime.
April 15th, 2007
Thankfully, it seems the contractions have stopped for the most part as of late Sunday night. They continued thru the weekend steadily but I’ve only had a few random ones since. We are hoping this continues and that it was just dehydration or something I ate. Friday night we thought we might have to goto the hospital because I had over 10 in an hour, but I was doing things around the house after working 9 hours and having volunteered for 3 1/2 hours after work for a Special Olympics event. So after I laid down, they decreased.
I signed us up for our Childbirth Education-Lamaze class. We started that last night, from 6-9pm and it goes for three weeks. This will also include a tour of the Birthplace at the hospital in our town, which we’ll goto first regardless of when the babies come. Our Dr. will then decide if we goto the other hospital, if the babies aren’t matured enough.
I like the class so far, the woman teach it is a Mom of twin fraternal girls so I’m really looking forward to her being an open book for all my questions and it sounds as though she might have been able to have a natural birth. So I’m interested in learning the differences. Plus it sounds like she’s a member of the Fox Valley Mother of Twins Club. She gave everyone a flyer for a rummage sale that club is holding in the next few weeks. We’re going to check it out.
I had a most wonderful surprise at work on Wednesday- a Surprise Baby Shower! It was very overwhelming and humbling the generosity of my co-workers towards the babies, James and myself. I threw a wrench in their secret plans however, when my cube mate asked if I needed to goto lunch at any specific time, and I said I had planned to go to lunch at 11:30 upstairs (once a week a vendor comes in and serves food). The wrench was that the shower was scheduled for noon. So it took some fancy work on behalf of everyone to keep it a secret but still get me to the room on time, and with little suspicion. I knew a shower was coming, but didn’t know when so it was fun to hear the tactics used and planning that had been going on and me oblivious.
It was very lovely, with a lunch and loads of presents. Which you can check out in the gallery, and a hefty amount of gift cards, which we’ll have to find something to buy with for the kiddos. I felt a little out of place being the center of attention though. I think I walked in and saw everyone and went straight to the wall for some support, where I stayed for what felt like minutes but was most likely 30 seconds. It took me a little bit to realize what was really happening. I don’t think I’ve ever had a surprise party thrown in ‘my’ honour before.
This weekend we’re getting the house ready for the shower on the following Sunday at our house with my family and our friends. Cleaning and organizing mainly, my cousin, Roxanne is coming around and we are going to scrapbook , hopefully I can get my pregnancy album done before the shower-it might be nice to have around to show. Also the birth announcements in case these kids come early. So, I bet James will end up doing a lot of it.
Our appointment today went well.
I don’t have gestational diabetes, and am not anemic-the tests I took last week. My belly is measuring 36cm now, he thinks maybe he misread it last week because there is no way I grew 5cm in a week.
I didn’t really gain any weight, may have actually lost. The scale showed 2 lbs gained, but I last weeks appointment I wasn’t allowed to eat before and it was first thing in the morning and I had on shorts and a t-shirt and flip flops where as this time I had on pants and sneakers.
Excitingly baby girl is indeed in first position (at least as of today). She’s got her head in position to drop-when it’s time to drop. So she’d come out first, and they need the first baby to be head first. So as long as they stay where they are, we’ll be able to go natural. Then they’ll either try to flip baby boy or assist in that delivery.
We talked about pain options and when to call if I’m in labour. We have just 6 more weeks to 34 weeks which is our next milestone goal. They wouldn’t need to be in the NICU most likely then and we’d be able to deliver here in town, with our OB. The Lamaze teacher brought up that some OBs ‘require’ an epidural in a multiples birth, and so we were going to ask if our OB does. So it was nice for him to have brought it up before hand. And, while I’ve been trying to avoid an epidural I am now thinking a bit more about it. I’m not sure, because there are other reasons than my irrational thoughts of what if I am paralyzed that make me want to try naturally.
However, with a multiples pregnancy there are other things to consider. I might deliver the first baby fine, but the second baby has troubles and ends up needing a c-section after all. Having an epidural would allow for a speedy process if needed, allow James to be present and myself not to be knocked out completely. I don’t need to decide today, tomorrow or even before I go into labour so that’s nice. I’m not prepared to make the choice at this time.
Lastly, I’m so pleased with myself and my organization thus far. After we found out MOM was coming, we thought it was going to be for a month so I went into planning mode. Unfortunately it looks as though she won’t be able to stay that long. That’s okay, we’re happy that she’s able to come at all. But at that time, I wanted to make up meal plans with grocery lists for a few weeks, 7 meals and 2 sancks/desserts, so we’d just have to take the slip out of the cupboard, cross off what we already had and pickup the rest plus breakfast and lunch things. The week worth of recipes would be printed off and in the same place.
So I’ve been busy typing them all up. Guess what! I’m done with 5 weeks worth!! This means, that we won’t have to worry about what to eat for over a month after the babies are born, and chances are we’ll be ready to go back to week one when we get to week 5 so we can just keep cycling thru as needed until we have our routine in place. They are all Kraft recipes so they are simple, James will be able to cook a few nights as well without trouble. I put less complicated meats on those nights. I’m so excited. All I have left to do is go through the cupboards and organize the ingredients according to each week grocery list. I made tags for the cupboard shelves labeled, week one, week two, ect and then lunches, breakfast and staples (things we always keep on hand).
Ok, ramble done!
April 6th, 2007