Archive for May, 2007
I’m feeling particularly blessed and just plain happy today. I can’t think of a thing that would make me feel any better.
I got a funny e-mail from Wendy, James’ sister about pregnancy which made me smile. I got to talk to Miranda on the phone last night, makes being away a little hard, but I’m happy none the less.
My friends and family sent emails and are checking in, some by phone, all are concerned they won’t be told when the babies are born, which makes me feel really lucky. And of course they are also just curious. It feel the love all around.
I have James’ mom here to keep me company all day and it’s been really wonderful getting to know her even better and share this with her. I can’t express how much it means that she’ll be here for the birth, and my Dad & Pam as well.
My dad called to check on me the other day before going to work. I am really excited to see him with his first grandaughter, and new grandson. It makes me happy, but also tear a bit-it’s been so wonderful sharing this with him.
Things seem to be in order for the babies arrival and James and I are ready, but only when these little ones are ready too. Monday & Tuesday I had some contractions, but they seem to have gone away-false labour I’m guessing. All the people I want to be sharing in this event are either present or on the list to be called. I really couldn’t be any more excited or ready.
Everything is falling into place, I am overjoyed.
Kamie
May 31st, 2007
Had our 35 week appointment this morning. Nothing new to really report. James got to see the portable ultrasound a lot this time, or at least it seemed that way to me.
I’m not sure what I’m measuring, didn’t ask. But for twins, it honestly isn’t an indicator of much of anything from what we’ve been told. Didn’t get checked, so not sure if I’ve progressed at all. Hoping to keep the babies in at least another week, 2 is better still. I am still saying it’ll be next week sometime after Wednesday.
Group B from last week was negative, so I won’t need the antibiotics but since I’m 99% sure I’m getting an epidural now it doesn’t really matter as they’ll be putting an IV hookup in right away I’m sure.
Asked the Doctors advice on when to get the epidural and he said there wasn’t really a good answer, only because you just don’t know how things will progress and that it was better to do it sooner rather than later. I guess with two things can progress quicker, though it doesn’t mean it will. So I’m guessing shortly after 4cm, our hospital doesn’t really do them before that measurement.
I’m a bit disappointed, but in the end I know that I’ll never forgive myself if having had one would have prevented something bad from happening. It seems like a small price to pay. Being my fear of being paralized which is like 1 in over 100,000 or ensuring the twins safety.
In good news, Susie arrives tomorrow!
I’ve been cleaning up the house a little bit everyday in preperation for her arrival, and as a last good cleaning before the babies arrive. James will finish up whatever I don’t get to when he gets home from work tonight.
Been swelling like majorly by the end of the day, but there are no other signs-thankfully-that anything is wrong. Like my blood pressure, protein in sample or spots, ect. So it just seems normal. Doctor says that with twins your more likely just to have more swelling, more of everything even. 
I think I’ll take a nap sometime today, sleeping is getting pretty darn difficult. I’m very happy to see that the weather doesn’t look as terrible as it did earlier in the week for this long holiday weekend. However, it’ll probably mean more discomfort for me.
Well, that’s all from here.
Kamie
May 25th, 2007
Friday was a long appointment because we had both a full ultrasound, checkup and group b strep test. The strep test is normal for all pregnancies, just to see if Kam needs to take antibiotics before delivering.
The ultrasound was fun. Kamie’s cousin, Roxanne works for the same hospital system that we have been going to and is friends with several of the people that work there. One of the persons happens to work in the ultrasound area that we go to. Well on friday we got to meet her finally. She’s been visting this site and already knew us ahead of time. Hello Mindy! Thanks for making the appointment fun.
The ultrasounds are getting harder and harder to get a good shot of the kids. This time again baby boy was hiding. Didn’t really get a good shot of him. However, baby girl was in a perfect spot to show off. There are a few good 3d photos of her in the gallery.
Baby girl was weighing in at 4lbs 10oz, lying head down vertex position. Baby boy a little behind at 4lbs 5oz, head up, breech position. Both heartbeats are good. Baby girl gave us a great scene of her practicing breathing. It was very cool. Baby boy was doing the same, but not as noticable.
34 weeks was our first major milestone. Our odds of having to take the babies to NICU at St. E’s in Appleton are reduced. They still may have to go, but odds are greatly reduced. Since they were both practicing breathing was a great sign, showing that they are ready to do it on there own. Kam had read that 99% of singletons survive without assistance or long term effects from premature birth at this point.
Kam had attended her first Mothers of Multiples meeting on thursday, and found out from several of the moms who have been through the experience that we will actually be delivering in the operating room, instead of the birthing room like we had expected. So when we got to the checkup portion she asked our Doctor if that would be the case. Unfourtunatly we found out yes it is. It’s not horrible, and we are happy we found out ahead of time, but it would have been nice to deliver in the birthing room. Oh well. They do it this way to ensure they can do whatever is necessary a.s.a.p. From what we’ve read and heard, we can deliver naturally at least for baby girl right now with her being head down, but baby boy could be trouble.
All it comes down to is that the twins have higher risks for problems during delivery, like the cords, the placenta, not wanting to turn, heart rates, breathing, etc. So we need to be in the O/R to be able to get them out quick. Because of all this Kam has had to reconsider the epidural for the sake of the babies, mostly wildcard baby boy. Too many chances for needing a quick c-section, and other problems mean that for saftey of the twins, our Doctor has been suggesting that Kam gets one. We’ll see how things go. With any luck baby boy might finally turn around too.
Other then that the appointment was fine, Kam is doing great, and according to the doctor she is begining to efface. Still doesn’t really tell us much though. Could be tomorrow, could be 3 weeks. Kam hopes it isn’t 3 weeks. The uncomfort level increases daily.
That’s all I can think of for now. Checkout the gallery for the latest photos.
James
May 19th, 2007
Boy it has been a while since my last post. As I type this Kam is telling me “it’s about time!”.
The time is really moving fast now. Kam is growing by the day, and the third trimester has been rough. She’s back to being tired, and is getting more and more uncomfortable by the day. She’s a trooper though. I can see that the pregnancy is tiring her, but at the same time she has a will, a determination that is hard to describe. Uncomfortable, pain be damned she unconsciously displays, as she is so happy to be this way.
The kids are doing well which is great. I’ve tried, but still can’t imagine what it must feel like to have these living growing children inside of you. At least I’ve been able to experience them on the outside somewhat. Occasionally, they have been sticking out far enough to see a noticeable bump in Kam’s belly. Baby girl is especially good at sticking what we assume is her bum out. Also, at times, when I’m lucky enough to catch it, they punch or kick so hard it will raise my hand. Strong little guys
I really enjoyed taking the birth classes. It really cleared up for me just what labor is going to be like. I thought I had an idea, but found out I really didn’t. The teacher was excellent. She provided just what I was looking for. Directions. There are stages of labor, and I wrote down what I should be doing during each one. I’m prepared. Or at least I think I am.
Any day now. My son, my daughter. A proud dad. I wish my dad could have been here for it.
May 11th, 2007
Our appointment this morning was good and quick. We saw a different Dr. since our OB/GYN is out this week. The stand in was very nice. He used a doppler to find the babies heartbeats instead of the ultrasound which was neat. It’s the first time we’ve heard the heartbeats other than on Ultrasound. Baby boy was 153 and baby girl was 141. I’m measuring 40cm, he said that last week I was measuring 38cm, so I hadn’t grown any then.
Next week we’ll have our last ultrasound and a Group B Strep test, but our Dr. will be back to do that. Yey.
Onward to my week in review.
Some things about being home are great, like for instance being able to sleep in until 10:30 because you had a terrible time sleeping during the night. I think it was partly the warmer weather and then, just the babies themselves thought it was playtime and proceeded to kick and punch for 1 1/2 hours straight.
I’m happy that they are active, but baby girl really likes to stick her bum and back up and out and it can get quite uncomfortable, even painful at times. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she’s in the spot she’s in. She’s not only presenting (in first position) and head down, but she’s also looking at my back, which is optimal for a natural birth… but she’s a firecracker some days. Tried to get a photo of it, I reviewed it on the camera but I think we just missed it.
Others sorta suck. The contractions haven’t really stopped, though they haven’t increased, which is good and really is a main reason for my being home. Since the contractions went from 3 an hour on Monday at work, to 6 an hour by Wednesday. I still am having anywhere from4-6 an hour-but at least now I am able to lay down on the couch for an hour and they go away, at which point I get up and the day begins over again where I have a few the first hour, and they get more frequent as I do.
I did manage to get the birth announcments all done. I’m *very* happy with them. I also addressed the envelopes for them and affixed the postage already. We’ll just need to slip a photo in each of them after the babies arrive.
I also was able to repack my hospital bag, and together James and I went thru the kids bag again, and his list of what to bring. He also rewrote his notes in a notebook with things like who to call, and what each stage was, what he needs to do when I go into labour and all that type of thing so he’s feeling really organized as well. Now it’s the waiting game.
It’s getting so close. I mean in 1/2-4 1/2 weeks (though it of course, could be sooner we just want to make it at minimum to Wednesday) we are going to be parents, parents to two babies.
Here’s the breakdown of our goals;
5 days-1st goal (34 weeks)
15 days-2nd goal (Susie’s (MIL) arrival)
26 days-3rd goal (37 weeks)
33 days-final goal-make the babies come (38 weeks)
*there isn’t a date set to make them come, just will be done on or around this date as Dr. doesn’t like his twins to go past 38 weeks.
I’ve found a really awesome website with forum to post on that’s all mothers of twins, and so that’s sort of keeping me sane. Otherwise I think being home all day has given way to some anxious, nervous feelings. Totally normal feelings, but feelings nonetheless.
Another nice thing about being home is being able to nap. I didn’t really realize how tired I was at work, I sort of just pushed thru it then and crashed when I got home. It’s really nice to be able to stay up till 9pm again. Oh, and being able to lay down, or get a cool rag for the nausea that’s creeped up. I was really fortunate in the first trimester to not have a lot of morning sickness, but I told James the other day that I won’t know when the ‘flu-like symptom’ of labour begins because I’ve been dealing with it for weeks now. The days of feeling sick just from brushing my teeth are back.
I have a few more things to take care of before the kids arrive, but nothing that can’t be skipped. Basically going over things we already did, and re-organizing them.
James brought the bassinet down into the living room over the weekend and filled it with changing items and a few blankets. So that room is ready for the kids use. I don’t think we’ll be in there often-but it’ll be nice to have somewhere to set down at least one baby when needed.
He set up the new pack-n-play we picked up over the weekend. I decided that for the first few weeks it’d be really nice-especially if I end up having a c-section-to not have to reach down as far into the basket as the other pack-n-play. Plus we will need two eventually when the twins get bigger, so we used our gift card from Uncle Dennis & Aunt Judy and picked it up. He also put away all the ‘older’ toys and installed batteries into all the ones we’ll use right away.
May 11th, 2007
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