Almost 2 weeks old....

and doing great!
Daniel is back to his birth weight and Melissa is up to 3 lbs, 14 oz. They are both taking feeds from a bottle which is a huge milestone on their journey to come home.

Daniel is continuing to stink out the nurses while filling his diaper. He is the “Atomic Pooper”. Melissa is the “Champion Sucker” when it comes to their feedings.

It is hard to believe that they will be 2 weeks old tomorrow…..I don’t know where the time has gone.

There is going to be a Halloween Party tomorrow in the NICU. Daniel will be dressed as an Eagles Player and Melissa an Eagles Cheerleader. I got the costumes at Build A Bear, which is the only place that had costumes that were small enough for our little peanuts. Should make for some really cute pictures.

10 day update

Melissa's Big Yawn

Melissa in Pink

Daniel in blue

Daniel and his binkie

Daniel and Melissa are doing better than everyone expected. On Wednesday, they were moved to the step down unit and Melissa came off of her nasal cannula. They are both off of their IV fluids and only have their NG (feeding) tubes in place.

We made an attempt yesterday to put Daniel to breast. He made a few good efforts but the nurse also was giving him his milk at a really fast rate and Daniel decided to spit up quite a bit. The nurse was brand new....ok, first time bad on me, second time, bad on you).

Melissa did much better. She took 5 cc from the breast and is a champion sucker!!!! This would be the first thing she has gotten to do that Daniel hasn't done before. I am very proud of her.

They are changing so much every day. They are more awake and are wearing their little onesies that SDM got for them. They look so adorable. (THANK YOU!)

I am sleeping better and only need my pain meds at night. Pumping is going pretty well too. First thing in the morning after a night's rest is the best. I am getting more than 6 oz. I hopefully will be able to start freezing some of my milk so we have a store of it.

I am going back for their noon feeding today after I get some running around done. I have lost 38.6 lbs since I delivered them and and only 8.4 lbs away from what I weighed in high school! I have gotten close to that in several dieting attempts but never made it. Now that I am nursing it is easy. I can eat just about anything I want and the weight is falling off. Kind of neat......

Actual Birth......

The actual video of my c-section on 10/16/07

Kind of bloody and not for the squeemish....

Daniel was first, Melissa was second...

Just wanted to update everyone...

The kids are doing well and have started to put on weight. Daniel is a pooping machine and Melissa is not...she may even need some help in that department. We shall see.

I am still getting up to pee a lot and that of course wakes hubby up. The pain is so so. It is really mind over matter at this point. I have my meds and take them when I need them. I am trying to rest but feel like I have so much to do. Mom and Kirsten were a huge help over the weekend and I will be eternally greatful for all of their undertakings.

For the next little while, my schedule is going to consist of being at the hospital by 7:30 am to pump for Daniel (who eats at 8 am) and then be there for rounds so I can get my updates directly from Dr. Eddie (our neonatologist). Then, Melissa gets her feeding at 9 am. I hold them for about 30 minutes after each feeding. I will then come home to rest.

When hubby gets home from work, we will go back over to the hospital for their mid afternoon feedings or evening feeding, whichever time permits. Daniel eats at 12,4,8,12,8,12 again, Melissa is an hour behind.
Daniel is up to 20-30 mls per feeding. Melissa is up to 12 mls. Can you say "Mama Moo". I am one pumping individual at this point.

They are doing great! Daniel is off of his photo therapy lights and Melissa never needed them at all. Melissa still has a small supplement of oxygen and they both getting a bolus of caffeine every morning. Like mother like daughter and son. I need my caffeine too.

So, if you can't reach me at home, try my cell phone. If I am not answering, it means that I am probably with the kids in the NICU and I will get back to you.

Thank you for all of your love, prayers and support. We are very blessed.

Introducing "The Vise Squad"

Daniel Allen
Melissa Elaine

ARRIVAL

Daniel and Melissa joined us on tuesday at 12:41 and 12:42 pm on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007.
They weighed 3 lbs and 9 oz and 3 lbs and 13 oz and were 16" and 16 3/4" long.

They are both in the NICU and doing well. I am home now and will write more and post pictures as soon as time permits.

We made it to 31 weeks.

I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. It seems only days ago that I was staring at the picture of our little 5 celled embryos and now there is a solid 6.5 lbs of baby in my belly that are constantly reminding me of their presence.

The perinatologist told me last week that if contractions started after 32 weeks, they most likely would do nothing to stop them. I am not really in that much of a hurry and would like to let these puppies cook until they are good and ready and the risk factorys for RDS are alot lower. Not that I want to be in the hospital any longer than necessary.... He feels that any time that we get after Halloween is bonus. My regular doctor, however, thinks that I will make it to Thanksgiving....he keeps telling me not to worry and that I "will stretch". HA! I literally feel like I cannot stretch anymore. My bellly is sooooo hard.

We had a great time at the baby shower on Sunday. There were a few less people than I would have hoped for but a good time was had by all nonetheless.

We got lots of stuff for the babies and I spent most of Monday sorting through the gift bags that took up 3/4 of my kitchen. It looked like "Babies R Us" threw up all over the place.

I am fighting a little bit of a cold right now. It is the really the first time I haven't felt good since the morning sickness subsided around 14 weeks. I think I have been very lucky. Better to have a cold now than when I am at the hospital. I kept poor Hubby awake last night with my snoring....paybacks can be sooooo sweet! He does this to me nearly every night despite the use of the breather right strips.....

I am getting excited. I am slowly putting together my "hospital bag" and picking up last minute items that we did not receive as gifts. It is just so surreal that in a few weeks, there are going to be 4 of us, not just 2. I mean, I am going to be someone's mom, two people's mom....that just seems so weird to me.

Next week I start my Fetal Non Stress Testing at the hospital. I will be going twice a week until the kids arrive. I also go back to the OB's office for another check up.

The kids are kicking and have discovered that they can get their heads up under my ribs. That is almost as uncomfortable as when the discovered they can kick down and back and kick me in the guts. They are going to athletes....I can tell!!!

So, I guess we are in the final "stretch". (No pun intended!) I have put on 22.5 lbs since my first visit to the doctors at 12 weeks. I am pretty happy with that since it seems reasonable that I will be able to lose that weight pretty quickly. My goal is to get back to my pre IVF weight (the same as I weighed in high school). I have done it once before and I am sure that I will be able to do it again.

Baby Shower....

( Daniel and Melissa's Cake)

( Bottle Challenge)


( Clothesline from Julie and Janet)

Well, we had a blast at our baby shower yesterday. Daniel and Melissa received lots and lots and lots of goodies. Today I am sorting through everything try to find places to things. These kids are going to be the best dressed kids in town.

We played a few games, including "the diaper game" with melted candy bars. Go Julie and Janet...you are both winners to me!

Some of the guys took the bottle challenge and raced to see who could finish their bottle first. This was hysterical! 4 grown men and alcohol in baby bottles!!!

We also had a beautful cake with pink and blue booties on it! I have tons left over if anyone wants some......

I am a little tired today, the kids, however don't seem bothered by my exhaustion. They are still pretending they are George Foreman and Muhammed Ali right now. They had me up at least 4 times in the night. I know...get used to sleep deprivation......

Pictures from our trip to mom and dad's house

30 week update on the twins

I've just returned from my visit to the perinatologist and received wonderful news.

Our little boy (the tiny one) had started to catch up to his sister.

Daniel weighs 3 lbs 1 oz and Melissa weighs 3.9 oz.The doctor reminded me that anything after Halloween is bonus time and that he to believed that I will not make it to my due date or scheduled c-section date.

We are not out of the woods yet, but things are looking better.

We are VERY happy and blessed!

Go Phillies!!!!!!

At least one of us is comfortable

Growing Concern

I was literally stunned at what the ultrasound tech found yesterday at our monthly growth scan. As it turns out, our little twins are more than a pound different in weight. It is called Discordant Twins. Baby A is 1 lb and 15 oz (+ or - 5 oz) and Baby B is 2 lbs and 11 oz (again + or - 5 oz) according to the tech's measurements.

It was bad enough that I had to wait an extra 25 minutes while she finished her lunch, but was then instructed to lay on my back with my legs out in front of me (which is a new form a torture that I had never dreamed of). My chiropractor had told me to avoid doing this at all costs. I explained how bad my lower back was and told her that I would try.

So, the scanning started. Normally I cannot take my eyes off of the monitor but I literally thought that I was going to be sick. I broke into a cold sweat and thought that I would pass out at any minute. And for some reason, the scan hurt. I don't know what was different. I have had dozens of scans and never once (including the internals) ever hurt. The tech finally asked if I was okay and I told her that I didn't think so. She told me to roll over on my left side, not offering any assistance, of course and I nearly rolled off the table. She did her best to finish the scan and then placed a towel over my belly and told me she had to go to speak with one of the doctors. Keep in mind, I have yet to actually meet any of the Perinatologists that are "caring" for me.

Dr. Mushmouth came in and walked over to the ultrasound machine. I guess it was a new machine since neither the tech nor the doctor had any idea how to scroll through the pages. I glanced at the estimated weights and my jaw dropped. Baby B had always been a little bigger than Baby A but to see more than a pound difference shocked me. Dr. Mushmouth pulled out his blackberry and started to do some calculations, humming here and there, adding in a few are "you sure on that", and the occasional "that's odd". He told me that B was big. Really big. I am not exactly a waif myself, and did tip the scaled at 9lbs 1oz when I was born, but having one baby who is measuring normally and one really big baby is scary. The bigger B gets, the less room that A will have to grow. There is something called Intrauterine Growth Restriction that they are concerned about. I don't know if that means that they are going to deliver me early or what. I have a call into my regular OB's office and am awaiting a call back but for the first time in a long time, I am SCARED.

The perinatologists want to see me in three weeks again rather than 4 weeks, which has been my routine. I see the regular OB next week. I am trying not to focus too much of my energy on this and pray that Baby A is a fighter.

Prayers would be appreciated...

3D/ 4D Ultrasound images

Saluting Daddy!

Cute little face on baby A Side of Baby B's face and little hand under the chin... (below)

They weren't as clear as we would have liked, but considering they were kicking the crap out of each other, it is amazing we have any images at all.

Stuff for the kids...

We are planning on getting this swing / bouncer combo with music and vibration.

And these are our New Carseats for the little ones.... Thanks Mom and Dad!

3D/4D today : Family Connections

Today is a day that both hubby and I have been looking forward to almost since we found out that we were pregnant. We are having our 3D/4D ultrasound this afternoon. We will finally be able to see the faces of our children. My parents are driving in today from Pittsburgh to share this amazing experience and then will stay overnight. Hubby has to work tomorrow, so I am sure that Mom and Dad and I will do some more baby shopping. I think they are getting really excited.

Keep in mind that they do have other grandchildren. My sister, who lived in Massachusetts, has a son and a daughter (almost 8 and 3 1/2 years old respectively) and Mom was very used to getting to spend time with them prior to their move to PGH. My parents are only 19 months away from retirement and hopefully, will settle closer to us so that they will have the opportunity to spend some quality time with our children when they are growing up. I t is important to me that the kids know their grandparents. When I was growing up, I had a Grandfather who lived in Florida and Grandmother who lived in Washington, both of whom, I never got to spend too much time with. I have had to deal with that my entire life, not feeling a real close connection with them. I got close to my Grandfather a few months before he passed away, but that was because for the first time, he was living under our roof. Hubby's mother passed away years ago and his dad is in a "old soldier's home" in North Dakota, so that chances of the kids making a really meaningful connection there are pretty slim.

Must go and have my cup of coffee and start some laundry (much overdue) and do some last minute straightening up around the house before the parental arrival.

Oh, and I will post some pictures later this evening of Rumble and Tumble.....

Did I mention that their favorite time of day is between 2 and 5 am. Lots of kicking, punching, general mayhem. And these kids are strong...

I think I am going to be in a lot of trouble when they finally arrive.

Visit to OB's Office

Well, I almost missed my OB appointment. I got up, made coffee, drank half a cup and fell asleep on the couch, waking 15 minutes before my appointment time. So, I hurried to the shower thanking GOD that the office is around the corner. The visit was pretty uneventful. I am measuring at 33 weeks if this were a singleton pregnancy but of course, it's not. I got to see the little ones and they literally have their heads together. The are both head down but Melissa is being a uterus hog. She is on her had and folded like an upside down "L". She has her legs straight out. She is our little kicker. Daniel is doing fine and growing normally. He is going to be the quiet one, I can tell already.


So, the first week of September, I am do go for my glucose tolerance testing and see the OB again in a month. After that visit, we are on the every two week schedule. Then at 32 weeks, it will be back and forth to the hospital for ultrasound and Fetal Non Stress testing EVERY WEEK until they arrive or our C-section date rolls around. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going.


I am starting to actually outgrow some of my maternity clothing. Oh JOY!


But, according to their records, I have only put on 13lbs since I got pregnant in March, so I am celebrating! After my visit, the girls at the front desk seemed flustered. I thought they needed some inspiration to get them through the rest of the day so I went home and whipped up a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies and took them back over. They were thrilled! It was the least that I could do for the office that I count on more than anyone.

And we are at the six month mark...

and time is flying by. We have had 3+ days of rain and cool weather here in the Philadelphia suburbs and it is not helping my lower back. Any suggestions for stretches to help alleviate the pain?

My parents move today. They are being transferred from CT to a town just north of Pittsburgh. It will be their last move before retirement. I will get to see them next weekend as we are scheduled for our 3D/4D ultrasound at Womb With A View. I am getting more and more excited to see the little one's faces. The kids have been very active the last few days. On Saturday, while taking a bath, I noticed a lump on the right side of my belly which I am guessing was someone's rear end. It was too cute. I pushed on it and in a few seconds it was back. Someone got their mommy's butt....

Off to nap for a few hours.....

Our baby pool!!!!

This will be for our friends who we have not shared to babies' sexes with for the baby shower. I designed it myself and am rather proud of it!

Almost 23 Weeks and needless to say...my back is killing me. I am all babies up front.

I have yet another ultrasound tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be uneventful and I can just lay there and enjoy seeing my babies.

Mom and Dad came down over the weekend to deliver the crib, dresser and dressing table. Grandma wants to buy us a second crib but there is really no rush on that. They are sharing me and can share a crib for a while after they are born.

I am feeling more and more tired. I discovered that I can no longer lay flat on my back without bending my knees up because it hurts my back too much. I am going to call tomorrow to see if htere is anything I can do besides taking tylenol (which does nothing, incidentally!). The pain is really something. Normally I can put up with most anything but this is starting to get to me.

Both babies are very active. I get kicks and punches several times daily, sometimes all night too. I hope they get their sleep cycles sorted out soon.

I was at the store yesterday and a slaes clerk asked me "how much longer?". You should have seen her face when I told her 3 1/2 months....

My feet are starting to swell. I am starting to leak. My back hurts. Other than that...it is a fabulous pregnancy.

15 Years Later

Ellen, Me, Karen and Karen...15 years after high school....... We had a terrific time at dinner last night.

I am so fortunate to have such amazing friends.

Birthday Plans

So, Hubby will be taking Wednesday off (8/1) for my birthday and has told me that we can go anywhere I want. I am torn between Wildwood and Cape May NJ. It is just so much fun to see Hubby pig out on "fair" food. He just can't control himself. If it is deep fired, it will end up in his mouth. He is such a little kid like that. He is also the best "crane game" player I have ever seen. Our kids will not be hurting for stuffed animals.

I won't be able to ride any of the rides but they do have a couple of water parks and great beaches. I also toyed with the idea of taking a whale watching / dolphin watching tour. It would be kind of a let down after our trip to Discovery Cove and actually getting to swim with dolphins.

The weather is supposed to be nice and since it is midweek, I hope not too crowded. I haven't been to a NJ beach since 1992 if you can believe it!!!