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!!!

And the beat goes on

I've made it to five months. This is officially my longest pregnancy to date. The kids are doing well and growing like crazy. I could, however, do without the 3 am "Rumblefest". It is nuts!!! I end of rolling from my left to right side and neither one of them are happy about it. Yesterday, I was up at 3 am and decided to be nice to the hubby and let him sleep. He really appreciated it. I was totally wiped by the end of the day and nearly missed my favorite TV show "Rescue Me". I was never really a big Denis Leary fan before the show, but now I just love him.

Mom and Dad are off on vacation to Old Orchard Beach in Maine. We were hoping to join them but a 12 hour drive is not recommended or well tolerated. Maybe next year.

The reality that the kids will be here in four months is starting to set in. The other reality that I will be turning 33 years old is also setting in. We are trying to work out arrangements to get the crib from Mom and Dad but they are being transferred AGAIN this month and will now be nearly 7 hours away instead of just 5 hours. I am bummed about that. I really want our kids to know their Grandparents. Hubby's family is all out in North Dakota and his Dad is not doing well. We will try to get out there sometime in the spring or summer. No way am I dragging two infants to North Dakota in the dead of winter.....

So, the hum drum continues.

Pictures from Our Trip to Connecticut

Me and Mom and my Birthday Cake

The Family

19 weeks today!

I had my 2nd of 3 scheduled ultrasounds this week. It kind of sucks because I won't have another one until next month. It just seemed to be the way the schedule worked out.

I don't know what it is with ultrasound techs. They are either great or they completely suck. Yesterday, Tom, our tech at WWAV was OUTSTANDING!!! I couldn't ask for a better experience. Today, Penny, was just a bump on a log. I tried numerous times to engage her in even the most polite conversation and she was silent. I am not sure what her deal was but on the way home, I told hubby that when the kids were old enough, I was going back to school to become an ultrasound tech just so that no other woman would have to go through some of the experiences that I have had to. I mean, this is a happy time. At least try to act like you enjoy your job, I am mesmerized by the images on the screen and would love to do that for a living. Not Penny..... Maybe she ran out of coffee, maybe she is PMSing, maybe she is just a miserable person, I don't know.

Anyway, Melissa (Baby B) is weighing in at a whopping 11 oz (estimated, of course) and Daniel is catching up at 9 oz. I figured that since Melissa was kicking the crap out of her brother, she was had a pretty good leg workout this week and as we all know, muscle weighs more than fat. I think I am going to have a little girl very similar to her mom. I was, am and have always been the "athletic one" in my family. Hubby is of course, quieter than me, tall and lanky. This should be an interesting experience.

Hubby was nearly in tears yesterday upon finding out that we were having a boy. He is the oldest in his family and the last chance for the family name to be carried on in a direct blood line. He has several step brothers. He is already planning on building an obstacle course on the back yard. He just had this grin on his face last night like a kid at Christmas. I am just so happy that his dreams are coming true too. Don't get me wrong, he is excited about the babies in general, but since he has three grown daughters, he just never figured that he would ever have the chance to raise a son.

My Aunt is visiting my parents this week and she has already been shopping for lots of pink and blue and I am sure that my mother has. My Grandmother, who will be 93 tomorrow is busy knitting for the kids and is happy about the news and not having to do everything in green and yellow. I happen to like green and yellow but.......

I am feeling a bit tired and think that I will lay down for a few minutes before moving on to my chores for the day.

Ultrasounds from Yesterday

The Ketchup Song

So, yesterday, hubby calls me from work and has decided that the suspense is killing him. He wants to know the sexes of the babies. Keep in mind that he has 3 daughters from his first marriage (all grown and all on their own), and the idea of 5 daughters made him want to set himself on fire and run down the street. At least, that is what he was telling everyone.

We are going to Connecticut this weekend to help celebrate my Grandmother's 94th birthday. he thought that it would be nice if we had some updated Ultrasound images and hopefully found out the sexes. So, yesterday, I call WWAV (Womb With A View) and see if they have anything for this week. I know that 19 weeks is early for a 3D / 4D ultrasound, (the kids just don't have enough fat to make it look really nice) so we opted for the 2D with the gender determination. So, I set up the appointment for today. He called me this morning and wanted to know if I was singing the Ketchup Song. (Anticipation-Carly Simon used a few years ago in a commercial). I just laughed. I was counting the hours......

Hubby came home from work early to pick me up and we drove to WWAV. What a super nice place with really super nice staff. They display all of the images on a big TV so that the Daddies can see without kinking their necks.

Our normally crazy-active Baby B was being pretty quiet upon first glance. And modest. Nothing like Mommy!!! Baby A was locking his legs together and being shy as well. We probed and probed and finally they got used to the idea that we were on a mission and no matter what they did, we were going to find out. By the way.....both of them were chewing on the umbilical cords....I never knew that, but clear as day, they were chewing away.

Their heart rates were both in the 140's and their sacs are huge and "condo-like". They both decided to let their guard down and we were able to see "baby junk".

We are having one of each.

Baby A is a little boy

Baby B is a little girl.

Welcome Daniel Allen and Melissa Elaine!

Mommy and Daddy couldn't be happier!

Trip To Triage

Well, yesterday was a bit of an adventure. Monday afternoon, I started to have some pretty serious cramping and called the Dr. I was advised to push my fluid intake, take Tylenol for my slight fever and get on my left side. I can deal with a low tech approach and called hubby to let him know. He, of course, races home to care for me.


Tuesday, I get up. no fever, but cramping is still "significant". I call Dr. again. The nurse, who I really like, tells me that I may need to go on a "trip" but that she will talk to him and call me back.


Three and a half hours later, I receive the call. Yes, The Dr wants you to go to triage to be checked out. I was honestly expecting and office visit, not a trip to the hospital. Did I mention the 96 degree heat here yesterday......


So, hubby again, races home and loads me into the Jeep and away we go. We arrived at 1:30pm and were told to go to the 4th floor where they would be expecting me. Mind you, the last trip to this hospital was an 8+ hour ordeal ofter our first embryo retrieval I am asked to give a sample, which I was more than happy to do and then get into bed.


The nurse came in, did a brief history, and put me on a monitor. Hubby finally got to hear the heat beats of his little ones. His face lit up despite the uncertainty of what was going on. We were then seen by a P.A. who was super nice and understanding about the fact that these babies were the result of nearly 2 years of fertility treatments and did her best to calm our fears.


She decided to ultrasound my belly and much to our surprise, baby "B" was kicking the living sh*t out of baby "A". OH MY GOD!!!! Baby "A" is pointed down and "B" is pointed up and "B" was kicking "A" in the head and punching everything in sight. I guess this is normal but "A" did not seem to appreciate it very much. "B" is going to be just like Mommy!!! All of this activity is causing some spasm of the round ligaments and causing my cramping. Thank God it was not early contractions.


I asked the nice P.A. if she could tell the sexes of the babies. We are a pretty good idea what "B" is but "A" was sitting "Indian Style" and we couldn't get a clear view. They are huge, by the way. It never fails to amaze me how fast they are growing. We were out of traige within 2 hours and I am to push my fluids and rest. I can do that.


We came home and I went to bed (or at least laying on the bed). The mayhem continued in my belly until after 11 pm when I think "B" tired out.


Today, I am off to the genetic counselor (finally) and will post again with whatever info they can provide about our elevated risk from the quad screen.


Keeping all of our fingers crossed for the girls "in the dugout" this week....

Frustrating Week (Warning...R A N T)

So, let's just recap this week:

Found out that we are at an elevated risk on our quad screen (1:171). I wasn't expecting that and am still starting to deal with the possibilities of the big what if. Not that it matters...the genetic counseling that I should have had 5 weeks ago (that I am still waiting for), would not make a difference. We would not be able to terminate after 16 weeks (not that we would) even if it was some horrific genetic anomaly. Please see below....

(my rant......please excuse me, but I have to get this out or I am seriously going to lose it)

Had ultrasound yesterday. Appointment was for 1PM.

We arrived early, only to have to tolerate the world's fussiest two year old in the waiting room. Yes, that is adorable, let's let you son flick the lights on and off and laugh about it while the pregnant woman five feet from him contemplates his demise. Let me just say....my children WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT act like that in public. Mashing bananas into the seat cushions is not cute, nor endearing. Despite arriving earlier than the little monster's mommy, she was seen before me. Mind you, I am to have a full bladder for these "monthly growth scans".

Finally, we are taken back and it must have been my lucky day. I got a student. Yes, a student. Maybe 22 years old, at the most. How nice. Last time, I wasn't seen by the Doctor because he was "too busy" and the idiot at the front desk neglected to put genetic counseling on the schedule. This time, I get someone who is not even completed their training.

Example:

"these are the leg bones" she says

duh...can you say femur- I quietly think to myself

"these are the arm bones" she says

again, humerus, radius, ulna...we are going to measure their length-

I wonder what kind of anatomy they teach at her school. Sorry. I was a premed major and took years of anatomy and physiology and would expect that in a professional office, we would call things by their true names.

This place is a total joke. So after 50+ minutes, I finally have to empty my bladder. I come back in the room and there is another tech there. She takes over the ultrasound. I inquire again about determining the sexes..."well, it is too early" (Bullsh*t)...." and I don't like to make guesses". "We should be able to tell you when you come back next month". Oh heck no....we are not coming back. I am going to have the remainder of the scans done at another facility for fear that I will actually go off on these people.

Incidentally, I had to tell them that we had a positive quad screen and the student looked at me as if I had a third arm growing out of the middle of my forehead. "Duh, what's that"?

Ok....I have been through two years in infertility, prior to that I had an unexplained miscarriage in 1999, and I am carrying twins. Ummm hello anyone......

H I G H - R I S K

...please at least act like you have reviewed my chart.

So, needless to say, we are done there. We will take ou chances somewhere else. I am beyond frustrated. I don't wholly understand the whole quad screen thing and have tons of questions that no one seems willing or able to take the time to answer.

I am just trying to stay calm. Pray for my little miracles (each weighing 5-6 oz). I am carrying a can of soda and feel like I am carrying a gallon of milk.

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh.

But aren't my babies lovely?

16 weeks ultrasound images

Baby A

Baby B
Both Babies

Unexpected Report

Well, I just got off the phone with my ob's office. They were calling with my quad screen results from last week. I honestly hadn't thought much about the test until they called. Well, I am in an elevated risk category. Apparently, there is a 1 in 171 chance that one or both of our babies will have some kind of genetic issue (Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 21, etc). The nurse seemed to think that it had more to do with my age and ethnicity (ummmm....Lilly White and 32 years and 10 months) and that there is a 99.4% chance that everything will be fine. They are glad that we are schedule fro our ultrasound tomorrow. I know that this means that I may have to endure an amniocentesis and that is something I am not looking forward to.

Nevertheless, there is concern. I almost wish I did not opt to take the test. Ignorance is bliss.

Warning.......... Belly Shot

Okay.....




Keep in mind...it is TWINS.......






15 weeks and 3 days........






I am actually measuring at 20 weeks......






Holy Crap..............




I'm gonna need my own zip code........

15 Weeks and fluttering.

Saw Dr. H, my regular OB/GYN on Wednesday. I am measuring 20 weeks in size. Just think, that is half way for a singleton pregnancy. It was a quick scan and they look amazing (sorry, no pics this time). I am so used to doing trans vaginal ultrasounds, it is kind of nice to be on a table with my pants up and only have my belly showing. I have lost all modesty at this point. They were bouncing around and waving their arms (with really long fingers).

Last night laying in bed, I felt a little flutter near my belly button. I think it was in response to hubby putting his head on my belly to see what he could here. The only thing he said he could hear was a fart (bubbles from drinking water all day)... that got us both laughing. I think I woke the kids up and that was their protest. It was very cool. Also, I finally got to hear the heartbeats. I don't know how this got missed at our other appointments. They were both right around 145-150 beats per minute.

I also made all of my perinatal and genetic counseling appointments (at least the one's I can schedule) today. The receptionist / nurse laughed because we scheduled into November. She reminded me that with a twin pregnancy "You never know". At least, I am trying to plan ahead....

Hubby is taking next Friday off for my next fetal scan in Abington. I wasn't crazy about their office when I went the beginning of the month so I will be going to one of the "outer hospitals" for the remainder. It is a lot closer to home (20 minutes versus 45 without traffic) and you don't have to pay for parking. I hate parking garages. I guess it just reminds me of all of the time I spent flying around when I was training software and getting back into town trying to remember where I parked. I have lost hours of my life at LGA and Kennedy airports.

Also, I am getting winded doing the smallest things. I can make it down the stairs, but going up seems to leave me short of breath and my heart pounding. It is all normal. Wow....this is going to be a long few months.

Hubby is on his way home, should go put the doggies out to greet their daddy.....

So, our 14 week ultrasound is being rescheduled until next Wednesday. My mother called last night to let us know that my Uncle Bob had passed away. He was my Grandfather's youngest brother and was such a trip. When I was little, I can remember going over to his house and his entire basement was all Lionel trains. It was the coolest thing. He was the only person in the world who I knew personally that smoked. Amazingly, it was not lung cancer that killed him. He came to our wedding and seemed so frail to me. He took over during the reception, requesting our pianist to play songs he liked to sing too. It was a riot.

I will be driving up to Buffalo for the services on Friday instead of having my ultrasound. I spoke with my ob and got his approval. Hubby is worried, of course, about me driving 6 1/2 hours by myself. It's no big deal, I've got my ipod, my cell phone and a map...I'll be just fine.

I've also discovered that Burger King onion rings are the arch enemy of the pregnant woman. I thought I wanted them yesterday but by last night, I was sure that I had made a huge mistake. Thank God for TUMS..... Am feeling much better this morning.

So Friday morning, I will get up with hubby and head off to the wilds of Buffalo. Mom and dad and I will be staying at a motel up there in lieu of staying with my aunt (long story). It will be nice to see my home city again. We didn't go this year for our anniversary due to all of my morning sickness.

Hoping that the babies are doing fine. I hate waiting to see them. I don;t know how low risk women can go their entire pregnancies with only one or two ultrasounds. I have grown so used to seeing them every week or two. I ma sure they are going to be much bigger next Wednesday. Who knows, maybe we can even find out the sexes......that would be great!!!

13 weeks today

Things have been pretty quiet recently. Last Friday, I went for my NT scan and the kids were doing just fine. I didn't get to meet with a doctor which was disappointing to say the least. It was nice to see both of the kids moving around for such a long time. I have another ultrasound on the 15th and then again on the 29th. I guess I should get used to trips at least every 2 weeks. I was used to seeing the kids every week and honestly, it was hard to go 2 weeks, but I made it. They are just growing so fast.....

We spent the weekend in Connecticut with my parents and Aunt from Buffalo. Saturday morning we went fishing and then in the afternoon, drove to Boston to pick up Grandma at the airport. She was really happy to learn that we were having twins. She told us that we must be making up for lost time. She really has no concept of everything that we have been through in the last two years.

Yesterday was my official last day of work for the foreseeable future. Leaving was weird. It kind of felt like the last day of school. I know that it is the best thing for the pregnancy but I also know I am going to go stir crazy in the house. I am trying to set an agenda of little projects to do.

One of the girls that Hubby works with is also pregnant. They had a bit of a scare today and she is in the hospital with bleeding. Hubby will be working late the next few days to try to help pick up some of the slack. He was just so moved by the whole deal, he called me just to make sure that "we" were all right. He is so sweet.

I feel fat all the time now. I am most definitely into maternity clothing. There are times that I just cannot eat. I feel like if I eat anything else, I will explode. That is usually after a sandwich or small snack. I still have not gained any baby weight but do have the belly sticking out. I guess I'll have to post a belly picture.......

"Viable, Active Dichorionic Twins, Week 10

The kids are measuring 33 mm and have heart rates of 172 and 174. They were very active today..... They have grown like crazy since the last scan 6 days ago.

I still have the subchorionic hematoma and it has not reduced in size. I am however not on the antibiotics anymore since they are making me throw up. My cysts are almost gone and my ovaries are "almost" back to normal size. I guess that makes it a good week....

9 weeks and 2 days

We had our 9 week and 2 day scan this afternoon. The babies are measuring 22mm long. They are the same size. The heart rates are 168 and 182. The are a little concerned about baby b since the sack that he/she is in doesn't seem to be growing very fast. There may be a leak so they have put me on antibiotics for the next 10 days (as if I was not sick enough, I get to take the antibiotic 4 times a day).

I also have a hematoma (bruise) in my uterus. They are not sure why or how it happened, but they are watching it closely. I guess it is pretty normal in twin pregnancy and can be caused because everything is stretching and is very crowded right now.

So, we are happy because we got to see the little ones moving around. The one on the left is nuts. It was almost like he/she knew we were watching.... The one on the right was a little shy, but was moving his/her legs.

I can't help but be happy and terrified at the same time. Having had a miscarriage in the past, I appreciate and respect how frail these little lives are and just pray that the sack gets bigger and there is not a leak.

Milestone Day 8 Weeks

baby "a" is 17 mm long and has a heart rate of 166 beats per minute. (top picture)

baby "b" is 16 mm long and has a heart rate of 168 beats per minute. (bottom picture)

They are doing great and are growing perfectly!

"group photo"

Well, today is officially 8 weeks. We reached the end of the embryo stage and are now at the fetal stage. I went in for my ultrasound this morning and everything is looking great. I am still on all of my restrictions and have to continue with the progesterone but that is a small price to pay. They have grown so much since last week I can hardly believe it. When I saw the heartbeats last week, it seemed like their hearts took up a third of their bodies. This week, is was just a "normal" sized flutter that you would expect to see. It was sooooo cool.

My ovaries are still twice the size as normal and I still have lots and lots of cysts. My body is taking her sweet time resolving all that. My hormones are crazy and I'm sure my body is just taking care the the feti (the plural of fetus?) rather than shrinking everything back.

The nurse was nice enough to give me a prescription for some anti-nausea medication that seems to be working. At least that was covered by insurance......

We return in 10 days for another scan. I suppose I can at least make an appointment with my regular OB/GYN for the next few weeks. I asked the ultrasonographer about hearing the heartbeats and their machines are not equipped to do that. All the technology that they have in this office, and they didn't opt to get the machine with sound.... who knows....

7 weeks and 1 day

The nausea is all day. So much for morning sickness. The doctor thinks that it is worse because it is twins. I was really awesome to see the 2 little heart flutters. I almost cried. I go back in two weeks for another one, and Hubby will go with me. Hopefully we can hear the heartbeats then.

DID I MENTION THE EXHAUSTION!!!! I can hardly stay awake........

Belly is a little big. I feel fatter than I am. I still have quite a bit of fluid in my belly from the retrieval and my ovaries are still pretty large. It is so weird because the retrieval was more than a month ago. "Bert and Ernie" as my family calls them or "Patton and McArthur" as Hubby calls them, are just taking over everything. Hubby fell asleep with his hand on my tummy last night.

I did go out and buy some maternity clothes. My God! They are so COMFORTABLE. Everyone should wear them, all the time.

7 week update

The top photo is both.

The center and bottom are their individual portraits....

Monday, 4/23

Well, we went to CT this weekend to suprise my dather about the twins. We were able to let everyone else know but kept the secret from him. We had a Beatles themed birthday party for him since he was turning 64.

I am feeling very tired right now. I did manage a bowl of rice krispies and so far it is staying down. We finally had some nice weather around here. I was a nice ride home and today is supposed to be even warmner. Hubby is very excited that he gets to work on the yard.

I am still not sleeping very well. I am usually a stomach sleeper and that is not very comfortable for me between the painful boobs and my belly.

So it is off to work this morning.....