22 weeks

Today's post is not written with quite the enthusiasm as the previous ones have been. With what has unfolded this week, I've been feeling more reserved in my confidence with this pregnancy, and yet I am trying to maintain a positive outlook. While I continue to have some contractions everyday, they have slowed down since Tuesday. I am doing my best to lay on the couch and not let my mind wander to the worry and fear that is a constant underlying feeling the past couple days.

Due to the fact that the medications I am taking can have some adverse effects on the babies, from here on out I will be checking in every week with Dr. T. We initially thought that a regular OB would be satisfactory for my pregnancy, because I don't have any medical issues aside from the fact that I am carrying two babies. However, with what has ensued since 13 weeks, I am grateful that I am seeing the high risk OB that I am (thank you, Dad). I am still terrified that things could go awry, but I feel confident that we are being seen by one of the most capable maternal fetal medicine specialists in Seattle and are receiving the best care that we have available to us.

I continue to feel the babies moving, which brings me reassurance. I just pray that the contractions stop soon so that we can arrest the cervical thinning and lessen our anxiety.

This week, according to the resources I have, the twins should each weigh almost one pound and measure around 11 inches from crown to heel. We all know, however, that Jack and Jill reached those dimensions a week ago. In any case, they now basically look like tiny, thinner versions of what they will be when they are born. In the remaining months they will put on fat and their skin will become less wrinkly as they fill out. Their lips are distinct, and their eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigment. The babies' inner ears are also developed to the point that they have their own sense of balance. Apparently, balance promotes physical dexterity, which means that Jack and Jill (oblivious to what is going on outside their sacs) spend their days actively feeling out their surroundings where skin, body parts, and their umbilical cords are the big sensory experiences.

The development that I find most exciting this week is that they are capable of fine hand and finger movements. They can scratch, rub, and pat their cheeks or noses, for example. I also know that they are able to give a thumbs up, as Jack exhibited during the scan a week ago.

Aside from terrible back strains (not made any easier because of lying in bed) I am feeling fairly well. The belly continues to grow and the aches and pains I experience are reminders of my current occupation- growing two humans. While it did not take years of schooling or a degree to do what I am dong now, I feel like this is the most important and amazing job I could ever have. And, just as I did with my schoolwork for all those years, I will strive to achieve the best possible results with the babies. I'll do whatever it takes to keep these little ones thriving and inside my womb. Let's just pray that my body will cooperate with my mind and will power, so that we can bring two healthy babies into the world in November.

We are very lucky to have such wonderful family and friends here in Seattle and across the country that have expressed their concern and sent well wishes to us. And for the help that we have been offered, all four of us are grateful. Thanks particularly to those of you coming by to help me during the day when Nick is at work and for the calls to check up on us. I couldn't get through this without you. XOXOXO.

As always, the belly shots are below. I allocated a couple minutes on my feet (out of the few I am allowed per day) to take these valuable photos. :)

The adventure just got a little more complicated

Unfortunately, this part of the adventure is more like a nightmare.

If only we could turn back the clock to Tuesday morning and avoid what we've been dealing with the past 24 hours. I am home now, but I spent yesterday evening in the hospital with uncontrollable contractions. I had been contracting all day, between 5 and 8 an hour. Every effort I tried to get them to stop was fruitless. Finally, we went into triage. We were evaluated for about 5 hours before heading back home around midnight with prescriptions and instructions for the next couple days.

All of the tests and surveillance in triage indicated that the babies are doing fine. Both babies are head down and their heart rates were fine. They were both kicking like crazy the whole time we were in triage. My uterus, however, is being irritated by something (probably the major strain/stretching it has been experiencing) and my cervix has shortened significantly. It's length varies at different times, and its shortest length puts us in a very critical stage. At that length, we are at significant risk for preterm labor (which would be our worst fear because the babies are not at a stage where they would be viable yet).

I am trying my best to stay positive and not worry. Unfortunately, that is one of the things I do very well, so it has been difficult this last 24 hours. Luckily, I am married to a man who is riled up by very few things. I swear, Nick and I are practically on polar ends of the worrying spectrum.

I have been instructed to lie down as much as possible and take the medications prescribed. I will be going to see our OB tomorrow, I think, to re-evaluate the babies and my cervix.

Thanks for all of your well wishes so far and for sending good thoughts our way. If you are praying folk, we could certainly use some, and I'd appreciate every single prayer you can give us.

I will keep the blog apprised of my status and follow doctor's orders. That's about all I can do at this point. And try to relax and pray...

First Anniversary

We are home from the Salish Lodge, and it was a perfect way to spend our first anniversary. Who knew we'd find such an ideal destination a mere 40 minutes away?!

We enjoyed very comfortable accommodations (a king size bed), wonderfully delicious and rich meals (that we didn't have to cook ourselves), and one another. The best aspect about the trip, was that we were able to take some time to reflect on our first year of marriage and everything that it has included, and appreciate that we are are more in love today than we have ever been and can weather any storm headed our way... together.

I could gush on and on about my wonderful husband, but I will conclude by saying that he is the perfect man for me and I love him with every fiber of my being. We have a wonderful life ahead of us and here's to a lifetime as husband and wife.

Here are a couple pictures from our excursion.

21 weeks

I still can't believe that there are two humans inside me, weighing close to one pound a piece. Two little chunky monkeys who I am so desperately in love with and who I got to see yesterday at my OB appointment. As always, checking in with Dr T gives me some peace of mind. She answers my multiple questions and usually presents me with good news. Even when the news has not been to my liking, she is able to put a somewhat positive spin on it, which we all know, I need.

Yesterday's appointment was par for the course. As I mentioned in the previous post, the babies are doing well... very, very well. They are growing like weeds (in the 98th and 84th percentiles for single babies) and getting chubby. Well, as chubby as one pound fetuses can get. My cervix is giving me a little grief, but we're hoping that it will cooperate enough to get us to November (wouldn't that be a blessing).

This past week, the babies' movements have become more obvious. I have even seen our future Mia Hamm kicking from the outside- just a little bump at the moment of her foot's impact with my uterus. Jack doesn't usually make his presence as evident as Jill does. But perhaps it is because he is breech and attached posteriorly so I don't feel him kicking as often. Jill, on the other hand, is in a vertex position, and she reminds me she is thriving multiple times each day. This morning, since about 4:00 am, she has been kicking up a storm. Nick was able to feel one of her bouts where she was either doing Michael Flatley Lord of the Dance imitations or practicing tap dancing perhaps. Maybe she is trying to kick Jack. Yesterday they were facing one another for the majority of the scan, with their faces right up against the membrane. In any case, feeling their kicks is always a welcome feeling, even when it keeps me awake. Before too long, this opinion may change.

On the developmental front this week, the babies start to swallow several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. Also, their taste buds start to work! I read studies that indicate that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. I guess I should start downing squash, peas, and Brussels sprouts. Something else I read about this week is that babies are able to recognize our voices now. In previous weeks they have been able to hear our voices, but this week they begin to recognize them; voices that they hear often. The study showed that if we read or sing the same book or song over and over again, the babies will begin to recognize it. After birth, the babies will suck more vigorously when they hear that same song or story and that it will soothe them for a long time after birth. In an effort to put that theory to the test, at bedtime every night we've started to read to them two stories that we love- Guess How Much I Love You and Love You Forever. Hopefully we don't get sick of these stories before the babies arrive.

Aside from the heartburn I experience on a near daily basis, as well as many other aches and stretching pains, my back aching is the biggest of my complaints this week. Particularly on the left side. It hurts terribly, and yet I know this is the just beginning.

However, I will say that this last week I have slept better than I have in months (last night not withstanding). I had become very uncomfortable in bed and could never find a position that would support the babies and at the same time my back. Then I discovered the Snoogle. It is a Godsend! It is basically a C-shaped pillow that is about nine inches wide. You can contort it around your body in a number of ways to give you support where you need it. It is much less cumbersome than lots of regular bed pillows and stays curled around me, rather than falling to the floor or smothering Nick. Nick even likes it, and wants to use it when I am ready to retire it to the closet. However, he made the observation that by curling the two ends in toward the middle of the pillow, it could serve as a double Boppy for the babies when they are ready for it. Poor Nick may never get a chance to use this amazing pillow.

Monday is our first wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has been one year since our magical wedding day in Black Butte. As my Dad says, "too bad this past year wasn't more interesting." Ha ha ha. I think both Nick and I would agree that a year with a little less excitement would be appreciated. No more mono, broken legs, surgery, or high risk pregnancies. In any case, Sunday night we are going to the Salish Lodge to celebrate. Of course, we had planned a trip down to Napa, California, but we all know why that was put off. We plan to enjoy Sunday afternoon and Monday at the Lodge; delicious food, good company, and massages on Monday. Heaven.

Here are this week's belly shots.

Jack says it all

As you will see from the photos below, Jack wanted to ease my mind and let me know that he and his sister are doing very well inside my cozy womb.

I had my 20 week 6 day scan today and the babies are doing great. In fact, the OB could not stop laughing because Jack is getting so fat. He is measuring in the 98th percentile for a singleton baby! Jill is also measuring quite large. She is measuring in the 84th percentile for a singleton, although her belly is not quite as Buddha-like as Jack's. Now I know where all these pounds have gone. I am way ahead of schedule with the weight gain, and I'm thrilled it has made a difference in the babies' growth. One of my fears with having two was that they would not grow adequately, and that if they were born early, they would be puny and sickly. Not the case at this point... they are 15 ounces and 13 ounces already!

Other than their growth being extraordinary, most other appt. results were good. However, my cervix is slightly shorter than it was last visit. I am still very nervous about that, but trying to stay as optimistic as I can.

I have posted the images from today's scan below. There is an entire album there, so beware. As I mentioned above, Jack is fat and happy. The first image is him giving us a thumbs up! My little comedian. Jack is still in a breech position and Jill remains vertex. They were facing each other for the majority of the exam. Or rather, smelling one another's little toes. I'll check back in tomorrow with this week's update, but I couldn't wait to show off my little rolly polly fetuses today.

20 weeks 6 days scan

20 weeks

I feel like the babies and I have reached a theoretical milestone today, as we have entered our 20th week! As with the previous 19 weeks, Nick and I are not counting our chickens until they hatch (literally), however I think both of us are getting increasingly excited about these little ones. Trying not to temp fate, we've begun to make plans for the nursery; picked out linens, shopped for baby gear, and bought some clothes for Jack and Jill. It has been so much fun!!!! I am trying to enjoy every moment of it, as this will most likely be the only time I get to do this. And as much as we want these babies to come out so we can meet them, and as much as I worry about them every single day, feel ill, can't sleep, am sick of being on red rest etc. etc., the realization that I am past the halfway point makes me a little sad. Growing Jack and Jill has reminded me of God's miracle of life and how precious life truly is. I am in awe of my growing belly and revel in every kick, punch, or movement I feel inside which are reminders that our son and daughter are, in fact, real. They truly are inside of me, not just on the screen at the doctor's office! I know I am doing one of the most important jobs a woman can do (growing our babies) and I feel so blessed to be given the chance to do so. I am doing my very best to give them everything they need right now and consider myself an excellent incubator. I just hope they are enjoying it too, and that they love it so much, they decide to stay in my cozy womb until November. I am glowing, as they say, and it is awesome!

Although today's post is somewhat abbreviated, I am sure to include belly shots.

Geek cred.

Whether or not I choose to acknowledge it fully, I am becoming more and more like my husband every day and gaining respect in the computer geek community. Tonight I figured out (all by myself) how to add a link on our blog to a calendar. It was amazingly easy. You'll find the link on the top left-hand side of the blog above our picture- now you can follow our pregnancy week by week along with us!

Our photogenic babies

The sonographer didn't include all the images she took, but she did add a few to the CD and I have attached them to the album below. Enjoy!

19 weeks 2 days ultrasound

21 ounces of babies

We had our appointment this morning and I am so very pleased to report that everything is looking good. The babies are growing well and they seem to have normal anatomy at this point. Jack is now positioned with his head up (breech) and facing my back. His placenta is on the posterior surface of my uterus. Jill is positioned with her head up and facing forward with her placenta anchored to the anterior surface of my uterus. Due to Jack's inopportune position, we were unable to get any good profile shots of him, but Jill's little face looked as cute as can be.

My Dad attended the scan with us today and I was so glad to have him there to see his grand babies. He got to see them both moving all around, their cute little feet and toes, and basically every inch of their bodies. Jack kept trying to steal the spotlight from Jill. We'd be trying to get a good look at some part of Jill, and all of a sudden Jack's leg or bum or fingers would invade the image. It made me laugh. :) We were told that Jack weighs 300 grams, about 11 ounces. Jill is estimated to weigh 288 grams, about 10 ounces. They both are weighing above the 50th percentile for a singleton baby, so we are happy with their growth. No wonder I put on 6 pounds in 2 weeks. :)

We are also happy to report that things look stable with me too! Measurements looked good today and my uterus is apparently happy with me staying off my feet as much as I can.

The lovely sonographer gave us a CD of the images that she took today, but when I brought it home I found that there were only a few burned on to it. She is going to burn another one, hopefully with all of the images included, and she will send it to us today. I will post those images when I receive them. However, to tide you over until then, here are the few shots that she sent...

19 weeks 2 days ultrasound

19 weeks

To celebrate Independence Day, we attended the annual BBQ at my Mom's house. Traditional burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, fruit salad, and s'mores with ice cream and berries from the garden were served. We had a small crowd this year, but it was excellent. Of course, Molly was the star of the day, and she kept us entertained throughout dinner and Yatzee and dessert.





One of my favorite experiences this week was Thursday night when Nick was able to feel one of the babies move. I think it was probably Jack, but because the movement was mostly mid-line, it may have been Jill. In any case, it was great! Until the other night, our attempts to get Nick to feel the babies' movement went like so:

Allison: Did you feel that?
Nick: No.
Allison: Did you feel that?
Nick: No.
Allison: How about that?
Nick: Nope.

It went on like that for a few minutes until either Nick got frustrated and moved his hand, or the "kicker" stopped. This time, however, all participants were in sync with one another and Nick got to feel one of his little kiddos move as I've been feeling for a few weeks now. Speaking of which, the babies' movements are still felt a few times a day, although Jack's movements are few and far between. It appears that he has moved positions to where he is now head down and facing my back. Perhaps that is why I don't feel him quite as often as I feel Jill, who remains breech and facing forward.

During the 19th week of gestation, Jack and Jill will again be busy growing and maturing their internal organs and systems. Most significantly, the babies' sensory development will be making large strides. Their brains will be designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. By the end of the week, Jack and Jill will weigh about eight and a half ounces and measure approximately six inches from head to bottom. Their arms and legs should be in the right proportions to each other and the rest of their bodies. Also, their little tiny kidneys will continue to make urine and the hair on their scalps will sprout.

This week I have discovered how uncomfortable sleeping can be for pregnant women. Yes, I realize it is early and I have many more weeks of agony. It has become increasingly difficult to get any quality rest, and any rest I do get is not usually more than a couple hours at a time. Being that my activity is restricted each day and my legs don't get any exercise, when I lay down to sleep at night, anxiety legs kick in and I become very restless. I have employed pillows to take the burden off my back and belly, but all efforts are fruitless so far. Our queen sized bed seems to be getting smaller and smaller as I grow bigger and bigger and add more pillows to the scene. Poor Nick is being slowly evicted as his babies and loving wife take over. We'll have to come up with a better solution for all of us before too long. Luckily, I think Nick is at least sleeping.

We are very excited for our appointment tomorrow with the OB. We have another long ultrasound scheduled and frankly I am wondering what they'll be looking at after the comprehensive scan we had a little over two weeks ago. Dad is going to come to this ultrasound, and I am excited for him to see his grand-kids. I'm sure we will have lots to report tomorrow, so be on the lookout for another post then; complete with pictures I hope. As usual, we'll also be checking me to make sure that everything is stable with the measurements from the last appointment and to see if we need to be more proactive in prevention of pre-term labor. Stay posted...

While you got a peek at the belly Thursday, we stayed consistent with the weekly shots they are below.

The leg

I keep meaning to update everyone on the condition of Nick's broken leg. Months after his surgery he is healing as well as can be expected, although he still walks with a limp and has lots of swelling when he is up on his feet for too long (something we both will enjoy this summer). :)

At his most recent appointment with his orthopedic surgeon, the titanium rod placed in his tibia appeared well-seated and secure with the screws. With the rod a permanent fixture in his leg for the rest of his life he will be "part-machine" and will beep through security the airport for here on out- a feature of his surgery he actually finds entertaining. He is able to return to most pre-accident activities, and he has even been given clearance to play golf this summer at Black Butte (if we can go)! Below are pictures of his x-rays; the first one taken in the E.R. and the most recent one. It looks great now, don't you think?!

Pregnant buddies

My best friend, Kendall, was in town this week from Portland, and she and I were able to get together this morning for a wonderful catch-up visit. We grew up five weeks apart in age and with one house between us, and we spent every free moment we had with one another. It seems like it had been forever since I had seen her; definitely before I found out she was also pregnant (which was an excellent surprise). Growing up, we had always wanted to be pregnant at the same time and have babies around the same age so they could be best buddies like we are. She has a son, Pierce, who will be three this summer, and I obviously missed my opportunity to give him a playmate. Not with her second one though. I am giving this baby two playmates! In any case, it was so great to see her and her growing belly. We recorded the day in history as this will probably be the only time we are ever going to be pregnant together. Keep in mind, that I am due three and a half weeks AFTER her. Oh, and we don't know whether Kendall has a "Jack" or a "Jill" inside. We will all find out at the end of October. Either way, he/she will have a buddy... or two.

P.S. Pierce has named our little son "Allison" and our daughter "Auntie Allison." What do you guys think?