28-week appointment details

Good appointment. Babies are still measuring the same. Fluid is the same and good. Cervix is super long. Baby A still has the CCAM, but it hasn't grown. We met with a pediatric surgeon who put our minds at ease. The CCAM is small and there is a very low possibility that it will have any effect before birth or immediately following birth. In fact, the surgeon said that if it wasn't for all these ultrasounds, it (the CCAM) may only be discovered when the kid gets a respiratory infection that won't go away. So his recommendation is that we get a CT scan at around 2 months, then, if the CCAM is still present (sometimes on rare occasion they go away), he recommends surgery at around 6 months.

In other news, we took a hospital tour last night. I left it feeling nauseated and freaked out. My memories of my hospital stay with Emmeline are mixed. On the one hand, it was the best of times. Nothing to do except bond with my baby cakes, learn how to breastfeed and eat yummy takeout from local restaurants (skipped most of the hospital food experience). On the other hand, the first 48 hours there (I was there a total of 5 days due to preeclampsia), including the 24-hours after giving birth, are one big hot, flu-like blur. I don't remember how I cared for Emmeline during that time, and I do remember threatening to go against medical advice by ripping those mag sulfate IVs out. And I know the thing that was most pleasurable about the experience - the simplicity of only needing to focus on bonding with the baby- will be different this time around. I'll want to get home to Emmeline. And of course there will be bonding, but there will also be basic survival with the two. I never felt like I was on "survival" mode with Emmeline.

If I, my body and my boys decide to give a vaginal birth a shot, we will be delivering in the OR...standard procedure for vaginal births with twins. Apparently, you are all set up for a c-section (complete with full c-section staff). I've decided that my approach to having these boys is the same as my approach for when they come out...one day at a time, have flexibility and make decisions with the situation at hand rather than having any big, non-flexible plans.

Yesterday, at the park, I ran into a mother I've been itching to run into since last fall. She has a boy who is exactly Emmeline's age and drum roll please...identical twins. She lives a few blocks away. Good stories from her. She made it to 37 weeks, was induced, easy birth, both boys were around 7lbs. Everyone went home in 24 hours. Their house is almost exactly like ours. She says it works just fine. She tandem breastfeeds. I mean, really, does it get any better? She did add that there are bad days, of course. I'm glad she said that because it gave some credibility to all the positive stuff that she said. Anyway, after seeing each other at the park for over a year, we finally exchanged digits. She is going to be a great source of info.

Yes, we got out in the beautiful sunshine and made it to the park across the street and ran into two good friends of Emmeline's. And then we had another impromptu dinner with another one of her friends and her parents...grilled out. See, it hits the mid-40's and abundant sunshine in Michigan and we all act as if it is summer. But it was one of those days where I was not only reminded that it takes a village but was also once again in love with the village that we live in. Yes, we sometimes crave more space in our home, but this neighborhood? It's quite a gem.

I leave you with a pic from our "summer" day as well as a 28.5 week belly:

28-week appointment tomorrow

Bullet point update:

-28-week appointment tomorrow. We'll know more about the CCAM (lung issue).
-My latest pregnancy symptom is a big pain in my ass - literally. Figure it out. Part of tonight's comfort regime includes sitting on a warm washcloth soaked in Epson salts. Oh the glamour.
-Think we've decided on a stroller - the City Select Double. It will take us from now till 3 1/2 years or so. And it has a platform for Emmeline to ride on. We "test" drove it. Very, very nice.
-Hospital tour on Thursday night. I still love the fact that I can look out my bedroom window and see the top of the hospital I will be delivering at.
-Finally, I need to slow down and put these feet up more. I'm pretty sure the second bullet point is a result not putting my feet up once today. But it's crunch time! 9 weeks..at the longest.

27-weeks

So here's a 27-week belly pic. I just realized that I posted a 26.5 week belly pic. Yeah, probably not that much difference. But these days I guess I feel like I grow hourly.



On Monday, I will have 9 weeks until these babies are for sure out. There, of course, is the chance that they will come before then. 9 weeks maximum! We are out of the double digits. I can't believe it. Everyday, I can't believe it.

Things are getting uncomfortable. I mean, I'm blogging at 12:47AM after a day full of working, errands and hardcore playing with Emmeline. Why, you my ask? Oh, just because there is always liquid acid in my throat. The last three days I have slept sitting straight up. It helps, but the sleep is far from sound. And then the constipation...oh, the constipation. I know, perhaps too much information, but I must document that these days it is not uncommon that I spend over an hour a day trying to go to the bathroom. Yes, my biggest physical whoa is my digestive track - keeping food down at one end and getting it out the other.

I made an exit plan with my Dean today, with the hope I will make it until March 25th. Next week is spring break, then two more weeks. And since I really only go in three days a weeks, that means a total of 6 days left. I can do 6 days.

Spring break...well, Alex usually gets vacation the same week so we can do some big trip. This year he also has vacation, but we will be doing a staycation. Trying to come up with some fun things to do with Emmeline on her non-preschool days, as well as some fun adult activities while she's in preschool. We also decided tonight that we are going to pursue a couple of bigger house projects before the twins arrive (new counter tops, backsplash, carpet in the sunroom), so there will be some shopping for those items as well.

I remember thinking about this time of year back in October, shortly after finding out there were TWO babies. I remember thinking how far off it seemed. And now we are here...building a snowman family of five.

26.5 belly...isn't it "exciting".

How "exciting"!

Wow - twin identical boys...that's so "exciting"!

Aren't you so "excited"?

"Exciting" seems to be the word that people use the most when discussing the boys. I get it. I see where they are coming from. Do I often use the word? Not so much. So when people say it, I usually respond with "Yes, "exciting" is one of the many words that could be used to describe this."...along with "crazy" and "overwhelming".

But I got a sense of relief when I ran into a random, new twin mom at the mall yesterday. She looked good...calm and put together pushing her newborns and enjoying a day at the mall with a friend. I obviously told her that I was also carrying twins and asked how life was. She said something I will remember - she said she had absolutely no expectations, so things were manageable. No expectations...what a concept and a challenge. You mean my house may get a little messy and my legs may get a little prickly? Gulp. I think I can. I think I can.

See here's my 26.5 week belly, complete with a haircut today. Nothing like a haircut to elevate the attitude a little...

26-week appointment - the good and bad

The good - good fluid, same amount in both sacs, so getting very close to being out of the woods for twin-to-twin-transfusion (TTTS). Babies are measuring the same - 1 lb 15 ounces and 2 lbs. Cervix is still a rockstar. Passed the 1-hour glucose test. Blood count/iron is great. And although I now occasionally get a 117/81 in the evenings for my BP, I also got a 103/69 yesterday morning. So BP, good.

The not-so-great news...Baby A has something called a CCAM (congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation) on the lung. They saw something at the 24-week ultrasound, but did not officially diagnose it as a CCAM - they though it might have been a clogged mucus duct or something. Well, it was still there today and has grown, so they are officially calling it a CCAM. The positive is that it is relatively small and is not causing any issues with the heart or other organs. And chances are that if it hasn't caused problems yet, it isn't likely to cause a problem before birth. However, the baby will need surgery within the 1st year after birth to remove it and may have breathing problems right after he is born. This is "for sure" enough that the high risk ob would like us to have a consult with pediatric surgery. A majority of babies with a CCAM go on to have a normal life.

So, yeah, always a little scarey when you are asked to consult with pediatric surgery. However, I'm taking it all in stride and true to my nature, gathering all the facts, figuring out all the potential outcomes and occupying my mind with the academics. And also not too shaken that something is less than ideal...because, you know, us infertiles often expect the worst.

Feeling ok. 11 weeks to go. Crazy.

Random pics and other news...

So here's 25-weeks. Someone said "holy smokes!". I couldn't have said it better myself.


Here's their nursery in transition...it is currently our guest bedroom, and the bed will remain as long as we decide to keep them in the same crib. Also, a pic of the closet. It was bubblegum pink prior to this baby blue paint job.




On Wednesday of this week, my BFF spontaneously asked me if I would like to join her for a pedi. Why yes! This is a bit unusual for me and the fact that I absolutely loved it is also unusual. I think part of it is that I physically can no longer take care of my feet...it felt sooo incredibly good. I foresee more in the next three months...I mean, less than three months. Yikes! Then, of course, as soon as Little Miss saw the pretty toes, she wanted some of her own.


And then today, my mom came to help out. Sometimes she says she feels like she doesn't do anything, but just having someone here to give Emmeline attention while I make dinner and take care of little things around the house is sooo helpful. I tried to sneak in a nap while my mom was here, but Emmeline wasn't going for it much. It appears she knows that crunch time for mommy time has arrived. We did take a little trip to the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company and Emmeline picked out presents for the twins...a stuffed ducky and a stuffed tiger. My mom had shirts made for them with the names of our boys (about 90% probability). Note that you can't see these names in the photo...soon enough, soon enough. Oh, and of course, Emmeline got her own bear with a shirt that reads "Big Sister Emmeline".


Feeling okay. 26-weeks on Monday. Big, tired and realizing that my working days maybe coming to a close.

24-week appointment and maternity pics

We had our 24 week appointment on Monday. Still all good. Amazing to me. How does my body go from not being able to get pregnant for four years, needing endless hormonal support to sustain that IVF pregnancy, multiple pregnancy related issues...to "this is a textbook beautiful twin pregnancy"?

Babies are measuring 1 lb 9 ounces (70%) and 1 lb 8 ounces (60%). Mind you, this is on a singleton scale. So, yeah, I'm huge. And getting stretch marks for the first time. I managed to escape that little treat with Emmeline, but knew the chances were high that I would get them this time. Fluid is the same in both sacs. Cervix is "as good as it gets". And blood pressure is 103/72.

Things are so good that there was even discussion of birth options. Options?

This really took me by surprise. From the little I've read, I had just assumed that mo-di twins would be delivered via c-section, especially after a previous c-section. But my high-risk ob says differently. Yes, there is a higher chance that it would end up in a c-section because of dealing with the position of two babies (amongst other concerns), but it sounds like if at least the first baby were head down, she would encourage a try. Surprised. Don't know what to make of it yet. I get the advantages...especially with a 3-year old running around. I also know some of the risks. But so does my high risk ob. I foresee multiple conversations with her before the decision is made and who knows - the babies may make the decision for me.

So, I finally took some pictures of the gazillion ultrasound pics we have. Seriously, we get like 10 shots every two weeks. This week, there were a couple cute feet ones, but space is getting tight so there really wasn't any good profiles.

Instead, I'll leave you with a couple of shots from our maternity pics. The best ones are actually my "nude" ones (not really, but it looks that way), but I just don't feel comfortable putting those up on this public site. These are some of my other favs...