31w 3d

I am really dragging this morning and feel just awful. 3.5 hours of sleep I suppose will do that to you. On top of this H1N1 that I am gradually recovering from, I think I'm coming down with strep. This is probably why I could not sleep last night. My mom told me that my brother had a night like that before he started showing symptoms of it.... *sigh* I'm feeling 'sickish' again and now have a pretty sore throat... So once again I called in Dr. H and asked them what they would like me to do... wait it out until I start running a temp (or don't) or to get checked out? The nurse that called me back is not one of my favorites. She is the one I've had problems with in the fast... almost feels snippity, in a huge hurry and spouts off information so fast you can hardly talk. I'm sure she's very efficient... but I hate talking to her.

But the nurse decided to ask Dr. H what she wanted to do and was going to call me back. I have to go up to town this afternoon anyways because Abby has a doctors appointment today for her diaper 'rash.' I wouldn't even consider it a rash I guess, she does have a few spots and just a teeny bit of redness but the part that is so bad is she has these two small... sores? It's like the top layer of the skin has been 'eaten' down and these spots really hurt her a lot. I can always tell when her diapers get soiled because she literaly goes nuts. Runs around and circles screaming saying 'ow ow ow ow' Poor thing it hurts sooo bad. When I called them yesterday they said it might be a bacterial infection and she might need to have antibiotics to heal it up... Of course the appt is at 1:30... right smack dab in the middle of her nap time. Which means... after my 3.5 hour night I MIGHT get an hour to myself all day :(

Thursdays is my ultrasound/appointments.... it's something I'm looking forward to. I'm tired of feeling so sick, I hope in a way that if this is strep they'll let me get on something now so I don't have to try and suffer through another 'illness' My poor immune system is so shot I can't fight off anything. Right now I'm tired of being pregnant and I'm ready for my girls. I know I shouldn't say that, that the important things is to have fat healthy babies that can come home right away. But I guess other pregnant moms get tired eventually too... it's just getting harder to do things and being sick so much is NOT helping. This last week has just been hard.

If you are wondering how the H1N1 'stuff' is doing... no I'm not running a temp. My chest congestion/cough seems worse today than it was yesterday and I'm feeling short of breath again. The most frustrating part to me is looking in the mirror and just still looking 'sick.' My eyes are just puffy and have dark circles under them, they just look gaunt? Is that the right word? Thats why if you've seen my latest maternity pictures I'm not looking at the camera.. I had some TAKEN... but I just look zombie like. I'm in no means really sick or dangerously sick so it's not something to 'worry' about. I just feel like my body hates me... I just feel 'crappy.'

This too shall pass... I just needed to vent about it a little. I'm not used to being sick so much or so sick. Usually things are just 24 hour minor setbacks not struggling to get through a day types of feelings.

I did get out just a little yesterday, for about 5 minuets each time. I was going a little crazy at home so I went out for just a bit with Tom and Abby in the snow to get a few pictures and then to get one of me with the beautiful leaves. Hopefully today will be a good day... thanks again for the prayers.

Being pregnant and sick isn't fun...

On to day two of this crud and at least I'm not running a fever. The cough is still pretty bad but at least I was able to get a little sleep. We didn't get home from the ER/Labor and Delivery until around a quarter to two. Abs went to sleep around 8pm and I watched the Hawkeyes play against Michigan and took some Tylenol. It didn't do anything and my fever climbed to about 101.8 Tom apparently had been texting my parents who were in town for a date night and they stopped by to check on how I was doing. They came in and told me to go in. My mom said she would stay over to watch Abs while we were gone so that we didn't have to move her.

It was really cold driving up there, the temp was 25 degrees and with a fever that is miserable getting off of the couch and into the car. I didn't really want to go up there but I was feeling a little short of breath and really miserable. When we got to the ER there were already two other OB couples so they shuffled us up to Labor and Delivery. The nurses weren't very happy with the ER staff for making me walk up there because I was panting by the time I got up there. They hooked me up and the babies. My pulse was in the upper 140's (normal is 60-100) which was part of why I was feeling so short of breath even though my O2 saturation was ok. The important thing is that I was getting enough oxygen for the babies. It was pretty miserable being hooked up and laying in the hospital bed as I was freezing cold. The monitor was showing some significant uterine irritability (contractions) but nothing regular to worry about. I'm pretty sure it was related to all of the coughing fits and my poor body just being worn out.

The doctors came in and decided that I was ok to go home as long as I stayed on the Tamiflu and took Tylenol to keep my temp down and push push push fluids. So Tom brought me home and I took another dose of the Tamiflu, two Tylenol and crawled into bed. I woke up once because my fever had finally broken and I was freezing cold and wet. My mom is still here this morning (she stayed overnight) and is helping me out with Abby. Tom's still sleeping but I'm sure he was tired out from last night. I'm feeling a little better this morning so the Tylenol and the Tamiflu must be starting to work. It's amazing how much better you feel without a fever though!


They said this stuff can last up to two weeks... I'm hoping that since I'm starting to feel a little better it won't be more than a day or so. I don't know how I could handle two weeks. Well I had better go and hang out with my mom while she is here.

H1N1

Well this afternoon I started running a temp. I called in to talk to the On Call doctor and they asked me a bunch of questions. I guess they score you according to how you answer your questions... they treat people who score a 5 and I got a 12. They decided to immediately get me onto TamaFlu. For now I'm supposed to take Tylenol for the fever, drink lots of fluids and take the medicine. Hopefully that will take care of it and we caught it early enough that I won't get too bad. All I can say is this stuff is not fun. I feel absolutely miserable.

It was really hard this afternoon waiting for Tom to get off work. I just went downhill fast as far as feeling good. I am SO thankful Tom is home now. They ran to a grocery store to pick up some chicken noodle soup so that I will eat something. You know that feeling of wanting your mommy when you are sick? All I have wanted all day is Tom to come home and help me and take care of me. I'm so glad he is such a good husband and does such a great job. He and Abs are out on the swings, Abs has been just craving playing and rough housing but I've been in no shape to do either. Taking care of the basics with her has been hard enough.

As a final thought to everyone out there reading this... if you feel sick, if you have been sick in the last 24 hours, if you KNOW someone who has been sick. PLEASE don't go to church, I know it is important and that many people have jobs they need to do there... but even possibly exposing people with weakened immune systems is frustrating. So please please please stay home if you can.

Well it's time for some chicken soup, I havent eaten all day and need to with my medication. Please keep our family in your prayers that we can get healthy soon and remain healthy. Thanks :)

Thirty ONE weeks

Saturday morning and we woke up to a nice layer of snow on the ground. October! I think our high for today is in the mid 30's... brrrrr. We didn't make it to the craft festival last night. By the time we got done with the Multiples rummage sale there would have been only an hour and a half to 'run' through the building. It wasn't worth paying to get into so after a little shuffling of kids we met Tom home about 3 minuets after he got there. He was surprised! We will probably try to go either today or tomorrow. After looking at the forecast I'm thinking today would be a better choice since it might snow again tomorrow.

My little brother, whom Abby and I hung out with yesterday for awhile, started running a temp last night. :( It seems no matter where we go or what we do... it is impossible to avoid being around people who are sick. Hopefully we can avoid getting what he has. I'm already not feeling very good. My chest is really heavy and hurts and I have a nasty cough. Abs took a 2 1/2 hour nap yesterday and I slept for 2 of it!! Made for a fast afternoon I guess and I was still exhausted last night. She's got a bunch of teeth coming in towards the back (maybe molers?) and I've decided this is probably why she's been less than happy for awhile. But we are finally getting those teeth in!

I didn't find much at the sale. We got there about 20 minuets after 6 (it started at 6) and people just went through and grabbed and grabbed stuff! Some had piles by the time we got there. I got a little stuffed bowling pin set and an outfit for Abby all for 3 bucks... but thats all I got. I did join their club though so hopefully there will be more in the future! Abs loved the babies and kept wanting to bring them toys, it was so cute. Perhaps she will love her sisters just as much :)

Well Abby is in need of more breakfast so I should go. Here is what our babies are doing now:

How your baby's growing: 

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds  and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

 And I will close with a cute Abby story:

We were driving down to my parents to watch my sister run in a Cross Country meet. We've had a lot of road construction lately so while going through one of the zones I moved over a little more onto the shoulder to give the workers some more room. The rumble bars on the side of the road were really loud and Abby very concerned goes "NO NO MOMMY NO!" and then trailed off into her little scolding noises. She was not happy I had gone onto the side of the road!

30 weeks 6 days

There is frost covering everything this morning! We had a good hard freeze and there is talk of snow tonight or tomorrow? Can it really be? I think we are only supposed to get about an inch if we get that. At least it won't stick around long if it does come. It FEELS like a Saturday morning not Friday... I wish it was, then Tom would be off earlier.

My those babies were pushing on me hard last night. I had to get up 5 times to use the bathroom and I'm pretty sure I saw every hour. Not my greatest night of sleep that is for sure. My chest is congested and I have a cough so I feel a little short of breath. Hard to know how much of that (shortness of breath) is related to the babies being crammed up in my ribs now. Other people around me have been sick and how easily I pick up things I wouldn't be surprised if I caught another 'virus.' We are trying to avoid catching anything more serious like H1N1 or mono or some of the other things going around right now. My sibling's high school had over 20 people out sick with mono! Apparantly too much kissing going on there :)

Tonight the Mother's of Multiples club is having their fall rummage sale and I am so excited. I'll need to turn in my registration fee but then I can shop earlier before the rest of the public comes with the other moms. It will be fun to see what is there! I'm hoping a lot :) After that is finished my mom and sister and I will be going over to the huge craft fair that is in town. I have been WAITING for this... Tom is going to watch Abby while we are there so that we don't have to drag her around. She wouldn't like it at all and it wouldnt be any fun. I'm still trying to work on a Halloween costume for her. I can't decide if I want her to be a cute little animal or if I should have her be a princess of some sort since she would really love running around in that stuff. (She is eating oatmeal right now and it is EVERYWHERE) Perhaps a bath later?

But yep still hanging in here :) Babies seem to be doing fine. It looks like I'm going to need more oatmeal....

30 weeks 4 days

Well we are continuing to work towards 31 weeks :) Just got back from my appointment with Dr. H and so far nothing has changed (yay!). Still at 1 cm and the nice thing I havent gained anything! I know you gain a lot of weight with twins but it's always a little hard to watch those numbers go up up up! So I'm back next week to have a Biophysical Profile (BPP) ultrasound, appt with Dr B and appt with Dr H. She said from here on out I will be in every week or more. I'll have BPP ultrasounds every other week and NST (non stress tests) on the weeks that I don't have ultrasounds.

Of course, it could still change. She said Dr. B might want me to start coming in twice a week to be monitored. They just want to keep a close eye on those babies and make sure they are handling they ever smaller space ok. So for now that is what I know, she said to keep 'taking it easy.' (yeah right) We'll see how things are going next week. I'm excited because now I can go to the multiples rummage sale this weekend and the Autumn Craft Festival. :D Two things to look forward to... I need things to look forward to. The restricted activities and being home so much with Abby is getting a little tiresome.

30 weeks 1 day

Yesterday I went in for my 2nd round of the steroid shots for the little girls. I had to enter the hospital through the Emergency Room of the hospital and was taken up to Labor and Delivery. They had me change into a gown, and when the nurse came in to get me hooked up to the monitors she asked me if I was having a boy or a girl. "Both girls" I said smiling and she was like... "Oh you are having twins?!" She had to run back and grab another monitor because she only had enough for one baby. So a few minuets later we got the girlies hooked up to the heartbeat monitors and my contraction monitor on.

A of course was being a little stinker, just doesnt like to cooperate! The nurse had to stick a roll of tape between the monitor and the band to keep enough pressure on it to get her heartbeat to stay on the monitor. I went through a nice round of questions with the nurse and then did a good 15-20 minuets on the monitors. She came in a little while later and gave me the shot. This one was so much better! It hurt like crazy going in but it didn't make my leg go so stiff and cramp up so bad like the last one did. I'm wondering if perhaps the first nurse didn't quite hit the right spot and nicked something.

My nurse came in a little bit later and grabbed the monitor strip to show her coordinator. It took awhile and she came back to say they wanted to monitor the babies a little longer. They came in, gave me an armband and had me sign hospital consents for treatment.... I was like ... wow what a lot of work for a silly shot! I guess the babies' heartrates were hanging around the 130s during most of the monitoring the first time and they didn't see the accelerations they wanted to. SO I got to stay and wait for those silly babies to wake up and get going. Once they did they showed off for the nurse really kicking and moving.

20 minuets later she came BACK in and took the strip saying the babies looked great and hopefully now I would be able to go home. To me I was like... Was there ever a question? Apparantly they had been a little concerned. I guess I'd rather them monitor the babies a little longer than send me home without checking to make sure they were just sleeping. The funny thing is the nurse that was working with me yesterday is the SAME nurse that did the triage and checked me in when I came in to have Abby in May! Small world lol considering I've only been up there for that ONE time.

Tom and I went out to a movie since our chances from here on out for a day seem to get slimmer and slimmer. We saw Transformers in our cheap theater...not the greatest movie but it was fun to have a little alone time with Tom. His boss gave us a crib mattress for free, we just had to pick it up. So we spent the 2nd part of our date doing that. But now we have a mattress for the twins in their nursery! We were going to go out to eat at Olive Garden but the wait was 45 minuets and it was already after 8 so we decided to head back to Beresford and get Abby.

My mom is keeping our dog Feebee for awhile, or until we get the fence. She is in heat (so a little crazy) and my mom doesnt want me running up and down the stairs so much to take her out to use the bathroom. So it is one less thing I have to deal with! That will help me out a lot. I had a painful contraction again yesterday morning... hoping that I don't get any more and that they aren't doing more with my cervix. The bleeding is back a little stronger, Baby A was pushing hard down below and giving me a lot of sharp pains. I'm just hoping whatever she is doing isn't getting things moving faster. I'm back in on Wednesday to get checked by Dr. H so at least I have that for peace of mind. For now I'll just do my best to take it easy.

I talked to a few mom's on a community of twins that I am a part of and asked about once they started dilating how far they made it. Some went into labor within a few days... others a few weeks but I havent seen anyone who has made it past 35-36 weeks. So it might not be long! 34-36 weeks would be ideal for me!!! At least the shots should help in case something does decide to happen and the babies come early. Stay put a little longer girls!!

How your baby's growing: 30 weeks-31 weeks

. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

30 Week Appointment

Ok where to start, lots to report this time! Baby A is 3lb 3oz, Baby B is 3lb 1oz and both are right around the 50th percentile in comparison to other single pregnancy babies. (they're doing just right for twins) My blood pressure is great at 96/60 and no signs of swelling. We're hoping this means no gestational hypertension with this pregnancy! No signs of TTTS or IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) so far.

My cervical length is back down to 1.8-1.9, Dr B was less worried about this since it's less of a problem at 30 weeks than at 26 weeks. He asked if I had any symptoms so I explained that my bleeding was heavier over the weekend and that I had a 2 painful contractions on Sunday. This bothered him just a little so he told me to have Dr. H check to see if I was dilating at all. After a bit of a wait I got to see her and she checked to see how 'big my belly was' ... I'm measuring at about 38 weeks (8 weeks ahead now!) So I am officially as big now as I was when I delivered Abby last time! Then she checked my cervix and yep... I've dilated to 1cm. She gave Dr B a call to consult with him. They decided to give my the betamethasone steroid shots for the babies lungs.

If you don't already know what these shots are, they give them to pregnant mothers before 34 weeks whom they think might possibly deliver soon. What the shot does is give the babies a little boost in lung development and cuts down on their risks of getting brain bleeds because they are premature. Basically it boils down to the fact that if babies get them and come earlier they do better with the shot than without. Dr H said everyone is different. I could go into labor 6 weeks from today or I could go into labor tomorrow... it's just hard to know. They just wanted to be safe. I had one shot done today and oh my does it HURT! I've never had a shot that was quite that painful. (I've had quite a few!)  The best part is I have to go into the ER and up to labor and delivery tomorrow to have another one. There are 2 shots that need to be done within 24 hrs of each other. They'll have to monitor the babies on an NST so it will probably be a 1hr to 2hr long session.

Dr H wants to check me again next week so I'll be going in to see her again. Then the following week I'll have another appt with Dr H, Dr B and they'll be doing what is called a biophysical profile ultrasound where they score the babies on movement, breathing etc. (i had a 1-2 done with Abby) Then we'll start doing NST's regularly to see how the babies are handling being 'squished' By the way, Baby B has moved into the head down position alongside her sister now. So they are cuddling :) (see picture below)

So it looks like another adjustment around the house here. You would think we would be used to my taking it easy but I have such a hard time following orders with that. I can let things 'go' for so long and then I'm back up and at it cleaning and such. I've been 'nesting' so much lately it's hard not to want to move the furniture... yes move furniture we arent just talking folding baby clothes... I have the urge to rearrange whole ROOMS. I think that at least I will be going down to Beresford or my mom will be coming up so that I have less one on one time with Abby. This should be the biggest help. Hopefully we can figure it all out. Need to keep these babies in here for another good month :) (my cute hats aren't here yet!) hahahaha yes because thats why they need to wait... I'm just kidding.

No 3D pictures but I did get a few fun pictures at least. They did check for the vasa previa really good this last time and no signs of it at all. The tech said that Baby A is so mashed up against my cervix she doubts anything could fit in between that! Gives me a little peace of mind for which I am thankful for. I know some of this news is crazy and maybe a little worriesome but I'm really doing ok with it. I feel at peace about it and even if my babies DID come early they should be ok... I just don't want them to yet, they need to cook longer and give me time to get ready. So keep us all in your prayers just so that we can adjust once again to this change. I swear it's up and down and up and down all the time. I may be posting more often as I get more news or vice versa.

29W 4D

The next time I will be posting will be on Friday after our 30 week appointment :) I am so excited to see the girls again and find out how much they have grown. The next few days will be filled with appointments! Tomorrow I have to take Abby into what they call 'baby clinic'... this is with Dr. B to evaluate Abby's hair pulling and see what is going on with that. The biggest thing we want to check on is why exactly she is doing this. Could it be physical and she is having headaches? Is it stress related or is it compulsive behavior? I've scheduled other people for the clinic but I've never been a part of it so I'm curious to see what it all involves. They were going to have her come in November but someone canceled so now we can get in earlier! This will really help with me not being massive pregnant or with two more little ones.

The weather looks like it is going to be nasty at the end of this week... both days that I will be going up to SF in the afternoon. As long as it doesnt snow I'll be happy. :)

I will be approaching my doctors about the past issues of the Vasa Previa today. The closer and closer we get to the girls coming the more I start to worry that we've missed it and that something will go wrong and I will lose one of the girls. I want them to check for it and check for it and check for it until I feel more confident that this isn't just hiding somewhere. Probably should talk to my doctor about the heavier/darker bleeding and the fact that I think I'm having strong contractions in the morning... or the strangest stomach cramps in the world.  Part of me wonders if I should call in and talk to them earlier? Or just wait till Friday? I've not gone into labor yet lol

Well I suppose.... more to update with Friday!!

29 weeks 1 day

Wow has it only been one day since I posted? It feels like it has been a whole week. Tom, Abby and I went down to Beresford after he got off of work yesterday. We decided that we would stay overnight for fun since it had been so long. It was nice to have someone else for Abby to play with, I think she was really getting tired of playing at home with mommy.

Last night was not good, ugh. I started feeling a little off around supper time but thought perhaps I just had allergy issues. Played some Xbox with Tom and my brother Andrew after Abby went to bed (very fun) then decided to go to bed. The mattress in Tiffany's room I think has seen better days and was hard hard hard HARD... or maybe I'm just really sensitive being so pregnant. The aches and the chest tightness just got worse and worse by the time Tom came to bed and I told him I couldn't sleep on the bed. Moved to the couch but felt so awful I really wanted him to be near me. My brother Paul was camping so we checked his room out and settled into the bottom bunk after giving it a good toss (Matthew had been playing on it I think) It might have been just a little softer but it was much cooler down there. The babies were having a good time, B had hiccups and Tom got to feel her 'going at it' which he really enjoyed. *usually when I tell him they are moving like crazy they stop as soon as he puts his hand on my stomach. *

He fell asleep, I couldn't. Got up and took some Tylenol which helped me get a little more comfortable. Had a rough night though and was up walking through the minefield that was my brothers room to the bathroom. Note to self, clear a path BEFORE going to bed. Then around 7:30 when I woke up I attempted to turn onto my other side and had two really really strong contractions (i think thats what they were) To me it felt as if I had a really bad Charlie Horse cramp across my lower abdomen. Oh it hurt! It wasn't mild cramping or tightening this was full blown painful and probably a minuet or more long (hard to keep track of that). So either it was a contraction.... or one of the girls REALLY adjusted herself and stretched my poor tummy.

The spotting has been back in full force again these last few days :( In fact today I was almost a little concerned because it was so much darker. I'm back to using sanitary pads because I'm soaking through undergarments so quickly. It's sooooo frustrating this spotting. The girls don't seem to be bothered by it and have been keeping plenty busy. My appointment is Friday so I guess we'll see how things are going.

I still don't feel very good. Thankfully Tom will be home to help me out tomorrow if I'm sick. It's hard to have the energy to keep up with Abby when I'm feeling good.... almost impossible when I'm run down and sick. Guess we'll find out tomorrow. Hopefully I will get a good night's sleep and that will improve things!