Week 19

We're in week 19 and still feeling great! :)

And there's been a lot going on this past week....

• Strangers began asking me about my pregnancy.
• We found out we are having 2 little girls; Gracelin & Isabella.
• I starting feeling the girls move around for the first time.
• Learned about some potential health risks for Gracelin. (To be discussed in a later blog entry)
• WE felt them (well, really just Gracelin) kick for the first time.

There have been about 3 different strangers ask me now about my pregnancy, all in about the last week. The first was the cashier at the gas station. She asked me, "Are you having a baby?" To which I smiled and replied, "I'm actually having 2 babies." :) And now the comments just keep on coming every few days!

So Dr Medchill told us on our visit on the 8th that he "suspected" they were both girls, but wouldn't tell us they were for sure. He through in his disclosure about how it was really too early for him to tell. He did however, confirm we would know for sure on our 3D/4D ultrasound on the 17th where we were getting the Comprehensive scan performed. So we just waited and really didn't take put too much thought into his suspicions. The wait to the next appointment went by fairly quickly but then the appointment itself took forever! They spent over 1 hour scanning and measuring alone. It was quite incredible actually. (I'll include more details on all of this when I get those pics scanned and uploaded.) At any rate, after measuring everything imaginable, the tech FINALLY tells us "Baby A" is a girl - Gracelin. We wait just as long a 2nd time and learn "Baby B" is also a girl - Isabella. At last, we've learned who is in there and couldn't be any more excited! :)

Last Sunday (1/16) I was sitting at the computer, researching strollers, and noticed a strange feeling in my belly which I had never felt before. Confused, I went back to the computer. But then it happened again, and then again. I was totally uncertain but thought that I may have just felt the babies move. Then Tuesday (1/18) came around and I felt it again, but 10,000 times more and all day long! It was the strangest and funniest feeling. The best way I can describe it is, it felt like I was being tickled but from the inside. Well, after I had felt this for a little while and knew what it really was, I was thrilled. And then I started tickling them back! This has continued on and off since then, and is just as fun every time.

I thought the tickles were fun, but I had no idea how awesome a kick was going to be! This happened just last night (Sat 1/22) and was right before going to sleep. Kenny and I were lounging on the couches watching a movie (Fantastic Mr Fox) and I per usual was resting with my hands on my belly just waiting for movement, and then BAM there it was!! A kick! My eyes went wide and then I felt it again. By the 3rd one I was sure of what had just happened and quickly told Kenny to "get over here!" Confused by my demands, I elaborated and told him "she just kicked!" He shot off the couch and I quickly replaced my hand with his. Thankfully, she ended up letting out 3 more kicks for Kenny to feel too. It was so fun! I felt her kick from the inside and he could feel her kick from the outside. I was so incredibly thrilled he was around when they decided to make their kicking debut, and of course so was Kenny. :)

As mentioned above, we did also learn of some potential health concerns for our little Gracie. I can't sum this one up quickly though, so I'm reserving this topic for it's own blog entry. In the meantime, please just keep us all in your prayers.



Week 18

Yet again my bump was hiding on picture day.

So I spent the first couple of minutes pouting.

After much effort Kenny finally figured out how to make me smile.

He brought up the girls! :)

Week 17

So we've made it to week 17, and I've been feeling absolutely wonderful lately!

What's new... my belly now feels tight before eating dinner, when before it didn't feel that way until after I had eaten. It has also been feeling really firm/hard lately, mostly in the evening when it's feeling tight and full. And speaking of my belly, my poor belly button is already taking a turn for the worse! I first noticed it a couple nights ago after my daily oil application when it looked like there was a ring around it, and now I can't help but see it all the time... it's beginning it's decent into an outtie!! : P This is not supposed to happen this early! Boohoo! Ok, it's kind of funny though. You can't see in it anymore at all, it's all squishing together, then before I know it, out! Also growing outward, is the rest of my belly. I can now hardly zip up any of my pants and have been living off of my belly band. There was only 1 pair of pants (jeans) I have been able to wear without the band, but last weekend was getting pretty difficult. I haven't tried through the week yet, but I am fairly certain I won't be able to wear them anymore without the band too. So that leaves only pants with a drawstring! Haha. I kid a lot but I am really loving the changes. It's really hard not to when I know I'm just making room for our two growing babies.

Though I love my new belly, I am working at keeping my body healthy and in as good of shape as it can be. This week I was able to start my prenatal workouts. :) Kenny bought me two awesome dvd's for Christmas and I am already in love with them after 1 use each. Both of them have routines to follow based on where you are at in the pregnancy, which makes me feel so much safer. I have been extremely concerned about exercising because I didn't want to do anything I wasn't supposed to and harm the babies. (I'm not trying to make excuses, there really are more risks and restrictions when having multiples.) But I not only felt completely safe, I really felt like I was providing a better living/growing environment for them. I particularly loved the yoga one. The instructor says things like how a certain move is allowing the baby to move & stretch out more, and just different ways they are enjoying the movements. I think one of the reasons I liked it, was because I felt more connected with them. :) The other video is a true workout! I'm already sore and I just did it this morning. All I have to say about this one so far is, doing sit-ups/crunches while pregnant is very awkward! But, I can't wait to do these videos some more!!

Our next doctor's appointment is this Saturday. Though it is possible we can find out the genders on this visit, I don't think we will. Our OB doesn't seem to want to tell us this, or that's how he's made it seem so far. BUT if we don't, then we'll likely know when we have the Anatomy Scan done on the Monday the 17th. This will be done with the 3D/4D ultrasound (by a different doctor) and they will measure pretty much everything having to do with each baby. By the end of this visit they should know exactly where the health of both babies is, and more than likely the genders. Surprisingly, I'm more excited to hear about their health than I am to find out what we're having. Guess I just have health on the brain right now! And no matter what we're having it will be awesome, so there's no anxiety just excitement.

Well, that's the 3 of us in a nutshell this week. I hope you are doing as great as we are!

Ultrasound: Week 15 (W15:D6)

Top bunk

You can see: Ears, both eyes, nose, mouth, chin, part of both arms, both knees, some toes. Their head is also the same shape as Kenny's right now!

Bottom bunk

You can see: Full body area, part of both arms, part of both legs.



Ultrasound: Week 13 (W13:D3)

The babies were really challenging to see this week. They were in funky positions (perpendicular to one another) which made capturing their image really difficult.

Top bunk

Top side of top bunk's head & bottom bunk
Bottom bunk: You can see the eye (socket), nose & mouth.

Measuring top bunk
75mm or 2.95 inches

Measuring bottom bunk
79mm or 3.11 inches


Both babies

Ultrasound: Week 11 (W11:D3)

We only got 1 picture this week, but we did also got to hear their heartbeats for the first time. It's great of the top bunk but unfortunately, not so great of the bottom bunk. Top bunk: You can see the mouth, nose & a hand near their mouth.



Ultrasound: 9 Weeks (W8:D6)

These are the first pictures ever taken of the babies!

This was the first image I saw when the ultrasound began. Before the doctor could say a word, I knew we were having twins. This was confirmed 1 second later when he said, "Well, you're having twins." :)

Measuring the baby in the "top bunk"

25mm or 0.98 inches
*Measurements are from crown of head to the rump

Measuring the baby in the "bottom bunk"

24mm or 0.94 inches

Close up of the top bunk

Close up of the bottom bunk



Baby Bump: Pre to 16 Weeks

Here are the pictures of the bump progress so far, starting with the most recent and ending with the oldest.

*You'll see time frames listed below each picture and here's why... I have a pregnancy journal where you plug in your due date (6/14) then fill out every calendar date backwards. You end up getting a day by day play of the progress of the baby(s) and you. This journal, along with every other pregnancy calculator I can find, all tell me I am at 17 weeks and 5 days. However, the doctor tells us I am at 16 weeks and 4 days. I asked him how this was possible and explained the whole calendar thing to him. His reply was (ttranslated by me, not verbatim), "I can't explain it but if you look at my cardboard wheel based on your due date you are 8 days less."  SO, my conclusion is the doctor is wrong. BUT my husband tells me we have to start going off his calculations because he's the one "calling the shots." So the true time frame is listed as "Calendar" and the doc's is "Doctor." Moving forward, I'll only list the doctor's date in my posts.  

Calendar: 17 weeks

Doctor: 16 weeks

Calendar: 16 weeks

Doctor: 15 weeks

Calendar: 15 weeks

Doctor: 14 weeks

Calendar: 14 weeks

Doctor: 13 weeks

*I was bummed because I didn't think my bump looked as pronounced as it had been.  

 

Calendar: 13 weeks

Doctor: 12 weeks

Calendar: 12 weeks

Doctor: 11 weeks 

Pre-bump: Approx 8 weeks

Where We Are Now

I am starting this blog to chronicle our journey as we move from a single couple into a family of four. Here's a little bit about where we are now...

~Kricket~

Is 26 years old, and 16 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins. She is working at Cosmopolitan Medical Communications as the Customer Service Manager and is approaching her 2 year anniversary there. Her world currently revolves around the pregnancy and preparation for the babies. Though there is lots of reading and research being done, there is also a lot of sleeping/napping/being lazy and the usual procrastination.

1st trimester went amazingly well. To every one's surprise she didn't battle morning sickness and felt great most of the days.

Symptoms: There were occasional boats with indigestion/gas pain/heartburn, feeling the need to eat almost non-stop (this lasted about 1 month), spells of feeling faint, occasional abdominal pains from the growing babies, headaches (everyday for about 1 1/2 months), emotional freak-outs/breakdowns, frequent trips to the potty, feeling extra tired, and frequent sleeping issues - couldn't get comfortable enough to fall asleep, waking up at the drop of a pin, waking up needing to pee and/or eat, waking up from discomfort and muscle aches, not being able to fall back asleep once being woken up.

Food cravings: anything she saw, smelled or thought about.
Most surprising: Zesty bread & butter pickles (she rarely eats pickles).
Worse craving/cave in: She watched a co-worker eat a Chipotle burrito at lunch so on her way home she had to stop and get one. She barely made it to her car before she scarfed down enough to get  her home. On the way home, she couldn't resist and stopped to pick up some McDonald's - 6 piece chicken nugget meal, a cheeseburger and 2 apple pies. The apple pies ended up making it until breakfast the next day, and the rest of the burrito was eaten for lunch.

2nd trimester so far has already started off to be what everyone says it is.

Symptoms: Most of the symptoms from the 1st trimester are gone. The most notable are how her energy has been coming back (though the laziness is still a problem) and sleeping through most nights & fairly easily. New symptoms include: waking up from charlie horses in the calves (ouch!), tightness of skin from the growing belly, increased back / tailbone pain/soreness, increased appetite.

Food cravings: Popsicles and LOTS of them! (Specifically the Popsicle brand, Scribblers.)

There is still much more of the 2nd trimester to come, so to be continued...

~Kenny~

Is 29 years old, and dealing incredibly well with his crazy pregnant wife. He is working as a RN in the ER at St Joseph's hospital and still practices as a LMT (licensed message therapist) from home. He has done exceptionally well in his new career as a nurse. This is evident by the never ended compliments his patients give him, praises sung by his co-workers, and the begging his superiors did to keep him in the ER when he was thinking of transferring. Here's one of the numerous example... Kenny had a patient tell him they had been to the ER at SJ's about 1 year ago. They remembered the care Kenny had given them and when they needed to go to the ER they choose SJ's again because of Kenny. To their luck, they actually got Kenny as their nurse on their return visit. (Well the return visit wasn't lucky, but the Kenny part was!)

Kenny has also decided to continue his education. He has been attended school through Grand Canyon University and will be graduating in May with his Bachelors degree. He has also taken different training courses the hospital has offered, attends seminars, and frequently partakes in different committees at the hospital.

The other major part of Kenny's world is his home life. He too has been excited and preparing for the babies. He has been the worlds best partner and frequently wakes up Kricket to give her a back or neck message before she starts her day. He doesn't complain about the crazy things Kricket is doing while being pregnant but instead has been there as her #1 supporter.

~Kricket & Kenny~

We attend Desert Breeze Community Church together, and Kricket also goes to a women's life group (Radiance). We both drive Honda's - Kricket has a Civic ('07) & Kenny has a Fit ('10). We are living in the first home we purchased, in Phoenix on Ross. Our home has pretty much looked the same way for the entire 4 1/2 years we've lived here, but that's all changing now. The massage / office is becoming the babies nursery. The spare bedroom is becoming the new message / office space. We will also be moving our living room pieces into the front room, getting rid of some of the front room pieces (like the bar) and moving the rest into the living room. When all is said and done, the front room will have our nice couches & coffee table, entertainment center and TV. The living room is going to become our space for the babies to spend their day in. We'll have our not so nice couch (or possibly two), some cubbies for their toys and other gear, the swing chair, and then maybe the glider chair and a crib / pack 'n play of some sort. At least these are our plans as of now. :)

We're looking forward to what is still to come for us, and we are so excited to share this amazing journey with you!