Weeks 23-24

Unfortunately, life got incredibly busy during these weeks since I was working 6 days/week and far too many hours, but are the highlights...

The iron pills seem to be working really well. I only had similar heart issues for about a week after the OB Triage visit. I did find that if I didn't eat when taking them I would get really nauseous. I typically don't feel that way when taken medicine with the "eat with a meal" warning. I'm curious if it is the pills or the pregnancy...

I finally finished our baby registry at Babies R Us. I had no clue it was going to be as hard as it was! They give you a huge list of "recommendations" for what to include and since I've never actually been around a baby for more than a couple hours, I didn't know what most of the items were. Thankfully, my mom, who went with me (for round 1), and then my mother-in-law & sister-in-law Tonya were a huge help in this department!

We nailed down a design for the nursery. I'm so excited and think the girls are going to love it! Well it may be a few years before they know what's going on and officially love it, but i'm certain they will. :)

While hanging out with my step-sister Lauren and her family who were visiting from Virginia, our family through us a surprise combo baby shower. We are both having girls and are only about 1 week apart. Lauren was approx 24 weeks & pregnant with her 3rd child, and I was 23 weeks. It was a delightful surprise and lots of fun. I also had another one of those crazy moments where the pregnancy hit me in a different way. I was in the middle of opening the girls presents when it dawned on me, this was for me because I was having a baby (well 2 babies). Though it was clearing nothing new I was learning, it seemed like a brand new concept and was absolutely thrilling.

Baby Shower

 

Baby Bump 

Oldie but a Goodie!

I wasn't able to post this video before, but with my new laptop I can!

Kenny and I thought we would find out the genders at our 15 week ultrasound (at this point we thought we were at 16 weeks, almost 17), which is why took the video. We didn't find out the genders this week, but the video is still really fun to watch. :)

Weeks 20-22

Currently in week 22 (day 2) and overall still feeling good but have begun to face some challenges. I am definitely feeling more aches and pains, mostly in my back and sacrum. It seems no matter what I do, how I sit / lay / sleep, what my posture is, what exercise / stretches I do, etc. - they are always there at the end of the day. I could take more Tylenol I suppose, but prefer not to. As of last week, I had gained 15 lbs total with the pregnancy. (As evident by my belly button. During the day the top part is an outtie, which can be seen through my clothes. And by the end of the night it's a full around outtie jr.) And this seems to only be picking up speed now. The doctor told me I should expect for my body to be the size of a full term singleton (40 weeks) when I am only 28 weeks! (That's only 6 weeks away!!) You can say I'm a little freaked out, or you can say I'm a LOT freaked out which would be more accurate.

Not sure if it's weight gain / size increase related, but I did take a trip to the ER last week. (Well specifically, OB Triage - which is amazing by the way!) I had started to notice my heart rate would increase above normal pace (tachycardia). The crazy thing was this was happening while I was at rest; just sitting doing nothing and even while laying down trying to go to sleep. Typically in the past, I've been able to slow my heart rate down just by focusing on being calm, taking deep breaths, etc. However, this was not working at all. These "episodes" were lasting anywhere between 30-60 minutes, from what I noticed. They were also accompanied by shortness of breath (though not severe) and then even tightness in the chest (it felt like someone was sitting on me). After having what seemed to be the worse and scariest episode, I called my OB. Unfortunately, he wasn't working until the afternoon and his staff advised me to go to OB Triage or make an appointment. Instead, I called my nurse (through my insurance's maternity program) and asked her what to do. After a lot of questioning, she too advised me to go to OB Triage. At this point, I had just started work and had a super busy day ahead of me. Knowing there was no way to leave, Kenny and I decided I would finish my work day and go to OB Triage after work. We said if I had another episode, then I would leave work and go in at that time. Well, I had another episode and this time I was so freaked out after talking to the nurses, that I began to panic and lost it (in front of my boss :( ).

My boss wouldn't let me drive myself, so she took me to SJ's. Kenny met us there since he was already on the SJ's campus, in the middle of a training class for work. I was waiting for Transportation to arrive at the ER to take me over to OB Triage, when my knight in shinning armor arrived. :) It was awesome, he just told the gals at the front desk he was taking over, put me in a wheel chair and off we went.

They ended up running an EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, checked the babies & their heart rates (which were perfect - 140 something & 150), and monitored my pulse ox and heart rate. They told me overall everything looked great and was "normal" (that's my current favorite word). I did have an erratic heart beat and it was tachycardia. Blood test showed I was "slightly" anemic and fighting off some sort of virus. These paired with my high stress and how tired I was, were the apparent causes. They gave me a prescription for Iron pills that I have to take x2 a day, and told me to rest.

I've been doing much better since. I've increased the number of times I'm doing yoga each week & have reduced (kinda) my work hours. I'm still working 6 days a week right now, but my boss has been really trying to make sure I’m out the door on time each day. I also just had the president of my company pull me aside this week and talk to me about everything. She was encouraging me to reduce my hours even more than they are now. But with the current status of our work, this simply isn't a good option right now. We only have 2 more weeks where we have to work 6 days, so I figure I can hang in there. Maybe in a couple weeks I'll truly reduce my hours where I'm not just getting out on time, but not working as much. I really have been getting exhausted lately, and so much more regularly.

OTHER NEWS...

I'm still eating popsicles but now only 1 at a time, and only occasionally. However, I have moved onto baked goods! Yeah, much worse I know. I've been trying to be careful. The first week was a mess, but since then I've reined the cravings in a bit. :) I'm also eating a lot more in general. Not sure if the girls are just hungry and need the extra nutrients, or if I'm burning more calories with my work and/or weight load, or if I'm just giving into being pregnant and "eating for 3" (though I really don't think it's the latter).

Feeling the girls move a lot more, and regularly. I can feel them playing/fighting with one another, which was confirmed when I watched them on the ultrasound doing this. I simply tell them to stop fighting now, lol. And I swear Isabella has her back to my belly and is pushing with all her might to break out of there! This is truly a bizarre feeling! I keep asking her to stay put for a while longer, and then we can play. :)
We finally decided on some major items: double stroller & car seats, bedding & room theme & baby carrier (sling). *Actually, today a young tech that Kenny works with bought the stroller and both matching car seats for us! They are being shipped to the house now. A-mazing!* We're also getting ready to pick up their furniture soon! Let the nursery work begin!

OH and the girls now have their wardrobe started! Here's a sneak peek.

Party dresses with socks and hair accessories

*1st present / outfit ever received*

"Sleeping bag" night gowns & booties

(that's what Kenny calls them :)

These onesie sets I broke down and bought myself. How could I resist?!

And here's the latest baby bump pics...

22 Weeks

21 Weeks

20 Weeks

Health Risks for Gracelin Joy

As touched on in a previous posting, we learned of some potential health risks for our sweet baby Gracelin Joy. When we went to the OB to get the results of the 3D/4D ultrasound, the doctor walked in the room chipper and full of pep. After saying good morning to us, he began looking over my chart and the two results pages (one for each baby). It became so quite you could hear a pin drop in the room. You could see him really starting to concentrate and began scanning back and forth over the papers, in dead silence. It was at this time I noticed 1 of the papers had bold red text on it while in the exact same places on the other paper the text was normal black. It was at this moment I realized it was emanate that something horrible was coming. I am sure my face went white. My heart started racing and I almost laid back because I thought I was going to pass out. Though my back was turned to Kenny, he could clearly sense what was going on as he quickly grabbed my hand for support.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the doctor finally spoke. He was very serious and seemed to be searching for the right words, and stalling. He started off with the good telling us Baby B (Isabella) looked perfectly healthy and great. He proceeded to then tell us that Baby A's (Gracelin) long bones measurements had been a little concerning. He told us this is a common indicator of Down Syndrome. He proceeded to tell us her odds of having DS were now 1:412.

He gave us the odds in numerous perspectives, but none really seemed to make it seem any better. He explained how the odds that she didn't have this were still really good, that he'd "love to go to Vegas" on them. (Still didn't make it any better.) He told us there were really only 2 ways to know if she for sure idid have DS. We could do an amniocentesis which would tell us 100% yes or no. There are however major risks involved with this procedure, including miscarriage. Because we are not willing to terminate the pregnancy based on the results, this was really not an option for us. The 2nd way to know for sure, and the one we'll be taking, is seeing what she looks like when she is born. There are 4 very distinct features they will review right away; slanting eyes due to extra skin, lower set ears, shorten neck and the pattern of lines on her palms (straight line = DS, curved = normal).

My initial reaction was shock, followed by fear and sadness. I simply don't want my children's lives to be any harder than they have to be. And though he mentioned how the odds were still really good, it's pretty different when you are sitting there being told YOUR baby now has these scary odds against her. It's like, I understand those odds can sound "great" when you're applying it to someone else, but that number seems horrible when it's your child.

As soon as we left the doctor's office, I mean barely out the front door to the hallway, I lost it. Thank God for Kenny and his endless comfort. See, one of the first things that had come to my mind was how I felt God would give us a special needs child because He knows we would love them the same and still provide the best life we knew how to. (I would later find this feeling only grew strong as time went on.) But after I was able to compose myself enough to drive home, off I went. (Kenny met me right after work so we had to each drive  home.) I proceeded to call my mommy and cry like a baby the whole way home. Once home, I went back into a state of shock and then numbness. Kenny, again to my rescue, begin looking up facts about DS to ease my mind. After letting this sink in, I realized something; God already made Gracelin and did so with his perfect design in mind. How on earth could I possibly be upset knowing she is already perfect no matter what that means mentally / physically?!

At this point, I was calm and had a good perspective about things. Kenny later got out all his text books from his nursing classes and we read up on the scientific facts about DS. I also got to see a couple pictures of children with DS, specifically infants and a toddler. After the comfort of knowing God & how His plans work, it was these pictures that would have the greatest impact on my outlook on this situation. They all had something in common, incredible smiles that you could almost hear the laughter through by just looking at them. I was reminded of how happy DS people are. Remembering this fact and realizing if Gracelin did have this, she would still be full of joy - made the fear and sadness drift away.

In the end, I know without a doubt no matter what happens...
She will be perfect.
She will be happy.
She will bring everyone joy.
She will learn about how amazing God is in all He does.
And she will be incredibly loved.

It's times like these when a person realizes how grateful they are to know our amazing Creator; to receive peace and comfort with no effort at all. I know I will never look at a special needs person the same ever again as my heart has been permanently changed. Truly, through ALL things God is good, and this my friends will never change.

18 Weeks: 3D/4D Ultrasound

Profile of face, abdomen, hand, umbilical cord, leg.

Profile of face, chest, hand near face.



(same view)

Left baby: Back of head, right ear, back, right arm.

Right baby: Cut-through of back of head & neck, arm near face.

Left baby: Back right/side profile - head, side of face, ear, shoulder, arm, back, thigh.

Right baby: Cut-through of back of head and neck.

Left baby: "Pee pee dancing" :) Back right / side profile.

Right baby: Cut-through of back of head. 

Left baby: Back right / side profile.

Right baby: Cut-through of back of head, neck, shoulders. 

Left baby: Right side profile - face, ear, shoulder / shoulder blade, arm covering mouth, abdomen.

Right baby: Cut-through of back of head, neck, hand in front of mouth.

Left baby: Right side profile - face, ear, shoulder, arm covering mouth, abdomen, leg.

Right baby: Cut-through of head, neck, hand in front of mouth - fingers, umbilical cord.

Left baby / "Twin B" / Isabella: Face - forehead, eyes, nose, chin; abdomen, right hand.

Right baby / "Twin A" / Gracelin: Facing downward - spine from neck through abdomen.

Left baby / "Twin B" / Isabella

Right baby / "Twin A" / Gracelin

Bob sled pose

Left baby / "Twin B" / Isabella

Right baby / "Twin A" / Gracelin

Top of heads in bob sled pose

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