We have a date!

We eagerly waited for our appointment at Shands on Monday to get our scheduled C-Section date. We left very early in the morning, as we do every week. We got up at 5:00am and left the house by 5:30. I look forward to Shands days because Greg always gets me Starbucks! YUM! However, I do not look forward to waking up at the crack of dawn when I have had to get up to pee 10 times the night before. I have gained 5 more pounds which puts my total weight gain at 30 pounds! Ahhh depressing, but I know that it is a good thing because it means the boys are gaining too which is the most important thing. My blood pressure was great but I was still concerned about the problems I have been having with my heart racing. The Doctor seemed concerned as well and he ordered a 24 hour heart monitor for me to wear. It was just like a 24hour EKG test. That was an experience wearing all those wires. We will not get those results back for probably 2 weeks but hopefully sooner. The Doctor still thinks everything with the boys is looking great and the twin to twin transfusion is not presenting itself anymore. He thinks it is possible for me to go to 37 weeks ( amazing) depending on the results of the heart monitoring tests and how the boys continue to look on ultrasound. He scheduled our C-Section for November 15th. Yay! There is a light at the end of this LONG tunnel. Everyone who see's my belly does not think I’m going to make it that far. We will just continue to wait and see. I will be happy if we can at least make it to 35 weeks. Lately Greg and I have been thinking that since the boys are doing fantastic we might want to switch back to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital so we can deliver here. It is definitely a lot to go to Shands weekly and we are not so happy about having to deliver there. However, we want to do whatever is best for the boys. We have an appointment to meet back with our original doctor here in Tally on Monday, and then back to Shands Tuesday. So I will keep everyone updated! I am still having heartburn daily, and my belly is getting even bigger although I really didn’t think it was possible for it to get any bigger. Everywhere we go strangers make comments about how I look like I’m about to pop! The most common comments I get are "Any day now?" Ahhh it’s frustrating to explain to everyone " I’m pregnant with Twins!". Greg and I are trying to research everything we can about parenting twins, breastfeeding twins, how to tell our twins apart, and any other information and tips we can get our hands on that will make our journey with the boys a little easier. Next week will be 31 weeks so I’m hoping the time keeps flying by! I’m going to get my hospital bag ready this week just in case I were to go into pre-term labor (which happens a lot with twin pregnancies). Well I just indulged in some pumpkin pie and my belly is full so time to say night night!

Pregnancy Pics!

30 Weeks :)

Our appointment went extremely well last week!! Both of the babies fluids are in the normal range now which is fantastic! Baby A weighs 3 pounds 1 ounce, and Baby B weighs 3 pounds! We are so happy that the boys are strong and healthy and there is no sign of twin to twin transfusion anymore. Our doctor said that he is going to schedule our c-section 3-4 weeks from now.  We go back to Shands on Monday which is the day he is going to schedule the date! We are so excited that we are getting close! Things have been going pretty well until last weekend the day of the big game! I was feeling a lot of pressure and sharp pains so I finally decided we should go to Triage. I could not even get up into Greg’s truck which was awful so we ended up taking the car. The pain was so bad I could not walk so Greg got me a wheel chair. When we got to the room they hooked me and the babies up to the monitors. I was having lots of contractions and my blood pressure was very high, and so was my pulse. The babies heart beats were very strong and they were squirming all around. I don’t think they liked the loud noise of the heart monitors. After a while of monitoring the babies were perfectly fine, but my blood pressure was still really high, my pulse,  and I was still contracting. The doctor decided to give me a pre term labor shot to stop the contractions, however my pulse was so high they couldn’t give it to me so they went to plan B which was an oral medication. It worked for a while but then I was still contracting. They decided to try a different oral medication to help with my blood pressure and contractions. Also, they did some blood work to rule out preeclampsia and they did a fibronection test which detects pre term labor. Both came back negative which was great. After a little while longer of monitoring they decided that I was having severe round ligament pain and that I would probably be ok to rest at home instead of staying the night in the hospital. I was sure I was going into labor the pain was soooo bad! Thank God it was just round ligament pain because the boys need a little bit more time before they make their grand entrance.  Needless to say it was a very scary trip!! We are really excited to go to Shands tomorrow to find out what day the boys will be born! In other news heartburn has recently taken over my life once again and I have figured out each night I get up to pee every two hours. Bed rest is still soooo boring, and my belly is getting so big we cant believe it! We are so ready to hold our little boys in our arms! I am finally posting some pics today that we took at Maclay Gardens! Yes I know im supposed to be in the bed but I couldn’t resist getting up for a while to take some pregnancy pictures!

28 Weeks

So we met with our specialist on Monday and everyone is amazed as to how well the babies and I are doing. The fluid levels are getting so much better and both babies hearts are strong. Also, the babies are extremely active which is another good sign! The doctor thinks that if things continue to go this well I could carry them to 37 weeks. He will not let me go past that. I’m so miserable these days I’m not sure if I’m going to make it that long. My belly is measuring at 37 weeks prego!! Its amazing because I’m 28 weeks! Those boys are going to take after their daddy, I just know it! Next week is going to be exciting because on Tuesday they are measuring their weights again. We are hoping and praying that they are over 3 pounds, although by the looks of my belly I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Well each week we get more and more excited. We are so happy that the problems have subsided and twin to twin transfusion is not looking like its going to develop anymore. It has been extremely stressful and scary the past few months. We just can’t wait to hold them in our arms! Bed rest is extremely boring but I think it is working! Now we just have to watch out for preterm labor because of all the pressure.  This weekend we are hoping to take some maternity pictures! I think Greg has gotten everything ready for their arrival and we finally tracked down two baby books to bring to the hospital. The only thing we have not bought yet is a playard.  So I will be trying to keep myself busy searching the internet for good reviews on them. Every day I watch making room for multiples on TLC to try and pick up any helpful hints we might need! It’s definitely going to be an adventure with the twins, but I know we are ready! I will definitely be posting our pictures this weekend :)

Beyond Boredom!

I know that I should not be complaining about bed rest because we are very lucky that our little angels are cooperating to stay in the womb a little longer. However, I am beyond bored these days! This is what my day consists of… waking up, make some breakfast, back to bed, watch food network till lunch, make some lunch, back to bed, watch food network till Greg gets home, try to make dinner but I get scalded by the wardens ( a.k.a Greg & Mom), back to bed. AHHH who knew that relaxing all day would make you want to pull your hair out! Although I must say Bella absolutely loves me being home every day all day. She curls up right next to me on Greg’s side of the bed and sleeps ALL day! She leads a hard life haha. Well the boys roll around all day in my belly :) I love when I see a little hump stick out because I know it’s one of their little butts :) I do not think that my tummy can grow anymore! It is huge! Sleeping is practically impossible these days, not to mention I feel like I need an oxygen tank because I am really having trouble breathing! We are counting down the days! I cannot wait to hold them in my arms. Well time to get back to food network and wish I could get up and cook something yummy! Enormous belly pics coming soon!

27 Weeks :)

Great news from our appointment at Shands this morning!! The babies fluids are equaling out and the fluid levels are in the median range now. We were extremely excited to learn this news! It’s very complicated but basically the babies are not showing signs of twin to twin transfusion this week which is fantastic! They think the Ensures I have been drinking and the bed rest is helping the fluid levels. It hasn’t been three weeks yet so they could not measure their weights again. The doctor was so pleased with the way their hearts, and fluid levels were looking that we do not have to go back for another ultrasound until September 20^th. However, we still have to go back next week for our office visit with the doctor. Both boys had good strong heart beats and they were squirming all over the place J Baby B has now flipped back to being head down again so both boys heads are next to each other. It’s so adorable! We are saying our prayers that things continue to stay this way for a little bit longer. We are very optimistic that we will make it to at least 30 weeks, and anything after that will be a blessing J My hubby has been absolutely amazing! He has gotten all of the baby clothes washed and organized in the nursery and he has been so supportive and caring towards my rollercoaster of emotions so far. If I even try to get up to get something I get scalded! Hehe. I must say, bed rest has become extremely boring! I was so upset to have to leave my job at the capitol after four years. Although I know listening to doctors orders is the best thing for our buns in the oven. A few things that I would like to share with everyone are exactly how I am feeling at 27 weeks pregnant with twins!! I am finding it next to impossible to breath these days, I can’t sleep without getting up to pee at least 5 times a night (no joke!), TUMS are still a major part of my daily diet, and I am hungry all the time! Last night at midnight I indulged in a whole bag of popcorn after eating dinner and a chocolate milkshake with an ensure of course for dessert!! Also, lately I have been feeling a little nauseas again just like in the first trimester. Lord please no!! Anyway I am trying to stay optimistic and I can put up with being uncomfortable for a little while longer as long as Jonathan and Christopher are happily growing and doing well J Also, I promise I will post some new baby belly pics this week (If I do not forget due to mush brain)!!

Embracing the world of bed rest!

Lots of updates for everyone from Shands. We felt very comfortable with the new doctor. We had an amazing ultrasound tech and she took her time and looked each baby over thoroughly. She also checked the fluids from each baby. Baby B still had more fluid than baby A. Our doctor at Shands does not think that going to Miami to have the laser procedure would be beneficial to us right now because we are so far along in the pregnancy. The laser procedure can sometimes fix the problems of twin to twin transfusion and give some more time in the womb for the babies to grow stronger, but sometimes when you are as far along as me it cannot correct the problem completely. Since the laser procedure can only get to the larger blood vessels in the placenta to cauterize, it still leaves the smaller blood vessels to continue supplying more nutrients to one baby instead of equal distributing to each. We are being completely transferred over to the specialist at Shands , he is the director of the Fetal Medicine Department of Shands hospital in Gainesville. We feel very comfortable and confident in our new doctor. We will be going to Shands every week for the rest of the pregnancy for them to monitor the fluids of the babies. Our Doctor has informed us to bring a bag each week because there could be a chance of them admitting me to the hospital for the rest of the pregnancy or taking the babies out earlier than expected. Tuesday I got steroid shots to help produce the babies lungs faster and also help fight infection just in case they have to take the babies out earlier.  Right now we are hoping and praying to get at least four more weeks which would put us at 30 weeks. Some great news is that the boys are now 2 pounds each!!! Baby B was 2 pounds 1 ounce and Baby A was 2 pounds! It is amazing how they are so close in weight and it is a really good sign J The doctors have got me doubling my protein intake, and also I have been put on drinking two ensure protein shakes a day. There has been some research supporting increased protein intake can help fluid levels in identical twins. We toured the NICU while we were in the hospital this week and we felt very comforted by the nurses. They also gave us lots of information to read over and they stressed how important it is for us to feed the babies breast milk since it is so helpful to preemies. Also, I have now officially been put on complete bed rest. My cervix has been shortening so they think its best for me to be on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. So I’m sure I will have lots of time to blog and tell funny stories! Greg has been washing all the babies clothes and trying to get the nursery very organized just in case we end up staying at Shands. Our next appointment is Tuesday. The boys kick and roll ALL the time! We love sitting in bed at night watching them J Well I think I’m going to read up on my twins book and try to keep myself from not going crazy on bed rest!!