23 Weeks and counting!

I finally felt the girl move from the outside of my belly tonight. It was starting to concern me how much I feel the boy and rarely feel the girl. When I do feel her kick it's very light. Tonight she was kicking like a champ. :) I always feel her very low and many times she puts pressure on my bladder to the point that I have to go to the bathroom right away. She usually moves within a few minutes thank goodness.

Nick and I registered at BabysRUs. That was completely overwhelming. I was glad I got advice from Nancy ahead of time. There is so much stuff and lots of choices for everything. Nick and I have no clue. lol The employees there told us to register for more than we think including formula and diapers because you'll get coupons for the things you register for. I was surprised that Nick was picking all kinds of stuff....I was freaking out with him and that scanner. He was out of control. lol

I'm getting anxious again for the next ultrasound. Feb 12th. I really want to know how these babies are laying. I think they still move a lot though. They will measure my cervix on the ultrasound again and hopefully it will still be in good shape. I wish the docs appts and the ultrasounds weren't in the same week. It seems like so long in between. I want to know everything is okay, more often. My twin books say I should be going every 2 weeks after 20 weeks to be checked and the docs I go to won't increase it unless there is a problem. They say that because you also get an ultrasound, that's someone seeing you twice a month. The docs appts and ultrasounds have always been a few days apart which seems kinda silly to me. I still don't feel comfortable with all these different docs and it makes me nervous that they treat my high risk twin pregnancy the same as all the others. I'm looking forward to seeing another doc this time. I'm hoping I get to speak this time and ask some questions. I'm going to try and get Nick to go along. He's good at asking questions and supporting me that way. He's also been very helpful and thoughtful with me since it's been much harder for me to do simple things.

Bending over to pick things up can be difficult. the way down isn't bad. It's getting back up. lol My socks are getting harder and harder to put on. I wish it was flip flop weather. lol But then I'd have to somehow paint my toes. I would love to get a pedicure about now. Mom said she'd pay for me to get a pregnancy massage but I'm still scared to call and schedule it. I don't know why but I feel weird with someone touching me. Nick just said it better be a woman. Well duh...but even some strange woman touching me seems strange. The more I hurt though the more I am changing my mind. The doc told me it could really help. I've been loading on the cocoa butter and so far I haven't seen any stretch marks. I'm afraid to say that too soon though because I'm sure I have lots of stretching to go. I do have that strange line down the center of my belly. I read about it and they have some long fancy name for it but it's where your abdomen muscles separate to allow room for the growing uterus. Pretty crazy. It's a mystery why that changes your pigment but they say it shows up in darker skinned women more often. My belly button is pushing out and my belly is nice and tight like a brand new volleyball only bigger. I pretty much have realized that my body is no longer my own. Babies have taken it hostage. Hormones do some crazy things. My feet are bigger I swear. My shoes are tight. I told Nick this and he didn't believe me. It's not just an excuse for new shoes. I've been wearing my clogs every day anyhow but I know people who say their feet grow a shoe size and don't return after pregnancy. That would stink, I like my shoes and we can't afford to replace them. :( Heartburn is showing up everyday now. The preview for the Ben Stiller movie about throwing up in your mouth isn't near as funny to me anymore. Laying down makes it worse but I can't prop up and sleep on my side. It's quite the dilemma. Getting in and out of bed has become a sport. There is an exact way it must be done to prevent ligament freak out. I have to have everything available for the night. Heating pad, tylenol, belly wedge, extra pillows to prevent rolling and for between my knees, water, eye drops because I can't take my dry eye medicine now and of course saline drops for my nose since I get so stuffed up. I rotate from left side to back. Left side is supposed to be the best for the babies. It allows the babies to access the most oxygen and nutrition. I lay that way until my hip starts to ache then I switch to my back until I start throwing up in my mouth or my back hurts, then back to the side again. My ultrasound tech said I won't be able to lay on my back for long because the weight of the babies with cut off my blood flow and I'll pass out if I do. She said doing what is comfortable is usually best for the babies and the only thing that will eventually be comfortable will be left side laying. Believe it or not I do get some enjoyment out of this most times. I feel the babies kick a lot when I'm still before I FINALLY fall asleep. lol Physically I've just been really tired. I slept 12 hrs last night. I don't remember turning my alarm off. I'm still making two trips to the bathroom at night. The trips seem more urgent now then before. lol My legs and belly are red like they are sunburned. Blood flow going crazy. I can always feel my own heart beating in my chest. I've had low blood pressure so far which is really good. Hope it stays that way. I've not had much of an appetite though. I thought by now I'd eat a lot. I have a lot of feeling sick in my stomach days still but at least they no longer lead to throwing up. I get dizzy spells when I stand too long. I just don't know how I'll feel day to day. My back has been hurting more and more but not lower back as much as my rib area. I'm really thankful I haven't had too much pain that way. And THANK THE LORD I haven't had long episodes of the ligament pain lately. I get sharp pain every now and again but it only has been lasting minutes instead of hours. At this point I feel pregnant for sure but I'm not miserably uncomfortable and that I'm thankful for! I can still laugh at most of it.

I'm starting to have crazy dreams of things happening and Nick not being around. Then I wake up panicked. I do need to get more comfortable calling the docs and asking questions. I did this past week and they did put my mind at rest.

We start our child birth/baby care classes this Thursday. I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully that will answer a lot of my questions. I started reading another twin book that my mom got me that has been really good.

Time for bed.

The Moving Belly

I'm seriously getting a kick out of this moving belly of mine. It makes me laugh. The boy is kicking harder and harder. I had Nick feel and he kinda got freaked out by it, it gave him the chills. lol He said it was weird like he's not only kicking now but sliding his arms or legs along my belly. He's been getting up into my ribs too. At this point i can stretch and make it feel better. They both kept me up last night moving around. I don't know why but the girl has always been much more subtle. At my last ultrasound it wasn't that she wasn't moving because she was moving just as much as he was. For some reason he seems to kick to the outside of my belly and I feel her kicking lightly towards the inside against my organs. I'm curious how they are positioned now. Nick did finally get to feel her kick but you have to be very still and hope your hand is in the right spot. With him you can SEE where to put your hand and he kicks many times in the same spot so he's easy to catch.

I started drawing my tree on the wall in chalk. I have to wait for Nick to be home to work on it since I'm on a ladder. I'm anxious to paint it and get things moving. I've been working a lot on freelance now and I haven't had any free time to do anything. I'm still sleeping a lot which doesn't help either. I can still seem to need to get 10-11 hrs of sleep at night. I woke up this morning starving. I still feel sick on the first thing I eat in the morning. If I could take naps I could better manage the long period without food but I've never been able to nap. It should be interesting to see how I do once the babies get here.

I went to the dentist for a cleaning yesterday and they were all excited about the twins. I'm beginning to learn that scheduling appts is going to be interesting. I never really had to worry about it before. When do I schedule appts during the day? What will I do with two babies? Can't exactly bring them to the dentist. lol Mom said I just have to line up people to watch them.

I still have this sinus infection so I'm going to try another kind of antibiotic and hoping that will kick it.

Hospital Tour, More Episodes & a Moving Belly

Thursday we had the ole hospital tour. I was anxious to see what it was like. Nick was impressed with how much they explained. It was an hour tour with a bunch of big bellied women walking every where. Was kinda a funny site to see. It's interesting how women carry differently. There were all shapes and sizes of belly. I felt huge for 21 weeks...but they all had one baby in there. We were told where to go when we are in labor. South elevators to the 4th floor and the emergency room if we feel it's urgent. (who doesn't feel it's urgent?) Anyhow, they check you to see if you're dilated and depending on how many much they may send you home again or send you to a labor room. The labor rooms and maternity rooms all have a place for the baby. Healthy and "of weight" babies are with the mothers in her room. I thought that was really nice. There is also chairs/couches that pull out into beds for the "support person". They talked about all the accommodations they have in the labor room for all the different positions women like for labor. I was getting a kick out of watching Nick's face. Birthing balls, stirrups, and other things that sounded interesting. lol We saw where the recovery was for c-sections. This area was not near as nice. A big room with curtains to divide the beds. We went to see the NICU (intensive care) entrance. On the wall in the hallway were success stories of preemies who are now older. We saw 4 kids from our church on there. Two sets of twins from the same family. I started feeling sad thinking about how mostly likely our babies will end up in there and not in the room with us. If they are under 5 lbs, they will be in the NICU. It kinda stuck with me the whole tour thinking about it. We are really blessed that York Hospital has one of the best NICU's in the area. I also know they took very good care of Jacob, our friends son who was born at 30 weeks. We'd love for them to be born at a healthy weight. I know it can happen but I also am trying to be realistic in what I've been told and how the babies will run out of room to grow towards the end and I don't have a lot of extra room to give them. Nick has accepted that they will have to be there. Right now the babies are right on track. They are both the size of a normal single pregnancy. Around 28 weeks they say that changes with twins and they will then measure and weigh less. We pray for their health and that they will be born healthy every day and that's all we can do. We know God loves them more then we do and he's got their delivery already planned, we just have to trust Him.

This ligament is not cooperating in the stretching of my belly. I've never really experienced intense pain like it before. When it strikes there is nothing I can do to make it feel any better. Friday morning it woke me at 5 and lasted 3 hours this time. It hurt so bad I just cried the whole time. I would have taken the pain medicine had I had it filled. I still don't feel comfortable taking something that strong though. I felt bad for Nick. There is nothing he can do but watch. Afterwards it leaves me exhausted and sore for at least a day. I had another episode last night that lasted only an hour thank the Lord. We tried something different this time. I sat up in a chair beside the bed with pillows behind me with my heating pad. It still is very painful but sitting up prevents the extra pulling it takes to lay back. I don't know if it made the episode shorter or not but I'll try it again. I can endure an hour without breaking down in tears, it's the 2-3 hour ones that break my will and make me feel completely helpless and frustrated. I've heard so much advice that it's starting to frustrate me. There is no amount of breathing, tylenol or heating pads that make it better. It's not sore muscles, it's the ligament. We're just praying the episodes don't last longer or happen more often as time goes on. Is this prep for labor or what?

This is the fun part. Now 22 weeks pregnant, I can see things moving in my belly. I was sitting at Youth Group with the kids last night and the boy was kicking, I looked down and my shirt was moving. Hannah sitting beside me saw it too. It was during the lesson and it was killing me not to be able to show Nick. He was across the room. I feel the girl kick too but hers are much softer and she tends to kick at my organs while he kicks the outside of my belly. I'm anxious for another ultrasound but it's not until Feb 12th.

I got referrals for a massage therapist and chiropractor from my doctor. I've heard massages can do wonders. I haven't had much back pain considering. I have pain in the middle left side of my back more then the lower back. I also know when to wear my support. I usually have pain under my belly though from the weight and the support helps.

Docs Appt. Jan 18, 2008

Still loving strawberry milk.

It's been a week. Today I'm finally feeling relief from both the sinus infection and the ligament pain. AMEN. I think it kinda gave Nick and I a little wake up call of how I might not be so mobile over the next few months. I really think the coughing made the pain linger longer. So I'm hoping not to have another 2 days like that. Who knows though........there is lots of stretching to go.

I walked out of this docs appt in tears. I was so frustrated. I had all these questions to ask and the doc was not listening. Seeing a new doctor every appt is not agreeing with me. I really have trouble getting comfortable with docs as it is and I'm beginning to not like this rotation of 8 different docs. This doc was a man and he walked in talking. He never introduced himself and he was clearly in a hurry. He wouldn't make eye contact with me and I didn't get a chance to ask questions. He was very blunt with me. He said my ultrasounds look good and right now they are transverse in position. If they are both head down we're going forward with natural delivery and if not then you'll have a c-section. He just kept talking. I told the nurse that took my blood pressure that I've been having a lot of dizzy spells like I'm gonna pass out. My blood pressure has been really good though. This time it was 100/80. It's always been about there even pre-pregnancy. She said with carrying twins it is common for that to happen because of how much of my blood they are using. Then the doc asked me what these spells were like and he didn't even let me answer. He pushed me back on the table to measure me and I told him to stop. Laying back is one of the most painful things right now with this ligament and it sent sharp pain into me. He acted all shocked but I couldn't get a word in the warn him. I told him what I'd been experiencing and he quickly told me there is nothing they can do and I might as well get use to it. I'm small and having twins and it isn't going to get any better. I then told him the other doctor recommending a pregnancy massage therapist and/or chiropractor. So he said he'd get the nurse to get those references and he'd call in a prescription for tylenol with codeine to my pharmacy. He walked out and left. I didn't get a chance to ask him anything and I don't know if I want to take something that strong. I think the frustration of pain and his bluntness brought me to tears. I know it's gonna be painful and I don't expect it to be easy but I need to be able to ask questions. It's pretty scary for a first pregnancy to be high risk and I need their help. I know ultimately God is gonna take care of me and I just need to focus on that.

The good news.....I weighed 111 despite the cold and lack of appetite. The babies are right where they should be growth wise. Their heartbeats were 142 and 148. When she listened to the heartbeats, you could hear them moving around in there. It amazes me how much I feel them move. If it's not one it's the other.

I'm so ready for the cribs to get here and to be feeling better to work on the nursery. I got 2 bumpers to be able to match fabric to. I'm trying to save money by not buying bedding. Mom said you never use the quilts anyhow. So I got some solid soft bumpers and I'm thinking we'll get sheets and crib skirts separate and then my idea is to make headboards for the cribs and wrap them in fabric of some kind to give it character. Maybe I'll scan my sketches and post them here later.

Nick felt our boy kick!

Last night as we were waiting in the docs office, the boy was kicking pretty consistently in one spot so I had Nick see if he could feel it and he could even through a thick sweatshirt. It seems with twins everything happens early. My books say I should just now be feeling them kick and I did at 15 weeks. Then they say another few weeks before Dad can feel them from the outside and at 20 weeks he can. I suppose there is less cushioning in there.

I broke down and went to the family doctor after having this cold for a week and sore ribs from coughing. He said my lungs sound okay but that I had a nasty sinus infection. So I'm on amoxicillin antibiotic. I'm hoping that works because pre-pregnancy it never did, I'd always have to get something else. I'm not sure what all is safe to take antibiotic wise during pregnancy. I just hope this works. He warned me it would most likely take the whole 10 days to get rid of. Benadryl is giving me some sleep at night. :) I can't take sudafed. :( It makes my heart race. I was up at 2am sketching out ideas for the nursery. lol The goal is to find a creative way to keep costs down and still have something neat. Mom ordered us 2 cribs from Target and I'm excited about that. It will give us an idea of space in the room. The room is only 10 x 10 so it's gonna be tight. I have a feeling one crib with 2 babies is gonna be in our room for the first few months. Nick doesn't think that's necessary but I do. I want to wake up and be able to see them, otherwise I could see myself sleeping in the nursery on a chair.

I've stopped reading the regular pregnancy books and have focused on my 2 twin books. The regular ones just depress me by saying how awesome I should feel in the second trimester. I don't. I'm exhausted, short of breath, still nauseous on and off and frustrated by what no longer is easy. I suppose if I skipped to the third trimester chapter it would make more sense to me. The twin books are much more accurate with how I'm feeling and should be feeling now. People ask me when I'm due like it's any minute now. lol In stores, I see the eyes go to the belly and they make room for me or let me go first. I asked if AC Moore had round frames and the lady told me to stay there while she looked. It's kinda weird to me but nice. I mean to I look that huge and incapable of moving. lol It's nice to see people in York can be nice sometimes. lol

The good ole round ligament pain is not letting up. I haven't been able to stand today without sharp pain. I'm thankful that sitting gives me relief since the first episode I couldn't find a position that relieved it. I weighed 113lbs at the doctor last night so I've gained 13 so far. I don't have an appetite with this cold. I actually weighed a few pounds more before it hit. I'm trying to eat regardless of feeling like it. If I had access to a soft ice cream machine, I'd be in heaven. Frosties from Wendy's and mixed cones are my favorite right now. If I can get rid of this pain today, I might just have to make a special trip for my ice cream fix.

Other good news.........Nick FINALLY agreed on a girls name!!! That was starting to stress me out. He liked 2 and nothing else and didn't like anything I did. I was about shocked when I mentioned this one and he said he liked it. We had two boy names picked before we knew what we were having. It was really easy, we both agreed and liked them right away and even when we found out there was one boy, we both agreed on the name it would be. Now for middle names........

Oh and we're not telling anyone names because I want something to be a surprise when they are born. I don't know how Nick will hold out. He let one slip already to Jeremy and Nancy. He's not the best in the world with secrets, but I'm glad about that most times. :)

20 week Ultrasound-doubled in size (them and me)

Bigger.

These babies were acting crazy this time. I don't know if it's because I ate before the appointment or if they are just that much more active. The girl now weighs 12 ozs and the boy 13 ozs. They are about 7 inches long from crown to rump. There were hands and feet every where this time, it was harder to tell what was what. The boy was sitting on the girls head at one point, Nick said that was a glimpse of the future. lol The girl did a very acrobatic headstand. The boy stretched himself out into the middle of my belly which I didn't realize he could do. They have stayed on the same sides like they said they would but they are hardly in the same positions. The girl was head down most of the time and the boy was head up and side ways. I definitely feel him kick a lot more but it isn't because the girl isn't moving. Karen said it may just have to do with how they position themselves. I get lots of taps from the boy after meals and after watching them today I understand why. He was kicking at the ultrasound thingy. It was amazing to see how they've filled out and their bones are much more defined and white on the ultrasound. Very cool. I was a little worried with all the coughing I've been doing but the doc said as annoying as the cold is to me, they are doing great. Praise the Lord! Nick asked to make sure the girl was a girl. lol So we got the official picture of that. Their profiles are more defined now and Nick and I both said their feet are so cute. We didn't get any pics of them but they are less skeleton looking and very cute. We didn't get video this time either but it really was much easier last time to keep track of who was who.....this time they were all over the place and it was hard to keep track of. They looked at their hearts closer this time since they are more developed and she said they both look great! Their bellies are nice and round, the boys being a little bigger. They said they are right on track development wise and size wise. They also measured my cervix and it's still long the way it should be. They look at that to make sure there isn't signs of preterm labor. So all was well.......and I can't say enough how seeing those little babies encourages me to press on. I'm getting huge. Didn't I say that before? Huger? and I know I'm gonna continue to say it with more and more seriousness. I broke down and wore my support belt which does help when I'm standing, it helps my belly feel like it's not pulling me down. lol it's not the most flattering thing let me tell you.

I love this one of the boy. You can see his face really well, It's a 3/4 view, his nose and chin are really defined and he's got his left arm up at his head.


Boy's hand. :)


Boy's Profile


Girls Profile


Girl xrated view...cute cheeks. lol


Girl doing a headstand. :)

I can take sudafed!!!

...After signing my life away with the pharmacist. Have you tried to get plain sudafed lately? I have no idea...you take a ticket and they scan your license and you have to sign a log. Crazy. I've been so miserable with this latest cold that I called the doc. I was coughing so hard it is making my stomach and ribs really sore.........any how now that I'm 20 weeks I can take sudafed! YIPPEEE! I've never been so happy to take a drug. It has to be the 4 hr kind but anything has got to help. :)