Doctor Visits and Updates

I had an appointment with the specialist yesterday and my OB today. Woo-hoo, big week!! I even drove myself to yesterday's appointment! Such a big girl, I am. So the details:

My cervix looks great. It hasn't changed at all since the "excitement" as I like to call it. Looking really good. Both docs are very pleased. I'm still contracting, but no big deal. They have petered off and I still continue to take medication for them. My sugars are still off. That's bugging me in a major way. I'm getting to the point where I'm starving all the time and the protein and veggies I'm eating just aren't filling me up. The doc upped my meds for that and said that he'd rather up those so I can eat a little more variety. The problem is because of the bedrest and lack of movement, I'm not able to burn any of the food off, so the sugars are still high. Hopefully the upped meds will help. It's starting to get to me, quite frankly. I mean, how many salads can one person eat??? I'm over salads. For a snack just now, I ate a cucumber. Doesn't that sound delish? Blah.
The other weird thing is that I've lost 7 pounds since the "excitement". So you see, all that nonsense about exercising and weight training and jogging...it's all bullshit. All you have to do is sit on your ass all day and watch really crappy television. That's the new diet. Jokes aside, I was a bit concerned about this...I mean, who loses weight in the third trimester with twins? The docs didn't seem concerned. They just chalked it up to me eating so healthy. Also, I have zero swelling since I'm not in the heat and off my feet, so I bet that accounts for at least 2 pounds. In total, I've gained 23 pounds. 23 pounds!!!! I gained 40 total with Zach. It just seems crazy to me. I hope this means that I'll have an easy time getting to be a skinny bitch again (using Heather's phrase).
My brother called me the other day and said, "Hey, I hear you're as big as a house...heh, heh, heh..." I laughed and asked him who said that, mom or dad? He wouldn't tell. I am all belly. Especially now with the 7 pounds. So, I can understand that I look quite a bit out of proportion and front heavy. It's funny, though. People who have had babies somewhat recently all say that I don't look that big for twins...they're actually amazed when I tell them I have two in here. But, people who haven't had a baby (men) or who haven't had one in a loooooong time (my mom) think I'm as big as Greenland. My parents both get this look on their faces when they see my tummy...like, they're thinking to themselves, "Je-Sus-H-C-hrist." They both tend to wear their feelings on their sleeves. I just think it's funny....but it's a good thing I'm not THAT self conscious, Mom and Dad!!
The babies look good, but for the first time have a weight discrepancy. Not unusual for this stage of pregnancy the docs say. One is 3lbs.5oz. and one is 3lbs.15oz. The littler one also has a smaller abdomen...doc says it just means he/she is skinnier. Nothing to worry about for now. I'll be interested to see what they measure at my next u/s in 2 weeks. I asked if there is anything I can do to help them grow and the docs say to just stay on bedrest and keep them growing. Ok, will do. I saw on one of those Baby Story/Birth Day shows on TLC a 3lb.5oz. baby delivered and I realized I do NOT want that if I can help it. Teeny tiny little thing. No meat on it's bones...ugh. My OB said today that she thinks all that "excitement" a week ago was just a scare and I can probably do a little more...so that's good. I still have to have all the help we've scheduled with Zach, but at least I didn't feel guilty about doing a load of laundry today.

Fourth of July Fun

We had a great 4th of July here! Well, Jeff and Zach did. I was on the couch. Again. NOT having fun. But that's ok...babies cooked another day so that's a good thing.

Jeff took Zach down in the morning to the end of our street where they have the annual 4th of July parade. Our friends Robb and Pat and Rudy were in the parade, so they waited with baited breath for their arrival.

There were horses, balloons, fire trucks...BIG firetrucks as Zach later informed me. He had a great time! Of course, the best thing about the parade is the location! When it was over the boys just walked home. You can't beat that!

Some fireworks shows in our area got cancelled (money problems) so there were only two locations to see the shows. One was at Castaic Lake, where we used to live. Way too far and too many cars for 30 minute entertainment. Plus, parking would be a bear...something we never had to worry about when we lived there. The only other venue was by the mall, so the boys left around 8:15 to catch the 9:15 show. (I again stayed home. Yay for me.) Jeff got lucky with parking and set up the camping chair on a grassy area with about 100 other people. He said the place was crazy packed and he couldn't believe how many people were there. Zach brought his ball and played with a group of older kids. He also climbed a tree and basically ran amok. When the fireworks started he sat with Daddy and was mesmerized! He loved them, which we knew he would because we watched them in Hawaii and he loved it then!! Daddy and Zach had a great time, went to bed late and slept in this morning.

Patriotism at it's finest

First Day of Preschool

We were planning on starting Zach in preschool before the twins got here. Our pediatrician recommended we do this before their arrival so Zach doesn't think he's being pushed out of the house right when they get here. My strict bedrest excitement forced us to get on the ball and do it even sooner, which is fine. I looked at so many preschools. We chose this one because it was :
1. in our budget
2. one block away
3. flexible times. They don't offer half days, so I can utilize them from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.
4. They have a nice, casual, laid back style, which is just fine for his age. I don't need him to learn physics just yet.
So, on this day I had a Doctor's appointment, so luckily (or unluckily) I was able to go on his very first day. Mind you, this is the first time I'd been out in almost a week.
Everything was going so well. As we drove there, Zach kept saying "preschool, yay!!" When we pulled into the parking lot he said, "preschool! Yay!" He got out of the car and ran to the gate. We signed him in and I walked him towards the toys. Some kids were already playing with the water table (his favorite!)

Marilyn, the teacher, giving me a rundown of how this will all pan out. My child not even noticing me. Busy with the water. Awesome!

OK, last pic with Daddy! He's doing so great! I can't believe how seamless this is going!



I don't have any pictures of what happened next, partly because it would have been cruel and unusual punishment to photograph my kid at that moment, as well as the fact that I was sobbing hysterically and was only thinking about what a horrible mommy I was.
When we turned to walk away, Zach started crying. Not just crying, but crying and screaming like someone was pulling his toenails out one by one. Marilyn the teacher was trying to comfort him, and he would push her away, screaming, "NO! NO!" while his face turned beat red and HUGE tears rolled down his sweet little face.
We had walked away by this time, but Jeff went back to comfort him. The teacher said that that was just prolonging everything and to just go. So we did. Ugh. It was awful. I sobbed hysterically for a good 15 minutes. Jeff called about an hour after the drop off and they said he cried for about 10 minutes and then aside from a few whimpers here and there, was just fine.
Today was day 2 and I'm happy to report that he only cried for a few minutes and then was fine. He was picked up by Uncle Pat at 11:45, so it was a good 3.5 hour day at preschool. He even ate some lunch there.
I hope that as the days go by we'll be able to even let him nap there, but that won't happen until he (I) feel comfortable.

Dr. Visit today

I had an appointment with my OB today. She wanted to see my blood sugar numbers and to check my cervix and all of that fun stuff. The good news is nothing has changed in a week. My cervix is the measurement it was, I still have 2 inches to go (effaced) before it would start dilating. That's good news. The babies are still looking great, and are still both head down. I'm going to hope that that's my light at the end of the tunnel and I can deliver these babes naturally and not a via a c-section. I'd really prefer not to go through that. And by naturally I do not mean no drugs....please. I don't understand the need to "feel what it's all about". I feel the need to be numb, thank you very much.
My sugars are still a little off, but she's still attributing that to the other meds I had at the hospital. It's frustrating because I'm unable to work any of the food off, so I can understand why they're still a little high.
The bad news is she still wants me on strict bedrest. She will allow me to walk around for 10 minutes after dinner. Not to the park...around the house. Yipee. I will try to contain my excitement.
So, that's the doctor news. It's like mission control over here trying to coordinate Zach care. Everyone is so darn helpful and we are so, so lucky to have such great friends and family. For example, our friends Kristin and Frank were here when Zach woke up from his nap and they took him to the bounce house place. He'll love that! And it's air conditioned...it's impossible to be outside inthe afternoon right now, it's around 90-98 degrees. We have morning shifts and afternoon shifts that need to be covered and with that includes the basic things, changing dipes, feeding, gathering snacks...all the simple basic things I usually do without thinking.
Poor Jeff (who has turned back into a very helpful husband and father), is so behind on work and has so much on his plate...he's pretty much a single father. Not fun for anyone.
My next appointment is next Tuesday with the specialist, so we'll see how things are going then.

Unexpected Hospital Visit

Well, the last few days have been quite an ordeal.
On Thursday night, starting at about 8 pm and lasting until 10pm, I was sitting on the couch and I was having those rolling movements that I assumed were contractions. They were about 10-15 minutes apart. I went to bed around 10:15pm and Jeff came in and saw me grimacing. I told him what was going on and he called my OB. Without hesitation, she told me to go to the hospital to be monitored. Our neighbor came over to stay with sleeping Zach, and we were at the hospital around 11:30pm. Why these things always happen at around midnight is beyond me. I had 3 more "movements" on the way down (25 minute drive) and one while they were getting me into the system. They gowned me up, hooked me up to monitors and then....nothing. I explained to the nurse what I'd been feeling, what happened two days ago with the perinatologist...I'm sure she thought I was just a paranoid mama-to-be. I really wanted to have at least one, so she could tell me if indeed it was a contraction. Finally, after 45 minutes, I had a movement, told her and sure enough she looked a the monitor and said that yes, it was a contraction. At least I know now.
So, they decide to keep me after speaking with my Dr. for the night. Jeff went home after I got settled. They upped all my meds, (Procardia and Glyburide). They also gave me a steroid shot to help the babies lungs develop if I do deliver early. I was of course hooked up to the IV. They also gave me Terbutiline injection (sp?) to stop the contractions. They also gave me insulin because all the other meds made my blood sugar go wonky. The next day, my OB came in to see me. I figured she'd discharge me, but I needed another steroid shot the next morning (you get 2), and she wanted to monitor me on these new upped meds to see if I could tolerate everything. So, unfortunately I had to stay one more night. I was not happy with that but you do what you have to do. That first night, I think I slept 45 minutes. I was so uncomfortable with the three monitors on my tummy. Everytime I moved, which is a lot when you're hugely pregnant, the monitors would slip and the nurse would have to come in and readjust. Plus, I was peeing every 25 minutes or so with all the fluids I was getting. That would take about 10 minutes each time. Unplug myself from the monitors, take my IV with me to the potty, try to pee in the bucket so they could measure urine output, all the while trying NOT to pee on myself...which I wasn't always successful at.
The second night they had to give me another shot of Terbutiline, I kept having contractions. They were also checking my blood sugar almost every hour or so. I did sleep better that night and got about 4 hours. Luckily, the next morning the Dr let me go around 10:00 am. Since I've been home, I've been on strict bedrest until at least Monday, when I talk to the Dr again. I have hope that she'll put me back on modified bedrest. Jeff is doubtful because I was contracting last night for a good 2.5 hours. They finally calmed down, and this morning I've had about 4.
This strict bedrest is a nightmare. I'm a go-er and do-er. I can deal with the fact that my to do list is probably not going to get completed. It's the day to day stuff I can't do with Zach. I can't do anything. Jeff doesn't go and do with Zach as much as I do, so I have to urge him to take him to the park, or go into the pool. He tells me to direct from bed, but when I do, I get the eyeroll accompanied by a big sigh. Plus, he's been pretty snappy and short with Zach, which is out of character. When I asked him, he said he's a little stressed out and thinks he's getting Zach's cold. Hmmph. I told him that we can't have two parents out of commission, so do what I do, buck up, pretend you feel fine and move on. Plus, I had to remind him that Zach doesn't understand what's happening...why Mommy can't carry him or lift him or do anything, for that matter. Also, we've been transitioning him into his big boy bed all week, and Jeff started working on his new room, so we put him back in his crib, which I'm sure is confusing. He has been a pill, but yelling at him is not the answer. Luckily we have a lot of friends who have kids Zach's age, and they've all been offering their help. So, we're now calling in our favors. For example, our friend Amy is picking Z up after his nap this afternoon, taking him to her house to play with her daughter Frances, age 3. He'll love that. It'll also give Jeff uninterrupted time to get some serious work done on the room. Of course I won't let him paint the woodwork, because I'm a Type A personality and a control freak, and truth be told, Jeff can't paint woodwork to save his life.
So, that's the news. Not great although both babies are doing great. I need to get to week 35, which is about 4 weeks away. Anything longer would be gravy.
Cross your fingers for us that I can get back on modified bedrest tomorrow. My worst nightmare would definitely be hospital bedrest. I can't explain to you enough how horrible it was.

30 Week Appointment...Not the Best News

So yesterday I went in to see my perinatologist (specialist the sees high risk pregnancy patients). This is the one that I saw when I was pg with Zach, so I was excited. I've been feeling really good lately, and things have been pretty uneventful. They did the ultrasound, which were a little anti-climactic since we're not finding out the genders. However, super exciting to see Baby A moving all over the place and sucking his/her hands. Too cute. We talked about the gestational diabetes...I had been pricking my finger 4 times a day for the past two weeks so he could see my numbers. He's putting me on a pill to control my fasting numbers...nothing I can do about those, it's just my body doing what it wants while I sleep. This pill is in place of injectable insulin, which is what I was on while pg with Zach. Not that I mind having to do the shots (God knows I've had enough shots with all the IVF), but it is certainly less stressful since I won't have to worry about Jeff's whereabouts every night. I can't give myself the shots...I'm a pansy, I guess.
So, after all the diabetes talk is over, I ask him if he's going to check my cervix. He says he'll check my cervix every appointment now. Well, he puts the wahoo-wand in and says, "Oh shoot. Fundal pressure." Now, I don't really know what "fundal pressure" is, but I know the pressure has been gnarly and when your doctor says, "Oh shoot", that's never a good thing. What's been happening is one of the babies is sitting very low, pretty much on top of my cervix. That's causing my cervix to thin and shorten a bit...not what we want at 30 weeks pregnant. Also, I've apparently been having contractions, which also helps to thin the cervix. I had no idea I was having contractions...but then thinking later about it, I realize that I did have some odd feelings. I kept feeling like a baby was rolling waaaay down low, and I would have to stop mid stride if I was walking until it passed. Well, I realize now that those are contractions. Duh!
Three weeks ago my cervix measured at 5 (inches/centimeters...I don't know) and now it's at 2.5. So, I've been taken off work, and I'm now on modified bed rest. This means I'm not to lift or carry Zach, or anything heavy for that matter. If I'm home, I should have my feet up as much as possible. I can swim, but obviously no throwing Z around in the pool. They want me to swim, actually...good exercise. I can walk 20-30 minutes at a time a few times a day, but no hills. That sort of thing. I was pretty upset about it yesterday when they first told me...it's hard for me to wrap my mind around this new "lifestyle". I tend to be on the go a lot, taking Z places, trying to be super-mom, I guess. Also, I'm so independent that just being pregnant and having people help me load a bag of dirt in my cart and car is aggravating. Obviously, I'll be doing what needs to be done to keep these babies baking as long as possible, but it doesn't mean I'm going to be happy about it all the time. Plus, I have so much to do before these babies come, and now I can't do any of it. Oh well...
They also put me on an oral pill I take twice a day to help stop the contractions. I also have lots of doctor appointments often, so they're keeping close tabs on me.
So, that's the news here. Both babies are growing well and look healthy, so that's great news. One is measuring 3lbs, 3 oz. and the other is 3lbs, 5 oz. They are growing concurrently, which is what they want to see.
So, that's the update. I'll keep you posted. I see my OB on Friday of this week.

And just a few more...

Does this prove that my child is destined to grow up to be poor, white trash?
Zach and Mia grubbing on a healthy snack

My little monkey. His new fave thing to do is hang...as in , "More hanging, Momma".

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere
At the train station...the conductor posed for this picture begrudgingly

Zach loved the train ride

Zach and Mia looking through the seashells

Zach, once again sporting the PWT look. At least he didn't get his ice cream on his clothes.

Enjoying the campfire

Jeff and Pat getting ready for Smore's