Happy Anniversary

Happy 1st Anniversary to Bryan and me!

My friend Michelle stopped by with some baby gifts, peach cobbler and grapes today. Then my family came by with a replica top to our cake (almond tea cake with raspberry filling and whipped pink frosting). They had a power outage, and our stored cake defrosted over the winter. The funny thing is that is exactly what happened to my parent's wedding cake, too!

And Bryan is on his way to pick up a to-go filet mignon and loaded baked potato for us!!! Seriously, please stop by to visit and eat some of this yummy cake. (Here is what our actual wedding cake looked like):

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Got a good laugh from this

Bryan and his friend Jake decided to build our cribs tonight. Bryan just sent me this cell phone picture, and I cracked up. Jake looks so goofy, and I don't really wanna know why his shirt is off! I can't believe how beautiful the cribs are, I can't wait to see them in person!!!!

And here are the little shoes my mother in law has made - notice the girls initials!!

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New pics

Here is what Bryan spent his day doing - playing with the stray kitty and painting the nursery.




Also, Bryan's mom sent me this pic of baby booties she made today. She's a well known quilter, so she whipped these up in no time. How cute are they??

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22 Weeks 6 Days

No news is good news:)

Bryan's boss is letting him work 4 ten hour days, instead of 5 eight hour days until the babies come. So last night he decided to go home and sleep on a real bed (lucky), and paint the nursery. His mom is coming to help him clean up the house a little today. Well, I talked to him around midnight last night, and he found a kitten in the middle of a very busy road (where we found Milo and Otis, our kitties). So the softy in him brought her to our house, and she slept with him all night long. Isn't she soo cute? We really think there is a stray that keeps getting pregnant in that area, and that this kitty is probably related to ours. Unfourtunatly, we can't keep it - so we're trying to find it a home. Any takers???

And one of my former students from my student teaching days at J. L. Mann sent me an email. She is making adorable blankets for the girls, and sent me this picture. How awesome and sweet is she???

Thanks for your continued support and prayers.

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22 Weeks 5 Days

So just one short week ago, Bryan and I were faced with the hardest decision of our lives - to give birth to two extremely premature babies and hope for the slightest chance of survival.

And here I am one week later, with both girls still inside. Again, no news is good news, and I'm just thankful for each day that passes.

I do have to say the hardest thing about being here (other than the obvious boredom), is not seeing my kitty babies. They were staying at our house, but since Bryan comes here after work and spends the night, we were worried something might happen to them. So, my parents took them into their house, and my dad made me this cute picture of Milo and Otis. Even better, my favorite nurse Lauren said they do pet therapy here, and I can have them visit!!

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22 Weeks 4 Days

No news to report today. The doctor came in and reaffirmed the positive ultrasound yesterday. He asked if I was feeling ok, and I am. Again, just playing the waiting game (WORST game ever, and no way to cheat!).

It is kind of hard not to be bummed here. I thought I'd be spending my summer vacation at a seminar at Yale (it is this week), having my baby shower this Saturday, celebrating our anniversary on Sunday, lounging by the pool, having a 4th of July party, etc. I just have to keep reminding myself this is NOT that hard, and it is well worth it in the long run.

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Good news!!

So after my two hour trip down the hall to MFM, we have good news! The ultrasound tech took about 45 minutes scanning the girls. They both measured beautifully, with Baby A in at 14oz and Baby B in at 16oz. Even better, the doctor said the fluid around Baby A was looking good - still low, though. He even gave me a thumbs up.

I have been trying to eat and drink everything in sight. I've only gained 5 pounds this whole time (I was really sick during my first few months). In fact, my nurse said I was the only patient in the high risk ward whose diet wasn't being closely monitored. They encourage me to drink milkshakes and eat candy bars :) And on that note, hubby is back with my Chick-Fil-A!!

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22 weeks, 3 days

Don't want to freak anyone out because I haven't updated - I'm waiting until my ultrasound at 2:15

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Just another day

I saw Dr. Trofatter this morning (he was gone over the weekend). I've been doing my research, and it seems he is the premier person who could be taking care of me for the next few weeks. I actually read a series of articles he wrote on amniotic fluid loss, and they did wonders to help console me. I will be wheeled over to MMOB tomorrow for a more comprehensive ultrasound. He also mentioned that I'll be here for a long time - until I deliver. We're hoping to make it WAY past 25 weeks, but my primary goal is 24 (12 days away!). At 24 weeks, there is a 50% chance of survival, and females tend to have less problems than male babies. With that being said, they would still be in the NICU for a long time - probably until their original due date in October.

Also while doing my research, I stumbled across a wonderful woman named Rachel. Her water completely broke for one of her twins at 22 weeks. She was able to remain hospitalized and delivered at 25 weeks, 5 days. Her babies are both home with her and doing fine. You can check out her story at: http://ourmiraclebabies.blogspot.com/.

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Eh

So the fluid for baby a is lower today. I've been drinking 12oz of Gatorade an hour to try and replenish some of it. I think it just makes me go potty more!

The doctors are hoping I will stay where I'm at for a few more weeks. The worst part for me right now is not knowing when I'll go into labor. It could be today, it could be next week, or in five weeks. This is without a doubt the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life.

Thanks for all the emails and visits - I don't know how much more of TLC and HGTV I can watch :)

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22 Weeks

Well, we've made it a few more days. We still have MANY ahead of us. The good news is that the girls are both very active. Baby B (Natalie Marie) still has her sac in place. Baby A (Audrey Claire) still has a great amount of fluid in her sac, with a big pocket next to her little feet. I will be getting an ultrasound each day (by my maternal specialist, not an ultrasound tech) to monitor the fluid. We're praying that the small leak does not rupture anytime soon.

It seems that the root of all my problems was that Baby A had residue in her sac. This can be caused when a baby becomes scared and releases meconium. This turned into infection, and was causing the contractions I've had since week 16.

Keep praying that the antibiotic cocktail I'm on kills the infection and helps keep our babies baking longer. Until we reach 24 weeks chances are very slim for survival. Once we hit the 24-26 week mark, we've got good chances because our girls have always run on the bigger side during scans, and caucasian females tend to do better than males. We will still have a long road full of NICU time ahead, too.

Overall, the hospital isn't TOO bad. My great friend Jennifer works on the labor and delivery wing, so she stops by every day. Bryan has been AMAZING and has taken really good care of me. Our families are up here on and off through the day. We do welcome visitors, but try giving us a phone call before you come.

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Update

Thank you so much for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. The past three days have been very rough on us.

On Wednesday I went to have an internal ultrasound to check my cervical length. They saw that my cervix was open, and the waters from Baby A were inside. I was admitted direclty to the hospital so they could preform an emergency cerclage. Now, they were up in the air last week about doing one, so I was leary at first this time around.

After my cerclage, I just had to wait it out and spend the night in a drugged coma. When I woke on Thursday I felt a gush (more like trickle) of fluid. It was amniotic fluid. There is no doubt in my mind that a hole was punctured during my cerclage, causing this small leak.

The doctors gave us until 4pm, when they would then be taking out the stich, taking me off all meds, and letting me labor. Bryan and I even talked with the NICU team and came to our conclussion to love and comfort our too small babies. I can tell you without a doubt this was the hardest, most hurtful day of our lives.

BUT THANKS TO THE NEST (a message board I frequent), I remembered a story of another woman who had a small rupture and was able to make it MANY weeks and deliver a healthy baby. I asked my doctor if he knew how much fluid was left for Baby A and he said "no". I requested an u/s, and lo and behold, almost ALL of her fluid was still there!!

So now we are playing the waiting game. As long as Baby A continues to produce fluid, as long as I stay put and don't leak, as long as I don't contract, and as long as we stay infection free = our babies have a chance.

SO again, thank you SO MUCH for the support you have given to my family. Please continue to pray and hope that our little ones bake longer.

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Prayers Needed!!

I was admitted to Greenville Memorial on the 18th for a rescue cerclage. Today, I was leaking amniotic fluid. At first we weren't given a very bright outlook, but after talking to specialists we are hoping to make it a few more weeks. Please keep us in your prayers. Thanks.

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It feels more real...

The cribs are ordered! After having to pick cribs THREE times (due to recalls or back ordered), we finally found the cribs we love! I'm so thankful I was on my registry tonight, because I saw that they were out of stock. Upon further research, I realized that not only was the name of the crib changing, but the price - from $249 to $449! I quickly called my mom and we went ahead and ordered the cribs. Aren't they precious?!

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Father's Day

Here is a picture of me at 21 weeks on Father's Day, and of the diaper cake I made. It was SOOO easy! From start to finish, it took about two hours.

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Yay! I ordered the girls' coming home outfits from Janie & Jack (for more than half off, and actual preemie clothes that are cute).

I am also going to make a diaper cake for the shower in order to alleviate my boredom. Here are some of my cake-spiration pictures!

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Boredom gets the best of me...

So I also made a word scramble to go with the baby shower bingo for the upcoming shower. My mom enlisted me to do this because a). I love graphic design and b). I'm home bored 24/7.

And even though I've had them for a while, here's my diaper bag (though with green trim and not blue), and two outfits for the girlies.

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21 weeks

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

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Home, Sweet Home!!

Good news - I get to come home today!

So, my list of problems are:
-shortenend cervix (between 1.0 cm and 2.5 cm, depending upon pressure)
-pre-term labor symptoms (contractions)
-twins (not a problem, but a factor)

It took almost two days, but the doctors finally agreed on a treatment. Normally, if you just had a shortened cervix, they would put in a cerclage (stitch in the cervix). However, it would not prevent pre-term labor, and could rip out. So the best option was for them to treat my pre-term labor with medication (Procardia) and bed rest. Now, if I come back next week for my follow up, and my cervix has gotten shorter, or PTL symptoms are worse, I'll be on hospital bedrest until these bebes come.

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In the hospital

So I'll be in the hospital for a few days. They are giving me an IV of meds to stop my contractions, and possibly a cerclage to keep my cervix secure. Here's hoping I bake these babies for many more weeks. PLEASE leave me love!!

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Wow

Since I've been bedridden and bored, here are some mock birth announcements I've created. The jury is still out on names, but I put the ones I like most :) And no, those aren't our babies - duh.

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Whoa mama!

So here is a pic that I snuck in on bedrest at 20 weeks.

I also ordered a BUNCH of books from Barnes & Noble last night. I got 9 books for $38, plus free 3-day shipping. Can you tell I'm slightly obsessed with European Renaissance historical fiction??

 

 

 

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Baby Steps

The beginnings of our nursery, ala Bryan. He hung the chandelier (our super awesome $13 clearance find at Lowe's) and has started painting over the bright yellow. Here is a "before" guest room pic, and an "in progress" nursery pic. I just feel bad because I can't help him :(

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Doctor's Appointment

So my mom and I went to my doctor's appointment at Maternal Fetal Health at 2:30. They did an ultrasound to measure my cervix, and the doctor even came in to see the ultrasound. They then hooked me to a monitor for my contractions. The doctor there called my doctor, who just so happened to be on call at the hospital. So we left the MFM clinic, and went to the labor and delivery floor of G'ville Memorial.

There they hooked me to the monitor again, and I was having a few big contractions. I was given a shot of Brethine. They monitored me for another hour and a half, and I did not have a contraction. So, doctor's orders are strict bedrest and a follow up appointment on Monday. I guess this gives me NO excuse to not study for my National Board test.

The only thing freaking me out is that they kept mentioning Pre-term Labor and viability being 24 weeks. I can NOT imagine my October babies being born around July 4.

But look how stinking adorable these girls are. I will gladly stay on bedrest for four months if I have to.

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19w4d Update

So we had our measurement ultrasound today. The good news is that both girls are measuring perfectly on schedule (10" long and 10 oz each) and are healthy. Both girls are also head down. However, my cervix is measuring a little on the short side, and whenever pressure is applied it goes down by half. The doctor was so concerned about it, he personally called my phone (doctors NEVER call patients) to set up an appointment for tomorrow at the Maternal Fetal Medicine clinic at the hospital for them to further evaluate me. So, keep us in your prayers, please! My doctor today said that I most likely will not be returning to work in the fall until I have these babies. I guess it is a good thing I've done lesson plans up until Thanksgiving! Now, we have some pictures!! (some are weird looking, so I'll re-scan at work).

These first pics are of Baby A's face and hand. She is "kissing" her sister's head.





These pics are of Baby B. She didn't want to show her little face :( But we do have a good pic of her frog legs and her playing with her umbilical cord.




And of course, new dresses for my princesses.

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20 weeks

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

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Ultrasound tomorrow!

Woo hoo! We have our "big" ultrasound tomorrow, even though we already know we're having two girls (which has been confirmed twice). Look out for new pics of the bebes.

I only have TWO more days of school left. I can not tell you how happy I am. It really is getting hard to walk as much as I do, and keep up with 130 kiddos. I will teach two days of summer school, take my National Board assessment test, and take two classes (basket weaving and sign language). I have already completed 12 weeks worth of lesson plans for next year, so I'm ready to go!

And here is what our little ones look like according to babycenter.com:

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And so we start the nursery

I steam cleaned our office yesterday with my mom's super sweet Hoover steam vac. We moved the guest bed into the office, and it is now our guest room/office. We also picked out our paint at Lowe's yesterday. We're painting the nursery a cool green color (Basil) with pink accents. We also found an adorable chandelier for the nursery, which was marked down from $89 to $15! Here are pics of the color scheme and the light (though NOT in our nursery).

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