24 +5

So yesterday we visited the doctor again.  We got to see the babies on ultrasound, which is always fun!  Both babies are growing, our big boy weighing in at approximately 1 lb 12 oz and our little girl weighing in at 1 lb 5 oz.  We saw a different maternal fetal medicine doctor yesterday along with my regular OBGYN and left feeling pretty good.  It was nice to hear a few other opinions about the growth of our little girl.  Yes she is still on the smaller side, measuring out at 24 weeks even.  Our big boy measured at 25 +4 weeks, exactly one week bigger then he is according to my due date. 

The maternal fetal medicine doctor described our baby girl as being slightly asymmetric IUGR.  Meaning her head is growing faster then her body, which is a positive thing if there has to be any sort of IUGR because she is protecting and feeding what's most important, her brain.  If she were symmetric IUGR she believes that would more indicative of a chromosomal defect.  She could also be small for a couple of other reasons.  My OBGYN asked if either side of our family were "small"?  My reply, "um, yes my mom is barely 5 feet tall and she claims to have a huge head" (love you mom)  That being said, my doctor said it could just be hereditary??  My mom being the beautiful women she is...that wouldn't be so bad!  Or, it could be that umbilical cord is not giving her the nutrition she needs.  However, at this time both umbilical cords had adequate blood flow but it's something they will continue to monitor closely.  It could just be that he is taking more nutrition then she is, already not sharing!  They can do ultrasounds as frequently as every 2 weeks but at this point aren't concerned enough to do that, so I will just have my routine (for twins) 4 week ultrasound.  My cervix still looks long and closed (sorry if that's too much information!), which is great!  Because she's on the bottom and he's laying transverse at this point I can count on having a c-section.  If she doesn't continue to grow adequately they would consider delivering me as early as 32 weeks (that would be only if it's better for her and she could thrive more on the outside verses the inside) but the goal is still 37 weeks.  Time will tell and like I've said before I still continue to feel good so I'm trying to take advantage of that.  Eating healthy and staying hydrated are the two things they said to do to help them grow and I've been trying my best.  I already use the little girls room 482 times in a day...what's a few more trips, bring on the water!  Things that are becoming a little tough are, crossing my legs, bending over gracefully, and getting comfortable in bed.  With my 5 or 6 pillows strategically placed around me, Matt is slowly being forced out of the bed.  I'm not sure if it's the queen size bed or the 2 dogs that sleep with us that is putting him over the edge!

Oh something else I should mention, I had a little suspicious looking spot removed from my face last week.  It looked like it could possibly be cancerous so after seeing 3 different doctors about it, I had a specialist remove it last week.  I got notice yesterday that it was noncancerous and no further treatment is necessary, which is wonderful news!  It looks pretty good now, just a few stitches that should dissolve in a few weeks but you may notice it in this weeks picture.  And no, Matt hasn't been hitting me although I have had a couple people seriously ask me that! Just a couple people that have never met Matt and don't realize he couldn't hurt a fly (unless that fly was threatening to hurt me or someone else he loved)!  I have a great husband that has stepped up in many, many ways during that past 6 months and I am thankful for him everyday! 

In week 24, the babies are approximately a foot long, the length of an ear of corn.  Their brains are growing rapidly and they are developing taste buds.  Their skin is still thin and translucent but soon will begin to change.  They have little parties in my belly all the time now!  His movement are much more prominent because her placenta is anterior versus his which is posterior.  When she moves it's more like a jab to the bladder which tickles versus his karate chops and rolls.  I love it all!

Matt washed and stained the deck this week, while I watched!

It really looks great but it was raining today when I took the picture. 

Our sunbathing beauty!

Our piggy

Aunt Amy and cousin Josephine were over for a visit. 

Matt and Bella enjoying our new rocker/recliner!  Many miles will be rocked in that chair I'm sure of it!

Me and a big belly of babies!

Not much new to report...

The new organizational piece we got for the closet.

The crib sheet, sleep sack, mobile, and wall art for our little girl. 

The crib sheet, sleep sack, mobile, and wall art for our big boy! (and some paint colors off to the side too)

So I'm officially a little over 23 weeks and I think I am more nervous now then I was a week ago.  As of 23 weeks the babies are officially viable.  That means if I were to have these babies today they would do their best to resuscitate them.  However, 23 weeks is WAY too early for any baby to be born and could lead to many life long complications.  That being said I'm doing everything I know how to keep them inside my belly for many, many more weeks.  I've been working 3, 8 hour shifts per week and I'm not going to lie it's been pretty nice to be home for dinner every night.  It's kinda putting a dent into my PTO but that's a small sacrifice for a long term benefit.  I still have contractions on and off throughout the day but the doctor said not to worry too much about them unless I have more then 6 in an hour.  Thus far, at most I have 2 maybe 3 in an hour and then none for maybe 2 or 3 hours.  When I have them I take it as my body telling me maybe I've been doing too much and I try and relax for a bit. 

At 23 weeks the babies weigh just over a pound, as much as a large mango.  Matt and I can now feel and see them moving underneath my skin...very weird but very neat at the same time!  Blood vessels are developing in their lungs to prepare them for breathing.  Loud noise start to become familiar now, such as Zoe and Bella barking, and hopefully won't faze them once they are outside the womb. 

Week 22 Pictures

My niece, Josephine, is now 6 months old...isn't she cute and flexible!? (and apparently hungry!)





Aunt Mindy had these onsies made. Matt had a t-shirt as a child that said "Hurshy" now our babies will too!



Easter presents from their Granny Bender!



Sleepers purchased by me...I can't stop shopping :)



My second 4 legged baby, Zoe!



My first 4 legged baby, Bella! (who wasn't really in the mood for a photo shoot)

Life is full of excitement...even though I'd much rather be boring when it comes to this pregnancy!

So, I wanted to make a quick update even though I don't have any pictures to post. Matt will take one of me later tonight when he gets home from work and I'll try to post then too.

Easter Sunday I had to work and to make a long story short I was noticing that I was having a few "contractions". I had a few the day before while working, maybe 5 - 7 throughout the entire day. However, by Sunday afternoon I was having more like 4 - 6 in an hour over about 3 hours. I know this could be completely normal but still because I am crazy it worried me. I mentioned this to my friends at work and they too seemed a little worried (probably just due to the fact we are all a little crazy because we work in a NICU) and they thought it would ease my mind to walk over to Labor and Delivery and be checked out. So after being on the monitor for about and hour and we could visibly see (and I could feel) I was indeed contracting, they sent me home and told me to rest and hydrate! So that I did and today I went for an ultrasound to measure the length of my cervix, which thank God, is still long and closed! I've still been having 1 - 2 contractions every hour, sometimes less. This could just be due to my growing uterus which is a normal response as it stretches. My doctor has recommend I start working 8 hour shifts for the time being so I will happily abide and start that tomorrow. I'm not sure if this a permanent change in my work schedule or just a temporary change? I hope to hear from my doctor tomorrow and then I see her again in about 2 weeks for my scheduled appointment and ultrasound. I'll do whatever it takes to keep these babies in for as long as possible. If that means rolling around in my bed until I have bed sores, sign me up! But, on the positive side, I'm still physically feeling great and with these past few days off my ankles are looking fabulous!

In week 22 the babies are now about the length of a spaghetti squash, around 11 inches, weighing about a pound each (which my big boy probably weighs more seeing as though he weighed that about 2 weeks ago!). Their lips, eyebrows and eyelids are becoming more distinct. They even have tiny tooth buds developing beneath their gums.

Time flys

So...here are the latest pictures of me, plus a few extras. (Just a side note...today's picture was taken of me after working 12 hours and I think my belly looks very large but after 12 hours on your feet things start to stretch even more!) I was getting tired of looking at just me so below are a few pictures of the empty nursery as well. At this point we merely have some "tape cribs" mapped out on the floor along with a "tape dresser/changing table". We did make a major purchase yesterday and bought the actual cribs and dresser/changing table, now we just wait the 8-12 weeks for them to arrive (although they reassured us it should be much quicker!!). The pictures of the outfits are the 2 outfits I bought the day I found out we were having our baby boy and baby girl, who still remain nameless. As of right now I've been calling them my "little girl" and my "big boy"! How long once they are born do I have to name them? At this rate it could take another 6 months! Matt and I are just two indecisive people, but we are working on it! We aren't secret keepers so as soon as we know, so will you!

I'm still feeling good. My sister is on spring break this week so my productivity is at a bit of a snails pace as it's much easier to join her for shopping, lunch, and play time with Josephine. 12 hours on my feet has given my back a little bit of a workout, it's definitely nice to kick my feet up when I get home. Speaking of feet, they are currently attached to the end of stove pipes, formerly known as ankles! They do get better with rest and elevation but they don't seem to be going back to "normal" anymore.

In week 21, the babies are approximately the length of a carrot. Plus, their eyebrows and eyelids are now present! I feel lots of movements and I can see my belly jump with the pokes/kicks now too! Several friends and family, in addition to Matt, have got to feel these little phenomenons as well! These are feelings I hope to never forget!







Since I'm behind on my picture posting here are last weeks pictures too. I also included a couple pictures of me with some of my best friends from college as well. We all had a great time at Emily's wedding.