Just a quick update on the baby front.
It turns out that my fall, was a good thing. That hour long ultrasound at the hospital showed something that the ultrasound at the doctor's office had missed. Most babies have a 3 vessel umbilcial cord...meaning there are two arteries and 1 blood vessel. This is the way they get nourishment when they are growing inside. Mine have been diagnosed with a 2 vessel cord - meaning only one artery, one vessel. Both of them. Happens in about 5% of twin pregnancies, lucky us.
What does this mean? Nothing for now. Cocoa and Pebbles are doing great and are growing just fine. It could mean evenutal low birth weights or that their growth could slow down. If is slows down too much, they would have to be taken early so that they could get nourishment outside my body. The doctor has also tacked on a little more time to my due date...we are now in the last week of January, but is doubtful that I will make it that far. There are other things that could go along with it (would someone remind me for the millionth time NOT to google???) but they don't seem to be a concern for the girls, as they have not detected any abnormalities or defects. And again, as of now, their weights are right where they are supposed to be.
We would appreciate continued prayers, good thoughts, names on the rolls, etc. We are anxious to get these girls here healthy and well so we can start worrying about all the other things you worry about when you have sweet little babies!
Thank you!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
October Scare!
So we had a little excitment around here the last few days. The kind I quite frankly don't like. But since everything has turned out okay, I guess I can share....
On Wednesday, I picked Connor up from daycare (Lonny works from home those days) and after I got him in the car (thankfully, so he wasn't a witness) he told me he forgot his toy so I ran back in to get it. Mistake #1 - going back for the stupid thing, which should have stayed at home in the first place. Mistake #2 - running. Pregnant women with kankles and cheeks that practially flutter when I am walking so just THINK about what they are doing when I am running (and yes, I mean BOTH sets) can't be an attractive. I won't go into the dirty details, but as I was hurrying back out to the car, I tripped in the hallway and fell. Face planted. Not pretty. No one saw me, but they did hear me as my keys and the stupid toy went flying and I am not confessing to anything here, but an expletive of some sort may or may not been involved. The staff couldn't have been nicer, but I was quite shaken up and teary. You know how when that happens, you don't want any sympathy or anyone to really talk to you for fear that you might burst into tears right then and there? Well they did and I did. It was just bad. By the time I got home I was practically in hysterics and my poor little boy who already has eyes as big as saucers, was pretty much, to quote an incredibly cheesy 80's Billy Idol song whose lyrics I still don't get, "Eyes Without a Face". Poor guy.
I was so scared and so worried that I had done something to hurt the girls (I mean the ones in utero, but I was a little concerned about the girl pillows too, as they have expanded in size as of late - I laugh out loud everytime someone asks me "How are the girls?" and I say "Which ones?" I'm soooo funny). Here's the kicker.....for every weird symptom, twinge, strange hair (just kidding, sorta) swollen finger, etc. I always look it up in "THE BOOK". You know the one...."What to Expect When You're Expecting" or one called "The Pregnancy Bible" that my friend Breezy gave me and is awesome. This time, I was so busy feeling sorry for myself, I never did CONSULT THE ORACLE about what to do when you wipe out.
Later that night, much to my relief, both Cocoa and Pebbles had checked in so I felt like everything was fine. My back hurt a little, but no other signs of injury, but my wounded pride. But around 3:30 a.m. (it's always then, right?) I started having some worrisome pain in my lower abdomen. A dull pain, but like a cramping sort of feeling. Off and on. Off and on. I decided I would call my dr. in the a.m. and just check in.
Went to work, still feeling a bit uneasy (listen to your gut, I always say, that's God talking to ya...but do I do it? HA) and finally had the chance to call the nurse. She freaked on me, asking me if I went to the hospital after the fall to get monitored (?) told me I could be having contractions and to get to Labor and Delivery immediately if not sooner! So, I grabbed Lonny and off we went.
I was taken in right away and had monitors strapped to me that would listen for the babies' hearts and one to check for contractions. Pretty scary because for a while, we could only hear Pebbles' heart. When we would check for Cocoa's....nothing. Then after hearing it and feeling relieved, the nurse says that it could still be Pebbles' heart...they could be too close together to tell. It's one of those "please God please God please God" moments when the bargaining starts. You know what I mean. After a while, everyone was pretty sure we could hear both of them seperately (whew) but they wanted to do an ultrasound to be sure. I have not spent a lot of my life in those backless gowns. Man, it was COLD. They took me over to radiology in a wheelchair (another thing I have not a lot of experience in). Lonny had been right by my side until just before that when he went to get us food. (My hunter and gatherer) He found us and we started the ultrasound. Right away there was that WHOOSH of relief as she announced that both of them had heartbeats and were moving. And I could sure feel them! Everytime she pressed the wand down, they would kick at it! It was like a game. Until Cocoa appeared to try and kick Pebbles right in the face. It's always fun til someone gets hurt! (I decided not to scold her because I was so happy she was okay.). It wasn't the best of circumstances for me, I couldn't see the monitor at all times, but Lonny got to see them head to toe. And they are just fine. In fact, their kicking has gone into overdrive ever since. I think they dug all the excitement. The ultrasound was over an HOUR long. I know that sounds like so much fun but after a while, I just wanted that goop off me and some warm clothes (particuarly UNDERWEAR) back on.
At the end of the day, babies are fine (1 lb 3 oz a piece), mom is fine, dad is awesome and Connor's eyes have returned to their normal, big brown size. They still haven't figured out what was causing the pain, but it was primarily on my right side, which took the brunt of the hit, so I may have just pulled something. I am in bed until it subsides, which it already has by a lot. I go to the doctor on Wednesday, and I feel so much better.
We really are blessed to live in a day and age where technology can help us through the scary times. So can prayer. And so can a great husband, and friends who texted me so much that the staff thought it was their machines beeping instead of me. (My apologies to the staff of Alta View, but my gratitude to good friends checking in every 5 minutes - again....technology!)
All is good. But no more running!
On Wednesday, I picked Connor up from daycare (Lonny works from home those days) and after I got him in the car (thankfully, so he wasn't a witness) he told me he forgot his toy so I ran back in to get it. Mistake #1 - going back for the stupid thing, which should have stayed at home in the first place. Mistake #2 - running. Pregnant women with kankles and cheeks that practially flutter when I am walking so just THINK about what they are doing when I am running (and yes, I mean BOTH sets) can't be an attractive. I won't go into the dirty details, but as I was hurrying back out to the car, I tripped in the hallway and fell. Face planted. Not pretty. No one saw me, but they did hear me as my keys and the stupid toy went flying and I am not confessing to anything here, but an expletive of some sort may or may not been involved. The staff couldn't have been nicer, but I was quite shaken up and teary. You know how when that happens, you don't want any sympathy or anyone to really talk to you for fear that you might burst into tears right then and there? Well they did and I did. It was just bad. By the time I got home I was practically in hysterics and my poor little boy who already has eyes as big as saucers, was pretty much, to quote an incredibly cheesy 80's Billy Idol song whose lyrics I still don't get, "Eyes Without a Face". Poor guy.
I was so scared and so worried that I had done something to hurt the girls (I mean the ones in utero, but I was a little concerned about the girl pillows too, as they have expanded in size as of late - I laugh out loud everytime someone asks me "How are the girls?" and I say "Which ones?" I'm soooo funny). Here's the kicker.....for every weird symptom, twinge, strange hair (just kidding, sorta) swollen finger, etc. I always look it up in "THE BOOK". You know the one...."What to Expect When You're Expecting" or one called "The Pregnancy Bible" that my friend Breezy gave me and is awesome. This time, I was so busy feeling sorry for myself, I never did CONSULT THE ORACLE about what to do when you wipe out.
Later that night, much to my relief, both Cocoa and Pebbles had checked in so I felt like everything was fine. My back hurt a little, but no other signs of injury, but my wounded pride. But around 3:30 a.m. (it's always then, right?) I started having some worrisome pain in my lower abdomen. A dull pain, but like a cramping sort of feeling. Off and on. Off and on. I decided I would call my dr. in the a.m. and just check in.
Went to work, still feeling a bit uneasy (listen to your gut, I always say, that's God talking to ya...but do I do it? HA) and finally had the chance to call the nurse. She freaked on me, asking me if I went to the hospital after the fall to get monitored (?) told me I could be having contractions and to get to Labor and Delivery immediately if not sooner! So, I grabbed Lonny and off we went.
I was taken in right away and had monitors strapped to me that would listen for the babies' hearts and one to check for contractions. Pretty scary because for a while, we could only hear Pebbles' heart. When we would check for Cocoa's....nothing. Then after hearing it and feeling relieved, the nurse says that it could still be Pebbles' heart...they could be too close together to tell. It's one of those "please God please God please God" moments when the bargaining starts. You know what I mean. After a while, everyone was pretty sure we could hear both of them seperately (whew) but they wanted to do an ultrasound to be sure. I have not spent a lot of my life in those backless gowns. Man, it was COLD. They took me over to radiology in a wheelchair (another thing I have not a lot of experience in). Lonny had been right by my side until just before that when he went to get us food. (My hunter and gatherer) He found us and we started the ultrasound. Right away there was that WHOOSH of relief as she announced that both of them had heartbeats and were moving. And I could sure feel them! Everytime she pressed the wand down, they would kick at it! It was like a game. Until Cocoa appeared to try and kick Pebbles right in the face. It's always fun til someone gets hurt! (I decided not to scold her because I was so happy she was okay.). It wasn't the best of circumstances for me, I couldn't see the monitor at all times, but Lonny got to see them head to toe. And they are just fine. In fact, their kicking has gone into overdrive ever since. I think they dug all the excitement. The ultrasound was over an HOUR long. I know that sounds like so much fun but after a while, I just wanted that goop off me and some warm clothes (particuarly UNDERWEAR) back on.
At the end of the day, babies are fine (1 lb 3 oz a piece), mom is fine, dad is awesome and Connor's eyes have returned to their normal, big brown size. They still haven't figured out what was causing the pain, but it was primarily on my right side, which took the brunt of the hit, so I may have just pulled something. I am in bed until it subsides, which it already has by a lot. I go to the doctor on Wednesday, and I feel so much better.
We really are blessed to live in a day and age where technology can help us through the scary times. So can prayer. And so can a great husband, and friends who texted me so much that the staff thought it was their machines beeping instead of me. (My apologies to the staff of Alta View, but my gratitude to good friends checking in every 5 minutes - again....technology!)
All is good. But no more running!
Monday, October 18, 2010
We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties!
There has been much to share, but unfortunately, we are having some weird electronic failure phenomenon at our house lately! First the cable box was acting sorta hinky (I CANNOT have this - how am I going to watch "Glee" or "Project Runway"????!!!) and the computer starting mysteriously shutting down while you were working (er, facebooking) on it. One night while Lonny was working really hard in the garage, I came out and announced that our computer had officially bit it. He came in and tried to revive it, but the patient died on the table. (Moment of silence as we mourn this incredible loss, plus the fact that I may have to give up any Christmas gifts of the sparkly variety so we can pay for a new computer instead). Not a half hour later, I came running out to (tearfully) announce that the cable box had gone kaput. Again, he stops what he is doing to perform delicate surgery on the cable box. It would now turn on, but you couldn't change the channel! WHAT UP??? So, when you are stuck watching NBC, what better way to pass the time but to have something to eat? I went to warm myself up a snackily snack and what happens? THE MICROWAVE DIED. This is a true story, folks. So after going out again to give him the play by play on the gremlins that apparently taken over our home, (I started the sentence with "I am not EVEN kidding but......") Lonny again came in and luckily got that straightened out. Then back to the garage. It didn't even occur to me til later that while my husband was outside slaving away (without any offer of assistance from me) I had come out to complain that I couldn't a)sit on my expanding behind and Facebook b)sit on my expanding behind and watch t.v. or c) sit on my expanding behind while eating and watching my behind, well, expand. And he never pointed that out to me. I caught myself one good husband, that's for sure.
Columbus Day week-end, (and anyone who is not a Federal employee like my husband and I are thinking "What? When was THAT?!") we went up to Bryan Head Resort. It was supposed to be our fall leaf get away tour. Unforch, they had a storm that week that blew a lot of leaves out and a lot of snow in. Not exactly what I had in mind. But we were able to go to Cedar Breaks National Monument (yup, that is one big hole in the ground, folks) and drive through Cedar Canyon (please do this if you ever get the chance......it was INCREDIBLE and I got to see lots of beautiful colors). We went out to eat and played games in our room. We went swimming and hot tubbing (me, not so much). Connor and Lonny had a snowball fight. It was one of those trips that doesn't go exactly as planned, but we got to spend time together and that's what matters most of all.
I had the honor of going on a date with Connor on Saturday. I would post pictures, but a) did I mention that the computer had died? I am posting this from work, for heaven's sake and b) I pulled out the camera and the battery was dead (you can't make this stuff up, folks). We went out to lunch at Old McDonald's (that's what Connor calls Mickey D's...adorable, no?) and then we went to the Farnsworth Farm's Pumpkin Festival! Farnsworth Farms is primarily an apple orchard (which I am sure any day now will be razed to make room for more McMansions) and they make their own apple cider, which is simply, to die for. They also made hot homemade donuts. So we enjoyed plenty of that while playing carnival style games, playing in the play-yard, went on a hay ride (NO MORE bumpy trucks for me - everyone kept looking at me and my big belly with great alarm), bounced in the bounce house (after the hayride, I opted to sit this one out) and went to the pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin. The weather was perfect and Connor was an absolute gentleman.
We are now at 22 1/2 weeks and don't seem to be slowing down! I can now officially feel the girls moving around in there. Cocoa (Baby A) seems to be more active. I tell Lonny she will be our type A Harvard Law Grad who makes a bunch of money but never comes home to visit. Pebbles is much more laid back, just gives me a thump now and again to assure me she's still there. She will, of course, move to San Francisco, wear love beads and say things like "It's all good, Mom, it's all good". She'll probably teach yoga. Lonny just smiles at me. Anyway, they are close to having actual names, though Cocoa and Pebbles are starting to grow on me. Not ready to share them yet, though. I get to go to the doctor next week, so will hopefully have more pictures and more good news. I am feeling pretty good, kinda, well stretched at times. I have been sick more this trimester than last and even more tired. Which is a rip off because all I ever heard was that second trimester I would have more energy and would be positively glowing. Oh well. My fingers are swollen, so I had to take my ring off (sniff) and I have a little bit of the kankles going on as well. No more cute shoes. And if you need any further indication of how tired I am, I have foregone a pedicure three times now in favor of going home and taking a NAP. This is not like me, at all. Clearly, a couple of little gremlins have taken over my body, as well.
But most of all we are just really excited. I am excited for Connor to be a big brother. This has been my wish for him for so long, and we are almost there. I am excited to welcome these little beings into our home, though I have no idea what to do with them once they get here. Except love them a whole lot. And I am excited for them to meet all my wonderful friends and family who have been so supportive and who, in my opinion, helped them come into being. Not much longer.......
Hopefully all our little electronic glitches will be over soon. The cable box has already been replaced. I really just have to charge up the camera battery. And I do have a computer I can use. We will be back in business in no time!!
Columbus Day week-end, (and anyone who is not a Federal employee like my husband and I are thinking "What? When was THAT?!") we went up to Bryan Head Resort. It was supposed to be our fall leaf get away tour. Unforch, they had a storm that week that blew a lot of leaves out and a lot of snow in. Not exactly what I had in mind. But we were able to go to Cedar Breaks National Monument (yup, that is one big hole in the ground, folks) and drive through Cedar Canyon (please do this if you ever get the chance......it was INCREDIBLE and I got to see lots of beautiful colors). We went out to eat and played games in our room. We went swimming and hot tubbing (me, not so much). Connor and Lonny had a snowball fight. It was one of those trips that doesn't go exactly as planned, but we got to spend time together and that's what matters most of all.
I had the honor of going on a date with Connor on Saturday. I would post pictures, but a) did I mention that the computer had died? I am posting this from work, for heaven's sake and b) I pulled out the camera and the battery was dead (you can't make this stuff up, folks). We went out to lunch at Old McDonald's (that's what Connor calls Mickey D's...adorable, no?) and then we went to the Farnsworth Farm's Pumpkin Festival! Farnsworth Farms is primarily an apple orchard (which I am sure any day now will be razed to make room for more McMansions) and they make their own apple cider, which is simply, to die for. They also made hot homemade donuts. So we enjoyed plenty of that while playing carnival style games, playing in the play-yard, went on a hay ride (NO MORE bumpy trucks for me - everyone kept looking at me and my big belly with great alarm), bounced in the bounce house (after the hayride, I opted to sit this one out) and went to the pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin. The weather was perfect and Connor was an absolute gentleman.
We are now at 22 1/2 weeks and don't seem to be slowing down! I can now officially feel the girls moving around in there. Cocoa (Baby A) seems to be more active. I tell Lonny she will be our type A Harvard Law Grad who makes a bunch of money but never comes home to visit. Pebbles is much more laid back, just gives me a thump now and again to assure me she's still there. She will, of course, move to San Francisco, wear love beads and say things like "It's all good, Mom, it's all good". She'll probably teach yoga. Lonny just smiles at me. Anyway, they are close to having actual names, though Cocoa and Pebbles are starting to grow on me. Not ready to share them yet, though. I get to go to the doctor next week, so will hopefully have more pictures and more good news. I am feeling pretty good, kinda, well stretched at times. I have been sick more this trimester than last and even more tired. Which is a rip off because all I ever heard was that second trimester I would have more energy and would be positively glowing. Oh well. My fingers are swollen, so I had to take my ring off (sniff) and I have a little bit of the kankles going on as well. No more cute shoes. And if you need any further indication of how tired I am, I have foregone a pedicure three times now in favor of going home and taking a NAP. This is not like me, at all. Clearly, a couple of little gremlins have taken over my body, as well.
But most of all we are just really excited. I am excited for Connor to be a big brother. This has been my wish for him for so long, and we are almost there. I am excited to welcome these little beings into our home, though I have no idea what to do with them once they get here. Except love them a whole lot. And I am excited for them to meet all my wonderful friends and family who have been so supportive and who, in my opinion, helped them come into being. Not much longer.......
Hopefully all our little electronic glitches will be over soon. The cable box has already been replaced. I really just have to charge up the camera battery. And I do have a computer I can use. We will be back in business in no time!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Happy Birthday, Mom
Today is my mom's 75th birthday. I like to think she and Daddy are taking care of our girls til they get here to us.
I love you Mom....kiss those precious angels for me and please see that they come to us safely.
I love you Mom....kiss those precious angels for me and please see that they come to us safely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
