A trip to the ER

Our babies had their first experience with the ER at Kennestone Hospital yesterday. When we got home from the perinatologist on Friday, I took it easy just as instructed and drank lots of fluids. Unfortunately, the cramping got worse throughout the evening, and I wasn't able to fall asleep until almost 5am on Sat. morning. I woke up around 7am and drank 2 big glasses of water, hoping maybe I was just dehydrated. Around 10am, we decided I should call my OB and ask her if I needed to be checked further. She instructed me to go to the Women's Center at the hospital and she would attach me to a monitor to check for contractions. So off we went to the hospital.

After we finally got checked in a little after noon (gotta love the ER experience!), they hooked me up to all kinds of monitors. Two monitors were attached to our babies to monitor their heartbeats and one was attached to me to monitor contractions. The babies were really active, probably because of all the extra attention being paid to them, so we kept having to adjust their monitors every 10 seconds! They also checked my urine sample for infections, etc and did a pelvic exam (ouch!). The monitor showed that I was in fact mildly contracting, which was concerning for the doctor since my cervix was also measuring "soft". They decided to hook me up to an IV and pump me full of hospital grade gatorade and give me a shot every 20 minutes that was basically a muscle relaxer to help stop the contractions. At this point Dan and I were really anxious as our biggest concern was to stop any and all labor because our babies are just too little to be born yet.

Luckily the muscle relaxer shots eventually helped ease the contractions, and our babies were showing no signs of distress. They also determined I had a bladder infection and gave me an IV antibiotic as well as a prescription to take for the next week. The fluids and antibiotics should ease the cramping, but they haven't started working just yet! The doctor decided that due to the nature of my job, which requires lots of walking and driving, that I should stay out of work for the next week and make the couch or bed my new best friend! I will go back to the doctor on Tuesday to be rechecked and to the perinatologist on Friday to make sure my cervix isn't getting any worse and the contractions haven't restarted. My long term work status is still uncertain at this point, but the most important thing is making sure we do everything we can to keep our babies growing for several more weeks.

Dan has been so great at being the domestic house husband and making sure my water glass is never empty! He is heartbroken about having to travel this week for work, but he has made sure all the laundry is done and dinners are made for me for the week so I won't have to do too much standing over the next several days. I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband! Hopefully we'll get positive news from the doctor on Tuesday. For now, back to bed!

Mixed News from the Perinatologist

We had our check up with the perinatologist today and the good news is the babies look great. Our little girl weighs about 1 pound 13 ounces with a heartbeat of 141 BPMs. Our son weighs around 2 pounds with a heartbeat of 153 BPMs. We weren't able to get really good pictures today (they did not feel like cooperating!), but at least all of their measurements are on track. Our daughter is facing my back, so we got a good look at her little booty, and our son had the hiccups the entire visit!

On the downside, the doctor was concerned about the size of my cervix, as it was on the lower range of what they consider "acceptable." I have also had some mild cramping the past few days. The doctor told me to take it easy over the weekend, and come home straight from work next week and prop my feet up as much as possible. They are going to recheck my cervix next Friday to see how things are or aren't progressing, and then they will make a decision from there as to how to proceed. In the meantime, he told me to track the cramping and go to the ER so they can monitor contractions if necessary. I am definitely going to take it easy as our babies are too little to see the outside world yet.

Unfortunately, Dan begins work on a new project in Cleveland next week, which will put him traveling Mon-Thurs evening for the next few weeks. The client has agreed to work with him as much as possible if I do end up on bed rest, so fingers crossed it all works out!

We also got some good news regarding the house in NC today. The bank has agreed to delay the foreclosure, which means we can work with the sellers and all the bank has to do is approve the details. Sounds easy, but who knows how long the bank will drag their feet getting to our paperwork! We are still optimistic, though, we can move before the babies arrive. Given the recent updates, we're going to need the help of lots of family over the next few months!

No Gestational Diabetes!

Yay! We just got my test results and thankfully I do not have gestational diabetes. Whew...I am so relieved! Our next appointment is with the perinatologist this Friday, and we look forward to seeing our little ones on the big screen! They are really moving a lot now, and certainly growing stronger as they are beginning to pack quite a punch! Dan likes to pretend they are having an MMA match in my belly while I prefer to think they are playing nicely and peacefully together. Guess we'll see how well they get along in just a few short months!

OB visit and house update

We had a brief visit yesterday with our OB yesterday and everything is still going great. They did the test to see if I have gestational diabetes, and should find out the results next week. They also tested my iron, which was a little low (should be 12 and mine was 11.2), so they have added an iron supplement to my prenatal vitamins. I am hoping it doesn't make me nauseous as they advised it might because I am just now beginning to eat somewhat normally! Also, I am steadily gaining weight and trying not to obsess about the scale too much. I just keep telling myself the babies have to grow big and healthy so each pound I gain makes them that much stronger.

During our visit with the doctor, the nurse let us listen to the heartbeats. We heard our little boy's heartbeat and she started to put the doppler away. The doc looked at her and said "you're not done yet!" She looked so confused as she didn't realize I had TWO buns in the oven! Her face was so funny. Our son also kicked while listening to the heartbeat, and it was so loud. I guess he didn't like being awakened from his nap! We go to the perinatologist next Friday, and soon we'll start going to the doctor every two weeks (which will end up being every week between the two docs!).

We also got an update from our realtor this week regarding the house we made an offer on. Long story short, we should get more final details after the foreclosure processes on Sept 23rd, and if all goes well we should have a close date for sometime mid-late October. It's certainly not ideal, but we would LOVE to be somewhat settled before delivery day. At least we'll be able to get the nursery and basic things set up beforehand. Our realtor wasn't kidding when she said dealing with a foreclosure was a pain! We just hope our patience will all be worth it in the end!

Decisions, decisions!

After much web surfing and in store shopping, we have finally decided on furniture and bedding for our two little ones. Who knew there were so many choices? Same furniture, or different? Same colors, or different? In the end, we ended up getting the same sets in expresso color for both babies, mainly because we liked the dresser, etc that we could order with the set. Now we just have to decide on names, which we still plan on keeping a surprise until delivery day arrives. We seem to change our minds every other week anyway, so we may not know their names until we see their tiny faces!

We are going to hold off on ordering too much stuff until we get the move/house sorted out (we are waiting to hear about a foreclosure), but it is such a relief to have the major decisions made, so if or when I end up on bed rest, Dan will be able to take our registry to the stores and get everything we will need. I can't WAIT to eventually get settled so we can get started on the nursery. The need to nest has definitely kicked in!

Speaking of kicking in, our babies are still very active and we can even see my stomach moving sometimes, usually after dinner. It is amazing how much they, and I, have grown in the past 2 weeks. From what I've read and heard, they will double in size over the next couple of weeks! I am definitely more winded now as well, and it makes my job even more interesting when I'm in the middle of a presentation. We have an appointment to see if I have gestational diabetes next week, and fingers crossed we get good news!

Baby Shower in NC

It seems like just yesterday we were sharing the news that we were pregnant. Now here we were having a baby shower with our family and close friends. It was wonderful to see everyone, and I was glad my nausea has begun to somewhat pass because there was a really nice spread of munchies and cake! My sister, Mendy, and close friends Lara and Cathy (who flew in from TX and DC just to be there-thanks!) did a great job with the invitations, decorating, and providing an assortment of great food! Lots of other family members helped out as well, and we can't thank you enough. It is really starting to sink in that we are having twins, especially after seeing all of the pink and blue! Thanks to everyone for the gifts, support and love!

Here are some pictures from the special day.



My sister made the diaper cake. Doesn't it look great?











A picture with the hostesses: Lara, Mendy, me, Cathy















Thanks Wyndal and Gina for letting us take over your house for the day!









Pink and Blue!

Visit to the Perinatologist

Recently we had a 21 week check-up with the perinatologist, and the babies are doing fantastic. We love going to these appointments because we get to see our babies up close. The tech took measurements of all body parts, and we even got to see the blood flowing through the umbilical cord! The tech said everything looked perfect and was measuring just as it should for this point in the pregnancy.

Our baby girl was measured first, and she weighed about 14 oz. Her heartbeat was 144BPM. Our baby boy weighed about 15 oz and his heartbeat was 138 BPM. That's almost 2 pounds of baby already! They are both moving around quite a bit, but our little boy was being especially uncooperative on this day (I guess he's already taking after his mom!) The poor tech was trying...and trying...and trying to get a head measurement, but he just would not sit still. At one point during the ultrasound, he even kicked his little sister, causing her to flinch. It was the cutest thing ever! Finally she relented and the doctor came in to take a look at the measurements as well. He was able to get our son to cooperate for a second, and he got the measurements he was looking for. I was a little sore afterwards, as the tech was poking around on my belly for almost 30 minutes. But it was well worth it, just to make sure our babies are still doing ok. It looks like they will probably make their entrance into the world around Thanksgiving, and hopefully be home with us just in time for Christmas!

Cat in the box

I couldn't resist uploading this picture of our cat, Piper. He weighs about 21 pounds, and decided to stuff every last bit of himself into this small box. I guess it makes him feel like the size of a normal cat! Updates and pics from our baby shower to come soon...

The Search Continues

Where does the time go? It has been a few weeks since we've updated the blog. Who knew life could be so hectic, and our babies aren't even here yet!

Unfortunately our perpetual house hunt continues. We thought we had a contract with a builder a couple of weeks ago, but he backed out at the last minute. We were very frustrated and discouraged for a couple of days, and then moved on to the next option. Which, as luck would have it, was a house that got listed 1 day before our contract fell through. So it was off to NC again. We can't tell you how boring and monotonous the drive on I-85 has become! I can now tell you exactly where and how far apart every rest stop is located! I guess this is God's way of preparing us for after the babies arrive...car trips become double in length! We have an offer on another house currently, but it may be awhile before we know something. It has just gone into foreclosure so it is in the banks hands now. Fingers crossed!

We are also looking forward to our family baby shower in NC next weekend. My sister and 2 best friends have been beyond awesome in organizing everything, and it will be great to see everyone! It will also be nice to spend some time just visiting instead of house hunting.

I am still experiencing "evening" sickness (which may end up lasting all 9 months!), but I am also starting to feel the flutters of our babies moving. Dan can't quite feel them yet, but it shouldn't be long now! Any little flutter or "strange" feeling completely makes up for all of the times I don't feel well. It has been a truly amazing journey so far, and it's hard to believe we are half-way there!

And the Genders are...

We had another checkup at the perinatologist on Tuesday, and Dan and I were so anxious wondering if our little munchkins would cooperate. I did everything the doc said to do: have a "comfortably" full bladder (is there really such a thing?) and drink some caffeine 15-30 minutes before the appointment to wake them up. So much for never wake a sleeping baby!

The tech begins the ultrasound by measuring the basics of baby "A". The heartbeat looked great (153 beats per minute), as did the legs, arms, belly, head. Then the tech asks "are you sure you want to know?" A quick look to Dan, and we both said yes. You are having a little girl!!! My heart started racing, and I admittedly I got a little teary-eyed. Everything was becoming even more real with each appointment. She finished up all the measurements (she weighs 7 oz), and then it was on to baby "B".

She looked at the measurements of baby "B"...heartbeat (150 beats per minute), legs, arms, belly, head. Then came the same question. Of course we want to know! I could immediately tell by looking at the screen. I said "that's a little boy" and she confirmed it.

We are having a girl and a boy!

How exciting to finally know!!! She finished up the measurements (our baby boy weighs in at 8 oz) and then the doctor came into the room to confirm everything. We asked them if they were 100% sure, and they said there was no doubt of their genders. Our poll was correct!

Even more reassuring was the doctor telling us that everything looks absolutely perfect on both babies so far! Their weights, and mine, are right on track. We have appointments with the perinatologist every 4 weeks, and with the OB every 4 weeks, so every other week we are seeing a doctor. But it is comforting to know they are keeping such a close eye on their development and we can monitor the pregnancy as they continue to grow big and healthy!

And congratulations to Heather and Craig for delivering two healthy baby boys on Wednesday. Welcome to the world, Jack and Mark!

A New Adventure...Babies R Us

After looking at lots of things online, and getting lots of advice from fellow friends and family, Dan and I finally ventured into Babies R Us to create our registry. In the middle of the morning. On a Saturday.

What were we thinking???

For those of you new to Babies R Us, like us, this place is pretty overwhelming. Where do we start...strollers, furniture, infant care? Who knew two little babies could need so much stuff? We decided to just start at aisle 1, and go from there. Apparently we weren't the only ones with that idea, as each aisle got considerably more crowded about 5 minutes after we arrived! Dan loved having ahold of the scanner again, bringing back memories of when we registered for our wedding. Let's get one of those, and two of those, and oh, we need that, too. Whoa! Slow down; my head is spinning! We took a breath and tackled the easier stuff first. Bottles, diapers, lotions...everything we knew would be necessary to care for our two little munchkins. Then came the bigger items. A stroller for two, car seats, high chairs, oh my! We decided to hold off on the furniture for now, mainly because I couldn't think clearly anymore! We still have to pick out bedding and more gender specific things, but that will be much easier after our next milestone on Tuesday, when we find out their genders!

Then it was on to Target for Round 2 of registering. Now I consider myself to be a professional Target shopper, but there are aisles of this store I've never been down. Ever! Since we had already decided on some of the basics, this part was a little easier. We also decided that we could always look online at home from the comfort of our chairs, so it was time to call it a day.

Dan and I survived the day, unscathed for the most part, and totally exhausted! Stay tuned to see if the poll is correct and if there is blue, pink, or both in our future!!!

Blue, Pink, or Both?

We had a checkup with our OB recently, and the babies looked and sounded great! They were actually moving around so much the doctor had a hard time listening to the heartbeats! I still can't really feel any movement, but it is amazing to think they are turning over, moving their little arms and legs, and opening their mouths at different points throughout the day and night.

We have another appointment scheduled with the perinatologist next Tues, July 14th, and we hope to find out the genders during this appointment. Hopefully they won't take after the stubborn part of me and refuse to cooperate! Dan and I are still discussing names, but we have decided to keep them a surprise until the little munchkins arrive. Some things still have to be a secret!