We made it past 28 weeks without having the twins! I am so happy that we made it to this milestone. After being admitted to the hospital, I was worried they were going to come really early, making them stay in the NICU for weeks or even months. I don't want to do that to them or us. If we can make it to at least 34 weeks, we're in good shape. They might have to stay in the NICU for a week or two, but we can handle that better than a couple of months.
I saw Dr. Bradford on Monday and things are looking good. My blood pressure is good, my blood sugars are staying in a good range, the swelling hasn't come back, and I haven't gained any weight. In fact, I lost about 10 pounds while I was in the hospital and after being home for a week, I haven't gained any of it back. The doctor thinks it was mostly water weight from all the swelling. To date, I have gained a total of 24 pounds with the twins so I'm right on track. One article I read said that with twins, the goal is to gain 25 pounds by your 20th week. If that's the case, then I'm doing exceptionally well. The doctor hasn't said anything about it so I am pleased with that. Dr. Bradford wanted me to see the high risk doctor, Dr. Howard. I've seen him twice in the hospital but never in his office. Her nurse scheduled an appointment for me this Friday. He should do another sono that day. Then, I'll see Dr. Bradford again next Wednesday for another follow up.
Names?
Everybody keeps asking us if we have names. To be honest, we have kind of narrowed it down to a handful. We are pretty set on first names for both babies but the middle names are up in the air a little more. I don't want to tell anyone in case we decide to change it at the last minute. I change my mind all the time so that is a definite possibility.
Every week that passes, I get more excited to meet these babies that are tumbling around inside my belly. They are movers for sure. At the hospital, they gave the nurses a run for their money. Every new nurse that came in said that she had heard my babies were troublemakers. Apparently. It took one nurse an hour to successfully hook me up to the monitors. I don't know what we are going to do if they are this active once they are born. Either way, I can't wait to meet them. I can't express the joy everytime I see my belly move. I stop what I'm doing and just watch them. I can't help but smile. What an amazing experience.
Hugs and kisses,
Charla and babies
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Hooray! Out of the Hospital!
I got dismissed from the hospital on Thursday, June 17th. Dr. Bradford came in that morning and said that I will be allowed to go home, provided I stay on bedrest for 23 hours a day. I have bathroom "privileges" and I can eat dinner at the table sometimes, but that is it. She wants to see me weekly until the babies are born. Hopefully, they hang in there for another four weeks or more. Protein level has gone down, blood pressure has gone down, and blood sugar is being managed with insulin. Now that I am home, I have to take blood pressure medication, which means no more allergy shots. The blood pressure medication is a beta blocker so if I have an allergic reaction to the shots, they will have a harder time reversing the reaction with epinephrine since it acts on the beta receptors. Aside from blood pressure medication, I am also on two different types of insulin. One is given at night and the other is given in the morning. I have to test my blood sugar several times throughout the day, also. Hopefully this is temporary.
Being on bedrest is tougher than I thought. Kevin's parents came down this weekend to help us move more stuff from the rental house in Fort Worth here to our Aledo house. We have entirely too much junk that I would like to just toss in the dumpster. It is becoming evident that we have no room, even for the babies' stuff. We need to do something. Good Will, here we come! What's rough about this whole bedrest thing is that there is so much that I want to do. I want to have control over everything that happens and I have very little control on bedrest. I feel helpless. If there's something I need from the store, I have to wait for Kevin to go get it. It's an absolute pain. I haven't been able to go get Father's Day cards or gifts at the store, either. That really bothers me since this is Kevin's first Father's Day. My mom and my cousin, Jodi have offered to come by and help us get organized. They've also offered to bring me food to help take the load off of Kevin. I am so thankful to have such awesome family.
That's all I have for now. I'm still catching up on lost sleep from being in the hospital. Sadly, bedrest there doesn't necessarily mean resting.
Hugs and kisses,
Charla, Baby Boy, and Baby Girl
Being on bedrest is tougher than I thought. Kevin's parents came down this weekend to help us move more stuff from the rental house in Fort Worth here to our Aledo house. We have entirely too much junk that I would like to just toss in the dumpster. It is becoming evident that we have no room, even for the babies' stuff. We need to do something. Good Will, here we come! What's rough about this whole bedrest thing is that there is so much that I want to do. I want to have control over everything that happens and I have very little control on bedrest. I feel helpless. If there's something I need from the store, I have to wait for Kevin to go get it. It's an absolute pain. I haven't been able to go get Father's Day cards or gifts at the store, either. That really bothers me since this is Kevin's first Father's Day. My mom and my cousin, Jodi have offered to come by and help us get organized. They've also offered to bring me food to help take the load off of Kevin. I am so thankful to have such awesome family.
That's all I have for now. I'm still catching up on lost sleep from being in the hospital. Sadly, bedrest there doesn't necessarily mean resting.
Hugs and kisses,
Charla, Baby Boy, and Baby Girl
Saturday, June 12, 2010
An Unusual First Week of Summer
My summer officially started on Monday, June 7th. I had an appointment to have a glucose challenge test done that day. I drank the orange soda, they drew my blood, and I saw the doc. They sent me home to collect urine for 24 hours and I was to go back in on Tuesday. They found protein in my urine, which is caused when elevated blood pressure overrides normal kidney and liver functions and causes them to not filter protein properly.
When I went back in on Tuesday, the results from the urine collection resulted in a urine protein count of 6,000 when protein should not even be found in urine at all. My blood pressure was high and the results from my glucose challenge test were a 171 for blood sugar. Normal is 100 or below. Based on this, she wanted me to come in on Thursday for a 3 hour glucose tolerance test. I went in to her office, fasting, as I did on Monday. They took my blood before I took the drink and once I took the drink, I was to have my blood drawn every hour for three hours. After I drank the orange soda, I started feeling nauseated and then I finally threw up. They stuck me in one of their patient rooms while I waited on the doctor to see me. Because of the amount of protein in my urine, my high blood pressure, and my high blood sugar level, she sent me to the hospital. Her reasoning was to reduce the amount of variables, like car rides, various foods, etc. so she could get accurate data to analyze.
So, here I lay in a hospital bed in room 368, on the 3rd floor of the Jones Tower at Harris Methodist in Downtown Fort Worth. It is Saturday, June 12th and I have been here since Thursday. Since I have been here, my urine protein level has gone down. My blood sugar has gone up and down. Last night, it hit 208, so they had to give me insulin - 4 units. Today, it hit 154, and I got another 2 units of insulin. During my last recheck, it was at 139. It's still not normal, but it is going down and I didn't need insulin. I had to get two steroid injections to develop the babies' lungs in case they came early, which is a good possibility. At this point, the doc said they will most likely not make it to full term (37 weeks), and that they will probably be born sooner rather than later. Our goal is to keep them in their incubator (me) for a little while longer. I am 27 weeks now so we need to make it to at least 30 or 32 weeks.
On the flip side, my second baby shower is tomorrow. This is one for family and friends. Since it doesn't look like I will be leaving the hospital anytime soon, we are having the baby shower here at the hospital. If we don't have a conference room, we will have it out in the waiting room next to the elevators. It's not ideal, but hey, it will work for now.
I'm exhausted so I will leave it at that. I will update more tomorrow.
Hugs and Kisses,
Momma, Baby Boy, and Baby Girl
When I went back in on Tuesday, the results from the urine collection resulted in a urine protein count of 6,000 when protein should not even be found in urine at all. My blood pressure was high and the results from my glucose challenge test were a 171 for blood sugar. Normal is 100 or below. Based on this, she wanted me to come in on Thursday for a 3 hour glucose tolerance test. I went in to her office, fasting, as I did on Monday. They took my blood before I took the drink and once I took the drink, I was to have my blood drawn every hour for three hours. After I drank the orange soda, I started feeling nauseated and then I finally threw up. They stuck me in one of their patient rooms while I waited on the doctor to see me. Because of the amount of protein in my urine, my high blood pressure, and my high blood sugar level, she sent me to the hospital. Her reasoning was to reduce the amount of variables, like car rides, various foods, etc. so she could get accurate data to analyze.
So, here I lay in a hospital bed in room 368, on the 3rd floor of the Jones Tower at Harris Methodist in Downtown Fort Worth. It is Saturday, June 12th and I have been here since Thursday. Since I have been here, my urine protein level has gone down. My blood sugar has gone up and down. Last night, it hit 208, so they had to give me insulin - 4 units. Today, it hit 154, and I got another 2 units of insulin. During my last recheck, it was at 139. It's still not normal, but it is going down and I didn't need insulin. I had to get two steroid injections to develop the babies' lungs in case they came early, which is a good possibility. At this point, the doc said they will most likely not make it to full term (37 weeks), and that they will probably be born sooner rather than later. Our goal is to keep them in their incubator (me) for a little while longer. I am 27 weeks now so we need to make it to at least 30 or 32 weeks.
On the flip side, my second baby shower is tomorrow. This is one for family and friends. Since it doesn't look like I will be leaving the hospital anytime soon, we are having the baby shower here at the hospital. If we don't have a conference room, we will have it out in the waiting room next to the elevators. It's not ideal, but hey, it will work for now.
I'm exhausted so I will leave it at that. I will update more tomorrow.
Hugs and Kisses,
Momma, Baby Boy, and Baby Girl
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Routine Test Not So Routine
I went in to the doctor's office yesterday to have a one-hour glucose challenge test done. When I arrived at 8:30, I hadn't eaten since 11:30 the night before so I was starving. At 9:00, I went down to the lab to have my blood drawn. No big deal. When the doctor finally saw me, they said my blood pressure was high. They had me lay down on my side and then they took my blood pressure again. It was significantly lower after I laid down. She asked me a few questions and then said she was concerned that I might have preeclampsia. She had me take two jugs home to collect urine in for 24 hours, stay on bedrest, and asked me to come back today at 1:00 for more blood work.
Today, I went to the lab to drop off my "collection" and get my blood drawn. When the nurse called me back, we noticed I had lost two pounds. The doctor said this was water weight. We went through the same thing as yesterday with the blood pressure. It was high when I was sitting up but it decreased when I laid down. Based on this, she determined that I would spend the rest of the pregnancy in bed, horizontal, for 23 hours a day. She said I have mild preeclampsia and we can probably keep this at bay for a while by keeping me on bedrest. She told me not to worry because this is not uncommon with twin pregnancies. The doc also mentioned that at some point in the pregnancy, she would hospitalize me, but she didn't know when that would be. For now, she wants to treat this on an outpatient basis. If things weren't bad enough, my glucose test results came back. My blood sugar level was 171, well above the normal range. I have to go back on Thursday morning, fasting, to take a three hour glucose tolerance test and she wants to see me at the same time. From now on, she wants to see me on a Monday and Thursday basis until she says otherwise.
I know that everything will work out, but I still can't help but worry about the health of these two babies.
Today, I went to the lab to drop off my "collection" and get my blood drawn. When the nurse called me back, we noticed I had lost two pounds. The doctor said this was water weight. We went through the same thing as yesterday with the blood pressure. It was high when I was sitting up but it decreased when I laid down. Based on this, she determined that I would spend the rest of the pregnancy in bed, horizontal, for 23 hours a day. She said I have mild preeclampsia and we can probably keep this at bay for a while by keeping me on bedrest. She told me not to worry because this is not uncommon with twin pregnancies. The doc also mentioned that at some point in the pregnancy, she would hospitalize me, but she didn't know when that would be. For now, she wants to treat this on an outpatient basis. If things weren't bad enough, my glucose test results came back. My blood sugar level was 171, well above the normal range. I have to go back on Thursday morning, fasting, to take a three hour glucose tolerance test and she wants to see me at the same time. From now on, she wants to see me on a Monday and Thursday basis until she says otherwise.
I know that everything will work out, but I still can't help but worry about the health of these two babies.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
24 weeks
We went to the doc on Thursday, May 20th. Everything looked great with the babies! I still have quite a bit of swelling in my hands and feet but I am surviving. The boy is laying in a breach position, or head up, with his head on my right side and the girl is laying transverse, or side ways, with her head on my right side. I have to go back on Monday, June 7th to have a glucose screen. They want to make sure I don't have or am getting gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes causes more complications with mom and baby. The babies usually come out a little larger in moms who have this.
On Friday, I saw the babies move through my stomach for the first time! How awesome to see our babies physically move for the first time. It's one thing seeing it on a screen and quite another to see it outside your belly. Kevin laid his head down on my belly tonight. Our daughter kicked him in the head! Amazing. We went to lamaze classes this weekend and we learned a lot. There are still a lot of decisions that need to be made as far as the birth plan goes. It is a little intimidating making all of these decisions because you want to do what is best for you and the baby. Time will tell. I'm still researching everything.
Until next time,
Charla
On Friday, I saw the babies move through my stomach for the first time! How awesome to see our babies physically move for the first time. It's one thing seeing it on a screen and quite another to see it outside your belly. Kevin laid his head down on my belly tonight. Our daughter kicked him in the head! Amazing. We went to lamaze classes this weekend and we learned a lot. There are still a lot of decisions that need to be made as far as the birth plan goes. It is a little intimidating making all of these decisions because you want to do what is best for you and the baby. Time will tell. I'm still researching everything.
Until next time,
Charla
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Bedrest - 23 weeks
I went back to see Dr. Bradford again today. I was just sure she would release me from bedrest. I was wrong. She said that I was severely dehydrated and I had an elevated ketone level in my urine. She did another urinalysis and noticed that I had a bladder infection. She is sending another sample to the lab to confirm her diagnosis. Meanwhile, she has me on an antibiotic. She did another pelvic exam and took a culture for a fetal fibronectin test. This test will help to rule out preterm labor. The pelvic exam, alone, is unable to rule it out. At the same time, my cervix is closed and looks "fantastic."
She asked me if I had ever had anxiety. I told her that I had experienced some during college several years ago, but not necessarily lately. She asked about my stress level. I thought, "where do I begin?" I told her about our lawsuit and the problems with our house. She was concerned that Kevin and I both were experiencing a lot of stresses so she suggested marital counseling. Mostly to strengthen our marriage before the babies are born. She said once they're born, it will increase our stress level times ten. Of course, I called the insurance company to find out if they covered marital counseling. With our luck, they don't. Awesome. Not totally sure how this is going to work out now. I will admit that I am extremely worried about giving these babies a good home and a good life. I want to be the best mom ever and I'm scared that I won't live up to mine, Kevin's, or their expectations. I want them to have a great place to live, along with all the necessities, and even extras. Hopefully, we'll be able to give them those extra things.
For now, we decided on buying cribs for both babies. I couldn't help but think that a playard wouldn't be strong enough or soft enough for them to sleep on. We purchased a few sets of clothes and a record book for the baby boy. We're still waiting to see what we'll get from showers before we buy anything else. If we get gift cards, we can go buy the cribs. Is it possible to be excited and scared at the same time?
She asked me if I had ever had anxiety. I told her that I had experienced some during college several years ago, but not necessarily lately. She asked about my stress level. I thought, "where do I begin?" I told her about our lawsuit and the problems with our house. She was concerned that Kevin and I both were experiencing a lot of stresses so she suggested marital counseling. Mostly to strengthen our marriage before the babies are born. She said once they're born, it will increase our stress level times ten. Of course, I called the insurance company to find out if they covered marital counseling. With our luck, they don't. Awesome. Not totally sure how this is going to work out now. I will admit that I am extremely worried about giving these babies a good home and a good life. I want to be the best mom ever and I'm scared that I won't live up to mine, Kevin's, or their expectations. I want them to have a great place to live, along with all the necessities, and even extras. Hopefully, we'll be able to give them those extra things.
For now, we decided on buying cribs for both babies. I couldn't help but think that a playard wouldn't be strong enough or soft enough for them to sleep on. We purchased a few sets of clothes and a record book for the baby boy. We're still waiting to see what we'll get from showers before we buy anything else. If we get gift cards, we can go buy the cribs. Is it possible to be excited and scared at the same time?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Pelvic Pain - 22 weeks
So I've seen the doctor three times in the past week. I went last Tuesday because I was leaking clear fluid. Luckily, it wasn't amniotic fluid. All she could do was guess what it could be. My regularly scheduled appointment was on Thursday and all was well. On Friday, I started feeling pelvic and pubic bone pain. I googled it and most of the information I found said that it was my body preparing to have the babies and for the most part, it wasn't a big issue. However, in some cases, it could be an indicator of dilation. I called the doctor just to be sure. The nurse said I could come in yesterday at 1:30. I went ahead and scheduled it, not thinking about my baby shower that my co-workers had planned. I looked at my days off and I got docked a half day last Thursday when I was there for 75% of the day. With the issue of my day off and the baby shower, I called to reschedule for today. A few minutes later, the nurse called me back and said they needed to see me today. When I talked to her the first time, she didn't seem like it was much of a concern, which is why I thought I could reschedule it. I left work at 2:00 yesterday afternoon and they got me right in. My back and pelvis was still hurting. When I laid down on the table for the exam, my back and stomach increased in pain. She had me roll over on my side and it got worse. It hurt so bad that I was crying. The doctor was concerned so she hooked me up to a contraction monitor. The monitor didn't show anything but I was still in pain. She sent me over to Harris Hospital to have a high risk doctor evaluate me. They didn't pick up any contractions or funneling of the cervix but I was dehydrated. After strict instructions to drink lots of water, they released me. I arrived around 4:30 and I left shortly before 8:00 with instructions for bed rest until I was cleared by my doctor. Whew! What a day.
I stayed home from work today, per doctor's orders. My baby shower at the school had to be canceled. I was really looking forward to my shower so I'm bummed about having to cancel it. My cousin is planning a shower for family and friends around June 13th. We were going to do it on the 30th but with it being Memorial Day weekend, a lot of people would be out of town so Jodi asked if I could do it on the 13th. We'll see what happens. Kevin's co-workers have generously offered to throw us a shower next month too.
So far, the babies have been doing so well. Most of the movement has been coming from the boy, or so I thought. For the first time, I felt movement today in the upper portion of my belly while I was resting today. It was the girl and I couldn't stop smiling. On the other hand, mommy is worn out and uncomfortable. At least 13 more weeks to go! I can do it.
I stayed home from work today, per doctor's orders. My baby shower at the school had to be canceled. I was really looking forward to my shower so I'm bummed about having to cancel it. My cousin is planning a shower for family and friends around June 13th. We were going to do it on the 30th but with it being Memorial Day weekend, a lot of people would be out of town so Jodi asked if I could do it on the 13th. We'll see what happens. Kevin's co-workers have generously offered to throw us a shower next month too.
So far, the babies have been doing so well. Most of the movement has been coming from the boy, or so I thought. For the first time, I felt movement today in the upper portion of my belly while I was resting today. It was the girl and I couldn't stop smiling. On the other hand, mommy is worn out and uncomfortable. At least 13 more weeks to go! I can do it.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
21 Weeks
Baby girl and boy are still doing well. Neither have names yet, but we're trying to get the list narrowed down. I had my 20 week check up a week and a half ago. The technician was able to see four chambers of the girl's heart, a femur, a tibia, and fibula. She had her hand in front of her face at one point. Both seemed to have all of their organs. He couldn't see the boy's heart very well because of the way he was laying. He was curled up with fists next to his head. We'll check again during my next appointment on May 6th. Hopefully he'll be laying in a better position so we can see his heart clearly.
It's amazing being able to see them on the screen every couple of weeks. I can't imagine having to go a whole month without being able to see them. Going two weeks is tough as it is. It's starting to sink in a little more that babies are coming and soon. Kevin and I are both guessing they'll be born in about 12 weeks. It's a little soon, but with the babies measuring right on target or a week ahead, they may not wait until August. The weeks are going by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I got the call from the doctor saying I was pregnant. The movement in my belly is becoming more constant. It feels like little pops (like a rubberband) or muscle twitches. They seem to move around more when I'm eating or at night when I'm getting ready for bed. Kevin has felt the movements a few times but as soon as he puts his hand on my belly, they stop. I am so excited about meeting the other half of my family in a few months. I cannot wait to have them in my arms!
Kevin is becoming more excited too. He is really worried about the house situation. He wants to make sure they have a proper place to live. I can honestly say that I am proud to have him as my husband and my babies' father. He is going to be a great dad and I can't wait to see him in action.
Carpal tunnel is getting rather bothersome. I now wake up and my fingers are numb. I hear it goes away when they're born. I've put up with it for a month. I can handle three more. I have swelling in my hands and feet also. It gets worse when I stand or walk for very long. It should also go away when they're born. Kevin and I keep wondering if I will end up on bed rest throughout the summer. I hope that's not the case, but hey, if that's what needs to happen in order to have healthy babies, then I'll do it.
On another note, I'm still not sure what hospital they'll be born in. My doctor is affiliated with Baylor All Saints and Harris Methodist in downtown Fort Worth. I was born at Harris and from what I hear, they have a great neonatal unit. I'll ask her at my next appointment.
It's amazing being able to see them on the screen every couple of weeks. I can't imagine having to go a whole month without being able to see them. Going two weeks is tough as it is. It's starting to sink in a little more that babies are coming and soon. Kevin and I are both guessing they'll be born in about 12 weeks. It's a little soon, but with the babies measuring right on target or a week ahead, they may not wait until August. The weeks are going by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I got the call from the doctor saying I was pregnant. The movement in my belly is becoming more constant. It feels like little pops (like a rubberband) or muscle twitches. They seem to move around more when I'm eating or at night when I'm getting ready for bed. Kevin has felt the movements a few times but as soon as he puts his hand on my belly, they stop. I am so excited about meeting the other half of my family in a few months. I cannot wait to have them in my arms!
Kevin is becoming more excited too. He is really worried about the house situation. He wants to make sure they have a proper place to live. I can honestly say that I am proud to have him as my husband and my babies' father. He is going to be a great dad and I can't wait to see him in action.
Carpal tunnel is getting rather bothersome. I now wake up and my fingers are numb. I hear it goes away when they're born. I've put up with it for a month. I can handle three more. I have swelling in my hands and feet also. It gets worse when I stand or walk for very long. It should also go away when they're born. Kevin and I keep wondering if I will end up on bed rest throughout the summer. I hope that's not the case, but hey, if that's what needs to happen in order to have healthy babies, then I'll do it.
On another note, I'm still not sure what hospital they'll be born in. My doctor is affiliated with Baylor All Saints and Harris Methodist in downtown Fort Worth. I was born at Harris and from what I hear, they have a great neonatal unit. I'll ask her at my next appointment.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Halfway There!
Today, I am 20 weeks along. I have been seeing the doctor every week to have my cervical length measured and to check blood pressure, weight, glucose, etc. since twin pregnancies are at a higher risk.
I cannot express how excited I am to have finally reached the halfway point of this pregnancy. It has been rough thus far, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The thought of meeting my new family is so exciting.
I cannot express how excited I am to have finally reached the halfway point of this pregnancy. It has been rough thus far, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The thought of meeting my new family is so exciting.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
It's a Boy and a Girl! (18 weeks)
It has been a while since I've updated. At my last appointment, we found out that with 99% certainty, we are having a boy and a girl. The little girl is up higher and the boy is lower. Right now, they are right underneath my belly button. I can feel fluttering every now and then but it isn't as constant as I would like. I want to be able to feel them move all the time. I can't wait. Both are doing well. They have strong heartbeats and their gestational age is a few days ahead of their actual age. At this rate, they may run out of room before their due date. (Hopefully not too much sooner.)
We've purchased a few onesies and some diapers. I made a registry at Babies R Us and Target so I wouldn't forget any of the stuff I liked. It's never too early to start planning for these little ones. We're still living in the rental house in West Fort Worth. It sucks. This house is too small and it is in such horrible shape. I trip over something everytime I walk around and I'm worried that I'm going to fall and hurt the babies here soon. We're still in this lawsuit with the builder. Our trial date is set for June. I'm praying that they will just buy it back. Kevin and I don't like living there. We have the lot that we want to build on but we have to sell this house first. We just sent an email to a broker to have it listed on the MLS websites. Hopefully we can sell it soon so that we have time to get this other house built and a nursery set up before the babies are born.
This pregnancy has taken its toll. I am fortunate to not be vomiting anymore. Or at least I haven't in the past three weeks. Whew! Now, I have carpal tunnel in both wrists and swelling around my right ankle. It kills me to stand for very long and my wrists are in pain every morning. It is difficult to turn door knobs, brush my teeth, or anything else that requires me to grab or hold anything. It's not too bad compared to what some women have. I can handle it. If I deliver at 36 weeks, then I am half way there!
I'll write more soon.
Charla
We've purchased a few onesies and some diapers. I made a registry at Babies R Us and Target so I wouldn't forget any of the stuff I liked. It's never too early to start planning for these little ones. We're still living in the rental house in West Fort Worth. It sucks. This house is too small and it is in such horrible shape. I trip over something everytime I walk around and I'm worried that I'm going to fall and hurt the babies here soon. We're still in this lawsuit with the builder. Our trial date is set for June. I'm praying that they will just buy it back. Kevin and I don't like living there. We have the lot that we want to build on but we have to sell this house first. We just sent an email to a broker to have it listed on the MLS websites. Hopefully we can sell it soon so that we have time to get this other house built and a nursery set up before the babies are born.
This pregnancy has taken its toll. I am fortunate to not be vomiting anymore. Or at least I haven't in the past three weeks. Whew! Now, I have carpal tunnel in both wrists and swelling around my right ankle. It kills me to stand for very long and my wrists are in pain every morning. It is difficult to turn door knobs, brush my teeth, or anything else that requires me to grab or hold anything. It's not too bad compared to what some women have. I can handle it. If I deliver at 36 weeks, then I am half way there!
I'll write more soon.
Charla
Sunday, March 7, 2010
13 Weeks
We had our 12 week appointment with the doc on Feb. 25th and it was the first time we had actually seen a head, torso, legs and arms of each baby! It was even more exciting when we saw one of our little jumping beans kicking his or her feet. I looked over at Kevin and asked if he saw it. Of course he said yes. I am still nauseated and throwing up every day or so. The doc has instructed me to be proactive with my use of phenergan. She wants me to take it even before I feel sick so I can improve the quality of my life and not throw up so much. One day, I actually threw up six times starting at 1 a.m. She also said that if I continue to throw up, it's possible that I'll end up having to have an IV started to rehydrate. I still have to take the phenergen every 6 hours or so because the nausea is so bad. I missed half a days work last Thursday because it was so bad. I'm exhausted too, but then again, with two babies, it makes sense. I'm praying that I will not have this nausea for the entire pregnancy. Even if I do, the extension of our family is worth it.
At 12-1/2 weeks, I swear that I could feel the little flutterings of the babies. It felt like butterflies, but it isn't anything I have ever experienced. I haven't felt it in a day or two, but I think they changed positions on me. I can't wait to feel and let Kevin feel the kicks of both babies. I think we have another three weeks to go for that. At our last appointment, the sonographer said he could tell the genders during the next sonogram, which will be again on March 15th. Hopefully he can see something that day! I can't wait. Vomiting and nausea aside, this is a truly amazing experience.
Charla and Kevin
At 12-1/2 weeks, I swear that I could feel the little flutterings of the babies. It felt like butterflies, but it isn't anything I have ever experienced. I haven't felt it in a day or two, but I think they changed positions on me. I can't wait to feel and let Kevin feel the kicks of both babies. I think we have another three weeks to go for that. At our last appointment, the sonographer said he could tell the genders during the next sonogram, which will be again on March 15th. Hopefully he can see something that day! I can't wait. Vomiting and nausea aside, this is a truly amazing experience.
Charla and Kevin
Monday, February 15, 2010
10 Weeks
It was snowing on the day of our last doctor's appointment (Thursday, February 11th) so they moved up my appointment by an hour and a half so they could get out of there earlier. I saw the sonographer first. Both babies are strong and active. One had a heartbeat of 170 bpm and the other had a hearbeat of 180 bpm. The sonographer said that he would be able to tell us the sex in about four weeks. I'm so excited.
Two hours after I got there, I finally saw Dr. Bradford. She had been called away to do a delivery. She came into the room wearing her surgical booties. She confirmed that everything looked great and requested that I see her again in two weeks to hear the heartbeats with a doppler. Normal pregnancies require you to see the doctor every four weeks. Twin pregnancies require every two weeks since they are considered high-risk.
The past few weeks have been challenging to say the least. I have had nausea everyday and I throw up every other day. This has decreased from twice everyday. Most pregnant women don't actually throw up but the symptoms are exaggerated with twins. I can't sleep past 8 hours at a time, even though I'm more exhausted than I've ever been. I start to feel nauseated because there's no food in my stomach. There have actually been times that I've woken up at 4 a.m. to grab a bowl of cereal just so I would have something to throw up. The first trimester is a rough road, but it will get better.
At this point, so many things are going through my mind. Kevin and I want a new house. We're in a rental, which is less than 1,000 square feet. It's extremely small, doors don't close all the way, and cold air from outside is let in. The toilet doesn't work well. I could go on and on. Kevin is talking to the guy at the bank about what we can do to get a loan approved so we can get this new house started. Ultimately, we need to sell the other house to do so. It's complicated by the ongoing three year lawsuit with the builder of our other house. Kevin and I have been in this lawsuit since we got married so we haven't had much time together without some kind of stress. It kills me that some people have no pride in their work and they can't take responsibility for the terrible job they did. Of course, it's all about money and it's all about them. Where are the people who truly care about others? I'm convinced that they don't exist anymore.I do not want to raise two babies in this house...even for one minute. I have always dreamt of being able to decorate the nursery and have everything set up when they arrived. I am really worried that this won't happen and that we will have to move again with two babies.
On the flip side, we are already shopping for baby stuff. We got some unisex clothes the other day and a travel diaper changer. We're still debating on a crib and changing table. We actually found a perfect one at Babies 'R Us. It has the crib and the changing table connected. We have plenty of time to look, so we'll see.
Kevin is starting to get more involved. He is helping me out a lot. Most of the time, I can't stand for very long without nausea so Kevin takes over and does whatever I can't. Of course, I'm sure I will have to pay for it when I feel better. Time will tell.
Two hours after I got there, I finally saw Dr. Bradford. She had been called away to do a delivery. She came into the room wearing her surgical booties. She confirmed that everything looked great and requested that I see her again in two weeks to hear the heartbeats with a doppler. Normal pregnancies require you to see the doctor every four weeks. Twin pregnancies require every two weeks since they are considered high-risk.
The past few weeks have been challenging to say the least. I have had nausea everyday and I throw up every other day. This has decreased from twice everyday. Most pregnant women don't actually throw up but the symptoms are exaggerated with twins. I can't sleep past 8 hours at a time, even though I'm more exhausted than I've ever been. I start to feel nauseated because there's no food in my stomach. There have actually been times that I've woken up at 4 a.m. to grab a bowl of cereal just so I would have something to throw up. The first trimester is a rough road, but it will get better.
At this point, so many things are going through my mind. Kevin and I want a new house. We're in a rental, which is less than 1,000 square feet. It's extremely small, doors don't close all the way, and cold air from outside is let in. The toilet doesn't work well. I could go on and on. Kevin is talking to the guy at the bank about what we can do to get a loan approved so we can get this new house started. Ultimately, we need to sell the other house to do so. It's complicated by the ongoing three year lawsuit with the builder of our other house. Kevin and I have been in this lawsuit since we got married so we haven't had much time together without some kind of stress. It kills me that some people have no pride in their work and they can't take responsibility for the terrible job they did. Of course, it's all about money and it's all about them. Where are the people who truly care about others? I'm convinced that they don't exist anymore.I do not want to raise two babies in this house...even for one minute. I have always dreamt of being able to decorate the nursery and have everything set up when they arrived. I am really worried that this won't happen and that we will have to move again with two babies.
On the flip side, we are already shopping for baby stuff. We got some unisex clothes the other day and a travel diaper changer. We're still debating on a crib and changing table. We actually found a perfect one at Babies 'R Us. It has the crib and the changing table connected. We have plenty of time to look, so we'll see.
Kevin is starting to get more involved. He is helping me out a lot. Most of the time, I can't stand for very long without nausea so Kevin takes over and does whatever I can't. Of course, I'm sure I will have to pay for it when I feel better. Time will tell.
Friday, January 22, 2010
TWINS!
That's right...twins! We waited to see the doctor for about an hour before we had the ultrasound done. I had been sick with a cold (and morning sickness) for the past week. I missed three days of work because of it. As soon as I got in the doctor's office, my head started to feel heavy, so I stood up and walked around. Then, I started to feel nauseated and light-headed so I grabbed a wet paper towel and put it on my neck. The nurse saw me and asked if I was okay. I asked if they had some crackers, which she was able to provide me, along with some Sprite. It helped for the moment.
When I finally got called back, the doc performed a transvaginal sonogram (since the babies are so small). I have been reading seven different pregnancy books, so I had an idea of what to expect and what to look for. I knew that we should be able to see the heartbeat on the screen but I figured it was a little too early to hear it. Dr. Kaufmann asked how many babies we wanted and when we said two, he said, "Your wish is my command." Sure enough...two little black areas showed up on the screen. After a little manuevering, we saw a grey shadow...Baby A. Then a second grey shadow...Baby B. The nurse pointed out the heartbeat and when they saw both heartbeats, they turned the sound on. I couldn't look away from the screen! How amazing! Baby A had a heartbeat of 117.19 bpm and Baby B had a heartbeat of 131.58 bpm.
It still hasn't totally sunk in yet. Two of everything: crib, clothes, stroller, bouncy seat, etc. and DOUBLE the diapers! We're going to be swimming in diapers! It's going to be a challenge, but people do it everyday. I'm sure we can handle it. The toughest part for us will be picking out names. We're struggling finding one name that we both like, much less two.
I have another appointment with my new OB next Thursday so I will write more then. In the meantime, I will continue to struggle with this cold and morning, noon and evening sickness. :(
Heartbeat Pics:
Baby A
Baby B
When I finally got called back, the doc performed a transvaginal sonogram (since the babies are so small). I have been reading seven different pregnancy books, so I had an idea of what to expect and what to look for. I knew that we should be able to see the heartbeat on the screen but I figured it was a little too early to hear it. Dr. Kaufmann asked how many babies we wanted and when we said two, he said, "Your wish is my command." Sure enough...two little black areas showed up on the screen. After a little manuevering, we saw a grey shadow...Baby A. Then a second grey shadow...Baby B. The nurse pointed out the heartbeat and when they saw both heartbeats, they turned the sound on. I couldn't look away from the screen! How amazing! Baby A had a heartbeat of 117.19 bpm and Baby B had a heartbeat of 131.58 bpm.
It still hasn't totally sunk in yet. Two of everything: crib, clothes, stroller, bouncy seat, etc. and DOUBLE the diapers! We're going to be swimming in diapers! It's going to be a challenge, but people do it everyday. I'm sure we can handle it. The toughest part for us will be picking out names. We're struggling finding one name that we both like, much less two.
I have another appointment with my new OB next Thursday so I will write more then. In the meantime, I will continue to struggle with this cold and morning, noon and evening sickness. :(
Heartbeat Pics:
Baby A
Baby BTuesday, January 12, 2010
5-1/2 Weeks
I am completely exhausted, yet I can only get 8 or 9 hours of sleep. I used to be able to sleep 12 or 13 hours. Sunday was the first day that I really felt a wave of nausea. I slept with a trash can next to the bed. I have placed a trash can in the storage closet of my classroom in case I need to duck away. Gingerale and saltines - that's what I take to work for when I get sick.
The doc had my blood drawn again yesterday to check my hCG levels again. As of 4:30, my levels were 42,432. Wow! That's higher than I was expecting for how far along I am. Based on my calculations, the levels should have been right at or a little below 20,000. Some people attribute high hCG levels to multiples and others have attributed it to a boy. While my mother in-law hopes for a girl, Kevin and I hope for a healthy baby.
Thursday, January 21st will be my first ultrasound with the fertility specialist. I will be 7 weeks by then and we will hear a heartbeat. I picked an obstetrician! I haven't met her, but I hear she is one of the best in Fort Worth. My 8 week ultrasound with the OB will be on January 28th and I can't wait. Kevin is happy but the excitement hasn't hit yet because there's nothing to see. I know he will be excited when he hears the heartbeat and sees the little one for the first time. I know that I will be crying!
Charla
The doc had my blood drawn again yesterday to check my hCG levels again. As of 4:30, my levels were 42,432. Wow! That's higher than I was expecting for how far along I am. Based on my calculations, the levels should have been right at or a little below 20,000. Some people attribute high hCG levels to multiples and others have attributed it to a boy. While my mother in-law hopes for a girl, Kevin and I hope for a healthy baby.
Thursday, January 21st will be my first ultrasound with the fertility specialist. I will be 7 weeks by then and we will hear a heartbeat. I picked an obstetrician! I haven't met her, but I hear she is one of the best in Fort Worth. My 8 week ultrasound with the OB will be on January 28th and I can't wait. Kevin is happy but the excitement hasn't hit yet because there's nothing to see. I know he will be excited when he hears the heartbeat and sees the little one for the first time. I know that I will be crying!
Charla
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Baby Coming Along
Yesterday I had another blood test and after anxiously awaiting the results, the call came in at 5 p.m. My levels increased from 236 to 1938. Wow! Things are looking good for baby Hawley. I need to go back in on Monday, January 11th to have my levels checked again. I made an appointment with an ob/gyn who was recommended to me. She is one of the best doctors in town. My 8-week ultrasound will be on Thursday, January 28th. We will get a heartbeat that day. I can't wait!
At this point, I'm feeling a little nauseated at the smell or taste of certain foods; meats mainly. I gag when I brush my teeth and I'm hungry every two or three hours. None of which is normal for me. My skin is extremely dry and it feels like I'm itching all the time. I have heartburn and I sneeze constantly because I can't take any of my meds. All of this is uncomfortable but it's a small price to pay for this little ball of cells that will soon be baby Hawley!
Charla
At this point, I'm feeling a little nauseated at the smell or taste of certain foods; meats mainly. I gag when I brush my teeth and I'm hungry every two or three hours. None of which is normal for me. My skin is extremely dry and it feels like I'm itching all the time. I have heartburn and I sneeze constantly because I can't take any of my meds. All of this is uncomfortable but it's a small price to pay for this little ball of cells that will soon be baby Hawley!
Charla
Friday, January 1, 2010
Pregnant! (4 Weeks)
A few months ago, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which makes it more difficult to get pregnant. We decided that because of the difficulty, we would start trying to have our first child now. After talking to the doctor, he suggested clomid to produce an egg. A few days later, I went in for an ultrasound. I had a follicle that was 14 mm. According to the nurse, 18 mm is minimum for a viable egg. The following Monday, I went back and the ultrasound showed a 17.97 mm follicle and another approximately 13 mm. I was instructed to go home and inject myself in the stomach with Ovidrel, an hCG hormone which induces the release of an egg. What are the odds? On our third anniversary, December 17th, I went in to have my first intrauterine insemination done. This procedure involves the "washing" of sperm and injecting it into the uterus through the catheter. The procedure took all of five minutes and then another ten minutes laying there afterwards.
On December 31st, the anniversary of our wedding reception, I returned for a blood pregnancy test. The nurse called me later that afternoon with good news. According to the beta hCG test, anything above a 5 indicates a pregnancy. My level was 236. Normal at this time is 5-420. She wants to see me again on Monday to make sure my levels are still rising. As of now, I don't "feel" pregnant. I haven't experienced any symptoms, other than a little mild cramping last night. I've told a few people but I don't want to make a formal announcement until I get the first ultrasound and/or blood test results that show an increase in hCG levels. I'll write again when I know more.
Charla
On December 31st, the anniversary of our wedding reception, I returned for a blood pregnancy test. The nurse called me later that afternoon with good news. According to the beta hCG test, anything above a 5 indicates a pregnancy. My level was 236. Normal at this time is 5-420. She wants to see me again on Monday to make sure my levels are still rising. As of now, I don't "feel" pregnant. I haven't experienced any symptoms, other than a little mild cramping last night. I've told a few people but I don't want to make a formal announcement until I get the first ultrasound and/or blood test results that show an increase in hCG levels. I'll write again when I know more.
Charla
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