More....

My husband and I are expecting fraternal twin boys on February 13, 2008. These are our first children, and had not been trying long at all when we found out we were expecting. At our first OB appointment, I guessed that I was 8 weeks along and after an exam, my OB said I felt like I was 8 weeks and so we had our first ultrasound. Boy, were we surprised when the tech said, "Well, I am showing you are only 4 weeks and 2 days pregnant, but that there appear to be two babies." At that point, they could not even see the babies, only two individual sacs. We were so excited and as we were leaving someon said that we would need another ultrasound in 4 weeks to "make sure that both hearts were beating." Aaaagghh! Who says something like that? My husband said at that exact moment he became a father, worrying about these babies and wanting nothing more than just two little hearts beating. After a looooooong 4 weeks, we were thrilled to see both babies' hearts beating! We have been very fortunate to have a smooth pregnancy so far aside from terrible morning sickness during the first 15 weeks...ugh.

8 WEEKS ULTRASOUND PICS

16 WEEKS PICS

27.5 WEEKS PIC

We found at at about 18 weeks that we were having two boys. Baby A revealed himself right away, but Baby B was covering himself first with his hand, then his umbilical cord. Finally, they were able to get a shot that revealed he was also a boy! I joked that I should have known he was a boy since his hand was "down there" the whole time. :) The boys have been only an ounce apart in size and developing right on schedule. At 29 weeks pregnant they weighed 3 lbs 5 oz and 3 lbs 6 oz. At that time I was "measuring" at 36 weeks. Now I am 32 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing contractions, about 3 or 4 an hour. So far I am not in labor (whew!) and would like to keep it that way until at least 34 weeks, hopefully longer. Besides, we need time to finish the nursery! I had still been working up to this point and began working from home this week. I will try to work from home right up until I go into labor, and I am just so blessed to even have that as an option. We have chosen the names Cooper David and Chase Daniel for our boys- we can't wait to meet them! We have another ultrasound scheduled in one week and can't wait to see how the babies are progressing. Best wishes to all you Moms-to-be!

UPDATE 12.27.2007

We have reached 33 weeks! As of today, we are 33 weeks and 1 day pregnant. We had another OB appointment today as well as an ultrasound. We were thrilled to hear that Baby B (who truly seems to be the rebellious child already) has given in and joined his brother in the head-down, vertex, ready-to-roll position. We were also so excited to see that the boys are still growing quite well. Baby A is now 4 lbs 9 oz and Baby B is 4 lbs 13 oz. This is really good growth! In fact, their measurements indicate that they are 33 weeks and 4 days- not a huge difference from our actual due date, but I was impressed that they are this large considering I had been told that with twins their growth would slow down. Since we are naming the first born Cooper David and the second born Chase Daniel, it looks like if they stay in their current positions, Baby A will be Cooper and Baby B will be Chase. I am getting more and more excited for their arrival! The last several nights I have even dreamt that my water has broken, and it seems so real I wake up wondering if I am in labor or not. Obviously not yet. :) On one hand, I want them to get as much time to develop as possible, and on the other hand I cannot wait until they arrive! I know it will all work out the way it is meant to and I just need to enjoy the excitement of pregnancy while I can. We'll see how things work out soon enough! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

UPDATE 1.4.2008

Happy New Year! Here is the update since we last chatted. Last Saturday we headed to Labor and Delivery because I was having a handful of contractions per hour for several hours, and as time passed those contractions were accompanied by back pain. At Labor and Deliver they monitored my contractions as well as the babies' heart rates and made the decision to stop the contractions. They pumped me full of fluids and gave me a shot in the arm which immediately stopped the contractions. We were released and I was told to "take it easy." So, I spent the evening with my feet up watching movies. I woke up very early Sunday morning experiencing frequent contractions again, but this time the back pain began right away. By the time I woke my husband, I was far more impatient to get the hospital as the pain I was feeling was quite severe. They monitored me again and I asked if there was anything that could be done for the pain until they figured out what was going on. I was willing to try about anything as I was curled up in the fetal position, every muscle in my body clenched, and gripping the bedrail as if it was saving my life, as I realized later. The pain was very focused in the lower right side of my back. Ultimately, the doctor's thought it was one of a few things: a kidney infection, kidney stones, pressure from the boys' pushing on the tubes that lead from the kidney causing a backup or blockage, or our worst fear, a problem with the appendix. They said my urine samples were not suspicious of a kidney infection and a later ultrasound revealed no kidney stones, but did show an inflamed kidney. They started me on antibiotics to treat a kidney infection and checked us into the hospital. We were told they would need to monitor us for 24 hours. Later, a nurse mentioned we would need Part 2 of the antibiotics 24 hours later, which we used our brilliant intelligence to decipher we would be at the hospital more than the 24 hours they previously mentioned. Meanwhile, I kept throwing up, so they were pumping the fluids, the antibiotics, giving me pain killers, meds for nausea, and ambien to help me sleep. Way more drugs than I intended to take while pregnant...but boy, I was willing to do about anything for the pain! I was unable to keep anything down, but I wasn't hungry either. We had another couple of those, "surprise, you get to stay another night!" moments where rather than someone tell us we needed to stay a night, the nurse would say something like, "The Urologist would like to check on you in the morning" or "We'll do an ultrasound tomorrow afternoon." My husband and I found ourselves listening very carefully to their words for any indication of a light at the end of the tunnel! We spent New Years Eve at the hospital, my husband trying to keep entertained while I drifted in and out of sleep. He was such a trooper and took such good care of me! Finally, we were released early January 2nd, the morning in which I woke up without the severe pain. It hasn't come back since, so we are thinking that maybe the problem was the "babies putting pressure on the tubes from the kidneys" option and that they have shifted positions relieving this pressure. That is just our guess. So, I have not had to take my pain meds, however some new problems have developed. I cannot seem to eat anything without getting heartburn/indigestion, or getting sick. I also am making frequent urgent trips to the restroom since we returned- maybe that is the result of the change in positioning? I look at my belly, which has a new round of stretch marks from sleeping on my left side for days in the hospital, and think, could it possibly get bigger? REALLY? It seems soooo low and tight even without contractions. I am now 34 weeks pregnant and the thought of remaining this uncomfortable for several more weeks just seems cruel and unthinkable. This late twin pregnancy stuff is for the birds! Still, I know that it is ideal to make it to at least 36 weeks, but boy will these be long weeks! Not to mention that this is more time off work than I intended to take before the boys' arrive, so the husband and I are trying to figure all of this out as well. On one hand I find myself wishing the boys would just arrive already, but at the same time I have a to-do list of things to achieve before the boys do arrive, which is not complete! So, maybe deep down I don't really expect them to come yet. Who knows? Happy New Year!!

JANUARY 17,2008

I have not updated in a while so I will try to catch up here. Well, we have made it to 36 weeks! After my last entry, we made yet another hospital visit (during week 34) because I was having contractions. A part of me was hoping they wouldn't stop the contractions so we could meet our boys, but I knew they needed more time. The doctors agreed and gave me another shot of tributaline and kept us overnight for monitoring (after two hours, some intense contractions returned, but not frequent contractions). Ultimately, they let us go the following morning (after an exhausting night of no sleep) and put me on a strict bed rest- no leaving the house except for appointments and when I am at home, I need to keep my feet up. Although one nurse thought I was dilated to a 3, my on call doctor said he thought I was dilated to a 2 and "getting soft." This was Sunday morning. By my appointment the following Tuesday, I was dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced! Woo-hoo! Progress! My contractions, however, have still not picked up so nothing! At my 36 week appointment the following Monday, I was shocked to find that I am now dilated to a 1 and 50% effaced! I have UNDILATED! My doctor ensured me that it is only becuase Baby B (Chase) has changed positions since our last appointment and instead of being vertex he is now lying sideways across my entire tummy, head poking out one side and feet jabbing the other! This apparently has relieved pressure from my cervix, causing me to feel less dilated and less effaced. Ugh! The good news is that my ultrasound showed that both boys are doing quite well! They move ALL THE TIME, which I take as a good sign, and during the ultrasound their movements revealed their intent to prevent us from seeing their faces and instead focus on ensuring us repeatedly that they are both, in fact, boys! Everywhere the ultrasound went, there were little boy parts! Baby A, Cooper, is vertex with his head down low, ready to go. He is weighing in at an estimated 5 lbs 11 oz at 35 weeks 5 days!! Baby B, Chase, is now breech, wrapping around his brother in a way the ultrasound tech found difficult to figure out! He is even bigger than Cooper, weighing 6 lbs 7 oz!! WOW! Big boy! I know that the doctors get concerned if the babies are far apart in size, so when I heard their sizes, I felt concerned. However, my doctor said that if the smaller baby, in this case Cooper, is smaller than expected for his "age", then they have concerns. In the case of my boys, Cooper is right on track for this point, but Chase is just quite large! Since my appointment, I have been having some random contractions, but nothing frequent. My contractions, however, seem to be trying to win a competition of some kind- I often have 5-10 minute long contractions! I didn't know this was possible until they monitored a 9 minute long contraction at the hospital. So, hopefully that means I am still making progress! I find myself just wondering every day- will it be today? In the meantime, I feel like my belly is just sliding off the front of me. The top of my belly is SO much lower than it was, but the belly itself seems to be sticking out even farther. I honestly cannot imagine getting any bigger! Here's a picture of my belly on January 4, 2008, which would be 34 weeks 2 days pregnant for me. My friends insist it looks like a basketball is stuffed under my shirt, but if that were the case I would not have these charming stretch marks. :) Well, maybe it will happen soon- I wonder how my belly will look after my boys are born... Good luck to moms-to-be!

JANUARY 31, 2008

Had my LAST doctors appointment today before my c section tomorrow morning- we finally get to meet Cooper and Chase!! My blood pressure has continually gone up and my legs/feet are very swollen so they decided it was time. We did have the option of trying to induce and deliver vag, but with Baby B being breech, we decided it was not worth the risk. They are guessing their sizes are 7lbs3oz and 7lbs4oz- I am thrilled that they are measuring that well. I can't believe we made it to 38 weeks. We are supposed to get about 4-8 inches of snow today (it's really coming down right now!) and we have to be at the hospital at 5 am tomorrow(ugh!). Fortunately we do live minutes from the hospital, but those minutes will probably turn into many more with the road conditions. But, I'm sure I won't be getting much sleep tonight anyway, so what does it matter if we have to leave a little earlier? :) I am trying to take naps today while I can as I'm certain I won't be able to rest tonight. Wish us luck! This time tomorrow we will be parents!

FEBUARY 8, 2008

THE BOYS HAVE ARRIVED!!!

Cooper David and Chase Daniel were born by scheduled c-section on Friday, Febuary 1, 2008. We were 38 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Awaiting the surgery, I kept waiting to get nervous. I thought, when it was bed time the night before, I'll get nervous. Then when that did not happen, I thought that maybe when we woke up to go to the hospital or when we would arrive at the hospital I would grow nervous. However, I was completely calm right until I walked into the operating room and saw all the equipment. Even then, I was only a little nervous, buy my poor husband had been flushed and anxious since we arrived at the hospital. They administered the spinal, which was not bad at all thanks to a great anesthesiologist. They began their work and then brought my husband in. He was so comforting and reassuring, telling me how great I was doing. He was wonderful!

Cooper was born at 7:31am and weighed an incredible 7lbs 12 oz! We were always told that Chase was measuring larger and so we were eagerly awaiting hearing his weight! Chase was born at 7:33 am after making a desperate last ditch attempt to stay in my belly! When the doc reached for him, he squirmed his way higher into my belly and they had to use a vacuum to retrieve him. He ended up weighing less than Cooper at 7 lbs even. Whew! Over 14 lbs of baby in my tummy?! WOW! Both boys had Apgar scores of 9, which was amazing. They quickly showed me Cooper and then took him to the baby station, which I could see, in order to do their "welcoming" process of cleaning them up, etc. Of course, I cried. Daddy cut Cooper's umbilical cord. Meanwhile, the doc was chasing Chase around my tummy and when he was born, screaming and flailing, they held him over the cloth divider to where he was looking down directly at me all pink and wrinkly naked baby, just screaming. Of course, I cried again. When they bundled the boys up, they brought them to me and held them on either side of my face so I could see them, touch them, kiss them. What beautiful little miracles! They handed both babies to daddy to take to the nursery while they worked on me, and daddy looked so beautiful holding them. When I was returned to my room, it was not long before daddy was able to wheel Cooper back in so I could hold him for the first time. However, after Chase made it to the nursery, they noticed he was struggling to breath a little bit and it appeared that his little exerting swim in my tummy had caused him to get some fluid in his lungs. We were a little worried, but I was aware of the increased risk for this to happen during a c section and so was not completely taken by surprise. I think Daddy was a little more freaked out. So he had to spend some time in the advanced care nursery. I just focused on holding my SON Cooper for the first time. However, it was not long at all until they surprised us by wheeling Chase into the room and handing him to me. Daddy and I felt a relief like we've never felt before and of course, I cried again. :) Holding both our boys together for the first time and looking into their sweet, tiny faces was a moment I'll never forget. The boys look very different, so it turns out they were fraternal after all!

After that, it was smooth sailing! They are a week old today. The boys both eat very well, and we love feeding them. We had planned on breastfeeding, but the pediatrician told us that my medication would pass to them in levels too high for them. So, we are formula feeding them, but I think it is a blessing in disguise. Although I am disappointed, I feel like it is God's way of telling us that maybe it was too much for us to take on anyway. They love being together, and already have such distinct personalities. We just can't believe how lucky we have been to make it this far, to have healthy babies, to be able to take them home with us, and to be parents at all! Thank you to everyone for all your support and prayers- it seems they have worked very well for us. When I have time, I will post photos of our little angels.