We have Arrived!

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Adelaide Vivian(left)and Juliet Josephine(right) arrived via scheduled C-section on September 22nd! They are healthy and happy baby girls.

The details:

Adelaide: 6 lb 6 oz, 19 inches born at 10:57 am
Juliet: 6 lb 2oz, 18 1/2 inches born at 10:59 am

The family spent 4 nights in the hospital...figuring out how to being caring for these bundles of joy. We came home and now mommy and daddy are feeling much more comfortable with taking care of these girls. Daddy was a natural from the very beginning, even thought he had never changed a diaper. Mommy needed to mend a bit from the surgery and the pain drugs and hormones, left her in a bit of a stupor for a while. We have had lots of visitors, friends and family and have appreciated everyones patience as mom and dad continue to adjust to this new responsibility. We look forward to meeting all those special people who have supported us.

Her are a few photos of us.

The Big Day!

At last it's birthday time! The Twins have waited until 38 weeks and now Bill and I get to meet what we look like together in our two bundles of joy!

I didn't have a relaxing, restful sleep as one should for the "last one" for the rest my life, but I know it is all worth it. Emotions are high and with the changes in my body as hormones prepare for birth last night Physically I got this incredible pain that runs from my shoulders to hands...another result from swelling. No ibuprofen allowed, just and Ambien, which bought me just 2 - 3 hours of sleep. No breakfast today. My bags are packed and I am showered so let's get this show on the road. Wait it is only 6:12 am and Bill's alarm won't go off until 6:30 and we'll be out the door a little after 7. 7:30 Check in and 10:30 surgery.

I better go kick my feet up one last time, before I start the hardest and most rewarding job of my life.

5 Days and Counting

5 days and 5 nights...until these little girls leave their warm baths in my little spa and join the warm arms of all those waiting to meet them. Everyday seems to hold a different story for mom, one day my back aches, then that subsides, yesterday I had a leg cramp which seem to be gone today, Monday night I had tons of contractrations and was up for most of the night, but thankfully none of the symptoms is lingering too long. Today, I am craving my famous green chili soup, a proven dish that sent Sevi into labor to labor with her first. I figure, like all "labor" inducers (rubbing spots on the feet, hands, Castor oil, sex...) labor will only come if the body is all ready planning to do it anyhow at that exact moment, so for now I will follow my craving.

This weeks Doctor appointment results told me my sodium level was low...a total shock to me, cause which American, whether they eat well or eat processed food has low sodium? So Gatorade is the trick, and now I have some daily.

Tuesday, September 15th marked Bill and my 2nd weeding anniversary...so now we are ready for our two babies to continue the celebrations.

Lily and I are out the door to run an errand...it makes us both feel better to get out of the house in for a few minutes sometime in the day.

36 Weeks

Baby A and B got an A+ today. So it remains a guessing game of which of the next 13 days will be their birthday. I am off the drugs for contractions so nature can run it course. I am getting more energy and some say that is a prelude to birth. And I have to pee all the time now, didn't have that the whole time, like some do.

Bill or I will keep everyone posted as the time will be here soon...

A Little Pampering

Had to share this one. Meet my feet as I lean over my belly to get this view, cause of course I can't just see them looking down. A fresh new manicure in Bubble Gum Pink to welcome the girls. wn.

Closing In

We're closing in the arrival of "The Little Moody's". Baby B has gotten into position so we have two head down babies, with their backs facing out and all their hands and feet on the inside near my belly button. Both girls checked out with flying colors at the doctor's yesterday. Our ultrasound showed good fluid around them to cushion their growing bodies which weighted in with Baby A is 5 lb 9 oz and Baby B is 5 lb 6oz (estimated of course)....I know you may be wishing I would have thrown in their names this time, but safely I can say that Bill and I know what they are (and I told Lily too). Good things come to those who wait.
I continue to grow too, I am about 45 inches around my belly and weighting in at 168.5 that is up almost 40 lbs. So we have 19 more nights, until a scheduled C-section at 38 weeks exactly. Of these remaining nights Daddy has specifically requested one night not to be birthday night because it is Fantasy Football Draft...The best part is this is that this IS the "biggest" night of the whole football season...so after that Bill will be available every other night until football ends to attend to our little girls. We know that whatever day these precious ones come, we will drop everything, regardless.
My body is continuing to prepare me for the odd hours of two newborns, my mental alarm clock woke me at 4:45 am this morning. Hoping for a cat nap before the day really begins.

Milestone

So as predicted tons of contractions the doctor on Wednesday (34 weeks)...even though I felt only one all that morning and think it is "the doctor's office" environment that makes us all uptight, I want to suceed (I hate peeing in the cup too!). But they have put me on Procardia, the lesser of the drugs used with premature contractions (another Dr we know... suggested this as less side effects to mom and no know to babies). The reason is to keep my contractions from rupturing my bags of water for the next two weeks. I am following orders, and know many wouldn't in my situation. We're almost there!!!!!!

All the cousins ( that is only if they are excited) can come to the hospital as long as nobody is obviously sick. There are no restrictions on age.. "What Mom (me their aunt) wants, she gets" as Labor and Delivery told me. So if I have a c-section there is a 1 hour post surgery recovery and we may ask for more... I am sure I won't up for alot that day, but I can always doze off on the party and everyone can then keep partying or come another day too. We will either be there 2 or 4 nights, with surgery being the longer amount of time.

We have an ultrasound at next weeks appointment and will be see where the babies are...as of yesterday, Baby A is still head down. No decisions really on vaginal or C-section yet. We have made a HUGE milestone hitting 34 weeks, so about 4 more weeks would be superb, about 2 more weeks would be amazing. We just want take home babies, and would prefer they don't detour with a stay over in the NICU.

Lily is sensing their arrival...she will be a great big sister!

A Pair of Cantaloupes

It's been 4 weeks of moderate bedrest and it really paying off for all of us. Our little cantaloupes will be ready to harvest soon. The website I get updates from estimates these melons to be about 4 3/4 pounds, and given up to 4 more weeks (before a scheudled c-section on Sept. 22) anyone holding them will be insured a backache, not just their pregnant mom. We will wait patiently each and every day for them. I think Lily has a sense their arrival is around the corner. A friend brought her 7 week baby over last week and the second he peeped a cry, Lily was there attentive and ready to help out. She has had lots of experience with Brooklyn, Savanna and Jagger (her cousins) who were all either babies or newborns around her, so she is knowledgeable of the cries, bear hugs and tail pulling that can come with the territory. I got word this morning that cousin Faye cannot wait to meet her cousins, I think she calls them Molly and Emma. Brooklyn suggested Marsha and Savanna is happy with Baby A and Baby B. Tait I am sure is just as excited too.
I am feeling great, as any 8 1/2 month pregnant woman would say. I have a bit of carpel tunnel, but wearing a brace makes a world of difference. I also seem to be napping a lot more in the morning. So weird to get up in the morning, after either a good night or not so long of night of sleep only to fall asleep within and hour or two again. I feel so fortunate to have this chance to take it easy, and that I am not "laboring" away in the fields or behind a desk all day.
Dr. appointment this afternoon, hopefully I won't be on the Non-stress Test (heartbeats and contractions monitor) for two hours like last week, but if so I will be prepared with my Ipod and more reading material. Seems the Test can be inaccurate for thinner people, those with full bladders, babies with hiccups...so I think all of those came into play last week. Time to make a tuna sandwich for me and the girls for lunch, and Clark and Lily will also get a sampling...it's an all time favorite of theirs!

Resting Up

Well this big belly sure gets heavy to carry around...so I taking full advantage of the down time. I seem to move happily from couch to couch and really appreciate to be able to do this. Can't believe I am saying this cause just a little over two weeks ago I was so distraught at this idea of moderate bedrest. Even sitting in a chair after a while makes my back tired, and despite the over 30 pounds I am up, and all the extra padding, my sits bones seem to press hard into a chair. Although they don't account for much of the weight, my hands and feet seem to get big throughout the day. So no more rings...which brings up a funny thought I have pondered...over time as I too watch pregnant women waddling around in their "later days", I always wondered why there seem to be so many unmarried ones...most likely they just had fat fingers too (in a good, short term, legal way). Speaking of watching pregos, I went the pool the other night with Sevi to "get out in reality" and soak in the pool, and it makes me laugh cause a pregnant belly is a magnet for eyes...what do they think I am going to "have then baby right there", or was it the attire I but on before leaving the house?

About the girls, well the contractions seem to have warn off their early unwelcome visit after about a week, so they have been gone a week now. Thankfully now no contractions or drugs. I guess my body knew what it was doing telling me to slow down and to get the needed down time, and I am embracing it! Wednesday's are the doctor appointment days and this is week 32. Both Bill I both went. We walked out feeling good and. We seem to have our arms around this pregnancy stuff better like anyone when things are on track. The ultrasound showed both girls are growing on target. Baby A, is head down, measuring at exactly 32 weeks and weighting in at 4 lb 5 oz. Baby B, is now head up, measuring 31 weeks 5 days, and weighing in at 3 lb 13 oz. Apparently it is tough to really gauge how much they weight, but they are within a good range (35%- 48%, I think). All ranges are still based on singleton babies, so I am impressed(and of course knew) our twins are in this range! Another febralfibral test came back negative, which means my body secretions are not occurring so it doesn't plan to have delivery in the next two weeks. The anionic fluid is above the minimum so they are soaking in luxury.

Other good news is Lily is done with her Chemotherapy. Upon her graduation she received a special yellow bandanna that reads " Play Strong". She if full of life as ever and still likes to take naps with me, then she is ready for action whenever the dog park or a "bye-bye" in the car is available.

Time to Slow Down

(Blog posting started on Wednesday but Posted on Sunday) I was put on moderate bed rest at home starting this last Tuesday. I am out for the count until the babies come in preferably in 6 - 8 weeks. On Tuesday I was admitted to the hospital for having contractions and have been put on Terbutaline to keep the contractions at bay. I am now on moderate bed rest at home (thankfully not in the hospital). These little girls need to keep growing in my belly a bit longer before their big debut. Thankfully that was my first admission to the hospital, I guess as I kid I had tubes in my ears.

So it begins that Sunday, the girls continued to be active moving about. I didn't sleep well the night before (hey that is just normal now) so Lily, Zoe and I went for an early Dog Park trip. The evening before I got my first real discomfort with pregnancy, the tightening and loosening of a ligament in my leg...guess this goes on all over the body as it takes months to prepare for birth. After the dog park I still felt it and thought a swim in the pool would release it and get the blood flowing in my body. I swam my usual 20 minutes at an ever decreasing pass, but it still felt so good. As the evening came on I felt like I over did it that day. Monday I was energized, had lots I wanted to do and slowly faded out at lunch time. The contractions were probably already there, but not until another sleepless night did I go to the Doctor. The first time for anything is always scary, and this being my first pregnancy, I had no idea if this was just part of 3rd trimester discomfort. Thankfully after the afternoon at the doctors office and the admission to the hospital , everything has checked out good. My Cervix is still strong and long, so the contractions didn't affect it. I am on Tebulatlin to keep the contractions away. For the next 6- 8 weeks I am going to be home with Lily and Clark 24/7. Still absorbing all of this both emotionally and physically. Bill is being a great reassurance and will take good care of us.

I wrote this entry last week and just didn't' get it posted. Sorry. I did have another round of contractions on Thursday, they were 2 minutes apart and last only a few seconds and were not painful. I of course called the doctor since it was more then 4-5 in an hour...it's all been a learning experience, as it was not treated as urgent issue cause I called the nurse back after waiting for close to an hour...the contracting had stopped, but still I was and am annoyed by the whole deal. I have a regular 31 week appointment on Wednesday so we'll get a better communication line going. (This is exactly why I am not in the medical field, my noodle thinks more factually, black and white, then trial and error. )
So last few days have involved sitting and laying (on my left side only, since I was on my back with Thursday's contractions). I spectated at Sevi's garage sale in the big white chair that was for sale. Being at the sale doing nothing (It was hard cause the desire was there!) was a wonderful thing for me to be relaxing but still in the "real world". See Photo from Mom's camera. Lily is missing the dog park but knows we'll going soon enough. Clark has taken his turn sleeping in the crib twice recently....and they have been set of up so long. We are working hard with the squirt bottle of water to detour this bad cat behavior. The mattresses are still wrapped in plastic, and no bedding on them. What a turkey!
For now we will all wait patiently as our little buns continue to cook in the safety of my oven!

The Rockettes

We finally got a cooler day in Denver today and boy has it "kicked off" a show! The girls have been kicking like crazy today. But I should restate that for all I know "Baby A" is still breech... so I think is B's kicks and A's punches cause they are right on the hormone line in at my belly button and up to the top of my uterus. It is the craziest feeling, cause it is not just a jab but a slow motion squirm just under the skin. Many of times I have almost jumped myself at how it feels under my hand even though I can also feel it inside too. Tonight ,Bill and I went to the Symphony in the Park and Bill put his hand on my belly and immediately one of these crazy movements happened. Bill thought is was a sensation that I created to tease him, but it was one of his daughters saying "Hi Daddy".
I went to my acupuncturist yesterday to see what he could do for my insomnia. For take home help he put two needle patches in my right upper ear lobe. The patches sort of seem like a small tack stuck to a 1/4" square flexible band aid that is inserted into my ear. I am supposed to massage them when I can't sleep. But for most of the day yesterday it felt more like I had just had my ear pierced, but unnoticeable today.
I am just finishing up my evening milkshake with ice cream, milk and Oreos. It has become a exciting thing for both Lily and I. Clark. the cat joins the festivities in the kitchen, but rarely eats it if I give him a taste. He is more into the idea of the "treat" then the actual partaking. Lily really likes ice cream (but not mint chip), which we have never had in the house before I was pregnant, cause I could do just fine with out it. The ice cream is helping me get a few more calories and of course and teeny, tiny bit of protiein and calcium too. Isn't that everyone's excuse?

Showered with Love

Last Saturday was the "babies" shower. Sevi and Char hosted it together. Their combined efforts made for a fabulous time. Char was in charge of the eats and Sevi decorated and had the venue (and of course there was so much more too they/others did for the event). Before the shower I knew I had rest, so I laid down on the couch, and boy did it bring back a memory. I must have lived in Albuquerque, so I was under 6 years old, but I had to lay down and take a nap at Grandma and Grandpa Schlenzig's before we went to Elich Gardens Amusement Park. The way I felt the day of the shower was the same feeling of anticipation and excitement as I couldn't wait to get up and join the fun, it was such amazing feeling to feel so excited. At last it was time...so the twins were spoiled rotten with wonderful presents, and so many of they were Labeled Baby A and Baby B, which being a twin myself, it was always nice to have my own present instead of sharing all the time. Lily had a great time too, with her pink bow and her tag "Future Big Sister" and she loved socializing with everyone. (She just completed #3 of Chemo today, only one more too go! She is doing GREAT!).

Milestones since my last posting: I broke the 150 pound mark, my belly is now 41" in circumference around my "waist" (my mom's was 52" when Sevi and I were born). And of course, I have said "I'm Hot" enough times to send Bill into shock, since I am usually cold.

The girls checked out great at the Drs. yesterday. Baby A is weighing in about 2 lb 9 oz and Baby B is 2 lb 6 oz. Both were head down last ultrasound, and now Baby A is Breech (feet first) and Baby B is still head down. There is still a good chance they will do 180's again, but if they don't we'll be heading for a C-section for sure. Dr. Harding told us a tale of a lady who was in the same situation at 38 weeks, and her twins each ended up still doing a 180's. Amazing how there could be any room in her belly! Plus, theory has it gravity naturally makes a head down position since the head is the heaviest at term.

3D Ultrasound pictures are attached. Look on the right half of the of both photos

Baby A (Left Photo)- Profile of the left side of her face, and she is looking to the left and looks relaxed.

Baby B (Right Photo)- Looking face forward and smiling right at you.

The nursery is coming along great. Grandpa Dennis completed the painting today and the cribs, dresser and glider/recliner are in their positions. Now I have to get the energy to put all the presents from the shower away. Photo's will come with it is done.

A Big Ballon

This week I feel like I have a big balloon in front of me with sand bags hanging off it. I am starting to feel the weight of the babies more. They should be approaching about 2 pounds each measuring in a whopping 14 inches. Most babies are born at 19 -21 inches long, so based on that most of their grown ahead is putting on the pounds and only a few more inches. Surprisingly, the baby weight makes me more buoyant when I swim, like today I didn't feel like I was dragging the almost 150 pounds in my body. Speakin of water, the summer heat has really started and I can feel it. I am actually drinking ice water and soaking my feet in cold water when I can't cool down. July is notorious for 90 degree days so lots of fun lies ahead.

Bill has been wondering how long it would talk for my belly button to pop out. Well yesterday (July 1st) was the day. My belly button is still it's normal size, a small pea, but is sure to end up as big as a cherry tomato sticking at the end. I don't plan to tape it back with a piece of cardboard, as my mom did with us, that sound painful, and besides I am already trying to keep my daily list of "to do's" to a minimum.

This last weekend was a time of celebration for Bill and I as we "Babymooned". A term for a last hurrah as the two of us before we become a family. See Picture, I think Bill's hand describes the number of kids he wants. We spent two relaxing nights in Beaver Creek, hiking, putt-putt golfing, eating and cheering to a glass of wine. At the end of the weekend I met up with Sevi and her kids to head to Steamboat Springs to see Grandpa Bill and Nana. A three hour drive is a little far to go if I was to go into labor, so we wanted to go before that time gets nearer. Brooklyn, Savanna and Jagger did all the things at the Ranch that I look forwarded to my girls doing too: riding horses, splashing though mud puddles on the ATV and Swimming in the pond, and of course hanging out with Grandparents. All this traveling was lots of fun and as always it is nice to be home too.

So I am 26 1/2 weeks now, and the next ultrasound at 28 weeks will be in 3D. We can't wait to see our babies in more definition!

Belated Update

A big gap in postings...sorry. I guess I have slowed down a bit at everything. Most everyday we, being Lily, Clark, the girls and I take at nap in the backroom, for an hour to two. Just depends how long I read before I nod off to dreamland. Usually I am woken up by the phone ringing... as I can't seem to remember to turn off the ringer before nap.
We all checked out good at last Thursday's Dr. appointment (24 weeks). Grandma Sally and second Aunt Judy joined the ultrasound. As the girls get bigger the ultrasound is harder to see, since only a head and neck fit on the screen now, so you have to know what area is being zoomed in on. I made sure that we "double" checked we are having girls, and yes indeed! Pink Pink and more pink! The girls are both 1 pound 8 oz (1 1/2 pounds), and both measured one day head in growth. I was relieved that they are right on target, as I am up only 15 pounds. The Dr. said I am doing just fine, but I wonder how I could get to 40 pound in a matter of next 11 to 13 weeks? For now, I am making sure that I eat snacks when I am not hungry (cashews, mini candy bars) and have been having "blizzards" most nights. All these artery clogging snacks aren't affecting the heartbeats which were 148 for "A" and 153 "B" so they are within the range.
My insomnia still plays games with me. Two nights ago, I couldn't fall asleep and finally did to be woken up 1 1/2 hours later, and never fell asleep again. Thankfully it was June 21 and the longest day of the year, so I did see the sun come up! To make up for it, I took a Benadryl last night and the commutative exhaustion made me (and the buns in the oven) sleep like babies. I still would like to put in an order with Mother Nature to wait a few more months for the hormone blast preparing for night time feedings, seems a month of preparation is more that enough (not 6 months!).
Bill celebrated his first father's day yesterday. He got a subscription to Mental Floss to keep him sane when he gets done with feedings, burpings and diaper changings. We also celebrated his dad's birthday and fathers day, which fell on the same day. Next week Sevi and the girls cousins and I will get up to Steamboat to celebrate with my dad.
All is quiet on the home front, Lily is still napping after a busy weekend at the ranch, chasing bunnies and squirrels and hiking. I never thought she would have the energy or endurance but made it 2 day of 12 hour patrols running around. She is doing very well! She will have her 2nd round (of 4) chemo on Thursday. She is amazing!

The Crack of Dawn

Well my body is in full swing to motherhood. The "girls" and I were up at 6:00 am this morning ready to go. At least it's light out! Their movement is getting stronger, not just flutters but some visible movement on the surface of my belly. Sorry for those who have placed their hands on my belly in search of the kicks, but as the mom I feel much more since I have the inside and outside sensation of the movement. Cousins Savanna and Brooklyn took their turns last night but moved their hands pretty quickly, but I guess putting you hand on someones belly with the intention of getting kicked does make a kid go "hmmmm", in anticipation of what it may feel like.
I got a kick in another way out of the pregnancy website's update this week, it said the babies look like "Miniature Newborns". True, True but they will hopefully increase their body way by 6 folds at least and double in length, just figuring that they must be so long and lean right now! At birth my twin Sevi and I were 2 days short of 40 weeks...thus I was Baby A (first out and vertex(head first)) weighing 6lb 8 oz and 19 inches and Sevi, Baby B, (second out, breech (feet first) but finally delivered head first), at 7lb 11oz and 21 inches (how did she get bigger?). My mom was close to her prebirth weight shortly after birth...she thinks she gained around 25 pounds with the pregnancy. I am advised to gain 40 - 50 pounds....hovering at about 14 pounds right now. Bill is being a good coach telling me to still eat when I am not hungry...I take after my father...and enjoy good eats when my body tells me I am hungry...still learning to be a good pregnant lady and feed those babies beyond my tummies desires. Dr. says I am okay though, as with many women the pounds just come on later in pregnancy.
The nursery is officially on the way. Grandpa Dennis helped Daddy Moody (Bill) clear out the room yesterday, so I can get the cribs set up and make room in the closets for all that cute baby stuff (clothes, blankets, toys, books) that I have been collecting and inheriting. The excitement is building...

Busy Banana's

Lots of activity these days for the bananas! They were 12 oz at last weeks appointment and had identical heartbeats at 153/minute. I thought I had it figured out where A and B were but ironically I was total off. Baby A is on my left side and the closest to the equator, and Baby B is up a little higher and on my right side. There are periodically boxing matches, small jabs in the middle of my belly. Yesterday will resting on the couch with my hand laying on my belly I got he biggest one of all, it actually made the palm of my hand raise up briefly. so it must have been a two foot thrust. I was surprise to hear from the ultrasound person they they still have plenty of room to move, and are doing 180's. The movement is very cool!
Bill can't wait for my belly button to pop out, and I don't think it will be to long!
A quick update on our little girl, Lily. She is getting better everyday! She is perky now and started to squeak a new toy yesterday. She sits up with confidence and has a new love of looking to the moon and having her whole neck rubbed. We have started taking her for short walks up the street multiple times a day. Seems to help her get over the stiffness and get those muscles back from atrophy. Lily is loving getting out of the house, and like any of us, when healing, just small outings wear her out.

We hope to hear from CSU about the bone decalification tomorrow or Wednesday, so we can make a plan for the next step.

Both of us will continue to see the doctor more often, I start going every two weeks to the Doctor. So next Monday I am back for a 22 week check up to measure the size of my belly and to listen to the heartbeats. The ultrasounds will remain on a 4 week schedule with the next one at 24 weeks. For the record, compared to a prego of a singleton, at 16 weeks I measured 24 weeks and at 20 weeks I measured at 26 weeks. Supposedly, I will be blowing the charts...so I better get a snack (something healthy of course)!

Feeling Good and Managing the Unforseeable

I am feeling good. Some days I feel huge and and other days I don't, although my belly is really the same size each day. It has been a stressful week so I don't think I have been as focused on my belly, although still eating well. Lily went to the oncologist on Monday and she who felt the bone mass and hole in the bone was cancer. So Lily went in for surgery on Thursday morning to amputate her front left leg and shoulder. She came home the next night. She is doing very well, she walks around on her 3 legs and has the times where the pain is there. It is so hard to see, but I know the pain is only temporary as she recovers. We will hear back on the biopsy on the leg later in the week and we will know whether to proceed with Chemotherapy. This morning she is whimpering a bit, seems to be frustration from the pain and the desire to get out there and play. The timing of her osteosacroma comes at the 22 year anniversary week of Bill's diagnosis. Bill's knowledge and will to fight this uninvited guest to his body has been great inspiration for our Lily. It is also anther kind of transition for both Bill and I we await becoming parents of these special little girls growing in my belly. There will be so many amazing times, and there will also be the sleepless night with sick kids and the longing to make it all better. It takes patience, and perseverance and lots of love.
Baby A is pretty active this morning too. Baby B must be enjoying a quiet Sunday Morning. I can't wait to see them on the big screen again in just two days at our 20 week appointment!

Slacker

Okay, I have been a slacker, I missed the turnips last week and this week we have bell peppers. I have begun to feel some baby movement. It seems to be the most right after dinner, and about 3 or 4 nights during the last week but no everynight. To me it feels like gas bubbles moving through my intestines, although it is in the center of my belly (and sometimes around it, which are true bubbles). It is pretty cool. The other night Aunt Sevi was showing me how maneuverable a pregnant belly is and how you can feel the hard spots which must be baby. I think both babies are at more of an 45 degree angle so head to toe from 5:00 - 11:00 or 7:00 to 1:00 depending if your me or if you you someone looking at my belly.

Today has been a beautiful 78 degree spring day. I got out my shorts and shortsleved shirt (both maternity) so the weather must be warm if I am in short sleeves. It's been a great day with one major exception. We got the results back Lily's X-rays from yesterday, and her on an off limp of the last month is not her paw but actually her shoulder, and the prognoses is Osteosarcoma, bone cancer. (The same cancer the twins' dad had in his leg at 18 years old.) Bill fought it and I know Lily will be brave and strong too (I will try my best too as well). Lily will love the twins as much as we do, so we'll do everything we can. We have a second opinion appointment on Monday with an Oncologist. Let us remember that each and everyday counts so surround yourself with love and happiness.

5 oz and other Valuable Information

So we had our Doctor appointment yesterday. Baby A and Baby B guest included Mor-Mor (Mothers Mother in Swedish, my mom) and her longtime (50 years) best friend Carolyn who was visiting from Steamboat Springs. My mom got to experience the crazy puzzle of watching the ultrasound screen, it is a challenge to make sense out of the black and white, sometimes fuzz that is on the screen, that reminds me of black and white TVs back in the day, how sad were they? But after the 35 minute ultrasound she was doing better, the hands were always easy to make out. The babies still have lots of room to move about so that they do!

With twins I hear you are bigger then with just a singleton. I guess that is why my belly at 15 weeks 5 days with twins measured the same as that of a 24 week belly with a singleton. Wow, what is to come at 30 weeks? And 35 weeks?

Some of you may also want to know more information to, so if you don't you better stop reading now, but we learned that Baby A is an XX and that Baby be is an XX, so if your not up on you sex symbols we are having GIRLS! I had a feeling all along, not sure how, but did! I bought a few boys onesizes back when I was sewing the onesize when I was on bed rest, and I have never opened them, knowing I need to take them back. I thought I would wait for confirmation, which by the way is about 99% sure. Of course we'll make sure again at 20 weeks! For now me and the girls are heading off to the YMCA to swim a bit.

4 More Days

Well life happens and we moved up our Ultrasound date. Bill had a business trip come up and was going to be gone for this next appointment that was scheduled for next Wednesday so we moved our appointment up to Monday. There is no way I could go to the appointment when we might find out the sex of our babies without Bill. So lucky for all of us we should find out two days earlier then we planned.

I am enjoying my prenatal yoga class. Good stretching and nice to be around other women gestating since no one stands out when we all have beer, bowling balls or watermellons tagging along in our bellies.

The kids will keep the doctors away as they are the size of apples this week. Good thing they are safe are sound in my belly since there is a mouse in the house. Seems this critter loves chocolate too, like me, he continues to raid my candy drawer. I got rid of all the candy and only have a few pieces for bait stuck in sticky traps (I am desperate) and snap traps. The mouse is clever, but his dwindling cause our ferocious cat Clark is onto him (at least he sits and listens to the mouse).

Yoga

I am off to my first prenatal yoga class in a few minutes. I am bringing along my mat, water, pillow and a couple of lemons. You got it right, the babies are the size of lemons, imagine that at 14 weeks! They are 3 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and now has a downy fuzz on their bodies. Their hands are about 1/2 inch and they are most like able to suck their thumbs. Baby B had its hand in front of it face in the last ultrasound picture so I am sure it will be a thumbsucker, watch out for the orthodontist.
My belly sticks out all the time now. I have the pregnant belly for sure, with the bowling ball effect, as the sides of my stomach are flat and there is a round ball that begins just below my ever increasing chest.
Bill and I visiting Grandpa Bill and Nana in Wickenburg, Arizona this past weekend. They are very excited for Baby A and Baby B or Grandchild #6 and Grandchild #7 to come down to spend time with them to ride horses when they are out in the real world. I plan to keep my lemons in the oven for at least another 5 plus months, so we'll have to wait a little longer for that visit.

A Funny Size

So we're heading to Arizona tonight to visit my dad and Pam. Packing was very interesting as it will be much warmer down there and I won't want to wear my Yoga pants each day. Time to find shorts, I tried on the the maternity shorts I got for a great deal at a Mom's sale, and they are huge, and have a panel for your belly, so they are not going to work. So I got out a few of the short I normally (the whole rest of my life) wear thinking, I really haven't gained any real weight, but they are so tight I would never be able to button them, and the rubber band trick would only show half my belly. So, I am taking a pair of yoga Capri pants and maternity pants, that roll up to Capris and some skirts and dresses. Talk about a wardrobe nightmare, but I would do it any day!

We have a pair of medium shrimp now, so guess were of the fruit/veggie/ legumes analogies are gone, but I am sure it isn't the end, cause I hope I don't end up with lobsters in a another two months. That sounds very uncomfortable and pokie! I have begun to notice a shortness of breath, it is tolerable but think it is related to my intestines and other vital organs moving up to higher altitude as the babies take over on the plains below my bellybutton. Here are pictures of 10 1/2 and 12 1/2 weeks, of course taking in the earlier part of the day.

Hipless

We'll I can can say on March 26th, I officially lost my hips. Bill was humored by this one. So I shocked him last night with a hug and my evening belly which tends to be bigger and more solid made him pull away from the hug and take a second take as it pressed into his tummy. It was so funny!
I have a few belly shots and can't seem to get them downloaded right from camera to computer. So I will post them on my Wednesday update. Cheers to the second snowstorm in 4 days!

Bunk Beds

I think the twins will be great roommates, they have settled themselves into bunkbed positions, literally. They are laying on their backs one right on top of each other. First to be in the spotlight this morning was Baby A, who must have been woken from a dream, as A began to move around quickly, almost jumping up in a laying posting. Baby B, was quick to wake up too, just not as fast. So there is already good energy happening! Grandma Sally joined the show. We checked out their brains, stomach's, fluid near the spine, measured them and a bunch of other stuff. What was scheduled as a 1 hours ultrasound was a wrap in 15 minutes, with such excellent fetuses ready for action. They are about 2 inches, head to rump and add in the long legs and they are about 3 inches, or the size of of an average finger. (I haven't check my weekly update yet for their analogy, so I'll be the expert this week!) Take two:I am editing the blog, because this weeks size is one of my favorite things, Limes! Love them, the are tart, green and most excellent for margaritas! Yummo!

The big question you all want answered must remain for another 4 weeks. It was too early to tell the sexes. We didn't get any "between the legs" shots. Supposedly there is still a little numb of a tail, we saw one, but will take that as the truth. I learned today that when Sevi's ultrasounds were done at 12 weeks they were outsourced and the company that did them was able identify sexes, especially with the shots they had available. No biggy we can wait, just adds to the excitement even more!

We had some test run we'll get result by next Tuesday. If all is on track, I will go back in 4 weeks, April 22nd.

Snoogle

We'll of the last two nights, there's a 50/50 rate of success on the Snoogle. It is a giant snake like pillow that joined Bill and I in our cozy queen bed. The first night, I slept until 5:00 am with out stirring and last night I was up a bit. I am beginning to think, that I sleep better if I have exercise that day...we'll see tonight, as I swam this morning and then my mom and I spent most of the day getting ready for one of her many sales each summer (I still wonder where I come up with all the stuff for them...but I have been quite a pack rat in this house, where I lived for 6 years before meeting Bill). I went though a box of stuff from my childhoods, and still that key chain I got in Mazatlan when I was 9 years old and those European Coins from my my trip at 16, like I will ever be able to use them, with the Euro, but good thing I save them!). I hope that these twins will have memories of many fun times with their parents, family and friends too.

The embroyo's are about to graduate to fetuses over the next week. They mirror Figs in size this week. I am excited for the 12 week ultrasound next Wednesday. Ready to see them again.

It's been a big day for me, and my body is beginning to feel it, so I am signing off.

A Funny Little Name

So my weekly baby notification cracked me up today. At 10 weeks the babies are just under the size of a kumquat. You might be in the same boat as me, having heard this word as a kid, not used in the context it is here. (It was something like "You're a kumquat!") I always wondered what the heck it was, but never considered it wouldn't be something okay to say. Okay, I'll tell you now, it is an edible fruit as described by my Webster dictionary, the same one I used to look up my spelling words in 6th grade (pregnant nose here: it smells like an old book). So I am still curious more about this fruit, so I am referring to Wikipedia (online dictionary) and it is a fruit that falls in the citrus family, and is much like an orange, although smaller and oval, so about 1 1/4 the long way. (Baby's are measured Crown to rump until 20 weeks, so it is actually longer but since the legs are curled up and not to proportion yet, they aren't included.) Wendy says Kumquats grow all over Portugal (which I won't be visiting this summer again, but maybe Sevi and Pat can find one for me).

The website I get my weekly updates from says the babies are swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. I bet the almost fetuses are coming up with there own game of soccer, still not sure how they will get a soccer ball in there but if I swallowed a blueberry, it might be perfect size for them (the challenge would be to get it to them, without it loosing it's plump shape.) Perhaps it's worth a try?

Welch's Anyone?

You guessed it! The babies are the size of grapes this week. Getting bigger, and in no time I will have a pair of bowling balls in my belly. Regardless, I am rocking and rolling. I seem to not need my daily naps this week, although a little time relaxing is still in order. Another change is I am ready for dinner by 5:00 pm, even with snacks. Fortunately I am on my own and no one has to deal with a pregnant lady who is starving at this super early hour to dine. Food cravings...although minorm there is an addition, I have had two chocolate shakes in the last week. I wanted a Frosty both times, but there was only a McDonald's anywhere nearby where I was that day, but tonight I did get a Frosty from Wendy's. My "MorMor" (mother's mother) and Bapa (the babies great grandparents on my Mom's side) loved Frosty's too!

I have a friend coming over tomorrow to make recommendations how to make the most out of the backroom of our house. Our second bedroom will transform into a nursury soon!We are planning on designing a playroom for both mom, dad and Baby A and Baby B without doing anything crazy, as entering a construction project while pregnant, I hear from Sevi, can be too eventfull (Good thing Jagger waited until they were just about done, to make his appearance!)

Up One Day and Down the Next

I meant to update on Tuesday following my 8 week Doctor appointment, but I came down with a headache, which lingered into nausea and lasted till this morning (more then the 24 hour flu), but bug is gone now. :-)

We have a Baby A and a Baby B. I always wondered the naming convention, but it come down to the one that wants out first and postions themselves nearest the cervix. Baby A is closest to the cervix, at 6:00 and Baby B is hanging out at 3:00. Most likely over time they both more around 9:00 and 3:00 with one being a bit lower, but time will tell.The kids are the size of kidney beans this week. Which seems an appropriate comparison, since they are curved like a a kidney bean of which half of their size is their head alone! They are bound to be very smart! Their hearts are beating very fast 174 and 171 (last ultrasound at 6 1/2 weeks, they were 3 beats apart). This hight hear beat is normal for 8 -10 weeks as they peak out and will dip a bit afterward. The embryos measure1.5 and 1.6 cm in length and figures in my book state they weigh about 1/1000 of an ounce. I better start eating to get them to grow! Oh heck there is still 7 months to go!

Our schedule for the next months looks like an ultrasound and appointment every 4 weeks: so weeks 12, 16, 20 and 24. Then we'll begin appointments every 2 weeks with the 26 week on, I think because of multiples, keeps the sybiling confilict down. Sevi and I told kids when we were younger that when we were in-uterus that we played football. The imagination of kids, as I have no idea how the football got there (ouch!) and where we threw it, since we were jam packed in our mom. Sorry mom, the kicks weren't us they were the balls fault!

I am feeling the evening uterine twitches, so tine to lie down, and hydrate from yesterday.

Blueberry Double Delights

The embryo's in my belly are the size of blueberries, although they don't resemble them in color. I would imagine they are red instead but not as big as rasberries yet. If someone was eating a blueberry in the vicinity I could surely tell you. I can smell Bill's Cheerios every morning while I am in bed, with the door still closed! I am being serious, not relying on the routine nature of my husband. At the dog park I had to triple bag the Lily's poop today, as they smell was nasty. I am certainly not complaining, because I can only identify the smells, and the smells don't make my mouth water or make me want to loose my "cookies".

My "blueberries" make me very tired. Last week I realized the need to lie down for a little while in the afternoon, to change it up, but now it seems every time I lay down, I seem to drift off to sleep. I am learning to deal with the TNS (Toxic Nap Syndrome, named by Bill), that I face after a nap. I seem to be groggy and kind of crabby for a while, but if this is the least of the attitutal pregnacy symptoms those around me are faced with I think we will all survive!

I have my first OB appointment next Tuesday (8 Weeks). I am looking into mom's groups in my neighborhood and for multiples. There are 3 multiples garage sales in March that I plan to check out. It is too early to buy but I want to get an idea, of what deals might be found. I plan to focus more on matching college degrees for these kidos versus matching high chairs, car seats and the the other necessities (except I will find some matching clothes!).

I am off to retire to the couch for the evening and get some food in me...

Incase You Missed the Big News Yesterday

Hidden at the end of yesterday's entry was the latest big news. At our ultrasound, there were two heartbeats and this means two babies of course. We are super excited about Twins! I had a strong feeling there were two since they told me about the really high HCG back at 4 weeks. Two is the magical number now!!!! Are there two girls, two boys or one of each? This we'll have to wait a bit longer on to find out, might be as long as 12 -16 more weeks, but the cool thing is the babies are already a pink or blue in costume.

Our babies are about 0.42 centimeters (a little bigger then a lentil) and their hearts beat much faster than an adults at 115 and 118 beats per minute.
I will upload a picture of the ultrasound later in the week.

Afternoon Appointment

So today is the 6 1/2 week ultrasound....it is at 3:15 pm ,the last appointment of the day. Bill gets to leave work a bit early to kick of the Presidents Day and Valentines Day weekend and come for the show.

On Wednesday they decreased my progesterone shot to every-other day, so basically, I skipped yesterday, and I reduced the estrogen patch to one instead of two. They will retest my Progesterone and Estrogen today. The goal is to wean me off, so my body produces the full
amount of both. These hormones supplements are one of the ways "fertility assistance" helps maintain early pregnancy.

I don't think they they will retest the HCG, I heard numbers get up in to the 60,000 and beyond.

My love handles are both so bruised from the progesterone shots for over the last 3 weeks in the same general area. Remember these are the 1 1/2 inch long needles put directly into muscle, versus the fatty later of skin in the belly (which we all have, not matter how skinny your are). Really puts into perspective how much more area you have to work with on your belly, especially when all the meds don't cause bruises. I think the elastic on my PJ's bottoms are agitating the issue, because when I get up in the morning, the sleep marks from the elastic are itchy on top of the bruises, a bad combination. A good time to divert my attention to drinking my daily glass of prune juice!

So it is now later in the day...Good News! There were two black dots in the ultrasound each with a heartbeat. The heart rates were 115 and 118.
Next step is to get weaned off the Progesterone and Estrogen then go to my OB at 8 to weeks. Looking good! I am off to eat and kick my feet up, isn't that what all mom's of twins should do?

Away from Home

After being home for the entire month of January I am in the mountains at last. I am in Vail with my mom and Wendy. They get to ski of course, and I didn't to join them. I've got to keep the treasure(s) safe and sound for a bit longer. I did get to the YMCA yesterday, and got a short bike ride in getting my rate up, and today my quads are a bit fatigued, almost like I skied yesterday, what a fake out!
I feel good. My sniffer is still very strong, seems one of the smells I can identify anywhere is fabric softeners. I was a movie theatre the other day and obviously someone around me used a dryer sheet, I personally find them to be a pain, as they seem to cling to everything and drop out somewhere else but the trash can. I will do my best to send and open mind to out kids, and they can find their own quirks.

More Blood Work

I gave more blood this morning to test my Estrogen and Progesterone levels. The phlebotomist commented on my "good numbers", I believe she was referring to the HCG numbers tied to my Social Security number from last weeks test. She said at least there shouldn't be octuplets. I am still amazed at the breaking news this last week on the first set up octuplets in the US where all eight have survived. It is so true of humanity to take this gift of having a child through this process, to have someone, intentionally try to have a litter of kids for their own personal fame and financial gain. I am hoping this is not the truth, but it is probably so. To each his own.

Last night I managed to stay up until 10:00 pm watching The Bachelor on Tivo, which was good, since the night before I was asleep on the couch at 8:00 pm.
I am feeling good. I have been craving Mexican food all morning, so I know that will be a must for lunch today.

First Dip in the Pool

Today I finally got myself into the pool to expand my limited exercise as of late. I haven't swam laps since China (August!). My body has been craving a bit more mobility. Walking is walking, and really quiet boring, and I just don't seem to get my whole body into it. My arms, back, neck and waist have been longing for some movement. Swimming is a funny sport because it is hard to know how hard your pushing it, unless you have a swimmer next to you and you know how fast they are going, or the more obvious, when you are out of breath. I took the conservative road today, swam slow and topped out at 15 minutes. I would like to add on to this, as previously I have felt a cheater to not do a full mile swim. Here's to many more laps, and water babies!

Blog Tittle is True

I am feeling a little moody today. I went in for blood work and stopped at the grocery store on the way home. The store is not one of my favorite places to be ever, but today for sure it wasn't. Seems like everything everyone must multitask at while grocery shopping (and driving in their cars too). While buying groceries, it seems to be the time to catch up on the cell, play with kids, chat with acquaintances and get Starbucks Coffee all while doing the weekly shopping trip... and there was no way I was into this today. So I am accepting it, I need to just be home and take it easy today, and that will be better for everyone. Plus I need to get out some more comfortable pants that aren't sweats, so I can vary my wardrobe from the same 2 pair of pants I have been surviving in for the last month, with my swelling belly, which is probably mostly water and a few extra calories, that didn't get burned with my normal exercise.

Just got the call on my HCG levels. They are looking very good. The number went from 284 on Tuesday, to 574 today. This is exceeds the minimum they need, which was 66% and we increased over 100%.

My progesterone results came back today from Tuesday. It was 83.4 and I needed a minimum of 20. So we will stay on the progesterone, and retest it next Tuesday. If levels are still good, I will begin to ween off it over the next few weeks.

Funny story is my nurse who we have worked with up until last week when she had a baby was on the news. Here is the link. She is talking about having her 3 child during a recession. (Play the video to see it). http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=108334&catid=222

More Details

The magically hormone to determine pregnancy is HCG. Not sure what it stands for, but it is a VIP acronym for us. My nurse said that any number of HCG of 5 or more means one is Prego. The normal number those in my boat yesterday is 50. We had a whopping 284, which is in no way a bad number. I will go back to the doctor tomorrow for another blood draw, to run the same HCG test. The goal is to see the HCG numbers increase between 50% and 66% percent (of course it depends who you ask).
As for the other hormones, I will continue to take my daily progesterone shot in my love handle, which after a little icing, I barely even feel the 1 1/2" needles. I will also continue with my estrogen patches on my abdomen. I'll go back next week to have theses levels retested, so we can begin to ween my body off them as my body kicks into full swing with my own substantial production of both progesterone and estrogen. Additionally, I will continue to take a baby aspirin (lose dose) daily.

In all the excitement yesterday, I didn't eat a big enough dinner as requested by my body, so I was starving at 3:00 am and settled for a bowl of Cheerios. I laughed as Clark, our cat and Lily, our dog, and no interest whatsoever to get up to see what I was getting into. I have Lily's interest now, as she is ready to hit the dog park for from some exercise for both of us.

Let the Drums Roll.....

It has been a very long day....and we have exciting news! We are pregnant!!!

One More Day

Still patiently waiting as tomorrow it the next big day, with big news.

Today I am keeping busy with lunch and dinner out with friends and family. Seems funny to be gathering a day early of big news, but there is always a day before a big day. The weather has returned to a typical January day, it is a high of 14 degrees, and very cold outside, but much warmer inside then then inside again, so our surprise should be plenty toasty.

Energy Burst

Bill was looking forward to a relaxing morning at home, then going to work out. I got an energy burst (more like extreme antsiness) and got us to the dog park instead. (Lily was happy, she was solo for one of the handfull of times ever, as Zoe was off to hike with her family). I am limited to walking or exercise following the transfer for a while. Giving up exercise has been hard, as I know it has so many benefits: burning calories, releasing endorphins, being outdoors, a way I spend my time and it makes me feel good (an of course makes a heathly body). The only benefit of not exercising is I don't have to try to talk myself out of it, there is no changing clothes, getting to the gym, dealing with sharing the equipment. So it is what it is for now. But back to the lame walking I am doing now, it is enough to kind of wipe me out and make me happy to just chill out for most of the remaining part of the day. I just spent a few hours outside in the sun (with a huge hat on covering my face) and sewed 4 onesies. If we don't have a little girl, someone will be getting some very cute outfits. I am truly happy with whatever the order up is, but have found it impossible to find cute ribbons and laces for boys. The search will continued, I haven't given up on my search.

I must followup on a posting from bedrest with the embryo's report cards. On the day of transfer we had 4 embryo's, two were perfect (4AA), once was a little smaller and one more, not sure which is which but they were (4AB) and (3AA). The two perfect embryo's that were ready were transferred and the other two embryo's onwere frozen on Sunday. We got the call from the embryologist the next day who reported on the other 3 that needed one more day...there were two more perfect ones (4AA) and one 4AB, and they were frozen on that day ( Monday).

A Waiting Game

So now we wait...for news on Tuesday. I will go to the Dr. for a blood pregnancy test. I think the waiting game has been the most stressful part of this who adventure so far. It hasn't been the shots, going to the the doctor daily for more then a week in a row, the cost, the bedrest, even the sleepless night (well, I am still on the fence about this one). I am told the stress has only begun, as I will continue to reach out and strive of the best of everything (health, education, friends, family, talents, and joy) for this present. This blog is a mother's documentation, but I know these feelings are shared by the father and grandparents, aunt, uncles, and the rest of the family and friends. So now we wait...

Didn't See this Coming

No entry could be done yesterday. Who ever said they like to be pregnant? After the last few days, I must conclude they are nuts. Once again, my hormones drugs have given me a head start on the discomforts and pain with trying / "being "knocked up. I had survived almost my second day of bed rest, just fine and dandy, when I just couldn't seem to sit still down there anymore. We'll I don't want to gross anyone out to much, but it took about 20 hours for the paleness of pain to leave and the blood to return to my face.
Monday night, I slept for 30 minutes max. No relief was insight. Bill ran to the store to stock up on "solutions". Down the hatch were two glasses of prune juice (this is the first time I have every had this beverage...YUCK!) and a pair of stool softeners. A little more rest and a pacing walk in the backyard (the sunshine was out in full force, I know this was one of big aids) and then I can say I never felt so relieved in my life. Yesterday, was for sure a day I counted my blessings to be healthy and to feel painless on 99.9% of days.
As I lay down to go to sleep last night, I was just so happy. My body felt so light and free, litterally. Today I feel like a million dollars!!!!!!! So as the Barenaked Ladies (a band) says, "If I had a million dollars, I would buy ..." ( and not it is not the green dress!).

Alert and Lazy

I do think I was a bit out of it yesterday. The only program I actually watched was a 30 minute meals. I just couldn't stay focused on anything long enough. I took 3 fifteen minute cat naps. I feel fine. There is really no pain with or following with this procedure, except the flattening of my but if I lay in one place for a while while on bed rest. I made it through yesterday, and have all day today to get busy on my projects.

Yesterday, My mom stopped by with a Hyacinth bulb that will grow into the surrounding baby's breath flowers. Bill's mom and stepfather brought us dinner last night and joined us, so that really broke up the night, since I didn't just watch TV and veg. We have received so many calls and emails of support, we are so lucky. We are blessed and we know someone(s) else's who is/are too.
Today I slept in and have since resumed my place on the pull out couch in the living room. Lily doesn't understand why I am on this bed and Clark thinks it is a slice of heaven, as he can lay with me anytime.

There was no follow up blog entry yesterday as hoped, but here is the scoop on the embryo's. The Doctor, Dr. Guffstufson, the same one who did our retrieval, just so happen he was the man on duty both days we were in. So we still had 7 embryo's on day 5, we had 2 perfect ones (doctors exact words), another perfect one that was a little smaller, a good one, and the other 3 weren't ready for transfer yet yesterday, but would be ready today (the day after the procedure). He recommended we transfer 1 or 2 embryos. So of course, we used the 2 Perfect ones yesterday. The the other two we didn't' use yesterday were immediately frozen. Today, we will get a call as to the status of the other 3 embryo's. If they are ready, they will also be frozen today. The Day 5 embryos have 50 -100 cells, they stop counting them at this point.
During the procedure, they brought our two embryo's into the room in an incubator. There was a screen above it that showed them. I saw them! The one on the top of the screen was just a tad bigger then the other one, just below it.
The embryo's looked very much like the Day 3 - 8 cell I posted on Jan. 16 but I couldn't see any specific cells from across the room. It was very cool to see. Sorry, but for once the Moody's were without camera / video in hand so no live photo's.
I don't wasn't to get caught up statistics, because they are just numbers and not reality to me. But this will answer some or your questions. The say with transferring 2 embryo's there is a 65% of pregnancy. Of those pregnancies, 30-40% will result in twins. Bill and I will be ecstatic with one or two. We have good vibes and are following all the rules. Enough said...we are just patiently waiting.

Early Rising for a Big Day

Today is our big day. I am heading in this morning to transfer our embryo's back to me! I am so excited! I woke up this morning saying "Here's to waking up for a crying baby!" and of course so much fun, laughter and learning. (Note: some of the humor in this is I don't usually get up until about 7:30 am, but seriously how could it still be dark out at 7:00 am? Never before today, has it been much incentive to get up when it is still dark out!). More to come from "Mama Moody" this afternoon.

My nurse called last night. I thought it would be an afternoon procedure, but it is a morning (probably because it is Sunday, and who wants to work that day?). I must empty my bladdder then get into the car to get to the doctors by 8:45 am for lab work. Then I go to the surgury area upstairs for 45 minutes of acupuncture. Then I drink my 16 oz of water, so my bladder is filled up*. At 10:30 am is the transfer which will be a few minutes. Then another 45 minutes of acupuncture and a few more laying down. We should be out of there by noon. Then onto the couch I go.

*I was looking on line and the angle of the uterus is way different if the bladder is full, so they can insert the catheter right. http://www.advancedfertility.com/embryotransfer.htm Look at the ultrasound pictures. Interesting.

I am trying to wear myself out a bit today, so it will be easier to bed rest.....no TV today...I will get plenty in over the next few days.

Bill and I both feeling excited and reserved, as we both want this to be the way to have our baby(ies) join us in this world. We know with this gift we will worry for the rest of our days to make sure that our embryo, fetus, baby, toddeler, preschooler, gramerschooler, preteen, adolescent, young adult, bride/groom, mother/father, president...will be safe, loved, happy and of course prosperous. Today, we say "I do" to this commitment.

A Good Delay

After an impatient morning of waiting around for the call, the Embryologist finally called. Our 7 Embryos are of very good quality today. We will be proceeding with a Day 5 Transfer (Sunday). We will talk with the Dr. and Embryologist on Sunday to determine the number of embryo's that will transfer that day. I am off to the acupuncturist after lunch. Then planning my "To Do's" while on my "bed" rest on Sunday afternoon through Tuesday Morning.

Below is a picture of a Day 3 (3 days following fertilization)Embryo that I got online. It isn't one of ours, as they don't take pictures of them, but only look at them with a microscope.

Last Meals

Bill is off to get take out from our favorite Asian place, Blue Moon. I know Bill loves sushi more then me, but I do know I like the crunch, and I put lots of wasabi in my soy sauce. To accompany the rolls, we get Vietnamese eggs, Miso Soup and make our own Edamame at home. I figure a bag of frozen, cost less then $2 compared to a cup of in shell Edamame is like $4 or $5, so we saving money. I know the think I will miss most, at least that I can still have now, until I am pregnant is blue cheese that I eat it on my salad every night. (Note: my glass of wine I so love is excluded as it has been history for many weeks now). Only other thing I can't think of is a cold turkey sandwich, which I hear must now be heated, as the deli meat contains the same bacteria that already excludes me for cleaning the litter box (Bill loves this one!). I am sure there will be times ahead that I will gladly trade places with Bill, and being a team I know he would volunteer, if only he could! Here's to a Big Belly!

Embryo Report

So the phone call came earlier then expected.

-We had 12 eggs retrieved yesterday.
-ICSI (the sperm injected into the egg) was done on 11 eggs.
-7 Eggs were fertilized (and are now embryo's)

The plan is still to do a day 5 embryo transfer on Sunday (Jan 18).

For now the embryo's will continue to divide. They will be graded on their division, not like a exam, but quality and likeliness to perform. The top performers will be the select few to transfer this week. This Friday, "Day 3" of fertilization they will look at embryo's again. If there is concern embryo's won't continue to develop well, they will plan to transfer them to me that day. If this is the day, we will find out about 9:00 am and go in for the transfer at 1:00 pm.

If the embryos are rocking and rolling, Sunday will be the day.

At Home and Resting

We had a successful morning! Twelve eggs were retrieved. As I write this, our eggs and sperms are being combined, lacking the big O. It is so worth it! I am home resting and feel good. They said to expect cramping and slight bleeding and I am not having the kind of cramping I expected, it isn't like a menstral cramp but my tummy area is a little bloated and more like a gurgle gas. It not painful, just a full feeling.
I better write about my first day going under. I felt very pampered. I changed into my gown which was warm, like just out to of the dryer ( I know we have all hugged the towels before!) Then I went to my bed, and was wrapped in warm blankets. Wow this does really make a difference when you're practically naked, which exception of the gown, my socks and surgical booties. Bill joined me, video camera in hand, with hopes of obtaining humorous footage as I got loopy. I was on a vital sign monitor and Bill really enjoyed watch how my heart rate could flexuate on command. He dared me to drop my hear rate, and it dropped from 65 to 58 almost instantly and all I did was close my eyes and relax my head. What fun it for him, as he has been around the block in enough surgeries for his osteousarcoma. On the other hand I have never been "knocked out". The trip was fast, they gave me the juice in my IV and off they rolled me. I made it to the Operating room, barely, looked around for 5 seconds and was cashed out. When I came to I was so warm and cosy. I had an air filled heating blanket on me. Bill was by my side in no time , again video camera in hand, it was so nice to have him there. He noted my heart rate was 51, I was very relaxed. Progressively I made it from the bed to the reclining chair for my Sprite and crackers. Our nurse was great, a fertility lab it would be an exciting nurse to be as most people are there because they want to have kids, not because they have to be cut open to remove some Yucky matter remove to defy illness or death.So it much be a better job at the end of the day.
The embryologist met with us just before we left. She told us about the 12 eggs and Bill's sperm are looking great and ready for their adventure.
I am home taking it easy, popping a few pills, an antibiotic and something else. Bill is spoiling me with at your call service, I just wish he could use the bathroom for me too. So the waiting continues and we are excited to hear our fertilization report tomorrow before noon. Most likely, we will be a Day 5 transfer, meaning on Sunday the embryo's will returned to Mama.

Still Feeling It

Today was pretty uneventful, no shots or drugs at all, except a poke to draw blood. There is lingering pressure point from my trigger shot last night on my right love handle but otherwise I felt much more energized today, until about 4:30, I hit the wall. I went to Hobby Lobby to get some more craft stuff, and felt it coming. I jumped up and sat on the counter at waiting for an attendee to cut my ribbons. The feeling reminds me of being sick, and mustering enough energy to take a bath, and before I am dress and back in bed, I don't know if I can make it back to safty under the warm covers. I wonder if my body wants more of the hormones, or it is the big push to prepare all those follicles for their big entry outside the body? My acupuncturist said the eggs don't like to be outside the body, and we also know they don't like cologne either, as it is band from the procedure tomorrow (Bill will have to just save his "Old Spice" for another time). I think we have a good group batting for us on this procedure, my anesthesiologist called this afternoon. I told him I have never been knocked out, except as a kid when I had tubes put in my ear. He laughed when I said I didn't remember it, as I was under 1 year old. No food or drink after midnight tonight. These are when times when an early surgery are the best, as I will be pretty hungry by 11:00 am when we start. My acupuncturist cracked me up today, as he wondered if anyone had talked to me about the risk of multiples with IVF. I'll have to look into that one more!