35 Weeks

YAY! We are just one week away (6 days actually) from our goal of 36 weeks! Full term twins! This past week started to get extremely uncomfortable and with each day that goes on, it is getting down right painful! I can't sit, as my belly has to go between my legs because it is so long but now is so wide that it really won't fit between my legs. Walking is an olympic sport and lying down is so painful from all of the weight I am carrying but again, I give THANKS  and PRAISE God for EVERY pain because I have two big growing babies inside me and I wouldn't change that for the world. I also know that the end is very near:)


This week at the doctor, the babies passed their biophysical exams with flying colors, Hadley is head down and Jack Henry is still transverse. Both babies fluid levels are high, which they will keep their eye on and for the best news...
I am 2cm dilated and 80% effaced! YAY! I am so thankful to be showing some progress! My ultrasound tech said she would be surprised to see me back on Tuesday and my doctor said I wouldn't make it all the way to 38 weeks, so we will see who is right. I think and hope I will make it until at least tuesday which will be 36 weeks! I haven't had any painful contractions, just Braxton Hicks.
Hadley is lower in my pelvis from last week even, and I feel the pressure there for sure. I gained 6 lbs in one week, I think it is the fluid! My right leg from my foot all the way to my thigh is full of fluid where I can push on it and my finger print will stay there for a while! Moo (my kitty) walked across my thigh today and I saw a paw print! yikes! My doctor said one leg was much bigger than the other due to the way the babies are laying. All this fluid has brought my weight gain to 55 lbs now. My blood pressure was 130/80 which is pretty high for me, but still within healthy range so no need for an induction yet. I am supposed to call my doctor when I start having painful contractions that are 6-7 mins apart. So now, we wait...

Stretch Marks? Yes, they are here! Lots!

Sleep? Not good at all. I am going to start taking Benadryl, hopefully that will help. 

Movement? They are getting more crowded in there so I can feel the rolling of elbows and knees more than punches or kicks.

Cravings? None really.

Gender? Boy and girl

Belly Button In or Out? Out, well now just FLAT, I can barley find it.

Symptoms: Swelling in my right leg and foot, and left foot swelling. Pressure down there and just discomfort. Also, my colostrum is in.

Best moment of the week? Finding out I have dilated and have thinned out.

What I am looking forward to: Making it to our next appointment (hopefully) Tuesday, July 31st.

34 Weeks

We are thrilled to say that we made it to our first "worst-best case scenario" goal. These babies have been viable for the past 10 weeks but chance of survival and a long NICU stay would have been two scary realities. Our doctor has said all along that once the babies get to 34 weeks, they tend to do very well. Obviously, the longer we can keep them growing inside of me, the better. They will be much better feeders the longer they are in me and just more mature and ready to be in this world. Our next goal is 36 weeks which is considered "full term twins" and then if I haven't gone into labor by 38 weeks, I will be induced. So as of today, I am 34 weeks and 3 days and have a MAXIMUM of 3 weeks and 4 days left. That is 24 days! WOW! 

Our doctors appointment went well. As you can see, I posted our big growing babies weights below which we were thrilled about! These are estimated weights and can be off by as much as a pound, but we will take it! Hadley is still head down and Jack Henry turned from head down to transverse again, but still a vaginal birth plan. They both scored perfect on their biophysical exams and Jack Henry's fluid is back to be considered high but they are just going to continue to monitor. I get swabbed next week for beta strep and will definitely begin cervical checks next week. We give all glory to God for such a wonderful pregnancy.

Nothing has really changed from last week, so I decided not to post my little "weekly fact" deal. I am feeling larger than life and we have or next appointment this tuesday, July 24th.

Would you please join me in praying for my friend Mandy? She is now 25 weeks pregnant with her twins and was admitted to the hospital earlier this week for pre-term labor. She will be staying in the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy which we hope will be many many more weeks. 

We can't begin to thank you all enough for continuing to keep our family in your prayers after the loss of my husband's brother. We are feeling a peace that surpasses all understanding and watching the body of Christ come together has been just beautiful. We all have a giant whole in our hearts that won't ever be full again until we reunite with Matt and the Lord in eternal life. If this has taught our family anything it would be the URGENCY in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not promised tomorrow and the only thing worth living for on this earth is Jesus. He is the way the truth and life and no one can go to the father except through him. He is aching to know you, won't you please give him your heart and walk with him daily in a life of obedience? 

33 Weeks

I had no idea that this would be the hardest week in our family's lives. I can't thank you enough for all of the prayers and love that you all have shown. When I have the strength and energy, I will be blogging all about my precious brother in law, Matt D. Will you please join in me in covering my sister in law, Ashley and her three young children in prayer? God has been so faithful throughout all of this and we will still trust Him, even when we don't understand. 
As far as the pregnancy goes, which seems trivial at this point....
We are praising God for normal fluid levels this week which also means no more blood sugar checks (which were all normal.)
Both babies got perfect scores on their biophysical exams. 
Both babies are still head down! So thankful.
The stress of the past few weeks have been difficult on my body but babies are still doing so well.
I go to the doctor tomorrow (tuesday) for my 34 week appointment where they may start cervical checks. We also have a growth scan tomorrow to see how big our sweet ones are.

Stretch Marks? Yes, they are here! Lots of tiny ones.

Sleep? Once I get to sleep, I do okay but getting to sleep is VERY uncomfortable. 

Movement? They are getting more crowded in there so I can feel the rolling of elbows and knees more than punches or kicks.

Cravings? None really.

Gender? Boy and girl

Belly Button In or Out? Out!

Symptoms: GIANT feet! Out of nowhere they have swollen up and they don't go down. Also, my belly is just getting so giant that I am usually uncomfortable all the time but praising God to still be carrying them this long.

Best moment of the week? Time with my precious family and just getting through this unspeakable tragedy together. 

What I am looking forward to: Our growth scan and biophysical is tomorrow. 

Quick Update for our 32 Week Appointment

Measuring: 42 weeks!


Babies positions: BOTH head down! Praise the Lord!


Biophysical test: This is the ultrasound where they check for breathing movements, fetal movements, amniotic fluid levels, muscle tone and heart rate. If the babies don't receive a perfect score, it means they could be in distress, and then you will be sent to the hospital for a non stress test. Thankfully, both babies received perfect scores :) 


My doctor was out of town, so I saw a different doctor today. When she came back to the room, she told me that there was too much fluid in the babies sacs (polyhydramnios.) She said that Hadley's was borderline but Jack Henry's was for sure too high (I don't know the exact number of how high, this is something I will ask next week.) She said the cause is usually unknown but can be related to gestational diabetes. I passed my glucola test earlier in my pregnancy but two appointments ago I had some glucose in my urine. I had just eaten that morning and my doctor said it was nothing to be concerned about because my kidneys were perfusing so much because of the twin pregnancy that after eating, I would tend to run high naturally but it had nothing to do with diabetes. I haven't had any glucose in my urine since. Because I have PCOS, my risk for gestational diabetes is higher, so to be sure I have to check my sugar four times a day, record them all, and bring the log back to the doctor next week where we would discuss further... I start all of this tomorrow. 
It seems like polyhydramnios is probably no big deal but it can increase your risk for Premature rupture of membranes and puts you at other risks for labor like cord prolapse and placental abruption. I know I am closely monitored and this is all in God's hands so I am choosing not to worry.


The plan... to monitor my levels weekly at my biophysical profiles. I go back next Thursday to check it all again, and I hope to find more out from my doctor and pray the fluid levels might go down by next week. 


We are so thankful that the babies don't seem to be concerned with these high levels and I will keep you posted next week. We want these babies to cook for another 4-6 weeks! 


Prayers would be appreciated. Thank you:)

32 Weeks

32 weeks has come! Another milestone, as I can now deliver at Mercy Hospital Fairfield, our intended hospital, which is a level 2 NICU rather than level 3. In fact, its really just a special care nursery. We are so thrilled knowing our babies would be okay if born now. Of course this is still VERY premature and they would probably have some respiratory issues as well as feeding issues so we want them cooking for another month at least. I am feeling HUGE! My belly is just getting so gigantic but I remind myself that I have two sweet blessings growing inside me and that the end is coming near. It is not "miserable" yet at all, just moments of discomfort. Again, this pregnancy has been a dream. 

Stretch Marks? Yes, I have seen a few more but again, still nothing horrible.

Sleep? This week sleep was better!

Movement? They are getting more crowded in there so I can feel the rolling of elbows and knees more than punches or kicks.

Cravings? I had a strawberry cream slush from SONIC with my sister in law that was AMAZING.

Gender? Boy and girl

Belly Button In or Out? Out!

Symptoms: I think the babies have dropped a tiny bit this week. At times, my feet are starting to swell pretty big. I just try to stay off of them and keep them propped and drink lots of water, it usually helps.

Best moment of the week? Family time.

What I am looking forward to: Our ultrasound and biophysical is in just a couple of hours! 

Also...

Prayers would be greatly appreciated. My brother in law, Matt, was hit in a head on collision on Tuesday. He broke his pelvis, and fractured a couple of vertebrae as well. He has traction going through his leg and is awaiting surgery. We originally thought surgery would take place Friday, now there is some talk that they may wait until next tuesday or wednesday. He is basically just lying in bed awaiting his surgery date so of course the sooner the better, as his wife has to juggle her three children and being with her husband too. We are so appreciative of all prayers. Prayers for complete healing, patience and peace. We give glory to God that he survived this accident and put our full trust in him. Here is a picture of the car he was in...