On Sunday morning, I put on my usual church outfit, and it fit. By the time I got home, it was tight. I have a definite bump today. I figured once it started I'd grow pretty fast, but wow! Luckily, I lost enough weight in the last year that I have not one but two sizes of pants in storage that I can work my way up through before I jump to maternity clothes.
Of course, I'm not sure all of it is baby related. The cyst that was golf-ball size last Wednesday was large-chicken-egg size on Monday and has been hurting quite a bit yesterday and today. I can feel it with palpitation, so I'm sure it's grown some more since then. I wish the stupid thing would burst. I'd much prefer two hours of level 10 pain to two weeks of level 8 pain. I hate taking meds under normal circumstances and especially while pregnant. They say vicodin is safe for pregnancy, but it still makes my uneasy.
OT: I checked my blog stat counter today. Before the big announcement, I was averaging 25 hits a day. Since, it's been well over 100! So that's how you get more traffic! LOL
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Appointment Went GREAT!
We were at the office for almost 3 hours. Some of that was paperwork and bloodwork. We spent a half hour in the sono room, and there are definitely two heartbeats. The tech said she couldn't be completely sure, but it appeared there were two separate sacks, which makes fraternal twins (DZ) more likely, but identical (MZ) are still possible. Heartbeats were both ideal for 9 weeks. Baby A was measuring 8weeks 5days, baby B 9weeks even, and I'm supposed to be 8w6d, so pretty much dead on for due date.
Then we spent an hour and a half with the midwife. I am SO GLAD we're seeing her. I'm her first set of twins, so I'll be seeing her exclusively until 20 weeks, then see her and the OB together until the end, and both will attend our birth. They weren't planning to send me to MFM (high risk specialist) unless something specific came up. I was very impressed that no one was approaching my care as a disaster waiting to happen, even after they learned my PE history.
We talked at length about PE. I'm starting vitamin D supplements now, which have shown promise in reducing risk. Later on, I may start low-dose aspirin therapy, and I may try dandelion root as well. We'll monitor my BP closely.
The best thing was her position on inductions and c-sections. They don't do elective inductions, only for complications, and they refuse to do "too posh to push" elective c-sections either. When I asked the "what if I refused" questions, she said that even if we strongly suspected a c-section would be likely (and assuming there were no complications requiring immediate delivery) they'd still let me go into labor on my own and deal with the possible surgery if it came up. This was a huge relief to me, as I was scared I'd be pressured into a c-section or induction at 37 weeks just because twins are "supposed" to come early.
So I'm very happy with my provider and care. Now we just need to pray my BP cooperates and both babies stay happy.
Then we spent an hour and a half with the midwife. I am SO GLAD we're seeing her. I'm her first set of twins, so I'll be seeing her exclusively until 20 weeks, then see her and the OB together until the end, and both will attend our birth. They weren't planning to send me to MFM (high risk specialist) unless something specific came up. I was very impressed that no one was approaching my care as a disaster waiting to happen, even after they learned my PE history.
We talked at length about PE. I'm starting vitamin D supplements now, which have shown promise in reducing risk. Later on, I may start low-dose aspirin therapy, and I may try dandelion root as well. We'll monitor my BP closely.
The best thing was her position on inductions and c-sections. They don't do elective inductions, only for complications, and they refuse to do "too posh to push" elective c-sections either. When I asked the "what if I refused" questions, she said that even if we strongly suspected a c-section would be likely (and assuming there were no complications requiring immediate delivery) they'd still let me go into labor on my own and deal with the possible surgery if it came up. This was a huge relief to me, as I was scared I'd be pressured into a c-section or induction at 37 weeks just because twins are "supposed" to come early.
So I'm very happy with my provider and care. Now we just need to pray my BP cooperates and both babies stay happy.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Questions for the OB
Tomorrow I have a sono scheduled, followed by my first meeting with the midwife at my new OB's office. I'm working on a list of questions to ask.
1. How often will you routinely perform general exams? Internals? Sonograms?
2. What general tests do you recommend? Insist upon?
3. What tests specific to twins and/or pre-eclampsia do you recommend? Insist upon?
4. Under what circumstances would you suggest bedrest? Insist upon bedrest? What does bedrest mean to you?
5. Under what circumstances would you suggest induction? Insist upon induction? What if I refused?
6. Under what circumstances would you suggest c-section? Insist upon c-section? What if I refused?
7. How many sets of twins have you attended? How many breech births have you attended? How often have you dealt with PE/HELLP?
8. Under what circumstances would you transfer my care?
ETA:
9. What are my chances of getting PE again?
10. Will you test for any underlying conditions of PE? What, if anything, can I do to prevent it?
11. Do you suggest I see a high-risk specialist as part of my routine care? How often would I see him/her if there are no complications?
12. What supplements should I take and when should I start taking them?
13. How often will my blood be tested and what will you be testing for? Will you call me with the results or should I call you?
14. How seriously will you (or your on-call partners) take me if I call with even the slightest symptom?
If you can add to this list, I would greatly appreciate it.
1. How often will you routinely perform general exams? Internals? Sonograms?
2. What general tests do you recommend? Insist upon?
3. What tests specific to twins and/or pre-eclampsia do you recommend? Insist upon?
4. Under what circumstances would you suggest bedrest? Insist upon bedrest? What does bedrest mean to you?
5. Under what circumstances would you suggest induction? Insist upon induction? What if I refused?
6. Under what circumstances would you suggest c-section? Insist upon c-section? What if I refused?
7. How many sets of twins have you attended? How many breech births have you attended? How often have you dealt with PE/HELLP?
8. Under what circumstances would you transfer my care?
ETA:
9. What are my chances of getting PE again?
10. Will you test for any underlying conditions of PE? What, if anything, can I do to prevent it?
11. Do you suggest I see a high-risk specialist as part of my routine care? How often would I see him/her if there are no complications?
12. What supplements should I take and when should I start taking them?
13. How often will my blood be tested and what will you be testing for? Will you call me with the results or should I call you?
14. How seriously will you (or your on-call partners) take me if I call with even the slightest symptom?
If you can add to this list, I would greatly appreciate it.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas Eve in the ER
I am 8+ weeks pregnant, and we've known since the day before Thanksgiving. We weren't planning to make an announcement until after my first sono (scheduled for this Monday.) After two miscarriages, I wanted a confirmed heartbeat first. So a Christmas announcement was NOT in the works.
I've been a lot sicker this time around, not as bad as some women I know but definitely worse than my other pregnancies. I've also been utterly exhausted. I couldn't figure out why things were so much worse this time around, although it did give me a good opportunity to "rejoice in infirmities." After all, morning sickness=high hormone levels=still pregnant. Once or twice it crossed my mind that maybe it was twins...HAHAHA, right. We don't have any fraternal twins in my family (the kind that are inherited), and I wasn't taking fertility drugs, so the chances of twins would be very low and completely random.
A week ago, I started feeling a familiar ache on my left side, the beginning of an ovarian cyst. In the back of my mind I was aware that these symptoms could also mean an ectopic pregnancy, which can be very dangerous, but as long as my pain didn't get too bad I wasn't too worried.
Christmas Eve, we were at Papa Runner's parents for a wonderful evening of food, fun, and presents. We were loading up the gifts and rounding up the kids when suddenly I sneezed. It was an explosion of pain. Immediately I started panicking that my tube must have ruptured, and we headed straight for the ER, leaving the girls with G&G for the night.
We had a great doctor in the ER who reassured me that, while I did the right thing by coming in, ectopics usually show up before 8 weeks and I was probably fine, especially with my history of frequent cysts. After a shot of morphine we headed to sono. The tech was so sweet. Right away she said, "I'm not supposed to tell you anything, but it's not ectopic, definitely in the uterus." She also "didn't tell me" that there was a large cyst on the left ovary. What a relief, just as we'd expected.
Then she said, "Were you using fertility treatments?" "...What?" That's what they asked my friend M just before they dropped the T-bomb!
So I was a tiny bit prepared when the doctor came in almost immediately with the unofficial report: not ectopic, large cyst, and by the way, you're having TWINS! We were completely in shock. But, hey, we had not one but two confirmed heartbeats, so we decided to go ahead and announce. It's been fun to see people's reactions. Our families suspected something, so they weren't surprised with news of a baby. But two? WHAT?!?
The shock is starting to wear off and a little bit of panic is setting in. I know we'll be fine, but I'm glad we have six or so months to prepare.
I've been a lot sicker this time around, not as bad as some women I know but definitely worse than my other pregnancies. I've also been utterly exhausted. I couldn't figure out why things were so much worse this time around, although it did give me a good opportunity to "rejoice in infirmities." After all, morning sickness=high hormone levels=still pregnant. Once or twice it crossed my mind that maybe it was twins...HAHAHA, right. We don't have any fraternal twins in my family (the kind that are inherited), and I wasn't taking fertility drugs, so the chances of twins would be very low and completely random.
A week ago, I started feeling a familiar ache on my left side, the beginning of an ovarian cyst. In the back of my mind I was aware that these symptoms could also mean an ectopic pregnancy, which can be very dangerous, but as long as my pain didn't get too bad I wasn't too worried.
Christmas Eve, we were at Papa Runner's parents for a wonderful evening of food, fun, and presents. We were loading up the gifts and rounding up the kids when suddenly I sneezed. It was an explosion of pain. Immediately I started panicking that my tube must have ruptured, and we headed straight for the ER, leaving the girls with G&G for the night.
We had a great doctor in the ER who reassured me that, while I did the right thing by coming in, ectopics usually show up before 8 weeks and I was probably fine, especially with my history of frequent cysts. After a shot of morphine we headed to sono. The tech was so sweet. Right away she said, "I'm not supposed to tell you anything, but it's not ectopic, definitely in the uterus." She also "didn't tell me" that there was a large cyst on the left ovary. What a relief, just as we'd expected.
Then she said, "Were you using fertility treatments?" "...What?" That's what they asked my friend M just before they dropped the T-bomb!
So I was a tiny bit prepared when the doctor came in almost immediately with the unofficial report: not ectopic, large cyst, and by the way, you're having TWINS! We were completely in shock. But, hey, we had not one but two confirmed heartbeats, so we decided to go ahead and announce. It's been fun to see people's reactions. Our families suspected something, so they weren't surprised with news of a baby. But two? WHAT?!?
The shock is starting to wear off and a little bit of panic is setting in. I know we'll be fine, but I'm glad we have six or so months to prepare.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Successful Christmas Program
We had our annual Sunday School Christmas Program today. Smartie is the type of child who needs lots of prepping for anything out of routine, so we had lots of discussions about what to expect. At her first Christmas program last year, she hid under the bench and cried. And at the Easter program, she refused to sing but also refused to come back down when her class was done and had to be carried off.
Her teacher told me she cried at practice yesterday, so I was really worried about how she would react. Well, she got up and sang every song with gusto, doing all the actions and smiling away! She did great for the individual-class portion, but wouldn't get back on stage for the grand finale with the whole Sunday school. But all in all it went really well.
I realized today that our current high school group has 26 students combined, which is about the same size of our current 3-year-old class (21.) When Smartie is a senior and Sweetie is a freshman, there will be almost 80 in the high school group. They won't be able to fit the whole Sunday school in for the grand finale by then. It really is a growing church.
One other thing, I forgot to update about the girls' weight checks this week. Smartie gained 2 pounds in 2 months, and Sweetie gained 1.5 pounds in 2 months. The Dr. looked over our food diary and was happy with what he saw. He wants me to continue with the whole milk-half and half mix and continue weighing weekly at home (I have a scale accurate to 1/2 ounce) but as long as I see a gaining trend he doesn't need to see them again. Yay!
Her teacher told me she cried at practice yesterday, so I was really worried about how she would react. Well, she got up and sang every song with gusto, doing all the actions and smiling away! She did great for the individual-class portion, but wouldn't get back on stage for the grand finale with the whole Sunday school. But all in all it went really well.
I realized today that our current high school group has 26 students combined, which is about the same size of our current 3-year-old class (21.) When Smartie is a senior and Sweetie is a freshman, there will be almost 80 in the high school group. They won't be able to fit the whole Sunday school in for the grand finale by then. It really is a growing church.
One other thing, I forgot to update about the girls' weight checks this week. Smartie gained 2 pounds in 2 months, and Sweetie gained 1.5 pounds in 2 months. The Dr. looked over our food diary and was happy with what he saw. He wants me to continue with the whole milk-half and half mix and continue weighing weekly at home (I have a scale accurate to 1/2 ounce) but as long as I see a gaining trend he doesn't need to see them again. Yay!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A Guessing Game
--Mommy, let's play a guessing game. Here's your first clue. It's all around us--up, down, front, back, middle, left, and right!
--Is it the sky?
--No. Here's your second clue. It's white with black stripes.
--Is it a zebra?
--No. Here's your third clue. It's got pink polka dots.
--Is it a zebra in a tutu?
--No. Guess again.
--Can I have another clue?
--Mo-om. :eyeroll: Steve can figure it out with just three clues.
--I give up. Just tell me.
--Christmas lights!
--Is it the sky?
--No. Here's your second clue. It's white with black stripes.
--Is it a zebra?
--No. Here's your third clue. It's got pink polka dots.
--Is it a zebra in a tutu?
--No. Guess again.
--Can I have another clue?
--Mo-om. :eyeroll: Steve can figure it out with just three clues.
--I give up. Just tell me.
--Christmas lights!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Big Milestone
Smartie turned five in October. In five years, she has never, not once, been dry overnight. Without telling tales, bedwetting is a rather common affliction on my side of the family, so I didn't even bother to push it. I figured we'd be buying night-time diapers for years to come.
On Sunday night, Smartie informed me that she wasn't wearing diapers anymore.
"...Um, okay. If you feel like you need to go potty, you'll need to get up and use the toilet. Do you think you can do that all night?"
"I don't know. We'll find out!"
With much trepidation from both Papa Runner and me, we let her go to bed in panties. The result Monday morning? DRY! Tuesday? DRY! Wednesday? DRY! Needless to say, I'm thrilled (and more than a little shocked)! Let's hope she can keep it up.
On Sunday night, Smartie informed me that she wasn't wearing diapers anymore.
"...Um, okay. If you feel like you need to go potty, you'll need to get up and use the toilet. Do you think you can do that all night?"
"I don't know. We'll find out!"
With much trepidation from both Papa Runner and me, we let her go to bed in panties. The result Monday morning? DRY! Tuesday? DRY! Wednesday? DRY! Needless to say, I'm thrilled (and more than a little shocked)! Let's hope she can keep it up.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Okay, I thought of something
Grandpa Fish is dead.
For Smartie's birthday, we got her a fish tank and a beautiful red Betta fish which she first named Jellsea and later changed to Grandpa. The poor fish was kept in Smartie's room, which is the coldest room in the house. The tank thermometer never registered above 65! Bettas are tropical fish that prefer a temp 75 or higher. We tried putting a 2-gallon heater in a 1-gallon tank, with the resulting rise in temperature being around 80.
Papa Runner and I went to Seattle for a week. When we got home, we couldn't find the fish. It was hiding underneath the decorative castle. At least three times I told Papa it was dead only to notice the gills were still moving. It stayed hidden for four days. Then one day it came out and swam around for an hour or so. Dropped dead the next day.
Does anyone know of a good small fish that thrives in cold
For Smartie's birthday, we got her a fish tank and a beautiful red Betta fish which she first named Jellsea and later changed to Grandpa. The poor fish was kept in Smartie's room, which is the coldest room in the house. The tank thermometer never registered above 65! Bettas are tropical fish that prefer a temp 75 or higher. We tried putting a 2-gallon heater in a 1-gallon tank, with the resulting rise in temperature being around 80.
Papa Runner and I went to Seattle for a week. When we got home, we couldn't find the fish. It was hiding underneath the decorative castle. At least three times I told Papa it was dead only to notice the gills were still moving. It stayed hidden for four days. Then one day it came out and swam around for an hour or so. Dropped dead the next day.
Does anyone know of a good small fish that thrives in cold
Hey, I'm online!
For almost two months, I've been unable to access my blogger account from the home computer. Today for some reason, it's letting me on! And wouldn't you know, I can't think of anything to write. I'm sure I'll come up with something soon. I just hope I can sign in again!
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