E-mail

I have an e-mail account that I only use for signing in to places. It got corrupted last week, and now I'm getting 20+ spam messages a day. Do they really think I'm going to think the offer is legit when the e-mail is from "10000dollars" and the subject line is "u've recevied a priz, activashun requird"? Dude, if you're going to scam me, at least bother to spell correctly!

Playdate

Smartie and Sweetie were invited for a playdate with Grace H. today. Smartie does not handle change in routine well, so I talked her through "the plan" all last evening. She was not happy with the idea and kept telling me that she'd just stay home and let Sweetie go.

This morning, she came running into my room to wake me up yelling, "HURRY, MOMMY, WE HAVE TO GO TO GRACE'S HOUSE! IT'S AN ADVENTURE!" She had no problems staying there and had a wonderful time, as did Sweetie. It was really nice to have a morning off.

Then we went to my sister's to pick up a bunch of baby stuff. I'm so ready to be ready, if you know what I mean.

30 week sono--WOW!

I had my 30 week (+1) sono today, mostly to check for possible growth restriction. Wow! Doesn't look like we need to worry about that! "Addison" was estimated at 3lb 10oz, and "Clark" at 3lb 9oz. Now, I know these estimates can be off, but still! My 35-weeker only weighed 4lb 4oz, and my 37-weeker was 5lb 2oz!

I also grew 3 weeks' worth in one week, now measuring 7 weeks ahead. Size-wise, this is the most pregnant I've ever been.

I'm still dipping negative for protein, my BP is controlled with meds, and I have no swelling. The OB did encourage me to increase my rest time, but that's happening naturally as it becomes more and more uncomfortable to move.

The only bad news is that "Addison" is now breech. She's grounded--she can't come out until she flips!

Funnies

One of my favorite parts of being a mom is hearing the funny ideas my kids come up with. Both girls had some pretty funny sayings in the last 24 hours.

A few months ago, I mentioned our supper time tradition of Best and Worst. Yesterday, Smartie's worst was that I asked her "soooo many times to obey and I just! didn't! want to!" Hard not to laugh at that.

Today, Sweetie went around the supper table giving compliments, a new favorite activity. "Mommy, I like your shirt." Thanks. "Sissy, I like your hair." Thanks. "Daddy, I like your panties." My what?!? "Your panties. I like them." Um, thanks *snort*.

Labor bag packed!

I got inspired last night and packed my labor bag. I've got my sound machine, a hand-held massager, my hair brush, "contraband" food and drink. Also, I washed up two slings, sanitized my 2 LAs and the SNS (nursing supplies), and packed a box of DPD (nursing meds). And of course I have my screen-printed labor shirt: "DRUG FREE! CHEER FOR ME OR LET ME BE!" I still need to buy some fabric for a wrap-around skirt and a nursing bra or two.

I can't believe I reach term in just 8 weeks! I've got major nesting instincts, and it's hard that I can't be up as much as I'd like.

Why I'm not sending Smartie to Kindergarten...

Partly for this reason plus I just don't think it would be a good fit for Smartie right now. We're going to attempt to home school next year.

New Fish

Smartie's been walking around the house for the last week or so singing a song she made up called "I Wish a Fish Could Be My Pet." So I took the hint and finally got around to replacing Grandpa Fish who died way back in December. It's a pale yellow Betta who the girls have named "Meatball." He already seems to be doing much better than Grandpa, what with the warmer house and the 75 degree tank.

28 weeks!

I am so pumped. I had my 28 week appointment today and had nothing but good news!

First, I've reached 28 weeks where survival rates are 90%+! Six weeks ago when my BP first spiked I honestly wasn't sure we'd make it this far. At the time I said if I could make 28 weeks I'd be content with the twins coming anytime after that, but now that I'm here I want at least 2 more weeks. Best of all, my BP is still well controlled and I still have no other symptoms, so making 2 more weeks and more is looking very probable. :)

Second, my OB quit! I have no idea why, but I was informed today that she has left the practice. I primarily see the MW, who I love, but all her patients are assigned to one of the two OBs for back up. I was randomly assigned to the OB who is known to be more intervention-prone. And since I'm having twins and have a complicated history, the OB has been more involved in my case. She never came right out and said it, but hinted that I should plan on a C-section. She also informed me that she would require me to have an epidural "just in case a section becomes necessary." I planned to fight her on it, but really who wants to have to fight during transition?

Well, I've now been reassigned to Dr. S, who is much less invasive. Not only is he planning on a vaginal birth, he won't require an epidural and has even agreed to do a breech delivery should it be necessary! (As of today, both twins are head down. I'm hoping they've run out of room and will be "stuck" head down for the duration so the breech issue won't even come up.)

Third, they checked with the Peri in Champaign about my clotting mutation. He says my labs all look good so I don't need injections. :) :) :) His only recommendation is to take extra folate/B vitamins and have my levels re-checked at 6 weeks postpartum to see if I need to follow up with a hematologist.

ETA: Both heart rates were great, I'm now measuring 4 weeks ahead, and I'll have an ultrasound in two weeks.

An update on Smartie, finally

We had Smartie's follow-up with our family doctor today. She has regained most of what she had lost while sick, still ~9oz down but gaining. She also grew almost an inch in the last month!

We went over the test results, and there isn't anything conclusive that would explain her slow growth. I asked about food sensitivities and trying an elimination diet, and he was very much in favor of it. There aren't any tests for food sensitivities other than trial and error, and it seems like the most probable cause now (other than being "just the way she is.")

Unfortunately, now is not a good time for special diets--I'm still on partial bedrest and our church family is bringing in meals for us. But once the twins are here and we're more or less settled, we'll give it a try and see if anything makes a difference.

Let's see if this works

27 weeks!

I am so thrilled to be in the third trimester and still safely pregnant! I do have Pregnancy Induced Hypertension but don't have Pre Eclampsia--yet. I know it could still progress to that, but for now my BP is well controlled with meds and I don't have any other symptoms. Even the symptoms I had a few weeks ago (shortness of breath, URQ discomfort) have mostly disappeared. My PE labs all came back normal, babies' heart rates were good, lots of movement. I know PE can go downhill fast, but it looks like we're going to make it a few more weeks at least!

I also found out today why I've had recurrent PE. I got the results of the underlying-conditions tests, and I was very surprised. I was sure I'd come back positive for primary Raynaud's, an auto-immune disease. Nope, I was negative for auto-immune diseases but positive for blood clotting disorders. After a second round of testing, it's confirmed that I have heterozygous MTHFR a1298c gene mutation. Yep, I'm a mutant!

Of the various types of MTHFR, I've got the mildest version. Besides being a known trigger of PE, it increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and blood clots, but all of that can be easily managed now that I know I have it. I'll probably need to start taking extra B vitamin supplements and continue with the low-dose aspirin therapy, but for now that's all I need to do.