22 weeks (almost)

FINALLY! An uneventful week. I feel great, the babies are moving around all the time, and G got a week he didn't have to work crazy over time. We also got awesome news that my disability claim got approved until 6 weeks after the babies are here. Phew what a relieve. We've only got 2 more weeks until the shower which should go fast. My buddy Em came down last weekend and kept me company, which was awesome! This weekend we have a wedding to go to. Then the following weekend a birthday party. Then the shower! I'm so excited. I can get my full on nesting on. G has been so good making me sit and drink. He's too cute. We have been trying to take walks in the evening since it's so nice. I usually don't get to far (maybe only to the ice cream shop and back...) but I still have lots of contractions when I do too much. But it does feel to get out of the house for a little. The puppies are loving it too. We are inching our way to the 24 week- Viability mark. It will take a small sigh of relieve when we get there. My new doctors are so amazing, helpful, and supportive. I couldn't be happier with my decision to switch. So here's to another uneventful week!!

Baby A was the contortionist this week (Sorry for the crappy picture dang phone)

Baby B is cute as ever (so is a for that matter! I'm that mom!)

And what would a walk in the park be without daddy taking a picture of me being the dork that I am. Believe me this is the least dorky one but you can see my beastly belly.

20 Weeks

It has been quite a week (I feel like I say that a lot!) so if you make it through this post you deserve a cookie.

Thursday: G got home early from work so we thought it be nice to get out of the house and go to our favorite place.... Lowe's of course. I got in the shower and got ready. By the time that was over I started getting this tight feeling in my belly that would come and go. I thought hmm I wonder if that is what a braxton hicks contraction feels like. It was weird but I didn't put much thought into it. We went to lowe's but by the time we made the 10 minute drive I was having them more frequently so I opted to just sit in the car. My big outing reduced to sitting in the parking lot but I was just glad to see something other than these 4 walls. We went to dinner and I devoured a yummy cheeseburger (my absolute new fav thing) By the time we got home they were happening more frequently. After I had 7 in an hour I decided I should probably call the OB. She decided I should go to labor and delivery to be checked out. Poor G had to fast forward the Red Sox game opener that he tivo'd only to see that they had lost. I knew this the whole time but didn't want to ruin it for him. Then we headed into l&d. They hooked me up to the monitor and I was having "irritability." I still haven't got a clear definition of what that is but they say if it doesn't cause cervical change it's normal. They gave me 2 doses of terbutaline, which is a smooth muscle relaxer, and they stopped. I begged them to check my cervix while I was there given the last time I had similar experience with this feeling my cervix had changed. Needless to say the didn't find it "necessary." Poor G was so nervous he didn't shut up the whole time we were there. Anyone who knows anything about G knows he doesn't talk much. He even went and talked to the nurse to make sure the machine is working. Usually he's like "Don't worry they'll be back soon." He said it hit him all of a sudden being there that our babies are coming soon and we are sooo not ready. It was very cute and sweet.

Friday: I found out my disability had only been approved through the end of march since my cervix improved from the 16 weeks episode. I was freaking out about that because I just know if I go back to working 12 hour shifts it would not end well. I had a follow up appointment that afternoon with my OB, of which I was certain he would agree and assist me in getting my claim approved. BOY was I wrong. To say I was emotional prior to going in would definitely be an understatement. G tried so hard to be there with me but DC traffic on a Friday afternoon ain't for the weak of heart. So I was on my own with him on stand by on the phone.  The doctor came in to assess me and I expressed my concern about the fact that the last time I had these "pains" I had cervical change and no one checked me in L&D. He persisted to tell me everything was fine, normal, nothing to worry about. He kept referring to my pains as "cramping." Maybe I'm being a little OCD but this felt very different then cramping. He said if it's not more than 5 in an hour i shouldn't be concerned. I then said well it was more like 6 in an hour. Then he changed his story and said if it's not more than 7 in an hour not to call. He then did his exam and said my abdomen was so tight he couldn't even feel where my uterus was. I'm pretty sure that's not normal since they haven't had issues with that in the past. He chalked it up to me having strong abdominal muscles. Clearly he didn't see my pizza 6 pack prior to pregnancy. Once I started talking to him about disability, of which we agreed at 16 weeks was the best choice, he said he was not surprised it was denied and there is no "hard evidence" that I need to be on it. I should just go back to work, everything is fine, all normal, as long as it doesn't cause cervical change. This is the part that bothered me the most. How the HHHH can you say it didn't cause change when you didn't even check. So I broke down. When I say broke down, I mean ugly cry borderline panic attack. What was his reaction you ask, o gotta get these notes in the computer, o were you crying, see me in 2 weeks, then left the room. I was in there long enough to try to collect myself that they came and checked on me. I may have a lot of anxiety about this pregnancy (most would right?!) but I am far from an idiot. He also had the nerve to tell me "If you took a biology class you would know what the muscles are doing." I was so shocked I couldn't even say A-HOLE I went to nursing school. Just as I was pulling out of the parking lot G was pulling in and all I could mutter was the babies are OK. It took me a good 40 minutes to calm down and tell him what happened. Needless to say he was not pleased and said no ma'am you are not going back to work, we will figure this out! And then he made me sit on my butt all weekend while he nested and got rid of a bunch of crap in our house. Yea he's pretty awesome.

Monday: I just was not satisfied with this doctors assessment (funny how work imitates life) so I called my high risk doc. He squeezed me in this morning. I've never wanted to be wrong so much in my life. As it turns out I was right though. Not only had my cervix went back down to 2.8/2.6 under pressure but I now have funneling. Funneling is dilation from the inside. Fortunately it isn't a bad case but at 20 weeks it certainly raises a red flag. He agreed that I should absolutely not go back to work and I should decrease my activity even further. He prescribed me 2 medications to stop/slow the contractions. He was kind enough to address the disability several times in his report and print out a copy for me to fax to the insurance company. (something the OB refused to do) I'm definitely uneasy about all of this and the next 4 weeks until Viability day can not go fast enough! But I definitely feel good that I followed my instincts and went around that jack wad OB. Bet you can't guess that I switched OB's already. I went to drop off my chart copy to the new doctor. The nurse that was helping originally said it can take up to a week for the new dr. to read through my chart and accept me as a patient, but she took the initiative and went and told the dr. about me who immediately accepted me. I mean I already feel like I'm getting better care!

The babies are doing great though. Still moving and shaking. I'm starting to feel them more but poor G is still left out of the loop. Hopefully in the next couple weeks he will be able to join in. Please pray for this poor guys sanity! He is working double time to keep up, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, being my fetcher. And never once has he come close to complaining. Where did I find this guy? Back off ladies I'm keeping him!!!

Baby A was suckin on his/her thumb. sooo cute. Daddy was sad he didn't see it :(

Baby B is proving to be more and more like daddy every day. I can't even touch my toes and am sad to say my husband is far more flexible than I'll ever be. I don't even know how this kid did it but he/she was sniffing their knees! baby b the bendy baby.

Hopefully the next update will be more like.... babies are great mama and daddy are great!

Half Baked!

19 weeks baby! Since the doctor won't let me go past 38 weeks, I'm officially half way done if not more. I've been off work for almost 3 weeks now. This is the longest I've been off since I was 13 years old when I got my first job. I'm not completely going insane yet. I'm finding little things to do. But I get so tuckered out so fast. It's really pathetic. I think I'm asleep as many hours as I'm awake. It has definitely helped though. My excruciating ligament pain had significantly decreased, thank ya Jesus! And the best news is my cervix has improved. When I went in last Thursday for the recheck, I think I floated out I was so happy. As if to say, everything is OK mama, baby A gave me a nice little kick during the ultrasound. Or she/he could have been just saying alright I'm done mom, get this lady off me. (which is probably more accurate!) These kids are just too funny. I love seeing them. I feel like I'll know them so much before they are even born. So we will continue to get checked every 2 weeks. It makes me feel better that the doctors are on top of things and are being proactive (even if it was to just shut me up.) Plus I get to see them and get tons and tons of pictures. Other than that things are just crazing along. Daddy got the nesting bug this weekend and cleaned out all the storage areas and got rid of so much crap. This is music to my purging ears! Usually he's a pack rat so I was impressed at how much he got rid off. He found a picture of the embryos from our 2nd cycle. I couldn't help but be sad for those babies. While we have never suffered a loss of a pregnancy, thank God, we still feel the loss of what could have been. It makes it easier that these babies are here but the scars of infertility are always a little raw. G put the picture up to my belly and said "say hi to your brothers and sisters." I tear up just thinking about it. From the darkness into the light.

Daddy Bites- Call him mr. mom but he is amazing. I cook dinner, he does EVERYTHING else. With the cervical issues happening the doctor told him he'd have to pick up the house work. I just laughed and said he already does! We have a little routine when he gets home. Of course Boston and Gandy get the first kisses, God forbid boston have to wait! Then I get a kiss, then the babies get a kiss. Daddy is definitely the most popular in this house. Everyone wants his attention.

Oh! In other news, after almost 5 years of marriage I've finally changed my last name. I won't lie, I cried. I've been that person for so long. But I've given that person up to be this person. A wife, a mother. So it's worth it. I'm sllooowwwlly getting used to it. Even G was a little sad to see my name go. That's all he's ever known me as. We agreed when he "yells" at me when I say something stupid he can still call me Kristen Ashley Mottinger. It just seems more appropriate to be yelled out that way.

Now for the half baked baby bump. Over night I got bigger so it's even bigger now. No seriously, I went to bed with an innie belly button and woke up with a flatter one. It was the weirdest thing!

Hump Day Bump Day

OK I'm a day short on the hump day part but I can't think of anything else catchy for the title. So alas here is my first....of very few(don't want to scare the little kids) bump pictures.

As far as an update goes, basically the high risk and the ob left the decision up to us whether I should do light duty or short term disability. Their argument for light duty was if we financially needed it otherwise disability would be the least risk to the babies. Given that I am only 17 weeks and already have shortening of the cervix. We decided to not risk it. I would never forgive myself if I went back to work "light" duty (which still is a lot of walking) and things got worse and I had to go on bed rest/get a cerclage etc. Thank goodness I have 24 weeks of disability available to me. Why wait until something is really wrong?!? My cervix right now is 2.7. If it were to get to 2.5 I'd have to go on bed rest. For you math whizzes that's .2cm 2 mm. I mean REALLY it seems so nominal. So needless to say we are happy with our decision. Maybe I'll be able to get some decent sleep and my 3am worry session/cheeseteak craving session will be a thing of the past. Well that is of course until I can't roll over without a push from G which I suspect is not far in the future. So now i need to find a hobby. Maybe I'll become an extreme couponer!

With all these cervical checks, we get to see the babies more often; like every 2 weeks. SCORE! They are so funny. We already have personalities attached to them. Baby A is clearly like me because he/she just wants her space and doesn't like to be bothered. When the ultrasound tech put the probe on her/his head she threw her arms in the air like what the hell lady I was sleeping. Sounds vaguely familiar. Daddy was cracking up.

Baby B just seems so chill, just kinda mossies around in the womb. But he/she did show it's Delaware side and was fist pumping today. Mama's so proud. Yea Buddy

Catching up

I've been thinking of posts to write for weeks now but I never seem to make it to the computer. So we need to catch up. At around 14 weeks I started with some spotting. It turns out I was having some issues with a placenta previa (basically the placenta lies low over the cervix) Because of this I spent two days on bed rest. I was only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom. It sucked!!! Fortunately it resolved itself and I was back to work the next week. I felt better then I had since getting pregnant weeks 14 and 15. I had energy, I was sleeping, I did not have any nausea. I was thinking man I CAN do this. I have been working 8 hours shifts which have been making a real difference. That was of course until this week. I knew this would happen at one point but I didn't realize it would cause problems. I'm one of those people who run to the fires not away and this proved to be true this week at work. We had 2 patients not doing so well at the same time. Needless to say I over extended myself. I immediately realized I did to much when the cramping started. I had insomnia that night from midnight on. About 3 am I started to have this tightening pain in my umbilical area. I went in Thursday morning and the OB said it was just round ligament spasms but he wanted me to take the rest of the week off. Today we had our scheduled high risk appointment and as it turns out my cervix is being a little bugger. From what I have read the cervix is supposed to be between 4.0 and 5.0 cm at this point in the game and never really below 3 until labor begins. Mine is 2.7. It took everything in me not to cry my eyes out in front of the doctor (I have a theory they think I'm a crazy person) So I didn't really push for restricted work duty. I just don't think most people realize how physically demanding being a nurse is. Originally they said I'd need to plan on settling down by 28 weeks, this time he said I need to start thinking about 20 weeks. In reality, much like the placenta, the cervix can get longer. In order to do that, rest is an absolute. At this point he has not taken me out of work yet. I will get cervical checks every 2 weeks from here on out and if it gets worse I'll get them every week. God bless G and his sense of humor. His suggestion was of course he'd get his fishing line out and sew me right up. So my plans are to basically work and rest. I'll call my OB Monday to see what their spin on it is. They seem to be more conservative with their care (which I am all about!) Either way bed rest seems to be in my future at some point. All the prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated.

Now for the good news! The babies must be jammin out to party rock because they just wiggle wiggle wiggle! The sonographer kept saying how they just never sit still. At last scan B was crushing A. I think she's about had it because she's now kicking her brother right in the head chuck norris style. Oh and no we don't know what they are we just "feel" A is a girl and B is a boy. It has absolutely no bases in reality because we won't know until they come but we just both have a feeling. G even made his new password our top boy and girl names. Time will tell but that's what we're going with now :) We could have found out today too! It will sure be interesting to feel these fist fights soon. Me thinks I won't be sleeping alot. They are both measuring spot on. Both are about 2 inches, A's hr 150's and 6oz. B hr 140's and 5oz. We did find out we tested high risk for Intrauterine growth restriction. I haven't read to much about it with all the cervix issues. But I do know they will probably be little and they'll be watching their growth closely.

Daddy bites-- I just don't know if all Daddy's are this exited to see their babies. Some say dad's don't make a connection with their babies until they are born but I just don't buy it. Geo is just as connected to them as I am. He had his head on my belly the other night. I asked him what he was saying to his babies and he said he was pretending to hear their heartbeats. He just can't wait to feel them. He'll roll over at night and hold my belly in his sleep. He talks to them like they are already here. When we got the stroller he did laps and just looked so happy. Not to mention he's been taking such good care of me. He's waiting on me hand and foot. He's definitely going to kill me when he reads this but he deserves to be recognized for being a rock star daddy. I cry every time I think about how lucky these kids are to be raised by such an awesome Dad. Enough sappy love stuff :)

We got lots of pictures this week....mostly of the star baby A. Poor baby B just couldn't get any room to show off while getting kicked in the head.


Kung Fu baby in training. Poor B

Baby A acting innocent and sweet

Baby B trying to rest in between head shots. Look at the little ear!

Head meet foot

Can you tell why we're in love!!!!

Squirmy McSquirmingston

Today we went in for our NT (nuchal translucency) scan at 12W3D. We were given a lesson in patience. It took them an hour to get us into the room. Anyone who knows me knows I hate to wait. And by hate I mean loathe, makes my skin crawl, and apparently according to G I sigh alot (which he also informs me is both annoying and embarrassing, I blamed it on the babies taking to much room and making my lung not fully inflate; pretty good off the top of my head!) While we were waiting these two woman who knew each other were talking and they stated they were both around 20 weeks. Apparently my eyes bugged out of my head when I was ease dropping and noticed neither one of them looked pregnant and I was significantly plumper in the abdominal region. G just cracked up. I didn't even know I did it. He said my eyes were going back and forth between the two at a hyper speed. I guess that's what I get for eavesdropping. When we got in there all was forgiven soon as we saw those little hearts beating away. The babies didn't waste any time movin and grovin. Right now Baby A is on below his/her brother/sister. Poor little one is being squished. Baby B is above and they are smelling each others feet. Neither one was cooperating with the poor u/s tech. Soon as she would get close to where she needs to be they'd move. Baby B was obsessed with showing us his hand. He/she was waving away, throwing baby gang signs I guess :) Baby A was all crunched up. Can ya blame him/her! We did get better head pictures of A then B and better arms pics of B. The hold time I was stifling tears and giggles. It is just the coolest things to see our babies, now looking more and more like humans, moving around in my belly. Seeing how much they are moving has me convinced the "weird" feelings I've been having just might be them moving around. They also discovered that I have placenta previa from baby A. Basically the placenta covers the cervix. Which explains the spotting I've been having (sorry if that's tmi) fortunately, it doesn't completely cover the cervix so it may move over back against the uterine wall soon. If it doesn't I will have to get a c-section. After watching you-tube I'm not totally upset about this either! G was so cute watching the screen. He kept making comments about how they were like me when they weren't cooperating and how they were like him when they were just chilling out. Thinks he's funny.
Now my first maternal intuition/guess on what we are having...... Me thinks it's a boy/girl. Now to explain my weird thoughts. I've heard if the heart rates are higher it’s a girl, and lower it's a boy. A's hr was 160 B was 149. The only thing holding me back from saying this is definitely my guess is with my second IVF I had the most amazing and vivid dream that I had twin girls. They were dressed up for Easter and both had a red bow in their hair. When I woke up I had to really think twice about whether I really had babies or not. So I guess when they are born we will see!!!! G thinks 5 months will fly by, me not so much.

Without further adieu!!!!

And my favorite! Baby A getting squished by Baby B throwing baby gang signs. I think I'm in love :) :)

11 weeks

I sit here, eating a pickle, wondering how slow yet fast time has gone. I feel like I've been preggers forever but at the same time it feels like 5 weeks was just yesterday. Weird! This week draws the end of my first trimester (Thank ya Jesus!!) Hopefully the all day sickness senses it's cue to exit as well. This is a big mile stone for us. While we have plenty more, our chances of miscarriage are greatly decreased by the closing of the first tri. Our next goal is 24 weeks, V-day. V-day or viability day is when if our babies are born then they have a fighting chance to survive. I of course will force these children in as long as I can, but V-day is an important day. I think we are starting to settle into the idea of twins. We have been just us for so long it will be weird to have two other breathing humans in our house. G said tonight, while Boston who thinks he can talk was barking away, "I can't wait for the babies to come so we can actually communicate!" I wonder if he knows they don't talk when they come out?

Not much to tell you all this week. Same ol' eat, sleep, try not to puke, belly getting rounder. Same as last week. But I tell ya, these little buggers grow fast. My belly seems more baby than pizza and pickles by the day. Sleeping has become interesting to say the least. My dreams get weirder by the night. G and I were Mr. and Mrs. Smith the other day. I mean I know I'm the spitting image of Angelina Jolie and everything but I couldn't be an assassin.

Here's the what's on the mcnoogets this week
"Starting with this week, the baby is now called a fetus. The most critical part of the baby's development is over. This is a period of rapid growth, and the baby is about an inch or so in length at the beginning of the week and will be about 2 inches by the end of the week. The baby's head is about half its length. The eyelids will fuse shut, and the irises will begin to develop. Sometime during this week or the next week, blood will begin to circulate between the baby and uterus and the placenta starts to function."

And they look a little like this.....

And this my friends is a taste of what is to come (now you know why I'm a little freaked!)

There are only 2 words to describe this .....H-O-L-Y H-E-L-L!!! I fully acknowledge every one's body is different but I swear on my life I haven't seen a "small" or "average" sized twin baby belly. I laughed and I cried at the same time when I googled twin baby bellies. You will find me perched on the couch when this happens. HOLY HELL