Belly pictures

No NO....there are not belly pictures yet! Ya see, I was a fluffy girl to begin with. I still just look fluffy. Now, my fluffiness is a different shape and you can feel the difference. But pictures, my dear friends, would not show the difference. So you ask (okay maybe your not asking, but Im telling), are we going to ever see belly pictures??
Well of course! Once my belly starts to look like there is actually babies in there, which wont be long, there will be pictures! I take pictures, so you know there will be! Maybe it will be my Christmas surprise to everyone...posting belly pictures. {Well that is not much of a surprise if I just told you, now is it!}
Anyway, there will be some, but not right now!

Things you take for granted

So when you want to be pregnant as long as I have wanted, you tend to "glorify" the whole process. Now don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful miracle and I am so proud and privileged to have these beautiful babies growing inside of me. I am thankful everyday.
But lets reflect....movies especially show pregnancy as morning sickness, a belly and then BAM the baby is here! People with children or pregnant tend to reflect on their pregnancies, morning sickness, sore breasts, tired. But me...no I think of the little simple things in life that never even crossed my mind about being pregnant. I probably watch too many movies!
Anyway, things that I have taken for granted include:

• Brushing my teeth without gagging
• Taking pills without gagging (which then led me to my first {and only} vomiting)
• Only eating portions like a bird (which can be a good life lesson)
• When trying to exceed "bird" limit, the feeling of what goes down, must come up
• The "I have to eat now" feeling or this isn't going to be good
• Not wanting to eat anything, because everything is gross
• Being able to sleep on your stomach (I know this is only going to get worse)
• Going longer than 2 hours with using the bathroom
• Walking into the grocery store, where smells are in abundance
• Your stomach feeling like it is getting torn apart as it stretches (and gonna get worse, I know)
• Not having the energy to wash even just one dish
• Just not feeling like "yourself" .. this will probably never change now! :)
• Going to the bathroom and thinking "that's it!? Are you kidding me?! I still feel full!" (which I am, with babies!)

So, I know more pregnancy signs are going to come along and I know some of these are only going to get worse. Nothing above bothers me, and I am happy to endure it. What makes me laugh is most everyone talks of the big things in pregnancy, yet it is the little simple things in life that are the hardest to adjust to sometimes. :)

14 Weeks

Okay so after my paranoid post last week, we ended up seeing the OB on Friday. It was a new OB. Dr. R. We loved her! She was very calm and patient. Answered all of our questions and is at the facility much closer to us. Anyway, she again reassured me that the bleeding is not something that they know the cause exactly. It just happens. She checked my cervix, everything is closed.
Then she even went through my list of concerns and addressed each one. It was great! When it came to the u/s she took her time. Looked all around just to make sure there was no spots for potential bleeding, etc. She said everything looked great. She also spent lots of time looking at the babies, which we, of course, loved! They were jumping all around! I had just happened to mention that we weren't finding out the sexes and she said..."whew I am so glad you told me. I almost just blew it and told you!" Then she had a great smile that said "I know something you don't!" LOL
Anyway, did get some pictures of their little hands. It was amazing how much they had grown. At one point one of the twins actually put both hands up to the screen...it was a great moment!
So at the end of the appointment I was very happy and much more comfortable. Now this doctor wasn't taking new patients which bummed me out. But I did email her just to check. She emailed right back, said she was adding us to her panel and that her assistant would be calling with new appt times!! We were so thrilled!! Though she did mention that with twins we may end up seeing the perinatologist (high-risk doctor) since we are having twins and I have glucose intolerance. But in the meantime I am super excited to be with her!
So 14 weeks is here! I cant believe it! Time really does fly. Just goes to show you how fast life in general goes by like a flash of lighting.
Not much has changed. I am getting my energy back and finally starting to feel normal for the entire day. Evenings were tough there for a bit. You know I feel better when the kitchen is clean! LOL I am starting to show a bit, but nothing that anyone who didn't know me would notice. The bleeding is getting lighter and lighter, which I am soo very thankful for. Guess those babies just needed to get a bit bigger. :)
All in all...things are looking good!!
So here are the babies.........

Twin A ... top of head and right arm, hand

Twin B gets a bit more complicated....laying on back, right arm, palm side up, by head. Now the doctor was like, there is the head, eyes, jaw, etc...but I don't see it! LOL The other black blob to the right is Twin A

Officially ....

I am in the 2nd trimester!! Yipee! 13 weeks and 2 days today. Though I must say, I thought I would feel a lot "safer" in the pregnancy now. I guess with the bleeding still there it makes me worry and over think everything!! Like, am I "growing" enough...now most fluffy women say they don't show until later, but I guess I just figured with twins I would pop out instantly in the 2nd trimester (logically thinking, right!!?!). I want to be able to feel our babies move inside and then have a more secure feeling. I know I am not the only one that has ever felt this way, it can just be overwhelming sometimes. We waited so long for this I just want to "feel" like everything is fine. Also, with twins another concern...is one growing more than the other, are they both okay. The threat of losing one or both just tears at me sometimes!! I have seen our babies 5 times, each with perfect little heartbeats. Why is that not enough reassurance for me...sheesh...what a worrier I am!

So, to just provoke my worry a bit more I called the doctor today to make an appointment for next week to check on the bleeding again. I just feel like I need to get looked at again, even if it is nothing.

Other than my worry being drastically out of control, everything else seems to be good and normal. Still take my daily naps. I am feeling worse this past week, but usually at night time. Oh well, Ill take whatever I have to.

Symptoms

So far this pregnancy I haven't really noticed too much of any symptoms.

What I do notice are slight....

• mood swings (okay so sometimes these arent that slight)
• nauseous (not to the point that I vomit, but it sneaks up on me and I gag)
• nap time (I usually take a 2 hour nap everyday, though some days I can stay awake)
• energy (even if I am awake, I just don't have energy to do much of anything)
• eating (seems like I can get very little down before I know nothing else will stay down and I need to eat every 2-3 hours...otherwise see symptom #2)
  

So those are most of them. The others a bit more obvious are the using the restroom (every 2 hours!) and my stomach stretching.

The other day Dave and I were grocery shopping and I moaned and held my stomach. He, of course, thought something was wrong. I laughed and said if something was wrong I would let you know. He wanted to "know" what it felt like...the best I could explain was like a crocheted blanket, pulling in different directions. I know they are just making room...but sometimes it almost takes my breath away. I can only imagine what it is going to feel like with 4 little hand and feet kicking all around!!

I'll take it!!! :)

12 weeks

So yesterday was our 12 week appointment. Which we get an ultrasound each time since it is easier to see the heartbeats of the babies.

We actually went in on Tuesday because I had passed some rather large clots and well, quite frankly, it freaked me out! So we went in just to check on the babies, which they were fine and dandy all nestled in.

So, back to my appointment with the midwife. She was great. Lots of great information and went over all my test results as well. We chatted about classes to take and breastfeeding books. Strangest moment was when she was giving me the breast exam and said "Are you going to nurse?" I said I was going to try and she replied "Good, cause you have great nipples! They aren't just for decoration, ya know." Too funny!!! Well at least I have good nipples!!! :)

The appointment went well and the babies were moving all around. Doing flips and such! She said I am measuring about 14 weeks, but that is normal for twins.

We talked about her delivering, but I guess if it is twins Kaiser doesnt allow the midwives to deliver. So I am checking into doulas. Hopefully the babies will cooperate and go head down when its time and I can deliver them both naturally (at least that is my hope).

We also did the genetic testing, but won't get results on that until after 16 weeks, when they take an additional blood draw. Mainly just to say informed should we need to research any "issues" that may arise.

My next appointment isnt until Dec. 8th (16 weeks) and then again Jan. 6th. We also have our formal u/s (ultrasound) scheduled for Jan. 12th.

So far so good! And now the whole world knows. Grandparents telling friends, Facebooks status updated, emails sent out. Scary and exciting at the same time. This journey has been so private and just between us for so long it is a bit surreal to "share" it with everyone. But totally worth celebrating..in my opinion!! LOL

It was hard to get some really good shots of the babes, but Ill take what I can get!!

Both babies (twin B left, twin A right)

Twin A (head and body)

Twin B (full body and head)

Naps, Mood Swings & Bleeding ... Oh my!

Well those seem to be my symptoms thus far. Those and a bit of nausea. All of which I can handle. Poor Dave and the mood swings though. He goes with it and knows it is not worth the argument.
The other day, poor husband of mine, tried to make peace with me. One minute I am crying, telling him to cuddle with me, he walks to me and then I turn and say that I don't want him close to me! Sheesh .... some days I REALLY don't feel like myself. It is definitely a weird feeling!

So I was 11 weeks yesterday. I am soo happy to have made it this far! Only 1 more week and then the world can know. It is just the last little reassurance that I need seeing them 1 more time in the 1st trimester. We have our 12 week appt next Wednesday with the midwife. I am really looking forward to it.

What I didn't look forward to was the 3 hr glucose test. Though I technically "passed" the test I did have one level that was slightly elevated. So I had to speak with a dietitian and she gave me ideas for meals and looks at the carb content. Sounds easy enough to follow...so I will do my best! I really need to make a trip to the grocery store now. They will test my glucose again at 24 weeks.

As for the bleeding, it is still there, on and off. I am trying not to panic about it since only appears when I wipe and is usually dark red or brown, which is old blood. It is still a bit panicky just because, duh, you aren't supposed to bleed when you are pregnant! But I will get through this and the babies will be just fine.

I am starting to feel a bit heavier in the stomach. But I won't complain about that just yet, since I know it is going to get alot heavier!! LOL

Here's counting down the days until 2nd trimester!!