one week in

Slight correction to the last post.  That was one day of bed rest at home down. 

It's now been over a week since I first checked into the hospital and began my horizontal life.  Woo hoo!!  I decided I needed to set a goal and start counting down.  Since it's a little arbitrary on how far we need to cook these little guys (developmental milestone at 32 weeks, "term" for twins at 36 weeks), I more or less arbitrarily chose September 5 as my goal.  When we first discovered we were having twins, my fertility doctor said that if we make it to Labor Day, everything would be good.  So, Labor Day has sort of always been in my mind, anyway and not just because of the fun of the pun.

So, 7 days of bed rest finished!  49 more to go!

bed rest

one day of bed rest down.  whew.  i think the lifesaver is that i asked for a physical therapist to come train me on exercises i can do while out for the count.  my body is really having a difficult time adjusting to inactivity.  i've never been much of a tv or movie watcher.  mostly because i get restless and it makes me feel like a slug.  well, that's pretty much where i am now.  so, the exercises at least get my blood flowing in most of my body and should also help with backaches and other irritants.  now my head just needs to get used to the different blood flow from being level with my body almost all day.

i'm incredibly grateful to be able to spend a few days at my parents' house while the hubby is out of the country.  they have been phenomenal taking care of me.  given what's going on, i am incredibly comforted knowing that i'm in the hands of some of the best doctors in the city in one of the best medical centers in the world and with spectacular family here to help and wonderful friends.

1 day down...hopefully around 50 more to go...

cleared for release

Good news: going home.  Bad news (which isn't really news at this point): bedrest from here on out.  At least 7 more weeks.  At that point, they're not worried if I deliver.

Babies are big for this point, one is 2 lb. 3 oz. and the other is 2 lb. 6 oz.  So that's also good.  They are growing and moving around well.  Doctors both think what I'm going through is very common for people with twins and they're very optimistic of my making it far, so long as I follow the rules.  My contractions are fairly under control, but since my body is preparing for delivery, bedrest will hopefully trick it into thinking that it's not as imminent as my body thinks and hopefully stop it or slow it from trying to deliver.

So, just waiting on a physical therapy appointment to help me learn what to do and not to do while in bed for the next 2 months and then we're off to the next bed. 

one more night

So, still in the hospital...  But, this was our choice.  Doc would have released me since the contractions are relatively under control with the meds and the rest of my body isn't progressing towards labor.  But, since I am scheduled to see Doc 2 tomorrow to do the intensive scan, rather than shuttling home and back again, we're hoping she can just come see me here.  Plus, we discussed getting steroid shots in honor of The Rocket's trial and to help the kiddos develop their lungs faster (and these won't get picked up by any doping agency).  Since one side effect--other than being a pain in the rear, literally--is increased contractions, I decided to go ahead and do them while I'm here.  So, staying one more night accomplishes all of that.  Hopefully, after Doc 2 does the scans tomorrow, I'll get the clearance to go home and spend the next two months learning to do everything from lying on my left side.  Seems like an iPad would be really useful... 

Once home, I think my rule will probably be that I can only get up for bathroom breaks. We’ll see tomorrow. My doc did seem optimistic that I would make it to 36 weeks (which is 9-10 weeks away depending on how you count the week you're in, which I haven't figured out) He said my chances are excellent. Whether he’s just lying to get me to be positive and stay relaxed or really believes it, I’m glad that’s what he told me! 

For those that have offered help, prayers and positive thoughts are most useful at this point (and always, let's be real).  Once we figure out what this will look like and what will be useful, we'll let you know.  We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love from so many generous friends that have already done more for us than we could ever ask. 

Definitely getting yet another lesson in humbly trusting God's will.  He's one determined teacher!  Which is what I need...

too early, kids!!

Yesterday was my niece/nephew twins' baptism and red egg party.  For the festivities, my nephew, Alex, has also been visiting from Mexico.  There have been lots of fun times with Bella, Andrew, Juliana, and Alex this past week.  So, either my body thinks my belly is too big or the kids are anxious to join their cousins.

During the red egg party (Chinese celebration of new life of new baby), I started feeling more frequent tightening of my belly than I had before.  Also, when I'd felt it in the past, it felt like it was only on one side, which could have just been one of the kiddos stretching me to the limits.  This time it was all over.  We went home and I lay down.  My doc has always said a contraction here or there is no problem (so long as there isn't bleeding or other problems).  But, if I have 4 in an hour, give him a call.  So, when I got to the fourth I called.  Told the doc on call that it's my first pregnancy and I don't know exactly what a contraction feels like, but I think I'm having them.  He said, "It's really easy to tell, you come into the hospital and we'll montior you.  How soon can you be here?"  And away we went.


Yup, definitely having contractions.  I'll spare you all the gory hospital details.  For those that speak hospitalese, let me know if you want more and I'll try to fill you in to the best of my ability.  Long story short, my body is preparing for labor.  But we're just shy of 27 weeks...  Much too early.  Of course, given the size of my belly, I can understand why by body is confused.  Really need to make it to at least 32 weeks.  I'm on meds to help stop the contractions and stayed the night in the hospital.  My contractions have slowed to about one or two an hour, so that's good.  The meds cause my heart to race, though, so they're trying to figure out that balance.  Little person needs lower dosage.  I think once they get that under control, they'll let me go home (of course assuming the contractions continue to be very irregular/infrequent), but on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy, which will hopefully be a LONG time.  Not that I've ever hoped for bedrest, but it is far superior to the alternative.

The doc on call said one day in my belly is developmentally equivalent to one week in the NICU.  So, stay put little guys!!!

Somewhere in there is my belly.  These are the monitors, one for each heartbeat and one for contractions.

Moved from labor and delivery (aka LnD, kinda sounds like a drug....) to antepartum, where I don't have to have the monitors on constantly.  Yay! 

Prayers and positive thoughts for more cooking of the kiddos and my sanity while on bedrest are greatly appreciated!!  Oh, and pray for the hubby who has to take care of all of us!!

just for fun

I have been sent this link numerous times and decided to share.  These guys are having an animated and entertaining conversation in their own language.  Right now our twins are doing less talking and more dancing... 

Enjoy!

and so the laundry begins...

Since I'm moving much more slowly and with much less energy, we're trying to start getting things done to prepare for the kiddos.  Tonight was laundry.  2 loads of teeninsy outfits makes for lots of folding.  This is just a sign of the next 18 years, I suppose...  I'm not a fashionista and not one to get overly excited over baby clothes, but I had a really good time going through all the gifts and hand-me-downs of adorable outfits.  THANK YOU everyone who has contributed to our stash!  The clothes really struck a nerve and thrilled me about the kiddos, perhaps even more than anything else I've experienced so far.  Funny that.  It made me want the kiddos to be here right now (in a very different way than my aching back makes me not be able to wait for their arrival...).

Hopefully, later this week we'll finish getting the nursery organized and decorated.  I am very excited to see it when it's done.  And very hopeful that it will look as good in person as it does in my head.