OB appt.

Well... lost my MP this am...

contractions on monday were 5.5 minutes apart and were making me nauseated and taking my breath away, but I knew I was very dehydrated (again)

Doctor checked my cervix - I'm (barely) closed, 50% effaced and -2 station (much better than I thought... good)

BP was 140/90, recheck 128/88. Definately swollen...

My neck started hurting a few days ago and has become very severe. She gave the okay for tylenol only and asked that my rheumatologist please call her if I need something stronger. I'm just praying this is a pulled muscle and not one of my long standing episodes of severe pain... sadly though, it's keeping me from sleeping.

Apparently, I've been counting how pregnant I am based on our initial ultrasound - we were told my due date was 9/6. She has always said 9/8. I know when I ovulated and I know what I was told... 9/6 so I've been sticking with that... until now. I can only deliver at SJWS if I am 35 weeks or further along (so according to her measurements... AFTER next weds (8/4)

Just before I left the OB's office, she came over, gave me a hug and told me to stay in bed for the next week (until Thursday night)... and if I was still contracting and dilating next Friday, my babies would be born that day. "Bring a bag"

O.M.G.

34 week bump

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +5 more. Measurements on my belly went up a LOT
Maternity clothes? I probably should buy a tank top or something to put under the shorter tops...
Stretch marks? one. same one. getting darker and feels kinda hard
Sleep: getting worse. Hard to fall asleep due to reflux (have to be near sitting up), hard to stay asleep. Twice this week I threw up acid and woke up choking on it. Getting up to pee every 45 minutes to an hour and a half... I sleep the best between 6am-noon
Movement: I'm starting to feel LESS. Not because they are moving less, but my belly is going numb from all the stretching
Food cravings: not a craving, but pretzels with my water in the evening is helping prevent reflux
Food aversions:
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: did baby A drop or not? I could've sworn she did this past week... but then it felt like she crawled out. LOL - I dunno
Preggo PITA symptom: My "troll feet" per Mark. He just giggles... They are so swollen and can't really move my feet much any moore. Can't even reach them to get them clean. Ew, right?
Mood: Moody. Crabby some moments and sobbing others. VERY rough week. I'm very uncomfortable. The easiest way to set off my temper at this point is me (or mark) dropping something on the floor. It is SO HARD to pick things up
Arthritis severity: No change from last week. Swollen fingers, triggers...
What I miss: my ankles, fruit, ice cream
Fundal height: 43
BP this week: 120s/80s Seems to be holding steady
Milestones: 34 weeks!!! My babies can suck, swallow and breathe now and that's AWESOME! Next goal 35! (so we can deliver at westshore with my OB. I'd really like to make it to 36 weeks so I don't have to worry about either of the girls getting transferred to UH though)
Other

Welcome to the world baby Caleb

My nephew Caleb was born today via c-section after Amanda was induced, and then labored without any progress for almost 24 hours.
He was 10# 4oz 21 in. Born at 4:33 pm


Caleb Michael is Mark's first godchild

He's the spitting image of Mike... at least from the pictures I have seen of him. Don't know what Amanda looked like as a baby...

(Pictures are from the next day, when we visited)

33 week bump

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gained 6 pounds this week?! my swelling started and hasn't gone away in the last week. I'm assuming most of the gain has been fluid related and honestly am a little worried about it... will report this to my OB this week
Maternity clothes? Had to buy a few size-up tops this week. Honestly, I don't think they're going to cover the belly very long either! UGH!
Stretch marks? no change
Sleep: no change
Movement: My darling baby A got hiccups this week too. So glad my girls are sharing the adorable-ness :)
Food cravings: ramen noodles (but planning to cut them out for the sake of the swelling problem)
Food aversions: its not really an aversion, but I'm dying for a piece of fruit... something that won't give me heartburn - so actually... none will have to do :*(
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: contractions are status quo. no pain. good days and bad days
Preggo PITA symptom: WHERE THE HELL DID MY ANKLES GO?!
Mood: tearful week. Mark has been very supportive. Usually just his listening to me and a strong hug is all i need to calm me down
Arthritis severity: My hands aren't puffy, but the joints on a few of my fingers are so large I've stopped being able to wear my wedding rings. I have two trigger fingers that are quite painful - 7 (I only give them a 7 because they could be WORSE). Injections probably to come in the next 2 weeks...
What I miss: my ankles, fruit, ice cream
Fundal height: 40
BP this week: 120s/80s-90 Watching this VERY closely
Milestones: 33 weeks!!! Next goal 34! (really wanna make it to 35/36 though)
Other Mom helped me shop yesterday - we went to Target, Costco, and motherhood maternity and I spent a LOT. I wont have to go back for awhile though, so am pretty happy about that. SOOO greatful for her help!

32 week bump

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 30 pounds - ugh! I'm actually right on track with twin weight gain - and my arms and face seem a little skinnier than pre-pregnancy, but still, 30 pounds is a lot to lug around!
Maternity clothes? haven't gone shopping... just doing laundry more frequently. call me lazy. call me cheap. (its really just tired)
Stretch marks? yup... lower ones. Can't see them in a photo, but with a strong mirror, there's no denying it anymore
Sleep: no change
Movement: OMG, Tuesday night I laid down in bed next to Mark and felt rhythmic movement on my right side. Baby B had hiccups!!! It was the most adorable feeling in the world. Mark got to feel her (but of course made me look up in-utero hiccups on my phone to be sure that was really even possible first). We even pulled out the doppler and you could HEAR the hiccups (and a normal heartbeat) on the monitor. SO CUTE!!!
Food cravings: I've been starving this week! (hence the weight gain)
Food aversions: I'm done with ice cream until the pregnancy is over... zantac doesn't prevent it from coming back up. bummer :(
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: had contractions every 6 minutes on weds. night. I doubt I'm gonna get to go back to work. They finally let up after a long night's sleep, but also not until after I drank 2 LITERS of water... oi!
Preggo PITA symptom: contractions are getting old... and actually are a little more painful lately
Mood: it was VERY hard saying goodbye to my dear sister and her kids last night. I hate that they live so far away
Arthritis severity: my hands are about a 5-6. knee pain severity varies
What I miss: I'm so SLOW at getting anything done
Fundal height: 39
BP this week: 117/70ish
Milestones: 32 weeks!!! Next goal 34!
Other Made huge progress this week on the house. Mark cleaned out the basement, Kristin emptied out the babies' room closet, and Mark and I spent most of the weekend working on the debris left in the office. The garbage man is going to HATE us tomorrow!!

OB appointment

-Still off of work. contractions are too frequent
-Will be doing my ?final 24 hour urine this week
-BP is great - 117/70s
-Platelets have dropped again - spoke with my rheumatologist... stopping my medication to see if it helps at all. She said it could be the meds, but I could just be having an autoimmune reaction also. Only way to find out would be to d/c my meds and recheck the levels. She can give me pain meds/joint injections if I need them in the meantime.
-cervix is closed
-she did another FFN test
-As of right now, I'm on the way to a c-section (baby B is transverse). She will schedule it 2 weeks before - I will be 38 weeks when she does it. It is so nice to know there's an end in sight...
-I start non-stress tests at the hospital next friday - to be done weekly until I deliver

31 week bump

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 27.5 pounds
Maternity clothes? NEED to go shopping... NEED some energy first
Stretch marks? I think there's some lower ones. very light
Sleep: can't get enough.
Movement: God I love feeling those little feet. Nothing painful, but becoming very aware of how big they're getting!
Food cravings: really wanted popcorn this week... finally had some :)
Foods aversions: I tried tortellini today - wasn't very good... got nauseated even
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks have started to back off a little... but after an afternoon cleaning the walls of the pool, things kicked back up (wondering if I might be able to go back to work... the question is FOR how LONG?!) Planning to continue to monitor this...
Preggo PITA symptom: I'm having a hard time sitting and watching the world pass me by. Mark is doing so much to get this house ready and I feel like I'm doing nothing to contribute (besides making two babies... but STILL) I'm just very frustrated with my lack of energy, mobility, and helpfulness. Mark has been so sweet and kind and patient - and it means so much to me to have such a supportive and understanding husband.
Mood: Very crabby today. Some people's low maturity level and selfishness are STRONGLY getting on my nerves. I also HATE it when people don't listen to what their doctors tell them to do and do whatever they want. Just saying...
Arthritis severity: 5 - this is also contributing to my bad mood. My knees hurt and my fingers are starting to swell and get stuck. One of the bones in my left foot is also sore. Just annoying...
What I miss: energy
Fundal height: 37-39 (somewhere in there)
BP this week: 120s/80s i think
Milestones: 31 weeks!!!
Other

OB appointment

I also saw the OB today - it sounds like we will be seeing each other weekly now since my braxton hicks are still pretty frequent if I stand up and walk around

On a concerning note... my platelet count has dropped yet again and is quite low (let's just say that some of my patients would POSSIBLY require a platelet transfusion pre-op at my levels). I know it's from my arthritis medication... so the new question is - do we stop the medicine or do i risk needing a transfusion so i don't bleed out after delivery. OF COURSE as this all comes up, my pain level has increased... ugh. I think the other worry is my kidneys... if I stop the medicine is my protein level gonna jump and be an issue for my girls?

ultrasound update

Today we had another growth scan. This time it was a lot quicker and much less painful!
Baby A is 3 lb 11 oz. 56th percentile! She has plenty of fluid. Heartrate was about 130. She is head down on my left (hasn't really moved)
Baby B is 3 lb 14 oz. 62nd percentile! She also has plenty of fluid. Heartrate was about 146. She is transverse and right... starting to bring her head down - lying next to her sister.

Their heads were very close to each other - 4% growth discrepancy (LOVE that my girls are sharing!!!)
My cervix is closed and 3.5 cm long.

All very good things... The specialist asked if we had any questions

I told him I was in the hospital last week with frequent braxton hicks contractions and wondered if I had anything to be concerned about. He smiled and responded "world peace"

baby laundry

SOOOO damn cute!!! Our very first load :)