Monday, October 30, 2006

Eighteen Weeks and counting!

Today I had another doctors appointment. Everything looks good, and sounds good! The babies heartrates are 140 and 150 bpm which the doctor was happy with. I just love listening to them. Sometimes, despite the fact that I'm growing like crazy, I forget that I'm pregnant or I just can't believe it's real. It's nice to have it confirmed.

My biggest issue right now is acid reflux which is normal for pregnant women. Progesterone, which I have twice them amount of :-), works to relax a lot of your muscles including the the mechanism that keeps the acid in your stomach. I can't lay down, can't drink orange juice and really shouldn't have Mexican food but I can't help it! I'm going to try some different medicines and see what helps.

I gained six pounds since last month. That's almost as much as I gained in the first trimester. Yikes! The nurse said this is normal, they are growing a lot right now. In fact if they are on schedule then they should be about 5 1/2 inches long and 5 ounces each. Times that by two and it's starting to get up there.

I'm starting to have movement, or quickening. It's not consistent but if I'm laying down or sitting I feel what sometimes feels like a goldfish swimming around or like I ate a cell phone and it's ringing on vibrate. Can't wait for more.

This Friday I'm going to see the Perinatologist and have another ultrasound.

Happy Early Halloween!

Amanda

Monday, October 23, 2006



The Sydney Monster

Is Sydney ready to be a "Big Sis"? Sydney is our first baby, our four year old mutt we got while living in Bloomington. She is very spoiled right now and who knows if that will have time to continue once the babies get here! Hopefully Grandma and Grandpa will still pay attention to her.

Some people worry about how a dog will act around children. Ryan and I feel confident that she will be well behaved. Sydney doesn't seem to mind children, she really loves any one she can play with and will pet her. We've been training her since we got her and exposing her to as many different people as possible. The difference will be these babies will be here to stay.

The biggest problem I foresee is with toys. Sydneys favorite thing to do is ruin her own toys. What will she do with the babies toys. Lets hope they don't get really attached to anything...

I really think Sydney will fall in love with the babies once they start eating, and throwing solid food. Jackpot!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

"How far along are you?"

"I'm due April 2nd...with twins." Apparently I'm starting to look a little more pregnant than that. (Anna says I look pregnant, she was here last week, she's an expert.) I'm getting smiles and nods at the belly at the grocery store and people seem to want to help me more by carrying things to my car. A girl can't complain about that. It does make it hard to be in denial about your growing size. How come everytime I see another pregnant woman I think how beautiful and cute she looks in her maternity clothes but I'm so hard on myself?

I should also mention that baby showers are starting to be planned. Tentative dates are December 16th in Grand Rapids and January 6th in Detroit. Whay so early? Well the doctor has already told me that I should not plan to travel out of town after 28 weeks which is January 8th. No problems so far but remember our bodies really aren't built to carry two babies. Hopefully I will never have to hear the doctor say those two horrible words "bed rest". One way to keep that from happening is to take it easy and that is what I intend to do. Nap time!

Monday, October 02, 2006



14 Weeks

Today we had our third ultrasound. We've reached a milestone, the babies are too big to have their pictures taken together anymore. They both weigh about 3 ounces and are measuring a little bigger than 14 weeks. Baby A is 14 weeks 3 days and Baby B is 14 weeks 1 day. They measure this by measuring the head, stomach and femur bones and putting it in the computer. Baby A's heartrate is about 154bpm and Baby B came in at 148 bpm. Baby B did not feel like holding still for pictures or getting the heart rate. B was squirming around kicking legs and stretching his head back. Unfortunately this meant we only got two good pictures of Baby B while we have 8 of Baby A, I hope the jealousy can't begin this soon!

Everything else is also going well. I've gained the right amount of weight for my first trimester-7 pounds. Babies are obviously measuring well. The doctor said still no strenuous exercise but it's okay to walk and do yoga and things of that nature. Next month we will see a perinatologist, a doctor who specializes in higher risk pregnancies and does ever more detailed ultrasounds to look at brain, heart and other organ development. I should only have to see her once unless they see anything they want to keep an eye on.

It's so amazing to see pictures of our babies and watch them move. I love them already! Thanks for all your prayers and support!