Follow-up appointment

Luckily the FFN test was negative, thank god. However, I asked the doctor about whether, if the test was negative, this just meant i had to stay on bedrest until i go into labor, hopefully at 37/38 weeks, and she gave me this sad look and said that I wouldn't make it that long, that i would definitely go into preterm labor at some point, it was just a question of when. She said right now we just have to focus on getting to 28/29 weeks, then reaching 32. 34 would be better, but she clearly didn't want to get my hopes up.

I'm just really sad because I truly believed in my heart that we wouldn't have any problems, and that they'd need to induce me at 38 weeks or something to get these babies out. I'm 28, active, healthy, no history of any kind of medical problems, so this is just a huge shock. I'm beginning to wonder if the peri missed something at my last appointment, like there had to be some sign that my cervix was starting to change, because it just seems so crazy that it changed so much in such a short amount of time.

Anyway, the good news is that I feel fine, and the babies are still cooking. And Larry is taking great care of me. I guess now it's just a waiting game...

Bad News at 26 Week Ultrasound

First of all, both babies are doing great. They are measuring right on schedule, are close in size, all in all doing well.

The bad news? I went from my cervix looking great 4 weeks ago, to only 1 centimeter today. Normally our appointments are very brief, because everything has been progressing so well. But all of a sudden they're talking about steroid shots and ffn tests, and Larry and I were just in shock.

We had a regular ob visit scheduled for afterward, so the perinatologist called up in advance to let them know what was going on. We scheduled my ffn test for tomorrow, and my doctor recommended modified bedrest. Then she sent me up to labor and delivery to be admitted and monitored to see if i was having contractions. Our first appointment was at 8:20am - we didn't leave the hospital until after 2pm. Luckily, even though I contracted a few times, it was nothing regular, and nothing to be concerned about. But the L&D doc sent me home on strict bedrest for today, then we'll see what happens after the ffn test tomorrow, and i have another ultrasound next week.

So, it's been kind of a tough day. I feel like this all totally came out of the blue, and it's all so early - it's hard not to be scared. I mean, i can survive being on bedrest for the next three months - anything to keep these babies cooking. I just don't understand why this has happened - i know it's ridiculous to think there's anything i could have done to prevent it, but i feel like my body is failing these kids somehow :(

Nursery Progress

My original hope when we found out we were having twins was to have our nursery completed by the end of June. That way we wouldn't have to be painting in the really hot weather, or get stuck working on the room on weekends where we could be doing fun summer stuff. However, now that my weeks are a little less scheduled, I'm not as worried about my self-imposed deadline. Especially since our cribs are on back-order until June 29th. And the carpet we ordered is on back-order until the first week of July. It will get done, and it will get done in plenty of time for the babies' arrival.

We finally finished priming the room last night, and we're hoping to start painting on Sunday, together. Then I can finish up during the week if necessary. The hard part is we really want to paint all the trim, because it looks old, and has kind of a yellow-y tint to it, which we think might not look so good with the yellow walls. Luckily, Larry has volunteered to take care of the trim - I don't think I would have the patience!

Here is Larry, putting the finishing touches on the primer.

Cape Cod Shower

This past weekend was my Cape Cod shower, which was hosted by two of Larry's aunts, Ann and Merre. It was so nice, and so much fun to catch up with everyone! We got lots of cute little outfits and toys - I wish the babies' room was done so I could put everything away, but we still have plenty of time for that.

Larry's parents decided to give us our gifts a little bit early - they gave us our double snap and go, and one of our car seats! We put them together right away, and then took turns wheeling the stroller around the house...





Here's my mother-in-law practicing as well!

The scale said what?

Today I am officially 6 months along - 24 weeks. Theoretically, we've reached the age where the babies could live outside the womb if anything were to happen. Everything looked great at our doctor's appointment earlier this week; the heart rates were great, and we talked a little bit about the different presentations the babies could have, which would result in either vaginal or c-section deliveries. However, when I stepped on the scale, I received a shock - not only have I gained 26 pounds since becoming pregnant - I gained 10 pounds in the last month alone! I looked at Larry and said, "Where is it?" He laughed and pointed to my belly.

Yes, I know I'm having twins, and I know I'll see numbers on the scale that I never thought I would see in my life. I also know that my doctor thinks that I'm progressing normally, and that hopefully with every pound I gain, my babies will be bigger and healthier when I deliver. Still, there is a vain little part of me that keeps saying, if I've gained 26 pounds so far and I still have 3 months to go, what am I going to look like come September?!

On another note, we have our Prepared Childbirth class this weekend - all day Saturday, and most of the day Sunday. I'm expecting to have tons off questions... also, it will be nice to meet some other first-time parents in our area. When we took our Twin Infant Care class at Isis Maternity, I was surprised that people had come from as far away as Andover, and even the South Shore. At least with this class, it will be all people delivering at Newton Wellesley Hospital, around the same time (or maybe a little bit before) us. I can't say that we're actually EXCITED about the class, but I think we're looking forward to getting it over with and being able to walk away with more information about what our delivery experience will actually be like.

Heat Wave

Today is the fourth day in a row of 90+ degree weather. I love summer as much as the next girl, but this is stifling! I'm just trying to stay as hydrated as possible. We have an air conditioner in our bedroom, and one in the living room, and I think if we had one more in the dining room, it would be perfect.

Yesterday, I went to the gym for the first time since January :) Since it's been so hot, I can't exercise outside, so I decided to give the gym a shot, since I'm paying for it, after all. I did 20 minutes on the arc trainer, and some light free weights - it definitely felt good to be active after lounging around in the heat for the past few days. That said, I'm definitely a little sore this morning, so we'll see if I make it back to the gym today!

This afternoon we have our 6 month prenatal appointment. 6 months! I can't believe I've been carrying these babies for that long already - and that this pregnancy will be ending in less than three months. I sort of like my new lifestyle of being able to eat french fries without feeling guilty, and only exercising when I feel up to it. I know that life as we know it will be unrecognizable once the babies arrive - and while it will be a welcome change, I know we'll miss the...shall we say "lack of chaos" in our current life together. But every time I feel one of these babies move, which is getting to be more and more often, it's a reminder that they will be here before we know it. I can't wait!

22 Week ultrasound pics

Everything was still looking great at our perinatologist appointment last week. The babies are healthy and still measuring right on schedule, and there is no sign of me having any problems, either. As I had predicted, our little girl (Baby B) is transverse, with her head on my left side and her feet on my right. Our son (Baby A) is below her in a breech position, so he's kicking me where it counts! When the doctor tried to take pictures for us, Baby A was in a great spot, but Baby B was facing down toward her brother.

Here she is, looking down:

And here are two shots of our son - maybe he's looking up at her :)

Prenatal massage and other errands

Yesterday I had a prenatal massage at The Boston Bodyworker in Downtown Boston. I wish that I had asked in advance whether they had an actual table with a hole in it, for pregnant bellies, or if they just made you lay on your side - I ended up laying on my side, and it just wasn't as relaxing and comfortable as a regular massage.

I'm normally a back-sleeper, so having to sleep on my side during pregnancy has created some tension in my upper back. I think the massage helped to alleviate this a little bit, but not quite as much as I'd hoped. Maybe in another month or so I'll try going to the Edamame Spa at Destination Maternity... I'm pretty sure I can lie on my stomach there.

Alas, it has not been all massages and relaxing since I stopped working last week. I actually think that between yesterday (Monday) and last Friday, I was much more tired than when I was sitting at a desk all day. Between going for a nice long walk in the morning, then doing various errands, not to mention running up and down the stairs, I feel more active then when I was schlepping into work every day. We'll see if it lasts :)

This afternoon we have a contractor coming to take a look at our second floor bathrooms - we actually have three, one of which we would like to convert into a second floor laundry room. The other two, the master bath and the family bath, we'd like to completely redo. Not sure if we'll be able to do all three now that the only check I'll be getting is from unemployment, but at the very least we want to do the laundry room to make life easier once the babies arrive.

NEW CAT FREND

O HAI, I IZ WUNDERIN ABOUT THA SMALL PEEPLZ AGAIN. WILL I GET ANY MOAR ATTENSHUN?

TODAI I MADE A CAT FREND. HE CAME TO THA DOAR, AND HE SPEEKS MAI SAME DIALEKT. HE TOALD ME SMALL PEEPLZ IZ OK, BUT NOIZY. HE HAZ 1 IN HIZ HAUS.

GOTTA GO. SUNSPOT.