Last Christmas Before Santa Comes to our house!

We had a wonderful Christmas with the family. Danny and I woke up Christmas morning and were talking about how different things will be next year. We can't wait!!

22 Week Ultra Sound

Danny and I went to the 22 week ultra sound appointment on Friday. They are both growing at the perfect rate and look great. Derrick is weighing in at 1 pound exactly and Elissa is weighing in at 1 pound 2 oz.

I am feeling constant movement and kicking at this point. They are very active babies, which is why the pictures came out a little blurry. They would not sit still for the tech to take the pictures.

This is a Head to Head picture of the both of them


This is Derrick


This is Elissa

Fun little questions

Just copy and paste & ADD YOUR ANSWERS
1. How far along are you? 22 Weeks
2. Do you know baby's gender? Boy and Girl
3. If so, do you have a name picked out? Derrick James and Elissa Lynn
4. Are you showing? Yes
5. Do you have a Linea Nigra, stretchmarks, and/or hair on your belly? Nope, not yet, but I do have a scar from my belly button ring that is stretching a lot
6. How is your belly button looking these days? Its popping out, lol
7. How is your overall appearance these days? ummm, not as cute as I'd like, lol.
8. How about your boobs? grown almost two bra sizes so far! Yikes!
9. How much weight have you gained so far? 20 pounds
10. Any swelling at this point? nope, other than my cheeks, does that count. LOL
11. How about symptoms? not to many recently... which is nice
12. Are you having any complications beyond the basic symptoms? not any more
13. How are you sleeping? sleeping? Whats that??
14. Are you feeling movements? yes, and kicking too
15. Are you experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions? no
16. Are you visiting the bathroom often these days? Oh yes!! Very often
17. How is your overall energy level? Pretty good lately
18. Are you still able to shave all areas you normally do? Nope, any suggestions?
19. What are your favorite and least favorite parts of being pregnant right now? Favorite, is the reaction I get when people find out I am having twins. Least favorite, the actual pregnancy!
20. Are you able to DTD these days, or do you have any desire to? ??
21. Have you been drinking enough fluids? Average daily fluid intake? Not what I am supposed to.. I know, I should be drinking more water.
22. How is your appetite? What are some foods you have been enjoying lately? A lot more picky about what I want.. and I have been enjoying french fries more than I should.
23. Are you getting nervous or anxious about the end drawing near? a little bit about the C-Section.
24. Have you been nesting/getting ready for baby? not until after the holidays
25. Done much shopping for baby yet? none
26. Are you seeing an OB or a midwife? OB
27. Plan to take any classes? A C-Section preperation class and new parenting class
28. Are you having a shower for this baby? yes, Thank you Crystal and Anjela!!
29. Have you had your anatomy scan yet? Yes
30. Are you taking any supplements right now besides a prenatal? No
31. Have you given any thought to your birth plan yet? C-Section, not much to plan
32. How has your hubby been lately in regards to the pregnancy/baby? Getting more and more excited!!

21 Weeks (5 1/2 months)

I know its only been a week since I posted the last belly pic, but I am pretty sure it has grown quite a bit in a week! LOL. Just wanted to share! (click on pic to enlarge)

20 Weeks

Standard Check Up

I had a standard exam with the Dr. today and it went great. I have gained 17 pounds so far (which he said is right on track with a twin pregnancy) and measured at 22 weeks (naturally I am going to measure bigger since I have two babies rather than 1, but I am only going to be 20 weeks this Wed). Their heart beats were both within normal range.

We discussed the C-Section today and he would like to schedule it approximately 2 weeks before my actual due date, which would be approximately April 8th.

I will post a new belly pic later this week.

C-Section

So it looks like I will be having a C-Section. We have not set a date yet but the Dr feels it will be the safest way to deliver the twins. The reason is because Derrick has only one umbilical artery. What does that mean?

What is a Single Umbilical Artery?
Normally, an umbilical cord has three vessels. One is a vein and two are arteries. The vein carries blood away from the fetus and back to the mother's bloodstream via the placenta, while the arteries carry mom's nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the developing baby. In a pregnancy with a single umbilical artery, one of the two umbilical cord arteries is missing, leaving only one vein and one artery.

Is a Single Umbilical Artery Dangerous?
Having a single umbilical artery can lead to an increased risk of birth defects, but these are usually associated with other signs as well. Doctors using ultrasound can spot chromosomal abnormalities that may be associated with the loss of an umbilical artery. The pregnant woman will then be referred for further testing through tests like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. The good thing is that the ultra sounds are not revealing any abnormalities and the Dr has no concerns.

If the fetus doesn't have any other problems seen via ultrasound or through amniocentesis, then problems due to a single umbilical artery are not likely to occur. However, sometimes the doctor will want to order extra ultrasounds (which I have every 3-4 weeks any way, being that I am having twins) throughout the pregnancy just to be on the safe side. This can help rule out instances of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), when the baby's blood supply is not providing enough nutrients for proper growth, which might occur due to abnormal umbilical cord blood vessels.

The reason for the Csection is to decrease the chances of stress on the baby during delivery. With only one artery, and the stress of labor it can decrease the oxygen to the baby. Therefore a Csection will alleviate any stress and concern.

How Common is a Single Umbilical Artery?
One percent of single births and about five percent of pregnancies carrying twins or other multiples have the problem of the fetus developing only a single umbilical artery. The incidence of single umbilical arteries is higher in Caucasian women and in female babies. Mothers older than 40 and those who have had more than three children also are in a higher risk group for their baby to develop this condition. Doctors may wish to follow up more frequently with pregnant women who are in these high-risk groups.

Some New Pics

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the family this weekend, since it is tradition for Danny and I to go camping over Thanksgiving weekend, so my parents came down to visit from Nevada and Mom got to go with me for my Ultra Sound on Friday. She was very excited to see her grandbabies. They are both measuring at 8oz each.



Elissa


Derrick (he was waving at gma, lol)

P.S. I felt the babies move for the first time this weekend. I think it was because I ate to much Thanksgiving dinner and they ran out of room! LOL. Both Grandmas were there and were very excited!

17 Weeks

I know, I know I am over due for posting an updated pic of the belly. LOL. I am a slacker. I will get one up this weekend! :o)

We are having....

Baby A (Bottom) is a GIRL - Elissa Lynn
Baby B (Top) is a BOY - Derrick James

You can click on the picture to enlarge it if you would like a closer look! :o)

Shopping

This past weekend I felt better than I have in quite a while, which was great timing for the visit from grandma and grandpa to be. My mom and I went shopping for some maternity clothes on Saturday and they had a pillow in one of the dressing rooms to put on under your clothes, in order to see how the clothing would fit in a couple months once the belly has grown. So, I put it on with the tank top I was trying on and this is what I looked like.

People have asked...

People have been asking how I have been feeling, and quite frankly crappy. LOL. I have not posted much about how I have been feeling, because I don't want to complain to much. I am feeling a bit better today so I thought I would post a small update.

I have been sick 24-7, and could not seem to keep any food down. the Dr put me on one medication which did not work. He added another medication and told me that if I don't start keeping food down he would hospitalize me. Yay *me being sarcastic* Luckily, the 2nd medication seems to help. I am now taking 2 medications which help me to keep the food down, but make me feel Very tired all the time. My new bed time has been about 6:45-7:00pm every night.

Today, I am feeling pretty good. Tired, but not very sick. I have been making it through the night with only one nauseous moment and grabbing a quick snack (usually around 3am) seems to help and I can go back to sleep.

For those of you who do not know, I have Fibromyalsia Syndrome (FMS) and it hasn't been to bad during the pregnancy so far. Thank Goodness. I have had bad leg cramping and aching from it, which makes it hard to sleep sometimes, but other than that, it has been pretty mellow. Thank goodness.

I am looking forward to the time in the pregnancy that I can "enjoy" being pregnant. Haven't quite gotten there yet, but I am optimistic that my time will come.

14 Weeks

HUGE ALREADY!!

12 Weeks

The babies are both growing at a steady and healthy pace, right on target and their heart beats were the same at 166 beats per minute.

Twin A

Twin B - this little one was VERY active and was doing summer salts. It was kicking off the sides like a trampoline. Was very funny to watch.

11 Weeks

Your baby will begin to grow very rapidly, and by the end of week 11, your baby will be about 2 inches in length. To accommodate this growth, the blood vessels in the placenta are increasing -- both in size and in number -- to provide the baby with more nutrients. At the middle of week 11, you have 80 days down -- only 200 to go!

Twin Books

I just want to say thank you to Crystal for the thoughtful gift of books to educate us on twin pregnancy, labor and delivery and twins after their born. I have already read through a lot of both books and they are full of a LOT of great information, statistics and advice.

10 Weeks

Just a little update on the babies progress...

"Week 10 marks a milestone for your baby-to-be. This first part of fetal development is all about organization. All your baby-to-be's cells have been directed to their places—brain tissue is growing rapidly, muscles are forming, fingers and toes are becoming defined. Your baby-to-be looks less like an embryo (or an alien) and more like the baby in miniature that he is. He's getting bigger, too."

9 Weeks

Today we had our Dr. appointment and got another ultra sound done. The Dr said that the babies are growing at a the perfect rate and he is very happy to see that they are both the same size. He also said that to be able to see the heart beat so clearly this early on both babies is a good sign. Originally he said that there was about a 14-16% chance of miscarriage of at least one of them. Because they look so great he decreased that chance to 3%. That was fantastic news!





p.s. If you click on the picture, it enlarges it...

Tomorrow I will be 9 weeks along and we will be seeing the Dr tomorrow for another ultra sound. I will post all about it (with pics).

I thought I would share this really neat little viedo. It is a look inside the 1st thru 9th week of pregnancy. It is really really neat.

http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?intcmp=Nav_Global_photosandvideo_inside&pn=Pregnancy%20SubTopic

8 Weeks

8 Weeks and counting. So far it seems like everything is in slow motion. I guess I am just anxious to get past the sick stage. ;o)

Our next appointment is on Wednesday next week. We will be getting another ultra sound done at that time.

Cord Blood Donation

This is something that Danny and I have decided to do. If you are pregnant or considering another baby, maybe you could consider it too! Save a life.

Umbilical cord blood donation can save critically-ill patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, and more than 70 other diseases. But keep in mind: cord blood donation requires simple, advanced preparation, and the obstetrician must act immediately after the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. Fortunately, the donated blood is withdrawn from the umbilical cord after it is detached, so there is no discomfort for the mother or baby. Yet, most delivery room doctors discard life-saving cord blood as medical waste, even though cord blood donation is desperately needed by tens of thousands of people who have life-threatening illnesses.

Here's the point: the blood in an umbilical cord consists of stem cells that can "transform" into various types of healthy cell tissue. That tissue may be a treatment for many serious illnesses, including leukemia and other cancers, sickle cell disease, brain tumors, and osteoporosis. In the future, stem cells from donated cord blood may also be used to treat Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. Although some ill patients "match" with a family member who can donate stem cells that are suitable for their treatment, nearly 75 percent of patients are not so fortunate. Cord blood donations can give these critically-ill patients a much better chance of finding stem cells that match their tissue type.

Unlike the ethical issues that surround embryonic stem cell research, stem cells from live-birth cord blood are collected from an umbilical cord that would otherwise be thrown away, so there are no moral barriers.

For more information on donating http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/cord-blood-donation.htm

Big News!!!

6 Week Ultra Sound

We are having TWINS!

Saw two little tiny, really fast heart beats! What an amazing thing to see!
Next appointment is in 3 weeks.

Brunch with other mommies

I went to brunch with 11 other mommies, mommies to be or future mommies on Sunday and it was so wonderful to be able to sit around and chit chat with other ladies who know how I am feeling and what my body is going though. I got so much wonderful advice in regards to the pregnancy and although I had to leave the unlimited champagne out =o(, I really enjoyed the buffet brunch!
I feel fortunate to have all of you in my life and thank you so much for all of the encouragement, support and great advice! Look forward to the next one!

Courtesy of Crystal (LOL)

Sooo cute!

Our first little outfits! They are so adorbale. "I love Mommy" I love Daddy" and " I love Hugs"! Thank you so much Erin!!! We absolutely love them!!!

Gift from Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa Manley were so thrilled to find out they are going to be Grandparents, that they wanted to be the very first person to buy the grand baby a gift. So Sweet! The package arrived in the mail today and it is the neatest thing!

The Original Slumber Bear!
"Since 1978 The Original Slumber Bear has been helping millions of newborns sleep in maternity hospitals and homes worldwide. Its the only audio pacifier with and actual recording made inside a mothers womb. Slumber Bears authentic sounds are universally recognized by babies and effective in lulling them to sleep in minutes! Sound box has 5 minute auto shot off timer, with sound and motion sensors that reactivate recoding when baby cries or the bear is moved. Slumber Bear also comes with a Silkie (blanket) that retains parents scent and reassures baby of their presence."

Changing Back

Ok, so I am now the official crazy pregnant lady! LOL. I originally switched OBGYN's because of a really lame reason. But to me at the time, it seems legitimate. I did not like the way the receptionist and nurse made me feel when I would call the Dr.s office for appointments etc. and wanted to chose a Dr. where I would like the staff as well.

I am realizing the staff is really not that important. What is most important is that I (we) like the Dr and feel comfortable with him. We both love the Dr that did the IUI procedure, and it turns out he does delivery (which dummy me, I did not verify in the beginning). So I am cancelling my appointment with the new Dr (WHO WE HATED) and have my next appointment on Wed with our original Dr. I am already feeling less stressed.

The nurse reassured me and told me that being that I am only 5 weeks along, she is not surprised that the Dr did not see anything in the ultra sound. =o)I was not sure what to make of that during the appointment and the Dr did nothing to reassure me.

5 Weeks

Today I am exactly 5 weeks pregnant. Danny and I went to the first appointment with our new Doctor and left there feeling a bit discouraged. The Dr. did an Ultra Sound and didn't see much of anything. He said it is not completely uncommon not to see much this early in the pregnancy. He had me do blood work today and wants blood work again on Friday to compare my "levels" and we scheduled another appointment for next week.
I will call Monday to get the results of the blood work.

Our first gift

Our first gift was from one of my best friends. Anjela bought Danny and I a book. "What to expect when expecting" and "The Expecting Father". I have read through the first two months and Danny has read his book through month one. It is absolutely adorable how into it he is. He is telling me how I feel. Telling me what I should expect as far as cravings, sensitivity to smell, and how much rest I need to get. He has to remind me of that, because I am a busy body.

Our first prenatal visit is tomorrow and I will be 5 weeks pregnant. I will update after I have more news.

Wow, this is a strange feeling. Typing on a blog about being pregnant?? I honestly never thought the day would come! We found out we were pregnant after a long 4 year journey to get here. I took the test Wed morning (08/12/09) and did not believe it was true. I walked out into the living room and said "babe, I think I am pregnant" Danny's reaction was stunned. He said "what do you mean you "think" you are pregnant? I told him the test sais I am... but I just don't believe it.

the next day I had the blood test to confirm!

Telling the grandparents to be was exciting. My mom cried of course, and was over joyed. She told me it was a race to see who gets to tell my dad first! I won! My dad said "Oh wow, congratulations, to meeeee" Hahhaa. Danny's mom seemed almost like she was expecting it, and was very excited. Danny's dad was full of joy as well!