Things That Go Bump in the Night!

We are almost 18 weeks along and everything has been going well. There hasn't been much to report or to document. I have felt good with a few exceptions (food poisoning) and when I overdue... which seems to be taking less and less to make it into that category. I'm definitely showing - as you can see from the image below!

I have had difficulty sleeping. I've struggled with insomnia for years - but this is getting ridiculous! Last night as I was laying there, trying to be patient, as I was listening to my sweet husband sleep (he does not have problems with insomnia) I felt one of the babies move. Quite a bit actually. It made me smile and almost laugh out loud. I considered waking Shane up to tell him - but then I couldn't tell if I could feel it with my hand or just from the inside and let him sleep. I savored this little milestone for myself. One of the placentas is in the front of the uterus and so (they say) that postpones when you can feel movement. (The other placenta is on the bottom in a little position they call "placenta previa".) This movement was definitely on the side of what was formerly known as my waist.

I guess this is a good reminder to "be still" more often in our lives. I look forward to feeling more movement. I know that my sweet husband does too. He has asked several times, "when do you think we can feel these babies move?"

Waving Hello!!!

Today we had another doctor's appointment and ultrasound. We are 15 weeks along and the babies are the size of softballs and as their nervous system continues to develop they can make facial expressions and even suck their thumb. During the ultrasound one of the babies (Baby B) was especially active and looked like it was sucking his thumb for just a minute. I think he is more active because since the babies are both lying in the same direction Baby A is kicking him/her in the head a lot and stimulating him/her. We tried to determine gender but they couldn't tell anything yet... they are still too little. The heartbeats are good and strong (Baby A was 149 and Baby B was 156). Everything looks good and even my darling fibroid is growing. :( But on the bright side neither placenta is near the fibroid and the fibroid is still up in the wall of the uterus and not on the surface. There is placenta previa on one placenta (where it covers the cervix). The doctor said this may resolve and they will check it again next time. If it doesn't resolve then we have to do a c-section. But we may have to anyway depending on the position of one of both babies. One placenta is in front of the uterus (which will make it harder to feel the baby at first) and one is in the back. I haven't noticed any movement - but they sure were very active today on the big screen!

Shane had to work today (I haven't really figured out how to read his schedule yet). We recorded the ultra-sound on DVD so he can watch it tonight with something other than a bowl of popcorn. My sister-in-law and friend, Anna, came with me. It hadn't occurred to me to ask anyone but last night I attended a sushi making class with her and I mentioned that Shane couldn't come and she agreed to come with me.

So far we are having a fairly easy pregnancy. I haven't been sick.... I do feel a bit uncomfortable but I'm sure that will get much more significant. I've gained a bunch of weight and am "showing". But, Doctor Robinson (who I am really liking as a doctor) keeps telling me that the weight gain is normal and especially for twins, and "don't think of yourself as getting fat... this is your bodies way of accommodating those twins and you are doing fine." I tried to tell that to the seams on my jeans - the jeans didn't buy it!

13 Weeks - and random thoughts!!

I recognize that we really aren't that far along into our pregnancy. We are half way through the 13th week. My uterus is measuring at 19 weeks (if it were a singleton) - but I suppose this is normal since the babies crown to rump length are the size of peaches (two instead of one!) this week and that one of my fibroids is the same size. One of my sisters (who has 4 children) just started laughing when I told her this. I think she is glad that I'm getting larger by the minute! But - as uncomfortable as I am starting to get - the reality is that it is just the beginning. Sitting too much hurts. Laying down too long hurts. Standing too much hurts.... what else is there? But - despite this paragraph I am trying very sincerly not to complain. We prayed and fasted (as did others) to be in this situation and we are very grateful. And - complaining won't make it feel any better and my discomfort doesn't need to be everyone else's problem. This is my lesson from Lula Sargent Call and Joy O. Romrell.

I've started looking on-line for the pregnancy pillows to help make you more comfortable at night while sleeping. There are so many options - does anyone have any suggestions as to which one really is the best? They are not inexpensive and there are a dozen choices!

This week the babies fingerprints have developed and are visible and external genitalia is developing (so we can hopefully find out if we are having boys or girls or both soon!). My nephew (he is 4 years old) says that "Twin A is a boy and Twin B is a gril". I love that he says "gril instead of girl" and that he (at age 4) refers to them in medical terminology - "twin a and twin b".

Shane told me last night that we will need to get two rocking chairs for the nursery. I'm hoping that means he really will be helping in there as often as I am - so we would need two rocking chairs! And hopefully we can work two rocking chairs into the nursery theme (Good luck Nana Anna in doing that!)

Also - yesterday during Sacrament Meeting it occurred to me how difficult it will be to get the babies to church on the Sundays that Shane has to work. I'm not concerned with being at church - there are so many kind and helpful people I wonder if I'll ever get to hold my own babies in the building! But getting from the car into the chapel - how do you do that? Shane said, "Don't worry - your dad will help you. He is very conscientious about that kind of stuff"." And I suppose/hope that is right. Van just put in for another 30 months at the Bishop's Storehouse - which will hopefully get me through the babies first year of life before my parents leave for a mission!

The second trimester starts in the next few days. We are hoping to find out in the next month if we are having girls or boys so that we can start officially thinking of babies names and nursery decor. What a responsibility - giving someone else a name!!!

11 Weeks and Counting...

On Friday we had our 3rd Ultra-Sound. Shane and I enjoyed seeing the babies and while the photos below are really hard to make out... when you are watching the screen and you can see the movement and not just a still shot - it is so much easier to tell what stuff is. Shane was surprised they were moving around so much in there and has talked a lot about "the babies" during the weekend. It makes it so much more real to see them in there. The ultra-sound probe is right up against the cervix (they do this kind cause they are so little still - small limes the book says this week!). They said next month I'd have a regular ultra-sound. Because the babies are stacked - it makes it hard to get a good look at Baby B. They were able to measure his heart-rate and length and the nucol fold of the neck (with was "way normal" the technician said). Baby A didn't want to give us a profile and was asleep. The technician kept saying that he just wants to look at his daddy (he was facing Shane). But after jabbing my stomach quite aggressively for a minute or two you could see Baby A stretch and roll around and we got some good measurements. Shane asked the tech - "Are you sure you should be doing that?"

This shot shows Baby A's feet and knee and hands and the top of his head. I guess it is good to know he isn't empty headed - but is does look quite alien-like!

I've had a bad cold this past week. And being pregnant I have not been able to knock out all the symptoms with cocktails of cold medicine - so it has been pretty miserable. Other than that - I don't really have anything to complain about. I find that I get hot really easily and really fast. During church a woman came and sat right next to me during choir practice. It took ALLLLLL my will power not to shove her aside and go running outside into the cold air! I'll be glad when this cold is over and I can stop carrying around a Kleenex box with me.

Our doctor's appointment went well. Everything is looking good and I had the doctor laughing out loud a few times. I don't really think he knows how to take my humor and sarcasm.

We feel very blessed that things are going so well and are so grateful for this blessing in our lives. I was thinking last night how chaotic and noisy it is going to be - but it will be worth it!

Speaking of which... my 6 3/4 year old nephew, Elijah, has been praying every night and meal time that Sara's babies will be healthy and strong. In the last few days he has (according to his Mom) added, "and please bless Sara that her two babies won't frustrate her too much and she will be nice to them". Ruth asked him about it -and he said that I always get frustrated when all the grand kids are around because we are so noisy. He speaks the truth!

The Size of a Kumquat???

Admittedly, I am familiar with Kumquat. They are served in regularity (in season) in Japan and are quite tasty. But still.... this obscure size references crack me up! This drawing in one of my books was much more appealing looking that the alien-like photos on the Internet or in a different book. So - while tiny - kind of remarkable all at the same time.

This the paragraph I read this weekend on the "goings-on" that made me smile: Though he is the size of a kumquat - about one and a half inches from crown to rump - your baby (babies!) has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period. A time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grown and mature.

He is swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. vital organs - including his kidneys, intestines, brain and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) - are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grown on tender skin.

One book refers to the baby as a "he". A different book refers to the growing human miracle inside as a "she". Neither Shane nor I have any idea or indication or feeling about their gender. Not knowing this puts off worrying about names and decor and buying really anything. But I am wondering whose finger nails will these little babies inherit? Mine are tiny and Lula Sargent Call-like. Shane's are big and masculine and remind me of Lloyd Sargent. Funny details!

I'm feeling good... still not sick. Tired and overly warm.... and short of breath too often. But gladly! We "took" the babies to a fabulous Halloween party - and they seemed to enjoy it! :) Shane went as Sirius Black - and I went as Molly Weasley - mother of twins. It was a Harry Potter theme - and maybe one of the most impressive parties I have attended! We will definitely be signing the babies up with Aunt Anna in hostessing/party planning classes!

I also had a speaking assignment and was worried about being able to contain my emotions. But - I didn't lose it or go into indiscernible -voice and that is what we call the power of prayer! I did find for the first time that what couldn't be contained was my body in my regular skirt. But do to time - I had to fake it and not have it zipped up all the way. Crazy - because 2 weeks ago when I wore it I would have described it as "roomy". It's like I'm pregnant or something!

We have selected the right ward!

So far everything has been going really well. I haven't felt sick - excepts for maybe a few moments when I get too hungry or right before I start eating... but certainly nothing to complain about. Especially after having spent time with a dear friend during all her pregnancies (including pulling over multiple times on freeways in Las Vegas! Sorry Linds!). I have felt tired... especially at the end of the day - which makes getting anything done around the house quite daunting. It's a good thing my husband is so quick to help or nothing would get done at all!

This week - according to the books - we have been growing multiple sets of eye-lids, knee-caps and turning little webbed arm and leg buds into something that will hopefully be more useful to Baby A and Baby B someday! We've gone from pinto bean sizing to "medium green olives". I'm not really very familiar with medium green olives.... presumably because compared to the modern world we live in we don't have a lot of martini's at our house! And I'm not sure I can think of any other use for green olives.

The ward we have moved into has about 1 million sets of twins. That may be "a bi"t of an exaggeration... but tonight at the EQ Party we met two couples with twins and last Sunday we met a couple that has 2 sets of twins... but they are grown and raised. So at least we will have lots of practical, hands on information and people to commiserate with in chaotic times to come. We have had a lot of friends and family reach out to us and we appreciate their support and interest and love.

My sweet 90 year old Grandpa told me today that perhaps the reason I'm feeling so good is that he has been praying so hard for me! This was the 3rd time in a week that I have randomly ran into him.... He knows a lot about babies! He and my grandma had 10 and they have over 50 grandchildren and I lost count of the number of great-grand-children. The only thinf that matters is that I am the #1 grand-daughter (literally) and certainly his favorite (figuratively for any of my siblings or cousins that may read this) And... like I've been saying for several months... I will take all the prayers I can get.... so add us to your list!

We are excited to visualize the progress - in two weeks we have another ultra-sound!

Photos and announcements

This is a photograph of our 2nd Ultra-Sound. The first one is even MORE vague that this one. As you can see Baby A is taking up all the room and smooshing Baby B - so I'm left to assume that Baby A is a boy and that Baby B is a girl.... but others may disagree. We won't know anything for many more weeks. Our appointment with the doctor was very pleasant and he and Shane reminisced about old times. (Dr. Steven Robison). He was friends with BC back in the day. They told us that that they would be following us more closely because of the twins and my AARP status. And since that means we have to get monthly ultra-sounds and get to visually see what is going on then that is okay with me (and Shane). I'm not sure what the insurance providers opinion on that many ultra-sounds will be!

We had fun making our announcement. Krista and My Aunt Val tied for best reaction so far. Krista let out a 15 second full-out scream, while Valeen had bursts of screams which caused my sweet dementia- stricken Grandma Romrell to say, "you guys are driving me crazy!". We went from house-to-house on Monday evening after our second ultra-sound and delivered fortune cookies to both sets of parents and almost all our siblings and sent some cookies to Sheila and to Lauren via UPS. Easton has announced that he will have to take the Cutler's bus home from school to come and help (whoever the Cutlers are???) and while I still can't believe that this is actually our situation and not a television show I am watching I am sure we won't be able to get enough help!

We also received our first blanket.... sort of. Karen gave Shane his original receiving blanket yesterday. It is very cute and only a little faded! :)

We'd like to share our fortunes with you!

We are excited to share our announcement with our family and close friends. Baby A and Baby B both have their own little sacks and placentas (or would it be placenti??) and both have strong heartbeats.

We are early to be announcing but just can't keep our mouths shut any longer. After having our second ultra-sound we are going to go ahead and spill the beans... which is about the size of both the babies right now!

Thank you for your prayers and fasting and faith in our interests. We love our family and friends and are blessed with a great and amazing support system in our lives.