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!