The Least Fun Sleepover Ever!!

After being super dedicated to another week of bedrest I went for our weekly checkup with Dr. Robison at 2pm.  My mother took me (Shane as at work) and she insisted that I not drive.  We have our ultrasound cervical check and found that this week the cervix had gone from 12mm to 4.8mm.  This did not make me happy.  And my mother was a nervous wreck.  Them we they checked my blood pressure it had gone from 140/80 to 167/97.  At this point my mom started to cry.... I waited until last night.   Dr. Robinson called in a blood pressue medication, Aldomet, and told me to stay down some more.  We set up an appointment for the following week, he gave me his personal cell phone (my Grandpa Romrell was his dad's Explorer leader after all) and told me he didn't want to see my face until next week.  He gave me lots of specific things to watch for (regarding pre-term labor and pre-eclapmsia) and said not to hesitate to call but resting at home was a lot more comfortable and less expensive that resting at the hospital.   Our ultra-sound tech, Darla, said during the ultrasound cervical check, "they better have given you the steroid shots already!" - which they did 2 weeks ago - but the more I thought of her comments then the more worried I was that we weren't going to be able to last much longer.

My mom took me home, went and picked up my prescription, bought me and Shane a Jamba Juice (he has been pretty ill), Shane called from work to check on the update and I was laying down, a little frustrated that my bedrest doesn't really seem to be working.  At about 6:30pm, Dr. Robison called my cellphone to say that he had a change or heart in regards to managing my care and wanted me to go spend the night at EIRMC to monitor my blood pressure over night.   He told me they were waiting for me in Labor and Delivery.

I called Shane at the jail and he told me to go up with my mom - he didn't want me to wait until he got home in an hour.   I packed a bag and in I went.  I told the nurses I was here for a slumber party -- they said, 'You must be Sara".  They got me all hooked  up to the monitors (blood pressure, some monitor which measures contractions, and a heart monitor on both babies.  The last time we had checked our Baby Boy was breech.  They found our daughter's heart beat right away and then couldn't find our son's heartbeat.  After several minutes I was getting very nervous and it was all I could do to keep calm as the charge nurse went to find a different nurse to see if someone else would have any luck.  The other nurse took several minutes and then did find it - waaayyy down low.  Apparently - our little boy isn't breech any longer.  What a relief to hear to rapid little heartbeats.  They told me that I was having contractions - which I could not feel. 

Shane arrived and it was sooo good to see his face.  There is something about having him there that I need so much.  I can't really put it into words.  He also - for the record - looked very handsome.  He had changed out of his uniform and taken a quick shower and then put on a blazer.  Maybe he thought we would be getting pictures taken!  :)  I love that man!  He went and got us some dinner and my mom left to go relieve my dad, who had been tending Leah's Olivia while they went to the much coveted  Richard Marx concert!  :)

It was a pretty quiet night.  The staff could monitor all my monitors from the desk and once the lab had come and they had given me an Ambien (which didn't work that well) they left me to sleep until morning.  Shane gave me a blessing and rubbed my back until I was good and sleepy and then went home to sleep himself. 

At about 7:30am Dr. Robison called me to tell me everything looked more stable on my blood pressure - it was down to 138/78 - still high but less worrisome.  The nurses said that they had been watching the babies heart rhythms all night and they were much stronger than they expected for 27 week twins - it was our first proud parenting moment!  :)  Shane arrived, they served me breakfast and discharged me to go home and get more bedrest.  My Aunt Karleen, who works in the NICU, came down and visited with me for a while and I asked her lots of questions about babies that arrive this early.   The nurse that discharged us told me to keep my monitor bands in our hospital bag and to bring them next time and we wouldn't be charged for them.  I hope we don't use them for a month.

I know that Dr. Robion and Shane and I want to hold out unttil we are 35 - 37 weeks - but I asked him what he thought would happen - he said it was hard to predict as everyone and every pregnancy is so different. He has seen women whose cervix had thinned out completely still hold on for several weeks - so that is what we are hoping for.    We feel glad to have moved out of the "cusp of viability" range to a gestational age where the babies should live - but with months and millions in the NICU and possible long term health problems - and are hoping to meet the 28 week marker, the 30 week marker and beyond.  We have lots of family and friends praying for us and know that we are in the loving care of our Heavenly Father - however difficult it it so remember that emotionally at time it is.

Here are some photo ops from our slumber party:

Such a beauty picture I deleted my own face.

Probably the most expensive bracelet I've ever had!

 Lots of monitors!

Bed Rest-less

We are still on bedrest.  After a little over a week we had another ultrasound and discovered that the cervix had shorttened from 14mm to 12mm and they were now worried about and testing for preeclampsia.  We had blood drawn and received really fun instructions on how to do a 24 hour urine catch.  But, thankfully, for now preeclampsia is off the table!  It was a relief to get that call from the doctor yesterday.  So - more bedrest this week and we go in again on Thursday for another ultrasound cervical check. 

These photos are of our baby girl and baby boy from the 8th of February - at almost 25 weeks gestational age. 

We have had SOOO much support and help from many loved ones.  Anna is heading up the details on getting the nursery finished and she and my parents are going to sew all the bedding for us.  Both of our parents have bought lots of meals and come several times a day - as have many of our siblings.  My nieces and nephews have come over to empty the dishwasher, do some laundry and make our bed many times   My dad continually snow-blows our driveway.  My sweet 90 year old Grandpa Romrell brought us (with Val's help) some frozen yogurt and took a tour of the house and checked otr the baby furniture.  Cousins and friends (so lucky to have people in our lives with multiple titles) have brought lunch, visted to ease my boredom and brought treats and many different people have blow-dryed my hair, and done a variety of things to help me genuinely stay down except to use the bathroom.  I'm anxious to see what the results of Thursday's test show - and hope that we can still put off delivery for many more weeks.  As frustrating as it is to allow so many people to do every little thing for me - I do understand that this is the only thing I can do for our babies health at this time - keep them safely in the womb for as long as possible!  So - that is what I'm trying to do. 

Shane has been a great help on his days off and doesn't get much downtime from doing the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, and entertaining me.  Then he goes to work for 4 days straight and comes home to do it all again.  Also - in the last few days he has had a big chest cold hit him - so he is sleeping downstairs in an effort not to get his wife sick.  If I could drive to the jail and drop off a big ole serving of a Jamba Juice Cold Buster - I would.... but alas.... I can't get up!

Bed Rest at 25 Weeks

Last Wednesday we went to our regular doctor's appointment.  We were almost 25 weeks pregnant and we were looking forward to another ultrasound and knew that we would be changing up to an appointment every two weeks - instead of monthly.   It was fun to see the babies and our little boy is still breech but our baby girl had turned and was head down - which was no surprise.   Several times a day I can feel that head pushing down over my hip joint and you can "feel" the head with your hand.  Crazy!  I have had - since my first appointment a fear of "incompitant cervix".  My mom had a still born baby with that being the main reason as did several of my maternal aunts.  They said that it wasn't hereditary and not to worry - but I do have them check the length of the cervix at each ultrasound.  It has been gradually getting shorter.  Dr. Robison told me that 25mm or more was "normal".  This time when they checked it had gone from 32mm (in January) to 14mm and 11mm when I bare-down.  (Is that the correct spelling of bare in this useage?).  Also - last month the differential growth rate of the babies was 10.5% and Robinson told us that so long as it was under 20% there wasn't anything to worry about.  This appointment the differential growth had increased to 22.5%.  Our son is 1 pound 13 ounces and our little girl is 1 pound 7 ounces.  For now they were just going to continue to watch it more closely.  Since each baby has it's own placenta I don't thing they are worried about Twin to Twin Transfusion - and it could be simply that genetically this big brother is just bigger. 

So to combat the cervix thinning out we have been put on "extreme bed rest".  Which means that I can get up to use the bathroom and I can take a shower every other day.   I have always thought that laying in bed and doing nothing for a few days sounds pretty dreamy!  But - when you shouldn't get up to do anything and the survival of these two precious bundles in depending on me to be a rule-follower (not my best strength) it has been really challenging.  I hadn't felt that I was overdoing it but now I am trying to let people do every little thing for me.  It is kind of depressing not to get ANYTHING done during the day - no endorphins are being produced as I do nothing and that combined with still being uncomfortable and being scared for our babies is challenging.  Our families have been great to step up and come and feed me and make meals and visit and do laundry and unload the dishwasher, etc.    My mother-in-law, Karen, and sister/friend, Anna, have set up a calendar to provide lots of coverage when Shane is on 12 hours shifts (and next week when he is in Boise for POST all week).  It was sweet to have my husband (and since then my mom and Anna) blow-dry my hair while I lay on the couch.  Easton and Savanna and Mitch have come over for some company and help.  The ward sent the priests over to bring the Sacrament.  Some friends have brought lunch and I've had a lot of people reach out to talk, say hello and offer help.  It is challenging to accept this much help - but we so appreciate the love and support we feel from our family and friends.   Last night we had the Sargent's and  Beck's bring over treats they had made for FHE,  Yummy!

Anna picked up some stuff for me to have a Valentine's Dinner for my Valentine tonight - I appreciate her help!  She also brought the cutest Valentine's Breakfast this morning.  In my effort to be festive I have on a pink maternity jacket.

Also - after talking with my Aunt Karleen - she is an RN in the NICU at the hospital - I had our ob/gyn set up an appointment for me to see a perinatalogist.  My appointmnt is on the 27th if February.  They will do their own ultrasounds and just be sure about the well-being of the twins.  This will be in addition to the coverage from Dr. Robison - who I really like. 

Wish us luck on the staying power of the length of my cervix! 

The Pee Pee Tee Pee

I bought this newest little "invention" yesterday in anticipation of our baby boy child. 

We are at 24 weeks and counting!  Mornings are the best - I think my body feels rejuvinated - especially my abdominal wall!  By night time I am hurting and feeling nervous about being able to sleep and anticipating the aches and pains of hips and numb arms in the night.  But - still trying to be cheerful and enjoy feeling the babies move around and make themselves known to their mommy.  My niece Naomi (she will be 2 in March) likes to pat my tummy (it's usually my tummy and not other round body parts) and make a really excited expression and try to say "baby" or do the sign for baby and then hold up two fingers.  It is really cute!

This is my cover-model profile on the offial mark of our 24th week.  We were dressed up and on our way to a funeral viewing and Shane was home to take the photo. 

Bring on the boxes!!!

We have gotten quite a bit decided and some things executed in the past 2 weeks.... which seems like the past 15 minutes!  We ordered the cribs and dressers (which arrived into Idaho Falls today and we are so grateful for good help from my dad to help us retrieve them) and the special order dresser, glider and ottoman and all the conversion kits and mattresses are ordered!  Those should be here in a few more weeks.

We ordered fabric (thanks to my decorating consultant, Nana Anna, for her input, vision and help) and took an old friend to lunch to help us make up our minds in tying everything together.  He will go with us to pick paint colors once the fabric for the bedding arrives next week.  There is 30 lbs of fabric coming - according to the UPS tracking number.  Making the bedding seems like we are taking on A LOT of extra pressure and work - but it will literally save us $700.  So - let's dust of the sewing machine!!!

We switched the rooms around for the office and nursery to accommodate two cribs and moved the office / entertaining closet out into the office closet.  It is amazing to me how quickly "stuff" can accumulate!  The "new" office is smaller but cosy and actually looks finished and the nursery was empty this morning other than some new hangers, a little stack of generous gifts we have received already and after this afternoon will have some furniture in it.  We still need to paint - which will be an adventure in and of itself!  Wish us luck!

These photos from today are good reminders of our progress!