NST today

Ok today was my 2nd NST for the week and after 2 hours on my back on a gurney they came in and said "oh we didn't see what we would like because the babies are not staying on the monitor" so they did a BPP u/s and in 15 minutes had the information they needed. Now I ask was it really necessary for me to stay on my back for that long? Ugghh! I am just being hormonal I guess. Anyhow, my back is killing me among every other ailment that I have! LOL My blood pressure was good at 119/89, 24 hour urine came back great with protein at 276 and they like it to be less than 300 so we are good there. Babies are just a moving around in there like crazy! I am getting more and more excited to see them by the day. I still cant imagine holding 2 babies at once that are mine. Its strange. I have their bag packed as well as mine now and everything is ready to go. Just have to wait until 12/26. I did get a 4 gig card for my camera in anticipation of many photos and movies!!! As far as next appointments I have a peri appt on Tues. at 8:30 am and another NST at 9:30am the same day. Should be at the hospital most of the morning anyhow. So much for this bed rest thing! LOL

I just want to say that I got a call from an online friend who is having twins. She is in labor and almost ready to have them. I also want to add how touched I was that she had her family call me. How sweet. Thank you so much I really did appreciate it and in my hormonal state almost started to cry! Good luck to you and your twins I am really looking forward to hearing how it goes and seeing photos!!!! Yippie! What a Christmas gift I tell ya!

Thursday later update!!!

Ok so I get home from the non-OB appointment and my family doctor called and she was going nuts because yesterday I had attempted to leave a message on their med-line to renew my BP medication. They could hardly understand me since I can't really talk due to the throat thing. Anyhow she said that she wanted me to come in right away to get looked at-make sure I didn't have strep or anything. So I go in and my BP was good today 120/84 and then they did the horrific swab of my throat-I almost puked on the girl. Anyhow...she asked about my ears and I have had an ache in my right ear for about 3 days now. I just figured it was my sinus pressure and I dont like to complain about EVERYTHING!!! Just a few things at a time! LOL So any how she looked and I have a bad ear ache with a ruptured drum on top of everything else. Good Grief! So I got an antibiotic to help clear that up and hopefully the throat. I was telling DH that I feel like a hypochondriac!! I am like my back hurts, my feet are tight with swelling, my throat hurts, my ear hurts........It was getting out of control. All validated though but nevertheless.....I still have a lot of swelling and my guess is that I will have that until the little nuggets come out. It is a chore I am telling you to walk these days. It really is. Looking forward to seeing them!!!! That is the latest and greatest.

Todays OB appointment

OK here's the deal the crappy clinic where I go said that my appointment was for 3. I never make them for this time because I have to pick up my boy at that time. So anyhow...My card said 11. She wanted me to come back at 3. I went nutty and told her no way was I coming back at 3-it was hard enough in and of itself to get there at 11. I can hardly walk and by back is killing me. So needless to say I didn't have the appt. today. I asked to reschedule and she said that she didn't have anything for weeks. I have an appt. already for Dec. 11th although I am supposed to be seen once a week. I told her that I really didn't care because if she had no openings what was I going to do anyhow. She was like but you are supposed to be seen every week. I just looked at her and couldn't believe it. Was she dumb or something? I was all hormornal about it because it is stupid. So I want to be looked at-I called my peri and she is going to start seeing me every Tuesday. That is a good deal. I like her better than the sucky clinic anyhow. That is where I am at right now. I turned in the 24 hour urine today and I will be seeing her next Tuesday. I have an NST and blood work tomorrow to see how things are coming along. No biggie.

Peri Appt. today

Well I ended up being at the hospital for about 4 hours!!! Yikes! Anyhow...The BPP went well. Both babies are measuring 35 weeks-I am 31W3D. (In my wrestling announcer voice) In one corner of the uterus we have Sophie weighing in at 5 lbs 1 ounce and in the opposite corner we have Riley weighing in at 5 lbs even!!!! The tech was like oh my goodness they have taken a growth spurt in the last 8 days....if you remember they were measuring about 4 lbs each. I was thinking about this as I have 29 days left until the c-section...if they are putting on a pound a week that would put them near the 8-9 lbs range. I will die! Lets hope that this guestimate is way off. I mean I want them to be big healthy babies and all but wow that is a lot of babies in there....I already feel stretched to the max!!! Both babies are still head up-again the reason for all of the pressure up high....lovely. Oh my goodness-When the tech came across their heads guess whos feet were kicking Rileys head? :) It was unreal. Sophie is breech as all get out. I mean that her legs are straight and bent at the hip. Her feet are pushing on Rileys face-AGAIN!!! My poor boy-he will come out all beat up!

Anyhow when my perinatologist came in she said that my swelling was markedly increased-i totally agree with her. My legs are like those foam bed cover things and you push your hand on them and it leaves a print. That is what is going on with the legs. Anyhow after she looked at that she took my BP-150/90-not good. It is going up a little. Just to be on the safe side she wanted an NST and blood work. I had to wait forever and everything looks basically stable. I have to do a 24 hour urine tomorrow and on Thursday I see my OB. Well that is about all I have for you. I think that I am going to make a paper chain with the days left on it....The boys will love to cut one off every day.

NST today

Well I went for my non stress test today and all is looking good with the way the babies heart rates reacted. My blood work came back stable as well so I am happy! More time for them to cook and me to be outta the hospital. I have been having a lot of contractions though. Some of which I cannot talk through. They are really a pain in the gut! :) My back is still out of control...Do I need to post that? I know I tell you guys all the time but it is true. Having a lot of trouble walking and getting up from a chair. It is horrible. I cannot wait to meet these little nuggets. I really can't!!!! I was looking at their clothes and I am sooo excited.

I have a perinatologist appt. on Tues and my regular OB on Thurs. with another NST and blood work on Friday. Geeze...enough appointments???

I'm Home!!!!

Well here I sit in bed trying to get a NST of both babies and it wasn't working out so well. It was hard to keep both of them on the strip at the same time. I had to wear these compressions stockings on my legs so as not to get blood clots while in bed.

This is a photo of my best friend Cristine and myself. She was trying to "hold" both babies!!! I feel like a house.

I finally got released by the doctors...man does that take a long time. I was in a near state of panic!!! Anyhow...I pretty much feel bad. I am so tight and I can barely eat anything without it feeling like it is going to come back up! There is no room in the INN!!!! My back hurts when I get up...blah blah blah all of the pregnancy things. Anyhow I am planning on taking a wonderful bath tonight to relax. I did get a RX for Ambien so I can rest well tonight. I have to go back on Saturday for NST and blood draw-The doctor said that if it looked suspicious then I would have to be admitted again. I am going to pack a bag tonight to keep in my car. Just in case. They told me a million times....we are only letting you go because you are a reliable patient and we know that you will come back if you have any strange signs or symptoms. Of course I will! What moron wouldn't?!?!?!? I did get the paperwork for my pre-admission testing for the C-section...I have to go to the hospital on Dec. 13th to get all the labs done.......Anyhow-that is it with me. I have been laying in bed since I got home-way more comfy!!!!

Still waiting and waiting...

Why is that all we ever do?Wait wait wait. I am going nuts here! I am so ready to leave but I need an order. I may have to start going preggo on some of the people here. I need to get out of this joint! LOL Anyhow I am just sitting here waiting for that little piece of paper. All of my labs came back OK. My protein went from 324 to 376 but as long as it isnt over 400 we are good to go. Liver enzymes still went up again from yesterday but we are just going to watch them for now. I will have a lot of appointments as outpatient but thats OK! I think that I can handle it-anything is better than this jail cell so to speak. When my doctor came in today he was talking to me about being on bed rest....I was chagrined at this thought and my face probably showed my dismay because he said if you don't think that you can do it we will have to keep you here where I know you are on bed rest. I about freaked out at this thought! I will be fine. I already cleared driving around for the boys and how am I supposed to get to all of these appointments? Do they offer a shuttle service? No I don't think so. That leaves me to drive myself. Oh well.....enough rambling for now. The good thing is that the three of us are doing well.

The Perinatologist was in.....

Well she stopped in and here is the scoop-She said that it is very likely that I will be developing pre-eclampsia in the weeks to come. She doesn't know when and right now she is concerned with the early stages of HELLP syndrome. It is hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet counts. My liver enzymes did go up a little more today and she thinks that it could be the beginning stages of this condition...maybe not but maybe. She is very conservative and I really like her. Anyhow this can all lead to pre-eclampsia. She said that it comes on fast so that is the reason to keep me in the hospital. Her inclination is to keep me but she said since I am a "reliable" patient that she would feel comfortable letting me go home and be monitored three times a week with NST's, blood pressure checks and protein in the urine. On top of that I will be seeing my OB for BPP's (biophysical profiles) and weekly checks. Wow!!! Anyhow, if my 24 hour urine comes back tonight with numbers close to what we had on Friday and the AM labs look basically the same she said that I could go home tomorrow. She said to take it easy and just relax. She is very concerned about my BP going up with all of the running around all the time. I did ask her about a few situations such as shopping and driving the boys to school and she said that it would be OK if I was sitting down. Hello wheelchair!!! I am looking forward to going home and chilling out there! Much more comfy of course. So I have my chin up tonight as I know that the babies are doing well and I am OK.

Now for my little rant...I'm sure you know how I feel about the clinic that I go to. Well none of the docs came to see me today! I am a little upset about that. I mean what up with that? I am a patient. I am in the hospital and they didn't come. I have no idea what they are thinking about any of this. I guess it really doesn't matter as I like the peri so well but come on fella's. Anyhow...I will update more when I get the info.

Still waiting.....

Well I have been waiting to post for more information. I do not have hardly anything for you yet! My liver enzymes did go up again a little. I will have to get the exact amounts. They did do a bunch of blood work today...creatnine clearance, bilirubin level, chem 18, etc. I have to ask the nurse the results of these still. They dont have all of the results in yet and I want to wait unitl they do. I am still here hanging out......doing NOTHING!!!! I am so hoping that they will let me go home tomorrow. That is what is in my plans anyhow. Unless I can sweet talk them today if everything looks OK then why not? I will post more when I know-the doctors come in after hours on the weekdays......

Thank you for your comments

I just want to say thank you all for your comments. I really do appreciate them and I read each one. It is encouraging. Thank you all for stopping in to read up on the saga!

Waiting for the perinatologist opinion

Well here's the deal....Things are about as they were yesterday. All of my NST's look great. Babies are responding well. I get at least three a day....not fun being hooked up to the monitors but at least I get to see their reactions. I started the day again with horrible contractions. I really hate those. Anyhow my liver enzymes went up again. So my doctor said that he can buy me some time but he wasn't sure just how much. He also said that it is a fine line that we must draw between keeping the babies safe and keeping me safe. Ideally you want to walk to the edge of the line and then deliver but where that point is.........He said that he wanted to talk it over with the peri. So now I am just waiting for him to do that to decide what is going on. They said that if they decide to deliver I will have to be transferred to the hospital with a NICU. This hospital where I am at can only accept babies after 32 weeks. I am so hoping that my body can make it at least another 2 weeks. If not more. So now I sit and wait. Just waiting to see what my fate will be and the fate of the babies. I know that they should be OK its just I don't want to have to go through with this if I don't have to.

Today...

Well last night I was able to sleep pretty well. They gave me an ambien and I slept the best I ever have!!! I told the nurse I haven't really slept well since like June! It was good until I was awakened with contractions at 5:30AM. They were pretty strong. I just let them ride thinking Braxton Hicks until I was crying by 6:30AM. I paged the nurse and I said I think we might should hook up the monitor because these contractions are much stronger than the usual ones. Then I was really uncomfortable. I was just going nuts and panicking and bawling. It was horrible. Then they gave me a fluid bolus through my IV and it didn't really help. They kept up every 2-4 minutes until about 10:00 AM. Then I was able to walk around and it really helped to relieve the pain. Then I have been having sporadic contractions throughout the day but not bad ones. I am so ready to go home and have my own bed! My back is killing me and they have no additional padding available. Anyway-My fetal fibronectin came back negative. That is good. Liver enzymes are still elevated and I got my second dose of steroids today. I took a wonderful shower and I feel so good tonight. Just relaxed and enjoying life! My babies are looking good every time they are monitored and they are moving like crazy. Every time I get hooked up they try to run away! It is really funny. I love them so much and I can't wait to meet them!

In the hospital today....

Well I went for the nonstress test today that turned out well-yippie and I asked about all of this swelling. My lower abdomen is swollen up nicely. How weird! What a weird place to swell...anyhow I asked the doctor about it today because it is quite painful to the touch and he said well lets just run some blood work to see how you look there. It turns up the my liver enzymes are elevated. Not a great deal but I guess this is the start of pre-eclampsia. I am considered high risk because I am having twins, I had it with both of my boys, I have chronic high blood pressure without being pregnant, etc. Anyhow, they did put me on the monitor and I am having irregular contractions (very uncomfortable) and they did give me the first shot of steroids to help mature the babies lungs. I will get the second one tomorrow and I have to stay here for 3 days to be monitored and get blood work done. This type of bed rest is really hard! I have no laundry, no dishes...essentially no micro-managing to be done here! They are doing a 24 hour urine on me just to check protein levels. If my liver enzymes stay the same or go down we are good. If on Monday they go up a lot I have to be transferred to a hospital with a NICU and they will be delivered then. I am hoping that everything looks good on Monday. I am not ready to have them yet. Well OK I am but not really. I want to make sure that they are looking good in the lung department! I had a friend bring me my computer so I will have something to do-thank you so much! Well this is the latest and the greatest and I will keep you informed as soon as I know anything else. Oh yeah I did have an ultrasound with the high risk doctor and the tech started to laugh when she looked at Sophie...She has little "chub" rolls!!! You can see them on the black and white u/s!!! It is so cute. I cant wait to meet them! I really can't...........

My complaining....

I feel like crap today. I really feel bad. My back is killing me and I feel so tight that I am going to actually blow up before the kids arrive! I am just sooo tight from them being in the head up position. They really like to stand and push even more! lOL I feel like I am imitating a beached whale when I try to sleep because of all the tossing and turning which was a lot easier when I was not pregnant. I do feel so thankful for these babies and I certainly cannot wait to meet them but every day is a challenge now. I had to sit on the floor to get the laundry out of the dryer today! Also I went to Target to make a quick stop for a Christmas gift that I need and the clerk was very loud and saying "OMG I have never seen a belly that big before-EVER!!!" I was dying. She kept saying things like this and then there were the onlookers....I had several ladies looking at my belly going on and on. It was totally unbelievable. I feel like people are staring where ever I go. When I left the clinic the other day there were a bunch of people looking at me and saying wow it must be any day now eh?? I wanted to chew their faces off but I just smiled and said not yet and kept walking. Not only do I feel like crying half the time....I am just feeling miserable!!! I just can't wait to see these little babies on the outside!!! Well there is my rant for the day.

Todays Appointment

Here is Sophie's foot on Riley's little face-In the movie she is kicking him!!!

This one is of Sophie's little foot kicking Riley's mouth! She was an active little bugger today.

Sophie with her hair showing! The tech said that they have a little bit of hair now.

Sophie scrunched up!!! Look at those chub cheeks will ya???

Sophie with her umbilical cord just under her chin.

Sophie telling us no more photos with her hands over her little face.

This photo was taken when she was opening and closing her little hand and making a fist and then waving "hi". It was so amazing to watch her moving around like this. I could see all of her little fingers! It was so awesome!

This is the best she could get of Riley and it is not because she didn't try!!! Poor baby was being beat up by his sister!!

Both of these photos are of the babies heads together. Sophie's head is right next to Riley's. His is behind her hand.

Well today's visit was a good one for the most part. I always make my ultrasound appointments for Mondays now if at all possible because the good lady is there. She was today and she worked her hardest to get good photos of Riley because he decided (from Sophie's constant kicking his face) that he was going to curl up in a big ball and not show himself very well. I rolled all over the table like some kind of beached whale!!! He still wouldn't do it. Sophie was very adamant that she was going to keep kicking his face and his chest so I can see why he was trying to hide. There is not much room in there now! I am measuring 45 weeks!!! Both babies are still breech and my cervix is measuring 5.45 cm!!! I was hoping for some thinning, some dilating?!?!? no such luck. It is measuring longer now because it doesn't have Riley's head putting pressure on it like it did before. Just an occasional kick here and there. Riley weighs in at 3 lbs 14 oz and Sophie is weighing in at about 4 lbs even. They are a still measuring ahead at 33 weeks (I am currently 29W2D) so the main thing is that they are measuring ahead together. That is what they look for at the growth scan appointments. I have to start to see the doctor every week-joy joy! I am also starting to go in for NST's (non-stress tests) every week. More freaking appointments to add to my schedule!!! Plus I go for the BPP scans every week. I kind of think it is out of control with that but who am I? Just a measly patient!!!!

I am still not sleeping well. I am up a good portion of the night just moving around trying to get comfy...I rock and cry half the time because the back pain is so tremendous. It stinks. Tom is a good help, he rubs my back for me and helps out around the house. It is a great help.

I am trying to get all of my Christmas presents wrapped! I want to do this before it literally is impossible. I can't imagine the fact that I still have about 6 weeks to go! Holy cow!!! Will I be able to move? LOL

The Shower

This is a photo of me and my sis. Glad that she was able to make it....She got the babies each a booster seat for feeding time! They are handy little chairs that you can use before you have to pull out the big guns-high chairs. Thanks Jame!!!

This is a few of my friends diving in!!! Time to chow-I am always ready for that action...

My friend Fay got me the Michigan cheerleader outfit for Sophie and got both babies matching Michigan blankets! They are so cute and I have wanted one of these little outfits for a long time!! It is so darn adorable-Riley will be sporting a Michigan jersey.

Belly photo at 29 weeks and counting. I can't believe it has been 29 weeks already. It has really went by fast.

This cake was so cute! And it tasted really good as well. It isnt that really sweet frosting. Like whipped cream! Yummy!!!

This is a photo of the two bouncy seats that I got from my co-workers. They are really cute! I can't wait to put the babies in them and let them check out the lights and sounds.

Well I had my baby shower with just a few close friends. It was so wonderful! I loved being in the presence of all of the women that attended. It was a great time and we were all able to chat and eat! What could be better? Food and good friends. Some of them I have not seen in a while! All in all I had about 15 people there and it was so neat. I love getting together with friends and it seems that for some I dont see unless it is a baby shower, wedding shower or wedding. Why is that? Why does life have to be so busy these days? We do what we dont want to do and we dont get to do what we want to do! It is really nutty....Anyways....I got so many nice things-I think that the babies are just about set now! Tom was like do we really need anything else? What could we possibly need? Men! I am "nesting"-trying to prepare for every possible problem I could encounter when they are born and who wants to take out two new babies in the dead of winter for some little item that you need but dont have? Not me I assure you! Thank you everyone! Loved having you over!!!

Todays Appointment

Well I went for my BPP today at the clinic and it was the good ultrasound tech however the babies are just to big to get photos right now. I was having contractions while I was there so they sent me to labor and delivery to get checked out and I was having small contractions...I could have told them that-no wait I did!!! LOL Anyways, both babies are head up and feet down. I knew something had changed when it was so tight just under my ribs!!! They are both moving about and doing what they are supposed to be doing. I am miserable because of their position but hey! They are looking good. That is all that matters right now. Still having contractions...I also had a positive UTI so I am on antibiotics for a week to see if that helps with the contractions. Hopefully it will because they are annoying as all get out. I go back on Monday the 12th to see how things are. The doctor was like you have to stay pregnant until then~! I had the fetal fibronectin test done and it came back negative-meaning not likely to have the babies in the next two weeks so that is good. They will start running that test every two weeks just to make sure. I was at the hospital for the better part of the day and let me tell you that those beds are about ridiculous. My back is really sore now. I am just glad that they are doing well. I am looking forward to seeing them next week!!!! I will get a growth report at that visit.

Upcoming appointments

Well I went to the doctors office today and I talked to them about my appointments. I think that we have it all figured out at this point. I go back this coming Monday for another BPP of the babies-that should be interesting because both of them have turned and have their lovely backs facing my front and it is sooooo tight that I feel like the Goodyear blimp!!! Ready to burst. I have been having a lot of the braxton hicks contractions. They do not feel very good at all-very annoying. Alas....the back pain. Ok I wont go into details about that because you all already know how I feel about it and there is no use beating a dead horse. Is it a horse or a cow? Oh I can't remember right now but you get the idea-beating a freakin' dead thing!!! :) Anyhow I also have an appointment to get my 3D ultrasound done again on Nov. 12th. That should be interesting to see what they look like just a few weeks later with a little more fat under their skin! I am so excited to see them again!!!! This time they had their repair man put in a DVD burner. That is what they should have had in the first place-tapes are so obsolete!!!

Babies on Cake

This is a photo of the babies that were on the shower cake. They were just too cute! The boys like hanging on to them and saying that they are going to give the babies to the babies!!!