Babies Update

Yesterday Jake and I spent the day at doctor appointments at UVA for the little ones.

First up, a regular ob/gyn appointment for me. I'm healthy, happy, blood pressure is great, my stomach is HUGE. I was measuring at 40-41 weeks along (So if this was a singleton, I'd be DONE.) All we're waiting on is the results from my 3 hour GD test, but I can get those on my thursday appointment in Big City.

Then on to the fetal echocardiogram. It was amazing to see how much bigger their hearts have gotten in a month. There's been no changes, Chucky-Sue's heart is fine, Angelina's heart has an unlabeled single ventricle heart defect. Because of her uncooperative position they couldn't get a good view of the arteries and where they lead off to. The doctors are just trying to find out as much as possible before the birth, preparation is key to plan the surgeries- no one wants a surprise during surgery. The cardiologist is very happy that Angelina's heart is reactive, it rose when they got her mad with the ultrasound wand, and lowered when she fell asleep. It looks like it's a bad situation, but the best conditions this bad situation could have. (if that makes any sense?)

Last was our very long ultrasound. (Basically everyone in UVA saw me on a table with my shirt up and belly covered in sonic gel.) Chucky-Sue is a little chub-a-lub, she's measuring 5lb 1oz, with major chipmunk cheeks. Angelina is about the same length, but much skinner, she's at 3lb 9oz. She likes to keep her feet and hands by her face, so we didn't get a great look there. the tech and the doctor both commented on how much hair both babies have- I'm glad they got my hair genes ;) again, Angelina's scrunched up position made it difficult to see all the organs, they saw adrenal glands, but no clear cut picture of kidneys or bladder, but still there has to be SOMETHING, as Evelyn still has fluid around her. My Big City doctors are will be starting the non-stress tests after my appointments now, to make sure the low fluid around Angelina isn't affecting her too much.

So all in all, no new news is very good news. I have another appointment with them in a month, to hammer out details of the leg/bladder/kidney surgery(ies?) and the actual birth. (as it's looking to little Miss Diva Chucky-Sue is perfectly happy hanging out in a breech or transverse positions, she's pushed Angelina into a tiny scrunched ball under my right ribs)

It was great to see how big they are, and marvel at how much they move, jiggle and jump in there. They are a wonderful, miraculous blessing and we cannot wait to see them :)

Double your pleasure, Double your fun

At my high risk ultrasound yesterday the tech gave us the BIGGEST shock ever. I was VERY lucky I was lying down when she told me because I was close to fainting. Jake and I are having TWINS.

In case you misread that, that's TWO BABIES.

I'll let you have a moment to drink that in.


Ready? okay.

I am constantly see-sawing between deliriously happy and scared beyond all belief. We had just hammered out how we were going to afford the one baby, and it was going to be tight but right now caring and raising two babies just seems impossible! Not to mention the fact that we have a hard enough time keeping a single baby in my uterus long enough, let alone two. Our heads are just swimming with all this new information. The ultrasound said everyone was growing just fine, they each had their own healthy placenta. Baby A is a girl, and a VERY active one. She wiggled, danced and squirmed during the entire ordeal. Baby B was very modest and refused to give us a good shot, so we don't know the gender yet. S/he was much more laid back and didn't want to move around much (possibly because her/his sister was going nuts!)

Thankfully I do have an aunt who had twin girls just before Jake and I got married, and we have friends in our ward who've had twins and just warning you guys- We'll be bugging you for advice, information and tips A LOT.

Two. Deux. Dos. TWINS

Children's Books that didn't QUITE get published.

1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly.
12. That's it, I'm Putting You Up for Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will
21. "Pop! Goes The Hamster!"...And Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man in the Moon Is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to Be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things


Bolded ones are my personal favorites and kind wish were real. (I edited some titles that were too bad, even for my twisted sense of humor.)

No one warned me about these round ligament pains. Not a funny trick ladies! :)

Camera Shy Baby

So we had a bit of excitement today at my doctor's appointment. I'm 12 weeks and a few days and the doctor was expecting to be able to catch the lil booger's heartbeat. But apparently, my own heartbeat is very loud in that area, and I was getting more nervous as it went on and my heart rate was getting faster and louder, thus not being able to make out the little baby heartbeat.

The Doctor then scheduled me for an ultrasound that afternoon (Thank you SO much Kay!) Thankfully, baby is doing GREAT. S/he has a strong heartbeat, but HATES ultrasound. S/he kept squirming away from the wand and turning his/her back to us. I did get to see his/her feet and toes. They look a lot less blobby than last time! Though it still has Jake's big head. :) It is very cool how the baby has a personality this early.

Thanksgiving Vacation

So finally after months of planning and a previous trip being canceled in the summer- Jake and I are visiting my side of the family for thanksgiving! I'm very excited. Amazingly, we found decently priced plane tickets this close to the start of holiday travelling. We were expecting to have to take the greyhound (never EVER again.)

We're going to be up there for about 3.75 days and I'm looking forward to Jake finally meeting my high school friends and extended family! I'll also get to my mom's new cat Gracie (think she's trying to replace me with a cat that rhymes with my name??) and see Mae behind the wheel.

Other than that, life has gone by as normal. I have another doctor appoint on the 14th to check up on the peanut- then the BIG ultrasound is right after thanksgiving- we'll find out what flavor kid we got!


side story: I've recently become readdicted to neopets.com. I know it's a kids website now- but the games are so much fun!!

My good luck had to run out...

Since I found out I was pregnant, I have had very slight symptoms. Practically no morning sickness, no annoying aches or pains. I felt very lucky that all I had was a bit of fatigue. Well Mother Nature must have thought I was getting too cocky about it, cause she hit me with the worst sickness I have EVER had in my life yesterday. Stomachache, headache, and nauseated ALL day. I don't know which I would prefer, a little sick all the time, or that sick for one day, and I can just hope that neither happens. :)

I don't know how my mom even considered having another one after being so sick with me- there is only so much I can take!!

So if you haven't heard by now...

you've been living in a cave!! I'm sure between Facebook and  the Moms, the entire world knows.

So last Monday, Michael and I found out that I am pregnant!! It was definitely a mixed emotions moment. We're still both terrified out of our minds, happy as all get out, and nervous for everything that can still go wrong. This darling child was a a year or so earlier than we were hoping, but very very welcome :)

So lay it on me moms, Advice, tips, cautions, ideas. We need them all!