Week 17

How Far Along: 17 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Around 5 inches and 5 ounces. About the size of onions or baked potatoes.

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Weight Gain: 9-11.5 pounds, depends on the morning.  It really fluctuates.

Belly: My uterus is in the center of my belly button.  A week ago at the Dr.'s office I was measuring 19 cm, which is 19 weeks.  I imagine I've grown a cm and week since then.

Stretch Marks: None, yet.  My boobs are stating to itch, so I imagine I will get some there before too long.

Sleep: As soon as I can run and hide in bed.  I wake up 2-3 times a night to pee or just because I feel uncomfortable.  I guess this lack of sleep is my bodies way of starting to prepare me for the future.

Best Moment of the Week: For the first time, I was sitting and could feel the babies move. I usually have to lay on my back and poke around to feel flutters. They were doing jumping jacks. Zac and Abby could see my belly move a little on the left side. Not sure why, but they usually hang out on the left side. More comfy, I guess.  I can't believe how well I feel them now.  It's so fascinating and exciting!  I've never experienced this before.

Movement:  I just wrote about it.  It was my favorite moment of the week!

Symptoms: No dairy and I'm mostly better.  My empty stomach still makes me sick every morning.

Food Cravings: Pop tarts.  I've eaten 2 packs (4 pop tarts) this week.  And CHOCOLATE!  The Maple Leaf store in Camden has chocolate way too close to the checkout.  I ate way too many peanuts with carmel covered in chocolate.  How I'm not gaining a ton of weight, I'm not sure.  I eat healthy meals, but my snacks are not as healthy.

Genders: We will find out next week!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc).  Sleeping through the night.

What I'm Looking Forward to: The moment when Shawn and the kids can feel the babies move too.

Weekly Wisdom: Not all puking is morning sickness.  Sometimes its the stomach flu.  It was not fun!

Milestones: Feeling flutters without poking around.

Emotions: I still cry easily. Especially when I'm tired, which is all of the time. Shawn is not allowed to say any slightly snide remarks.  They make me bawl.

~Sam

Quad Screen

My results came back.  Everything was normal except I have a slightly higher risk of down syndrome.  I was listed at 1 in 200.  That a 0.5% chance of it.  The Dr. said that I was slightly above normal and he wasn't too concerned.  So, when I have my ultrasound next week, I get a level 2 ultrasound instead of a level 1.  This just means they are going to be more thorough and measure the babies bones, hearts, etc carefully.  If you Google it, you can read about how unreliable these tests are, especially if you are having more than one baby.  If the Dr. wasn't too concerned, I'm not too concerned.

I had the stomach flu today.  It was horrible.  I ate some noodles for supper and I'm feeling a little better.  This was the first time I've been sick all school year.  I was hoping to make it the whole year without getting sick.  Almost made it.

Have a great night!

~Sam

OB Appointment

I had my 16 week OB appointment this afternoon.  Let me tell you, I was dying to pee in that little cup by the time I got there.  BP was perfect.  I gained 4 pounds in 4 weeks, which my Dr. was fine with. We "think" we found both heartbeats.  He said I have "very active babies". As soon as he'd find a heartbeat, the baby would swim away. He was chasing them across my belly.  He measured me and my uterus is officially measuring 19 weeks.  3 weeks ahead.  I had some labs for my quad test.

My next appointment is in 2 weeks when we get to have the next ultrasound.  It's my screening ultrasound and we find out the sexes of the babies.  I can't wait.  I pray they are growing normally and they are healthy!!!

I think that's it.

Have a great afternoon!

~Sam

16 weeks

Baby Center

Week 16

In my defense, I forgot I needed to take a picture.  I am bloated here from just eating a plate of spaghetti.  Yes, I'm getting huge already!

How Far Along: 16 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Around 4.5 inches.  About the size of avocados.

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Weight Gain: 11-11.5 pounds

Belly: My uterus is in the center of my belly button now.  My belly is getting bigger and bigger.  Shawn was nice enough to say that its the only part of me getting bigger, so far!

Stretch Marks: None, yet.

Sleep: As soon as I can run and hide in bed.

Best Moment of the Week: Small flutters and I have an OB appointment.

Movement:  If I lay on my back, push around on my belly, then lay still, I can feel some small flutters with baby on the left.  Which, they move around so much, I'm not sure if they switch spots or now.

Symptoms: I'm doing better after giving up dairy.  Mornings are still yucky.

Food Cravings: Anything salty, which I'm trying to avoid.

Genders: We will find out when I'm 18 weeks. Babies, you better lay the right way!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc).

What I'm Looking Forward to: I can't wait to feel the babies move all of the time without having to poke around.

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure something doesn't have cheese in it before eating it.

Milestones: Feeling flutters and realizing I have 2 growing babies in my belly!

Emotions: I still cry easily. Especially when I'm tired. I get grouchy too.

~Sam

Sunday

It's so pretty out today.  Yesterday was cold.  The kids picked up rocks in the yard and Shawn is mowing now.  I want to clean out my pond and start over with fresh water, but its too cold yet.  I got it done over spring break last year.  I wish it would get warmer and stay warmer.  Zac and Abby are doing great.  They are doing well in school.  Abby loves dance.  Zac's started baseball practice.  Shawn is assistant coach of his team.  They are the Rockies.  I can't believe baseball is here already.  Shawn is doing well.  We can't complain.

I am 15 weeks 3 days and things are going well.  I recently gave up all dairy and my morning sickness has gotten better.  I noticed I felt awful when drinking milk or eating cheese and it was getting worse.  I cut all dairy out and I'm not as sick.  I still have nausea, but at least I'm not puking all day every day.  I still get sick in the morning.  Usually if I allow myself to be sick, I feel better in a few hours.  I can go to bed with a full tummy, but once its completely empty in the morning, it makes me ill.  Stomach acid is not a pleasant taste first thing in the morning.  I know, more than you wanted to know.

I've gained 10 pounds.  I keep reading that I need to gain 24 pounds by 24 weeks to decrease the chance of preterm labor and low birth weight.  If that's the case, I need to gain 14 pounds in 9 weeks.  I eat all of the time.  Granted, I'm making sure I eat healthy, but I'm surprised I haven't gained more.  I'm going to try and gain be at 24 pounds by 24 weeks.

Oh!  I keep reading about this "increase in energy in the second trimester".  I'm still waiting.  I'm exhausted and want to sleep all of the time.  I think its a myth.

That's about it here.  Have a wonderful week!

Sam

15 Weeks

How Far Along: 15 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Around 4-4.5 inches. About the size of oranges.

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Weight Gain: 10 Pounds. It just keeps going up.

Belly: I'm looking pregnant. My belly has rounded.  My uterus is now measuring around 20 weeks, according to this chart. I'm just below the belly button.

Stretch Marks: None, yet.  My belly and breast are starting to itch.

Sleep: As soon as I can run and hide in bed.

Best Moment of the Week: When I can go to bed.  What is this about more energy in the 2nd trimester?  I have yet to see it.

Movement: The babies are moving. If I lay on my back, push around on my belly, then lay still, I can feel some small flutters. I don't always feel them.  I've never felt baby on the right, yet.

Symptoms: I still have to take a pill every morning.  My stomach is empty in the morning, so it makes me sick.  I wish crackers would be enough first thing.  I need to figure out what works so I can stop the pills.

Food Cravings: All food!  I feel like I'm constantly starving.  I really want chocolate.  I haven't had any for a few days.  My carrot stick snack every day is not chocolate.

Genders: We will find out when I'm 18 weeks. Babies, you better lay the right way!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc).

What I'm Looking Forward to: I can't wait to feel the babies move all of the time without having to poke around.

Weekly Wisdom:  Don't stay up to watch the final 4 our watch the ACM awards.  So, not worth it!

Milestones: Feeling flutters and realizing I have 2 orange sized babies in my belly!

Emotions: I still cry easily. Especially when I'm tired. I get grouchy too.  I have the craziest dreams!

~Sam

100 Days

The twins are 100 days old.  180 days to go before my due date!

14 Weeks

I'm 14 weeks tomorrow.  Close enough...

I think its safe to say I "popped".  This picture is 13 weeks 6 days.

How Far Along: 14 weeks with twins!

How big are the babies: Around 3.5 inches. About the size of lemons.  http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-14-weeks_1103.bc

Maternity Clothes: I think I "popped".  I don't think I want to attempt to put on regular pants.

Weight Gain: 8-9 pounds  (I blame "popping" and major constipation)

Belly: I'm looking pregnant.  My belly has rounded.  It sticks out on top too.  It's getting firm on the top.  Not sure why.  I guess everything is pushing up.  My uterus is now measuring around 18 weeks.  Last week I was about 3 weeks ahead.  This week I'm 4 weeks ahead.  At this rate, I'm going to be huge in no time!

Stretch Marks: None, yet.

Sleep: As soon as I can run and hide in bed.

Best Moment of the Week: Showing and feeling small flutters.

Movement: The babies are moving.  If I lay on my back, push around on my belly, then lay still, I can feel some small flutters.  I don't always feel them.  It did not feel like gas to me, so I put the fetal doppler on the spot I felt the flutter.  Sure enough, there was a heartbeat there.  That was so exiting for me!

Symptoms: I still have to take a pill every morning.  I came home and puked my guts out last night after baseball practice and dance.  I was trying to avoid taking a second pill.  I gave in after that.

Food Cravings: Pop tarts.  I've wanted them for a week now.  I ate a blueberry one last night.  I want another one, but I know they are horrible for you.  I need to wait a couple of days before having another one.

Genders: We will find out when I'm 18 weeks. Babies, you better lay the right way!

What I Miss: Not worrying about what I eat (deli, etc).

What I'm Looking Forward to: I can't wait to feel the babies move all of the time without having to poke around.

Weekly Wisdom: My super amazing husband is still helping cook.  He is grilling pork chops tonight.  Isn't he awesome?

Milestones: Feeling flutters and realizing I have 2 lemon sized babies in my belly!

Emotions: I still cry easily. Especially when I'm tired.  I get grouchy too.

~Sam