Monday's Appointment update!

I had a great doctor's appointment on Monday. I was nervous, not knowing what to expect with a Non-Stress Test, but it was really interesting. I was hooked up to 3 monitors: 1 for each baby and 1 to monitor me, to see if I was having contractions. The machine records the babies' heartbeats over 20 - 30 minutes. I was given a button to push when I felt movement. The purpose of the test was to see if the heartbeats increased when when the babies were moving. Both babies did great! Towards the end of the test, the nurse was looking at the machine and asked me "Do you feel that?" It was showing a contraction. My stomach gets really hard, stays that way for a few seconds to a minute then goes back. This is what happened and she said said it was a contraction.
I also had a growth ultrasound. Both babies are now head down (WAY down). I had a feeling that Baby B had turned down because of all the movement I had been feeling lately. I hope they stay in that position. The doctor was joking with me saying they have "big heads" and "they'll be smart". He got approximate measurements for both of them being about 5lbs, 7oz. each!!
Tomorrow, I will technically by 35 weeks which is a point when they babies are developed and there shouldn't be any reason for them to have to go the NICU. I am still hoping to get to 37 or 38 weeks. This break from school has been so good to rest and put my feet up!

I found this picture online showing what fraternal twins look like inside at 36 weeks:

Pretty amazing!!

Days Off and Baby Movement

Our Christmas break this year is 2 weeks starting on December 20th. I'm planning on returning to school after break, but I think I'm being optimistic because that will be my 37th week!
We got some snow and cold temperatures yesterday giving us snow days yesterday and today. We missed all the fun holiday activities at school and I left a lot undone. Oh well!! It was so good to relax and work on some thank you notes.
This morning, I've been enjoying sitting on the couch and watching my belly move and change. Both babies continue to get hiccups and it's really funny to watch and feel that movement. I'm hoping Baby B is moving so much because she is turning head down. I'll find out on Monday the position of both babies. Hopefully, I'll also have a good estimate of when the babies will come!

Here's my most recent picture from a few days ago: 33 weeks.

Thanksgiving and More...

Kenny and I traveled to NY for Thanksgiving this year rather than for Christmas. It was great seeing family while I still was pretty comfortable (for the most part!) We split the drive and spent the night in PA both on Tuesday and on Saturday. It was perfect because I don't think I could have traveled in the car for 8 hours.
On Thanksgiving, we visited with Katie and Tim and got to see our 3 month old nephew Jabin.



On Saturday, my sister and my Mom, with the help of friends and family, hosted a baby shower for me at their church in Victor. I got so many beautiful handmade items along with clothes and lots of baby things! I really was blessed by my family and friends. The shower was perfect!!

Sandra, me, and my mom with the beautiful (and delicious) cake:


My sister-in-law, Amy handmade these bears!



This weekend, Kenny and I worked on the nursery. We bought a window valance and lamp and will be buying so wall decorations soon. It's really starting to come together!

30 Weeks!!

Today I went for a 30 week growth ultrasound. Kenny came with me. The babies have changed positions and Baby A's head is no longer down so low in my right hip. She's almost head down in the "correct" position. Baby B is still breech. Baby A was measured first and was estimated to be approximately 3lbs, 6oz. This is actually a little above average when compared to a single baby at 30 weeks. Baby B measured about 3lbs which was perfect.
My doctor was happy with the sizes of the baby and made another ultrasound appointment and a Non-stress test appointment for 4 weeks from now.

Most days I feel pretty good. I'm getting more and more anxious when I've been looking at the calendar and seeing that January is really not that far away. I'm hoping to make it to 38 weeks which would be around January 13. In all the reading I've done, 38 weeks is a typical delivery time for twins.

Before Kenny and I left the doctor's office today, we got copies of my prenatal records so we're all ready to travel to NY next week for Thanksgiving!!

There was one profile ultrasound picture today, but I haven't scanned it yet. Hopefully I'll do that this weekend....and get another belly picture.

Baby Shower!

Three of my friends threw a baby shower for me today. It was perfect! I am so thankful for getting to know so many wonderful people since moving to Virginia.

This is Jane, Amanda, and Amy: my lovely hostesses!!

The food was delicious, the games were hilarious and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of friends.


The beautiful cake all the way from Roanoke!

Prenatal Classes Etc...

Kenny and I started prenatal classes last week. There are 20 couples and we're the only ones with twins. It's strange to see all the videos and materials related to a single birth and then realize near the end I'll be so much bigger. I was comparing myself to the other women due at the end of January and I AM much bigger. I feel really good and have really only gained "baby weight" all in the front.
I can't wait for my next ultrasound on the 18th. I'm curious to see how much each baby weighs. Every couple of days, my stomach is really tight as if it's stretching. Shirts are definitely becoming tighter!
2 weeks ago, Kenny painted the nursery and put together the cribs. We chose a neutral tan/brown called adobe straw. It has a hint of pink depending on the light. We decided not to do a "pink" room since much of the baby bedding and other things will be pink. Here's a few pictures. The cribs probably won't stay there but we'll do some rearranging once we get more stuff!



We're planning to get some wall hangings and wall decals with flowers and butterflies in pinks and browns. It might even look nice to put names over the beds.
P.S. The names are being kept secret!!

Warm October Weekend

Last weekend, Sandra and Steve came to visit for a couple days. We had a lot of fun! We checked out the new Zeus Digital theater in Waynesboro and were quite impressed with the rocking, "leather" seats. On Sunday, we went to Charlottesville to the Glass Palette. You can make your own piece of glass artwork. It was great and I can't wait to see how the pieces turned out.
On the way to Charlottesville, we stopped at one the the overlooks to take pictures. The weather was beautiful! Here are some of my most recent "belly" pictures. Currently, I am at 27 weeks.

Kicking, Poking, and Tumbling

Sometimes it feels like the babies are doing acrobatics! At different times of the day, there is so much movement. I can tell the difference now between the movement of BABY A (on the bottom: head in my right hip) and BABY B (kind of laying sideways across the top). It's such a strange feeling!

I had a 25 week growth ultrasound today. Both are measuring average in terms of size and weight. One baby is 1 lb, 10 oz. The other is 1 lb, 12 oz.

The doctor was very pleased with the growth of the babies and he said they didn't need to be measured again for another 5 weeks. I will meet another doctor in 3 weeks for a regular appointment.

I was given 2 pictures today.
BABY A: Profile. She is looking up and has her mouth open.



BABY B: Looking straight up and waving!

23 Week Photos

My next doctor's appointment isn't until October 14, but I thought I would write a quick update and add some new pictures.
I can really feel the babies moving now. Kenny has felt little jabs and kicks as well!! A few times, I've even SEEN the movement. It's pretty exciting.
We went to Babies R Us last week to start a registry and were overwhelmed by the cost of buying things for 2 babies at the same time. I feel incredibly fortunate to have great friends and a wonderful sister who are organizing baby showers for me in November.
I've been feeling really good lately so I'm trying to get some things done (at school and home) while I still have energy. My first grade class is great but it is tiring working with seventeen 6-year-olds all day!
Here is a 23 week picture:

Anatomy Ultrasound: 21 weeks!

On Thursday, Kenny and I went to the Fetal Care Center in Charlottesville for an in-depth ultrasound to look at the anatomy of both babies. When we first got in, I asked the technician if we could find out the sex of the babies. The technician was incredibly skilled and talked through everything that we were looking at at. I was amazed to see the 4 chambers of the heart and the valves pumping blood through. The bones of the arms and legs and of the spine were so clear. We could see fingers and toes! Internal organs were studied and measurements were taken of everything.
Baby A was first, and we found out she is a GIRL!! After lots of measurements of Baby B, we found out she's a GIRL too!! I'm so excited and Kenny is thrilled!

At the end of the ultrasound, the babies were measured. Baby A is 13 oz. and Baby B is 14oz. This is normal for 21 weeks of pregnancy. We were given 12 pictures and I'll post a few here.

Baby A: Profile


Baby A: Leg


Baby B: Profile


Baby B: Fist by Face

20 Week Appointment

Today I had a regular doctor's appointment. I always look forward to hearing the heartbeats. Two loud, distinct heartbeats at 150 beats per minute were heard along with some other sounds. I laughed and the doctor said they were moving around. They probably didn't like being pushed and prodded with the Doppler instrument.

I've been having some upper abdominal pain (which I've had off and on for years!). It seems to have gotten worse being pregnant. Next Thursday morning, I have a gall bladder ultrasound check to see if that is causing the pain, but the BIG ultrasound is in the afternoon.

I'm so excited! We'll find out if the babies are boys, girls, or one of each. It's going to be a 2 hour appointment where everything is checked. I'll definitely post some pictures after next week.

Belly Photo!!

Tomorrow marks 19 weeks and technically one more week and then I'm half-way! The past week has definitely had its ups and downs. School started 2 weeks ago and then I had a terrible sickness. It started with a sore throat and fever, moved to 'pink eye', then to laryngitis. After lots of rest over the weekend, I feel like this will be a healthier week.

I wore a new shirt to work today and got lots of positive comments. I have to give credit to Kenny as he is the one who picked it out. Here's a 19 week belly photo. I feel like I've grown so much in just a week or so!

I think I'm starting to feel the babies too! "I think" because I'm not entirely sure. There are flutters and movements that are definitely new!

17 Weeks!

School started on Wednesday and I am exhausted after working with 18 first graders. What a great group of kids but I don't have a chance to sit (except during read aloud!) I need to consciously think about eating snacks and drinking water!

I had my 17 week appointment today and have been gaining weight well. By the end, the doctor wants me to gain close to 35 pounds. So far it has been about 12. For the first time in my life, I am excited when the scale goes up!!

Today was just an appointment to listen and measure the babies' heartbeats. It is so amazing to hear 2 distinctly different heartbeats. Both were a similar rate of approximately 160 beats per minute.

I talked with the doctor about some concerns but everything seems to be going well.

I will try to post another "belly" picture soon. I took my camera to school but will hopefully have one this weekend. Last weekend, Kenny and I went shopping for some new maternity clothes so I'll have to show them off!

Elastic Waistbands are Heavenly!

I'm not really showing very much yet but my regular capri pants and shorts don't fit. I've been wearing stretchy gym shorts almost every day!
Yesterday, I decided it was time to get some nice maternity shorts or capris. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the big belly panel but trying them on, all I could say was "Ahhh." I didn't want to take them off and just stood in the dressing room for a few minutes. I ended up getting 2 pairs of bermuda shorts that I'll be able to wear during back-to-school week as well as during the first few weeks of school. I need to find some nice pants that I can wear through the fall and winter.
I never thought I would be so in love with elastic waistbands!

13 week Appointment

Kenny came with me today for my checkup. We heard the heartbeat of each twin. They weren't going to do an ultrasound, but since Kenny came, I asked if they could. It was so amazing to see both babies looking more like people! Facial features, arms and legs, spines and heartbeats were clear and easy to see. Baby B was sideways and then turned upward to face us. Baby A was below and it was a little harder to get a good picture.

Here's a good picture of Baby B with a hand near his/her face.



This is a close-up of Baby A. I think the head is on the left side of the picture looking up. Kenny thinks the head is on the right side. Hmmm...either way, everything looks good!

They are both measuring over 6 cm now (about 3 inches). It's crazy to think that at my very first ultrasound at 6 weeks, they were about 5 mm!

First Pregnancy "Belly Shot"

My sister-in-law, Katie, wanted to take a "belly photo" of me while we were in Georgia.

Two Heartbeats?

In April, I decided to visit the Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Center of Charlottesville, wondering if something was wrong and to see if there was a reason why I had not gotten pregnant. After some tests and a prescription, I had a positive test on May 15!



On June 1, Kenny and I went to Charlottesville to have an "early pregnancy scan". The doctor saw one heartbeat, moved the scope and saw a 2nd one! On June 8, there were definitely 2 heartbeats at a second ultrasound.
I visited a new doctor on June 17 where I was given a due date of January 27. The babies measured 8 weeks and 2 days.