Hubby and I have decided on first names, but we are still trying to figure out middle names. Middle names are so useless. I was only ever called by my middle name if I was in trouble. I've wondered how it would effect the kiddos if they just didn't have a middle name. I think it would make life rough for them as adults since so many forms, credit, etc require a middle initial. We've gone through family names, but can't decide.
I'm going to reveal the two names we've picked out...and I ask that you pretty please, with sprinkles on top, let me know any suggestions you have for the middle names. Our last name has three syllables.
They are:
Baby A: Kaitlyn
Baby B: Natalie
Bring on the suggestions!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Crabby pants
I have been crabby this week. I know part of it is lack of sleep, but not only that I feel like I'm running around all the time.
I've had four appointments in the last week to go to, and that means missing work. I'm trying to save up my paid time, so I was trying to make up the missed hours by staying late and working through my lunch hour. By the time the end of the day rolls around I'm exhausted. Hubby isn't 100% yet, and he's spends most of his time laying in bed...so that means I'm forced to stay out in the "living area" with our 3 dogs. They are not allowed down the hall and can't be trusted to be left unattended, so that means I get to hang out with them. I would love nothing more than to come home from work and be able to veg out in bed watching TV. PLUS, since Hubby has come home from the hospital I've been camping out in the "nursery" with a mattress on the floor. It isn't horrible, but definitely not as comfortable as my real bed and I can hear the dogs in their crates, cars driving by, the furnace kicking on and off in the garage, etc. I do not sleep well in there. Not to mention trying to heave my growing body up off the floor in the middle of the night to pee...
To top it off this week two of our three dogs have been sick for a couple of days. Last night we were tag teaming cleaning up their vomit and poop. It was so gross. Tonight one of them is about 75% better, but the other one is still pretty sick. This week we've probably washed their bedding at least 5 times - no exaggeration. It is so frustrating, but obviously it's not their fault...
Last night I had the lights out and fell asleep about 9:30. At 10:30 one of the hounds started barking. I let him outside and went back to bed. I think I fell right back to sleep. Then at 2:30 another one started whining and scratching in his crate. I asked Hubby to check in on them. He did, but I couldn't fall back to sleep. I was probably 3:30 before I did. I had to get up a little early this morning to go to the dentist. I was a zombie all day. My brain was just mush. I kept making stupid mistakes and I even went to set my bowl of oatmeal on my desk and completely missed. Thankfully it landed flat on the floor and just splattered a little instead of turning over and dumping out. I only had a little to wipe off my pants.
Anyway, I suppose I should quit whining. I just feel like I'm so tired I'm on the verge of tears constantly. I'm sure some of you can relate. I'm tempted to take a Benadryl tonight and sleep for like 12 hours. Thank God tomorrow is Friday!
I've had four appointments in the last week to go to, and that means missing work. I'm trying to save up my paid time, so I was trying to make up the missed hours by staying late and working through my lunch hour. By the time the end of the day rolls around I'm exhausted. Hubby isn't 100% yet, and he's spends most of his time laying in bed...so that means I'm forced to stay out in the "living area" with our 3 dogs. They are not allowed down the hall and can't be trusted to be left unattended, so that means I get to hang out with them. I would love nothing more than to come home from work and be able to veg out in bed watching TV. PLUS, since Hubby has come home from the hospital I've been camping out in the "nursery" with a mattress on the floor. It isn't horrible, but definitely not as comfortable as my real bed and I can hear the dogs in their crates, cars driving by, the furnace kicking on and off in the garage, etc. I do not sleep well in there. Not to mention trying to heave my growing body up off the floor in the middle of the night to pee...
To top it off this week two of our three dogs have been sick for a couple of days. Last night we were tag teaming cleaning up their vomit and poop. It was so gross. Tonight one of them is about 75% better, but the other one is still pretty sick. This week we've probably washed their bedding at least 5 times - no exaggeration. It is so frustrating, but obviously it's not their fault...
Last night I had the lights out and fell asleep about 9:30. At 10:30 one of the hounds started barking. I let him outside and went back to bed. I think I fell right back to sleep. Then at 2:30 another one started whining and scratching in his crate. I asked Hubby to check in on them. He did, but I couldn't fall back to sleep. I was probably 3:30 before I did. I had to get up a little early this morning to go to the dentist. I was a zombie all day. My brain was just mush. I kept making stupid mistakes and I even went to set my bowl of oatmeal on my desk and completely missed. Thankfully it landed flat on the floor and just splattered a little instead of turning over and dumping out. I only had a little to wipe off my pants.
Anyway, I suppose I should quit whining. I just feel like I'm so tired I'm on the verge of tears constantly. I'm sure some of you can relate. I'm tempted to take a Benadryl tonight and sleep for like 12 hours. Thank God tomorrow is Friday!
Monday, January 25, 2010
The gender scan...
We had our ultrasound today measuring the babes. It was a pretty thorough one. He looked for the chambers of the heart, the bladder, the stomach, measured the leg and arm bones, the scull, etc. Oh and he looked at the genders.
Drum roll please....they are both the same gender....
....he's about 80% sure...that...they...are...girls!!!
They were super squirmy and he had a hard time getting a good shot, but from the looks of it they don't have turtles. He said we'll check again in 4 weeks to see with 99% accuracy what they are.
I'm just in shock. I never imagined two girls. I thought boy/girl or boy/boy. When he said the first was a girl I thought for sure the second would be a boy. Believe me, I am very, very excited about girls, but part of me is sad that there isn't a boy. Oh well. I'm not complaining!!
Everything looked good today on the u/s. All the measurements looked good. Even my cervix was good. I think it was about 4.9 or something.
Next u/s is in two weeks to check my cervix again. I may even do a glucose test, or I may wait for 24 weeks. We'll see.
Drum roll please....they are both the same gender....
....he's about 80% sure...that...they...are...girls!!!
They were super squirmy and he had a hard time getting a good shot, but from the looks of it they don't have turtles. He said we'll check again in 4 weeks to see with 99% accuracy what they are.
I'm just in shock. I never imagined two girls. I thought boy/girl or boy/boy. When he said the first was a girl I thought for sure the second would be a boy. Believe me, I am very, very excited about girls, but part of me is sad that there isn't a boy. Oh well. I'm not complaining!!
Everything looked good today on the u/s. All the measurements looked good. Even my cervix was good. I think it was about 4.9 or something.
Next u/s is in two weeks to check my cervix again. I may even do a glucose test, or I may wait for 24 weeks. We'll see.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Blood Pressure Appointment
This morning I got up at 4:50am to get ready to head to Seattle for some testing at the Univ. of WA Medical Center. You may remember from my last OB appointment that my blood pressure was high once. I laid down for about 10 mins, and it came back down to normal. From that appointment, Dr. M decided to send me to the UW to have a specialist check me out.
I got up there a little early and they actually brought me back 15 mins before my scheduled appointment! That never happens! Anyway, I was brought back to a room where I laid on a bed and the nurse performed an ultrasound of my aorta and something else at the base of my neck. With some calculations she figured out that my blood pressure it high because I have so much fluid trying to get through. She compared it to a garden hose hooked to a fire hydrant.
Last week I collected my urine for 24 hours in a jug. From that they determined I already have protein in my urine. That is because the fire hydrant is pushing so much through the garden hose that it is causing small holes in my kidneys for proteins to spill out - or something like that.
I was sitting in a chair in the room and the doc had me move up to the table. I climbed up and he put his fingers on either side of my neck. He asked if I ever noticed throbbing in my neck when I stand up. I said sometimes. He said that is not normal. I could feel while his fingers were there that my pulse was pounding hard. He prescribed a low dose of Atenol (25mg twice a day) to help my bp. He said one possible side effect (of a regular dose) is a slow growth rate for the babies. So he will get the results from the u/s I'm scheduled to have on Monday and then I'll have another u/s before I go back to see him in 8 weeks and they'll compare the growth rate and determine what to do next.
My ankles have been swollen almost everyday in the last couple of weeks (it started when Hubs went to the hospital). It generally goes down overnight, but not always all the way. I need to make sure I'm not consuming too much salt, like canned soup, and prepackaged food, etc. I'm to stay on the perimeter of the grocery store when I shop. I generally do anyway, but I'll have to make more of an effort. I've also been told to lay down a couple of times a day to help my bp stay lower.
Of course I'm supposed to watch for warning signs like sudden swelling of my face, or ankles and fingers that don't go down at all over night. I'm also to call my doc if I see stars while sitting or standing (not necessarily when standing up from bending or sitting).
If things get worse, I'm assuming the next step is bed rest. If that doesn't work the only cure from preeclampsia/toxemia is delivery of the babes. I'm guessing I'm not in too much trouble at the moment since the UW doc doesn't want to see me again for 8 weeks. I just hope it stays that way.
Good news from the appointment, my glucose was fine. I got my finger pricked and it came back at 87 (I think we were looking for something below 100). I had eaten some yogurt and a banana in the car that morning. The nurse said that was plenty of sugar to raise it if I had a problem. I'm so glad it was fine.
My office has been really flexible with me. We have a couch in our break room and I can go down there whenever I want to lay down. We have an event coming up in a couple of weeks. I generally work about 16 hours that day. My boss told me she doesn't want me there this year. She'd rather I just stay at the office so I don't have to be on my feet or stress or lift anything unnecessary. Excellent!
Well I think that about wraps up my appointment. In other news my round ligament pain seems to have calmed down some. Although, I did get a baaaad charlie horse in my calf at about 1am this morning. It hurt so bad, and it even made my calf sore all day. I've also been feeling the babies more. I think *maybe* once I felt someone move on the outside. Everytime I feel strong movement I reach on my belly to try to feel something. Hubby is so jealous that I get to feel them all the time and he can't. I know it won't be too much longer until he can though.
My next OB appointment is on Monday. I'm crossing my fingers the babies won't be shy and we can see what gender they are. I can't wait to see them again!
Aight, that's enough blogging for now. I'll keep you posted on my appointment on Monday!!
I got up there a little early and they actually brought me back 15 mins before my scheduled appointment! That never happens! Anyway, I was brought back to a room where I laid on a bed and the nurse performed an ultrasound of my aorta and something else at the base of my neck. With some calculations she figured out that my blood pressure it high because I have so much fluid trying to get through. She compared it to a garden hose hooked to a fire hydrant.
Last week I collected my urine for 24 hours in a jug. From that they determined I already have protein in my urine. That is because the fire hydrant is pushing so much through the garden hose that it is causing small holes in my kidneys for proteins to spill out - or something like that.
I was sitting in a chair in the room and the doc had me move up to the table. I climbed up and he put his fingers on either side of my neck. He asked if I ever noticed throbbing in my neck when I stand up. I said sometimes. He said that is not normal. I could feel while his fingers were there that my pulse was pounding hard. He prescribed a low dose of Atenol (25mg twice a day) to help my bp. He said one possible side effect (of a regular dose) is a slow growth rate for the babies. So he will get the results from the u/s I'm scheduled to have on Monday and then I'll have another u/s before I go back to see him in 8 weeks and they'll compare the growth rate and determine what to do next.
My ankles have been swollen almost everyday in the last couple of weeks (it started when Hubs went to the hospital). It generally goes down overnight, but not always all the way. I need to make sure I'm not consuming too much salt, like canned soup, and prepackaged food, etc. I'm to stay on the perimeter of the grocery store when I shop. I generally do anyway, but I'll have to make more of an effort. I've also been told to lay down a couple of times a day to help my bp stay lower.
Of course I'm supposed to watch for warning signs like sudden swelling of my face, or ankles and fingers that don't go down at all over night. I'm also to call my doc if I see stars while sitting or standing (not necessarily when standing up from bending or sitting).
If things get worse, I'm assuming the next step is bed rest. If that doesn't work the only cure from preeclampsia/toxemia is delivery of the babes. I'm guessing I'm not in too much trouble at the moment since the UW doc doesn't want to see me again for 8 weeks. I just hope it stays that way.
Good news from the appointment, my glucose was fine. I got my finger pricked and it came back at 87 (I think we were looking for something below 100). I had eaten some yogurt and a banana in the car that morning. The nurse said that was plenty of sugar to raise it if I had a problem. I'm so glad it was fine.
My office has been really flexible with me. We have a couch in our break room and I can go down there whenever I want to lay down. We have an event coming up in a couple of weeks. I generally work about 16 hours that day. My boss told me she doesn't want me there this year. She'd rather I just stay at the office so I don't have to be on my feet or stress or lift anything unnecessary. Excellent!
Well I think that about wraps up my appointment. In other news my round ligament pain seems to have calmed down some. Although, I did get a baaaad charlie horse in my calf at about 1am this morning. It hurt so bad, and it even made my calf sore all day. I've also been feeling the babies more. I think *maybe* once I felt someone move on the outside. Everytime I feel strong movement I reach on my belly to try to feel something. Hubby is so jealous that I get to feel them all the time and he can't. I know it won't be too much longer until he can though.
My next OB appointment is on Monday. I'm crossing my fingers the babies won't be shy and we can see what gender they are. I can't wait to see them again!
Aight, that's enough blogging for now. I'll keep you posted on my appointment on Monday!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Graco Stroller Recall
Pass this along...I just read it on our local news Web site:
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/82160822.html
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/82160822.html
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A new experience
"Hello round ligament pain. It's so not nice to meet you."
I don't know if I just over did it, or if it was bound to happen anyway but this afternoon I was getting out of my car and holy moly! From around my groin-ish area up through my right side of my stomach is pain. If I walk around a little bit it gets better, but it's definitely the worst right when I stand up.
I called the doc just to make sure and the person I spoke to reassured me that it's normal. Dr. Google reassured me too. Seems to be pretty common to start during the second trimester.
Last night I hauled in a 30lb bag of dog food (normally Hubby would, but since he can't lift more than 10 lbs right now...). Then this morning for work I had to go to a seminar which involved me hauling in the materials (with a hand truck), setting up, and hauling it all away. It was after that when I got back into town that I experienced the pain.
I'm guessing it was inevitable, but probably last night an today made it happen sooner. Either way, not fun...
Anyway, I just thought I'd share. Now I'll get back to eating my lovely dinner of pistachios, cherries and chocolate ice cream (not at the same time of course!).
I don't know if I just over did it, or if it was bound to happen anyway but this afternoon I was getting out of my car and holy moly! From around my groin-ish area up through my right side of my stomach is pain. If I walk around a little bit it gets better, but it's definitely the worst right when I stand up.
I called the doc just to make sure and the person I spoke to reassured me that it's normal. Dr. Google reassured me too. Seems to be pretty common to start during the second trimester.
Last night I hauled in a 30lb bag of dog food (normally Hubby would, but since he can't lift more than 10 lbs right now...). Then this morning for work I had to go to a seminar which involved me hauling in the materials (with a hand truck), setting up, and hauling it all away. It was after that when I got back into town that I experienced the pain.
I'm guessing it was inevitable, but probably last night an today made it happen sooner. Either way, not fun...
Anyway, I just thought I'd share. Now I'll get back to eating my lovely dinner of pistachios, cherries and chocolate ice cream (not at the same time of course!).
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
belated 16w u/s pic
Sorry I forgot to post these. I didn't get any new pics at my 18w appointment. Hopefully I'll get new ones at 20 weeks.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 11, 2010
18w appointment
**heavy sigh**
The babies are looking good, and so is my cervix. That, although super important, was the only good news I got at my appointment today.
When I got there I had to pee in the cup. I barely had any...again. No word if that came back bad, but I'm assuming no news is good news.
Then I stepped on the scale. I've lost two pounds since my last appointment. I know it is because of the stress of Hubby being in the hospital and running around like crazy. Hopefully, now that he's home, I can eat better again and more often.
Next was my blood pressure. It wasn't good. She checked it once, saw it was bad and tried it again. Still bad. I'm pretty sure it was 158/72 (I think). Anyway, not good. The nurse made me lay down for a bit and took it again. She said it went down to "normal", but didn't say what it was.
I finally went to my room and I told the doc that I thought I've been having some minor cramping in my lower uterus in the evenings for the last week or so. He did an u/s (I got to see the babies!) and they both looked good. Hearts are still a-beatin' and they have grown! No pics this time though :0(
He checked my cervix and that is still long and closed - hallelujah!
Okay now for some TMI...I asked him about some "discharge" issues. My discharge seems normal to me, but by the end of the day the crotch of my undies is just about black. I ask if it could be a chemical change or something? He said that my pap I had at my last appointment showed there was some inflammation. I am supposed to ask him about it at my next appointment and he'll take another sample and see if there is an infection. Fantastic.
He also told me I'm slightly anemic. So I finally picked up some iron. He said that anemia could also cause pre-term labor.
Lastly, since my blood pressure was high and I'm overweight, pregnant with twins and I'm only 18 weeks, he wants to send me to the Uni.versit.y of Was.hing.ton to have some hypertension tests done. To prepare for my appointment I get to collect my urine in this really awesome orange jug for 24 hours, then bring it to Dr. M's office, and have some blood drawn. They send the results to UW and then I go up to S.eatt.le for a couple hour appointment. Happy happy. Joy joy.
I think that about sums it up. I go next Thursday for my UW appointment and in two weeks for my next OB appointment. We're crossing our fingers we can find out the genders!!
The babies are looking good, and so is my cervix. That, although super important, was the only good news I got at my appointment today.
When I got there I had to pee in the cup. I barely had any...again. No word if that came back bad, but I'm assuming no news is good news.
Then I stepped on the scale. I've lost two pounds since my last appointment. I know it is because of the stress of Hubby being in the hospital and running around like crazy. Hopefully, now that he's home, I can eat better again and more often.
Next was my blood pressure. It wasn't good. She checked it once, saw it was bad and tried it again. Still bad. I'm pretty sure it was 158/72 (I think). Anyway, not good. The nurse made me lay down for a bit and took it again. She said it went down to "normal", but didn't say what it was.
I finally went to my room and I told the doc that I thought I've been having some minor cramping in my lower uterus in the evenings for the last week or so. He did an u/s (I got to see the babies!) and they both looked good. Hearts are still a-beatin' and they have grown! No pics this time though :0(
He checked my cervix and that is still long and closed - hallelujah!
Okay now for some TMI...I asked him about some "discharge" issues. My discharge seems normal to me, but by the end of the day the crotch of my undies is just about black. I ask if it could be a chemical change or something? He said that my pap I had at my last appointment showed there was some inflammation. I am supposed to ask him about it at my next appointment and he'll take another sample and see if there is an infection. Fantastic.
He also told me I'm slightly anemic. So I finally picked up some iron. He said that anemia could also cause pre-term labor.
Lastly, since my blood pressure was high and I'm overweight, pregnant with twins and I'm only 18 weeks, he wants to send me to the Uni.versit.y of Was.hing.ton to have some hypertension tests done. To prepare for my appointment I get to collect my urine in this really awesome orange jug for 24 hours, then bring it to Dr. M's office, and have some blood drawn. They send the results to UW and then I go up to S.eatt.le for a couple hour appointment. Happy happy. Joy joy.
I think that about sums it up. I go next Thursday for my UW appointment and in two weeks for my next OB appointment. We're crossing our fingers we can find out the genders!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Homecoming Eve?
I'm pretty sure Hubby is coming home tomorrow. I'm so confident I took the day off just so I could be there to take him home and settle him in. I'm so excited. I can't wait!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Hubby Update
Sorry for any confusion if some of you saw an update posted a few days ago then it disappeared. I wrote it on zero sleep and decided later it was a little more information than I felt comfortable sharing. Anyway...
Hubby seems to be healing well. He's had all kinds of contraptions hooked up to him in the last four days. He seems to being progressing nicely though because one by one they each are being disconnected. As of tonight he is down to only his IV. His spirits seem to be a little better tonight too, so hopefully they stay that way.
I'm hoping he can come home by the weekend. He's on liquids right now and if that goes well he'll start eating solids and if things move through his guts like they are supposed to then I think that's when he can go home.
Just like when experiencing infertility you unexpectedly get a crash course in anatomy and the reproductive system, I have also gotten a crash course in nursing in the last few days. I've learned about drugs I've never heard of, and learned more about the digestive system than I ever cared too. It is a disgustingly amazing system.
I've gotten some sleep since when this all started New Year's Eve. I worked all day yesterday, but only about a half day today. I'm hoping to get back to a regular day tomorrow and visit Hubby on my lunch hour and after work. All the sitting and eating fast food (since I've been go-go-go lately) has made my ankles swell. They are mostly going down during the night, but not all the way. I am trying to keep up on drinking lots of water to flush myself out, and of course I'll get back to eating better soon. Plus I'm tired. When I do sleep all night I have wacko dreams about the hospital or someone sneaking into my house while I'm sleeping (I don't like to be home alone at night).
Anywho, overall things are going well. No complications so far. Fingers are crossed he can come home this weekend!
Hubby seems to be healing well. He's had all kinds of contraptions hooked up to him in the last four days. He seems to being progressing nicely though because one by one they each are being disconnected. As of tonight he is down to only his IV. His spirits seem to be a little better tonight too, so hopefully they stay that way.
I'm hoping he can come home by the weekend. He's on liquids right now and if that goes well he'll start eating solids and if things move through his guts like they are supposed to then I think that's when he can go home.
Just like when experiencing infertility you unexpectedly get a crash course in anatomy and the reproductive system, I have also gotten a crash course in nursing in the last few days. I've learned about drugs I've never heard of, and learned more about the digestive system than I ever cared too. It is a disgustingly amazing system.
I've gotten some sleep since when this all started New Year's Eve. I worked all day yesterday, but only about a half day today. I'm hoping to get back to a regular day tomorrow and visit Hubby on my lunch hour and after work. All the sitting and eating fast food (since I've been go-go-go lately) has made my ankles swell. They are mostly going down during the night, but not all the way. I am trying to keep up on drinking lots of water to flush myself out, and of course I'll get back to eating better soon. Plus I'm tired. When I do sleep all night I have wacko dreams about the hospital or someone sneaking into my house while I'm sleeping (I don't like to be home alone at night).
Anywho, overall things are going well. No complications so far. Fingers are crossed he can come home this weekend!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Please pray for my Hubby
He had to go in for emergency surgery on his colon tonight. Surgery went well, but they are having a hard time managing his pain. Not a great way to start the new year...
Please send a prayer or two up for him.
Thanks.
Please send a prayer or two up for him.
Thanks.
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