It's been a very busy week, so I haven't had time to update the blog since the most recent doctor's appointment this past Wednesday.
This doctor's appointment included an ultrasound. The ultrasound technician made a comment as we were getting situated that it seems like Elizabeth has been pregnant forever. I actually feel like it has gone very quickly. I'm not sure you'd get the same story if you asked Elizabeth though!
Anyway, the ultrasound went fine. Since the babies are a lot bigger now, it's a lot harder to see what's going on because they don't fit on the screen. We did get a couple of cute looks at some hands and feet (all fingers and toes were present! ;) ). Unfortunately, because they are getting so big and squished in there, we didn't get any good pictures. She did print a couple for us, but they don't really look like anything. The good news was that both babies were head-down. There's much less of a chance of them turning now, so they may be that way until birth. That would be very convenient! Hannah is weighing in at 3 lb. 9 oz., and Noah is weighing in at a very respectable 3 lb 14 oz. These weights were the 58th and 60th percentile, respectively, when compared to the normal weights for singletons at this gestational age.
Next started the waiting game. For some strange reason, the scheduling person decided to schedule an hour and ten minutes between the ultrasound and visit with the nurse practitioner. She claimed that they needed to schedule it longer because it was for twins. But we've had lots of ultrasounds and never had that much time in between. Anyway, after lots of waiting, the nurse practicioner arrived. It was the usual stuff, questions, measurements, and listening to heartbeats. Elizabeth was measuring 36 weeks (she was 31 weeks 2 days at the appointment), so almost 5 weeks ahead.
As an outside observer, I would say that Elizabeth is really starting to slow down. I can tell that she is pretty uncomfortable most of the time, and she is constantly tired. It is kind of funny though, to be sitting there and all a sudden she about jumps out of her chair because somebody just kicked her. The babies are definitely getting stronger. I have been able to feel what are definitely feet and ankles poking out, instead of just a little pressure.
I think we are both starting to get really excited. I can't wait to meet them in person, and see what they look like. It will be interesting to see what my emotions are like when they come. I've been occasionally watching a show on TLC (thanks to Tivo) called Baby Baby (even the Tivo knows we are having twins -- Tivo is just that awesome). It's a British show about families who are pregnant with, having, or have just come home with twins. Every time they show a birth I cry when the babies are born. I've never been like that before with those shows, so it must be because mine are on the way.
I also had my first definite baby dream. Well, sorta...there were no babies in it. I don't remember too many of the details now, but I remember how frustrated I was. It was something about going to the hospital, then being sent back home because of some insurance problem, then going back to the wrong hospital once we got things with the insurance straightened out. It was all stuff that wouldn't happen in real life, but man was I mad! It seems like there was something about the doctor as well...but it wasn't Elizabeth's doctor. Who knows!
I should also mention another kind deed of which we were the recipients. Elizabeth's mom came this past Monday and helped to prepare a bunch of "freezer meals" to help simplify things for a while once the babies come. They cooked up all sorts of good stuff and froze it. It is all vacuum-sealed, so it should last for a while. We are just so appreciative that she would spend her day off work to come and help us!
The next doctor's appointment is scheduled for September 6th. No ultrasound at this one, but it will be with Doctor Asdell and not someone else. Until then...
Friday, August 25, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
The kindness of family and friends
It's already that time again! Since the last post Elizabeth has had another doctor's appointment and another baby shower (or should I say babies shower?).
I believe I have mentioned before that we have long had a name for our little boy, but have been struggling to name our little girl. Well, we are almost completely settled on names for both babies now. As you can see in the ticker above, we are settled enough that I went ahead and put their names there. Elizabeth had narrowed it down to three that she really liked: Rosalie, Hannah, and Madeline. While Rosalie was the early favorite, it turns out that Hannah was the winner. She even seems to prefer it! One evening I woke them up and asked her if she wanted her name to be Hannah. I told her to kick me in the cheek if she did, and believe it or not, I immediately got kicked in the cheek! It is also a biblical name that has some special meaning to us. So her name will be Hannah Beth (Beth is my mom's (Karen's) middle name). Our little boy's name will Noah Alan. This is a combination of my father-in-law (Charles') middle name and my dad's (Alan's) first name. So here they are for the world to hear: Noah Alan and Hannah Beth. We'll let you know if we change our minds! ;)
The Doctor's Appointment. This one was scheduled for Monday at 10:30. I didn't go to this appointment because there was no ultrasound. She met with Dr. Asdell and got a "perfect" report! Noah's heartrate was 145, and Hannah's was 150. Also, she was told that she is measuring 34 weeks (she was actually at 29 weeks). I mentioned in the report from that last visit that she was told she was measuring 33.5-34 weeks. But not to worry, this is a pretty subjective measurement and they were made by two different people. Both of the other couples that went to our multiple's birth class seem to be having very good luck with their pregnancies, so we are counting on the same. The first couple delivered their boys at a point where neither of them needed to go to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the uninitiated) and they were all able to go home together. The other couple just sent us an email Monday saying that they had made it to 37 weeks and everybody was still inside and doing fine. That's one thing that is a pretty unnerving about a multiples pregnancy: you just have no idea when they are going to actually come. The next doctor's appointment is scheduled for August 23, and there will be an ultrasound at that visit. I will be sure to update the blog with the pictures soon after the appointment.
The shower. Yesterday was a baby shower for Elizabeth hosted by both of my grandmothers, my sister and my mom. There was a large turnout of over thirty people!
I didn't get to see a number of the people who came, but I was there toward the end and got to see a lot of people that I haven't seen for a while. It was so nice of everyone to come. One of my aunts and a cousin came in from Ohio, and my mom's cousins came from places like Rockville and Columbus. With gas prices these days, and with how busy everyone is, it was no small sacrifice for them to come. We really appreciate everyone who came.
The gifts completely filled up the back of our SUV with the back seat folded down! Here are before and after shots of opening the presents!
Just to name a couple of the larger items, we received the double stroller, both car seats, a bathtub, a bouncy seat, and a swing. We also got a TON of clothes, books, toys, diapers and all the other good stuff that come with babies. I think we're going to have to build an extra wing onto our house just for all of the baby stuff!
Here are a couple of shots of the stroller. It's folded in the first one, and set up with the infant car seats in the second.
Of course, just like everything else baby, it had to be assembled. (The instructions really called for the use of a hammer...I promise!!)
One of the most special gifts (they were all very special...you know what I mean) was a set of blankets that my grandmother crocheted. A few tears were shed when that gift was opened.
Well, I think that's it for now. Later!
I believe I have mentioned before that we have long had a name for our little boy, but have been struggling to name our little girl. Well, we are almost completely settled on names for both babies now. As you can see in the ticker above, we are settled enough that I went ahead and put their names there. Elizabeth had narrowed it down to three that she really liked: Rosalie, Hannah, and Madeline. While Rosalie was the early favorite, it turns out that Hannah was the winner. She even seems to prefer it! One evening I woke them up and asked her if she wanted her name to be Hannah. I told her to kick me in the cheek if she did, and believe it or not, I immediately got kicked in the cheek! It is also a biblical name that has some special meaning to us. So her name will be Hannah Beth (Beth is my mom's (Karen's) middle name). Our little boy's name will Noah Alan. This is a combination of my father-in-law (Charles') middle name and my dad's (Alan's) first name. So here they are for the world to hear: Noah Alan and Hannah Beth. We'll let you know if we change our minds! ;)
The Doctor's Appointment. This one was scheduled for Monday at 10:30. I didn't go to this appointment because there was no ultrasound. She met with Dr. Asdell and got a "perfect" report! Noah's heartrate was 145, and Hannah's was 150. Also, she was told that she is measuring 34 weeks (she was actually at 29 weeks). I mentioned in the report from that last visit that she was told she was measuring 33.5-34 weeks. But not to worry, this is a pretty subjective measurement and they were made by two different people. Both of the other couples that went to our multiple's birth class seem to be having very good luck with their pregnancies, so we are counting on the same. The first couple delivered their boys at a point where neither of them needed to go to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the uninitiated) and they were all able to go home together. The other couple just sent us an email Monday saying that they had made it to 37 weeks and everybody was still inside and doing fine. That's one thing that is a pretty unnerving about a multiples pregnancy: you just have no idea when they are going to actually come. The next doctor's appointment is scheduled for August 23, and there will be an ultrasound at that visit. I will be sure to update the blog with the pictures soon after the appointment.
The shower. Yesterday was a baby shower for Elizabeth hosted by both of my grandmothers, my sister and my mom. There was a large turnout of over thirty people!
I didn't get to see a number of the people who came, but I was there toward the end and got to see a lot of people that I haven't seen for a while. It was so nice of everyone to come. One of my aunts and a cousin came in from Ohio, and my mom's cousins came from places like Rockville and Columbus. With gas prices these days, and with how busy everyone is, it was no small sacrifice for them to come. We really appreciate everyone who came.
The gifts completely filled up the back of our SUV with the back seat folded down! Here are before and after shots of opening the presents!
Just to name a couple of the larger items, we received the double stroller, both car seats, a bathtub, a bouncy seat, and a swing. We also got a TON of clothes, books, toys, diapers and all the other good stuff that come with babies. I think we're going to have to build an extra wing onto our house just for all of the baby stuff!
Here are a couple of shots of the stroller. It's folded in the first one, and set up with the infant car seats in the second.
Of course, just like everything else baby, it had to be assembled. (The instructions really called for the use of a hammer...I promise!!)
One of the most special gifts (they were all very special...you know what I mean) was a set of blankets that my grandmother crocheted. A few tears were shed when that gift was opened.
Well, I think that's it for now. Later!
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