31-Week Doctor's Appointment Update

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...