Home Sweet Home

While we are waiting for the twins' arrival, we have gotten the nursery completely prepared.  Here's a couple of pictures with and without furniture!

My amazing mother spent weeks and weeks creating an incredible Hawaiian mural.  In celebration of our favorite place to visit, we thought this would bring bright contrast into the nursery, and would be a gender neutral theme that would grow with them through the years.  This wall features lots of fish, coral reefs, turtles and volcanoes in the distance.

A close up of our Sea Turtle on the far wall.

This wall features palm trees, our dogs in scuba gear, a surfboard with shamrocks (my Irish husband's favorite), my favorite childhood Raggedy Ann getting a tan, and an airplane with the babies names trailing behind.  This is my favorite wall I think!

 Room filled with furniture.  Although we're blocking many beautiful images, we had to have some function for our room!  We are co-bedding to start (the other crib is temporarily in our bedroom) and have a dresser, changing table, and glider.

Here's hoping our little ones like the room as much as we do!

The Waiting Game

We've made it to 37 weeks today, and we'd expected to meet our two little ones today - but here we are, waiting still, and trusting God to bring the babies in His time.

Our doctors had scheduled us for a 37 week cesarean, and had me go in for an amniocentesis yesterday to ensure lung function.  With lots and lots of prayers, I was able to get through the fears of this terrifying test, expecting good results.  We'd deliver today, be home Monday, and be celebrating Christmas with two beautiful babes.  The babies would also be sharing their birthday with their Daddy if they'd been born today - but it turns out, the babies had other plans.

The amnio was much better than I expected.  At this point, the skin on my stomach is stretched enough that the needle was hardly felt.  It did feel a bit strange as it entered my uterus, but wasn't painful.  They chose to draw from Julianna's sack as she has more fluid and was in a better position.  A few hours later, the doctor called and said that the "short test" produced results that suggested that she has a 30% chance of having Respiratory Distress Syndrome - and our C-Section was postponed until next week.  We were incredibly disappointed to say the least, but were so glad that my body is cooperating to hold out this long to keep them safe until they're ready.

The doctor called this evening to say that the results of the "long test" which somehow further verifies the information, were even worse - a 50% chance of distress.  We really don't have any answers on how Brayden fares as we only checked Julianna, assuming if one was fine, so would be the other.  

At this point, we're a bit nervous about proceeding with the C-Section even at 38 weeks.  Unfortunately, with my diabetes, the doctors feel that's the best answer.  It also ensures that the delivery happens on December 22nd, well before all of the experienced docs have begun their holiday vacations and we'll still have great medical professionals available.  I'm learning a bit that there may not be a "good" solution to these challenges, just a decision to determine what's the "better" of a few options.  We're praying that they hang in their another week, that God will be with our doctors to know the best way to proceed, and that we'll have the wisdom to make the best decisions if need be.  

Doctors and Stress Tests and Sugar - oh my!

I really am thankful to feel that my doctors are some of the best in our city - if not some of the best in the Northeast.  I've seen my OB for about 8 years for regular visits, and have no doubts about his judgement and capability.  This is even more important when I'm going through a somewhat complicated twin pregnancy.  If only I could get their office staff to be equally as capable. :-)

So the first complication I've dealt with was my history of a blood clot.  I saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors shortly after finding out I was pregnant to develop a plan.  The typical recommendation for this would be Lovenox - an injectable blood thinner that I would be required to take daily for most of my pregnancy, and even in the months after pregnancy.  While I of course wanted safety for me and for my babies, my enormous phobia made this treatment seem equitable to nine months in a torture chamber.  Dan and I had even considered if we should try to have a family with this looming over our heads.  At the appointment, I tried to keep it all together, but ended up in a tearful mess, with a young doctor just looking at me.  She was studying me, and finally spoke with her conclusion.  "I don't think you'll ever get used to this" she said.  She said that while Lovenox is the standard prescription for the situation, that a "baby asprin" daily would have similar results and despite having some very small risk potential, she was willing to recommend that for treatment.  The relief I felt was like a tidal wave, and in an instant, my pregnancy was changed by this doctor's wave of kindness.  This small pill has made all the difference in my ability to emotionally handle my pregnancy in a positive way, and I'll always appreciate this doctor's ability to see beyond the medical - to the human - and really understand the needs of her patient.  After I deliver, I'll transition to a heparin drip, and then coumadin when I return home.  Yes, there will be blood tests to monitor the coumadin levels, but I'll be glad to have them in comparison to daily injections.

Recently, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.  Apparently this is more common in multiple pregnancies, and in women who have a family history of diabetes (which I have).  The diagnostic tests again put my needle phobia to the test, but thanks to my amazing family, I was able to have a "heparin lock" put in so that the five blood draws required to make the diagnosis during the three-hour glucose tolerance test much more manageable.  I was diagnosed around 30 weeks, saw the dietitian around 31 weeks, and began medication at 32 weeks.  After four days on the medication, I haven't seen much improvement in my numbers, so we'll see where that takes us moving forward.  The blood sugar testing on my finger was (of course) a major point of fear in the beginning.  The first night trying to test at home left me so frustrated and in a shower of tears as I struggled to get enough blood to get a result.  Apparently our lancing device was faulty (go figure...).  I hardly slept that first night dreading the experience I would undergo trying again in the morning - but to my surprise - it happened easily with little issue.  Ever since, with a few minor glitches, I've been able to monitor four times a day in the morning and after meals, and it hasn't been as bad as I anticipated.  Maybe I can handle these needles a little better than I thought.  It's amazing how you find strength when you have to.  I was so brave that I even let my OB give me a flu shot last week!

The diabetes is effecting the babies slightly, as they're growing quite rapidly, with Brayden in the 76th percentile for weight, and Julianna in the 46th percentile.  Apparently their heads and femurs are just about on target, but their tummies are huge.  Brayden is 25 days ahead in belly size, and Julie is 9 days.  And I was worried that my babies wouldn't be chubby. :-)

Finally, our most recent experience is now the twice weekly non-stress tests, of which I've only had one, but they're actually not too annoying.  They strap monitors to my belly and I get to watch their kicks on the screen that tracks their movements like little earthquakes.  Luckily, at least for my first test, my little ones don't like the pressure of the monitors and kick like crazy!  We'll see if we get a repeat performance on Tuesday.  I may even become fond of the little outing to the hospital as my last day of work is Friday and I may be getting a little bored sitting around.  Only so much nesting a mamma can do!

Meet Julianna

Ever since I was in my mid-teens, I've known (well - hoped and prayed at least) that someday I'd have a lovely little girl.  Her name would be Julianna Marie and I would have so much fun being her mom.  When we found out that we were pregnant, deep in my heart I so hoped that this would be my chance to meet this special little girl, but already was pretty sure that I was carrying a boy.  So when we discovered that there were two - I had a spark of hope that now would be our time.

When we had our ultrasound, the tech (of course) determined the sex of our son first.  When she said that Baby B was a girl, my heart leaped for joy.  We are so blessed to have the both of best worlds.  While Dan's always dreamed of playing ball with a son, he too is so thrilled to experience the joys of a daughter.  She will be such a special girl.

Luckily, Dan also loved the name that I'd chosen for her over ten years ago - Julianna - pronounced JEW-LEE-YANNA (with the end rhyming with "Hanna").  While I know I'll never be able to prevent people from their own pronunciations of her name, we much prefer this to JEW-LEE-AWNA which sounds a little more "eastern European" to us.  I already call her "Julie" more than anything else...

She is my little feisty girl.  While Brayden is crowded on the left side, Julie is sprawled out on the right along my whole side.  She loves to kick and I can often see the right half of my stomach moving and shaking as she gets comfortable.  Julie lets me know when she's not content.  For instance, when I lay on my right (where she'd be on the bottom) she kicks and kicks until I flip over.  She also loves music...  Whenever I play something loudly in the car, she wiggles around like she's dancing in their - especially when I sing along.  I dream of her being a little Irish Step Dancer someday.

I've told my mother that I think I may be carrying a mini-me - feisty and spirited.  If this is the case, boy are we in for an adventure!

My hopes as a mother are that she'll grow to learn how special and unique she is.  I want her to believe in herself without question, and know that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to.  She will do incredible things with her life, and I can't wait to see who she becomes.

Meet Brayden

Brayden is our "baby A" and therefore I thought he should go first with introductions.  From the moment I knew I was having twins, I have felt such a special bond with Brayden because he was the underdog - our baby with the smaller sack and an indeterminable destiny.  But I knew God had big things in store for him, and that he would figure out a way to grow into a big strong baby.

I also have felt so connected with Brayden because I was sure, within weeks of becoming pregnant - even before I knew that there were two - that we would be having a boy.  I know he is the son Dan has thought about every time he's considered what fatherhood would be like, and of course, we can't wait to meet him!

I'd never really considered what it would be like to have a son, as my motherhood fantasies typically involved lots of frilly dresses and hair bows.  I'm eager for him to learn to be the type of man his dad is - one that is patient and kind, a hard worker who loves and respects his wife.  In all of my hopes to teach my daughter about being an independent woman it had never really dawned on me how men are just as much a part of the equality equation and I'm excited about the opportunity to raise him in that perspective.

So what is Brayden like?  I think he is strong and brave because of how he overcame the early challenges he faced in our pregnancy.  He has grown to be even bigger than his sister (by millimeters of course).  He's patient and accommodating, which I know because he's scrunched himself into a little "frank breech" ball, while his sister sprawls out on my right side.  He's not a pushover though, and makes himself known quite frequently with his pokes and kicks.  He is such a special boy...

Happy Halloween!

I have been answering the door (smiling at all the adorable little ones in costume) wearing my skeleton shirt that my talented mother painted for me.

I have to give credit where credit is due.  The creative inspiration came from Ashley and her blog Make It and Love It and I just knew I had to have one!  While I did find this awesome iron-on from BabytalkDesigns, I didn't get a chance to order in time for my big Halloween event at work, and mom whipped out her paintbrush!  So wild to think that right now (30 weeks along) they're just about the right size - and in the right position in my belly.  Check out the bow in Baby Girl's hair!

Meet Our Family

Our family will very soon be doubling in size as we look forward to the arrival of our "first children."  But first, it was only us.  We could still be considered newlyweds, married in April 2010.  Dan is a Project Manager, transplanted to Pittsburgh from New York for work.  For the past five years, I've worked for a national youth serving non-profit, and am counting down the days until my "maternity leave."  Only 13 days to go...

Our babies are officially due January 5, 2012 but as twins commonly go, we're expecting their arrival to be somewhere near the second week in December (optimistically.)  The ultrasounds show one beautiful little girl, and one handsome little boy.  We couldn't be more excited!

I was thinking today, how as much as I'd hoped and prayed and looked forward to being pregnant at some point, I never ever thought to ask for twins.  It'd never dawned on me that I'd be the one to experience joys and challenges of twin motherhood.  I must say, at this point in the game I feel pretty clueless but am so thankful for the opportunity to learn.  

My support system is amazing...  I have a husband who is truly the best man I've ever met, my best friend and partner, who I know will be an incredible Dad.  My mother is my total rock, and will be here every step of the way - even moving in with us for the first few weeks until I figure out a process to this new adventure.  My Dad loves me more than I could ever ask, and will do anything he can to make my experiences better.  I can't wait to see them become grandparents and are so proud to be able to bring them this joy.