The loss of the greatest woman I have ever known

Yesterday-my grandmother passed away at the young age of 92.

She had a wonderful life and passed peacefully overnight.

She was in good health, mind, and faith-she had a very blessed, fulfilled life.

She seemed to be ready though-she finished all her christmas gifts, paid her taxes, cleaned her house, finished the babies blankets, and went to sleep Monday night.

She was a woman ahead of her time in many regards and I can only hope that I will live up to her legacy.

She wrote a book last year and had copies made for all of us in the family-which is a huge family BTW. It was a memoir of the life, love, faith, funny and hard times, and lots of pictures. I hope to share it with the girls some time and show them what they should aspire to be like when they grow up.

I was very close to her - I am of course having a very hard time saying good-bye. Per drs orders I won't be attending the out of town funeral and memorial. My family is sending sopies of everything, but I can't imagine not being there.

This is going to be a very hard christmas I think!

20 week update

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while since last update. We have been extremely busy with work, so now we can start to slow it down a little. We had our 20 week U/S and check with specialist this time as recommended by our OBGYN. They performed the very detailed U/S and anatomy check of all organs and systems. HEre are the findings:

1. Both girls weigh 12 ounces

2. Both heartbeats between 145-150

3. Both have 4 chambered heart and normal aortas

4. Both have all fingers and toes accounted for

5. Both have all other organ systems formed and look normal and functioning

6. Both ambilical cords are 3 vessel cords

7. Both babies are head down

8. Anterior placenta on baby A and posterior placenta on baby B

9. Cervix is 6cm

10. Belly measures 33 weeks and weight gain is 17 pounds

Specialist and OBGYN very pleased with all findings! Now we move to every 2 week checks adn 4 week U/S. We have ordered our cribs and picked out bedding thus far. My goal this week is to pick paint color, so I can have the room painted before the holidays when family is coming (so it won't smell so bad). I will post pics of the cribs and bedding soon. Below are pics of the girls and an updated belly shot.

Happy thanksgiving to everyone!

Team PINK!!!

16 week,1 day update.....

Looks like we are team pink x2. We are over the moon as both look healthy and are measuring 5 days ahead. My uterus is meauring 21 weeks and my weight gain is healthy and consistent according to OB. US today showed everything to be good, healthy, and on track! I had 2 episodes of "almost" fainting from laying on my back so long during the US-boy that was not FUN AT ALL. They said it is quite normal as the wieght of the uterus gets larger.

All in all I have been feeling well-normal pregnancy stuff, but nothing too terrible as of late.

Gotta run-I will be back later with updated belly picks and more info on what is up with us!

Screening results and misc thoughts

Well, screening results are back and are well within normal range. OB does not recommend anything further based on results unless we desire or we see need in future U/S. With twins, they only run the down's marker in this screeing, not trisomy 18 - we did not know this when we did the test-I only found out when I asked for the other ratio since they only gave me one. Sometimes, I feel with their office they forget we having twins until I mention it AGAIN and AGAIN. I hope that gets better-I am giving them the benfit of the doubt for another appointment. If they seem to not have it together again, I am not sure I will feel comfortable going further into the pregnancy with them not fully paying attention to details as simple as TWINS!

I received an email yesterday from DH-he is safe and healthy so far in remote South Pacific. They are working long hours providing medical and dental service to those who were affected by cyclone 8 months ago. I felt a little less anxious after getting word from him, so hopefully that will last until the weekend when I here from him again.

So, I have a question for you guys. I am starting to feel like this actually might happen-you know the live actual baby thing. I never have been to this point and it feels weird to be finally here. My question is: When did/do you start planning, researching, registering for all the things needed? We hope to find out the sexes in 3 weeks, so I know I will be able to "pick" things out better then, but I feel I am jinxing things by planning or researching "too" early. Do you/have you felt this way?

End of 1st Trimester Update

Well, a small sigh of relief. Our appointment went well today-the babies were very playful and showed us many different angles and faces. It was so fun! Here are the highlights:

1. We had our screening done for Down's symdrome and trisomy 18-the results will be in next week. The u/s part of the screening we were well within the range of what they would like to see.

2. Both babies are measuring 12 weeks, 2 days-slightly ahead

3. Heartrates are 146 and 152

4. Blood pressure normal

5. Sub-chorionic bleed almost resolved-although I have to have another Rh factor test to make sure that the bleeding was not from embryonic origin that would affect the Rh factor.

6. Uterus measure just at belly-button which is on track for twins we were told.

7. I have gained 5 pounds total thus far

8. Headaches, exhaustion, and heartburn are my contant companions as of late.

We go back in in 1 month for our 16 week check and maybe we will get to see "the parts"?!?

Below are pics from today- Linus is profile and Lucy giving a face to the camera. Also, is my 12 week belly pic!

On another note: DH is leaving tomorrow for 2 weeks on a medical mission trip to a remote area overseas. There will be no electrical, e-mail, or phone for 8 days of the trip. I am a little nervous for him and his team, but also about being here by myself wondering if something bad will happen to us while he is gone. I usually am not this much of a downer, but it is worrisome that I will have no way of contacting him if I needed. This will be a big lesson in faith that God will take care of us all! I hope these days go fast!

Fall approaching and 10 weeks down!

Well, it is almost fall here! The leaves are starting to change and it my favorite time of the year. My mom and step-dad are coming up for a week - I am so excited for them to see the colors. We are taking them to our place in Steamboat and for once I don't need to work!

Work here with the new practice is going super! I have 2 great employees and the practice continues to grow! The response from the referring doctors and patients in the area are thrilled to have me there full time. I hope I can work as long as possible to keep it going in this good direction.....but yes I am prepared to cut days down and out if need be! That is the upside to being self-employed I guess.

On the pregnancy front- I keep waiting for something bad to happen or for bad news. The wait until the next appointment is killing me-2 more weeks. We will have and u/s and our 12 week screening. They spoiled us at "the palace" by the constant monitoring, so to go an entire month is soooooo hard! ON the symptom front they are as follows:

1. Spotting has stopped for 5 days and counting - whoooohoooo - I hope I am finally done with the hematoma!

2. Nausea has drastically improved and the ravaging hunger has normalized to a degree (or I have just adjusted to it) - I still have problems with nausea with certain foods that I really like (like steak), but much better.

3. Still on pelvic rest until next appointment

4. Tummy starting to expand already. I just feel like I look like a beer kegger deluxe!

5. Off/on "growing" twinges and pressure

6. Frequent urination especially the 2-3 middle of the night trips.

7. Feeling fairly good! No real complaints today!


Otherwise I feel fine and can barely wait until next 2 weeks are done so I can see them again and know everything is on track! It is a good thing I have a busy 2 weeks with family in town and work-it hopefully will fly by!


Below are pictures from 8 weeks on top and 10 weeks on bottom- I finally figured out the timer on the new camera today!

8 week check and Sub-chorionic bleed

Well, nothing can be normal with me, can it?

I have had a tad of brownish spotting the last two nights (once each night and nothing all day or night after that). I was scheduled today for my 8 week exam, PAP, and u/s anyway.

Here is the outcome of my appointment:
1. both babies on track as far as growth, size, shape, etc
2. heartbeats 164,172 (right in range for the date)
3. uterus looks good except for subchorionic hemotoma near baby A on the cervical end

U/S tech and doctor said the size did not concern them and that most of these resolve on their own. They said unless I have moderate,heavy red bleebing that they don't need to see me back for a month. They did put me on "pelvic rest"-so no BD, excercise, lifting, etc until I am 12 weeks-this is actually standard for all IVF and twin patients.

I feel better, since i have not spotted all day and since they seem not to be that concerned about it at this point. I am still having off/on nausea, pulling/cramps, indigestion/reflux, and my pants already don't fit.

All in all everything looks great according to them, so I guess we must have faith and patience!

Please say a prayer for all of us!