24 Weeks




How far along: 24 weeks and 3 days
Size of Babies: Around 1 pound 8 ounces
Weight Gain: 140! I'm way behind on weight gain... So I definitely need to eat more!
Clothing: Pajamas!
Gender: Ninja Girls
Movement: They are crazy! Used to be mostly at night but now they move all day long too. I have just started to get kicked in the ribs! I can see them moving from the outside now.
Sleep: Okay, It's hard to turn over. And I have indigestion :(
Symptoms: Some pains when I move.
Morning sickness: None at all! But when they kick my stomach I feel sick!
What I miss: Getting to go places, bed rest stinks!
Cravings: Chocolate milk and lots of water
Best moment this week: Today, I can't say why but I just love today in particular :) I am so blessed!
What am I looking forward to: Seeing the babies again this Tuesday and Thursday! At 24 weeks I become viable, meaning if I have the babies they can survive outside the womb. My goal is 32 weeks!
How is Tristan: The best he has been in a long time! I love that man!

This Week in my Belly:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Adventures of Bed Rest

So today was day 4 of bed rest! It's really boring and I really have no interest in watching movies! I've already finished an Etsy order and am sending Tristan to mail it tomorrow. So to keep my hands busy I'm going to crochet some onesies! This is a huge step for me as I've only ever made a scarf but I have time to learn! Here is the link of the one I'm gonna tackle:

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/onesie-robin.html


I'm going to make it in super soft lilac yarn :) keep checking back and I'll post pics of my onesie 

in progress! If this is successful next I'm going to make some diaper covers and treat them with 
lanolin so they will repel liquid (pee) and save me some money! Looks like I'm turning out to be 
a "crunchy" mom indeed!

A little update....

So I'm 21 weeks today! Yippee! But I had a feeling at some point in this pregnancy something would go a little funny, after all twin pregnancies are precarious. Totally expected at some point. 

Last night I had some cervical pain and later lost a little bit of the cervical plug. I called my doctor after hours and she told me I could either go to the ER or rest and go see her at 9 am. We decided to wait but I really did not sleep well. I checked every 4 hours to make sure things were still good. No cramps, bleeding, etc... So this morning I had a sonogram and she said that my cervix is concave. Like a little triangle (you can see the black spot in the middle)... They call it "beaking". Meaning it opened up a lil at the top but still measures normal. She said we have to watch it because twins deliver early. Nothing to be alarmed about but that I have to take it easy, not as serious as bed rest but i have to stay in bed or on the couch. I can get up and walk around but not for long. So until my appointment next Tuesday I'm putting myself on bed rest. Good news is today I already had an ultrasound scheduled for 2:30 with the twin specialist so I get to see the girls again today! Mostly I'm just trying to be relaxed about it. So perhaps y'all could pray that this resolves itself!


Not-So-Happy Anniversary!

Two years ago today I was walking across the street on campus when a car turned right and took me out. Not my best day. My grandpa always said that you should always wear clean underwear just in case you have to go to the hospital... Great advice except he never said that I should also wear makeup and a bra. That day my final garment was due that I worked REALLY hard on so I literally went to class in my pjs. All of a sudden I was on the ground, when I was carried to the curb I was surrounded by a dozen dudes asking if I was okay. My left leg was bending the WRONG direction. It wasn't in pain, but something was weird, I couldn't feel it touching the ground either. I should also mention this was a hit and run, or I should rather say a plow a person- pathetic attempt at helping-and escaping while no one was looking. By the time I was in the ambulance the pain was coming so I was cracking jokes because that's what I do in pain and I was so charming that they even hung out with me in the hospital for awhile. I thought that I better get a date out of this! I had a crushed tibial plateau. They made me wait 10 days for surgery, I couldn't even move. What followed was a complete downward spiral into grief and loss. But I won't relish in that today. What I will say is that through this, I re-met my loving husband Tristan who dated a girl in a wheelchair. And who helped me through my anger and grief. So, happy but not-so-happy anniversary arthritic left knee. I hope I get to keep you for awhile longer. I'm attached to you.


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18 Weeks




How far along: 18 weeks and 5 days
Size of Babies: A is 8 oz, B is 9 oz (7-8 inches long head to foot)
Weight Gain: 134 woo hoo! Thank goodness!
Clothing: Old jeans with belly bands, tanks and maternity shirts (or loose shirts)
Gender: Two sweet little girls!
Movement: I still feel little bubbles or weird movements that i'm sure is them, but I have an anterior placenta so it's normal not to feel them yet.
Sleep: Getting better, I can't sleep on my back anymore
Symptoms: Acne (ugh), cramps, backache

Morning sickness: I'm taking less and less Zofran!
What I miss: Sleeping however I want and being able to use my abs
Cravings: Chocolate milk
Best moment this week: Finding out the gender of our girls! BONUS: they are healthy too!
What am I looking forward to: Fall, cold weather would be nice!
How is Tristan: Super!

This Week in my Belly:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
See what your baby looks like this week.

Sophia+Lilian


On Thursday the 21st we went to our 18 week anatomy scan with the Perinatal Specialist. After taking all the measurements and looking at the heart we found out we are having two beautiful GIRLS! They are also identical and with that comes many complications such as gestational diabetes, one twin taking from the other and growing larger, pre-term labor, bedrest, and much more. I'm just supposed to take it easy! The doctor found a blood clot in the placenta which can cause bleeding so I hope that doesn't happen again! They are measuring perfect. They are 8 and 9 ounces and about 7-8 inches long! That's huge! I just wanted to know they were healthy and safe, knowing they are girls is a bonus! We are going to wait till we meet them to decide who is who! When we found out the family came over and Tristan and I attacked them with pink silly string! They were all so excited!!!



Note: To all those who told me they are super excited to start buying clothes.... I think that's awesome! But I must warn you that I really don't like animal print or anything hot pink that screams "princess"! Not my style! Think ECLECTIC! haha







16 weeks




How far along: 16 weeks 6 days
Size of Babies: About 4.5 inches
Weight Gain: 128, so far up 5 from the 7 I initially lost
Clothing: Wore my first maternity top the other day!
Gender: We will find out on Wednesday the 19th
Movement: I felt a few little tickles but I'm not convinced yet!
Sleep: I remember the most crazy dreams!
Symptoms: Indigestion, back pain, stuffy nose

Morning sickness: Getting better
What I miss: Whenever I'm not eating butter, I miss butter
Cravings: Butter and bread!
Best moment this week: Date night last night with my man
What am I looking forward to: Being able to call my babies by name (girls or boys?)
How is Tristan: Annoyed by my giant body pillow

This Week in my Belly:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
See what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.

Fun Facts about Twins



1. Scientists believe that the number of twin conceptions greatly outnumbers the number of twin births. Twin conceptions are much more common than many people realize. Of course, these conceptions do not always result in the birth of two healthy babies. Very often, one of the fertilized eggs or embryos will be reabsorbed into the mother's womb in a phenomenon called "vanishing twin syndrome."

2. The incidence of twin types and genders are oddly symmetrical. These facts about twinning are sure to leave you in awe. One third of all twins born are identical, one third are same sex fraternal, and one third are male/female fraternal. Of the identical twins, half are male.male and half are female/female. Of the same sex fraternal, half are male/male, and half are female/female.


3. Twins do not have to be born on the same date. In fact, they can be born surprisingly far apart. The longest recorded gap between twin births is 85 days. How does this happen? The simplest explanation comes when one twin is born just before midnight and the other after. In cases where there is a longer gap, it's often because one twin is born early due to complications, while the other is left in the womb to further develop. This is much safer for the second baby and can help improve survival rates.

4. Identical twins have different fingerprints. Some people might think that identical twins are the same right down to those whorls and swirls on their fingerprints, but while identical twins share most of their genetic material, identical fingerprints aren't among them. While the fingerprints may be very similar, on close examination it is possible to tell them apart – much like the twins themselves.

5. About 25% of identical twins are called mirror image twins. This means that they are, in fact, identical, but only in the way that your reflection in a mirror is an identical image of you. For example, if one twin has a mole under her right eye, the other will have it under her left eye. Scientists think this is due to the fertilized egg splitting later than the norm for identical twins, around nine to twelve days after fertilization.

6. Twins often develop their own language. This phenomena is called idioglossia. It's something that has fascinated people about twins for years, but it's really a relatively simple and easily understandable process. It happens when one twin models the disordered or incorrect speech of the other, leading to both twins using the same grammatical or speech sound errors. It sounds like a foreign language, but is really just a normal part of cognitive development. 40% of twins invent their own language.

7. Twins share DNA, but it is not identical. While identical twins come from the same sperm and egg, their DNA isn't necessarily identical, according to new research. Scientists used to think differences in twins were due to environmental factors; they now know that isn't the only force causing variations. Genetic studies have demonstrated that there are certain points where twins will veer away from one another, with one carrying different or multiple copies of the same gene.

8. Certain diets may increase your chances of having twins. What a woman eats can help increase her chances of having twins, or so researchers think. While genetics obviously plays a big role, diet can also influence this phenomenon. Researchers have found that women who eat dairy and animal products are much more likely to have twins than those that don't. This is likely due to a protein called IGF that increases the sensitivity of the ovaries to hormones that cause ovulation.

9. Fraternal twinning is genetically predisposed. Identical twinning is random. Fraternal twinning is the result of a woman releasing multiple eggs at the same time, and is largely the result of a genetic predisposition to release this extras. Identical twins, however, are the result of a random split of a single egg, something which cannot be genetically predisposed. In recent years, the number of fraternal twins has risen in response to fertility treatments, while the number of identical twin births has stayed the same.

10. 27 lbs and 12oz is the heaviest combined birth weight of any set of twins. if you think it would be rough to carry around and deliver one 14-pound baby, then imagine doing it with two. That's just what happened in this case, the largest twin birth on record. Of course, it doesn't hold a candle to the largest singleton birth weight of 23 pounds.

11. Turns out there are ways to up the chances you'll deliver two bouncing babies. Being tall is one of them. Past research has found that taller women have more of an insulin-like growth factor that has been linked to both height and the rate of twins.Those who birthed two or more children were on average more than an inch taller than other mothers, according to the study published in September 2006 in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine. As a woman ages, she's also more likely than her younger counterparts to have multiple births.

12. Birth rate statistics for identical twinning have remained stable over the years, despite the overall increase in twins and multiples since the late 1980's. The odds of having identical twins is about 3 in 1,000, whereas the birthrate for all twins is about 32.2 in 1,000.

13. Over 50% of twins are born before 37 weeks.The average birth weight for a twin is 5lbs, 5 oz.


14 weeks




How far along: 14 weeks 1 day
Size of Babies: About 3.5 inches
Weight Gain: 125
Clothing: Loose things! Katie let me borrow maternity clothes!
Gender: Tristan thinks girls, I think boys
Movement: Not yet!
Sleep: Terrible
Symptoms: Back pain mostly and a little nausea

Morning sickness: Getting better
What I miss: Cooking
Cravings: Nothing specific, fruit and milk
Best moment this week: Getting to see my babies moving again!
What am I looking forward to: The second trimester promise that I will feel normal again
How is Tristan: Job searching and always rubbing my belly!

This Week in my Belly:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
See what your baby looks like this week


Squirming Babies!

Today was my third appointment and my first with my new doctor! We saw the babies moving again and this time we got it on DVD to share with our friends and family! Aren't they precious?! This was the FIRST time that we got to hear the heartbeats and it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard! The babies are right on track and I will be 14 weeks on Friday! My next appointment will be on September 19th and we will find out the sex!




Baby A



Baby A Heartbeat

Baby B (back turned toward us)

Baby B Heartbeat


13 weeks



How far along: 13 weeks 3 days
Size of Babies: About 3 inches
Weight Gain: 125, I'm gaining it back!
Clothing: Loose tops and a belly band, headed for maternity clothing!
Gender: Will find out in September
Movement: Thought I felt something!
Sleep: Still bad
Symptoms: Getting an appetite back, tired, back hurts :(

Morning sickness: Getting better
What I miss: vino
Cravings: Fruit still
Best moment this week: Got my Zofran refilled after a week of terribleness!
What am I looking forward to: Wednesdays ultrasound!
How is Tristan: Taking it like a champ :)

This Week in my Belly:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.



11 weeks



How far along: 11 weeks
Size of Babies: About 1.5 inches each.
Weight Gain: I have LOST 6 pounds already!
Clothing: My pants are really tight... time for the rubber band!
Gender: I think they are girls :)
Movement: Sometimes I think I can feel flutters... but it may be gas :(
Sleep: Terrible, I need one of those preggo pillows asap!
Symptoms: Tired, weepy, can't eat, and my back hurts all the time!
Morning sickness: only got sick once... nauseous ALL THE TIME!
What I miss: Cooking, I can hardly enter the kitchen... poor T has to fend for himself.
Cravings: Fruit mostly
Best moment this week: Seeing the babies dancing during my ultrasound! The most beautiful thing I have ever seen!!!
What am I looking forward to: Seeing my tummy get bigger!
How is Tristan: Hungry... but doing great in understanding this new person who has taken over my body!

This Week in my Belly:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Coming January 2013


July 17th 2012, it was a Tuesday and we sat in the cold room waiting for the doctor to start the exam. I had prepared myself for what I was about to see, after all I already knew I was pregnant. Tristan was standing up by my head holding my hand as the doctor moved the wand around. Neither Tristan nor I could see the monitor as it was facing the doctor and I was getting so excited to see the little miracle.

She pauses for a second and said the words "oh my gosh girl" and the nurse in the back gave a little excited giggle. I knew there was something and my mind raced, what if something was wrong?

 I look at Tristan and he looks confused and I said "what is it?" She turned the monitor towards us and said the words I will never forget...

 "You have twins!"

We both watched as the two little blobs moved in and out of view. There were definitely two. At this moment total shock took over. It was like an out of body experience. I looked at Tristan and he was smiling an in-shock smile. I started shaking as the truth of it started to settle in. We start laughing and a love fills me up like it has never before. I have twins. Not many people get to experience that. What a blessing!

The doctor measures baby #1: 8 weeks 5 days 170 bpm.
Then she measures baby #2: 8 weeks 3 days 167 bpm.

"They are perfect" she tells us. I firmly believe we were given what God knew we could handle, and in return he will provide us with just what we need. From strength to finances to time. We are so thankful.

My two little blobs!

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!

We had our second appointment today at 11 weeks! The blobs now look like real babies! As we watched the screen the lower one jumped and started flailing its arms and legs!
The top one was sleeping so I moved my belly and he/she started moving too!

It feels so real now!!!!




Adventures!

This last weekend we were delighted by having out friends Joe and Valerie and their 3 year old son Caleb visit us in San Antonio! We first met them on our honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas! We happened to be sat with them for dinner and we felt like we had known each other forever!



We had dinner at Casa Rio on the Riverwalk, took the boat tour, and on Saurday we had dinner at Big Lou's Pizza! They have a 42" pizza! We went back to the Riverwalk and went swimming at the hotel pool. Sunday we went to the Wildlife Ranch at Natural Bridge Caverns and fed the animals! We were gypped though! No Zebras! It was 100 degrees outside and the animals were sticking to the shade!











About Me

 

Hello! I am 26 years old and the writer of this here blog. I am a Libra which means I'm stubborn but I'm working on that. I do not have an "indoor voice" which gets me into trouble. I spend my days at home taking care of the most beautiful little girls in the world! I have my degree in Fashion Design! I love to sew and I have my own Etsy shop where I make stuffed elephants! I grew up in upstate New York. I am married to the greatest man a woman could have!

There... short and sweet!

We married on January 6th 2012.