Due Date Change!!!!!!

Today we had the doctor’s appointment for what I thought was week 31. As it turns out these little girls are measuring a week behind and their new due date is Dec. 4 (changed from Nov. 28). The ultrasound showed that baby A weighs 3 pounds 1 ounce and baby B weighs 3 pounds 8 ounces. The doctor was not concerned with the weight discrepancy. Baby B moved back to her favored breech position. The doctor thinks that after my check up in 2 weeks they will not have much room to turn. My abdomen measures 36 weeks! How in the world will I make it 8 more weeks?

We were able to get a tentative c-section date today. If I do not go into labor before this their birthdays will be Nov. 23. I was hoping for a week earlier than that since I thought their actual due date was Nov. 28. The doctor said there is always the possibility that I will go into labor sooner than 38 weeks. If labor occurs naturally around week 35-36 (or after this) they will not try to stop labor. So now I either have to experience some labor or wait until Nov. 23 to have these babies.

(Pictures are all Baby A since Baby B would not face the camera!)

(Let's hope those are Shores' feet, not Hatcher toes!)

The babies were not very cooperative during this ultrasound. Baby A was head down, on my left side, but facing the right side of my body. Baby B was breech (feet down), on the right side facing my back. Baby A was kicking her sister in the head periodically. Perhaps, she was trying to move her sister so that Baby B’s bottom would not be her face! They both have hair, which was neat to see. Baby B would not get in position for us to get a profile shot this time. Baby A’s profile still looks like Brian to me. We did get some nice foot shots, and we got a nice 4-d shot of baby A’s arm. It looked muscular to me. We can definitely see that they are plumping up. The doctor said if they continue at this growth rate I could have two 7 pound babies by Nov. 23! I can’t even imagine two babies that size in my stomach.

We are very thankful for two, plump, healthy Thanksgiving babies!

Oh, some have asked me about names. We are still hanging on to the list we passed out at the shower. The top choices right now are Caroline Grace, Addison Margaret, Emma Grace, and Elizabeth. I still like Hailey, but can’t get over that it rhymes with my dog’s name Bailey. We eliminated Lauren Margaret so that Mary Grace can have it if she ever has a daughter. We won't make a final decision on names until we see the girls.

Week 31

This past week we received some gifts from Uncle Troy and my committee chair from University of Memphis, Mary. Mary was a great mentor to me as I worked on my doctorate. I am glad she will be a surrogate grandparent! The picture frames are from Mary. The finger puppets are from Uncle Troy. Those should be a fun for the girls!







I have been feeling pretty good. My sciatic nerve pain has lessened since I stopped working. The gestational diabetes is going okay. I have to really stick to my diet to control my sugar. Even when I stick with my diet my sugar is high at times. The low blood sugar has not been much of a problem since I increased my calories. I have also had some contractions, nothing that occurs at regular intervals though. My next doctor appointment and ultrasound are in the morning. I am looking forward to seeing the babies again. They are very active these days. I wonder how much they weigh now? Brian and I guess around 3 pounds each. I’ll post again soon and let you know.

Week 30

(Flowers from my class and plant from my husband.)

Last Friday was my last day at work. Two of my students were out with the flu already; three more went home by the end of the day with flu-like symptoms. I also left with flu-like symptoms. By Sat. morning I called my doctor because I was told that getting really sick could be prevented if you treat symptoms within the first 24-48 hours. Now I am taking tamiflu for 5 days. It did seem to lessen my symptoms quite a bit. Needless to say, I am glad I stopped working. It seems like the flu (regular and/or swine) is going to work its way through all the kids in school.

As busy as last week was, my students and parents found time to have a surprise baby shower for me! It was really sweet! They made cards, gave me presents, flowers, and we had cupcakes. We got some cute outfits for the girls along with some blankets and a target gift card. I also received a gift card for a facial! Here are some pictures of the gifts and my expanding belly.








Today I am at home washing more baby clothes, organizing and resting. I also have to go to a diabetes education class this afternoon. I have been checking my sugar for a few days now. It seems to be under control with diet. Hopefully, I will learn more about management today.

29 weeks

On Friday I went in for my gestational diabetes test. I won’t have the final results until Monday or Tuesday, however, the nurse showed me on the glucose meter what my sugar was at each check. It appears that I do have gestational diabetes. The nurses told me to stay on the 2000 calorie, carbohydrate/sugar restricted diet until I see my doctor on Tuesday. The nurses also said the doctor will probably send me to a specialist. I’m lucky that Brian has some experience managing diabetes so he can help me a lot. He used to work at diabetes camps for kids when he was in college. So for now, I have to say goodbye to my sweet treats of ice cream, brownies, and doughnuts! But I did get some sugar free ice cream. Hopefully it doesn't taste like sandpaper!

Here is my 29 week picture. I am holding my new diaper bag! Hope it is big enough for twins.

This is a picture of the fabric that will be used for the valances in the girls’ room.

Another new development is that this will probably be my last week at work. With so many kids getting sick with the regular flu and swine flu, Brian and I decided that it is too risky for me to keep working. Even a small chance of endangering the twins is not worth the money. I was planning to work another month (assuming my doctor agreed with that). Time will slow down if I have to stay at home for the duration of the pregnancy, but at least I can get the house ready.

Next update I will let you know for sure what we decided and tell you what my doctor says about the diabetes.

Week 28

Here is my expanding belly as of Sat. this week (sporting my husband's gator shirt for college football weekend). The babies grow everyday and have become quite good at kicking me! I have had some major back pain that my doctor says is from my sciatic nerve, so I had a massage on Sat. It was great and relieved the pain for most of the day. The heating pad is my new best friend. I tried a warm bath a few nights ago, but it was really hard to get out of the tub. Up to this point being pregnant has been easy and exciting. However, I think I am getting into the uncomfortable stage. I also found out last week that I failed my gestational diabetes screening. My blood sugar was 197 (acceptable levels are 70-140). My iron levels were also lower than the acceptable range. Starting Tues. I have to go on a calorie restricted diabetic diet for three days. Thurs. night I have to start fasting at 9 pm until I go to the doctor at 8:30 Friday morning. At the doctor I will drink massive amounts of sugar in the form of a concentrated drink. I will have to stay at the doctor for 3 hours while they check my sugar at various intervals. Hopefully, they will find out I do not have gestational diabetes and everything can go back to normal. But, if I do have it I will have to be really careful with what I eat from now on. I have family history of diabetes so I am at high risk for developing the condition.

Facing Forward View

Profile View

Brian helped me finish setting up the babies’ room. I love the furniture and the colors we picked out. It is very calming in their room. The bumpers on the crib didn’t fit well though. I guess our crib is a different shape than the standard crib. A friend is making some beautiful curtains that are pink with a green and blue paisley pattern. I’ll take more pictures when we hang them. We also plan to get a few more things for the wall. When we decide on names I want to hang their names in pink letters over the cribs. I have almost finished washing all the clothes my mom gave me. The girls are stocked with clothes until age 3! I love putting their things away. I’m counting down the days till I can meet my girls!

Even Bailey likes to play in the girls' room!

Week 27: Doctors Appoitment

On Tues. Brian and I went to the doctor. I had an ultrasound and found out that both girls were head down cuddling with each other! It was pretty cute! They told us that their weight was approximately 2 pounds 1 oz. each. That is only 4.2 pounds of babies, but I sure do feel like they weigh a lot more. My blood pressure and other routinely checked things were great. I had a glucose screening for gestational diabetes, but do not have the results yet. My appointments have been moved to every two weeks instead of once a month, with an ultrasound again at 30 weeks. I will be 28 weeks on Sat. My next appointment is on Sept. 15.

Work is definitely getting harder! I get tired a lot quicker and by the end of the day I am exhausted. I am trying very hard to hang in there until Oct. 9. With my sick leave that will allow me to be paid until November (teachers don’t get paid maternity leave). Luckily, I love my students this year! They are great and easy to work with, a true blessing.

This weekend we are looking forward to some GATOR football! I am also looking forward to a massage on Sat. I am having sciatic nerve pain on my right side. We also plan to work a little more in the babies’ room. I need for things to be in order to feel settled.