SHOCKER!!

Today we had our non-stress test and ultrasound and guess what, just guess... you'll never guess... BOTH BABIES ARE HEAD DOWN!!! WHAAATTT??? I am shocked!! Okay, so this changes everything. Per the doc, IF they remain head down (because clearly, they can flip at any time!) Trisha will be induced on the 9th, unless she decides she wants a c-section. So, now we have a lot to discuss because it would be much easier on Trisha if she doesn't need to have a c-section, and as I said before, there are some benefits of labor for the twins.  We obviously don't need to decide right this minute, but it looks like we may be heading for a natural delivery after all! The babies looked good, so we are still just in waiting mode.  Trisha is about 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced, which is unchanged from earlier this week. She is still having some contractions, but clearly they are not causing any cervical changes.  Ugh!!  Waiting, I HATE WAITING!!!

36 4/7 weeks

We're still here! Not much to report. Trisha's kids were sick last week and now I am sick too! : ( Trisha had some contractions on Tuesday and we were hopeful that labor was starting, but they stopped after a few hours. Nathan came in on Tuesday evening just to be sure he was here for the big event, but alas, we are still waiting! We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon for our non-stress test and a limited ultrasound to check amniotic fluid levels and cord dopplers.  It's funny, even now, I can't relax. I am so scared something bad is going to happen and now I just want them to come out, so I can hold them in my arms and see that they are okay. I hate being this way, I just know too much! It's true that ignorance is bliss and right now I just wish I was NOT a neonatal nurse practitioner who has seen so much tragedy! I am so ready to see their sweet little faces, but unfortunately I have to wait until they are ready. I just keep telling myself only 11 more days max! At least Nathan is here now, that has eased some of my anxiety about him missing the delivery, but OMG, I could really use some xanax!
: ) Anyway, here is last Sunday's belly pic.

35 3/7 weeks

I can't believe we have made it this far and are still going strong!! We had our doctor's appointment yesterday and all is well. The babies' non-stress test looked "textbook" according to the L&D nurse, which makes me extremely happy! Trisha has gained 40 lbs and was measuring 42 weeks. The babies are very active and also both remain breech. : ( We scheduled a c-section for Monday, November 9th, but don't think we will make it until then. Trisha is definitely ready for them to be born and anything we get past now is just cake! If they were born today, most likely they would not require any NICU time. Not much else to report. We will continue to have bi-weekly non-stress tests and will start having doctor's appointments weekly from now on. Our next appointment is Tuesday and then we will have an ultrasound the following Friday. Nate is coming back to Kansas City on Friday, October 30th and will stay until the babies are born or we have the c-section.  So, I told Trisha she has to keep the babies in at least 9 more days and then she is free to deliver anytime after that! Needless to say, I think she gave me a dirty look! : ) No, just kidding!  Here is the belly on Sunday at 35 weeks.

34 5/7 Weeks

Today we are 34 5/7 weeks! I can't believe that on Sunday we will have made it to 35 weeks!!! I couldn't be more thrilled with our progress! We had our growth scan today and everything looked good. The estimated weights were 5 lbs 8 oz for Cooper and 5 lbs 4 oz for Isabella, which are wonderful! Nate was able to come into town last night and come to the ultrasound today, which was great since he hasn't seen them since our 26 week 3D/4D ultrasound. He couldn't believe how big they have gotten! At this appointment, both babies were breech and that means Trisha is heading toward a C-section. : ( We didn't have doctor's appointment today, but we did see Dr. Lu and he is looking into scheduling C-section on Nov. 9th, although he didn't seem to think she would last that long before delivering since the majority of twins deliver by 37 weeks. So, we are still just waiting for these babies to decide they are ready to come out and meet everyone.  In the meantime, I am enjoying that Nathan is here visiting. I miss him and the dogs so much, but it's definitely a worthy cause! Anyway, here is a photo of Trisha last weekend on Sunday at 34 weeks, they are definitely growing!

33 weeks

So, here we are at 33 3/7 weeks and we are thrilled that everything continues to go smoothly. We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything looked good. The non-stress test looked great, as well as both babies' amniotic fluid levels, heart rates, and umbilical cord dopplers.  Trisha has gained 37 lbs so far and was measuring 41 weeks this week (Dr. Lu thinks she will measure around 52 weeks when she delivers!), which is up 3 weeks from our last appointment 2 weeks ago. It's a good sign that the babies are growing well and we will have our next growth scan next Friday.  I am guessing they weigh around 4 1/2 to 5 lbs now, so they are definitely getting big! This week Cooper was lying transverse and Isabella is now breech. So, they are still flipping around in there and that gives us hope that Cooper may eventually turn head down so that Trisha can avoid a C-section, we'll just have to wait and see.  We are so thankful to have another week under our belt and it is hard to believe that we have only 4 1/2 weeks or less to go!  So, that means I'm going to bed now, because I need all the sleep I can get in these next few weeks! : )

First Babies' Photos and Nursery Photos

As we are getting closer to the twins arrival, I find myself wondering how our first babies are going to respond to the new babies. If you haven't already figured this out, our first babies are our fur babies Little Bit and Bailey. Little Bit is 12 1/2 years old and Bailey is 6 years old and I have had them both since they were 6 weeks old. I definitely love them as if they were my children and have found much comfort in their presence, especially in the past few difficult years. They are always there to greet me when I get home and Bailey sleeps right beside me in bed every night. The great thing about fur babies is that they always love you no matter what!

I think Little Bit will have very little interest in the two newbies, as he is mostly interested in sleeping or eating these days. Bailey, on the other hand, is a much bigger momma's baby and does not like to share the attention at all!  I imagine he will behave much like a toddler who now has to share their parent's attention with a new baby.  It will interesting to see how he reacts.  At any rate, here are some photos of our fur babies, who we could not live without!! Here are also some photos of the finished nursery.

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Now it's off to Kansas City on Monday. Wish us good luck!!