19 Week OB Appointment

Well, I had my OB appointment today and all is well! The babies are very active which is great! My blood pressure was great...128/69(ish). I am measuring 31 weeks now! Crazy, but not as big as I thought it would be. Probably the best news of the day is that I passed my 3 hour glucose test with no problem! YAY! Gestational diabetes may catch me yet, but as of now I'm just fine!

Dr. M discussed some upcoming plans with me as well. Soon the specialist will be doing bio-physical scans on the babies, and he also has an echo set up for Baby A since her cord is missing a vessel. At 24 weeks I will get my first 2 doses of steroids to help the babies lungs develop in preparation for premature birth. Dr. M also let me know that they won't tolerate any issues and that if anything starts getting hinky they will put me in the hospital for the duration of my pregnancy...hopefully that will be much later than not! I have started having mild contractions over the last month or so, but they aren't frequent or effecting my cervical fortitude at this point, but they are directly linked to my level of activity as well as dehydration or not going to the bathroom often enough.

We are so grateful that this pregnancy is moving along well so far. We know that many of you already pray for our family and we truly appreciate it and see the power of those prayers every day that I am able to get out of bed and take care of my family (even if its at a decreased level). Please continue to pray for us...that my body will hold out for several more weeks and that our babies will continue to grow and develop normally!

For fun, here is a new pic of my growth over the last several weeks...

18 Week Anatomy Scan

Hi All! I had my 18 week anatomy scan today and all is well...mostly. My body is holding out really well still! Woohoo! No bed rest for me...yet. The babies are all growing and active and look good. Baby A is definitely a girl! Thank goodness!

The babies weighed in as follows:'

A- 8 ounces
B- 8 ounces
C- 11 ounces!
D- 9 ounces

That is 2 pounds 4 ounces of babies.

The concern, which is minimal, is that baby A appears to only have 2 vessels in her umbilical cord and she should have 3. The doctor isn't concerned since everything else is fine, but we will have to watch her as the most likely issue will be her growth.

Aside from that, we are all lookin good!

We didn't get any pics of baby C for some reason, but here are some of the other 3.

Baby B

Baby B's foot

Baby D

Baby A

SuperMom to the Rescue!!!

I got the absolute BEST news today...my Mom is coming out to help us for a month! She is coming on August 6th and staying thru September 3rd! That will get me to 24 weeks and I am SO grateful to her and my dad for making the financial sacrifice, and to her boss for giving her the time without even having to consider it! Heavenly Father truly knows our needs and will help us to get them met!

So...two weeks and counting til my momma gets here! I can't wait!

The Latest and Greatest

Today was my appointment with the OB. He checked in on the babies who are all very active. He said I will be feeling A LOT of movement very soon. My blood pressure and protein output (both pre-eclampsia indicators) are normal...Yay! I get to go have my 1 hour glucose test this week...Boo, but Dr. M feels that I will pass it with no problem.

After a look at the babies, Dr. M discussed what I need to be doing, or not doing, as well as what the plan is for the next few weeks. I feel like he is erring on the side of caution while the MFM doc is following a "wait and see" plan. Dr. M wants me to do as little as possible. Rest, rest, rest! He isn't putting me on bed rest yet, but he feels like 20 weeks is going to be a turning point in a lot of ways.

At the 20 week point, my uterus will be about full term size for a singleton pregnancy, and at that point my body will probably start doing funny things like trying to go into labor, increased contractions, etc. Also at this point, I will go on the "high risk list" at the hospital I will deliver at so I will be a topic of conversation in the medical community at that point. I was unaware of this list, but it provides a way for the hospital staff to prepare for us!

All in all, it was an informative appointment for me and I feel some relief having a better idea of what they are planning for me over the next month or more. :P

Katie

16 Week Anatomy Scan and the Big News!

So, as many of you know, today was our 16 week anatomy scan. I'm so glad it was early so I didn't have to wait all day! Straight away the ultrasound tech went searching for the babies' sexes! But I'm not gonna tell that part yet...(bwahahaha!).

Anyways, she went about measuring bits on the babies and they all weighed in at 6 ounces a piece...that is a pound and a half of babies! They were all pretty cooperative, but getting a look at baby A and baby B was difficult because they are at the very bottom and crammed up next to each other. Babies C and D are up top and lounging like little rock stars on chaise lounges...LOL! Baby C was working its jaw and looked like it was talking. We joked that it was telling A & B to quit fighting.

So onto the fun stuff. During her initial look, the U/S tech said baby A is a girl, baby B is a girl, baby C is definitely a boy, and baby D wasn't cooperating. So she did some measurements and went back around. This time, baby A was a boy, baby B is definitely a girl, baby C is still a boy, and baby D is definitely a boy. I have to admit, the thought of three boys scared the daylights out of me. She measured some more and went back to baby A because she was bugged by it. Baby A's butt was firmly planted down and we got a lot of foot shots, but she couldn't get a good enough view. Finally, she decided that baby A is probably a girl and went and got the Dr.




He took a look around and decided that baby A is a girl. So, we are 99% sure that we have 2 boys and 2 girls on the way! We are thrilled! It is especially cool because we both come from families of 5 kids, 2 girls and 3 boys, and that is what we will have as well!

So, I start every other week visits with the specialist now and am having every other week visits with the OB, so I will be seeing someone every week.

Now the planning and plotting begins! It feels so much more real now that we know what we are having and I am feeling more and more movement. This is a crazy ride, but I'm so glad we got chosen to ride it! :P

Katie

Too Excited...

I just know you all have seen the Disney World commercial where the kids won't/can't go to sleep because they are going to Disney World and they say "we're too excited to sleep!". That is totally how I feel! I have my anatomy scan tomorrow and I can't wait to see these little critters and HOPEFULLY find out what they are (they just might be ferrets, you know!).

http://youtu.be/gjlUHY2cbC8

On another topic, I wish I could afford a house keeper! I'm too tired to clean! I really need my dishes washed and kitchen cleaned, and floors vacuumed, but I'm too busy making babies (or so I'm told). I'm also potty training and trying not to kill my toddler...who just pooped in his underpants! UGH! Can I give up?

Anyways, I think the house is going to stay a mess for another day, and I may or may not put said toddler back in a diaper for my sanity. :P

Katie

New Belly Pics

I just thought that I would update my belly growth picture for you all. I am 16 weeks today which makes me halfway! I can't believe it!

Anyways, here it is!  :P

Katie