Ultrasound 9/30

Another check in with our bi-weekly ultrasound.  And another check in without much of anything

Earth shattering to report.  We are still on track and still progressing exactly as we should be.  Growth rates are right where they should be and we are following the bell curve nicely.  The babies are now measuring at 3lb 3oz and 3lb 4oz, a statistical discordance of 0%.  If you remember back from previous posts, we had a concern about the babies growing at different rates.  It had gone from 6% to 9%, back down to 7%.... and now we are at 0%.  With that said, the conversation we had with the doctor kind of left me wondering if all of the analyzing of data was worth anything.  The statement he made was that the numbers really aren't important.  What's important is that they stay above or below various thresholds.  In essence, 0% isn't any better or worse that 9%.... just numbers we are using as a baseline.

So, as we stand, we are still on track to deliver at 36 weeks which puts us around Nov 5th.  What Teri needs to start watching out for is contractions to start.  With 6lb 7oz of baby in her belly, as far as her body is concerned, she is full term.  The possibility of preterm labor is on the rise.  Should she go into labor, the doctors will try to stop it via medications so that we can get to that magic 36 week number.

We did manage to get some more pictures to share.

Baby A

A little note on this one, the ultrasound tech swears that this is her own foot in her face.  But, I can't for the life of me figure out how that is possible.  I've been trying for 3 hours to get my foot into anytihng that even closely resembles that position.  But, whatever, she is the professional, I guess my daughter is just a contortionist.

Baby B

She's being a little shy here.

Mommy's Little Shopping Trips

I saw this meme today on the interwebs and though it was funny.  Not because its true, but because of how UNTRUE it really is.

See moms, you have your ways of doing things, you know how you like things done, and you tend to be very particular in how those things are done.  When we do things that aren't in your agenda or go the way you plan, you tend to get angry with us, or at the very least,  get visibly frustrated.  You are clearly 'in charge' when it comes to this parenting thing.   Because of this, we tend to just hang out in the background, helping out where we can while trying our damnedest not to look like completely incompetent  morons.  We know our place, we stay in it.

So a little secret mommies....us dad's love it when you get out of the house for a few hours.  Contrary to what common perception wants everyone to believe, us dads actually do enjoy spending time with our babies.   And when you leave for a few hours, ahhhh......some nice, quality time with my little angel(s), stress free, no pressure, mono e bambino.  For a brief period in time we can be a parent OUR way and not have to worry about being judged for it.  Use a spit up rag and throw it on the floor?  Hell yeah.  Leave an empty bottle on the counter to clean it up later?  You bet.  Snuggle up on the couch and watch football for 3 hours?  You better believe it. Want to take a guess as to when that little bundle of joy gets their first sugary treat?  Yep, its on daddy's watch.

Now, don't take this the wrong way.  We don't think our way is better, in fact, we KNOW its not better.  None of us can deny that if we were left as primary care givers for more than a few hours a day, there would be a very good chance junior wouldn't make it to their fourth birthday.  We admit it, you ladies have your shit together.

So don't sweat it, go out and take your time.  We can handle it.   Do some shopping and get yourself one of those mani-pedi things.  A glass or three of wine wouldn't kill you either.  You work hard , you deserve it.  And you might as well enjoy it because as soon as you walk in the door you'll be picking spit up rags up off the floor, cleaning empty bottles that were left on the counter, and trying to get dried mustard out of your kids hair.  Sorry about that....

Ultrasound 9/16

Welcome back to the biweekly ultrasound update.  To say that these ultrasounds have been a roller coaster for us would be an understatement.  Even though there has never been any "bad" news, every ultrasound we have been to has resulted in one new medical term to learn, one new thing "to keep an eye on", and one more thing that "could happen down the road".  Its been a lot to handle.  With that said... I am ecstatic to report that today's check up was nothing short of perfect.  Physical measurements are perfect, organ function and development are great, fluid levels are exactly where they should be.... I feel comfortable saying that at this point we are having a 'text book identical pregnancy'

The last check in, Baby A was at 2 lb 1 oz, Baby B was at 1 lb 14 oz, a discordance of 9%.  This was within a normal range (below 15%), but was concerning (to Teri and I, not the doctor) because that was a 50% jump from the previous exam.  Another 50% jump this time would have been bad news. This check in, Baby A is at 2 lb 12 oz, Baby B is at 2 lb 9oz, a discordance of 7% both babies put on 11 ounces which is perfect.  They are growing at exactly the same rate and that is exactly what we want to see.

Another concern (again, to Teri and I.  Not the doctor)  that arose in the last exam is that the baby's growth rate was starting to lag behind a normal singleton's by about a week.  Since they are mono-di twins it is expected that their growth would lag behind a singleton, but the more they lag behind the sooner we have to deliver and the greater the potential we will be spending some time in the NICU.  Having lagged behind 1 week over the previous 2 week period, if we would have kept falling behind 1 additional week per 2 we would have been looking at a delivery date of about 34 weeks and a 2 week stay in the NICU.  Well we are now at 27w6d and 27w4d... still about 1 week behind.   So we haven't fallen behind any more and actually, Baby B caught up a bit.

Long story short we couldn't ask for a better exam. 

To give a quick update on Teri.  She is doing as well as can be expected.  She is still getting around well, but experiencing all of the aches and pains (I"m usually the "pains") that one would expect.   I know a lady never reveals her weight and it would be suicide for a husband to reveal it, but I will say today's check in has her weighing almost exactly the same as what she weighed when Ryley was delivered at full term.  With 7 weeks still to go, well..... don't expect to be seeing her out and about too often from here on out.

And if that wasn't good enough news, we've got more.  After 8 weeks of having some really camera shy girls, we finally got both of them to pose for us.  Enjoy

Baby A

Baby B

(This one's looking a little grump)

Ultrasound 9/2/15

Had our biweekley ultrasound yesterday.  Actually have some details to share.  To start, everything is fine and coming along as expected.  Twin A is measuring 2lbs 1oz, Twin B is at 1lb 14oz a discordance of 9%.  This is a little higher than the 6% we had 2 weeks ago, but well within the ideal range of <15%.  This also puts them with a Gestation Age of 26 weeks 0 days and 25 weeks 2 days respectively.  Teri is technically at 27 weeks today which puts the girls at about 1 week behind a singleton pregnancy.

The Dr stressed that this 1 week lag is perfectly normal, but this led into a discussion as to what we should be expecting going forward.  This is an indicator as to when, exactly, we are going to deliver. The Dr explained to us that being mono-di twins, their development will plateau.  It'll slow down more and more and eventually stop.  Once they stop developing inside, further development, if necessary will have to happen outside.  As of right now, we are still in a "best case" scenario and will deliver at 36 weeks.  We will not be going later than 36 weeks.  This is a little different than what we were understanding in the past.  Not sure where Teri and I picked it up wrong, but we were under the impression that best case was 38 weeks.   If the babies stop growing sooner than that, we will have to go sooner at 35 or 34 weeks.  He also told us that the typically accepted ideal age for safe delivery is at 32 weeks 4 days.  However, he and his 12 colleagues that compose the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist team at the Cleveland Clinic and have set their own standard at 34 weeks.  He said there is no way he would ever deliver at 32 weeks unless it was absolutely necessary.

So, long story short, we will know for sure at our 34 week appointment when the happy day will be.  We don't currently have an appointment scheduled that day, but it is Oct 22.  Not sure if we will have a 33 week exam and another one for 34, but at the latest, the girls will be here by November 5th.  We've been told that it could be a same-day decision.  The possibility exists that we could walk into the office Oct 22 and deliver that day.

As for post-delivery.  If we do continue on our best-case path and deliver at 36 weeks, the girls would most likely be coming home with Teri when she is discharged 3 or so days later.  However, if things go sooner, the girls will need to spend some time in the NICU.  At 34 weeks, that would likely be 1, maybe 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, I still don't have any pictures to share.  The girls just aren't cooperating with the photography.  The ultrasound tech did a great job trying for us, but they just weren't going to give.  But since you probably want to see something, enjoy our family picture from our recent vacation to the Outer Banks.