Pictures from last weekend

Here are a few pictures from our local store trick or treat and kid expo! We had such a wonderful weekend! Saylor absolutely LOVED the snake (a girl after my own heart)! I believe we were able to get Keller into a charter school (an answered prayer!!!) There has been a waiting list for our local charter school and they choose kids based on a lottery. We originally wanted to wait until next fall to put Keller in kindergarten, but we won't be guaranteed a spot, whereas we can get him enrolled NOW.... so he may be off to kindergarten soon! The philosophy of a charter school is a PERFECT fit for both Kingsley and I. We are so very excited!!!

19.5 weeks.

Here's a picture at 19.5 weeks and sweet Saylor putting on heels in the background. The other picture is of our little son. He is smashed in between the placenta and cervix.... and has his little hand by his face.

It's been a few days....

It's OFFICIAL... I am NOW feeling movement!!! I started feeling our little boy (I love that I KNOW who is kicking me and with what body part) a few days ago. They are just little kicks/punches, for now. He seems to be much more active than his sister. She doesn't necessarily kick as much as head butt me. I don't think she likes me using my stomach as a ledge to take laundry upstairs or hold heavy objects, because almost every time I feel her head ram my insides!! It's always exciting feeling them move and kick... I love that part of pregnancy... most everything else I can do without!

My stomach is starting to reach that really uncomfortable stage... I need to stuff a pillow under it at night or else it's too heavy and hurts when I sleep. If I eat too much at night I have trouble breathing because everything is now pushing up on my diaphragm. Bending over is a HUGE task, as is shaving BOTH legs! I forget how little you can do with a stomach in your way. Things seem to take me a little longer.... and I'm moving a little slower. Keller often compares me to a snail! I don't remember feeling this way until the last few weeks with the other 2. Overall we are doing well though. I wake up almost every morning with butterflies in my stomach and feeling like it's Christmas! I still can't believe we are having a boy and a girl! We are blessed beyond what we even know. I'm so thankful God's given me yet another opportunity to mother and raise 2 more children. I pray that we honor and glorify Him in the process.

FRATERNAL TWINS CONFIRMED!!!

Well we actually made it to the appointment on time today!!! I had NO idea what news awaited us and am STILL in shock. Within the 1st 5 minutes of the ultrasound we came to realize that we are NO LONGER (or never really were) having 2 boys!!!!!! We are INDEED having ONE BOY (twin A) and twin B has suddenly transformed into our little girl (or our OB guessed wrong). Words can't express how truly excited I am! I was of course excited for 2 boys, but the thought of not having another daughter was a little sad....Saylor came with us to the appointment and the look on her face was priceless. She is so excited! I must have asked 100 times "are you sure?" and without any doubt from the Dr. (or many nurses) she is a GIRL! So ..... this means they are confirmed as fraternal twins.... 2 eggs were fertilized, they have separate amniotic sacs and separate placenta's!!! This evens the score out 3 to 3!!!

Aside from the gender change, everything else genetically checked out perfectly! Both babies are measuring exactly the same size down to the day! They are 19 weeks and 1 day. They both are 1/2 pound and about 7 inches long (head to rump). Our little boy is head down with his feet wrapped up 3 inches above my belly button, while his sister is breech and her head is within perfect kicking range for him. He was kicking her in the head during the whole ultrasound which was rather amusing! Our boy is on my left side of the belly while our girl is on the right side. All their bones measured correctly for their gestation, their hearts were free from genetic or chromosome markers. Their spines were perfectly formed, no cleft palates, club foot, etc.... The umbilical cords were pumping blood sufficiently both directions and they were both surrounded by PLENTY of amniotic fluid! Dr. Mullen (our perintologist) checked my cervix and was hoping it was atleast 2.5 but was aiming for 3.0 and it measured 4.5!!!! What does this mean? I guess it means they aren't going to "fall" out anytime soon! If my cervix was 2.5 I'd be looking at some bed rest already! So I guess you could say this was a good, great, PERFECT appointment!!! One of the most exciting things was just having Kingsley there with me. Due to his schedule, he isn't always free to make certain appointments, but he moved things around (I think he knew how much I wanted him there) and it meant alot to have him there with me!! I will go back to the Peri every 5 weeks (so 2, possibly 3 more times).

On a side note.... since they are fraternal twins and I hyper-ovulated, the chances are high that I pass that on to Saylor and her sister and we could have some twins grandchildren in the future.... Lord Willing, of course.

The picture above is classic..... what we thought was our 2nd boy is our little girl laughing at us....

19 WEEKS!!!

I came across this old picture of me pregnant with Keller at 18 weeks! The other picture is of me at 19 weeks..... what a difference!

I had a regular OB appt yesterday and everything seems fine. All he did was measure my uterus (which seems LARGE... everything is pushed up towards my lungs making hard to breathe at night) but he said it's right where it should be. Then he picked up Twin B's heartbeat with the doppler and had to "chase" Twin A down since he was moving so much. Both sounded great. He also explained the strange sensation I've had (skin crawling/pain on one side) are the nerves under my skin from skin stretching. It's such an odd feeling and almost brings me to my knees everytime!!!

I'll know MUCH MUCH more on the boys' health tomorrow..... keep me in your prayers... thanks.

Andrea

Missed Peri appt.

Well I had to reschedule the peri appt for Friday! I was pretty bummed. The Dr. had to leave early (plus we were a "tad" late), so we missed the appt. I go in Friday at 10. I did get a yummy outback steak for dinner though.

Anyway, I actually jumped on this wheelchair as a joke, but quickly realized how HELPFUL it was.... I think Costco is the only store I will shop at from now on.....

Today is the half way mark to 37 weeks.... and since I won't be going past 37 weeks, I am OFFICIALLY HALF WAY THERE!!! Yeah!

OK and I'm not sure why I look "less" pregnant this week... it's been odd.... I'm sure tomorrow I'll wake up and be twice the size as before.... I didn't get my pictures confused, the pic was taken this morning....

18 Week Belly Bump

Our wireless network has been "under construction" for a few days, so I haven't been posting much, but I'm hoping the problem is solved and we are back into the internet world! Today ends the 18th week and begins the 19th week! Everything seems to be progressing well.... My migraines are gone, but now the congestion and nose bleeds have started... seems there is always something EXCITING to experience! Overall this is considered the "honeymoon" stage of pregnancy and I'd have to say these last few weeks have been the best physically since I got pregnant. I'm getting alot accomplished with the thought of a near bed rest (though I don't feel I need it:) One of the odd things I experience now is the amount of blood flow going through my heart... apparently it's tripled .... and I can literally hear and feel almost every pulse! It's a very odd feeling, but I guess good in the sense of knowing the boys are getting the blood flow they need.

Like I posted earlier, Tues is my first Peri appt and I'm both excited and nervous. I don't recall ever having a level 2 ultrasound with Keller or Saylor.... they did a more indepth u/s, but not a true Level 2. I'm assuming it could last over 2 hours. I'm praying for a good "healthy" outcome, but regardless of the outcome, we accept whatever God has in store for our family, knowing He knows what is best for us, and our boys.

The kids are excited for a kid expo craft day .. they will be making pumpkins and going trick or treating at the local stores on Saturday afternoon! I just hope it cools down long enough to feel like "fall" here! Sometimes (once in a while, not often) I miss OHIO and the seasons I experienced growing up!

17 Week belly bump

A few days behind, but here are a few pictures I took Thur/Fri as I turned 17 weeks!