10…um…12-Pounder Day

Today we had our most recent appointment with the Perinators. They have tentatively scheduled one more appointment for four weeks from now, though they think it likely that we’ll have our two little boys by then. The question of the day from the ultrasound technician and from the perinatologist was, “What are you feeding those boys?”

Dominic and Alexander have remained in the same position as before. Dominic is on my right side with his head down and Alexander across the top of my belly with his little butt and feet over by Dominic’s on my upper right side – this is an area with a great deal of activity. Future footies in the making?

Interesting Tidbits: We could see their hair on the ultrasound! Plus, we got to see Dominic having the hiccups.

33 Weeks: Tomorrow (Thursday), we finish 33 weeks. Our goals were to reach at least 36 weeks and for the boys to be at least 6 pounds. If we make it to 36 weeks, we could be looking at 7 pound little boys or larger.

Here are the new numbers, and you can compare them with our numbers of 4 weeks ago:

• Dominic (Thing 1):
  • 2643 grams
  • 5 pounds 13 ounces
  • At least two weeks ahead of expected growth for a singleton
• Alexander (Thing 2):
  • 2805 grams
  • 6 pounds 3 ounces
  • More than 2 weeks ahead of expected growth for a singleton
• Generic Singleton Baby at 33 weeks:
  • 1918 grams
  • 4 pounds 4 ounces

2643 grams /2805 grams = 0.9422

Concordance = 94%

Alexander and Dominic continue to distort the belly in a variety of odd and asymmetrical shapes, but the real entertainment is when we get to watch them kick and push out on my belly.

Nursery Update: Our nursery is almost completely set up thanks to the help of our friend Cindy who was visiting this past week and who made sure we got all the newborn and 0-3 month baby clothing washed and ready. Some of our friends also passed on their changing table to us. Thanks! I was a bit worried we might need to buy some preemie diapers and clothes just in case, but that is looking less likely now.

Mommy Update: I slow down a little more every day it seems, and I often have to take two naps a day now. I did get sick last Monday morning, but it appears to have been an isolated event. Right now, my carpal tunnel and swelling is well under control. For the gestational diabetes, I have to eat meals around 6 times a day, but my numbers have been good. Some of my major symptoms are that I’m a bit more uncomfortable, my indigestion has increased, my belly itches (like crazy sometimes), my allergies are in full force, and my feet ache (especially first thing in the morning). Still, all these are balanced by the joy of feeling our boys moving around and seeing Puck’s face as he watches my belly rock and roll to the boys’ games.

Daddy Update: Puck has a cell phone now, and we’ve started packing the bag to take to the hospital. The twin-daddy also got a light for the nursery and has continued to feed his boys and baby-momma extremely well (as demonstrated by their exceptional size). He’s working on getting his paternity leave set up at work too, and he’s just been amazing taking care of all of us.

Babies Countdown – The Double Header

44 days until September 2

We’ve already passed 10-Pounder Day!

23 days until Median Day (August 12)

• Thursday, July 29 and after this day we deliver at the birthing center instead of in Sacramento.
• Friday, July 30 is our next appointment with the OB-GYN.
• Monday, August 2 is our wedding anniversary.
• Thursday, August 12 and we hit our goal of 36 weeks minimum. This is Median Day.
• Thursday, August 19 is our next (tentative) appointment with the perinators.
• Thursday, September 2 and the OB-GYN has said she doesn’t want Mary to carry beyond this date.
• Thursday, September 9 is our due date even if we know the twins will be here sooner.
• 2 weeks Post Delivery – Schedule a follow up appointment with the Lactation Lady.
• 4 Weeks Post Delivery – Look for baby smiles.
• After the Delivery – 4.5 months of the Twinsanity Interval.

From the Twin-Daddy:

Yesterday was 32 weeks, and that means we hit Boob Day or perhaps more correctly the Boobie Interval.  From 32 weeks to 34 weeks is the interval at which the babies start to be able to feed from the breast according to KidsHealth.Org.

Monkeys Under the Blanket

Here at the 32 week mark the boys are making a real show of being monkeys under the blankets.  Mom’s belly is a veritable puppet show of strange occurrences, bumps, kicks, rolls, and wiggles.  Dominic especially likes to stick his butt in the air and wiggle his elbows.  (In this, he may take after his father.)

Slow Growing…

The guys are going to get tighter in there than a singleton baby, and this should slow down their growth a bit.  We’ve packed some pounds on the kids already, and they are looking pretty good.  Expect a weight and size update next week when we visit the perinators again next Wednesday.

OB-GYN Visits

We checked in with the OB-GYN yesterday. Both boys have good heart rates, and Mary’s blood pressure looks fine.  Once we reach 34 weeks the OB-GYN has given us the thumbs up to deliver at the birthing center instead of the more high-tech facility in Sacramento.  Our goal is at least 36 weeks (which is four weeks from today), and we look like we are in good shape to get there.  From here on out we get an appointment with the OB-GYN once a week until Alexander and Dominic arrive.

We have family coming to stay with us on and off for the rest of the month and Mary is still getting around really well.  Her blood sugar is looking good, and she is eating about 6 small meals a day.  The nursing bras have been ordered, and the lady at the baby store expressed admiration for the good condition of the super-sucker (breast pump) that Leigh sent to us.  They are giving it a good looking at, and we will be getting new tubes and other replacement parts that shouldn’t be shared.

The really crazy part is that less than two weeks from now we enter the hot zone, and the boys could come at any time.

• Car seats for the boys have arrived.
• The bassinette and crib have been assembled with swaddling blankets ready.
• We have clothes and diapers to cover naked butts.
• We have boobs standing by.

I still need to pack an emergency bag, and several men have quietly pulled me aside to remind me that when I rush off to the hospital, I need to remember to put the laboring mom in the car before I leave.  (I can only speculate as to how often this doesn’t happen.)

Babies Countdown – The Double Header

49 days until September 2

18 days until 10-Pounder Day (August 2)

28 days until Median Day (August 12)

• This week Puck gets a cell phone. (Still not done.)
• Wednesday, July 21 is our next (and final) appointment with the Perinators.
• Thursday, July 29 and after this day we deliver at the birthing center instead of in Sacramento.
• Friday, July 30 is our next appointment with the OB-GYN.
• Monday, August 2 is our wedding anniversary and 10-Pounder Day.
• Thursday, August 12 and we hit our goal of 36 weeks minimum. This is Median Day.
• Thursday, September 2 and the OB-GYN has said she doesn’t want Mary to carry beyond this date.
• Thursday, September 9 is our due date even if we know the twins will be here sooner.
• 2 weeks Post Delivery – Schedule a follow up appointment with the Lactation Lady.
• 4 Weeks Post Delivery – Look for baby smiles.
• After the Delivery – 4.5 months of the Twinsanity Interval.

Years ago when we first started dating, Puck showed up at my dorm during finals week with finger paints, and we had a fun, relaxing time painting away. Yesterday, Puck showed up after work with paints again and a photo of the Earth, and we painted an Earth belly.

The inspiration was a Gaia statue we’ve seen many times. Gaia was one of the Greek Titans who personified the Earth, and the statue is of a pregnant woman with the world painted on her belly – a symbol of fertility and new life.

The Earth Mama:

Click on the images to see the full image, and you can click on the full image for a larger version. Hit the back button on your browser to return to the blog post.

From the Twin-Daddy:

Last Wednesday during our check-up, I nonchalantly told the OB-GYN that we are expecting the boyos in about 4-9 weeks.  He gave me a bemused look and informed me that 4-6 weeks is probably closer to the mark.  This is a good time to practice your poker face because the last thing your terribly pregnant wife wants to see is your panicking “HOLY BLAMAZONEE!!” face.

Thus I responded, “Sure.  Sure.  That’s no problem and well within our timetable.  We’ve got everything on schedule.”

I recommend following this with a reassuring look to the wife as if to say, “That’s terribly silly since we’re obviously the most prepared people in the history of childrearing.  Quite the nerve he has for even suggesting we might not be ready.”

Much later when you are alone run around in circles for ten minutes trying to figure out what you still need to do.

After conferring with my friend Leigh, she gave me a basic list of things babies immediately need.

Babies Immediately Need

• A way to get home (Car seats)
• Clothes to wear
• Diapers
• Food to eat (translate that as extra food for the breastfeeding mommy)
• A place to sleep
• A Baby monitor can come a bit later because you’re bunking with the babies in your room

This list may seem obvious to a rational person, but I’m an expectant father so I don’t remotely qualify as rational.  It is entirely possible that you may find me running down the highway naked with a tofu chicken duct-taped to my head to reduce my drag coefficient.  (It should be clear to anyone with any scientific background that a tofu chicken has less wind resistance than a normal chicken.)

With this in mind, I like this obvious list and I’ve used it to create this:

Get-er-done checklist:

1. Second infant car seat. – (Arriving on Thursday and special thanks to Aunt Annie for it).
2. Install the car seats.
3. Assemble the double bassinet. (Done and special thanks to the baby shower crew for that.)
4. Cell phone so that the husband can be reached anywhere at anytime by the anxious pregnant lady who may have imminent double-babyhood.  (poker face! poker face!)
5. Start prepping the hospital bag with clothes, baby stuff, and charged cameras.
6. Finalize a birthing plan.

With our friends buying us a large collection of diapers for the baby showers we’ve got a start on our bouncing boy baby’s butt needs.  I have an assembled twin bassinet and a crib ready to go.  We’ve got baby clothes and I’ve been stocking up the fridge with mom food so we are actually looking fairly good at the moment.  I reserve the right to update this list as needed, but I think we are getting pretty close to being ready.

Best of all, experienced relatives are standing by ready to head our way at the first sound of twin wallerin’.

Babies Countdown – The Double Header

58 days until September 2

27 days until 10-Pounder Day (August 2)

37 days until Median Day (August 12)

• This week Puck gets a cell phone.
• Sometime in mid-July Mary gets fitted for her nursing bra and takes the super-sucker in for cleaning.
• Wednesday, July 14 is our next appointment with the OB-GYN.
• Thursday, July 15 is 32 weeks and Boob Day, which is when the boys could live off breast milk.
• Wednesday, July 21 is our next (and final) appointment with the Perinators.
• Monday, August 2 is our wedding anniversary and 10-Pounder Day.
• Thursday, August 12 and we hit our goal of 36 weeks minimum. This is Median Day.
• Thursday, September 2 and we reach 39 weeks. The OB-GYN has said she doesn’t want Mary to carry beyond this date.
• Thursday, September 9 and we hit 40 weeks. This is our due date even if we know the twins will be here sooner.
• 2 weeks Post Delivery – Schedule a follow up appointment with the Lactation Lady.
• 4 Weeks Post Delivery – Look for baby smiles.
• After the Delivery – 4.5 months of the Twinsanity Interval.

Well, we are into the third trimester and eager for the arrival of our little bundles of joy – though also determined to make them feel welcome in the belly for as long as possible to give them plenty of time to develop those lungs and grow. Still, the third trimester brings with it new challenges – challenges that I am willing to embrace for our two little boys.

Third Trimester Challenges

• The Hugeness of Me:
  Now, as my belly starts to exceed the size of a regular full-term belly, it’s more difficult to find comfortable positions when sitting and sometimes when sleeping. With enough pillows and shifts in position, I can still keep my back from aching much. Now, when Puck and I venture out together, more and more people are giving me the smiles, knowing nods and questions about when I’m going to pop.




• I’m No Elastigirl:
  While my skin was generously willing to stretch to accomodate an extra 15 inches of waist, it has begun to reach its limit. My first stretch marks are starting to appear on my underbelly (how bizarre to have an underbelly) and sides. Though my belly button has proved quite stubborn on not becoming an outie and has chosen the status of flattie instead.




• The Ebb and Flow of My Inner Tides:
  Swelling arose as a problem in early May and gave me carpal tunnel. Later, my ankles and feet began to noticeably swell (especially around the time of the move and as the weather turned warmer). By reducing salt, making sure I’m drinking the insane gallon of water a day that I’m supposed to drink, sitting and sleeping with my feet raised, sleeping with my hands raised, and not overdoing activities using my hands and feet, I’ve been able to manage the swelling. My feet and ankles quickly return to normal if they’ve started to swell after walking too much. Plus, the carpal tunnel has been reduced to a tingling in my fingertips.




• Waterworks:
  I do appear to be more weepy as the pregnancy moves along. Tears flow freely when I watch sad or emotional scenes in movies or TV shows, when I’m stressed, when I think of us holding our boys after they’re born, when I watch videos of my brother-in-law with his newest son (born just this week), when I think of the generosity of people like a certain anonymous 19-year-old young man who has donated his bone marrow to give new hope to one of our nieces, etc.




• Waddling, Rocking and Grunting:
  With approximately 35-40 pounds of added weight (mostly in the front-belly region), walking has given way to waddling, and to get up from a couch on my own (or even to shift positions much) requires a certain amount of scooting, pushing, rocking and grunting. I’m still quite capable of getting around, and once I start waddling, I can waddle for quite awhile. Still, I am less likely to turn down an empty chair or a hand up when they are available. The arch of my left foot has also been aching the last few days, though I’m not sure if it’s from the added weight or sciatica (caused by compression of spinal nerves in my lower back).




• Disgruntled Digestion:
  Indigestion is back with a vengeance. It seems to be worse in the middle of the night or when I haven’t eaten in an hour or two, but Tums or Alkamints soothes the beast – at least for awhile. I haven’t been using the candied ginger as much for indigestion this trimester.




• Sugar Wars:
  Finally, after 2 weeks of waiting, I had my appointment with a nurse and dietician about the gestational diabetes yesterday. They armed me with California’s dietary plan, a glucometer and a daily diary of my meals and glucose levels that I have to e-mail to them twice a week. I started my testing this morning, the first official skirmish in the sugar wars. For more detailed information, read on below.

Sugar Wars Continued

Today, I have been absorbed by figuring out how to correctly use my glucometer and counting the number of carbohydrates in everything I eat as well as counting the number of servings of dairy, protein, veggies, fruits, starches, fats, etc. It’s proven to be extremely time consuming, though it will get easier. At present, I’m actually having trouble making sure I have enough carbohydrates in my daily meal plan to meet their targets, and I’m exceeding their recommended servings of protein.

The particular gestational diabetes plan that they use here in California is set up for a woman pregnant with 1 baby, so I’m also a bit concerned about how that should be adapted for me as a mother of twins. Moms of multiples tend to have increased needs for calories, calcium, vitamins, protein, etc. Still, we’ll muddle along and do our best.

Here’s how the day has gone:

Fasting Glucose Test:
When I woke up this morning, I had to correct the time on my glucometer (Accu-Chek Aviva). Then, it was time to prick a finger.

• Attempt #1: I dutifully put a test strip in the glucometer, and then I used the lancing device to prick a finger. Unfortunately, I hadn’t squeezed enough blood out of the tiny pin-prick before applying my finger to the test strip, so it gave me an error message (not enough blood). Solution: Squeeze out more blood before applying it to the test strip.
• Attempt #2: Okay, so I pricked another finger, squeezed out a decent-sized drop of blood, applied it to a new test strip, and put the strip in the glucometer. I got another error message (it thought I had removed and reinserted the same test strip). Solution: Put the test strip into the glucometer before applying my blood.
• Attempt #3: The third prick of the finger finally went smoothly – a correctly prepped test strip, a goodly amount of blood, and…a result! Whew! Now, I could think about breakfast.

My post-fasting glucose tests have gone smoothly now that I’ve worked out several things not to do, and I even changed the lancet drum in my lancing device.

Targets:
Their targets are for me to eat 3 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 3 snacks a day. For each of my snacks, I am supposed to eat 30 carbohydrates. For breakfast, I have 15 carboydrates allotted, and for lunch and dinner the target is 45 carbohydrates. However, they don’t count single servings of vegetables in their carb count (though I have been counting them in mine). So far, my numbers have been good, though my meals are a bit behind time-wise from the planning, counting, preparation, and post-eating glucose readings. I’ve also not completely satisfied my hunger.

Acceptable numbers:
Fasting glucose level: 70-90
1-hour-post-meal glucose level: 90-130

My current results for the day: (I decided to test post snacks today as well)
Fasting: 81 (10 hours of fasting/sleeping)
Breakfast: 97 (18-19 carbs consumed)
Snack: 100 (31 carbs consumed)
Lunch: 106 (45.5 carbs consumed)
Snack: 92 (30 carbs consumed)

For today, I have not added post-meal exercise as I wanted to see what my numbers were before adding exercise into the mix. So far my pancreas seems to be holding its own. One of our good friends who is diabetic named her pancreas Bob. What should I name my pancreas? I’m thinking it should be 1-syllable name, perhaps female? Any ideas? June? Ann? Bess?