Bedrest update...

First, many thanks to everyone who has been helping us with cooking and cleaning, calling and emailing with encouraging words, and stopping by to visit - I can't tell you how grateful we are for your support and love. We feel very blessed to have such caring family and friends.

We had an appointment with our new OB yesterday which was very reassuring. It's looking like the lower placenta is moving upward in my uterus which is a good sign. My doctor said that while he wants me to stay on bedrest for at least the next two weeks, this type of issue usually resolves itself. Both Steve and I were relieved to hear that!

We also learned something new - that 24 weeks is when life can begin outside the womb. According to our doctor, all babies born at 23 weeks die while half of babies born at 24 weeks live. About 90% of babies born at 28 weeks survive without any major disabilities. After our appoinment Steve turned to me and said, "I'm going to bubble-wrap you until you get to at least 28 weeks." I do feel bubble-wrapped on bedrest, and it seems to be working. At 20.5 weeks (21 weeks this Sunday), we have some time to go.

Milestones we're shooting for:

• 24 Weeks - September 23rd
• 28 Weeks - October 21st
• 32 Weeks - November 18th
• 36 Weeks - December 16th
• 38 Weeks - December 30th (considered full term for twin pregnancies...)

The babies are both looking good. During our visit yesterday we had a survey ultrasound to measure the babies. Both of them are exactly on track for their age. They are getting so big! Their arms and legs looked long to us. Our baby book is going to be full of ultrasound pics before the babies are even born!

Baby Girl Pics

Baby Boy Pics

Bedrest...

This is hard to write... We found out on Monday that our little girl's placenta is lying very low in my uterus - the medical term is placenta previa. When I stand up there isn't any place for her to sit except on the placenta. This has caused some minor bleeding (a "placental abruption") - on Friday the week before last and again this past Sunday. I'm on strict bedrest this week and next to keep our little girl off the placenta. This will hopefully help the placenta to heal. It is also possible that as my uterus grows the placenta will move upward in the uterus - but that may take weeks. If the placenta remains where it is now, it is possible that I'll be on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. With 4 months to go, that seems like a long time!

At this point in my pregnancy, there aren't any extreme measures to be taken. I'm only 20 weeks and generally interventions for this don't begin until 24 weeks. In the meantime both Steve and I are trying to keep a positive attitude and remain hopeful.

We're in the process of switching from our regular OB to a twins high-risk pregnancy specialist named Dr. Acker. Our new doctor is the head of obstetrics at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. We had a consulation with him earlier in the pregnancy, and both Steve and I feel confident in the care we'll receive with him. Steve and I have our first official appointment with him next week on Wednesday, and both of us are looking forward to it. We should have an update after that visit.

My OB took me out of work this week so that I can really rest. My boss and co-workers have been very supportive - a gift box from Crabtree & Evelyn arrived from them yesterday. It was a great surprise. I am appreciating their support and am hopeful that I'll be able to return to work for some period of time before the babies are born.

In the meantime, I'm generally lying on my left side or right side all the time. I can get up to take a shower, go to the bathroom and to grab food. I'm finding that structuring my days is helpful in breaking up my time. I've been getting up around 9 or 9:30, eating breakfast, watching some TV, having a snack, reading, eating lunch, taking a nap, surfing/emailing, reading some more, watching TV, and then eating dinner when Steve gets home and hanging out with him.

Steve has been a rock through all of this - he does all of the cleaning and cooking and brings me little gifts and surprises to help keep my spirits up. When I tell him that I don't think I could be doing this without him he often replies that I wouldn't be in this position without him. I suppose he has a point, but it doesn't make me any less grateful for him. He's just amazing.

Visits from family and friends have also really helped both Steve and me to still feel somewhat normal. It's been great to see folks and we've appreciated the gifts of flowers, food and help around the house. It may seem small, but it is a huge help to us. Many thanks and gratitude to all for keeping us in your thoughts...

A little boy and a little girl - a little more joy in this little old world...

We found out on Monday that we're having a little boy and a little girl. The ultrasound was a bit unexpected - I had a minor complication that made our OB want to check in on the babies. They're looking great and I'm fine - I've been resting this week. We're tremendously excited to know the babies are healthy and are now really working on names for the babies. Any recommendations?

Some pictures of our babies... Our little girl is currently the "presenting" or "lower" twin - she may be on the bottom, but she'll most likely be born first. Our polite little boy is letting her go first. He'll likely hang out as the "non-presenting" or "upper" twin.

Baby Girl Pictures

Baby Boy Pictures

Baby Pictures Come Early!

These days, baby pictures come early...


Babies (dark dots) on May 14th (3 weeks pregnant)

Babies on May 29th (5 weeks pregnant)

Babies on July 18th (14 weeks pregnant)

3-D Ultrasounds (aka TMI ultrasounds) of the babies on July 18th (14 weeks pregnant)