Ohhh Boy!

Today was the day I've been waiting for!  We were able to see baby A and B!  Apparently there are two Perinatal Centers in downtown DSM, and of course I managed to go to the wrong one....  I left the doctors office with plenty of time to get to my next appointment.  So I sat in the parking lot waiting for C to join me.  We strolled into the clinic at 10:30 (appointment time) and went to the receptionist desk to check in.  This is where I about had a coronary.  They told me that I wasn't scheduled for an appointment and then mentioned that maybe I needed to go to the Methodist Perinatal Center not the Mercy Perinatal Center (where we were).  Considering we were just barely on time at the wrong clinic I about died wondering how far away was the right clinic?!?!  C and I managed to find the right clinic and strolled in at 10:45.  The receptionist there mentioned that I was supposed to check in at 10:15 to get paper work completed for my 10:30 appointment.  Thanks for the reminder that I already know I'm late.  She wasn't sure if we would be able to get in for the ultrasound as we were late... about had a melt down...

They managed to get us in and get the ultrasound completed. *WHEW* This took about 1.5 hours!!!  I can't believe how fast time flew while we were looking at our babies!  Baby B (the higher baby in a transverse position) was spread eagle so the ultrasound tech knew right away that baby B was a boy!  She took lots of different angles and pictures of the hands, feet, heart, skull, spine, etc.  Baby A was a little bit more of a struggle as they were head down and curled up!  Their feet and hands were all snuggled up by the head!  After shifting side to side, going to the bathroom, and her shaking the ultrasound wand all to get baby A to move....we were finally able to see that Baby A was also a boy!  Was so much fun to see the movements of their hands and feet "live" on screen.  Baby A was caught kicking Baby B in the head... most likely just the beginning of more 'fighting' between the two or the famous line "I'm not touching you..."

Here are the two previous week's progress photos!

Progress!

Still playing the waiting game until the 30th which is our next appointment with the doc.  After our appointment we'll be driving down town DSM to the Perinatal Center for an ultrasound.  I can hardly wait to see Baby J a & b!

Things are going well and I know my bellykins is getting bigger... here's a little bit of proof (not too much of a difference between the two weeks, but I sure feel different!):

14 Weeks +

Today brought our second appointment!  We were really excited to see the babies but unfortunately as much as I tried and tried to trick the doctor into giving me an ultrasound, we'll have to wait until the next appointment!  Dang!  The nurse used the Doppler and was able to hear both heartbeats.  One heartbeat was ~155 and the other was ~163.  The sound is so amazing, but I know that in a month the ultrasound will be even more amazing!  The next appointment is on April 30th at 9:15 am!  Until then you'll have to wait for updates!  Here's some photos C and I took in the past couple weeks.

This is the puzzle I had my Grandparents put together to find out we were expecting and expecting twins!

Announcement soon to be very much public!

9 Weeks - Ultrasound Photos from Mid-Iowa Fertility

14 Weeks!  Navel Oranges!

First Appt - 1/2 Way to 2nd!

C and I went to our first appointment at Lakeview OB on 3/4/13.  The staff failed to mention to me on the phone when I made the appointment and when their nurse called back to ask me 30 million health questions, that I would need to provide a urine sample upon arrival!  Well, being as prepared as I could be for the appointment, I took care of that before I left work!  I gave 'er the all American college try, but I couldn't provide a sample... hah!  They provided me with a huge glass of water so I could leave a sample on the way out!  Note to self... come with a full bladder next time! 

The appointment went well.  Dr. Lehman just started talking about anything and everything, which was all informational.  She asked if we had any questions, but at that point I really didn't have much to ask!  I am sure that I'll come up with some good questions down the road.  Dr. said that we would have just had an ultrasound if the ultrasound tech had been there that day, but instead she attempted to hear the heartbeats with the doppler.  She was able to hear one heart beat if not both.  She said she thought she had heard one in the high 170's and the other in the low 180's, which is right on par with the last appointment on 2/21 we had at the fertility clinic.  She tried for quite a while to hear the heartbeats and said that the babies were movin' and a groovin' - making things tougher!

Our next appointment is on 4/1, and I'm not foolin' you all.  We can't wait to see our baby J's on the screen again as we'll be starved for over a month from the last time we saw them!

Waiting game is on again!

Until next time,
ALJ

Lookin' Good

Our 2nd ultrasound was last Thursday 2/21.  Everything looked wonderful on screen and the two heartbeats sounded strong @ 177 and 183 bpm.  I was happy and a little sad at the same time knowing that might be the last time I walk into Mid Iowa fertility and see that wonderful staff.  However, we're super happy that we're graduating away from the fertility clinic and onto the OB the recommended us to the clinic.  For now I'm still continuing on with the progesterone supplements and estradiol patches.

The two kiddos...!  I'm pretty sure they're smiling... Can you see that too...?

My next appointment with my OB doctor is on Monday, March 4th at 10:15.  I'm excited for the first visit with Dr. Lehman.  I am also looking forward to seeing the baby J's again!

Until next time,
ALJ

No More Needles!!!

No more needles.... No more needles.... No more needles!  Well I was finally able to switch my progesterone medication to a non-injectable version (Crinone)!  I had to wait until after the first ultrasound to make the switch.  Tuesday evening was the last needle I hope I will have to endure for quite a while!  I don't think I ever posted pictures of the progesterone or the patches so here they are:

Progesterone 1mL per day

Vivelle Dot patches - 2 patches changed every 4 days

One week from today we'll have our 2nd ultrasound to check on the twins.  I am getting super excited to see the progress and hear good news that things are going well.  Here's to hoping the next week goes by FAST!

 Love you all,
ALJ

Double Trouble...!

Well, we had our first ultrasound today and Nicole (my nurse) showed C & I that we had two baby J's on the screen (baby "A" and baby "B")!!! Both baby J's had strong heartbeats at 124 bpm (Baby J - "A") and 123 bpm (Baby J - "B").  We'll have a follow up appointment two weeks from now on the 21st @ 3:40!

Baby J's!  "A" & "B"

Baby J - "A" Measuring at 7w 0d +/- 5 days

Baby J - "B" Measuring at 6 w 4d +/- 5 days

Time to celebrate with some sparkling grape juice!

Until next time love you all!
- C, ALJ, Maximus, Baby J - "A", and Baby J - "B"