10 Week Update

At 10 weeks pregnant we finally found ourselves in a sense of normalcy which is very much welcomed. Today I had my first OB appointment with the very Dr. that delivered Emma! After taking 6 vials of blood so that they could do a pre-natal work up on me we were sent down the hall for another round of waiting. We were then ushered into the ultrasound room where the nervousness began to sink in. We were definitely hoping for a fresh start with Dr. D's office. Ms. Jaime began by squirting the warm jelly on my belly. Sweet Emma was standing right beside me and said, "Mommy has a jelly belly!" Up on the screen appears Baby A waving it's arms around. Looks like we have one very active baby on our hands. She measured the heartbeat and it came in at 175 beats! Nice and strong continuing to form right on target and measuring exactly 10 weeks! Couldn't ask for a better report Baby A!

She then proceeded to show us Baby B! Looking strong but a bit more mellow than A. Baby B measured in at 10 weeks also and 3cm just like A! Heartbeat came it at 173 beats! Looks like we got ourselves a pair of stellar babies!

On a sad note we did get to see two of the remaining babies. The first one you could see the sac with a little bit of tissue left but most of it has disappeared or had been absorbed. The second sac you could see a bit more tissue still remained but it to had been mostly dissolved. It was amazing to think that they went away that quickly after seeing them growing and a heartbeat for the last several weeks. It was definitely apparant though that the two remaining babies were healthy and strong and growing as they should. The three were just not meant to be although we do miss them.

Between 18-20 weeks we will be able to find out exactly what the sex of each baby will be. Hopefully we'll have an ultrasound closer to 15 weeks and they'll be able to see. That's just dreaming but maybe if I arrange our schedule accordingly I'll be able to squeeze that one in! If I remember correctly we found out at 15 weeks with Emma but I can't be 100% sure on that one.

We finally got to see Dr. D! He had nothing but great things to say which was a great change of pace. He said the babies were looking great and measuring right on target. My due date would be November 28, 2009. Four years to the exact day that I delivered Emma at the same hospital with the same Dr.! Pretty amazing. He did say that with twins they push you to get to 36 weeks and after that they start pushing you to deliver. They will take the babies anywhere from 37-38 weeks preferably by C-section but if they were in the correct position I could try and deliver normally.

Once I reach the 28 week mark they want me to be ready at any time to go on bed rest. That is not saying that I will go on bed rest but I do need to be prepared for it. Also at the 28 week mark I will start going to the Dr.'s weekly. After 20 weeks I'll start going every 2 weeks. As for traveling he said that barring any complications that I could travel up to 28 weeks!!! That means we can go on our summer vacations as planned! After Labor Day weekend I will have to start slowing things down. That is a wonderful blessing because Emma will start school three days a week next fall and that'll give me a good amount of time to rest and not worry about taking care of her or not being able to take care of her.

Last but not least...I started taking Lexapro (anti-depressant) after I found out we were having 4 because I had such a hard time dealing with it and getting through one minute without crying. I really feel like I can totally handle twins without a problem and would love to come off my medicine. That was one goal that I've been really wanting to accomplish since we got the news last week. Dr. D said I could start weening myself off and should be done with it in a couple of weeks! I want to try and give these babies the best healthy start I can and even though they say it's ok to take it I really would prefer to try it on my own without it now that two is not as overwhelming emotionally and mentally as the five had on us! That's a praise in itself!

As far as us needing anything, we do ask that you will continue to keep the two babies in your prayers. We are still not out of the woods yet but they do look good and healthy so far. There's nothing that we want more than to keep these two and have them be the wonderful addition to our family that we know they will be.

We are still holding tight to Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans for you to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Our next appointment will be in two weeks and I hope to continue to bring you all good news from here on out!