It’s been about 19.5 weeks so far.
“Feels like her innards are shifting around”. Could this be the babies changing positions?
L has to keep a spittoon handy. Lots of annoying saliva. A baggie with a couple of paper towels inside is a good portable solution.
Driving on 101 is not very fun, especially with the small car. 280 is a lot smooter.
Nausea has been mostly just fine, except yesterday she completely tossed her two bowls of breakfast cereal. That was unusual.
L has had a cold for the last couple of days. Sniffly, scratchy throat, but no fever.
She’s looking great and is gaining quickly; up in the 133 – 135.5 lb range. For about three days she seemed to regress a bit, but shot up quickly after and got on or ahead of the 1lb per week schedule
There was potentially a bit of pee leakage today, but she’s not sure.
Tomorrow: the long awaited ultrasound!
Filed under: Uncategorized
camping in the back yard
watching the kids play with each other
family hikes
convoy of bikes
singalongs in the minivan
the family band
sitting in a semicircle with our friends, drinking cold beer and watching our play together
frantically ripping open xmas presents
showing them the world
- P
We got our amnio results, and all is normal with both babies! One is a boy as expected, and the other is definitely a girl. The risk of doing amnio worked out well, and we can have peace of mind through the pregnancy and beyond.
L is growing well and is on schedule with her weight (after a few days of worrisome regression). Her symptoms are mostly receded except for a prolific salivation and expectoration habit. She is anxious to see the babies on ultrasound next week. I’m continuing my writing and serving as house husband. We’re collecting a lot of checkmarks for cooking at home, to be redeemed for future gadgets, guilt-free, at a rate of $20 per checkmark.
We’re in the process of purging the unneccesities of our past life, making needed space in the basement, hunting down used clothes and gear for the first year, ordering blinds to make it easier for everyone to sleep, picking out colors for the guest room nursery, figuring out family finances, and watching baby rearing videos.
There is good news and bad news.
The good news is that the country is a month away of electing a black man as president. Potentially in a landslide. We desperately needed a return to sanity after the last eight years, and we should be getting it.
The bad news is the economic crash of 2008 unfolding before our eyes. At this point it looks like it’s going to take years to dig out from it, at a point when there is already so much weakness in this country and around the world.
- P
Filed under: Uncategorized
It’s the beginning of week 17, and it feels good to leave behind the nausea, the pokes from amnio and before, and the worry about miscarriage. I’m still nervous about enjoying the pregnancy. After week 20, I’ll give myself permission be certain our twins are coming!
I have to mention all the great things P has been doing for me. I’m feeling so pampered… I just might used to it!
Special Dispensations by P
- drives me everywhere
- plans and cooks dinner so I never get hungry. Even roasted a chicken the other day!
- gives me little snacks during the day
- has lined up all sorts of light entertainment (because I can’t handle the “serious” stuff). He’s also got some ready if I go on bedrest.
- compliments me on my belly and weight gain
I can’t believe how lucky I am!
-L
Filed under: Uncategorized
We decided to go for it because:
- there was more “play” in our probability numbers because they didn’t include the blood test
- our chances of some genetic issue is 2x with twins
- amnio is an everyday procedure. The risks are low, and lower still with experienced practitioners
- for the peace of mind for the rest of the pregnancy
Filed under: Uncategorized
It’s been a historic period for the financial markets. Subprime mortgages, resold, blended with higher quality debt and labeled as lower risk, and sliced into securities and purchased by everyone.
Defaults on those crappy loans are coming home to roost. Major financial institutions like Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch going down. Freddie Mac and Fannie May getting government bailouts, along with AIG.
All of this on the trail of expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and record national debt and trade deficits.
It’s going to be an ugly mess for the next president to sort out.
Filed under: Uncategorized
We finally decided today to go for amnio.
While the risks of defects is low, the numbers have a lot of “play” in them since they do not include the blood test. Plus, we have two rolls of the dice, so the chances of something bad happening is double.
The doctors at Kaiser are not at all stressed about doing amnios; it’s an everyday thing. The risks of that are also low, about the middle of the oft-quoted 1:300 and 1:500 range. They even aren’t sure that their rate isn’t just “background”, or whether there’s a statistically significant increase in risk.
The benefits for us are: much greater certainty, peace of mind through the pregnancy, and bonus peace of mind for years after, as they grow and develop with the knowledge that they will very unlikely have any health issues.
The amnio is in one week, and it will take two weeks to get the definitive results back.
Amnio, here we go!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Leslie’s bigger, most friends and family have been told. Things are real-er than ever, so it’s time to get into gear!
We had our first family meeting with all four of us present, and laid out the to-do’s for the next while.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Went in for another quick ultrasound today, at 14.5 weeks.
Baby A is clearly a boy and as rambunctious as ever. He’s always been very active.
Baby B seems like she might be a girl but we’ll know for sure later. She hasn’t been as active, but we caught her doing some strong kicks.
So now it’s safe to start telling people.
Next up: deciding on whether to do amnio. Our risks are “very good” according to Dr. R, and the risks of something going wrong with amnio are low.
