Friday, August 6, 2010

Ultrasensational Ultrasounds

If you had told us 6 months ago, a year ago, at any point really, that we would be having identical twin boys, we would have laughed in your face.

In the last few months we've had some time to process the reality a bit and I must say, there are some wonderful advantages of adding two babies to the family at the same time.

For starters, we get a peek at these guys every 3 weeks. And soon every week.

Every ultrasound appointment I feel like popping some popcorn, bringing it to the office and just kicking back and watching the show. (That is of course when I'm not sick with worry that the babies are okay - or that the Dr. tells us there's one more hiding in there!)

From where Chris and I sit we can watch the sono on a flat screen TV, and we have the Dr. right there to give us the play by play.

At the first few appointments we were mostly just listening for steady heartbeats and checking brain development, but then we moved on to gender determination and positioning and blood flow.
My favorite part is watching what they're doing in there.

Chris and I joke that they have a construction project underway. Maybe a baby pirate ship, possibly an ark, new shelving unit...who knows. But they are busy.

Already we feel like they have personalities developing so watching what they're up to on the big screen is indescribably exciting.

We thought for today you might enjoy just a taste of what we've been treated to for the last couple of months.

I've edited down the 22 min. long videos to some of the "best of."

This is both babies at 16 weeks - after about 3 sec. you can see them punching each other.



Then at 23 weeks Dr. W was trying to get some measurements on Baby A, when who comes intruding in on the shot? Baby B.

(Baby A is on his side looking away from the camera, the shaking is my belly bouncing because I'm laughing.)



And then there's our sono from yesterday.

I was fascinated when Chris and Dr. W helped me make out the lips and nose. You can see him circle around the nose with his cursor because I needed some serious help seeing this. Chris saw it right away.



And then there's the 3D.

It looks a little sci-fi like. Dr. says the waviness is caused by the fluid and such. It's still a little early for 3D so you have to look close, but it's Baby B's face.

Chris thinks he has his nose. You can judge for yourselves.



Baby A was being shy but we'll try to get him next time.

We're happy that everyone is healthy and we're on track for a late October delivery.

Lots more glimpses into the worlds of Baby A and Baby B scheduled between now and then so be looking for more videos soon!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Back to School

A few weeks ago Chris and I went to our combo C-Section/Baby care class at Medical City to learn how to have and how to keep alive our babies.



We arrived in time to find ourselves with two other parents-to-be of twins. We quickly became acquainted, rounded up some snacks, and started the learnings.

There were 3 really good things about the class that I didn't expect.

1. Enough babies were provided


2. My baby had my eyes



3. Nourishment



I feel good about having the babies at Medical City and I feel good about the rudimentary knowledge we now have on cesarean deliveries and basic childcare.

I wish they would have given us a certificate of some kind that we could frame and reference in a few months when we're throwing up our hands at 2 am without a clue as to how to how to proceed.

Maybe I'll work on photoshopping something together for us.

You would think after taking the class we would get some kind of hospital delivery discount. Why isn't that offered?
We now know so much more than the average folks. You'll get to save a lot of words and worry with us, couldn't you pass on that savings in the form of a 20% labor discount?

That would really encourage parent education class participation.

I'll at least attempt to photoshop a coupon together and see if I can get it past the billing office.