Officially almost 23 weeks (24 by my count), and so we started with the interior ultrasound like last time, and just like last time, they raved about how awesome my cervix is. They rank them with some sort of number system, 30 being a really good high number and mine was like a 47, meaning it is strong and lengthy...at least now I know the reason behind my awesome 20 something hour labors, and can breathe a sigh or relief that I will be scheduling a c-section when I hit 30 weeks (to be done at my 38 week mark, mid-April) and hopefully that means I will cook these babies as long as they need to be big and fat and healthy.
Speaking of the boys, the tech mislabeled them in our last appointment... to make a super confusing situation simplified, "baby A/#1" is supposed to be the baby who is closest to my cervix, or making his way out, the other is supposed to be "baby B/#2". Last time since they were side by side, one on my left and one on my right, they mislabeled them as the opposite way, and then corrected it this time, which was probably easier since Baby #1 was head down on my far right side and Baby #2 was head up (spine and therefore bottom in the face of his brother, naturally), still on my right side but a little to the left. Which is funny because little d always favored being on my right side as well... must be some awesome nutrients stored on that side or something that makes it so appealing to these boys.
Anyway. We brought electronic devices for the big littles to make the visit easier (relatively speaking), which was good since little d lost interest as soon as they finished putting the "ooze" on my belly and little A only looked up when she heard the loud heartbeat of either brother. To his credit, little d did look up a handful of times when I would ask him if he wanted to "see the skeletons fight" in between measurements. He also looked up when they got closeups of the heart (they weren't able to get those shots last time) and recognized it as "fluttering", which I was impressed by.
The last few days I had been a little worried that I had not felt much movement on my left side, but a lot on the right, so I was extremely grateful for this visit to find out that they were both, in fact, snuggled up on my right side. I never did kick counts for either little because both moved around so much that lack thereof was never really an issue, but it feels so much different with twins. I feel movement, which I love, but not knowing who is doing what or what the appropriate amount of moving for two babies is (especially when the times I get to sit down and prop my feet up and relax are so few and far between) can be a little nerve wracking. So I suppose the monthly measurements and all that are well founded.
Every time I see those two little bodies inside of me (with their corresponding placentas, I cannot believe how grateful I am for my body to have made two of them!!), I am re-filled with wonder and awe that this is happening to me. As crazy and difficult as it will be, life with two more children is looking to be more exciting and I cannot wait to see these sweet boys and their corresponding personalities. It is still hard to imagine the nursery layout, or even if and how our bedroom will change because there are so many variables... will the babies be tandem nursing, will they sleep together, will we sleep them in our room initially, will there be a NICU stay for them initially, etc etc. I think that's why I have such a hard time committing to relatively simple things like a new crib, or buying that new stroller.
Long story short, both babies are doing great. Last time they were both 10 ounces (10 mg separated them weight wise) and this time they are each almost exactly 1 pound 5 ounces, only 7 mg separating them... I will admit my goal today was to have them both well over a pound, since I recently read Rachael's post (pretty much the only person I have ever personally known to go through a twin pregnancy while I have been in my childbearing years and I was able to follow it) at 24 weeks and was impressed that both babies were over a pound. Anyway. Measuring the same and what with my cervix and all, I felt like I got a gold star for my doctor's visit. There wasn't much better my body could have done. The boys on the other hand, continued to make any picture taking difficult. Baby 1 (Raph) they were at least able to get a cute face shot, although Baby 2 (Leo)'s bottom would not get out of the shot. Leo also was not too keen on getting any good photos of him, since he curled up in a little ball whenever we wanted to get any pictures, hopefully next time he won't be so shy. It was interesting in the 4D ultrasound to see the dividing line between the boys, especially since with the way they are always interacting with each other it seems more like they are sharing a sac, which is hopefully a good predictor of their relationship out of the womb.
Overall, I do feel pretty good. I can eat normally again, I usually still need to brush my teeth almost immediately after eating to avoid any aftertastes of any food (but mostly carbs, which aftertaste the worst), but the boys, clustered as they are, are still a bit below my ribcage for the time being. By our next appointment at the end of January, I hope to have the nursery all set up, including buying an extra car seat, dressers (one for the babies and one for the littles bedrooms), a crib, and getting the decorating done. Then I can focus on some meal planning and freezer meals before the end of my second trimester, since the only thing I am planning on doing in my third is packing a hospital bag and getting as much rest as possible. We are incredibly blessed on so many levels, especially in health, both because of the children we already have in our arms as well as the ones that are still growing inside of me.
(Before celebrating "mid-day" New Year's Eve at the Rec center)
Every day with my littles is an enormous blessing and they fill my life with so much happiness and love and laughter, and it only grows brighter as they share a room (and occasionally the crib, apparently) and spend more time playing together. Every week with these babies, as excited as I am to see their cute little faces in real life, they are growing healthier and stronger and the more I put my faith in God the more I realize that He will take care of everything the way it is supposed to be. He will help us as we make our family "perfect", by which I mean "complete", and for the time being I feel that these boys will give us the last puzzle piece for our family.
I am carrying twin boys. Twins! It still shocks me to think about it, but I would not have it any other way. Now comes the best part, of (planning on) getting to spend the first three weeks of the year without a single doctor's visit! I'm excited to see what 2015 has in store for us.
