Today's Ultrasound

I had an interesting ultrasound today. My cervix is shorter than it has been in previous weeks, now holding out at around 3cm (when it was previously 4cm). But, it's not funneling and the MFM doctor isn't worried. I personally want to keep watching it even though the doctor isn't concerned. I mean, it changed a lot in 10 days, and it's better to be safe than sorry, you know? I'm hoping it's nothing, because I really can't afford to go on bed rest, and I REALLY don't want to get another cerclage.

The baby is doing great, but still measuring behind (and even lost another day of growth). She's about 7-8 days behind due date at this point, which is up from being 6 days behind at our last scan. Honestly, I can't even imagine why she's not growing fast enough because I'm sure eating for two. lol The twins never measured this far behind...ever. Very bizarre, but again the MFM doctor isn't concerned. I'm not really pleased about this as I'd much rather prefer an MFM doctor who investigates when things aren't quite right. She's been losing growth at every scan, so why is he ignoring this fact?

Anyways, I have an appointment with the midwife on Thursday, so I'll talk to her about it and see what she thinks about both my cervix and the growth of the baby. Wish me luck!

(Sorry, no pictures...they didn't print me any.)

Not a UTI, Not Anemic

I've been having this nagging cramping in my lower pelvic area since Wednesday, and it's driving me mad. I thought it might be a UTI, but they did a urine and blood test, and everything came back normal (including my white counts). What else was normal? Well, my platelets are at 159,000/cmm, my hemoglobin is 11.1 g/dL, and my hematocrit is 32.8%. Much lower than in June, but higher than it was at this point in my last pregnancy. The midwife says that iron isn't necessary (yet) and hopefully they'll keep an eye on the levels as we go forward. In any case, still no idea what's causing my pain...they say take Gas-X and Tylenol and we'll see you at your appointment later this week (Thursday). I also have an ultrasound scheduled for Monday, so that will be good as well.

As for the twins, their high fevers are now low fevers (around 99.0) and both are feeling MUCH better. They were acting like themselves both Friday and today, even with the low-grade temps, and they've been eating like normal. The only "abnormal" thing was the super long mid-afternoon nap (like 2.5 hours). Hubby and I took a nap at the same time, and we all were zonked out for about the same amount of time. heh oops! Gotta love those Shabbos naps!

Sick Babies

The twins are sick. Both have fevers over 100°F, although since having the latest dose of Tylenol they are both smiling and laughing at Daddy (who is spraying them with water from a bottle). I'm using the Tylenol suppositories rather than the liquid because our last experience with the liquid was not a great one. The twins would spit the liquid out and therefore not get the dose. And you can't try again with another dose because then you risk over-medicating (which can be REALLY bad). Also, if they throw up the dose, it's gone, and once again you can't give the dose again. Suppositories are simple...they go in, you hold them there for 5 mins, they stay in and get the dose. I've never had them poo one out before, so no worries there, and so far it seems to be working.

Chana threw up once earlier, but so far Dovid hasn't. *fingers crossed* Both have been really tired today, sleeping a lot, and both have been pretty grumpy too. (You would be too if you had a fever...) Neither of them want to drink the Pedialyte. I can tell they really want milk, but I'm nervous about having either of them gak it back up. So we tried water...they don't want that either. They did, however, both have a whole bunch of saltines for dinner. So that's good and hopefully will keep their tummies settled for the night. Now we hope that they'll actually sleep through the night. *fingers crossed again*

*sigh* I hate it when they're sick...it makes me sad. :-(

Poo and Paper Towels...On The Floor

Yesterday I was being a bad mommy and letting the twins "watch" the first Harry Potter movie during play time before dinner yesterday. They weren't actually watching...it was more noise in the background for them as they went about playing. (I was listening to it, of course.) :-) Anyway, at one point I had to pause it to get a snack and smelled poo in the dining room. Hmmmm why should I smell poo? Well, I looked and there on the floor was poo. Oh crap (haha). GROOOOSS!! I figured out who was the culprit (the one with her diaper hanging around one ankle) and put her in her crib. She had poo on her foot...ewww! I put Dovid in the jumperoo to get him out of the way and proceeded to clean up the poo with paper towels. It was pretty nasty, but I sprayed the floor with my cleaner and all was right with the world. I put the paper towels on a table in the dining room and then went to change Chana...whose diaper was totally clean since the poo was on the floor...and wash off her poo foot. ICK! Anyways, when that was done I brought her back to the dining room and let Dovid out of the jumperoo. Fast forward a few minutes, and I hear giggling and rustling of paper. Uh oh...Mommy left the paper towels within reach! There's now paper towels all over the floor being played with (most of which was still attached to the roll). I let them have most of what they had unraveled, rerolled the rest and placed the roll out of reach. I then said "oh what the heck" and let them play with the paper towels. Sure they were going to try to eat it, but honestly they were having a good time and a little paper towel never hurt anyone, right? ;-)

Who Likes Ultrasound Photos?

I do!!! Here are five profile shots for your viewing pleasure. Not much, but it's something! The baby is still a girl, but measuring almost a week behind. *sigh* My cervix, however, is being awesome and still just about 4cm!!! That was the most exciting part, really. I have another ultrasound a week from Monday where they check everything out once again, and hopefully the baby won't be measuring even farther behind. Ugh! Anyone know how to make a baby gain weight in utero (while not making me gain too much at the same time?)

Belly Pics

It is time for another installment of "Elana's Belly"! I didn't take an 18 week picture because I don't think my belly changed size between 16 and 18 weeks...in fact I think it got smaller. lol But now it's grown again!! Take a look:

We have 20 weeks this pregnancy on the left and 20 weeks last pregnancy on the right. It looks like I'm bigger than I was last time! Dunno how that's possible because I don't have nearly as much baby in there nor am I that uncomfortable.



Now here's the comparison for this pregnancy. I'm absolutely and unequivocally bigger. (14 weeks on the left, 16 weeks in the middle, 20 weeks on the right)



I think I now look like somewhere in betweetn my 24 and 26 week pics of the twins, and possibly even a little bigger than the 26 week picture. (24 weeks w/ twins on left, 20 weeks now in middle, 26 week w/ twins on right)



I grew a ton between 26 and 28 weeks with the twins, so I don't think I'll catch up to that one quite yet. We'll see!!! Good grief I thought this was supposed to slow down. hehe

Pictures!

I finally figured out how to take awesome pictures of the twins...I just needed to change the shutter speed on my camera and now there's no more blurry photos! Enjoy!! Oh, and I got an A in Biology 2!!!! So I'm still at a 4.0 and going strong.

Kicks and Things

I'm really starting to feel the baby move now. She's been moving around and kicking a bit. On Sunday we actually were able to feel her kick from the outside. Usually that comes much later, but I guess my hands were in the right place at the right time. It was funny because when Shmuel came into the room I told him to put his hands on my belly. He felt for a few seconds and then started giggling. I asked him if he could feel her kick and he said yes and that it was weird. Well it was even more weird since I couldn't feel it from the inside. lol But her movements are getting stronger and more frequent (at least in the fact that I'm feeling them). So cool and so exciting!

Dovid's getting more teeth. I can see a molar coming in up top!! Finally! I was really afraid he had no teeth. lol

Ziva, our au pair, left to go home earlier this week. *sob* We really miss her, and the twins will be starting at "day care" next week. (It's not really day care because it's just four kids - two of which are mine - being taken care of by one adult who happens to be a friend of mine, but it's easier for me to refer to it as "day care".) The twins have met her and at least one of the kids who will be with them, so I'm hoping the transition will go smoothly for everyone. I'll probably sit in for a few hours on the first few days to help in any case.

My amazing bloggy friend Eileen had her twins yesterday!!! She made it to 34 weeks, which was fantastic considering the numerous complications plaguing her pregnancy. This is truly a miracle and we are so, so happy for her! Happy birthday Matthew and Madeline!

It's a...

We had our "big" ultrasound today, and it went great. The baby is measuring a few days behind, but otherwise is 100% perfect. Yay! I know you just want to see pictures, so here they are.

This is a profile shot.
And here she is sucking her thumb.
This is another profile shot.
And another profile shot.
These are her feet.
And finally, the one you've all been waiting for...she's a little GIRL!Well, that was a shocker for me...I was totally thinking it was a boy. I told Shmuel that he'd better give me a boy for the next one, then. hehe Anyway, I am *so* blessed to even be pregnant that whatever the sex of the baby, it really doesn't matter. (Truthfully I am a little disappointed and feel awfully guilty about that, but I am 100% positive that when she's put into my arms in Dec/Jan IY"H it won't make the slightest difference to me in the world.)