Who is in there???

We got our results back from our MaternT21 back this week and I am happy to say that everything looks perfect. They were also able to tell me that I have circulating Y chromosomes in my blood - which of cause means that we are having at least one boy!!!! I am so excited and a bit grossed out by the fact that I am currently partly a boy. Just waiting for chest hairs to start growing and my voice to become substantially lower. Just kidding - I was hoping for a boy, don't really know why... Can't wait to find out who else is inhabiting my body, it sure is expanding in many places. Talk about thunder thighs and pornstar boobs!

Our Facebook announcement

I thought I would share our Facebook announcement. We made the announcement as soon as I was 12 weeks along - simply couldn't wait any longer to tell the world. Since I know a lot of dorky animal science type people, I chose to do it this way:

Medical Announcement

In early February H Jewell was diagnosed with a parasite. The parasite has since multiplied, and 2 individual parasites can now be observed on ultrasound. This kind of parasite does not appear to be particularly harmful to the host, and at times this symbiotic relationship can be considered mutualistic.

Location of parasites: Intrauterine.

Source of parasites: D Jewell.

Symptoms: Nausea, increased appetite, weight gain especially in the abdominal area, food aversions, enhanced sense of smell, the ability to consume a gallon of ice cream in mere minutes.

Attitude of host: Tired at times, unable to run marathons and to climb stairs with ease, but overjoyed and excited!

Likely time of removal/expulsion: Late September/early October, when parasites are able to thrive in external environment.

Treatment: Removal/expulsion is the only treatment.

My hubby on the other hand made this wonderful Highway Attraction Sign and I made it my cover photo:

It was so nice to finally let the cat out of the bag...

13 week update w/ bump picture

So, I haven't been very active here on the blog, for which there are several reasons - none of which are good excuses...

Last week I went to my 12 week appointment with my new OB. I was really excited and was of cause anticipating that we would be doing the NT scan. I had also been really excited about my OB having twins herself. Not that it really matters, but when you are a first time mom-to-be away from friends and family, I think it is normal to try and seek connections and knowledge in all ways possible. Well the OB was very nice but coming from a single Dr practice with my RE, I was a bit disappointed in the extremely short appointment time, not to mention the almost hour long wait. She did her examinations and turns out I have a yeast infection, yuck!! However she wanted to wait until I was 14 weeks along to treat it.

Then came time for the ultrasound - the highlight of any appointment. I was convinced that I would be getting the abdominal scan, but no, vaginal ultrasound again. When do I get to feel like a normal pregnant lady?? Before we got started, she did tell me that she was just checking heartbeats, because she would be referring me to a high-risk doctor (maternal fetal specialist) for all of my ultrasounds. Now a week later I find out that she never did referred me and that I might end up missing the deadline for the NT scan. So annoyed...

And I have completely lost my appetite, which is not good when I am supposed to eat 160g of protein everyday and who knows how many calories. So, my new friend is Ensure High Protein drinks. No nausea, just no appetite. If left to my own devices, I probably wouldn't eat until past noon. I kinda feel sad that my mind is not on board with the nutritional requirements for making twins. So for now, I am forcing myself to eat, again and again.

Wow, what a whiny post so far!! On the positive side, I am starting to feel really good about my pregnant body. Seeing the belly grow is just so amazing. I had a wonderful weekend with my amazing husband and got to see my hula halau (hula school) perform at a local festival. So proud of them. And started planning for a little weekend getaway next weekend!!!

We graduated!! Week 11 update

This week's appointment with our RE was both a very happy day, but also kinda sad. Both hubby and I have been so impressed with the team and they have just been so immensely supportive during this difficult period of our lives. But since we are all doing well, we can now move on to a regular OB like normal people!!


The appointment itself was great. This was the first time that Baby B was actually active. He is normally so chill and hardly moving a muscle during our scans. But yesterday he looked like he was in the middle of a boxing match while treading water. It was so adorable. All of his features were so distinguishable and his legs just seemed incredible long. Baby A on the other hand was trying to avoid any attention and kept really still. There was some hand movement in the very beginning (which may have been baby flipping us off, probably mad to be interrupted from a good slumber.)


They both are measuring around 11 weeks and have good, strong heartbeats. So, we couldn't be happier. Next up is our appointment with our OB next week.


For some reason, my computer is not really uploading the pictures. I will try to add them later.

10 week ultrasound

Has it really been a week since the last post?? Time really seems to be flying by at the moment.
10 weeks - WOW, well into the 3rd month of pregnancy, it is just beyond belief. Some days I kinda forget that I am pregnant (I truly thank my mom for my non-morning sickness genes!!), but I conveniently remember the whole pregnancy thing whenever I drive by a frozen yogurt place. Love, love frozen yogurt.

Well yesterday was our 10 week check-up (still incredibly thankful that my RE wants to see me every week, not really sure how necessary it is, but it fills my heart with joy to see the little squirmy babies AND to see the tender look on hubby's face.) Everything went well and the babies passed with flying colors. Both had good heartbeats and were measuring at 10 weeks. Baby A continue to be the most active and looked like a little gummy bear with fingers that he continuously moved around by the face. Baby B was chill as usual and still harder to see clearly due to location. Oh, and we recorded the sound of the heartbeats for my mom and dad. These will be their first grandchildren, so they are very excited. I really wish that they did live so far away (as in Denmark, far away.) I continue to have spotting and it hasn't stopped since our episode at week 8.

Today my nurse also asked how my search for an OB was going. Still can't believe that I actually get to graduate here soon. So after my appointment I stopped by an OB office that my RE had recommended. I wanted to see the place in person before committing to an appointment, just to see what kind of vibes I was getting. The receptionist that I spoken to was really friendly and seemed genuinely interested and willing to answer all my questions. And another good thing is that the office is right across from the hospital. So I made an appointment with an OB that has twins herself. Hoping for good tips and insights on these little monsters growing inside me.  

9 week ultrasound

Today was AMAZING. Today was the first time I saw "a baby" in there. At every other ultrasound (yes, I know I've had quite a few thus far) the babies have looked like little globs, albeit globs with heartbeats. Today Baby A actually looked somewhat like a baby. He kept moving his arm, when the screen was turned away from me, and the nurse and the assistant was oohing and aahing. Screen turned toward me nothing!!! Finally toward the end, I got to see him move both arm and leg. So crazy that I have two human beings growing inside me!!?!? I just love this RE's team. The nurse was showing us where the brain was developing and the beginning of the bones forming in the face. Again, amazing. That is all I have to say!!

 

And here they are together!!

We actually brought the team homemade Oreo Cookies to thank them for being so awesome. My husband and I could not possibly be happier today. I loved having him there with me and sharing these moments with him makes everything even more special. I mean you can talk about a 2.5cm  baby moving, but seeing truly is believing.

9 weeks and apathetic

I hate to admit this, because I hate to seem ungrateful about being pregnant, however I have been feeling pretty apathetic lately. Last weeks bleeding episode was scary, despite the overall feeling that everything was going to be okay. And I don't think I realized how much it really did affect me.

Before becoming pregnant, I was pretty active. Loved hiking, yoga and walking or running. But in pregnancy, I have have become a complete sloth. First of all I have been taking it easy, as to not "hurt the babies." Even though I know that miscarriages, that are supposed to happen, will happen and that there is nothing a person can do to prevent them. I pretty much stopped all exercise out of fear of loosing them. Started spending more time with my feet up and doing less around the house (since moving to TX I do not have a job, so taking care of the house is pretty much it for me.) The bleeding episode made that even worse. I have been having nightmares about loosing the twins. I try not to think too much about what is going on with them, because I am afraid to get myself too involved in them, in case the unthinkable was to happen. Now I spend even less time doing things that involves leaving the couch or the bed, even leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen days on end.

Throughout this my hubby has been ever so supportive. I love him so much. Not bugging me about my lack of activity, not complaining when I have either been too lazy or too sick of the smell of food to cook dinner for him. He just asks me if I feel up for walks around town, which I usually do, when he is around.

But I want the apathy to end. I want to allow myself to care about these little miracles growing inside me. I want to get out and do things and I want my husband to feel proud of me. I want to lift my spirit and at the same time lift myself out of this funk. I am bringing back the to-do lists and getting active.

I am allowing myself to be 9 weeks pregnant and be happy about it!!
(please let the first trimester be over soon, so I can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying)