STILL COOKING - 27 Weeks, 2 Days

We have now made it to 27 weeks, 2 days and we are still STILL COOKING these little guys! I spent most of the weekend laying around and if you know me, then you know it wasn’t easy to do. I'll do whatever it takes to help keep these little guys in as long as possible. I’ve started watching Downton Abbey on Amazon Prime and that helps to keep me still. We did go to John and Leah’s Saturday night. Chad’s cousin Michelle came in town and they grilled for us and then we had homemade peach ice-cream.  Being around everyone helped take my mind off of things for a little while. 

 

We went back to the doctor today and Baby B’s blood flow is the same as it was last week which means at least four more days of baby kicks in my belly! It’s such a relief when the doctor comes in and says he will see us on Friday! 

Baby B (‘B Man’) was so active all morning. I was worried he would wear himself out and not have any energy left to have good blood flow. I was wrong. He was just as active at the doctor’s office. We got a good profile shot of Baby B. His hand is on his head. 

 

Then he also decided to be part of Baby A’s profile picture. The little leg on top belongs to Baby B. 

 Chad and I are now really fast at getting ready for our appointments: I set my out of office reply to say I’ll be gone until October, head home, load the bags into Chad’s car (or watch Chad load our bags), and take what always could be our last belly picture. Here is today’s picture at 27 weeks and 2 days:

 We are still receiving encouraging words and prayers from all over. The picture at the top of today’s post is one of my favorites from this week. I read it each time my mind starts to worry with all the things that could go wrong delivering this early. Just praying this one sentence prayer helps to put my mind at ease, “Lord, when all my doubts and insecurities come crashing in, help me replace my thoughts with Yours.” 

On Wednesday we go back to my regular doctor for my glucose test and to have the boys measured. I’m not excited about the measurements. I know my little B Man is extremely small. I have loaded up on protein these last 2 weeks and I pray that he has grown!

GOODBYE 2nd Trimester!

We can mark off another day on our calendar! We made it through our appointment today and I will officially be 27 weeks tomorrow!! YAY! Weeks 27-40 mark the third trimester so today is my last day in my second trimester and I will definitely make it to my third trimester!!! 

Chad's mom was able to go with us today and loved seeing the boys on the ultrasound. We did not see improvement in Baby B’s blood flow; it has stayed the same since Monday. We will definitely take that news since Monday was an improvement from last week. I was so worried the steroid shots gave us a boost and we were going to drop back down to where we were last week. Thanks to many prayers, that did not happen. We go back to the doctor again on Monday. 

This week I have received so many encouraging words and scriptures from friends and family. I would like to share a few:

 “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

  – Isaiah 41:10

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.”

  – Psalms 139:13 

 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

  – Psalms 139:13

A friend and neighbor emailed me a list of verses. This one was one of my favorites from her list and I wrote it on a sticky note for our fridge:

My mom added this verse to her fridge and set me this picture:

 A mutual friend introduced me to someone that had twins at 25 weeks. She also lives in Birmingham and her twins just turned one. She sent me some encouraging words this week. She sent the image at the top of this blog post and this imgae:

Here is my last picture in the second trimester!!!

Third trimester, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!

26 Weeks, 4 Days

26 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS!

 

Once we found out we were expecting twins, we knew our chances of preterm labor were increased. If you asked me then, I would have told you our goal was to make it to September. If you ask me now, I will tell you each hour is a blessing! I seriously moved Friday’s appointment from 8 AM to 11:30 AM just in case we had to deliver. I mean, that’s 3 ½ more hours the boys could be growing in my body. As much as I worried about things early in our pregnancy, I never imagined we would have to deliver in July.

Since last Wednesday, when we found out how low Baby B’s blood flow was, I started preparing myself to deliver at 26 weeks and 2 days. I was devastated with the doctor’s news. I didn’t care about being cut open, but I did not want my boys entering the world fighting for their lives. We had been preparing the boys’ nursery, but I didn’t even have hospital clothes to pack in a bag to be ready for our appointment. Who thinks they will have to deliver this early? Physically I am able to still go to work and run errands. We got hospital clothes this weekend. My bags are now packed and I’ll be more than happy to live out of my bags for 2-3 months, if Baby B’s placenta can keep going! 

This weekend we cancelled our baby shower and closed the door to the twins’ room. We remained hopeful, but at the same time knew our outcome at 26 weeks and 2 days could be very bad. Mom came up on Monday for our appointment and was ready in case we had to deliver. I was so excited to see my mom! Showing her the twins’ room was hard, but there is just something comforting about having your mom with you with times are hard. Mom was able to see the boys on the ultrasound. They were both active and it was amazing to get to see her face when she saw them moving around for the first time. Luckily, we made it through our 26 weeks and 2 days appointment! I am so excited that today I am 26 weeks and 4 days and both my little guys are still kicking in my belly!! The doctor said Baby B’s blood flow had improved since our last appointment! He said it could have been the steroid shots that we received last week and we could see it decline again. Maybe it was 5% steroid shots that did it, but it had to have been 95% prayers. People we don’t even know have started praying for us and we are so thankful for each and every prayer!! I am hopeful the blood flow will stay like it is and we can keep these baby boys growing. I was so excited with the doctor’s news that I literally almost jumped on him! 

I took a picture before leaving for the doctor on Monday. Luckily, this will not be my last bump picture! 

Our next appointment is on Friday. I will be 26 weeks and 6 days pregnant at the time. We will go back with our bags packed, lots of prayers, and hope to get sent home!