The socks worked

I have never been known to be a superstitious person. I always wear flip-flops when it is hot enough. When I started IVF, I started keeping a pair of socks in my purse for all of the dates with the vag-cam. They are a pair of plain white socks with 3 small ladybugs at the ankle. I didn't intentionally wear the same ones at every appointment. I just never cleaned my purse out. Well, I have worn the same socks to every baby related visits since the beginning except for 3. Ironically, that was the day that IVF #1 was canceled, the day we found out about Maddox's single umbilical artery, and the day we found the cystic spots on Cade's brain.

This visit, I was determined to wear the socks. Well, I could only find one of them, but it still worked. The babies are both doing fine. Cade is 15 oz, and Maddox is 13oz. The cysts on Cade's brain are gone. For once, I don't have anything to worry about. What a feeling!!



Maddox 21w2d
Cade 21w2d

Update

I know that it has been forever. There just isn't alot to write about. I am pretty confined to the couch, so TV is about the most exciting part of my day. The big kids are definitely keeping me busy, so here is a bulleted list.

• George's kids have decided to take a break from the back in forth involved in the current custody arrangement. I don't blame them one bit. They were here every other week, except at their mom's always on Wednesdays, and here always on Thursdays. This crazy plan was set up so that they could go to church with their mom, and we could take O to soccer practice. They are getting too old for all of the back and forth. We have also been having major problems with O, but I don't feel like I should really go into to that since she isn't my daughter. They will be primarily staying at their mom's house with visits here. George is totally on board with this plan, so I must support him in it. I do miss them though.
• We have plans for the babies room. We have 6 kids between us to divide among 3 bedrooms. We are obviously going to put the boys together, the girls together, and the twins in the third room. It is going to be a massive amount of work, but George has 3 days off next week so we should get a good start on it. This also includes laying hardwood floor in the babies' room and carpet in the boys' room. I'll be sure and post pictures of the progress.
• I will be 21 weeks tomorrow. I had been eating alot better starting last week, and then acid reflux had to get bad. This is making eating just as difficult as the nausea did.
• I had an appt with the MFM on Thursday, so I will be sure and update then.

Doctor's Appt

Everything is great. Both boys are measuring exactly on target at 18w6d. Their heartrates are 153 and 158. They both tend to hang out on the left side, so I am probably feeling both of them move, just not where I thought that I would. I gained 4 pounds, which I am quite proud of. That brings the total to 5 pounds, but I am definitely starting to be able to eat more.
I'll post pictures in a little bit.

No Choice but the DragonLady

At my OB's office, there are 2 different u/s offices. One has different techs in it depending on the day. The other has the DragonLady. After our last appt, we decided that we would always sechedule our appointments with the other side.

I don't usually give people unwarranted nicknames, but this lady is horrible. She refuses to turn the screen, even a little bit, so that I can see. She claims that she needs to get all of her measurements first, and then gives me a 3 minute peepshow at the end. I hate this! She also won't share the measurements with us. Doesn't she realize that these are my children, and that I am the one that pays the bill for the damn u/s?

Well, I had a decision to make. My DH can't go to our appt on Thurs, so I had to either go alone or have a 3some with HER. I decided that I would feel much better with my husband there, so I rescheduled for Monday.

I have always said that I am a pushover. Maybe this lady will be the perfect subject of my training in being assertive. Maybe I will have the balls to tell her how it is going to be if she expects payment. Maybe, but probably not!

That's Not Me

I've said before that the nights are the hardest for me, and now I have a post to prove it. While I am worried about Maddox, I am not obsessed with thoughts of doom.

I am known to be an optimistic person, almost to a fault. I could see a silver lining to living in a box. I have always been that way. Since getting pregnant, I am worrying constantly. Like the title says, that's not me.

Hopefully, I can just move forward from that post. We are hopeful that everything will be okay with both of our boys.

Maddox

*Depressed Post to Follow*

Maddox is the name that we have chosen for Baby B. Overall, I have taken this Single Umbilical Artery thing with a grain of salt. There were no abnormalities shown on the last Level 2 u/s. Our risk of Down's Syndrome was 1 in 930. I should be able to blow off any risk and relax. I was doing very well at this until tonight.

I have always felt Cade (a) move more than Maddox. Maddox has always been the one that takes the perfect u/s pictures and stays very calm. Ironically, during out last u/s the MFM said that Cade has an anterior placenta, and Maddox's is on the right side. Wouldn't this mean that I should feel Maddox move a whole lot more? But I don't.

Maddox has always been the bigger of the 2. Cade was the one that we were worried about in the beginning. Cade was the one that the RE said that might not continue to grow. They now both weigh virtually the same thing. Does that mean that Maddox's growth is already slowing?

The doctor gave us some statistics that were supposed to be reassuring. He said that 2/3 of babies with SUA end up having no further issues. I also read that 4/5 of babies are born alive. Those statistics have been pretty reassuring. Until now, for some reason. What about the other 1/3 and 1/5.

Okay, that is the grim side of things. My OB said that she isn't worried about us having any of those problems. She did say that I should probably prepare for an earlier delivery. While the other issues are far-off possibilities, some level of IUGR is a probability. This means that Maddox will probably get to the point of being better off outside of the womb.

I am hoping that since I have put my worst fears in writing that I can start to deal with them and move forward. We have decided against the amnio because it won't change anything. I just can't justify the slim risk that is associated with it. So, for now, I will be praying. This is one of those times that I am going to just have to let go of the fear. Please add Maddox to your prayers.

It's Saturday

We went to a Mom of Twins Sale this morning hoping to stock up. It started at 8:30, and we got there about 8:40. This was way to late to get anything good. Apparently, they let twin moms in at 7:30. I didn't know this, so I really missed out on most of the good stuff. I did get a perfect condition Pack-n-Play for $50 and a few sets of matching clothes. Oh well!

The big kids all finished up their first six weeks at school. Everyone did sorta ok. D and D seemed to have a problem turning in their work, despite being grounded for it. Delaney made all A's in her first 6 weeks of honor classes. Tyler did average, which I am leaning to accept as his best. I am really ok with that, but he got so upset to have a couple of c's.

There's not much else going on in my life. I have struggled with depression some. I joke that my big decision everyday is whether to lay on the left or right side of the couch. Feeling so yucky is taking its toll on me in that way. I keep telling myself to just keep my eyes on the prize.

17w1d

MFM appt

This wasn't exactly the appt that I was looking forward to. We found out alot of details, some good and some bad.

Baby A is measuring 17w1d, which is right on schedule. He has been the one that measured behind for the entire pregnancy, so it is good that he caught up. He is definitely a boy. He is breech, which means nothing right now. He is perfect in every way.

Baby B is also measuring 17w1d. He is also definitely a boy, and also breech. He has a Single Umbilical Artery. This could mean absolutely nothing or that there are significant issues. It is a marker for Down's, but our NT Scan came back 1 in 990. I am so relieved that we decided to have that done after all. The doctor said that his heart looks ok, but the baby wasn't very cooperative, making it difficult to see for sure. I have left a message for my OB to call me so that I can get more information.

I have not gained any weight, so the grand total stands at 1 pound. He agrees with the OB's decision to take me off of work. I guess it is better to stay on the side of caution. My cervix is very long though, so that isn't a concern right now.