Week 34 Ultrasound

The most exciting news of the day was that they did not schedule Meg for another ultrasound. No reason to since she will deliver before another 4 weeks go by! Yeah! Meg still has to do the weekly doctor's appointments and Non-stress tests but no more high risk ultrasound scans.

I actually lied - the biggest news of the day was that both babies are HEAD DOWN! Baby A's head looks bigger because it is lower down than Baby B's but they are both where they are supposed to be and Meg could not be happier. This means that the chances are much greater that Meg will be able to deliver without a c-section. Since both babies are pretty big it seems as though the chances of them being able to wiggle out of their spots is pretty slim! Perfectly behaved little monkeys!

We learned a few other things about the babies today.

Lila is weighing in at a whopping 5 pounds 11 ounces.

Her heart rate was 143 and she was fairly quiet and still most of the time.

A perfect little angel!

The doctor also told us that Lila has hair. The little "halo" around her head on the ultrasound is hair.

Brendan was weighing in at 5 pounds 14 ounces and his heartrate was 139. He was a little stinker for a while and would not let the tech see any of the important parts but once the doctor came in he was easy going and cooperative! He's going to be trouble!

Brendan looking at the camera! He's ready for Auntie Kasey to start snapping away!

Everything looks perfect and the babies are obviously really comfortable in there. If Meg makes it to Week 38 without going into labor and the babies are head down they will induce her but no matter what we will be meeting the twins by August 7th! We can't wait!

The Home Stretch

Well here we are - headed into the final month of Meg's pregnancy. Pretty soon the blog will be filled with pictures of Brendan and Lila and this long journey will be behind us. Meg is now going to Hartford Hospital for non-stress tests once a week and being seen by her regular doctor at least once a week. On top of that there are the monthly ultrasounds with the high risk docs to make sure the babies are growing and doing everything that they are supposed to be doing in there. Meg had high blood pressure in her first trimester and was put on medication very early on. Despite the fact that she has never once had an issue with it since these are all of the precautions that doctors take when you are on medication to be sure that the babies are never at risk. It is kind of annoying for Meg to work all night and then have to wake up for appointment after appointment but if it gets Lila and Brendan here safe and sound than she is willing to do anything. The non-stresss tests give the doctors a chance to look at the babies heartrate and movement and make sure their heartrates rise when they move. This ensures that their little bodies are tolerating everything okay. I've been with Meg at a few of them and although I always love spending time together and love any chance to hear those little baby heartbeats even I will admit that they are frustratingly long and boring. The nurse who conducts them is excruciatingly long winded and pays little attention to when the test is over so they are usually longer than they need to be. The last NST Meg had was yesterday where the nurse insisted that there was no way for Meg to differentiate the movements of Brendan and Lila - like a true Mama Meg quickly corrected her and informed her that she could, indeed, tell who was making almost every movement because they each had different patterns of movement and were in different positions. And just to make a point little Brendan gave her a swift kick to the ribs (because he is hopefully head down) to which Meghan exclaimed "That's Brendan!" and then patted her belly down to the lower left and said  "and this is most defintely Lila!" So take that, Nurse Laurie!

Meg was very gracious and let me take some full belly pictures for the 34 week mark.

I begged her to not cover her stretch marks so that we could get a full view of what Meg's belly looks like right now. The babies are growing so much that her belly falls to the front when she stands up. If you look at the rest of Meg she doesn't even look pregnant but when you see that belly it's hard to believe she can stand without toppling over!

The beautiful belly - comfy, safe home to our sweet little babies for 34 weeks now!

I love this picture of Meg checking out her belly!

Meg has a doctor's appointment this afternoon. If there are any major updates I will blog tonight but otherwise I will wait for Friday night when we will hopefully have some new pictures from the monthly ultrasound and have all sorts of great information about the babies. How much they weigh, if Brendan is head down and all that good stuff. Stay tuned - we're getting to the good part!

Week 33 - Expiration dates

I bought cream that expires on August 14th - at least a week after the last day that the babies can be born on! The waiting is almost over and we can't wait. These pictures are a little late. Meg had a 4-D ultrasound when she visited Beth in LA and I just got the CD so that I could post the pictures. I think every ultrasound is miraculous - a little glimpse into the world that the babies are living in. Brendan and Lila's world is cramped - their little faces are right next to each other and their limbs are all intertwined - even while being seperated by a thin membrane. Lila is Baby A - she is on the left and brendan is Baby B - he is on the right. Peter says they both look like Uncle Tim but that's just because they're bald.

Little baby fists curled around each other! Even though you can't see their faces this is my favorite! When our twins are afraid or miss each other they always grab for each other's hands.

Baby Lila

Baby Brendan

Since Father's Day just passed I thought that I would post this picture of some of the men in the family who already love Lila and Brendan and can't wait for them to be born. This was taken after Meg and Tim's move into the new condo and obviously the men were tired and a little silly! Uncle Pat, Uncle B, Uncle Colin, Uncle Bob and Peter are all anxiously awaiting the twins arrival but nobody more so than Meg and Tim. The nursery is painted, the cribs are at the condo (waiting to be put together - hint hint for anyone with time on their hands) and this auntie is ready for a baby to hold - now we're just waiting for Lila and Brendan to be big enough and strong enough to meet their families! We love you, Twinies!

Our chunky monkeys!

Wow - these babies love Meg's uterus - she must have a cushy little space in there for our little lovebugs. They are thriving - growing like weeds and loving life! We can't wait to meet them but the optimal reality for the babies is to stay put for as close to 38 weeks as possible. We want them healthy and able to have visitors and be held! Meg slept at the beach this weekend and then Tim came down on Sunday to visit. It was nice to have some time with Meg and Tim before the chaos begins!

Meg also had an ultrasound this week and the babies are weighing in at a whopping 3 pounds 10 ounces for Brendan and 3 pounds 12 ounces for Lila - I told you they loved it in there! Lila is head down but still very high and Brendan is, naturally, butt down. How else would Brendan's namesake behave? The doctor's are not really discussing delivery yet but Meg is hoping to avoid a c-section so everybody pray for Lila and Brendan to be in perfect position to make their way into the world all on their own! The hope is that if Meg is able to deliver without a c-section than once Lila is out, Brendan will turn and be head down - this is not a fool proof plan but Meg always seems to come through these things with flying colors!

Meg reports being hungry - all the time! She gets up and eats yogurt or pretzels to tide her over until it is time to wake up and then has breakfast! The polish ladies at work have been bringing Meg food to work at night because they worry that she doesn't eat enough! Only another week until the big move and we can all start helping with the nursery and getting everything ready for the twins to come home!

Just think in 6 or 8 weeks Brendan and Lila could be enjoying their first walk on the beach outside of Meg's tummy! Wow - What a miracle! Goodnight, Sweet Babies - we love you!

Almost 30 weeks!

It is high time for some new pictures of the mama-to-be but she was a very unwilling subject this morning. I was able to strong arm her into a few quick pictures on her way out the door and I think she looks adorable.

Our little Ladybug comparing bellies with her godmother.

Yes, Lizzie does have Dora underpants over her pajama pants - she does everything Annie does right now and this was the fashion of the day! Lizzie probably does not get the whole baby thing but she does love touching the belly if it gets her closer to Auntie Meg!

Look how cute Meg looks at almost 30 weeks!

Meg also had a doctor's appointment today and I was lucky enough to go with her. Last week there was a little concern on the part of one of the more conservative doctors that she may be dialating a bit and have to stop working but our girl is a trooper. Today the doctor says there is no hint of dialation and the babies look perfect. As long as Meg feels okay she can still work and do all of her normal activites - like moving into a condo! I think the doctor's are hoping that Meg will eventually give in and rest a bit more but for now they are happy for her to stay active and do anything that makes her happy!

Meg certainly does pregnancy well! The babies were doing great today - Baby A (Lila) had a heartbeat of 162 and Baby B (Brendan) had a heartbeat of 158 - couldn't be more perfect! Meg and I kept asking questions and the doctor kept saying "I don't know we'll have to wait and see - we've never had someone pregnant with twins who did this well!" Meg's blood pressure was also perfect and not a cause for concern. I think Meg must have her mother's incredible pregnancy genes!

Meghan has another ultrasound tomorrow at the Maternal and Fetal Specialist so I think we will have some idea if the babies are in position for delivery and how big they are. Can you believe we are talking about delivery? It seemed so far off a few months ago and now it is right around the corner!

Goodnight, sweet babies! We love you!

28 1/2 weeks and counting!

I am comforted by the fact that as awful as I have been at updating the blog - Meghan is worse! I took a picture of Meg and Tim at the beach house today and could not resist putting it on the blog. Meg and Tim look so in love and ready for the twins that it actually made me tear up a little bit! I wonder if babies in utero can feel the love from all of the people on the outside? If so they got a big wallop of loving today at the beach house - everyone couldn't stop touching Meg's belly and talking to the babies. Uncle B is adorable! When he sees Meg he kisses her on the cheek and then gives each side of her belly a little peck - lucky little babies!

Meg, Tim and the babies at 28 1/2 weeks!

The babies had the good fortune of attending their first Irish Step Dancing Recital yesterday. They really are Irish because Meg said they loved (or hated) the loud rythmic music! Apparently they moved the enitre time!

This week, the babies each weigh two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measure 14.8 inches from the top of their head to their heels. They can blink their eyes, which now sport lashes. With their eyesight developing, they may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb. They are also developing billions of neurons in their brains and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Meg is having her glucose test this week and has another ultrasound scheduled for June 11th. We're getting close, now and it is really starting to seem real. Meg and Tim are closing on the condo on June 25th and we are all ready and waiting with cleanser and paintbrushes in hand to get the place ready for the twins. KK cleaned out Meg's car so they can fit the twins  in the backseat to come home from the hospital and Molly, Peter and Annie have their "Big Cousin" t-shirts ready to go (Lizzie and Ellie have too many germs to go to the hospital)! I sense a few more leo's in the family but I hope it doesn't go much past the very beginning of August - we can't wait to meet them! Goodnight, Sweet Babies - We all love you!

Hi Everyone,

I have never done a baby pool survey before so I inadvertenly left off a place for names assuming that if everyone left a comment on the 3rd question we would know which response was theirs! OOPS!

I now added a place for your name but need the person who responded to the survey on May 19th at 11:33 a.m.(the only person who sent one today) to e-mail me and let me know who you  are so that I can make sure you get credit if you win! harding8871@yahoo.com

Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience!