Crazy day!

I think I mentioned that now that I am 30 weeks I will go to the perinatal center each week to monitor the babies. They call it a biophysical exam and basically what this checks is each of the babies movements, breathing and fluid levels around the babies. By checking their movements, as long as they are moving it is an indicator of good blood flow. For all of these they are given a score. So I had this done on Tuesday and Christian was not cooperating. He did not pass the test in the morning so they sent me to eat some lunch and i went back that afternoon for monitoring again. This time they put him on the monitor rather than looking at the ultrasound machine and he did ok. The problem was that when they sent the reports up they said they were monitoring baby c, and Christian is baby a. The doctor asked who they were monitoring and I told him baby a, but I'm not sure he was convinced since they did not recheck me by ultrasound to make sure they had the right one. So, I had to go back again on Wednesday to monitor him again and he passed with flying colors. Then, I had to go back again yesterday. They do not make the schedule for the inpatient perinatal center until the day you go which is a major pain on the butt especially if Mark wants to be here. So they came in at 8:45 and told me my appt was at 9:30. I ordered my breakfast and hopped in the shower unfortunately my breakfast did not arrive before I left, but I didn't think I would be there for that long... boy was I wrong.

I got there and it took them awhile to figure out who was who and then in pure Christian style he did not move or breathe like he was supposed to. They put me on the monitor and his heart rate did not go up level out and then go down again which is an indicator of movement. So...once again I was sent back to my room to eat and then come back at 2 which sounded good to me since I was starving.

When I got back to my room they came in and said I could not eat or drink, that I was going back down at 1 and that if he did not respond again they were going to take the babies. They went ahead and put in an IV to give me some fluids and just in case I would have the c-section it would already be there.

We went back down and he decided to move so he passed that part. Apparently I need to make sure Cecilia kicks him so he gets mad and moves. He did not breathe so I was put on the monitors for all 3 babies. To do this I have to lay on my back which is really not comfortable any more and hold that position for an hour or so depending on how long it takes them to find all 3 babies heart beats. I have also been having and feeling more contraction which causes more discomfort. In the 50 minutes I was actually on the monitors once they found all of the babies I had 7 contractions (which is not good). Christian on the other had looked great and his heart rate was fluctuating really well which is a good indicator. Cecilia and Cohen not so much...they decided it was nap time. Needless to say we were happy to hear the news that there would not be any babies delivered, but I have to go through the whole thing again on Monday. I talked to the doctor this morning and I don't think he is as concerned after what he saw yesterday and they actually took my iv port out which makes me very happy since it was already very irritating. He did say that he would get a second chance if he failed again, but it looks like it will all be touch and go with these monitoring sessions. I guess we will see what Monday brings....

Before and After photos

Mark and Caleb stopped by the hospital to grab the camera before his appointment and so I could see him one more time with all of his teeth. I could tell Mark was nervous but had been talking to him about how to be brave like Froto (sp?) from Lord of the Rings.

Here he is with the pig nose giving Mark a thumbs up. He was not put to sleep, but the gas did help him relax. He did cry a little when they gave him the numbing shot, but was ok after that.

After thumbs up.

Toothless smile.

close up!

We are very proud of him. I'm sure the tooth fairy will be generous to him tonight and Mark took him to the toy store and let him pick out a special toy, which ended up being legos.

Toothless

I am very sad to say that today is the day that my baby is getting one of his front teeth pulled. I checked into a fake tooth but it was going to be $800 and I'm pretty sure that it would be knocked out within a week of being put in based on experience with him falling. Mark is taking him and we are both worried about how he will respond so I will keep you posted.

30 weeks belly and Wednesday Weigh in

So this in the updated pic that was actually taken on Monday (I was 30 weeks on Sunday). Glamorous, I know :)


Today was Wednesday weigh in. Last week I was scolded because I had only gained 1 pound. Well, I'm happy to report that I made up for it and between this week and last week I gained 6 pounds. I am probably more in line with their chart of what I am supposed to be at each week. I think last week I was supposed to be at 35 pounds and had only gained 27. Not sure what the big deal is though since my doctor originally told me she did not want me to gain more than 30 pounds. Her partners and the nutritionist on the other hand all have different opinions but they tell me more protein will fatten up the babies to I am trying to load up.

Things are going well though as I continue to grow. We are at a much safer point now and that is a good feeling. Mark tells me I will be here until 34 weeks so we will see how much longer the babies will cooperate. I have been feeling contractions more but I am still being monitored twice a day and have still been under the limit. If I have more then 5 or 6 an hour depending on who the doctor is I may or may not get an additional dose of meds.

Baby update cont...

Yesterday I added a quick update as it was a pretty busy day and I did not want to forget or leave anyone wondering what was up with the babies. One of the things that they are going to monitor the babies for each week is breathing and movement. Christian would not cooperate so they made me go eat lunch and come back at 1 hoping that he would be awake. I was not worried because his head is so low and his body is on my side and really and awkward position. He is also the least active of the babies but I had been feeling him have hiccups a lot lately. So we went back down and they monitored him for awhile and he passed that time. Later that day the doctor came in and asked who they were monitoring and I told him that I thought it was Cecilia instead of Christian but that before they were done with the monitoring I was convinced that it was Christian since he got the hiccups and I could feel him moving. The problem was that on the report they wrote baby C which is actually Cohen. I know he was not being monitored, when he asked and I told him that they did not verify that they had the correct baby by ultrasound he was like ah ha. So...I went back again today for an ultrasound.

Today they had difficulty determining who was who between Christian and Cecilia. I thought it was pretty cut and dry since one is a girl and one a boy, but their bellies were smashed together. After much discussion and review by the person that did the ultrasound yesterday, much to their dismay Christian had moved and is now in a transverse position. I'm not sure how he did that and the ultra sound person said that if she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would not have believe it since she has never seen a baby at 30 weeks move out of the 'leading' position he was in. So, he was active and passed with flying colors today. I go back again on Friday to have all 3 babies checked. Really these checks have no barring on how well they will breathe when they come out, but are a good predictor of stability and maturity.

As far as their weights go, everyone was pleased with their weights. I was disappointed that they were not all 3 1/2lbs but we have to be reminded that they are only approximate and if they do not get good head and belly measurements, they weight guesses could be off. Both Christian and Cecilia were harder to measure based on their positions so Mark and I both think they are bigger.

. Mark and I also got to take a tour of the NICU. It was nice to see where the babies will be staying once they are born. We also got to see babies from 25 weeks and up which was nice to see what we would have had when we arrived at the hospital and what a difference 5 weeks makes. We also got to see two sets of triplets (all boys) and meet their moms which was nice.

Baby Update

The babies approximate weights are.......Christian 3 lbs 3 oz, Cecilia 2 lbs 15 oz and Cohen 3lbs 7 oz's.

Hats

One of these is not like the others.....yes, two are blue and one is pink, but the little blue one is not like the others. I made the larger blue one last night and the little blue one today...with the same pattern--I think I did something wrong!! Julie and Jen B were here and said that I could use the little one as a peanut cover so I did not get pee'd on. I really don't know how to read the patterns so I would have thought the second one would have turned out better than the first, but obviously not. Maybe I will try again...I've got time :) BTW, the one that I made for Aliyah fit her perfectly and looks adorable on her.