Iron update

Steph got her iron levels rechecked at her last OB appointment and unfortunately there is no change despite Steph trying her hardest to get it up. Her body just doesn't absorb iron very well since her gastric bypass surgery. The actual numbers are...two weeks ago her iron level was 7.1 and on Wednesday it was 7.2. Obviously this needs to be fixed before labor. She had her first "injection" today although it's not really an injection at all. It was an IV bag that took 3 1/2 hours. She will have them now for the next 9 days straight. She says that there weren't any real bad side effects. She's just really tired and hungry now and she still has the IV port in her arm for tomorrow. We hope things will be looking up real soon and this will solve this problem. Her doctor will run some more labs Sunday after that injection. Poor, poor Steph...I feel so bad for her.

OB Appointment

Steph had a good OB appointment today! She is measuring 34 weeks but she will actually be 31 weeks tomorrow. Her doctor tested her iron level again today but we won't have the results back for a few days. Ella's heart rate was135 and Emma's was 150. Her cervix is closed up nice and tight. She gained about 3 pounds since her last appointment. All in all, everything is good and uneventful. We are getting more and more excited everyday, just 8 more weeks to go until we meet our youngest two sweet daughters.

30 Weeks!

Okay so I've been avoiding this post because I didn't want to put any grandparents into hysteria and didn't want my mom to think she needs to start driving here today. But there really is nothing to worry about so I thought I would share some news now. Steph unexpectedly went to the OB last Friday. She has been experiencing some quivering sensations where Emma is laying and got worried. She called the OB and they told her to come in immediately. They ordered an ultrasound and couldn't find anything wrong with either baby, everything is just perfect. The doctor on call thought that possibly one of the babies is laying on one of Steph's nerves and is causing the quivering sensation, so they think it could be Steph's body quivering not Emma's but they can't be sure without actually seeing it. So basically nothing is wrong but now we have some more info on E and E! Both heart rates were excellent!!! Ella weighs 3lbs 8oz and Emma weighs 3lbs 7oz! The doctor was very pleased at the almost identical sizes! The bad news is they are still both laying transverse...sideways...so Ella better start getting her butt in gear or actually her her head down so Steph can have a vaginal delivery.

Cute Story

A few months ago Hannah and I were driving in the car and out of nowhere she started a conversation about Stephanie. Here's how it went....

Hannah: "You know the person who has our babies in her tummy? What's her name?"
Me: "Stephanie"
Hannah: "Yes, Yes Stephanie! I think we should buy her a present!"
Me: "That's a nice idea. What do you think we should get her?"
Hannah: "A card and a movie. And I can write in the card and draw a big heart!"
Me: "That's a great idea, I think she would really like your drawing! I think we should get her a card for sure. I don't think we'll get her a movie though."
Hannah: "But I think she would like a movie."
Me: "You're probably right she would like a movie, but how about we get her a card and some cookies instead."
Hannah: "Okay that's a great idea!"

So when we got to the store we bought Steph a card (Hannah picked it out all by herself, it had to be a singing card) and we ordered her some girl scout cookies that night. Well the girl scout cookies just came in so Hannah wrote her card on Saturday and we sent Steph her package. Hannah was so excited and proud. She drew a picture of our family and wrote on the card too! I am so proud of Hannah, she is such a thoughtful and caring little girl!

Here's a photo of her card!
You can click on the photo to see the card a little better!

OB Appointment

Not much to report on today's OB appointment. Steph gained a pound. Emma's heart rate (B) was 140 and Ella's heart rate (A) was 130. Steph's cervix is closed. Her doctor will recheck her Iron level next week. She said today's appointment was pretty boring and uneventful.

Four and Curious...

Hannah recently turned four! Her birthdays are always a special time to remember and talk about her surrogate, Lisa. Hannah received a card from Lisa on her birthday and I said "this card is from the nice lady, Lisa, that carried you in her tummy when you were growing and getting ready for us." She just said "oh" and was too enamored with the card to say anything else. When we got home she left the card in the car. Today when we got back in the car she immediately asked to hold her card. Here's how the conversation unfolded in the car today...

Hannah: "Can we go play with her?"
Me: "who?"
Hannah: "I was in her tummy."
Me: "Her name is Lisa. Lisa lives really far away so we can't go play with her today but maybe next time we visit Nana and Papa. She lives in CA just like them."
Hannah: "How did I get out of her tummy?"
Me: (trying to avoid giving all the graphic details) "The same way most babies are born."
Hannah: "I came out of her mouth."
Me: (kind of laughing) "No babies come out of private parts."
Hannah didn't say anything she just gave me a really funny look...like I was totally crazy and wrong. She's going through a know it all phase.

I wonder what kind of things we'll talk about the next time we get in the car!

OB Appointment

The babies are doing good! Ella's heart rate was 124 BPM and Emma's was 130 BMP. Steph is doing okay, her iron level is extremely low which could be really bad at delivery. She is doubling up on iron pills and we are hopeful that will do the trick...if not she'll have to get iron injections. She says she doesn't feel that bad so she was shocked at the number. She also gained 1.8 pounds since last week!

28 Weeks

Yay, we are now 28 weeks pregnant and in the third trimester!!!!!
Here's a little info on how our twins our growing...
According to Babycenter by this week our twins should weigh about two and a quarter pounds each (like a Chinese cabbage) and measure 14.8 inches from the top of their heads to their heels. Ella and Emma can blink their eyes, which now have lashes. Their eyesight is developing and 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.

OB Appointment

Steph had her first of many weekly OB appointments today and everything is looking great! She lost 3lbs but she was weighed on a different scale than last time so that could be wrong. Steph's blood pressure was great and her cervix is still nice and closed. Her stomach is measuring a 1/2cm bigger than last week. She also took the blood glucose test and passed with flying colors.

Ella's heart rate was 136 BPM and Emma's was 145 BPM! I can't believe that we are 28 weeks tomorrow, wow this pregnancy is going so fast!

Steph is truly making this pregnancy so easy on Darin and I, she's a miraculous woman! Thanks again Steph!