Love at First Sight

Thursday, February 13, 2014 was the big day.

I was scheduled to deliver my babies at 32 weeks and 1 day via C-section.

My life was changed forever.

Brayton made it home with no problems Wednesday evening, we spent our last night together prior to being parents in my hospital room and prepared ourselves for the biggest day of our lives.  We were so excited to finally get to see and hopefully hold our baby girls for the first time yet so scared at the possibility that something could go wrong bringing them into the world 8 weeks early.  I felt a cluster of emotions at no longer being pregnant and feeling and having those wonderful baby girls inside me and the responsibility of my body not 'working right' and forcing the premature birth of them.  The fear and excitement we felt were overwhelming and we were both ready for whatever was to come the next day.

My morning was spent with my family visiting and hanging out, helping my keep my mind at ease and doing what families do - being there!  The time passed quickly as I had my normal morning NST, nurse and doctor checks, vitals monitored, showered, and hooked up to IV fluids to prepare me for surgery.  12:30 pm quickly arrived, Dr. Spadola came in to make sure I was ready and I was taken upstairs to Labor and Delivery.  There I met with my anesthesiologist and many nurses who would be part of my surgery.  The time came where Mom, Dad and Bit were asked to leave and Brayton and I had our last few minutes together before meeting our girls.

I was taken into the operating room and Brayton was told they would be back to get him in about 15 minutes after my spinal was set and we were ready for delivery.  In the operating room there were two big set ups for the girls, a team of nurses and doctors surrounding each of them, the operating table with a team of nurses and doctors surrounding that for me and a variety of other OR things - honestly, I was too overwhelmed to even take in my surroundings.  I was put on the table and prepared for the spinal.  Due to my swelling, I had an extremely hard time sitting straight and upright.  I tried and the furthest I could get was with a lean to the right.  Unfortunately, this was not conducive for a spinal and he had to try numerous times with no success except tingles on my right side.  Finally, I beared the pain and discomfort, forced myself to sit centered and up straight and tall (with the help of doctors and nurses holding me in place) and within seconds the spinal was in and effective!!  Brayton was then brought in - after about a 30 minute wait rather than 15 minute wait.  This was the longest 30 minutes of his life!!

Delivery went flawlessly, Baby A was delivered and 2:31 and Baby B at 2:33. I was able to see and touch both girls and Brayton was able to watch the entire delivery!  Both girls were healthy and were taken to the NICU with their teams.  They were both put on CPAP which is just room air being pushed into the lungs to help prevent their lungs from collapsing as they aren't fully developed and their brains aren't developed enough to tell their lungs to keep working!

They were also put on monitors to track their heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen levels.  They were given IV's to be fed through as the first few days they only received nutrients via the IV until we began breast milk on Sunday (3 days old).  The girls bilirubin levels were both high and they were both put under UV lights on Day 2.  There have been a variety of changes and the girls have surpassed the expectations of all the doctors and nurses.  They are doing things ahead of schedule and making great progress each day!  We have been blessed with two strong, loving, perfect baby girls <3

Post delivery for me was a bit more rough.  I was really sore from the surgery and swelling that I had pre-surgery so I was quite out of it.  I was also on some heavy pain meds and pretty much restricted to bed.  I was not able to get out of bed enough Thursday night to go up to the NICU to see the girls.  That was very difficult.  Brayton went up to visit them numerous times and took lots of pictures for me.  Friday morning, even though it was very difficult, I forced myself out of bed and into a wheelchair and went up to visit my girls for the first time.  I will never forget how incredible, yet scary it was to see them attached to all their monitors and IV's and swaddled up tight in their isolettes.  They were handed to me - one at a time because they were in separate areas of the NICU at this point - and holding my baby for the first time was an incredible feeling.  Their tiny bodies, their wrinkly skin, their fresh baby smell, their fluttering eyes, everything about them was perfectly perfect.

Brayton had to return to St. Kitts to finish his final semester of Vet School on this past Monday.  It was terribly hard for him (and for me) to leave the girls and know he wasn't going to see or hold them again for 53 more days.  This pregnancy has presented us with many challenges, all of which we have overcome successfully and this is just another one that will only make each of us and our relationship stronger!  We have an awesome little family <3

Today, the girls are 2 weeks old and have done an amazing job in the NICU.  Each of them has surpassed all the nurses and doctors expectations and they have done everything they were supposed to do a day or two ahead of time.  We, and all the doctors and nurses, are so impressed with their progress and strength.  We have two strong, beautiful, and simply perfect little girls.  


                                                         We couldn't ask for more!

Baby A
Elliana June Hill was born at 2:31 PM on February 13, 2014.  She weighed 3 lbs 9 oz and was 16 1/4" long.  She was born at 32 weeks, 1 day old.

Day 1

Day 14

Baby B
Juliette Kathy Hill was born at 2:33 PM on February 13, 2014.  She weighed 3 lbs 14 oz and was 17" long.  She was born at 32 weeks, 1 day old.

Day 1

Day 14

  

It's that time!

As I have progressed through this pregnancy, there have been a roller coaster of emotions, followed by some medical issues, topped with the biggest blessings I have yet to be given in my life.  Here I sit at 32 weeks pregnant, I had the perfect twin pregnancy with only 8 weeks of nausea, great health and perfectly growing babies until week 29 when my body took a turn for the worst.  The past three weeks of dealing with living in the hospital and the medical problems while my husband is in another country have been extremely challenging, yet have proven to us that love, trust, strength and communication (along with so many other things) can make anything possible and have only strengthened who we are as a couple and as very soon to be parents.

Over the past 8 days my body has continued to contain a great deal of fluid from the waist down and has led to great discomfort.  Aside from that, my lab work has been fairly stable and my blood pressures have been controllable.  Over the past 3-4 days the swelling has caused me to have limited mobility, extreme discomfort and has led to serious delivery discussions with the doctor.

After a long day yesterday, we have decided as a team (doctors, Brayton and I) that all of these are signs and symptoms that we need to move forward and deliver these babies.  With severe pre-eclampsia delivery goals are between 32 and 34 weeks.  While we would have prefered to reach 34 weeks, sometimes the body leads us to make other decisions.  Today, Brayton is on route and should arrive in Syracuse tonight and tomorrow we will be delivering babies via C-Section.  While it was a difficult choice, we are ecstatic to meet our girls and begin our adventure as parents!

I must admit, though, that while the past few weeks have been challenging, being pregnant has been one of the most amazing things I have yet to experience in my life. There is nothing like knowing you are growing a baby, or two babies in this matter, feeling them and you change, creating a bond that is like no other and spending your nights feeling them move and push and kick and punch.  I have found myself in tears, happy yet sad tears, that my time being pregnant and having this experience is almost over... I can only imagine the love and bond that I will feel tomorrow once I get to hold my baby girls...

The prayers, thoughts, messages and love we have received from everyone have been amazing and we are so grateful for the wonderful and supportive family and friends we have both here at home, around the country, and in St. Kitts.  I am especially grateful for my mom and aunt who have spent countless amounts of hours sitting in this hospital room with me and for everyone who has supported and made it possible for Brayton to be home for 2 weeks during his most strenuous and difficult semester of Vet School.  We are truly blessed <3

Lyndi was awesome this weekend and took some maternity pictures for me here in the hospital, she even came with little props and ideas - she is so clever!  Here are some of those and they are pictures I will forever cherish, even with the IV, hospital bands and stretch marks.  Each of those things is part of this amazing journey.

I will do my best to keep up the blog after the babies arrive.  Thank you everyone for supporting us in everything.  We are so excited for what lies ahead <3

31 Weeks and hospital life....

Today marks 11 days in the hospital and tomorrow marks 31 weeks in our pregnancy, both of those are milestones for us!  When we arrived at the hospital 11 days ago we were preparing ourselves for the delivery of our babies that weekend.  We met with NICU nurses, looked at plane tickets, discussed possibilities and began to mentally and emotionally prepare ourselves to dive into parenthood 11 weeks early.  When my blood work and blood pressure improved, we were able to make it another week.  This past week on Friday, we had the same conversation with the doctor, be prepared to deliver this weekend.  My blood work was reaching numbers that were pushing her to believe a c-section delivery was in our very near future.  We began looking at plane tickets and preparing ourselves again.  Within two hours, my blood work had come back and we were seeing improvements which meant more waiting!  Since Friday, my blood pressure has been running on the high side but has been maintainable and my blood work had improved over the course of the weekend.  Tomorrow marks 31 weeks, which is just more time for these girls to be where they really need to be, growing and developing on the inside!

Hospital life has not been too bad, and remembering the reasons that I am here are helping me to get through each day.  It is pretty busy with nurses and doctors coming in and out, visitors stopping in and trying to find some time to sleep.  I try to keep a bit of a routine and at least make an effort to shower and get dressed everyday!  My days generally begin around 6 am when I take my first medication, have a spot check (a quick check of the babies heart rates), and vitals taken.  Within the next hour the doctor comes through to check in and somewhere between 6 and 8, the phlebotomist (person who draws blood from the labs) comes in to take my labs.  I usually order some breakfast, complete my non-stress test, take a morning nap and lounge around between 8-12.  By noon, I try to shower, get dressed, 'clean up' around my room and do something productive... I am still having my vitals checked every 3-4 hours and spot checks done on the babies throughout the day.  My evenings consist of dinner, meds, non-stress tests, and movies in bed. The days really are going fast and I have been grateful for the wonderful family and friends who have been here to visit and help my time pass!!

Truth be told, every day is difficult.  There are times, most times, when the only thing in the world I want is my husband to be here, when I am overcome with sadness that we aren't doing this 'together'.  There are days when I'd rather just sleep it all away for the entire day and not have to face the reality.  There are times when I look at the fluid and swelling consuming my body and wish I could just be done with this pregnancy!  But, there are also times when I lie in bed and feel my babies move all over and it is a feeling I am so not ready to sacrifice.  There are times when I am so grateful that I get these babies all to myself, there is no one who can take them from me!  It is a tough battle, one where I imagine what it will be like to hold them both against my chest and feel and see them and my aching, swollen body will begin to return to normal but the knowing I get them all to myself right now and feel them toss and turn and kick and push from inside is simply the most amazing thing in the world.  Regardless, they are worth every.single.second, every.single.suffering, every.single.sad.happy.hard.challenging.amazing.moment!  I truly cannot wait to see them, hold them, be their Mom but I am cherishing, the best that I can, the moments that remain of 'just the 3 of us'.  I didn't know I could love something so much, I cannot even begin to fathom the way I will feel when they are here!

 How far along? Tomorrow is Week 31
Maternity clothes? With all my swelling, many of my maternity clothes are even a struggle...
Stretch marks? Yes.. I was doing great, and Tuesday overnight I woke up to some skin irritation, looked in the mirror and was shocked - they just appeared!!  They are painful!
Sleep? The first 8 nights in the hospital I didn't sleep much, the past few have been better!  
Miss Anything? Unswollen legs, hips, stomach... Being home... My dogs... My husband...
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.
Mood? Not too bad.  Looking for the best in each day and cherishing the moments of quiet and time alone with my babies
Weekly Wisdom? Things can change so fast, and you never know when/where/how.  Be prepared early!!
Looking forward to? The swelling going down.. Meeting my girls... Brayton being home...
Total weight gain/loss? Last I stood on the scale, prior to the hospital, I was up almost 40 lbs.  The fluid is adding a lot of extra weight!
What’s new this week? Grateful for another week of babies growing on the inside.
Measurements? Not sure.. I need to ask the nurse to measure me, or get a tape measure... Ill update next week!
Best moment this week? Finally getting a good nights sleep!
Movement? All the time and I cherish it <3
Food cravings? No
Gender? Still two girls
Labor Signs? No, apparently I am having some Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing major!
Belly Button in or out? Very flat.  I've been coughing and every time I cough, it pops out!
What is the baby up to? According to Parents.com and WebMD Pregnancy and Baby Center during Week 31 your babies measures over 16 inches long. They weigh about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and are heading into a growth spurt.  They can turn their head from side to side, and their arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. They are probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. They are also going through major brain and nerve development, eye development, too. Their irises now react to light and all five of their senses are in working order.

29 weeks, 5 days

Set up for Non-stress test - monitoring babies heart rates

30 Weeks

My new feet... 

A waiting game...

A quick update as to where we are at now...

Since Saturday afternoon things have not changed a ton.  My blood pressure is back down to normal with a low dose of medication, my blood work is normal (with the exception of my kidney - more details on that to come), and the babies are doing wonderfully!

Beginning Saturday afternoon, I was switched to blood work being done every 12 hours, non-stress tests (monitoring babies heart rates) twice a day, tracking urine output, and continued medication to help regulate my thyroid (which was high prior to the hospital visit) and my blood pressure.  Fortunately, my blood pressure is staying at a great point, and my blood work is coming back in normal ranges, with the exception of my kidney.

When I was 21, I found out that I only have one functioning kidney.  The other one stopped growing and is in there taking up space but does not have any function.  Up until this weekend, my single kidney has been monitored yearly and has worked perfectly.  Even two weeks ago when we tested it at the doctors it was on par, so something happened within the week or two.

My creatinine levels have ranged from .8 - 1.2 and the normal range is below 1.0.  Most people would be considered OK until about a 2.0 level, but being that I only have one kidney we do not want it to get much higher than 1.5.  If it reaches that point, we would most likely move in and have a c-section - primarily for the safety of me which corresponds to the safety of the babies!  Right now, all we can do is monitor my blood work every 12 hours and see where those numbers go and monitor urine and other kidney related function (and of course all other functions too!)

We have had the opportunity to talk and meet with the NICU doctors and are prepared for anything, but are hoping to keep these babies in until at least 32 - 34 weeks.  Wednesday of this week marks 30 weeks so we will see what happens.

We really appreciate all the thoughts, prayers and support we have received from everyone from home to the great support Brayton is receiving from his classmates and professors at Ross U.

I will continue to keep the blog updated as I can but will probably stop sharing it as much on Facebook so if you would like to be informed, I recommend becoming a follower of the blog.  Brayton and I have decided that we will be sharing minimal pictures on Facebook and are asking our family and friends to do the same.  We hope to keep our friends and family in the loop via the blog, but do plan to keep less public.  We thank everyone for their support and hope that you join on the blog!

Here's to a few more weeks of keeping these precious girls where they belong!!  <3

An unexpected turn...

Today as I write this blog post, I am sitting in a hospital bed, plugged into IV's, baby heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, with many other tests being run in Syracuse at Crouse Hospital...  It seems this may be my home until the girls arrive, which will be sooner than expected.

Some details you ask?  Here is the best, most inclusive summary I can give at this time.  I will do my best to keep up with the blog as to how things are going for anyone interested.

Last week, Tuesday, January 14th I had a doctors appointment that I posted about the following day.  I had said that all is well, things were going well and that was true.  My swelling and slightly elevated blood pressure were slight warning signs of pre-eclampsia but nothing that was of concern.  I was told to continue looking for other symptoms and keep doing what I was doing.  That is what I did.

Over the course of the week and a half between the 14th and the 24th, I swam laps one day, ran some errands with mom, did some subbing and hung out at home.  On Friday, January 24th, I was subbing at Guardino and was feeling really good.  My class had gone to specials and as I was walking by the nurse I was curious as to what my blood pressure was (as I was quite swollen and it was a slight concern 10 days ago).  She took it first with a digital monitor and it read 173/110.  She re-did it on manually and it read 180/100.  As a person who has normally 'good' blood pressure, I asked her opinion and expressed my concerns about pre-eclampsia.  She recommended calling the doctor and seeking their advice, and so I did.

Within the hour, the Perinatal Center Triage Nurse had called me back and told me that they recommend I get to the Emergency Room for further testing and that was an extremely high blood pressure.  Julie was my lifesaver, called mom as I was a bit emotional, had TJ bring her to Guardino and we were off to the Bay Hospital.  (Side Note: During all of this my husband was completing his first surgery as the anesthesiologist and was unreachable!)  The hospital was great and quickly got me in, ran blood and urine tests, and spoke directly with Dr. Spadola (my doctor from the Perinatal Center).  Results came back with high levels of protein in my urine, and abnormal blood tests in many areas, as well as a continued high blood pressure.  All of those things are signs of pre-eclampsia, and Dr. Spadola wanted me transported via ambulance immediately to Crouse.  Jumping ahead, luckily, she was on call this weekend and was present and actively involved in everything.

Upon arriving at Crouse I was admitted and immediately put on a Magnesium Drip.  Magnesium is used as a soft muscle relaxer and was used in hopes to bring my blood pressure down and prevent seizures which are very threatening and are part of eclampsia.  I was also hooked up to baby heart rate monitors, and blood pressure monitors every 15 minutes.  Numerous vials of blood were drawn, urine samples taken and continual monitoring.  Being that I only have one kidney, this was also a factor that needed to be considered as both a risk and as a precaution for providing medications.  I was quickly diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia and told there was a risk for delivery tomorrow, or as far away as 34 weeks depending on how things progressed.      

Pre-eclampsia is formerly called toxemia, preeclampsia is a condition that pregnant women develop. It is marked by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the urine. Preeclamptic women will often also have swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. This condition usually appears during the second half of pregnancy, often in the latter part of the second or in the third trimesters, although it can occur earlier. 

If undiagnosed, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious condition that can put you and your baby at risk, and in rare cases, cause death. Women with preeclampsia who have seizures are considered to have eclampsia. (http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/preeclampsia-eclampsia)

It was a very long night, with monitoring, testing, admissions paperwork, being uncomfortable from sitting in hard hospital beds for 12 + hours and no time to really sleep with nurse monitors on an hourly basis.  Around 4 am, I was given a blow up mattress style pad for my bed which allowed me some comfort and a bit of sleep in between my hourly monitors.

My parents, grandma, and Lyndi were amazing last night.  Lyndi had raced to the Bay to ride in the ambulance with me so Mom could go pick up Dad and get some clothes for me.  Mom, Dad, Gram and Lyndi all were here with me until about midnight when I finally made them leave so they could sleep and I could try to sleep.  They all stayed at Aunt Lo's and were back with me this morning with snacks and entertainment for the day!

Today has gone well, or at least as well as we can expect at this point.  My blood pressure has come down to normal range, the babies have not been impacted at all, and are showing their personalities through to the nurses!  Baby A is quite the mover, and proving to be quite difficult in working cooperatively with the nurses.  Baby B is the more laid back baby, protecting herself from her wild sister and making our lives easier!  Last night, around 3 am, I had a bedside ultrasound which confirmed they were doing great, growing and progressing as expected and had appropriate fluid levels in both their amniotic sacs.  Today I had another ultrasound which did the same.  Everything is where it should be.  I have also spoke with Dr. Spadola twice and she is happy with the progress but thinks I will probably be here until I deliver, which we are now aiming for 34 weeks (which means 5 more weeks in the hospital) as long as I stay healthy and don't show any signs that would lead them to believe the babies would be safer out than in.  There is a chance I may get to go home, but we never know... It's a day by day, test by test decision at this point.  She is a wonderful doctor, and I feel extremely fortunate to have landed such a wonderful doctor so quickly upon returning to the states.  I also cannot say enough good things about Crouse at this point.  The nurses I have worked with have been fabulous and everyone has been wonderful!  While this is not the path we had planned on taking, I am so grateful for the wonderful people and facilities we have available for us!

Finally, I have to admit, this is so hard to be going through all of this with my husband in St. Kitts.  Truthfully, I am not sure who it is harder for, me or him, but regardless we are making it through this together and I couldn't ask for a more supportive, loving and dedicated husband.  He is busting his ass to keep up with school and be prepared to get on a plane at a last minutes notice to be here.  My children are blessed, and so am I!!!!

The uncooperative girls from this morning:

Baby B

Baby A 

AND on a very positive note, we found out yesterday that we will be attending CORNELL UNIVERSITY for Brayton's Clinical Year of Vet School.  We are extremely excited that we will be closer to home and be able to have family and friends come visit and help!  Cornell is also one of the best Vet School's in the US, so it is a privilege for Brayton to be attending and graduating with a DVM from Ross University and Cornell University!  

28 weeks... Less than 10 to go!

Today marks day one of Week 28.  If ALL goes as planned *insert wishful thoughts here* we will have babies in about 9.5-10 weeks!  That is exciting and scary all in one!  Today also marks 1.5 weeks since Brayton left and it already feels like he has been gone for months on end - as much as I don't want to rush the babies being here, I am so ready for him to be HOME!  

Life since he left has been pretty uneventful for me.  I am trying to keep myself busy - I have been subbing at the elementary and middle school, playing catch-up on life from living out of country for two years, washing and preparing baby stuff and resting/relaxing when I can.  It has been great to see the kids basketball/volleyball games that I missed over the years and see how much they have all grown up!  Makes it seem like we've been gone longer than 2 years!  

Brayton is back into the swing of things, and of course, spent the first week back sick and trying to get life sorted out.  He is finally feeling better and moving forward with 7th semester!  Surgeries start next week, getting to do a variety of hands-on labs, and starting to feel like a real doctor!  

Yesterday we had another doctors appointment, and all is well!  Baby A (the one head down on the right) is measuring at 2 lbs 4 oz and her size says she is about 27 weeks 3 days, putting her in the 40th percentile.  Her heart rate was 173 bpm, which is a bit high but not at a level of concern.  Baby B (the one breech on the left) is measuring at 2 lbs 2 oz and her size says she is about 27 weeks, putting her in the 34th percentile.  Her heart rate was 163 which is also average!  While they are a both a bit behind where my estimated timing is, they are normal for where they should be for twins.  Both girls are moving all over the place and growing and developing as expected.  The doctors were happy with everything thus far!  

How far along? Today begins Week 28! 
Maternity clothes? Yes, and some of my shirts are already struggling to stretch over the belly!    
Stretch marks? Maybe I'm lucky, maybe all the oil and lotion are working - but none yet! 
Sleep? Uh, its hit or miss.  Some nights better than others, a lot of tossing and turning, lower back pain and shoulders/arms going numb.  
Miss Anything? Waking up in the middle of the night to pee and being able to walk... or tossing/turning without lower back hurting.  
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really... Struggling a bit with dog food in the morning again.. 
Mood? Pretty good considering! 
Weekly Wisdom? Cherish the moments you get to lay there and feel your baby/babies move around, it goes so fast! 
Looking forward to? Prepping all my cloth diaper stash and having it 100% ready to go!! 
Total weight gain/loss? Sort of embarrassed by this, BUT 30 lbs... 
What’s new this week? I have begun  to swell... Wedding rings stopped fitting this week (I can get them on and off, but its NOT easy and not worth the pain and risk of them getting stuck!)
Measurements? 47 1/2" at the belly button
Best moment this week? Getting to see my babies again <3
Movement? So much!  Kicking, punching, twisting, turning, rolling, pushing out!  
Food cravings? No
Gender? Still two girls
Labor Signs? No
Belly Button in or out? The top is starting to pop out, the rest is just flat! 
What is the baby up to? According to Parents.com and WebMD Pregnancy and Baby Center during Week 27 babies measure about 14.5 inches long, and weighs just about 2 pounds. This week, their brain is developing quickly. Their eyelids, which have remained closed up until this point, begin to open and now their retinas can begin to form. The retina contains specialized photoreceptor cells that respond to light, called rods and cones. Cones in particular help us perceive color. Their skin is still wrinkly; but by 27 weeks, she basically looks how she will look when you give birth to her – in just a few months! Babies are now the size of rutabagas!
Babies lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means they are now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in your womb means every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid. 

Pregnancy Photo Update:

The new and improved SWOLLEN FEET! 

 As I always say, I hate selfies, but since my husband is gone, I took this picture to send him tonight with the caption 

"Remember when my shirts used to fit?!"

And some progression pictures put together - 

Big changes....

Well, the day that I have been dreading for months and months has come and gone... Brayton has gone back to St. Kitts and I am here, in frigid upstate NY... I have known the day would come since we found out we were pregnant with twins, so that I could receive good medical care and be in a safe location as he finishes his LAST semester in St. Kitts.  Knowing doesn't make reality easier.  It has only been 2 days, and it sucks already.  Sometimes I find myself wondering how I will make it another 11 weeks without him here, but I am trying to stay as busy as possible and keep my mind occupied as I know the stress and sadness is not good for me and the babies.  Brayton is learning how to live on his own again - making his own coffee, setting his own alarm clock, making his own meals, doing his own laundry - and not have a wife there to help.  I won't say I did everything, because then I would be lying, he did a lot around the house to help, but with the schedule he has coming this semester, he will certainly be busy.  

Off of my soapbox now, the remainder of our break was nice, but went too fast.  There was so much running around, errands, bad weather and trying to find some time to do some things just us since this is probably the last time we will get that before parenthood.  Our final doctors appointment with Brayton here went great and Mom and Grandma got to attend.  Grandma had never seen an ultrasound before, so she was blown away seeing everything!  The tech even took some time to take/show us some 3-d images which was tough because our girls didn't want to cooperate but it was still amazing!  Every ultrasound is amazing.  It is sometimes a pain to go to the doctors that is an hour and a half away every 2 weeks, but seeing my babies and knowing they are healthy every two weeks is one of the biggest blessings!  

Since Christmas when I posted last, we have also had our baby shower.  It was a wonderful day of many friends and so many wonderful gifts.  Our babies (and us) are so lucky to have so many great friends and families that showered us with love!  My sister planned it all and it went perfectly - the food was great, the cakes were awesome and it was a great way to see many people I haven't seen in a couple years since we haven't lived at home. 

Brayton is the turtle man - so our girls have lots of turtles in their life!  Gorgeous Cakes! 

Lyndi - the planner who does it all!! 

Cake area

Carlee was the best gift opening helper! 

With every present she opened, she held it up and posed for a picture!  

Friday night Brayton and I had what will likely be our last dinner date before being parents.  We enjoyed a nice, American Texas Road House dinner, and some us time.  Saturday morning came too fast and Travis arrived at 5 am to take Brayton to the airport and off he went.  He is back in St. Kitts, has already lost power, spent hours in the airport, and had to go grocery shopping for himself!  Koala was so happy to have someone home she hasn't left his side since he walked in the door!  

Back to the grind for Brayton tomorrow, and trying to find ways to keep myself busy here in the tundra!  Praying these babies stay in until we are ready and he is home, and at the same time, that the next 11 weeks FLY BY!  I want my husband back!!!!  

How far along? Week 26... but then again, if you start at our due date and count back, Wednesday would begin Week 27!  Hopefully we can get some clarification on this at our next appointment!  
Maternity clothes? Oh yes!   
Stretch marks? None yet, and loading up with lotions and oils!! 
Sleep? I ordered and got my BumpNest body pillow.  If I can say one thing that is worth the money - it is that pillow!  It is simply amazing!  My husband even curled up on it and his exact words were "OH, MY, GOD!"  So it helps, but I still toss and turn, and now sleeping alone makes things harder... 
Miss Anything? My husband =(  I also miss going from sitting to standing without my lower back hurting and my legs wanting to give out on me.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope
Mood? Sad... 
Weekly Wisdom? Buy a Bump Nest pillow!!!  Cherish the time you have with your significant other, when they go away you really realize how much you need them in your life everyday! <3 
Looking forward to? Um, it being March and Brayton coming home.. aside from the obvious, hopefully finding a way to keep myself busy and make the time pass! 
Total weight gain/loss? Up to about 22 pounds.. yikes! 
What’s new this week? Baby girls are moving so much more.  I am feeling them both at the same time and its causing a bit more discomfort, but still amazing to feel them move around! 
Measurements? 46" at the belly button
Best moment this week? Having my Grandma see our ultrasounds as she'd never seen one before and this is her first great grand babies!  
Movement? So much!  Kicking, punching, twisting, turning, rolling, pushing out!  
Food cravings? No
Gender? Still two girls
Labor Signs? No
Belly Button in or out? Just about flat! 
What is the baby up to? According to Parents.com and WebMD Pregnancy and Baby Center, babies are now the size of an eggplant!  They are soaking up my antibodies and getting their immune systems ready for life outside the womb. Their eyes are forming, and they'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.  Babies are about 13.6 - 14.8" long (we will have better actual measurements after our next appointment!) and between 1.5 - 2.2 lbs.  Their lungs continue to develop, and they are taking small breaths of amniotic fluid inside your womb. These small breaths are getting them in shape for their first breath of fresh air. Their veins are visible through their transparent skin, but soon that will change, as their skin begins to turn opaque. The nerve pathways are becoming more and more developed, making them more responsive to sound. Don't be surprised if you feel them jump inside of you if they are startled by a sudden noise. 

Some belly pictures: