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Milestone 1.......cerclage, CHECK.

I had my cerclage Wednesday.

It is a very good thing that we did. I was already fingertip dilated, so I think we have definitely confirmed an incompetent cervix. Scary, but we did the only known cure for it and preventative cerclages have a 80-90% success rate.

The Dr didn't seem too concerned about the dilation, and I AM NOT ON BEDREST! Whoooo hooooooooooooooooo! I cannot lift over 10 lbs. I should limit walking up and down stairs, limit vacuuming and just not push my body to do anything.

I am still a little crampy and my back hurts where they put the spinal in, but overall, I feel pretty good.

I spent almost 5 hours in recovery. It look forever to get feeling back in my feet, and then I couldn't go to the toilet. I sat there for a 1/2 hr...there just wasn't enough feeling back down there, but I was cramping HORRIBLY from the bladder pressure. Seriously almost as bad as contractions...

They gave me peppermint to smell (I guess that is suppose to help) and I relaxed for another 45 minutes in a chair, and I could feel some sensation coming back....I went back in...and it started almost immediately. If I didn't go soon, they were going to cath me and I would not have been able to go home until the next day. Once I peed...they took out the IV and I was free to go.....

So, I am back and I hope the two stitches they put in my cervix will keep the two babies in there for a long long time.

I did get to see the babies TWICE that day.  They checked on them quickly before the surgery and then again afterward.  We couldn't measure the heartbeat on baby A again because he/she was moving around again like a crazy child.

A little gift...

This little guy came in the mail from my aunt and uncle, Jim and Shelia.  They said that they thought we should have this:  Hosta, Guardian Angel.  They are experts on Hostas, and they grow and sell them every year.

I was really surprised to find this in the mail, and I was so touched by their gift.  Perfect.

They know we have been working on our landscaping/garden.  We received a couple memorial garden stones from loved ones and we also received a lovely gift certificate from my co-workers to a local garden center, so when we get it all done, I will try and post some photos.

...and my earworm for the day:  I am not a big fan of covers of Lennon/Beatles songs, but I think this is a very good cover, and an excellent video.  It does the song justice. (included both since I love both,)  Save Darfur Amnesty International Instant Karma Album

!st Trimester Screening Results...

Since I will be "advanced maternal age" at the time of delivery, I was offered 1st trimester screening this time around, and I decided to have it done.  I was hoping it would give me peace of mind, but as the day drew closer, I wasn't so sure it was such a good idea anymore.

Well, today was the day, and although apprehensive and worried, I was looking forward to seeing them (I was just so worried I wouldn't see one.)

Bob came with me, and it took almost an hour for the entire scan.  The first thing that freaked me out was that they were measuring my uterus and it is now at my belly button...HOLY SMOKES...no wonder I feel so huge already and I only have four summer shirts that still fit!  They were all over the place in my belly and they were moving around like crazy kids. 

Second, we saw BOTH babies in there with heartbeats AND they both have their own placentas!  Whew!  There is a scary condition that is often fatal that can happen with shared placentas!  Also, this pretty much confirms that they are fraternal twins.  We saw hearts, legs, arms, fingers, spines etc...  I seems like everything is in place, but we will know a lot more at the 20 week scan.

Next, the U/S tech was freaking a little because they were measuring a week ahead....  Um, yeah...that is what I have been saying all along...I was charting and I KNEW when I ovulated.  She confirmed that I am now back to Dec 24th as my due date...both babies were measuring RIGHT at the same place.  So, depending on who you talk to, I am in my 2nd TRIMESTER now!

Also, we found out that the nuchal fold and blood test results greatly reduce the risk of Down Syndrome and Trisomy 13/18.  I went from having a risk of 1 in 277 for Downs and 1 in 499 for Trisomy 18/13 (because of my age) to the risk of a twenty year old (1 in 5521 and 1 in 9961).  Now this is just a screening and we really won't know for sure until birth, but NOW I am glad I had the scan since it reduced my fears (not that we would have done a thing differently, but I think knowledge is power.)

So, there we are...the next step is next Wednesday the 20th when I have the cerclage put in my cervix....scared but at the same time I think it will be a relief to have it done.

You MUST read "Pretty Little Mistakes"

Remember those Choose Your Own Ending  books from the 1980's? 

I loved those books as a kid, and now there is a fantastic adult type version called, Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather Mc Elhatton.

This is a genius book!  I am not sure how her brain was able to wrap around all the different story lines, but they are all highly entertaining and unique.  So far, I have ended up becoming addicted to meth, marrying Sergei and living in St Petersburg, making millions from creating my own shoe line, traveling to India with my transvestite roommate and dying from Hepatitis A, killing a man while in a drug induced state, becoming a controversial artist, stealing gold coins in Italy, to being bludgeoned to death in an alley (my first ending after deciding to play it safe and not to go home with a young handsome bartender.) ...and many more! I have laughed at the endings, and I even cried a little at the last ending where my husband, who I loved very much, and I were killed by a terrorist attack.

When I looked at the website, the author posted this photo of her process of plotting out all the story lines:

Seriously, if you read any book this summer for fun...this should be it! I am enjoying it immensely!

As things progress...

I am sorry for the lack of updates, and I want to thank you all for your posts and E-mails wishing us kind words, thoughts, and prayers.

We are all doing well.  Last week Bob and I went to ANW in the Cities to have a consultation about my upcoming cerclage.  We met with Dr Calvin, the Dr who delivered Beckett, and we were given the news that Dr Ney will be doing the surgery.  I really connected with Dr Ney when I was there before, so I am very happy with that.  They are both amazing Dr's.  The surgery is scheduled for June 20th.  Although I will be on restriction, hopefully I will not have bed rest for a LONG time (although I fully expect it to come somewhere down the line.)

While at ANW, we did get to see the twins again!  They were blurry, but they were both there with heartbeats.  One of the babies was jumping all over and the other one was just hanging out chillin'.  I also was able to hear one of the heartbeats on  Monday.  I was surprised to hear it at 10 weeks!  My ob/gyn, Dr Nash, said that once the doppler picks up one h/b at this stage, it often doesn't pick up the other, so we gave up after hearing the one  heart tone, but at this time, everything is looking and sounding good.  :::deep breath:::

I didn't pass the 1 hr glucose again, so I officially have Gestational Diabetes.  I am starting Insulin today.  I am annoyed but excepting of it.  It really isn't all that bad, and I know I am doing what is best for me and my babies.

I am popping out!  Being that I am fluffy anyway, I am sure to many I just look like I have gained weight, but I went from not being able to wear most of my regular pants a few weeks ago to having a hard time wearing many of my shirts now!  I am 10 weeks 3 days today, so I do wonder just how big I am going to get!

School was officially done last Friday (one of the few benefits of no Spring Break is we get out early).  I still haven't actually checked out.  I need Bob to help me lift a couple things, and I still need to clean.  I missed the last day for students because of my appointment at ANW (My choices were that day or the next day when my grades were DUE!...so I picked the last day w/ students since the students are not very productive anyway.)  I didn't make a big announcement, but things started to leak out after a friend at work stumbled upon this website.  I am glad.  Everyone has been so supportive there, and people were truly happy and excited for us.

OK, HUGE update!  I will try to update more often.