Prest-o Change-o!

Our 20 week ultrasound was last Tuesday. Needless to say each time we go to the hospital to have ultrasounds- we end up coming out shocked.

This ultrasound shows 2 boys.

Miles Gregory will continue to hold in there as one of the boys names, but we haven't completely decided on the other's. What a surprise that was! It has taken us some time to get used to it. We miss our little girl very much, but twin B is wiggling his little way in there.

I don't think that I will ever trust technology in this case again. There are so many stories of the ultrasound being wrong! We feel very fortunate that we have had a "heads up" with still so many week's to go; that would have been a VERY dramatic delivery-

Drum roll please....

I am sure that you all have not been able to sleep wondering what the sexes of the twins will be. Well wonder no more!

As an early present for Father's Day, I bought Greg his own personal Ultrasound session. He was so excited. I must admit, I don't think I could have gotten him anything better. And I thought I was being impatient!

So here it is!

What can't you tell?

The profile at the bottom of the screen is of our little girl, Sedona Raine. And at the top you can see the future running legs of Miles Gregory. They are now too big to get both faces and bodies into the pictures. The twins lay head to foot and boy was it amusing to watch them! It looks like Sedona was kicking Miles in the head and them Miles would turn around and kick her back. There were a series of pushes and more kicking, interrupted by some thumb sucking. All in all a very active day for a set of twins.

This is Miles by himself (it looks like he is waving "hi")

And Sedona by herself (the dark image on the head is a result of the ultrasound "echo"):

I know that I keep saying this, but maybe that will make it true. I am hoping that the nausea and vomiting will go away soon (without the help of medication). Although I can take less medication than I used to, without it I am still vomiting.

We are over half way there AND we start our childbirth classes next week (pray that Greg makes it ; ) That should make for interesting posts...

Today's appointment

Yeah! Finally an appointment. Never so happy to go and see someone in the medical profession. My nausea has (finally) subsided. I am decreasing my medication and hopefully I will be off of it in a week or so. Obviously, I am still able to find food. I put on at least 6 pounds. It seems to be all belly : )
The heart rates were 160's and 150's respectively. And the top of my uterus (fundus) is about 2-3 cm above my belly button. All normal for a twin pregnancy.
We had the blood drawn for a "pent screen." These tests help establish whether or not the babies might have a chromosomal disorder or a neural tube defect.
Sigh, Alas the ultrasound is not scheduled until the 22nd. So, it is still unknown what the sexes are.
We have been very busy making baby arrangements. I have the most wonderful painters in the world painting the nursery and bathroom (as well as the stairwell). It is much brighter and cheerier up there. It has gone from industrial gray to a shade of sky blue that looks like you're looking up at a cloudless sky. I love it. I look forward to seeing furniture and such in there.
We are (most likely), half way there!

waiting and waiting

I feel like my life is a perpetual Jeopardy song. Finally we do get to go to the midwife today- I look forward to those.
I have not felt any movement yet. So Greg made up a little song to egg the kids on.
"If you're happy and you know it, poke your mom. (clap, clap)."

It hasn't worked yet, but I'm still hoping...

18 weeks

I have included pictures from the first week I started taking pictures (about week 13) and the current week (week 18).

week 13

week 18

Our next OB visit is on Tuesday and hopefully we will get an ultrasound in the next couple of weeks.

After looking at these pictures the most appropriate thing to say is, "you look marvelous."

Woman's work

I am a feminist. Having children does not contradict that. In fact, I believe that it even enhances this fact. This posting however, is not a rant about feminism.
What I have noticed after becoming pregnant, is that no matter how progressive the society, gender lines still prevail. Nowhere is this more evident than in registering for baby items. HH (handsome husband) and I have registered for a few essentials (Babies R Us and Target for those of you interested) and I have never seen such a gender bias in favor of females.
Now, some of you are thinking, "duh" babies are woman's work. And I contend that it is 50% woman's work. I get to vomit, be constipated, have itching in various crevices, be moody, take afternoon naps, watch my figure expand, the list goes on and on. But HH gets to take up many of the household chores, worry about how we are going to pay for the little ones (I already know about the various college funds and how much out-of-state tuition is going to cost in 2027), worry about me, be at my beck and call, do all the garden work (I haven't touched dirt or grass in 17 weeks)- I'm sure his list goes on and on also.
I am not ignorant to the fact that not every woman has this necessity. They are saints. I couldn't do it without a partner, but this is a topic for a different time and place.
I guess I am just voicing my opinion that there are many men out there who are completely vested in this process and they get very little credit, not even from salespeople. They shouldn't be listed as "optional" when filling out the baby registery forms. I'm pretty sure that it some way shape or form, their contributions are required.