7w1d

I am still flying pretty high from our u/s results yesterday! Dr. Williams spent a lot of time with us after the u/s and it was really much harder to say good-bye than I expected. I have been with him, and Nancy, his nurse, for five years through some of the most difficult and rewarding days of my life! At one point, I realized I was holding the doc's hand and not Dave's! There is absolutely a bond, and I guess after all this time there should be. He thinks that the babies look very very good and released me to my OB for the duration. We saw and heard the heartbeats, although he did not tell us, and we didn't ask the heart rate. He noted that it was normal.

I am feeling physically about the same, hungry, nauseous, and unbelievably tired.

Here's what the babies are up to this week:
Week 7 of Pregnancy: Your Baby's Limbs Develop
How does your baby grow? Pretty fast, actually. At 7 weeks pregnant, your baby's length is approximately a quarter of an inch — the size of a blueberry. Sounds pretty tiny still? Consider this for a little perspective: Your baby is 10,000 times bigger now than it was at conception a month ago. The biggest fetal growth this week is your baby's head (the better to store all those smarts in), with new brain cells being generated at the rate of 100 cells per minute. How's that for a budding genius? And talking about buds, your baby is going out on a limb this week as his or her arm and leg buds begin to sprout and grow longer (and stronger), dividing into hand, arm, and shoulder segments — and leg, knee, and foot segments (though the limb buds look more like paddles than hands or feet at this early stage).
Also forming this week are your baby's mouth and tongue. And although your embryo is just one month old, it's already gone through three sets of kidneys. The ones in place now are the permanent set and are poised to begin their important work of waste management. In about a week, your baby will start producing urine. Lucky for you, there's no need for diapers (yet). As your baby matures inside you, much of that urine will be excreted into the amniotic fluid, swallowed again by your baby, and then excreted again in a continuous cycle.

Amy

Throwing caution to the wind...not exactly, but I am more confident!

We had our 7wk u/s today and we saw and heard our two babies heartbeats! I am so relieved. RE said everything looks great and we now have a 95% chance of delivering at least one baby and a 90% chance of delivering both! Those are odds I can live with. For today, I am feeling more peaceful and confident. (Remind me tomorrow!)

I'll post more details tomorrow...I'm tired!

Amy

Tomorrow will tell

I am so so so nervous for our 7wk u/s tomorrow. I know that I should be re-assured by my nausea, fatigue, sore breasts, and heartburn but I'm still sort-of waiting to find out it's all been a dream. It's not that I don't have hope, I think it's a kind-of self-preservation. Like if I worry I am somehow shielding myself if there is bad news. I have no reason to believe that anything is wrong. I have strong symptoms and I have had no more bleeding since that one spot over a week ago. I hope to feel more re-assured after our ultrasound tomorrow. The appointment is at 2:30 so I will try to update tomorrow evening.

Please continue to send prayers our way!

Amy

Employed no more...

I had decided before the results of my pregnancy test that I would leave my job at the end of the year to care for my new nephew, and my cousins daughter who is 6 months old. I won't start watching them until after the first of the year and I wanted to have a little time to myself before that begins. I gave my notice this week that my last day will be next Friday. My boss was great, the owner was great, my co-worker was NOT. She's one of those people that the world revolves around so she was accusatory. Asking WHY couldn't I have told her?! On and on about how it will affect her.
I'm still happy about my decision, but as with all changes I'm a little apprehensive.
I am still feeling very very tired and mildly nauseous.

Can't wait for Tuesday to get here!

Amy

6w-Let the Nausea Begin!

Please don't think that I'm complaining. I will happily endure every single wave of queasiness, it actually makes me feel more confident that those little ones are doing what they are supposed to!

I still have the MEGA cold that started last week. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and she gave me an antibiotic. I am starting to feel a little better.

The nausea is sort-of a wavy, sometimes heartburn feeling. It's more distracting that actually uncomfortable. I also can't stomach the thought of some foods, which is new.

I am still nervous. I hope that this next week goes by quickly, and without incident. I can't wait to see those heartbeats next Tuesday.

Here's what's up with the babies this week: (from whattoexpect.com)

Week 6 of Pregnancy: Baby's Head Takes Shape
This week your baby's crown-to-rump measurement is anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of an inch, and growing — making it the size of a sweet pea (your little sweet pea!).
During fetal development, practitioners measure embryos as small as yours from precious little crown to cute little rump. That's because as your baby grows, his or her legs will be bent, making it hard to measure the full length of the body. When you are 6 weeks pregnant, your baby's crown-to-rump measurement is anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of an inch, and growing — making it the size of a sweet pea (your little sweet pea!).
So, if your womb had a view, what would you see? The folds of tissue in the prominent bump on top (the head) are developing into your baby's jaws, cheeks, and chin. And are those little indentations on both sides of the head the adorable dimples you always hoped your baby would inherit from your mom's side of the family? No, they're ear canals in the making. Small bumps on the face will form the eyes and button nose in a few weeks time. Also taking shape this week: your baby's kidneys, liver, and lungs.

Have a great day!

Amy

Scary, but good

I hope everyone had a great holiday!!!

Ours was super busy, and of course I have come down with a terrible chest cold! I'm going to see a doctor sometime today.

As for the title, on Saturday after I got home from acupuncture I noticed a spot of bright red blood when I wiped. Of course I was terrified, but I tried to remain calm. I called the RE and he assured me that it is very common, but told me if I was scared I could come in on Sunday morning for an u/s. I rested for most of the afternoon Saturday and have not had any more bleeding.
We went for the u/s Sunday which was 5w5d. Before he preformed the scan he told us what to expect. He said that he felt it was too early for a heartbeat. He said he would like to see a gestational sac in the uterus and maybe we could see a yolk sac inside it which would be a very good sign.
He scanned and said "there's a nice looking sac in the uterus, and there's another one!" Both pregnancies had visible yolk sacs, but he was right that it was too early for heartbeats. After the scan he explained all about vanishing twin syndrome, and we know the risks, but for now TWINS!!!!

So, for now everything is good and we're scheduled for our 7wk u/s on Dec 9. I'm still nervous, but taking it one day at a time.

Amy