an update from Jana

June 6, 2008

My wonderful Mad Scientist


Today, we finally met my high risk OB - he is very tall, very nice and very reserved. He kinda reminds me of a mad scientist - in a good way! :) He was great about answering all of our questions, and helping us feel comfortable with him, and what his goals are to ensure the health of the babies and myself. We discussed when I might be taken off work, when the babies may be born, my past history with my 5 1/2 year old son, etc. Overall a very informative appointment!

We also were able to see the babies as well via ultrasound, and we watched one of the babies toss and turn inside me!!! It was so amazing - Brian had this look of pride and amazement on his face - it was very cute! I was so ecstatic to see one of the babies moving so much, it just makes me feel reassured that they are okay. We could see their arms and legs, their hands and all! They finally are looking like babies instead of blobs! :)

My husband will never admit it, but he was glowing as we were leaving the office and I asked him if he was excited seeing what we saw the babies do - he said yes, but that was it. Then he didn't want to talk about it anymore... guess he just doesn't want to appear as the sensitive guy that he is!! ;)


June 17, 2008

The Dangers of Doctors

This week was one of the weeks that I had 2 doctors appointments - one with a Nurse Practictioner, and one with my high risk OB. On June 17th I had an appt with the NP, where they test me for a plethora of STD's, and do a papsmear. She was very nice, and very surprised that I was pregnant with twins and having an appointment with her. Exciting for her nonetheless, she said they don't get to see twin pregnancies that often! She proceeded to do the papsmear, pinching me in the process and actually hurting me. Then she alarmed me when she said I was bleeding - and it was bright red (which isn't good). Initially she led me to believe that it was something with the babies, but I knew better... I just got mamed! I was a little concerned though, and asked her if we could do an ultrasound to make sure the babies were okay... she said of course, and we confirmed that they were fine - she had just cut me or something. Ouch!

Since the moment I found out I was pregnant, I have had to use progesterone suppositories (they don't stop you from miscarrying, but they also don't hurt) to help ensure that my body has enough of what it needs to sustain the pregnancy. I was afraid to continue them after being cut/injured in that area... so I stopped doing them. Thankfully, I saw my high risk OB on Thurs, June 19th and he said that it was fine and I could infact discontinue them altogether!! I can't tell you how relieved I was - those things are awfully messy and no fun to deal with! My hubby was very happy that I didn't need to do them anymore either... we were both very happy - in fact, I was so happy I could've kissed my mad scientist! :)

We see the babies every time we go in for an appointment - just to monitor their growth. Today, we saw one of the babies sucking their thumb! It was so adorable! The ultrasound machines have really improved since I had Joe - I could actually see the baby's hand moving in and out and their fingers! It brought a huge smile to my face, and my husband just wanted them to squirm around like they usually do - but this time, they were both sleeping contently. They (the doctor and Brian) tried to wake them up with poking and prodding my belly, but to no avail. It was simply amazing to see our babies sleeping and actually being cute!

My doctor said the babies look good, and to just come back to see him in 2-3 weeks. We have an appointment scheduled for July 9th. We'll see how they are doing then!


June 21, 2008

IV Fluids, My Nemesis!


A few hours after seeing my doctor (high risk OB) on the 19th, I started having shooting pains on either side of my lower abdomen. It was like muscle/nerve pain kind of - and came a went the whole day. I went home and slept after work, hoping that it would go away by the next day. It still continued on Friday, and Friday night (after work) it was so bad, I considered going to the ER. My intuition told me that it was just round ligament pain, and all was well. I opted to just go home and rest and see how I felt the next day.

Well, on Saturday (now my 3rd day of having pains) I was still in pain and really sore. I started to wonder if something might be wrong. I called into Kaiser to find the closest urgent care to go to - I didn't want to sit in the ER all day, I needed to go to work. They advised me that I had to go to the ER because I am considered high risk, and they have all the tools at the main hospital to assist me and the babies should something be wrong. So, off to the ER I went. My mother in law came along with me - she is always great about going to the hospital with me and making me feel like I have someone to count on. :)

We got to the ER around 2:45pm, it was roasting hot outside! We checked in, and they had me sit in a chair in a little curtained area. My mother in law sat in a chair off to the side that I became jealous of. The chair the patients are supposed to sit in are connected to another table or something - kind of like school desks, but on the side. I was jealous of my mother in law's chair because it was lower to the ground. Here I am, this 28 year old woman, three months pregnant with twins, and my feet are dangling from the chair. Even if I pointed my toes, they didn't reach. I was so embarrassed. The nurse took all my info, and my blood pressure which was a little high - I thought she would repeat it, but she didn't. I figure it was bad because your feet are supposed to be flat on the floor for an accurate blood pressure - and mine were far from it. Needless to say, we had some good laughs about it!

We were placed in the room and the doctor came in and said they were gonna run some routine tests and do an ultrasound. They checked me for a possible bladder infection, or any other type of infection. My white blood cell count was normal - not elevated at all, so they said I didn't have an infection at all. My red blood cell count was still a bit low - not too bad; but despite the supplements I take, I am still a bit anemic. they ruled out anything infection wise, and we were just waiting on the ulstrasound. By this time, it was already 5 pm or so. Apparently the sonographers go home at 4 pm, so they have to page one in to respond to the hospital.

We waited and waited. Then we started to freeze. It was so cold in the room we were in, and we were both covered with blankets. I had begun to get hungry since it had been a few hours since I had eaten. But I had to wait. The nurse came in and said that the doctor wanted me to have some IV fluids. Great, I have to have an IV - they are soooo uncomfortable!! Oh well, I had no choice. I asked if I was dehydrated, and the nurse said she didn't believe I was, that it was just a precautionary thing. I bet it was just because it was so hot outside. Either way, they left my IV wide open - it was like pouring into me! They had given me 2 liters of fluids in 45 minutes! I didn't have to pee more than usual though, so I figured I needed it. I had to call in sick to work that night, being that I didn't know when I would be released now that I have an open vein and taking in a flood.

We finally had the ultrasound, and all was well with the babies. They did find a cyst on my left ovary as well. They said it shouldn't be a problem for the pregnancy, but that I should follow up on it after the babies are born. The doctor said it was just round ligament pain, and to take it easy. He gave me a note to take me off work for 10 days (craziness!), of which I didn't use or turn in because I had the next 5 days off anyway.

Finally after almost 7 hours in the ER, we left the hospital around 9:45pm. I was starving (hadn't eaten in like 5 hours), so we got some food and went home. I went to bed that night and proceeded to wake up every hour to 90 minutes, peeing. I hardly slept at all that night. I was so frustrated by the morning - and still peeing throughout the next day. It was ridiculous! Apparently, I didn't really need all that fluid! I got it anyway!

After all was said and done though, I was glad that the babies were fine and my intuition was correct - that always feels good! Now I know to trust it a heck of a lot more, to avoid peeing all night and all day again!


June 24, 2008

Lesson Learned? We'll see...


After a good solid 2 days of resting I was feeling much better, and getting on top of some things at home. Our friends wanted to go to Disneyland on the 24th, and we decided to all go together. Brian took the day off work to frolick with Joe and I, and our friends and their little boy at the happiest place on earth. Joe (our son) and I have passes to Disneyland that expire on July 26th. I am very sad about letting them expire, but the reality is, we won't be able to go often in the next 18 months or so, so why waste the money?

It was a very sunny, pretty day. A little humid, but survivable. I wore comfy shoes and cool clothing to carry me through the day and an awesome hat that I borrowed from my mother in law - one of those straw hats that covers your shoulders/face/neck and knocks people over as you walk by... yeah, one of those! It was awesome and kept me nice and cool. Even though I was nice and cool, my ankles/calves were still starting to swell - just from all the walking around. By the end of the day, I think they were one solid hard water filled mass. My hubby rubbed my cankles on the couch when we got home. As he should - after what he said to me. Here comes the lesson part...

We were standing in line for Pirates, and my husband randomly notices that I am starting to really show. I am now three months with these twins and looking like I did when I was 5 or 6 months pregnant with my Joe. This explains my round ligament pain - my belly is growing faster than my body can acclimate to! All day I was hearing from my friend, "your belly is so cute! You're really starting to show finally!" And my husband decides to pitch in:

"So, are you getting fatter today or what?"

I respond with a quick, nonchalant response like I didn't hear what he said...

"Huh?"

He repeats the EXACT SAME THING!

"So, are you getting fatter today or what?"

A little more irritated I respond, "Huh?"

Typical man...

"So, are you getting fatter today or what?"

As if I hadn't heard him the last 2 times he talked out his butt... I heard it again. To avoid hearing it a fourth time, I responded,

"I'll give you one more opportunity to pull your head out of your ass... HUH?"

He replies,

"Nevermind."

Yeah, good choice smarty pants.


I'm not really sure if he knew that you really shouldn't say that to a woman that is pregnant, let alone your wife! I still don't know for sure to be honest with you. Now, I know that I could have just told him, "yeah, I'm starting to show and get a belly," but really, would I even classify as a woman if I did that? Even though he is a man, and not expected to be real smooth (if you knew my husband, you would know what I am talking about), he should still tread lightly when talking to a pregnant woman about her "fatness".

I simply asked his friend (also a man) to just talk to him and tell him he's not supposed to call his wife fat at anytime during her pregnancy, to avoid anymore anger and self consciousness about myself. I'm not sure if his buddy ever told him, but I hope so! It would be a good thing to know!

My husband did rub my feet/ankles/cankles when we got home that night - and then when we went to bed, we chatted for a while. We were just talking and he was looking at, and rubbing my fatness when he asks me,

"So when your belly gets really big and round, how are we gonna have sex?"

I am thinking, okay - he just made another reference to my belly and being large. What do I say? Can I just ignore that he's being a man and take pity on him, and be nice? Nah. So I respond,

"Well if you lose your belly, then it won't be like bumper bellies!"

Seriously. That was awesome! I don't think I've ever been more witty in my life! I was joking of course, but was very serious when I said it - so he was tremendously offended. He left the room, and I just chuckled thinking to myself, "take that! How do you like it?"

Am I mean? Nah, just hormonal and getting fatter everyday - according to my husband.