Week 34

This was a long week! We had 2 lovely baby showers--1 from school and 1 from church. Apparently all the excitement elevated P's blood pressure causing the doctor to send us to the hospital for a lovely evening of observation and tests. Thankfully they sent us home that night, but with orders of complete bed rest. We took that to mean that P could go to work but not leave the office, not drive, and shorten the days and the weeks a bit.

Week 33

The weather temporarily cooled of this week as did P's swollen feet. However, it's now looking like we're nearing 100 degree temperatures again, so the skinny feet seem to have been temporary.

We had another doctor appointment and ultrasound today so lots of news to share. They have shifted positions somewhat and Zadie is now lying under Lia who is now curled around the top of Zadie. All legs are off to the right side of P making a LOT of kicking over there.
Zadie is now measuring at 35 weeks, 2 days or approximately 5 lbs. 11 oz. Her heart rate was about 153 beats per minute. She is measuring in the 94th percentile.
Lia measures at 35 weeks exactly so is lagging behind just a bit, but still very close at about 5 lbs.10 oz. Her heart rate was 154 beats per minute. She still measures in the 90th percentile.

Here are a few of the ultrasound pictures. Lia will not cooperate for a 3-D picture, but we have some decent shots of both. Both heads are still RIGHT next to each other--let's hope they like each other!

Lia looking up in the "thinker" pose.

3D Image of Zadie with Lia pushed up next to her face.

3D Image of Zadie.

Somebody's foot--getting big at 7.8 cm.

Lia's face. Think creatively:forehead on the right, big cheek in the middle.

Profile of Zadie.

Week 32

We had the steroid shots this last weekend to give the girls' lungs an extra boost just in case they decide to make an early appearance. While the shots were pretty easy, they seem to have encouraged growth in our already large girls. P now feels as though she is choking on baby most of the time and breathing has become a new challenge. Couple the struggle to breathe with heartburn (a new symptom for P), and we have very interesting nights though we still manage to get enough sleep. Thank goodness the weather has cooled to the 90s, so despite some major discomfort and slowed moving, all is going well--one day at a time. It is hard to imagine on the one hand that we will have 2 baby girls here in 5 weeks, but on the other hand it is difficult to believe P can get 5 weeks worth of babies bigger. Just keep waddling along!

Week 31

This week we have decided to document some of our favorite quotes and lines we are constantly asked.
1. Wow, I think you're even bigger than yesterday.
2. How did the babies get in there? Did you eat them? (a 1st grader at P's school).
3. Do twins run in your family?
4. Oh, you're not that big for twins.
5. I had kids 18 months apart. I think twins would have been way easier than that. (because it's a competition about whose life is harder?)
6. Oh, ouch. You make me hurt.

Here are some sono shots of the girls. Lia was laying almost on top of Zadie's head so we were lucky to get one good one of Zadie. Heart rates are both 143 and they are both measuring about 4 lbs. 9 oz. or about 33 weeks. The doctor says everything looks perfect and asked when P plans on taking off from work. We told him the day before delivery. He laughed but did not contest since he said everything is looking so good that we are clearly taking adequate care of P and the babies. He did, however, order two steroid shots as a preventative measure just in case Zadie and Lia decide to make an early appearance. So we'll see how that experience goes next week.

Here is a profile picture of Zadie. We do not have many good shots of Zadie, so it was nice for us to see her for once.

Here is a 3-D shot of Zadie. Again, we have very few good pictures of her, so it is nice that her sister was not laying on top of her too much. I believe the thing in front of her face is part of Lia.

Here we have Lia with her eye looking directly at us. You can kind of make out her arm and hand at the left of the picture.

Finally, one more picture of Zadie. It is clear who the cooperative one was this round.