Growing in More Ways Than One

I am now completing my second full week of "modified" bedrest--meaning, my days mostly consist of moving from our bedroom, to the couch, to the kitchen table, or to a chair in the backyard.  My saving grace is that I am able to work from home, which provides a distraction for most of the day.  It's a bummer that I still have 24 hours of vacation time I have to use before August 4th before they are lost, but it makes Tom happy that it forces me to work less than 40 hours each week this month. 

I am struggling with the whole "bedrest situation."  I am supposed to limit the amount of time I am on my feet as much as possible.  I cannot drive.  I can't cook/bake (again, the whole on your feet thing).  I can't help with the housework, other than what can be done sedentary.  I can't go shopping. 

Before this experience was thrust upon us, I probably would have generally agreed with the thought that it would be nice to sit on my duff and be waited on hand and foot.  Today, I can't say that I agree with that sentiment--it's actually a little maddening.  If I were physically incapable or wasn't feeling well, I think it may be easier for me to handle, but given that I feel able bodied, I feel like I'm constantly telling myself, "Yes, you could, but no, you won't." 

This must be my lesson in patience and letting go.  I recognize I have "control issues," which definitely made themselves apparent when we found out we were pregnant and having twins.  I found myself nervous before each doctor's appointment and each ultrasound--simply for the fact I have no direct control over what is going on inside of me.  The best explanation I've found is that, if I have a plant, I can water it, monitor its growth, give it fertilizer--I can fulfill the needs of the plant based on direct observation.  I can't do that with the babies.  Never was this more apparent to me than on June 20th.  Hearing the doctor tell us that my cervix was open was devastating to me.  For the next two days I found myself asking,"Why?" a lot.  I needed a concrete reason why this was happening to us.  I think I needed it to absolve myself of guilt.  I thought I had done everything right--I erred on the side of caution with everything.  Based on all the information we had up to that point, the boys were healthy--the only roadblock to them staying that way was the incompetency of my body.  After having gone through fertility treatments to get pregnant in the first place, the cervical incompetency seemed to be another reminder that it was something wrong with me. 

I've had to learn that there is no answer to any of my questions.  None of the doctors could tell me why this was happening--and I am sure they were sick of me asking them,"Could that be why this happened?"  I had to learn to refocus myself and look at life through proverbial "baby steps."  I have usually been a person to look at a long-term plan, but I found couldn't do that with this pregnancy.  I have to look at the little goals--taking it day by day, week by week.  Each day closer to 37 weeks is a little celebration.  We high-fived at the 24 week mark, knowing that after this point the boys have a fighting chance of suvival if born early.  Every punch in the ribs and flop on my bladder is a reminder that everyone is okay. 

Needless to say, being relieved of most of my daily activities has given me ample time to reflect on myself and to recognize how lucky I am to have Tom as my husband.  I've had to learn to let go of being particular about how things are done, and instead appreciate the effort.  In our household, we've divided chores pretty evenly, and together make a pretty efficient machine.  I have had to learn to be patient with Tom, reminding myself, that he really hasn't had to do laundry in six years--and barely knows how to use the washer/dryer we bought when we moved into our house three years ago.  What has made this situation easier, is seeing the empathetic look on Tom's face when he knows I am struggling with frustration and how he always seems to know when it is best to offer to take me out to eat just to break the monotony.

Week 22. Detour...

Up to this past Monday, all was going quite smoothly for Stef and the pregnancy.  Thus far she has gained 16 pounds from her pre-pregnancy weight.  On Monday we were anxious to see our boys again; it had been about six weeks since we had last seen them.

On Monday, we had the "Big" ultrasound survey which measures all the different fetal growth and development patterns.  All looked great.  Baby B, whom were calling Cole, decided to cooperate with the 3D ultrasound for a pose.  Baby A, Nolan, did not but provided us with some nice profile shots.  Cole is 1 lb. 0 oz., and Nole is 1 lb. 2 oz.  I think were beginning to be able to tell some differences in the profile of their faces; compare the two bottom shots.  Very cool to see them practicing breathing and swallowing the fluids.  Lots of movement.  Strong heartbeats.

All was going so smoothly up to this point.  However, because it is a higher risk pregnancy with twins, they used the ultrasound to check cervical measurements.  And to our surprise, stef was 1 cm dilated!  Eek!  Instead of going on our merry ways back to work, Stef was admitted to Toledo Children's Hospital Labor and Delivery.  On Tuesday she had a cerclage (cervical stitch) to close things up, and some meds to calm down the cramping.  In obstetric terms, she hadn't thinned out or effaced, just opened a little.  However, with no coordinated contractions yet, the cerclage was indicated.

Long story made short, the procedure went well, and the outcome looks promising for retaining the pregnancy for as long as needed.  Stef is discharged home now and is on a few preterm labor meds.  She's also on bedrest.  But is allowed to work from home with telecommuting.

Gestating for now,

-Blomquist Family

16 week photos...

 Stef under the cherry blossoms and lilacs.  16 weeks.

 The boys!  : )

Movin' along...

13 weeks.  Next ultrasound in a month.

They're Heeeeerrrrreeeeeee...

Where to begin?  At the beginning I suppose.  Stef and I have been trying to start a family of our own for a number of years now.  We had been told by our Ob/Gyn that we would probably have to use some sort of fertility medication, but out of concern for multiples we opted to wait until Tom was closer to completing his program.  Around September we decided it was time to progress to the next stage.  Stef was started with two rounds of Clomid (to help with ovulation), without any response at all.  In January, Stef's Ob/Gyn progressed us to a drug called Femara.  Stef seemed to respond and had all the symptoms and discomfort of ovulation; on both sides.  However, on ultrasound, the doctor thought the developing follicles were still a little on the small side, but was optimistic that we still may be successful, although she outlined the next plan to up the dose of Femara plus add some shots for the next round if it didn't work.  We were optimistic, but cautious--just glad to see that Stef was actually responding.  As part of our established cycle of fertility treatment, we took our pregnancy test. 

The morning of February 19th, 2011 (14 years to the day that I asked Stef to be my girlfriend) we had a surprising result (see below).  Please note, that according to the test, Stef was not just pregnant, but was "very" pregnant.  The line on the left is the "yes you're pregnant line," while the line on the right is the "yes, you peed on the stick line."  Notice how the line on the left dwarfed the line on the right. Hmmm...

Later the following week Stef had some blood work done, some of which included a quantitative hcg over a two day course.  We were pleased to here back from the doctor that everything looked great, and that she would like us to have an ultrasound as soon as possible.  Which seemed sort of funny...  Everything we had read stated that you really wouldn't be able to see anything on ultrasound--too soon to see an embryo, too soon to hear a heart beat.  We justified it to ourselves by saying,"They probably just want to confirm proper implantation and placement." 

But, now we understand why.  Because apparently, Stef's hcg (or pregnancy hormone) was doubling twice as fast as a normal pregnancy.  Below is the result.

So yes, you are seeing double.  TWINS!

We wanted to wait to post and tell extended family and friends after we had confirmed both babies' heart beats, which happened this morning (See bottom strips on the right side of panels).  What an awe-inspiring moment when we heard two hearts woosh-wooshing to their own little rhythms.  We're still in shock, but it is starting to sink in.

Homemade Pizza Night...

Homemade dough...

 Calabrese Salami, marinated artichoke hearts, tons of garlic in a homemade tomato sauce with entirely too much oregano...

 Fresh mozzarella...

Baked to a golden crisp with a soft doughy center edges... 

Mmmmm...

Happy Holidays

The night before Thanksgiving, Stef and I partook in our, thus far, 3 year tradition of Chinese Food dinner before Turkey day.  We have no particular reason for doing Chinese food the night before Thanksgiving, other than the fact that it's just what we've done before.  Tradition for the sake of tradition.

On Thanksgiving we had Rosemary/Sage butter encrusted turkey, mashed potatoes, jalepeno cranberry sauce, sourdough stuffing with celery, onion and sage, and rolls.  We used the melted butter from the Rosemary/Sage drippings combined with flour to make the roux and combined it with the turkey drippings to make the gravy.  Oh so good.

 Today we went to Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm and chopped down our christmas tree.  It's not snowing in the picture, but it's cold enough to be.  Thanks to Sophia for the wonderful Doppler beanie hat; very toasty.

Tala and Rusty (with Antlers)