Monthly Archives: July 2013

Baby Names

25 Thursday Jul 2013

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We’ve tossed several names around, bouncing back and forth between matching and non matching.  Given the recent developments, the meaning of the name also took on a heavier weight.

 

With that in mind…

Baby A will now be known as Landon (Long Hill)

Baby B will now be known as Nolan (Champion)

 

To keep from sprinkling their names on every blog post, I may often refer to them as “L” and “N” on here, but I wanted you to know them as more than letters.    To understand the thought that went in to these two decisions.

Although they are different, these names share nearly every letter.  Similarly, these boys will always be connected.  No matter their outcomes, and how they may vary, they will always be a part of each other.

I squirmed at Landon’s meaning at first.  That’s been a favorite name of ours for years, but I questioned whether or not we should stick with that.  But I consider nothing more fitting.  They do in fact have a long uphill journey ahead.  To pretend otherwise would be unfair.

But not to be overlooked, is the meaning of Nolan.  Champion.

We hope and pray that while they will both be fighting against the odds, and traveling their own long uphill battles…they each still have the opportunity to be champions.  And in our hearts and minds, they already are.

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Mama Cries: Shock and Confusion

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Earlier this week I was drafting up a 26 week update, finishing up a hand painted whale craft, buying crib skirt material for my next nursery DIY and researching cloth diapers.

This post will be about none of those things.

J and I had our full anatomy ultrasound around 23 weeks. I told you about the anxiously awaited envelope, and the exciting gender reveal. I did not tell you that we had abnormal lateral ventricle measurements on both babies. 10 MM or under is normal, 10-12 MM is mild, and we were looking at the 13 range. Low end of moderate, but worth another look with a specialist. I’ll save you a trip to google, and let you know that mild to moderate enlarged ventricles can often mean absolutely nothing, and often have no impact on the baby. Higher levels are sometimes referred to as fluid on the brain, or hydrocephalus. Even that, while not ideal, can be dealt with. We went to the MFM specialist today cautiously optimistic. I was so sure they would tell us boring things about our normal babies that we decided not to tell family in the interest of making sure we didn’t cause panic over nothing.

And I honestly expected “nothing”.

The lateral ventricles measured around 12 MM. Which is back in the mild category. And that is no longer of concern.  But from today’s visit we learned a list of other medical terms I wish I had never heard of. I’m hesitant to list them on here lest you start trying to research them and end up with the same unresolvable headache I have. Until we know more and understand this better…I’ll just say that there were some brain abnormalities. They are identical in both boys, suggesting this may be chromosomal. It can mean a whole host of things that we do not quite understand, and are not yet sure of.

Next steps are getting back blood work that was drawn on me today, doing a fetal MRI next Tuesday, and making a decision about whether or not to do an amniocentesis.

I do not know what any of this means going forward.  Except that we are scared, confused, and worried.

For today’s blood work, God chose an angel for us.  I walked up to the busy lab desk with a pregnant belly and even more swollen eyes.  She brought me back in to a room instantly, prayed with us, and promised to pray for us going forward.  She told us of success stories, and hope.  We cried together.

All that said, we were able to see wiggling fingers, kicking feet, and the two sweetest faces you’ve ever seen. Their hearts are strong, their limbs are active, and every single ounce of them is loved with every single fiber of our being.

Prego Update

12 Friday Jul 2013

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24 by 24               

That may mean nothing to you.  But for me, it was a weight gain goal the nurse gave me early on in the pregnancy, when I had only gained a couple of pounds during our first call.  She said to eat, eat, eat, as early weight gain was very important to the development of the twins.  I was told to aim for 24 pounds by 24 weeks.

That sounded so high, and ridiculous, and impossible.  I laughed. 

Welp…I hit 22.8 by 24.  Which for all intents and purposes…is spot on.  And I didn’t even try.  J   Maybe this nurse was on to something.

I know I’m still not as big as I was with K at full term, but it sure feels like it.  The rate at which I am growing and stretching can literally be felt.  My back muscles aren’t always keeping up with the rapidly increasing demand.  And neither are my clothes.  Ligament pain is in full swing.  Although the sciatic nerve pain has eased.  I’m not sure if that’s a good trade-off. 

The good news is the babies are very active, and while I have more aches and pains this time around, I also have double the reminder of the lives growing in there.  There are plenty of kicks, rolls, and pushes to keep me encouraged.  J has gotten to feel how active these two are as well. 

We have a busy July with nursery work, finishing up and utilizing built-ins that my dad made for us, prepping and setting up for two newborns (gulp), swim lessons, and Sunday School teaching.  Somewhere in there we want to try a serious attempt at potty training K.  But overall, the “to do” list is shrinking now rather than growing.

So here’s hoping that MY ever-growing self can start being lazy by August.