4 Month Check Up and Such

I'm always trying to blog more, but it never happens. Shew! We sure are busy. So, here are some updates.

Drew has been doing well in school, but he seemed to be very overwhelmed with all the paper work. So...I switched his curriculum to a distance learning program with Abeka. He is REALLY excited about it, and I think it will take a lot of stress off of me so I can work with Matt and give more attention to the girls.

Matt is doing well, he is very strong willed right now. I am reading the Strong Willed Child by Dobson, and learning to break his will and not his spirit. He is a stubborn one though. He is doing well with his preschool work. He really seems to be picking up on the ABC's and numbers. I am excited for him and my goal is to have him reading by Kindergarten in 2 years.

The girls are well, they went for their 4 month appt today. Dr. told me that I made it look easy. That's all I do, make it LOOK easy, because it definitely isn't. They are growing like weeds. Here's their stats:
Bethany//// Meredith
15lb 1/2oz (80%) ////14lb 5oz (65%)
25 1/4 in. tall (80%) ////24 3/4 in. tall (75%)
16 1/2 cm head cir. (75%)//// 16 1/4 cm. head cir. (55%)

Bethany has a slight cold (I think it's croup), but the doctor said that kids not in daycare get 4-6 colds a year. Both girls are at the 6 month mark as far as rolling both ways and rolling around the living room. The doctor said that he wouldn't be surprised to see them walk at 8 months, but I'm hoping to hold that off until 10 months at least.


All in all everyone is GREAT!

Museum

We went to the museum today with Drew and Matt's best friends, Laura and Amanda. They had a great time. It was a little hassle taking the "school bus" stroller, but all in all everyone did well. We went and heard a lecture on honey bees, that was pretty cool. We just thought they'd have real bees, and they didn't. It was very educational nontheless. Counted it as school, since we started 2nd grade Monday. I decided to start Drew on a modified year round homeschool schedule. He was losing too much information during his break. This way, we can have a 3 week vacation in September, a 5 week vacation at Christmas, and a 3 week vacation at spring break time. So far, he loves it! I'm so proud of my boys. Matt is doing a 3 yr old preschool program with me since we can't afford for him to go back to real preschool. So far he loves it too! They are such good kids.

2 Month Check Up

Here's all the stats for the girls:

Meredith: 11 lbs 1.5 oz (75%), 23 1/4 in. long (90%) and head circumference 15 1/4 cm (50%).

Bethany: 11 lbs 5.5 oz (75%), 23 1/2 in. long (90%) and head circumference 15 1/2 cm (50%).


The Doctor was very pleased with the way they are growing. He said that some of the stuff they are doing (ie. holding head up, pushing up on their elbows, rolling over, etc.) was 3-4 month old development. He said they are definitely ahead of a lot of babies at this age, especially considering they were a month early.

It was SO sad to see them get their shots. These are my 3rd and 4th kiddos and it doesn't ever get any easier to see them have to get a shot. It broke my heart. My mom went with us so that she could help console the little ones. It broke her heart too, in fact she was crying right with them. I didn't cry, but it sure did well up in me.

Right now, they are sleeping, tired from the tylenol. I'm sure they'll have a sleepy day, but they are healthy and doing good. We go back in 2 months for the 4 months visit and then they can start solid foods. YAY!

Boys are doing well, they went to storytime this morning. They LOVE storytime w/ Ms. Angie. They are my shining stars. I just am so blessed to have 4 GREAT children. I'll update again later, but for now...tootles!

Drew 7 (in 2 weeks), Matt 3 1/2, Bethany (l) & Meredith (r) 2 months.

Quick update. The girls are smiling. They pretty much started this weekend (they were six weeks last Friday). Bethany is smiling more than Meredith, but I know Meredith will catch up. The boys are doing great. Enjoying the summer in the kiddy pool on the deck. They are getting so grown so fast. I love them ALL so much!

The Girls are Here!

Well, It has been FOREVER since I've updated this. Partly due to 9 weeks of bedrest (couldn't even really sit at the computer for long) and partly due to the fact that we have 2 week olds.



Here's my story. April 30 we went to the dr. for a routine visit (36week appt). I was measuring 44 weeks prego (if it were one) and I was 48 inches around. He was going to strip my membranes, but he didn't think it would work seeing as how I have scar tissue on my cervix from a LEEP procedure 6 years ago. So, he did his thing. We decided to go to Crabtree mall (my dr. is at Rex, so we didn't have to go far) and get some dinner. We went to Kanki, to get the early bird special, but my contractions were getting pretty painful. So, we went to Panera Bread. Yumm! We decided to eat outdoors, because the weather was so beautiful. Well, after dinner (around 6pm), my contractions were 3 minutes apart and coming strong. (I had been dilated 4cm for about 2 weeks and 100% effaced for 6 weeks). So, the dr. had told me to come to the hospital as soon as my contractions were steady. So, I called the dr. and she told me to come to the hospital and they would check me out. Got to the hospital and I was 5cm and completely effaced. They decided to keep me since I was at a 5 (I planned on having a vaginal delivery because both babies were head down). This was about 7:30 when we got to the hospital and settled in. They hooked me up on the contraction monitor and sure enough I was in labor having contractions lasting 45 seconds and 3 minutes apart. The dr. broke my water around 10:30pm and boy did the pain really start then. They told me I could have an epidural whenever I was ready. I was going to try to go drug free, but I figured w/ twins, I should opt for the painkiller. My epidural was awesome. I got it around 11:30 and we actually SLEPT from 12am -2am. At 2am the nurse came in to check on me, and I told her I needed to go to the bathroom. She decided to check me and I was fully dilated and the baby's head was very close. So, they wheeled me to the OR (that's where they do all twin deliveries just in case a c-section has to be preformed) around 2:30. I started pushing and at 3:03am Meredith Leah was born weighing 6lb 8oz 19in long. After I had her, they took her off to the nursery to clean her up and all that good stuff. My contractions were getting stronger. Wow, they really were bad (they had turned off my epidural so that I could feel to push). After 2-3 contracitons, the dr. checked on "baby b" and she had her hand around her head, and that would not have made a safe delivery. Plus, she was not descending like she should've. So, I had a "crash" c-section for her. Bethany Grace was born at 3:27am weighing 7lb 3oz and 19 1/4 in. long. They sewed me up and by 4:30 I was in PACU recovering from the c-section. I had the full experience that night at the hospital. It's kinda neat to say that 3 of my kids were born vaginally and 1 was a c-section. I've done it all now. :) The c-section was not fun recovering from. It felt like they had taken an axe to my abdomen. But, I have this beautiful little girl from it, and they said that it was a good thing we did the "c" because my placenta was starting to tear, and that could have been deadly for me and Bethany.



They are doing so well. They will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. The first few days were really rough with not sleeping at night and having to entertain the boys during the day. But I really feel like we've gotten on a routine now and everyone is thriving. Here's a picture of the girls!

Here comes the bedrest...

So this has to be short and sweet, and probably sloppy considering I'm not supposed to be sitting upright, but we do not own a laptop, so I'm at the PC.

Here's how things went down on Thursday. Went to the doctor, they did the routine ultrasound (that they do every two weeks) and my cervix had shortened from 4.4 cm (which is really good) to 1.5 cm. I had also dialated 1 cm, so they sent me to the hosptital. When I got there, I was actually in preterm labor, but they determined the cause as I was dehydrated. So, they hooked me up to some IV fluids, and the labor stopped. Bad news is my cervix will obviously not grow back, so I'm on strict bed rest...this means...I may get up to use the potty, and take a shower (hygeine only) then back to bed or the couch laying down. Sitting up and riding in a car is not an option. I may only ride in a car to my appointments, considering I may no longer drive. They went ahead and gave me the steroid shots for the babies to develop their lungs just in case I have them in the next few weeks. I'll go back Monday, barring no snow, to have my FFN test to tell whether I'll have them within 2 weeks, or if they can hold off two more weeks. I am having an extremely hard time with this. I'm such a goer, so please keep me and the babies in your prayers that we can get through this. I know having healthy babies will be much better than me running the roads like I'm used to. Well ta-ta for now, I'll keep you posted, or try to.

AShleigh

Baby Face

One of my baby girls. The other baby had her face down, so we couldn't get a good picture of her face. There is a foot right in front this baby's chin if you look carefully, and a butt in front of her right eye. They still have a lot of plumping up to do in the next 10-14 weeks, but I just thought she was already so pretty.

January 27, 2009

I had another ultrasound today. Everything is looking great for the girls. One is 1lb 4oz, and the other is 1lb 5oz. Their fluid looks great! Baby A is vertex and baby B is breech. We are praying for baby B to turn around so that I can possibly have a normal delivery (the thought of a c-section really scares me). Baby A's heartrate is 144, and baby B's heartrate is 140. I am so very thankful that they are doing so well. I have 17 weeks until my due date. My belly is measuring 34 weeks though. I feel huge! The boys are starting to adjust. We are painting the nursery and such so it is finally starting to feel real. I have gained 25lbs....ugh! But, the doctor said that is right on track for twins. We have picked names, but we're not ready for the world to know...so if you want to know, just comment me and I'll tell you. Just a quickie update! Talk to you later.

My MasterCard Commercial

Lunch at Chick-fil-A for me and the boys: $11.76

Two new toys for the dog at PetCo: $8.90

Gloves, goggles, hazmat suit, and gorilla tape at Home Depot: $24.60 (Iwent a little overboard, we ended up taking everything but the gloves and the tape back)

Your husband cleaning up the busted Compact Florescent Light bulb on the living room floor: PRICELESS!

Happy New Year!!

This is going to be a GREAT year! I just know it. The Lord has blessed us so much. Here's a little update for you...we found out Dec. 23 that we are having identical girls! They are mono/di, which means they share a placenta, but are in separate sacs. We are elated! Today I went to the dr. and their fluid is measuring great and both are healthy. Twin A's heartrate is 141 and Twin B's is 153. I am 20 weeks today, so officially half way through, even though most drs. think I'll go between 30-37 weeks. I am measuring 28 weeks as if I was having one, so needless to say, I'm huge....but, hey, I have two babies in there.

The boys are doing well. Drew is SO excited that his twin girls are on their way. They got new bunk beds, and that seems to be going OK. (just OK). I have got to figure out a way to get them to stop fighting. But, I know that will come in time. Enough for now, I'll update again sooner than later I hope.

Loving my precious family, Ashleigh