03-29-10

What a day, already. I woke this morning to tests galore. Early this morning, well 8am, I started with an ultrasound. They decided to check the measurements of the babies today instead of Wednesday. I had a glucose test which is routine for pregnant women. It is needed to check for gestational diabetes. After wards, I had to step on the scales.

First things first, the glucose juice they make you drink is not delicious. No matter what anyone tells you. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM! One hour after drinking this too fruity drink, my blood was drawn for the test. A normal count is 130. My count came back as 138. So it is iffy as to whether it is enough to proceed with a 3 hour test for a more in depth gestational diabetes test.

Next, the ultrasound was all normal as far as the umbilical flow. Well, normal meaning the same as usual. Flossie is quite the porker. She now weighs 1 lb. 14 oz. She has gained 10 oz. in the last 3 weeks. Oink Oink. My little bit, Myrtle, weighs 1 lb. 8 oz. She gained a whopping 7 oz. in the last 3 weeks. But as usual, she was a force to be reckoned with during the ultrasound. She was quite the feisty little spunk. The lady doing the ultrasound had a time trying to get her to calm down enough to measure her. She literally makes me laugh watching her on the ultrasound. She was going crazy. Her arms and legs were going in all directions. Her target: Flossie!!!! She was beating on her own sister.

Now comes the "Monday Weigh In" on the High Risk Prego Unit...lets just say that Flossie takes after her Mom. This past week I have been told over and over how much bigger my belly has gotten. Well, for all of you that felt as though my belly has really sprouted, IT HAS! Since last Monday, I have gained 5 lbs. Yep...I am a porker. My theory was that if I gain weight, my babies will gain weight. Oh my goodness...I was excited and shocked at the same time. I will say that it is all in my belly. But I am a bit bias as to how my prego body looks. I guess you will have to ask someone that has seen me in person. But I think it is all in my belly.

I saw my OBGYN, Dr. Hood today. He said that Maternal Fetal Specialists ultimately needs to make the call on whether I need to do the 3 hour glucose test. He was pleased to see that the girls had grown. And let out a brief chuckle when I told him I gained 5 lbs last week. He seems to think that all is well with me and the babies. Myrtle is showing growth and doesn't seem to be letting the absent end blood flow have a dramatic effect on her growth. Besides reverse blood flow causing her heart to stop, her weight is the other thing effected by the AEDF. Ultimately, all decisions are finalized by the Maternal Fetal doctors. He said that in the time I have been here, the babies heart rates have never wavered and their growth is doing well. He seems to think that there is a possibility I can finish the last month of my pregnancy at home. Granted, this would require a trip for the ultrasound 3 days a week. He then follows this statement with..."But then again, from one day to the next, one heartbeat may not be there." So as positive as he is about us being okay...he still implants the idea of something going wrong just as easily. I told him I was here to do what I can for these babies and I don't expect to go home. So I will not get my hopes up. But if it gets to the point that they consider sending me home...it means my girls are doing good. So that is the only thing I look forward too.

I anticipate a visit from the docs at MFS to let me know about the 3 hour glucose test. I am sure that gestational diabetes would look great on my prego resume.

Richard and I made a visit to the NICU. I thought I was depressed after talking with the neonatal specialist last Sunday. By visiting the NICU, his words became reality. That is a very special place. We had a wonderful nurse give us the tour of the entire NICU. She answered all of our questions and was beyond sincere considering our situation. She explained so many things and actually eased my mind about the procedures in the NICU. She showed us a couple of twins that would be the weight of our babies right now. The twin boys just had heart surgery to close a bridge in their heart that would have closed during birth if they had baked a bit longer. Medication will usually aid in closing this bridge called a PDA, but surgery is the last option. They were swollen from the medication they were on but even being swollen, they were the tiniest babies I have ever seen. One was born 1 lb 14 oz., the same as Flossie is now. Their hands were no bigger than a quarter. It was disheartening to see them hooked up to all the machines. But I really needed to see the process of the NICU so I could be fully aware of the situation. The babies are bundled as though they were still in the womb and the insulates (boxes) they are in keeps them warm. The nursery in NICU is quiet and calm. She explained that they try to replicate the womb. The dark and muffled sounds are necessary to make all the babies feel more comfortable. It creates an environment they are used too and one they weren't quite ready to leave.

We did learn that the size of the babies is not as hindering as their lack of development. Myrtle and Flossie are developing according to their gestational age. Even though their size is smaller than what it should be...they are developing on schedule. It was really an eye opener seeing the delicate care of those babies. She really made me feel comfortable knowing that they would be getting amazing care. No matter if they are your babies or not, seeing those precious babies fighting for their life will tug at anyone's heartstrings.

I still aim to take my babies home when I leave this place. But I feel more comfortable knowing how they would be taken care of in the NICU. It just gives me another goal.

Until Wednesday.