Update Specialist Visit...

Corey and I went to our specialist appointment on Jan 17th in Little Rock. It was a Level II Sonogram. I wasn't familiar with what this was until I was reading my multiples book. It explained it's a normal sonogram that involves different doctors and a specialized sonogram technician. It was very interesting. The room was very different from the one we have sonograms done in Texarkana. Corey was able to sit on the side of the room my head was on and we watched the entire sonogram on a TV. It was fun. It took close to two hours and over 200 pics of the boys were taken. End result...Everything looked great. They measured every bone and part of both boys. They were measuring around 3days older than they are. I don't know that it means anything but I am praying they don't get too big. I already feel stretched to the limit and I'm just getting started. My tummy is so tight and hard. Corey and I were laughing this evening about how you can swat by belly and it doesn't even giggle a little bit. My belly button has officially gone flat :( It was a really good innee and now it doesn't exist. CRAZY!!!
Corey was able to feel Cage for the first time on Monday night. He was patient and held his hand on my belly for awhile until he felt the kick. The look on his face was priceless. I loved it!
I feel them all the time. They are most active in the morning when I wake up, when I go to bed and in the late evenings. Cage is down low and he seems to be annoyed by any type of waist band...which is on everything even maternity pants (the soft stretchy ban over the belly still meets at the bottom where the jeans/slacks start). He particularly doesn't care for my casual house sweatpants which are all mediums and have way to tight elastic. Corey and I tried to find some today that would fit me, but they were all way too short. Nothing that fit in the waist went below my upper ankle. Victoria's Secret has some that work but they are really expensive :( Oh well, if pants are the greatest of my worries right now for this pregnancy I really have NO complaints :)
I still have no camera...and boy is that a story, short version Dad got ripped off by a company and now he and Nathaniel are getting disconnect numbers, yuck! Brooke is supposed to be coming here to work tomorrow and I will see if I can remember to get her to bring her camera and post a new pick. I'm HUGE!!!

The belly....just a few days shy of 4 months....17 weeks

I will be four months in about 4 days. I realize I look HUGE or maybe that's just me, but I have only gained 3lbs. I was really concerned for a while because of the belly growth and the lack of weight gain. My doctor assured me it is perfectly normal and I and the Boys are in great health. Corey and I head back to our doctor on Jan 17th (that's when we were supposed to find out the sex). After that visit I should start going once every two weeks instead of once a month. We are going to have a level 2 sonogram in Little Rock on Jan 13th. We will meet with a Geneticist and several other doctors at the time. I believe there are going to be 5 doctors and the sonogram tech in the room with us. The reason for such an involved sonogram is simply multiples. Anything more than one baby is considered high risk.

We will be posting again after the New Year for sure if not sooner. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

They are.......BOYS!!!

That's right it was RALPH & ROGER that have come back to haunt us (Corey's Grandfather and Great Uncle). And here I thought it was Ira and Inez (My Great Grandmother and Great Great Aunt). The sonogram's below. I also scanned a few of the pics. They aren't great pics but you can see they are BOYS!!! Corey and I still don't have a camera and I keep forgetting to borrow Brooke's to take a picture of my belly, but I can assure you I have one now. I have only gained 3lbs but the doctor said that's normal and everything looked wonderful!

Update on the TWINS!!!

Corey and I went to the doctor this morning. The first thing the doctor did was check for the heartbeats. He was able to find one but couldn't pin down the other. The ultrasound tech was out today so he took us down to the room and we figured out how to turn the machine on. Luckily it was a no fuss machine...once it was on it was user ready. He used the wand that goes on the belly. They are both on my left side just hanging out. They are so much bigger that they were last time. We could actually see their little arms and legs. The one on the left is WILD!!! Jumping and wiggling. It was the cutest thing. The other one moved but not with near as much enthusiasm. He said they looked healthy and everything seemed to be going fine. We didn't get a DVD this time because none of us knew how to work it and we didn't think about taking any pics of the screen until we had left the doctor's office. We were just so excited to see them we forgot about it.

We were able to ask a few questions...
I ask if it was normal to have gained only one pound. He said it was and ask how active I had been. For those of you who know I haven't been active at all. I've felt too pathetic :) He did tell me I could return to normal gym activity (after I explained what all I do at the gym).

I told him my belly had grown 4 inches and that's why I was a little concerned about my lack of weight gain...he eyed me and said "I don't recommend women carrying twins measure their belly's. There will be some numbers that come up soon enough you will not want to see." I laughed hard and he said, "Just let me measure you when you come in."

Next I ask what my doctor visit schedule would be. He said it would be every four weeks until week 20. Then it will be every two weeks until week 26(most likely) and then it will be every week. I'm already 12weeks...I'll be going every other week after only two more visits.

I ask him what the process would be to test the babies for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). I ask if a geneticist would be present when the babies are born and if they could get tested right away.. FYI: CMT is a nerve disorder that runs in my family. My Grandmother, Mother, Brother and Sister all have it. I have never shown any signs of the disorder but I have never had the test done to see if I have the disorder. He said when carrying twins he will send us to a specialist in Little Rock for a level 2 sonogram. This will be a more in depth test to check the health of the babies due to higher risks with multiples. At this time a geneticist will be present and will let us know more about what to expect.

I am so sorry we don't have any footage. I wish I could telepathically send you the images I have stored in my head. They were so very cute jumping and bouncing around. All that matters, though, is the doctor said everything looks wonderful and the babies look very healthy!!! I'll be the full 12 weeks on Monday so I will take a pic of my belly and post it. Get ready because it has GROWN!!!

Prego Update...

Things are progressing well. We are praying they continue to do so. As most of you know the twins are kicking my rear. I have only been sick one time but I have been miserable ALL day EVERYDAY!!! It's not much fun but it will all be worth it. Corey has been doing anything and everything to take care of me. He is the BEST husband ever. This coming week is going to be a HUGE challenge. I am responsible for interviewing all of our prior and new employees. This week's the interviews for all prior employees. I will be on the road working 10+ hour days. Corey and I hit the store today and bought a lot of snacks for me to carry in my car with me this week. I even have little Gatorade's and juice's to put in an ice chest. Well enough of all this boring stuff.

The twins will be an inch long each as of tomorrow! It is crazy how fast they are growing. I read that if they were to grow at the rate they are growing right now the first month after they are born they would be 15 feet tall. CRAZY!!!

Here's a pic of my belly. Corey claims it's getting bigger. I think it's just that I ate dinner before he took this pic :) As for my pants not fitting that's just a coincidence, right? :)

Video of First Sonogram....TWINS!!!

Here's the video. It's really long so don't bore yourself with the full 12+mins. Nothing of interest happens after the first 5mins. Both babies had a heart rate of 146. The second baby, Baby B's, heart beat was louder and more powerful. At least it sounded that way to Corey and I. Maybe the wand was just closer to it than BabyA.

That's RIGHT we are Pregnant with TWINS!!!

We are soooooooo EXCITED!!! We have been praying for multiples and God has blessed us with them. We would like to thank everyone who's been praying for us. Here are a few pics of the sonogram and one of me from a few weeks back at 4wks prego! We are currently 7wks and 3days. I'm trying to post a video but it didn't work the first time. I'll try again.