20 weeks pregnant with my girls!!

At my 20 week appointment I measured 22 weeks.  My blood pressure was great and I gained another pound in a week....surprise!!   I am now up to 139 pounds and I started out at 120-122 pounds.   It really is amazing to see how my body changes every week.  I saw a friend a few days ago who is 2 weeks behind me and is barely showing, her comment was "You just keep getting bigger and bigger".   I have also had 2 people ask when I am due.  I tell them its twins and their eyes get big and they look shocked.   They then ask how far along I am and when I tell them they nod with understanding.  I think people expect me to say I'm due in a month or so and then they find out its twins and I am only 20 weeks. 

Over the weekend I had to buy a support belt for my belly.   My back and sides have been bothering me with the fast growth and the weight of my belly.   It helps so much!   I love it.

Still feeling kicks from the inside and feeling it with my hands from the outside.  I can't wait to see movement and for Cassie to feel/see it as well. 

We made our first baby purchases over the weekend.   We didn't go crazy because we don't know what size they will be.  Cassie was 5 lbs 10oz.   Chances are good these little girls may be in preemie clothes so we will wait and see how things look as we get closer to June.   We also bought Cassie her first "Big Sister" shirts.   She had to wear one right away.

Ready to be a big sister!

I love this!  Really makes it hit home for me.

Today I am planning on going thru all of Cassie's newborn clothes, get them washed and put in drawers.    That is going to be so much fun to do.  Its been so long since I've seen her newborn stuff.  

And my belly -

20 Weeks pregnant with Twins

Monkey Papa's celebration of Life

Friday we had Monkey Papas funeral.   It was a really nice service, so many people came to pay their respects to him.   Matt stood up and gave a really nice speech about his Dad, his voice broke at one point which totally sent me into tears.  It took all the control I had to not weep out loud.   And by weeping I mean the body shaking cries. 

Saturday was the burial.  It was freezing outside.   Cassie did have a meltdown there before it started.   It was a pretty good meltdown, I carried her back to the car wailing, screaming and chocking on her tears.  I thought she would throw up on me she was so worked up.  I'm not sure what happened but it took a few min. in the car for her to calm down and be able to talk....then she was fine.   We went back to the site and the service started.   Matt read some verses from the Bible and other family members said a few things....including Cassie.  She asked to say a prayer.   At the end she blew the casket a kiss.   So heart breaking but she knows he is up in heaven with a new body. 

Right now I don't think this seems real.   Its hard to believe its already been over a week since we have last seen and talked with him.  I'm so thankful I took this video of him.  I remember taking this knowing things may not turn out well and I'm so happy we can always watch this and hear his voice.   We love you Monkey Papa and miss you!!

Anatomy Ultrasound

Yesterday morning we had our big ultrasound with the perinatologist.   When pregnant with Cassie I just went to radiology and never even saw a doctor afterwards, so this was different.   They took 196 pictures of the babies and afterwards we had a meeting with the perinatologist.     We were there about 1 1/2 hours.

The doctor said both babies looked beautiful.  She didn't see anything that concerned her.   They specifically looked at the profiles of both babies and the palates, we were looking for any trace of Pierre Robin in these babies, and so far all looks great....Yeah!
Baby A weighs in at 9 ounces and Baby B weighs in at 8 ounces.

The one thing I do have at this point and time is Placenta Previa.   One of the placentas is partially covering my cervix.   The perinatologist said more than likely it will migrate up away from the cervix as my uterus grows but until then I am on pelvic rest. I read up on it when I got home and 95% of women have the placenta move by the time they are full term...so I am hoping I end up in that 95%. Otherwise I have to watch for bleeding and spotting, this would happen if my cervix was irritated or if I would start to dilate, there could be a little blood or a lot....like were talking hemorrhage.   Scary stuff to read about.   Also, if it doesn't move we are definitely looking at a c-section.   But....my doctor used the words "more than likely it will move" so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that.  

We also had to have an internal ultrasound to check my cervix.   Twins can put extra pressure on it causing it to dilate so we have to keep an extra close eye on it.   She told me they want to see it measuring at a 3 but with twins they will take 2.5
Well my cervix measured in above a 6!!!    Awesome news.  So proud of my cervix :o)

We go in every 4 weeks to see the perinatologist, then at 33 weeks I go weekly.  So at some point in this pregnancy I will be going twice a week to see my doctors...once to my OB and once to my perinatologist.

And as for the genders of these 2 sweet babies....we are expecting 2......GIRLS!   We are very excited, and how much fun will it be for Cassie to have 2 sisters.  Poor Matt is so outnumbered but he is thrilled to have more girls.   They really are so much fun to raise and it works out perfectly since we have tons of pink baby things I bought when Cassie was a baby.  Since they are both girls I plan on dressing them identical....how fun will that be!!!   Sunday we may do our first shopping for them!
And here are their pictures

Twin Girl B

Twin Girl A

19 weeks pregnant

I'm feeling good.   At night is when I start to feel uncomfortable.   My stomach starts to feel heavy and I have the sciatic nerve pain.    When Matt gets home my body is just pooped out and needs to veg on the couch.  We were looking at some pictures today, I was 7-8 months pregnant with Cassie and at 19 weeks with twins I am about the same size as I was in those pictures.   Matt ran into someone else who is pregnant with twins today, they started talking and she is 22 weeks pregnant.   Matt said I was double her size, however this is her first pregnancy so that could be why.  

19 Weeks

Measuring in at 39 inches around.  

I stepped on the scale and have gained more weight.    I went from 136 to 138 in a week!!!!  That's a total of about 16 total pounds gained so far.   I will be pretty close to my goal of gaining 20 pounds by 20 weeks.

Feeling movements every day.   I still feel Baby A more than Baby B.  I can tell the movements are becoming stronger and If I put my hand on my stomach I am starting to feel movements from the outside.  

Friday is our big anatomy ultrasound!!  So excited.   Hopefully Baby A cooperates and we can find out the gender.   Friday is going to be strange day.   We have our ultrasound and after the ultrasound we have the funeral for Matt's Dad.   Its going to be a day full of many different emotions.  

Ballerina Girl

This is what Cassie calls her self. On Monday she started a dance class at the YMCA called "Dance Upon a Time"  Its her first class without me in it at the Y.   She had so much fun and was so excited to go.  She is in the class with 2 of her friends, Adelyn and Lauren.

Ready to go to class!

Cassie, Lauren and Adelyn

Play date after class.  I could not get her out of her dance clothes.

Showing me her dance moves

Memorys of Monkey Papa

Monkey Papa is with Jesus today

At 7:30 this morning Matts Mom called with the news that Monkey Papa had passed away.   Its so hard to beleive we are not going to see him walk in the door with Grandma or see him at their house.   He was in a lot of discomfort at the end so we are glad he is no longer suffering and is in Heaven.  He is going to be SO SO missed.  We love you Monkey Grandpa and will see you again one day!

18 Weeks

I feel little movements almost every day, and I feel each baby now.  I used to feel only Baby A, now I feel Baby A and B.   Little movements, taps from each side of my stomach.  I feel them both now.....I think no matter how many times I were to be pregnant, (and I'm sure this is my last...we won't be doing IVF again) it would never cease to be the most amazing thing ever. 

Last week I weighed 135, today I weigh 136...up another pound in a week.

And a belly pic...