WE MADE IT TO 32 WEEKS!!!

Just wanted to take a moment to thank all of our family, friends, doctor's and nurses.... It's a miracle....WE MADE IT TO 32 WEEKS!!! This is another crucial milestone for the twins development. We're just playing the waiting game now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wanted to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Dr. Kazzi discharged me from the hospital today since we are now playing the waiting game. I'm happy to be spending Thanksgiving at home with George and Luukas, even though George caught a cold or something and is super sick. I'm trying to stay away so that I don't get it!

I'll be seeing Dr. Kazzi twice a week from now until delivery for monitoring and ultrasounds. I'm still on strict bedrest and I'm continuing the Terb pills and the Progesterone shots until 34-35 weeks, at which time I'll stop them. According to Dr. Kazzi's exam today, I am still 90% effaced and 2 cm dilated. Delivery could be tonight or weeks from now, who knows! We are all elated and shocked that I have gotten as far as I have. The nurse's and Dr. Kazzi are really proud that I've been sticking to their treatment like clockwork. I'll admit...it's been very TOUGH, especially this last hospital stay, but knowing how well the twins are doing makes it all worth it!

I'm 31 weeks and 4 days today. I delivered Luukas at 32 weeks and 4 days. Hmmm.....wonder what will happen in the next week!! Dr. Kazzi's hoping I hold off for a week or two as the NICU at St. Joe's is extremely busy with 3 sets of twins being delivered over the past weekend. Wouldn't it be something if I held off til 35 weeks and George and I were able to bring the twins home with us?!!! I'm not even sure we'd know what to do with two babies at home so soon after delivery!

As you all probably guessed....George, Luukas and I have TONS to be THANKFUL for this Thanksgiving! First of all.....the fact that the worst of my pregnancy seems to be over with and now it's going really well and seems to be going better with each additional week. Second...we are so thankful for all of our family and friends who have been there for us day in and day out since the beginning. Last but not least, we are thankful for each other. Bedrest and almost 7 weeks of hospitalization has been very trying, but we are surviving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

31 weeks and kicking!!

31 weeks - WE MADE IT!!! Not much longer now. Dr. Kazzi is cracking up bc all I do during the day is predict how far I'll make it. He says I'm going past 32 weeks and he's sending me home Dec. 1st. YEAH RIGHT?! The nurse's are in on it too. They all (Dr. Kazzi, the residents and my nurse's) stood outside my room today debating about which date I'll deliver and who will be here. LOL!! We all kinda expect delivery to occur this week. Thanksgiving babies (and even babies born on my dad's birthday) wouldn't be too bad, especially since Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!! I'm now 90% effaced and still 2 cm dilated according to Dr. Kazzi's measurements. I have one more Indocin pill to take at 4 a.m. on Saturday. This will end my days on Indocin...which I'm glad about bc it really makes me feel awful. I've still been having some contractions on it. We'll see how many I get on the Terb pills. I've felt really run down the last 3 days....wonder what that means. I wish there was a magical predictor of when I would deliver. Laying here and not knowing is literally killing me. Guess that's my type A characteristics butting in. OK....now I'm rambling. I have an ultrasound on Monday....they will look at fluid levels, weights, and biophysical profile on the twins. I'll keep you all posted.

UPDATE - 11/24/08

I had an ultrasound this morning:

Baby A (Olivia) - weighs 3 lbs 3 oz, fluid level of 28, and HR 164 bpm.

Baby B (Cole) - weighs 3 lbs 11 oz, fluid level of 40, and HR 151 bpm.

I am 90% effaced and dilated to 3 cm now. My cervical length is 0.8 cm. Not much left. I predict the twins will be here by Thanksgiving!

30 weeks and hospitalized for remainder of the pregnancy

After having a rough night Friday night and feeling crampy all day on Saturday, George brought me to Labor and Delivery on Saturday night. I was convinced things were fine and I was just coming for monitoring. Instead, when I got here I found out that I was contracting every 4-5 minutes, dilated to 3 cm with 70% effaced and minus 2 station, and I was given another Fetal Fibroctin Test which had positive results meaning delivery is near. Realizing that I wasn't going to finish out the pregnancy at home was tough. I was prepped for a c-section immediately. An ultrasound was done and thankfully Baby A's fluid levels incrased again, so Dr. Kazzi started a 6th round of Indocin and also continued me on the Terb pills. Today, I had another U/S which showed that both babies weigh over 3 lbs now. I will have a more thorough ultrasound tomorrow. Baby Aspirin was stopped immediately and the fact that these babies will probably be here within the next 2 weeks is becoming more real. The contractions slowed with the Indocin and I will be moved tomorrow back to the antenatal floor, as I've been in Labor and Delivery since arriving yesterday. Thankfully, the babies are doing great!! I'll update tomorrow after my U/S.

-Rebecca

UPDATE 11/17/08 -

So, I had my ultrasound today. The babies are doing great. Baby A is just under 3 lbs and Baby B is 3 lbs 8 oz. Their fluid levels were both 33 which is GREAT news. Dr. Kazzi checked me and I am 80% effaced and 2 cm dilated by his measurements. I will be staying in the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy. The resident doesn't expect me to make it past 32 weeks. I was moved to a new room today (back on the antenatal unit). I'm close to the elevator in case they have to rush me back to L&D. We'll keep you posted!!

Sign the petition!

Home again!

Hi all,

Just wanted to send a quick update. I was discharged this afternoon and I'm laying comfortably in my own bed as I write this. I am still on Terbutiline tablets 4x/day. My doctor stopped Indocin yesterday after my ultrasound due to the fact that Baby A's fluid level decreased some more. The babies are doing great....they passed their ultrasound with flying colors and while Baby A's fluid level is decreased, it is still considered normal low. I go back Tuesday for monitoring and another ultrasound. Dr. Kazzi will check weights, fluid levels, cervix, and fetal growth and development. At this point, the Terbutiline and weekly Progesterone shots will be my only treatments to prevent pre-term labor for the remainder of the pregnancy. Dr. Kazzi is trying his hardest to get me to 37 weeks, but his resident and I have a plan.....35 weeks (mid-December) is considered full-term for twins so at that point, if I haven't delivered, she'll do an amnio and if the babies are fully developed, a c-section will follow. I will be having a c-section either way due to Baby B being transverse breach. Right now, my goal is to get to 32 weeks and then to 34. I remember being afraid that I wouldn't even get to 28 weeks and we are almost 2 weeks past that point already!! YIPPEE!!

Just a funny story to share....Dr. Kazzi told me today that all of my nurse's, the Residents and he had a bet going on about when I would return to the antepartum unit. They all LOST!!! They couldn't bl I made it a week without even calling. Apparentally, they've been talking about me all week bc they didn't even write my name on the nurse's board....they just wrote "GUESS WHO?" I couldn't bl it!!

Love to all!!

-Rebecca

Almost made it a week....

at home. I had a great week....wasn't nervous, only a few contractions, I didn't call my doctor one time, I stayed in bed and enjoyed being with George and Luukas, and the nursery was completed thanks to Mom and Noelle! I must also say thanks to Shawn and Aunt Meg for their hours of work in the nursery too over the last 2 months. Also, thanks Toni and Mom for cleaning the house this past week!!

So today, I woke up with contractions. They didn't go away so George brought me back to L&D at St. Joe's. Thankfully, my cervix hasn't changed much. I'm still 70% effaced and 1 cm dilated. Also, I PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS another Fetal Fibroctin Test which means the babies have a 95% chance of not coming before 31 1/2 weeks. I'll be 29 1/2 weeks tomorrow. I started a 5th round of Indocin today and I'm also still taking the Terb pills. Dr. Kazzi will be doing an ultrasound tomorrow. If things look good and the contractions have stopped or slowed down a lot, he said I should be home by Wednesday.

It was much harder to leave home today since I got to spend a week with George and Luukas and get "reconnected." I'm hopeful things will continue to go well and that I'll be back home and in my bed on Wednesday!!

Love to all!

Home At Last!!!

Home at last!! I was discharged at 3 p.m. today and was home and in my own bed by 3:30 p.m. Boy, does it feel good to be home!! I teared up when I saw the leaves changing colors outside and even falling off the trees and I cried even more when we drove up to our house. George and his mom made sure I got home safe. Luukas was sooooo excited when his Nana picked him up at school today bc he knew that meant I would be here when he got home. He ran into the house and gave me a HUGE hug and kiss!!! It was priceless!! As for the house...it's still standing and pretty well for 2 bachelor's who've been living here the last 5 weeks!! Yes, there were toys everywhere and baby stuff galore that needs to be organized, Luukas' room is a pigsty from toys and my room looked like I haven't lived here in years. Oh well! The important thing is our family survived the last 5 weeks (with lots of support from all of you)! Soooo, I'm home for now, on stict bedrest (with bathroom privilages and an occasional opportunity to sit at the table) until 32 weeks. I'll be seeing the doctor weekly (on Tuesdays) for non-stress tests (NST's) and having ultrasounds every other Tuesday. Once I get a little further along, I'll be having NST's twice a week. For now, I'm taking Terbutiline tablets 4 times a day and praying and hoping to make it to 32 and even 34 weeks!!! Thanks again for your prayers and support!!

Just a little fun....

Another day...in the hospital.

Well, I was hoping to go home today to be with my boys, but they had to increase my Terbutiline pills on Sunday. Soooooo, maybe tomorrow I'll be at home. In the meantime, I'll be eating free food, have a great movable bed to hang out in, and take more wheelchair rides today!!!!

We MADE IT TO 28 weeks!!!

I made it to 28 weeks on Friday!!! This coming Monday will mark 5 weeks since I was admitted to the hospital. Yesterday, I had a fetal fibroctin test with negative results, ultrasounds, and a digital (manual) exam. Baby A (girl) is 2 lbs 3 1/2 oz and Baby B (boy) is 2 lbs 11 oz. I am 70% effaced and a fingertip dilated with some funneling. Baby A's fluid is borderline decreased. The good news is the new medicine they are giving me to stop contractions (Terbutiline pills) seems to be working, though they may have to increase it as I am having a few contractions here and there. I'm also having chest pains and they are watching that side effect. I've already had 4 rounds of Indocin (with the most recent being last Monday) to stop contractions which can further decrease fluid levels so they wanted to try something else. I can take Terbutiline until 34 weeks and I can get Progesterone shots until 35 weeks. Here's the best news....my doctor is letting me get out of bed and walk around my room this weekend and also sit in a chair, both things I haven't been able to do in almost 5 weeks. If there are no changes on Monday, then he is going to let me go home and finish bedrest there!! Yippee!!! I can't wait to be with Luukas and George again!! I've been on Heparin shots 2x a day since being in the hospital and if I go home, I'm going to ask to continue them bc I've had less spotting since the shots started. Not sure if it's a coincidence or what. Thanks for your prayers!!! They are working!!!