Inpatient at North Central Baptist Hospital Day 9

As many of you know, I am inpatient at North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio. The hospital is beautiful, and my doctors and nurses are great. They admitted me because my cervix was short and coning (1.2 cm). They did do a test to see if I was secreting a labor hormone, but it came back negative. If it would have been positive I would be in pre-term labor, and there would be a chance that I would have the babies in 7-10 days. Cool that they can test for that, but thank goodness it came back negative.

I have had quite a few visitors, so time has been passing by. My day consists of waking up, taking a shower, eating breakfast, eating a snack, eating lunch, eating a snack, eating dinner, and last a snack. So I eat. I also get monitored once in the morning and once in the evening for an hour. They know me as the one who likes to eat. Every nurse is surprised to see what I have for snacks. One said,"I've never seen dietary do this before" and I said, "I guess if you don't ask the answer is always no." Anyway, there food times are 8:45am, 1:30pm, and 6:30pm. I'm starving by then :). I also have food in my small fridge. No worries everyone, I'm eating!! I haven't really been able to leave my room. I found out that I could get wheelchair privileges, so I asked and received permission this morning; so starting today if someone comes to visit they may let me get out. Yea! I would love to go outside!!! That may be asking too much.

Everyday has been pretty good, but this week has been a little crazy:
Monday and Tuesday were tough because I had to stay on the monitor for 8 hours each day. Baby A was showing decelerations in his heartbeat. It was scary, but they were very cautious and they know what they are looking for. Baby A is pretty calm and Baby B moves around like crazy; we never find him in the same spot. Wednesday was also exciting because I was showing signs of a bloodclot. My heartrate was in the 130-140s and I was having trouble breathing. My goodness, I really didn't notice! My nurse brought it my attention. I had an ultrasound on my legs (which was so painful by the way) and then I had a chest xray to make sure I didn't have a bloodclot in my lungs. I don't think I was a good patient, but the radiologist guy was extremely patient. I was a little bit claustrophobic, okay I won't lie, I was really claustrophobic. The machine was smashing me like in between two pieces of bread. I'll save that story for later for anyone who asks.

Anyway, when I got back to my room last night they put me on IV fluids. I'm already on bedrest with only bathroom privileges and now I'm tied down pulling this coatrack. It was annoying, but then I found out today I was having contractions two minutes apart all night long and that's why I was on the IV. My doctor said they were bad ones and they came in all night watching me. I wasn't phased. I guess that Ambien sleeping pill really works. All I can say is that I'm really blessed to be in great hands. I am in the best place and I am so happy.

Trey and Quade come twice a week; once during the week and once on the weekend. Quade is making himself at home when he's here. We also Skype every night. For those of you that don't know, skype is a free service you download to your computer and you can video conference for free. It's so cool and Quade really likes it. I think Trey is holding up okay. Thank you everyone for checking on him.

Again, thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Finally I can post 10.21.10

Two weeks ago I was able to meet my new Specialist in San Antonio, Melinda Mc Farland. I can tell I'm going to like her. Baby A measured 1lb11oz 73rd percentile; Baby B 1lb12oz 84th percentile. They were Still doing great. We are Blessed!.

Yesterday (2weeks later)I came in for a check up and met my new ob who will be delivering me. I feel good, look good (no swelling), but my cervix is shortening. I went from a 4 in Houston, two a Little over 2 two weeks ago and now a 1.2-1.6. Babies are great. Baby A is at my cervix really working his way out. Baby B is chilling across my stomach left to right. They are both moving like crazy. They miraculously both weigh 2lbs4oz. We are so happy, but due to my cervix, I was admitted into the hospital at 26 weeks rather than 28 weeks. I will be here until the babies are born. My new OB Dr. Murdock who is the cheif of staff and I really like her. I was admitted to North Central Baptist Hospital at Stone Oak off Sonterra/1604. It's a gorgeous hospital and I'm right down the hall from my dr(s) so they can monitor me.

Quade is not so sure about this, but he will be here today to hopefully explain more. Last night he missed me and he also missed the turtle, dogs And whatever else left the screen on his little cartoons. He's in good hands!

I also know Im in good hands. Please check these scriptures out if you have a second. As many of you know, it's a miracle that the babies measured identical yesterday at 2lbs 4oz. I had a good friend see that as a sign and found scripture for me that I would like to share:
Okay 2 lbs 4 oz each baby…. There MUST be a message… so here's what I found;
Ruth 2:4 The LORD be with you…the LORD bless you.
2 Kings 2:4 …as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
Habakkuk 2:4 …the just shall live by his faith
Haggai 2:4 Yet now be strong saith the LORD; and be strong…and be strong, saith the LORD, for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts
Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart…not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you
Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The Lord, your prayers and support bring me peace. There is still a long road ahead of us. I will find out more about my cervix today. I have had progesterone shots (to stop early labor) and steroid shots (to help babies lungs grow). I know I'm n here earlier than I want to be, but I know God has sent me here for a reason. We will just wait day by day. My first goal is 28 weeks (first of November) but I'm praying for 32 weeks (last week of November). Thank you for your love and support. I'll try to post again at the end of the day.

Wednesday, September 29 Doctor Visit

We had a great doctor visit yesterday. As many of you know, at 16 weeks the doctor was concerned about TTTS (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome) and we were transferred to Houston. At that time the babies were 17.6% different (they really worry at 20%) and the doctors were preparing us for surgery to lose one or both babies. Now we are at 24 weeks and after many prayers the babies are only 6.4% different. YEA! After the monthly measurement they found Baby A to be 1 lb. 6 oz. and in the 71st percentile and Baby B is 1 lb. 7 oz. and in the 84th percentile. They are big, healthy babies so far. After this exciting news, they released us to San Antonio. I will have an appointment in San Antonio in two weeks to meet with the doctors and finalize the plans. So far, I know that I will be going inpatient into the hospital on week 28 which is November 1st. I will be in the hospital until the babies are born (hopefully I hold them until the end of the month). While in the hospital I will be monitered 3-4 times a day. They will be looking for fetal distress (babies heartrate dropping due to cord compression). I hope to hold them until 32 weeks, but if they see problems they will take them emergency c-section. It's so awesome to see the babies doing well. I'm getting excited, but I am reminded there is still a chance I could lose them to cord entangement between now and then. Trey and I look at our lives and we realize that God has a plan for us. It's amazing to see the clear path God has made for us. I thought I was resigning from my job to get to hang out more with Quade and make a weekly trip to HEB in Kerrville, but since I left my job I have been carrying twins on an emotional roller coaster and I have yet to travel to Kerrville to go to HEB. I have, though, been able to spend lots of time with Quade and I've been able to get lots of rest. I've truly been able to carry these babies without the normal stress of a job. If I still had my job I would not be able to give 110% and I would be worried daily about the students and all the days I would be missing. I still go up to the school once a week to visit, do a little bit of volunteer work, and take the teachers Friday lunches. It's been a wonderful blessing and I know the Lord provided us this opportunity so that I could carry the babies. I believe that the Lord will not give us more than we can handle. Please continue to pray for God's will. By the way, Quade is doing great! We make our rounds in town everyday. We continue to stalk the dumptrucks, excavators and bulldozers at the new hospital construction site here in Junction, and we always stop by the airport to see the planes. We finally caught one taking off today. He said, "I'm so excited, I cannot wait for the plane to TAKE OFF!" He loved it! Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers.

Recent Doctor Visit Wednesday, September 15

Sorry for the late update, but our Internet was down earlier today. Yesterday we went to Houston and had the major organ scan. Everything looked beautiful! We saw fingers, toes, hands, feet, kidneys, bladders, brains, eyes, noses, lips, bones, 4 chamber hearts, and a bunch of other things. The amazing thing is that they are both so very healthy. I loved it when the sonographer and the doctor looked at the sonogram and said, "which one is the bigger baby, they are both looking to be the same size!" Yes! I thought, because they have been labeled big baby B and little baby A since the problem we had at 16 weeks. Here we are at 21 weeks and they are looking similar again; baby A is catching up. It is a total blessing to have two healthy babies growing inside me, and the support from thoughts and prayers make me feel at peace. We are definitely still faced with the reality of cord entanglement. They are already extremely tangled and twisted like a bowl of spaghetti (Trey's description). The first twist and knot starts at their abdomens so they are pretty close to one another at all times. We pray for God's will and I hope and pray God's will is that I deliver two happy, healthy babies. I've read good stories and bad stories, and I pray a miracle is in store for us. I love to see them touching each others face and I can tell they love eachother. We were able to see 3D (I'll post pics ASAP). They were both smiling! I can tell they are ready for a little bit of their own space because one second they are touching eachother nicely and then one gets kicked in the face or elbowed in the gut. It's definitely an exciting sight. I know everyone is also wondering if I'm going to get to go to San Antonio now, but Houston decided to keep me a little while longer. I am a rare case and I feel like a freak show. Everyone comes in to see me (residents, etc.) and I'm sure I'm a documented case. I do get a break from seeing the doctor next week and then I will head to Houston again the following week on Wednesday. Obviously, they don't want me to leave (probably because they get money everytime we come) but I think, know they love us too. Awesome Christian environment! They have even offered me a room in their home while under their care. Seriously! I am so blessed to be in great hands. It is hard to leave Houston, but I know in my heart that when I go inpatient (into the hospital) on November 1st I will want to be surrounded by friends and family, especially having the opportunity to see Quade and Trey more often (if I'm in San Antonio). Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers! Keep them coming!

Quade's Kidney Appointment

Quade's kidney appointment went okay today. His condition is called Hydronephrosis in his left kidney, which is the swelling or dilation of the kidney due to the backup of urine. Over the years they have checked for an obstructed valve, blockage, etc. but it seems as though the ureter (which connects the kidney to the bladder) is too small for free flow. Over the years the ureter has grown and he has slowly grown out of the condition. His sonogram today showed that he hasn't changed much since last year, but it hasn't gotten worse and he does not have any scar tissue. The kidneys are growing equally and looking healthy. Since the drainage issue is not bad, but not completely gone they will keep an eye on him every year until he is four or five. They just want to make sure he doesn't get kidney damage or kidney infections. He has a great doctor at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin. Surgery is not necessary and we are sooo thankful for that.

Nice Break This Week

Well it was nice to have a break this week. This is the first week (week 20), since week 6 that we didn't have to have a sonogram; I'm sure the babies are thrilled too. It was nice not to have to drive to Houston. Some of you may be wondering who keeps Quade while we are in Houston; we have a wonderful sitter (Sandra Timms) that has been taking care of Quade since he was 6 months old. Sandra does a wonderful job and Quade also loves her husband Nick who is the local butcher at Super S. Nick spoils Quade with cookies and cheese every time we go to the grocery store. This past Wednesday she kept him for a few hours while I did something for myself (a haircut). Other than that this week, Quade and I fed the ducks at the local park everyday. If the Junction ducks are looking on the heavy side, they are eating lots and lots of bread and tortillas (or tacos as Quade called the tortillas - "Come and get a taco, ducks!"). We also stalked the dump truck drivers taking dirt from the new hospital grounds. We sat and watched the excavators fill the dump trucks, then we would follow the dump truck to watch it dump at another site, and then follow the dump truck back to the hospital site to do it all over again. It was great fun and Quade was soooo excited. This week: On Monday we are making a short trip to Austin for one last sonogram on Quade's kidney. To update anyone who does not know - On my last sonogram before Quade was born the sonographer found that one of his kidneys was enlarged. Over Quade's first year of life he had sonograms every few months to watch his kidney; they were watching to make sure it drained properly. He was growing out of it and his kidney was not damaged at our last visit. We will go tomorrow (it's been a year or so) to make sure the kidney is draining properly and he has grown out of the problem. He doesn't have a problem urinating so we don't expect any problems and hopefully we don't have to return. Wednesday we will return to Houston for the manditory full organ sonogram scan for the twins. Hopefully the scan makes the doctor happy and we will be transferred to the doctor in San Antonio. The Houston doctors will work side by side with the San Antonio doctors in making decisions for the babies. This is week 21 and we continue to be blessed. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Good Doctor Visit 9/1

Well, we had a great doctor visit yesterday. It's a long ride to Houston and back, but a huge blessing to be in the hands of the "twin gurus of Texas" as they call themselves. Dr. Moise is wonderful; he is associated with Baylor Medical Clinic and Texas Children's Hospital. Three weeks ago our Austin doctor transferred us to Houston because of the possibilities of TTTS. All of the doctors were concerned by what they observed, but over the past month things have gotten better. Three weeks ago Baby A had almost no bladder while Baby B had a huge bladder and was urinating frequently. Baby B also had signs of a stressed heart. These are the signs of TTTS which is rare in Momo twins, but possible. They told us that they were 17.6% different and they start really worrying at 20%. They gave us a week for possible, but doubtful changes. But as I said the power of prayer, love and support helped things to change. We are going in a positive direction because the babies are now only 11% apart. Baby A and Baby B look very similar, even the bladders. Baby B does not have stress on his heart anymore. We are so happy with this change. He is giving us a break next week from traveling, so in two weeks we will be back in Houston for a major organ scan. He is not worried about the scan because we've been looking at them for 19 weeks now, but it's a manditory scan. After this scan, if everything is great we will transfer to San Antonio for sure. Yea! Again, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. By the way, Quade is doing great and I am loving staying home with him. He definitely keeps me entertained.