Babies coming November 10 !!!

After all this drama, it looks like we're gonna have to just go get these guys out. We tried to schedule the c-section for 11/11, but that was booked, so we're doing it the day before on the 10th.

Can't wait to meet these guys. Looking forward to figuring out which end the diaper goes on. If you see our sons with diapers on their heads and hats on their butts, please feel free to turn the babies upside down to correct the problem.

Mama is doing OK, but basic tasks like rolling over are getting really difficult. While I'm sure she'll have some apprehension leading up to the delivery, there will be a part of her that feels a huge sense of relief.

I find myself way more composed than I expected, so that basically tells me that I have absolutely no idea how fast the train is moving that's about to hit us.

I'm so thrilled that I get to ask everyone to pray for healthy babies and an uneventful delivery rather than asking them to pray that the babies stay inside her and survive.

Thanks as always for everyone's love, prayers, and assistance. We couldn't have made it through this without them.

35 Week Update

Had a great doctor appointment on Friday and a calm, uneventful weekend. The doctor even started talking to us about scheduling a c-section if she goes to 37 weeks. Today is 35 weeks. Unbelievable.

Here's the update on the pool ...

Nurse Kelly G. - October 2
Ringy - October 3
Barb Ryan - October 5
Kari "I don't put my name on my paper" Robins - October 8
Rick's Mom - October 9
Kristen Davis - October 10
Seahurst Teachers - October 12
Shane McGraw - October 13
Cousin Jeanie - October 15
Lindsey Baker - October 16
Jenn Siegrist - October 17
Melissa "Southern Fried" Chickering - October 23
Lisa Parish - October 25
Annette Estel - October 27
Seahurst Teachers - October 28
Christie Fix - October 30
Ruth Anne - October 31
Nancy Estep - November 1 and 2 ... her quote: "It could happen :)"
BT - November 3
Seahurst Teachers - November 4

Check out Mama's belly

Moved the picture that was here to the right so it stays active. Keeping this post live so we don't lose the comments.

Home, part 1

So we got home yesterday around dinner time. My wife went from having wonderful, competent nurses working with her at the hospital to me as her caretaker once we got home. What a downgrade that is. Poor girl should get hazard pay.

Chris loves the nursery. She's commented on it enough times that I'm pretty sure she's not just humoring me. Now that she's seen it, I'll post pictures of the nursery tomorrow for those who haven't seen them yet.

Next doctor appointment is Friday. Just a regular check-up.

WE'RE GOING HOME

Baby A's growth rate picked up quite nicely. He's now just under five pounds and his brother is just under five-and-a-half pounds. Boys are doing great.

We'll be out of the hospital later this afternoon and then she'll be on bedrest at home until it's go time. More later.

34 Weeks

Today was the goal the doctor set when he admitted Chris 12 weeks ago. At the time, I'm pretty sure he would not have bet much money on us making it this far.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our big ultrasound that will determine where we go from here. Please be praying for wisdom for the doctors. I will post again tomorrow after the doctor meets with us to discuss the results.

80 Days

Today is our 80th day in the hospital. That's approximately 1,920 hours or 115,200 minutes or 6,912,000 seconds. Long time, anyway you slice it.

Today's interesting drama was that no infant car seats fit in the back seat of my car (tried them at Babies 'R Us), so Daddy's going car shopping ... and he's pretty tore up about it, let me tell you. :)

Please be praying for strength for us and wisdom for the doctors next week when they decide the plan going forward (see last post). Monday is 34 weeks, which was the goal our doctor had when he admitted Chris. I'm pretty sure he never thought she'd get this far along before delivering. She's amazing.

33 weeks

Fortunately there's not much to report. We hit the 33 week mark today. Next Tuesday is the next growth ultrasound. The results from that will most likely determine the course of action. If Baby A's growth rate continues to go down, they'll most likely deliver the babies next week. If the growth rate picks up, they'll probably send us home.

One thing we learned today is that if the difference in weight between the kids continues to increase, they'll most likely want to do a c-section. That was new info for us.

Here's the update on the birth day pool. Those in small font are big losers ... OK, just kidding, but they didn't happen to win this particular contest. If they deliver next week, it looks like Melissa might have the best chance. Though I may have them schedule it on the 24th so I can save $50. Remember ... my game, my rules. :)

Nurse Kelly G. - October 2
Ringy - October 3
Barb Ryan - October 5
Kari "I don't put my name on my paper" Robins - October 8
Rick's Mom - October 9
Kristen Davis - October 10
Seahurst Teachers - October 12
Shane McGraw - October 13
Cousin Jeanie - October 15
Lindsey Baker - October 16
Jenn Siegrist - October 17
Melissa "Southern Fried" Chickering - October 23
Lisa Parish - October 25
Annette Estel - October 27
Seahurst Teachers - October 28
Christie Fix - October 30
Ruth Anne - October 31
Nancy Estep - November 1 and 2 ... her quote: "It could happen :)"
BT - November 3
Seahurst Teachers - November 4

Update

We had an ultrasound on Tuesday morning and one of the babies' growth rates has slowed. They had been tracking at the same size thus far and the last two weeks, baby A has started to slow down. This was a pretty traumatic thing for Chris, but the doctors have assured us that it's normal for twins and that the Jenny Craig baby catches up after they are born.

One thing this new info has changed is that, as opposed to being sent home at 34 weeks as was the original plan, if baby A's growth rate has continued to decline, they will induce her and let the babies grow outside her belly. So there is a very real possibility that we're only 2 weeks away !!!

Just to clarify, baby A is not shrinking. He's just not growing as fast as his brother.

Check out the new picture of Mama to the right. Looks pretty good, eh?

Lastly, Happy Birthday, Mom !!!! We love you.

32 Weeks !!!

So, today is the last big hurdle in this process. 32 weeks is the point where all the doctors breathe a sigh of relief. We are so excited and amazed that we've made it this far. Tomorrow is our 10 week anniversary in the hospital. If we make it two more weeks, it seems like they are pretty serious about sending her home. Then we just hang out until these boys come. While I'll really miss my inflatable mattress, we hope the little guys get as much time as possible in her belly, so going home is a good thing. I've got to get the house to the point where it is inhabitable by another human being, but that should not be a problem given the 2 week notice.

Thanks as always to everyone for the amazing prayers and support. Clearly the sum of it all has really done the trick.

Here's the update on the birth day pool. I'm admittedly rooting for the November folks.

Nurse Kelly G. - October 2
Ringy - October 3
Barb Ryan - October 5
Kari "I don't put my name on my paper" Robins - October 8
Rick's Mom - October 9
Kristen Davis - October 10
Seahurst Teachers - October 12
Shane McGraw - October 13
Cousin Jeanie - October 15
Lindsey Baker - October 16
Jenn Siegrist - October 17
Melissa "Southern Fried" Chickering - October 23
Lisa Parish - October 25
Annette Estel - October 27
Seahurst Teachers - October 28
Christie Fix - October 30
Ruth Anne - October 31
Nancy Estep - November 1 and 2 ... her quote: "It could happen :)"
BT - November 3
Seahurst Teachers - November 4

Diapers and bottles and wipes, oh my ...

If you don't get the Wizard of Oz reference in the title, you're too young to read this blog.

Lindsey Baker and I went nuts at Target last night (THANK YOU, LINDSEY) and I bought lots of day-to-day stuff for the babies. Now when they come home, they won't need to be potty trained or drink from a coffee cup ... at least for a few weeks.

Pretty fired up about the vibrating bouncy chair I bought for the boys. Kinda jealous that I'm too big for it.

Had an instructor come into Chris' room today to teach us about childbirth and at-home care. Saw a video of babies being born naturally and through c-section. God really knew what he was doing when he chose women to have babies, rather than guys. One view of that video and no guy on the planet would be go through with it if they had to be the one giving birth.