February 9th, 2012

A little twinformation

I’ve been trying to update properly on the whole twin pregnancy thing, but we keep getting different information or new surprises at every appointment and then by the time I process that information something else changes and I can’t keep up. I’m frustrated and confused and still trying to find a doctor that is a good fit and they very best medical care for me and my babies. So, here is what I know for now.

I’m pregnant with identical twin girls.

What’s that? A little confused? Don’t worry, I am too. I had been told they were fraternal. Seems like there was a little ultrasound miscommunication.

Here’s the breakdown:

• 11 weeks: ultrasound in the ER – one baby
• 12 weeks: no heartbeat via Doppler, no ultrasound
• 16 weeks +1: no heartbeat via Doppler, ultrasound reveals twins
• 16 weeks +3: formal ultrasound, tech verbally states: 2 placentas, membrane, probably fraternal
• 19 weeks: heartbeats via Doppler, no ultrasound, inconclusive AFP/Quad screen, given high risk referral for ultrasound/amnio
• 20 weeks: high risk ultrasound shows one placenta, identical twins and girls

The high risk OB also stated that I might be showing signs of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which I don’t recommending googling. It’s pretty scary shit. Needless to say, I spent a few days freaking out. I had my formal ultrasound reviewed and apparently that report states 1 placenta. But, both my husband and i clearly remember her stating 2. My doctor asked my the results, so I said two, but this must mean she never actually read the report??? I’m changing doctors. Obviously.

I’m choosing not to worry about the TTTS yet. This may be naive, but I don’t actually know anything more yet. I am clinging to the hope that the high risk OB wouldn’t have blithely sent me out the door with simply a two week follow-up if something was seriously wrong. He did raise an eyebrow that I was seeing a resident, but that is changing.

I’m working on getting an appointment with the OB I originally saw with Spencer for further evaluation. So. Now we wait. Again. To find out what other crazy news I can find out at my next appointment.

And for those wondering why the one vs. two placenta distinction is important, one placenta is always identical twins, while identical twins can also have two and fraternal twins can only have two. Identical twins are considered slightly higher risk and can have some identical only complications, like TTTS. There are also two types of identical twins and it has to do with a membrane and I am pretty sure both ultrasounds showed a membrane, but I am at the “trust no one” state of this pregnancy.

Spencer seems a little disappointed about sisters, but he is coming around. And he is very excited about babies. We’ve been showing him old pregnancy and newborn photos to get him used to the idea. He is enthralled.

I’ll keep you posted.

Updated: I have an appointment on Monday for a second opinion. Yay! That was not an easy appointment to get.

February 7th, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: A bit of yellow

I live in Southern California; this means I can grow many traditional bulb plants (daffodils, tulips, and the like), but they bloom super early. Every year, without fail, I get the first bloom of the year with in a few days of my Mom’s birthday (Feb. 5th). These two popped up on the 6th and made me smile. Happy Birthday Mom! Miss you!

Do you have a wordless wednesday post? Link up below.

February 5th, 2012

P366: Jan 29th-Feb 4th

::insert witty commentary about our week here::

Short version: It was long, I’m exhausted. Highlight was a road trip to Ojai to the best toy store ever.

Sunday

Helping me make heart shaped croutons.

Monday

Backyard explorer.

Tuesday

And I quote, “giddy-up, bouncy fish!”

Wednesday

He was very excited about his “toy story magazine”

Thursday

Coolest toy store ever! And Spencer was super well behaved. (in love with the floor, too)

Friday

Slide.

Saturday

He’s so pleased he can finally reach the tree.

That’s our week! Linking up with Amy!

February 2nd, 2012

Mama Duck Plays All Day

Spencer and I were having a lovely little bath time. Lovely if you ignore the fact that I practically had to hoist myself of my seat every time he needed adjustment or a toy fetched. He has a family of rubber ducks: mama, daddy and two smaller ducks (my charmingly self-centered boy calls both Spencer). He was playing driving, as he is wont to do in the bath and the following transpired:

Spencer: Daddy duck is driving to work. He works hard.
Me: What’s mama duck doing?
Spencer: Driving to Target
Me {laughing}: Is that all mama duck does? Goes to Target?
Spencer: No. {serious voice} She drives to Target, buys apple-peach, plays all day and then makes dinner.
Me: {speechless}
Spencer: Daddy duck comes homes and eats dinner and plays with Spencer ducks and has bath.
Me: Some mama ducks work.
Spencer: No. Mama ducks play all day.
Me: {sigh}

And then to complete my stay-at-home-mom cliche, after bedtime, I ate a giant bowl of ice cream, watched reality tv and thought about writing this post.

I am choosing to think that he is speaking to his experience (I do stay home, after all) and not his universal views on gender roles. We haven’t stressed a gender neutral upbringing, but we make very few restrictions on his choices for play, toys or dress-up. His preschool teachers are delighted that he plays with girls equally as much as boys and his dress-up fashion sense is favorably noted. Apparently he has a tendancy to put on some bracelets or a necklace with his firefighter outfit. And really, what better time for an arm party than when toddlers are fighting fires?

I was just taken aback. Ten, hell even five, years ago, I never would have imagined my future as a stay-at-home. Most days I love it and I feel that by Spencer being home most days and being in school two morning a week, he is really getting great exposure to both worlds. Part of me feels like it was a throwaway comment by a toddler and part of me thinks that I have failed completely in parenting.

At least he likes toca hair salon and robot lab equally on the ipad. That should count for something. Right? RIGHT?