Cause for Concern

Randi is now at a little more than 17 weeks. On our Friday appointment with the perinatologist, we were able to get another ultrasound of Pooh and Tigger. We had a reconfirmation of our confirmation that they are both boys. Their measurements are on track for their gestational age, growth rate of their torsos, femurs, heads, and the like; all areas that would raise concerns for a child with Down's Syndrome. Although these measurements look great, the doctor saw something in their diastolic flow from the umbilical cords. Ultimately, they are having to work too hard for their nutrients. They do fine when their heart is beating, but when it pauses, their is not enough blood flow on the back end. Again, this is no cause for alarm now, since the placentas are more than able to support a six ounce baby, but it will be a problem when the placenta tries to support a three pounder. The doctor raised Randi's folic acid medications and guided her to start intaking a lot more calories daily. She has currently gained 12-14 pounds, but he wants her to have gained 24 pounds at 24 weeks. She's going to have to adjust her diet to grazing constantly during the day, instead of large meals. Hopefully, this bump in the road will correct itself with time and better nutrition, but please say a prayer for the little guys. Thanks.

OUTNUMBERED

Randi started having some pain on her left side on Wednesday that was very nondescript. The pain steadily increaseD on Thursday, and she decided to call the doctor. She went in for a urinalysis to make sure it was not a UTI or kidney stones. When that was negative, they decided to do an ultrasound. They determined that the pain was caused by her uterus expanding and was nothing to be alarmed about. The technician also made a second check of the babies and got clear pictures of Pooh and Tigger from underneath. They determined that both babies are DEFINITELY boys!! Randi is truly going to be outnumbered soon, with myself, the two male dogs, and our future twin boys. Now we know for sure that we need to get Auburn jerseys and not cheerleader outfits. Also, we can cut our list of potential names in half...not that we have come up with anything yet, but there is still plenty of time for that.

Week Fourteen Ultrasounds

The Holidays

Randi and I hope that everyone's holidays were joyous and safe. We have been on the go nonstop since Christmas and really haven't slowed down since the first of the year. We were in Columbus and Cartersville, Georgia visiting family for Christmas and went to Camden, Alabama for New Year's. Last week, Randi was in Orlando for work while I painted our new home that we are moving into by the end of the month. Next week, we will be in Atlanta for the Duke vs. Georgia Tech basketball game. The following week Randi will be in Destin for work, so needless to say January will be every bit as busy as December. Today, we are heading to Mobile to register at some stores for the upcoming baby showers.

Now...an update on Pooh and Tigger. Randi is gaining weight well now, and her belly has started to pop. It getting more round and is extremely tight to the touch. After not seeing her for a week, I noticed a big difference; however, most people on the street would still not realize she is pregnant. Also, there appears to be very little evidence of her hematoma. Randi had two appointments recently with the perinatologist and the OB. The perinatologist has been the one doing the ultrasounds for us, which we like because they are all level 2 ultrasounds. Our last session must have lasted 45 minutes. The nurse kept printing pictures, almost 35 of them in all, but we were sure they were not all for us. We came to realize that they were as she slyly whispered, "Now, don't get me fired for these; put them in your purse," with a sign clearly stated above her head that read the maximum number is three.

The technician also told us that there would be no way to determine the sexes of the babies at only 14 weeks, but she decided to make it her personal mission to exhaustively investigate the matter. After much poking and prodding, literally, she made initial educated guess that we might be having TWO BOYS. Randi and I both saw what she saw, as she made a point to take picture of both "units" with a big arrow pointing directly at them. We are not putting much stock in this early guess, although we are optimistic that she was at least 50% correct on her assessment.

I am also soon to post a slide show of the best 8, out of 33, ultrasound pictures from our last visit, if I can master the technology. Also, for those of you wanting to see the pictures of their "units"....grow up. This comment is mainly directed at my friends. No harm intended.

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About Us

Why We Blog: Recently, I have had my reservations about continuing this blog and moving on with something else. In the beginning, we set it up as a way for family and friends look in on Randi's pregnancy from several states away, since they could not be there for the day-to-day. As problems progressed in the pregnancy, and we began to doubt the sustainability of Wyatt, the blog took on a life of its own. We were so encouraged and touched by others' stories and how the blog reciprocated those feelings back to them. The boys are now approaching their one year birthday in less than 20 days, and we have had some medical bumps in the road beyond the daily stresses associated with having multiples. At times, we have been complacent and stepped away, for weeks at a time, from our blog.

As I started looking back through all those old pictures from the NICU at how far the boys have come; the images still etched so solidly on our memories. Sometimes we can hardly recognize that these are the same two little boys who live with us now. We can only express a snippet of the unabashed joy that comes to us as parents at the quirkiness of our children as children. Although I could post several times a day, I would never capture the chuckle of a Buddha I get as I watch them collapse into sleep during their mid-day nap after struggling so hard to stay wake to play a few more minutes. Those moments are lost to our fleeting memories.

Some have said that blogging is merely egotistical self-massaging...well I guess it depends on your intentions. I see it as the new historical record. No longer do the victor go the spoils. Each is able to leave their own imprint. We are telling the story of our family as no one else can. One of the most rewarding times over the last couple years has been the culmination of this blog into a printed, published book through the help of Blurb.com. For Christmas, we gave copies of a modest 7X7 book to our parents and grandparents of our children's struggle to be born and mature. And even more rewarding, was secretly creating and giving Randi a copy of the entire blog from the last year. We hope to continue this through year two and three and so on of this blog.

I am a private person, guarded and reserved in my emotions. I am far too analytical and facts-based. There is a quote that is very near and dear to my heart by Leo Tolstoy in Family Happiness. Through the years I have found no text in literature of equal measure.

"He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others . . . I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor --such is my idea of happiness. And then on top of all that, you (look) for a mate, and children perhaps -- what more can the heart of a man desire?"