Our Bumpy Road

Now that I'm no longer allowed to work and will be admitted to the hospital for what I hope is at least 8 weeks, Jason and I thought we would keep our family and friends updated on what's going on with our family.  Here is a recap of all that's happened since September when we found out we were having TWINS!

On September 3rd Jason and I were so excited to discover we were having twins!  We were hoping for just one after a year of trying to start a family and being unsuccessful.  After one treatment of IUI (Intrauterine Insemination...aka turkey baster)  we were blessed with 2 little ones.  From the beginning one of the babies was significantly smaller than the other and at our 6 week ultrasound they told us that the smaller one may be a vanishing twin and may not be there when we came back in 2 weeks.  Of course we wanted both, but if God would still give us one baby we would be thrilled.  We went back at 8 weeks for another ultrasound and were so happy to see 2 babies with strong heart beats and growing on track.  We were in shock that we were going to have to buy 2 of everything and couldn't wait to get started.

6 week ultrasound picture

Babies 1st Picture

8 week ultrasound picture

Our 2 Peanuts!

November 4th (12 weeks and 6 days) is when the bumpy road really began...We went to our OB for the 12 week scan to test for Downs Syndrome...I didn't really care if they had Downs Syndrome or not, we only did it because they told us they may be able to tell the sex of the babies!  Immediately the sonographer noticed that baby A had low fluid and called the OB in to take a look.  For the first time we felt panic.  Both babies were growing on track, in fact baby B was about a week ahead of where he should be, and they both had strong heart beats.  They set us up to see the perinatologist (aka - High risk baby doctor) for a second opinion.

Baby A at 12 weeks and 6 days

This was the first picture I fell in love with...the first picture we got that looked like a baby!

Baby B at 12 weeks and 6 days

They think it's a BOY!

We went to see the perinatologist a few days later and felt much better after he told us that baby A had low fluid and that he wasn't too concerned.  He wanted to see us back in 3 weeks to make sure everything was ok.  Jason and I both breathed a sigh of relief. 

Baby B at 13 weeks and 3 days

Baby A at 13 weeks and 3 days



On November 22nd we went back to the OB for a follow up sonogram and were told that there was not much fluid around baby A.  The sonographer told us that baby A was curled up around itself and when babies do that it typically means that they aren't going to make it much longer.  We made a appointment to go see the perinatologist the next day hoping they would give us good news like they did on our last visit...they did not.  The perinatologist was able to find a 8mm pocket of fluid (they want to find pockets of 5cm of larger).  The baby was still growing on track and still had a strong heart beat.  The perinatologist was unable find a bladder or kidneys on baby A and told us that the baby would either die before it was born, or if it made it to birth it would die shortly there after.

This was the day I lost all hope.  I was in denial I was pregnant.  We had tried for so long to have a family and I felt that I had suffered enough heartbreak trying to get to this point to have it taken away.  I couldn't focus on the fact that I still had one healthy baby...all I could think about was I was going to carry a baby to delivery just to watch it die.

We continued to go to the perinatologist weekly.  At 16 weeks they still couldn't find kidneys or a bladder.  They were able to find a bladder on baby A at 17 weeks, which was our first ray of hope, but they still couldn't find more than 1cm of fluid.  They sent us for a MRI at 18 weeks to see if they could find any other cause for baby A's low fluid.  The radiologist was wonderful and went over the entire scan with us in detail.  Baby A had normal kidneys and bladder and was still growing on track.  The results of the MRI caused them to give baby A the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) seeing that there was nothing else that could be the cause of the low fluid.

MRI image of the twins

MRI image

So this brings us to today.  I am 21 weeks and 5 days and according to our perinatologist "everything is status quo".  It's now a waiting game.  They are going to admit me on January 19th to Harris Fort Worth until the babies are born, hopefully I will be there at least 8-10 weeks before they make their grand entrance.  They are admitting me since there is a increased risk for premature labor and infection.  If something happens they will be able to take the babies as soon as possible to give them the best chance for survival.  I have a feeling they are fighters and hopefully they are as stubborn as I am so they won't come too early!