Whew!

On Saturday, August 11 we had our first pregnancy class.  Since it was on a Saturday, compared to going once a week for several weeks, our class lasted 5 hours. We were the only couple there! The instructor had called me a few days before the class started and asked if we could switch to another weekend due to another couple wanting to take the class could not do it the scheduled weekend. Although it would have been nice to meet another couple with twins, our schedule did not permit us to change weekends. 

The class was a mix of common sense information, learning about the uniqueness of multiple births and birth in general. The instructor told us the milestone weeks you need to get to with twins. At 28 they can usually live, but are in the NICU for a long time. The instructor said that a normal day in the NICU is $5,000 a day; a bad day in the NICU can be $30,00-40,000!  A momma's body does naturally what costs $5,000 a day in the NICU so it is very beneficial that the babies stay in a long as possible. At 32, if you go into labor they can try to delay it and pump you full of steroids to prompt the babies to hurry and develop the lungs a little quicker and the babies will spend a little less time in the NICU. At 36 weeks, is the goal for twins. The momma's body starts releasing antibodies for all the colds and diseases she's had over the years. If you don't make it to 36, your next chance for all those good antibodies is in the first nursing. I think its amazing what our bodies know to do and what God has designed. After learning all that I don't know how people can't believe in God.

Of course there was a good deal of a scare factor too.  When we mentioned that my sister is getting married in early December when I'll be 32 weeks and we would have to travel to Washington, D.C. the instructor's response was "maybe you can Skype the wedding". What??!!!  I know 32 weeks is very close to delivering twins, its a long drive and weddings can be a bit stressful.  But I am not a delicate flower. It's making me feel disabled!  I will not put my babies in jeopardy, but this is my one and only sister and her wedding day.  It really rankles that independent streak in me.  The one where someone says "no" to me or "you can't do that" to me and I have to prove them wrong.

School has started back for both Elliot and me. Teachers went back to school on August 13 and had 3 work days before the students started on August 16.  Life since school started has been incredibly busy.  I try to sit down when I can and remind myself to take it easy and drink my water if its been awhile. Everyone at work has been great and checking in on me. My mother in law, Jan, has been to the school several times, especially during our teacher work days to help me get set up and running for the new school year. I try to take the elevator if I am feeling tired. Energy wise I am doing pretty good at school, but days when I can leave at 3:30, I try to leave ASAP if there is not a meeting. Once home I try to nap a little before Elliot gets home and we have to think about dinner. The 2 weekends since school started have been full of me resting and working on lesson plans.  I already dread trying to do lesson plans for when I'll be on maternity leave.  It's hard to plan that far in advance; I'm still working on what I want each class to do and learn in September.

One of the most exciting things to happen was around 16 weeks and 2 days I started feeling fetal movements. I had read that they feel like bubbles or gas or butterflies in your stomach.  It felt like none of that to me so I was not sure it was fetal movements until I described it to the doctor. She confirmed that was what was going on. When the twins move, it feels like to me that someone is poking me from the inside out, sometimes quite sharply.  Other times it feels just like movement  bumping around in my lower stomach.  Maybe because it is 2 crowded in there, but it can be pretty uncomfortable.  I mostly feel it at night when I am resting and driving on the way to work.  I feel them occasionally during the day if I am sitting at my desk, but i think I am moving around so much or so busy that I don't noticed they are moving unless the movement is pronounced.

16 weeks and a little belly

Holding my dress against me, you can get the full effect. Ha, ha!

Friday is our anatomy ultrasound. Elliot and I have to leave school a little bit early to get to our appointment. First is the ultrasound then the appointment with the doctor. I am SO excited to find out what the babies will be. Then on Saturday we are going down to Greenville, SC to a baby bed place to pick out cribs. We also hope to start our registry that weekend too. Hopefully, we can also start moving and cleaning out the rooms in preparation of switching the rooms. 

I'm also going to "lose" my garage. I enjoy parking in there, but those days are coming to an end. I am getting bigger so its getting hard to maneuver getting in the car. Also we having to put car seats in on each side, it would be better done in the driveway. So our garage is partway cleaned out and is going to turn into a pantry/extra storage/baby stroller area. We hope in a couple years to buy a "real" house with a double garage and yard.