30 week Update and Goodbye Gallbladder!

What a week we've had. First, to talk about the weather. It is snowing like crazy outside. I guess March really is going "out like a lion." I am getting very sick of the cold and snow. Mostly driving in it. I just want it to be nice & to see some sunshine. I think that is a pretty small request, if only Mother Nature would cooperate.

We had a wonderful baby shower on Saturday. I continue to be amazed at the love and generosity people have showed to us. This shower was at my Mother-In-Laws, thrown by Grandma Nancy & Auntie Maggie. It was so fun! The prizes were all in twos! So cute! I also was lucky enough to have my sisters, nephews & mom come to the shower. It was a lot of fun to have everyone there. The boys are so blessed in so many ways to have such a great extended family. The following pictures are of Uncle Dustin and Owen and the centerpieces from the shower.

He's such a great uncle and an amazing Daddy!

I have still been having a little issue with the gallbladder, I have changed my diet, which has helped some, but I continue to have "attacks." I went to see the surgeon this morning in Princeton, Dr. Pietrifizza, and he recommended gallbladder removal. It will come out 3 months after the babies are born, I will just have to wait that long. We don't want to do it now, because I am so big, they couldn't even get to the gallbladder & would need to open me up. I would have a very high chance of a spontaneous abortion with that scenario. (Which was never really an option for us anyway). I asked about taking it out right after delivery/C-Section and he suggested against that. Basically because then you have two different things that could cause complications. He actually said that if I had a C-Section, they would have to take the babies first, then fill me with air to do the laproscopic surgery and it gets pretty messy. The other option would be to cut me basically from my chest to my pelvis and do one big open abdominal surgery. Not really what I am looking for...

So, we will wait three months after delivery for the laproscopic gallbladder surgery. It can be scheduled in July for the end of August.

My weight was good today, up a little bit, I think 3 lbs. from 2 weeks ago. My blood pressure was a little higher at 130/80. Still not bad, but certainly up from where it has been. I kind of figured that, since my shoes no longer fit and even my Crocs are tight. And my fingers have turned into little sausages.

The boys are good, they continue to kick and squirm as soon as their daddy comes home. They are getting bigger and their movements are more abrupt, I don't really feel a lot of the little bumps and moves like I did.

I have my next OB appointment on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. with Dr. Roberts. We will update then.

I will leave you with the 30 week belly picture. Grow belly, grow!

Love, Sara

29 weeks, 2 days and counting

And, Here we are again. At 29 weeks, 2 days. I am kind of slacking at the every Saturday belly shot when my week flips over into the next one.

I am still amazed that Saturday is 30 weeks... Wow. I am having a shower for the Anderson/Grieser thrown by Dustin's mom and step-sister Maggie this Saturday. I am really looking forward to it!

We went online last night & used our gift cards and purchased two glider rockers with ottomans and a snap and go double stroller. We got a really nice double stroller from my Mom and sisters for our baby shower here, but, it just seemed like too much of a hassle to STRAP the carseats in every time!

Dustin thinks the boys will be here sooner than later, hence, the reason for the shopping. I tend to agree with him. They are getting bigger and I am getting more and more uncomfortable.

I made an appointment today to see the surgeon about my gallbladder for next Tuesday, March 30th at 8:30 a.m. here in Princeton. I will not have surgery while I am pregnant, but I want to know if the stones will pass on their own, or if they are too big. If they are too big, I want them to remove my gallbladder during my C-Section. Since I have one breech baby, I am planning on a C-Section for both of them. I could deliver them vaginally if by some miracle Max turns, but he does not have any room now to move, so I am going to guess that isn't really an option. Dustin and I just felt his elbow or knee poking out my side.

I see the OB again on April 2nd. She will draw some blood and check me over too. I have a low platelet count and they are going to watch me for precclampsia. As I get closer to delivery, these things all seem so real. And I am SO ready to meet our sons.

And Dustin is right. Nothing really is as bad as it seems.

Love, Sara

Overdue Belly Pics

Good Evening,

These pictures should've been posted last week. They are me and my belly at 28 weeks, 1 day.

Spring Is Here

Sara says that I should blog more and I figured that a post letting all of you know that Spring is officially here is as good of an opportunity as any.

I would also like to take this time to hopefully bring a little of the bright, warm, shining sun of positivity from the new Spring Season into your lives. It seems as though all your hear or read from the various news sources is how bad things are - everywhere.

Sara and I live in Princeton, Minnesota, where the unemployment rate is north of 30%. The town's major employer is Crystal Cabinets. They have been forced to lay off more than 60% of their work force (They had more than 1k employees in the Princeton factory before the layoffs began) due to the downtrodden housing market. I tell you this for one reason - the people that have been laid off from Crystal still have outstanding attitudes and when they come into my work (I work at a GM dealer in town) they have a smile on their face.

I hope to bring that small bit of positivity to the boys when they decide it's time to come out and play. It's tough to look at the bright side of things sometimes, but let's not forget that 92% of folks are still working around the country. Economic downturns breed originality which in turn spurns economic activity.

The thing that bothers me the most, I think, is so many people run around all day with these "world-ending-moods" and take absolutely zero time to look at the positive side of things. If there is anything that I have learned in my 28 years it is this; things are never as good as they seem and certainly never as bad. From a human perspective, I try to stay in the middle of that and maintain some sort of equilibrium as tough as it is sometimes.

Life is too short to stay pissed off and negative about things all the time.

Cheer up and look at the happy side of things. :)

Dustin

Pictures

Maxwell Theodore
3 lbs. 2 oz.
Breech
Measuring 29 weeks, 2 days
(4 days ahead!)

















Zachary Clifford
3 lbs. 0 oz.
Head down
Measuring 29 weeks, 2 days
(4 days ahead!)


In the grand scheme of things and & all of the fright and worry, this is what matters in the end.

And, All is well.

Holy, What a day! I went on bed rest, off of bed rest; was planning surgery, no surgery; preparing for labor, no labor; had a shortening cervix, no shortening of the cervix. My brain is seriously spinning still at all the this or that talk and change of plans today.
I DO NOT LIKE MY PLANS CHANGED!!!!!!!!

We went to the University, had the ultrasound. We will post pictures later. The boys are great. Zach is head down, 3 lbs. 2 oz. and looking great. Max is breech, 3 lbs. and also very healthy. Squooshed as squooshed can be. Poor little ducky has a knee in his nose. They are very close, the septum that divides them looks like it takes up 1/2 of Zach's face because Maxwell's butt is RIGHT there. Crazy kiddos.

My cervix is NOT thinning. The length looked good. I do NOT look like I will go into labor ANY time soon. I do NOT need to be on bed rest. Everything is fine & healthy. I should keep doing what I am doing.

I do have gallstones. It took the tech a little manuevering to find my gallbladder. She saw one big stone instead of lots of little ones, like last night. It still hurts so bad, but I am not in any immediate danger. My blood work was all normal, nothing to worry about with that. If I get a fever or go into a severe attack, then, they will consider surgery. Otherwise, I just need to deal with the pain, nausea and vomitting until they are delivered.

Honestly, I think those last three things will hinder what I do more than anything and make me a wreck. I don't have as high of a pain tolerance as I like to think I do. So, lots and lots of rest. I have some Zofran, an antinausea medicine for the vomiting.

So, I am just hanging out. Going to continue the crazy schedule that I have been doing until I imagine I just fall over. I am so thankful everything is well and healthy. Now, I just need to pray that the gallbladder doesn't attack or whatever it does.

I went from threatened hospital bed rest to absolutely nothing in 8 hours. Dustin is exhausted. I have been asleep on the couch for the last three hours... What a day!

Sweet Dreams, Sara

Be sure to...

Read from the bottom up.

Part II follows Where to start.

Part II

I went to the doctor this morning to see Dr. Roberts. I don't know what my lab results are yet, but, she was in a fury after I left.

My weight was good, finally up a little. 24 lbs. total pregnancy. My blood pressure was amazing at 108/72. No fever, rest of the vitals were really good.

She listened to heart beats, checked my uterus height, etc. Everything looked good. Made me explain to her how I fell, etc.

I had a list of things to talk to her about and I mentioned my right side pain. I have been having this pain for almost two weeks, it is TERRIBLE when it happens, usually 30 minutes after I eat. It takes my breath away. She said that is where my gall bladder is, and she would be really concerned if I was nauseous or having vomiting. I told her that I have had both of those... And she just about had a cow. I got the stern, "SARA!" I proceeded to tell her that the tech had found gallstones last night. She didn't know about them...

I need to meet with a surgeon to discuss removal of the gall bladder before it explodes. They do not like to do surgery in the 3rd trimester and I do not like the idea of surgery in pregnancy, PERIOD. She took some blood, a CBC and a liver function test. The results of those will see how bad the gall bladder is. I do not have a fever, which is a good thing. I do have terrible, honestly terrible pain. I have it right now. It feels like my side is on fire, I feel like someone is ripping my guts apart. I have looked at my side a lot because it feels bruised. It hurts SO bad. It often becomes reddened and swollen. She will let the surgeon decide what to do & if I do have surgery, she said I can expect to be in the hospital for several days.

Then, I asked her about cervical length. She was concerned about this and wants me to check on it today at my appt. at the University. I will do that and I need to email her as soon as I come home with the measurement and she will decide what to do from there.

I will need to go into Labor & Delivery on Sunday morning for a test to see if I am in Pre-Term Labor. If it is positive, I will deliver in two weeks. If it is negative, no babies for two weeks. They will check this and give me steroids, etc. Depending on the results.

She also put me on bedrest because of the gall stones. She didn't even want me to drive home. I don't know how serious she was or if it was just because she was so fired up. I will again ask more about that at the appt. this afternoon.

Dustin should've got off work at 11 a.m. I am waiting for him to come home. My ultrasound is at 1:30 p.m., I will discuss all of these things with the high risk, perinatologist at the U.

What a work of God though that I would fall the day before all of these appointments and the gall bladder and cervical length thing would come into light. I just hope and pray these boys stay in. I am itchig to meet them, but REALLY would prefer to avoid the NICU.

Will update after we get home and talk to Dr. Roberts tonight.

Hugs and Love, Sara with a side ache.

Where to Start!!

Last night (3/18), I went outside into the garage at 5:05 p.m. to pull out the grill so we could BBQ some porkchops. I was wearing backless shoes, and my foot slipped somehow, and I fell, face first into the cement. I landed on my hand first and then, that slid and I smashed my tummy into the garage floor.

I was covered in grease, terrified and in pain, I got up, went into the bathroom and immediately checked for bleeding (there was none), cleaned off my hand and texted Dustin what happened. I went upstairs for a bandaid for my hand and kept thinking that I needed to call Labor & Delivery. In our birthing class, the teacher kept reittering to call, call... So, I found the number in the folder and called. The nurse, Katrina was amazingly sweet and said I needed to come in right away. I called Dustin (he was still at work) and told him to meet me at the hospital, and then I drove uptown.

I was doing really good until I realized I hadn't felt them kick since the fall. I called my sister, Betsy, who has two boys and asked her if she ever fell when she was pregnant. I just started to cry. All I could think about was that I did something stupid to hurt our sons. Betsy really calmed me down and assured me that they were safe and protected in there. I was reminded of people who get in car accidents while pregnant and babies are fine.

I got into the ER and was sent right upstairs. Dustin wasn't there yet, so, I told everyone he was coming up to see me and I tromped up to the 3rd floor. I didn't even need a wheelchair. I was still pretty freaked out, and still no baby movement.

I got into a hospital room, left a urine sample, changed into a gown and got ready to get hooked up to the monitors, Dustin got there. Babies looked really good and I was not having contractions. They called Dr. Roberts to see what she wanted to do and she ordered that I stay on the monitor for 4 hours, have a ultrasound and some blood work.

The boys kicked like crazy on the monitors, something about the soundwaves made them go crazy. They were so cute. In 4 hours, I had one contraction that I didn't feel. The lab tech came in to draw my blood and asked why my monitor was "nosier than most?" We told her we were having twins, she just about flipped over. It was so sweet. :) Everyone was really excited for us, so nice, so caring. I really am fortunate we go there.

The tech came in with the ultrasound and babies looked good. The placentas didn't tear away during the fall, and I wasn't leaking aminotic fluid. She was able to measure and weigh them. They are measuring almost a week ahead, Zach weighs about 3 lbs. 1 oz. and Max weighs about 2 lbs. 15 oz. VERY CLOSE.

She was concerned about my cervical length. It is shortening. It was 2 cm when it should be between 3-4. She did lots of pictures of that. It is a test of pre-term labor, which is what we DO NOT want.

I told the tech about ALL the pain I have been having under my right rib, she mentioned that was where my gall bladder was at and put the wand there. She said I had a "rock pile" in my gall bladder. The screen lit up white with stones. Because she didn't have an order to do the test, she didn't mention it to the doctor. I did today. More on that to come.

We sat there and waited until 10 p.m. when I could get unhooked and go home. Dustin was starving and exhausted. We ate a little dinner, I vomited some of mine and we fell asleep.

Content that our sons are healthy. I had all ready scheduled appointments for today, Thursday, March 19th with Dr. Roberts for a follow-up and at the U of M for our big ultrasound scan. So, a lot of what happened last night would be followed up with today.

How I didn't fall on ICE all winter and then my foot twists in the garage... It's beyond me. Possibly a blessing in disguise in regards to the gall bladder.

Little THIRD trimester update!

Happy Spring! It is so beautiful outside today. I think the temperature is in the 60s, I have the windows open for the first time in months, there is absolutely no way you could possibly be in a bad mood with weather like this!

I have been trying to get Dustin to blog. He has been busy at work and with little projects that I can not do--vacuuming, carrying things, etc. And I know how much everyone LOVES his blog posts, especially me.

I am doing really well, first, I am on Spring Break this week, which makes me BEYOND thrilled! I have to write some papers, but I don't even mind. It is so much better than sitting in a stuffy classroom, I can't even describe it. I don't know how many more weeks are left of class, but not too many I wouldn't think.

I am feeling fairly good. My morning sickness is back at night with vengeance. Oh, how I hate vomiting all over & when I say "back" it only went away for about one week. The last few nights, I have been unable to keep my supper down. I don't know if it is because we have been eating later or I eat too fast, jump up too fast after eating or all of the above. Luckily, I have been at home every time I have gotten sick. No more episodes in the car. I don't mind the vomiting, I just wish I wouldn't have believed that it would be gone by now.

I have been having a really weird/bad pain for about a week now after I eat, under my right rib. I googled it and only found things about gallbladder, but I have no idea if that is what it actually is or not... It doesn't really get better with changing positions and it is the absolute worst when I am in the car. I did mention it to the nurse and she didn't really seem too concerned about it.

I am continuing to grow (the camera is downstairs, so, I will post the belly pictures later). I am 52" around the widest part of my belly and my uterus is measuring at 41 weeks. I am not swelling too terrible, but there are times when my fingers feel just like little sausages. Dustin and I watched a show on Discovery Health the other day and two women were pregnant with twins (Quads with 2 Moms, the women were lesbians and had both been implanted with embryos using one woman's eggs & the same donor sperm). They showed a picture of their swollen ankles at 35 weeks. They seriously looked like elephants!! When my ankles resemble elephants, I will certainly add the pictures to the blog.

The boys move around all the time now. It is the most amazing feeling in the world. For this feeling, I think I could be pregnant forever. It is so cool to feel them kick and squirm. I am getting to know Max's personality a little more, and Zach always seems to get him riled up. They punch each other a lot, I think they are running out of room. :)

We had a wonderful weekend at our nephew Ethan's birthday party. He is the cutest thing. He got some stamps for his birthday and was sure to stamp everyone at the party, including his cousins. My belly had some nice green alligators on it. I am excited for him (& his brother Owen) to meet the boys. I am especially excited to see what Ethan thinks when the babies aren't in my belly anymore. I always show him my belly, then he shows me his! It is so priceless. In May, when the twins are born, my parents will have FOUR grandsons 2 & under. Not too bad after having three girls. Dad jokes that he is going to have to sell his boat and buy a pontoon.

As for Dustin, he is an only child, so, Max & Zach will be grand babies number 1 & 2 for his Mom. She is married to Wayne, who has 4 grown children & they have one step-grandchild. On Wayne's side of the family, there has not been a girl born for 26 years!!! Not since Auntie Maggie! I am sorry we couldn't bring any pink into the Anderson's. :)

I am totally procrastinating on cleaning the kitchen floor. I think I FINALLY convinced Dustin I need a steam mop. I wonder when I can convince him I need to go get it? wink, wink. I suppose I should take my babies and go finish cleaning the house. I am just enjoy the smells of springtime and the birds singing, reminding me of all I have to be thankful for.

Love to All, Sara

We have a WINNER!

Yes Natalie, The movie IS the Fox & The Hound! I am so proud of you... You are really good at these games, you should make it a career! :)

I technically haven't thought of the prize yet, (I know-Bad Sara!) but I will!

Thank you for your sweet post!

Hugs, Sara

Twenty Seven Weeks

I have ONE week left until the third trimester. I can not wait!!! I hope you enjoy the pictures, Dustin is currently fuming at me right now, because I uploaded these pictures online and deleted two pictures in the mean time... one I was making a stupid duck face while I was writing out Thank-You notes from the shower & the other was of the corner of the family room. I guess he is afraid I will never make the stupid duck face ever again. And that moment will be lost forever in time.

I am feeling allright, the babies are moving around a lot. I can really tell the difference between them. I am currently questioning some gall bladder issues. I have a terrible pain in my upper right quadrant, after I eat, that travels up my shoulder and takes my breath away. I googled it today, and that was what I came up with. I guess it would make sense, but it hasn't knocked me out yet. I might e-mail Dr. Roberts tomorrow and keep her notified. It very well might be the boys growing. Max is on the right and I often need to push his foot down so I can get my breath.

The twins have very different schedules. Zach is busier in the morning and evenings. He kicks a lot and does some kind of fluttering occasionally. Max is now a little pushier in his movements and he is busy in the evening and at night. He often wakes me up kicking. They don't know this yet, but after they are born, they WILL be on the same schedule!! :)

I am feeling pretty ginormous. I know many of you said at my baby shower that you didn't think I looked "that big." Well, I tried on some clothes this morning that I wore last week and they didn't fit. Not even a little bit.

Dustin informed me tonight that I need to reschedule my ultrasound for next Wednesday because he has to work! :O! I hope I can get in sooner, rather than later. I will call asap in the morning. I wouldn't go without him. It is too cool watching his face light up when he sees the boys on the monitor.

I better get into bed. I have a very long day tomorrow. I have school from 1-6 p.m. and then work from 9 p.m. - 9 a.m. It is supposed to snow, a lot. I have never exactly enjoyed driving, especially in the winter, in snow. And I need to go from Princeton to Cambridge to Princeton to Milaca. Busy!

Love to All of you,

The Big Mama

(A special prize will be awarded to who can tell me what antimated movie has a character called Big Mama!)

Kicking Babies!

Ok, check this out! I am sitting at the computer, studying, and the boys are kicking like crazy. If you watch on the video, about half way through, I hold my breath and you can first see Zach kick me, and then, almost at the end, Max gives a little punch too! :)

26 weeks, 1 day & Appointment Update

Hi,

I apologize for not posting sooner. I have been so busy. I know I always say that, but last week really was crazy insane. I didn't really sleep much last week, I was very nervous for our baby shower. I never really feel comfortable being the center of attention or having people look at me. Everyone who came to my shower, thank you. I truly felt so loved and am still overwhelmed at the turn out and the amount of generosity shown to our family. Thank you. Those words do not give my feelings justice, because honestly, there are not enough words for me to express how I feel. Be sure to scroll down and look at the pictures Dustin posted from the shower.

I went to the doctor on Friday, Feb. 27th for my 3 week check up and gestational diabetes test. I have gained 13 lbs. total (average weight gain for a single pregnancy at 26 weeks is 16-22 pounds). My blood pressure was 110/78, other vital signs perfect. I passed the gestational diabetes test with a 124 (normal is between 60-140)! I also had my hemoglobin checked, which was 12.8. I had some protein in my urine, but Dr. Roberts stated that it was because I had an early morning appointment and that is considered very normal. The boys moved SO much after the sugary drink, they just kicked and kicked and moved! It was so cool! I was waiting in the waiting room, just giggling every time they would kick and move around! :)

We will go to the University on March 18th for our next Level II ultrasound for a growth check. If everything looks great and checks out ok, I won't have to go to the University anymore and will be able to do the ultrasounds in Princeton. I actually really like going to the U, the set up is so nice and the techs are amazing, so, I certainly would be sad to miss that, but for convince, it would be nice to have everything taken care of in town.

Thank you again to all of you, for everything. It means so much to us, we can't even explain our gratitude for the prayers, love and support that we receive.

Love you All, Sara