First Bath

With Dan at Sunday basketball, I was desperate for something to keep Noah entertained that did not involve playing on the computer (which he already had done) and/or NOGGIN. So with assistance from Noah, we decided to give the girls their first bath. Here are the key learnings from the experience.

Hannah is not a fan of bath time. At all. Cried the entire time. Although she loved being in the swing afterwards.

Abbie loved bath time. She sat there and did not make a sound. We also found some cheese growing underneath one of the skin folds in her neck. Needless to say, I will be more careful from now on when feeding her.

Noah was a fantastic helper. At least at first. After the first baby was done he got bored and went into our room to watch cartoons. I guess if you've seen one bath, you've seen them all.

Miss Hannah

Miss Abbie

Hannah in the swing

Pumping. No, the other kind.

When I went to pick Noah up at school today his teacher stopped me to tell me how proud she was of Noah who learned how to "pump" today.

I was mortified with visions of Noah sitting in the loft area of the classroom demonstrating to the other kids how mommy pumps breastmilk for his new baby sisters.

Apparently his teacher was referring to the fact that he can now "pump" while on the swing.

Oops.

The baby update

Forgive me for not updating the blog sooner or faster. Today is the first day that I don't have any appointments, no company, or any real plans. I plan on just chilling out. And updating my blog.

The girls are doing very well. We're getting out of the house regularly, if only to the JCC to take Noah to school each day. I know I am supposed to be careful taking the girls into public because they are preemie's but it will never be as easy to take them out in public as it is now. For one they, all they really do is eat and sleep. Which means I can put them in their car seats and zip all over town and they will never wake up.

Health wise, they're also doing well. Abbie was polycythemic when she was born, which means that she has too many red blood cells. Her coloring was very ruddy and her hands and feet were purple/blue for a while. Frankly, she looked a little bit like a Smurf. Those numbers started coming down while we were in the hospital but then she developed jaundice as her liver tried to process the excess red blood cells. We did not spend any time in the NICU, but Abbie has been at the hospital for blood draws five out of the last six days days. Home health care also sent us a billi blanket, which is basically a band that wraps around her waist and emits a blue light that helps break down the excess blood cells. It also made her look more like a glow worm than a Smurf. The jaundice is not a big deal, but it's getting tiring having to go to the hospital everyday. The good news is that her number are continuing to go down and we don't have to use the blanket any more. We also don't have to be back at the hospital for blood work again until next week. Which is a very good thing when you consider how many times her little heels have been pricked.

In other news, Hannah also tested positive as a carrier for cystic fibrosis and she'll be going to the Children's Hospital for more blood work in the weeks ahead. This is not a huge surprise since I am CF positive and its only something she'll have to worry about when she is ready to have kids of her own. The way I see it, all of this is minor in comparison to what others have to deal with. We're not sure if Abbie is a carrier, but I don't think she is, which is further proof that the girls are fraternal twins and not identical.

And then there is Noah. He seems to be doing well with his sisters, but at times it's just as easy for him to ignore them. Noah continues to thrive at school and he's loving his teachers. He's also discovered the wonders of computers and his new favorite activity is playing games on our home computer. We signed him up for a computer class at school once a week and every morning when he sees his teacher the first thing he asks is if he can play on the computer. I like that he's interested in it, but it's also getting a bit obsessive. He could "play computer" all day long and be happy.

That's about it. We're going to the pediatrician tomorrow and I am working on the birth story (the long version) but that might take a while longer. On thing at a time.

Abbie sleeping

Hannah sleeping.

Noah and his sisters.

In the crib. Hannah is on the left, Abbie is on the right.

A special note to Dan

If your loving wife is kind enough to let you sleep from midnight to 6:30 a.m. without expecting you to get up and feed your newborn twins, do not, I repeat DO NOT have the balls the to tell her either of the following:

• That you don't feel rested, and that you're still tired.
• That you let her sleep through the midnight feeding. While technically true, in reality you let her sleep until it was time to swaddle the babies. At which point you woke her up because you needed help.
• That you really did get up and help in the middle of the night because at one point you got up to check the babies. Note to husband. . . waking up, walking six feet down the hall, and taking 10 seconds to "check the babies" does not constitute "getting up to help." That's what parents do. While your efforts are duly noted, a gold star will not be awarded.

Thanks!

The Management

Someone read this post and had a minor hissy fit over the insinuation that they do not to "help." Said person really is a good dad and does a wonderful job with the babies. But that does not change the fact that they should chose their words more carefully.

The joys of nursing

I woke up this morning wet.

Wet because my turbo charged right breast decided to leak clear through my one decent nursing bra, and all over a dry-clean only bedspread, pillow case and pillow.

Part of this is probably my fault. Unlike when Noah was a newborn, I REFUSE to pump in the middle of the night (I pump exclusively instead of putting the babies on the breast). Pumping is a lot of work as it is and I am trying to condition my body to produce what I need when I need it so that I don't have to take 20 minutes to pump after spending 45 minutes feeding twins at 3am. Being a little (re. a lot) competitive/anal about having a good supply, I've been taking herbal supplements to help speed things along on the production side of things. Let's just say a little is going a long way and that I will think twice about taking the supplement before bed in the future. Probably not that necessary. I woke up engorged and covered in milk. I then spent close to an hour emptying the milk out of my breasts.

Fun times with the Fox family!

Another Open Letter to Dr. Carter

Dear Dr. Carter,

Well, it's been a week.

Exactly eight days ago I was laboring in the hospital. My water had been broken, the babies were being monitored and I was in the process of receiving my second of two epidurals. I was tired, and anxious, and so excited that the pregnancy portion of this experience was coming to an end. As my previous post/letter politely indicated, I was ready for the babies to be out.

And here we are. A eight days later. With TWIN girls. Who are happy, healthy, and doing wonderful. They eat well. Sleep well. And are content with life in general.

As for me, well, I kinda sorta feel bad about my earlier manifesto. I had no idea just how physically demanding carrying twins was (I had more than 13 pounds of baby inside of me!) and hindsight has made me appreciate your patience even more. Right now, what needs to be said more than anything else is thank you.

Thank you for being patient. For taking the time to answer my questions. For having a sense of humor. And for looking out for the mental and physical best interests of me and my kids. You played an integral role in giving me something that I never knew just how much I wanted: Hannah and Abbie. Stunned doesn't adequately describe just how we felt about having twins and you were along for the ride with us.

But enough schmaltz. Now that the babies are here safe and sound there are a few other things I must thank you for.

My ankles. It took a week but I can almost see them. There is some swelling still, but it's a HUGE improvement over last week. I no longer look like a body double for the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

The ability to shop without sweating and/or having to stop to go to the bathroom. I went to Target earlier in the week and finding the joy in shopping again was close to a religious experience. My husband doesn't thank you, but I do.

The ability to drive my car without the steering wheel touching my stomach. From a safety standpoint, this is big.

The ability to sleep COMFORTABLY and on my stomach. Yeah me! I can stretch out in bed and get a decent night's sleep with you the assistance of ambien, percocet, or bendryl.

The bathroom. I pity the people who took my advice and bought stock in Charmin and Cotonelle. My consumption has gone WAY down. The bathroom is now a place to discreetly relive oneself, not a bedroom/office/den.

That's about it from me. Now that the pregnancy is over I am a little sad that I won't be seeing you every week but I think we'll both find a better use of the time. Lord knows I have my hands full.

Cheers!

Toby (and Hannah & Abbie)

p.s. Sorry if this letter seems to ramble a bit. . . blame it on the hormones. Which are FINALLY starting to normalize. Something else to be grateful for!

p.p.s. I know you can't admit it, but aren't Hannah & Abbie the CUTEST twins you've ever delivered? Seriously. . . you know they are.

Returning to the land of the living

My goal is to post a couple of longer posts this weekend. But for now you'll have to do with some random musings.

We came home from the hospital on Sunday and are quickly getting used to life with twins.

We still can't tell the babies apart. At least, I can't. Hannah is now sporting pink toenail polish. I never thought I would give a pedicure to a five day old baby. She also has acquired the nickname snort. . .because she tends to snort like a piggie when she is hungry. Very cute!

An important milestone was achieved today. I went to Target and did not break a sweat from walking nor did I have to go to the bathroom once. Go me. And even more exciting, my feet are not looking nearly as swollen. They're still puffy, but I can almost see my ankles.

Babies had their first outing today to Borders. My goal was to be out of the house by 7pm. and it only took us an extra 20 minutes to get out the door. At least we've established a baseline.

Announcing the newest members of the family

Hannah Eve
August 14, 2008 * 11:54 p.m.
6 pounds, 4 ounces
19 inches



Abigail (Abbie) Eden
August 14, 2008 * 11:59 p.m.
6 pounds, 7 ounces
18.5 inches

**Disclaimer, based on the picture alone we're not sure who's who!

Babies are coming!

Just a short update. . . .

I went to the OB this morning and he took pity on me and decided to induce labor. In reality my blood pressure was still a bit higher than they would like so medically it made more sense to get the babies out rather than keep them in.

After a bumpy afternoon I am happy to say that I am 6-7 centimeters dilated and drugged to the point where I don't feel my lower body. Which is just how God (in my opinion) intended it.


At the moment I am just hanging out in the room alone for a few minutes. My mom is here with Dan and my mother in law who literally hopped in the car and drove from Long Beach, CA to Scottsdale as soon as she heard about the induction.

I'm tired and hungry, but all things considered pretty good.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The good: I am 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and I had my membranes stripped. And I went on maternity leave.

The bad: I am still pregnant.

The ugly: I feel like crap and want the babies here more than ever.

I saw my OB on Monday and he did he thing hoping that would jump start labor on it's own. I hate to be pessimistic, but I don't have the best track record in this area. I walked around for 10 days dilated and with stripped membranes before Noah decided to make his entrance into the world. So I am/was less than optimistic that Dr. Carter would be able to work his magic and "poof" send me spiraling into labor. But we tried. He told me that he doesn't like to induce before 37 weeks without reason, but he wants to keep and eye on my symptoms and see what happens. He also told me to come back on Thursday. And he's on call that day. Which he specifically pointed out.

I am PRAYING that tomorrow is the day. Dan is coming with me to the appointment and we just hope that Dr. Carter takes pity on my and decides to deliver. The babies are both healthy and we think they're about 6 pounds each. Meaning I am carrying 12 pounds+ of baby. And people wonder why I am cranky?!

An Open Letter to my OB

Dear Dr. Carter -

One of the many reasons I asked you to be my OB/GYN is because of the word of mouth reputation you've developed among your patients. Many of whom are friends of mine. These are women I trust, whose opinions I value, and whose children you've delivered and now play with with my own.

For the last nine months you've taken good care of me and the twin girls I am carrying. You've been honest, caring, and thorough in your approach. You've treated me with respect and a sense of humor, and have always taken the time to answer my questions with honesty and candor. And you've put up with my myriad of pregnancy questions and neurosis. Also commendable.

Now that we've reached the end of the pregnancy I need to appeal to you. As a father, husband, and as a physician.

For the love of God and all things holy get these babies out of me. NOW (please).

I can't do this anymore. I am sick of going to the bathroom 40 times a day. I am not exaggerating, and if you don't believe me you can check the grocery bill. Seriously, the only people making money in this economy are the people who hold stock in Charmin and Cotonelle. I am dropping small fortune every week on toilet paper. My office is going make me write it into my budget at the rate we're going. And while we're on the subject of the bathroom, I would like to remind you (again) of how much I long for the days when I could go to the store (any store) and do my shopping without have to stop and go to the bathroom multiple times. Not exactly a pleasant experience for someone who despises public restrooms to begin with.

And have I mentioned that we live in Arizona where it's been 100+ degrees for weeks? Because there is nothing more fun (re. miserable) than being pregnant with twins in Arizona in the summer.

About four months ago I told you that I would like to sleep through the night at least once before the babies come. At the time, you laughed and sympathized with me. But right now I don't need humor and sympathy. I need these babies OUT. Between getting up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom (please see above) and the carpal tunnel syndrome that causes my hands to tingle and wake me up, I am exhausted. And did I mentioned that I need a forklift to get out of bed in the first place because my stomach has gotten so big?

I can't walk without waddling. My feet are swollen to the point where all I can wear are flip flips (thank you CROCS) and I am starting to outgrow my maternity clothes. That reality has done NOTHING for my self-esteem, by the way. If it weren't for the maternity stretch pants I ordered at the GAP (the greatest pants EVER) I would be walking around half naked right now. And that would not be a pretty sight. I even scored a gift card at Islands after being humiliated over the fact that I can longer fit behind one of their tables. I ache everywhere. And the "non-stress tests" that have been ordered twice a week are starting to become more stress than they are worth. Seriously. You have no idea how much I appreciate your thoroughness, but is 3.5 hours at the hospital without a drink or snack really what you had in mind?

All of this said, when I come to your office tomorrow (August 11, 2008 at 3:30) I implore you to strip, break, induce, rupture, and/or futz with something that will ultimately enable these babies to make their eagerly anticipated entrance into the world. Sooner rather than later would be most appreciated. And by sooner I mean within the next 24-48 hours. The babies are ready. And I'm BEYOND ready.

If you don't believe me, ask yourself this. Would a rational woman would write a manifesto her to obstetrician and put it on the internet?

Most sincerely,

Toby

I'm glad that everyone is so thorough

But enough with the goddamn non-stress tests. . . which lately seem to be a bit more stressful than they should be.

On the advice of a friend I spent the 45 minutes before the appointment walking around the mall. Since walking encourages labor this seemed like a good a idea. And since I was going straight to the hospital it seemed like an even better idea. So I walked. I shopped (got a FABULOUS deal on matching dresses for the girls involving a store credit I had at the Gap) and tried to get things moving. No such luck.

Got the the hospital at 5pm and my favorite nurse (Heather) wasn't there. But the nurse that was assigned to me was fun and it looked like I would be in and out within an hour. Talk about wishful thinking. One hour and four nurses later they still could not get BOTH babies on the monitor at the same time. They got the information they needed out of both babies individually, and they knew that they were healthy, but they needed to see how they interact together. So they called the on-call Dr. from my practice (have I mentioned that twice I have been at the hospital when she has been on-call and TWICE I have never met her) who decided I would have a biophysical profile (BPP) instead. Like an NST, the BPP also checks to see whether or not the babies are getting enough oxygen.

So after I spent an hour on the monitor, it's been decided I need a BPP instead and the nurses left me in the room alone for another 45 minutes. Did I mention that I was still hooked up to the blood pressure machine and fetal monitor but that neither were turned on? When I realized that they weren't coming back I unhooked myself from the equipment, went to the bathroom, moved from the bed to the recliner and flipped on the TV. If I was going to wait I was going to be comfortable.

A nurse came back at 7:15 and asked if they had taken me to the ultrasound lab yet. Nope. I asked her if I could get something to eat, since I hadn't had anything since 1:30. She replies "we're you thinking of ordering something from the cafeteria?" Uh no. I was thinking you could fetch me something from the catering cart instead. No such luck. She then informed that they were calling transport. And I never got a snack.

Transport = wheelchair. Here's the thing. I'm pregnant, not disabled. I am perfectly capable of walking and the hospital refused to let me even after I promised not to sue them if I tripped along the way. If nothing else, maybe walking to ultrasound lab would put me in labor. Wheelchairs are for people who legitimatley for people who cannot walk. Not for avoiding lawsuits. Personally, I found being pushed in the wheelchair humiliating.

Eventually had the ultrasound and the babies we're fine and they got a perfect score of 10 out of 10. The sonographer told me that the test usually lasts and hour (!) with twins but somehow by the grace of God mine only lasted 30 minutes. The girls cooperated and are overachievers. Score!

Transport eventually came to wheel me back to the room (more humiliation) and I waited for someone to discharge me. According to the nurse, the OB on-call from my practice "felt bad" that I had been there so long. Glad someone did. I walked out of the hospital at 8:40 p.m. And found myself driving home in a raging Arizona monsoon storm.

You know how the nurses told me a few weeks ago that a drop in the barometric pressure when storms come through town causes women to go into labor? Bullshit. If that were the case I would have given birth to twins two days ago.

Can you tell that I am ready to be done?!

Everyone has an opinion

On when they think the babies will come.

My dad thinks it will happen tomorrow (Thursday) because he's taking Noah to see the Cardinals. Not so sure what the connection is between labor and the Cardinals but that's his opinion.

My mom thinks it will happen on Friday because it's August 8th (8/8/08) and the number 8 is lucky in Asian cultures.

My colleagues thinks it will happen on Monday, August 11. Why? Because they "like" the date.

Right now I am feeling the same anxiety I felt when I was pregnant with Noah. Every week I would go to the doctor thinking labor was "imminent" because I was dilating and then I end up disappointed when nothing would happen. Mind you, I started dilating at 36 weeks and Noah was born 5 weeks later. Babies come when they want, not the other way around.

Every pain, every twinge, every muscle stretched. . .makes me think I could be going into labor. And I hate this feeling. The longer the babies are inside of me the better off they are. I know that. But I am ready to be done. I want to meet them, and move on.

Stick a fork in me

I am done. I am tired and cranky and ready to have these babies. I have NO social life whatsoever because it's too hot to go anywhere and too uncomfortable to make it worthwhile.

I *heart* Lifetime

There is NOTHING that I love more than a trashy Lifetime movie.

She Cried No. . . The one where the kid from the Wonder Years abuses and then kills the chick from Full House? Priceless.

Anything involving Meredith Baxter Birney. . . . heaven. Her work in A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story and the sequel Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter was Emmy worthy.

She's Too Young. . . about sexually active 14 year-olds and a syphilis outbreak. Riveting.

ANYTHING involving sorority hazing. . . in particular Dying to Belong starring Hillary Swank and Zach from Saved by the Bell.

But my new favorite Lifetime dreck movie. . . .Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal. You can't tell me this does not sound at least a little interesting:

"Five high school cheerleaders, including the daughter of the school principal, run amok -- and teachers, parents and administrators allow them to get away with a wide range of scandalous behavior. Know as the "fab five," the girls disregard school rules, drink alcohol and post suggestive pictures on the Internet. But when the new cheerleading coach attempts to discipline them, her superiors ask her to resign. The real version of the events took place in McKinney, Texas, a Dallas suburb, and received national media attention in 2006."

Basically, the girls a little b**ches and the adults let them get away with it.

Where we are now

Since Friday I've been concerned that the babies haven't been as active as they should be. I could feel them move, but they weren't as vigorous as they usually are. By Sunday morning, I had enough so I called Dan at basketball and had him come home so we could go to labor & delivery instead. Long story short, everything was fine and as soon as the babies got on the monitor they starting fighting with each other and moving like crazy. What can I say. The one thing that did annoy me was that my OB's partner was on call and I never saw/met her. At one point she and my nurse were having a conversation in the room but the doctor was on the other side of the curtain from me. She never came over to introduce herself. Kind of annoyed me.


In other news, today I went to see Dr. Carter.

He did an internal exam (fun!) and I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. This is a good thing as it means my body is doing what it should be doing. Of course, the first words out of my mouth were, "but this doesn't necessarily mean labor is imminent." When I was pregnant with Noah I started dilated and effacing at 36 weeks. And I kept dilating and he was born a week late. The moral of the story is that dilation does not equal imminent labor. My blood pressure was high but since I don't have any other symptoms of pre-eclampsia they're not too worried. I asked when they thought I would deliver I was told "maybe in the next week" but when I pressed further I was told that prediction is based partly on statistic. If there is ONE thing I learned with Noah is that babies come when THEY want to come, not the other way around. Dr. Carter said that they would check me again next week, do another internal exam, and see if that gets things going.

My mom thinks the girls are coming Friday because 8/8/08 would be a cool birthday because it's a lucky number in Chinese. I think someone is watching a little too much pre-Olympic coverage.

The one thing that did tick me off (a bit) was when Dr. Carter asked "if I was awake a night thinking about delivery still." More than likely it was an innocent comment, but to a hot, tired pregnant woman I didn't appreciate the insinuation. My body. My baby. I will worry if I want.


What I did express was my concern about someone other than him delivering me. Especially since I don't know the other doctors in the practice (and the one didn't introduce herself yesterday). I told him that labor and delivery is personal and invasive and I was uncomfortable about having a stranger do it. His idea of reassuring me was to tell me that one thing they have that he doesn't is experience since they've been practicing longer. . . .

I have a sharp tongue. And I had to BITE IT HARD since my first instinct was to say, "yes, but I didn't choose them, I chose YOU." Followed by, "you're not inspiring a lot of confidence in your abilities by bragging that they have more experience." But I wanted to be a lady so I didn't speak my mind (first time for everything).

Plus I decided that pissing off the person who may be sticking his hands inside of me and extracting two babies would not be a prudent idea. Again, I was hot. I am physically tired. And I had to pee for about the 30th time since lunch. My patience is pretty much non-existent.

A new pregnancy "symptom"

Let me preface this post by saying that I feel incredibly grateful to have had an easy twin pregnancy. No bleeding, no pre-term labor, I'm still working full-time, and everyone (myself included) is healthy. My blood pressure is a little wacky (high at the OB's office and low at the hospital) and I have a lot of swelling in my feet but in the big picture this is pretty minor.


That said, sleep has become a precious commodity. I can't get comfortable and I wake up every 2-3 hours to go to the bathroom, and then I have to try and go back to sleep. I've also developed a new pregnancy symptom/complication: carpal tunnel syndrome.

I had minor carpal tunnel when I was pregnant with Noah. My hands would "fall asleep" at night and I was advised to wear wrist braces, which really didn't do much to help. But in the last week I've started having problems again and it seems to be a lot worse than last time. My hands "fall asleep," are stiff, achy, and my fingers will get numb (they did this morning). They're also swollen. It's not bad, but bad enough that I notice and can feel the difference. So I did what every savvy pregnant woman does when a new symptom arises: I looked it up on the Internet.

According to www.Babycenter.com: "The carpal tunnel is a bony canal formed by the wrist bones on three sides and a ligament that runs across the wrist on the other. The swelling and fluid retention that's so common during pregnancy can increase the pressure in this relatively narrow and inflexible space, compressing the median nerve that runs through it.The median nerve gives sensation to the thumb and the index, middle, and half of the ring finger and is responsible for movement of a muscle at the base of the thumb. Pressure on this nerve is what causes the symptoms. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or a dull ache in the fingers, hand, wrist, and even up the arm to the shoulder. In severe chronic cases, your hand may feel clumsy or weak."


I HAVE to think this pregnancy is starting to wind down.

Things I Learned About Twins (while at work today)

Accoring to Pregnancy at about.com:

• Average birth weights for twins are 5 lbs 5 oz.
• About 35% of twins will be born by week 35
• Labor will begin in the majority of twin pregnancies before 37 weeks with 50% of deliveries between 34 and 37 weeks.
• Most vaginal born twins are born within an hour of each other, though this can vary from one right after the other, to several hours. FYI, we're hoping for a vaginal delivery. Although my mom thinks that c-section babies are "prettier."

Another Milestone

I am 34 weeks pregnant today. Yeah me.

Since day one I had been told that if I go into labor before 34 weeks they will pump me with medicine and try to stop the labor. AFTER 34 weeks I was told that they would give me drugs to help the babies (steroids for lung development) but that they wouldn't stop my labor from progressing.

I guess this means any day now, right?