22 weeks- K photography!

Sporadic post this week, but I wanted to highlight the photo session done by my dear friend Sarah Kallansrud of K Photography. She is my partner in crime and my creative co-hort, and she did an amazing job in a very short amount of time on these photos for our Christmas card. Between having a tight schedule, a grouchy first trimester twin mama, and a not even to year old she faced the challenges like the pro she is and made us look good! 

In other news, I start physical therapy on Monday, and we are going to try and get quite a bit done on Isaac's big boy room this weekend. The girls are moving like crazy, so much so you can already even SEE them. These next two weeks waiting for our next appointment and the milestone of 24 weeks (viability) seems to be inching by, but thankfully there is plenty to fill the time. I am very tired all the time, but I take that as a sign that they are growing, so I take comfort in that. 

Love from our little family.

21 weeks

We are more than half way, whew. A lot has happened. We have had our 20 week apt. and still everything looks good. With all the growing, and my fibromyalgia pain our Dr. recommended that I start physical therapy to help with how large and uncomfortable I might become.  Our OB said going forward they will do a big scan to check on the girls and see how they are growing every 4 weeks. We won't go back to the Dr. until 24 weeks, which is a little unnerving for me because I like to see them, but it is good, because it means they are not concerned.

Since 18 weeks, we decided to put our cat Henry, to sleep. He was getting quite frail and grouchy and throwing up all the time. At 14 he was having a hard time. We knew that going forward he would have a hard time adjusting. When we brought him in the vet said he was definitely not looking well, so we knew it was time.  It was very hard. Henry had been a wonderful companion through illness and the move to both Lafayette and Dallas. He will be missed.  

We still have Indecisive, Indeterminate, Incomparable, Inde to keep us on our toes. Life will never be dull :) He is adjusting to life as the only kitty, and I rather think he prefers it. Except for the fact that he is now the sole focus of Isaac's torment (hugs and kisses, chasing). 

We had a wonderful Christmas, Isaac got an Ikea kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa, topped off by my in-laws Gwen and Andrew McGuckin coming at New Years and helping us around the house. Gwen helped me cook a ton of food for our freezer (mostly she did the cooking and I cleaned up) Luke and Andrew hung out our awesome shelf (1st picture) and helped us get some work done on the bathrooms. They also moved out some furniture to make some room in Isaac's new room!

When I have energy and time I have been sorting through closets, packing up little boys clothes, sorting through little girls clothes that I have been picking up at garage sales :) Things are starting to come together. It feels like we have a long way to go sometimes, and then I feel like we have a lot to do in not very much time.  For now it's just keep busy enough to pass the time without doing to much to make me tired.

For now over and out from the Benders.

18 weeks and.......

Girls!!!!!!!
 

We had our 18 week Fetal Medicine appointment this week. The beginning of this journey was so scary worrying about our littles being in the same sac and all the other complications that can come with identical twins, but this appointment was almost nothing but encouraging! God is so good, sometimes it blows my socks off! Our girls, GIRLS! look great! They are right on track growth wise at 9 oz. each. In fact they are now measuring a day BIGGER than their due date. (Oh my if we are headed for 2 Isaacs :)

They were moving all over the map, kicking each other, flipping around, all kinds off mess that make it fun for the dr.'s to chase them around for measurements.

They only potential complication they saw was baby A seems to have a tiny hole in her heart, but the cardiologist said she's not even worried about it. At this stage it is most likely going to close up as she grows, but even if it doesn't it won't cause serious complications and will most likely heal itself after birth. We are going back to see the cardiologist as 28 weeks for a better look when their hearts are more fully formed. 

So far there is no sign of TTS, or any type of nutrient stealing. They didn't even recommend us come back to the specialist unless our normal OB sees something at our appointments.

I wonder if at a place where so many people have to go for complications, it was nice for them to give some parents some good news!

So now comes more prep work for these little people. I am currently packing up the boy clothes, although I'll still hold off on handing them down for a couple more weeks for them to make double sure these girls are really girls, but the Fetal Med Dr. had no doubts. 

I have had to change my picture location to in front of the pantry due to there now being an Ikea kitchen in the former area. Maybe next week I will get around to posting pictures of the progress we have made on the house so far especially thanks to my awesome in-laws Gwen and Andrew! But for now I have to catch up from the holidays, whew.

Thank You all for your prayers. I am just amazed at the miracle of these little people and feeling more and more excited about their being here!