Home Sweet Home!

I finally made it home after 8 days in the hospital. For those of you that don't know the story, I have been miserable for most of my pregnancy with non-stop vomiting and bloody diarrhea (I know... TMI). My doctor tried everything that he could think of, but nothing was working. I thought that it was just something that came along with pregnancy because I did not have any of these symptoms before.

The first week of July it seemed to be getting worse. On the night of July 4th I got a really funny sinking feeling that just didn't feel right. Since we have 2 little ones to think about we decided to go to the emergency room at 2:30 AM. I was severely dehydrated and anemic. They pumped me full of fluids and took a few "samples" to see what was going on. The doctor thought that I had a bacterial infection but it would take a few days for the culture to grow to know for sure.

By the next day, my blood count had gone from 7 to 6 (normal is 10-12) so they decided to give me a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood. The results of the culture came back the next day and no bacterial infection. The GI doctor came in for a consultation and decided that I needed a colonoscopy the next day at noon to know for sure what I have.

That night I had to do the prep for the colonoscopy which includes drinking 64 oz of Gatorade mixed with a laxative. I was on a clear liquid diet until midnight and was not allowed to have anything, including water, after midnight. I was starving and miserable. By 11 AM the next day, I was feeling awful and thought that I was having contractions. A labor and delivery nurse checked me out and sure enough, I was having regular contractions. The doctors decided to go ahead with the procedure but without any pain medication or anesthesia (it wasn't that bad). As soon as it was done, I got a shot to stop the contractions and 2 more units of blood.

It turns out that I have Ulcerative Colitis. The GI doctor decided to keep me in the hospital for 5 more days so that they could give me the medication through the IV. I started having contractions again after the first dose of medication so I had to move back to the labor and delivery unit and get another shot to stop the contractions.

The babies are doing great. They are measuring well for their age and moving and kicking up a storm. The boy is 1 lb 8 oz and the girl is 1 lb 11 oz. The medication that they are giving me is a steroid which will give the babies a jump start on their lung development if they happen to come a little early (hopefully, not too early).

It is a relief to finally be home and to know what it is that has been making me feel so sick and exhausted for so long. Maybe I can finally start to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. At least I can eat a little better now.

22 Weeks and Counting

It has been 22 weeks and the morning sickness continues. My husband and the dog are no longer surprised when I make a run for the bathroom. Wasn't the morning sickness supposed to end at 12 weeks or 17 weeks? Not for me. I miss all of my favorite yummy spicy foods. Jalapeño poppers, Dim Sum, and hot wings are a distant memory. I have gotten heartburn from a blueberry bagel, so I can just imagine. My newest cravings are crawfish (which are unfortunately out of season), crab and ROOT BEER.

Here's hoping that week 24 will bring the end of the dreaded morning sickness!

Week 19 Babies' Photos

It's official... we are having a BOY and a GIRL. The boy is on my right side and the girl has made herself comfortable under my ribs on the left side.

It's a Boy

It's a Girl
Baby Boy profile

Baby Girl profile

Charlie's Friends

My Mom came to Austin this weekend for Mothers' Day and brought her 2 Dachshunds, Flash and Tippy-Toes. Charlie had a great time chasing them around and eating their food and treats.

Flash (right) and Tippy-Toes (left)

We'll have what he's having

Let us in!

3-Day Walk

For 3 days in November my sister, Nina, is going to be sacrificing her time, her soft bed, and her blister-free toes to walk in the Arizona Breast Cancer 3-Day. The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 3 day, 60 mile walk to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. Obviously, this is not something that you can just show up for in November and start walking. This is a physically demanding walk that you have to train well in advance for. On top of that, Nina has pledged to raise $2,200 to participate in the walk. She has planned several fundraising events to meet her goal like a volleyball tournament, a poker tournament, and a luncheon. She has also been selling baked goods to her co-workers.

Check out the link to her 3-Day Training Blog to see how her training and fundraising efforts are progressing. If you have any great fundraising ideas she would love to hear them (so would her co-workers who are going to gain 50 lbs due to the bake sales).

Way to go Nina! We are so proud of you!

15 Week Babies Photos

Babies Side-by-Side (B left, A right)


Baby B

Baby A is a thumb sucker

Backyard

Charlie has his very first backyard since he has been with us. Unfortunately, he does not know what he is supposed to be doing back there. For years I have been dreaming of letting the dog out in the backyard to do his business instead of dragging him all over the apartment complex at at all hours of the day and night. After he had marked all of the trees and bushes in the backyard (within the first couple of days) he got bored with the backyard and just lays there until Chris or I take him for a walk in the neighborhood. I think that he has us figured out.