Events Of The Day Before

Ricky and I had to make an emergency trip to PC yesterday. My step-dad got hit by a car while riding his bicycle. He was coming down Cove Blvd. crossing one of the smaller side roads heading from the Yacht Club to his house, and this lady in a white SUV ran him over. The front tire of his bicycle was sucked underneath the car and he was knocked off. He did a few rolls down the road and ended up laying in the middle of Cove Blvd along with his mangled bike. EMT was called and they took him to the hospital. Fortunately, he was wearing his helmet so he lived. He has bruises, cuts, and scrapes on him and is extremely sore, but he's fine.

Yet Another Baby Update

The doctor's appointment went well. They said we do not have TTTS, but getting it is still a possibility down the road. So, I'll just go see the specialist once a month unless something goes wrong.

We did find out some information though. I'm not allowed to travel after 28 weeks. So, no leaving Tallahassee after the last week in May. And most likely we won't have to have them extremely earliy, and I might not need a c-section.

Britney Marie

Our Newest Addition to the Family

Dr. Connors. That is the name of the lizard who has decided he likes to live in our house. He was here once before, I think back around Christmas, or maybe even before. He likes to scurry about so it took Ricky like 3 days to catch him and give him the boot outside. Last night I noticed him back on his wall over the window in the living room. I think I'll let Ricky keep him. Besides, if he gets on the floor, the cats will eat him.

Doctor's appointment in t-minus two hours and counting. I'll update when we get back.

Stephanie

Specialist Appointment & TTTS Information

I can't sleep. Today at 2pm we have an appointment with the maternal-fetal specialist. I hear he's very nice. I keep telling myself that I should go lay down and get some sleep, but I can't stop thinking about Emma and Olivia.

Last night when I also couldn't sleep, I looked up some information on monochorionic diamniotic twins. Monochorionic means that the babies share a placenta. This means they are identical. Diamniotic means they each have their own amniotic sac, which is what keeps them from having the possibility of the umbilical chord wrapping around them (which is a problem with monochorionic monamniotic) and it also means that the twins will not be conjoined, also a good thing to know. Of the different types of identical twins, the mono/di is the most common. Unfortunately, this is the type that has the highest incidence of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). It only happens in about 15% of the mono/di pregnancies. There is a 1 in 930 chance of getting TTTS in a given pregnancy.

The problem with TTTS, is that it has nothing to do with the babies. The babies are healthy, it's the placenta. Getting diagnosed before 25 weeks is more serious (and I'm at 19 weeks) because the babies cannot be delivered this early. There are different ways that they try to treat TTTS, but I haven't really been able to understand what exactly it is that they do. I do know that one treatment is laser surgery, but I don't know what that entails.

Our appointment today is a screening to determine if this is what the problem is. It could be that the babies are just two different sizes. I try to remind myself to think on the positive side, but I don't want to be all sunshiney and then have the worst-case scenerio happen and not be prepared for it. I figure if I research everything, good and bad, then I won't be surprised. If I know all about the bad and am ready for it, and we get good news, I'll be that much happier.

If anyone is interested in this subject, you should check out the TTTS Foundation. It has a lot of good information. Ok, off to try to take a nap. *yawn* Keep our family in your thoughts throughout the day please.

Stephanie, Ricky, Emma & Olivia

I Assure You We're Open

I feel like poo.

Britney Marie

Emma & Olivia Update *Very Important*

Ricky and I got some unsettling news today on the phone. Edie, the nurse at my OB, called us today. She just recieved the ultrasound photos from radiology that we had taken at our last appointment. Edie told us that our babies are monochorionic diamniotic, which she says means that they are sharing a placenta and amniotic sac. (Though I was under the impression that di- meant two, so there is a bit of confusion there) Anyways, this means that our babies are most likely identical. We were also told that Baby A is taking the nutrients away from Baby B, which is why Baby B is smaller than Baby A. Right now there isn't much of a difference in their size (Baby A is 7ounces and Baby B is 6ounces) but this could get worse over time. I have been referred to a maternal specialist and have our first apointment this Thursday. I've also been termed "high risk of the high risk" so I can't do much at the moment. Edie also said that it is most likely that we'll have to deliver early and it will most likely be a c-section. I could deliver as early as 24 weeks, which is a month and a half away (I'm at 18 weeks now). I am terrified. I have this overwhelming feeling that I'm killing my babies!!! But I'm doing all that I can.

Unfortunately I've had to cancel my FOB concert with Deidre. I feel terrible. I was looking forward to that SO much!!

I hate this.

Stephanie

Little Did He Know...

Yesterday we got two cribs put together and the changing table / dresser put together. We were working on the armoir (sp?) and they forgot to give us the second box that goes with it. We only had half the pieces! So, we gave up and watched "Stranger Than Fiction". This morning Mom and I are going to go attempt to pick up the second box so we can get the armoir together and then we're going to do some other running around.

Britney Marie