"Let's Hope He Keeps Rolling Sevens"

Tonight Ricky and I start lamaze classes. Should be interesting.We had our "ABC's of Babies" class last night. We got there almost an hour late. We were told it was in the waiting room at the hospital at 6:30pm, so we got there at 6:15pm. The doors were locked. We went around asking random nurses if there was another way in the building. No one knew what we were talking about. So, we waited until 6:30 to see if someone would come open the door...no one.

Then we went inside the hospital and asked a lady at the information desk. She said to try the door again and if it was still locked, come back and she'd call around for us. We get back to the door, and it's open. We go in and the lady is just getting set up. She says the class doesn't start until 7pm. Ricky and I start to help her set up because we're the only people there.She starts passing out a packet with a Lamaze magazine in it. I asked her, "Is this ABC's of Babies"? She says no, it's lamaze. We were in the wrong class!

We left that building and drove around to the Women's Pavillion to see if the class was there. We get up to the labor and delivery area to speak to one of the nurses and find out that the classes are actually in a completely different building down the road from the hospital! We didn't even know this building existed! So, we drive around trying to find this phantom building and we finally did. We walk in and caught the end of the baby video. We're going to watch what we didn't see of the video tonight before lamaze.

What we got to enjoy of the class was pretty good. We were the only couple in there that was having twins, so we got to work with two babies. I think Ricky needs a bit more practice on diapering babies, but he did good for his first try! It's very hard to diaper a hard plastic baby doll! The fabric body babies are much easier.

We'll see how class goes tonight.

Britney Marie

"Pain Can Be Controlled--You Just Disconnect It"

Do you ever have those times when it feels like no matter what it is you do or say just isn't right? You can bend over backwards for people, do everything you can to help them, and they look at you like you owed it to them to do it? How do people like that live with themselves? What's the point in doing nice things for people when they never appreciate them anyway? Why do you continue to do these things when you know it will only hurt you later when they don't seem to care? Why do you try to please them? You say, "No more." but know deep down that you're only lying to yourself. How do these people get away with it? They should all be terminated.

Britney Marie

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