What's in a Name?

Sometimes, being pregnant with twins is scary. There are a lot of scary stories out there on what could happen, and you have to just do what you can and hope for the best. A few weeks ago, a couple in our twins class - due just AFTER us - gave birth to their sons. They're tiny, but doing as well as can be expected. They'll be spending a while in the NICU, but will hopefully do well!

Today, we reached our next big milestone (the first one was 24 weeks - the age of viability)! We are now 28 weeks!

The second milestone is 28 weeks, when viability skyrockets. Ninety percent of babies who make it to this stage of gestation survive. Long-term complications — including cerebral palsy, vision and breathing problems — are still a possibility, however.

So along with everything else, we've been trying to get everything ready for the girls - clothes, rooms, names...

Oh did I say names?

Yep! We've picked names for our girls, so we can stop calling them A and B!

Gary and I spent the weekend making some decorations for their room. Once we finally decide how exactly we're going to arrange their room, we're going to hang these on the walls over their cribs!

Elizabeth Claire


Madeline Grace

27 Week Update

I can't believe I'm already in the THIRD trimester - my how time flies! (Or, I'm almost there, depending on which count you go by!)

So much has happened since my last update (I'm a terrible updater, sorry about that!) First things first - the babies! Everything is going wonderfully so far. I had my latest appointments and ultrasound yesterday, and everybody is continuing to grow on schedule - a bit ahead of schedule actually. Baby A and B have switched places, and now baby B is lower down. She weighs 2 lbs 9 oz already! Baby A is a bit higher up (and breech, the stinker!) and weighs in at 2 lbs 7 oz! So I've officially got 5 pounds of babies in me! I'm also measuring, size wise, about 37 weeks - 10 full weeks ahead!! I'm definitely starting to feel it - it's becoming increasingly difficult to move around (especially getting up!) I try not to complain though, because all in all, I've had a fairly easy pregnancy so far!

(Click for a bigger version!)

Also in the last month was my baby shower! 24 Weeks was about the latest my doctors will let me travel, so the shower was a bit early - it was also my last chance to visit home before the babies come. Grandma Carlson and Grandma White planned it, and it was really nice to see everyone! Thanks everyone for everything!

This is What Happens...

...when Erica tells me that it's OK to draw on her belly!

We were making cheese fondue for our wedding anniversary last night and I just couldn't resist an opportunity to have some fun. Don't worry, I used washable markers :)

Head of the Class

We had our first official parenting class this weekend which was held at the local hospital. This particular class was designed for expectant parents of multiples and was taught by a nurse. The focus was on topics that pertained to the unique challenges involved in the pregnancy and birth of twins.

To be honest, there was not a whole lot of new information that we haven't read in books or online already. I believe the the real benefit of attending that class was to meet and interact with other couples having twins. There were 2 other couples there and a woman who came without her husband. One couple about our age was expecting twin boys about the same time as our girls, so it was fun to share stories, hopes and fears with people going through the same thing we are.

We have a few more classes lined up later on and even a Daddy Boot Camp sponsored by the hospital that looked like fun. Hopefully, we'll be able to build relationships with people we meet along the way.