Our Kids

Okay so here is what is happening with the girls this week.

As the blood vessels in the lungs developed last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin developing this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant, which covers the inner lining of the air sacs, which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing without sticking together. Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems.

The babies are more and more aware of their surroundings and can hear noise and respond to light. In the same way that you can see a flashlight through your hand if you hold it against the palm, your babies can see the light coming through your belly and uterus. You may notice increased activity when you are outside or in brighter light. Conversely, you may notice decreased activity in darkened rooms. Since the babies’ hearing is also becoming more developed, there will likely be more reaction and movement in response to loud or sudden noises.

Many moms begin talking or singing to their baby at this stage, mine will appreciate it if I DON’T sing:) The babies can also hear my heartbeat, my breathing, and my stomach growling (that doesn’t happen too often).

Everything is going great. I feel great, Jason is good, there was a lunar eclipse last night and it is getting chilly outside:)

We have a doctor’s appointment on Monday, just the usual, pee in a cup, step on the scale, take your blood pressure etc. He is starting to measure my cervix and monitor me for premature labor but I am pretty confident that we are doing great and will be able to go longer than anyone expects!

Well it is starting to happen. We are in to week 26 and I can’t see my feet. Some things I am glad that I can’t see like my butt! It definitely started to get jealous of my expanding tummy so it has chimed in with its 2 cents and is growing as well. Yipee! Good news is that it is easy to ignore, for now.

I noticed that I could not see my feet when I:

Tripped over a box and almost took Jason out (I had a knife in my hand when I tripped…..hey he asked me to bring him a knife, I can’t be held responsible for that, maybe he should have gotten it himself)
Kicked the dogs water bowl downstairs (spilled water everywhere)
Kicked the dogs water bowl upstairs (spilled water everywhere)

Then I figured out why I was kicking everything, I have lost my feet:)

Well, it was bound to happen sometime… we got our first comment-spam on our kids site, so I’ve disabled leaving comments for the time-being. I’ll have to look into my options. Some automated program found our site, filled in a comment about something that had nothing to do with our kids, and left their web site’s URL. Oddly, it was for an online poker site.

jason

I know you’ll all be disappointed, but no pictures from today’s ultrasound. Apparently the girls weren’t in a very photogenic mood. Combine that with our “no alien faces” request, and we’re out of luck in the picture department.

On a more important note: the girls are 1 lb, 2 oz and 1 lb, 5 oz (give or take 3 oz.). It’s nice to see them reach the one pound mark. Piper’s still head-down, ready to go, but Lela has managed to flip herself around again and is back to being referred to as “the breached one.” (Not by us, of course!) They were pretty active in today’s session, which was cool to see. Their heartbeats were 145 bpm (Lela) and 136 bpm (Piper). All required parts were accounted for, so all is well.

I’ve had a good chance to feel their movement lately which is amazing to say the least. Seeing the girls via ultrasound and being able to feel them punching and kicking (each other and Mystique) really puts things into perspective.

Over the weekend we finished some more of the house, and we’re getting ready to tackle the nursery soon. This will involve moving big pieces of furniture up and down the stairs, so I want to make sure Mystique’s up for the task while I supervise Actually, it’ll be fun putting together their room… I hope they like it.

So that’s about it for Monday’s ultrasound. Tuesday we have our follow-up with the doctor, so we’ll update more then.

jason

According to the books, the girls are weighing in at about one and one-half pounds and are approximately 12 inches long! The babies are in the classic fetal position. Every joint in their bodies isflexed. The chin is on the chest, the elbows are tucked at the sides, and the babies’ hands are cupped close to their faces most of the time-like little boxers with their guards up. The hips are flexed bringing the knees up to the chest with ankles and feet crossed and tucked up under their
little bottoms.

The babies have periods of alertness and activity each day but don’t count on them coinciding!
During their playtimes, they will stretch their arms and legs, kick, roll, punch and move all around and then they will resume their quite slumber in the fetal position.

The girls have been more active lately and I think that Jason felt them for the first time last weekend. I am feeling them more regularly and can’t wait to get back to the doctor on Monday to see exactly where Lela is hiding out. Sometimes I feel her on my side and then sometimes I think I am feeling her at my belly button, so lord only knows what types of positions that little one is getting into. Piper is pretty much in the same place and moves a lot more, I think she is a little more crammed for space than Lela.

So we will report back on Monday or Tuesday about the visit and what news we have to share. I am still doing really well and some days people can’t even tell I am prego (that is with a big shirt or vest of course).

We are down to the last little things that we need and I feel good about that. We will probably be setting up the nursery really soon which will be fun. Jason and I are making a mobile to put over the changing table that he is building. I might even do a few murals on the walls:)

All for now:)

So Jason and I have been working the RightNow Users Conference in Big Sky this week. Long days with lots of customer interaction are exhausting for us both. Jason brought me home last night so I could rest and I put my feet up at about 3:00 and did not get up until morning. So I think I am successfully recovered and thankful to Jace for being my fetch it boy last night:) He is such a good sport.

As far as the babies are concerned here is what is happening in their lives this week.

The babies are continuing to grow their facial features and hair. I am starting to feel lots more movement on the inside but you still can’t feel it on the outside (for example if you put your hand on my belly). They are testing the limits of their “living womb”. There is one on each side so neither is too happy at night since I have to sleep on one of the sides. I generally turn at least four times a night so that no one is getting over squished. Maybe good for the babies but sometimes I don’t get too much sleep, but that’s okay, I make up for it with little cat naps. The babies now have eyes that open and shut, ears that hear, thumbs well worth sucking, and lots of hiccups (according to the guides, but I don’t think I have felt any hiccups). The babies weigh in at about one and a quarter pounds and are just under 12 inches long.

My stomach is really starting to grow and I might have to move on up in the old maternity clothes department. My under the belly pants are starting to fall down because my belly is so big:) I can still get away with not looking pregnant at all depending on what I wear so that is a good sign. The whol users conference no one even knew I was pregnant because I had on a large vest:) HA!

Anyway, Jason and I are off on our last vacation for a while. We are going to California for a few days. I have got my medical records and approval to go so it should be fun. I plan to just take it easy and relax:)

See ya next week.