Quick update on last ultrasound

I talked to my OB's office yesterday, and after he reviewed my ultrasound, he's decided to just repeat it in a few weeks (March 4). He's not concerned at this point with the size difference of just one week and doesn't seem to be worried about any complications that could arise with identicals sharing one amnion or one placenta. I'm looking forward to seeing the girls again and confirming they are both in fact girls!

Two more girls!!

I just got home from my ultrasound and it looks like we're getting two more girls! We are so excited!!

Emma, Charlotte, and my good friend, Julie, were with me during the ultrasound because Chris couldn't be here. He commutes to Anderson on Wednesdays. We're both very sorry he missed it because it was so amazing to see their two little bodies swimming around. I was also disappointed because the new ultrasound equipment doesn't make videotapes so all I have are a few still pictures.

The tech started out by locating both babies. Baby A was lying head down close to the middle of my belly, and Baby B was curled up transversly on my right side. I jokingly asked her, "Are you sure there are only two?" She did a quick sweep of my uterus and confirmed, "Just two." Whew!

Baby A's heart rate was 156 beats per minute and everything looks great! She was a little wiggly worm but clearly made her sex known. I was able to feel her movements and see her moving around on the screen, which was really cool. Baby B was curled up seemingly to protect herself from Baby A who was kicking her. Her heart rate was 168 beats per minute, and she measured only 16 weeks; whereas, A measured 17 weeks. She had a foot partially blocking what the tech was "pretty sure" were girl parts, so there is still a slight chance Emma is right and one baby is a boy. I'm sure we'll clear up the matter definitively in one of my later ultrasounds. Apparently I could have them as frequently as once a month from here on out.

I am 17 weeks pregnant, so A is right on target and B is a little small. This could be cause for concern, the difference in their sizes, because the tech was not able to locate a dividing membrane or more than one placenta. If the twins are identical and have only one placenta, one baby could take more nutrients from the other baby. The tech said my doctor would call me after he reviews the pictures. In my 8 week ultrasound, there was clearly a dividing membrane, so I'm confident the tech was just not able to locate it because of the equipment she was using. I suspect I will be sent to a perinatologist (prenatal specialist) to confirm whether the girls are in one sac or two and how many placentas there actually are. It's possible that there are two placentas but they're fused or very close together. We'll just have to wait and see what my doctor says.

Now the fun of picking names really begins! We'll keep you posted!

Baby Noah is home!

We got the wonderful news yesterday that Baby Noah has been released finally more than a month after his birth. Please continue to pray for his family as they make the adjustment to having their sweet son at home after such a long time in the hospital. Pray also that he will begin nursing better--he's gotten used to the bottle. Many thanks for your prayers and concern for the Picketts. God is good!

16 weeks, Ultrasound next week!!

16 weeks with twins

20 weeks with Emma

21 weeks with Charlotte

I had my 16 week prenatal appointment yesterday and everything is going well. I got to hear two strong heartbeats, each in the 140s. My uterus is measuring about 22 weeks, which means the babies are growing nicely. It also explains why I look bigger than I did when I was 21 weeks with Emma and finding out she was a girl. I haven't gained any weight but the doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point. And the best news--I'm getting an ultrasound next week!! Hopefully, by 2:30pm next Wednesday we'll know for sure if we've been blessed with two more sweet girls, boys, or one of each. You have until noon next Wednesday to submit your predictions. :)

Snow Days 2009

We've gotten around 9 inches of snow since yesterday, and for the first time since we've been in Indiana, IU actually closed campus because of the snow! That meant Chris could stay home today, (Anderson University also closed) and we were able to get out and play in the snow. Aunt Julie, our friendly snow expert, came over to show us how to properly build a snowman. Unfortunately, the snow is too fluffy to pack but maybe we'll get a chance tomorrow. Aunt Julie grew up in Michigan where snow like this is a regular part of life, so she came over prepared to pull the girls in a new sled and to show us how to really play in the snow. We also had fun going down the slide on the playset and slightly less fun making snow angels. Take a look.

The Honda before Chris dug it out

Chris demonstrating how deep the snow is

Emma knee-deep in snow

Aunt Julie pulling Emma on our street

Charlotte, trying to stay upright. She actually enjoyed falling over face first in the snow.

Sliding fun!

I didn't catch her making the snow angel but you can see she did a pretty good job if you look closely.

She had less fun when I asked her to do it again for a photo op. By this time there was snow in her pants.

My 32nd Birthday

Yes, I am now 32 years old. I remember being in college and having sisters who were 31 and 32 and my friends thought that was "so old." At the time, I didn't view my sisters as old, so now that I'm the one in her "early thirties," I guess that gets me off the hook of being "so old." Okay, okay, I know I'm old, but I really didn't see my sisters as old back then. I still don't see them as old, in case you're wondering, (Dorothy and Cindy), you're just my sisters. :)

I also remember watching the show "thirtysomething" when I was younger. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the notion that I am thirty-something now. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I do have two children with two more on the way. I've been married for nine years. And I hold two and 3/4 degrees. Can I say I have 3/4 of a degree? I think it's probably safe to say, sorry Mom, Dad, and everyone else who really wants me to finish, but the likelihood that I write a dissertation with four children is pretty slim. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. This post is supposed to be about my birthday.

This year I spent my birthday with my husband and girls at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. We purchased a membership (a true sign of being thirty-something) because it would pay for itself in three visits and with the membership the girls can ride the merry-go-round as many times as Mama and Daddy can stand it. We had a great time and have already been back once more since then. After the museum, we met up with Julie, Todd, and Jamie at Buca di Beppo and had a fabulous Italian family-style meal. I had a coupon for a free dessert (I chose the chocolate cake), and then they gave me another complimentary birthday cake that was red velvet. Our server and others sang to me, which Emma loved. It was lots of fun! The best part of the day was dropping into bed knowing that I have a wonderful family and great friends to share my day with, hopefully for many years to come.

The girls sliding at the preschool Jolly Days ice castle

Riding in a real Indy car

Charlotte playing in Babyscape

Riding the Merry-Go-Round (Charlotte was on the inside horse, so you can't see her. Sad.)

Another Baby Noah Update

Wonderful news regarding Baby Noah--he's been taken off the ventilator and is doing well breathing on his own. He's being weaned off the morphine he's been given and is beginning to learn how to drink by mouth. Once he's able to eat full meals from a bottle or even better from his mama, he'll be able to go home. His doctor predicted that could happen within a week. Thank you for all of your prayers--they are certainly being heard.

Here is the latest update from Noah's mama: "Noah continues to thrive on prayer. Today his cannula came out (hopefully) for good. He also graduated to a "big boy" bed. Yes, they found him a crib that he actually fits in. He looks a lot more comfortable now. Even more exciting is that the nurses started teaching Noah how to use a bottle. He is still getting his food through a tube down his nose, but they are starting to practice with small amounts in a bottle so he can learn how to do things like swallow without choking, etc.

The first attempt was quite hilarious as Noah was quite confused as to what he was supposed to do with this new object in his mouth. However, by 6pm this evening Grandma Greer was able to feed him a small bottle without a problem. Momma was a bit jealous that she wasn't the first one to feed Noah in the family, but very happy that her boy is progressing so quickly this week.

Noah is still pretty dependent on morphine, but the doctor started to give him doses orally instead of an IV. This is supposed to make it easier to ween him off of the drug. When he first gets his dose now, you can literally see his reaction. We admit it is very strange to see your 19 day old son "high" on morphine.

Prayer requests for the night:

1. Thank the Lord for His continued answer to our prayers

2. Pray that Noah would be able to come off morphine soon

3. Pray that Noah would continue to excel at eating (like his Mom and Dad excel!!!)

4. Pray that Noah could come home soon5. Pray that Noah's lungs would continue to heal"