Babies Bump and 18 Week Update

What a week!  Week 18 started off so much better than it ended... We attended a wedding for one of Nick's high school friends this past Saturday night in Boston.  I was super impressed with being able to make it until the cake was served (my goal!) before heading back to our hotel to go to sleep (while Nick stayed out way too late).  Sunday was stressful because I had to pack for a three night stay in the city for my company's National Sales Meeting from Monday until Thursday.  Monday came and I attended the first portion of the conference.  I went to bed that night and had a tough time sleeping, noticing that my throat was starting to hurt.  I awoke Tuesday feeling pretty awful.  Oddly enough, Nick said he felt the same way.  I, somehow, made it through a day of meetings on Tuesday (coughing violently through all of them).  By the time Wednesday morning rolled around, I could barely get out of bed.  I finally called my OB to see what I could take.  The nurse told me to get Robitussin DM for my cough and to immediately start monitoring my temperature, which I hadn't even thought to take at that point.  When I finally did, the thermometer read 100.4 so I called my OB's office back and they prescribed me Tamiflu.  Nick, who was also still feeling pretty lousy, was leaving work early to go home so he came to pick me up from my Sales Meeting.  Once home, I began to vomit and knew something wasn't right.  The nurse at my OB's office suggested I come in - but not to Labor and Delivery - rather, to the ER, so I did just that.  

After an evening at one of Boston's busiest hospitals, it was confirmed that I do in fact have the flu.  I was fairly dehydrated and my potassium was low.  They gave me IV fluids and a rather disgusting potassium drink and then sent me on my way to continue feeling lousy.  Oh, and Nick went to the doctor on Thursday only to find out that he, too, has the flu.  We're both pretty pathetic here at home going from our bed to the couch and complaining incessantly to one another about how horrible we feel.  We both got flu shots this year and are officially blaming someone at the wedding for passing this on to us! 

 

18 WEEKS LOOKS LIKE THIS:

 

 

How far along:  This picture was taken on the night of the wedding, when I was 18 weeks 3 days.

Total weight gain?  I was up about 10-12 lbs, but since being sick and not really having much of an appetite, I'm worried that I've lost a pound or two.  My doctor promised me that it's OK not to be eating right now, while I'm sick, like I had been.  Her main concern is keeping fluids in me.  But I still worry about this.  I'm trying to drink as many protein-packed drinks as I can right now, but when you're sick, you just don't feel like having much of anything.  Lately, comments and conversations about my weight have really bothered me.  A lot of people will say how great I look and will follow it up with something like you're really having twins?!  Where are they?!  You don't even look pregnant!  I suppose these are nice comments, but they're not at all what I want to hear.  I want to hear that it's obvious that I'm pregnant.  That I've noticeably gained weight.  That it's clear that there is more than one baby in there!  I have an appointment on Tuesday and plan to politely grill my doctor about my progress in the weight department, that's for sure!

Maternity clothes?  I had to buy a couple new pairs of maternity tights for the Sales Meeting that I basically missed... and I'm so glad that I did (miss most of the meetings) because I didn't have to wear them!

Stretch marks?  I don't think I have any... yet.

Sleep:  Right now sleep is not my friend.  My nostrils are full of... stuff... that I cannot, for the life of me, get rid of.  It basically feels like I can't breathe, which makes sleeping near impossible.

Best moment this week:  THANKFULLY, we did have a bit of good that came from the 18th week... more baby furniture deliveries!

 

 

Miss anything?  Right now I really miss being able to breathe out of my nose!

Movement:  I think the feelings of big air bubbles may be these little guys letting me know that they're there.  I'm still not 100% sure, but I do know that they're kicking and punching away in there!  When I was in the ER, they were able to do an ultrasound and I got to see my sweet little boys moving around.  Baby A (Austin) looked like a little boxer punching his little fists out in front of him.  I can't wait to see them again at my appointment on Tuesday!

Food cravings:  None to make note of.  At all.  I have no appetite right now.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Praise God my nausea is essentially gone.  Granted, it has been replaced by flu symptoms, which actually may not be as bad as feeling like I was going to vomit 24/7!

Gender:  LOVE my Boys!

Labor Signs:  None.  Phew!

Symptoms:  The same… minus the nausea (woohoo!!).  Linea nigra, some ligament pain on my left side in my hip/upper leg area, the nasal congestion, restlessness...

Belly button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off?  On when I'm out of the house and off when I'm in the house.

Looking forward to:  Getting rid of the flu and my doctor's appointment on Tuesday.