Babies Bump and 32 Week Update

32 Weeks Looks Like This:

How far along:  The above picture was taken at 32 weeks and 3 days. 

Total weight gain?  I'm still up 42lbs and boy oh boy am I feeling that extra weight!

Maternity clothes?  YES!

Stretch marks?  Still none.... yay!

Sleep:  I still have the blocked nostril issue.  But once I've fallen asleep, it's wonderful... Until I wake up for the every two hours bathroom breaks :)

Best moment this week:  I'm officially on leave from work and that has by far been the best moment of this 32nd week!  I had been plugging away just fine with my job.  I'm lucky in that, aside from client meetings, I get to work from home (which, lets face it, since finding out I was pregnant I would work from my couch rather than from my home office!).  My job, however, comes with a lot of stress.  And I'm not a very laid back person so the normal stress turns into uber-stress for someone like me.  Anyhow, over the past couple of weeks I've really been feeling the stress in other ways, i.e. my severe cramping.  I started noticing the cramping while driving to meetings, while presenting at meetings and while rushing home to my computer to answer all of the e-mails that had come in while I was out of the office.  I mentioned this to my doctor and she said she'd support what I thought was best.  At that time, I figured I could get through the next two weeks, at least, and then re-visit the work situation at my next appointment.  Well, that was until I received a phone call about a platelet issue that I have.  I had my blood drawn at a recent appointment for a total blood count.  The last time I had this done was for my gestational diabetes screening and at that time, my platelet number came back just a little lower than what's considered the normal range (the lowest end of the normal range is 150 and mine came back at 140).  Because of this, it was decided that I would have them re-checked.  Well, this time, my platelet count came back at 61.  So, with that, I was referred to a Hematologist.  In speaking with my OB and also the Hematologist, with whom I met on Thursday, I learned that the problem with this low platelet issue is that should I need to have a C-section (which is very possible with a twin pregnancy), my platelet count would have to be at least 80 in order to have an epidural.  If my platelet count were not above 80, then I'd have to deliver the babies under general anesthesia.  If a C-section were not needed, then I'd have to deliver vaginally with no epidural what-so-ever.  I know that is something that is not impossible and if I had to do it, I guess I could.  I just always thought that an epidural is the way I'd go since becoming pregnant.  So, with all that being said, I'm now on a treatment plan to hopefully increase my platelet count to at least over 80 for my delivery date.  I'm currently taking an oral steroid tablet every morning.  I will be monitored closely in Boston so that my dosage can be increased, if necessary (the one good thing about taking the steroids is that, if the babies come early, it could help to promote their lung development).  If the steroid plan doesn't work, then another treatment would be to have the IVIg blood infusions.  Once I deliver, I'll be followed by the Hematologist to see if this was all just a fluke/symptom from a twin pregnancy, or, if I'll need to be monitored for this condition further.  Most importantly, the babies are OK.  But needless to say, with all of this extra stress, it was decided that I will no longer be working so that I can focus on myself, my babies and now also all of my extra doctor's appointments until delivery.  I can't tell you the weight that not working has already lifted from my shoulders.

Miss anything?  I really don't.  I feel like my life is as full as it has ever been.  Typing that takes my breath away because not too long ago, I never imagined true happiness being something that would present in my life ever again.  Oh my heart.  Sometimes this is all just a bit too overwhelming.  Where I came from to where I am today.  The only explanation is God.  God's hands were all over these two miracles from before they were even embryos.  They are lucky, lucky boys.

Movement:  My boys are still very active.  Their movement is visible to the naked eye and I love every second of their kicks and nudges!

Food cravings:  I think I've officially entered the stage of not even wanting to eat.  I constantly feel full because of the lack of room in my stomach and even if I do feel hungry I can't figure out what it is that I want to eat.  Add gestational diabetes into that equation and eating stinks!

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Still nothing in particular, but anything can still do the trick.  a side effect of the steroids is to have a queasy stomach, so I'm really hoping that my dosage won't have to be increased.  I've had enough of the nausea during the first four months of this pregnancy!

Gender:  LOVE my Boys!

Labor Signs:  None.  Unless you count the cramping I've been having.  At my last appointment, my cervix was still long and closed, proving that the cramping has not started any sort of dilation.  Let's hope things stay that way for at least another 4, 5 or even 6 weeks!

Symptoms:  The same…. linea nigra, some ligament pain on my left side in my hip/upper leg area, nasal congestion, restlessness, some back pain, the weird "rash" on the palm of my hands, general discomfort, sore and swollen feet, lower uterine cramping....

Belly button in or out?  In.  But I just might have an outtie soon!

Wedding rings on or off?  Off.

Looking forward to:  An upcoming week of relaxation and no work.  I have a follow up appointment with the Hematologist and I'm curious to see what a week's worth of the steroid has done (or hasn't done).

Here are some other pictures from week 32 that I want to be sure to have documented:

Ready for babies!  I made an appointment at the local fire department for a Firefighter to install both seats in my car.  While there is now absolutely no room in my back seat, I just love, love, love seeing these little infant seats every time I get in my car to go somewhere.  Totally warms my heart!

Also, I had recently bought two little going home outfits for the boys but knew I wanted to have special hats made for them, so onto Etsy I went... Shannon from Little Buttercup Baby made me these two adorable hats and they arrived this weekend.  They're perfect and are just what I was looking for (they look so big in this picture but really are so tiny)!

I laid the hats out next to their outfits and Miss Queen B(elle) had to inspect everything herself.  Luckily, she gave us her stamp of approval!