Watermelon Belly

Just thought we'd post a few pics showing what a mommy pregnant with twins can expect....

#1 Watermelon Belly: These stretch marks erupted overnight...no joke either.
#2: Closer view of the ugly stretch marks needing constant lotioning to aleviate the pain, stinging, and itchiness. (32 weeks here- compare to last blog only one week ago)

#3: Side profile of creeping stretch marks and low hanging belly. Thank goodness I can still manage to eat some things. I actually lost 1 lb these past two weeks, but apparently the babies are still growing which is good! (As of late I've only been able to consume about 1200 calories per day due to no stomach capacity. This adds to the light-headedness and feelings of blacking out quite often. Once again, it confines me to my bed).

#4: Endless bedrest with mounds of pillows: Somehow a pregnant woman has to get some sleep. Mike and I have figured out a way.... the high pillows help alleviate acid reflux and allow for comfort and easier positioning while sleeping.

Anyways, just thought we'd scare all you new moms with such fun things to look forward to. (Of course though, my pregnancy has been one of a kind.) We are currently 32 weeks and are hoping to make it to 34 weeks somehow. I just hope my stretch marks won't burst open....

31 Weeks and counting...

This is a belly pregnant with twins at 31 weeks 1 day...a sight all women can look forward to if they want to have twins. Obviously, throughout this pregnancy, I have learned that my body was not meant to have two babies in me...but somehow it is working out. We just finished getting my 2nd Betamethasone shot from the hospital. (To enhance the babies' lung development). I have been regularly having contractions every day and have to take Nifedipine to stop them. The side effects of which are not very fun: dizziness, headache, and oh yeah more nausea. Yes, that thing in the middle is my belly button. My friend Kimchee looked aghast when she saw it and wondered what the heck it was.
This is a side profile of my belly at 31 weeks 1 day. Lovely stretch marks.

This is me at 29 weeks...just barely starting to get stretch marks. (And yes, I tend to wear this outfit a lot).

Another side profile to show my stretch marks on the other side (29 weeks). This pregnancy has been a horrible one. I just recently was released from the hospital for hard core nausea. I had to see a GI specialist and get blood work done. Lucky for me I got 4 hours of sleep (due to my IV pole beeping constantly) and my IV site got all red, inflamed and swollen. Of course, the nurse then decided to reinsert another IV in which she was unsuccessful and just caused me immense pain. (This was Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st). Sunday, I went in to the hospital for painful contractions only to learn I had a small bladder infection as well. I now take Amoxicillin (antibiotic), Nifedipine (uterine relaxant), Prevacid (antiacid for heart burn), Unisom (for nausea), and Phenergan (for break-through nausea) on a daily basis. I hate drugs as it is...and dealing with all the wonderful side effects of more nausea and dizziness is no fun either.

Anyways, I should stop complaining. It has been a horrible pregancy. One I did not ever imagine could be possible. Occasionally I am blessed with one good day, and then have to deal with several awful days of nausea and trying to cope with life, while wishing this pregnancy was over. Of course though, my OBGYN says if my water does break early, they will keep me in the hospital until 34 weeks anyways while giving me bigger drugs to stop the contractions. Such is my life lately. I just cannot wait until this is over. It is horrible!

I am ever so greatful for my perfect husband, Mike, who has stood by me through it all. He has helped me immensely through every hard time. We call him my "built-in nurse." I am so greatful for him and all he does to help me. We are also greatful to all of you who keep us in your prayers and have served us in so many ways. Thank you so much. We are ever so greatful.

7 Months and Counting...

4th of July...I finally got ready, minus the makeup.

We spent that day at Mom and Dad Williams house. That night we went to the park and watched fireworks from our car window. I am 26 weeks 5 days here.

Sunday, July 5th. I am 26 weeks 6 days here. Wow...I got ready again. The belly is getting bigger!

27 Weeks. Notice some stretch marks finally appearing on my left side. My appendix scar has stretched to like 3 or 4 inches too (It used to be 1 inch long and pretty hard to notice.)


27 Weeks 5 days. This is our little girl. Both babies weighed in at about 2 lbs 10 oz. Her heart rate was 148 bpm. She is head down...still right on top of my bladder. The arrow on this pic is next to her nose (just in case you have a hard time seeing what is what).

Here is Baby B, our little boy. You can see his brain quite nicely here. The arrow is by his nose. His heart rate was 152 bpm. Our goal now is to make it to 32 weeks. This is the next big hurdle! We are anxious to get them here! Thank you again everyone for your help, love, support, and prayers. We are so greatful!

The Twins at 23 Weeks

This is our little baby girl--our future soccer player due to her unending kicks and jabs to my uterine wall. Her head is on the right of the photo. My bladder is the black spot right next to her head....
This is our little boy (Baby B)--Mr. Acrobatic. You can see his profile quite nicely. Both babies are about 1 lb. 6 oz. which is right on track!

Still Counting....

19 Weeks

20 Weeks

21 Weeks

23 Weeks 4 Days

Here are some pics of my growing belly. We were happy to find at our 20 week ultrasound that both babies are healthy and doing great. Baby B is a boy and Baby A is a girl. (They determine this by which twin is closer to the cervix. Baby A is actually located on my left side.) Baby A kicks all the time. Her head is sitting very low--right on my bladder. The ultrasound tech commented on how surprisingly LOW she is, as in she's wearing my bladder as a hat right now which makes for frequent trips to the powder room. Baby B tends to do somersaults (spelling?) often. Mike and I will be looking at my belly and it will have this random lopsided bulge. This is when we know he's doing his acrobatics. Overall we are very happy to be pregnant. This pregnancy has not been an easy one, but we know we are getting through it because of everyones' prayers, fasting, and love. Thank you so much!

Bed Rest....

As many of you are well aware, I have been on bed rest for the past 2 weeks. After a scare of heavy bleeding on April 4th, we learned in the ER that I have a sub-chorionic hemorrhage. Medical professionals don't know what causes it. It just happens. According to my doctor the best possible treatment is bedrest and monitoring the babies via ultrasound.

As stressful and worrisome a time this has been, we have been very blessed to learn that our babies are alive and well. We also would like to thank everyone for all they've done for us in easing this burden. You have all been so kind and loving. Thanks for the dinners, visits, books, movies, house cleaning, words of encouragement, etc. We truly believe you are all angels. (This top pic is from one of my primary girls, named Ashley. She decorated an Easter egg at school and gave me her tulip. She said it was for me so I would remember her. She is 5.)
This is my bed-side table, full of books, movies, crosswords, aroma therapy, and more. Thanks again everyone!

I thought I might show some pics of my growing tummy and babies. (FYI, we were excited to find out Baby B is a girl!!! We finally broke the William's record! It actually is possible to have a female Williams. We still do not know the gender of Baby A. I think it's a boy--Mike of course thinks its a girl. We'll see...) In this pic I am 8 weeks (2 months) along!

I'm 12 weeks here (3 months). It was kinda hard to see with the shirt covering my tummy.

Here is a profile of the twins at 12 weeks.

I'm 14 weeks here (about 3.5 months). Starting to get some stretch marks.... Mike and I feel incredibly blessed to know our babies are doing well and are growing. They are really cute too. We have a VHS of the ultrasound, but first have to figure out how to show it on our blog. I'll leave that to Mike who is my skilled, resident nerd. (Just kidding--kind of. I love you!!!)

Ammon's Birthday Party

Crystal and Adam's little boy Ammon turned one on March 19th. All the girls got together to celebrate. It was lots of fun!

Of course all the "aunties" had to hold him! He has grown so much since we last saw him.

Paige and Ammon. Love his little hat.

Kimchee must have pinched him...he looks worried here. Just kidding, he loved her.

Crystal and Ammon. This was the cutest pic. She's such a good mommy! It was so much fun to get together with everyone!