Almost 4 Months

The Five Grandchildren on Mom's Side of the Family

Getting Ready for the Cold Weather

Look What St. Nick Brought!

Too Cute!

Happy Halloween

Pictures

I finally have some pictures to share. Jordan and Winston are both doing so much better. Jordan's lip is looking better every day. Her scab by her eye is gone. We have been able to keep her nose clean with a few saline drops and a suction pump. She is very swollen from the medicines she is on. They say that will go away once she is off of them. Winston is not crying all day anymore, and that has been great. They are both sleeping better at night. I still don't get a lot of sleep but some is better than none.

Back From the Hospital

We had another trip to the hospital. Jordan got off of her steroids, and the hemangioma started to flare back up. Her nose now is one big hole. She lost the part between her two nostrils. The hemangioma was wrapped around the tip of her nose and that is one part that flared up. We took her to the ER at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin on Tuesday night. They went in and cleaned her nose. The doctors said the damage is done, but they don't think it will continue to get worse. We put her back on the steroid and things already look better again. I guess the two medicines that she is on have to work together.

It has been really hard watching your baby's lip and nose disappear. Winston stayed with my sister. It was also hard being away from him for so long. We are all home again. I would say things are getting better, but Jordan stayed up ALL night last night. Winston was very restless. My prayer is that Jordan heals quickly and that we are all able to rest at night.

The Latest...

Jordan passed her MRI and MRA. We are so relieved. The doctors say that her brain is just fine. The hemangioma is on her face. They did find it in her cheeks, behind her right eye and in her nose. We are giving her a fantastic medication with little side effects. Since we started the meds, we have seen great results. The hemangioma has stopped growing. She has a scab around her eye where it ruptured, but that has started to heal. Her lip is also starting to heal. We are still not sure if she will need plastic surgery on that. Because the growth was in her nose, I am having to clean that several times a day. She gets large blood clots in it. It is not very pleasant for any of us. I think they are getting smaller though. I am just so happy she will not remember any of this.

Winston has colic and cries a lot during the day. He has a very loud high-pitched scream. It is hard to ignore. I told him he is lucky he is so cute. They are both not sleeping well at night, and I am running on little to no sleep each day. This week I really broke down. Everyone keeps telling me things will get better. I haven't seen the light at the end of the tunnel but decided I better put one there. I am trying to stay focused on that. I will have to go back to work on Oct. 12. I am not sure how all of that will be, but I can only focus on today. I have not downloaded any pictures lately because they just won't let me. As soon as I do, I will post them.

Prayers Needed

Jordan's hemangioma continues to grow. We are waiting to have an MRI and an MRA done on her. She will have this done on Monday and will have to be sedated. I am a little nervous about that. They are checking to make sure the blood vessels are not entwined in her brain. If they are not, she will be able to start a new medication. This medication will stop the growth of the hemangioma and help it to disappear. The patients that have used this have seen results in the first week. She has developed another problem and we are not sure if it is due to the hemangioma. She is having trouble breathing and that has been quite scary at times. So please keep her in your prayers. She has gone through so much.

Update

I am so proud of Winston!!! He slept for 4 1/2 hours last night without waking up to eat (twice). Now if I could get Jordan do that for at least 2 hours, that would be nice. Yesterday we went to a pediatric dermatologist in Houston. Jordan was first diagnosed with having Port Wine Stain on her face. It is a birthmark that will not go away without laser treatment. When we saw the specialist yesterday, she said it was not Port Wine Stain. She said it was a hemangioma. She explained that it grows during the first 6-9 months of life and then it starts to go away. We have already seen parts of it fade but other parts have gotten thicker. She will have to take some meds to slow the growing down. We were so happy to hear that it will go away. She said it should be gone by the time she is five. WOW!!! God is good.

Twins Together Again

Update

We are finally home. Winston and Jordan are adjusting to their new surroundings. It was a long night. We hope tonight is better. Winston has been a trooper through all of this. He has been out to eat three times and has stayed in the Ronald McDonald house. Jordan has had many procedures done on her and has aced them all. We are so blessed. The doctors are telling us that she has a birthmark on her face that is not causing any other problems. They said that we should try to have it removed in the first year of her life. We have many follow-up procedures on her but know that God is taking care of her. I have not had time to download any pictures. I am in need of some sleep. As soon as I can, I will post pictures. We continue to ask for prayers for Jordan and Winston.

God is So Good!!!!

Look what He blessed us with.


Winston Douglas 7 lbs 9 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Jordan Renee 6 lbs 13 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Almost There!!!

I went to my last doctor visit today before the babies come. He said I was still dilated to around a 2. He talked to me about the c-section, and I got a little nervous. We will go in around 6 am and the c-section will be at 7:30 on Thursday. I will get to stay in the hospital until at least Sunday. I am glad about that. I will post pictures of the babies as soon as I can. I can't believe it is finally time!!!

Week 36

I can not believe I have made it to 36 weeks, and I am still going. Yesterday I was dilated to a 2. We are still scheduled for Thursday, August 13. After we got home from the doctor, I told Shannon to take me back because I hurt all over. He wouldn't. I feel a little better today but will not be far from the bed and the recliner. I know for most of you the week will go fast, but I am counting every second. I will see my doctor on Monday and then Thursday is the big day. I will keep you all posted.

Week 35

I thought for sure I would be dilated some today but no such luck. My doctor has scheduled my c-section for August 13 at 7:30 am. I think I am going to have two big healthy babies. That is great! I just pray that I will last that long. I am SO uncomfortable.

Week 34

I thought my doctor might set up a time to have these babies, but no such luck. I am not dilated and my blood pressure is good. He asked me if I was at the crying stage yet of being miserable. I told him yes!!! I am so uncomfortable. He said we will keep going for at least another three weeks unless I go into labor on my own. I wanted to cry then.

Now, I am asking for your prayers. At the last ultrasound, they found a small cyst on Jordan's adrenal gland. My doctor said he did not want me to worry about this. He said he had to tell me because he wants me to know what he knows. They won't do anything until she is born and then the pediatrician will check things out. My prayer is that the cyst won't be there when she is born. It is hard not to worry, but in my heart I know she is going to be okay. We live by faith, and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Nursery

Here are some pictures of the nursery.

Ultrasound Number 4

The babies are definitely growing according to our ultrasound yesterday. It is very hard to see what is going on. My tech said she was having a hard time telling who was who. She looked around for a while, and then she had them figured out. Based on the measurements taken, he is 5lbs 10 oz and she is 4 lbs 8 oz. That is over 10 lbs of baby! They are still breech. I can tell because their heads are right by my ribs. This picture is pretty neat. You can see both of their heads. The hand and the foot belong to Baby B (boy).

33 Weeks

I am getting really big now. I can't sleep at night because I am so miserable. My doctor said that is preparing me for when the twins arrive. I agreed. No other changes this week. I will post the ultrasound results after Friday. We will see how much they have grown in three weeks.

Church Shower

I had another great shower at The Remnant Church. What a wonderful group of ladies! They help me remember that God is in charge of this pregnancy. Their support is greatly appreciated.

32 Weeks

I made it to 32 weeks. My doctor said that I had grown a lot in the last week. I measured full term today. He will no longer stop labor, and he said I could be worthless at home. Shannon is going on his last fishing trip (for a while) this next week. He is hoping that the babies stay put until after the 18th. I don't know how much more I can handle, but I am hoping they stay put until at least the last week in July. Only God knows when they will arrive, and that will be in His perfect timing.

31 Weeks

My doctor's appointment was short and sweet today. My doctor said that since the boys measurements were a little bigger than the girls, we will have another ultrasound done on July 17. He wants to make sure she keeps growing. He is not at all worried. He is just doing a good job monitoring them. They are still breech. More than likely, I will have a cesarean. I am feeling pretty miserable, but I know it will be worth it when I see those precious angels.

Shower Pictures

Here are a few shower pictures from Saturday. I had a lot of fun!!! God is pouring out his blessings, and we are so thankful.

30 Weeks

I made my third goal!!! Shannon and I just got back from the doctor. My doctor is proud of my progress. They monitored the babies' heart rates for about 10 minutes. He said that all looked good. When the babies moved, their heart rates went up. That is what he wanted to see. We did have another ultrasound done where they measured both babies. My doctor said they are looking for growth from the last ultrasound. His measurements put him weighing around 3lbs 12oz, and her measurements put her weighing 2lbs 15 oz. He is a little bigger now, but they are both growing. It is no wonder why I feel like I am full term. Shannon and I went to St. Joseph's today. We wanted to know where we were going before the big event. I am completely worn out. My ankles are huge again, but this is still a huge blessing.

27 Weeks

Another great doctor visit!!! I am feeling pretty pregnant right now. I am so glad school is out. I can finally get off my feet and hope the swelling goes down. The babies' room is almost ready. Shannon built me some shelves in the closet. They look great!!!

25 Weeks

The twins are doing great! My doctor was pleased with my progress. Because I am high risk for preterm labor, my doctor started me on progestrone injections once a week. He said we are now on high alert. He wasn't too concerned about he swelling of my feet, because my blood pressure is good. However, they sure do hurt. We are slowly getting the babies' room ready. I just can't get over we need two of everything. It is still a great blessing.

Ultrasound at 24 Weeks

This past Thursday I went in for another detailed ultrasound. My doctor wanted to check on the measurements of the babies. He was not worried about anything. They are getting so big it is hard to see them. She weighed 1 pound 10 ounces, and he weighed 1 pound 12 ounces. Their heartbeats were both 138. Neither one of them wanted to turn so that we could get a profile picture of them. I asked if they were still a girl and a boy, and that was confirmed again. The most amazing thing I saw was his feet right by his head. I would rather show you a picture of the babies, but I did not get two good ones. You can see how much they have grown in this picture. I will visit my doctor again this Thursday.

23 Weeks

My doctor's appointment was great! I am growing almost everyday. I love to feel them move. He is more active during the day, and she likes to move around when I get home to rest. I don't have much to report today...which is good.

Update at 21 Weeks

I went to the doctor on Thursday, and it was a short visit. We saw the twins, and they were active. He wants to see me every two weeks. I don't mind, because it helps ease my mind. I have started feeling both of them, and if I am lucky, can see them move. I think I grow everyday. Here is a picture of me at twenty weeks.

It's a Boy and a Girl!

This is the boy!



This is the girl!


Today was a great day! It hasn't sunk it that we are going to have two babies. We will need blue and pink because we are having a boy and a girl. We are both very excited. Our girl is the twin that is more active. The boy is the one that has been sucking his thumb. They look great.

16 Weeks

I just got home from seeing my doctor. Mom went with me today. Everything is okay. The bleeding has almost gone away. The babies look great, and he was pleased with how things were going. Now we wait until April 9. We hopefully will be able to find out what we are having at that appointment. The pictures weren't great again, so I won't post them. I will update again when we have more news.

New Doctor

Today Shannon and I met my new doctor in College Station. We love him! God knew exactly where to put us. Dr. Rayburn had talked to Dr. Wincek before my appointment. He knew all about me and what I had been through. He even knew exactly how I was feeling before I ever told him. He told us that he didn't want us to carry any burdens anymore. He said that was their job. He wants me to stay focused on the next six weeks only and not the entire pregnancy. My next appointment is on March 16. Three weeks after that, we will have a detailed ultrasound done. This is when we will find out what we are having. I can't wait! We did see the babies today, but the pictures are not as clear as the previous ones. I will post again when I have more news.

The Saga Continues

Today I went to work spotting like I have been doing for the last four weeks. About 15 minutes after I arrived, I had a gush of blood. I didn't panic and thought that it would go away. I was thinking I probably did too much work this weekend and a little blood was coming out. As the day went on, the blood got heavier. I have an appointment to see my new doctor in College Station on Friday, February 27. They told me to go see Dr. Wincek if anything happened before that day. So, I called and went to see him today. The ultrasound showed two growing active babies. I can not believe how much they have grown. As far as the bleeding, he is still not a 100% sure. He said the clotting blood in my uterus was gone. He thought that I might be in preterm labor, but he ruled that out. He did say one of the babies was right next to my cervix, and I might be experiencing placenta previa. He said that this is not uncommon in early pregnancy, and it should go away when the baby grows a little more. I asked why this is happening to me. He said that I have been a bleeder from day one and that we are just trying to figure out why. I don't normally do this, but please pray for us. I know God is good, and He will hear our prayers.


Here are the twins again. Twin A (top) is sucking its thumb. You can even see its brain starting to develop. Twin B has always been harder to see. As they grow, I think that one will continue to be harder to see. I think Twin B is more active and likes to put on a show. They are both the same size.

February 13 Visit

We just got back from Temple. The babies have grown another centimeter (4.5 cm). They were both very active. I think they have figured out that something keeps kicking me so I'll kick back. The blood is almost gone! My doctor has released me to see a regular OB. It was sad to have to leave a place that cares so much about you. We will now be seeing a doctor at a Scott and White clinic in College Station. I am not sure when my next appointment will be.

Ten Weeks

I was still spotting this week, but I did not have anymore big bleeding episodes since that last big clot. I went to the doctor on February 5. This time the babies were active. Twin B is easier to see than twin A. We were able to see arms and legs on both of them. Twin B was very active. I think Twin A was sleeping and didn't want to be bothered. Both of their hearts were beating away. It is such a good sight to see. My doctor could still see the pool of blood in my uterus. I don't think he was happy about that. I know that these two miracles are in God's hands. That is what keeps me going. Here they are again. How cute!!!

My Next Appointment

I went back to my doctor on January 29. This was the best visit I have had. The babies had grown so much and their heartbeats were in normal range. My doctor was very pleased with what he saw. He said there was still some blood in my uterus but was not real concerned. Here are the twins in one shot at nine weeks.

One More Time

I started believing that this was going to be a long nine months. I wanted to stay home and rest until the bleeding went away, but I could not afford to miss any more days. The Thursday, after the ER visit and the doctor's appointment, I went to a workshop in Victoria. I did not bleed much at all that day. I slept on the way there and on the ride home. About two miles from the school, I felt a big gush and I had blood everywhere again. I made it to the restroom and passed a clot about the size of a tennis ball. I called my nurse, and she said to hang in there that this may continue to happen. How was I not supposed to worry? After that episode, the bleeding went back down and I went back to spotting. I could not have gotten through all of this without my faith in God. He is so good!

Back to Temple

We went again to see my doctor in Temple after the ER visit. Another ultrasound was done, and the babies looked good. Their heart rates were good. My doctor said that he could see a lot of blood in my uterus. He said that the bleeding might have come from blood vessels that were popping. His thinking was that once the babies get a little bigger they will push on the walls of my uterus and cause the bleeding to stop. He said that I may have more episodes of the heavy bleeding. I was not happy to hear that. Here are the babies at eight weeks.