When Ryan and I finally saw the positive on the pregnancy tests we couldn't believe it, we had to take about 5 more tests to make sure we weren't getting our hopes up! The tests were positive earlier than expected, which we later realized was from all the extra hormones since we were having twins!! We were so excited to be starting a family, but very cautious as well, too many things could go wrong. We finally told my family by giving them beer mugs with their new titles, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, and Auntie. It took a second for everyone to realize it. Nora was the first one to understand, while she was excitedly saying "no way", Billy was shaking his head in disbelief (I guess we should have cleared our plans with him first). My Mom thought it was just for my Grandma and when they finally realized everyone was in disbelief and excited! We told Ryan's family at the Bears game, we had put watermelon on a plate that said "Grandma & Grandpa, Re-Est. 2015", it took a while to get the watermelon out of the way for everyone to read the plate and when it was visible Nancy thought it was a gift for Grandparents day from Liam, once we clarified that it was from Ryan & me she was so excited and showed Keith right away, slowly everyone started to get the idea of the plate!! When we told my Grandma she was confused at first about her "The best Grandmas make the best Great Grandmas" plate. When she realized that she was going to be a Great Grandma she was so excited! My friends got small wine bottles asking them to "Drink this for me, because I am a Mommy to be!" It was fun to plan out the announcements and how we would break the news to everyone! We even planned how to tell my cousins and Aunt & Uncle over pizza!
The Peas
Ryan and I both knew we didn't want to find out the gender. It was unspoken between us then when reading one of the baby books I asked Ryan if he wanted to find out the gender, just to verify. He said no, we both always had imagined not finding out until our babies were born and we both agreed it would be the best surprise ever! I will say that when you get pregnant you never think people will have such strong opinions on EVERYTHING having to do with your pregnancy and the baby(ies). Majority of people find out the gender so we got a lot of backlash for not finding out. We were surprised (does it really matter - the babies will be human...) that people felt so strongly about our decision. I wanted to give the baby(ies) a nickname so we weren't saying "it", and we came up with the Parrent Pea, so cute like a little sweet pea. The name proved to be even more perfect when we found out we were having twins - our two little peas in a pod!
The Peas
Ryan and I both knew we didn't want to find out the gender. It was unspoken between us then when reading one of the baby books I asked Ryan if he wanted to find out the gender, just to verify. He said no, we both always had imagined not finding out until our babies were born and we both agreed it would be the best surprise ever! I will say that when you get pregnant you never think people will have such strong opinions on EVERYTHING having to do with your pregnancy and the baby(ies). Majority of people find out the gender so we got a lot of backlash for not finding out. We were surprised (does it really matter - the babies will be human...) that people felt so strongly about our decision. I wanted to give the baby(ies) a nickname so we weren't saying "it", and we came up with the Parrent Pea, so cute like a little sweet pea. The name proved to be even more perfect when we found out we were having twins - our two little peas in a pod!
TWO?!
We were excited to go to the Midwife to hear the heartbeat of our baby, it made it seem so real. After answering all our questions, the Midwife started listening for the heartbeat. Everything sounded alien-like so Ryan and I didn't know what we were listening for. The Midwife wasn't hearing what she wanted so she left to get the ultrasound, Ryan started to get concerned but for some reason (and completely out of character for me) I was very calm. The ultrasound wasn't showing anything so everyone started getting very worried (again except usually freaked out me) and the Midwife brought in an OB. The OB tried again to look for the baby with the ultrasound then moved on to an internal ultrasound. As I lay watching all of them looking at the screen in concern & worry, the Dr. finally said, there is the baby, and there is the other one!! I sat straight up to get a look at the screen - did I hear right? The other one!?! Ryan and the Midwife were hugging and she was jumping in excitement, I was in shock, two babies? Are they sure? That means we were having twins - that isn't possible right?! They left to get some forms to transfer us to a Dr. that delivers twins and Ryan and I just stared at each other, I was so overwhelmed, I was happy the babies were fine, but twins? That isn't possible unless you are over 30 or you have fertility treatments right? TWINS!?! We were over the moon with excitement (and nerves..twins...double the fun and the cost!). We still couldn't believe it, I kept asking Ryan to verify that both little heartbeats were going strong since I didn't get a good look. We had an ultrasound picture of our two little babies that looked like gummy bears.
This time we didn't think of any cute ways to tell everyone we were just so shocked it seemed like we had to say it out-loud for it to be true. We planned for one baby, we started reading the books for one baby, we never even thought twins were possible! We did get to tell my parents in a fun way - they were currently stuck in Cabo in the hurricane (I know I was going through all this emotional and life changing events and they are off in Cabo on vacation - unreachable for the most part due to the hurricane). When they came to pick up Kandy after arriving back in Chicago after a crazy two weeks enduring the worst hurricane to hit the western coast of Mexico since the sixties and the airport being shut down due to an active shooter event, exhausted, stressed, and relived to be home and alive, we hit them with the big news at the door - a framed picture of their grandchildren, both of them. Their reactions were priceless!
First Trimester
After the initial shock wore off I felt as though I always knew there were two babies. From early on I called the babies "they" originally since the English language does not have a uds, or a gender neutral pronoun. My Mom also cracked an egg right after we told her and it was a twin egg, she joked that we were having twins but I thought it was impossible! Being the analyst I am I started figuring out the odds of us having identical twins, the data isn't there for my age but basically it is very rare.
We had to find a new Doctor since our Midwife didn't handle twin pregnancies. We decided on the Women's Group of Northwestern, the hospital had good references, the best NICU nurse around worked there, and Billy's doctor. We went in for our first official ultrasound and they verified that yes, we were expecting twins, and they are identical (they are mono/di which means they share a placenta leaving no option but identical twins). When we met with our doctor I started to realize that I no longer had the control I thought I would over my pregnancy and delivery. While we were trying to conceive I realized I didn't have complete control over that process, and now again I was learning that I had little control (which was hard to accept). We no longer would have the un-medicated, natural, labor I had planned and researched.
I was not expecting to be so sick in the first trimester, especially since most people don't know you are pregnant so you have no excuse or sympathy. Basically I was hungover for two months and I didn't even get to have the fun drinking part. Ryan was great, making grilled cheese (the only thing I would eat) and serving me at the couch, little did we know that this was foreshadowing of what was to come.
Second Trimester
A switch was flipped and I felt much much better in my second trimester, my energy was back and I was feeling good! We were getting pretty far through all the books (which we had to readjust to twin specific books). I felt like I was showing a lot but everyone commented on how small I looked, it didn't help that I wasn't really gaining weight. I started to get worried, but my doctors kept telling me not to worry that I was doing great! After our 20 week ultrasound we started going for ultrasounds every two weeks. We were becoming good friends with the people at Prentice. During the smooth second trimester we sold the condo and bought a house (not without some added stress and craziness). I finally felt like I was getting the hang of this whole pregnancy thing, I was feeling great, I was on track with everything and prepared!
Third Trimester
Entering in the third trimester was exciting, this was it the final stretch! Ryan & I knew that I wouldn't go all 40 weeks so we had less time left than most pregnancies but we were going to be ready. We attended Great Expectations: Multiples, a class at the hospital specifically for twins (or more) and Breastfeeding Multiples to prepare. We got our maternity pictures done in the city after the class. We started to pack the labor bag (just in case). The renovation started, the baby showers were both complete (and tons of fun, the peas are spoiled already) and things were going well. My only new symptom was feeling more tired, but I figured it came with the territory.
Then one innocent Tuesday morning right before 30 weeks I felt weird. My stomach was tight - we had learned in our Great Expectations class to test for contractions by comparing the feeling of your stomach to your lips, tip of your nose, or your forehead. My stomach was definitely getting to forehead status but it wasn't regular and I wasn't sure if it was just the babies moving like crazy or what. So I called the Dr. and they suggested I should come in just in case. Within two hours I was at the Dr. and they were sending me to the hospital downtown since I was already dilated. I called Ryan and told him he should come to the hospital and grab the labor bag. He was a little shocked, but quickly stopped the construction work and came to the hospital, making amazing time, he arrived only 30 minutes after me. We were admitted to labor & delivery triage for pre-term labor where they were monitoring my contractions (yes, I was having them) and they administered a steroid shot to develop the babies' lungs quickly and medicine to slow down/stop the contractions. I also got my first IV, I wasn't expecting it to go on the top of my hand, this was my maiden trip to the hospital. I have never been hospitalized before, it was quite the experience. For some reason I was still very calm, I guess freaking out wouldn't have helped, but being out of control I figured I would be just a little anxious. Just like in the beginning of the pregnancy when they couldn't hear the heartbeats I had a feeling we would all be fine, God was looking out for us.
We then were moved up to labor & delivery where they would continue to monitor the contractions and both babies heartbeats and check to see if I continued to dilate. At the Dr.'s office I was at 1.5 cm and then when I was in triage I was 2.0 cm. Up in labor and delivery I was holding steady at 2 cm, they told me I couldn't eat anything but clear foods and room service was closed and the cafeteria did not have anything in the form of gluten free clear food fare. The nurse was able to smuggle two popsicles to tie me over. The anesthesiologist came to visit us - hospital policy once someone arrives on the floor, I hounded him with questions (the epidural is the scariest part for me..eek!) but he was very reassuring and told me he had confidence I could handle it (phew). Ryan and I settled in for the night, he had a fancy cot that he could sleep on and I had the amazingly uncomfortable delivery bed (people actually deliver single babies in this room), Law & Order was in the middle of a marathon though so all in all it was a pretty good night.
Throughout the night I didn't dilate any more (YAY!) so at 3 am we were allowed to go up to antepartum floor!! The beds were much comfier up there so I finally got some sleep. A Dr. or nurse was coming in every couple of hours to check my vitals, or the babies' hearts - I no longer needed constant monitoring which was also helping my comfort, since every time I would move to get comfy one of the babies monitors would loose their heartbeat and the nurse would have to come in to re-adjust. I set my alarm to order breakfast right when they started taking orders and took another nap until my ginormous meal came. A Dr. from my practice came to check on me and told me I would be monitored for the next 2 days and during that time they would complete the steroid shots, stop giving me the contraction stopping medicine and monitor me. I was at 1.5 cm dilated again - apparently each Dr. measures slightly different, which was reassuring since that meant I didn't dilate at all since I was checked at the Dr. Office Tuesday afternoon. Ryan and I hung out - I was able to still work from the hospital which kept me busy during the day. On Thursday I was given the all clear to go home!! But with new orders of bed rest, my Doctors told me that if labor comes it comes we can't completely stop it but bed rest makes everyone feel better that I wasn't over-doing it and that I did all I could to keep these babies cooking. Our first goal was to make it 2 weeks to 32 weeks, then to 34 weeks. We got home and I slept amazingly!!
Bed Rest
I wasn't sure how to feel about bed rest, I wanted to get everything done and ready for the babies but I also wanted them to keep cooking. It was a hard struggle. My controlling, particular, type A personality didn't make it any easier. I started by making lots of to-do lists. I am sure Ryan and my Mom were soo happy with all these to-do lists, but being the amazing people they are they went through the lists. So day by day I would wake up shower and work from bed. I kept things professional by changing out of PJ's and making the bed. I got a cool little bedside table (which was kinda crappy so I complained and ended up getting it for free!) and tried to be classy when eating and living in bed. I did get out weekly for Dr. appointments which were the highlights of the week. I took a wheelchair from the hospital to the Dr. office which was always embarrassing! Finally, we hit 34 weeks - which marked the end of the strict bed rest. We were cautiously excited, if the labor starts again they wouldn't stop it, but it was still pretty early for the babies to be born. After talking with the Dr. I would still take it easy but I could venture to the outside world, go out to eat and walk downstairs! I was pretty excited, but also nervous, I didn't want to be the reason they were born too early! So I plan on taking it easy until 36 weeks - then I will be most likely running marathons to start labor!
Second Trimester
A switch was flipped and I felt much much better in my second trimester, my energy was back and I was feeling good! We were getting pretty far through all the books (which we had to readjust to twin specific books). I felt like I was showing a lot but everyone commented on how small I looked, it didn't help that I wasn't really gaining weight. I started to get worried, but my doctors kept telling me not to worry that I was doing great! After our 20 week ultrasound we started going for ultrasounds every two weeks. We were becoming good friends with the people at Prentice. During the smooth second trimester we sold the condo and bought a house (not without some added stress and craziness). I finally felt like I was getting the hang of this whole pregnancy thing, I was feeling great, I was on track with everything and prepared!
Third Trimester
Entering in the third trimester was exciting, this was it the final stretch! Ryan & I knew that I wouldn't go all 40 weeks so we had less time left than most pregnancies but we were going to be ready. We attended Great Expectations: Multiples, a class at the hospital specifically for twins (or more) and Breastfeeding Multiples to prepare. We got our maternity pictures done in the city after the class. We started to pack the labor bag (just in case). The renovation started, the baby showers were both complete (and tons of fun, the peas are spoiled already) and things were going well. My only new symptom was feeling more tired, but I figured it came with the territory.
Then one innocent Tuesday morning right before 30 weeks I felt weird. My stomach was tight - we had learned in our Great Expectations class to test for contractions by comparing the feeling of your stomach to your lips, tip of your nose, or your forehead. My stomach was definitely getting to forehead status but it wasn't regular and I wasn't sure if it was just the babies moving like crazy or what. So I called the Dr. and they suggested I should come in just in case. Within two hours I was at the Dr. and they were sending me to the hospital downtown since I was already dilated. I called Ryan and told him he should come to the hospital and grab the labor bag. He was a little shocked, but quickly stopped the construction work and came to the hospital, making amazing time, he arrived only 30 minutes after me. We were admitted to labor & delivery triage for pre-term labor where they were monitoring my contractions (yes, I was having them) and they administered a steroid shot to develop the babies' lungs quickly and medicine to slow down/stop the contractions. I also got my first IV, I wasn't expecting it to go on the top of my hand, this was my maiden trip to the hospital. I have never been hospitalized before, it was quite the experience. For some reason I was still very calm, I guess freaking out wouldn't have helped, but being out of control I figured I would be just a little anxious. Just like in the beginning of the pregnancy when they couldn't hear the heartbeats I had a feeling we would all be fine, God was looking out for us.
We then were moved up to labor & delivery where they would continue to monitor the contractions and both babies heartbeats and check to see if I continued to dilate. At the Dr.'s office I was at 1.5 cm and then when I was in triage I was 2.0 cm. Up in labor and delivery I was holding steady at 2 cm, they told me I couldn't eat anything but clear foods and room service was closed and the cafeteria did not have anything in the form of gluten free clear food fare. The nurse was able to smuggle two popsicles to tie me over. The anesthesiologist came to visit us - hospital policy once someone arrives on the floor, I hounded him with questions (the epidural is the scariest part for me..eek!) but he was very reassuring and told me he had confidence I could handle it (phew). Ryan and I settled in for the night, he had a fancy cot that he could sleep on and I had the amazingly uncomfortable delivery bed (people actually deliver single babies in this room), Law & Order was in the middle of a marathon though so all in all it was a pretty good night.
Throughout the night I didn't dilate any more (YAY!) so at 3 am we were allowed to go up to antepartum floor!! The beds were much comfier up there so I finally got some sleep. A Dr. or nurse was coming in every couple of hours to check my vitals, or the babies' hearts - I no longer needed constant monitoring which was also helping my comfort, since every time I would move to get comfy one of the babies monitors would loose their heartbeat and the nurse would have to come in to re-adjust. I set my alarm to order breakfast right when they started taking orders and took another nap until my ginormous meal came. A Dr. from my practice came to check on me and told me I would be monitored for the next 2 days and during that time they would complete the steroid shots, stop giving me the contraction stopping medicine and monitor me. I was at 1.5 cm dilated again - apparently each Dr. measures slightly different, which was reassuring since that meant I didn't dilate at all since I was checked at the Dr. Office Tuesday afternoon. Ryan and I hung out - I was able to still work from the hospital which kept me busy during the day. On Thursday I was given the all clear to go home!! But with new orders of bed rest, my Doctors told me that if labor comes it comes we can't completely stop it but bed rest makes everyone feel better that I wasn't over-doing it and that I did all I could to keep these babies cooking. Our first goal was to make it 2 weeks to 32 weeks, then to 34 weeks. We got home and I slept amazingly!!
Bed Rest
I wasn't sure how to feel about bed rest, I wanted to get everything done and ready for the babies but I also wanted them to keep cooking. It was a hard struggle. My controlling, particular, type A personality didn't make it any easier. I started by making lots of to-do lists. I am sure Ryan and my Mom were soo happy with all these to-do lists, but being the amazing people they are they went through the lists. So day by day I would wake up shower and work from bed. I kept things professional by changing out of PJ's and making the bed. I got a cool little bedside table (which was kinda crappy so I complained and ended up getting it for free!) and tried to be classy when eating and living in bed. I did get out weekly for Dr. appointments which were the highlights of the week. I took a wheelchair from the hospital to the Dr. office which was always embarrassing! Finally, we hit 34 weeks - which marked the end of the strict bed rest. We were cautiously excited, if the labor starts again they wouldn't stop it, but it was still pretty early for the babies to be born. After talking with the Dr. I would still take it easy but I could venture to the outside world, go out to eat and walk downstairs! I was pretty excited, but also nervous, I didn't want to be the reason they were born too early! So I plan on taking it easy until 36 weeks - then I will be most likely running marathons to start labor!
