Thursday, January 15, 2009
Violin lessons
So I practiced my violin today for 1/2 hour while the kiddies played! Yay me! I did some scales and then realized I have completely forgotten how to read music for violin so I looked up the fingering charts on the internet and am starting the re-learn it. Then, get this, I learned to play Twinkle Little Star! I was excited and my 4-year-old thought I was nuts. I am excited to get back to playing after many years. My 7-year-old is also starting lessons so I plan on practicing with her. I've been wanting to pick up my violin for years but have been busy having babies and I never knew how to tune it. I still don't as of right now but we had a member of our bishopric come over on the weekend who is a violinist and he tuned it up for me. So I thought, ok no more excuses, I'm not getting any younger. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I love having twins...
After posting that last post (which I actually wrote a year ago) I just had to give a quick entry about how cute and amazing my twins are. They are 23 months now, about 3 weeks till their birthday. I just looove seeing them hug each other. It is really the cutest thing, I haven't been able to get a picture of it yet. Makes having twins seem more worth it when they do cute twin things. Much nicer now than having 2 screaming newborns with a rambunctious 2-year-old running around. Each of my twins got riding cars for Christmas. Every once in a while they will each stand up at the same time and switch cars, without speaking or even looking at one another. I've witnessed this at least 3 times and it amazes me. They often look for each other too although they are very seldom apart (which probably isn't a good thing). They rarely separate themselves from each other. Often, when one walks away and the other doesn't follow right away, she'll come back and get her sister. Very sweet. I never wanted to separate them as infants because I was worried they would miss each other or feel vulnerable without the other there. Since November though (we moved to a new house and had to give them toddler beds), they've been refusing to nap and playing with each other instead. So over the past week I've been putting them in separate rooms to nap and it's been working! It is probably a good thing for them in the long run too. I don't plan on separating them for kindergarten though, but that may change. This is a quick, not well written entry but I am babysitting an 18-month-old boy now so I better pay attention to them!
Our Battle with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome
I just want to share my story because I am so grateful that it has a happy ending. With 3 previous difficult pregnancies, I knew this had to be my last... so imagine my surprise when I found out I was having twins (at 14 weeks)! I was excited at being able to fulfill my desire to have a large family and getting 2 for the price of 1.
I should start by saying after having 3 beautiful daughters, my husband and I decided we wanted to have "just one more". And, as with my first 3 pregnancies, I got pregnant right away. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, same amount of morning sickness etc. until September '06 when we went for our first ultrasound, at 14 weeks. Now that is actually quite unusual for Canada, usually they don't do an ultrasound here until 18-20 weeks. But my new doctor routinely does them around 14 weeks just to make sure everything is going well in there.
So at this ultrasound is how we found out we were having twins! With my second pregnancy we had experienced "vanishing twin syndrome" so I was in total disbelief and the first question I asked the tech was "and they're both the same size and have heartbeats?" She assured us that both babies looked great and that she suspected they were identical because it appeared there was only 1 placenta and only a thin membrane separating the twins.
Some months earlier I had happened to see an episode of Dateline that talked about Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome so at my next doctor's appointment I expressed my concern about it. He assured me that is was "rare" and I did not need to worry about it. I had another ultrasound at 20 weeks where again, everything looked great with the babies. I thought I was in the clear and convinced myself to stop worrying.
Saturday, November 25, 2006: I begin have a lot of cramping and contractions. I ask my husband to take a photo of my belly because it seems that I have "popped" out over night. I had convinced myself not to worry so I push all these feelings aside.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (24 weeks): I have been having contractions and cramping all weekend but trying to ignore it, knowing I have a routine ultrasound that day. The ultrasound tech is quiet, he says he is looking at the one baby and takes some time but when he gets to the other baby he is quick and excuses himself from the room. I have been trying to think positive so I don’t let this alarm me. A few minutes later my husband and the doctor come in. She proceeds to tell me something I had been fearing since finding out I was carrying identical twins. My babies are suffering from Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a condition that only affects identical twins sharing one placenta. This explains why I have been having so much cramping. The condition causes the blood and nutrient flow through the placenta to the babies to be uneven. One baby gets too much (recipient baby) and the other baby doesn’t get enough (donor baby). The sac around the recipient baby fills with excess fluid and leaves the donor baby with little or no fluid. This puts both babies in great danger. The doctor tells me that I am in Stage 2 TTTS and that Twin A still has a little bit of fluid around her, which is good. I begin to cry and cannot believe what I’m hearing. The doctor tells me I am a candidate for laser surgery and goes to call Dr. Ryan in Toronto, the only doctor in Canada who specializes in TTTS pregnancies. Moments later I am receiving steroid shots to help the babies’ lungs develop in case of premature labor. The doctors want me to get on a plane for Toronto that same day but I have to go home and make arrangements for my 3 children. Needless to say, I do not sleep that night.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006: We have made arrangements for our 3 girls to stay with wonderful family friends and leave for the airport, with a stop at the hospital for another steroid shot on the way. My belly is so swollen with excess fluid that I can barely eat and it is hard to even sit up in a chair. I am very nervous to get on an airplane for the first time in my life, but more nervous about what is going on inside me. I am terrified that I will go into labor or that my babies will pass away at any moment. The plane ride is very difficult due to my condition and I am so glad when it’s over. We go to our hotel and spend another night worrying.
Thursday, November 30, 2006: We wake early as we have an appointment with Dr. Ryan at 8am. My belly has ballooned now, making me look like I’m well overdue at just 24 weeks. The condition has become quite painful, I can hardly sit up and eating is not even an option. We wait in a crowded waiting room, all the while, I am trying to hold back tears. Dr. Ryan is awesome and gives us some priority. He allows me to lay on the ultrasound bed while I wait for him. When he finally performs the scan, he finds that the condition has become worse. Twin A now has no fluid around her and no visible bladder. He says the good news is that neither baby shows signs of heart failure or brain damage but he cautions us that it is just around the corner. He takes us back to a room and gives us all the information. There are options but not many and the statistics are scary. If we go with the laser ablation surgery there is still only a 50% chance of both babies surviving, 80% for one baby to survive. But without it there is only a 10% chance of survival of both babies. There is also a high risk of going into labor during or after the surgery. Mike and I know that despite the risks we have to do the laser surgery. It is set for the next day. I go for blood tests and after a long day at the hospital we go to our hotel to wait. It is not long into the evening when I start having contractions and the pain is becoming severe. I am already so nervous and scared that I go to the hospital. The doctor there does another ultrasound which shows that both babies are doing okay. It is a relief to be at the hospital, I spend the night there.
Friday, December 1, 2006: The big day. I have to wait as they are just squeezing me in when an OR becomes available, so we have no idea what time the surgery will be at. We wait and wait and wait, time seems to be crawling. I am becoming very discouraged when finally, at 5pm we get the news that an OR is ready for us. Suddenly my heart is racing. At 6pm I am on the operating table. The anesthetist does not give me enough medication and the surgery is painful at first. After receiving more medication I fell asleep. When I come to the doctor is almost done and asks me if I want to see Baby B, it takes all my strength to pry open my eyes (as I am very drugged now) but I catch a glimpse of a precious little angel. Dr. Ryan then drains 4 ½ liters of fluid off Baby B’s sack, this is much to the relief of my internal organs. When the surgery is over I have to be monitored for contractions and given drugs to stop them. Soon I am back in my room and feeling much better now that I can sit up with no pain and actually eat comfortably. I spend another restless night in the hospital. We have to wait and see if the surgery worked.
Saturday, December 2, 2006: Dr. Ryan comes in the morning and performs another ultrasound. He is very pleased, both babies have a good amount of fluid around them and he has a hard time telling which one is which. He looks at blood flow and everything is looking good. Still no signs of brain damage or heart failure. He discharges me from the hospital but I decide to stay at the hotel another day to recover. I was not anxious to get back on a plane. We are so grateful and relieved that the surgery appears to have worked.
Monday, December 4, 2006: I go back to see Dr. Ryan one last time before flying home. He does another ultrasound and the babies look even better. I thank him but he is still cautiously optimistic, he warns me that I am still at high risk for preterm labor. The plane ride home is a lot better.
My beautiful twin girls were born healthy on February 4, 2007, 9 weeks after the surgery that saved their lives. Words cannot express how grateful I am for these 2 little miracles.They were 6 weeks premature, weighing in at 4 lbs. 8 oz. and 4 lbs. 7 oz., but never needed to be on oxygen and were only in the NICU for 13 days. I do not know who was the donor baby and who was the recipient. They continue to amaze me today and now, at almost 10 months, you can hardly tell they were premature. Mike and I are so grateful for the hundreds of prayers and all the help from friends, family and even strangers. I look forward to the future with my 5 beautiful daughters--just hope we make it through those teen years!
I should start by saying after having 3 beautiful daughters, my husband and I decided we wanted to have "just one more". And, as with my first 3 pregnancies, I got pregnant right away. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, same amount of morning sickness etc. until September '06 when we went for our first ultrasound, at 14 weeks. Now that is actually quite unusual for Canada, usually they don't do an ultrasound here until 18-20 weeks. But my new doctor routinely does them around 14 weeks just to make sure everything is going well in there.
So at this ultrasound is how we found out we were having twins! With my second pregnancy we had experienced "vanishing twin syndrome" so I was in total disbelief and the first question I asked the tech was "and they're both the same size and have heartbeats?" She assured us that both babies looked great and that she suspected they were identical because it appeared there was only 1 placenta and only a thin membrane separating the twins.
Some months earlier I had happened to see an episode of Dateline that talked about Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome so at my next doctor's appointment I expressed my concern about it. He assured me that is was "rare" and I did not need to worry about it. I had another ultrasound at 20 weeks where again, everything looked great with the babies. I thought I was in the clear and convinced myself to stop worrying.
Saturday, November 25, 2006: I begin have a lot of cramping and contractions. I ask my husband to take a photo of my belly because it seems that I have "popped" out over night. I had convinced myself not to worry so I push all these feelings aside.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (24 weeks): I have been having contractions and cramping all weekend but trying to ignore it, knowing I have a routine ultrasound that day. The ultrasound tech is quiet, he says he is looking at the one baby and takes some time but when he gets to the other baby he is quick and excuses himself from the room. I have been trying to think positive so I don’t let this alarm me. A few minutes later my husband and the doctor come in. She proceeds to tell me something I had been fearing since finding out I was carrying identical twins. My babies are suffering from Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a condition that only affects identical twins sharing one placenta. This explains why I have been having so much cramping. The condition causes the blood and nutrient flow through the placenta to the babies to be uneven. One baby gets too much (recipient baby) and the other baby doesn’t get enough (donor baby). The sac around the recipient baby fills with excess fluid and leaves the donor baby with little or no fluid. This puts both babies in great danger. The doctor tells me that I am in Stage 2 TTTS and that Twin A still has a little bit of fluid around her, which is good. I begin to cry and cannot believe what I’m hearing. The doctor tells me I am a candidate for laser surgery and goes to call Dr. Ryan in Toronto, the only doctor in Canada who specializes in TTTS pregnancies. Moments later I am receiving steroid shots to help the babies’ lungs develop in case of premature labor. The doctors want me to get on a plane for Toronto that same day but I have to go home and make arrangements for my 3 children. Needless to say, I do not sleep that night.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006: We have made arrangements for our 3 girls to stay with wonderful family friends and leave for the airport, with a stop at the hospital for another steroid shot on the way. My belly is so swollen with excess fluid that I can barely eat and it is hard to even sit up in a chair. I am very nervous to get on an airplane for the first time in my life, but more nervous about what is going on inside me. I am terrified that I will go into labor or that my babies will pass away at any moment. The plane ride is very difficult due to my condition and I am so glad when it’s over. We go to our hotel and spend another night worrying.
Thursday, November 30, 2006: We wake early as we have an appointment with Dr. Ryan at 8am. My belly has ballooned now, making me look like I’m well overdue at just 24 weeks. The condition has become quite painful, I can hardly sit up and eating is not even an option. We wait in a crowded waiting room, all the while, I am trying to hold back tears. Dr. Ryan is awesome and gives us some priority. He allows me to lay on the ultrasound bed while I wait for him. When he finally performs the scan, he finds that the condition has become worse. Twin A now has no fluid around her and no visible bladder. He says the good news is that neither baby shows signs of heart failure or brain damage but he cautions us that it is just around the corner. He takes us back to a room and gives us all the information. There are options but not many and the statistics are scary. If we go with the laser ablation surgery there is still only a 50% chance of both babies surviving, 80% for one baby to survive. But without it there is only a 10% chance of survival of both babies. There is also a high risk of going into labor during or after the surgery. Mike and I know that despite the risks we have to do the laser surgery. It is set for the next day. I go for blood tests and after a long day at the hospital we go to our hotel to wait. It is not long into the evening when I start having contractions and the pain is becoming severe. I am already so nervous and scared that I go to the hospital. The doctor there does another ultrasound which shows that both babies are doing okay. It is a relief to be at the hospital, I spend the night there.
Friday, December 1, 2006: The big day. I have to wait as they are just squeezing me in when an OR becomes available, so we have no idea what time the surgery will be at. We wait and wait and wait, time seems to be crawling. I am becoming very discouraged when finally, at 5pm we get the news that an OR is ready for us. Suddenly my heart is racing. At 6pm I am on the operating table. The anesthetist does not give me enough medication and the surgery is painful at first. After receiving more medication I fell asleep. When I come to the doctor is almost done and asks me if I want to see Baby B, it takes all my strength to pry open my eyes (as I am very drugged now) but I catch a glimpse of a precious little angel. Dr. Ryan then drains 4 ½ liters of fluid off Baby B’s sack, this is much to the relief of my internal organs. When the surgery is over I have to be monitored for contractions and given drugs to stop them. Soon I am back in my room and feeling much better now that I can sit up with no pain and actually eat comfortably. I spend another restless night in the hospital. We have to wait and see if the surgery worked.
Saturday, December 2, 2006: Dr. Ryan comes in the morning and performs another ultrasound. He is very pleased, both babies have a good amount of fluid around them and he has a hard time telling which one is which. He looks at blood flow and everything is looking good. Still no signs of brain damage or heart failure. He discharges me from the hospital but I decide to stay at the hotel another day to recover. I was not anxious to get back on a plane. We are so grateful and relieved that the surgery appears to have worked.
Monday, December 4, 2006: I go back to see Dr. Ryan one last time before flying home. He does another ultrasound and the babies look even better. I thank him but he is still cautiously optimistic, he warns me that I am still at high risk for preterm labor. The plane ride home is a lot better.
My beautiful twin girls were born healthy on February 4, 2007, 9 weeks after the surgery that saved their lives. Words cannot express how grateful I am for these 2 little miracles.They were 6 weeks premature, weighing in at 4 lbs. 8 oz. and 4 lbs. 7 oz., but never needed to be on oxygen and were only in the NICU for 13 days. I do not know who was the donor baby and who was the recipient. They continue to amaze me today and now, at almost 10 months, you can hardly tell they were premature. Mike and I are so grateful for the hundreds of prayers and all the help from friends, family and even strangers. I look forward to the future with my 5 beautiful daughters--just hope we make it through those teen years!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Where do I start?
This is my first blog entry! I've been meaning to start this for quite some time but never seem to get around to it. And then I've also put it off because I don't know what to write in a "first entry". I'm pretty sure no one will ever read this but even so, it will be good for me to ramble off my thoughts even if it is to a machine and not a person. So should I tell a little bit about myself? Seems like a good idea. I'm a 29 year old mother of 5. I have 5 daughters aged 9, 7, 4 1/2 and the last two are twins aged 23 months. It's crazy, it really is. Life doesn't slow down anymore, it's go go go. I often find myself remembering life with just 2 and thinking how quiet it was back then. Although at the time I thought I had a handful, hah! Not that I want it that quiet again, of course not, going on to have 3 more has been great, even if it is crazy. My 3rd baby was such a good baby though, you know, she didn't cry unless she was hungry, went to sleep right after I fed her as a newborn, slept through the night at 2 months, etc... like she really was an angel baby. So I remember thinking, wow I should just stop at 3 and all will be well. (I should mention that my first baby screamed for the first 4 months of her life and my 2nd baby was so sickly that she was a miserable child till she was 3). Anyway, lucky for me I know that having children is well worth the effort and when my 3rd daughter was 2, we decided to have "just one more". Although I wasn't expecting it, I again got pregnant pretty much as soon as I thought the word "baby". At week 14 I had an ultrasound just to make sure everything was running along smoothly. My husband actually came to the ultrasound with me, which I'm kinda surprised at looking back on it, seeing as how it was our 4th pregnancy and we had done it all before. Of course in Canada they make the hubby wait in the waiting room until the tech is all done. So the tech was taking a while, I thought it kind of odd but tried not to worry or think much of it. Apparently my hubby was growing a bit concerned in the waiting room. Finally the tech brought him in then told us to "hold on to our hats". She turned the screen towards us, pointed to it and said "so there's 1 baby", then moving the mouse thing over and said "and there's the other baby." My jaw really did drop open. It was a complete shock, nothing about the pregnancy so far had been different and I wasn't even really showing yet. The tech printed out some pics for us to take home. Over the next few days I had to constantly look at the pic of 2 heads just prove to myself it was true. Both my husband and I didn't believe it. We also learned that day that they were identical twins sharing 1 placenta which worried me after doing some research, but I was assured by my doctor that there was nothing to worry about. The fact that they each had their own sac was a very good thing.
It is time to get little ones ready for bed. I will write more about my whirlwind twin pregnancy another time.
It is time to get little ones ready for bed. I will write more about my whirlwind twin pregnancy another time.
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