20 weeks | The Twins

So I realized I haven't done a big update on the twins on the blog, nor have I posted any bump pictures on here for family who isn't on facebook. Sorry!!

We are now 20 weeks and the twins both looked great on a quick ultrasound at the doctors office today. They were very active and the doctor was cracking up at Baby A kicking Baby B repeatedly. The ultrasound in the doctor's office is a lower quality one, and often hard to see details (they have much better ones downstairs), but in just glancing over Baby B he laughed and said 100% boy. It was very obvious. We are assuming Baby A is still girl, but she was being shy, we'll let you know if anything changes!

20 weeks

I feel almost constant movement right now, which considering there are 4 little feet and 4 little arms failing about is not surprising! Just this week I have been able to begin to differentiate between which baby is moving, which is fun. Right now it seems like Baby Girl A is much more active than her brother at least during the day. Baby Boy B is more active at night and in the early mornings. They currently trade off being active, which should be interesting as they get bigger and bigger and it's harder to sleep through their activity! 




Physically I am doing pretty well. I have the 'nesting' desire very strong and just about every place in my house is getting reorganized! However my ability to keep up and actually do the things I want to do is waning alot. Normally you get a burst of second trimester 'energy' but I haven't really seen that. My nausea is alot better, but with the babies taking up so much room, digestion is rarely fun, haha! They are growing rapidly and are stretching my muscles and ligaments a bit quick than my body would like, but a support belt has helped with that, as well as just limiting what I allow myself to do! I am happily accepting that everything is going to take longer for me to complete, and some things have to wait until the hubs gets home from work. 


We have a big ultrasound in about a week and a half that will include lots of pictures to share!


Here are some old bump photos for those who aren't on facebook:




                   11 weeks                                               13 weeks

     

                           16 weeks                                             19 weeks

 

Project 52 | Surprises | Week 36

Motherhood is

surprises.

I honestly have always thought I would have all boys.

Why? I'm not really sure. I love little girls just as much as little boys.

But for some reason I thought I would be one of those mothers with 5 crazy boys running around.

Apparently not!

We are so excited to announce that Baby A is a GIRL and Baby B is a BOY! Both are looking healthy and growing very well right now. In fact, Baby B is showing his boy side and packing on the weight a bit faster than his sister, who is right on schedule.

And honestly, I did NOT believe the ultrasound tech when she told me, hahaha....

(Oh, and we've known for 2 weeks, I've been waiting on the boots to get in for this picture! No one can ever say I am impatient again!!)

styleberry blog |cyan baby bliss | fitori | phreckle face photography | {rik-see } photography | the vandyck family

Questions | The Fishies

I have been getting quite a few of the same repeat questions lately, so I figured I would address them on here for all those asking (or those too afraid to ask!). 




Were we on fertility treatments when we conceived the twins?


Not many people have actually been brave enough to ask this question, but I know lots are thinking it!


But the answer is, no, the twins are all natural! I was on Clomid to conceive Jarvis, but we are blessed to have not had to use fertility treatments since then. Which honestly, just goes to show you how amazing our Lord truly is! He can do just about anything! Including giving fraternal twins to a woman with a history of issues ovulating!






Are we finding out the genders of the twins?


Short answer: We still aren't sure. haha.


Long answer, it's a tough decision. Honestly, we don't want to find out. I like not knowing, I love the surprise. I really liked not knowing with Jarvis. And it doesn't matter one bit to me if it's two girls, two boys, or a mix. All I want to know is that they are healthy. Initially, we did not find with Jarvis because it was financially smarter. I bought all neutral baby items so that we could use them again, no matter what. But then I liked not knowing. Certainly gave me that extra desire to push!! We try very hard to be financially smart, and honestly, when it comes to the twins, it is smarter to find out. We know lots of people who are willing to give us clothes and supplies. 


So yes, we aren't sure. And I'm not sure when we will make the decision! And we reserve the right to change our minds alot! haha!


I was honestly surprised at how many of you voted for us to keep it a secret!










And now for some fun news! Last Friday I thought I felt the fishies move for the first time. I thought I was crazy and just making it up, but after repetitive motion in the same place over several days, I decided to do a little test. We were able to confirm exactly where they were with the Doppler fetal monitor, and it's right where I have been feeling lots of motion! I guess the two of them in there are causing a ruckus already! It's not constant, but at least once or twice a day I feel little flutters, kicks, and jumps. Can't wait to be feeling them even more!! This is much earlier than I felt either Job or Jarvis (both around 16 weeks).




Any questions you have for me that I haven't answered???

Head to Toe

Ahhhhh, I can not even tell you what a DEEP sigh of relief it was to see the fishies today. We had a checkup and got to get a quick ultrasound to check on them. My heart literally leapt to see them both wiggling and kicking and moving.


They are laid out head to toe, with Fishy A lower and towards my back, and Fishy B higher and more forwards. That will change of course, but Fishy A will always be the one closer to the exit! They are in seperate gestational sacs and have separate placentas, which is the most ideal type of twinning and eliminates some of the risk factors with twins.


The best part was that they both kept kicking one another in the heads. Too adorable!

They are positioned so that we can't get them both in one picture, but here are the two sacs, and a little hand!

Fishy A

Fishy B

As far as I am doing, this pregnancy has definitely been the most difficult of all 4. My hormone levels are much higher and thus my symptoms are much more severe. However this week I have started to have a bit more energy and have been able to keep down more food. 


I have already popped, around 10 weeks I had to switch over to maternity pants. And I look much further along than I actually am!

A surprise or a plan?

In the past, Hubby and I have made the decision to NOT find out the gender of our babies. We had planned to stick with that with the rest of the babies and have all neutral newborn stuff (although really, neutral ends up being more boyish).


BUT.... the twins are throwing a bit of a cramp in that... we will need more clothes either way, boy or girl, and we have to buy seconds of basically everything else. 


So we are in a toss up as whether we will find out the gender of the twins. So for fun, here's your chance to vote! Vote in the pole on the right and tell us what you think we should do!


We probably won't listen, haha, but it's fun to see what you think!

The Fishies | TWINS

We broke the news on facebook that we are expecting TWINS! I can not even begin to tell you the emotions and thoughts running through my head.


We are BEYOND THRILLED. We want a big family, and I have always said I would love multiples. We are well aware of just how hard it will be, but we will be gladly taking on the challenge.


As you know, we always nickname our babies, we had already decided on Fishy, so now they are the Fishies! Fishy A had a heartbeat of 162 and Fishy B had a heartbeat of 171.

Now, we are well aware that confirmed heartbeats  are just the first step in this LONG journey. There are quite a few more concerns with twins, not to mention the ones from our history. 


So why did I decide to share so early? Well, it's complicated. My basic opinion is to only share with people you would tell if things did not work out. And then to share publicly when you are prepared to share publicly if something happens. 


I have been very public with my losses, and through that I have been helped and have been able to help so many people. I want to continue that. So yes, it's early, we are on an uphill battle, but we are excited. 


In my mind, I would not trade a single day with Job or Monkey, even if I had known that I would lose them. I strive to value EVERY single day with my babies, to treasure and enjoy each day. Even if it's the last day. It will never be enough until I am in heaven with all my babies. But I will take every day the Lord gives me. 


So here we go... we are a bit overwhelmed and my mind is racing, but I am so very excited about what is to come...