Meet the Family

Pretty severe morning sickness, the type that lasts all day long no matter what steps you take or advice you follow, sets in at about 5 weeks and is interfering with my daily life. I have picked up a couple of pregnancy books and am relying heavily on one specifically for twin and multiple pregnancies. Their instructions: eat every 90 minutes. It seems to work better than any other remedy, including the B vitamins, which I continue to take anyhow. The only thing that seems to help keep me functional, however, is eating. I have no appetite, no desire to eat, but it does lessen my queasiness enough that I can get out of bed and go to work. I am also exhausted! My regular bedtime has switched from 10:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Some of this has to do with the fact that I'm having to get up 4-5 times a night to pee. I am cranky, irritable, and completely dependent on food. It sucks to be Paul right now.

Regardless, he and I tough it out and decide to drive up to Salem, Oregon for the family Thanksgiving gathering, where we plan to "share the news" with the 30 members or so that also plan to be there. Armed with a cooler full of food (milk, cereal, cheese and protein bars are the favorites), we make the ordinarily 9 hour trip in under 11 (and Paul becomes acquainted with many roadside rest areas). Even though I'm only 10 weeks along, it doesn't take long for family members to "notice" the change in my belly (people at work started noticing at 8 weeks - hey, they're twins!). Anxious aunts eye each other and then smile in glee. These are the first babies in 4 years and they are chomping at the bit for some new little ones. The real surprise is the word "twins." Enough babies for everyone!

Our First Look - Surprise!: Maybe Grandma Could Hear Me!

Our first look... Week 6

At 6 weeks, Paul and I made our way to the doctor's office, held hands, and prayed that we would see good news during our first ultrasound. Not really knowing what to expect or see, we were thrilled to learn that we were pregnant with not only one, but two babies! Although you can see both sacs, only one baby shape is visible in this photo; but when they moved the instrument more to the left, the second one was definitely there. They are only 10 mm long at this point and really resemble sea-horses or sea-monkeys more than they do real babies.