Ava and Alex have arrived...

Well Ava, Alex, Mom and I are all settled in our room now. Ava and Alex arrived around 8PM from the nursery where they were warmed, weighed, measured, bathed, dressed-n-checked. So here is the desired stats and early photo's as promised:

Alex Thomas Trifiletti
Length: 17.5 inches
Weight: 5 Lbs. 4 Oz.
TOB: 4:32 PM

Ava Louise Trifiletti
Length: 19 inches
Weight: 6 Lbs. 6 Oz.
TOB: 4:33 PM



Alex checking things out in the nursery.


Alex sleeping in his crib in our room.


Ava, with a bit of a furrowed brow, doing some
serious sleeping...



Ava and Alex together in Gram and Pape's arms.

Released... almost

Well, its been another long day and night in the hospital. I really think I was feeling well enough to go home yesterday, but the doc wanted me to stay one more night, just in case. Last night I slept for 5 hours straight, but I'm still sleept, and anxious to be in my own bed.

This morning, the doc told me I can go home, but WITHOUT the medication to stop the contractions - which are seldom now - well, at least I'm not really feeling them anyway. My uterus is what they call "irritable." Who knows what will happen once the meds are out of my system. The babies are champs - they don't get stressed out from the irritability and the doc said they look great. I am waiting to be seen for a scan in the perinatal center, and then I can go.
Once I am home, I was instructed to 'lay around, watch tv, and get up to go to the bathroom.' The doc also said 'no intercourse' I laughed. Was he kidding?
So, unless my water breaks or the contractions come back with the intensity of a few days ago, Wednesday will be D-day. At this point, they won't stop labor if i need to come back before that, tho.
All this excitement is just a precursor of the upcoming week!

A night in Labor and Delivery...

At my growth scan yesterday afternoon, everything looked great. Baby A is weighing about 5lbs 6 oz and BabyB is about 6lbs6oz. The ultrasound tech said they can put on about another pound between now and next week. (Keep in mind, these weights are not accurate, but approximate) The tech was also surprised that I was still able to drive myself around (barely) and that I had even made it this far at all! I then went to have my routine NST (non-stress test) and it wasn't long before the monitors showed I was contracting regularly about every minute. The nurse asked if I was feeling them and when I told her yes, she called my doctor immediately. I was escorted to Labor and Delivery and monitored in triage for hours. My cervix was still 'high and thick' but the contractions were happening regulary and they were strong. I was given Procardia to try to stop them and then checked again about an hour and ahalf later. The Procardia didn't work... I was still contracting - I had 21 contrax in 1 hour! But they weren't doing anything to change my cervix. In real labor, my cervix would change.
The doctor wanted to keep me overnight for observations, I was moved to the perinatal center and monitored through the night. The contractions lessened, but were still happening.
By 8am the doctor checked me again and there was really no significant change. He took me off the monitors and encouraged me to eat and do some walking. Now that I am off the monitors I feel great. My belly is contracting but its not painful,
And thats where we are now... I'll be checked again in the afternoon. And I am thinking I'll be sent home with some Procardia.

36 week belly shot

36 weeks from the side... and from behind. yikes!

Hard to believe that in one week they will be OUT!

t minus 10... and counting!

The countdown is on... 10 days until these tiny Trifs make their entrance into the world.
On Friday, we had the most eventful happening this pregnancy. I went to my regular non-stress test and the monitors were showing that I was contracting every 3 minutes for about 45 minutes. The nurse told me to stay put for a bit longer and that she'd call my doctor if they continued. The babies must have heard the threat and eventually, the contractions stopped. She told me to go home, and rest as much as possible and keep myself hydrated. The contractions continued sporadically for most of the day, and I haven't had an episode since. Yesterday I experienced some Braxton Hicks (practice) contractions, but nothing painful or intense, like Friday.

Dr. Kriner leaves for CA tomorrow. yikes! I'd like for these guys to stay put until he returns, however, I have come to terms with the idea that they may not hold off till the 28th. And I am okay with that. This week, I will be 36 weeks. These babies are baked. And right now they are just 'warming.'
On Thursday, I'll have my last growth scan and I will have an idea of about how much they are weighing. I anticipate them to be close to 6 lbs at this point.

I can't wait to meet them. I am anxious and excited... more than ever!

Robert in the snow

Yesterday was Robert's first time playing in the snow. He had a blast! Mommy wished she was out there with him. :(

This is Robert's new t-shirt... he'll wear it to the hospital when the babies arrive.

More nursery shots and Going home outfits

Just needed to post these here so I could link them to another page!

February 28th or bust!

There is an end in site - what a relief!

Today's appt with Doctor Kriner was fantastic. He found the babies with the ultrasound. Alex is in position, with his head packed pretty far down in my pelvis. Ava is what they call 'oblique'. She is kind of diagonal across the top of my belly, with her face right on Alex's butt. hmm, interesting.
We are still looking at a c-section, although the doctor would like to see if Ava will move at all in the next few weeks. He said we can schedule a section anytime between 36 and 37 weeks. We are shooting for 37 weeks, which is Feb 28th.

Perhaps you don't know the story with Feb 28th... I'll explain. Bobby and I were married on May 28th, Robert was born on March 28th, Bobby's birthday is October 28th and my birthday is Feb 8th (2-8). I'm hopeful that we'll hang on until then, although Dr. Kriner said that if I can hang on for the next 5 days (34 weeks), anything after that is icing on the cake. Apparently 34 weeks is a huge milestone in twin pregnancies. I'm just about there and have no doubt I'll still be here for awhile after that.
My bloodpressure was a bit high, which was a slight concern, but since this is the first time it was ever high, the concern was minimal. I am showing no signs of swelling, headaches, blurred vision or anything that is cause for alarm. I had it done again at my non-stress test and it was lower, so thats all good.
Doctor also said that my glucose test was very low... which was a shock! In fact, he said that in most twin pregnancies it is usually higher causing an increased risk for gestational diabetes. He said I must be doing something right. I promised him that I have been drinking just as many milkshakes and eating just as much ice cream as always. Still, ironically, I lost 3 lbs. this week. I have been hungrier than ever... especially at 3am! I feel like I eat so much... I guess the babies are hungry... because as you can see from the pic below, "it all goes to my tummy!"

So the end is in sight... It still boggles my mind sometimes that I am going to have 2 babies - at the same time! I am so lucky... WE are so lucky. Now, I really can't wait!