Oh My Goodness . . . So Much To Do

I am starting to enter the "freak out zone". I don't exactly know what the "freak out zone" is, but it is making me a little anxious - I mean a LOT anxious. I am officially 29 weeks pregnant today. Yeay! I am so torn between desperately wanting to meet my baby boys and being completely terrified that I am not ready for them to get here.

Here is a short list of my worries:

1. I have no idea how to nurse two babies. How are we going to work out that schedule?
2. I so desperately want them to be healthy with limited or no time in the NICU. I want them to stay in my belly as long as possible.
3. Where are they going to sleep when they come home? Our nursery furniture is not here yet.
4. How do I know what they want, need? Are they eating enough? Can we keep them alive?
5. Will I ever sleep again?
6. When should I stop working? Am I doing too much (physically) right now?
7. Perhaps this should be at the top of the list. Will I be a good mom?
8. I haven't decided on a name yet. Dave has his ready to go.

Here is a short list of the reasons I can't wait to get them here:

1. I can't wait to see their beautiful faces. What do they look like?
2. What will their personalities be like? Will one be like me (Type A, perfectionist) and one be like Dave (laid back, an intellectual book worm)?
3. I have been waiting so long to meet them. It is painful that I have to wait another day. Time moves the slowest during pregnancy.
4. I can't wait to shower them with love, kisses, cuddles. I have so much that I want to teach them.
5. Have you seen my belly? It is HUGE! How could it possibly get bigger? Is it possible that I could actually get more uncomfortable than I am right now? Wait a minute . . . how am I still working?

Saturday, Dave and I attended an all-day child birth class. It contributed to both of the above lists. On the way home Saturday and once we got home, I was having several Braxton Hicks contractions. Dave frantically threw together my hospital bag. We both realized that if we had to rush to Columbia in a hurry that we are not ready. So, now my bag is somewhat packed.

I debated whether or not to share this on the blog, but I had some testing completed by a maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Grant, a couple of weeks ago and I got some bad news. In addition to testing positive for a Prothrombin Gene Mutation (Factor II), I also have two additional blood clotting disorders: Factor V Leiden mutation and elevated Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors (PAI).

I know - it is all Greek to me, too. To simplify, these disorders are referred to as thrombophilias. It means that I have a very elevated risk at developing a blood clot at any time. Blood clots, of course, may lead to severe pregnancy complications, stroke, pulmonary embolism . . . It is fairly rare to have one of these disorders. I think it is pretty much unheard of to have three. Who knows how I got so special.

Dr. Grant also informed me that my levels of C Reactive Protein were through the roof. To summarize this, it means that I have a lot of inflammation in my body. This can lead to heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, periodontal disease and the list goes on. Dr. Grant has doubled my dosage of daily heparin. He also added Vitamin D to my daily regimen of prenatal vitamins, folic acid, fish oil, and baby aspirin. I am currently having weekly OB appointments with ultrasounds and non-stress tests.

Despite all of this, I have had no serious pregnancy complications. Everything seems to be going great. The boys got a perfect score on the non-stress test last week. I want things to stay that way.

OLEVA REPORT

This is long overdue. Mom was supposed to be finished with radiation today, but she was having some serious pain, peeling of her skin, and bleeding. So, last week, her radiologist decided that she should take a week off from the radiation. She stayed home from work and any place public all last week. She started radiation again today. She will do radiation today, tomorrow and Wednesday and then again Monday - Wednesday next week and then it will all be done!!!

The radiation is causing some severe pain, bleeding, burning of her skin. She is also extremely fatigued following her treatments. It is difficult for her to stay awake on her car ride home following radiation. So, today, she had lunch at my house and then rested for a while before going home. I know that she can't wait for this to be done and I am so excited that it is almost over. I can't even imagine what she is going through right now.