I'll update on the twins first, and then show you about a million photos of miss L. The biggest problem when I slack off is that then these updates get super long! So sit back, relax and enjoy!
Since we last updated we've been back to see the cardiologist one more time. The diagnosis of HLHS was confirmed at that time and we found out the specifics about where we were going to deliver the twins. There are actually a couple of choices within a reasonable distance to our house that can perform the surgery, which is truly a blessing. In the end we would be able to deliver at one of the hospitals and at the other we'd have to deliver and have little B transferred. We decided that this would be sort of a nightmare for Brad and I trying to manage a two year old, a newborn and spend as much time with B as possible, so the choice was made to deliver at the hospital which is marginally closer to us.
After the hospital choice was made it was time to make some decisions about our doctors. The new hospital is far enough away that none of the doctors we were using previously service the new hospital. Luckily the cardiologist practice that we were in does have doctors that visit the new hospital, so we were able to transfer within the practice, but we needed to find a new perinatologist and OB to deliver the babies. We had our first appointment yesterday with the new peri, who will actually deliver the babies, so no need for a new OB (hooray!).
The practice was fantastic and the new peri was great! We did find out that baby B has some calcification on the left side of his heart and the endocardia (lining of the heart) is thickened. We're not sure what this means, but she did say that it was in line with the diagnosis of HLHS. We'll ask the cardiologist at our appointment next week. The best news of the appointment was that besides B's little heart everything else looked GREAT! Sweet baby W is doing great and they are both growing well. In fact they are measuring a week ahead and are the exact same size. It looks like all that eating is paying off!
The best news also led to the most shocking news, though. The new peri informed me that because the babies are measuring large and because it is so absolutely VITAL that we keep them in there as long as possible because little B really needs to weigh in over 6 pounds to have the best chances for surgery. She is worried that with two large babies that my body will eventually simply not be able to carry them any longer, and to avoid that time coming too quickly, she has put me on "house arrest" bedrest. Basically, I can park it on the couch or the bed, sit or lie down, get my meals, take a ten minute shower each day and go up and down the stairs once a day. It's going to be a challenge, but I am just going to try to make the most of it and read some books, scrapbook and watch some DVDs. My mom is coming (THANK GOODNESS) to help with L. I'm so sad that I won't be able to play with her the way she's used to but I'm already trying to come up with some activities that we can do. We're hoping to keep these babies growing another 12 weeks and that just seems like a long time to upset L's normal. We're going to get through it though, and we'll do whatever we can to make things as normal as possible.
...AND now onto the photos!
A couple of weeks ago Brad had a meeting in another city, so we took a road trip. The trip was a little longer than I had really thought it was going to be, but it was actually really fun and the change of scenery was really good. His meeting was on a college campus, and L discovered that college girls love cute two year olds. She used this to her advantage nearly the entire day we were there. We had checked out of our hotel room early and so we ended up napping in the car and doing some Christmas present research at target, but we mostly hung out on campus and L had the BEST time running and running and having fun.
Here she's found some leaves to throw:
...of course, soon it was back to running and making friends. She would say, "HELLO!" to everyone who would walk past.
She began playing peek-a-boo with people passing by. Too cute!!
My goodness, I can't believe she's so big!
...and finally, there was some serious dancing going on.
All in all, it was a GREAT day. The campus was gorgeous and we had a wonderful day.
The day after we got home L came down with a cold, but by last weekend she was feeling better, but still not ready to leave the house so she and daddy took the opportunity to carve a pumpkin.
At first, L seemed to be a little confused about what was going on, but she was definitely interested.
Who is shy? Not this girl, but that's a cute face!
Then daddy took the top off of the pumpkin...
...and L said, WHAT IS THAT STUFF IN THERE?!
She was not about to touch it, but decided she'd help scoop with a spoon.
Then daddy carved the face on.
Too cute!
No more sticky guts?
... and finally out on the porch!
L's all better now, although we're sort of house bound, but we've been enjoying our time in doing some crafts around the house.
(nevermind the bedhead, please!)
Tonight we painted pumpkins that we'd gotten on our visit to the farm when my parents were here last.
CHEESE!
She was really concentrating.
and somehow... her eye eventually got painted.
and somehow... the paint eventually got tasted, but apparently it's not very good.
But then it was back to work.
Here's a sample of some of her work this week:
See you next week!!
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