Feb. 27

Is that the sound of crickets I hear?

Yup, all is quiet at the Henry household.

Feb. 26

The weekly trip to the obgyn today--will it be the last? Nothing has changed. Still no contractions, no further dilation. They even went so far as to schedule an inducement for March 15 if nothing happens before that. (I'm trying to switch dates since that days' the anniversary of my dad's death.)

Ordered a crib from Babies R Us. Nothing fancy, but not the cheapest, either. They may get one on tomorrow's shipment, but if not, it may be a week or two. If we don't have a crib before the babies come, what's the worst that can happen? They sleep in the carseats, I guess!

Trying to wrap up the various assignments at work. Very tough going.

Feb 24

Been a few days since the last post, mainly because I sent a lengthy report in an email to the "baby announcements" distribution list as a test run. And since then? Well, we've had two baby showers, which were wonderful. We have nearly everything off our list, and what we don't have we'll probably be able to cover with our gift cards. Lots and lots of cute, cute, cute girlie stuff!! One problem is that the crib we liked at Target.com, which the site says is available in stores, is not in the one near us. Shipping is heartstoppingly expensive for something like that. Still, I don't know if I want to drive all around Austin, wasting time and gas looking for it. Maybe we'll let our fingers do the walking. Or, head up to Babies R Us and see what we can find there. The selection and prices on Craigslist have been pretty lousy the last couple of weeks.

Tonight we're heading back to the Paramount for Madeiline Peyroux. Never thought we'd make it this far. Now we're having dreams of a March birth. It could happen! March less than a week away! (Though going off the procardia is only 2 days away!)

:)

Feb. 19

Today's trip to the obgyn went very well. No further dilation, and the babies are still in the perfect head-down position for birthing that they've been in for months. We've got such good girls!

In the evening I washed a load of baby clothes (mostly just gifts we've gotten so far), just so we'd have some nice clean clothes for the girls when they come. So, I guess today was the first in an endless cycle of baby laundry! Everything seems exciting the first few times, eh?

While that was running, I dyed some things we'd bought for tie dying (baby caps, baby shirts, crib mattress covers). Started with the pink base color. Next round I'll put some purples onto it. After YEARS of tie dying clothes for neices, nephews, and friends' kids (which we've LOVED doing), we finally get to do some for our own kids! We always liked seeing the kids (or photos of the kids, depending on where they lived) in their S&T tie dies, so you know our kids will have a very bright and funky wardrobe. (I hear you parents out there shaking your heads and saying "When you have time! Ha!")

Tomorrow we've got a perinatologist appointment, followed by a lunchtime shower with Tessa's old collegues in the Math department. Should be another wonderful day, like today (sunny, mid 70s). I'm really looking forward to Tessa being off bed rest and the whole clan going out strolling and hiking this spring. Am I being unrealistic? And bluebonnet photos!! Until just now, I hadn't even thought of that. And, of course, that leads to . . . Easter dresses!!! Yipee!!

Feb. 18

Last night's ballet was wonderful, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, and the girls behaved themselves perfectly. We even stuck around for the Q&A with Stephen Mills (director), Gina Patterson (choreographer), and Frank Schott (danseur). People were very good to Tessa, not making her get up to enter/exit the row (they went the other way) and even letting her go to the front of the line at the restroom.
Today is Babycare Basics class. Thankfully not another 5 hour class (only 2 1/2).

Feb. 17

Still nothing new. Going to tempt fate by going to the ballet tonight. I should be able to drop Tessa at the door, then go park. Our seats are only a couple off the aisle, so we might try to switch with the couple on the aisle, for a quick exit, if needed. The ballet is "Director's Choice", so it's actually three one-act pieces, which means two intermissions. I think we'll do just fine. It's at the Paramount, which is one of our favorite Austin places, so it'll be nice to see it and the ballet one last time before the girls come.

Next week should be pretty busy, relatively speaking, for someone on bedrest. Tomorrow we have a babycare basics class. Doctors' appointments on Monday and Tuesday, a lunch shower with the Math department on Tuesday, and afternoon shower at work with the Language Arts and Special Projects departments. And, if we make it to next Friday, we've got Madeleine Peyroux tickets (again, at the Paramount--maybe we'll get to see the place twice, huh?)

I think we're definitely feeling less stressed at this point. The babies are at a good stage of development, I've gotten into a good groove with working from home, and though the nursery isn't ready, we're getting close.

Feb. 15

nothing to report

Feb. 13

The trip to the perinatologist was very good. The girls are "fabulous", according to the ultrasound. He's allowing Tessa the much-hoped-for "day passes" from her bed rest. She's free to go to all the baby classes, visit pediatricians, attend baby showers, and even go to the ballet on Saturday. She just needs to limit activity, whatever she does. Still, he says, they could come today, next week, or a couple weeks out. It's all up to the girls. He'll probably have Tessa stop taking the medication in a week or two, since at that point the girls will be fine to come and he worries more about extended use of the medication than he does about the premature births at this point. All very good news!!

Feb. 12

The obgyn appointment went well today. There's no further dilation and everything looks fine. Tomorrow we get a better idea because we have an appointment with the periontologist (fancy name for high-risk pregnancy doctor), who is going to take an ultrasound. He will give us a better idea of how the kids are growing and what our chances are that they'll be born any time soon. When we made this appointment about two weeks ago, we didn't have high hopes that we'd even make it--but here it is! Might be able to go to the infant CPR class tomorrow night, even. Tessa's going to try calling some pediatricians tomorrow during the time I'm working. Tomorrow starts week 34.

Feb 11

Tessa's still not feeling great. Lots of pressure lower in the uterus, I guess. She wonders if maybe one of the babies dropped. Usually this would be accompanied by the mother being better able to breathe, which isn't the case with her. She thinks maybe the one dropped and the other hopped on top for a better view. Tomorrow is a trip to the OBGYN, Tuesday to the high-risk pregnancy doctor.

Feb. 10

No babies, but there was a bit of tightening--could have been contractions, could have just been babies pushing extra hard today. Tessa attributes it to wearing pants (instead of a dress) and sitting in the birthing class for 4 hours (we arrived half an hour late and were let out half an hour early!) Keeping the fingers crossed that this was just a fluke and not the beginning of anything.

Feb. 9

No news.

Feb. 8

Another day, another ounce each. That's based on the idea that they're gaining about half a pound a week now. I've done very little to get the house in order for when the kids come. Between work, tending to Tessa, and doing all the housework, I just don't have the time or energy.

What you see to the right is the nursery. What you see in the nursery (aside from one bouncer and umbrella stroller on the top left and two Pooh lamps at top center) is about 30 years worth of comic books. I'm sorting them out alphanumerically so that I can sell most of them on eBay. Believe it or not, this chaos is probably at the 3/4ths done stage. Once they're sorted and put in those boxes, then they go into the guest bedroom and we can start moving the babys stuff we have into the room and figure out where everything can go.

On top of this, we have a cracked windshield, the DVD player went out, we need the carpets cleaned, wills written up, and tax returns filled out (first, gotta sort the medical reciepts--the comic books are probably easier!). Rome wasn't built in a day, and the babies aren't going to care what the house looks like when they get here. We won't have time for DVDs, the babies will just re-mess up the carpets, we won't die, and we can always make stuff up for the taxes (or pay an accountant to go through the receipts, right?) Que Sera Sera.

I just have to refuse to work any overtime this weekend. Gotta keep the priorities straight.

Feb. 7

The girls were being very active today, but no indication that they were ready to get out and see the world, yet!

Feb 6

Today begins week 33! Another uneventful day, which is just fine by us!

Jan. 5

Today's trip to the doctor gave us only this bit of news--there's been no additional dilation. So, as long as the contractions stay away and there's no water breaking, she's in good shape. The doc was even hopeful that Tessa would make it to 37 weeks (36 being the average gestational time for twins). Knock on wood!! The girls are still very active. "A" had a heartrate of 150 and "B" was around 160. Tomorrow begins week 33!! Keep sending those positive vibes and prayers our way!

Feb. 4

No babies, yet!

Feb. 3

Went to a FIVE HOUR birthing class yesterday. And believe me, it was a long 5 hours! Four of the five hours was going around the room and each couple telling "their story". I've never been to group therapy, but I imagine this was pretty similar. It got downright uncomfortable when the "single mother" in the group had to share the teary story of her soon-to-be ex-husband who dumped her when she got pregnant because his teenaged daughter from another marriage threatened to kill herself because the new baby was going to take her dad away from her. Maybe it was theraputic for her, but I certainly wouldn't want my problems exposed to a room full of strangers. What information did come out interspered with the stories was mostly limited to parents of singletons (i.e., everyone else). I don't know how many times we heard "well, this won't apply to you." The teacher wasn't very subtle in her dislike of epidurals and daycares. I know, some of you have gone the drug-free route, and I'm glad it worked out for you, but our ob/gyn has said that with twins, it's very dicey--if anything goes wrong, and they have to do an emergency C-section past a certain point in the labor, then they have to put Tessa totally under and I get kicked out of the room for the procedure. As for daycares, for some people, having a stay-at-home parent is just not a feasible financial option.

Oh, dear lord, this is turning into a rant, so I'd better stop now.

On the positive side, Tessa got to leave the house for an extended period. She's still doing well. The babies are kicking around and having a great time in there. It's really nice to be able to spend the last few weeks of her pregnancy together, even if I am having to work at home and she's stuck either in bed or in her fancy new recliner/rocker.

Five more hours of class next weekend!

Feb. 2

Babies have decided to spend at least another day in the womb. Tessa actually gets to leave the house tomorrow! Her doctor gave her a day pass from bed rest to go to birthing classes! Not the most exciting date, but we're just glad to have made it far enough to have the class (well, the first class--there's another 5 hours next Saturday)! It sort of feels like cramming for the big test the night before, but it beats walking into the classroom for a surprise final! Now I ask you--if we can have a day pass for a 5 hour birthing class, why couldn't we get a couple for our 1.5 hour baptism classes? As for Tessa, she's just about finished her HUGE Team of Rivals book on Lincoln. Need to find her another big book to help her kill time between sudoku and crotchet!

Feb. 1

No January babies for us! Everythings really quiet right now. I may be getting the hang of working from home, but it's still slower than working at work. Not because I'm not putting in the hours, but because I have limited space in which to work and I'm not used to laptops. Tessa points out some good things: I don't have the commute and I don't have to shave! At home I can work in my jeans and t-shirt (yes, I hear you can work in your pjs, but I want to maintain some sense of decorum!) and I listen to Napster all day long. So, I'm behind in my work, but I am hearing lots of new music!

Nuff said!