Announcing......

Introducing our new arrivals on July 22, 2009:

Simon Francis
5 pounds, 3 ounces
18 inches
8:59 p.m.

&

Oliver Amos
7 pounds, 1 ounce
19.3 inches
9:10 p.m.

Now that I've had 7 hours of sleep since midnight, I have some energy to post.

The boys arrived on Wednesday July 22nd, 2009. From first contraction to Simon's delivery was 2 hours and 15 minutes. I don't recommend attempting such a quick labor alone! :) A more descriptive birth story will be coming soon.

All the stars aligned for having a natural twin deliver with minimal intervention (babies both head down, no epidural, no IV (until after deliver), no cesarean and my back-up doctor on call). St. Luke's Hospital delivers twins in the operating room, which tells you a little bit about the way most twin deliveries go.

Here are some photos:


Simon after he'd been cleaned up


Oliver after he'd been cleaned up


Proud mama with Oliver & Simon (all looking a little beat up)


Bea's first interaction with Oliver


Bea's first interaction with Simon


Proud Clay holding his two boys (Oliver & Simon)


Leaving the hospital on July 25, 2009


Simon nursing on Oliver's hand


Oliver & Simon nose to nose

The Belly & Bedrest

As you all probably know, we're expecting twin boys on August 21st.

I've been on bedrest for the past 11 days, and only 10 days left to go. Then I can increase my activity and let nature takes its course.

Lots of you have been asking for belly shots, and so here they are. Don't worry, I'm fully clothed. ;) Also, if you want to see what we've been up to this summer, go here.

17 weeks (Seattle, WA)


24 weeks, 5 days (Richmond, VA)


30 weeks, 4 days (Last picture before we sold our Honda Civic)


32 weeks, 5 days (Relaxing)


34 weeks, 2 days (just a belly shot)

At last.....

Summer is here! It's beach time.

We had a great evening at the beach with great friends. Our five little girls swam and rolled in the sand.


Bea assessing the lake. First order of business when we got there was for her to put on her suit. She'd been looking forward to our beach evening all day. We got there around 4:30, 70 degrees.




Bea & Sam getting ready to swim....actually they were rolling around in the sand just after this picture was taken.



Sam's sister Izzy loves to take care of the littler kids. Here is Bea in what she called a bear. Bea had a blast.



Bea didn't even know this ladybug was on her forehead.


Here's the bigger picture. The little ones play on the shore while the "big" girls play out in the water. See how far they can go and still be standing.

Thanks to Kara & Jill for helping me out with Bea!

Two Peas in One Pod

In case you haven't heard, we found out that we weren't expecting one new arrival, but two (we only found out three weeks ago, so yes, it was a surprise for us too).

I'm a little over 26 weeks along and doing well. The goal now is to just gain 2 pounds a week and keep these babies in until at least 36 weeks (for those not in the know, 40 weeks is full term for one baby).

We had our second ultrasound today for the two boys. We need ultrasounds every three weeks because they could be identical (only one placenta was found, and both are boys; identical twins run the risk of having something called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome).

And if you are wondering if twins run in the family, consider this:
If they are identical, it doesn't matter. There is no hereditary factor predisposing one to have identical twins. The rate for identical twins is the same worldwide no matter your age, race, geography, etc.
If they are fraternal, then it's good to know that my grandfather was a twin. Or because of my "advanced maternal age" ha ha.

Anyway, here is an awesome photo of Baby A. Its nose is squished because it is pressed up against the membrane.



This is the best photo they could get of Baby B. If you focus, you can see the baby's face in the middle of the photo, facing the left side of your monitor. There was a lot of interference for this photo.



More updates to come.