Radon and home inspection update

The new house has a radon reading of 3.7 pc/L. So not above the EPA level but probably above our comfort level. Therefore the sale will continue and we will probably install our own mitigation system to bring it to 2.0 or below, hopefully before the babies are born. Or maybe install some long-term detectors to see whether the problems are real. And though there are small problems, the home inspection was generally positive and presents no imminent need for repairs. We have some ideas for immediate renovations but nothing major. So hooray! This house will not kill us, at least via radon.

26 weeks, 1 day

Every day counts, and I have made it ten days since being admitted to the hospital in New York. The babies are now 2 pounds, 1 ounce (A) and 2 pounds, 4 ounces (B). I have learned quite a bit in these last two weeks about how to take care of these babies, including:

• They kick and move increasingly furiously when they are hungry. This was important to learn because their frenetic movement can cause contractions, which can lead to preterm labor, but if I can stop it by eating (a problem solved by eating? finally!), I can stop the contractions. I learned this from a very thoughtful, smart nurse with whom I spoke on Sunday night when I hadn't eaten in a long time and the babies were bending my belly like Beckham. She suggested I eat something because then the babies would likely go into food coma and settle down. Five minutes after eating, the contractions stopped and babies were quiet for hours. Who knew?
  
• The contractions are directly related to how much water I am consuming. My doctor has suggested I drink 3-4 liters of water a day. Yikes!
• Twin pregnancies are more likely to lead to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia than singleton pregnancies. Tuesday I failed my 1 hour glucose test and have the 3 hour test scheduled in a few weeks. In the meantime I am following a diabetic diet just in case--and because it's better for me anyway. Therefore: no white foods of any kind--pastas, flour, bread, etc.; more fruits and veggies; no soda (not that I have room in my bladder for soda on top of all the water anyway); no cookies, cakes, candies, etc.; and more protein and dairy. I have been trying to do better with the protein and dairy anyway, but hadn't been worrying about the white foods. Now I'm trying to eat every 3 hours or so throughout the day, eat a dairy snack like yogurt, warm milk, or ice cream before I go to bed, and eat protein and carbs with every meal or mini-meal.
  

Between the eating and the drinking, particularly now that I am especially watching what I eat, I am busy pretty much all day. Jeff has been amazing--he is doing all the housework he used to do, plus all the housework I usually do, plus cleaning up after me (and all that eating means more cleaning up). He's learning how to cook more things, which is fantastic, and (see above) he is still smiling! I suggested outsourcing some of the housework, including cooking, and he wants to continue to do it all. We've also had fantastic help--Nick bringing dinner last night, Tricia and Michael bringing dinner (plus two more dinners!) on Saturday, Jeff's parents bringing lots of food Sunday. I told Jeff that if I could outsource any part of this pregnancy, I would do it in a heartbeat! Unfortunately that's not an option right now--but I can see the allure of the gestational surrogate!

It looks like everything is working out so far to move into our new house next month, which is a relief and a joy. Radon results should be back today or tomorrow.

Jeff installed Netflix on my computer so I can instantly watch many tv shows and movies. If you have any suggestions for somewhat older movies (not in the last 6 months), tv series', or documentaries, particularly on the lighter side, I would appreciate it! I watched Exit Through the Gift Shop yesterday, about street art (graffiti), and it was really fun.

Week 25

Well, I knew this day might come, but didn't realize it would come so soon. Sunday night I was in NYC with my friend Tara to attend a domestic violence conference at Fordham Law. I woke up at about 3:30 am not feeling right, and started counting my contractions. I have had contractions for the last two months, but I had 7 in an hour early Monday morning. When I called my doctor's emergency line, the nurse told me to go directly to the nearest ER. Luckily Tara was there to take me and St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital was only two blocks away. Jeff arrived around 1pm via Delta. There was some worry Monday that I might deliver the babies that day, which was terrifying, but with the help of some medication, reassurance from my dear friend/OB-GYN Claire via text message, and my continued insistence that these babies would not be born in NYC, the contractions slowed from every 2 minutes to a couple an hour, my regular rate, by Tuesday morning. I learned a lot, about the importance of staying positive and not getting caught up in the panic of a hospital, as well as that the next time I have to go to the hospital and don't know when I might get back, I will take a shower first! My cousin Deb came in from NJ to visit on Tuesday, and Tara made sure everything was covered with work and the hotel and everything else. I was discharged Tuesday afternoon and Jeff shuttled us safely home, where I am now on bedrest, or at least homerest, for the duration. I can't believe how quickly everything has changed and I am trying my best to just embrace it, knowing that this is the best thing possible for the babies. Now Jeff is on duty for all household tasks, including those he usually lets me take care of, like grocery shopping and cooking. He can use all the help he can get!

Week 24

If I look exhausted, it's not because I am pregnant. It is because we took this at the end of a very long day. Jeff asked if I really thought I was bigger than the last picture. I think I am MUCH bigger!

At my 24-week appointment yesterday my doctor told me everything is going well, so I should keep doing whatever it is I am doing. The babies are moving around a lot, especially in the evening, and a couple of nights ago I couldn't even get to sleep because they were having a party in my belly! Independent parties, apparently, because one would kick and punch for a while, and then the other, on and off for a while.

Belly at Week 23

February 14, 2011
Happy Valentines' Day!

It turns out I can't keep track of weeks. Only 23 weeks this week.

Belly at Week 22

Note also the snow up to nearly the level of the 1st floor windows at our neighbor's house!

Week 22

The babies like spooning, it appears! And Baby B, you better enjoy stretching out that leg for as long as you can! Real estate is becoming more and more of a premium every day!

One pound each, they say, though I guess sonograms are notoriously inaccurate in predicting birthweights.

The babies are "extremely active," says both the sonographer and the nurse midwife who attempted to listen to their heartbeats. They were moving around so much that the static obliterated their heartbeats most of the time.

I also got to watch Baby A punch outward as I felt a corresponding bump to my belly. Now that I know they are extremely busy I expect to continue feeling more and more bumps to my belly!