Fetal Echocardiogram

Last week Jake took me to the University of Michigan's Children's Hospital for our Fetal Echocardiograms.  Because Scarlett had a congenital heart defect her cardiologist suggested we get all our babies checked before they're born.  They probably wouldn't have been able to see Scarlett's holes in the womb but they want to check just in case our babies have bigger holes.  This allows you to make sure a cardiologist is there when you deliver and you start treating them as soon as possible.

Anyways, after navigating the labyrinth of hallways we finally found the sonographer.  He was awesome and was patient with me having to use the bathroom not one, not twice, but THREE times during my visit.  Baby B (on my right side) was wiggling around like always.  He said he would get the image all set up and she would move out of focus.  It took 45 min to get her heart pictures.  Then he went to Baby A (on my left side and lower than B).  She was basically posing for him and even though we had to wiggle her out of my hip bone a little (where she likes to nestle herself in) he was able to get all her pictures in 15 min!

They use pinpoint doppler technology to listen to the heart rate in each chamber.  They are able to measure the flow rates and pressure in the different parts of the heart.  They looked at the actual structure of the heart and the placement inside the body and compared to other organs.  They look at the blood flow to and from the heart.  It's amazing what they are able to see in there!!!

Afterwards the cardiologist came in the room to take a few more pictures (wanted to see a few structures more clearly - very typical) then she discussed our results.  Both babies look wonderful!!!  There were no abnormalities or any causes for concern - YAY!!!  She said that there is still a chance they could have very small holes, but that my images were such good quality because I'm so thin* that she would be surprised if they did.

*ok, I am not putting this in my blog to brag or say I'm super wonderful or anything.  I just seriously want to remember that she said that... especially cause thin is NOT how I'm feeling these days.  My wedding ring is tight and I swear I resemble the Station Twins from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey:

Ted: You are a most excellent scientist, Station. 

Bill: Yeah! Plus, you got an excellently huge Martian butt! 

Station: Station! 

I'm starting to feel uncomfortably big.  It's kinda depressing... especially when I remember that I still have 4 months and each day I will be BIGGER.  I'm also starting to feel super tired again.  I've started having trouble sleeping at night - especially when I need to roll over.  When I wake up in the morning sometimes I think: "why am I sleeping in a bra?"  Then I realize that it's actually my maternity underwear that comes up to my armpits!  Luckily I had about 4 weeks of "second trimester bliss" where I was able to catch up on house projects and finally color my hair.  I'm sure I'll look at this post in a few weeks and wish I felt like I do now... but besides the physical stuff I'm getting super excited for our little babies.  On Sunday I swear every baby was smiling at me - just the pickup I needed!  :-)

Today I had one of my normal ultrasounds.  After the sonographer was done she asked if a trainee could scan my belly cause I'm such a "clean and easy scan".  She said it's more than weight - it's also the type of tissue and muscle you have.  Apparently I have good anatomy for ultrasounds.  I guess that's a blessing since I get one every other week.  The trainee took an hour going through and getting all the images the other lady got.  I felt bad cause the twins started dancing, kicking, and flipping around for her.  I guess that's good practice though!  We had to jiggle A out of her little hip pocket again, but other than that I was able to lay with my eyes closed in the nice warm room.  The scan kinda feels like a belly rub.  I can see why dogs like it so much!  Scarlett was AWESOME!!!  She sat in her little chair, ate apples, and watched Team Umizoomi.  She can work the iPad and start new episodes when one is done.  I think she watched 3 or 4 episodes while we were there!  The only down side to the afternoon is that I am allergic to the sonogram jelly so my belly was really red and itchy when she was done.  Luckily I remembered to bring Cortizone-10 with me!

This picture was a week and a half ago and I'm already bigger!  Ugh.

While we were at the UofM Scarlett got to play at the Bingham's.  They went to a produce store where Scarlett proceeded to take veggies off the display and snack on them.  Hey - at least she's eating her veggies!  Then later when they were playing at home she really wanted to put her shoes back on.  Kaden (4yrs) asked his mom why she wanted her shoes on?  His mom said she didn't know.  Then he said: "but her socks are so beautiful!"  hahaha!  Love that kid!!!

I also found out this weekend that Scarlett is allergic to Hidden Valley Ranch.  We were eating the Light version of the dressing but when I needed to replace it I bought the real stuff (why did I buy the light crap anyways?)  Scarlett loves to eat veggies - especially broccoli.  But only if she can dip them. (side note: when we eat broccoli it often gets stuck between her bottom teeth and she opens her mouth huge and yells "help help" til I grab it out).  So Ranch is pretty important stuff in our house.  Well I opened the regular ranch and we had it for dinner.  After eating I noticed that her face was red around her lips.  She actually kinda looked like the joker.  We washed her face and it was still there.  Since I'm no stranger to allergic reactions we dosed her with some Benadryl and watched her for the rest of the night.  But we didn't really know what caused it.  Then the next night we ate a completely different meal but still had ranch (don't judge).  She got a rash again.  Sure enough it was right where the ranch had been.  It didn't seem to bother her tongue or anywhere else.  But we'll be steering clear of that dressing from now on.  Jake prefers Newman's Own anyways.

Oh - another thing that I don't want to forget...  I went to a baby shower last week at the Sawaya's.  I decided to show up fifteen min early to help her get the last minute things set up (plus I was bringing extra chairs and cups).  Then at 7:20 I told her I was surprised that no one had shown up yet.  She said, oh well it doesn't actually start til 8.  That's right - I showed up 75 minutes early!  How embarrassing!  And I couldn't even blame my calendar because it said 8 pm just like it was supposed to.  I'm an idiot!  I blame pregnancy brain - times two!