a trip to South Dakota

There has been so much that has happened since I last wrote!  In a nutshell: we went on a small "babymoon"/birthday trip, Matt was promoted to Captain, we had the babies, the NICU was evacuated due to the flood, and the babies and I are currently in Fargo while Matt and the Dads have been busy working on rebuilding our basement that was flooded.  Instead of rushing through all the stories, however, I am going to try to play catch-up and write what I can! 

The weekend of May 6th, Matt and I went on a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota to get away, relax, and celebrate our birthdays.  We have been planning to go to Rapid City for a while so we were both very excited that we could finally make it work. 

On Friday our first stop was Mt. Rushmore.

The museum had a lot of the original models, tools, equipment, and photographs.  There were also personal stories from men who worked on the project.  It was incredible to see all the documents!

We also took time to walk the founders trail.  It is a beautiful nature trail around the monement so you can see it from all different angles.

 

It was such a beautiful day and we loved seeing the monument!

After leaving Mt. Rushmore, we drove down the road to the Crazy Horse monument. 

This is another monument built in the mountain, however, this one is still in progress!  It is all privately funded and has been worked on for many years.  It was amazing to see the work being done while we were visiting.  We were able to take a bus to the base of the mountain to get a closer look at the monument.  While we were there we could see and hear the people working, it was a very unique experience.

We also visited the rest of the facility.  The goal is eventually have a education and cultural center.  We visited the museum, a gallery of the artists work, and a cultural center.  Some of the displays were also in the home the artist built on the site for his family.

The project is incredible and well worth the visit!

On Saturday we started out by going to the Comos Mystery Zone.

 It was deffinatly hokey and touristy but we still had fun.

Next we did the Norby Scenic Trail.  It is a beautiful driving trail and we loved it!  It was a great way to relax after doing so much walking the day before.

While we were in Rapid City we also enjoyed several wonderful meals at local resturants and just relaxed.  We had a wonderful time!  We would love to get back to Rapid City for another trip some day!
.katherine.

starting maternity leave

First things first, both babies and I are doing well.  The short version of this post is that I started my maternity leave but for the details you can read on... 

On the morning of the 29th while I was getting ready for work, I almost passed out twice.  I ended up calling into work and heading back to bed for the morning.  When my doctor's office opened I talked to Dr. Bozeman's nurse.  She talked to Dr. Bozeman who said to take it easy during the weekend, drink plenty of fluids, no extra activities, and call back Monday to let them know how it went.  Most of the weekend I was weak, dizzy, and exhausted.  Matt took great care of me and made me sleep most of the time. 

On Monday I went to work but had to take things slowly.  When the doctor's office opened I gave them a call, I knew my doctor was out on Mondays but I still wanted to call since I still wasn't feeling well.  The nurse said that if work would be OK without me to go home, continue to take it easy, and come in the next day to see my doctor.  I did just that...went home and slept most of the day.

On Tuesday, I went to see Dr. Bozeman and overall the appointment went well.  Dr. Bozeman went over my ultrasound saying he was happy with the development and everything looked great.  He also took a quick look at both babies, got both heartbeats, and measured my uterus (28 weeks!).  He said there wasn't one specific reason for me to be getting weak and dizzy except the pregnancy.  He recommended that I stop working and make sure to get lots of rest.  He also wants to start seeing me every two weeks now.  Dr. Bozeman also said I was still fine to take our planned trip to Rapid City.  It seems like my body just needs more rest and is having a difficult time keeping up with everything plus carrying two babies! 

After seeing Dr. Bozeman I went to let the girls I work with know what was going on and start my FMLA paperwork (which starts my maternity leave).  Everyone was very understanding and said that when I have my appointments I will have to come say hi.

It was great to hear from the doctor that everything is looking good but I was hoping to work for a little longer.  This is, however, much better than being on bedrest until the babies get here so I won't complain.  I am taking it easy, getting projects worked on, and getting the extra sleep I need.  I have still been a little weak and dizzy but it doesn't happen too often or as badly as before.  It is nice to be able to just lay down when it happens and not have to worry about any obligations.  I will continue learning how to relax and do things slowly!
.katherine.

20 week ultrasound

On April 28th (my 20 week, 4 day mark) we had our ultrasound!  The scan took about an hour and fifteen minutes and looked at everything.  The tech checked both babies for all the organs, vessels, and growth. 

First we got to see Zoey.  She was curled up most of the time and kept flipping back and forth while the tech was checking for everything but the second we looked at her face she posed for pictures.

 The tech verified her gender...and as you can see, she is a girl.

She looked great.  She weighed 12 oz and measured at 20 weeks, 2 days (right on schedule)!  Here are a few more pictures of our little lady.

Next, the tech did the full scan of Bryce.  He was very stretched out and relaxed during most of the scan but wasn't a fan of giving us pictures of his face.

It probably didn't help that his sister kept kicking him...I guess she missed the attention.

He was more than willing to let the tech verify his gender...multiple times!

Bryce also looked great.  He also weighed 12 oz and measured at 20 weeks and 3 days.  Here are a few more pictures of the little man.

Both babies looked great!  They both were right on track for weight and measurements.  All the organs were all there and functioning properly (as far as an ultrasound lets us see).  They both had four chambers in their hearts, healthy plecentas, and three vessels in their umbilical cords.  We are very happy to hear that everything looks so good!

  .katherine.

easter

We had a wonderful Easter this year!  We started the day by going to mass.  The visiting priest gave one of the best Easter services I have ever attended. 

After mass we relaxed, hung out, and got some pictures.  Easter was also my 20 week mark so we had to do the weekly belly photograph and just happened to get a few more at the same time.

 

The easter bunny even came to visit...although I'm not sure that Matt was good enough for him to visit this year...

While we got ready for dinner the dogs also enjoyed some relaxation time.

 
For dinner we had several friends over!  Everyone brought food to share and it was a great dinner with our Minot family.  

Overall it was a wonderful day and a great way to celebrate!
.katherine.

babysitting henrik

Last week we had the joy of getting a night with our favorite little man...Henrik!  Most of the night Henrik was only interested in playing with Matt.  They read books, played with the cars, made animal noises, built and knocked down towers, and laughed the entire time.

We have watched Henrik several times now and every time is a delight, however, this time was different because we watched him at our house!  We learned how conducive our house is (and is not) to a playful, mobile, and adventurous little one.  Overall things went very well but we will have to put locks on our cabinets, move some things a little higher, and make sure the breakables are out of reach from little fingers.  We also rediscovered how interesting kitchen gadgets are and how the everyday items can be made into toys.

The dogs also adjusted very well to having Henrik in our house.  They were very interested in him...it isn't every day that someone their size is walking around the house.  Henrik played hide and seek with Oscar, chased both dogs around, and got kisses from Lola.

It was a fun night spent with Hank and made both Matt and me more excited to prepare our house for our munchkins!
.katherine.

the munchkins last week...

Let me start this blog off by saying...everything is fine: the babies are both great, I am fine, and there is nothing to worry about! However, last week did not start off on such a positive note!

Rewind to Sunday night/Monday morning. Overnight I got really sick...abdominal pain and tightness, sharp pains throughout my stomach, and I couldn't keep anything down. I ignored it overnight figuring it would go away by the morning...but I was wrong. When my alarm went off at six so I could go to work, I wasn't any better. I called the on-call OBGYN who thought I may just have a bug but told me to rest during the day and call my doctor later in the day if things didn't improve. After calling work and letting Matt know what was going on, I attempted (with little success) to get a little sleep. Long story short...I got the same response from my doctor's nurse around 8:30. When I called back at 2:30, the nurse contacted the new on-call OBGYN (my doctor is out of the office on Mondays). Her nurse called me back letting me know that she was in an emergency surgery but since I was still having sharp pains they wanted me to go to the hospital to get checked out just to make sure everything was ok.

When we got to the hospital we went, as directed, up to the labor and delivery floor. However, when we got there they wouldn't see me...they only take patients who are twenty weeks and I was nineteen and a day! So, they sent us down to the emergency room...which was packed! The triage nurse got me back to a room quickly (only a forty-five minute wait) and got tests going. They found both babies heartbeats within fifteen minutes of us being there which was reassuring. We talked to the doctor, had lab work done, got IV fluids, and had an ultrasound. This was the first ultrasound Matt was able to see on the big screen...he was very excited through the entire thing. All the tests and screenings came back with no sign of any problems or reason for the sharp pains. The doctor did think I was probably dehydrated but that still wouldn't have explained the pain. I have a small spot on Zoey's placenta that the doctor and radiologists will watch but currently it is only about a centimeter in size and could be anything to include a tear, fluid, or blood. The doctor said it was normal and nothing to be concerned about. When the doctor finished doing his work-up he contacted the OBGYN on call. She said I was good to go home but wanted to put be on bed-rest as a precaution for a week or until I saw Dr. Bozeman, my OB.

The following afternoon, Tuesday, I saw Dr. Bozeman for my scheduled visit. In addition to the normal check-up, he went over all the tests and results from the day before with us and said he did not see any reason for concern. He also said I did not need to be on bed rest but recommended I cut back my hours at work to thirty per week. When he did the measurement of my uterus I am measuring at 27 weeks! This is common during a twin pregnancy but also explains some of the symptoms I have been having that usually show up in the late second to third trimesters such as fatigue and braxton hicks. I also have sciatica, which is where my sciatic nerve is being compressed and causing pain in my lower back and down my leg. Overall things are going really well. Dr. Bozeman says I am doing well and just continue to pay attention to the needs of my body. I am glad all our tests came back with positive results and there was nothing wrong!

At the end of the appointment we scheduled my twenty-week ultrasound! This is the scan where they will look for all the organs, bone structures, and any possible issues. We will have that at the end of this week and both Matt and I are so excited! Check back for those updates within the week.

.katherine.

Munchkins, bee-bops, poppy seeds, mangos...

Let me set the scene for you...


I was on a work trip in Cheyenne, WY.  After our last day's work, I was in my room waiting for my friend to finish his run.  As it was such a nice day out, I left the door open while I read my book.  Suddenly, I hear a knocking at the door and someone comes in with a plate of cake and fruit and whipped cream saying, "room service!"

"I am sorry," I reply, "but I did not order room service."

"This IS room 151 isn't it?"

"Yes it is, but again, I did not request any room service."

"Well, it says here 'we love you, Zoey Dad Bryce.'"

"Huh, I guess it is mine then."

Now, for the all important time travel to an hour and a half BEFORE the mystery room service.

When I was finished with work, I called Katherine expecting her to be home from work.  However, she was still at the clinic...about to have an ultrasound.  She was worried though, that she might find out the sex of our twins while I was not there.  I assured her that I would not be upset and that she should go and see how the babies were doing.  The previous story of my room service was Katherine's creative way of telling me we are now expecting Zoey Rose McPherson (girl) and Bryce Alexander McPherson (boy)!!!

The only correction I had to make was that the plate actually read, "we love you Dad, Zoey and Bryce."

So please, join us in celebrating the anticipation of our twins, one boy and one girl!!

Additionally, this week, they are about the size of mangos, 6 inches and 8.5 ounces.  Their bones are still developing and their brains are forming the ability to interpret their senses.  Although Katherine can be certain that they have both been wiggling for about 3 weeks already, they are now developing the ability to finely control their arms and legs and have started kicking, but not hard enough for me to tell yet.  Bryce is the top baby, streched out with his head just above Katherine's belly button and his legs almost reaching Katherine's right side.  He is our active wiggler and Katherine feels it because he is closer to the surface.  Zoey however is the kicker, most of her movements dulled by how low she is right now.  Zoey's head is just below Bryce's and she is slightly less stretched out.  Both appear to be doing well and we have heard and seen their heartbeats several times now.  We have another appointment in two weeks and we will get more pictures to post then.  Until then, thanks for staying with us and our ever-growing little family.

-Matt

first movement

I am now 14.5 weeks pregnant and last night I felt the babies move!  This isn't the first time I have felt it, that was last tuesday, but this is the first time I was certain that it was the babies as soon as it happened.  Matt had read that if you shine a flashlight they will turn away from the light.  We tried it and I felt them three different times!  Later at night I also felt a definate kick from one of the munchkins.  It is very exciting and such a neat feeling. 

I am very excited to be in the second trimester of the pregnancy.  Everything is going well; I am feeling better, eating better, and the babies are both doing well.  We have another appointment next week and will give more updates after that. 

If you haven't checked out our picasa album we have been keeping track of the baby bump growth on there.  The link is www.picasaweb.com/katherine.k.mcpherson.  Here is just a small sample for you:

 9 weeks

 12 weeks

14 weeks