A Merry Christmas SURPRISE!

We feel so blessed to tell all our family and friends that both sweet babies due in May are BOYS!!

We've known the news for a few weeks now and decided to keep it a secret until we could tell our families in person.  As I've mentioned before, we worked so hard to have these sweet little lives that our families have been with us through every hurdle, including every bit of good news regarding the babies.. but its all been over the phone.  We wanted to share the exciting news with them in person and see their reaction in person, for once.  And BOY!!! (pun intended) Are we glad we did see it in person... and we are also glad we RECORDED this reaction to show the boys how excited their families were to have them before they were even here.

First, let me tell you how Trae and I found out.  We went in for our 15 week appointment when Dr Seeker said he was 100% sure he knew the babies genders.  Trae and I had dreamed of the moment when our OB would be able to tell us the gender of our baby...or babies and agreed we would want to have him write down the news so we could open it by ourselves at home.  We drove from our appointment so excited to know the news... both having our own guesses as to what our babies were going to be.  My Guess: 1 boy, 1 girl.   Trae's Guess:  2 Girls  

We were SO sure we were going to have a girl, we bought 2 beautiful baby girl dresses in Costa Rica!

We opened the note in front of our christmas tree and were SHOCKED!!  We laughed for a full 2-3 minutes before saying anything and then decided to keep it a secret until Christmas when we could surprise our families with the news.

Trae opening gender letter with the dogs

Mid Laugh/Shock after receiving the news.

The note reads "both babies are boys. :)"

We decided to tell our parents by surprising them with "It's a Boy" balloons wrapped in a big box.  We told them that we were going to find out the genders at our appointment on December 26th to keep up the surprise.  Here are their reactions:

It was so fun to surprise our family and start talking about all the fun twin boys are going to bring to the family.  We received lots of nice gifts for the babies including books, toys, sweet tiny outfits and Mommy received the diaper bag she was wanting & is looking forward to using in a few months!

We love our little boys so much already and can't wait to read all these stories to them one day about how much Mommy, Daddy and all our friends and family loved them so much before they were even here.

Merry Christmas!

Week 17

Baby Size:

Marination Time: 17w5d

The Bump  says that this week the babies are the size of an onion. The average baby their size would be 5 inches and over 5 ounces.  We had our latest sonogram today and both babies are still ahead of their growth schedule, now measuring 5 days ahead.  They are just shy of 6 inches, 8 ounces and proved to be very active little babies as they were kicking their long legs and turning from side to side saying "hi" to Mommy and Daddy.  

Baby Milestones:

Baby A & Baby B are getting bony and stronger this week as all their soft cartilage changes to bone. They are also getting a stronger and thicker umbilical cord as they rely more and more on their placentas. Sweat glands are starting to develop along with a little baby fat developing to help with their temperature regulation after they are born. We have 59 days until viability (24w0d on February 8th) and we have about 140 days until their last possible (and most optimal) delivery date at 37 weeks.  It's so crazy that we are about HALF WAY  through our pregnancy!

Here are our sweet babies profiles as of this morning:

Baby A Profile

Baby B profile

Symptoms:

I'm still having some middle back pain, but have started prenatal yoga and think the stretching will be good for my tight muscles.  

How I'm Changing:

Growing belly every week proves my little bundles are growing right on track!

What I'm Eating:

When my sweet tooth kicks I'll have a Root Beer or 7UP since both are free of caffeine. If I give into the urge and eat something sugary, my body tends to not like it very much and I get a pretty sour tummy.  Beans are sounding good these days and since they supply protein and fiber good for the babies and me, I eat them a few times a week.

Annoyances:

I've had such an easy pregnancy so far, it's hard to be annoyed by anything!  

Sleep:

I'm sleeping hotter and hotter these days which tends to wake me up.  Even if its 68 degrees in the house (like last night) and our fan is on, I wake up so hot and Trae is bundled under the sheets. I hear this just gets worse the bigger the babies get, so poor Trae will probably be wearing a parka to bed soon!

What I'm Most Excited About:

Now that Christmas is coming to a close... I'm committed to get more serious about planning this nursery and making some big decisions like cribs, paint color etc.  We DID start our baby registry at BuyBuyBaby a couple weeks ago, so that was a start.... it will be fun to continue planning and putting plans in motion!

Week 16

Baby Size:

Marination Time: 16w6d

The Bump  says that this week the babies are growing to be the size of avocados.  For the boys perspective, His Boys Can Swim tell Trae to think of Baby A and Baby B as studs!  Or at least little stud finders.

Baby Milestones:
This weeks biggest baby milestone is that Baby A and Baby B can now hear!  By birth, the babies will be able to recognize our voices as long as we talk to them frequently. It makes me smile to think that my babies can start to hear my voice and I talk and sing to them often.  Also, this week their little eyelashes and hair is starting to fill in more and their tastebuds are forming.

Symptoms:
I'm feeling good this week!  Still getting tired after only a moderate amount of excercise or running errands, but glad to be able to sleep in these days.

How I'm Changing:
My belly is growing little by little so I tend to get lower back pain after long days. I've started prenatal yoga which I think will help stretch out my muscles and maintain my flexibility.

What I'm Eating:
A little bit of everything! My appetite picked up slightly this week, but I'm sticking to my normal diet. No big changes here!

Annoyances:
Sore back muscles and a low level of energy throughout the day.

Sleep:
My sleep is pretty good once I'm asleep.  I just have trouble getting to sleep these days.

Missing:
The only thing I'm really missing these days is working out with my friends regularly like I used to. The weather is so nice I would like to go for a run or to the gym with friends and the Dr insists that I lay low so the babies can stay safe.

What I'm Most Excited About:
This week I'm most excited about spending Christmas with our families. I love this time of year and we start the Christmas celebrations this weekend at my parents house in San Antonio, then on to Glen Rose for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Also, our next appointment is on the 26th and we get to see the babies again! We see our little angels every 3 weeks via sonogram and we look forward to it every single time!

Week 15

Baby Size:

Marination Time: 15w5d

The Bump says that in Week 15 Baby A and Baby B are the size of navel oranges weighing around 2.5 oz.  For the guys perspective, His Boys Can Swim says the babies are the size of baseballs this week!  We know from last week's sonogram that the babies are several days ahead of schedule on growth, so we are probably closer to week 16's measurements today, but its fun to compare week to week.

Baby Milestones:

This week the babies will keep growing bigger and getting stronger.  The babies are more proportional this week now that their legs are longer than their arms. Their bones are working to get stonger and more supportive. This week they are going to get even MORE active.  I can't wait until I'm feeling them move regularly!!  The Dr. said it should be anytime and I'm so excited!!

Symptoms:

Pelvic Pressure and Round Ligament Pain. 

How I'm Changing:

My baby belly is growing little by little and starting to change shape a little.  Dr. Seeker says it should start growing more round and bigger in the next 2 weeks as the babies grow and as my uterus moves completely in my abdomen. 

What I'm Eating:

Sandwhiches for lunch, eggs and toast for breakfast, protein shakes for snacks.  I am really not eating more than I was eating before pregnancy, only more carbs to help with my energy.  So far, it's working well for me and the babies.

Annoyances:

Walking with pain is pretty annoying and most of my walking is full of cramping from pelvic pressure and round ligament pain.  Looking forward to this easing up in the next few weeks as the baby's position moves higher.

Sleep:

The body pillow seems to be doing the trick! I'm sleeping through the night again with only bathroom breaks waking me up!

Missing:

Exercise and walking without pain.

What I'm Most Excited About:

I'm most excited to feel my babies move regularly. I can't wait to feel that connection with them!  

We had our first pediatrician interview last week and am excited to meet the other 2 offices we're interviewing in the next few weeks.  Also, we made an appointment with a personal shopper at BuyBuyBaby in Austin to help us start our registry.  I've started making lists of things we need and products we're interested in, so I think the shopper will help us answer questions we have specific to our needs.

Oh...and I'm starting to get SO excited about Christmas!! I just love this time of year!

Week 14

Baby Size:

Marination Time:
Today is the last day of week 14! 14d6d

The Bump says that this week the babies are growing to the size of lemons.

Baby Milestones:

Baby A and B can now suck their thumbs (in fact, Baby B was sucking his or her thumb at the Sonogram on Wednesday!), wiggle their toes, produce urine, and breathe in the amniotic fluid.  Their little systems are developing!!  They are also growing lanugo, which is a thick, peach-fuzzy hair all over their bodies to help keep them warm.

Symptoms:

I've had a dull headache off and on this week.  This week my back pain has been intense, probably because of my growing belly.  Sleeping is very uncomfortable due to back pain, so I've been waking up pretty tired everyday. A big "Thank You" to Shelley and Casey for letting me borrow their Snoogle body pillow this week- it's helped a lot!  Round ligament pain is still intense.  Dr Seeker says back pain and round ligament pain should ease in the next 2 weeks as my uterus moves completely into my abdomen.

How I'm Changing:

Growing every day!  I look even more pregnant than last week! I've gained 7 total pounds since pregnant, which the Dr is happy about.

What I'm Eating:

I'm back to eating most of my normal foods, just having issues with quantity.  I am not eating any more than I would have normally eaten pre-pregnancy, so sometimes I have to remind myself to eat and make sure I'm getting enough protein in.  Dr Barbara Luke's book "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads" recommends gaining 24 pounds in the first 24 weeks of a twin pregnancy.  In order to do this, you need an additional 300 calories a day.  The book also suggests putting yourself on an eating schedule and eating every 2 hours.  I'm not hungry enough to eat every 2 hours, but hear this appetite will be sure to pick up in the coming weeks!!

Annoyances:

This week the biggest annoyance is my back pain and the lack of sleep that's come with it.

Sleep:

Despite not getting much sleep this week due to back pain, I definitely have more energy back which is nice!

Missing:

Waking up feeling rested and with no pain. 

What I'm Most Excited About:

We had our Dr appointment this week and got to see the babies again!  They are growing quickly and are measuring 4 days ahead of schedule, which this Momma is very proud of!  The little babies are so squirmy so we couldnt get any great photos of them, but they are both measuring 8.94 cm crown to rump and seem to be very happy. 

Here's some photos:

Little B looking straight at camera and A's head

See A's little foot? How cute is that?!

Profile of Baby A

Week 13

Hello 2nd Trimester!!


Baby Size:

The Bump says that the babies have grown to be the size of peaches this week.

Baby Milestones:

Baby A and B have grown this week! This week their little bodies are catching up to be proportionate and thier heads are only 1/3 of their body size. This week they are also forming vocal chords, teeth and fingerprints!

Symptoms:

Lightheaded/dizzy at times, espcially when standing up.  Mid/lower back pain. STRONG sense of smell- all wine smells like vinegar to me. (Note: I am not the one drinking the wine.)

How I'm Changing:

I'm obviously looking a little more pregnant than before, 2 strangers have reached out and touched my belly this week and wished me luck. I'm not a fan of people touching my belly.  The twins have started popping though.. specifically in the last week!

A day shy of 14 weeks and wearing my Maternity jeans!

What I'm Eating:

Still trying to drink enough water/gatorade- I've been slacking on this and need to get better.  Salads, vegetables and fish are sounding better and I'm eating it more often.  Food consistency is what triggers what I want to eat. Greek Yogurt and grilled chicken bother me due to consistency.

Annoyances:

Nothing!  We're back from a trip to Costa Rica for Thanksgiving and I'm feeling relaxed and happy. 

Sleep:

4-5 bathroom trips a night, and a sore back, but pretty good otherwise. Wierd dreams at night that sometimes wake me up.

What I'm most excited about:

Our next Dr appointment on Dec. 5th when we get to see the babies and how much they have grown!  Also, Sadly I'm pretty excited about my first pair of maternity jeans.  Despite still being a little big, they are SO comfortable and look totally put together. 

Week 12

Baby Size:

The Bump says that over the course of week 12, the twins will grow to be the size of plums!

Baby Milestones:

The baby's major systems are almost all complete!  Now they start into a stage of growth and maturation.  They are also working on reflux development, and while I don't think I feel them yet- they are busy moving, and If I poke my belly they would wriggle in response.

Symptoms:

I am still getting tired by the middle of the day, but not quite as bad. Queasiness- not many foods sound good to me lately. Round ligament pain especially after walking distances.  Dizzy/Lightheaded and more so on days when I haven't gotten enough protein.

How I'm changing:

I'm noticeably bigger than I have been, but still not noticeably pregnant.  I'm sure many folks look at me and think I need to lay off the holiday treats.

What I'm eating:

I'm drinking a gatorade a day plus plenty of water with lemon to stay hydrated.  I'm not as anti-chicken as I was in the early weeks so I'm eating more of it.  Lots of fruit and the occasional protein bar to supplement protein intake.

Annoyances:

Worrying! I worry for our little twins all the time- even worry about them in my dreams! I just pray we're doing everything we can to grow these babies as long as possible to bring home two healthy babies in May.   The round ligament pain and lower back pain are annoying and painful as well... not a good sign for the weeks to come, I'm guessing.

Sleep:

Off and on throughout the night. Between back pain, ligament pain and bathroom breaks it's challenging to stay asleep.  Tylenol helps the pain.

Missing:

Nothing this week! I'm feeling very greatful and happy.

Baby Purchases:

Nothing purchased this week, but I did sew my first bib for the babies, which I'm excited about.  I have the second started and will plan on taking some pictures after I have a good pile to brag about.  Also, Trae and I made our first trip to BabysRus to look at the 2 cribs we're deciding between.  WOW were we overwhelmed with all the selections and completely underwhelmed with the lack of service and twin/double equipment options they carry in store.  However, I did get this great shot of Trae testing out a jogging stroller we have our eyes on!

What I'm most excited about this week:

Last Thursday Trae and I had our 12 week Sonogram at our Dr's office. We were SO excited to see the babies and how much they had grown in the 4.5 weeks since we had last seen them.  The purpose of the scan was to measure their growth, look for signs of maturation like amniotic fluid in their stomach's proving their ability to swallow and their lung function, and to also measure the clear (translucent) space in the tissue at the back of the baby's neck which assesses the baby's risk for Down's Syndrome.  

Both babies passed their tests with flying colors and were determined to be gowing right on track!

Baby A was very active on the sonogram: kicking and twisting during the whole exam and s/he measured right at 12w3d (at our 11w6d appt).  Baby B is a little less active, but can feel all of Baby A's movements so maybe s/he is just protecting themselves the whole time!  Baby B measured 12w1d and very healthy.

12 week sonogram 3D photo

Here is a private YouTube link to our sonogram so you can see our little twins dancing around on screen:

Schultz twins 12 week sonogram

Week 10

First Belly Pic!

Baby Size:

The Bump says that over the course of week 10 the babies will grow to be the size of a prune while BabyCenter compares the size to that of a kumquat.

Baby Milestones:
This week bones and cartiledge are forming and small indentations indicate where knees and ankles will go. The elbows have finished developing and the arms can already flex. This week the babies will also start developing teeth under their little gums.  If either baby is a boy, this is the week his little body would start to produce testosterone.

Symptoms: 

EXHAUSTED! Even small daily tasks like a grocery trip completely take it out of me. Nausea. Food Aversions. Sore chest. 

Cravings:

Fruit, Soups, Chicken.

Missing:

Coffee, Black tea, Energy.

Sleeping:

As much as possible! Nights are interrupted with 2-4 bathroom trips .

Movements:

Can't feel anything specific yet, but can't wait to! I hear it's normal to feel twin movement as early as 12 weeks!

Baby Purchases:

We made our first purchase this week for the babies at Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcos.  I found a grey velvet rocker for the nursery that perfectly matched my neutral taste.

Most looking forward to this week:

Buying my first maternity clothes.  Attending the last home UT football game of the season.  Starting to clean out room for nursery with Sharon in town.

2 Good To Be True!

We are expanding our family by two!

The Schultz twins are expected to arrive no later than May 17th, 2013 and we couldn't be more excited!

Our sweet babies are growing well, both have strong heartbeats and have measured right on track through our latest sonogram.

Our first sonogram was with Dr Hansard at 6w6d and within 10 seconds of turning on the sonogram machine, I saw 2 beautiful black sacks and said "it's 2!! Twins, right?!"  Hansard smiled and said "yes it is, Momma!!"  At that appointment we heard both heartbeats and Hansard released us to our normal OB/GYN, Dr Seeker with only a 10% chance of any complications with the twins.

A week later we saw Dr Seeker for our first normal OB appointment and saw the twins again via Sonogram.  (Picture above from this appointment)  Both babies had grown and their heartbeats had gotten stronger which gave us a normal pregnancy safety rate! Horaay!!

We have been absolutely over the moon happy with the news and although it's earlier than most would spill the beans, Dr Seeker gave us approval to tell all our friends and family and to start getting prepared EARLY!!

We will be seeing Dr Seeker every 3 weeks until we deliver, a standard schedule for multiples with their OB, and will be getting a Sonogram every time!  These babies will have more photos of themselves than they will know what to do with!

To all those who are wondering: We WILL plan on finding out the genders of our little angels and sharing the news, but we will NOT be sharing the names we choose with anyone, including family.  We have to keep some kind of a surprise!!!!

Thank you to everyone who have continued praying for us, we are so thankful for our good news and good health.  I'll be continuing to update along the way with measurements, symptoms and preparations we've been busy working on already.

Twins are gifts from Heaven above,

two by two they come wrapped in love.

Patience made Perfect Baby Schultz

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!

After nearly 2 years of trying to grow our family, we are so happy to report we are due to bring home our bundle of joy May 2013.

We are so thankful for our friends, family and doctors who have been there to support us through the last 12 months of fertility treatments.  Our Baby Schultz will be brought into this world knowing how loved he or she was before they were even conceived. 

We plan on using this blog to update friends and family on our journey to parenthood and everything we learn along the way- please feel free to comment advice or thoughts along the way and know that we will be planning to print out all blog posts, including comments and making our first baby book after our baby is born.  What better story to read to our little one than the story of Momma pregnant and friends commenting along the way!

The Full Story

We knew we didn't want to wait long to start trying for a family, so after marrying in July 2010 we started trying to get pregnant on our own in January 2011.  After 5 months, I noticed my cycle was very irregular and I made an appointment with our OB/GYN.  Dr Seeker diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and prescribed me Metphormine to alleviate the irregular symptoms.  It took several months, but my monthly cycles started coming naturally again, but I was not ovulating regularly. I had several blood tests testing my TSH level and had an HSG test where dye was injected into my fallopian tubes to make sure there were no blockages preventing me from ovulating. All tests came back "normal".

August 2011 I began taking my first fertility medication, Femara under Dr Seekers guidance. Femara is used in fertility to stimulate ovulation.  After 3 months of trying to get pregnant with Femara and not tolerating the side effects well, Trae and I sat down with Dr Seeker and explained our desire to move forward to fertility treatments.

November 2011 I started taking the proper medications instructed from our dr.'s office and in December 2011 we had our first Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).  IUI definition

After we were unsuccessful with our first IUI, and after a lot of discussion and prayers, we decided to see Dr Hansard at Texas Fertility Center in Austin to continue our attempts at getting pregnant.  

Dr Hansard was a breath of fresh air for us with her no-nonsense approach at fertility and black and white instructions.  We had a plan and we were going for it!

Dr Hansard ran additional tests on both Trae and myself, changed my medication to match our blood results and continued with an IUI the next month.

We completed 3 additional IUI's with Dr Hansard with negative pregnancy results when Dr Hansard suggested I have a laparoscopy surgery performed.  Laparoscopy  The purpose of this surgery is to find whether endometriosis is present in the patient, making ovulation or pregnancy difficult.  After recovering from surgery, Dr Hansard reported she corrected a Stage II endometriosis found on and around my ovaries and was hopeful with the result.  

July 2012 we had our 5th IUI performed with a negative pregnancy result.

Trae and I were heartbroken with the results.  We knew we wanted to start a family and prayed about what path to take next.  With our families support, Dr Hansard's support and a motivated attitude we moved forward in our fertility path and in August 2012 we began the process for our first In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF

Medications began arriving at our doorstep within weeks and my medication schedule was rigorous, often resulting in my needing to slip away and take an injectable medication away from guests, meetings or even tailgates!

After 8 weeks of scheduled self administered medication, we went in for our Egg Retrieval where I was put under general anesthesia and Dr Hansard was able to retrieve all 19 follicles my ovaries had produced.  Out of 19 follicles, 12 were mature and viable to be fertilized.  After a day of "mating" we found that 9 of the 12 mature follicles had fertilized and were maturing in the IVF Lab.   

After 5 days of maturing at the IVF Lab we went in to have our Embryo Transfer.   It was then we learned that out of the 9 fertilized embryo's, only 2 were growing and maturing at the successful rate needed to make a baby.  So out of the original 19 follicles- we had 2 lone embryos that made the cut!  We weren't going to take any chances in freezing one of our 2 remaining embryos so we decided to transfer both our strong little embryos.

After a horrible anxiety-ridden 2 weeks, I went in for blood work and got the call we were pregnant! 

Last week we went to our 7 week appointment with Dr Hansard where we were able to see and hear the heartbeat- the sweetest sound we have ever heard!  We are over joyed to be able to finally tell close friends and family our news and look forward to every growth milestone in the future!

Happy Birthday Addie & Jack!

It was my niece and nephew's birthday party a couple weekends ago... no they aren't twins, they are 2 years and 1 month apart.  Since the actual birth DAY is so close together, we still celebrate the kids birthdays together which is SO much fun!!!

My parents came up from San Antonio and stayed with us the night before the party giving us time to catch up, drink some wine, and celebrate my Dad's birthday which was a week later!

It was an amazing weekend full of family time and celebrations!

Addie showing us her awesome kicking skills on her new birthday boogie board!

Pop Pop playing in the pool with Addie..

Warming her up for the big TOSS!

Pop Pop and Addie Racing!

What a great swimmer she is!

Jack & Mommy (Mandy) joined in on the fun!

SUPER ADDISON!!!!

Dad's Birthday Dinner - a beautiful night dining outside in Austin!

The sunday after the kids celebrations, Trae and I went to the Austin Hot Sauce Festival.  We LOVE all things Salsa and Hot Sauce so with only a small donation to the Austin Food Bank as entry fee... we were IN!  We didn't take many pictures while there because it was so warm outside.  Warm/muggy weather + super hot sauce = sweat city!!!

Riding the bus from public parking to the hot sauce fest.

HOT HOT sauce!!!

This is a picture from our favorite hot sauce booth: Assburn. Yup. That's their name. Their mascot is a devil baby and the female owner insisted we pose with it and then continued to rant how amazing and "natural" we looked with the devil baby. We weren't sure how to take that and chalked it up to one of the weirdest comments we've ever received.

In other news... we have a new "schultz-ism" for those of you who haven't heard.  Trae has been doing a lot of grilling this summer on his new 'Big Green Egg'.  While we both love at-home dinners, Trae has been getting several mosquito bites despite his bug spray and OFF wearable fan. Because of these bites, ( (and slight case of hypochondria) Trae is quite certain he has been "Niled" twice this summer.  "Oh God... I got Niled again, Cyndi".  BUT NO WORRIES, FRIENDS!  Trae believes that a little hydrogen peroxide in his ear does the trick.  We've done it both times and he's pulled through somehow!   

Nurse Cyndi to the rescue!  :)  Ah, I love my dramatic husband!

Hope everyone is doing great! I'm ready for some cooler weather, that's for sure!  Some exciting trips coming up for us: we have the Ole Miss game in a week and then Costa Rica over Thanksgiving with Milton & Sharon!