23 weeks!

Here we are at 23 weeks! This is the 'age of viability' where babies born at this gestation have a 15% survival rate. It's small, but a chance nonetheless. These girls are going to stay nice and snug in here for much much longer though!

I'm feeling pretty good. The back pain hasnt really been bothering me much. I'm not sure if I've just gotten used to it, or if I've corrected my posture enough for it to take some pressure off my lower back. Either way, I'm happy!

In 3 months, M&B will arrive in Minnesota to await the birth of their daughters! I will be between 35 and 36 weeks at that time, which is full term for twins, so they can make their appearances anytime after that point. If they decide to come a little earlier, I think the plan is for M to come immediately and for B to follow when he can. I'm aiming to keep them in until April 1st no matter what, so hopefully they will both be present for the birth.

Speaking of the birth, I need to start doing a birth plan. Nothing crazy...just that Chris, M, & B are to be in the room with me at all times, M&B can cut the cords if they want to, they get to hold the babies as soon as they're cleaned off, in the case of a c-section I want M to be in the operating room with me, etc. The plan is a little more important with this birth than with my own kids, because I need to make sure everyone understands that all the typical things that happen after birth need to include M&B before anyone else. I also need to work out how to get 3 ID bands for us, because they HAVE to give me one since I'm delivering the girls, but they typically only give one other (to the birth partner/spouse/whoever). The ID bracelets are important because you only get access to the babies in the nursery if you have matching bracelets. So I'd like to get one for both M&B so they can go get the girls in the nursery whenever they want instead of only one of them being able to. Just a technicality. I also need to pre-register for the hospital, although when I did that before Quinn was born it did no good. I showed up expecting just to check in and everything, but had to fill all the paperwork out AGAIN. So we'll see!

Here's what's going on with the girls' development this week!

• Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since she hasn't begun to form body fat.
• Bones located in the middle ear harden.
• Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
• The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
• The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
• If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, her odds going up with each passing day.
• The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.
  

And here is my new belly pic! I decided to bless you all with my bare belly this time so you can see that its more round these days. The stretchmarks arent showing too bad, either.