It's Happened...The Day I Thought Would NEVER Come (and some shopping tips)

It happened in an instant with a phone call that lasted less than a minute. I am now officially a CCRM GRADUATE!!!

I stopped all my drugs (except a baby aspirin and pre-natal vitamins) on Monday and yesterday my E2 levels rose from the 700's to over 1000 and my P4 levels were at 49 - the highest they've been EVER!!! Clearly the twinkies are now making their own E2 and P4.

I had a 1st trimester nuchal scan on Thursday and both babies looked excellent.  The preliminary results looked good and I'll get the final results back next week.

Their HB's were in the 170-180 range and they both measured on-track for exactly 12 weeks. The u/s tech pointed out many features - brains, spinal columns, stomachs, kidneys, nose bones. She said she could see them move, but we could not. At one point, one baby was sitting up again and one was lounging on their back - so I still think we have a "couch potato" and an "athlete." Below are some pics...

Twin A

 

Twin B

Shopping Tips

This week my Baby Bargains book arrived and I've been devouring it like a bear who just woke up from a nap and hasn't eaten all winter. If you are expecting, this book is a definite must. It's like a "Consumer Reports" for all things baby and they just updated it in April 2011. My only gripe is that the section on twins at the very end is only a couple pages. I feel like there could be more info. There is an accompanying message board that is helpful too.

Using the information in this book, reading postings by other twin parents and talking to other couples with babies born within the last 24 months, I've started to create a registry of items I think might be good for us. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Stroller:  Baby Jogger City Select - According to my sister, who lives in Manhattan, this is the preferred stroller for twin mamas in Manhattan - who are constantly taking their strollers into narrow spaces, up-and-down stairs, down city streets. It is lightweight, has adjustable handles (very important for us since we are both tall), can be converted into a single (if ever needed) and the seats can be adjusted into multiple positions. It can accommodate car seats and even has optional bassinets.

Car Seat: Graco SnugRide 35 - As the country's top-selling car seat, this one got good reviews. It's affordable ($85 - $150 depending on the fabric finish you select) and it will snap into the stroller frame above.
 
Pack-n-Play: Joovy Room2 - There is a Graco Pack-n-Play for twins, but all the reviews I've read from parents who tried it out for their twins didn't recommend it. For example, after a few weeks of use, the bassinets sank. Instead, several parents recommended this larger model. Yes, it doesn't have all the "extras", but it can accommodate two kids and I can leave it downstairs.

Diaper Bag: Go Gaga Life Messenger Bag - As you may remember from an earlier post, this was recommended on Ellen DeGeneres' Mother's Day show. I ordered this and it arrived earlier this week. I can already tell I am going to LOVE this bag. It has a strip of fabric that distributes weight across my shoulders and back, it's made of ballistic nylon - so it's waterproof and easy to clean, it has lots of pockets, a clip for keys, and, best of all, I can reach nearly everything with one hand. If you are considering purchasing one of these, places like Groupon and Living Social frequently run specials at specialty baby shops - so see if you can get a deal this way.

Other Discounts


BabySteals.com - Like "Groupon" for baby stuff. Just enrolled this week. Here's a link.

Zulily.com - Another site that offers great discounts that only last for a short while. Here's a link.

Enjoy!