the breakdancer and the ballerina

These little babes have really started to move a lot in the past week. More and more every day and it is quite amazing to be able to feel the difference in movement from Baby A and Baby B.

Last week I had an ultrasound with my perinatologist where they finished the anatomy scan while the babies were in a more cooperative position for the scan. They have grown so much (both almost the exact same size) and it is still crazy to think that I have two full size babies (for their gestational age) in my belly. They were lying horizontally opposite of eachother, Baby A (boy) on the bottom and Baby B (girl) on the top.
 

I had an appointment with my OB today and as always it was an amazing appointment!! I got to Skype with Shahar, Roi and Bar during the appointment and we got to take a peak at their very active little munchkins! Check out this beautifully glowing Momma!!!!

 

They are now lying vertically. The breakdancing baby boy on my right side, is head down, like the good boy he; getting lots of practice for the big day!! I keep telling them that they can come out the same way they went in! :) The beautiful ballerina baby girl is on my left side, breech and playing with her feet. 

 

 

I am so happy to have a doctor that will allow me to deliver vaginally as long as Baby A is head down and she will work with Baby B to put her in the right position to come out. I also found out today that my doctor will be there for the delivery...even if it is her day off, she will come in for it. Makes me sooooo happy! And I know once Shahar gets here and meets her in person, she will also be so happy to hear this. I have never had such an amazing doctor. We are so blessed to be in such great hands through this journey!!

As of today, we are 22 weeks 3 days and my uterus is measuring at 31 weeks. I do not feel like I am that big at all....I still don't know how they both fit in there!! :) My doctor says my cervix is nice and long and closed....the Great Wall of China she says! My body was meant to carry twins!

I will now be seen every 3 weeks and will have a growth scan ultrasound in Perinatology every 4 weeks. I will go in to have my 1 hour glucose test in a week an a half and will hopefully get a clear bill of health! I am happy to say that I feel great and am still able to workout 5 days a week. I am certain this has to do with why I am feeling so great with this pregnancy! I hope to keep it up as long as possible....doctor says I just need to listen to my body. Sounds good to me!! She also predicts that I will deliver on my own at 37 weeks. They will induce at 38 weeks if they have not come yet. We will have to wait and see!! :) :) :)

Before getting off the phone with Shahr and Roi today, Shahar says, "Roi is waiting for you to say my name"....they love to hear me say "Shahar" in my "English accent." It makes them laugh every time. I told them that I will have to make a ring tone of "Shahar! Shahar! Shahar!" For when I call and she is out here.....which is only 9 1/2 weeks away!!! Woo hoo!!!

Goodness I miss them soooooo much!! Here is a photo from our first day in Israel!! Love love love this amazing family!

And here they are celebrating Purim last weekend!!

 

And here we are celebrating our boys birthday with a Purim themed party!! We wanted to celebrate along with our family in Israel!! 

20 weeks....12 weeks until Mommy arrives!

Our trip to Israel was one of the most amazing experiences of our life! There really are no words to explain how it felt to meet Shahar and Roi....It was so natural and beautiful. When we walked out of customs, I saw Shahar, and we ran into each others arms. We held one another and just cried. No words needed to be spoken....we knew exactly what each of us were feeling. Roi and Bar were there and all of us instantly hit it off. Conversation came so naturally and there was never an awkward or uncomfortable moment. After we left the airport, we they took us to our hotel and we got settled and walked around Tel Aviv and grabbed some dinner.

 

 

Jake and I adjusted to the time change no problem. Sunday morning we went to breakfast and then walked through Tel Aviv. We also went to have an ultrasound and Shahar and Roi got to see their little ones! We also found out that the Placenta Previa that I was diagnosed with a week before we left, had cleared up!! That night Jake and I got to walk along the waterfront and watch the sun set into The Mediterranean. Then went out and met some of Shahar and Roi's friends. Such a fun day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Monday we stopped by Shahar and Roi's home on our way to Jeruselem. I was able to meet her Mother and she is sweeter than sweet!  Then off to Jerusalem we went and got to tour the Western Wall tunnels. Everything in Jerusalem is built with the same stone.

 

 

Tuesday we walked around Tel Aviv some more and then Wednesday we went to The Dead Sea! The Dead Sea gets it name because the water is so salty that no life can survive in it. The weather was a beautiful 86 degrees and when you go into the water, you float more than when you have a life preserver. It was incredible!! That night we went to a gathering of Intended Parents that have surrogates in the States. My doctor and IVF coordinator from Oregon Reproductive Medicine were there as well as the Israeli representative for NW Surrogacy Center. I was asked to share my journey as a surrogate with everyone. It was such a wonderful experience to be in a room filled with so much love as they are all on their journey to happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday was our last day in Israel and we went to a little Wine Country town called Zikhron Ya'aqov. It was such a neat little town with lots of shops, cafes and wineries. After that we went to Shahar's parents home where we were able to meet her Mom, Dad, two of her four brothers and her sister. It was surreal to be sitting around their dinner table for a meal. I had only seen pictures and it was a dream come true to be sharing a meal with this amazing family that we now call our own!

 

 

 

Then it was time to say "See you later" and my goodness that was so bittersweet. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to go see where Shahar and Roi live, see where these babies are going to be raised and loved on, and spend time with incredible people! I also know that we have so many memories ahead of us and we will forever connected with them. Shahar will be coming to Oregon when we are 32 weeks and then Roi and Bar will come out closer to when the babies will be born. Shahar's parents will also be joining them out here and I am counting down the days until we will see them again!

 

Jake and I had a 53.5 hour trip home from Tel Aviv to Portland but we were greeted with these three loves of our life and my parents!! They made our homecoming extra special and we are so grateful that our kiddos were taken care of by my Parents and Jakes mom while we were away!