A Twin Journey

Sixth Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 15th December 2013

Posted on September 23, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

22 Weeks

I’m sorry for not doing this last week, I was absolutely buggered and with travelling and work, I am stuffed by the end of the day. So since the last update, 2 weeks have passed and 2 flying trips to Perth and back have been made.

Week 21 – Lets just say we were buggered for this trip, Rohan has been working flat out and we didn’t get much sleep the night before due to lots of banging happening in the backyard and also coming up with issues that may come up once the babies are here and with me not working and having that extra money coming in, it was an eye opener to say the least. But we made it and thanks to Paul and Jess for letting us sleep in a little bit longer and not even getting to see them at all.

The scan was great, the Prof was still overly excited every time she puts the scan on us as there was two bladders right there on the screen. She, for some reason, is always a little nervous when we come in for the scans. But these little ninjas are kicking butt and now doing what they are meant to be doing. We also had the measurements done on them this time around as well, so with the fluid around the babies Twin 1 had 2cm and Twin 2 had 5cm, so Twin 2 was improving or you could say peeing to all buggery. Twin 1 still needed to catch up a little bit more. The actual measurement side of things was good. Twin 1 was 366 grams, which was in the 40 percentile range, which is the average and good. Twin 2 was 298 grams, which was a little bit under the percentile, but still good considering. The only thing really that came out of the scan was that Twin 2’s heart is still an issue, it had a white spot on it at the scan and but it was better than last week. But we had to go back next Friday for another scan.

The funniest thing that when we rang mum and dad to tell them the news, they were on their way to Perth for the weekend; mum thought that we may possibly pass each other on the way. Dad’s come back was a classic, but I will let the imagination go to work there. We met up with them in Merriden for some lunch and showed them my new trick, that I can now poke out my belly button. Rohan doesn’t like me doing that at all.

Week 22 – This trip was a lot better of a drive and we were more refreshed for it, but not so much for the trip home though. I finally got to see Paul and Jess in the morning as; I am now on mother time and have a good chat with them. We got to sample some of the heat wave, which we are getting now on that morning, so glad we have a pool! So the scan this week, the ninjas are still kicking butt. The Prof put the scan on and all you could see was all the fluid that was there and the membrane, floating in between them! Twin 2 had also turned round so they are both heading in the one direction, I think she said breach, so I am getting a lot of kicks down there you can say. The fluid round the two are Twin 1 3cm and Twin 2 bout 4.9 cm, so they are really drinking and peeing! There wasn’t really a bladder there with Twin 1 as it just peed, so she went back like 3 minutes later and it was there and full. I so hope this isn’t something of the future with the nappies! Twin 2’s heart is sluggish again, couldn’t see the white spot but the Prof did spend a bit of time on it and I think this may be something that we will have to ask more about next week. So stay tuned for that. All the dopplers though are great and really improving from last time!

So that is all I can really think of in regards to the last two weeks, we got a definite answer on the sex of the babies, but still not saying anything. Don’t ask Aunty Sue! I so know you will :o) We also don’t have to worry too much about driving this week either as we are going down with mum and dad on Friday morning, we got an afternoon scan as it is Jess’s 30^th Birthday party Friday night, so we will be coming back Saturday with them.

So till next week! Go Ninja’s!

Here is the latest scan we got on Friday.

My bump

Fifth Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 2nd December 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

20 Weeks – Half way there!

As you have probably heard, I am finally back home in Kalgoorlie and really enjoying being in my own surroundings and around the four-legged babies! So apologises for not doing this sooner but travel and other factors sort of got in the way.

Well the week started on a positive note as I had to go and get some more blood tests done as they could not get them from Kalgoorlie and the room that I went into to get it done had only one picture in the room and it was of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Needless to say, this put a smile on my face and also helped take my mind of the needle. So that is one great sign to put a point on the scoreboard to say that these ninjas are going grow and do what is asked of them.

Second scratch on the score board was that I worked from home the whole week; this was to make sure I relaxed more and didn’t have to carry my laptop around with me all the time. I felt really good throughout the whole week and wasn’t tired or overworked or stressed in any way, the only time I did go into work, was just to print stuff off and to grab the mail to do the work.

Third point on the score board – BOY did I pop out and grow outwards this week. I was stretched to the poo house and sore, OMG I was so sore. I kept on telling myself that this is a great sign and must mean that these babies are doing exactly what they are meant to be doing! And that is growing!!!

Fourth point was that I was feeling them move and kick and allsorts all the time, and on both sides on the belly. I think they will be basketballers as that is when it all started, when Paul invited Courtney and myself to the basketball on Sunday to watch the Wildcats (hence the talk about the scoreboard) but still couldn’t feel it on the outside, just a lot of offence moves on the inside.

So with the scoreboard at 4-0, we were feeling really positive about the scan! Well we had too, or else it would have been doom and gloom come the scan. Rohan arrived by plane that Friday morning and we went to our usual café for lunch and off we went to have our scan.

Firstly, we saw a dietician, as being separated from Rohan and Aunty Lorna eating like a rabbit; it was hard to cook big meals and also to even be bothered to cook at all. So we just wanted to see what we need to do to make sure I am eating enough for 3. Plus the blood test also showed up that I had an iron deficiency, so it was another pointer to get information on. But firstly, all we can say was what a waste of time. She had no idea on why we were referred to her, she had no clue for twins and what we should be eating and couldn’t really understand why I cannot eat certain foods and kept looking at me on why can’t I eat these foods, and not because I was pregnant. I kept on trying to explain why but I don’t think she could see my point. Rohan was not happy with her at all. But we were again seeing her after the scan, as she forgot to get pamphlets that we needed for information.

We were called away as the Prof was ready and I weighed myself beforehand as feeling big, I wanted to make I had finally stacked on the kgs, and I had 4kgs – so another point 5-0 – I laid down on the bed and was ready for the scan and Prof said that she had been so worried for us all week and so hope that we have good news. I said well I have popped out more this week, so that has to be a good sign, she shook her head and said not really. So that was like unsportsmanlike foul and time for me to take two free shots and get a side ball. She put the scan on my belly and her face was priceless – she looked at the screen and then to Doctor and then back to the screen and then punched Doctor in the arm! We have two bladders that have grown and noticeable! She hoped that Doctor won’t be reporting her and then looked at me and called me a cow, she said that she had been so worried about us that she didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news and couldn’t believe how bizarre this disease is! So thank you very much Prof Jan, we made both shots and even a three pointer!

The rest of the scan was great, one of the babies had turned around so now they are top and tail and there was fluid in there stomach and the forward flow had improved also, which was great news. These little ninjas are fighters and they still have to fight til the very end! Twin 2’s heart is a little bit sluggish still but is better, so this little ninja is still fighting strong. We were so happy about this and Prof was happy that she didn’t have to give us the talk that she prepared, we made her week, and she made ours. It’s strange to think that we have to go by week by week and not months by months, but we will take it any way we can! Just means we really get to see how much our babies have grown every Friday before our very eyes and before we even get to hold them.

So another scan is booked in for Friday at 9.30am and this will be a fly by trip, leave Thursday night and come back Friday after the scan, if we can. In this scan we will be having measurements and so forth done, so we will have more information on that side on the next update.

On the way home, peak hour traffic, so we were stuck on the freeway, after speaking to our mums and telling them the good news, we start high fiving in the car, we must of been great entertainment for the people in the car behind us! But we were just so thrilled to have 2 bladders and they have improved flow, that we couldn’t contain our excitement. There was even big hugs and kisses for Aunty Lorna, when we got back home! But needless to say that the defence started and we were in for a fun day Saturday.

The lunch that we had on Friday before the scan, I had a craving for fish and chips and Rohan wanted that too, so we went to the café that we always go to and as soon as we got it, it tasted funny. At first I thought it was the sauce that came with it, but nope it wasn’t. I think that I could now relax and be less stressed once we got home, it attacked and Saturday morning, it was coming out of both ends (11-1 due to good defence). Rohan was bad as well, but he has an iron stomach, but he really looked after me and got me electrolytes and made sure I drank, but all I wanted to do was throw it back up again. At one point it was really bad, that it might be time that I go to the ED and get fluids pumped into me. 5 hours later, they couldn’t pin point the reason, and could find that it was virus of some sort, so it may have been the fish. The babies were fine throughout all of this, a midwife came and saw us before we were seem by a doctor and the heartbeats were pumping along fine. This just put a damper on everything, because the Dr said that if I wasn’t better tomorrow to come back in, and I won’t be going home at all. In my mind, I was going home and nothing else to it. Needless to say, that I woke up the next morning, and I was fine, Rohan feed me some toast when I got home that night and I ate another two bits for brekkie, so I think it had passed.

So now, I am home and trying to get back into the way of life in Kalgoorlie. Still trying to get a way to start working from home, but have to start getting the office organised and not being able to do much doesn’t help the matter much. Rohan has been awesome and I cannot ask for a better man to be with and be these ninja’s daddy!

Til next time, hopefully we can score high and aim for another grown spurt that only happens on the inside and not my outsides :o)

Love Bobbi-Jo, Rohan and the Fighting Ninjas!

Xoxoxoxo

Photo of me at 20 weeks

Fourth Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 24th November 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

19 Weeks

So another week has passed and now finally back to work, which has filled in the time a lot and made the days go pass a bit more quickly than last week. Have been missing Rohan a lot as well, as he been back in Kalgoorlie so he can continue on with work as well. Both our work places have been very supportive towards this and we cannot be thankful enough.

Rohan has just left to go back to Kalg after his overnight drive here on Thursday night. So this left us both very tired for Friday and for the scan appointment at 4pm. Now that I can drive I got to drove everywhere whilst Rohan slept. We are now flying him up and back from now on. May be a bit more money but at least then, my stress worries will be less and he won’t be so tired when he gets here. Thankfully Virgin has cheap flights, so we can bypass Qantas.

Well the scan was …. well a bit disappointing in all aspects you can say for both us and the Prof. Both twins looks like they haven’t grown, the bladders haven’t improved and now the dopplers are not overall good for both babies now and not just Twin 2. The prof was hoping for a bit more of an improvement in all of them but it’s not to be. We have another scan now at 3pm on Friday, and if there is still no change or improvement then we will be given options that we will need to take. They didn’t really go too much into it, which is now playing on my mind, but I just need to start being positive about it all, and just get through this week. You sometimes just can’t help feeling helpless. But also just can’t think too much into it until we have all the facts and what these options are.

With this week, I’m going to try and rest a bit more in the afternoon. Aunty Lorna has been at me all the time to do it, so I think I might listen to her a little bit more. It’s pretty hard to become the slob that you usually are at home and have to do it at someone else’s house. But I think I will try my hardest at it. :o)

Well this one is a pretty short and sweet update, with not much news it is hard to put a lot in. I will give you an update next week, but hopefully I will be allowed to go home and just travel up and back each time. I’m very much missing home, the dogs, the folks, and my friends. I did mention Rohan in that didn’t I? Well him too!

Our love and kisses to everyone and thank you for all your support and positive texts, emails and phone calls. They have been great!

Love Bobbi-Jo, Rohan and the Fighting Ninjas!

xoxoxoxo

Third Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 16th November 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

18 Weeks

So all nicely and moved in with Aunty Lorna and getting waited on hand and foot. I feel so useless. I still think I am over doing it in some spots and I get pretty sore in the belly at times and very very exhausted. So glad she has a pool for this weekend! It was really hot yesterday waiting around to go to the hospital.

Rohan was happy to be here as well and did some odd jobs for Aunty Lorna around the paddocks. But at least he wasn’t going insane, and he always timed it so he did the jobs when Aunty Lorna was going out, so she didn’t help. I think he was very sneaky in that aspect.

Well I guess everyone is just telling me to get on with the news and stop stalling, and I will right now for you! Plus it must be a good sign when even your doctor can not even notice the difference between the two anymore and have to go by the cords and were they are attached, but WE HAVE TWO BLADDERS!!! In Twin 1, it has reduced which is great, Prof couldn’t see it when she was scanning for but as she kept on going back to it, it was filling up and she was happy at the size. Twin 2 it was tiny but one was there and all the thoughts of bladders really must have made a difference. (Thanks everyone!)

So they roughly weigh around 200 grams each, which when going shopping afterwards it about a block of chocolate, there is also around 2cm of fluid around them, which means they are both producing fluid. Also their little tiny heart beats and beating at a good 150 to 140 beats per minute, which is great also! So in regards to the babies and their development, we are all happy with that.

Now for the not so good news, Twin 2 dopplers or the blood flow from the placenta to it, aren’t that good at all. Which weren’t good from the start either, and this now something that is going to be monitored each week. When Rohan asked about what happens in regards to this and the outcomes, Prof Jan couldn’t really give us an answer, she shrugged and said, that we may lose Twin 2, we may not. She also said that she has also seen this kind of dopplers and the baby has survived and she has also seen dopplers that are fantastic and the baby has died. So they are no actual answer that can be given for this and she didn’t give us any percentages as well. But if Twin 2 does die, we will still end up with one baby regardless due to the laser surgery has now saved Twin 1 from contracting any of the toxins from Twin 2. You could say that we are fine with this news, there were no tears this time, but from what we can see at the moment, these two are fighters and we (hopefully) will have two babies in the end. We only need to get to 26 weeks with them, for them to be safely delivered, if you can say that.

One thing that did shocked us, was the Prof also said that the Senior sonographer that picked this up from the start in Kalg was also very shocked that the babies were still alive when we got down to Perth for the original scan. This is just proof in the belly, that these two are fighters and want to come into this world together. But we just have to keep our fingers crossed and toes and legs and arms and anything else that can be crossed that every week that we have a scan; we have two little heads, four arms and legs, two strong hearts, two growing bladders, more centimetres of fluid and a lot of movement in between.

So now Rohan has gone back home to Kalg, as the dogs have been a bit of a so and so’s and keeping the neighbours up at night. They must be missing us. Plus to get the backyard in order so he doesn’t have to do it after work. He starts work on Monday and I do as well here in Perth. We are going to miss each other very much so over this time, but just a phone call away.

So that is all from this update, the next scan is on Friday at 4pm so I will do another one again on Saturday after we have processed all the information and collate it all together.

Thank you all again for the thoughts and well wishes!

Lots of Love Bobbi-Jo, Rohan and the Ninjas

Xoxoxoxo

Second Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 12th November 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

aka The Ninja Turtles Jelly and Bean

First of all we would like to thank all of you for your love and support from the first update. We were very overwhelmed with all the words of encouragement and positive thoughts that were coming our way. I am now out of hospital and ready to start the next month here in Perth until we get the OK to come home again. So here is how everything went.

The day of the surgery seems like a bit of daze, it was a very long day but we got to actually talk to Prof Dickinson and she done the scan as well. She is a very lovely lady and was more positive than Doctor was last week. She was also lovely with the babies as well. As soon as the scan doppler was over them, they started to move around and not allow her to take measurements, she started to talk to them and shh them to try and get them to settle down. It was so funny to see, but it didn’t work. It might be a sign for the future I think. The only downfall she had for the surgery was that I was still too early for this to be done but it needed to be done. We were too far advance to leave it any further. The best part of that morning was seeing mum seeing her grandchildren on the big screen and seeing the little heartbeat. It made my day.

So after bloods and a bit of a wait in the waiting room we were off to be admitted to the isolation chamber in Ward 6. (It really was) So after getting ready for the surgery, it was off I go to the theatre room to go get these babies sorted out. I had a lot of people’s faces in my face and a lot of names coming at me, but they were all really nice and calming, which surprisingly I felt that anyway. I was all prepped and on the table, they gave me a sedative that worked but wasn’t strong so I wouldn’t be going into a deep sleep but I wouldn’t feel a thing and it wouldn’t hurt the babies. But I would also hear everything that was going on and could talk to them if I wanted to. All I could feel was a slight tugging on the skin from where the scope went through, until the Doctor got a hold the scope right at the end and was a bit rough, but I think the painkillers were a bit wearing off. Listening to the Prof find all the blood vessels and then say ‘yep’ and then buzz of the laser, it was like ‘that is in me and I can’t feel anything’ I think at one stage I heard her say ‘ohhoo’ and I felt like saying ‘what have you done!’ but I think it was all fine in the end as it was just a branch of a blood vessel. They also drained 500ml of fluid from around Twin 1 to allow for some room for both of them to grow and generate more fluid for themselves. I must have also dozed off because one of the drug doctors told me to start breathing. I was l like ok, I will, I thought I was but I will. The surgery itself went really well apparently, Prof Dickinson could not be happier with it. Plus it only went for an hour and not a couple, so that was a plus side. The best thing was I got to see Twin 1 in the flesh, I got to see its beautiful face, its tiny arms and little belly and legs, and also got to see what we are having. But sorry we aren’t telling.

I think Rohan and mum enjoyed me being back, for the entertainment value and the amount of food I ate after the surgery. 1 mixed sandwiches, someone’s dinner that was discharged, and for the breakfast order, I ordered everything I could on that list. I was so hungry. Who in their right mind would ask a pregnant lady, with twins, to not eat after 6:30am, all day and be fine with it? Plus having my two escorts eating and drinking in front of me wasn’t very nice at all, but it was a laugh and took our mind off things. Rohan and mum also got to see the photos of the little bub and found out what they are also, but they are also not telling. But the photos were for the folder and we were not allowed to have copies of it, but I will keep on asking for them and try and get it so I can show everyone.

The next day, I was surprisingly not sore at all, I didn’t really have a good night in the sleep department, due to hourly obs and having to go to the toilet all the time. But had no pain and we had a scan the next day and it was great for Dad to be there to see them for the first time too. The scan was done by Doctor and he told us that there was now 3cm of fluid around Twin 1 (down from 10cm) and 1.8cm of fluid around Twin 2 (up over a centimetre (YAY!)) He also could see the bladder in Twin 2, was also a plus! He was happy with the results and that I would be having a scan with Prof Dickinson Monday or Tuesday to see how they are progressing then. So that was great news and to celebrate we allowed Rohan and Dad to go to the 4wd show in the city. Mainly to get them out of the hospital and not think about what was going on, for Rohan’s sack. They came back a couple of hours later with big smiles on their faces and really black dirty feet. Mum and I just did a crossword puzzle and had a laugh or two like we always do.

On Sunday we got a surprise and told that we were going to have a scan with Prof Dickinson. Which was good timing really, I was starting to have a bit a pain that didn’t feel like them kicking and a bit constant after I got to go for a walk to the café and back again. The Prof was still really happy with the surgery and once giving the bubs a look over, she couldn’t see the bladder in Twin 2 at all. Plus she doesn’t really know what Doctor saw, so that didn’t help. Going by what she saw that there was still no improvement with Twin 2 (or the little cutie she called it) and the membrane was still up against leg and body. She didn’t do a measurement of the fluid so we are not sure what they were this time around. She also thinks that they may have drained a little bit too much fluid from Twin 1, as they were both tightly up against each other with not much room. You have to be so glad that they are so flexible; it didn’t look comfy in there for Twin 2 at all. Legs straight out flat with the head tucked up against the cord on the chest, I know I would be sore if I stayed like that. So our goal now is for Twin 2 to get more fluid and a bladder. Prof couldn’t really tell me on how I can help that along, but just keep on talking to it and telling it to grow a bladder by Friday when we have our next scan at 3pm.

Due to the pains that I was having, I stayed one more night in the isolation chamber and finally got released to the fresh air and warm sun and stayed the night at Paul’s. Today we are off to Aunty Lorna’s, so that Rohan doesn’t go mad from all the sitting around and end up driving back to Kalg. Plus we know he can help out Aunty Lorna with things and keep him busy. I have now been put on unfit for work until the babies are delivered due to the ‘high risk’, so it is a good thing that I work in an office. Just need to figure out the details of this with work, but that will happen once I am back home in Kalg. Rohan seems to think I have already started with this unfit part due to not being able to lift anything due to having a hole in my belly as well as the placenta, and having to be on bed rest. Oh well there goes the housework!!! Just joking Rohan, I can sweep a floor. :o) ( hehe and cook me dinner – Love Rohan x)

Well, I think that is everything that happened over the weekend, we will give you another update from the scan on Friday and how it all goes. All we ask for this time is to think Bladders and hopefully this little one will hear us and grow one! In the mean time I will continue drinking 2 litres of water a day. :o)

Lots of love and kisses and bladders

Bobbi-Jo, Rohan and the Ninja’s

Xoxoxoxoxo

First Update – Wise/Williams Twins – 3rd November 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

These are the emails we sent to all our family and friends on our journey.

So for everyone that is wondering how the appointment went on Friday or that didn’t know that we were down in Perth, we thought we would write this so everyone know what we know and there is not telling one person this and other something else.

So a bit of background. These twins are more of a freak of nature then genetics, or my eggs are just over achievers and knew we really wanted twins. :o) So the twins are what you call MO/DI, in the medical term Monochorionic or identical twins sharing one choria and placenta. For me it just means they are sharing a placenta and they are also Diamniotic which means they have a membrane between them so they don’t share the fluid that surrounds them and also without this membrane there would have been more complications throughout this birth.

So a couple of weeks ago, no one in Kalgoorlie could find this membrane between the two babies and from that we were told that there is a 5% chance of us having the babies in Kalg as the possibility of them being born to full term (36 -38 week) was not even in the picture, this put us on to the ‘High Risk Pregnancy’ range which to date we still are. We would have probably be put on bed rest at 30 weeks in hospital in Perth, until they are born at either 32 weeks or when ever a complication would of came up. They also would have injected me with something to help develop their lungs to increase their risk of surviving. But after seeing Dr McCullam, he referred me to a senior sonographer that comes from King Edward to Kalg once a month, to see if she could find the membrane. Alas after an hour and a half and two different types of scans, we found one and it was wrapped up against Twin 2 head. She could also tell that we were going to be in for a bumpy ride as from scan, there was not enough fluid around the Twin 2 and a heap of fluid around Twin 1. She also couldn’t find Twin 2’s bladder as it peed just as she was taking the measurements (she called it a little so and so for that – they were cheeky monkeys the whole time) So without the fluid and seeing the bladder she has told us that the babies have developed a complication called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome or TTTS. So she rung her bosses at King Edward and got us an appointment that next week for a scan and a possibility of laser surgery the day after. We were off to Perth!

So what is TTTS – it is a very complex problem that affects around 15% of mono type of twin pregnancies. It can appear at any time throughout and ours is a bit different as it has occurred so early in the pregnancy (around 13 weeks) where it is usually picked up around 16-26 weeks. It means that we have a donor twin (Twin 2) and a recipient twin (Twin 1), where Twin 2 is pumping the blood for itself but for also the other, and while doing that it is using all that energy in that process instead of looking after itself and using that energy to grow itself. It is also trying to create fluid to be around it but due to the lack of growing, it’s bladder is too small to allow it to create the fluid that is needed. Without this blood supply and fluid around the twin 2, it is at a very high risk of dying due to lack of blood or may be born and have a blood transfusion due to being anemia (lack of blood).

So because Twin 1 is receiving all of the blood and nutrients from Twin 2 it is doing too much growing because of it. This is also causing it to pee to much and therefore creating too much fluid. All of this extra work is also very dangerous for the baby as the fluid may end up in the baby and around the heart, which may cause heart failure.

If one of the twins dies whilst inside of me, its not a good story for the other twin as the blood will still be coming from that twin and may be toxic and may die, or it will be born and then have complications of either having heart or brain damage.

Now sorry to scare you all with that information, but it is what we are dealt with and we want have this information correct for everyone. Now the Twins are not the cause of this TTTS – it is the placenta that is naughty and causing this.

So when we got to Perth (after a slight delay – due to the doctor we were meant to see was hit by a car the day before, so they had to rearrange us to the Friday, which meant we didn’t know if the laser surgery could be done or not the next day) We saw the Doctor and also Prof Jan Dickenson (who didn’t talk to us) and they done a scan. Doctor was a nice guy and asked us what we knew so far. So apart from what we have been told, it was that we may have TTTS and we were there at King Edward to get a confirmation on this. After a long time looking at the twins, (Doctor was funny as it was like he was playing a video game and turning his head to see around corners and zooming in, he was getting closer to the screen.) we have found that Twin 1 is around 138grams and Twin 2 is around 113 grams. Now this may not seem a lot to us in the outside world but that difference in weight to the docs – it is a big deal. They also spent a little bit of time talking to themselves and what we presume was checking out the blood flow. They didn’t talk much about that bit to us so we are not too sure what the norm is or anything. After they had their little chat we were then told what we didn’t really want to hear. That the TTTS was at Stage 3, this is more than we thought.

There are five stages of TTTS –

Stage 1: no/little fluid around one Twin (Twin1 had over 10cm of fluid [the norm is under 8cm] Twin2 has only 1cm and that was near his belly/or head).

Stage 2: An empty bladder on donor twin – well Doctor never said he found one and from the scan in Kalg – she just had one so from that we thought we only had Stage 1

Stage 3: Abnormal blood flows in umbilical cord of either Twin – well we must have that with the donor twin as they were on that area a long time, but never told us anything about it.

Stage 4: Hydrops (Heart Failure) in recipient Twin – not there yet

Stage 5: Death of either Twin – not there either yet

So this was a shock to both of us, and from that, we really need the laser surgery, and being Stage 3, this is the last stage and is critical that we have the surgery. But after the surgery, they will need to do weekly scans on me to check the progress of the twins and that means I/we have to stay in Perth for that time. But they wanted me and the twins to be another week along before they can do anything so the laser surgery is booked in for Friday at 2pm. With having a scan at 8:30 before being admitted. So a little about the laser surgery

The laser surgery is called Fetal Laser Surgery, which is a fairly new treatment (10 years or so) and King Edward is the only place that does this type of procedure in WA. What they do is under a small amount of sedation (I have to be awake for this procedure – so some people remember it some people don’t, but I won’t feel a thing) they will pass a small telescope through my belly into the placenta and they then source all of the blood vessels that connect the twins on the surface of the placenta. Once they have found these, they then laser the vessels off so that they are not connected anymore and stop the process of TTTS. I will also get to see my babies in the flesh, I’m hoping for photos to show everyone.

Now like all surgeries there are complications to me and the babies. For me, bleeding around or in the placenta, and/or infection. For the babies, breakage of the membrane, disabilities of the twins or either death of one or both twins. Now if one twin does die the other is protected so that is one positive. Also the week after the surgery, with the changes of blood supply there is a chance of fetal death in one or both babies. The percentages of all this are, there is a 75% chance of just having one baby in the end, 25% chance of having both and they can not guarantee that there wont be complications and/or one will have a disability. But they are going to try their hardest to deliver us some healthy babies at 36 weeks. If worse comes to worse, they will be delivered at 26 weeks and will be in hospital for a very very long time. There were pictures on the wall while we were waiting of twins that were born at 26weeks and were in hospital for a while but they survived. They were tiny but they survived. That gives us hope.

Can you believe that one of the midwives told us before the scan that we were the 10th mo/di set of twins they saw that day, and Doctor said that we were the 5^th with TTTS but we were the worst so far. I felt sorry for the next lot of family coming in for a scan after us as I was balling my eyes out in the room and coming out of the room after getting this information. But everyone at King Eddy are lovely and sympathetic towards us in regards to this. I think we broke down like that due to holding it all in and only really seeing the positives of everything. For instance, they found a membrane! We were happy about that. Also, we thought we only had stage 1 of TTTS, but finding out we had another two stages on top of that was a shock, and Doctor didn’t really hold back in regards to the good and bad news, although it was mainly bad in our eyes.

All we have to figure out now is where to stay and how Rohan and I are going to be together for the scans each week and also work. We think that both our work will be accommodation for us. It is mainly though we have both just started our jobs in the last 6 months or so and things are really quiet here. I think I will be fine as my work has a workshop in Perth so I can either work from there or work from where ever I stay. (So hence getting everyone’s email address’ as I will have my laptop with me) The other is Rohan, and although he may have a week up his sleeve in holidays, we need to service his car (which he can do) to get it from Kal and back each weekend. Also try and arrange to have the scans done on a Friday so that we can both be together for the scans and we both can ask questions.

So the accommodation side of things is where to stay, and I know most of you will offer and thank you for that. But before and after the surgery we will stay with Paul only due to being closer to the hospital if anything does go wrong we aren’t that far away and once we are out of the woods, I will stay with Aunty Lorna as it is closer to the Perth workshop for work and if I need to have a cry, I know I can. :o)

So I think that is all we can think of and if there is anything else I will write another ‘essay’ to explain everything. This has been a therapeutic way for me to get my emotions out and stop me from bottling up everything inside, so I hope you don’t mind reading these sorts of things.

All we ask for now is not to worry for us and the bubs, I think between Rohan and I and our families, we are doing enough of that. All we ask for is your positive thoughts and wishes and be amazed at the sorts of things the doctors can do to make sure these babies are in our arms next year.

Love to you all, Bobbi-Jo and Rohan xoxoxox

PS If someone has missed getting this, please send it to them and let me know their email address so that I can keep them updated when we can.

Twin 2

Twin 1

OMG It’s Twins – 3rd September 2013

Posted on September 22, 2014 by bjwilliams2014

On the 3rd of September 2013, would be by far the most surprising, exciting, horrifying and shocking day of our lives. It is the day that we found out that we were having twins. These little muchkins are our first and so while getting the ultra sound done and not really knowing what we were looking at it, I though it was a great move, that the sonographer was doing a very thorough job in double checking all the measurement and making sure that it is our tiny human being and it is alive and kicking. Rohan, on the other hand was thinking along the lines that there is two in there, but forgot to tell me.

The sonographer then paused the screen with this picture on there and said “say hello to your twins”. I had to repeat that back to him, “Twins?!?!” “yes, Twins you are having two babies and they are about 7 weeks along”. OMG now this was a shock, we left the hospital, looking dazed and talking bout that is double of everything, double the clothes, nappies, pram, car seats, OMG!!!

First thing we had to do was arrange the OB here and then tell our parents. With Rohan’s parents, we texted them to say that everything is fine and the heartbeatS are strong. They didn’t pick it up at first but after a couple more text they did finally pick it up and called us while we were at my folks. With my parents, it was great to show them our first family shots. They weren’t too sure at what they were looking at and could only see one, even though there is 1 and 2 on the picture. We kept on having to tell them that look again and have a good look at it. Well, they were over the moon, mum was onto getting prams straight away and Dad got Rohan onto the Blue label scotch. I had to settle for water, but that was ok.

The one thing that you can see on the ultrasound picture is that the babies look like baby turtles. So with this we nicknamed them the Turtles. At least it was something different to bean or peanut. They were our turtles.

It probably took 2 weeks for me to get over the shock of the whole having twins, two babies, duo, having to push out two babies, OMG!!! but after friends of ours found out that we were and Sam had the same reaction as I did, it then seemed fine and an exciting time for us.

So over then next couple of week, we kept tight lip on telling everyone, My dad was still celebrating and telling everyone “not 1 but 2” as well as doing the fingers to it, and no one had a clue on what he was talking about. We wanted to keep it all a secret until I told my brother on his 30th Birthday bash in Melbourne. We spent an extra week in Vic to stay with Rohan’s parents and when we got home, this pregnancy will become the biggest and toughest test of our lives/relationships.