WhatsAPundit

I've seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It's like a dream come true
And when you smile for the camera
I know they're gonna love it

Meet Twins A and B:

Planning ahead

Boris Johnson, Telegraph newspaper online.

Since the emergence of our species, it has been a brutally sexist feature of romance that women on the whole — and I stress on the whole — will want to mate/procreate with men who are either on a par with themselves, or their superior, in socio-economic and intellectual attainment. A recent study shows that if a man's IQ rises by 16 points, his chances of marrying increase by 35 per cent; if a woman's IQ rises by 16 points, her chances of getting hitched decline by the same amount.

So why do I care if the relative numbers of men versus women entering college and getting advanced degrees has shifted strongly in favor of women?

So, Liz had to go in for an unscheduled visit to her obstetrician today.

She was cramping all night last night, and early this morning she started feeling sharp pains. None of this scared her much, but she also started to feel pressure, and that did.

I don't have a freaking clue what she means by pressure, but as I walked the dog she called the clinic and described what she felt, and they told her to come in.

I waited for her to get dressed and took the subway with her to the clinic, and have been a worried mess here at work all day, waiting for news.

News: The babies hearts sounded fine, but her cervix was a little softer than they liked. (What the hell is a soft cervix?) So they scheduled an ultrasound for the early afternoon, and the twins looked fine and Liz' plumbing looked fine. They took some blood and urine and will do tests (what the hell are they testing for?), and in the meantime told her to take Advil for the pain. She should get test results back tomorrow (if I recall correctly from the telephone conversation) but in the meantime they told her not to worry. She's on her way home now.

Me, I'm a wreck.

Session Start (whatsapundit:ashidome): Tue Feb 06 16:52:50 2007

whatsapundit: leafing in 5 minutes

whatsapundit: actually, leafing would be quite a story

whatsapundit: i meant "leaving"

ashidome: Okay

ashidome: I'm leaving shortly too

whatsapundit: need anything from Duanne Reade or the supermarket

whatsapundit: that isn't animal chow?

ashidome: No, not really

ashidome: What do you want for dinner

whatsapundit: unclear

whatsapundit: not feeling well, actually

whatsapundit: headachy, kind of a woooozy stomach

ashidome: Great

ashidome: Don't give it to me

whatsapundit: that's what i love, a sympathetic spouse

ashidome: Go home, we'll go to bed early

ashidome: I'm carring twins

whatsapundit: yes, i know

ashidome: I can't take medicine if I get sick

ashidome: You can

ashidome: I have to suffer through it

whatsapundit: well, it's not like I'm licking the handrails in the subway

ashidome: I wasn't saying you were sweetie

Starting last Sunday night and into Monday morning Liz started feeling sensations and pains that had her and me a little scared. She called the nurse at her clinic and they had her come in just to be safe.

Everything seems fine; best guess is the growing process is putting pressure on fibroids that she has, which doesn't bode well for a comfortable pregnancy. The took some blood and urine too. We won't hear back from those test until tomorrow, but Liz said that sounded like just a formality.

Anyway, as part of the checkup, they did the first 3-D ultrasounds, and confirmed that we have a little boy and a little girl.

What's that? Did you say you you wanted to see pictures?

No, not the TV show.

Liz had the 24th week ultrasounds today. Click below for neat pix (as usual, clicking the thumbnails will produce full-sized images):

Session Start (whatsapundit:ashidome): Wed Apr 25 10:25:02 2007

[11:47] ashidome: I need to go on bedrest

[11:47] whatsapundit: thought so

[11:47] whatsapundit: okay, what does that mean

[11:47] whatsapundit: hmmmm.

[11:47] ashidome: And come twice a week to check the babies

[11:47] ashidome: Still at the appointment

[11:47] whatsapundit: okay

[11:47] ashidome: Gotta go on disability for work

[11:48] whatsapundit: can you work from home?

[11:48] whatsapundit: or is this really "bedrest"

[11:48] whatsapundit: and not just rest

[11:49] ashidome: Its greatly decreased activity

[11:49] whatsapundit: okay

[11:49] ashidome: Watching tv

[11:49] ashidome: Lying in bed

[11:49] whatsapundit: knitting

[11:49] ashidome: Yeah

[11:49] whatsapundit: okay, we can do this

[11:49] ashidome: Some computer time but should be done in bed

[11:49] ashidome: I'm getting more details

[11:50] whatsapundit: we have the old laptop and a bedtray, that works

[11:50] whatsapundit: assuming you can sit up in bed

In a way, this news is a relief. I've been worried that Liz was trying to be Superwoman, and maybe this will allow her to accept some help / let go of some stuff.

The problem though is one of the twins isn't doing nearly as well as the other. Today's weigh-in has Hunter at 3 lb 12 oz, Aden at 2 lbs 5 oz.

Damn, my stomach hurts.

Good news: Aden gained a total of 14 ounces over the last 20 days, and his umbilical blood flows, while still a little stressed today, are acceptable, so the babies get to stay in the mom until Wednesday.

The details: Hunter weighs in at an (estimated) 5 pounds, 3 ounces, while Aden tips the virtual scales at 3 pounds, 3 ounces. Both are active and besides for Aden's noted issues, seem happy and healthy.

Taking Pictures.