Where do I even start?

How about with making an official announcement on our blog about my pregnancy? I'm pregnant! With twins!

I had posted this cute photo collage on Facebook to announce the McQuay twins coming in 2017.

But I thought I'd share this lovely outtake from that same photoshoot because I think it's hilarious and really shows James' enthusiasm at the thought of becoming a big brother.

I found out I was pregnant on July 11th and a few weeks later discovered I was pregnant with twins. Literally the first words out of my mouth after my doctor told me the news were, "But they don't run in my family." I was in shock. I still am, in fact. But with each ultrasound and doppler and kick and flip, these two little babies are more and more real to me. I still feel wholly unprepared for their arrival but I am excited to meet them. 

With my chronic condition of lupus and the twin pregnancy, I am automatically considered a high-risk pregnancy. That means extra visits and ultrasounds and perinatologists, in addition to my regular OB/GYN. Since it had been over almost two years since my last lupus flare, I figured this pregnancy would go pretty smoothly, especially considering my pregnancy with James was very normal with no complications. 

I have been wrong on the rare occasion and, unfortunately, I was wrong about this being an uncomplicated pregnancy.

In September, I noticed a weird red rash on my face that wouldn't go away. I had also been feeling incredibly tired and worn out which I just attributed to being in my first trimester and chasing a three year old everywhere every day. After one of my routine check ups with my OB/GYN, she sent me straight to the dermatology department to get my face checked out. Turns out I was in the midst of a lupus flare. Awesome.

In October, I was really starting to feel sick. I was exhausted, couldn't eat or drink, and kept getting fevers at night (for about a week). I went in for another routine check up with my OB/GYN and she sent me to Labor and Delivery to get hooked up to an IV so I could get some fluids in me. While there, I was poked and prodded and bruised from a million blood draws. I stayed in the hospital for five days and was released on a Monday evening. Then I got to go back in an ambulance that Wednesday after I passed out at my parents' house and slammed my face on their marble coffee table. I got to stay there for another couple nights and had more tests run. I got to go home after I promised I would do weekly blood draws and keep all of my follow up appointments (with a whole host of doctors- rheumatologist, hematologist, perinatologist, OB/GYN, dermatologist, and probably someone else I'm forgetting). 

Later in October, I was diagnosed with cholestasis. Because, why not? Sure, it usually only shows up in late pregnancy and not halfway through, like it did with me, but I'm special. Cholestasis is a condition where my bile acids build up in my bloodstream and cause intense itching all over my body.  It's terrible. And it never fully goes away until after delivery. No anti-itch creams can help because it's not a surface problem; it's in my blood, flowing throughout my body. Luckily, there are drugs I can take to help this condition. The itching isn't so bad now. Thank you for the drugs.

In November, I began to feel better. It was pretty uneventful. I had my appetite back. Thanksgiving was awesome.

Now we are in December. On Friday, I went in for a growth scan ultrasound. And both of my babies are measuring very small. The perinatologist sent me to Labor & Delivery that evening for further monitoring of the babies. Because of a deceleration in the heart rate of one of the twins during this monitoring, I got to have steroid injections and a stay overnight at the hospital. The steroids are to help with lung development in case of an early delivery. 

That's where we are now. I get to have weekly dopplers and growth scans every three weeks until these crazy babies make their debut. 

Several people have already asked me or Brenden, "So you're done having kids after this pregnancy, right?" I just smile and nod because my brain can't process the thought of going through another pregnancy like this right now. (Also, maybe it's just me but I don't really know how that question is helpful or productive in any way.)

I'll include a couple pictures now to prove I'm still living life.

Brenden's White Coat Ceremony- August 29th

My niece's birth- August 29th

Sofia Gariby

The Awesome Thanksgiving- November 24th 

Texas Renaissance Festival- November 26th