Update

Babies and I have been doing well. The past couple of days I've been working a few less hours at work and though I'm still uncomfortable in the evenings, I'm not as exhausted and emotional and in tons of pain like I had been.

This week I feel so uncomfortable - mostly in my stomach. I'm not sure if it's because I'm sitting all day instead of laying down and I'm not getting to stretch out...or if it's growing pains. I hope it's just a phase and that in a few days I'll have a period of relief. Last night I really felt like they both just had their hands and feet pushing outwards against my stomach. It was so uncomfortable and I felt like I could pop. Not sure what was really going on.

The new excitement is that I feel the babies moving. Over the past few days especially I can feel them moving inside and sometimes it feels like they bump or push against the inside of my stomach. It is such a cool and sort of weird feeling but it's a way of knowing they're moving and growing. It'll be fun to see how active they are next Friday at the sonogram.

The nursery furniture came in and Eric and his dad and Danny picked it up from Babies R Us last weekend...too bad 1/2 of it was damaged!! Luckily we have lots of time and they actually called yesterday to say the new pieces are in so Eric just has to head back up there to pick it up.

We're deciding...and not necessarily agreeing...on the bedding and decor of the nursery. I don't want it really girly!!! And Eric doesn't want it too boyish. Neutral is neutral...not boyish! We'll decide soon and get the room painted and the furniture in the right room instead of every other room in the house!!!

Lots of fun exciting stuff for us. It's been stressful b/c I don't have the time to get much done this time of year, but it's been so fun and I feel much relief everytime we get something checked off our list...my list:) I'm an obsessive list maker!! But it helps keep my mind sane.

18 weeks

These pictures are from Monday at 18 weeks.





These past few weeks have been a little rough. Something hurts constantly...whether it's my hips, back or my stomach. Lately it's especially my stomach. It's like I can feel my belly and organs stretching as they're growing and it does not feel good.


I have still been working alot which is not helping. I am sooo tired when I get home which makes me even more sore...and cranky! Yesterday I was working with 3 guys who were cracking each other up all afternoon and I found them extremely annoying and I couldn't hide my feelings. Starting next week I am planning to cut back at work and see if I feel a little better. This can't be good for any of us and I really don't care about how I feel except it really makes me worry about the babies.


I cannot believe we are at the halfway point...maybe even beyond (assuming I don't go until 40 weeks)! The weeks are really flying by still, I think the busyness at work can be credited with that. Two weeks from today I have my next doctor's appointment and sonogram and can't wait to see the girls again and hear heartbeats.


I did go to the dentist this week and was expecting to have a cavity or two from the middle of the night eating I was doing during the first trimester...and this may sound gross, but I hate brushing my teeth THOUGH I STILL DO IT REGULARLY though just not as religiously as before b/c the toothpaste tastes awful to me now and leaves a gross taste in my mouth...but thankfully and surprisingly no cavities and he said my teeth were very clean! Little surprises make my day these days.


I thankfully don't have any weird cravings or obsessions with foods and most all of the strong food aversions I had during the first 15 or 16 weeks seem to be gone. I LOVE vegetables again and feel so much better about what I'm eating and feeding to the girls these days. I'm also happy to say that the extreme hunger that was waking me up in the middle of the night during the first trimester is gone!! I haven't been waking up in the middle of the night lately to pee either and it is WONDERFUL!! I know it won't last but I'm grateful now.


One fun thing I forgot to say on the last blog is that the doctor said there is a chance the girls could be identical. It's more likely they're fraternal b/c of how rare identical twins are but there is still a possibility. I had thought that because they are in two separate sacs that that would mean they are fraternal but that is not necessarily the case. We won't know until after they are born but will be fun to find out.


Fun weekend planned...Andrew, Emily and Lucas are in town for a visit so can't wait to see them and spend time with them and the family this weekend.

Daddy's instincts already kicking in

So we had our appointment on Friday morning and they were able to tell us the babies' genders...we are having 2 girls!! Just as Eric suspected.

I was so surprised - I definitely felt like it was two boys or maybe one of each....never thought it'd be two girls b/c all I've ever been around is brothers and boys! I always just thought I'd be a mom of boys. We are super excited and now we can plan the nursery, pick names, talk to the babies like they're girls (b/c I've been picturing boys in my head when I talk to them)...so much fun. I'm especially excited for the girls b/c I didn't have a sister growing up and missed that so I'm happy they'll have each other.

My hematoma has shrunk which was the other great news of the day. It's still there, but heading in the right direction. Dr. Scutella said he thinks it will continue to shrink and doesn't feel like it should be a problem in the future (other than maybe a little more spotting). I was relieved b/c I thought the awful cough that I had for a week had squished the babies with all of the ab squeezing or maybe done something negative to the hematoma but it had no effect on either.

He cleared me to walk on the treadmill again which I'm excited about. I don't plan on breaking any records but it will be nice to get up and get moving again!

I have another appointment and another sonogram in 4 weeks so we have that to look forward to. Eric will actually be in Vegas with his dad and brother so my mom is going to come with me - I'm excited about it, I think she'll love seeing the sonogram happen and hearing the heartbeats.

I'll have to post the sonogram pictures soon - in one of the pictures the baby's thumb is sticking up in the air and I think she's going to have a Kensinger thumb!! If you're not familiar with that, you'll have to see Eric's thumb sometime - he's pleased about it since the girls won't carry on his last name he's glad they'll carry on his family's thumb! Too cute.

16 week belly pic

Here we are at 16 weeks. Still growing!



We've been doing well. Working a little less has made a big difference in how I feel. I've got an awful cough that started this weekend which is in my chest but hurts my stomach when I cough. I've been banned from all exercise and am not supposed to do anything that engages my stomach so I can't imagine all this coughing and tightening of my abs is helping the whole situation but we'll see on Friday. Hopefully it doesn't turn into another round of bronchitis and a cracked rib b/c my rib is finally feeling healed and I'm worried if it's going to be 100% before babies are kicking it.

Over this week the babies' ears are continuing to develop and they are able to start hearing our voices so the expectant mom's websites say to start talking, singing and reading to them which will help them recognize our voices when they're born. It's been so fun talking to them, they're little people (the size of avocados!) and I love telling them what we're doing, where we're going or what we're eating!! I've been teasing Eric that they're going to know my voice and the NBA announcers' voice b/c he has the Cavs games on like 4 nights a week!

Eric has made other sleeping arrangements for himself b/c he can't get any sleep in our bed. I guess I moan all night - and I know I do, b/c I wake myself up doing it sometimes. I thought it was happening all this time because I was feeling so sick all day and night but apparently even though I'm feeling better I still do it. So Barkley and I cuddle at night for now and hopefully eventually I'll stop moaning and Eric can get sleep with us again.

I think it'd be fun to hear what everyone thinks we're having - two boys, two girls or one of each. If you have time to email or leave a comment about what you think, I'd enjoy reading it. I think it's two boys and Eric thinks it's two girls. Our appointment is at 7:00 a.m. on Friday so we'll know pretty early...if we are even able to find out.

Well, I'm off to bed. I'm working in Meadville starting tomorrow and it's very early mornings and longer days. Looking forward to the weekend!