Quick update

I finished week 27 yesterday. I can't believe I'm in my 3rd trimester already! It is going by fast though on my miserable days I wish it'd go faster.

I haven't had any problems over the last few weeks and it's been a very worry free period of time for me - it's been great. I do have back and hip pain and feel like I'm 100 years old with the way I ache and how uncomfortable I feel. The most annoying thing as of late is that often I have to get up slowly and walk around so slowly because if I move too quickly there is risk of me peeing myself! When people tell me I'm waddling or ask why I'm getting up so slowly, I blame my back and hips which is true...but not 100% of the story:)

Busy season is officially over and it feels great!! I'm going to be working 30 hours a week from now on and have my Saturdays back to do some preparing for baby. Work is just as busy for me every second I'm there since I'm still trying to get 40 hours of work done in 30 hours but it's just a good feeling to get past April 15th.

This past Saturday Eric's mom had a baby shower for me at Nunzi's. It was so nice, the food (breakfast - yummy) was fabulous and everyone gave such generous gifts to us for the girls. I have some pictures I'll post in the next few days so you can see some of what we got. I love having baby stuff in the house now and I keep looking through everything over and over again.

My biggest craving still is fruit....especially oranges, pinapple and grapes. I bought a fresh pineapple and I cut it when it was ripe and I think Eric was too slow to get any of it b/c I ate it so quickly. It hit the spot. Peanut butter is still the love of my life - Barkley and I have some together every morning.

Eric has the nursery finished - painted, furniture arranged and some other new updates made. It was starting to stress me out b/c I wanted it done well in advance of the shower and he was dead set on doing it in his own time:) But it's done now and he did a great job.

My next sonogram is Friday - as always, I'm looking forward to it and am hopeful the girls are growing well and that they're facing forward so we can see their faces this time.

So much for a quick update! It's late and I'm rambling...I'll post pics soon.

25 week picture

This is us on Easter when I was finishing up week 25. Likely our last holiday without babies!! Actually, we shouldn't have them by Memorial Day so this is our last major holiday just the two of us.

My sonogram and appointment on last Friday went pretty good. Lots of good news. The hematoma is gone...and BABY B was head down!!! I am really excited that both babies are in the right position but know there is still time for them to move. My fingers are crossed they just stay put.

The annoying part was that both babies were facing toward the back so we didn't get to see their little faces at all. I wanted to see them so bad but will have to wait until next time. There really are no good pictures to share this time so I'll wait and post from my next sonogram - they scheduled it in 3 weeks this time instead of 4 so we won't have to wait as long. Grammy K is coming with me this time so hopefully the girls show up and show their faces.

The doctors appointment went okay too. She said the babies are measuring small so they're going to monitor their growth closely - which I think they do anyways. Hopefully they catch up soon. I had a few days a week or two ago when I really felt hungry but that's gone again. I don't feel hungry too often, I usually eat because something sounds good, because I know I need to, or because I'm trying to make myself thirsty so I can chug water. I'm gaining weight so hopefully it's going straight to them.

I've had a few dizzy spells again - last weekend in Walmart Eric had to come pick me up b/c my ears plugged and I couldn't see and I felt like I was blacking out. The walmart employee got me a chair and some juice and I sat for a half hour or so and felt better. I think my blood sugar might just have been low b/c the juice seemed to help.

At my next doctor's appointment, which is a few days after my sonogram appointment, I have to drink the orange liquid stuff and they'll screen for gestational diabetes.

Eric finished painting the girls' room and he's starting to set the cribs up now. The bedding is being made by a woman at my mom's church and she's gotten quite a bit of it done. I got to preview the bed skirts today and they look so great. It's just what I wanted. So exciting to be close enough now that we are getting ready for their arrival!

It's been awhile

Here is my latest belly shot, it was from this past Sunday when we were finishing week 24.




We have a doctor's appointment and sonogram tomorrow morning so I'll post some new pictures of the girls, hopefully this weekend. I'm excited as always to see how they are, how big they are, and what position they're in. I'm hopeful that Baby B has flipped around and is head down but we might go and find out Baby A is flipped and they're both in the wrong position.

I've been feeling so much movement from them, I think they're wild. I feel it in different spots than before which increases my hopefulness that it's because they've changed positions. It could very well be that they've grown and their arms and legs just are stretching further. Over the past few days, above my belly button, something bony like an elbow or heel is pressing out. It's not sticking out constantly but when she's moving it moves across my stomach and we can trace the movement with our hand and press against it. Pretty cool but pretty painful sometimes.

I went to the doctors again last week for a slight problem which ended up being fine - but while there she told me I should be drinking 80 - 96 ounces of water a day to avoid the cramping and tightness in my stomach. It's an insane amount and I definitely hadn't been drinking that much. So last week I was chugging water and getting close to 70 ounces...and making close to 70 trips to the bathroom, but I was feeling better. And it definitely makes a difference in how I feel b/c this week I just can't get the water down like I did last week and the tightness and uncomfortableness is back. So I'm trying to drink more b/c i know how incredibly important it is.

It is so nice outside and it is killing me not to be able to go out and take a walk. I can't wait to be able to be active again. I do so much laying around on the couch in the dark (the curtains have to be closed or there's a glare on the tv!) and I really can't stand it. I really feel bad for people in poor health that can't get out, it's no fun.

My lunch time is up. Getting back to work now. My shorter work days are making such a big difference in how I feel and I only have two Saturdays left during busy season and then I'll have the entire weekend. By the time I get home I'm too tired to do anything but we have cupboards and closets that need cleaned out. I'll be able to get more done around the house when I'm working even less. Can't wait.

Happy Easter!!

Starting another week

I got online awhile ago to write an update, but instead have been watching my belly bump around while I'm laying down. They babies are really active right now and you can see my stomach move up and down where they're pushing or kicking. It's so fun to see and feel them.

Thursday night they were moving like crazy and so Eric came over to feel and they stopped! It happened two times that night while we were watching tv, I called him over and then he'd try to feel and nothing! He was getting annoyed but I thought it was funny. That night neither Eric or I could sleep and we ended up watching wheel of fortune in the middle of the night and they started moving then so he finally got to feel them again.

I've been so uncomfortable and in so much pain the past few weeks so Thursday I called my doctors office and they had me come in just for a check up. I saw a physician's assistant and she said she doesn't think it's contractions but more just skin and muscle stretching b/c the pain in my stomach is constant and doesn't come and go.

I was relieved to hear that - I had hoped that's all it was but since I really don't know what's normal and what's not I just felt better going in. My hips and back hurt constantly too which I know is common but the pain in my stomach was scaring me.

Eric and I went and picked out paint today!! He painted a little on the wall when we got home and I love it already. I'm so excited for it to be painted and the furniture set up.

We ran a few other errands after church and then came home and I fell right asleep! It's amazing how tired I get and how I can be doing nothing and be exhausted.

Speaking of tired, I'm ready for bed. Tomorrow we start week 24!! Mondays are extra hard to pull myself out of bed so I think I'm going to bed early.

Pictures

Here are a couple of the sonogram pictures from March 5th. This first one is a profile of Baby A and you can see Baby B's foot in her face.



This is a shot of Baby B in 3D


Aaagghhh...below is Baby A yawning and she looks like a dinosaur!

And this is a profile of Baby B with A's butt in her face. Poor girls already seem so cramped and things are only going to get tighter!!

This is my latest belly pic - we finish Week 22 today. We're laughing b/c Eric was making fun of my belly button. It's been starting to stick out for a few weeks now, but today it looks really weird...

March 5th doctor appointment

I haven't had a chance to log my thoughts from my doctors appointment and sonogram last Friday and if I wait much longer I'll forget what went on!

My mom went to the sonogram with me since Eric was out of town and it was so cool for her to see the babies and experience it all. It is amazing how much you can see - organs, facial features, movement, etc. The sonogram tech said the girls look great (we had a different tech this time who confirmed they are both girls!!), they're measuring right on (estimated 10 inches and 12 ounces) and they don't see any problems or issues. The hematoma is still hanging out with them, but it's gotten quite a bit smaller in the past 4 weeks and should continue to do so.

I'm slightly concerned b/c Baby B isn't head down and I know she still has time to turn around but the bigger she gets the less likely she'll flip over...and that would mean an automatic c-section. I cannot imagine trying to recover from a c-section while trying to care for 2 newborns and I am praying that she cooperates. I haven't lost all hope b/c I feel them moving SO much these days so I know there's still a chance for them to both be in the right position.

Eric got to feel them move for the first time right before he left for Vegas - he was pretty excited about it! He's felt them a few times since, now they are moving so much it's much easier to catch it. I feel it constantly. I feel it way more on my left side and I was worried about the baby on the right but they were both moving around like crazy during the appointment so there's nothing to worry about after all.

I did learn that I already can't keep them straight I guess. Baby A is on my lower right side and B is upper left...the tech said they've always been that way though I could swear I was told opposite?? I don't know, my memory is so bad so maybe I knew at one point in time but forgot. She showed me exactly where they're positioned so I know what and who I'm feeling when they move - pretty cool. So, what I feel the most is Baby B's feet kicking around - practicing her cheerleading jumps already:)

I saw a new doctor this appointment b/c they want you meet them all so that you're comfortable with whoever is on call when you deliver. I had a woman this time and I really liked her. I had mentioned to her that I have been having really uncomfortable tightness in my stomach especially at nights and that I think it's too much work not enough rest. She agreed and gave me a note for work that I should cut back to less than 40 hours. The partners at work were supercool about it and I can't believe how understanding and accomodating they have been to me. A huge relief.

Overall a good appointment, seemed like mostly good news. I just want the weeks to keep passing so that they keep growing and we get closer to full term. I try not to think about it all the time but can't help but pray pray pray that I can carry them until they are full term and healthy. I hear so much about twins born early or with problems and I try to tell myself that's not my story but it's hard not to worry about it, especially when I feel tightness in my stomach and I'm not sure if it's growing/stretching and normal or cramping and not normal.

We keep counting down the weeks and are getting more and more and more excited!!

20 WEEKS!!

Monday after finishing 20 weeks! The last 3 or 4 pictures that we've taken have been in gray pants and black shirt intentionally - the websites say I can compare my growth better by wearing the same outfit. But I did get bored so I changed it up - though I might need to retire this shirt soon, it doesn't look like it fits right anymore.

We're all doing good. I feel lots of movements often...I feel the most movement on my lower left side which normally is Baby A unless they've swapped spots. Maybe Baby B is a sleeper?? It'd be great if atleast one is a good sleeper. Eric hasn't gotten to feel them yet though he tries to feel every week when we're at church?? I guess that's the only time we really have where nothing is going on and we're actually next to each other...but soon they should be kicking hard and often enough that he can feel them.

We have been picking out bedding and baby gear and I'm getting so excited for these girls to arrive. It makes it so much more real picturing my girls swinging in the swing or wearing an outfit. I am trying not to wish away this time of being pregnant and really enjoying it all - and I am enjoying it and am patiently waiting for them. My excitement after every week that passes is mostly because it brings us closer and closer to very important weeks of growth, development and viability.

I am counting down the days until Friday when I have my sonogram and get to see the doctor. This sonogram is the longest one we'll have where they measure and inspect all the organs and count fingers and toes. I didn't do a great job of taking vitamins early on, especially enough for two babies seeing as to how I didn't know, and I'm worried they were lacking something they needed. Reassurance should come Friday.

I smell cookies baking...Eric's cravings are stronger than mine!! But I know he's making chocolate peanut butter cookies and since the girls already share my passion for chocolate and peanut butter I'm not going to deny them!!

Thanks for thinking of and praying for us.