32 weeks...

32 weeks today! YAY! Another week down. It is amazing to me that we have known we are pregnant with twins for 26 weeks now. It still seems like yesterday when we found out...and while it seems that some weeks would never pass on to the next week, for the most part, this pregnancy has gone quickly. I had my 17th progesterone shot today...3 more to go!!! We opened up our last packet today (they come in shipments of 4) and both my nurse and I were ecstatic.
I promised myself that I wouldn't complain about being pregnant...I take it as a blessing that I can get pregnant while I see so many friends and friends of friends struggle with that step...and I don't ever want to wish away a moment of this pregnancy for two reasons: this is it for us and I still feel the girls came too early and want to experience a lengthier pregnancy. That being said, the past week has been rough on the sleep...but, I guess it is just preparing me for the inevitable...sleepless nights, many sleepless nights. Not complaining...but just feeling a bit rough around the edges these days. But, it is all part of measuring term, right? I have the 9 month aches and pains because I have been measuring that way for a few weeks now! :) If you want evidence, please reference my newest pictures, taken last night.
One of Adam's coworkers just had a baby at 33 weeks. The baby and mom are doing well, but it really put things into perspective for him...that these babies could come at any point, and so now he has a fire under his you know what to finish up his Masters. I hope that fire stays put until he feels caught up! :) Logistically, he should be done with everything in 4 weeks, so if Delaney and Addison would give us that much time, it would be nice! The upside is he only has until June 9th with work, then he gets the summer off, so he should be able to get caught up quickly after that point as well!
The girls are doing well. Gretchen has been very ornery the last two days, but has been a big helper (she helps me with the laundry and the cleaning while Hadley hides in the corner). I told Adam that I am hoping this means that she is turning over a new leaf and leaving the Terrible Twos behind her...please!!! Hadley has named every baby doll she has Delaney or Addison and doesn't care about gender/name assignment. It is pretty cute!!! She already has a great mothering instinct!
Off to curl up on the couch and rest. I might even let my eyes close today...ah, enjoy the naptime now, right? :)
Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend...we have some funny pictures of the girls from this past weekend that I will try to post later today...

TGIF!

I really doubted that Friday would come this week! Wow...it has been a crazy week! Adam has been working late for the last two weeks at school...I feel like I have barely seen him this past week...but we made it through the roughest day (yesterday), so our days should be getting easier from here on out!
I really think I overdid things yesterday. By the time I left Adam's school art show, I was having contractions and they didn't let up until I was able to get the girls to bed (well, with Adam's help) and put my feet up and drink some water. But, it did get a bit scary for a bit of time...I had 5 contractions in about 45 minutes and was kicking myself for being out an about all day...I am *not* ready for these babies to be born and spend time in the NICU! I am feeling ok today, really tired, which after the whirlwind week we have had, it is obvious why! Thank goodness it is a 3 day weekend this weekend...I forsee a good amount of family fun and relaxation mixed with Adam's work he has to do on his Masters degree. And, the weather is supposed to be great, so that is always welcome!
Off to have a relaxing/productive Friday (I know, sounds confusing, but when you are the size of a house pregnant, you figure out how to do a bit of everything in moderation). Our house looks like Santa sent a tornado through it and our laundry lady went on strike halfway through cleaning/folding/putting away (we don't have a laundry lady), so I would like to get ahold of that before Adam gets home this evening (one more late night...I can make it).
Happy Friday everyone!

31 weeks...

31 weeks today, and feeling very productive. Yesterday was a long day spent at the dentist and then at a car dealership, so it didn't even matter that my hoses for the washing machine were replaced on Monday night because I was able to get no laundry done yesterday.
The girls and I had an eventful morning this morning, but I have been able to stay on top of the laundry...I might even get it all washed and dryed today...now if I could just find someone to put it away! :)
Van Quest 2008 is over! We ended up purchasing a 2005 Honda Odyssey yesterday and let me tell you, we are in love with it! It is so nice to know that we will be able to drive all of our family in one vehicle when the babies arrive...and we really were able to get one amazing deal...I have to advertise for a second because the treatment we received at the dealership was amazing...so if you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, check out John Hinderer Honda. Amazing! Ok, no more advertising, I promise! :)
I had my 16th progesterone shot today. The doses are shipped to me in 4 week supplies, so I have 4 more shots to get...and they are here waiting for me! One more pack to get through! I can do this! :) The babies sounded great today...Delaney's heart rate was in the 140s and Addison's was in the 150s...they definitely debunk the heart rate myth. I told my nurse about my doctor's appointments last week and she was thrilled. She has full faith that I should be able to carry these babies to term which is my obvious goal...get me to 36 weeks and I will be thrilled...and any day after that is like icing on the cake.
Off to do some more laundry...I feel behind this week because of my crazy Monday and Tuesday, but hey, we have a 3 day weekend coming up!!! :)
Happy Wednesday!

Continuation of Manic Monday...

When it rains, it pours, right?
My tooth started hurting last night (well, one of my teeth, not my one tooth). I was sure I was getting a cavity. I had even mentioned it to Adam and my dad before dinner. Decided to call the dentist first thing in the morning and see when they could get me in.
Sat down at dinner and was enjoying my meal when I felt a pop in the back of my mouth and realized that my tooth had broken. Seriously? The last thing I want to deal with when I am pregnant is a broken tooth. But, it happened. The upside, it felt so much better. The downside, I had to go in today and get it fixed.
I *hate hate hate* the dentist. Not the actual person, but the joy of sitting in the chair and having people put all sorts of instruments into my mouth to make it 100%. I am sure a lot of this goes back to my youth...I have soft teeth (from what I have been told) and spent many afternoons of my youth in a dentist chair. That coupled with almost 3 years of braces and I truly feel sorry for all of our children (Adam hasn't had the easiest time with his teeth either).
But, I survived the dentist today. Luckily, the dentist I saw was wonderful and really understood my fears. He had to grind away my tooth and clean it up before he could rebuild a tooth for me. I was numb, so it wasn't bad, but the noise that the drill makes...someone needs to invent a quiet dental drill. Think about all the technology we have in this current day...and we cannot find a way to make that drill not sound like you are getting a lobotomy!!! Unfortunately, one of the side effects of pregnancy is increased blood flow...which means sensitive, swollen gums. My tooth doesn't hurt at this point (yes, the numbing has worn off), but my gums are really hurting now!
I am, however, very excited that Adam and I are going to look at a larger family vehicle this evening. Perhaps we will be able to cross Van Quest 2008 off of our to-do-list very soon!
I will update more later in the week, but wanted to let you know that Monday was manic throughout the evening hours...I sure hope everyone else had a better Monday!

Manic Monday...

Do you remember the song, "Manic Monday" by the Bangles? What a great song that capsulates the 80's...and the theme song of our household this morning...

Woke up a bit after 7am, poured my coffee and curled up on the couch with my 2 favorite girls in the whole world. Started thinking about what I wanted to accomplish today (still haven't packed my bags for the hospital, need to finish up a couple of thank you notes for teachers Adam works with, wanted to find the counters in my kitchen, and definitely wanted to figure out Van Search 2008). I am starting to get antsy to get some of the bigger stuff done before the babies arrive...we are getting into crunch time at this point. Had gone downstairs first thing in the morning to send Adam and 'have a good day' email...typical of my daily routine. Was back upstairs and the phone rang. Adam on the other line. Never calls this early. Is really hesitant to tell me something, so I know that something happened. I start thinking he got into another car accident...obviously a big fear of mine, and even more so at this point because 1)babies and an injured husband aren't good and 2)we are using his car as a trade-in for our van (obviously, much much much less important than #1).
He finally spits it out that he forgot to lock his car yesterday, which doesn't surprise me. He has never been good at locking vehicles. I know this. He then goes on to say that someone had helped themselves into his car (duh, an unlocked car is very inviting). Turns out, they were just in a crunch for about a dollar worth of pennies...they popped his coin holder off the dash and dumped out the pennies...only pennies...because he uses the rest of it for the drink machine at work...and he knows there were no silver coins in the coin holder. Mind you, there were CD's on the passenger seat (untouched) and a garage door opener (hello, free entry--untouched). Needless to say, Adam will be cleaning up our garage tonight from the projects that have taken over our indoor parking and our vehicles will be moved inside before bedtime tonight. I am not fearful...this can happen in any neighborhood, especially if the vehicle is unlocked. So, crisis averted there (I hope whoever took the money puts it to good use...we are kind people).
The girls and I eat some breakfast, do some morning coloring (I think Hadley got more on her pj's than on her paper, but we only buy washable). The girls are playing well together, building a castle with their blocks and I decide to clean up some, run the dishwasher, get a load of laundry started. About an hour later, I head downstairs to switch over the laundry. I hear water running but the dishwasher was done, the washing machine should have been done and I hadn't recently flushed the toilet...uh oh. Open the laundry room door...water is spraying out of the cold water hose that attaches to the washing machine. Of course, the knob connected to the cold water hose would not budge...and I am using all of the force I have to get it to budge.
Oh, Monday, Monday, Monday. It would have been dandy if the washing machine was broken because I really want a large capacity, energy star, high efficiency washing machine, but am holding out for these 25 year old ones to break (things really were made better all those years ago). I frantically call Adam's work, get connected to his room, voicemail. NO! Call the in-laws. No answer. Call sister-in-law asking if mother-in-law is there, then stated that I don't know what my MIL could do for me...but to my luck, my father in law was there too! Wow! Lucky! He heads over to turn off the water...so I call Adam back. At this point, I am wet and crying. Get the same office assistant. She asks if it is urgent...I tell her it is, that it is his wife and nothing is wrong with the babies, but our laundry room is currently flooding with water and I cannot get it to turn off. She sends someone to hunt him down that neglects to tell him about the laundry room...just urgent that he call his wife at home.
Augh...he calls, panicking, thinking that the babies are coming or here...I am sure. Explain to him what is going on...he flies out of work like a bat out of you know where. I get off of the phone, stop panicking a bit and go in the storage underneath our stairs to turn off the main water valve. Augh. Let me tell you...the storage area should not be frequented by any humans let alone an 8 month pregnant woman that is terrified of spiders...dead or alive. And I was crawling back there without shoes on...and I still don't know how I fit. Of course, I couldn't get that to budge too!
Adam gets here just as father in law gets the water turned off in the laundry room. I know that he really did drive too fast on the way here...it took him half the time to get here. In the meantime, I had figured out that if I kinked the hose and taped it off, no more water would spray all over the laundry room. We had a good laugh about it. Of course, Al (FIL) struggled for a split second to turn off the water, but then got it to budge and shut off. Adam sopped up all of the water with every towel we have (luckily, most of them were dirty, so I don't have more laundry) and headed back to work. So, it seems tonight will be spent in one of two places...the laundry room, doing laundry, or the garage, getting it cleaned and organized so we can park inside.
So, this just reminded me of that great Bangles song "Manic Monday." And, let me tell you...I wish it was Sunday, because that is my fun day! :)

30 week update...

I am barely awake as I am typing this, but I wanted to post tonight because I don't know what the rest of the weekend will bring (Adam is finally inspired to get this Masters degree over with...I think the procrastination train has left the station...or I can only hope). I have attached a 3D picture of Addison (he was blocking his sister, so we didn't get a 3D picture of Delaney...nor have we up to this point).
This is a profile shot, and let me tell you, they are really crammed in there at this point. He was hugging his head with his arm, so y ou can see his arm going underneath his top lip and then it angles up infront of his nose. The rest is pretty clear...a chubby cheek, an eye...
Anyways, for the details. Both are head down. Phew! Just stay that way, please! Delaney was weighing in at 3pounds, 6ounces and Addison was weighing in at 3pounds, 9ounces. They are right on track with where they should be! That was so great to hear!
I, of course, have been worried sick about preterm labor and delivery, and I think the next 4 weeks will prove to be challenging for me, but it seems that my medical team (my nurse that comes to the house weekly, my OB and my peri) all believe that I should carry these babies past my first goal of 36 weeks...but they also agree that the breaking of water is something that is unpredictable...so, who knows! My cervix has shortened at this point, but I have been reassured over and over again that this is normal at this stage and it is more about funneling, etc. that I should be concerned. There was no sign, so it seems that we are in the clear. I am still packing my bag this weekend and finishing up some last minute preparation, and am still going to hope and pray that Adam gets done with his Masters sooner rather than later, and you will not see me running or doing jumping jacks anytime soon...but we are on a good path right now, so that is good!
I have one more appointment scheduled with my peri at 33 weeks, but he didn't feel that I needed that appointment if my OB felt comfortable doing growth scans of the babies...so I will definitely discuss this with her at my next appointment...but it would be nice to go to his office one last time (look at me, getting sentimental).
Ok, off to curl up on the couch and relax. I am sure I will post more later as the thoughts start seeping in, but right now, I haven't had time to process completely the wonderful day that I had and the joy I found seeing my two babies growing bigger and bigger.
As far as Hadley and Gretchen, the balls full of energy tonkered out after an evening at the park and barely made it through bath time...now, if they would just sleep in tomorrow morning! :)

New pics and small update...

Here are pictures from today, 30 weeks, 1 day. Woo Hoo! 30 weeks! :) I had an OB appointment today and all went well...I have a peri appointment tomorrow and will have more information to share at that time, so this post will be short and sweet! I have gained 25 pounds (I don't get it...I eat as a full time job). Both babies are head down (PLEASE stay that way).
More tomorrow!

30 weeks and not much new...

We hit the 30 week mark today! Cannot believe that it is already here and we are getting closer daily to meeting our newest additions! We are thrilled, a bit nervous, a bit overwhelmed, but thrilled!
I had my 15th progesterone shot today. Only 5 more to go! That is great! I really do dread needles! I don't have much of an update today, but I do have appointments on Thursday and Friday, so I will be able to post more information tomorrow and Friday! I promise to at least post on Friday evening...tomorrow won't be that much information, but Friday is the peri appointment...gobs of information!!! The babies sounded great today, my blood pressure was good still and my nurse really does beleive that I will carry to term if I keep taking it easy...now if I could just figure out how to do that with toddlers and a husband finishing his Masters degree, that would be great! :)
I should be getting the pj's I ordered for the hospital stay today via UPS and then I can start packing my hospital bag. I would like to have that finished up this weekend...but I do have to go pick up a few more items for the bag. The girls were born at 34weeks, 4days, so we are really getting close to that milestone! Please, please, please let me pass that day!!!
Ok, I promise, more of an update tomorrow or Friday, and pictures as well! Hope this finds you all well!

Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there! I celebrated my 4th Mother's Day this year and they really keep getting better. We missed naptime today, which makes for an interesting evening, but Hadley and Gretchen just make me smile, even when I feel like I swallowed a watermelon! Gretchen loves to sing and talk non-stop these days. Hadley is an old soul...very introspective. She takes everything in. I love it. I would have never thought that at almost 3, they would be as amazing as they are...and I think they are amazing!
This weekend was bittersweet. While I celebrated Mother's Day, my sister was celebrating her first day as a married woman. We missed the ceremony due to travel restrictions and I cannot truly write how I feel about that fact as of yet, but I know that my sister found her soul mate and married him yesterday and that is all that matters. Life is good.
Pregnancy is same old thing, different day. I am starting to realize that the end is nearing...I will be 30 weeks on Wednesday. Thus, I am getting very sentimental...spending a lot of time enjoying the alien movements going on in my body, trying not to get too frustrated with the fact that none of my clothes fit properly (and I refuse to spend money on more maternity clothes when I have 8 weeks to go...or less), and seriously not wishing any second of this pregnancy away. Ok, there are days that I am tired, that I want to unstrap this belly and sprawl out on the floor, belly down, and play with my kids, or take a nap, but I also am realizing that I will only live this experience right now, so I am taking in every last minute of it. No reason to be a complainer at this point, right? :) I am estimating that I am carrying around approximately 7 pounds of baby (next growth scan is on Friday), plus an extra of everything else...this twin thing isn't for the weak spirited, so I will remain strong.
Adam is doing well. I really don't know how he can see straight right now...he is wrapping up the end of his school year as a teacher and is also getting ready to wrap up his Masters degree. On top of that, he is still an amazing father and a great help around the house. It is tough now, but we never take the easy road...I guess that is why we keep getting blessed with 2 kids at one time...God only gives you what you can handle, right?
So, on this Mother's Day, or the 11th day of May, life is good for us. We are blessed. We will accept this, no matter the bills, no matter the laundry piles, no matter that the carpet hasn't been vacuumed in ages...we have each other, and our family, and that makes life good. Really good.

GOOD NEWS!!!

I feel like I was just awarded with a large prize, but really, I just passed my Gestational Diabetes test. Isn't that a great thing to be upside down with joy about? :) But, since I struggled with it with Hadley and Gretchen, I was sure that I was in for another battle...and am so glad that this pregnancy has proven me wrong time and again! :) Keep it up, you unpredictable pregnancy! I am a bit anemic, but that is much easier to fix than Gestational Diabetes, and I have always struggled with anemia on a small scale. So...
As promised, here are a few pictures of the nursery. It is still a work in progress...in fact, I think Adam is upset that I am posting pictures without it completed...for those of you that know him, you know what a visual perfectionist he is...and pardon the cut off look of the pictures...the nursery is the size of a fish bowl!
Enjoy!

Waiting...

Yep, sitting here waiting to hear back from my OB office about the gestational diabetes screen and the anemia test. I hope I passed! :) Of course, since I called and left a message, I know that I am rolling the dice on this one and I could be hearing back from "The Nurse." Luckily, she shouldn't send me to L&D for just calling to see if I passed these tests, or could she...
Gretchen is curled up watching a favorite cartoon (short, short nap today) and Hadley is fast asleep on the couch. Ah, the silent moments at our home...few and far between, but just as sweet as the really crazy moments! :)
We are having a neighborhood Cinco De Mayo party tonight and I am excited, but I have been having the dreaded BH contractions all day. I hope that it is Addison flipping back over...and then staying put! :) This week might prove to be hectic...Adam is desperately behind in his Master's coursework, so he is going to be devoting a lot of time this week to getting that done. At least we are supposed to have rain this week...that will help!
We did finish up the nursery (well, a few little things need to be done) this past weekend, so I will try to post pictures tonight or tomorrow! It is surreal to see it done...makes me feel ready in a sense for the babies to arrive, but not quite yet...no NICU time, please!!!
Hopefully I will have a good update soon on the GD screen. If they would just call back...

News, News, News...

Went in to my OB yesterday armed with a list of questions. I think she about passed out when she saw the full page of questions, but she is great, so she took a seat and we had a good discussion. She answered all of my questions as I thought she would. I start every other week appointments now, then at 34 weeks move to weekly! Wow! This is really going quickly! Hold on tight!!!
She does an ultrasound instead of checking the babies with the doppler at every visit, and that way we can check positions. Less than 2 weeks ago, they were both head down. Addison flipped, little stinker. He is now breech, his little baby butt sitting right next to his sister's head! She said there is still plenty of time for him to flip, but we did discuss the possibility of the dreaded 'c' word. I have already had quite a few conversations with him. I know that a section isn't the end of the world, but seriously, after living through such a great delivery with the girls, I might end up being a bit bummed with a section. Not dwelling, though. There is plenty of time! :) The only other hope would be for Addison to be measuring smaller than Delaney, then it wouldn't matter what position he is in, but since he is boy and boys measure bigger than girls (and he has been all along), well, you can see where this is going...
We have a shower today, thrown by Adam's department at work. It is really generous of them and we are totally thankful. So, today will be busy, but filled with fun (and from what I hear, good food).
Find out next Monday about the possibility of gestational diabetes (I better pass) and anemia...I struggled with both with the girls but feel my diet is much better this time around, so we will see!
Happy Friday, everyone!

28 week picture...

Here it is...a picture of me at 28 weeks. Surprisingly, the belly is the same this time around as with the girls...I will try to upload a picture of me at 28 weeks pregnant with them. I weighed more, but I think it was because I had started retaining water! :) Oh, the things to look forward to!