33 Weeks

33 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a pineapple). He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How far along: 33 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn and misc. other GI stuff; carpal tunnel syndrome – mostly on the right; trouble sleeping; intense lower back pain, making it difficult to walk; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; swollen everything

Food Cravings: snow cones, poached or fried eggs, blueberry pancakes and muffins

Food Aversions: Sometimes things smell icky, but I don’t really have trouble eating anything.

Sleep: I could be better.  I was up for a couple of wee hours this morning with everywhere pain.  I can’t sleep on my back because I cut off circulation and get woozy; I can’t sleep on my belly for obvious reasons.  I am basically switching side to side with every bathroom trip in the night (usually 2-3 hours).  Every time I wake up the hip that I’m sleeping on is in major pain and the hand connected to the arm I’m sleeping on is either tingling, asleep, or in pain.  (I know I sound very whiney, but I’m wanting to keep it real here!)

Measurement: about 51 inches around the belly

Movement: I don’t think they have a ton of room in there, but I do feel big, all over body movements as well as small bits here and there.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, some of which are doozies.

What I miss: Being able to walk comfortably, being able to do some chores, not feeling tired all the time

What I’m looking forward to: continued cooler weather, meeting my babes (but not for several weeks!), a maternity mini-session this week (more on that after it happens).

Milestone: I kind of feel like every day is another milestone.  Everyday I can keep on going, keep on carrying these babies, is amazing for them.

Thoughts from the children: Both girls had bouncy balls shoved up their shirts today. 
They are both very observant to the weird shape and texture of my giant belly.  :)

Doctor’s visit: I had a quick visit this morning which included a Non Stress Test.  I reclined on the table with monitors for each boy and one for me strapped to my belly.  For about 15-20 minutes I just laid there and watched their heart rates on the monitor.  They were all over the place!  They mainly stayed in the 140s-150s, but Baby B’s ranged from 133 up to 170.  That seems crazy to me.  Dr. Torres didn’t think it was crazy though; she said they looked like healthy boys!

I was going to go by myself and have my mom watch the kids, but I was hurting so badly, Mom loaded the kids up, dropped me off at the door, and took the kids for a bite of breakfast.  Isn’t she amazing?

On our way out, Natalie found these acorns, and they made me think of the brothers.

Other thoughts: I had a little turning point or hit a wall or something this weekend.  I’m in pretty intense pain all the time, and I can’t seem to do anything about it.  My lower back has just hit it’s limit I guess.  Every step I take is excruciating, increasing in intensity as the day wears on.  I’m a really fun wife and mom right now.  :)  I am thankful that my mobility impairment is temporary.  And that, even though some days I think I can’t do it anymore, I CAN.  Thank you Lord for the strength, even though I don’t feel strong.

Another preggo shot for fun.  This one was taken after my baby shower on Saturday, just in case I ended up being lazy or behind on Sunday morning.

Baby-related projects:

• I’m putting this on the list kind of after the fact: Work on potty training James.  Hallelujah that boy is doing so so well!
• Clean up/organize the girls’ room to make space for eventual James.
• Go to IKEA.  Look at and possibly purchase the Kura low loft bed and shallow mattress for the girls.  **I’ve been putting this off since it is logistically hard, but we are ready to get this done!
• Move the majority of the toys into the main living area to make space for sleeping and clothes in the bedrooms. I still need to sort through and organize the books, which are in a giant pile on the floor.
• Do some research on the best sleeping arrangements for newborn twins.  *I’m currently planning to use a standard sized pack and play with the newborn “shelf” in it for our bedroom when they’re bitty.  If we discover they don’t sleep well with each other, we can always switch to two pack and plays or just use the cribs.
• Figure out number of diapers that would be ideal for the babies.  **I think at this point we’ll just get a few more newborn sized diapers and then wait and see what works when they come.
• Pick out infant car seats.
• Organize James’ closet.  (This is where the not-in-use clothes live as well as a lot of baby things, and it’s a super-pit.)
• Shop for a king sized bed.  We really really really really want one.  :)  But the logistics and expense may mean this isn’t the best time.
• Tinker with a baby registry.  We don’t need much, but I have started putting some things on an Amazon registry when I think about them
• Pull the baby boy clothes from the attic and take inventory.
• Possibly get some maternity/family pictures made.  **I get to be a “model” for a local photographer this week, and I will get a couple of digital images for my time.  Wahoo!  And we booked a family photo mini session for November, when there will be SEVEN of us!
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes.  **A sweet friend came over and stole them to wash, so that’s done!
• Pull the new infant car seats out of the boxes and make sure they are what we think they are and work as they should. **Done! And I’ve started stalking Joanna’s new car seat, waiting for a great price.  **We got Joanna’s new seat last week!  “We” have yet to put it in the car and make sure it’s going to work, but it’s here!
• Preregister at the hospital.
• Work on a birth plan (mainly just for us but also to bring up any questions I want to ask my doctor about this different kind of birth coming up!)
• Hospital bag lists – one for labor/delivery/right away, another of things I’d like to have if I stay a few days. **Made ‘em.
• Work on “decorating” the nursery.  Basically this involves pulling out anything that isn’t baby boy related and putting up things that are!  **It’s really not too bad in there, it just needs some TLC.  This may simply have to wait until some far away time to get done.  :) 
• Pack the hospital bags, including a list of things to add at the last minute.