Birth Day

Both my mom and Matt were taking pics during labor, and neither camera had the date information correct, so I’m kind of guessing about the order of the first of these here.  Thankfully, my mom was kind of obsessed with putting the clock in the photograph.  :)

Clearly, I’m recently arrived at the hospital and still feeling great.  :)

Matt loves to wear his “My Wife Rocks” t-shirt for labor days. 

I’m filling out forms; that’s my nurse Rene (with an accent on the e but I don’t know how to type that).

Before it got ugly, of course.

This looks like a princess face on me here.  My carpal tunnel was bothering me so Matt’s holding up my arm.  It looks like it’s 8:40am here, and I can see the Pitocin bag on the IV pole.

Showing off some bling.  Oh I hated having that IV in.  And after delivery, I had two more bracelets on my right wrist – it was pretty awful (not to mention ridiculous).  My carpal tunnel is worse over there, and it just made it so uncomfortable to do anything!

Some belly bling as well – the monitors for the boys are strapped in blue; mine’s in pink.

Pit’s at a 4 now.

It’s 9:30, and I’m feeling contractions now.

Another shot – same pain.

It’s about 10:30.  I appear to be laboring on my side and having a lot of fun.

Like I wrote in my birth story, at some point I went to the bathroom and very much enjoying laboring in that position.  Enter… the birthing ball!  (You can’t see it, but it’s there.)  I was able to be pretty comfortable sitting on it and leaning into Matt.  I didn’t labor here long.  My nurse spent most of the time I was here though sitting on the floor trying to get Michael on the monitor!

Dr. Torres poked her head in and wanted to check me.  Moving around was just so stinkin’ difficult!

And then all my picture takers either left or became otherwise occupied, so there’s a bit of a gap in photos.  Like I said, I told Matt to get the camera, but while he wasn’t looking someone put it in the cabinet, but he thought my mom had it.  Can you believe he walked down the hall to attend the birth of his twins without a camera?!!  :)  I kid.

After Michael’s birth I made him leave and go find it!  He did.  Here is Michael’s first picture.  Isn’t he beautiful?!

Snuggles with the momma:

Then they took him back to the warmer so I could deliver Thomas.

Matt cut his cord; the anesthesiologist took this picture for us.

Snuggles with Thomas!

Both my boys on the warmer.  (I LOVE that they’re easy to tell apart!!!!)

Matt headed back to the room and held his boys while they waited on me.

I nursed them in the room when I got back, but I won’t be posting those photos.  :)

They took the boys over to the nursery after they nursed for awhile.  When my recovery room was ready, we loaded up all my stuff and wheeled over!

My labor nurse dropping me off in my recovery room.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it is one of the best feelings in the universe to be on this side of labor, to be through it.  The ride in the wheelchair from labor and delivery to the postpartum rooms feels like such a victory ride.

Sadly, the recovery room we had wasn’t a fancy suite.  There was no couch, and the sad recliner Matt slept in was broken.  I find it kind of humorous that the two times I’ve stayed two nights in the hospital, we’ve had small rooms with recliners for the hubs and the two times we’ve stayed a mere 24 hours, we’ve had giant cozy rooms with huge couches for sleeping.  I sure would have enjoyed nursing the boys on a couch at the hospital!

But we survived.  And it wasn’t so bad.  :)

Everyone (except me) went down the the nursery at some point to peek at the boys.  They brought back pictures of them chillin’ on their warmers.

They sure are good looking boys, eh?

The nurses from the nursery said they took several pictures of them laying there being cute with each other on the disposable camera.  Eventually those will get developed and uploaded…

I have many more posts to write (or just upload pics for; we’ll see), but hopefully this will tide some people over.  :)  I have picked out the photos that I want to post, but the typing moments are severely limited over here!

Birth of the Twins

**I wrote this on the boys’ birthday and added a few tweaks in the wee hours of this morning (Wednesday).  I’m sure I could keep adding and tweaking forever, but I’m just going to go ahead and hit publish!**

We decided to schedule an induction for today, Tuesday, October 29th to deliver the boys.  My doctor was worried about my giant uterus and the possibility of hemorrhage.  Even though I’m not crazy about inductions, I was pretty glad for the “excuse” to have to induce those boys.  I was miserable.

Last night I went to sleep with no trouble, slept a whopping 90 minutes, and then laid awake for 2 1/2 hours.  Finally I got back to sleep and slept pretty soundly until Matt woke me up at 5:10am.  We needed to be at the hospital at 6:00.  Matt’s mom came at 5:30 to watch over our sleeping big children, and we headed out.

Even though we got to the hospital and into a room right about 6:00, it was about 8:30am before they started the Pitocin.  {For the official record, I hate Pitocin and I never want to talk about it again.}  Sometime before that Dr. Torres broke Baby A’s bag of waters.  There were just logistical issues getting started like computer stuff and IV pump stuff and who knows what else.

I was at 6cm dilated when Dr. Torres broke my water, and even with just a little Pitocin going, I was sure things were going to move quickly.  (I was wrong.)  There weren’t any hang ups or anything, it was just slower than my labors usually are by the time I get to the hospital.  One time, I went to the bathroom, and my nurse noticed how very comfortable I was in there and offered me a birthing ball!  It never even occurred to me they had them at the hospital.  I labored on that for a bit and it felt better than laying in the bed.  My nurse (Rene) had a full-time job with me just trying to keep Baby A on the monitor!  I was really feeling my contractions at this point; the nurse had been upping the Pitocin little by little.  Rene and Dr. Torres wanted me up in the bed so I could be checked.  I’m pretty sure the Pitocin was at 10 (whatevers) per minute at this point.  It was started in the morning at 2.  The contractions were really gnarly and there was just no rest from them.  When Dr. Torres checked me, I was at 8cm and minus 2 station.  She said it could be some time within the hour.  That sounded so very very long and impossible to me.

Y’all.  Here’s the truth.  I asked if it was too late for an epidural.  It wasn’t.  I begged for an epidural.  I cried.  I pleaded for them to go faster.  They prepped for one.  The epidural man was literally drawing on my back with a sharpie when I HAD to push.  I couldn’t not push.  And then the time for an epidural was done.  Only by the grace of God did I not have one.  I’m thankful I didn’t.  But I think I needed to think the epidural was coming.  I needed to know the pain was going to lessen, that I was going to be able to rest for a second, that I might be able to get ahead of the pain just a little.

So anyway, I’m leaning in to Matt on the edge of the bed, the anesthesiologist is behind me, and I am pushing.  Like I said, I couldn’t not push.  They were telling me not to push and to get back in the bed, but I was saying no.  And I was crying.  And there were most likely some curse words.  I heard my nurse yell for Dr. Torres and suddenly there were people everywhere.  I was in not a good place, that’s for sure.  I heard a voice on my right say “Jessica, I’m Kendra’s friend.  She’s been praying for you.”  {I’m crying as I type this; it was such an emotional moment and a major turning point.}  I knew my friend Kendra had a friend who worked at Kingwood as an L&D nurse.  Her talking to me was what I needed to snap out of the mega craziness and get sort of back on track for having babies!  So thank you Kendra and Catie!

Anyway, they got me back laying on the bed.  My mom and sister had left and headed to the waiting room when the anesthesiologist was in the room, so they missed all of this drama.  I told Matt to grab the camera; they were wheeling me to the OR, which is where Dr. Torres wanted to deliver the twins.  I was contracting and pushing.  They moved me onto the OR table and I’m pretty sure told me to stop pushing again.  :)  I was a pushing machine.  I remember someone telling me to wait until Dr. Torres got her gloves on!  It didn’t take much and at 11:55am Michael Philip was born!  Matt got there, scrubs, mask, and fancy hat on while I was still pushing so he got to see him born also.  (For the record, he did not have the camera.  He is fired.)  :)  I’m pretty sure my doc cut the cord, and I got to hold him right away.  He was covered in a thick layer of all that great white goopy stuff and they had me rubbing and stimulating him.  He was making little noises, and eventually someone suctioned him out so he could properly breathe and cry and all of that.  At some point they took him over to the warmer, weighed and measured him, got him cleaned up a bit and all wrapped up.  He weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 19.5in long.  I got to hold him again while waiting on Baby B to be born.  Dr. Torres checked and he wasn’t down into my pelvis yet so she was fine to wait a bit to break his bag of waters and restart the Pitocin.  A bit later he had moved down a little and she broke my water.  I’m sure I got a horrible sad face on when she said they had to restart the Pitocin.  It wasn’t so bad though.  I’m sure having one baby already out helped me immensely!  I believe I had a couple of contractions, which I moaned through before Dr. Torres suggested I push with the next one.  I wasn’t feeling that unmistakable, unavoidable need/urge to push, but I did it anyway, and it moved him down a bit.  Yay!  Mr. Michael was taken back over to the warmer while I was working on pushing his brother out.  I believe it took two more contractions of pushing hard, and Thomas Mark was born at 12:18pm!  They suctioned him, and I got to hold him for a little bit.  They took him over the warmer to be with his brother, and he weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and 19in long.  {In case you hadn’t already done the math, that’s 15lbs 10oz of baby in my body this morning.  Oh my!}

They didn’t want me to nurse the babies in the OR because I was shaking and because there were no rails on the side of the bed.  I knew I wouldn’t drop them, but I guess I can’t blame them for the concern.  :)  The babies headed back to our labor room with Matt and some nurses while I finished up in the OR.  I had to deliver two (mammoth) placentas.  Dr. Torres gave me some kind of drug that would help with the bleeding and prevent my giant uterus from hemorrhaging and she worked to get clots passing and my tears sewn up.  None of that was fun and I certainly whined, but it sure was nothing compared to laboring with and delivering twins!

I got to give Dr. Torres hugs after she finished up and headed out.  It really was so wonderful that she could deliver the boys!

That was pretty much it.  I know I left out details and skimmed over things.  I will likely add bits of information as I remember them when I blog pictures (if I blog pictures?)  :)

It was a really rough morning that got off to a slow start, but I am so thankful to be here on the other side with two amazing healthy term babies.

38 Weeks

38 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she is over 19 1/2 inches long (about the size of a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How far along: 38 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn; carpal tunnel syndrome; trouble sleeping; lower back pain; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; anemia; swollen everything – feet, legs, hands, belly  :); constant need to pee; pregnancy rash; super intense itching everywhere (I think it’s a histamine thing.)

Food Cravings: ice cream

Food Aversions: I guess things that I know are going to cause heartburn aren’t high on my list to eat.  :)

Sleep: I have found a couple of positions that, when perfectly executed, allow me to sleep relatively comfortably for as many as a few hours at a time.  Typically I will fall asleep and sleep for an hour or an hour and a half.  I pee, change positions in the bed, sleep another two to three hours, pee, change positions, and then wake/get up for good at about 7:00.  Sometimes I’m awake for awhile before that, but usually my bladder is empty enough that I don’t necessarily need to get up immediately.  Walking and moving at night is soooooo painful.

Measurement: 234.6lbs; inches around

Movement: Amazingly still a lot, even though there can’t be much room in there!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, cervix is dilating

What I miss: being able to do anything physically, goooood sleep, more than the approximately three outfits I can wear right now.

What I’m looking forward to: meeting my babies!!!! 

Milestone: 38 weeks is considered full term for twins.

Thoughts from the children: When I ask James when the boys will come, he tells me Christmas.  Ha!  Natalie always asks me if my feet are swirlin (swollen).  We should eliminate the word swollen from the English language and replace it with swirlin.  It’s so much better.

Doctor’s visit: Kathryn took me to the doctor’s office this morning, and it was a pretty uneventful visit.  (Yay!)  Instead of doing a NST (not so fun), we got to do a biophysical profile, which is a fancy word for an ultrasound.  Much more fun!  The babies are so huge that I can’t tell a damn thing on the screen, but my doc was just checking that their heartbeats looked good and that they were still head down. Check and check!  She said it looks like they’re heads are right next to each other and they’re vying for first place.  :)  She also checked my cervix, and I’m 5-6cm dilated.  Y’ALL.  Seriously.

Other thoughts: We, under the advice and guidance of my doctor, have decided to go ahead with an induction tomorrow morning.  We have to be there at 6am, which hopefully means those boys will be born before too late in the day.  My doc will get to deliver them IF they come before 2pm.  She has a surgery to do then.  I really hope she’ll be able to deliver them – she hasn’t delivered any of the others!

This is definitely a different experience – preparing to head to the hospital in the morning, knowing they’ll be born tomorrow.

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.
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes.
• 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.
• Work on “decorating” the nursery.  **This may be more of an ongoing thing.  :) 
• Pack the hospital bags, including a list of things to add at the last minute.
• Pick up the Arms Reach Co-sleeper from a friend and get bedding washed, master bedroom organized for the boys to sleep there.
• Print some preggo pictures and get them up on the wall!
• Have one last pedicure.  :)
• Install the infant seats in the van.  Maybe also clean it out?  **Just about finished.  Matt moved James’ seat back with the girls’ and did a bit of cleaning out.  The infant seats are in the living room, ready to go in the van!
• Prep for the supremely wonderful maids who are coming on Tuesday.  **We’re pretty picked up around here.  I’m the only one who’s sort of good at it, and I’m unavailable, but everyone else is doing okay.  :)  We’ll pick up the last of the toys and clear off some more flat spaces tonight before bed.  AND THEN, how fantastic will it be to come home to a magically clean house this week?!!!

37 Weeks

37 weeks

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

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (about the size of a bunch of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

How far along: 37 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn; carpal tunnel syndrome; trouble sleeping; lower back pain; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; anemia; swollen everything – feet, legs, hands, belly  :); constant need to pee; pregnancy rash

Food Cravings: Dr. Pepper, chocolate

Food Aversions: I guess things that I know are going to cause heartburn aren’t high on my list to eat.  :)

Sleep: I have found a couple of positions that, when perfectly executed, allow me to sleep relatively comfortably for as many as a few hours at a time.  Typically I will fall asleep and sleep for an hour or an hour and a half.  I pee, change positions in the bed, sleep another two to three hours, pee, change positions, and then wake/get up for good at about 7:00.  Sometimes I’m awake for awhile before that, but usually my bladder is empty enough that I don’t necessarily need to get up immediately.  Walking and moving at night is soooooo painful.

Measurement: 230.3lbs

Movement: Yup – lots!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, cervix is dilating

What I miss: being able to do anything physically, goooood sleep

What I’m looking forward to: meeting my babies!!!!  And my seeeester coming in this week!!

Milestone: I’m 37 weeks!!!  Most sources consider that the beginning of the full-term window, and I’m feeling pretty full term.  :)

Thoughts from the children: They are looking forward to meeting their brothers!

Doctor’s visit: I’ve actually had two appointments since my last update.  :)  Last Wednesday I was 4cm dilated, and Dr. Torres couldn’t believe my uterus wasn’t just DONE from carrying 13 or so pounds of babies.  This morning I had another NST, and the babies sound good.  It took forever to get Baby A to stay put for the monitor, but we eventually got him.  Dr. Torres didn’t see a need to check me today, which is fine.  She looked at my scary, angry belly and prescribed a cream for my pregnancy rash.  It’s agony.  She really wants me to consider an induction next week, and she may have actually talked me into it.  She said one concern with a giant, stretched uterus is an increased risk for hemorrhage.  That word scared me a bit!  When I told her that I really wanted to do this naturally, she said it wouldn’t take much to get me going – a little Pitocin and breaking the bag.  So I’m now actually considering being induced next Tuesday.  Obviously I’m really hoping it will happen all on it’s own before then!!  I will (if I’m still pregnant) have another appointment with an NST next Monday and I guess we’ll decide for sure about Tuesday at that point.

For now, I will leave you with a picture of my angry belly. (So look away now if you don’t want to see it!)  This is from a few days ago, and I think it might be even more horrible looking right now.  Mostly it’s stretch marks, but you can kind of see patches of rash in there, some of which have actually latched on to the stretch marks.  Um… yay.

Other thoughts: Right now I’m really just wanting to keep up (or supervise those actually physically able to keep up) with the clutter and basic housekeeping, homeschooling, and what-not, so that the house isn’t a super-pit when it’s baby time.  Matt worked hard this weekend, and it’s not too bad!

I was reading the comments on a friend’s post about expecting her fourth little boy, and someone posted something about four of a kind.  It made me realize that literally, when the babies come, I will have a “full house.”  :)

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.
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes.
• 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.
• Work on “decorating” the nursery.  **This may be more of an ongoing thing.  :)  The clothes are clean and organized as are the diaper supplies, so that’s good!  My mom is working on the bedding for the second crib, which isn’t here yet.  Anything that isn’t baby related has been pulled out of the room.  The one crib we have in there is full of baby things (bouncer, car seats, boppy pillows, etc.) that won’t move until the babies come.  Then they’ll be spread hither and yon through the house as needed.  :)
• Pack the hospital bags, including a list of things to add at the last minute.
• Pick up the Arms Reach Co-sleeper from a friend and get bedding washed, master bedroom organized for the boys to sleep there.
• Print some preggo pictures and get them up on the wall!
• Have one last pedicure.  :)

36 Weeks

36 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce). She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

How far along: 36 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn; carpal tunnel syndrome; trouble sleeping; lower back pain; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; anemia; swollen everything – feet, legs, hands, belly  :); constant need to pee

Food Cravings: pie, ice cream, smoothies, deli sandwiches, salty snacks

Food Aversions: not so much

Sleep: I have found a couple of positions that, when perfectly executed, allow me to sleep relatively comfortably for as many as a few hours at a time.  Typically I will fall asleep around 10:30 (too late, but I find myself sitting on the couch or getting a back rub from my husband, and I just can’t make myself go to bed!) and sleep for an hour or an hour and a half.  I pee, change positions in the bed, sleep another two to three hours, pee, change positions, and then wake/get up for good at about 7:00.  Sometimes I’m awake for awhile before that, but usually my bladder is empty enough that I don’t necessarily need to get up immediately.  Walking and moving at night is soooooo painful.

Measurement: 51.5cm around the widest part of the belly

Movement: Yup – lots!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, cervix is dilating

What I miss: being able to do anything physically, goooood sleep

What I’m looking forward to: celebrating James’ 3rd birthday this week!, meeting and holding my babies!

Milestone: I very possibly had my last pregnancy ultrasound ever this morning.  And even though 36 weeks isn’t technically in the “full term” window, it seems pretty full term to me, especially as I’ve known of babies that were perfectly healthy born at 36 weeks.  That makes me feel very good!

Thoughts from the children: They are definitely ready to have their momma back.  :)  James told me this morning he wants to name one of the babies Thomas the Train.

Doctor’s visit: I will have an appointment with my doctor on Wednesday afternoon, but I did have an ultrasound today.  For whatever reason, we just couldn’t get them scheduled on the same day.  According to the ultrasound, the boys are both still head down (phew!), practicing breathing, moving around, and looking good.  Baby A is measuring 6lbs 9oz and Baby B is measuring 7lbs.  That puts them more the size of a 37 1/2 week fetus.  Yay!  They also apparently both have large heads.  :)

Here’s a shot of A’s face.  Baby B was buried too deeply for us to see his face.  :)

And to help you out, I’ve labeled the same picture so you can maybe possibly see what you’re looking at.

Ultrasounds get a little less exciting the bigger the babies get.  Mostly everything just looks like a blob.  :)

Other thoughts: I am sooooooo ready to have some babies.  I’m also of course happy to stick it out and wait until they’re ready, but I would love to meet them soon!  I am barely able to function as a momma these days, and even though I know caring for newborn twins is going to be a challenge (!!), I’m looking forward to the change.  For now, I’m just going to keep on keepin’ on at my snail’s pace, getting the little things done that I can and waiting for those boys!  The end is kind of fun.  Knowing they could come anytime is pretty exciting.

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.
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes.
• 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.
• Work on “decorating” the nursery.  **This may be more of an ongoing thing.  :)  The clothes are clean and organized as are the diaper supplies, so that’s good!  My mom is working on the bedding for the second crib, which isn’t here yet.  Anything that isn’t baby related has been pulled out of the room.  The one crib we have in there is full of baby things (bouncer, car seats, boppy pillows, etc.) that won’t move until the babies come.  Then they’ll be spread hither and yon through the house as needed.  :)
• Pack the hospital bags, including a list of things to add at the last minute.
• Pick up the Arms Reach Co-sleeper from a friend and get bedding washed, master bedroom organized for the boys to sleep there.
• Print some preggo pictures and get them up on the wall!
• Have one last pedicure.  :)

35 Weeks

34 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (about the size of a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How far along: 35 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn; carpal tunnel syndrome; trouble sleeping; lower back pain; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; anemia; swollen everything – feet, legs, hands, belly  :); constant need to pee; stretch marks

Food Cravings: chocolate, meat, ice, pastries

Food Aversions: oatmeal a little, but that’s due to my having thrown it up on Saturday (TMI?)

Sleep: I have found a couple of positions that, when perfectly executed, allow me to sleep relatively comfortably for as many as a few hours at a time.  Two of the last three nights though had me up for three hours in the wee hours just unable to go back to sleep.  I don’t really function well on five hours of sleep in the best of circumstances, so I’m really struggling today!

Measurement: I was weighed today but not paying close attention; I’m pretty sure it was nearly the same as last week though.

Movement: This week I’ve felt B more, though I’m still feeling A regularly as well.

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, some of which are doozies; 3 cm dilated!

What I miss: Feeling pretty normal, sleeping well (not that I’m expecting that to come back soon!), boots and scarves, being cold ever

What I’m looking forward to: holding my boys and taking their pictures; celebrating James’ 3rd birthday!

Milestone: My doctor said today that we wouldn’t try to stop labor at this point; I’ve started to dilate – wahoo!

Thoughts from the children: They are ready to meet their brothers!

Doctor’s visit: I had an NST today, which the boys did NOT want to cooperate for!  We ended up monitoring them one at at time, after fumbling with the sensor things for forever.  It took a long time!  Dr. Torres did the culture for strep and went ahead and checked me.  I’m 3cm dilated – yay!  (For the record, I didn’t go into labor with the others until the week after I was 4 or 5cm, so this doesn’t mean anything is imminent.)

Other thoughts: Last night I woke up at 11:45, having been asleep probably an hour and a half.  I went to the bathroom, but when I came back to bed I just couldn’t fall asleep.  I listened to Matt snore for 30 minutes or so before I started having pretty serious back spasms… and I was super hungry.  So I woke up the man and had him get me a snack and come rub my back.  It’s a little hard to get him going in the middle of the night, but he complied!  The rubbing wasn’t helping enough, and he could feel how tight my muscles were.  It almost felt like contractions in intensity, though it was pretty constant (and It didn’t actually feel like labor I’d had before).  I was having Braxton Hicks contractions on top of that though, so I started timing them.  (There’s an app for that!)  Matt got me a heating pad and held it in the right spot for me; it helped some.  I was having Braxton Hicks contractions pretty regularly, but they weren’t getting close or stronger.  At some point I got up, maybe to go to the bathroom again, and discovered I liked the walking.  I started putzing around the house – checking on my hospital bag, folding laundry, drinking water, watching television.  Eventually I felt tired again and managed almost four more hours of sleep.  So I was pretty excited to find out I was dilated a bit this morning – at least something’s happening!  I am now seriously suffering the lack of sleep.  Even though I really want caffeine, I’m not going to give in.  Each of the nights I had so much trouble sleeping I had some caffeine in the afternoon before.  It could be a fluke, but I’m not taking my chances.  I need sleep!

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. 
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes.
• 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.
• Work on “decorating” the nursery.  **This may be more of an ongoing thing.  :)  The clothes are clean and organized as are the diaper supplies, so that’s good!  My mom is working on the bedding for the second crib, which isn’t here yet.  Anything that isn’t baby related has been pulled out of the room.  The one crib we have in there is full of baby things (bouncer, car seats, boppy pillows, etc.) that won’t move until the babies come.  Then they’ll be spread hither and yon through the house as needed.  :)
• Pack the hospital bags, including a list of things to add at the last minute. 
• Pick up the Arms Reach Co-sleeper from a friend and get bedding washed, master bedroom organized for the boys to sleep there.

Maternity Photo Shoot

A couple of weeks ago, a friend on Facebook let me know that a local photographer was looking for pregnant “models” to try out some new techniques.  I signed up and headed to Spring last Thursday to have some maternity pictures made!

One photo is posted on Facebook in a gallery here.  If you click over and leave a comment on my image, I can “earn” a free 8x10 or accordion book of the session.  And that would be lovely!  Don’t forget to “like” Kara Powell Photography while you’re there; she does beautiful work (and has lots of gorgeous newborn twin shots in her galleries)!

She sent over my gallery today with the rest of my images to peruse through.  I get 2 digital images as a thank you for “modeling” and an option to purchase more.  I need help picking!!

You should be able to click here and then enter Pence as the password to access the gallery.  (Make sure to capitalize the P in Pence.)  Each photo is numbered 1-17 – let me know your favorites!  It’s hard to pick favorites of myself.  :) 

It was very fun and it’s nice to have some “glam” shots of myself carrying those boys.  :)

34 Weeks

34 weeks

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

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along: 34 weeks
Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn; carpal tunnel syndrome; trouble sleeping; lower back pain, making it difficult to walk; mega stretch marks; tiredness; hip, pelvic, pubic pain; anemia; swollen everything – feet, legs, hands, belly  :); constant need to pee; stretch marks
Food Cravings: these may not all be current, but they happened some time this past week: pork chops, Pringles, pie, potato soup (it is a total fluke that those all start with P)
Food Aversions: Some sweet things
Sleep: Sleep is pretty rough.  My everything hurts at night, and there’s no comfortable position.  Even so, I can sometimes get everything positioned just right and get a few hours of sound sleep in a row.
Measurement: 229lbs
Movement: Even with how tight it is in there, I still feel them both move regularly.
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, some of which are doozies.
What I miss: A lot, frankly!  I miss being able to walk across a very small room without my back hurting.  I miss not having to go to the bathroom constantly.  I miss my hands not falling asleep and being in pain all the time.  I miss having more things to wear.  I miss being able to do simple chores.  {I’m whiney!)
What I’m looking forward to: cooler weather, meeting the babes (I’m ready when they are!), getting the nursery put together (hopefully before they come?)
Milestone: I have a few!  34 weeks feels milestone-y as far as growth and viability.  We finished our Bradley birth class tonight.  And (I’m technically finishing this on Tuesday) I made it to October!  This is in all likelihood the birth month of the boys!
Thoughts from the children: Joanna asks so many thoughtful questions, but of course I’m not thinking of any right now.  :)
Doctor’s visit: I had another non stress test, which was rather uneventful.  Yay!  I had some blood work last week that showed I’m still anemic, even taking an iron supplement.  So I’m taking the supplement twice a day now.  Or twice when I remember the evening one.  I don’t have a routine set up for that one, so I keep forgetting.  I set an alarm on my iPod; hopefully that will work.
Other thoughts: I actually feel better this week than the beginning of last week.  My mother says I must have gotten stronger.  :)  My everything still hurts, but it’s not that unbearable pain from last week.
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 got some maternity pictures made last week!  There will be a separate post on that.
• Wash, dry, fold, put away the 0-3 months clothes. 
• 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.
• 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.  This is pretty much done.  I felt the need to get that taken care of last night.  Basically, as long as I have my camera and camera bag, I’m happy to go to the hospital with nothing else.  Somebody can bring me the things I’ll want for my stay later on.  :)

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.

A Baby Shower for the Babies/Twins/Boys

I had kind of thought I wouldn’t have a baby shower this pregnancy, BUT a sweet group of friends arm-twisted me into it.  :)  Who am I to argue?  It was wonderful!

Of course the first thing I did when I got there was take pictures of all the gorgeous decorations and food!

The yummy spread of food:

Do you see the fruit babies?!

Gumball peas in a pod!

And cake ball peas in a pod!  Such clever ladies!!

Peas in the pod – balloons in tissue paper.  The little tree (that I got to bring home with me!) has little ultrasound pics of the boys at the top and a little message in the frames in the bottom.  The message told me a gift that the hostesses and a few wonderful out of town friends gave – EIGHT visits from a housekeeper.  WAHOO!  They know me so well.  :)

More décor!

Dried peas in the vases – oh so clever!

The invitation:

Cucumber water and limeade.  So yummy and pretty!

There were games.  One was you had to work in teams to diaper two babies, each person with one hand behind their back.  Clearly we have photographic evidence that Kendra blatantly disregarded the rules of the game.  :)

We’re not totally sure, but it appears that the baby dolls were easier to diaper than the animals.  :)

Such determination!

They look so much more cozy, don’t they?

The next game was like “hot potato” but with Baby A and Baby B (the bouncy balls).

I won.  I wonder, does this mean I’m going to be an excellent twin mother or a terrible one?  :)

I received so many lovely gifts, including newborn cloth diapers (WAHOO!!) and several gift cards!  Yay for being able to get some things we need once we figure out we need them.  Ha!

I’d been taking a few candid pictures here and there, but I keep catching people with their eyes closed or their faces blurred from motion.  So I made everyone look at the camera as I went around the room.

Amanda, Jennifer, Whitney, and Kendra

{As you can plainly see, Amanda was in the lead with the clothespin game.  Everyone had a clothespin, and you weren’t supposed to say babies, twins, boys, or they’re singular counterparts.  If you caught someone saying one, you could steal their clothespin and vice versa.  Eventually Jan caught Amanda and was able to steal her stash and become the ultimate winner.  :)}

Grandma, Shaun, and Laura

Kimberly, Theresa, Kristina, and Lisa

Jan and my momma.

I’m just about positive I got a picture of everyone, but if I missed someone, let’s blame it on pregnancy brain.  I think this may be the first shower I’ve helped host or been to with this group of girlfriends that WE FORGOT TO TAKE A HOSTESS PICTURE!!  I can’t believe it!  I’m in shock!

But now I’m over it.  :)

It was a very lovely afternoon with a lot of great food and so much wonderful conversation.  Thank you friends for making me have a shower and coming to celebrate the boys with me!