Joanna, ObGyn

This morning the kids were playing all kinds of pretend games, and at one point Natalie came out with a doll under her shirt to be pregnant.  She was doing a pretty good job of moaning and saying things like “when can I get this baby out?”  I turned to Joanna and asked if she was the doctor.  She said yes and began to get ready.  She looked around and declared that she was going to have to do a c-section.  So she went over to her play kitchen and got a plastic knife.  She then stirred it around in a container containing one pink headband, I can only assume to sanitize it.  She told me something like she didn’t know how to do these; she was just going to do it her own way.  She thought she could remember what I’d told her about it.

She came over to Natalie and “cut” her abdomen.

She reached in and grabbed the baby (breech!)

And pulled her out!

Sounds about right to me.

Fun was had by all.  :)

She really is paying attention to everything!

Clearing out the “to blog” folder

Awhile ago, James discovered the girls old Thomas the Train flip flops, and he lives in them pretty much all day every day.  He was even wearing them to bed for a bit.  One day, we left one at Lisa’s house (we are always leaving one shoe of somebody’s over there), so he couldn’t wear them for a few days.

Next best thing?  Natalie’s pink rainbow flip flops.

Pair those with his standard uniform of pajama top and underwear, and he’s got quite the outfit.  :)

I must have really had these pictures hidden well – I had forgotten about this one!  They loooooove to feel the brothers move!

One day I braved taking the kids to the grocery store.  I don’t mind shopping with them, but walking around the store is above and beyond difficult for me right now.  Anyway… we were rewarded with being right there as the firefighters were heading back to their station.  They invited the kids on the truck to look around!

Natalie said no way, but James and Joanna hopped on.  I couldn’t hear them, but Joanna even talked to the fireman.  Fun!

A very sweet friend brought a huge meal (and then some!) a couple of weeks ago for us to eat on for a few days.  It was all beautiful, but I only took a picture of this pie.  Soooooooo good!  I shared a little with my family, but I definitely snacked on apple pie and glasses of milk several times over a few days.  That’s practically health food, right?

A friend passed along a LOT of limes to us, and one day I realized I had lotsa limes and lotsa strawberries in the house.  It was time to do something about that!

I browsed Pinterest and found a recipe for strawberry limeade.  I don’t feel like hunting it down right now, but I’m sure it’s pinned on one of my boards.  It wasn’t perfect; the recipe could use some tweaking.  But it was fun to do!

I blended up the strawberries with my immersion blender and juiced I think three limes.

We had a density lesson when we discovered that the mashed strawberries were less dense than the lime juice, water, or simple syrup (that’s what’s making it dark since we use sucanat).

Pretty huh?!

It was a big hit with Joanna, and a mediumish hit with everyone else.  I think if I’d have had Sprite, it would have been delish.  :)

I think I’m going to keep going, and make this post super longer than it already is.

I recently grabbed all the pictures off my little camera that I carry around when I don’t have the big one.  There is quite the assortment of fun in there.  :)

The girls made James up a bed (on top of a laundry basket or bin or something) – doesn’t he look cozy?

I took the girls for haircuts (in July).  James tagged along with us.  The before:

James was very good about waiting for his sisters.

Natalie and Joanna each got a French brain after their trim.

No more scraggly ends!

After Joanna climbed down, it was so cute – James climbed right up in that chair even though we hadn’t come for a cut for him.  He goes with Daddy to the barber and didn’t really need a cut then.  I guess I should have prepped him though!  Stacey was so sweet to go ahead and trim him up a bit so he could feel special too.  Awwwwww…

This was at my mom’s house.  She rescued a turtle from somewhere, and it was hanging out in a pen in her backyard.

The kids loved that bit of life science!

David took it to a good turtle-y kind of place later that day.

A random trip to the Chinese buffet (we love that place).  The picture is to illustrate that James likes to eat his ice cream out of the cone with a spoon.  He’s is the cutest.  :)

And now I feel better for having cleared out the blog folder, even if it was all over the place!

Pregnancy photo book (so far)

Shutterfly has deals pretty frequently where you can get an 8x8 hardcover photo book for just the cost of shipping (around $8).  My kids LOVE to look at photo books, and it's been awhile since I printed one.  Normally when these deals come around, I think "Man, I really should put together a book to have ready to print!"  Because I usually don't feel like putting one together.  But I actually did this time {code is SUMMERBOOK and it's good through September 11th, by the way}.  And theoretically this is a link to the book, which is about the pregnancy thus far!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Visit Shutterfly.com to create your own personalized photobook.

I haven't printed a book from Shutterfly since I started taking pictures with my fancy camera, so I'll update when it comes as to the quality.  The last book I ordered from them is very fun to look at and has held up quite well, but the quality is pretty bad.  This very easily could be due to my old crappy camera though.  :)

Oh the tired.

First off let me say two things:
1. I think I will whine and complain in this post.  But hey, it’s my blog and I can cry if I want to.  :)
2. I want to make it very clear that I still like the third trimester a million times more than the first trimester.  Lest all the whining I’m going to do makes you think otherwise.

Every day I think I hurt more and feel more tired.  Still, I make it through and make it one day longer pregnant with these boys who need to keep gestating!  Most mornings I wake feeling rested-ish, but my everything hurts.  All those trips to the bathroom, during Braxton Hicks contractions, are brutal.  I get up and it seems like there’s nothing harder than making breakfast.  Then it seems like there’s nothing harder than teaching math to Joanna (she’s not loving it).  Then it seems like really for sure nothing could be harder than pulling the clothes out of the washing machine and hanging them up.  Then I know that nothing could be more difficult than heaving myself off the deep couch (where I’ve just gotten the teensiest bit comfortable) to take care of James’ needs in the bathroom.  And don’t get me started on fixing lunch.  For real nothing is harder than that.  Oh the tired.  Oh the hurt.

But also the joy.

I get to spend my days at home with three amazing people who love me and are wildly entertaining.  :)  They are their own little community, and they can entertain themselves forever with made up games and vivid imaginations and hilarious conversations.

And when I lay down and am still, TWO little nudgers let me know they’re here too.  Sometimes it’s a little flutter in my abdomen, other times it looks like a scene from the X-Files, where something is trying to break out of the belly!  And I am AMAZED at what’s happening inside me.  Astonished that God put two babies in there for me to carry.  Thankful and grateful for every pain, every deep breath that’s hard to take, all the heartburn.  And so thankful for every. single. day that I can carry them, safe and sound inside me.

And every day Matt picks up way more slack than he should have to.  I haven’t fully loaded or unloaded the dishwasher in weeks (months maybe?).  I don’t vacuum anymore, and I really have no idea what’s involved the kids’ bedtime routine these days.  :)  He does it all.  I still plan meals and make sure the ingredients are here.  Sometimes I sit at the bar and tell him how to make something that I don’t use measurements for.  But really he does it.  Come dinner time, I’m simply not physically capable.  It’s hard and humbling, but also the absolute truth.  He’s gotten so much better in the kitchen than he was months or a year ago though – it’s wonderful!

I’m so eager for the cool weather.  It’s hard to remember, but I know it will be fall and then winter eventually.  You’ll never find me complaining of the cold ever again.  Well, I don’t complain about the cold anyway.  I love it.  I survive late spring, summer, and early fall.  I relish the rest.  Now that it’s September, I really feel like it will cool off eventually.  I will be able to send the grouchy people outside.  I will be able to read books on the porch and feel the breeze.  I will hand out sandwiches and let the birds clean up the crumbs.

I may not sleep for a year or so, but I will drink tea and it will feel good.

I have a couple of pictures to reward you for all the reading.  :)

When I was attempting to get a silhouette of myself, I used Joanna as my model to fix my camera settings.  She could have stood still and boring, but she posed!

Lisa mentioned the other day she might have a bumblebee costume that would fit James.  And recently he’s started making this noise with his nose so we’ll call him a bee.  I call him my baby bee.  He loves it.  :)  And Lisa found the costume and brought it over today!

I debated not posting a picture, since hopefully he’ll get to dress up all officially in it in October.  But WHO KNOWS what crazy will be happening in our lives then?!

Isn’t Baby Bee the CUTEST THING EVER?!!!

Matt is almost home.  I’m going to gather ingredients for dinner.  I’m going to go to the bathroom, twice probably.  And I’m going to lay down. 

Oh the tired.

30 Weeks

30 weeks

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

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (about the size of a large cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How far along: 30 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn, tiredness, aches and pains everywhere, hormonal wackiness, trouble coming up with words/thoughts

Food Cravings: meat and potatoes, pastries, Blue Bell cookies and cream, ice water

Food Aversions: I haven’t had much in the way of aversions lately – wahoo!  I’ll keep this category just in case something crops up.

Sleep: I can’t complain too much.  Most of the time I wake up feeling like I’ve been beaten, instead of having a good night’s sleep, but I think it could be worse.  :)  Last night I went to bed early, but woke up when Matt came to bed and was then up for three and a half hours with heartburn and just the inability to go back to sleep.  It was grody.  I am tired.

Measurement: 218lbs last Thursday

Movement: Lots!

Labor signs: Occasional Braxton Hicks

What I miss: Laying on my belly, getting comfortable in any position, ever

What I’m looking forward to: cooler weather

Milestone: I’m in the 30’s!  There has been no indication of preterm labor, but I still celebrate every passing week, knowing they’re more and more viable for life outside the Momma.

Thoughts from the children: Nothing is really coming to mind.

Doctor’s visit: I went for a quick check-up on Thursday.  I didn’t have an ultrasound; just had my urine, weight, blood pressure checked.  I think my BP was 130/70.

Other thoughts: I am so tired all the time.  That’s not really a complaint; it’s more of a fact.  :)  I need so much help to do anything, and I just hurt everywhere every day.  I definitely want to keep these boys inside for several more weeks, but it sure is going to be a test of endurance!

A couple of other poses this week:

I was playing around with trying to get a silhouette of me, but it’s hard!  This wasn’t the best spot for it, and it’s frustrating not to be totally “driving” the camera.

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.  **Did this after my appointment on Thursday.  It was an easy process, but with the construction at the hospital, I walked a very long way and was a total mess when I got home.  Yuck.  And oy, the sticker shock of a twin delivery.  Ouch!

29 weeks

29 weeks

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

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (about the size of a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How far along: 29 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: heartburn, tiredness, aches and pains everywhere

Food Cravings: pastries

Food Aversions: I haven’t had much in the way of aversions lately – wahoo!  I’ll keep this category just in case something crops up.

Sleep: It’s pretty good pretty consistently.

Measurement: about  inches around

Movement: Lots!

Labor signs: Occasional Braxton Hicks

What I miss: Laying on my belly, getting comfortable in any position, ever

What I’m looking forward to: cooler weather

Milestone: We started our Bradley birth class last night – so excited!!

Thoughts from the children: The girls loooooove to feel the boys move.

Doctor’s visit: Later this week.

Other thoughts: I felt very odd and icky last Wednesday and had the feeling all day that maybe a baby or two was flipping.  Since then, I think I have felt more movement mid-belly than in the previous couple of weeks, but it could be wishful thinking.  I’m really hoping at least Baby A flipped, but it’s just so hard to tell!

I usually have a dress on for my preggo pose, but since Matt wasn’t home yesterday, we grabbed a pajama pose today.  I went ahead and had him capture the “naked” belly while I had a t-shirt on.  Those stretch marks are pretty new for this pregnancy; I most definitely consider them to be badges of honor!!

And because it’s fun, here I am at 29 weeks with James.  I felt huge then, but it sure was NOTHING!!  :)

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.

Last Day First Day

This post ended up being kind of like a run-on sentence.  It just kept going!  You have been warned. 

Last week was the last day of Kindergarten/3 year old/nursery Sunday School!

I took my camera just to get a quick shot of each kiddo.

Joanna with her best bud.  (She’s holding her church sandals because Lisa had brought her Toms that she left and Joanna put those on instead.)

This was my best “official pic” of the day.  :)  I deeply deeply deeply LOVE these three ladies who teach the three year old Sunday school.  They are so sweet and loving and always there.  I love that continuity! I don’t know these other kiddos, but they wanted in the picture too!

My Jamesie boy’s LAST DAY ever in the nursery.  Sniff, sniff.  This is our first time since the spring of 2007 not to have a kiddo in the nursery on Sunday morning.  If I wasn’t growing a couple of replacements, I’d be having a rough time right now!

Yesterday was promotion Sunday – time to move on up!

Before church.  It appears we get ready for church much more quickly when Daddy’s not there.  Hmmmmm…

{Matt had training all day Saturday and Sunday, so we had to go without him.}

I posted several because Natalie just looks so stinkin’ cute in each one (which is abnormal and bizarre) while the others’ faces are mid-change or something odd.

A man saw me taking pics of the three at church and offered to take one of all of us.  He said then I could prove I’d been to church that day.  :)

I managed to drop all the kiddos off at their Sunday school classes (which required climbing stairs – boo!) and get to mine on time.  Whew!  Then I gathered them up (stairs again!), got everyone a snack, and found a spot in the 11 service together.  They did a blessing of the backpacks (or children, if you don’t have/didn’t bring a backpack) and gave them each a keychain with a cross on it.  It was very sweet!

All three kiddos went up; James and Natalie will start preschool in a couple of weeks.

The congregation raised hands over the children and prayed for them.  You can see James (over on the left) with his hand raised as well.  Cutie pie!

It was a very sweet addition to the service and an excellent way to send the kiddos off to school!

After church there was a big dinner and the “Back to School Splash” involving water toys and fun.  Since we knew Matt wasn’t going to be there, I made the decision a while back that we wouldn’t go.  I was sad we had to miss it (and someone even asked me to take pictures!), but I knew it was beyond my capability to monitor all three around water outside.  I prepped them that we wouldn’t go (there were still some tears though!) and promised fast food for the way home.  :)  But then I got a text from Aunt Mindy that she and Uncle Steve were bringing over lunch!  That got big cheers from everyone!

It was a lovely visit with two of our favorite people, and it made the day go by more quickly.

I sure was bushed!  I’m not used to Matt coming home after six in the evening.  Yuck!  And then we had our first Bradley class last night.  I’m definitely enjoying today with Matt home.  I’m cramming a weekend worth of rest into today.  :)

In fact, it’s the first day of public school around here, and we hardly did any school at all today.  Ha!  We did do lots of playing and some chores and reading with Daddy.  And it was lovely.  And we’ll catch up on the other stuff this week.  :)