Sunday, September 28, 2014

Homecoming Week 9/15-9/19

Wear your favorite "team" shirt!

Cowboy and Cowgirl Day!!  Cael didn't want to be in the picture!
Pajama Day!

I didn't get a picture of favorite color day or team spirit day!  I was slipping!  Update:  Bowen LOVES school now!!  He actually walks from the van to school all by himself!!!!  THIS IS HUGE people!!!  The first couple of times he did it I was so proud of him!!  Now he does it and it makes me a little sad.  Seriously, this mama can never be happy!   I shouldn't say I am not happy, I am, but to see your 5 year old walk into school all by himself with all of these "big" kids, makes you realize just how fast time goes! 

Monday, September 22, 2014

30 Weeks




Have you noticed how much cuter my signs are?  Ya... my sitter does that for me now (Thanks Mallory)!  She is so much more creative than I am!!  
I also am NOT good at taking pictures!  By the time Steve and I have time to take them, I have already changed into my jammies and am ready for bed!  So that is why I don't always have a picture to go with my weekly update.  

How far along? 30 Weeks 6 days The babies are growing like crazy!!  Baby A is 4lbs and is still EXTREMELY low and head down and Baby B is 4lbs 2 oz (THAT IS 8.2 POUNDS OF BABY PEOPLE!!!!) and was actually head down for a little bit and then decided to move sideways toward my hip, but kept his/her feet upward and then decided to move the other way towards my stomach!  We got a great 3d image of Baby B, but A is so low that we can't get any pictures of him/her.  The ultrasound tech asked me if it was hard to sit down because Baby A is SO LOW!!!  Which I get very uncomfortable after awhile, but A needs to just stay put for a at LEAST 3 more weeks!  The ultrasound tech could not believe how much they move/kick/punch!  She asked me if they did that all the time?  And I responded ALL DAY LONG!!  However, they only do it at night about 10, at about 2am or so and then not again until 6 so lets hope they keep that pattern up!!  Either that or I am just so use to getting beat up that I sleep through it!  The babies are actually measuring a week and two days ahead according to their weight and measurements (so about 32 weeks and 2 days)
Heart rates: A-162, B-130 (however, when they picked it up with the Doppler it was A-142, B-150) It's crazy how wide of a range the two systems get! 

Total weight gain: 22lbs I actually lost another pound...which is why they sent me in for an ultrasound.  I also was measuring smaller on my belly, however, the babies are growing very well!  I guess it is good to be tall!      
Maternity clothes? YES...but some of my shirts definitely show off my growing bump!! Bowen thinks it is so funny when my belly (skin) shows and Cael says, "look Mommy, the baby!" and then giggles!  As of right now I am pretty sure he thinks my belly is the baby!    
Stretch marks? None... I wonder how long this will last!  Varicose veins behind right knee. I now wear the support hose every night and my belly harness.
Sleep: I wake up throughout the night with a lot of aches because I don't move a lot and my poor body gets so tired of laying the same way ALL the time!  Cael did okay for 3 or 4 nights and then he went back to getting up at least once a night and waking up between 5:30 and 6:10!!  ALL I want is HIM TO SLEEP through the night!!!!!!!
Best moment this week: The ultrasound, however, Steve couldn't go with me today because Bowen had to stay home from school and we didn't think it was smart to take him around a bunch of pregnant woman!  And again, we assumed it was going to be a quick, routine checkup, we should know better with these babies!  Nothing is quick and nothing is routine.  Baby B was such a ham today!  He/She was eating, kept showing us his/her face, and apparently only has peach fuzz on his/her head!  Baby A has a lot of hair (which if she did not point that out I would have NO idea what it was, but once she pointed it out you can definitely see it!)
Miss Anything?  Not being able to catch my breath,  Taking walks (not that I can't take a walk, but if I do I have to go very slow, and get a lot of contractions so it kind of freaks me out!)  Being able to hold Cael!  I try really, really hard not to lift and hold him, but it isn't always easy, however, I am getting better!    
Movement:  All the time!  Baby A just kicks since he/she is so low, but B flips, kicks, punches, jabs, and everything else
Food cravings:  Synder Ranch Pretzels, they are the BEST! (Thank you Sarah!)
Symptoms:  Heartburn.  Back pain and pressure since Baby A is so low
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Labor Signs:  Braxton hicks some days I have them all day long and other days I will only have a couple.  They are so random, however, some actually take my breath away.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but getting nervous on how low A is and how close we actually are to meeting/bring home these babies!
Looking forward to:  Week 34...this is my next goal!  Actually, every SINGLE DAY is my next goal, but 34 is a big milestone!  Over 60% of twins are born between week 34 and 35!
Extra:  We were busy this week...I finally packed a bag after last weeks scare, but I still have a lot of things to put into it!  I also bought coming home outfits this weekend.  A lot of the boy clothes have hoods and zippers and I hate that when they are so little.  I feel like they choke themselves on their hoods and when they sleep they get zipper imprints on their chin!  Bowen and Cael helped Daddy put up the crib, so both cribs are ready to go even though they wont sleep in them for a while.  Bowen helped put batteries in the bouncy seats and swings, so those are ready to go and Steve put the seats in the van (well one is in the trunk because they take up so much room and if we have a passenger he/she can't fit.  And I thought once having a van we would have a TON of room.... I guess we should've bought a BUS!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

A little Scare...



I am now going to my appointments weekly.  Sometimes the nurse will ask if I want to be checked and/or if I had been checked previously.  When I say no, they either say okay, or the dr. may want to check you.  So, on Monday, I figured it was time to get checked, not for any real particular reason, but was curious.  The Braxton Hicks are getting stronger (still nothing to be overly concerned about, at least I don't think) and I felt just wore out on Sunday.  I was a little light headed, but probably pushed myself a little too hard.  The worst things is I don't feel like I am doing a TON of activities, because I am not used to slowing down this much!  The list of "stuff" that needs to get done before these babies are here is endless!  But like my sister said that is just "stuff" that can wait, these babies are what is top priority now!
Anyway, I digressed... the Dr. came in measured my belly, which really hadn't grown much from last week, however, Steve and all my coworkers think it grew like crazy over the weekend!  She then checked me and I am dilated a finger tip.  She said that since I had babies previously I could just be dilated all the time...I know great thought!  However, she wanted to make sure so she was going to give me a shot to help mature the babies lungs and then check me again Tuesday to make sure I haven't dilated anymore!  I also will get another shot on Tuesday.  However, if I am dilated more than they will admit me or at least put my on some type of bed rest!
(I am writing this Monday night so I will continue my story after my appt. on Tuesday.) 

A funny story about the shot....the nurse told  me that I was going to get it in the butt.  So I hop up on the table, bare half of my butt and realized that what she actually meant was my love handles....so here I am baring having my butt when it reality I really didn't even need to bare any of it!  Poor nurse will probably have nightmares tonight of this crazy woman who mooned her!

We went back today (Tuesday) I got another shot and was rechecked.  NO CHANGE!!!  YAY!!  So everything looks good and I am good to go for 8 more weeks!!!! :-) I asked her if I needed to be checked more often and she said no...not unless I wanted to be checked or I had much stronger, harder contractions that I was concerned with.  And the fact that they gave me the shot, the babies lungs should be good.  I messaged a friend of mine who also has twins and her babies got the shots, were born at 32 weeks and did NOT need oxygen.  However, another set of twins were in the NICU at the same time, did not get the shot were born at 34 or 35 weeks and needed oxygen.  So, we will keep them cooking for a lot longer...at least as long as they will let me! 

Monday, September 15, 2014

29 Weeks




 Baby A's Feet are right above Baby B's Head!

Baby B's belly is right next to Baby A's head (maybe I wasn't quit sure what it was on Baby A)

Baby A's knuckles right next to its face

And Baby B's Fist








Sorry this is a long one...
How far along? 29 Weeks 6 days The babies are growing like crazy!!  Baby A is 2lbs 14 oz but is EXTREMELY low and head down and Baby B is taking the lead at 3lbs 4oz, but is sitting breech.  Some of you may wonder do I have to have a C section and the answer is No and I am hoping I don't.  As long as the first baby is head down then they can perform a vaginal delivery, no matter what the second baby is (well as long as he/she isn't HUGE and/or stuck).  So if Baby A stays as low as he/she is then we will be good to go...as long as baby b doesn't get too big!  My sister had a friend that baby A was a vaginal deliver and baby B was a c section...lets hope we don't have to do that!
Heart rates: A-146, B-150
Total weight gain: 23lbs I actually lost a pound...which they were not overly concerned, but told me that it's obviously better to gain!  Trust me people I eat!  I was nervous (first time in my life that I was nervous about losing weight!), but she said since the babies are growing and look healthy than there is no need to worry!    
Maternity clothes? YES...and I am nervous that they are not going to fit for too much longer!  I have a few non maternity comfy pants and t-shirts that I wear.  I also have some college jeans that seem to fit...HHMM I wonder why!?     
Stretch marks? None. Varicose veins behind right knee.  I attempted to wear support hoses to bed one night last week and woke up the next morning with a red ring (that lasted well throughout the day) around my ankle.  Then everytime I went to walk my ankle hurt!  I am pretty sure I was cutting the blood flow off from my ankle to my foot.  I guess next time I will put the feet part on too instead of folding it up my calf...whoops, who knew!?  I also have to wear a belly harness...which is just LOVELY!!  However, it really works amazingly!!  I haven't had any belly pain since getting it.  I try not to wear it all the time so my belly doesn't get use to it, but I wear it to bed and work.  Which is so 'nice' to have at work because it is BRIGHT white and sticks out of EVERY shirt I own!!  So I look like I am constantly showing off my sports bra...it's very professional!
Sleep: Oh how I miss you!!  So this week was an interesting one...first off with these babies I am unable to sleep on my back AT ALL!!!  Bowen... slept on it until 36 weeks!  Cael... probably about the same, not this time...I think I quit at 15 weeks.  Not only can I not sleep on it, but I can't even lay on it for more than 5 minutes!!  I literally thought I was going to pass out during the ultra sound because I laid on my back too long.  Had to get up readjust, take some deep breaths, and after a minute or two had to lay on my side.  It was awful!  
Thankfully, I am so tired at night that it only takes about 30 minutes of "attempting" to move from side to side before I finally get comfortable!  And when I say "attempting" it means it takes everything I have to flip over which usually takes 10 seconds to get from one side to the other!  This is no easy task people!  However, ALL of this happens EVERY Day/Night/WEEK!  
My interesting story has to do with non-other than CAEL!!!!
We have been talking about the bunk beds for a while now, but within the last week we are talking about them getting closer to being done.  (I wish I would have taken a before picture of them)  However, "getting closer" means nothing to a 2 year old, therefore, he has been refusing to sleep in his own bed and wants to sleep in Bowen's room or on the floor!  Sunday and Monday he ended up crawling out of his crib and sleeping on his floor about 1am or 2am.  However, Tuesday night it stormed right at bed time so he wanted to sleep on Bowen's floor, Steve finally gave in and of course I am thinking this is the worst idea EVER, but we'll try it!  Cael wouldn't even lay in there until Bowen was with him because of the "nunder" so after about 20 minutes of them giggling, talking and Cael running out of the room 5 times we ended up putting screaming Cael back in his crib.  That lasted until 1:30 when I here the pattering of foot steps, however, this time they did not come into our room!  So I got up and sure enough he was on Bowen's floor, so I left him and he feel back to sleep!  Wednesday went GREAT, so we thought!!  We laid Cael down (on Bowen's floor) about 7:15, he fell right to sleep and Bowen down at 8:00.  When Cael got up this time at 5:00 (the latest he has slept in a long time) he ended up crawling into bed with Bowen, therefore waking poor Bowen up at 5:00AM!!  Finally at 5:30 I brought Bowen into bed with me and Steve put on Bubble Guppies for Cael.  Might I also add, I felt like I could run a marathon...I actually slept the WHOLE time from 10:15 or so until 5:00!!!  
We tried it again on Thursday night and Cael ended up back in his crib! This was by far the worst night!  I got up to go to the bathroom at 12:15, got back to bed and hear Cael get up at 12:30, once again he goes straight into Bowen's room!  (Might I add when he gets up he is usually carrying 3 blankets, a water, and a few toys (ducks, cows, Neighs (horses), stuffed animals, bouncy balls, literally the most random things).  He also shuts his fan off and shuts the door...EVERY SINGLE TIME!!  Which is usually what wakes me up!  He also appears to be WIDE awake EVERY SINGLE TIME!  When we take him back to bed he tells us he is wet, whether he is or not!  Which he is usually is pretty wet, so we thought that may have been the reason he was waking up, however, we switched diapers and he still wakes up!)  I hear him playing with stuff in there, talking to himself (LOUDLY), sneezing then realized he needs a kleenex.  Finally, I make Steve check on him because I had gotten up numerous times to put him back on the floor, get him water, and tell him to go to sleep!  It is NOW 2:00 and I am on my 2nd bathroom trip and Cael is still wide awake! Finally, I go in there and give him one last chance he either lays down or its back in his crib (he wasn't really being that loud, so I didn't want to have him screaming in his crib and wake the whole house up!), he decides he wants to sleep in Bowen's bed...me figuring I am SO TIRED, he has to be this tired as well, he will fall asleep so I give in!  I FINALLY am just falling back to sleep at 3:45 and am awakened by TWO boys standing by my bed WHISPERING LOUDLY, :I can't sleep!  I "tapped" aka hit Steve, who has practically been sleeping this whole time, and tell him to deal with this slumber party that we are now having!!  I told Bowen to get his sleeping bag and sleep on our floor.  Steve put Cael back in Bowen's room, in which, he ended up in our room on the floor 5 minutes later!  AND FINALLY by 4:30 EVERYONE in the house was back to sleep...just in time for Steve's alarm to go off at 4:50!!  So to sum it up, Cael was up from 12:30-4:15 and luckily it was Friday so Mommy took an hour and half nap!
Best moment this week: The ultrasound! Even though these babies do NOT cooperate AT ALL when it comes to getting a picture of them, it is still exciting to see them every 4 weeks!  BUT seriously, you would think at least one would be facing the right direction for us to get a good picture.  However, we did get to see Baby B's hair!  We figured since Baby B is bigger than Baby A is putting up a fight to be first!  Bowen and Steve are still convinced Baby A is a girl and Baby B is a boy!  I am getting very anxious to find out.
Miss Anything?  I can't wait until I don't have heartburn anymore and can stop taking medicine for it.  I miss being able to carry on a conversation without having to stop and catch my breath!         
Movement:  Baby A gets the hiccups all of the time which is uncomfortable considering how low Baby A is.  Baby B flips a lot, he/she was actually breech at the ultrasound, but I haven't noticed him/her to get the hiccups!  Bowen felt a foot or arm the other day! He thought it was pretty cool especially because he/she left it there for a while.  It is always fun to guess what body part is sticking out of my belly!  :-)
Food cravings:  Chocolate Chip Cookies
Symptoms:  Heartburn.  Back pain and pressure since Baby A is so low
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Labor Signs:  Braxton hicks some days I have them all day long and other days I will only have a couple.  They are so random, however, some actually take my breath away.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but a little stressed!  I've been trying to find a photographer that isn't going to charge an arm and a leg, to do maternity and newborn pictures.  However, this is the busiest time for photographers so the ones that we normally use are booked!
Looking forward to:  Week 30...I feel like I have been in the 20's forever!  However, that means it is getting a LOT closer!!!  
Extra:  I asked the Dr. if she could tell us if we are getting any closer (since I have read some blogs and they were scheduling their C sections at week 29) and she said we are right on track!  The babies look great and I am doing well!  I also was curious about Baby A being so low, but she made is sound like he/she is just fine!  My cervix measures (from the ultrasound) 3.8 (however, I am not sure what that means, because I don't think it is the same when they check you internally!)  My belly also measured 39 weeks, so that is definitely growing!  I delivered Bowen at 38 weeks and Cael at 39 weeks, so everything here on out, is going to be new for my belly!  ;-) 

Saturday, September 6, 2014

27 Weeks

 
 

 
How far along? 27 Weeks- Labor Day Weekend!!  (Not my typical pictures- we were too busy and before I knew it I was already 28 weeks)
Total weight gain: not sure  
Maternity clothes? YES     
Stretch marks? None. Varicose veins behind right knee
Sleep: We camped at the farm over the weekend and it wasn't as bad as I thought.  However, I did get up about three times each night to go potty, which meant I had to truck it inside. 
Best moment this week: We had a great weekend at the farm!  Steve took the boys fishing (I sat in a chair and watched), we camped, spent some much need time with the family, and went to the Sutliff Bridge dance.  The Hawkeyes beat UNI, which UNI looked great so I think they will have a good season.  The Hawks, however, didn't look extremely great, but we will have high hopes! 
Miss Anything?  It was VERY hot at the dance, so just being comfortable.  It would have been hot not pregnant, but I can tolerate it a little bit easier than now.  
Movement:  All the time and it is still the best feeling ever!
Food cravings:  We had awesome food this weekend so I ate nonstop!
Symptoms:  Heartburn. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Labor Signs:  Braxton hicks probably 10 times a day.  
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, we had a great weekend!  However, I also was exhausted took a nap on Monday afternoon. 
Looking forward to:  Finding a van so we can FINALLY quit looking and move on with our lives!

28 Weeks



How far along? 28 Weeks 5 days HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!!  We are in the home stretch!!!!  (the babies are the size of a large egg plant) They can blink and now have eyelashes.
Total weight gain: I have an appointment on Monday, but thinking 25lbs     
Maternity clothes? YES...and I am nervous that they are not going to fit for too much longer!  I have a few non maternity comfy pants and t-shirts that I wear.        
Stretch marks? None. Varicose veins behind right knee
Sleep: HA!  I actually sleep pretty well from 10ish-3ish, but then I usually get up after that to go to the bathroom.  Then Cael and/or Bowen usually get up around that time so by the time I get comfortable and fall back to sleep it is usually 5 and Steve gets up at 5:30.  So after 3, it is pretty pointless!  Guess I am just preparing for when they arrive!
Best moment this week: We FINALLY bought a VAN and thankfully it didn't take extremely long!!!!!!  We have been casually looking since July and then seriously looking (and I mean it has consumed our life) for a month!  The best part is it has EVERYTHING we wanted and more!!  It was in our price range and had lower miles!!  THANKS AGAIN for finding it  DAD!!!!  
I washed the neutral baby clothes we had, bibs, burp rags, blankets and got the closets somewhat organized!  Am I nesting...NO, not yet, just getting ready in case I can't move in a few weeks!
Miss Anything?  Being able to breathe and sit comfortably.  Being able to carry Cael comfortably.  I am just uncomfortable and am scared of whats to come.       
Movement:  All the time...it still is the best feeling ever!  However, once in a while Baby B will get me and it is actually painful.  And Baby A must be positioned low and every now and then will get me in the pelvic area, which isn't the most comfortable!
Food cravings:  Not really, I was hungry for (but not necessarily craving) Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats.     
Symptoms:  Heartburn.  I also can tell when I have been on my feet too long and it is time to sit.  I feel swollen from the waist down, and my back and tummy start to ache.  The worst part about that is once I sit down then my WHOLE body aches and I can't get comfortable and then when I try to get up and walk again, I look like I am a 90 year old woman!  I have to take iron pills now, but my glucose test came back fine.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Labor Signs:  Braxton hicks probably 10 times a day.  They are so random, however, some actually take my breath away.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, especially because we found a van!  Steve and I were both very nervous that we would be driving all 4 kidos home in separate vehicles!  
Looking forward to:  Monday's ultrasound, Getting the bunk beds done so we can move Cael into Bowen's room and set the crib up in the nursery.  I also realized we need a few items yet: another pack-in-play, crib sheets, pack-in-play sheets, a few more sleep sacks, and a dresser for Cael...YIKES!  These babies will be here in 10 more weeks NO MATTER WHAT, if not before!


Belly Pictures

Should say 36 Weeks!