To find out or not to find out...

This is the question we ask ourselves often!!  When I was pregnant with Bowen I was adamant that we would NOT find out!  If I was going to be in labor for that long than by golly I was going to have a surprise at the end (apparently the baby wasn't enough!).  Then I got pregnant with Cael and was fine with not finding out until I was about 32 weeks or so and I couldn't stand it anymore.  It drove me crazy not knowing!  Most of it was because I was pretty sure at the beginning he was a boy, but everyone else was convinced I was having a girl, which after hearing that a 100 times I was convinced I was having a girl too.  I should've stuck with my gut!
So, with this "baby" I told Steve we were going to find out and of course he reminded me on how adamant I was about not finding out when we had Bowen.  SO, I was up for a losing battle!  Normally, I would have thrown a fit until he gave in, but at the same time there are so few surprises in life I let it go!  WELL then came the exciting news it was twins and the ultra sound tech asked us if we wanted to find out, we still weren't sure, so we looked away.  However, I'm a little stubborn and now that she knew, it wasn't fair that we didn't!  When we got home we talked about it and decided that we would find out at our next ultrasound. (They wrote it down on my chart so if we really wanted/want to know we could call the hospital and they would/will tell us.)
After our news broke that we were having twins, I was amazed on how many people told us we HAD to find out because it would make life much simpler, which I somewhat agree with, BUT back to me being stubborn, I sort of like to make my own decisions (Aka I don't like to be told what I can and can't do, just ask my mom and dad!) and I was NOT going to be told what I HAD to do!  ;-)  So we did NOT find out at our last ultra sound (which the Dr. almost slipped and told us, which I secretly wish she would have then it wouldn't have been our decision) or at our last appointment and still are debating what to do.  If it is anything like Cael I will be begging to find out at about 30 weeks and by then Steve will say "we waited this long, what's a few more weeks!"  And honestly after being in labor, for multiple hours, twice, that is one of the coolest experiences ever to see/hear whether your baby is a boy or a girl!  And this time we get double the surprise!  So... the question remains...

22 Weeks

22 Weeks and 5 Days!

I got this from another Twin blog (http://themasseyspot.blogspot.com) and thought it was a cute way to track everything!  So I apologize if some of it is boring!

Are you guys also impressed with my sign?!?!  I made it all by myself with an old frame, spray paint and chalk paint!  It is amazing the things you find on Pinterest!!!  However, the lady's sign is WAY cuter, but mine will do! :-)

How far along? 22 Weeks 5 days

Stretch marks? None.  But I do have Varicose Veins now, but thankfully, they don't hurt yet.

Sleep:  HA! Everyone with twins tells me to catch up on sleep now well... they obviously didn't have a 2 and 5 year old!  Bowen who usually sleeps great, has been up the last couple of nights scared of something!  And Cael...ever since he turned 1 NEVER sleeps through the night!  And now that he can climb out of his crib, we get 4:00 wake up visits right in my face that say, "Mommy, I UP!" So, besides the boys I also have the it takes a fork lift to roll me over and it is only going to get worse!  I also have the, at least once if not three, potty breaks!  Oh I can't wait for week 35! ;-)

Best moment this week:  Having Cael feel a baby move for the first time (because he never sits long enough to actually feel them) and then try to hit it back!  Yes, not kidding, one of the babies kicked his hand and he actually hit my belly back and said, "Baby kicked me!" I can't wait to see what he tries to do when they are out!

Miss Anything?  Being able to sleep comfortably!          

Movement:  All the time!  However, it is literally the coolest thing ever!  I love, love, love feeling them move!  I love staring at my belly and watching them take turns moving around.  They don't switch places, so it is HUGE movements, but they just jab, kick, flinch, stretch and who knows what else all the time.

Food cravings:  Greasy Cheese Balls!  

Symptoms:  Just the normal annoying Heartburn, that I have EVERY night!     

Anything making you queasy or sick: We went to the 4H fair and walked through the barns...and I almost had to leave the Hog barn.  However, I made it through!  

Labor Signs:    I have Braxton Hicks A LOT.  I remember having them with Cael really early also.  I asked the Dr. and she made it sound like it is normal and normal to feel them earlier with each pregnancy.  

Wedding rings on or off? On and we celebrated out 9 year anniversary on Wednesday shopping for two car seats. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Depends on who you ask...I think I'm happy.  Steve may tend to disagree!  It was really humid last week so I may have been a little moodier.  Bowen has also been having some rough days....I'm assuming it has to do with starting school in a few weeks, but holy buckets it does not help my happy mood!

Looking forward to:  Week 23! Our next appointment (Monday, technically today, but I'll write about that after I take my 23 week picture), getting the bunk beds ready for the boys, organizing the closets so I can start putting baby clothes in their room, and organizing the basement before these darlings come!

How are we EVER going to HANDLE FOUR under FIVE?!??!?

This story happened Saturday night so I have DEFINITELY calmed down since then BUT anyone that has kids will completely understand and those of you who don't...I hope I give you a good laugh!!  AND just an FYI this is a poop story! 

I was crabby, HOT and tired on Saturday!  And I am growing TWO HUMAN BEINGS so I am entitled to those days once in a while, right?  We just got done with supper, the kitchen was a COMPLETE mess, I was starting to give the boys a bath, and Steve had to finish mowing the lawn.  Cael, who is NOT potty trained yet, but did get an Elmo potty chair from his cousins decides he has to poop.  So I put him on the potty chair.  He goes...YAY, we all cheer and then I start their bath.  Thinking to myself, that went smoothly, maybe this is the answer to potty training him!!!!  WRONG!!!!  Not less than 3 minutes into their bath, there are two turds floating in the tub!!  Bowen starts laughing hysterically then starts screaming because they are floating towards him!  Cael isn't quiet sure what to think or do.  Meanwhile I am trying to remain calm, even though it is really hard to do because now I have to get both boys out of the tub, catch two turds, and refill the bathtub...and did I mention I felt like it was 90 degrees!   As I am letting the water out, trying to think of a good way to get the "prize" out Cael decides (once again) that he is not done.  So I put him on the potty chair again and he goes again.  Before I get a chance to grab the wipes he decides he wants to go in the big potty chair, stands up, and "things" start dripping on the floor!  I of course, have hit my breaking point, start yelling at him to sit back down, which then makes him step on and spread the "drippings" on the floor which then sends me OVER my breaking point, which makes Cael start crying/screaming,  "I WANT MY DIAPER!" and "HOLD ME MOMMY!" I try to regain control again, because now the HORRIBLE thoughts that are going through my mind are, "he will NEVER want to sit on the potty chair again", "I just ruined my child" and "now I will DEFINITELY have THREE kids in diapers!"  Once I finally get everything cleaned up, both boys back in the bathtub, I go outside, past the EXTREMELY messy kitchen, wonder  HOW THE HECK are we ever going to be able to handle 4, two being the same age, and vent to Steve, (who just doesn't quiet get it)!!!  After everything was cleaned up and I got a few deep breaths went back inside, finished baths and then tackled the kitchen with the help of Steve!  And EVERYTHING turned out just fine...well.... Cael still hasn't used the potty, but no one knows a 6 year old still in diapers right? 

Are You Serious?!

“Are you Serious?” “Are they Serious?” Are you serious?” Was the reaction my husband, Steve gave when he found out we were having twins! I went in for a routine check at 17 weeks and knew something was off, but wasn’t quite sure what it was.  I dreamed and felt like it was twins, but seriously what do I know?  And seriously when do dreams come true?   Apparently when you have a mother’s instinct go with it…chances are you are right!  I went by myself since it was just a routine checkup and when the nurse took me back she asked how I was doing and I of course answered, “I feel HUGE!” and she said you have a long ways to go for feeling that way already.  I stepped on the scale and the 5lbs it said I gained in the last month was definitely helping my case!  I already gained over 10lbs in this pregnancy, which I never gained quite this fast with my other 2 children…but just chalked it up to it being my 3^rd pregnancy, because that is what everyone else did.  The nurse was not concerned at all and again just said well this is your third baby (I heard that from EVERYONE!)   After checking my blood pressure and asking the typical “how’s everything been going” questions, she attempted to find the heartbeat.  I already felt the baby move so I knew it was in there.  However, she could not find a heartbeat, so as I am unconsciously holding my breath, because isn’t this what every pregnant woman does until they find that beautiful and unforgettable sound, she finally finds it all the way over almost to my right hip bone and I breathe a sigh of relief (but also curious on why the baby is all the way over there, but again what do I know?)

                After a few minutes of me pondering this, waiting for the Dr. to come in, in walks the intern that is with my Dr.  She says so I heard you are having concerns about your weight and how big you have gotten so we are going to check you out and make sure our due dates are not off.  She does an external check of the placement of my uterus and says we may be off by a few days, and again she makes me believe this is because everything is stretched out because this is MY THIRD BABY!  However, I did mention to her that I had dreams that I was pregnant with twins.  (I am pretty sure she thought I was nuts!)  Finally the Dr. comes in, does the same check and says yes I think you are measuring a little bit bigger, we will send you in for an ultra sound just to double check everything and since you had dreams make sure there isn’t one hiding somewhere!  WHOA….things are going to get real real fast and I am not sure I am ready to find out whether I am just going to have a HUGE baby or whether my dreams are about to come true.  I decided this would be a good time to call Steve and see where he was (he was driving home from work and has to pass the exit for the clinic on his way home).  I told him they were sending me in for an ultrasound and he may want to stop on his way home and “see” our baby! 

                They call me back and at this time I am starting to shake with nerves and excitement…1.)I get to see our baby for the first time (always, always an extremely cool experience)  2.) I get to see why the heck I feel so big!  And 3.) Steve is still not there, so I am getting nervous he is going to miss it.  I pull my shirt up and she puts the ooey gooey gel on my belly as I am staring at the screen I hear the ultrasound tech make a hmmmm sound and wonder what the heck that was for since I clearly see ONE baby on the screen.  As I am taking in the sight of my baby, the ultra sound tech starts talking about how everything looked good and she would come back to get more measurement on this baby and as she moves across my belly and says, Now lets take a look at your 2^nd baby…Congratulations you have TWINS!!!!!  I was SPEECHLESS!!!!   Every emotion you can feel falls over you all at once.  Then there is a knock at the door…oh shoot I just realized Steve doesn’t know yet!!!  He sits down next to me and can clearly see a baby on the screen and thinks to himself (he told me this later) so Abby was wrong there is only one baby.  So as the ultrasound tech is showing him the baby and I am stupidly grinning from ear to ear because I didn’t know what else to do she says to him well here is your baby…AND here is your SURPRISE, (moving the camera over to show baby #2).  You are having TWINS...Happy Late Father's Day!  He had a complete rush of adrenaline pass through him and says to the tech “Are you Serious?” then to me “Are they Serious?” and then back to her “Are you serious?”  “Wow, I can’t believe this!”  Then a little while later as we are watching our babies on the screen together he says out of the blue, “there’s no way 4 car seats are going to fit in the Trailblazer!”  A typical man thought! 

The feeling you have when they first tell you Congratulations you are having twins is one that I will hopefully never forget!  It is something packed with so much emotion, so much adrenaline, and is just indescribable and very difficult to put into words.  For me, I was on an emotional roller coaster the rest of my pregnancy…one minute overjoyed and the next  minute scared to death!!!  And so begins my pregnancy with twins…

Baby #1 (Bowen)

Baby #2 (Cael)

Baby #3 and #4