Pregnancy Update - 34 Weeks

Everyone keeps asking for more pictures of me...really, 34 weeks with twins and you want to see a picture?  Ok, here it goes.  Don't be too scared.

(Shane said this picture above makes me look short...I kind of agree.  I guess when you have that big of a stomach that you would look shorter right?)

Lots has happened this week:

• I had an ultrasound this week.  The babies look great, lots of fluid around them and they are measuring great.  In fact they told me the estimates for their weights are 5lbs 7oz and 6 lbs 5 oz.  I don't believe they are that big for a minute.  And they did say at this stage the estimates are usually off.  But I thought I would write it down so we could compare once they are born.
• I didn't post about this before, but we had a little concern with baby B a few weeks back that she had a cyst on her bladder.  There were different types it could be with the worst being that they would need to operate on her as soon as she was born.  Well, the next appt. it had shrunk a lot and at this last appt. it has completely disappeared.  We are so happy that she won't have to have surgery to get it removed and they think it was just a cyst from all the hormones going on inside me.
• I had an NST (non-stress test) where they measure the babies heart rates, movements and contractions.  Heart rates and movements were great but I was having some pretty regular contractions for the 30 mins they monitored me.
• So then I met with my doctor and I found out that I am 2+cm dialated and 80% effaced (sorry if you don't want to read those details)
• So between that and the contractions they decided to take me out of work and put me on bedrest.
• I also got that steroid shot they give people to help develop the babies lungs faster in case they are to come this early.
• I've dropped (maybe you can tell from the picture) and I've been feeling pretty nauseous this week, fun!

I am 34 weeks, and would really, really like to make it past 36 weeks.  So I'm trying to take it easy.  I had a lot of contractions that day but these last 2 days no major contractions.  So I'm hoping things will stay settled and I can hang out pregnant for a while longer.  Funny how perspective changes.  Last week I was so done being pregnant and now they say I could go into labor at any moment and I'm all freaked out, not to have the babies but because I want the babies to stay in as long as possible so they are as healthy as can be when they're born.  I really, really want them to come home with me and not have to stay in the NICU when they're born.

So that's the update...we're on a day by day basis here.  Bags are pretty much packed just in case but hoping not to use them for a couple weeks.

Nursery Table

A couple years ago Shane's sister gave us a table she no longer wanted.  It's only about 2 feet tall and I always thought it would be perfect for when we had kids that they could use to color on, etc.  So a couple months ago I decided to work on it to paint it and put in the nursery.  It turned out to be a much harder project than I had anticipated cuz of the curves in the legs, etc. but with some perseverance and help from Shane I think it turned out rather cute...if you don't look at it too close.  Promise if you come over you'll look at it from a distance and not inspect it too close! :)

Before picture:

After pictures:

I am going to put up more pictures of the nursery, I promise.  Still need to put some things away, etc. before I can take some good pictures.

Picnic?

Last Saturday Shane and I were so bored sitting in the house.  There isn't much I can do these days active wise.  I get tired, my feet start to swell or it causes me to start having contractions.  So at the last minute we decided to take a little picnic and go up to Silver Lake at Brighton.  So we jumped in the car, grabbed some KFC and headed up the canyon.

Before we even hit the canyon entrance, dark clouds started rolling in and we could see out west that it was going to rain.  We decided to try and beat the storm so we still drove up.  We jumped out to the sound of thunder but no rain yet.  We grabbed the nearest bench and scarfed our food down...very quickly.  Then we jumped up, took a picture and as we got to the car we felt the first few rain drops.

So it was a quick trip up the canyon but it was still nice to get out of the city even if it was only for about 20 minutes.

I can read

Ever since being pregnant, I have been busy reading lots of books.  Books on pregnancy, books on twin pregnancy, books on caring for twins, books on twins sleeping schedules, etc.  If I wasn't reading one of those books then I was either too tired or too busy doing other things pregnancy related.  I all of the sudden felt burnt out on reading books like that....

So when my sister offered me an easy, good, fiction book to read, I took it, not really knowing if I would read it or have time to read it.  Well I picked it up and I all of the sudden was soo happy to be reading a fiction book again.  First fiction book of the year, literally.  It's called Hope's Journey and was written by a friend of my sister, Michelle. I loved it and really enjoyed reading it.  It's geared more towards High School kids but it didn't matter, I still really enjoyed it.

It was so nice to come home from work and pick up a good book to read and relax for a few minutes.

Anyways, just had to share that I still love reading...do you think I'll get any other books read this year, fiction or not?

Expectant Mothers Parking

You might remember a few years ago that some signs started showing up in parking lots that had reserved spots for expectant mothers. I always thought it was a good idea but I’m sure a lot of people didn’t use them because slowly they started disappearing again. I always wanted to use one but since being pregnant have not seen one. I even mentioned to Shane a few weeks ago that it sure would be nice to have those spots back now as it gets harder and harder to walk around for very long.


Saturday we stopped at Best Buy to do some shopping and as I came around the corner looking for a spot to park, low and behold a spot that I thought would be handicap because it had a blue sign was not handicap but instead said ‘Reserved for Expectant Mothers.’ I was so excited, I pulled right in, so excited I could finally use my ‘expectant’ status for a parking place. Of course I had to immediately get out and take a picture of it.

Here’s a shout out to Best Buy in Murray for having the sign posted. It made my day. I think I might go back this week and shop again!

Pink and Green

My 3rd shower was a ward shower that was hosted by Alex. Alex was one of my laurels and just finished her first year at Utah State. When she was in my class she would ask me again and again when I was getting pregnant. I still had some time to wait before getting the go ahead but that didn’t stop her from wanting me to be pregnant. I even had to lie to her right when I found out I was pregnant and she was home visiting one weekend. When I finally announced she was so excited for me and immediately told me she wanted to throw me a shower. She did an amazing job. Alex, her mom, and Becky (our YW Pres. at the time) all helped out. My neighbors and friends were so generous and giving and I feel lucky to be friends with them all. My girls are going to be the best dressed girls in town after this shower.

Such a cute idea, they hung a clothes line and hung up all the clothes I got so everyone could see.  And look at the tasty cupcakes and sugar cookies, they were both sooo good!

Becky made this fabulous diaper cake.  So cute!

Thanks Alex, Lori, and Becky, you are all the best!!

2 Peas in a Pod

My family and Brigitte threw me a friends and family shower last week. It was the cutest shower. My sisters have been talking about this shower since I announced I was pregnant. They came up with the cutest idea and the theme was perfect, 2 peas in a pod. Everything centered around the theme and it was so cute. The food was delicious and it was fun seeing so many friends and family. I was a little worried that with summer vacations that not that many people would come but we had a great turn out and it was a perfect evening.

My sister Christy was in town and leaving in a couple days so we planned it around when she could be here for it. It just so happened that the best night was also my mom’s birthday. Thanks Mom for sharing your birthday with me for the twins.

The shower was a huge success and I loved all the blankets, outfits and gear that everyone was so nice to give me for these girls.

A HUGE thanks to my sisters, mom and Brigitte!  Such a fun night to celebrate the upcoming arrival of these girls.

 

These are the take home gifts Brigitte made

The infamous fleece blankets that every grandchild on my side of the family gets.  This is #16 and #17.  That's a lot of fleece blankets made over the years.

Pregnancy Update – 31 Weeks

I’m 31 weeks pregnant and really feeling it. I thought I would be totally miserable by this point and although I’m pretty uncomfortable, I guess I’m not as miserable as I thought I would be. Ask me again in a week or so as each day seems to get worse and each day I’m more sick of being pregnant and uncomfortable.

I can officially balance a glass of Orange Juice on the top of my stomach, yes I’ve tried it. And recently I’ve been able to eat my cereal in the mornings while balancing my cell phone on my stomach and checking my email and playing my new favorite game, Words with Friends. I know, I’m so talented.

I have days where I am so excited for the girls to get here and be able to meet them, hold them and take care of them. And then I definitely have days where I’m totally freaked out with the thought of what we’re going to do with 2 babies to take care of. It’s a little overwhelming.

My doctor is saying to plan on sometime between 35-37 weeks and they would induce me after 37 weeks, so we’re definitely on the countdown. Next week I go in for an ultrasound and then I start weekly Non-stress tests from there forward. Baby A is still breech, while Baby B is head down. Unless Baby B pushes her way down a little, they don’t think Baby A will flip at this point, so it’s looking more like a c-section for me. I’m open to whatever and never had my heart set on a particular birth. So I’m fine with whatever the safest way is to get them here.

And I’m going to make an official declaration. People keep asking me what we are going to name the girls. Well, we’ve known the names we liked for quite a while but weren’t completely sure until more recently. So, my declaration is: Yes we know the names, but we aren’t telling people until they are born. Yeah, sorry about that, it bugs, I know.

Things I like about being pregnant:

• Shane saying in a loud voice ‘Hi Girls, it’s Daddy.’ Or ‘Girls be good to mom so she can get some sleep.’ It’s So. Dang. Cute. He wants to make sure they will recognize his voice.
• I’m never cold…everyone thought I would die in the hot summer, and although it’s hot, it’s nice going to work and not being freezing all day long.
• My skin hasn’t broken out since the day I got pregnant, it’s heaven.
• Being able to drink so much water – I’m not a water drinker, or beverage drinker of any kind. I would just rather not drink much. I always feel kind of guilty about it so it’s been nice to be so thirsty and I carry a blue jug around with me everywhere now.
• Decorating, shopping and organizing the nursery. Although it’s a total mess right now, it’s been fun. I’ll do a separate post with pictures when things look more organized.
• Ultrasounds – I’ve been lucky to have so many ultrasounds this pregnancy. I’m sure I just take them for granted and to those who only get 1 or 2 their entire pregnancy, I don’t know how you do it. At the last ultrasound we were focused right on Baby A’s face when she gave us a huge yawn. It was so cute to watch. Unfortunately pictures don’t do it justice but it’s so fun to watch them move around.

Things about being pregnant that I don’t care for:

• Having to go to the bathroom all the time. Because I’m not much of a drinker, I don’t normally go to the bathroom all that often. People call me a camel because although not good for you, I can wait a really long time before having to go to the bathroom. Now, it’s totally opposite and has taken a lot of adjustment!
• Being out of breath – not only from walking up a flight of stairs, but sometimes just walking across a parking lot while talking on the phone totally makes me out of breath.
• Heartburn and burping – the burping is never ending. Heartburn, enough said, it’s annoying.
• Sore body – Now I know why pregnant women waddle, I never really got it. It’s cuz everything is just so dang sore. My hips, my back, my legs, my feet…after sitting for even short amounts of time, I get up and it’s so hard to start walking, so I have to waddle until things stretch out a bit.
• People that know when I’m due, asking when I’m due - like they think it’s changed just because I’m so big. I’ve considered a sign on my t-shirt that gives how many weeks I have left but haven’t dared to do it yet. I know everyone is just excited, but by the end of the day, I feel like I’ve answered that question 100 times.

Sorry if you think some of this is TMI…just stating the facts.  Wow, I didn't realize I had so much to update. I have another ultrasound a week from today so I'll post again the end of next week.

Summer Events

So, let’s see what I’ve been up to, besides being pregnant.

My parents got home from their mission the very end of June. It’s nice having them back in town and because of it we’ve been having a lot of family get togethers. My sister Christy was in town for 2 weeks in July and so it was one get together after another. We always have a good time, and I just realized we didn’t get a family picture of all of us together...dumb.

For the 4th of July we had an early dinner at my parent’s house and then some of my family all went over to Sandy to watch fireworks while the other half stayed and did fireworks in the neighborhood. We ended up getting really good seats and in fact twice we had to stomp out ash as it fell down on us (once on Shane’s foot) because it was so close and still flaming red.

My brother and sister in law had their baby. Max Goold was born on 7/11 (cool birthday huh?) He is so adorable. He came out with the thickest brown hair that at his first bath the nurses put it in a faux hawk. It’s been fun being pregnant at the same time as Whitney and comparing notes on pregnancy symptoms, what each other is buying, etc. When I heard she was going to the hospital and was in labor my first thought was ‘oh crap, that means I’m next.’

Picture of Max and my niece Ella, I stole the picture from my sisters blog because I just realized I don't have any!!!

Shane’s mom has also been in town, so it’s been fun seeing family from both sides of our family lately. She leaves this week but will be back when the babies are born.

We had Draper days and went both nights this year. The first night we walked across trying to find a good place to sit and I swear it felt like everyone was staring at me, like why are you here, shouldn’t you be at the hospital having a baby? Then we sat down right next to a girl with boy/girl 8 month old twins. So it was fun talking to her for a bit.

We’ve also been to a few concerts in the park and even went to a play at the new Draper Ampitheatre.

So you can see, we have been busy. I’m so glad I’ve been feeling so good to go and do all these things as it would’ve made summer go by so slow had I been forced to be on bed rest.

Showering

I have been showered and showered and showered again this summer. I have some amazing family and friends.

My first shower was back the end of May. The laurels in my ward wanted to throw me a shower for a class activity. It was such a fun night. First of all, so many of them came. It was so fun to see them all and just catch up with what has been going on in their lives. Several of them were graduating the following week so we had to fit it in before they graduated and the busy summer started.

Debbie and Shyloh did such a good job. They had yummy food, a bundt cake that I loved and then we played a couple games. They each brought a baby picture of themselves and we had to guess who was who. I was terrible at the game. Then we took some yarn and they had to cut the yarn according to how big around my stomach I was. It was pretty funny to see how big some girls thought I was.

The girls were all so generous and most of them got me gifts, which I had told them was just optional. But it was fun to see what each person picked out and they did such a good job picking things out.

 

Is anyone still out there?

Has it really been over a month?  Are you so sick of me not posting?  I am!

I'm 31 weeks today!  So sometime this week I promise to update you.  I've been busy.  With what you ask?  I've been shopping, organizing, resting, playing, spending time with family, showering (baby showers that is), growing, and growing!

Posts are coming, I promise...even a 31 week pregnancy picture.