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.