33 Weeks and Mack

How I spend a lot of my time, now. Mack and I are watching a movie. Notice how his slushes and cars are watching the movie, too.

I am posting in the dark, because it is now 5:48 am, and I can't sleep. I think my body is conditioning for what is to come. So, hopefully everything is spelled correctly and makes sense!

Things with the pregnancy are going well. I have not been put on bed rest and have not been given any restrictions since my last appointment, which I am so grateful for! I can still do things such as wash the dishes, crawl on the floor and get up with out too much help, and put on my own seat belt. I can even still cut my own toenails! Compared to my last pregnancy, I feel about as mobile/immobile as I did during my last weeks. The only difference is that I require a lot more rest and still have 3 to 5 weeks left. The past four weeks have flown, though, so I am thinking it won't drag on; mostly because I am so nervous for their arrival.

On my Tuesday appointment, both girls are head down, which means I don't have to have a C-Section. My doctor said, baby A is pretty much staying head down and if baby B flips, again, he'll try to turn her. If that doesn't work he'll deliver her feet first.

Also, they are each weighing in at 4lbs. 8oz. which is pretty good.

Nobody said anything about how soon they can be born. I am hoping to deliver between the 22nd and 30th of January. Chad's birthday is the 31st, so we are hoping to miss that day for delivery. Even though the majority of our family would have the same birthday, Chad pointed out that they already have to share the day, so he prefers they were born on a different day.

I now have appointments once a week at the hospital for NST's (Non-Stress Tests). They basically monitor your blood pressure, contractions, and the babies' pulse. Every other week, I will visit my doctor. It's getting sooo close!

One thing I have been reflecting on lately, is how much I am going to miss the peace and quiet I currently have. Every night around 8:30, we get Mack in his jammies and either play a game, or read a book. Then we say prayers and he goes to bed. Mack usually requests that one of us cuddle with him for a little while. After that I am free to go to bed, read a book, or cuddle with Chad while he watches his shows until I have fallen asleep.

For Christmas, Chad bought me 4 books on twins: one called Juggling Twins; two breastfeeding books; and one on how to get twins on a good sleeping schedule. I am feeling much calmer after reading some of these, even feeling a bit more excited about them coming. Mack talks about their birth almost daily and tells me he is ready for them to be born. Mostly, because he also mentions daily that "after the twins are born, we get to go to Lagoon!" I have to remind him that we can't go until all the snow has melted.

I can feel the babies moving around a lot more, but not kicking and punching as much. There really isn't a whole lot of room for that, anymore. They are also getting to the point that I can feel distinct bumps in my tummy. It is fun to guess which body part it is and move it around.

Mack is soooo proud of his new Buzz Lightyear pajamas. Notice the body position of the two following pictures... kind of funny.

Making a snow angel after the first snowfall.

Latest and Greatest

On Tuesday, I had an appointment with the perinatologist (the babies doctor while in the womb).  

• According to the ultrasound, the girls are growing very well and are one week ahead on their growth.  
  
• Addie weighs in at 3 lbs. 1 oz., and Lydia is at 3 lbs. 2 oz.  
• The doctor said, if I rest a lot then they can come home with me at 36 weeks.  That's only 7 weeks away!  
• So, that means no more shopping (Christmas?????).  Today I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items and decided I can never walk around that long during this pregnancy again.  Bring on the wheelchair!
• That also means I can't travel very far, either, because sitting too long can cause blood clots in my legs.
• They also found that Addie might have a problem with her kidneys and bladder.  Apparently the opening of the tubes that drain into the bladder are a bit big, indicating they have a difficult time draining.  They will continue to monitor the size of the opening through ultrasounds.  If they are still big by her second year, they will do surgery to insert a "straw" in each tube that will help drain the kidney.  If it isn't done, she will just be more susceptible to bladder infections.  So, it isn't really anything to stress about and the doctor said, it usually goes away on its own.  
  

Over Thanksgiving, we went to Chad's sister's house in Rigby, Idaho.   It was a fun trip, but we all got sick with a flu.  It effected only a couple people at a time and it's still running through the family.  I caught it on Friday night and ended up in the hospital Saturday morning due to contractions from lack of rest and dehydration.  I was given an IV and anti-nausea medication, which stopped the contractions and gave me the ability to sleep; FINALLY!  What a "vacation!"  

How I am Feeling

26 weeks and a new haircut.

I was planning on keeping my hair long during this pregnancy, but my skin and hair are so dry, I had to chop 6 inches off!  Every time I brushed by hair, there was breakage all over the sink that looked like I had just completed a men's haircut.  So sad, but it'll be healthy and out of the way for now.

These past couple of weeks have been interesting.  Some days I have felt great and have gotten a lot accomplished.  Other days aren't quite as lucky.  

Accomplishments:

• Organized some baby clothes.
• Bought a few gifts for Mack for Christmas.
• Made a Thanksgiving/Christmas countdown chain for Mack.
• Decided what to do for parents for Christmas and finished one of the projects.
• Made a pinewood derby car for Mack to race at the Elder's Quorum activity.
• Learned how to make pie crust (thanks to Alicia and Beckie; 2 sisters-in-law).
• Hung up my kitchen cabinet doors.
• Put together the crib.
• Cleaned Mack's room (again).
• More de-cluttering (I swear I work on something constantly!)
• Organized my crafts and shelf above the washer/dryer.

Wow, I didn't realize I've done so much lately!  That makes me happy.

Problems:

• I went to Costco and WalMart the other day to do some grocery shopping and get some Christmas ideas.  By the time I was finished, I was completely exhausted!  My legs and back hurt and I couldn't walk anymore.  Luckily, Chad got home just as I was pulling in and was able to get Mack out of the car, unload the groceries, and make dinner.  I love him!  From this experience, I realize I can no longer go shopping for longer than a 1/2 hour... :(
• Last week, I had one really busy day where I wasn't able to sit down and rest.  I wasn't paying attention to my contractions or babies' movements during the day.  So, when I finally stopped, I noticed the contractions were a little frequent.  Long story short, I called my doctor, went in for a non-stress test (basically, they strap monitors to the belly and listen to the heart beats and watch for contractions), and was sent home.  Everything was fine.  As soon as I laid in that hospital bed, the contractions stopped.  The did a few, simple tests and they all came back just fine.  It was a relief to find out that I am still doing a great job taking care of these babies.

I am feeling very blessed at this point to still be able to get around and take care of my family (most of the time).  The doctor hasn't put me on any sort of bed rest and I feel like my body is strong enough to handle the next 11 weeks.  Even though I am very sore a lot of the time, I can still do most things; I just can't push myself too hard.  All in all, I have to say that a multiple pregnancy is a lot harder than most people realize.  It's funny how typical pregnancy books and websites state that a multiple pregnancy is pretty similar to a singleton... "just add more calories to your diet and get a bit more rest."  If only they really knew what it was like.

Just for fun, here are some fun pictures.  Mack posed his Slushes and took this fantastic picture.  Baby Slush is hugging Mama Slush.

In this picture, he was eating a cupcake and decided to use the frosting to make himself look like Grandpa Gale.  He is really funny about Grandpa Gale's "pokey whiskers." 

Silly Mack

This lovely thing is the love of Mack's life.  She is a character from the Nick Jr. show, Lazy Town.  He frequently reminds me, "I have a crush on Stephanie, Mom."  The other day I asked him what a crush meant.  His reply was that it means he thinks she is really cool, nice, funny, and beautiful.  Most of the time when he calls her beautiful, he whispers it... as if he were speaking reverently.  He also LOVES that she has pink hair.  Last time I had my hair done he asked me if I would please make it pink.   

More Silliness:

• Chad made a mixture of grape juice/apple juice/medicine for Mack.  He was drinking it and I said, "Mack, you have the best daddy in the world.  He made this drink special for you."  Mack replied, "Oh Dad, you are so sweet.  I could just drink you up!  Gunk, gunk, gunk... Juicy!"
  
• While washing his hands the other day, I explained to Mack the importance of using warm water.  My nose was scrunched talking about how gross germs are.  Mack was listening so carefully and watching me so closely.  He caught me off guard when he said, "You look like a rabbit!"  I guess with my nose scrunched, teeth showing, and hair straight down at the sides, I really did resemble a rabbit!
• After that he said, "Mom, you're a little stinker!"
• I cut his hair on Friday.  After he checked it out in the mirror, he can stomping out of my room, exclaiming, "Ahhhh!  You RUINED it!  I don't like it!"  He continued to say that, until I styled it for him.  Then he liked it just fine.
• When we were looking through recent pictures of himself, he said, "Wow.  I have a big head!"  It was just because he needed a haircut so desperately.  

I just love being the mom to this little boy!  He makes me laugh SO much.  Plus he is very loving.  Every time I sit by him, he loves to hold my hand.  He also flashes "I love you" in sign language to me and kisses me often.  He also enjoys cuddling with me every night while he falls asleep and tells me, "Mom, I really like you when you cuddle with me."  I know this phase won't last forever, so I am soaking it up while I can.

Twin Update, again.

Today was another day of doctor's appointments. The twins are doing great and growing well.

Interesting Info:

• One is measuring 1lb. 7oz. and the other is at 1lb. 9oz.
• Both are sort of head down. One is actually considered head down and the other is one its way. I am very excited about this, because my chances of a C-Section are less.
• I am starting to get a small feel for their personalities. The one we call Addie is pretty still. She seems very calm and doesn't move as much.
• Lydia is a bit more active... okay a lot more active. Plus, she is sprawled out with her head in my lower right side, curving around to the left side, with a bum sticking out the left side, and feet curving back to my right under my ribs.
• Addie is very scrunched, thanks to her sister, and mostly takes up room on my right side. Her head is right next to Lydia's, just a bit higher, and her feet are curled around to my right side next to Lydia's.
• In one picture I saw today, all that could be seen was four little feet jumbled together.
• They still don't know if they are identical or fraternal. We could spend lots of money to have them genetically tested to find out, or wait until they are about 3 to 6 months old to see if they begin to look alike. I was told if other people can't tell them apart when they reach that age, then they are most likely identical.

My body:

• My stomach is big enough that I can't just get on the floor to pick stuff up. I usually slide from the bed/couch/chair to the floor, then stay on my knees until everything is picked up. In public, Mack does all the bending for me.
• I have reached a whopping 35 pound gain! I have about 5 to 15 more pounds to go before I really have to worry. But, as I am reaching my last trimester, I am not too worried. I didn't gain any weight in the 3rd trimester with Mack, and hoping it's about like that with this pregnancy.
• I can still squeeze into some of my pre-pregnancy pants.
• I am still having contractions and cramps and am very achy where the bones in my hips are starting to stretch.
• But, my cervix is VERY closed and long, so I don't have to worry about having these babies any time soon! Yeah!
• This month I have been feeling pretty well. The fatigue is beginning to subside and I can actually stay busy, with out dying in the middle of the day. But, I do die at the end of the day... :/
• My doctor told me he was very pleased with my progress and health today. Huge relief!

We had a fun halloween, starting with a fantastic ward party/chili cook off. I hardly saw Mack the whole 3 hours we were there. He was having a blast playing games and playing in the Spook Tunnel. After the party, he took off his clothes and refused to go trick-or-treating. After about 15 minutes, we began to get trick-or-treaters, so he got dressed, ate dinner, and then decided it was time to go. I drove while Chad and Mack walked door-to-door. It was quite fun.

The Train Engineer.

So, this picture has a funny story. If any of you have watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown you'll understand a bit better. Basically, Charlie Brown gets a rock at every house he tricks-or-treats at. Mack found this super amusing, so when we went to visit Chad at work on Friday to trick-or-treat, Chad gave Mack a rock (along with some candy, later). Mack thought it was the BEST thing in the world! He laughed about it for quite a while and then showed everyone his cool rock. In the picture, he is showing us his rock, but trying to be sad about it.

Lately, he can't take "normal" pictures. He always wants to be silly, so here are a couple of his latest and greatest.

Trying to put his shirt on himself... upside-down.

Long awaited...

Mack took pictures of me today, with the help of the tripod.  He insisted that I take a silly one, first, then he would take a regular picture.  So, without further ado, here are the long awaited pregnancy photos...

Almost 24 weeks.

Carving pumpkins at the Wohan's.

Such a precious face for such a silly boy!

This is how he watches TV lately.  Sitting on top of the couch, with his Slushes.   Notice the one on the right (aka Mama slush) is missing her nose...

October...

Not a whole lot has been going on around here.  Getting ready for the babies and holidays has sent me into a nesting phase, so I have been busy on little projects here and there.  Although I use up lots of energy when working, it's been worth it.  

Bathroom:  Chad still has the little things to finish that I don't know how to do.  This means there were little tools scattered everywhere.  I finally condensed them all to one pile, which now covers my entire dryer's surface.  Someday, he'll find the time to finish...  Here are some pics of the almost finished project.  It is hard to take pics of such small spaces.  Mack is super excited that he can wash his own hands, now, and can watch himself in the mirror.  He is actually washing his face, legs, and arms, too.  I'll try to get better pictures later.

My bedroom: Before we moved in, the previous tenants painted the walls (hideous colors) and then heavily smoked.  We evicted them and had to move in quickly, so we threw primer all over the walls and floor boards, since we had to replace the carpet, too.  I've always worked on other projects and saved my room till last.  I just couldn't imagine not finishing it before the twins are born, so I tackled the project, even though it took me three weeks and caused lots of contractions.  A big thanks to Aubrey and Elle for helping me!

This purple was the color of the walls before the primer.

Mack helping with the project.

His finished picture of a dog.  It sort of looks like a lion to me.

This is what happens when I have to take a nap and it becomes really quiet.  Thank goodness it got cold that week, so he couldn't wear shorts!

Shaurie and Mike were here this week and helped me clean my storage, car port, and patio.  Getting ready for winter!  Also, Mike hung my shelf in my kitchen!  I bought it a year ago, but couldn't decide which color to paint it.  At first it was black, then antique white.  In the end we ended up sanding parts of it, so the black could show through.  So cute!!!  Thanks Mike and Shaurie!

My quaint kitchen.  

Mack:  He's been a super funny boy, lately.  Everyday, he refers to me a Marina (from the Fresh Beat Band on Nickelodeon).  The other day he said, "Hey Marina!  Let's pretend you are Ruby, and I am Max!"  Max and Ruby is another show he likes.  As if we weren't already pretending!  The best, though... Yesterday we were in the car on our way to Salt Lake.  He was being very serious and asked me, "Do you have a super hero in your life?"  I didn't think I heard him right, because of the way he said it.  I laughed and said, "Only you, buddy."  He then replied, "What about Spartacus?"

He also talks to the girls daily and gives them all kinds of advice.  "Hey Babies!  When you come out of mom's tummy, you are going to have to get a flu shot and be really, really brave." or "Babies, I am really tall and really, really big and I can run really fast.  And I am brave."  or he kisses my tummy and tells them he loves them.  The other day he asked how they came out of my tummy.  I explained the best I could, without giving too much info to a three year-old.  In the end, he told the babies, "When you come out, you'll have to travel down mom's pants and come out the bottom by her feet."  That's not what I told him, but it's how he imagined it, I guess.

Also, my sweet mom-in-law broke her arm last week.  She fell getting out to the car at a fabric store.  She told Mack over the phone how she broke her arm when she fell on the pavement.  Later, Mack explained to Chad how grannie's arm fell off and it was the "penguin's" fault.  Penguin- pavement.  I guess they sound the same...

The twins and I are doing well; just pretty tired and not very mobile.  Shaurie and I went to IKEA yesterday, and she pushed me around in a wheel chair.   Sort of fun, but I got a little motion sick and it was frustrating to not be able to get around the aisles very well.  Someday, I'll add pictures of my belly.  It is just tricky to get a good picture right now, since I don't get ready everyday and sometimes you can't see the belly in the picture.  Someday...

Next doctor's appointment is Nov. 3rd.  Maybe I'll add pictures then.