36 weeks 4 days

Not really feeling up to blogging much right now. Tired, huge, contractions, possible cold. Lots of fun. Less than a week to go. Here is my belly on Thanksgiving at 36 weeks 4 days! I can't believe I've made it this far. C-section scheduled for December 4th.

And yes, I am holding my belly up. That sucker is heavy.

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This is no joke you guys.

34 weeks and 5 days. This belly is currently holding two babies the size of butternut squash (almost 5 pounds each). Their average size is 17.2-18.7 inches. This explains why I seriously CANNOT BREATH. They have completely squashed my organs. I've read that even while on the operating table, I'll feel instant relief as they pull out the babies. I cannot wait for that. I also can't wait to be able to sleep (haha - I mean at least comfortably even if its only in 20 minute increments), walk normal, shower without feeling lightheaded, put on my shoes. The list goes on.

At my MFM appointment yesterday, Baby A got an A+ on her report card. She was doing great practicing her breathing. Heart rate of 161 bpm and estimated weight of 4lbs 2oz (+/- 10oz).

As for Baby B, she was being quite stubborn (like her Daddy, ahem). She did great on everything except her practice breathing. We did everything to get her going. I sat up, rolled to my left, rolled to my right, Dr. R shook her up with the ultrasound wand to wake her up. She wasn't having it. So I went and did my NST (non-stress test) for 30 minutes and on my way out Dr. R did another quick scan of her to see if she had decided to start practicing again. AND nothing. So he sent me home to eat lunch and grab something sweet and asked me to come back in 2 hours. Mike came home early and went back with me. Within 5 minutes of him starting the ultrasound, she was practicing like a good girl. Trouble maker. In the end she also received an A on her report card. Her heart rate was 146 bpm and she weighed in at 4lbs 12oz (+/- 11oz).

We've decided to schedule my c-section for 37 weeks so when I see my OB next week, she'll get it scheduled. I can't believe we are so close to the end. Yet it still seems so far for me. Seriously carrying two is no joke. I'm quite the spectackle when I go out in public. Even at the doctors office, with all the other pregnant ladies.

Home Stretch - 33 weeks

We've made it to 33 weeks. We "think" we are pretty much ready for the girls (except for our lack of diapers). I'm working on packing my hospital bag this week. We saw the girls last week and my low carb/high protein diet restriction has been lifted because Baby A is falling a bit behind on her weight gain, 3lbs 11oz. Baby B was 4lbs 8oz. I've been told to EAT, which is a lot harder then I ever thought. My mom has her ticket to fly out later this month and I can't wait. I'll also be working up until the 22nd.

Here I am yesterday at 33 weeks.

And since the girls are getting bigger, the ultrasound photo options are harder to come by. Here is Baby A yawning (or screaming for food).

Family/Maternity Photos {Twins at 29 weeks}

 

Photos by www.tiffanydanielphotography.com

 

Life update: October 2013

Last weekend as I rested at home, Mike took Courtney out to the pumpkin patch. If you know me, you know I hate missing things like this. But thankfully Mike took our Canon camera and took lots of pictures for me. He was Dadarazzi that day. When they got home Courtney also got a chance to paint a pumpkin.

Last Sunday I turned 31 weeks (I'm 32 weeks today). I took Monday as a sick day because I didn't feel like I had received enough rest over the weekend. At about 10:30am I called my doctors office because I was having some Braxton hicks contractions and was feeling a little anxious about it. They sent me to Labor & Delivery to be monitored. I was hooked up to the monitors to listen to their heartbeats and to check for contractions, they checked my cervix for dilation (still high, thick and closed...Amen!) and then also did a fetal fibronectin (fFN) test (A negative result on the fFN test means it's highly unlikely that you'll give birth in the next week or two, which can set your mind at ease and allow your practitioner to hold off on treatments that may not be needed. A positive result, on the other hand, is not as useful. It means you're at a higher risk of giving birth early, but it doesn't guarantee that you're about to give birth or that you'll deliver early at all, so it won't help your practitioner decide how to manage your situation.)

As far as contractions go, I had 4 the whole hour I was monitored. I felt two of them. Just tightening in my belly, no pain. As for my fFN test, it came back negative. So I was sent home to remain on modified bedrest and continue doing what I'm doing. I saw my doctor that Wednesday and she said everything looked great and to just hang in there. At 31 weeks 3 days I am up 24 pounds and my belly is measuring 35 weeks.

 

 

On Friday, Courtney got to wear her Halloween costume to ballet and they learned a little Monster Mash dance to share with the parents at the end of class. It was so cute. Courtney was so concerned about staying on her spot that she missed quite a few moves. It was adorable.

Halloween flash back. And 2013 costume reveal!

We made it through 3 Halloweens where mommy was able to choose costumes. I'm very proud of this. I knew that once Courtney was old enough to make her own decision on her costume, we'd be in the Princess stage for quite some time. That time finally came.

This year she has decided to be Rapunzel. It is also our first year that Grandma didn't make her costume. Not that I didn't want her to. She is very busy with making THREE quilts for her newest granddaughters (two of which are of course not here yet). My sister-in-law delivered a beautiful baby girl in September.

So instead of bothering her with a costume, we just ordered one from Etsy and called it a day.

Let's look back at Courtney's costumes starting in 2010.

My little Pumpkin (2010 - 4 months old)


My little Lamb (2011 - 16 months old)


Little Red Riding Hood (2012 - 2 years old)


Princess Rapunzel (2013 - 3 years old)

3rd Trimester. Where did you come from?

28 weeks. 28 weeks. 28 weeks. Holy cow!

I'm not sure I know where the 1st and 2nd trimesters went. But I am so thrilled to have made it to this milestone. Ninety percent of babies who make it to this stage of gestation survive. Long-term complications are still a possibility, however. We saw our MFM yesterday and the girls look amazing. They are measuring almost exactly the same with everything. They are both 2lbs 9oz which Dr. R says it absolutely perfect for a singleton, so for twins is great. They are both breech so I have both of their heads up in my ribs and all four feet kicking my hips and bladder. The fact that they are breech isn't really a big deal for me since I'll be having a repeat c-section. My next appointment to see them is on Halloween and I'll be 32 weeks. Mike almost choked when I said that. We can't believe we are getting so close to meeting these little girls. And if you're wondering, we still have those moments of "Holy cow, we're having two babies."





Here are the girls yesterday at 28 weeks 4 days. Baby A is on the right and Baby B is on the left.




How far along? 28 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 20 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Sleep? Not good. I've taken benedryl a few times. I just try not to do it too much.
Best moment this week? Seeing the girls yesterday. I got to see one of the baby's blink (can't remember who it was).
Movement: Yes. I actually went to labor and delivery last Thursday because I mentioned that they weren't moving as much as usual. So I was monitored for a few hours and they passed with flying colors. Just giving me anxiety.
Food cravings: Cereal and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Still things I can't have.
Gender: Baby Girls!
Belly button in or out? Out!
What I miss? Sleep, getting out of the house, sweets, and being able to do housework. (same as last time)
What I am looking forward to? Our family/maternity photos this weekend. Yay!
Milestones: 28 week milestone! Yay!