34 Week Update

Once again, I'm a little late in posting an update for week 34 (since I'll be 35 weeks in 2 days).  Anyways, I went to see my regular OB/GYN on Friday and things are progessing well.  The babies are doing good.  My blood pressure is good and I don't have much swelling in the legs at all (except for at the end of a work day when my feet will get puffy...but nothing to be concerned about).  My cervix was 1 cm dialated and 50% effaced.

 

I have an appointment with both of my doctors this coming Friday.  First I'll see my regular OB/GYN at 12 and then my perinatologist at 1:40pm.  The specialist will do an ultrasound to make a final determination on the babies' positions to see if Lizzie has moved head down like her brother so I can have a vaginal birth.  If she's still transverse like she was last time, then c-section it is.  Either way, we'll be determining a final date to schedule a c-section (or inducement).  I'm pretty much done and physically miserable.  Walking hurts, sleeping hurts, sitting hurts.  I'm still having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing consistent or regular.  On Saturday night, John and I were watching a movie and I had one and you could see this mound build on the top of my stomach...that was wierd. 

 

We're getting so close and I'm getting pretty anxious.  Can't wait to meet these little babies.

33 Week Update

I'm a little late in posting this update since I was 33 weeks last Wednesday...but, better late than never.  I went to see my perinatologist on Friday and had an ultrasound done.  The whole appointment was very rushed because the doctor had been called in for a surgery and they actually cut appointments off with me being the last she'd see until after the surgery.  The nurses were telling other patients in the waiting room that they'd have to come back later and I kept expecting them to tell me the same thing but thank goodness I was able to get in because I did not want to have to come back.  They probably felt bad considering how visibly obvious it is that I'm uncomfortable and it's not easy getting around.

 

Anyways, the ultrasound showed both babies doing great and gaining weight.  Each were just under 5 lbs.  Liam is still in the same position as last time, head down, closes to the exit.  Lizzie has turned but not so she'd be head down.  No, Lizzie wants to be transverse, back down and head facing up towards my rib cage.  Dr. Adam said that this is the worst position a baby can be in to even try a vaginal delivery.  So, unless Lizzie decides she wants to turn head down between now and go time, looks like I'll be having a C-section.  That's okay though, I've kind of been expecting that.  I think we're looking at another 2 to 3 weeks before these babies decide to make their debut. 

 

I'm doing alright.  I sit in the recliner most of the time and don't get out much.  I'm still working a few days a week from the office and it's been okay.  Sleeping is difficult.  I get up every few hours to use the restroom and have to turn over quite often because my hip will start to hurt.  I've come to peace with the fact that a full nights sleep is very far in the future for me.

 

I am so excited for these babies to arrive and can't believe it's only a few weeks away. I'll be 34 weeks in just a couple of days and will give another update after my next doctor's appointment on Friday.

The Twins' Nursery

We've got Lizzie and Liam's nursery about 99% completed and I wanted to share a few pictures of what it looks like.  We didn't change much of the decor from when it was Jocelyn's nursery, but we did add a few extra touches.  I made the monogram letters for above each crib and the canvases with their names on it above the dresser.  John hung up the cameras above each crib and I'm excited to get to use these.  We didn't have the video monitor with Jocelyn and I figured it might be good to have with twins since we'd be able to actually see which baby was fussing instead of trying to decipher crying sounds. 

 

Its funny that the room seemed so big when it was just Jocelyn's but with two babies and all their things, it doesn't quite feel so big.  The closet is filled to the brim and every drawer overflowing (not really....but I'm scared to open one and let everything come pouring out).  We are blessed to have wonderful family and friends who have given us so much for the twins. 

 

My nephew Owen graduated to a big boy bed and so we get to use his crib for Liam.  The cribs don't match in style, but the colors are pretty darn close.  It doesn't bother me at all that it doesn't match and I think it turned out really great.  We'll see how functional it all is once the babies are here and we're actually using all the things in the room for them.

A few more weeks and these precious babies will be here.  I can't wait to get to hold them and take care of them!

32 Week Update

Today I reached the 32 week mark and that is a very exciting milestone.  I will admit though that I'm miserable and very uncomfortable all the time.  Despite the discomfort I want to go at least another 3 weeks (preferably 5 weeks) so these babies can get as big and strong as possible.  The heartburn has really been flaring up bad the last few days and I've been getting a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions.  Physically I'm completely drained and I can't seem to focus on anything for more than a few minutes, kind of a bad thing when you're still working and trying to figure out Health Care Reform.  I have a doctor's appointment on Friday with my OB/GYN.  I'm hoping she starts checking my cervix on a weekly basis since I'm getting closer to the end and because I'm not a good judge of reading the signs for pre-term labor.  It's true that twin pregnancies don't last as long as singleton, but with twins (or more) you really are full term (size wise) for 2 to 3 times longer and that's the hardest part.

On the bright side, the nursery and other baby items are about 95% ready.  I have a few more things on my to-do list and hope to get those knocked out this weekend so I'll be totally prepared for when Liam and Lizzie get here.  We even had our whole outside painted and new gutters installed.  House looks great.  This is something that has been on our list since we moved in to the house 4 years ago, but we wanted to do it Dave Ramsey style and pay cash.  Next house project will be John putting together a play set for Jocelyn in the backyard (once it is delivered).  She'll be so excited and it will be wonderful to have somewhere she can go play outside since we don't have a park in our neighborhood. 

I'll update again after the doctor's appointment on Friday.

31 Week Update

Today I am 31 weeks pregnant!  So glad to be at this point and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer.  As with any pregnancy, you never know when delivery will happen and this rings especially true with twins.  I'm measuring full term for a single baby already and its at this point where a woman's body might think it's time to go even though two babies have not really reached full term.  I had an appointment yesterday with my perinatologist (9:20 appointment and I didn't even see the doctor until 10:40...a whole topic in and of itself).  The appointment went well.  The babies are growing perfectly, Lizzie is about 3 lbs 13 oz and Liam is about 3 lbs 15 oz.  Liam is vertex (head down), closest to the exit, but Lizzie is breech and it's unknown whether she'll be able to turn or not...there's not much room in there anymore.  We were able to get a picture of Lizzie

 

 

But Liam was facing my back, so no sneak peak at his sweet face.

 

The cervix is holding strong and looks good at this point. 

 

I'm taking it very easy and spend most of my time lying or sitting down.  I borrowed a recliner from my Mom and spend lots of time in that chair...very comfortable.  I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions every now and then, but not regularly enough to be actual contractions.  There are still a ton of things to do at the house to get ready for Lizzie and Liam's arrival, but we'll get there.  Fingers are crossed that we have another 5 or 6 weeks until they decide to make their arrival.

Celebrating Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend filled with family time, but we really missed John who had to work all weekend. 

 

The weekend celebrations really started on Thursday when Jocelyn got to hunt for eggs at her school.  She was so excited to bring home all of her eggs and didn't put the basket down until bedtime.  Then on Friday we had a play date at my sister's house and she got to play with her cousins and friends...too much fun because she didn't want to take a nap after that.  Then Jocelyn had a blast hunting Easter eggs at the church on Saturday morning.

 

On Sunday, we enjoyed a wonderful church service at 8:30am and I actually got to listen to the sermon because all the kids spent the entire service playing together in the nursery.  It was a little crowded in church so space was limited and it was best for them to be in the nursery instead of trying to keep them contained on a crowded pew.  Then we went out to my Dad's house for lunch and another Easter egg hunt.  I had to stop at Ikea on the way to his house so I could pick up this small furniture piece for the nursery (to go in between the cribs).  It took forever to find what I was looking for and I walked that entire store searching before I finally just asked someone to look it up and tell me where to find it.  Glad Melanie was there with me because I was exhausted from all the walking.

 

Here are some fun pictures from the weekend!

 

The kids playing dress up at Jennifer's house.

 

 

At Ikea...striking a pose!