37 Weeks!

Well this is it--my final weekly update!  I go back and forth between feeling extremely excited and a little sad.  It seems ridiculous that I'm sad at all but as I've said before, I've loved having my babies safe in my belly.  When you've been given such a gift and you know it will most likely never happen again, it's pretty hard to let go.

Lately I've been reminded that God's timing is perfect.  For the past few days I've said to myself, "I don't think I can do this another day."  Each morning I pack away another maternity shirt because it no longer fits.  And today the sonogram was almost pointless. The babies have gotten so big and crowded that it was hard to distinguish anything--I'd recognize an arm but couldn't tell who it belonged to.  Jude and Sloane's heads are so close to one another that seeing either profile was impossible.   I'd expected the appointment to be emotional but the sonographer and I laughed the entire time because everything on the screen was so confusing.

It's time.

In every possible way it is time for our babies to leave me and meet the world.  To try to convince myself otherwise is just silly.

When the sonographer was done she smiled and said we had two wonderful babies.  I thanked her for everything and she apologized for not giving me any pictures.  I let her know we'd be seeing the real thing in six days and already had enough pictures to wallpaper our bedroom.

The appointment with the OB went well.  My regular OB is on vacation this week so I met with another doctor.  He walked in grinning and said, "There is nothing I love more than a huge, miserable pregnant woman with twins."  I raised my eyebrows and he continued, "There are so few women who make it this far.  When one does, we are ecstatic."  Very cool.  He checked me and let me know there was absolutely no progress whatsoever and that I'd be seeing my doctor next Tuesday morning for my scheduled c-section.  And then he smiled again and left.

I sat there for a bit before I realized there was nothing left for me to do.  No doctor to see, no cup to fill, no scale to dread... so I put on my clothes and left.  It was quite anticlimactic, though I'm not sure what I was expecting.

So here I am at 37 weeks, simply waiting for Tuesday morning when our lives will change forever.

I wanted to end this post by thanking each of you for your amazing support throughout this journey.  Michael and I are in absolute awe of the love and prayers that have covered us from the very beginning.   I've never experienced such peace with something that is absolutely out of my hands in every possible way.  That's not to say I haven't had (and continue to have) dreadful bouts of anxiety, but even in those dark moments I've felt safe and secure.  Thank you.

THANK YOU.

I'm so grateful the end of one incredible journey simply means the beginning of another.

37 Weeks!

36 Weeks! And Still Pregnant.

I will never forget my 12-week appointment when my doctor discussed the risks of a twin pregnancy.  She threw around words such as NICU, pre-eclampsia, bed rest, and low birth weight.  Then she smiled and said, "And if you're one of the lucky ones who actually makes it to 36 weeks, I'll become your least favorite person and you will be begging me to perform a c-section that day."

Well.

At my 35-week appointment I was all smiles and full of cheer.  She and I had a great conversation and I left thinking "This is a piece of cake."  (Mhmmm.... cake.)

This past Saturday Michael and I ran several errands and had a great time outside of the house.  I woke up yesterday morning feeling pretty good so we went to Target and while I was there it hit.  Like a ton of bricks.  Or 34 pounds of bricks if we're being specific.  My legs hurt.  My stomach hurt.  My ankles hurt. 

We went home and I spent the rest of the day in bed.   I had A LOT of braxton hicks contractions and quite a bit of cramping.  It was enough to scare both of us into action.  I started packing a bag and Michael installed the car seats.  I lamented the fact that I'd yet to get a pedicure. 

This was IT!

Only... it wasn't it.  We went to bed and I woke up this morning feeling much better.  I went ahead and called my doctor and she told me to stop by after my perinatologist appointment.

The perinatologist appointment went really well.  He walked in the room, laughed and said, "Still pregnant, eh?"  Michael laughed and I glared (and then finally smiled).   Jude and Sloane are doing great and still moving a ton.  Jude weighs 6 lbs 12 oz and Sloane weighs 6 lbs 11 oz.

Because it deserves its own line: That is 13.5 pounds of babies, folks.  

After the sonogram he hooked me up to the heart monitors and we got to listen to their heartbeats for about 5 minutes.  It was amazing.  It sounded like a stampede of horses but then they would get in sync for 10 seconds at a time and it sounded like one heartbeat.  Incredible. 

We went downstairs for my regular OB appointment.  I reminded her about everything that happened last night and she said, "You might be having these babies this week!"  Then she checked me (ahem) and said, "Or not.  Absolutely no progress.  Nothing."  I told her about all of the pains and she reminded me I was pregnant with twins and everything I was feeling was perfectly normal.  

Let me tell you, there is nothing normal about walking .0004 miles per hour or needing your husband's assistance to get out of a car.  

So there you have it.  Two weeks. We prayed for Jude and Sloane long before they were in my belly and God blessed us with far more than we deserve.  I can do this.  I WILL do this!  The smile on my face might resemble a grimace but rest assured, I am so grateful for each and every pain because that means these two are still healthy and growing. Praise the Lord.

(And I'm getting a pedicure first thing tomorrow morning.)

36 Weeks!

35 Weeks

Our doctor's appointment went well today!  It was very brief-- she didn't take any measurements because I meet with the perinatologist next week.  Both babies are once again head down (surprise!!) and it appears Sloane has a nice head of hair on her!  The sonographer pointed out both kids are doing some major fetal breathing, which is fantastic.   My BP, weight, etc. are still on track so my doctor sent us on our way.

Three weeks to go.

Last Saturday night we went to dinner to celebrate Michael's belated 30th birthday (September 15), our upcoming 5th anniversary (October 20), and the last fancy meal as a family of two.  We had such a great time and the food was amazing.  Michael pointed out something a few months ago that I thought was pretty neat.  We were able to dedicate our twenties to us.  We met at 22, dated long distance for a year before I moved to Tulsa, engaged at 24, married at 25, and moved to Dallas at 27 (and traveled to several fun places in between).  When I was a few months shy of 30 we found out we were expecting Sloane and Jude so our thirties (and let's face it, every decade after) are dedicated to our family.  It's a very clean end of one chapter and beginning of another.  And while I absolutely can't wait to see what the upcoming years bring, I am so grateful for the foundation we created as husband and wife. 

Here's a bizarre story.  We went to Neiman Marcus Last Call on Sunday and I found a pair of flats I really liked.  Since my bending skillz are a little iffy at the moment, Michael grabbed the correct shoebox and placed it on top of the others.  Right about that time a lady appeared and stood right next to me (close enough that our arms were touching).  Michael opened the box and pulled out the left shoe.  I was texting my mom so I was a bit distracted.  He leaned down to put the shoe on my foot (such a Cinderella moment... if Cinderella was knocked up and on her phone) and when he stood up to grab the other shoe he noticed it was missing.  I'd grown very tired of the lady standing on top of me so I looked at Michael and said, "Let's come back later."  He gave me this shocked look but I had no idea why.  We moved ten feet away and as I told him how rude she was for being in my space he blurted out, "She took the other shoe!"  What?  Oh yes, after she watched Michael take the left shoe out of the box, she took the right shoe and tried it on.  Sure enough, as soon as we walked away she grabbed both shoes and took off!  WHO DOES THAT?!

I've hit nesting mode full force.  We're pretty neat people (and by that I mean both "awesome" and "clean" :) but we do have an issue with collecting small piles of things.  This includes birthday cards, old bills, insurance claims, etc.  I asked Michael if we could go through one of the piles and we ended up spending a good part of the morning going through every single pile.  It was AMAZING.  We threw away a ton of stuff and filed everything else.  In doing so we ran across this picture.  I always forget how blonde Michael was as a toddler.

Jude in a few years? I can only hope!

Strangers are really nice to me now (or really terrified I'm going to give birth in the Starbucks line).  I'm no longer asked when I'm due, it's just assumed I'm due RIGHT THAT SECOND.

35 Weeks - 20 days to go! 

34 Weeks!

In case you've been living under a rock the past few days, it's OCTOBER!!! WE MADE IT TO OCTOBER!

As I've mentioned at least two dozen times, October 1 was the goal we set for ourselves from the beginning.  I went to sleep on Sunday night with the biggest grin on my face and woke up Monday morning a little weepy (in a good way).  There is nothing unusual about the weepiness--these tear ducts have been in overdrive lately.

Two instances that happened this past week:

1.  Michael raised his voice at Thumbs.  Did Thumbs deserve it?  Yes.  Did I cry for 30 minutes and ask Michael if he wanted to give Thumbs away?  Yes.

2.  Michael ate the last cupcake.  The LAST cupcake.  Did he ask me twice if I wanted to eat it?  Yes.  Did I tell him both times that he could have it?  Yes.  (Did I think he was kidding both times because, holy cow, it was the LAST CUPCAKE?  Yes.)

Now that you understand the emotional state I'm currently in, let's move on.  While we said, "Make it to October 1," the Besancon bunch had Miss Adelyn Marie on October 2 and as my parents were driving up to Chicago I might have muttered, "Change of plans, God. Let's make it until October 8 when my parents are no longer in Chicago.  Thaaaanks."

Before we get to the doctor's appointment, I have to give Michael a big pat on the back (even if he ate the last cupcake) for last weekend.  I'm in a Moms of Multiples group and we sponsor a huge consignment sale in the fall.   The public sale happens Saturday morning but if you volunteer you're able to shop Friday night.  We both decided if I volunteered at this stage it would probably cause more trouble than help, so Michael volunteered to be a "Security Dad" and patrolled the sale for four hours early Saturday morning.  Fortunately for all parties involved, he did not spot anyone trying to steal $3 toddler shoes.   We were able to get a few really great items for 75% off and neither of us were trampled by the crazy moms!  I'm just sad I didn't get to see him sporting a bright red t-shirt with the words "Security Dad" splashed across the chest.  Hot.

Moving on to the babes.  These updates might as well be called, "What is Sloane up to this week?"  As a brief reminder, she has switched positions every single week for the last few months and the latest was head down but facing my spine.  Yesterday?  She was sideways.  I'd like you all to take a moment and think about two babies in my belly, one of which is sideways.  It's just mean.  She was also doing the running man throughout the ultrasound so it was (once again) impossible to get any good pictures.  Regardless, both babies look great and did well on their biophysical exams.  The sonographer measured them but said it wouldn't be as accurate as the perinatologist so not to read into the weights too much.  Assuming they're correct, Sloane is now 6 lbs 2 oz and Jude is 5 lbs 8 oz.  (Someone gaped at me while I was at the mall yesterday and I wanted to yell, "I'm carrying almost 12 pounds of babies, what have you done today?!"  Fortunately, I resisted.)

I'm still doing well and right on track with my stuff so we were sent on our way with a good report.

It's starting to get hard.  I'm uncomfortable most of the time and really slow.  I run out of breath easily and am so limited in the tasks I can do.  It's frustrating for me because I feel so absolutely useless (other than the fact that I'm growing two babies).  At the same time, I know what is best for the kids is NOT what is best for me, so I'm keeping my chin up and telling myself that 38 weeks is less than 4 weeks away.  I can do it.  What's conflicting is how attached I am to having Sloane and Jude a part of me.  I can't wait to meet them and I know it's incredibly selfish to want to keep them inside for as long as possible, but those 2:00 am moments when everything is dark and still and I can feel both of them moving around are some of the most precious times I've ever had.  After almost 9 months of feeling absolutely ridiculous, I talk to them now without abandon and I feel like I've created a bond with each that is so fiercely personal.  I just don't want it to go away.  And then I realize if I feel this way having never met them, we're just getting started. 

So here's to 3.5 more weeks of absolute selfishness and I promise you right now I won't take a single second of it for granted. 

34 Weeks

(The quality of this picture is a metaphor for how I'm feeling these days--ha!)

33 Weeks!

Something big is supposed to happen today.  The two adorable brothers below are supposed to get a baby brother or sister.  There is still time left in the day but their mom let me know she doesn't think it's going to happen.  Regardless, happy due date Michelle! We can't wait to meet our newest niece or nephew!

 

I had my 33-week appointment today and all is well!  Both babies are still head down, though Sloane is now facing my spine and refuses to pose for any pictures.  I am absolutely terrified of that girl.  Meanwhile her brother is still the poster child of manners and grace, giving us several great shots and remaining in the same position he's been in since day 1.

Hey Jude.

I also found out that as of next week my doctor will do nothing to stop the delivery if the babies decide to come early.  She is able to give steroid shots to help with lung maturity and something about magnesium to stop contractions, but she feels both procedures are unnecessary once I'm past 34 weeks and if my body thinks it's time, it is indeed time.  I'm ok with this because (as unnatural as a c-section is) I'd like this pregnancy to be as non-invasive as possible.  Regardless, we're still hoping they decide to stay put a bit longer.  :)

In other news, Michael's workplace threw us a wonderful shower last Friday.  The way they treated me and spoiled the babies made me realize how happy they are that Michael is a part of their team.  I know the feeling is mutual, which is fantastic for all involved.  His boss has twins so we're hoping he remembers the first few months of sleep deprivation in case Michael falls asleep at his desk (or walking down the hall).  :)

A neat thing happened today that I don't want to forget. As you've noticed from recent pictures, my stomach is HUGE.  I'm comfortable with it and have learned to accept the odd/rude/inappropriate comments from strangers.  The other day at Target I was waiting in line and the 80-year-old woman behind me was obviously staring.  I finally made eye contact with her and she said, "Honey, is that baby's due date TODAY?"  I laughed and told her there were two babies and she backed off.  Anywho, that was not the point of this paragraph.  After my appointment today I was leaving the hospital and a complete stranger smiled at me and said, "You have a beautiful belly!"  I broke into a huge grin.  I thanked her and walked (waddled) away feeling the best I have in weeks.  It was the sweetest compliment.  Regardless of how giant I am, this belly is housing two babies and to hear someone celebrate that fact is awesome.  I will definitely remember how good I felt at that moment and will pass on the comment to another woman who looks like her baby's due date is that day.  :)

And speaking of giant bellies, below are the latest pictures.  Let's say it together: GOOD LORD.  Each time I look at these pictures I burst out laughing.  I think I could be a circus act.

 33 weeks

 

Sidenote: I'm turning off the comments on this post.  You guys always write the sweetest things and I'm starting to feel a little awkward.  I don't post pictures with the intent of receiving comments (although they're lovely) and you deserve a much needed break from coming up with nice things to say about the circus act (and most recently the nursery)!  :)  Instead, I'd appreciate it if you said a quick prayer for my brother's family and their newest addition!

32 Weeks!

We reached our first (mini) goal!  Yesterday was 32 weeks, which is something we've been praying for from the beginning.  Hooray!

We saw both doctors today and received some shocking news.  My weekly email says the average weight of a baby at 32 weeks is 3 lbs 12 oz.  Since Jude and Sloane have both been rather large from the beginning I was hoping they would each weigh a little over 4 lbs.  Michael decided to be bold and guessed they'd weigh around 4 lbs 6 oz.  I laughed at his silliness.

Well.

Our perinatologist checked the usual measurements of the babies (both head down--hooray Sloane!) and with each measurement he either laughed or murmured a quiet "wow."  Ready for their weights?

Sloane (our "petite" twin): 4 lbs 11 oz
Jude: 5 lbs

Folks, with almost 6 weeks to go our babies weigh just under 10 pounds.

I couldn't stop laughing.  Mostly because if I stopped I'd start crying.  Let's be honest, their weights are amazing and I couldn't be more ecstatic but my poor stomach is already begging for mercy and it has a LONG ways to go.  He checked everything else and I'm showing no signs of pre-term labor.  In fact, he told us he really wants me to make it to 38 weeks so we can set a new world record.

I think he was kidding.

The other thing to keep in mind is these are simply estimates (based on measurements of head, stomach, and femur).  I've had plenty of friends who were told their babies weighed a certain amount and came out weighing two pounds less--it's all uncertain until they're put on that scale.  And regardless of weight they still have a long ways to go.  Lung development is the very last thing that occurs so they're not ready to be out in the real world.  Not to mention I'm certain 3 pounds of Jude is his head. :)

Next was the OBGYN appointment, which was short and sweet.  She reviewed their stats and then told me about a set of twins who weighed 8 and 9 pounds at birth.  I'm still not sure if she was telling me this to make me feel better or to prepare me for a similar situation.

She was happy with my glucose numbers so I get to drop another test, which brings me down to two finger pricks a day.  I can handle that!

Weight gain and blood pressure look good.  No swelling and no need for bed rest.  Yahoo!

My parents were in town last weekend and my mom was nice enough to take some pictures of us (thank you mom)!  Most of you have already seen them on Facebook but for those who haven't, here are way too many pictures...

 A few days shy of 32 weeks...

When you look at this picture it's very easy to believe I'm carrying 10 pounds of babies!

My mom's idea.  I love it!

31 Weeks

Let's get this out of the way...

Hi, my name is Meredith Haynes, and I have gestational diabetes.

(Hi, Meredith.)

When I went to my 30-week appointment last Wednesday they shared the above news and told me I needed to meet with a dietitian.  At the same appointment I found out I hadn't gained any weight in two weeks (not terrible, but not what I wanted/expected to hear), Sloane had flipped and was head up (again), and due to my braxton hicks contractions they ran a Fetal Fibronectin test that would predict if I'd go into preterm labor in the next two weeks.  Unfortunately, I wouldn't get the results for two days.  I left feeling defeated.  I've been so lucky with all appointments thus far and just wasn't expecting an onslaught of possibly bad news. They checked my cervix (sorry--I went there) and everything looked great but I was still anxious to get the results.

Moving forward to Friday. I met with the dietitian and she gave me a new meal plan (in short: lay off the carbs) and taught me how to use the glucose tester thingy, which means I prick my finger four times a day to check my levels.  I also heard back from the nurse who told me the preterm labor test was negative, meaning there's a 98% chance I will NOT go into labor in the next two weeks (hooray)! 

The gestational diabetes thing has been frustrating for me because all of my numbers have been very low, which is good.  I have followed the diet pretty well but cheat at least once a day and even then the numbers are still low.  Because of this I've decided the glucose drink is a huge pile of crap and I am jealous I'm not eating donuts and sugar out the wazoo like all women in their third trimester should be doing.  :) In all seriousness, I am grateful my case has been so easy to manage and I know eating healthy foods can only benefit the kids. At the same time, if you are within 15 feet of me and carrying a cupcake be prepared to be mauled.

I had my 31-week appointment yesterday and it was wonderful.  I showed my doctor my glucose numbers and she told me I could drop one of the finger pricks (I can drop another one next week if numbers continue to look good).  The sonogram showed that Sloane is now head down (again) and we got some great profile shots of both kids.  They each scored a perfect on the biophysical profile, my cervix (sheesh, went there AGAIN) looks great, low blood pressure, no swelling, no mention of bed rest and I gained a pound.  It was such a relief to hear so much good news after last week!  And to top it all off, I received my first (ever) jury summons and my doctor wrote a note to get me out of it.  I will be 36 weeks on the day I'm required to show up--can you imagine?  Worst juror ever!

We will hit our first mini-goal next week! We'll definitely be celebrating though we're obviously hoping they stay put a little longer. :)

I've reached the point where I seriously don't know how it's possible for me to get any bigger but I know it's going to happen and that's a bit terrifying. I discovered Michael's boxer shorts this week and proclaim, "Where have you been all my life?!" to these glorious underpants at least twice a day. Add a large TU soccer shirt to the mix and this lady is looking HOT.

31 weeks, 2 days - 6.5 weeks to go!
(ps. I'm a brunette now.)

30 Weeks!

Ladies and very few Gentlemen--We've reached 30 weeks!  Can I tell you how GREAT it is to see that big ol' THREE in the very front?

More than that, can I tell you how great it is to have blog friends like you guys?  Your comments after last week's post were so wonderful and exactly what this less-than-confident girl needed to read.  I felt so much better this past week and I know it's because of what each of you said.  Thank you very, very much!

This week was pretty low-key.  I took the second glucose test on Friday, which was much better than I expected but still quite long and annoying.  I imagine I'll receive the results tomorrow at my doc appointment but I'm keeping my fingers crossed it takes longer.  :)

We spent much of the weekend in bed watching season 1 of The West Wing (I came down with a cold last Wednesday and Michael unfortunately accepted the invitation to the cold party this weekend).   The nursery is continuing to come together!  We organized the drawers and also separated kitchen items from bathroom items from nursery items, etc.  It's crazy (and awesome) how much stuff we have for these kiddos!

It was a very relaxing week and a great way to end my twenties... again.  :) 

There is a popular pregnancy quiz that has taken the blog-world by storm so I'm going to modify it a little for a bit o' record keeping.

How far along? 30 weeks

Total weight gain: Will find out tomorrow.  My guess is 28 pounds.

Maternity clothes? YES.  Although the outfit I'm sporting below includes a non-maternity shirt from Zara.  My guess is I have officially made it maternity as no material can stretch that much and go back to its natural state.  A chemical reaction if you will...  (Right, dad?)

Stretch marks?  None!
Sleep: Not good.  I wake up about 5 times a night to go to the bathroom and have consistently been awake between the hours of 4-6 am.

Best moment this week:  Eating the chocolate lava cake from Chili's.  We never go there but I've had a hankerin' for it the past week.  Michael politely obliged.

Miss Anything?  Sleep.  

Movement: Constant.  I adore it. 

Food cravings: Cottage cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Oreos

Anything making you queasy or sick:  The thought of not being able to eat Oreos

Labor Signs: These darn contractions (if they count).  Other than that, nothing.

Wedding rings on or off? Off.  They still fit but I'm so nervous my fingers will swell one day due to the heat so I'm too scared to wear them.  I've been wearing my grandmother's pear-shaped emerald ring that she gave me before Michael and I married.  I like to think it represents our two babes.  (Get it?  PEAR?  PAIR?!!  Yesssss!)

Happy or Moody most of the time: I think I'm pretty happy most of the time.  I have some moods but they're few and far between.
Looking forward to: Seeing Jude & Sloane (albeit briefly) tomorrow!

30 weeks and an awkward head tilt to boot!

29 Weeks

This is the only time in my life I've wanted to speed through 29 and just get to 30.  I have mini goals that I've set for these babies and the first is 32 weeks.  30 sounds so much closer than 29.  :)

This past week definitely had its ups and downs.  Let's start with the ups!  After a wonderful 28-week appointment on Wednesday my parents came to visit and it was so great to see them.  Since I am now at home full-time (Wait--what?!  More on that later...) and am leaving the house less and less due to slowing down quite a bit, it can get very lonely.  They were excellent company and some of the only people I know who really don't mind running errands with me.  They left Saturday afternoon and I was so sad to see them go.  The good news: They're coming back next month--one more time before the babies arrive!  Hip hip!

Michael and I decided to walk around Northpark Mall in search of a birthday gift for the soon-to-be 30-year-old.  We also ran a few small errands and then headed home.  I think it was too much for this fat lady to handle so Saturday night was spent in bed, freaking out about multiple Braxton Hicks contractions.  I was SO SURE I was going into labor that night.  (I didn't.)

By the way, let's back up a day to Friday where I received the results from my first glucose test.  I FAILED.  Epically.  We're talking, F minus fail.  I do the extended test this Friday, which requires complete fasting (no food or water after midnight) and then four blood draws.  The test begins at 9 am and takes three hours so I will go without food and water for 12 HOURS.  After failing the first test so badly I'm not sure why the second test is even necessary, but that's not for me to decide.  And while I expected the bad news I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed.  Oh well, these kiddos are worth it.  :)

We had company over on Sunday morning and then celebrated our nephew's 7th birthday that afternoon.  After the contraction scare on Saturday night I've been really trying to take it easy.  I called the doctor yesterday and she didn't seem too concerned.  There is another measurement they take at the Perinatologist each month that gives them a good idea if I'll go into pre-term labor.  I pass that test with flying colors each time (meaning: the kiddos are staying put for now).  With that in mind, BH contractions don't make my doctor very nervous.  Just me.  And yet another reason I'm so anxious to get through this week... and all the weeks that follow.

I don't mean for this post to be a downer, I'm still feeling good and have no other labor signs.  I do believe making it to 38 weeks seems like a pipe dream now whether my doctors agree with that statement or not.  A little prayer for my confidence and stress level wouldn't hurt--I need to snap out of it and go back to thinking everything is going to be just fine, which I prefer more than what I can only describe as my current Eeyore mentality.  :)

29 Weeks! 

Babies - 28 Weeks

We had the Perinatologist and OB appointments this morning and both went really well!

First up, the babies...

Sloane and Jude look great!  Both are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule and weigh a whopping 3 pounds each.  I know that doesn't sound like much but with twins you want them as big as possible since they won't make it to 40 weeks.  The doctor was very pleased with their progress and didn't have any concerns.  Praise the Lord!

We take the same DVD to each visit and the doctor records the entire scan.  I took a picture of the scan to show you how close their heads are to one another (both are currently head down).
 

 Jude & Sloane - view of the top of their heads!

BFFs for sure.  In Jude's defense, while his head truly is HUGE he is closer to the camera so that is why his head appears to be twice the size of Sloane's.  :)  The most noticeable difference this time around is both of them are now getting some fat on their bones.  Their little legs were so round this time whereas typically they're sticks!

Directly afterward I had my monthly OB appointment.  I was pretty nervous about drinking the glucose stuff but it wasn't bad at all.  I wouldn't put it at the top of my all-time favorite beverages but definitely not a big deal.  Unfortunately, the doctor told me women carrying twins have a much higher failure rate so I'm not holding out much hope.  We'll see.  Blood pressure and weight gain are right on track and she seemed pleased with my progress.  I think I've had some Braxton Hicks contractions lately but I'm honestly not sure.  Still no swelling or stretch marks.  We'll see how long that lasts.  :)

From now on I will continue to see the Perinatologist once a month (two more times) and will start seeing my OB every other week.  There was no mention of bed rest and as of now she thinks I will make it to 38 weeks.  I don't think that's possible because (at the rate they're growing) they will each weigh around 8 pounds at 38 weeks.  I'm not sure I can handle 16 pounds of babies! :/ Michael and I have always said we want them to make it to October and will be ecstatic with any "bonus" days they decide to give us. 

Since I truly believe I will fail my glucose test I decided to pig out (while I still can) and had Taco Bell for lunch.

Glucose drink + Taco Bell = Terrible Decision

I am now drinking water by the buckets in hopes that my body will forgive me. 

10 weeks (at most) to go!  We are super excited to meet our babies!

27.5 Weeks

Thank you so much for your kind words about Thumbs!  She is pretty much back to her "spunky" self and is improving more and more each day.  Hooray!

It's been a few weeks since an update.  My best friends came to visit a few weekends ago but I'm waiting for some pictures so I'll make that a separate post.  For now I will say it was a wonderful weekend and it was so great to see them!

Last Tuesday I turned 27 weeks, which officially puts me in the 3rd trimester.  Since I'm scheduled to have a c-section at 38 weeks this trimester is quite short.  I've heard it can be the worst so I won't complain.  :)

Everything is going well--I'm still feeling good and have few complaints.  I can tell my energy level has dropped a bit and I know it'll continue to do so over the next few weeks.  I still try to do as much as someone who is 27 weeks pregnant with one, but my guess is I'm measuring around 38 weeks so I need to quit it and relax more.  Michael is constantly telling me to take it easy and not do so much but it is SO hard when you're at home and there are 1,000 things that need to be done!

The nursery is coming along quite nicely.  We still have a ways to go but if the babies arrived tomorrow we have all of the necessary items ready (cribs, changing table, rocker, etc.).  I'm going to share a very small "sneak peak" because I'm so excited about it.  One of the things Michael and I first learned about each other was our shared childhood love of Shel Silverstein.  We now have all of his books displayed in our living room (I think we had duplicates of all of them when we married).  I found one of our favorite Shel Silverstein poems and asked Sara on Etsy to turn it into a modern typography print.  She was awesome to work with, extremely affordable, and I love how it turned out.  We'll frame it and put it on the shelf above their changing table.  So here is a teeny sneak peek... and now you know the nursery colors are grey, turquoise, and coral (I'm sure you've lost sleep wondering)...

I hope our kiddos love his poems as much as we do!

We have an appointment with the doctors next week so we get to see Sloane and Jude again!  I also have the dreaded glucose test--yech.

Here I am at 27.5 weeks.  After Michael took the picture I looked at it and gasped.  I don't feel like I look super pregnant but then I see pictures and am blown away.  At least I know S & J have PLENTY of room in there--sheesh!

25 Weeks - Keeping It Real

If you took a survey of 1 billion pregnant women, I'm not sure you'd find one more thrilled/grateful/ecstatic to be expecting than me.  As I've said in every post, I love being pregnant and am so excited for what's to come.

Now that we're clear on that, it's time to reveal some of the not-so-amazing things about pregnant Merd.  In no specific order....

1.  It is hot.  Really, really hot.  I've always been a sun worshiper and would still take this weather over snow and ice, but my biggest issue now that I'm "with children" is I can't cool down.  I will run a few errands and once I'm home it takes me two hours before I feel comfortable again.  I'm sitting under a fan wearing next to nothing and might as well still be outside.  It's weird.  Because of this, I will not (I repeat: WILL NOT) leave the house without a huge glass of water.  If I find myself somewhere without a drink I start to have a small panic attack so I try to avoid this situation as much as possible.  The great news?  I've yet to encounter any swelling!  Hooray!

2.  I am losing everything, my mind most of all.  I don't know what the deal is but I can't keep up with anything.  I was organizing the kids closet the other day and realized I'd unintentionally thrown away a pair of Sloane's shoes.  They were still in a bag and were so lightweight that I must've thought the bag was empty and tossed it.  I was crushed.  Not because they were amazing or expensive  (though they were super cute--silver snakeskin sandals! I mean, come on...) but because it was my first purchase for her once we found out we were having a boy and a girl.  I was really down on myself for being so reckless.  We were at Babies R Us the other day and I found them again, only this time they were marked down to a whopping $4 so I pleaded with Michael to let me purchase them one more time.  He agreed (after rolling his eyes) and I was ecstatic.  A few days ago I was looking for a lost gift card (have you noticed a pattern?) and was digging through a big bag of baby stuff.  And what was at the very bottom?  The original pair of silver snakeskin sandals.  I never threw them away.  Not only that, they were never even in the kids closet.

(I wish they made them for adults...)

3.  I've turned into a pathological liar when it comes to my due date.  This typically occurs when I'm in a hurry (check-out at the grocery store) or when the person doesn't speak much English (nail place).  I just make something up that is far enough ahead of our due date to be believable.  My conversation the other day at the nail place: "How many months are you?" "A little over seven." (Nope.)  "When's your due date?"  "Er.... October 10." (Nope.)  "Do you have a name picked out?" "Not yet!" (Nope.)  Isn't that ridiculous?  It is. 

4.  My mid-afternoon snack today was Sonic cheese tots and a large (very caffeinated) coke.

The convo between Michael and myself...

(Sidenote: "Aaaahalalala" represents the sound Homer Simpson makes when he's just eaten a donut or had a beer.  Michael knows this.)

5.  I can't make up my mind about anything.  Before pregnancy I always thought I was pretty good at making decisions and sticking to them.  Now I can't decide on ANYTHING and it is driving me crazy.  This is especially true when it comes to the nursery.  Why?

6.  I have recently obtained the line that runs down the middle of my stomach.   It is very faint but the real kicker is it is very crooked.  My only guess is it's due to my crazy scoliosis but it is now a constant reminder that I am a distant relative of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  If it wasn't so pathetic it'd be quite humorous.

7.  I've watched an indecent amount of the Olympics.  I love how these amazing athletes turn me into a complete couch potato.  I also love that most are half my age and I outweigh every Chinese gymnast (man and woman) by at least 80 pounds.  Pass me the cheese tots.

I think that's enough.  In keeping with this "True Confessions" blog post, my bump picture this week is me wearing my favorite "outfit."  I typically take the pictures when I'm going somewhere (showers, weddings, etc.) but this, my friends, is the real deal.  T-shirt, jean shorts, and hair in a top knot.

25 Weeks - How many basketballs do you see?
 

Let me make it even easier for you.  (That poor, poor side seam...)

Babies Update - 24 Weeks

This morning we had our monthly appointments with the Perinatologist and OB.  I told Michael this was the first time I was just excited about the appointments.  Don't get me wrong, I'm always excited but there is also a bit of fear that goes with it.  Not this time!  Ok, a little bit o' fear creeped in five minutes before the sonogram but that's normal, right? :)

Jude and Sloane look fantastic--lots of movement and still very big.  They weigh a little under two pounds each and are both measuring almost two weeks ahead of schedule.  Two specifics from this appointment: Jude's head is still enormous--all three of us laugh when the doctor takes his head measurement (poor kid), and Sloane has some looooong legs--no clue where she gets that.  :)  They're both head down and taking up the majority of my stomach but are still close enough to one another that it's the cutest thing you've (ok, we've) ever seen.  Neither are thumb suckers but I think that's because they're too busy punching me or one another.

I'll be honest, the sonogram pictures aren't great.  They're getting so big and moving so rapidly that it's hard to get a clear shot.  The best pictures are of their private parts but Michael and I vowed to never post (nor take) pictures of said privates.  Let's just say they're still very much a boy and a girl.

Next up: my appointment.  My blood pressure is great and weight is right on track.  I've gained 20 pounds so I can safely say I will not pull a Jessica Simpson (famous last words) nor will I be one who people fear has not gained enough weight.  My doctor doesn't take the stomach measurement as one does with a singleton but when a woman is carrying almost four pounds of one baby she is around 32 weeks.  I think it is very safe to say I look every bit of 32 weeks. YOWZA! :)

I had an amazing baby shower this past weekend and am waiting on some pictures so I'll just post a bump picture for now (taken before the shower) and do a separate post soon.

Thanks so much for your encouraging words.  While these weekly updates are fun for us I realize they can get very wordy.  I appreciate those who have stuck with us through this incredible journey!  I will reward you with a bombardment of pictures once they finally arrive (and yes, that statement is dripping with sarcasm but is closer to the truth than I care to admit).  Thanks again for being awesome--you're the best!

24 Weeks!

Weekend Recaps (Weeks 21-23)

The past few weekends have been BUSY!   A recap...

July 6-8:  Wes and Nathalia's Wedding Weekend!  Michael has been friends with Wes since the 2nd grade--he is such a great guy and absolutely hilarious.  Before Wes met Nathalia the three of us would hang out together and as much as we loved those times, we were thrilled when he told us he'd met someone.  They had an instant bond and married a year later!  Wes and I went ring shopping last Fall, which happened to be the day he found/purchased her ring so I feel like I am partially responsible for their marriage.  Haha.  :)  Michael was a groomsman in the wedding so we went to the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner on Friday night.  Brian is another childhood friend and also a groomsman so I got to spend a lot of time with his wife, Erin, who (whom?) I adore.  The dinner was fantastic and we had such a good time catching up with everyone.   Brian and Erin live in California (awesome for them, terrible for us) so we only see them a few times a year.

Wes, Nathalia, and the Groomsmen

 

Coppell Boys - Wes, Brian, Michael, and Craig

Erin!

(Taken after the rehearsal dinner - 21.5 weeks)

On Saturday morning the groomsmen came over to our house to spend time together before the wedding so I got the boot.  I spent the morning with Michael's parents and we reunited at the wedding.  It was beautiful!  Nathalia was stunning and Wes looked so handsome (Michael looked pretty great too).  It was a very sweet ceremony and then we headed to the reception, which took place at an old theater in Grapevine.  Very cool venue.  We loved seeing all of his Coppell friends as many of them live out of town/state.  Three of us are pregnant and Lindsey had a baby boy a few months ago so you can imagine what the female discussion was about.  After the reception several couples came over to our house to continue the celebration (sans Wes and Nathalia).  It was a great day!

Gorgeous couple

Coppell group at the wedding!

 Michael, Craig, and Brian

Erin, Amy, Lindsey, and myself

Our little family of four

Amy is due a few weeks before me in October and Erin is due early January! Our kiddos will be classmates! (...if these girls would ever move back to Dallas!)

(My dress was not nearly this neon in person.  I blame the flash.)

 

 

 (Almost all of the above pictures I stole from Erin!  Thanks Erin!)

I woke up Sunday and felt like someone punched me in the face.  Apparently my energy level is not what it used to be.  Michael and I went to Lisa and Bryan's house to meet their sweet one-week-old daughter, Sophia (Sophie) Elise.  She is precious and they are naturals.  There is no way Michael and I will look that good or feel that relaxed when our kids are 7-days-old.  I was in awe!

We left right before lunch and I got ready for Amy's baby shower.  She and I have similar taste so there were several items she opened that we have sitting in the nursery or waiting patiently on our baby registry.  It was a lovely shower and one more chance to see the girls before a lot of them drove/flew back to their homes.

This past weekend was another busy one.  We attended a hospital class on Saturday afternoon, which was highly informative and (to me) a wee bit terrifying.  Our instructor (RN) is so used to the whole birthing process that she didn't really sugarcoat anything.  I'd prefer she say things like "c-section" instead of "when they cut you open."  Oh well.   After learning all about the delivery process we were given a hospital tour and taught how to perform CPR on an infant.  We were given a 20-minute instructional video as well as a "mini-baby" so we could practice.  Don't be surprised if I ask you to watch the video before I leave my babies with you.  Just kidding.  I think.

After several weeks of narrowing down a paint color for the nursery (FYI: there are approximately 5 billion greys), we finally settled on one so Michael spent Saturday evening painting!  We love it!  Sunday morning we went to his parent's house for breakfast and then came home to put some furniture together.  The goal was to assemble one crib (we've heard nightmares about cribs) but ours turned out to be very easy so he put both together in a short amount of time.  Michael's parents came over and his dad helped him assemble the dresser/changing table so the laborious part of the nursery is DONE.  Up next: time to decorate (yahoo)!

I'm feeling great!  My belly button is now doing this weird volcano-like thing (it's as cool as it sounds) so I'm going to go ahead and call it an outie.  FAIL.  The kicking and/or punching and/or head butting is still going strong and I already know a few things I can do to guarantee instant kicks (Jude does NOT like it when I sleep on my right side--it is war at 3 am).  Sloane is situated in a spot where I don't feel her kicks as often but when I do they are POWERFUL.  The babies are each around a foot long now!

This is such a fun time and I can't stop smiling.  While nothing is written in stone, Michael and I have always wanted two kids so this will most likely be our only pregnancy.  I'm really trying to savor every moment because I can't help it, I absolutely love it.  As excited as I am to meet these two, I already know I'm going to miss these sweet moments with my babies so close to me.  Gah, here comes the tears so I'm signing off.

23 weeks--15 more to go!  EEK!