Babies' Room, random pregnancy rant, and baby update

I feel the need to write, it's been awhile.  It's been a pretty uneventful few weeks, except for what I've already filled you in on!  Almost 33 weeks (AHHH, if time could speed up, juuuuuuust a notch, that'd be fantastic!)  As an update on the babies, they are doing well.. hiccuping numerous times a day, as I think I've mentioned.  They aren't moving around quite as much, as I'm assuming they are running out of room quickly these days.

As far as how I feel (even if you're not interested, you're going to hear it!), I'm feeling like a bit of a beached whale.  I know that's a pregnancy cliche, but now I see why!  I have a difficult time getting off the couch without Em's help to "hoist" me up.  Rolling over in bed takes about 5 minutes, I have to readjust all 7 pillows, you know.  And since I can only lay on one side for about an hour, that's how often I wake up, if I'm not awake already.  Between the heartburn, hip and back pain, and two kids in my ribs and bladder, it's nearly impossible to get a good night's sleep anymore!!!  Oh, and did I mention that by the time I fall asleep around 2 am if I'm lucky, my alarm is going to go off at 4 am to take my contraction meds?  So the whole thing starts back over!!  I will be happy to be off those!  Should I be complaining?  I mean, after all in a month and four days, I'll have two babies keeping me up at all hours of the night, right?  I'm sure that's what you are thinking, as most people remind me.  But, I won't have two babies taking up most of my midsection, and once I heal from my c-section, up at night, or not, at least my body will be more of my own again!  Ahh! I feel like I leased my body over to Liam and Lena M.  Well, they're lease is almost up!!!  Because I've about had it!  Being an immobile human incubator is only fun for so long!

Our next appointment is at 8:30 on Thursday.  I only have two more weeks of cervical measurements! Praise the Lord!  I am lucky to be saying that, we've definitely come so far.  Each day is a miracle!!  And I'm so thankful for it!  After this week, we start going to the doctor twice a week until they are born for monitoring.  Bed rest is almost over!  Getting anxious about the cerclage removal, ewww, if you want to know why, you're on your own to look it up b/c just typing it will give me the heebee jeebees!

As promised here, are the completed nursery pictures.  It's done, it's ready for a little boy and little girl, two babies I am dying to meet!!  Two babies who are completely, 100% all mine!  And besides with their daddy, babies I don't have to share if I don't want!

I also want to wish Beth (my twin momma) and Tony congrats on the birth of their twin boys, Drew and Trey, today!  Can't wait til all four of our babes are in the same room!  That'll be a perfect picture!  

Q&A from strangers to parents of twins!

My friend Beth (who is also having twins VERY SOON) and I have been sharing funny responses to silly questions people often ask parents of twins.  I have also been reading a book, Juggling Twins, and she discusses getting out of the house with your babies and being questioned by strangers.  Thought this was good for a laugh!

Q:  Oh! Twins?
A:  "No, one of them is mine, but I found the other one out in the parking lot.  Is it yours?"
A:  "Nope, they're clones actually.  We have six more at home just like them."
A:  "What are you talking about?  Do you see two?"
A:  "No, I bought one off Ebay."

Q:  Did you use drugs?
A:  "No, but I do now!"

Q:  Are they natural?
A:  What's an artificial twin anyway?

Q:  (To the parents of B/G twins)  Are they identical?
A:  "Yeah, except for the penis and the vagina part"  (Hahaha)

Q:  Are they "paternal" twins?"
A:  Yes, they have a father.  There was only one virgin birth.

Maybe you have to be a mother of twins to enjoy some of these, but I think it's pretty amusing!!! :)

The author of my book, Meghan Regan-Loomis, also posted a checklist for parents to look at the end of the day.  She reminds the reader to lighten up, and laugh about the little things.  After all,  raising twins will be stressful!!

• Is everyone still alive?
• Has anyone wandered off, or are we all still accounted for?
• Has everyone bathed this month? (Okay, has anyone?)
• Did food pass over everybody's lips at some point today?
• Has anyone seen or heard from the dog today?
• Are there any clean(ish) clothes ready for tomorrow?
• Are we up to date on paying bills to the point that we will have heat and electricity tomorrow?
• Have we laughed today?
• No, seriously, guys.  Where's the dog?

Very, very good dr's appointment!

Okay!  So, this is the most exciting dr's appointment we've had since we found out what the babies were!  I'm am 32 weeks tomorrow! The biggest milestone yet!!  So that's awesome!!  Measurements are remaining the same around 1 cm, (faantastic!)

Last night, Em came to bed and asked me what I thought the babies weighed.  He rattled off his guess at 4 lbs 3 oz and 4 lbs 4 oz, in that order.  Well, lady's and gentlemen, my husband, the fortune teller, was dead on!!  Lena was 4.3 and Liam was 4.4!  I'll do that math for you that is 8 lbs 7 oz of baby :)  They are growing right on time!!  Got some better pictures too, I'll update the blog with them a little later.   Only a few contractions on the monitor, b/c I forgot my medicine and was due for it.  My bad!

Okay, so the super exciting news!!  She is taking me off bed rest at 35 weeks, THANK THE LORD!!  So that means I have three more weeks to lay here and then I can get off the couch and out of the house.  Then, she's removing my cerclage at 36 weeks.  And then!  The babies are scheduled to be delivered by c-section on July 5 (37 wks and 4 days) at 7:30 a.m.  Assuming, I don't go into labor before then :) :) :) :)  Doctor is excited, we are excited, nurses are excited!  Can't flippin' wait!!

Nothing exciting, don't even have an exciting title for this post!

Haven't posted for awhile, I've been catching up on Army Wives, started at season one, episode one, and am now in the 4th episode of Season 5!  18 episodes per season, can you tell I've been on Netflix quite a bit this week! Ha!  I should probably do the math, haha, 50 hours of Army Wives.. wow.. sad? or accomplished?

As fas as babies go, they are doing good, we get to see them tomorrow and find out what their weights are.  I'm guessing a little over 4 lbs each. :)  They hiccup all the time, several times a day actually.  They take turns of course, my children are already very polite.  Outfits come tomorrow, and hopefully we'll get the UPS man when he delivers our monitors!

Hubby is off this weekend, yay, we are probably going to have some people over and do a cookout.  One of the days, we're (by that I mean, him) going to install car seats!  37 days max left!  I'm hoping she'll give me a delivery date tomorrow!!  Anyways, pointless post.  I'll post after tomorrow's doctor's appointment of course with more!

31 Week Doctor's Visit

Just woke up a bit ago from a two hour nap, I'm not sleeping at night.  I think I might need to take up permanent residence on my couch because I don't sleep well in my bed anymore.  Great.  Between back pain, hip pain, cramps, and heartburn, it's hopeless.  It hurts to move when I am in bed.  Went to doctor at 8:30 this morning, which apparently is our special time slot now.  Babies are good, heart rates are good.  It was very exciting to see that Lena already has a head full of hair, (is that why I've had all this damn heartburn keeping me up all night? Yes.)  You could see it waving around in the ultrasound.  Very exciting.  Liam wouldn't quite cooperate and actually started the ultrasound out in a complete ball until we woke him up.  Measurements are holding out about the same, .9 cm.  So that's good.  Not much contraction action in the past few weeks, which I'm grateful for.  Doctor is pleased, says she wants to get at least one more month out of me, but is very excited we are so close to 32 weeks!  As am I, thank goodness.  The idea of living on my couch another month sounds awful, but not much of a choice.  My circulation is getting pretty bad, and she wants me to wear support hose (my mom will be pleased to hear this).  Oh joy!  Next week, we get to see how big the babies are again with the growth ultrasound, I'm thinking they have to be, if not bigger, about 4lbs.  I went three weeks without gaining a thing, and in the past two weeks I've gained about 7.5 lbs.  So.. babies have to have gotten much bigger b/c my clothes are still fitting the same. :)  Happy 31 weeks tomorrow!

Em is getting my mamaroo on Saturday :)  Coming home outfits have been ordered and shipped.  Hoping to get car seats put in this weekend as well.  I really should start packing a bag.  Down to the wire.  If all goes according to my fortune cookie, "A refreshing change is in your future" with the first two lucky numbers 6 and 23, maybe they'll be here June 23rd! :)

Woo hoo! I'm getting a Mamaroo! :) And a nursery update!!

Haven't blogged for a few days, babies are doing good.  As I always report, they move around A LOT.  Cool thing is, is that they know Daddy's voice.  He can talk to them at any time of day, and they usually start to squirm.  It's very cool, and we are getting soooo excited that they will be here in the next 3-5 weeks!!!  We went into their nursery last night, and stood at the crib that are going to sleep in, turned the mobile on, and just smiled!  It's sooooooo close!!!!  It's getting to that surreal point, and I'm feeling pretty at ease about their arrival. I've accepted that I will have a c-section, but after the spinal with my cerclage, I'm not as nervous.  I'm a little anxious about recovery, but we are soo ready to meet theses little babes!  Doctor's appointment Thursday at 8:30!!  31 weeks on Friday!!!

In other news!  I found a mamaroo seat on Craiglist, and the guy is going to sell it to us for $100!  They retail for $200, and it is in mint condition.  Em is going to drive to Madison, hopefully this weekend to pick it up!!  

This is what it looks like! It's black :)  Has an MP3 player plug-in, no batteries necessary!

Check out all the cool things it does!!

Nursery Update!  It's pretty much done!!!!!!!  Signs need to go up and we have a shelf we are going to put over the changer.  We also need to hang curtains, think I'm going to go with dark brown to match the little deer :)  There are some things in the room that will come out once the babes are born, so ignore them!  I took some pictures because I promised I would!!!!  Here ya go!

When you peak into the room, this is how it looks from the doorway :)

Liam's crib, far wall

Lena's crib, on the inside wall.  Babies will sleep here together for awhile.

Our changer has an option to add labels to the drawers! So I did!  

Big Brother Wesson showing us the changing table/dresser!

Closer look at Liam's crib with his police bear and his reindeer!

Buddy was my "love toy" when I was a child, obviously very loved.  He only has one original eye and his antlers were chewed on when I was a baby.  My mom wanted the twins' to have their own lovey with antlers!  So cute!

Close up of Lena's crib with her ballerina bear.  Cute projection mobile with remote!! Fisher Price Little Planet Mobile.

My Summer Plans.. :) And a question for seasoned momma's!

Okay, so I'm bored.  So, while I'm stuck here in pregnancy prison, I'm mentally making a list of my plans for this summer.  And though some of you may think I'm crazy for making plans because you think I'm going to be incredibly sleep deprived, and yes, I agree, we will be incredibly sleep deprived, I will tell you this, I'm not going to be stuck in the house.  After I recover from my c-section and as long as my babies are home and healthy, I am not going to be a mother that stays in her house for weeks at a time, especially since my whole pregnancy has been spent practically on the couch.  There will be days where I'm sure I won't leave the house, where plans will fall through, and I just won't have the energy or the drive to leave.  So, keep your negative opinions to yourself please, b/c whether or not these plans happen, there is nothing wrong with me making a list of things I hope to do this summer.

1.  Ha, have two healthy babies!! :)  Obviously, that is the first and most important plan of my summer!
2.  Recover from my c-section, and try to get some type of game plan down when it comes to the care of Liam and Lena.
3.  WALK!!!!!!  I'm going to put these babies in the double stroller, Wesson on a leash, and walk, walk, walk.  I'm losing strength and circulation in my legs and I will get it back!  I'm going to waste no time!  I also haven't put on a whole lot of weight, so I'm hoping between having the twins, breastfeeding, and being active, I can lose the pregnancy weight and then some while the weather is nice this summer.
4.  Go to the fair!  My twin momma, me, and Em are going to take our twins to the fair and walk around and EAT :)  No rides this year though, haha.
5.  Spend a lot of time outdoors, can't wait for those warm, summer nights.  The babies won't get too hot and neither will I.  Maybe go see my Indiana family for a day trip in WI.
6.  To to Indiana to see my family out there. :)

Time is dwindling before the twins are here.  I have things to do, like pack a bag.  Any of you mom's have suggestions on what to pack?  Especially if you were a c-section momma.  I've already found a nursing gown and robe I want to pack for after my surgery, b/c I hate hospital gowns.  But, what about those little things that you wouldn't think of unless you've actually been through it?  Please leave suggestions in my comment box, preferably, or if you can't post a comment, on my facebook.  I'm hoping the babes come home with us, so what do I pack for them too??

Feels good to say thirty ____ weeks! So long twenties!

Blogger is finally back up!  It was down for awhile, but it's back, so I'll do an update :)  Oh, and today!  30 week mark!  Woo hoo!  Very exciting!

Yesterday, we went to the doctor and let me say, 8:30 for a two hour appointment is WAAY to early for my pregnant self!  They had the ultrasound tech come in early just for me, b/c they couldn't fit me in otherwise.  How special are we?  Lena is head down, hence me feeling a lot more discomfort.  To top that off, Mr. Liam is on his way to the head down position also, the first time he's moved out of the transverse position in months.  Now, instead of a baby up in my ribs, I have four sets of footies!  The tech says between 30 and 32 weeks is about the time they choose what position they will stay in until the end.  To be honest, I was hoping she'd stay breech and he'd stay high, b/c it's less pressure on my cervix, but with two heads pushing down on it, I don't know how long it'll hold!!!  It is measuring at a steady 1 cm.  No change in measurements, and only one contraction on the monitors.  So, again, she says "keep doing what you're doing" and she'll see me at 8:30 again next Thursday!  Oh, and I had a feeling the babies grew quite a bit, and well, I gained 4 lbs in a week, my first weight gain in about a month.  So, I can't wait til 32 weeks when we can see how big they are!

Babies are good, but I'm suuuper uncomfortable!  I had heartburn all day yesterday.  It was miserable, everything says that I shouldn't eat and then lay down, however, the doctor says, you can sit for a long period of time.  So, that's a problem.  Doesn't help me out much.  Tums and pepcid do not work, so I'm gonna have to try prilosec, or something.  I'm not sleeping well, turning from side to side is a huge chore.  I'm sure it drives Em nuts too :(  I had some uterine irritability last night, and Lena was kicking me so hard it brought me to tears.  I'm sooooo ready for them to be here, I know they aren't, so I will try to be patient, but regardless, I'm soooo ready.  Most women are ready to give birth when they have this much baby in them, I still have 4-6 weeks.  Oh well, there is my rant, which I am allowed to do every once and awhile!

Chose a Pediatrician ☑

Just a quick update on how our appointment with our pediatrician went.  We decided on Dr. Hutt after a few recommendations from people we know and then I found out my OB uses him for her nine month old.  We met with him to today for a meet and greet, very, very nice guy.  He was very informative and friendly, seemed very laid back also, which I like, especially for a pediatrician.  He's practiced for several years, and many people tell me he is great.  I'm looking forward to him being the twins' doctor.  He said he'll see them within the first week after birth, as opposed to two weeks because twins are usually smaller.

Baby Update: I am very uncomfortable today, and I have a nervous feeling about tomorrow (dr. appointment at 8:30) for some reason.  Hopefully it'll go better than what my gut tells me.  I'm feeling a lot more pressure (sorry if that's an overshare) when I get up for a few minutes, which makes me wonder if Lena decided she'd switch back to the head down position.  I'm also pretty tired, but hopefully it'll be a normal appointment.

Happy Momma's Day (to me too!)

Happy Mom's Day to all the Momma's in my life.  I'm blessed with a great mother, and today reminded me of how lucky I am to have her!

I woke up this morning to roses and a card from Em and my babies. :)  He's the best!

Love you babe!

Since I'm on living on the couch these days, my mom, Sarah and Rachel, Aunt Adrienne, and Grandma all came over!  It was really fun, Sarah (who was an incredible help this weekend around my house) made spaghetti and Rach brought over yummy carrot cake (she helped a lot too on Saturday!)  My dad gave me a card, and Sarah gave Rachel and I our first Mother's Day gifts.  A book and stuffed Momma bear to go with the book, in which she wrote a note on the inside.  That was exciting!  Anyways, I'll keep the summation of my Mother's Day short!  Here are a few highlights of the day!!

Probably the best picture of all of us in years!

Aunt Adrienne, Grandma, my mom

Rachel (and lil' baby), me (and twins), and Sarah :)

Had to throw this in here, the company exhausted Wesson!

Looking very much forward to next year's Mother's Day!!!  It'll be a whole different ball game!  Three babies in the family, lots to celebrate!!  Hope all of you had a great one too!

Baby Update:  MOVING LIKE CRAZY :) :) :)

Happy Doctor, Crazy Babies, Another Week!

Doctor's appointment went well!  Only a few contractions, not a lot of change measurement wise.  :)  My babies went insane on the monitors!  We're pretty sure Liam did a somersault, we had to turn it down they were so loud!  Sounded like cannons going off!  His heart rate even went up!  Lena is soo stubborn, she had the nurses and the ultrasound tech talking about her!  She hates being monitored, and it's like she hears the nurses coming, and she "floats" away!  We're in for a treat! :)  Can't wait!

I talked to the doctor about how I'm going a little crazy inside the house, how some days are really hard emotionally.  She told me that it was okay to get out of the house a few times a week, to go for a ride, just get a little sunlight.  I also harassed her a little about setting an official c-section date!  She laughed at me and told me she doesn't think I'm going to get to 37 weeks, that twins usually come around around 35 or 36 and that she also thinks the babies are going to go on their own schedule.  I told her I know that, but when can we set a date?  I need an end point, after another laugh, she assured me we'd set one at about 32 weeks.  In about 3 weeks, I'll have another day to countdown to!  I enjoy going to the doctor's office, I get along with the nurses really well, it's a trip out of the house, and I really like my doctor.  It'll be weird not going there as often when the babies are here, it's been my way of life for 7 months now!  Not that I'll be that devastated, but I enjoy chatting with the nurses. :)

We are meeting with our pediatrician next Wednesday, we decided on Dr. Hutt.  He happens to be my doctor's pediatrician for her 9 month old, so that was kind of the deciding factor.  I was pretty positive before I asked, but that made me even more positive :)

Pizza night with the hubby :)  Hanging out with my sister tomorrow! And my mom, gramma, and sisters are coming over here on Mother's Day! Should be a pretty good weekend!

A Mom on a budget, that's me!!!

Now that I'm not working, we're a one income family.  I'm blessed with a husband who has been working his butt off at working, trying to pick up extra hours and shifts.  But in all my spare time, I have found many things that I want to order for the twins, but I'm being financially responsible, and pacing myself, researching for the best deals, and doing lots of research.  :)  Here are some things that I plan on buying, after it goes on sale of course! :)

Lena's Coming Home Outfit

(Minus the socks and blanket)

Liam's Coming Home Outfit

(Minus the Socks and Blanket)

I have a 30% off coupon, and they already marked these down a bit, but I'm going to wait to see if they continue to mark them down! But, I love them!  :)  I know, I know, I work at the Children's Place, kind of feels wrong buying from their competitor, but I love these outfits!!

My friend Stephanie also suggested these cute little paci holders, called wubbanubs.  I love them, and I want one for each of my babies :)  I may not need it, but I want it, and if you ask me I've done well holding back on random purchases!!  The reviews are especially popular among parents with children who have spent some time in the NICU, preemies, and multiples.

How cute are these guys?

Check them out!

Nursery Update:  The changing table is here, waiting to be assembled.  The second crib is set up and waiting for a mattress, bedding is washed.  Can't wait for it to be DONE!  

Baby Update:  They're a little crazy these days!! Movin' a ton!!!  Liam spent most of his day yesterday moving in and out of my lower right ribcage area.  Doctor's appointment tomorrow at 1.  Hopefully it won't be another two hour one, but I have a feeling that's what we're in for! 29 weeks in 2 days!  58 days left max of this pregnancy, I'm getting more and more anxious to hold them and spend hours staring at them :)

Uneventful is a good thing!

Went to the doctor, babies are good, a little bit of sibling rivalry in the womb apparently!  Watched Liam nail poor Lena in the face, although I'm not too sure she's quite so innocent herself! ;)

Measurements are holding out at 1 cm, so that's good :)  Had a few contractions, but nothing to worry about.  She is also starting to measure my fluid twice a week, that looks good also.  I'm feeling pretty good, the weekend went pretty well, not many contractions or anything to be alarmed about.  Third trimester hunger is starting to kick in as well as a little bit of exhaustion.  I wish I could nap!

Next appointment is Thursday at 1:00 where we'll do the same thing all over again.