Hello 24 Weeks!

This past Saturday (3/20) was my 24 week mark....my pregnancy is now considered viable! Yay! I was so excited because I had had such an easy time thus far! I think I spoke too soon! haha! I started getting what felt like menstrual cramps around Friday afternoon. They lasted all weekend, but I just thought they were normal and didn't think too much about it. Yesterday morning they started about 7:30 or so and didn't let up. I e-mailed my doctor, thinking she'd just tell me to drink more water or rest. When she said I needed to come into Labor and Delivery as soon as I could, I got really nervous! I worked the rest of the day and went in around 5:30. When I got there, they hooked me up to the monitors to measure for contractions and get the boys' heart rates. They said my uterus was irritated, which meant I had either been contracting or I was going to soon. They checked to see if I was dilated, which I wasn't. They said I was dehydrated with a minor UTI and that's what was causing the braxton hicks. Not fifteen minutes later, the contractions picked up and were harder than they had been. It was so scary seeing that number rise on the monitor! They hooked me up to an IV with fluids and an antibiotic and then ended up having to give me a shot to stop them. I almost passed out twice! I don't know if it was the heat, the needles or what, but I was freaking out. The contractions stopped not long after they got me calmed down and they let me leave around midnight. Luckily, the contractions never caused my cervix to change, so the doctor is confident it's the dehydration and UTI that caused them. I'm keeping water with me at all times and just relaxing today. I go for a follow up tomorrow afternoon!

The whole time all of this was going on, the boys were moving like crazy! They did not like those monitors and kept kicking them. They finally took the monitors off because the boys kept moving away from them and they were practically useless. They did get a good reading in the first 30 minutes or so, so they felt it was okay to take them off. I was so scared and just kept telling myself everything was going to be okay. I was so relieved when they told me I could come home!

I had planned on doing the little survey at the end of this, but that turned out longer than I thought! Maybe I'll do it tomorrow? :)

Regardless, here's my 24 Week Bump Picture. I'm in lounge clothes and I'm not wearing any make-up because I had spent a lazy day w/ my sister and Emma! So, overlook that part! ;)

Thought I'd share!

One of the ladies on my month board on The Bump posted the following last night. I thought they were cute and I have bolded my favorites! haha!

Disclaimer: I merely posted this because I think it's funny not because I agree with everything said. I know that when some people do some of the following, they genuinely mean well. Also, I do not mind family and friends rubbing my belly one bit. So, if you're someone I know in real life, know that you can still rub my belly after this! ;)


Dear Non-Pregnant Person,



I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn’t mean me – then you should probably read this twice.



1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.



2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.



3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…



4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.



5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.



6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer. Hearing this comment drives me nuts!



7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.



8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.



9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.



10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.



Sincerely,



All the Pregnant Women in the World

Happy Birthday, Kevin!

Today is Kevin's 27th Birthday! I really wanted to make a big deal out of it, but him being the low key person he is, doesn't want to do anything. We went out to the Mellow Mushroom last night (we weren't impressed) and I'm making him a spaghetti dinner tonight. Oh, and baking him a FunFetti Cake because that's what he asked for. He's the total opposite of me when it comes to this stuff. I'm a total AW when it's my birthday! Men!

So, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of my handsome hubby! :)



Happy Birthday, my love!

Hello 23 Weeks!

How far along? 23 Weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'll be honest, I have no clue! I'm thinking 20+ pounds. 
Maternity clothes? Definitely wearing all maternity pants, but I can still wear a few non-mat shirts.
Stretch marks? I've noticed one or two on my sides. :( They are on top of ones I had from teen years!
Sleep? I sleep great when I'm actually sleeping, but I do wake up in pain (tailbone and ribs) a few times at night.
Best moment this week? Kevin finally feeling them move & getting to see them at the second u/s.
Food cravings: I've been craving sweets, a lot. When I first got pregnant, they made me sick. 
Gender: Two sweet little boys! :)
Belly button in or out? Almost flat...it'll definitely pop before it's over!
Movement? Lots and lots! I love it!
What I miss? Ibuprophen. Tylenol just doesn't help w/ aches and pains.
What I'm looking forward to: Kevin's birthday tomorrow. :)

Baby this week:


Your baby's got a while to go before their lungs will be ready for air and is practicing their "breathing" on the amniotic fluid—sucking it in and out of their lungs. Other highlights this week:

Fat production is in overdrive at this point (for the baby, not you! Well, OK, maybe for the baby and you). Your baby will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! You'll be happy to know the same won't apply to you.

Your Mini is starting to look more like a newborn as their skin becomes less see-through. Their body is looking more proportional now, although their head is still kinda big compared to their cute little body. - Parents 3D Connect


Here is what the babies supposedly look like:

23 Weeks Pregnant

TGIF w/ Pics! :)

Happy Friday ladies!

I've realized I'm totally slacking on baby updates. I plan on doing better! Also, I'm back to being public because some people were having trouble viewing the blog, even though they were invited to join.

On to baby news! This past Tuesday we got to see our precious boys. We didn't get to see them for very long, but it was enough. They weren't as active as they usually are, but Baby B did turn so that we could finally see his face for the first time. At one point he had one of his arms raised, so it looked like he was either flexing his muscles for us or he was waving his arm for us to leave him alone! Either way, it was so cute! She didn't get their heartrates, but at my regular OB check last week they were at 150 and 147 bpm. Baby A weighs 1lb 1oz and Baby B weighs 1lb 6oz. The doctor says they are perfectly healthy and that the five ounce weight difference was nothing to be concerned about. MuseumMaven (a fellow Bumpie who is pregnant with twin boys, as well...for those of you who are non-Bumpies) mentioned somewhere that if they haven't developed TTTS by this point, chances are they probably won't. So, ladies, cross your fingers that holds true for my boys!

I do believe I've hit a growth spurt this week because I seriously feel like my belly button is being ripped apart from my insides! I have to pee every hour and I feel like my organs are being squashed flat. haha! But, I wouldn't trade feeling them move around for anything in this world. Baby B moves a lot more than Baby A does, but when Baby A moves he makes sure I feel it. Baby B also moves around all over the place, from right behind my belly button over to the right side of my stomach right under my ribs. I honestly didn't think they could move that far over to the side! But, Baby A stays right in the same spot, about two or three inches below Baby B and never moves from side to side. It's the craziest feeling!

Here are the pictures I promised earlier this week! :)

Baby A's Profile

3-8-2011 - 1lb 1oz

Baby B's Profile (somewhat)

3-8-2011 - 1lb 6oz

22 Week Bump Shot

3-5-2011 - Measuring 25 Weeks

I hope you ladies have a wonderful evening and a great weekend! 

Happy Monday!

Hey ladies! How was everyone's weekend?

Ours was mostly uneventful, except for Saturday night. He had a Guys Night In, while I headed out for a Girls Night Out. It was a lot of fun catching up with my four best friends from high school. We ate at a local Mexican restaurant and then headed over to Starbucks. It was really relaxing and nice to just sit and talk about our lives. I really miss the two that live a few hours from here and wish they lived closer, especially now that the boys are on their way.

In baby news, Kevin finally felt one of the boys move last night! I was extremely excited and I think he was even more excited than I was. He has been trying for a week now to feel them and was starting to get really discouraged. One of them was rolling around like crazy last night, so I made him keep feeling for it. When we went to bed, he told me to hurry up and lay down because he wanted to play with the babies! haha! They had stopped moving by that point, so he didn't get to feel them. He tried again this morning before I got up, but they weren't having it. It's so sweet to see how happy and excited he gets about them. He's going to be an awesome father!

We had our regular OB check this past Thursday and it was practically a bust. My appointment was supposed to be at 9:00, but the doctor didn't get there until 10:00 and then rushed me through everything so that he could get to his other patients. To say I was extremely aggravated was an understatement because I actually had questions to ask him. Both heartbeats were strong and I was measuring at 25 weeks (I reached 22 weeks on Saturday). He didn't seem to have a problem with that or my recent weight gain (ummmm....9 pounds in 4 weeks, wow!). He did send me for an ultrasound on my kidneys because I've been having a lot of pain and they think it's from kidney stones. We're supposed to hear back from that either today or tomorrow.

Tomorrow is our second appointment/ultrasound with the high risk doctor. I cannot wait to see our little boys again! I'll try to post pictures when we get back. After that appointment, Kevin and I are going to register at Target. I was going to wait to register, but we have a coupon that if we register by March 28th, we get a $20 gift card. I can't pass that up! I'm pretty excited, but overwhelmed. I've been researching baby items, but there's still so much to get and learn about! I'm going to make it fun though!

Well, that's all for now. I took a picture this past weekend and put it on my FB. I'll try to put it in tomorrow's post, too. Have a great Monday!

Long Time, No Blog!

Hey girls!

Sorry for the unplanned hiatus from Blogger. Do you ever just get burnt out on something and can't even bring yourself to look at it? That's how I felt about blogger. My interest has been slowly but surely coming back and I've been catching up on everyone's lives. I felt the itch to write this morning and work is slow, so I thought "why not?".

First and foremost, we found out we're having two perfectly healthy BOYS! Most of you know this already, but there are a few of you who aren't on my FB or the Bump. The high risk doctor said that although they're perfect now, they may not stay that way! Since they're identical, they're sharing a placenta. This could cause problems later on in pregnancy and they could develop twin-to-twin transfusion. The doctors have been very vague on what this is exactly, but I basically gathered that one will develop quicker than the other because it's getting more nutrients. Well, I Googled TTTS last week and let me say, in this situation, Google is NOT your friend!

We decided to name them Gavin Thomas (Thomas is after my dad) and Landon David (David is after Kevin's dad and grandfather, who passed away this past week). I can't wait to meet my precious boys! Gavin is Baby A and is very laid back. Landon, Baby B, is a completely different story! At the anatomy scan, he was everywhere and refused to sit still for the u/s technician. So rotten already!

I reached 21 weeks this past Saturday and, I'll admit, I'm a bit scared! Okay, I'm A LOT scared. There are so many emotions going through me at once. There are some things going on in my personal life that are also weighing on me and are really causing me to not put all my focus on preparing for the boys (Kevin and I are fine, just in case you're wondering!). I'm trying to get past all that, but it's really difficult right now. Anywho, I digress.


Well, that's really all for now! I'll hopefully be updating soon, because I just know you guys are dying to know what all is going on in my oh, so interesting life! haha!