Week 30

***30 Week Update:
We had an awesome ultrasound yesterday. The normally cold and sterile ultrasound tech was super friendly and even turned on the 3D ultrasound for us! She was super chatty and talked all about her experience with a c-section and my doctor who performed it.

Emma Cate is weighing in at 3lbs 2oz and Holden is a bit bigger at 3lbs 8oz. That's a lot of baby in my tummy! We saw Dr. Wicker who is hilarious, and he commented on how much bigger my belly has gotten. I did indeed gain some weight this week my official weight gain is 23lbs. I think that I'm holding onto a lot of fluid. My rings wouldn't come off without a fight today so I'm taking them to the jeweler this afternoon to be resized.

Both Emma Cate and Holden look fabulous. They are swallowing fluid well and their systems are working perfectly. My cervix is still holding strong at 4.65cm. Holden has turned head down and it looks like a vaginal birth is possible, even though I'm still leaning towards the c-section. I've got two (large-if they take after Mom and Dad) baby butts pushing on my rib cage and causing me grief when I have to sit up straight. I'm thinking of moving the reclining glider into the family room to sit on instead of the couch for time being.

I talked to Dr. Wicker about my contractions and he suggested I cut my hours to part-time or stop working all together. I'm not quite ready to do that yet. As a teacher, you can't really cut hours down to part-time so I'm just going to plan on leaving as soon as I can in the afternoons (luckily I have planning last period) and keeping my feet up.

Yesterday I stayed seated most of the day, kept my feet propped up, laid down for almost 2 hours at the doctor's office and still had contractions when I was leaving. I think they are going to come no matter what and my best defense is LOTS of water, keeping my bladder empty, and changing positions.

My doctors want to see me every week now and I'm nervous about scheduling all this coverage for my classes. At this point of the year, no teacher wants to work extra during their planning period and I just hate asking for it but I don't really have a choice. I've got 4 sick days left and I'm trying to hold off on using them.

Here are a few pictures of the babies from yesterday:

Holden- hand is in front of face in all of these pictures

Holden

Holden

Holden 

Emma Cate snuggled up to Holden's head

Emma Cate

Emma Cate

Emma Cate 

 

30 weeks 1 day

Please excuse the unmade bed!

I feel like this picture is most like what I look like in real life!

30 weeks 1 day

30 WEEK POST:

We're in the 30s! So exciting. I am so happy to have carried the twins this far but I am soooo uncomfortable.

This week has brought us a lot of pregnancy challenges and not a ton of positives (except for the biggest being that I am still pregnant at 30 weeks! and that I PASSED my three hour glucose tolerance test with flying colors- YAY!!!!). I've been feeling very very tired this week. The extra energy I had is dwindling. People are commenting on how huge I am and I've definitely got my waddle on. Contracts are happening a lot and I've been scared a few times when I've had several within the course of an hour in the evenings. We've debated calling the nurse line and heading to the hospital to get them check out but I'm almost positive they are just braxton hicks as they haven't developed a pattern. They come on in the evenings and I assume they are just warning signs that I need to rest, relax, and drink more water!

All of the baby blankets, sheets, and towels have been washed and organized. Tonight's mission is to pack my hospital bag. I go in for my ultrasound tomorrow and our labor and delivery class nurse has told us multiple mommies to have everything ready to go when you go to each ultrasound after 28 weeks. Scary but I'd rather be prepared!

Jay and I attended childbirth class last night and had a different teach than the first class we attended last week. The rest of the class must have thought the first teacher was awful too because only two couples (including us) came back for the second class. The class was sooo informative and real. The teacher was awesome and told us "how it really works" compared to just reading from the text provided. While I'd been considering trying a vaginal birth if both babies were head down (I have a feeling they are right now), I think I've decided that c-section would probably be better for giving the least stressful entry into this world that I could. I'm also feeling more comfortable with the length of the hospital stay after a c-section compared to the 2 day stay after a vaginal birth. That is definitely not the main reason but to two new parents of twins, we want all of the help and education we can get before bringing them home!

I'm looking forward to my mom and sister coming in town for mother's day. It will be really good for Jay to get out of town for the weekend and be relieved of his duties around the house. Hopefully he can get some rest and relax while he visits with his mom this weekend.

I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow so I'll update with more specifics and some pictures but until then...


Pregnancy Highlights:

Today's Date: Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Pregnancy Countdown: 56 or less days

Size of babies: A cucumber. The babies are 15.2-16.7 inches long and weigh between 2.5- 3.8 pounds (it will be interesting to see what they are measuring at tomorrow!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 25 pounds. Up 6 pounds this past week. I definitely feel like I've gained that much in my stomach. These babies had better be huge!

Maternity Clothes: Yes, tried to put on a tank to sleep in last night and the hem around the bottom was cutting into my belly! Not a pretty sight.

Gender: Girl- Emma Cate and Boy- Holden.

Movement: I had a chick-fil-a milkshake yesterday and babies went nuts. I'm feeling some definite jabs and gurgles (I'm not sure how else to explain it). Entire bodies are moving around and pushing against my insides to get out!

Sleep: Sleep is terrible. My belly weighs too much to even lay on my back on the couch to watch tv. When I lay on my sides, my hips fall asleep and I think I'm having restless leg syndrome. Last night Jay told me that I was waking myself up every 10 minutes kicking my legs. Poor Boomer got kicked pretty hard too :(. Also last night, I woke up choking again and threw up over the side of the bed. Luckily it didn't hit the sheets and Jay is SOOOO sweet to clean up after me without complaint. I'm going to talk to the doctor about adjusting my acid reflux meds because I think something is off. 

What I miss: being able to get off of the couch without assistance.

Cravings: The list so far of things I've craved the most this pregnancy: Icees, Mac & Cheese, Chocolate Ice Cream, and Coke

Symptoms: braxton hicks, acid reflux, getting incredibly hot, cramping, extreme pressure when I stand up or walk, stretch marks, itchy skin on my stomach. 

Best Moment this week: Spending quality time with Jay and hearing him talk about how excited he is to be a dad. I know I've said this a lot but I am so excited to be starting a family with him. He is going to make an awesome dad. Second best moment would be learning that I passed my glucose test and don't have gestational diabetes!

Your baby's the size of a cucumber!

Your 15.2- to 16.7-inch, 2.5- to 3.8-pound baby continues to grow.

Weekend Round Up

*Preface- I know I sound complain-y in this post but I want to also let it be known how absolutely thankful I am to feel so uncomfortable. It means that I am on my way to carrying these two precious babies to term. All the struggle we went through to get to this point has been worth it and I am just so thankful.

Jay and I had another fun, get things done, weekend. Jay's weekend started early on Thursday. His cousin flew in for the golf tournament and the boys enjoyed doing guy things together Thursday night and Friday. I had cheer tryouts and was busy both nights. I came home Friday night and Jay's cousin's wife had driven up from Wilmington to pick him up. We stayed up talking until way to late!

Saturday morning we enjoyed a late brunch at one of our favorite Charlotte breakfast places, Zada Jane's, said farewell to Candace and Christopher and got to work on some house items.

Jay got the hallway painted while I worked on baby laundry. We did some rearranging in the family room, living room, and dining room and I'm pleased with how things are turning out.

loads and loads of cloth diapers... apparently they are much more absorbent after 4-5 washes 

Saturday night we babysat for my friend's 4 month old son while she and he husband were at a wedding. We had so much fun playing with little Liam. This was Jay's first time around babies and he did so well. He did so well that I actually left him with Liam while I went to pick up dinner for us. I came back to find them strolling around the block.

Babysitting was a nice opportunity for us to talk about the way we want to do things with the twins. Jay saw how much easier it is to take care of one baby as a team. During Liam's bedtime routine, it was so sweet to see Jay rock him to sleep BUT it's something that I doubt we'll be able to have time to do with two of them. As of right now we're thinking that we'll have to work on the cry-it-out method early on, not let the twins sleep in our room, and make a few other changes that we wouldn't normally think to do with one baby. Now, let me say that this could totally not happen when the twins are here! Jay and I have a lot of ideas for how we think its going to be and being a planner, I'm planning our routines around what we think it will be like. That being said, we are also open to whatever happens and will roll with that. If we feel like the twins need to sleep in our room, we've got a pack 'n play ready to go, we've got disposable diapers stacked high to the top of the closet, we've been saving formula coupons, and while a planned c-section would be nice, I'm open to trying natural delivery (with plenty of pain meds) if the doctor thinks we can do it. We'll just wait and see what happens.

Starting Saturday, I started to feel huge. I think the babies have grown a ton. I'm pretty uncomfortable. I'm feeling lots of pressure down low in addition to the fullness I feel in my rib cage. They are taking over my tummy! I've been having lots of braxton hicks and while they aren't painful, they certainly are not comfortable. I'm pretty sure that Holden has turned head down because my right side feels really full and I've gotten a little extra room under my left rib where he used to take up residence. Emma Cate has been making her presence known with a few punches to the bladder and wiggles. She really does not like it when I lay on my left side. So many of my clothes are getting too small! I've decided to add belly measurements to my Wednesday post to keep track of how much its growing.

28 weeks 6 days

super sized from the front

28 weeks 6 days

29 weeks 1 day

29 weeks 1 day

29 weeks 1 day

Sunday morning, Jay was so sweet to give me a nice back massage and foot rub. I am not a feet person and would never ask for anyone to rub my feet but they truly hurt that badly. They are really swollen when I wake up in the morning and I read somewhere that I need to start sleeping with my legs propped up.

I started to feel pretty awful on Sunday and Jay took over so many of the things that I've been doing. It's tough for me to sit back and have him take on more chores. Not because I don't enjoy the laziness (I totally do), but Jay doesn't do things the same way I do them and I know it is super annoying for him to have me boss him around. It really is so much easier to do things yourself if you want them done a certain way. On Sunday I would do a small chore, have a contraction, sit down to rest and end up taking an hour nap. I never nap.

Sunday afternoon we took a trip to the mall to exchange a few things at Pottery Barn Kids, Macy's and Belk. We also treated ourselves to cookie cake :) At PBK we picked up our hamper, some cute towels, and our anywhere chairs. I'm excited to have these around to take the babies' pictures in. We headed to Target afterwards and I picked up these cute baskets for under our sofa table along with some baby supplies.

Jay made dinner and put together baby items while I lounged on the couch. I do feel guilty but if these babies are going to cook for 8 more weeks I need some rest!

the seat is almost together

Boomer- what is happening to my house....

look at the determination

all together!

Proud Daddy!

High chair/space savers are up and ready for babies

 

A few peeks of the family room

Picture is hung, new baskets from PBK

all the new baby toys

Boomer was so funny. He would stare at and sniff all of the baby stuff and then run away. He might be a little afraid after I've stuck him in every baby contraption we own (you know just to test it out). He's been in the bjorn, the stroller, and the mamaroo.

And just because I've finally uploaded these from my camera....

my fat pregnant Sophie girl

two pregnant gals

belly shots

Sophie gave birth to 8 puppies on April 28th. She's our foster dog and she lives with her breeder when its time for her to have puppies. She's doing great!

And because he is too cute...

my 5 1/2 year old mutt (we think he is a cockapoo) Boomer

So sad

So today it happened. Almost in a matter of seconds. I checked this morning and nothing. This evening while laying down and rubbing my belly I felt two small ridges on either side of my belly button. I ran to the bathroom to check and two lovely, very real stretch marks appeared on my tummy. I didn't think it would be such a big deal but now that I have them I'm mourning my stretch mark free tummy. My tummy is almost measuring full term for a singleton. I might have just made it. Thanks twins :)

I doubt this has much of a true correlation but today is the only day I haven't moisturized after taking a shower. I was running late and just skipped it and look where it got me... Anyone have any solutions or miracle creams? It'd love to stop these before they get any worse!

Someone Is Trying to Escape

I should add this to my symptom list. The babies are moving but not really in the form of kicks. I feel like entire bodies are trying to escape from my upper tummy. Is this normal?

To Do List Updated

To Do:

Gear

Buy seat protectors for car seat install (Buy Buy Baby)

Install carseats in both cars 

Schedule carseat inspection (CMC Main)

Set up pack 'n play in basement

Buy storage compartment for stroller (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy moby wrap (Babies R Us)

Safety

Buy second camera for video monitor (Buy Buy Baby)

Diapering

Buy 4 6 newborn/infant diaper covers (Milky Way)

Buy 2-12 packs of infant prefold diapers (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy pack of Snappies (Milky Way) 

Buy pail liner for nursery (Milky Way or Amazon)

Buy Dekor diaper pail (Amazon or Target)

Buy small wet bag for travel (Milky Way or Amazon)

Buy 4-12 packs of flannel diaper wipes (Buy Buy Baby)

Wash all prefold diapers 4x

Layette

Buy Adan + Anais muslin swaddle blankets (Any Baby Store) Too expensive.

Buy muslin swaddle blankets (Milky Way)

Buy 2 sleep sacks (Babies R Us- on sale)

Pack diaper bag (changing pad, disposable wipes, small wet bag, diapers, onesies)

Pack twins hospital bags (picture outfits, coming home outfits, mittens, and blankets)

Buy large thick blanket for tummy time in family room (Pottery Barn)

Wash newborn clothing and plain white onesies

Wash all blankets

Toys and Activity

Buy Exersaucer (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy storage bins for family room (Ikea)

Set up swing in family room

Buy and Set up MamaRoo

Set up activity gym

Organize baby toys- bring them out of nursery and into family room,

Organize board books in family room- leave big books in nursery

Mom and Dad

Set up feeding/changing charts for each baby

Pack hospital bags (I think the is going to be sub list!)

Buy ItzBeen Timers (Amazon)

Buy Padalliys for carseats (Baby Stores)

Clean out and sell or use garage freezer

Read Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Twins and pray.

Sign up for cloth diapering class at Milky Way

Attend childbirth class (5/1 & 5/8)

Nursery

Buy tan changing pad cover (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 4 ultimate sheet savers (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 2 fitted crib sheets (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 2 Pack N' Play sheets (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy package of cloth diapers for burp cloths Bought actual burp clothes instead

Buy laundry hamper (Pottery Barn Kids)

Buy nightlights (Pottery Barn Kids)

Set up sound machine 

Wash crib sheets

Fix drawer pulls

Purchase drawer organizers (Ikea)

Buy baskets for closet organization (Buy Buy Baby)

Move white shelf from garage to Emma Cate's closet

Organize drawers

Bathing

Wash wash cloths and hooded towels

Clean kitchen sink really well. Come up with alternative place for drying rack.

Baby Care

Buy nail files (Target)

Buy Nose Frieda and filters (Target)

Come up with central place to keep extra binkis

Buy Infant Tylenol (Target)

Buy Infant saline drops (Target)

Buy more dreft or tide free and clear (Target)

Schedule interview/visit to pediatrician

Feeding

Clean out kitchen cabinet for baby supplies

Organize bottles and buy more if needed, need 12 per baby (Babies R Us- on sale)

Return 4oz baby bottles

Wash baby bottles

Set up bottle warmer (figure out how it works)

Buy level one nipples for Dr. Browns (Target)

Buy 1 dishwasher caddy (Babies R Us- on sale)

Buy breast pads and lanolin (Target)

Buy/Rent nursing pillow (Contact CMOMS or purchase at Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 2 Space Saver chairs (Babies R Us)

Buy 4 packages bibs (Buy Buy Baby)

Week 29

The best way to describe the third trimester is uncomfortable. Holden can decided if he wants to live across my ribs or in a ball on the right side of my tummy. Emma Cate is snuggled in cozily in her "A" spot. This week I've met a few more challenges dealing with getting around and getting comfortable. 

In a previous post, I mentioned that our den is now becoming our family room and Jay is freaking out a little more and more each day. I guess this is becoming a reality for him. 

On Thursday, we said goodbye to our beloved Sophie for the next 8 weeks. We are her foster family and once a year she has puppies and goes to live with the breeder to deliver and nurse her puppies until they are all sold. Its very sad for me and in the past I haven't been there when she's been picked up. Jay took a few pictures of the pregnant girls before she left but unfortunately they're on my big camera and I haven't uploaded it yet. We learned that Sophie had 8 puppies on Friday night and everyone is doing great! 

Sunday was spent at my last baby shower and ended with a successful but annoying Ikea trip. 

Jay would tell you that I am definitely in nesting mode. I still don't know if its nesting or freak out that I could be put on bed rest at any time and not everything is done. I am quite the control freak and I like things done a certain my way. I'm posting this because I will probably laugh at myself later when I am crazed and frazzled with two toddlers but for now I like to have towels folded a certain way. I got annoyed that when folding burp clothes, Jay didn't have the edges meet up perfectly. I know its crazy but I am so OCD about this! Everyone has said to have people help you with laundry and I'm hoping to let go of some of these OCD tendencies but we'll see...

Every night this week I've spent time in the nursery preparing everything. They recommend that you wash and dry cloth diapers 5 times before use so they've taken up the majority of our laundry. I've gotten all of the crib sheets done and I'm ready to make up the cribs with all the layers of waterproof-ness we've purchased! 

We attended our prepared parent childbirth class on Tuesday night. It was boring and we both new most of the information already. Jay was ready to walk out he was so bored. The material could have been discussed in 1 hour but the class lasted 3. I think we would have cared a little bit more if we were planning on a vaginal delivery but with our doctor's recommendation, a c-section seems to be the safest way to bring these babies into the world. 

I spend the morning today at my 3 hour glucose test. The test wasn't terrible. The drink was much worse than the first time around though and I had to get blood drawn four times! Good thing I've become used to needle sticks! Luckily my friend Heather had given birth at the same hospital 24 hours prior to my test and I got to hang out with her and adorable Baby Bo while I waited in between sticks. 

Yesterday afternoon I went crazy with the returns and purchasing of baby items. I hit up the Milky Way (which I HIGHLY recommend if you are pregnant or have a baby and live in Charlotte!), Babies R Us (that places grosses me out) and Buy Buy Baby. I picked up pretty much everything else we need for babies and will do a post soon on all the items I've bought and we've been given and then plan to do a follow up with what we actually used and what we needed more of.

I've also been doing the choking thing in my sleep again. Jay was awake while I fell asleep the other night and told me that I seem to close my mouth and just will not breath then I wake up gagging and coughing. I'm pretty sure it is not sleep apnea like I originally thought but more of acid reflux. In addition to my prescription acid reflux I've had to take a pepto bismol every night to help settle things. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

Today's Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

How Far Along: 29 weeks

Pregnancy Countdown: 63 days

Size of babies: A rutabaga. The babies are 15.2-16.7 inches long and weigh between 2.5- 3.8 pounds (babies have definitely done some growing this week!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 19 pounds. Up two pounds this last week. Probably making up for the loss last week

Maternity Clothes: Yes, with the exception of a few maxi dresses. With the 90 degree temps I'm most comfortable in my tank tops and running shorts. 

Gender: Girl- Emma Cate and Boy- Holden.

Movement: Holden is crazy. Actually when we moves back into position across my ribs, I feel a weird tingling sensation. I know that I've felt it before I was pregnant but I can't remember what caused it.

Sleep: Sleep is decent. Starting to have insomnia again. I think its because I've been up so late working on the nursery and have a hard time winding down. I've only woken up a few nights with my acid reflux but hopefully that will change soon when I talk with the doctor.

What I miss: summer drinks. Can't wait for a gin and tonic!

Cravings: Greek yogurt with almonds has been a favorite. Ice cream continues to rank high on the list  and ICEEs have made a reappearance thanks to my wonderful husband who brought one home for me by surprise the other night!

Symptoms: continuing braxton hicks, acid reflux, general "large" feeling 

Best Moment this week: getting to see all of my old cheerleaders at the baby shower! and getting our pictures back from our maternity session. Can't wait to get the CD with all of the images so that I can share!

My Week in iPhone Pictures

29 weeks 1 day

29 weeks 1 day

Full cart at Buy Buy Baby

Got this great Mama Roo on sale because it was a display model! 

Can you tell which side Holden is living on today?

Yum Yum Orange Glucose Drink

All gone!

Belly in a Booth- not much room at Mo's

 

old desk chair

new desk chair= happy back!

.

To Do List

Jay and I returned a LOT of baby items yesterday, mainly clothing and few duplicate things we got off of our registry. I'm getting to the point where I want to be totally prepared for the twins to arrival. I wouldn't call it nesting as I'm not much into cleaning (although I am noticing places where it needs to happen!) but more organizing and making sure we have what we need.

I know this list is a little OCD but I am a planner and want to take care of as much as possible before the twins' arrival.

To Do:
Gear

Buy seat protectors for car seat install (Buy Buy Baby)

Install carseats in both cars 

Schedule carseat inspection (CMC Main)

Set up pack 'n play in basement

Buy storage compartment for stroller (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy moby wrap (Babies R Us)

Safety

Buy second camera for video monitor (Buy Buy Baby)

Diapering

Buy 6 newborn/infant diaper covers (Milky Way)

Buy 2-12 packs of infant prefold diapers (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy pack of Snappies (Milky Way) 

Buy pail liner for nursery (Milky Way or Amazon)
Buy Dekor diaper pail (Amazon or Target)

Buy small wet bag for travel (Milky Way or Amazon)

Buy 4-12 packs of flannel diaper wipes (Buy Buy Baby)

Wash all prefold diapers 4x

Layette

Buy Adan + Anais muslin swaddle blankets (Any Baby Store)

Buy 2 sleep sacks (Babies R Us- on sale)

Pack diaper bag (changing pad, disposable wipes, small wet bag, diapers, onesies)

Pack twins hospital bags (picture outfits, coming home outfits, and blankets)

Buy large thick blanket for tummy time in family room (Pottery Barn)

Wash newborn clothing and plain white onesies

Wash all blankets

Toys and Activity

Buy Exersaucer (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy storage bins for family room (Ikea)

Set up swing in family room

Set up activity gym

Organize baby toys- bring them out of nursery and into family room,

Organize board books in family room- leave big books in nursery

Mom and Dad

Set up feeding/changing charts for each baby

Pack hospital bags (I think the is going to be sub list!)

Buy ItzBeen Timers (Amazon)

Buy Padalliys for carseats (Baby Stores)

Clean out and sell or use garage freezer

Read Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Twins and pray.

Sign up for cloth diapering class at Milky Way

Attend childbirth class (5/1 & 5/8)

Nursery

Buy tan changing pad cover (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 4 ultimate sheet savers (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 2 fitted crib sheets (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy 2 Pack N' Play sheets (Buy Buy Baby)

Buy package of cloth diapers for burp cloths

Buy laundry hamper (Pottery Barn Kids)

Buy nightlights (Pottery Barn Kids)

Set up sound machine 

Wash crib sheets

Fix drawer pulls

Purchase drawer organizers (Ikea)

Buy baskets for closet organization (Buy Buy Baby)

Move white shelf from garage to Emma Cate's closet

Organize drawers

Bathing

Wash wash cloths and hooded towels

Clean kitchen sink really well. Come up with alternative place for drying rack.

Baby Care

Buy nail files (Target)

Buy Nose Frieda and filters (Target)

Come up with central place to keep extra binkis

Buy Infant Tylenol (Target)

Buy Infant saline drops (Target)

Buy more dreft or tide free and clear (Target)

Schedule interview/visit to pediatrician

Feeding

Clean out kitchen cabinet for baby supplies

Organize bottles and buy more if needed, need 12 per baby (Babies R Us- on sale)
Return 4oz baby bottles
Wash baby bottles
Set up bottle warmer (figure out how it works)
Buy level one nipples for Dr. Browns (Target)
Buy 1 dishwasher caddy (Babies R Us- on sale)
Buy breast pads and lanolin (Target)
Buy/Rent nursing pillow (Contact CMOMS or purchase at Buy Buy Baby)
Buy 2 Space Saver chairs (Babies R Us)
Buy 4 packages bibs (Buy Buy Baby)

Also- I just read two of my favorite blogs, Blue Eyed Bride and These Four No More and saw they were doing a giveaway for a $100 Target giftcard.Check out this post to enter!