Time to Slow Down

(Blog posting started on Wednesday but Posted on Sunday) I was put on moderate bed rest at home starting this last Tuesday. I am out for the count until the babies come in preferably in 6 - 8 weeks. On Tuesday I was admitted to the hospital for having contractions and have been put on Terbutaline to keep the contractions at bay. I am now on moderate bed rest at home (thankfully not in the hospital). These little girls need to keep growing in my belly a bit longer before their big debut. Thankfully that was my first admission to the hospital, I guess as I kid I had tubes in my ears.

So it begins that Sunday, the girls continued to be active moving about. I didn't sleep well the night before (hey that is just normal now) so Lily, Zoe and I went for an early Dog Park trip. The evening before I got my first real discomfort with pregnancy, the tightening and loosening of a ligament in my leg...guess this goes on all over the body as it takes months to prepare for birth. After the dog park I still felt it and thought a swim in the pool would release it and get the blood flowing in my body. I swam my usual 20 minutes at an ever decreasing pass, but it still felt so good. As the evening came on I felt like I over did it that day. Monday I was energized, had lots I wanted to do and slowly faded out at lunch time. The contractions were probably already there, but not until another sleepless night did I go to the Doctor. The first time for anything is always scary, and this being my first pregnancy, I had no idea if this was just part of 3rd trimester discomfort. Thankfully after the afternoon at the doctors office and the admission to the hospital , everything has checked out good. My Cervix is still strong and long, so the contractions didn't affect it. I am on Tebulatlin to keep the contractions away. For the next 6- 8 weeks I am going to be home with Lily and Clark 24/7. Still absorbing all of this both emotionally and physically. Bill is being a great reassurance and will take good care of us.

I wrote this entry last week and just didn't' get it posted. Sorry. I did have another round of contractions on Thursday, they were 2 minutes apart and last only a few seconds and were not painful. I of course called the doctor since it was more then 4-5 in an hour...it's all been a learning experience, as it was not treated as urgent issue cause I called the nurse back after waiting for close to an hour...the contracting had stopped, but still I was and am annoyed by the whole deal. I have a regular 31 week appointment on Wednesday so we'll get a better communication line going. (This is exactly why I am not in the medical field, my noodle thinks more factually, black and white, then trial and error. )
So last few days have involved sitting and laying (on my left side only, since I was on my back with Thursday's contractions). I spectated at Sevi's garage sale in the big white chair that was for sale. Being at the sale doing nothing (It was hard cause the desire was there!) was a wonderful thing for me to be relaxing but still in the "real world". See Photo from Mom's camera. Lily is missing the dog park but knows we'll going soon enough. Clark has taken his turn sleeping in the crib twice recently....and they have been set of up so long. We are working hard with the squirt bottle of water to detour this bad cat behavior. The mattresses are still wrapped in plastic, and no bedding on them. What a turkey!
For now we will all wait patiently as our little buns continue to cook in the safety of my oven!

The Rockettes

We finally got a cooler day in Denver today and boy has it "kicked off" a show! The girls have been kicking like crazy today. But I should restate that for all I know "Baby A" is still breech... so I think is B's kicks and A's punches cause they are right on the hormone line in at my belly button and up to the top of my uterus. It is the craziest feeling, cause it is not just a jab but a slow motion squirm just under the skin. Many of times I have almost jumped myself at how it feels under my hand even though I can also feel it inside too. Tonight ,Bill and I went to the Symphony in the Park and Bill put his hand on my belly and immediately one of these crazy movements happened. Bill thought is was a sensation that I created to tease him, but it was one of his daughters saying "Hi Daddy".
I went to my acupuncturist yesterday to see what he could do for my insomnia. For take home help he put two needle patches in my right upper ear lobe. The patches sort of seem like a small tack stuck to a 1/4" square flexible band aid that is inserted into my ear. I am supposed to massage them when I can't sleep. But for most of the day yesterday it felt more like I had just had my ear pierced, but unnoticeable today.
I am just finishing up my evening milkshake with ice cream, milk and Oreos. It has become a exciting thing for both Lily and I. Clark. the cat joins the festivities in the kitchen, but rarely eats it if I give him a taste. He is more into the idea of the "treat" then the actual partaking. Lily really likes ice cream (but not mint chip), which we have never had in the house before I was pregnant, cause I could do just fine with out it. The ice cream is helping me get a few more calories and of course and teeny, tiny bit of protiein and calcium too. Isn't that everyone's excuse?

Showered with Love

Last Saturday was the "babies" shower. Sevi and Char hosted it together. Their combined efforts made for a fabulous time. Char was in charge of the eats and Sevi decorated and had the venue (and of course there was so much more too they/others did for the event). Before the shower I knew I had rest, so I laid down on the couch, and boy did it bring back a memory. I must have lived in Albuquerque, so I was under 6 years old, but I had to lay down and take a nap at Grandma and Grandpa Schlenzig's before we went to Elich Gardens Amusement Park. The way I felt the day of the shower was the same feeling of anticipation and excitement as I couldn't wait to get up and join the fun, it was such amazing feeling to feel so excited. At last it was time...so the twins were spoiled rotten with wonderful presents, and so many of they were Labeled Baby A and Baby B, which being a twin myself, it was always nice to have my own present instead of sharing all the time. Lily had a great time too, with her pink bow and her tag "Future Big Sister" and she loved socializing with everyone. (She just completed #3 of Chemo today, only one more too go! She is doing GREAT!).

Milestones since my last posting: I broke the 150 pound mark, my belly is now 41" in circumference around my "waist" (my mom's was 52" when Sevi and I were born). And of course, I have said "I'm Hot" enough times to send Bill into shock, since I am usually cold.

The girls checked out great at the Drs. yesterday. Baby A is weighing in about 2 lb 9 oz and Baby B is 2 lb 6 oz. Both were head down last ultrasound, and now Baby A is Breech (feet first) and Baby B is still head down. There is still a good chance they will do 180's again, but if they don't we'll be heading for a C-section for sure. Dr. Harding told us a tale of a lady who was in the same situation at 38 weeks, and her twins each ended up still doing a 180's. Amazing how there could be any room in her belly! Plus, theory has it gravity naturally makes a head down position since the head is the heaviest at term.

3D Ultrasound pictures are attached. Look on the right half of the of both photos

Baby A (Left Photo)- Profile of the left side of her face, and she is looking to the left and looks relaxed.

Baby B (Right Photo)- Looking face forward and smiling right at you.

The nursery is coming along great. Grandpa Dennis completed the painting today and the cribs, dresser and glider/recliner are in their positions. Now I have to get the energy to put all the presents from the shower away. Photo's will come with it is done.

A Big Ballon

This week I feel like I have a big balloon in front of me with sand bags hanging off it. I am starting to feel the weight of the babies more. They should be approaching about 2 pounds each measuring in a whopping 14 inches. Most babies are born at 19 -21 inches long, so based on that most of their grown ahead is putting on the pounds and only a few more inches. Surprisingly, the baby weight makes me more buoyant when I swim, like today I didn't feel like I was dragging the almost 150 pounds in my body. Speakin of water, the summer heat has really started and I can feel it. I am actually drinking ice water and soaking my feet in cold water when I can't cool down. July is notorious for 90 degree days so lots of fun lies ahead.

Bill has been wondering how long it would talk for my belly button to pop out. Well yesterday (July 1st) was the day. My belly button is still it's normal size, a small pea, but is sure to end up as big as a cherry tomato sticking at the end. I don't plan to tape it back with a piece of cardboard, as my mom did with us, that sound painful, and besides I am already trying to keep my daily list of "to do's" to a minimum.

This last weekend was a time of celebration for Bill and I as we "Babymooned". A term for a last hurrah as the two of us before we become a family. See Picture, I think Bill's hand describes the number of kids he wants. We spent two relaxing nights in Beaver Creek, hiking, putt-putt golfing, eating and cheering to a glass of wine. At the end of the weekend I met up with Sevi and her kids to head to Steamboat Springs to see Grandpa Bill and Nana. A three hour drive is a little far to go if I was to go into labor, so we wanted to go before that time gets nearer. Brooklyn, Savanna and Jagger did all the things at the Ranch that I look forwarded to my girls doing too: riding horses, splashing though mud puddles on the ATV and Swimming in the pond, and of course hanging out with Grandparents. All this traveling was lots of fun and as always it is nice to be home too.

So I am 26 1/2 weeks now, and the next ultrasound at 28 weeks will be in 3D. We can't wait to see our babies in more definition!