Twin blinkie
When we first found out the sex of the babies, I wanted to announce it in a unique way and had seen these "banners" on the web. After a full day (OK, maybe a few hours) frantic search online by myself and Hubby, we didn't even run across these "banners" and gave up and posted another banner earlier announcing "boy and girl." Well tonight I finally found out what they were called so here they are a bit late: Ahhh ..."Blinkies"
After a bit of mishap with the camera and some lost pictures, we are posting last weeks picture.
27 weeks...Need I say more?
OK I will. I'm getting BIG...at least my belly area is. I'm definitely starting to feel the pressure of being weighted down in front with a good 25-30 pounds. I may have to start wearing a back pack with weights in back just to balance me out. Sleep is now taking place in about 2 hour increments (in preparation for the near future) either getting up to use the bathroom or to turn over and rid my hip of the pain from the extra weight, and we have a SOFT bed. The kiddies are very active especially at night but are not waking me up, for now at least. They conspired to punch me in the lower abdomen at the same time, tonight. Baby boy seems to be attempting to kick a hole in my upper belly to escape the crowding. I guess our choice of the border in the baby room is a very appropriate choice: baby hands and feet. They are surprisingly strong especially curled up inside a belly and, thank goodness, VERY VERY CUTE.
I also felt my first "Braxton-Hicks" contractions last week brought on by a little dehydration. In singleton pregnancies, they are a fairly normal thing in the third trimester, but with twins and preterm labor risk, to be taken a bit more seriously. If I have 4 in one hour, I am instructed to call the DR. as it can rapidly turn into preterm labor with an extra stretched uterus. The first time, i felt it in the middle of the night and thought baby girl was attempting to turn around and was poking her head outward. Hubby didn't feel it in time as "it" had relaxed. A few days later, after a long day and too little water, I felt it again and then again 5 minutes later. We then realized it was NOT baby girl moving so I had the pleasure of downing 5 glasses of water. Water will now be my best friend with the finally arriving warm spring weather, YAY!
"Full" term and beyond?
Week 26 has arrived and I'm starting to understand most pregnant womens last month pregnancy complaints and wanting to get the baby out. I'm sporting my "full" term pregnancy look now and fielding at least three questions a day at work from various people of "when are you due?" and statements like" You've got to be pretty far along, huh?" The twin pregnancy books warned me this would happen about three months till d-day and sure enough, like clock work, it has...
Some of my new challenges include needing to shop for a new wardrobe and maneuvering in bed. I now understand why they have early pregnancy, middle and late pregancy pants. Stretchy pants can only get you so far. While the waist will keep expanding with you, it will bug the heck out of you as it slides down below the expanding belly every five minutes after your belly reaches a certain roundness. Thus the invention of pants with a low waist and little top fabric to cradle the belly can be compared to life saving measures if one is 26 weeks pregnant with twins. Ah, much better...
Rolling over in bed is a monumental task and easily the hardest thing I have to do now. It makes helping disabled kids develop their motor skills while 6 months pregnant look like a cake walk. Hubby and I got a big laugh when I read on one of the message boards that one woman's husband had threatened to post a sign above their bed that read "Caution, wide load turning." Hubby will be testing out our nice new couch as a bed if he copies that shenanigin.
And by the way, the smart mostly able-bodied kids at work that I used to chase have long far realized that they have a big slow pregnant woman working with them and acutely aware that I cannot chase and catch them at this point. Therapy is now a fun game of run fast away from the therapist (tee hee) so I can play with toys till she corners me. Another session I somehow got my legs tangled up with a child after I placed them over my legs to work on holding quadruped (the crawling position) while sitting on a large mat. They could not just move off for obvious reasons such as they are still working on the skill and it took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to get my legs out from under them without my usual flexible body movement. I'm sure we looked quite humorous for a few minutes till I figured it out. PT just takes a lot more planning and breaks now.
The babies and myself are doing great. We got to see them yesterday in another level II ultrasound (still a boy and girl, whew!, colors, clothes and stuff are all picked out, mind you).
They continue to be about on track in size with baby boy slightly larger (typical). My blood pressure is staying low and after further reviewing my chart, I HAVE passed the first glucose tolerance test (for gestational diabetes). My PA gave me a scare by saying I didn't and then we did some investigating and someone elses results had been put in my chart. Good, I've heard the three hour test isn't very fun. But really, I don't know why everyone complains about the first test, it tastes just like Orange soda, not bad at all...
Jump Starting Twins
The comic strip Jump Start has been chronicalling the twin pregnancy of Marcy and Joe. Here are a few recent ones that are quite cute and we can relate to.
March 7thMarch 8thMarch 9thMarch 10thMarch 11thMarch 12th
Bits and pieces of the puzzle...
All is well in the baby realm. We went to a shower in the Bay area and received many special baby items (Thank you everyone!) My new favorite thing to do is go into the baby room and look at all the adorable baby clothes, especially the cute "matching" boy and girl outfits. It fills my heart with happiness with how much we are blessed and these are wonderful reminders. (These babies are going to be much better dressed than their mom).
We've chosen colors for the nursery, a kind of light blue (which Hubby claims is lavender) and a light green. We're just in the starting phases of beginning to get the nursery done. One couple in our multiples class was concerned that they were not going to get everything done in time and voiced this concern in class. We found out later that they are due one day after us and already have the cribs etc. We haven't bought ours yet (so are we behind?). I'm not too stressed about it yet.
It is clear from the class that preparation and schedules are definite requirements to "sucessfully" or I guess "as sanely as possible" take care of twins, especially the first few months. Good thing this is definitely one of my forte's. On the preparation realm, Hubby has been diving into the book thing in preparation for pregnancy and taking care of twins advice. Initially, it was difficult for me to dive into the baby book reading when I had morning sickness. I felt overwhelmed with the morning sickness and it was difficult to focus while writhing in pain. Now, I must say I do feel distinctly behind on my reading homework now since Hubby is ahead in this book reading about 6:2. I have a feeling I'll catch up when my size no longer allows me to do anything but read to prepare for the impending birth and arrival...
We've been attending birthing classes and doctors appointments as well and so far "A-OK". I'm glad we made the choice to attend the classes early and get them over with now. My doctor has informed me that I should be feeling what its like to be a full term singleton pregnancy in about a month. I guess the two + months after are at my own risk. So far the babies look great and are on track. It is a joy and reassuring to hear their heart beat or see them wiggling on the screen at the visits every two weeks. All in good time to see them in person- we're still preparing...
