Slacker...That's me.

The best laid intentions...isn't there a saying that starts that way?  I really intended to write every week for the new year, but life happened and energy zapping afternoons set in. Hence, no posts for over a month.  But what a month it has been.

The babies are continuing to grow! We had another anatomy scan last Thursday, just one day before reaching 32 weeks and got confirmation again that we have some huge babies growing!  Landon (baby A) is weighing in at approximately 4 lbs 10 oz and Parker (baby B) is weighing in at approximately 4 lbs 4 oz.  Crazy!  Landon is head down, as he pretty much has been the whole time, and Parker is breech (head up, right at Landon's feet and I'm sure getting some kicks to the head). Just a note: 5 weeks previous to this appointment, Landon was weighing in at 2 lbs 11 oz and Parker was 2 lbs 8 oz.  So clearly Landon is our big boy!

We also started monitoring at Dr. G's office, our perinatalologist.  We did 1 a week for 2 weeks and then this coming week we start monitoring twice a week. Monitoring is basically having them hooked up to fetal monitors to measure their heartbeats, movement, etc. So far we have been very lucky and have had good readings in about 30 or so minutes, but the nurse did warn us with twins, they could take up to 2 hours if necessary.  Luckily, the boys are very active in the afternoons when we happen to have our appointments scheduled!

We also welcomed my bestie's new baby girl on February 12th!  Baby E is absolutely beautiful. I think the boys are unsure about her because whenever I hold her, they punch and kick the crap out of her from underneath.  Little boogers!  LOL! I am sure they will all be best friends though! They have no choice though right?! ;)

At the end of January, I was also lucky enough to have my wonderful friends throw me an amazing baby shower here in Vegas.  It had a huge turnout and it was a great time.  I have to admit, all the gifts and the opening of them all, was a little overwhelming, but I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life! We were very fortunate to get so many items for the boys/nursery/etc. that we needed, I couldn't be more grateful!  And the theme was fabulous.  My friends did a Dr. Suess theme, specifically focusing on Thing 1 and Thing 2!  It was too cute!  Loved it! It was also a great shower because my sister, mom, and mother-in-law all made it in for the weekend!  So wonderful!

Phew! A lot has happened.  An update on my stats...as of Feb. 14 I was weighing in at 181 lbs. I measured my belly and it was measuring at exactly 41 inches.  Wow! LOL! We have another appointment with our OB, Dr. M this Tuesday.  Hopefully we have a little more of an idea as to when these 2 boys will be joining us.  At Dr. G's appointment last week, we were informed that my placenta finally moved away from my cervix (which we've had since our first appointment with Dr. G, called a Placenta Previa, and then moving to a partial).  What does this mean? This means that the possibility of having a vaginal birth (sorry if TMI) is more of a possibility.  It's crazy because up to this point, I always thought because of the placenta's position that we would only be able to have a c-section and now...who knows.  I am hoping that Dr. M gives us some insight this coming Tuesday during our appointment.

With all that said, we probably have about 5-6 weeks left, and that is because Dr. M won't let me go over 37 weeks with twins.  So...I promise I'll update after this week's three appointments! Now, how about some pictures?!

26 weeks 3 days

28 weeks 1 day

29 weeks 3 days

31 weeks 3 days and feeling it!

 

New Year...New Me!

 I am bound and determined to make sure I keep up with this blog.  So, I thought what better way to get into the new year than by showing the progression of the new (pregnant, soon to be a mom...) me! The hubby and I have been for the most part doing a pretty good job of keeping track of my weekly growth of the tummy with pictures.  Some weeks we missed (those mostly were early on when I was sicker than a dog and literally spending all weekend of the couch) but I feel in looking back, we got a good gauge of my growth and I am happy we did. Now it's time to share.  Be forewarned! I don't look pretty in all (well, really in most) of the pics because we took them on the weekends and that was when I didn't have to be too presentable because I usually stayed home.  LOL!



9.25.11
10 Weeks 2 days
(I really feel like this was just my pudge I always had and now I just had an
excuse not to feel too self conscious about it! LOL!)



10.8.11
12 Weeks 1 Day

 

10.17.11
13 Weeks 3 Days




10.24.11
14 Weeks 3 Days




10.29.11
15 Weeks 1 Day



I think the shirt over the belly makes it look bigger, but since we
started with the bare belly look, I had to keep going with it too!



11.6.11
16 Weeks 2 Days




11.13.11
17 Weeks 2 Days
Hubby's Birthday!!!




See, doesn't it look bigger with the shirt covering? Is it just me?!

 

Wow I need to wear some more make up! =)

  

11.20.11
18 Weeks 2 Days

 

12.3.11
20 Weeks 1 Day
Told you I dressed up for some...ok, one! =)

  

12.12.11
21 Weeks 3 Days



12.12.11
21 Weeks 3 Days



Merry Christmas! 12.25.11
23 Weeks 2 Days

 

12.26.11
23 Weeks 3 Days
Sporting a fine Wolf Pack shirt!!! =)



Wow talk about growing pains! It's definitely popped!



Happy New Year! 1.2.12
24 Weeks 3 Days




We've reached viability! I think that's a great 31st birthday present!



1.9.12
25 Weeks 3 Days



Magnetic chalkboard complete!So proud of my hubby! Thanks babe!

 This past Friday we reached 26 weeks.  Tomorrow, Monday 1.16.12, I have my gestational diabetes appointment.  Fingers crossed all comes back well and clear.  Twin pregnancies tend to increase the chances of that.  And then on Thursday, 1.19.12, we have another big anatomy scan appointment with our perinatal doctor.  Can't wait to see the boys and see how big they are getting, how much they are weighing, etc.! Off for a big week!
    



Happy New Year and Milestones

In the back of my mind, I made a New Year's Resolution (I don't usually make any. I always have good intentions around this time of year, but really I have never said "Oh I'll start this Jan. 1st).  I told myself I would post once a week to the blog.  Well, today it's all or nothing.  So...here we go!

It was a pretty calm Christmas and New Year.  We spent 9 days over our winter break up in Northern Nevada visiting my family and friends, enjoying the cold temps (7* most mornings), hoping for snow but it alluded the area, and showing off the belly for the first and only time there.  This was a last big trip up there until probably this summer after the boys are born.  Then we came home and spent the end of our two week break getting the nursery done (well, pretty much done).  Then we rang in our New Year's Eve with some close friends and their family playing Xbox Kinect (hilarious by the way!).  A and I won 2 out of 3 dart games (taking us back to our early days when we first moved here and allowing us both a game with minimal movement as I was 24 weeks preggo and she was 34 weeks!) and our husbands and her family did all the REALLY intense active games, where they were all left sweating and breathing heavy.  It was a fun, classic night. We made it home by 10:30pm and I am pretty sure the hubby and I were out by 11pm.  Ah well, there will be plenty of ball drops we'll witness in the future.

The nursery was a big to-do on the hubby's to-do list for this break.  He said it was my Christmas present and he really wanted to make sure it was at least ready to house two little ones and all of the stuff we have started getting.  He did an amazing job! The biggest debate in our minds was what color would we paint it.  We decided to go with a Jungle Sports theme (I was pretty adament that I didn't want just a typical sports themed room...I mean, we already have our wonderful baseball room. If the boys want in there when they're older, by all means. LOL!) and so we just decided to go with a neutral beige tone...actually the same color as the majority of the rest of the house.  It looks good.  Honey spent 2 days painting the room, and even had one little surprise project up his sleeve.  He really wanted a magnetic chalkboard area.  It turned out awesome. He just needs to frame it out with the trim we go and it will be complete.  The cribs he put together on Day 2.  We were blessed to get both cribs and mattress' from his parents.  We are so grateful.  It only took him about 2 hours to put both together.  I laughed at this because I have always heard that the cribs can take a long time.  I wonder if I should check that they'll actually hold someone?! =) And then we put up the decals. Our last touch will be to add the boys' names above their cribs and a quote on the wall (we just need to decide on which quote we want).  But all in all, the room looks awesome! We feel a little more organized instead of just having everything we have received at this point pushed into the room!  Great job honey! I really love it and appreciate it.

Speaking of stuff...I had my first baby shower while I was home.  It was great and I am so grateful for all of the great things we received and getting to see some many friends from up north I haven't seen in a while! We got lots of baby clothes, the bath goodies we registered for, lots of books and diapers, among many other great necessities!  It was actually the perfect sized shower.  I was able to sit and visit with everyone and just enjoy the evening. Thanks so much to my sister and BFF for putting it on!

The final part of the post (besides pics which I promise to put at the end) is the milestone we have reached in our pregnancy.  The day before my birthday we had another appointment with our perinatalologist.  It was a quick appointment to check the heartbeat of the boys, their fluid, and my cervix.  I still have a partial placenta previa.  This means that part of the placenta is covering my cervix and that I have to take things carefully. I was told again no real heavy lifting, no hanky panky, and that I need to be reclining or laying down when I don't need to be standing.  I am ok with that.  Usually by the time I get home from school I am wiped out anyways, so I have no problem taking up my rut in the couch.  But the greatest news was the the next day, on my 31st birthday, we would be 25weeks along! And that is GREAT news because it means that the boys have reached viability.  That means that if for some reason the babies needed to come out (although trust me I plan on keeping them in for as long as humanly possible), they now have a greater chance and higher survival rate.  We'll take it!  That is wonderful news.

As for me, I am feeling good at 25 weeks.  The appetite is present in full force.  Of course, I usually have to do several short meals and snacks throughout the day because with two babies pushing on my stomach, a lot of food does not make it down. There's just no room.  For example, we went out to Outback for dinner on my birthday.  I was good for a few bites of our appetizer and then my salad.  That was all she wrote...I was full!  My ribs made great leftovers the next day! LOL! I have definitely popped as some would say.  There is no doubt I am pregnant and feeling it.  I can't lie though. I am loving the "Oh, you look so little for being pregnant with twins," or "Wow, you're really 6 months along?!" comments.  I know it won't last long.  It seems the belly grows a good amount every week now! But I can finally say, I am enjoying my pregnancy.  I had to deal with a little head cold last week but that is trailing off.  Now, it is just a matter of taking it one day at a time.  Both of my doctors agree, I probably have no more than 5 or 6 more weeks at work.  They are saying most likely I'll be on bedrest.  I am pushing to make it until the end of February.  That will give me maybe 3-4 weeks before the babies come.  It is looking like we will have them by early March or very early April.  Twins never go 40 weeks, so our April 20th date is just that, a date.  We'll see what the next few appointments have in store and I'll keep everyone up to date.

With that being said, and after all my blabbing, here are some pictures.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holidays and here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year! I'll be back in a week...at least that's the goal! ;)

Can't figure out for the life of me how to flip it so it is upright! Sorry. I am working on it.
Here is the nursery though before paint.

Painted, now just working on the magnetic chalkboard!

Both cribs up and our little monkeys ready for some company!

My baby shower back home! So wonderful! Thanks again Sis and BFF!

It was a little duckies theme! Love it!

Blessings!

'Tis the season! Tomorrow is Christmas and I want to take a moment to just express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life. I am so blessed with amazing family. My parents have been rocks for us over the past year (really over the past 30 years for me!) and my in-laws have loved me from day one like I was their very own daughter! I could not be more blessed with the 4 parents that God has given me! Another blessing is my amazing husband. He has been the most amazing man: loving, caring, giving, helping, supporting, and beyond for the four years I have known him. This past year was our biggest test thus far in our relationship and it has made it all the much stronger! I am so excited to see him fulfill the daddy role I know he was made for! Lastly, the blessing of my sister, my brother-in-law, and my two amazing nephews. They have let me tag along with their family since day one (during my oh so long single days) and have allowed me to play such a role in my nephews lives. I am so grateful. I love the family that I am a part of and I am so fortunate that family does not end just there!

I have the most amazing friends to call family! There are those near and dear to me who I live so far away from, who I can call on at any moment of the day and they are there for me! Thank you friends! I love you!
And of course those I call my Vegas Family! Without my Vegas Family, I don't think the last 8 years would have been so amazing! It's funny how having certain people in your life can build one's family, and they don't even need to be blood related. LOL! I think about if we were all from the same DNA and that's just scary! ;)

Then there is the blessing of my children (of which at this point I count having 4)! I have the best fur babies the world could give. My kitty cat Neka has been with me since pretty much I struck out on my own away from home to Vegas and has given unconditional love (even if she doesn't come downstairs EVER in our house). And then there is my the pup who will forever have my heart. Daisy has shown the hubby and I what true love is and how a loyal dog really can be a child in a couples' life. She has taught us patience and love through all the stages of puppyhood and I truly believe prepared us for what is just around the corner.

And so that brings me to the two little blessings that are growing so rapidly within me! It took a lot to get to this point in my life, not just in the last year, but many years leading up to it and I really feel that now I understand why. I wasn't prepared before now to accept and be ready for the two little men that will soon fill my life and my home with love, laughter, and all the other great experiences motherhood brings! To be able to feel them moving around so much, and share that with the hubby (usually every night before we go to bed and I am being utilized like a world class punching bag) has been the most amazing experience. And as the kicks and jabs get stronger, I know so too do my little men. They have already blessed my life so much, through this experience of being pregnant, to sharing that experience with so many around me, that I am grateful.

So thank you God for all the blessings you have filled my life with. And to all of you who may be reading this, I hope your life is filled with many blessings as well. Merry Christmas all! Have a wonderful time with your family and friends and I look forward to a most amazing New Year for us all!