A Different Kind of Birth Story

One of the things I was sad about when I resigned myself to having a c-section was the fact that I wasn't going to have a fun birth story to tell. But, things happened the way they did, and I still have to tell about the day our twins were born.

I woke up several times the night before the surgery, so excited (and hungry) that I couldn't go back to sleep for hours. I knew that I needed to take advantage of the last full night of sleep I would have in a while, but I couldn't.....it was worse than Christmas! When the family finally got up around 6, I was so thirsty I was ready to drink out of our sprinklers when they came on. I wanted water SO badly! I was really too nervous to eat, but the no water thing was really difficult.

The last belly picture at home. I had to add in the dramatic face....because that is how I felt on the inside lol!

My mom showed up just before 8 so she could watch Kaylee for us. It was actually pretty sad to leave Kaylee home knowing that our little family of 3 was about to change dramatically. We got a final picture of our little family and the Robert and I headed to the hospital.

Our last time as a "small" family

We were told to get there 3 hours before the scheduled surgery, and we got there even earlier because traffic is unpredictable on the drive over. Some days it will only take 20 minutes, and other days it takes a full hour. I was hopefully that our being early would mean I would go into the c-section early, and that's exactly what happened.

The room where we waited for surgery and where the babies and I came during recovery

Waiting was the worst part! It seemed like it took forever before they were ready for us.

As we sat in our room waiting I became more and more nervous. I just didn't know what to expect. This was surgery. MAJOR surgery! The few people they had come in to explain things to us didn't help to calm my nerves very much. At one point, Robert had gone out of the room to get a drink and several people came in and made it sound like we were going in to surgery right then! I started to freak out that Robert wasn't there, and maybe wouldn't be there in time for the birth of the babies. Silly me. It was another hour I think before we actually went back.

Ready for the walk to the OR

Robert looking all handsome in his scrubs

The last twin belly picture

Walking to the OR was surreal and exciting all at the same time. When we got in the OR it was just like everyone described it to me. Cold, noisy, impersonal, scary, and overwhelming. As I sat there on the table getting my spinal placed I became more and more anxious, but tried my best not to show it. The spinal didn't help at all. I was hoping it would be an easy one like my epidural with Kaylee, but this one hurt......a lot. He had to poke me a few times to get the placement right, and with each painful poke my emotions bubbled more to the surface. When it was finally in and started working (instantly) I started to cry a little and that, of course, embarrassed me to death. I hate crying in front of people! I finally calmed down and then we all sat there waiting for the Dr to come in.


Trying my best to stop crying and calm down.

They checked a couple times to make sure he had in fact been paged, and finally he came in. Robert hadn't come it yet, and I was so afraid they were going to forget to bring him in! It was wonderful when he finally came to sit by me, and then I let myself get excited. I let myself celebrate the fact that we were about to have babies!

The surgery started at some point. I didn't hear anyone say when it started, but I could see just enough reflection on a light fixture to tell when things got a little bloody. Robert actually got to take some pictures of the surgical field while they were pulling babies out, and I will forever be thankful. Really I would have loved to videotape the entire thing to watch later. It was the birth of our babies, and I didn't want to miss it.

***IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BIRTH (SURGERY) PICTURES, PLEASE GO HERE OR HERE!***

Alexis (Baby B during the pregnancy) somehow got her head far enough down that they took her out first. That then made her Baby A. It was SO confusing! But at least they were able to tell us which baby they had taken out first so we would know who was who. Alexis was 6 lbs 7 oz 18" long, and born at 12:08pm.


Alexis being cleaned off


Holding our baby Alexis for the first time

One thing that differed from how I envisioned was that they didn't lift the babies up over the screen to show them to us. I hear Alexis start crying, but didn't get to see her. It was all I could do to keep from jumping off the table to go check and make sure she was ok. Then they started working to pull out Courtney (Baby A during the pregnancy). I don't remember if they had gotten Courtney out yet when they brought Alexis over to us, and I got to hold her. That was heaven!! I loved looking at her little face, and having her calm down immediately when she heard my voice. Courtney was still breech so they pulled her out by her legs, which doesn't look comfortable in the pictures. She was 6 lbs 12 oz 20.5" long and born at 12:10pm. The doctors and nurses were commenting on how big the babies were and congratulating me on growing two healthy sized twins. She ended up with excess fluid in her lungs so they took her (and Robert) to the nursery to be monitored to make sure she was ok. Before they took her away we got a couple pictures of the 4 of us, and I got to see and touch Courtney a little.


The new additions to our family - Courtney is on the left and Alexis is on the right

I continued to hold Alexis until I was wheeled into recovery. As soon as I was settled and sitting up a little in the recovery bed I was allowed to nurse Alexis while we waited for Robert to come back with Courtney. I don't remember how long they were gone, but it seemed like forever! Once they came back, I was able to tandem nurse the babies for the first time. It was amazing! Courtney was a natural and latched herself on with very little help from me. Alexis has a latch very similar to Kaylee's. Very shallow and VERY painful. It looks like I will be working with her to get her latching better. It was so odd to realize over and over that we really do have TWO babies now to take care of. They are here and now it is up to us to raise them.

It was a very interesting experience having a c-section. Not something I would be ok doing again, but at least now I know what all happens and I can encourage any family/friends who find themselves having to be cut open.

Courtney

Alexis

Together again!

Week 38 - The final pregnancy post!

Pregnancy Highlights: Part of me can't believe I have made it to week 38 with these babies.

How Far Along: 38 weeks

Size of baby:  Over 19.5" long and roughly 6.8 lbs
Position: They are switching between Breech/Breech and Oblique, which is where they are in there on an angle. Both heads are at the top right of my belly and their bums are on the bottom left

Weight: 220

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 37.6
Stretch Marks: Yes, tons and tons, and I am scared for what my belly will look like after the babies come out.

Maternity Clothes: I have 1 shirt that really fits anymore. And the one I'm wearing in the picture...that only kind of fits. Sooo glad the babies are coming out this week

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: I have to concentrate to make sure they are moving as much as they should, but I am a little obsessive about it....to the point that I take note of their movements even in the middle of the night. 

Sleep: I am still sleeping pretty well. Getting up to use the bathroom 4-6 times a night is becoming a hassle though. The babies get into the weirdest positions during the night and when I get up my belly is always in odd shapes. It is always painful to get up and down from the bed.

Exercise: Kaylee and I went a lot of places this week so I did a lot of walking. I was super surprised some days that I didn't go into labor!

Hypnobabies: No Hypnobabies this week. Hopefully I will be able to use it for my next baby :(

Symptoms: Everything hurts! My back, belly, pelvis, pubic bone, ribs, and even sometimes my kidneys hurt!

What I miss: Physical activity, and not being in pain

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff - crib, car seat, stroller, two bouncers, Buy a BIGGER CAR, Paint the room, Put up the flower/tree decals, Make/buy bedding, Buy baby books, Sew/buy 36 diapers, Wash clothes, Install both infant seats, Decorate name letters - Alexis, Courtney, Rearrange and set up the nursery, Buy more girl's clothes, Pack hospital bags - Theirs, Mine, Get nursing bras, tops, tank tops, Get little stuff - thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, pacifiers, make 1-3 months of freezer meals, Go on one last outing as a family of 3. 

Best Moment this week: Getting the actual date for the c-section! Tuesday the 28th can't come fast enough. This past week has been SOOO long, and I can't believe we will be having babies the day after tomorrow!

Looking Forward To: Having these babies!! I can.not.wait!

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 38!

Week 37

Pregnancy Highlights: I am officially "Full Term"! This week has been really tough on me. Everything hurts. Sometimes I can't even pinpoint what hurts. I had a couple days this week where it was all I could do to keep from crying all day. Luckily, I have been feeling better enough that I think I can still make it to the hopeful c-section date.

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Size of baby:  Over 19" long and as of Friday, Baby A is 6 lbs even and Baby B is 6 lbs 10 oz. I am guessing that Baby A is bigger than they had her measuring, because they couldn't get very good shots of her to measure
Position: They are switching between Breech/Breech and Oblique, which is where they are in there on an angle. Both heads are at the top right of my belly and their bums are on the bottom left

Weight: 215 - The scale may say that I gained weight, but I feel (and look) like I am losing weight.

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 32.6
Stretch Marks: I have a stretch mark that actually split open a little and is now a little sore!! I didn't notice when it happened, but I am scared that more might start splitting open.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They have been having more active moments this week, but they are still pretty quiet for the most part

Sleep: I am still sleeping pretty well. Getting up to use the bathroom 4-6 times a night is becoming a hassle though. I have contractions the entire time I am up during the night, and they are really intense. This week they have been continuing after I get back in bed and it takes a few minutes for my belly/back to stop hurting before I can go back to sleep

Exercise: Nope!

Hypnobabies: I am still practicing, but I am more trying to adjust to the likelihood of my needing a c-section. My intuition has been telling me from the beginning that these babies are not going to turn head down. I know there is still a chance, but it is becoming a smaller and smaller possibility.

Symptoms: Everything hurts! My back, belly, pelvis, pubic bone, ribs, and even sometimes my kidneys hurt!

What I miss: Physical activity, and not being in pain

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff - crib, car seat, stroller, two bouncers, Buy a BIGGER CAR, Paint the room, Put up the flower/tree decals, Make/buy bedding, Buy baby books, Sew/buy 36 diapers, Wash clothes, Install both infant seats, Decorate name letters - Alexis, Courtney, Rearrange and set up the nursery, Buy more girl's clothes, Pack hospital bags - Theirs, Mine, Get nursing bras, tops, tank tops, Get little stuff - thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, pacifiers, make 1-3 months of freezer meals, Go on one last outing as a family of 3. I actually have some freezer stuff now!! YAY! My mom is wonderful and helped me stock some easy to fix things, and we are having a big cooking day sometime this week to prepare some crock pot meals and other things to freeze. I am so excited!

Best Moment this week: Seeing the girls again! Actually, now that they are so big, it is hard to see anything other than their heads clearly. The tech did manage to get pictures of their profiles, which will probably be the last ultrasound pictures we get of them. Sad, but so exciting at the same time!!

Looking Forward To: Having these babies!! I can.not.wait!

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 37

I have made it to the "average"

Pregnancy Highlights: 36 weeks. The "average" time that twins are born. This is the week that many (if not most) people believe is full term for twins. As if twins grow and mature in utero faster than singleton babies. Fact is, that they grow the same rate as singletons! They may come early for many MANY different reasons, but there are also many who go to or past their due dates. I am so happy to be one of the moms who has made it this far with little problems. No problems actually if you don't count the bee incident that send us to the hospital a couple weeks ago.

I have so many mixed emotions in regards to when the babies get here. One one hand, I am so incredibly DONE being pregnant, both mentally, emotionally, and physically. If there were no other factors I would be fine having the babies today. There are other factors though. I am ONLY at 36 weeks! There is no way with a singleton baby that I would be comfortable birthing this early. There are so many physical and neurological benefits to babies staying in much longer than 36 weeks. There is a reason gestation for human babies is 38-42 weeks long. Babies are meant to stay in until THEY are ready to come out. Another reason for my wanting them to stay in a while longer is that I want "take home" babies. I want both of these girls to be ready to leave the hospital as soon as I am! I do not want to leave one or both of them behind in the NICU. That would be heartbreaking, even if they were there just for feeding and growing and in no actual danger. Yes, I understand that there is always a chance of them needing the NICU even if I go clear to or past my due date. But the chance is much higher now than it will be then. So, as uncomfortable as I may be, I am more than willing to stay pregnant until it is safer for them to come out.

Having said ALLLLL of that ^^, Robert and I have a c-section date picked out!! No, it isn't scheduled yet, because I told the little girls they had until the 17th to turn head down before we schedule their birthday. I haven't yet decided if I want to share the actual date on here, but once it is final I think it will be hard to keep it a secret. I will say though, that it isn't in September. So, it is safe to say that in three weeks from today, we will have babies to hold!

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Size of baby:  Over 18.5" long  and roughly 6 lbs
Position: On Tuesday they were breech/breech

Weight: 213.2 

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 30.8
Stretch Marks: I feel like my whole belly is sun burnt. It also itches like crazy, but when I scratch it it has that burning sensation that sun burns have. Sooo, plenty of stretch marks.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts.

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They have been really quiet again this week, but they have still been passing their NSTs (non stress tests) and the Dr doesn't seem worried, so I am trusting him. I have never been more thankful for the doppler I am borrowing than I have been these past two weeks. I check their heartbeats every day, sometimes more than once a day.

Sleep: I am still sleeping pretty well. Getting up to use the bathroom 4-6 times a night is becoming a hassle though. I have contractions the entire time I am up during the night, and they are really intense. This week they have been continuing after I get back in bed and it takes a few minutes for my belly/back to stop hurting before I can go back to sleep.

Exercise: TONS of breech baby turning exercises. 

Hypnobabies: I am still practicing, but I am more trying to adjust to the likelihood of my needing a c-section. My intuition has been telling me from the beginning that these babies are not going to turn head down. I know there is still a chance, but it is becoming a smaller and smaller possibility.

Symptoms: Still having contractions a lot when I am standing or walking, but it isn't a ton like it was before Back pain, pelvic pain, and some hip pain. I have been having lovely pubic bone pain from where the bone is separating. It hurts like crazy when I first start walking or have been standing for a long time. This past week my whole belly has started hurting most of the time. It's just stretched to the max and it hurts!

What I miss: Physical activity

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff - crib, car seat, stroller, two bouncers, Buy a BIGGER CAR, Paint the room, Put up the flower/tree decals, Make/buy bedding, Buy baby books, Sew/buy 36 diapers, Wash clothes, Install both infant seats, Decorate name letters - Alexis, Courtney, Rearrange and set up the nursery, Buy more girl's clothes, Pack hospital bags - Theirs, Mine, Get nursing bras, tops, tank tops, Get little stuff - thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, pacifiers, make 1-3 months of freezer meals, Go on one last outing as a family of 3. All finished except the freezer meals. I really don't have the energy to make any extra food.

Best Moment this week: Having my Dr tell me that, any time after 37 weeks, if I get tired of being pregnant to call him and he will take the babies out. Granted, I don't plan to take him up on his offer I want to go as long as I can, but it was nice of him to offer!

Looking Forward To: Ultrasound on Friday!! I can't believe I have made it through another month, and it's time to see these girls again.

Picture(s) for this week: 

36 weeks!

5 weeks to go

Pregnancy Highlights: This past week was rough emotionally for me. With Cadence's birthday on Friday, and me being exactly as far along now as I was then it was a bit nerve racking.

How Far Along: 35 weeks

Size of baby:  Over 18" long  and roughly 5.25 lbs
Position: Transverse/Transverse (They are kind of diagonal rather than straight across, but they still count as transverse) - I am adding this to the list for each week because I think about it pretty much all the time.

Weight: 209.2 - Finally a gain in weight!

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 26.8
Stretch Marks: I feel like my whole belly is sun burnt. It also itches like crazy, but when I scratch it it has that burning sensation that sun burns have. Sooo, plenty of stretch marks.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts.

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: I think their movement is slowing down a little because they are running out of room. They have been pretty quiet this past week, but were thankfully so active on the two scary days of the week.

Sleep: I feel so blessed to be sleeping as well as I am most nights. I have some nights where I can't sleep, and I almost always wake up tired, but it could be SO much worse.

Exercise: Robert, Kaylee and I went camping this weekend, and it was wonderful! It was a very physically demanding weekend though. My poor body is sore beyond belief. It was SO worth it to be able to go camping once with Kaylee before we add the babies to the family.

Hypnobabies: I am pretty discouraged. I would love to be embracing the whole course, but the fact that the babies are not cooperating (as of Friday) towards a vaginal birth has me feeling like it will all be a waste of time. But I will still practice faithfully, hoping that little baby A will turn around to where she is supposed to be.

Symptoms: Still having contractions a lot when I am standing or walking, but it isn't a ton like it was before Back pain, pelvic pain, and some hip pain. I have been having lovely pubic bone pain from where the bone is separating. It hurts like crazy when I first start walking or have been standing for a long time.

What I miss: Physical activity

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff - crib, car seat, stroller, two bouncers, Buy a BIGGER CAR, Paint the room, Put up the flower/tree decals, Make/buy bedding, Buy baby books, Sew/buy 36 diapers, Wash clothes, Install both infant seats, Decorate name letters - Alexis, Courtney, Rearrange and set up the nursery, Buy more girl's clothes, Pack hospital bags - Theirs, Mine, Get nursing bras, tops, tank tops, Get little stuff - thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, pacifiers, make 1-3 months of freezer meals, Go on one last outing as a family of 3

Best Moment this week: Getting past the point where we lost Cadence. It has been haunting me since we first realize it was the same due date, and I am glad to have gotten past it without too much emotional trauma.

Looking Forward To: Having babies in my arms. I am ready to be done with this pregnancy, and start being a mom to three.

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 35

And a different angle so you can see my new haircut!!

The Countdown Begins!

Pregnancy Highlights: Not a lot went on this week other than Dr appointments and an ultrasound. 34 weeks is a good milestone to reach with twins. At this point, if I go into labor, they wont stop me, they will just let the babies come. Scary beyond belief!!

We talked a lot about the plan for these babies at my doctor's appointment. The babies are still transverse (sideways), and they just can't come out that way naturally. The doctor said that they still have time to turn, and he isn't going to worry about it until our next ultrasound in 3 weeks. If by that ultrasound Baby A hasn't turned head down he would like us to schedule a c-section for sometime around 38 weeks. He did say that he has seen babies turn all the way up THROUGH labor, so "you just never know". If, we go in for the c-section and A is in a good position for a vaginal delivery, we will cancel the section and induce or let me go home to go into labor on my own. He also agreed to consider a vaginal delivery if Baby A gets into a "perfect breech" position. He is the only OB in Utah who would be willing to do that, so I am glad we went with him.

Last night was pretty exciting! Robert, Kaylee and I were playing out on the front lawn and I looked down to see a little bee crawling on my little toe (I was barefoot). I jumped up from a sitting position and ran/high stepped, all the way across the lawn and up the steps to the front door! It was a total gut reaction, and when my brain realized what I was doing, I was in SO much pain. I went to lay down immediately but could already feel the contractions starting. They didn't stop and were pretty regular, so after about 2 1/2 hrs, we headed over to the labor and delivery unit of the hospital. They checked me in, hooked me up to baby monitors and a contraction monitor, and checked to see if I was dilating at all. I was only at a 1, so they kept me there for almost 3 hours and then checked me again. The Dr said that if the contractions (which had slowed a lot) had changed my cervix it was a very slight change. So, they let us go home around 2am. That was my first, and hopefully last, time having to go in for contraction monitoring, and it was not fun! Today I am super sore all over, and have wanted to basically sleep the whole day.

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Size of baby:  Almost 18" long  and as of Friday, Baby A (Courtney) is 4lbs 11oz and Baby B (Alexis) is 4lbs 10oz - The doctor is impressed with how well they are doing.
Position: Transverse/Transverse (They are kind of diagonal rather than straight across, but they still count as transverse) - I am adding this to the list for each week because I think about it pretty much all the time.

Weight: 207.8 - another loss despite me working to eat a lot this week

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 25.4

Stretch Marks: I have some pretty wicked ones on the top of my belly! There are also some new shiny clear ones over the top of the ones that have turned red from Kaylee.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts.

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They are so active lately, and it is so much fun.....and painful at times lately 

Sleep: I feel so blessed to be sleeping as well as I am most nights. I have some nights where I can't sleep, and I almost always wake up tired, but it could be SO much worse.

Exercise: Not much at all.

Hypnobabies: I am pretty discouraged. I would love to be embracing the whole course, but the fact that the babies are not cooperating (as of Friday) towards a vaginal birth has me feeling like it will all be a waste of time. But I will still practice faithfully, hoping that little baby A will turn around to where she is supposed to be.

Symptoms: Still having contractions a lot when I am standing or walking, but it isn't a ton like it was before Back pain, pelvic pain, and some hip pain. I have been having lovely pubic bone pain from where the bone is separating. It hurts like crazy when I first start walking or have been standing for a long time.

What I miss: Physical activity

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters (I have a plan now, so this should happen in the next couple weeks), rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, pack hospital bags, get little stuff (thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, 2-3 more bottles, pacifiers, a couple more swaddle blankets), make 1-3 months of freezer meals, go on one last outing as a family of 3, not go crazy! - I added this to the sidebar of the blog, so I can update it throughout the week.

Best Moment this week: Seeing the babies again! It seems like it has been forever, so it was really nice to see them. They were super active all morning while I was at the doctor, and we even got to see them both on the ultrasound at the same time. We also got to see A's face for the first time in forever.

Looking Forward To: Having babies in my arms. I am ready to be done with this pregnancy, and start being a mom to three.

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 34

Week 33

Pregnancy Highlights: These past few weeks are seeming to drag on and on. I keep waiting for the pregnancy to fly by like it did in the beginning, but now that I am all ready for the babies to be here, it has slowed to a crawl.

How Far Along: 33 weeks

Size of baby:  just over 17" long  and just over 4 lbs

Weight: 208.6 

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 26.2

Stretch Marks: I have some pretty wicked ones on the top of my belly! There are also some new shiny clear ones over the top of the ones that have turned red from Kaylee.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts. My mother-in-law gave me some more clothes for my birthday, and I think they will get me through until the babies are here.....hopefully

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They are so active lately, and it is so much fun.....and painful at times lately 

Sleep: I feel so blessed to be sleeping as well as I am most nights. I have some nights where I can't sleep, and I almost always wake up tired, but it could be SO much worse.

Exercise: Not much at all.

Hypnobabies: I did better with practicing this week, but still not as well as I would like to. 

Symptoms: Contractions! Back pain, pelvic pain, and some hip pain. I have plans to go to a chiropractor soon and I am hoping that helps with some of the pain. I would really love to get a pregnancy massage too!

What I miss: Physical activity

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters (I have a plan now, so this should happen in the next couple weeks), rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, pack hospital bags, get little stuff (thermometer, bulb syringe, bath soap, lotions, nail clippers, 2-3 more bottles), make 1-3 months of freezer meals, go on one last outing as a family of 3, not go crazy!

Best Moment this week: My midwife complimenting me on doing so well carrying twins. She has been there, and is genuinely impressed with how good my blood pressure, pulse, weight, swelling (or lack thereof) and everything has been.

Looking Forward To: My next ultrasound. It isn't until the 27th though :( That seems like forever away. I do get to see them once a week for a couple minutes when they measure the babies' fluid and position. I just want the babies here. I know that it will be beyond difficult once they are here, but I will hopefully feel like my old self physically.

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 33

4 Weeks!!

If I were to have these babies on the average week for twins, 36 weeks, then I only have 4 weeks until babies!! Here's to hoping they stay in for at least 6 if not 8 more weeks.

Pregnancy Highlights: This week has been busy. Having two doctor's appointments every week is going to get old fast.

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Size of baby: Around16.7" long almost 4 lbs

Weight: 207.0 - my first actual weight loss on our scale during this pregnancy! The doctor's scale said I lost two pounds, but they weren't worried as long as I am still eating enough for the babies.

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 24.6

Stretch Marks: I have some pretty wicked ones on the top of my belly!

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts. My mother-in-law gave me some more clothes for my birthday, and I think they will get me through until the babies are here.....hopefully

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They are so active lately, and it is so much fun. 

Sleep: I feel so blessed to be sleeping as well as I am most nights. I have some nights where I can't sleep, and I almost always wake up tired, but it could be SO much worse.

Exercise: Not much at all.

Hypnobabies: Maintenance has been interesting. I meant for these weeks to be when I really focused on practicing the techniques. I haven't done that very much at all. I need to get on it this week and really work towards being prepared for these babies' births.

Symptoms: Contractions! Back pain, pelvic pain, and some hip pain. I have plans to go to a chiropractor soon and I am hoping that helps with some of the pain. I would really love to get a pregnancy massage too!

What I miss: Physical activity. 

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Still eggs, but overall, I am just pretty sick of eating constantly. 

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters (I have a plan now, so this should happen in the next couple weeks), rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy!

Best Moment this week: My midwife complimenting me on doing so well carrying twins. She has been there, and is genuinely impressed with how good my blood pressure, pulse, weight, and everything has been.

Looking Forward To: My next ultrasound. It isn't until the 27th though :( That seems like forever away. I do get to see them once a week for a couple minutes when they measure the babies' fluid and position.

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 32

31

I promise I have a 4th of July post in the works!! But here is this update for the week.

Pregnancy Highlights: I have had a lot of exhaustion this week. It feels like I am barely getting through the day, and cleaning the house seems like a monumental task. I am crossing my fingers that this next week is better so I can get my house back in order.

How Far Along: 31 weeks

Size of baby: Over 16" long - Baby A - 3lbs 3oz (not a super accurate measurement because she wasn't cooperating) and Baby B 3lbs 9oz. My guess is that Baby A is still bigger than B, she usually is by a couple ounces, which means I have over 7 lbs of baby inside me! Most websites say that the babies are coming up on a growth spurt this week too.....I am scared!

Weight: 207.2 - I am not sure what to think. The dr office scale says I am 213 (last Tuesday) and then two days later our scale says I am 207.....that is a 5 lb difference, so I know it is more than just different clothes!

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 24.8.....or......30.6 lbs, depends on which scale you believe!

Stretch Marks: The Kaylee stretch marks are turning red. My belly itches almost constantly, so I know more are on their way!

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts. I don't know what to wear when none of them fit!

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie

Movement: They are so active lately, and it is so much fun. 

Sleep: I feel so blessed to be sleeping as well as I am most nights. I have some nights where I can't sleep, and I almost always wake up tired, but it could be SO much worse.

Exercise: Haha! Nothing! - Well, I guess we walked around at the park a couple days, but that's it.

Hypnobabies: This week starts the maintenance weeks. I now have 9 weeks to practice everything I have learned. I get to rotate through listening to each track; a different one each day. I have gotten a couple extra tracks to listen to. One is the CD to encourage breech babies to turn head down. I am hoping that it will work with these transverse girls because they have been in the exact same position every time we have listened to their heartbeats or going to an ultrasound. The other two are birth visualization tracks, one for singleton babies and one for twin babies. I am listening to both, just like I have been listening to both positive affirmations tracks.

Symptoms: Total exhaustion and some back and pelvic aches and pains.

What I miss: Physical activity. 

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters (I have a plan now, so this should happen in the next couple weeks), rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy!

Best Moment this week: We got to see the girls on Tuesday, and even though they were both stubborn and didn't let us see them much, it is always nice to see that they are still healthy in there and growing well.

Looking Forward To: I am not really looking forward to this, but we are starting non stress tests (NSTs) twice a week for until the babies come. The whole idea of NSTs is scary to me. I know they are there to detect problems with the babies, but I had just started having them with Cadence and then she was gone. I know they are not perfect. But I also know that if I turned them down and then lost one of these girls (or both) I would beat myself up with the what-ifs for the rest of my life.

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 31

70 Days People!!! 70 DAYS!!

Pregnancy Highlights: Can I just say how much I love being pregnant! Call me crazy, but I still love it SO much! Even with carrying twins, and being much bigger, sicker, sore, and unable to do things, I still love it. Seriously, sometimes I can't even express how much I love being pregnant. Today especially hasn't been easy....in fact it has been a really tough day. But in general, the baby movement, the absolute miracle of growing a living being (or two) inside of me. It is AMAZING, and I could have several more children just to get to do the pregnancy part. Even though I have been pregnant for the better part of two years, and I am ready for a good break between these girls and the next baby(s), I LOVE it!

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Size of baby: 15.7" tall. and almost 3 lbs (I will update this on Tuesday when I get to see exactly how big they are)

Weight: 213 - definitely made up for the last two weeks.

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 30.6 lbs - I have to just keep reminding myself, that I can lose it after they are here.

Stretch Marks: I have a bunch now. Now I am waiting for the ones from Kaylee to turn red and get worse.

Maternity Clothes: I am quickly outgrowing my shirts. I don't know what to wear when none of them fit!

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! 

Movement: Lots of movement again this week! I love it! They interact with each other sometimes and it is adorable. They get the hiccups a lot too, WAY more that Kaylee and Cadence did combined.

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well lately! Some nights I am up a lot, and I have started keeping water by my bed because I end up dying of thirst 3-4 times every night.

Exercise: I did some weights, and hope to continue to do that to strengthen my arms a little.....we shall see how long that lasts.

Hypnobabies: I can't believe I am already on week 5 (well I will be tomorrow)! This is the week I never got to do with Cadence. It scares me, and at the same time, I am excited to get to finish the whole course finally.

Symptoms: My pelvis has been really sore and painful this week, and I am hoping that means that little Courtney has changed to head down.

What I miss: Physical activity. 

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters (I have a plan now, so this should happen in the next couple weeks), rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy!

Best Moment this week: Feeling their movements getting bigger! I love baby movement. It is the best part of pregnancy. Yes, it gets more painful as they get bigger, but it also gets more fun to watch from the outside.

Looking Forward To: Seeing the babies again on Tuesday!!

Picture(s) for this week: 

Week 30

29 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights: I learned some things this week. I NEED my prenatal vitamins, and I NEED my protein!! I started feeling really run down and tired and sick at the beginning of this week, and after thinking about what it could have been, I realized I had missed my vitamins for a couple days in a row, and I hadn't gotten enough protein the day before. After having both of those, I felt like a new person! I know I have forgotten my vitamins in previous pregnancies, but with twins it is different. I need those or I feel it the next day.

How Far Along: 29 weeks

Size of baby: Just over 15" tall. and around 2.5 lbs

Weight: 207.8 - only 1 lb in the last two weeks?! I guess that is what the stress of traveling and a round of the stomach flu will do to you!

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 25.4 lbs

Stretch Marks: I have several across the top of my belly now. I am trying to find another good belly cream. Mine is almost gone, and I found out that they changed the formula of it, and the new stuff just isn't the same :(

Maternity Clothes: I actually have OUTGROWN a couple of my maternity shirts. Kind of a down moment :(

Genders: Girl/Girl!!

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! I am so happy to have names for these little girls. We still have back up names for just in case the babies don't fit the names once they are born.

Movement: Lots of movement this week! They were turning somersaults too I think. Sometimes it would feel like I had all feet on one side, but other times it felt like normal with feet on both sides. Their movements are getting bigger and are starting to be painful sometimes.

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well lately! Some nights I am up a lot, and I have started keeping water by my bed because I end up dying of thirst 3-4 times every night.

Exercise: Lots of walking around this week being on vacation with the family.

Hypnobabies: These weeks are flying by and I don't feel like I am getting much out of them! Probably because I have been listening to them at night and I fall asleep every single time before I am 10 minutes into the CD. I do listen to each of the tracks at the first of the week during the day so that I am more likely to stay awake and hear them.Week 4 starts tomorrow night!

Symptoms: A lot of braxton hicks contractions this week, but nothing painful or consistent. My belly has also been very tight this week. I feel like some more stretch marks are going to be coming my way soon.

What I miss: Physical activity. I am looking into taking some water aerobic classes just to get out of the house.

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 36 diapers, wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters, rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy!

Best Moment this week: Feeling their movements getting bigger! I love baby movement. It is the best part of pregnancy. Yes, it gets more painful as they get bigger, but it also gets more fun to watch from the outside.

Looking Forward To: Dr appointment on Tuesday, and one more week of these babies growing inside me.

Picture(s) for this week:

Week 29

28 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights: I felt pretty great this week! Not much discomfort, and really feeling mentally able to continue growing these little ones for the next 10+ weeks.

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Size of baby: Almost 15" tall. and around 2.25 lbs

Weight: 206.8 - This is the same as last week because we are on vacation and I haven't taken the time to find a scale

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 24.4 lbs

Stretch Marks: I have several across the top of my belly now. I am trying to find another good belly cream. Mine is almost gone, and I found out that they changed the formula of it, and the new stuff just isn't the same :(

Maternity Clothes: I actually have OUTGROWN a couple of my maternity shirts. Kind of a down moment :(

Genders: Girl/Girl!! - Still have a nagging feeling one might be a boy, but it might just be Kaylee talking about her "brother"

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! I am so happy to have names for these little girls. We still have back up names for just in case the babies don't fit the names once they are born.

Movement: This week has been another busy one, with some quiet days thrown in. I still check for heartbeats most days, but that's just to keep the scary thoughts at bay.

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well lately! Some nights I am up a lot, and I have started keeping water by my bed because I end up dying of thirst 3-4 times every night.

Exercise: We went swimming one day, and I was able to get out to walk the dogs one day.

Hypnobabies: I ended up starting week 2 last Monday, and will start week 3 tomorrow night. I can't believe I am on week three already! I have been slacking on my practice though, so I need to do better with that.

Symptoms: Not a whole lot actually! My back hurt some and my belly was hurting from stretching for these babies to grow, but overall I felt pretty good.

What I miss: Physical activity. I am looking into taking some water aerobic classes just to get out of the house.

Cravings: Not much.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, buy baby books, sew/buy 6 diapers (the number is getting smaller!), wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters, rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy,

Best Moment this week: Seeing the babies on the ultrasound again. It makes me feel so much better after I get to see for myself that they are doing well. Painting the nursery!! I can't wait to get it all decorated so I can take more pictures and write up a post about that.....and the diapers, I never did get that one up.

Looking Forward To: Not anything specific this week. I am excited for our family trip to Washington to visit my sister and her family!

Picture(s) for this week:

27 Weeks and the start of the 3rd Trimester!

Pregnancy Highlights: This week went by really quickly! It was a cooler week and that helped with my discomfort a lot.

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Size of baby: About 14.5" tall. Courtney: 2lbs 2-3oz  and Alexis 2lbs 1oz (as of Tuesday)

Weight: 206.8

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 24.4 lbs

Stretch Marks: They are coming! I have a couple right at the top of my belly that are turning red and shiny, and I am sure there will be more soon. I feel like I am almost as big as I was when I had Kaylee, so it shouldn't be long before I am covered.

Maternity Clothes: Both my mom and little sister have gotten me some maternity shirts and a pair of pants/capris. It is SO nice to have more than 5ish shirts and a couple pairs of jeans

Genders: Girl/Girl!! 

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren, and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! I am so happy to have names for these little girls. We still have back up names for just in case the babies don't fit the names once they are born.

Movement: Another quiet week! They seem to switch off active and quiet weeks.

Sleep: My wonderful older sister got me a new body pillow for Mother's Day!! It has been SO nice having a new one. 

Exercise: Ugh. Not a lot this week. I did go crazy one day and did a lot of yard work, but that's about it.

Hypnobabies: I am starting to change my mind about the twin CD. It seems to be causing me some stress and anxiety about the birth of these babies. I am going to switch back and forth between the twin affirmations and the regular pregnancy affirmations. This week I am going to repeat week 1 again so I can listen to the two tracks more. I feel like I slept through both of them every single time, and I need to actually hear them both before I move on to the next week.

Symptoms: Not a whole lot actually! My back hurt some and my belly was hurting from stretching for these babies to grow, but overall I felt pretty good.

What I miss: Physical activity. I am looking into taking some water aerobic classes just to get out of the house.

Cravings: Not much. I haven't been very hungry most of the week.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, put up the flower/tree decals, make/buy bedding, sew/buy 6 diapers (the number is getting smaller!), wash clothes, install both infant seats, decorate name letters, rearrange and set up the nursery, buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy,

Best Moment this week: Seeing the babies on the ultrasound again. It makes me feel so much better after I get to see for myself that they are doing well. Painting the nursery!! I can't wait to get it all decorated so I can take more pictures and write up a post about that.....and the diapers, I never did get that one up.

Looking Forward To: Not anything specific this week. I am excited for our family trip to Washington to visit my sister and her family!

Picture(s) for this week:

Week 27

Just Keep Growing, Just Keep Growing,

Just keep growing, growing, growing!

I got to see the girls on ultrasound yesterday, and they are looking so adorable! I can't for the life of me get some of these to turn the right way.....so just tilt your head?

Baby A - Courtney:
2 lbs 2 oz

Kind of hard to see, but its in the middle on the top, facing the camera

Her leg stretched out along the left side of the picture

A cute little foot! it is on the right side of the picture

Her arm along the top and the round circle on the right is her belly

She was being pretty wiggly and difficult so the tech didn't get very many good pictures of her.

Baby B - Alexis

2 lbs 1 oz - Their weights are SO similar!

Profile! I love her little face already. I wish we would have gotten a profile of Courtney.....little stinker!

Facing the camera

Her little hand and fingers

Arm across the top giving a thumbs up

Little foot on the left

let at the top


I can't wait for these little darlings to get here! 

26 Weeks - Goodbye 2nd Trimester!

Pregnancy Highlights: Can it be September yet? This week was pretty rough. I came to the conclusion that I just can't do much anymore. As much as I still want to be active, my body just can't keep up. Then I ended up getting a cold, that wouldn't have been a big deal except that pregnant + sick = total misery

How Far Along: 26 weeks - If these babies come around 36 weeks (the average for twins) I only have 10 weeks left!! SCARY!!

Size of baby: About 14" tall and roughly 2 lbs 

Weight: 205.2

Total Weight Gain: Gain: 22.8 lbs

Stretch Marks: They are coming! I have a couple right at the top of my belly that are turning red and shiny, and I am sure there will be more soon. I feel like I am almost as big as I was when I had Kaylee, so it shouldn't be long before I am covered.

Maternity Clothes: Both my mom and little sister have gotten me some maternity shirts and a pair of pants/capris. It is SO nice to have more than 5ish shirts and a couple pairs of jeans

Genders: Girl/Girl!! 

Names: Baby A will be Courtney Maren (we are still discussing this baby's first name, so it may change), and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! I am so happy to have names for these little girls. We still have back up names for just in case the babies don't fit the names once they are born.

Movement: Almost constant movement this week. Not anything painful or super crazy, but they did have their moments.

Sleep: My wonderful older sister got me a new body pillow for Mother's Day!! It has been SO nice having a new one. 

Exercise: Took a couple walks, played at the park with Kaylee, hiked with Kaylee and the dogs (that one was rough), and did some more "yard work" (sitting on the grass pulling weeds)

Hypnobabies: The twin affirmations is great! It's pretty much the same thing as the regular one, but it has a lot a really good support and encouraging for moms expecting twins. I am officially going to start week 1 today, and am really excited to see how it goes this time!

Symptoms: A lot of back ache this week.

What I miss: Physical activity. I am looking into taking some water aerobic classes just to get out of the house.

Cravings: Not much. I haven't been very hungry most of the week.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: I feel SO behind on everything now! Here is my list, which will be crossed off as things get finished: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, make/buy bedding, sew/buy 6 diapers (the number is getting smaller!), wash clothes, install both infant seats, paint name letters, rearrange nursery ( I don't know how we are going to fit two cribs), buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy,

Best Moment this week: Getting a couple dozen new (to me) newborn diapers (blog post to come)! They are all so adorable, and I can't wait to use them. I am still making more diapers, but I don't want to have to rely on the ones I made as most of our newborn stash.....blow-outs are the main reason I wanted to use cloth from day one. 

Looking Forward To: Seeing the babies on an ultrasound on Tuesday!

Picture(s) for this week:

Week 26

I am officially bigger than I was when I had Kaylee! Actually, I probably have been for a week or more, I just hadn't compared the pictures. The picture on the right is me right before leaving for the hospital on Kaylee's due date.

Only 15 left!

Pregnancy Highlights: This week, for the most part, was pretty good. I am still tired and exhausted a lot of the time, but not as uncomfortable as I was last week. I think part of the reason I am so tired is that I haven't been eating enough protein. I am just not a huge fan of eating lots of meat, or beans, so I have been trying to figure out ways I can get more. Protein is vitally important during pregnancy, and even more important during a twin pregnancy because my body is supporting two instead of one.

How Far Along: 25 weeks

Size of baby: About 13" tall and roughly 1.5 lbs 

Weight: 200.4 - the scale at the doctor said 202 though :(

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gain: 18 lbs

Stretch Marks: They are coming! I have a couple right at the top of my belly that are turning red and shiny, and I am sure there will be more soon. I feel like I am almost as big as I was when I had Kaylee, so it shouldn't be long before I am covered.

Maternity Clothes: Both my mom and little sister have gotten me some maternity shirts and a pair of pants/capris. It is SO nice to have more than 5ish shirts and a couple pairs of jeans

Genders: Girl/Girl!! 

Name: Baby A will be Courtney Maren (we are still discussing this baby's first name, so it may change), and Baby B will be Alexis Marie! I am so happy to have names for these little girls. We still have back up names for just in case the babies don't fit the names once they are born.

Movement: Almost constant movement this week. Not anything painful or super crazy, but they did have their moments.

Sleep: My wonderful older sister got me a new body pillow for Mother's Day!! It has been SO nice having a new one. 

Exercise: I actually did some yard work, walked the dogs, and cleaned the house a lot.

Hypnobabies: The twin affirmations is great! It's pretty much the same thing as the regular one, but it has a lot a really good support and encouraging for moms expecting twins. I am super excited to start the actual course next week....or the next. I really can't decide when I want to start. I don't want to start too early and then get burnt out and not want to listen/practice near the end, and I don't want to start too late and then not finish the course or have enough time to practice before the babies get here.....which could be earlier than the normal baby.

Symptoms: I am still pretty exhausted, but this week, I have been having bursts of energy every couple days. Other symptoms have been back ache, sciatic nerve pain/numbness, balance issues.

What I miss: Being able to breathe! Lol, my lung capacity has been greatly compromised this week.

Cravings: I have been craving sugar a lot this week and have been trying to avoid it.

Aversions: Eggs! This is a complete opposite from the last two babies, with them I couldn't get enough. Other than that, I can't think of anything really big.

Things to do: I feel SO behind on everything now! Here is my list, which will be crossed off as things get finished: Buy the big stuff (crib, carseat, stroller, two bouncers), buy a BIGGER CAR, paint the room, make/buy bedding, sew/buy 24 diapers (the number is getting smaller!), wash clothes, install both infant seats, paint name letters, rearrange nursery ( I don't know how we are going to fit two cribs), buy more girl's clothes, not go crazy,

Best Moment this week: I got to go on a quick little tour of the labor and delivery section of the hospital. I think I will probably go again with Robert just to get some more information, and see some of the newer rooms. I wish this hospital had you stay in the same room from check in to check out, but the rooms are nice enough.

Looking Forward To: September.....this one might be permanent!

Picture(s) for this week:

Week 25