Waiting...

Just a quick post today to update everyone on my progress... I am 5 days out from my c-section and I have never been more ready to deliver! I visited my OB yesterday after feeling like my tailbone is broken and barely being able to walk. I've also been having contractions all day every day. My OB's evaluation was that I was just TOBP--tired of being pregnant...I was not amused. She said that all the women she saw yesterday were suffering along with me with TOBP, including another twin mommy who is exactly as far along as I am. I mean yes, I am tired of being pregnant, but I am a little more than miffed about not being able to get around without help. Also, there's NOTHING going on in the labor department for me--no dilating, no bleeding, nothing... thankfully, Todd has been my knight in shining armor this week, picking up the slack and helping me with everything. I also called my mom yesterday with a healthy dose of tears and she and my dad are coming tomorrow. Those of you who know me well know that I usually find a way to joke about whatever is going on in my life, but I confess that I have not been laughing this past week. I have been grasping for any shred or scrap of hope and happiness. I CANNOT wait to meet my babies and not be shuffling around the house in pain anymore. PLUS, the constant itching should start to dissipate as soon as I deliver. I don't want to complain anymore so I will sign off. I will try to post one more picture of my belly before Wednesday--it is quite large! Anyway, that's all for now...cheers

Good News...no, GREAT NEWS!!!

My sweet baby James...
Another shot of little squishy face James!

Isabella's sweet chunky little face!

Here she is with her hand by her face...
Here's her little hand close up to her face...

Althought this was a marathon morning at the hospital, the fruits of my er, labor, were great. No, the babies didn't arrive this morning...but, we got to see them on the 3D/4D ultrasound and this was the first time we have seen their little faces. Talk about a miracle! And our tech today, Amy, is always the one to give us big news (Ty's hand, twins, etc.) so I was quite pleased when she suggested the 3D/4D, since we didn't think we'd be able to do it this time. Also, after measuring each baby, she concluded that Isabella weighs 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and James weighs 5 pounds, 13 ounces! They are HUGE!! I'm only 35 weeks and they are the size of full term babies already! I was over the moon at their sizes--this gives us a VERY good chance of avoiding the NICU. After my ultrasound we went to labor and delivery for my non-stress test. After an hour of several nurses attempting, they never could get both babies on the monitor at the same time. They gave up and sent me up to my OB, who was not worried about it. She then said that although she had scheduled me to deliver at 38 weeks, because of my cholestasis she would now deliver me at 37 weeks!!! SOOOOO, my new c-section date is Wednesday, March 12th and noon! I told her I might do a cartwheel in the hallway! She also told me that we really don't want my water to break now because both babies are breech and my water breaking could cause the umbilical cord to slip out, causing a very dangerous situation. God knows all, doesn't he? Here I've been praying for my water to break--thank goodness I didn't get my way! Anyway, here are pix of the babies. We got more of Isabella because of her position, but we atleast got a couple of James. Cheers!

In the meantime...

I am in the process of passwording the blog so if you requested permission, I'll send you an e-mail with instructions in the next few days. In the meantime, here's a little video clip from Scrubs which sums up how I feel... you might need to click the play button twice.

A quick update

I am password protecting the blog so if you would like to continue reading it, send me an e-mail before Friday, February 22 letting me know you'd like to be included. If you don't know my e-mail, you can call me.

If A Butterfly Flaps Its Wings in Gainesville...

Today we went to the Butterfly Rainforest and had a wonderful time! The weather was perfect (I will never go there again in August!!) and both kids seemed to really get a lot out of it. They both were sick at the end of last week with croup, so today was a nice fresh-air outing. Hope you enjoy our documentation of the day... First things first, here I am VERY pregnant at 34 weeks...when are those babies going to come??

Lily and Ty taking a rest...
If I didn't have two kids with me and two on-board, I could tell you the species of this one...
A quick break with Daddy...
The Atlas Moth, which was as large as Todd's hand...
Hello Franklin...

Lily and a mammoth--they are HUGE!!!
The little gang...
I am pretty sure this is a Monarch, but you can correct me if I am in error...
Ty Ty checking things out...

This was the first butterfly of the day...
Mother Duck and her babes...

We were discussing what happened in the next picture...
That's a butterfly landing on Lily's hand--she was startled but thought it was neat...

Happy Early Valentine's Day!

Here are our little Valentines, ready to celebrate the day at school...
And here I am, 33 weeks pregnant, complete with Valentine red stretch marks!

Hope you like the new look of my blog--I decided it was time for a little change. My c-section is finally scheduled!!! Monday, March 17th!! So, atleast I know that the absolute longest I have to wait is 32 more days! Cheers!

promises promises...

Well I had every intention of blogging the last few days and I even promised in my last one to put up pix the next day--alas, the pregnancy has made a liar out of me. But, tonight, with an ounce of verve and energy I will post some pix and words. Today was a good day. Todd let me stay in bed until 10:30--HEAVEN!!! He played with the kids all morning and they had a ball! We met Lisa and Wy and the boys at the mall for lunch and germ-pit time and then came home to rest. I am SO feeling the effects of this pregnancy. I was bragging earlier that my itching had gotten better--and for the most part it has--but I itched ALL afternoon...everywhere. My belly feels like leather now since it is so dry and has been clawed at so much! The babies were wiggling around the whole time I scratched--they probably think it's a little massage. Anyway, I will be 33 weeks tomorrow, which is a good place to be. I am ready for them to arrive at any time. I treated Lily to a manicure and pedicure tonight, which we both enjoyed. Here are some pix from that and from my shower. Cheers!

A Good Day

Just a brief note--I tried to post earlier and blogger erased what I wrote and wouldn't allow pix at that time. Soooo, here's a quick update. I went to my OB today and I am measuring 43 weeks--oh my!! I weighed 212 pounds--no wonder my feet hurt and are swelling. My OB does think I have cholestasis and said to keep on my medication. Isabella's heart arrthymia is still around, but my doc said she really doesn't think it is a problem. She did schedule me for weekly non-stress tests in labor and delivery from now until the babies arrive, though, just to monitor their progress. I had Ty with me all morning with no stroller, so I slept all afternoon and I am still tired tonight. That boy has boundless energy!! Anyway, I PROMISE to post more tomorrow. Cheers!

Cankles

I know you are all disappointed that I am not including a photo this go-round, but the only things worthy of photography right now are with Todd at a super bowl party and I am at home with my enormous feet up! My swelling is worse than ever in the last 3 days--I guess 210 pounds on my frame would cause some swelling! My medication seems to taking the edge off my itching, but it still rears its ugly head like in church or the middle of the night or some other super convenient time. I did have my baby shower yesterday and it was the most sweet and wonderful event--I really have the best friends in the entire world and I felt so blessed and spoiled! Everyone outdid themselves! And Amy and Lisa, who orchestrated the whole thing, are diamonds in my crown of friends! I will include pix from the shower tomorrow. Also, my mom and dad were here for the weekend, working themselves silly as usual--they indulged my Pine-Sol craving by mopping my kitchen (I'm still enjoying the scent!!). They were instrumental in helping Todd and I get this house in order to prepare for James and Isabella. I can honestly say that I am ready for them to arrive. I am 32 weeks now and planning to change my OB appt to tomorrow from Thursday. More tomorrow...cheers...

A Brief Note

Today was a better day. I had my bloodwork done for my liver and should have results in a few days. I had my OB go ahead and prescribe me the medication for cholestasis, which should begin to relieve my itching soon. I was up in the middle of the night last night itching and scratching so much, I was actually dreaming about it and it woke me up. I proceeded to cry for 30 minutes because I was so miserable. Anyway, to lift my mood a little today, I went to Michael's to pick up some craft projects, and then went to Target to buy a few shirts that are actually long enough to cover my beach ball belly. I picked up Lily and Adrian from school and fed them lunch and then we made some more GAK--that is the greatest stuff!! Anyway, I am feeling better tonight and I pray that the medication starts working soon. Cheers...

Pearly Whites...

Today was Lily's first trip to the dentist, and she was a champ! She let the hygienist brush, floss, and count her teeth! I was so proud of her!!! Afterwards, we visited Build-A-Bear, which made the afternoon that much sweeter for Lily (and me too :)). Ty napped for about 4 hours this afternoon while Sonia was here, so she had a relatively easy time. I had a poo-poo day!! I actually had an ocular migraine this morning, which is the first time since Ty was about 2 weeks old. I lost my vision for about 40 minutes and then it all came back (I had about 5 or 6 of these headaches after Ty was born and 1 or 2 in my life before that). They are so scary. I was looking at Ty's face and couldn't see 95% of it. Todd came home to make sure I was OK and I just recovered on the sofa for a few hours. I also got the lab slip from my OB to repeat my bile acid test tomorrow morning--HALLELUJAH!!! My itching is so awful and I am just praying that I'll know what to attribute it to when the tests come back. My overhwelming thought is, "what's next???" I know I'm being tested, but I don't think I'm getting a very good grade... hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

The State of the Twinkles...

A quick update on today's scan--Isabella's heart arrthymia has resolved and her heart looked structurally perfect. James also looked perfect, and it was bliss to see them both on the screen. They are SO squished in there that it was hard for the doctor to get the shots he needed, but he managed :) Isabella is measuring 3 pound, 15 ounces, and James is measuring 3 pounds, 8 ounces--both above average even for single babies, let alone twins. I guess all the ice cream, chicken nuggets from Grandy's, Mrs. Field's cookies, Chick Fil'A, , and other nutritious foods I've been consuming have produced excellent results! I was so tickled to hear how big they are! As for my itching, it has only intensified today and I called my OB who will be getting back with me tomorrow morning. I mentioned the whole scenario to the perinatologist and he thought too that it might be cholestasis, which was my initial thought. If it is, they can treat me with actigall, which would improve my liver function and resolve my itching. I don't want there to be anything wrong with my liver, but I am almost praying that that's what this is so we can treat it! I should know tomorrow if they will atleast repeat the bile acid test, which would help diagnose this. Anyway, some of my very best friends are throwing me a shower this weekend and I must say that the excitement of it has helped to propel me through this week. After this Sunday, I can deliver at my hospital, which is a great goal for me too. Sooooooo, bottom line for today, PRAISE GOD that my babies are healthy and big and perfect!!! I need to keep my eye on THAT ball because that's what matters right now. More tomorrow--cheers!

Gray skies are gonna clear up... put on a happy face!

So I guess if you wait around long enough, my mood will improve--yeah!! Today was a good day--the kiddos slept in (making us late to church, but that's A-OK!), there was minimal whining and crying, the WHOLE family napped this afternoon--including Lily who NEVER naps!! Dinner was great and the kids ate well, and then we made GAK after dinner and had a blast! Who would have thought that some white glue and BORAX could keep ALL of us occupied for almost an hour! I plean to make more GAK this week--various colors :) Also, the playroom is now in use--not fully finished, but in use. Todd still has to have the electrician come, trim around the windows and doors, and do one more strip of flooring--but I got the green light yesterday for occupancy and the kids LOVE it--so do I!! On a pregnant note, my itching is now my entire body. I am calling the OB tomorrow to see if they can repeat my liver tests. Not sure if this is liver related or not, but I want to be sure. We also have our level 2 scan tomorrow and I can't wait. I love getting to see the babies and even though we're there to check on their well-being, I still love seeing their little faces and bodies--makes them a little more real. Anyway, enjoy the pix from today!! Cheers!