Lindsay's Big Day

Lindsay - been thinking of you but blogger won't let me comment - been trying for days!!!

Hope all went smoothly and you are enjoying some cuddle time with the babies!! Can't wait for an update!

As for me.....8 days away from my c/s. Yipeeeeeeeeee!!!

"Busting at the seams"

Well, we took a 35 week belly picture and well, see for yourself below.

Maybe this explains the looks, stares, comments, "God Bless You's".....I have been writing about this in my Belly Book b/c really, even though it may sound like a complaint, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

p.s. my dr said I could take Tylenol PM (last night I didn't get 1 solid hour of sleep). I hope it helps!!

35/19

I notice most people get excited about 35/35 - as in 35 weeks and 35 days to go. Oh boy am I glad I can say 19 and not 35. Whew.

I am getting so close! So close. I have started questioning if I have enough "stuff".....burp clothes, blankets, diapers, outfits.....I am most definitely going overboard at this point.

Last week my cervix was still thick and closed. No action down there. Tomorrow I have another appt. Babies are measuring nice and plump :)

I really really want to breastfeed these babies - but wow, it is tough to find successful accounts - if anyone knows of a blog or anything please let me know. I have found a FB friend who was successful and she is giving me some advice (or heads up how very hard it is). But I want details. What happens in the hospital - who do you feed first? When can you start trying tandem feeding.....I need HELP!!! Anyone want to chat about this??

I am trying not to complain, but wow, my body hurts. That's all I will say.

Today at target (yes, buying more "stuff" and stocking up on detergent and house stuff) as I was down an aisle I saw a woman walk by - stop - come back and stare at me. I was trying to ignore her, but then she said "Oh, God Bless You". I thought that was nice compared to the "You are busting at the seams" comment I got yesterday. The attention to my big huge belly is just hilarious!

Hope everyone is well!!!

3 years ago....in a petri dish

Back when we started down the IVF road I didn't have a blog - so I went old school and wrote it all in a journal. I pulled the journal out to use for to-do lists preparing for the babies and had it on the coffee table. Charlotte found it, grabbed a pen, and started drawing in it. When I looked over she was coloring on-top of some of my "entries". Made me think back 3 years when I noticed she was on May 23rd.....2008. It was retrieval day of my second IVF. 18 eggs retrieved and in the lab they were fertilizing...and now one of them is the little girl who made me a mother. Asleep upstairs in her big girl bed.....the last thing she told me was "sweet dreams, mommy". If she only knew all the hopes and dreams I have had for years and years. I am so glad she made my dream of being a mommy come true.

Maybe I needed this today because I am pretty down and out. I am feeling pretty horrible and needed some perspective. Four weeks from tomorrow is my c-section (chanting in head I can do-it, I can do-it). Right, I can? I feel crazy for still working full-time but I am so set on getting my 12 weeks after they are born - so I am sucking it up now. I am only in the office 2 days/week (and work from my couch all other days). To mentally get through today I decided I am going to take one PTO day each week.

Itching for all the updates from the girls this far along....how are you feeling? Any sleep suggestions? We can do-it!!

Maternity Pics

Happy Mother's day to all you momma-to-be's! We celebrated on Saturday by having my dear friend take some belly shots for us! It was quick, easy, and they are awesome!! I am so grateful for my friend. We spent the day at my parents and I was able to keep my feet up most of the day - which is good b/c my kankles are HUGE!

Sunday was a little rough for me. I was very emotional....Mother's day was rough for many years and I know so many people who are still struggling. I gave Charlotte so many kisses and hugged her tight, knowing she made me a mother. And when thinking about how there will be 2 more, I could barely handle the emotions.

Six weeks from tomorrow is my scheduled c-section (just before 38 weeks). Wow. On one hand it is so close, on the other, I have no idea how I am going to make it. My body hurts, sleeping is difficult, I can't breathe, heartburn is killer, and I just feel trapped in my own body. But, I feel these babies move, hold my hand tight to my belly and whisper to them.....it is amazing. And I am pretty sure this is the last time I will be pregnant, and that makes me cherish it a little more. I can easily remember all those thoughts of wondering if I would ever experience this and here I am, so very lucky. CCRM rocks!!!

Here are a couple of pics from the weekend. We have an u/s on Thursday....will update with progress then.

The Swab Test

Well, I have had my first run-in with "Are these real contractions - HOLY SH!T"

I will be 29 weeks tomorrow. These babies are no where near ready to enter this oxygen breathing world.

Monday night only an hour after going to bed I am awoken by a dream where I am in lots of pain....well, turns out I really was. I was having Braxton Hicks that hurt like hell. I went down to the couch and started timing them.....there were a lot....and they were coming fast. So, I set a time (60 minutes later) at which point I would call the on-call dr. I drank a big glass of water while dealing with them.....and luckily 15 minutes before the deadline they subsided.

In the morning I got ready for work and planned to call the office - and guess what, they started again. So, the office wanted me to come in, thankfully. They did the NST for about an hour....and not one contraction. They also decided to do the fetal fibronectin swab. It came back negative - which is an indication I will not have these babies in the next 2 weeks.

So, all turned out ok. But wow.....so many emotions I went through. Even though I am less than comfortable I am not ready to not be pregnant anymore....I do not want to spend my maternity leave visiting the NICU.

I have been reading so many other people going through similar things and this is my first "incident". I hope it is the last.....at least for 5 or more weeks. Preferably until June 21st if I can be picky.

On a fun note - I had a shower this past weekend! It was wonderful!! Almost a little surreal that it was for me and for TWO babies!

Names?!

How much fun coming up with 2 names for 2 miracles. Names that we will say over and over, names that will become a part of our hearts and souls.

A little bit of pressure?

Our 2 year old is Charlotte Mary. Charlotte took us awhile and Mary is my mom's name as well as her mom's name. I am a believer that the middle name should be a family name - so that is the same way we will be leaning this time.

For Baby A, our little girl, we will most likely be naming her Violet. Our second choice is Kate. Any thoughts?

For Baby B, our little boy, we are LOST! There are some names I like but DH doesn't. There are names I am not sure "go with" Violet. But, does that matter? We both like Landon, I like Bennett (DH doesn't), I like Marshall (DH is only okay with it), My DH likes Grayson but I am not that thrilled with it.

Any other ideas?