26 Weeks

Matt was out of town this week so my mom came for a few days to babysit me while he was gone.  I always get a little nervous when he leaves because two times he has been gone for business and bad things have happened.  This trip was a success and my pregnancy has been status quo.  This week marks 26 weeks and I am creeping closer to my goal of 28 weeks.  I can't believe I am actually saying this but this pregnancy seems to be flying by! If I make it to my due date we have just under 12 weeks to go.  My mom and I were talking about how far I am going to make it and she thinks June 30th is going to be the magical day and I feel more like July 2nd.  Anyone want to make a guess???  

Nothing really big happened this week.  I'm getting lazier so my pictures are getting uglier and reflect the day to day "look" of a 26 week pregnant lady with twins!  I know it doesn't look like much but each week I feel just a bit bigger and a bit more uncomfortable.  I do however still feel ok and totally not miserable.  Here are some pictures from this week.  Matt snapped some pictures of me doing some Cat like stretches to make room for those babies.... Let me tell you what.  

 

 And if you've never seen a baby bump close up here one is... Growing like a weed! 

 

How Far Along: 26 weeks 2 days

Total weight gained:  31 pounds

Cravings: plums

Stretch Marks: almost .... I thought I had one on my right side but it was just a sleep mark.  Better be a little more diligent about the baby butter balm.

Sleep: I am still not sleeping well. Matt got a taste of that last night when he felt me toss and th n and get up to pee multiple times.  He finally realized how much I'm up at night. 

Nausea or Queasy: I made it 2 weeks until last week.... I again yacked my brains out and man oh man that was not fun

Wedding rings on or off: on

Signs of labor: no, but I've felt some Braxton hicks every now and then

Gender: 2 baby girls

Looking forward to: finishing the nursery (we are a little slow when it comes to projects) and finishing the baby registry. 

Belly Button in or out: in

Movement: yes, getting stronger.  Even Matt can feel the difference and if you watch carefully you can see my tummy move, 

Baby Dreams: I have been dreaming about baby supplies galore!! 

Complaints: I just have that right sided pain that won't go away 

25 Weeks

I had a funny conversation with my brother this week.  He was asking me how pork chop # 1 and # 2 are doing.  He calls them that because that was my nickname growing up as a child... The days as a 6 year old I could put down an ungodly amount of food and rightfully owned my title.  Well anyways we were talking about how this could actually be happening and how he could have two little baby nieces this summer.  

Most brother sister siblings don't talk too many details about infertility but I've shared quite a bit with him.  I died laughing when I told him I cannot believe it will be about 4 years since Matt and I started trying by the time I have the girls.  His response... Classic... "Oh wow it's only been 4 years? I thought it was more like 7"

I about died when he said 7 but his point was valid.  5 miscarriages and 5 rounds of Ivf, one would think it's been longer.  It made me think about how "normal" my "abnormal" life has been.  How having more than 2 miscarriages consecutively is normal to me and totally unheard of to most.  I suppose it's a good thing I have a solid relationship with Matt or else I would have definitely ended up in the looney bin.  

This week marks 25 and I've got to say, it's all becoming more real.  Part of me can't wait to hug and kiss their little faces and part of me is scared shitless.  I woke up in the middle of the night in sheer panic the other night thinking " oh my goodness how in the world am I going to feed and burp two babies in the middle of the night?"  

I told Matt my worries and he's promised me he will help!  Assembly line style.  I'm sure it's going to get more real each week but hopefully I don't panic or else I'm going to be a wreck by the time Dr. Ismail is yanking those little girls from me. 

Oh and I'm also feeling bigger by the day but anyone who sees me that I'm pregnant with twins seems to disagree.. It's all relative though right! 

We had an outside lawn day so here's me 25+ weeks trying my best to stay active. 

How Far Along: 25 weeks 1 day

Total weight gained: 28 pounds

Cravings: pina coladas, slushies, and plums

Stretch Marks: nope

Sleep: I am still not sleeping well.  It's a rare thing if I sleep sound.  If I do I must be real sleepy.  I do a lot of thinking and praying in the middle of the night

Nausea or Queasy: I cannot even believe it but it's been 2 weeks since I've puked!  

Wedding rings on or off: on, although it's getting warmer and they are getting tighter

Signs of labor: no, but I've felt some Braxton hicks every now and then

Gender: 2 baby girls

Looking forward to: finishing the nursery, 

Belly Button in or out: in

Movement: yes, getting stronger.  Even Matt can feel the difference and if you watch carefully you can see my tummy move, 

Baby Dreams: I can't remember 

Complaints: I just have that right sided pain that won't go away 

24 week doctor appointment

Well the girls behaved again while they got their picture taken.  Just kidding.  That's what Matt said about this weeks doctor appointment and ultrasound.  I had my 24 week check-up and all is well in the womb.  The baby girls are growing nicely and just under 1.5 pounds each.  Baby A was 1.4 pounds and I didn't get Baby B's weight.   I'm still feeling ok but am feeling myself slowing down a little.  Matt noticed that I no longer walk as fast as I used to.  For anyone who knows me my "normal" walk is a power walk and I'm currently about as fast as a turtle.  I even get past by the grey haired ladies these days.  It's not that I cannot walk that fast I can, it's just uncomfortable and my stomach does this squishing movement that I do not like so I'd prefer to listen to my body and slow down albeit kind of hard to do.  

24 weeks marks my first goal for myself that I wanted to reach in this pregnancy.  The babies are now considered viable and if I went into labor they would be micropremies in the NICU, but big enough to try and save and grow in a controlled environment.  Although I would prefer to not go into labor for another 12-14 weeks part of me is proud of my body and for us ( Matt and me) for trying everything possible to have me carry our own children.  

So many times during the 5 losses and 5 rounds of in vitro and multiple drugs, shots, and pokes I've questioned whether what I have put my body through will be worth it.  The further I get the more I realize it is and will be.  

I've been thinking a lot lately about what life would be like if I had a two year old running around my house.  That is how old Collin should be had he been born on his due date of April 1,2014.  I get real tearful thinking about him and what life should be like but then I realize it was just not part of gods plan for Matt and me.  Maybe one day I'll know why but for now I resonate with the beautiful things this journey has given me and I find peace and happiness in that.  It's ironic how tragedy can be a beautiful thing, but I am learning that it really can be. It's just not always easy.  

I just have to keep my head high and the positive vibes going with this pregnancy.  July will be here before I know it.  I'm slowly making this pregnancy more real and Matt and I are slowly getting things ready for the girls.  We started working a little more on the nursery this week.  It still scares me half to death to do anything but I also cannot be 36 weeks pregnant without twins and just starting to get things ready.... I'll be kicking myself (and Matt) for waiting.  So I am taking the advice of my twin friends/acquaintances and starting sooner rather than later.  

Here are some pictures from this weeks ultrasound.  They are still a little creepy and alien like but the 3D pictures are showing the babies looking more like true babies and less like an embryo or fetus.  

23 Weeks

I feel like this baby thing is starting to feel more real.  It's a little hard to hide my belly so I'm no longer at the "is she fat or pregnant stage" but I still want to pretend it's not happening sometimes in fear that it will all end.  

Today was a big step for Matt and I.  We tore apart our guest bedroom and moved the guest bed into the smaller 3rd bedroom in preparation for our baby girls nursery.  I told Matt I am not quite ready for all of this, because it means it is really happening and I started to cry.  I am not really sure why I cried ( damn pregnancy hormones) but I did.  Then Matt looked at me and told me no, we are not crying, so I stopped and wiped me tears away like a big girl and moved on.  

I promised myself I really wouldn't buy or do anything until at least 24 weeks or as late in this pregnancy as I can but I am realizing that if I wait too long I'm going to be too pregnant and uncomfortable to do anything.  So ready or not the nursery prep has commenced!  

23 weeks has come faster than I thought... Only 14 more to go!  

How Far Along: 23 weeks and 1 day

Total weight gained: I didn't weigh myself today but I would say between 25-27 pounds.  

Cravings: none this week

Stretch Marks: nope

Sleep: I am not sleeping well. I toss and turn and pee frequently.  Some days if I am absolutely exhausted it is better but it is getting harder to sleep well.

Nausea or Queasy: still a yes... One week I hope to say it's over but I think given it is girl twins I'm still going to puke here and there this whole pregnancy.  

Wedding rings on or off: on

Signs of labor: no let's keep it that way for a long time

Gender: 2 baby girls

Looking forward to: working on the girly PINK nursery that Matt agreed to

Belly Button in or out: in

Movement: yep and they are getting busier in their little house womb

Baby Dreams: I had a funny one again.  I had a dream that when the babies would kick you could literally see a tiny little leg and foot pop out of the side of my stomach so when one leg would pop lit I would push it in and then the other twin would pop her leg out.  So weird!

Complaints: I don't mind working but commuting on those trains are a little brutal.  I'm not going to lie  my back does not like the train seats, they are sooo uncomfortable.  Oh well, starting this month I a, now only working two days in the office so I really don't have too much to complain about.