The Night Before & Nursery

So I can't believe that tomorrow is the big day. We get to meet our precious angels. I have been praying for this day for the past 4 years and never thought it would be here.  God is so good.  Jason and I have to be at the hospital at 5 in the morning. The plan is for the doctor to come in around 8:00am to break my water and start the petocin.  Since both babies are head down, I should be able to have a natural delivery (with the help of an epidural of course).  I am a little anxious but mostly just excited. I have a lot of nervous energy and I'm not sure if I will be able to sleep tonight!

37 weeks 6 day! We made it to 38 Weeks!!

I didn't have time to spend on this post like I wanted since the babies are coming tomorrow so below is several pics of their sweet nursery that I included. Can't wait to bring the babies home to their new room!!

 

                                        

Daddy wishing babies were here!

My favorite piece of artwork- Reaching for the Stars

This was my toy box my dad built me when I was young.
 He refinished it for the babies!

Pattern on the bedding

Mommy and Daddy are ready to meet 

our sweet angels!! Please keep us in 

your prayers tomorrow!

Special Thanks

I thought this weekend would creep by so slowly since I have a date for the babies to arrive. But thankfully it did not and I want to thank everyone who helped me through what I thought would be the longest weekend ever!!

Special Thanks To:

• Anna and Cole- Thank you for bringing us lunch on Saturday and visiting with us!
• Steph- Thanks for the wonderful lunch on Sunday. We are still enjoying it!
• Father John- Thank you so much for the wonderful king cake. It was fabulous.  Also thank you for giving me the sacrament of the sick. It really means so much to me to be at peace with the Lord during this precious time.

Notice the 2 babies!!

• My parents- What can I say? Thanks for practically spending the entire weekend helping us.  We hung monitors, installed car seats, painted doors, pressure washed, learned how to operate the car seats and Snap & Go Stroller, and on and on... when it was time to finish up for the night- I realized that I had ruined a blanket in the washer and nearly ruined the washer. I noticed it around 5pm and it took Jason and my dad at least 2 hours to fix the mess I caused.  Although we were all exhausted it worked out and they were patient.

Thank you all for being so, so patient with me the last few days, or weeks, Okay MONTHS!! I love you all so much!!

Contractions, contractions, and more contractions

Yesterday afternoon after returning from the doctor I noticed that I started having a lot of contractions.  Normally I would have one here and there but never consistently. They started around 4pm.  By around 7pm I decided to start timing them. They were 6 minutes apart and seemed really consistent.  I knew they weren't close enough so I tried to relax and let nature take its course.

12 hours later at 7am I was still up and having the contractions but they weren't as rhythmic.  I talked with the doctor and he suggested a hot bath and Tylenol.  He said try to rest as much as possible and that Labor and Delivery at the hospital was expecting me. I was in a lot of pain so Jason took half a day off to be with me.  I am so emotional that I cried when he told me he was coming home.  He came home and we slept for about 4 hours. It is unbelievable how much he can relax me.  After waking the contractions were still there but only occurred when I moved. If I laid completely still I was fine.

I really only want to go to the hospital if I am in try labor. I don't want to make several trips and it be nothing. From what I have been told when I am in actual labor I will know it so until then I am going to take it easy and hopefully it will happen before Tuesday. My mom's friend told me to relax and labor at home as much as possible before going to the hospital since it is so uncomfortable at the hospital.

I really thought today was the day- but I guess not! Well these babies have 3 more days to come naturally- hopefully they will :0)!!

37 Weeks

Today I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I never, ever thoughts I would make it this far in my pregnancy.  But fortunately I did. I've pretty much had a perfect pregnancy- yes I was severely nauseous for the first 15 weeks, and a few other minor issues but nothing major and no issues with either of the babies.  I am really fortunate and God has really blessed us.

I went alone to the doctor today for my checkup.  I wanted to go early because I don't like waiting for afternoon appointments especially when I am working from home.  Everything looked great. Foster is now 6lbs 7oz and Anna Kate is 6lbs 9ozs.  I was so happy that Foster has caught up with his sister.  The doctor's office told me to expect a +/- variance of 1 pound.  At a minimum both babies should weight 5 1/2 pounds.  Hopefully with these weights the babies should be able to come home with me. Well that is if there aren't any other issues. I sure hope their coming home outfits fits! :0)

I am still only dilated 1 cm which was surprising to me. I was thinking that I had dilated more.  Both babies are head down.Foster's head is still really low.  I am scheduled to be induced next Tuesday which is 38 weeks. I thought I would be more excited but I think I am too tired and really don't have the energy to be excited. The doctor told me to check-in at the ER and then they would start pitocin. After a while they will give me an epidural and break my water.  He couldn't really give me an idea of how long it would take. He just said that we should have babies by Tuesday night.  He also said that during this time I needed to rest and limit visitors. That it would be a really long day and possible night.  He had previously told me that I could labor a couple of hours between babies so I needed to be well rested. I read somewhere that having a singleton is compared to running a race and having multiples is compared to running a marathon.  Hopefully I will be lucky and have an easy delivery but you just never know.  He also said that after the babies are born there will be roughly a 2 hour observation period for the babies.  They want to monitor the babies and want Jason and I to have bonding time with them.  I just can't wait to meet my sweet babies!!

Christina had previously booked her flight home for Wednesday so she will miss the birth but will be there the day after the babies are born. Besides that everything is going well.  I have a few things that we need to get done over the weekend before the babies arrive such as installing the car seats and making sure we know how to operate the car seats and load the car.  Poor Jason will have his work cut out for him.  Mom came over and helped clean today. I really appreciate her but know she is so tired from taking care of others. She just won't take no for an answer.

Year of the Dragon

Today my dad took me to run a few errands that I needed to get done before the babies arrived. While in Sam's picking up milk and a few other items, an oriental lady approached me and said "Oh are you expecting twins?" I said "Yes" and thought it was interesting that she knew.  I guess it is pretty obvious due to how large my belly is. She then continued "Oh you are so, so lucky. You are having twins and it is the Year of the Dragon. How wonderful- Your babies will be extra special and will be very, very important."  She was so excited and couldn't quit smiling. 

I thought it was really interesting so I decided to do a little research. Turns out that the Year of the Dragon occurs every 12 years and many oriental women are trying to conceive during this year.  I thought it was really neat. The article below discusses the baby boom for 2012.  

China's 'Year of the Dragon' baby boom: A guide

The Chinese new year just began this week, but the rush to have babies under the culture's luckiest zodiac sign has been underway for months

POSTED ON JANUARY 24, 2012, AT 5:37 PM

Chinese nurses take care of newborns Monday: Chinese parents are eager to have children during the Year of the Dragon, the most auspicious zodiac sign in Chinese culture. Photo: Gong Bo/Xinhua Press/Corbis SEE ALL 54 PHOTOS

China is in the midst of a baby-making boom, as couples try to ensure that their children are born during the Year of the Dragon, which began Monday. The dragon is considered the most auspicious zodiac sign in Chinese culture. Once reserved for the emperor, it is believed to bring strength and good luck. Here, a brief guide to the coming wave of "dragon babies":

Why is the Year of the Dragon so lucky?
Eleven of the 12 zodiac symbols in Chinese culture are animals — the dragon is the only one that is a mythical creature. That's one of the reasons it's so lucky, and that's why the state news agency Xinhua says China is expecting a 5 percent jump in the number of babies born in 2012. Boys, especially, are said to be destined for success and wealth if they're born under the sign.

So Chinese parents are scheduling their pregnancies accordingly?
They sure are. The math is easy enough to figure out: Parents have to get pregnant by May 2 of this year to squeeze in their due date before Feb. 9, 2013, when the Year of the Dragon ends and the less auspicious Year of the Snake begins. Once the lunar calendar turns over, the baby boom is expected to come to a screeching halt. "The dragon baby boom seems unlikely to have a significant impact on the total fertility rates in the long run,'' Dr. Zhang Yanxia tells the BBC.

How else will this affect China?
Infertility clinics are bracing for a spike in women seeking in vitro fertilization treatment during the coming year, says Dr. Chen Shee-Uan, director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the National Taiwan University Hospital. And parents are sparing no expense to prepare for their dragon babies. As a result, nannies in Beijing have been able to double their rates, and "beds in the Chinese capital's Maternity Hospital are booked until August," says Ian MacKinnon in Britain's Telegraph. And the effects won't end there. The baby boomlet means all those dragon babies destined for such greatness will soon be locked in fierce competition for spots in China's best schools, as the dragon babies of the year 2000 are now.

Sources: BBC, Huffington Post, Telegraph, TIME

http://theweek.com/article/index/223630/chinas-year-of-the-dragon-baby-boom-a-guide

ER Visit

On Saturday, it rained all day. It was one of those lazy days. Jason and I got up, had breakfast, and started working in the babies room.  We had a few things to hang on the wall and take care of.  We still have to mount their monitors.  Afterwards I wasn't feeling good so I laid in the bed to nap and Jason watched golf. My blood pressure had been elevated most of the day. I normally don't have blood pressure issues, if anything it is normally low.  So after sleeping 3-4 hours Jason cooked dinner while I laid on the couch. As you can tell we were LAZY.  Still I felt weird so I took my blood pressure again. This time it was around 165/110 which is really high for me.  I thought maybe our cuff was wrong so my parents brought their cuff over and still it was high. Mom insisted that I call the doctor. He told me to go straight to the ER.

Once arriving my blood pressure was 172/97 and I had 3+ anemia (which is the level of swelling). The ER was concerned so they sent me to labor and delivery.  After monitoring the babies for 2 hours, monitoring my blood pressure, and checking my blood and urine for preclamsia they released me.  My doctor instructed me to stay on the couch or in the bed until the babies arrived. Note: he didn't put me to strict bed-rest just wants me to stay off my feet. 

So now I am limited to the house but that's okay as long as the babies continue to grow. Now I have to deal with this horrible hip pain from doing nothing! Hopefully that is the last visit to the ER.

My sweet baby girl

So I went back to the doctor today for a check-up since the office will be closed due to Mardi Gras. Everything looked good as normal. My sweet little girl, Anna Kate has now turned and is head down. I am so proud and didn't think it was possible Both babies are in position and it looks like I can now have a natural birth. I'm still only dialated 1cm but my cervix has softened (whatever that means).

I told the doctor that I didn't think I could possibly make it much longer. And he replied good hopefully you will go into labor naturally. I sure hope it is real soon.

I'm sitting at the track now watching Jason run. Since I've been working from home my hips seem to ache more and I feel really stiff. On the other hand my blood pressure and swelling has decreased. I decided to come with him to get out of the house. I also walked or should I say waddled 1 mile. I will see if I sleep better tonight with a little exercise. Hopefully the movement will help my hip pain.

My sister took a gamble today and purchased a flight home for the babies arrival. She flies home on February 28 and leaves on March 6th. Hopefully the babies will arrive before or during that timeframe. I'll be 39 weeks March 3rd so I think they will be here around then. It not it might take a crane to move me. My original due date is March 13th.

36 Weeks~ Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo from BabyCenter

I can't believe I am actually 36 weeks pregnant with twins- 9 MONTHS!! It is so unbelievable. I never thought I would be pregnant much less make it to 36 weeks with 2 tiny miracles growing inside me.

In just a few weeks we will be meeting our sweet little babies. I pray everyday that they will be healthy and  the delivery will go well whether it is natural or by a c-section. I am so excited and can't believe I am almost there.

The babies weren't measured at my doctor's appointment  today because measurements were taken last week.  Anna Kate's heart rate was in the 150s and Foster's was in the 130s. My belly bump or should I say belly boulder measured 40 weeks. I now see why I am so miserable.  I am still only dilated 1 cm. I would have bet $ that I had dilated more due to the increase in pressure. My blood pressure was elevated so I had to rest and they took it again. As always it decreased to a normal range.  The doctor wants to see me back in two days, which is Thursday to see if Anna Kate is still breech and to check me before a long weekend.  The office is closed next Monday and Tuesday for Mardi Gras. At the end of this week the babies will be considered full term.

I decided to measure my belly and compare it to my height. I couldn't believe it! My belly measured 48"- note I am only 64" tall!!  When I measured my height it measures up to my chest- unbelievable.  I am almost as round as I am tall. I didn't know skin could stretch SO much!

I have been having a lot of contractions and severe hip pain but I keep telling myself that it is much better for me to suffer through the pain rather than the babies. They need to bake as long as possible. I started working from home this week. I already have normal ankles again and the swelling has really decreased.  I think staying off my feet will help the babies bake longer if I can only handle being alone all day. I am the type of person that wants to be around people 24x7. I do not like being alone! I'm going to TRY to rest as much as possible and enjoy my alone time until the babies arrive.

Oh I forgot to mention that I had a wonderful Valentine's Day with my hubby. He is the best man in the world. We had a relaxing evening, had dinner at the local Mexican Restaurant (I didn't want to fight crowds), and watched the MSU Basketball Team lose to LSU. Besides being very, very uncomfortable it was a nice night.

35 Weeks

Today was my 35 week check-up. I can't believe that we are so, so close to being parents. I just can't wait. Everything went well at the doctor.  Anna Kate measured 5lbs 6oz and Foster measured 5lbs. I was hoping he would catch up some with Anna Kate but maybe he will over the next few weeks.  Anna Kate is still breached so it still looks like we may have a c-section which I am fine with as long as it is the best option for the babies.

My blood pressure was slightly elevated so the doctor had me rest and took the readings again. The level  decreased which was good.  I have dilated 1cm and he will take the babies when I get to 4cm.  I am getting huge and of course uncomfortable. I have all of the normal signs of pregnancy. I guess the worse part is sleeping at night. My hips kill me but I think that has to do with carrying around ~11 pounds of baby. I have also started having sharp pains and contractions.  Well I think it is a contraction, my stomach feels like a brick for a minute and then goes back to normal. Some are painful and other aren't so bad.

I am still working but the doctor wrote me an excuse to start working from home next week which will be at 36 weeks. He thinks it is a good idea for me to stay off my feet more to lower my blood pressure and to help with swelling. I agreed!! At this point he doesn't think bedrest is needed nor will it be needed so I am very lucky! I can't imagine being confined to a bed with this hip pain.

Jason is getting excited about the babies as well. Poor guy does most of the house work and all of the cooking. I really don't have an appetite so I am good with eating small snacks.

Baby Shower

My wonderful girlfriends hosted a baby shower for me back in November.  It was beautiful and we had a wonderful time.  I am really late on this post but thought now is better than never to capture the wonderful memories. I am so fortunate to have all of them in my life! I have the best friends EVER!!

Carrington was a great helper