Kicking & Punching

The last few weeks I have really been feeling the ladies moving around in there. Twirling and twisting - and kicking what feels like my bladder. Have to pee - no, I'm okay - Have to pee - nah - have to pee!!! Off and on... it's an interesting feeling.

A few days ago G was able to feel the kicks from the outside. This has been somewhat delayed because both placentas are anterior - or right in front.

Today, however, I was sitting on the couch and all of the sudden I felt some huge kicks. My whole stomach felt like it was jumping! I looked down and - boom! There it was - I could see a huge jump from the outside!

G and I sat there for a few minutes just watching the battle that was going on inside. I loved it!

Glucose Screening

I have waddled up to the 26th week of pregnancy.

I wore a jacket zipped up to work yesterday. Today, it wouldn't zip.

I am up many times a night. Not sure what fluids I have left in there by 4am, but my body finds some and has to get them out. Immediately.

G and I had an ultrasound at 24wk 4 days, and both ladies are looking lovely. They are measuring 1lb 10oz and 1lb 9 oz - and their overall measurements put them about 1 day apart in growth. Their heartbeats were perfect, their heads look round, their bellies were even rounder. LOVE those reports. No great pictures, though - both girls decided to turn away as soon as we tried to take a peek. I did enjoy seeing a detailed image of both spines though. :)

This past Wednesday, at 25weeks 2 days, I had my Glucose Screening. I didn't eat anything after midnight, and was limited to water to drink. Not terrible, considering my appointment was at 8:30am. The nurse said that we wouldn't hear anything from her unless there were abnormalities in the blood (read: If I failed the GS, she'd call). And - hooray! - no call from her today! This is GREAT news. I was seriously worried that I'd bomb that glucose screening. Both my grandmother and aunt had Gestational Diabetes when they were pregnant, and I have been worried that I'd be the same.

We have our next ultrasound the week before our Baby Shower - which I am VERY excited about. I have started to really try to get things together or planned so that if I happen to have to be on bed rest or deliver earlier than expected, we will be ready. I don't want to stick G with most of the work while I'm propped up unable to do anything.

As far as work, I am slowing down a bit. I can definitely tell when I am on my feet too much. I have noticed that I have to give myself an extra minute or 2 to walk places - trying to keep my pace reasonable as to not overdue it. I don't think my students mind my slower pace.

I am very surprised how quickly this pregnancy is passing by - it's already after the holidays and I know that the next few months are just going to fly by!

More Than Half Way

On Monday I will be 22 weeks along. I will be honest... in those first few weeks... those first few scary-ass weeks - I dreamt about the feeling that 22 weeks would be. I dreamt about anything over 20. About being pregnant at Christmas, instead of empty handed and empty wombed. We are so incredibly thankful for this pregnancy, and for the fact that it has been fairly easy since that first trimester hiccup.

Now, everything we do, we make an alternate plan for next year.

"Well, next year when the girls are here... "

"The girls will be grabbing stuff by next year, standing possibly... we can't put this here next year..."

And it's wonderful.

This past week we had two appointments. The first appointment was on Monday - which was the follow up to my 20-week anatomy scan. I purposefully ate WAY before my appointment - knowing I wouldn't be able to hold lunch until after, and remembering my near-puke experience from last week. We were only going back to focus on Baby B - to see a glimpse of her facial structures to be completely sure everything was okay (they have a 20 week checklist and she didn't show us her face last time!) An hour and a half of being poked and pushed and turning every which way - the technician gave up and the doctor came in. About 15 minutes and he was about to give up on it, when there it was - a clear glimpse of a perfect little lady face.

Then, on Friday, we had our monthly appointment with our ob/gyn. I have to say, that so far the most interesting part of these appointments are hearing whatever person is on the phone wanting to talk to her about some emergency. The first two appointments she was called as soon as we got there for deliveries. (Her office is in the hospital). And then the next two, she had to take phone calls from women who were either convinced they had cancer because their friend told them so, or had sex at the worst possible time if you don't want to get pregnant. Yes, the walls are THAT thin. I keep that in mind when we're in there.

Then we got to hear their little heartbeats.

So, since everything is going well - we are still on a once-a-month schedule. We'll go back next month for another round - and to see our little ladies again.

Until then, we're hopeful for a continuation of the drama-free pregnancy.

Banana Gram

Today is 20 weeks and 1 day. Which means, that even IF I was going to carry our ladies to 40 weeks I'd still be half way. Half way.
So I checked today and our babes are the size of bananas. Ish. They should be about 7 inches long. And because of yesterdays visit, I know that baby A is 13 oz. and B is 11 oz.

I also started adding to our registry today. G and I previously started with a few items, but today I really loaded up on some stuff that will probably be determined useless about 2 weeks into their lives, or be remembered about 2 months after the intended time frame of usefulness.

My massive blemish - er- gift from my ladies is very slowly de-reddening. Still the size of Mt. Rushmore, but getting better. This morning I woke up with swollen glands that feel like bruises - apparently swollen glands are fairly normal, but it's uber-uncomfortable. I will keep an eye on it and see what's up in the next day or 2. I'm hoping no dr. visit is in order.

Today also marked the day in which I received the "WOW!" comment about my stomach. I guess they call it "popped." So, pregnancy, I have arrived.

15.5 more days until Winter Break.

20 Week Happenings

This weekend my girls (yes, they are still girls!) gave me my first daughters-to-mommy gift. It's so sweet, I can hardly be upset with them. However, a blemish the size of a small country is not exactly what I had in mind. I'm not even kidding. Redness, itching, and swelling make this blemish the only thing I can keep my mind on today.

That was, until about 1:00. Then it was time for our 20 week anatomy scan. The big one. The one where they measure everything. Head circumference, cerebellum, eye sockets, leg bones, stomach, heart... all of it.

G and I got there right on time, and were taken back almost immediately. I changed into the lovely gown (I have to strip from the waist down, so I at least got to keep my shirt on). I'd regret the shirt soon....

The tech squirted out about half a bottle of that lubricating gel and got busy. They start with baby A - who was head down when we started but wouldn't stop moving the entire time! Baby A is measuring 20 weeks and 1 day. Good girl. I think the coolest part, for me, was seeing the flash of blood running through the heart, the ventricles, and the stomach and bladder (both full)!! Baby A kept moving so much that it was taking forever to get the right heart pictures. And, of course, she had her hands over her face most of the time.


The scary 3D image. Baby with a placenta hat. Home made. These images are still kind of creepy since they don't have much baby fat - but it's still kind of neat.


The best profile shot of our mover & shaker.

It was about an hour in - trying to get Baby A's heart - that I started to sweat and feel a little nauseous. Quickly. I had to ask to sit up, and at that point I thought I was going to either vomit or pass out. I then asked to go to the rest room to wash my face, and decided to take my shirt off and leave myself in only the gown. Best decision, as I felt instant relief. I think the combination of being on my back that long, pressure from the machine... and probably lunch sitting in there that had me ready to call it quits for the day.

But alas, Baby B... we can't keep you waiting :) Baby B is measuring 19 weeks and 6 days - more good news. B started to become uncooperative, but not as much as baby A was. The tech said "If they're like this now, you're in trouble..."


Sleeping on a pillow - or so it looks to me.


That's Baby B pointing - or giving us a #1 sign. Or tattling on the technician for pushing too hard. "It was her!"


Profile of Baby B.

Oh yes. Trouble. Our lovely ladies of trouble.

It's a funny feeling when you realize that you are ACTUALLY growing people inside your body. Like super small people that are breathing and swallowing and peeing.

This week is Thanksgiving. If you could see my stomach, you'd know what G and I were thankful for this year. I am very excited for next week, when we get to see those little babes again via sonogram.

The last sonogram we had we were told that they were most likely 2 girls... so I'm wondering if any new revelations will arise or if we can truly be seeing pink :)

16 weeks

Babies being a bit shy - they were kicking each other!




Look at those legs! Moving moving moving!