My sister and I in 1981

My sisters high school graduation. We're 12 years apart.....I graduated from kindergarten the same year. :)

Non-Stress Test

This is the me with the monitors hooked up. You can tell I'm so comfortable. lol My arm is covering most of it because I had to hold it to keep the boys heartbeat on the monitor this time. One strap is for the boy, one is for the girl and one is for my contractions. At the hospital they use a pink and blue one. In my hand I have a button that I push every time I feel them move. The machine to the left of me charts the heart rates, movements, and contractions. Just like adults, when the babies move or are under stress (during a contraction) their heart rates go up. They range quite a bit which is what they want. If one of the babies doesn't react to stress or movement, that's a sign that something is wrong with their nervous system or possibly other issues. I have these tests every Tuesday and Friday and they started at 32 weeks although I had one before that since I was having so many contractions. The doctor has to sign off on them before I leave. The lady who does them noticed how miserable I was today and she said they usually schedule csections on the 38 week mark. She said to make sure I call and get to the doc as soon as I can if I think I'm in labor so the first baby isn't born before they can do a csection. That just scares me. I mean if my water breaks, but otherwise I hope I'll know. I told her I've been feeling sharp pains low in my guts on both sides but I didn't know if that was digestion issues or what. The pain isn't at regular intervals. I think it's just my sore guts or round ligaments. She said to talk to Maternal Fetal tomorrow about how I'm feeling and see what they recommend as far as waiting until 38 unless labor starts. She said, "not that I'm telling you but I'd start walking once you're 36 weeks." lol Nick said I should try going off the meds too. That kinda scares me though, can't we just schedule the csection and skip the labor? lol

Made it to 35 Weeks!!!

Sunday was the 35 week mark. It's crazy I keep plugging along. Waiting for something to happen. lol One of my small group girls said to "just start pushing"...she's funny.....I told her I don't think that would be a good idea. Nick came back from the first service at church on Sunday to pick me up to go to the second service. It was really nice to worship and see everyone. It's just not the same watching the sermons on TV and the Internet. It was cute, my small group girls were all excited to see me and they got to feel the babies kicking. They love that. I love to watch their expressions and watch them jump when they feel them. There is just something about teenage girls that make me laugh. Their view on the world, their lack of filter, I love it. One girl thought she saw a foot.....it was my belly button. lol She's also the one who I had to explain where our belly buttons came from. It's funny.....I know they learn stuff in school but with my pregnancy they've been so excited about everything and very curious. Hopefully I've been effective in slowing them the reality of pregnancy without making them never want to have kids. lol I've been able to maintain contact with them better than anyone through texting and myspace. Communication with their generation is so much different. Easier I think. Nick thinks I'm ridiculous for not calling them but they open up through texting and the Internet and then when you talk to them in person they don't put up the front. It works as an icebreaker of sorts. 

These babies have been crazy with being up in my ribs...they are so sore from it. I'm getting a little swelling back in my right ankle.....nothing major but I guess I should watch my salt. Still having lots of contractions which I'm really tired of, they are exhausting. I really can't do much but sit which gets on my nerves. 

My friend from church broke the news to me that my belly button would never be the same. So sad....I grew to love my innie that went to an outie and now is so stretched it's almost non existent. I've now got a weird ripping mark and it's all red and sore. I've sorta been mourning my belly button through it's stages as it becomes more and more alien. 

Notice in the picture that Nick got me a shirt with "horizontal stripes". lol I know from watching "what not to wear" that that's a no no with this belly. I really appreciated him getting me a few shirts to wear though. I could wear his but seriously.....when you feel miserable and huge you at least wanna feel pretty. I've never been a "guys clothes, baggy" kinda girl.

Pretty flowers from my sister. Nick said he's gonna tell people not to not send them to me since I think they are from him and then he gets in trouble. lol

Docs Appt & Non-Stress Test, April 25, 34 weeks

The non-stress test went really well. The babies were moving a lot. I had eaten some fruit chews on the way there to try and perk them up. So that was good.

I weighed in and I gained what I lost back and now weigh 126-1/2 lbs. I'm hoping that weight went on the babies so they can be ready to go. It certainly seems like it. I've been in a lot of pain the last few days and it's getting harder and harder. I told the doctor about the ripping feeling in my belly button and she said the only thing I can really do is put ice on it to numb it. whooweee. I know it's terrible to not be very positive right now but physically I'm worn and mentally I'm tired of it. My ribs front and back are very painful. The babies are pushing up higher and higher. I have no energy and even riding in the car to the docs appts is becoming more and more painful. I can't get comfortable sitting anymore, laying on my side is still the best until my hip starts to hurt and my legs go numb. It's getting harder and harder to get up out of bed. My contractions are gradually getting stronger and my stomach muscles don't work to help me up when I'm having a bigger one. I asked the doc when to know when to come in and she said at this point when they become painful and I should know when it's time. So we shall see. Nick and I told her we were ready to have the babies out and she asked if we wanted a tour of the NICU. It's so frustrating. I go to the high risk doctor and she says that it's great that I've made it this far and if I can get them to 36 weeks or even 35 that she would almost guarantee that they wouldn't spend time in the NICU, that they should be able to come home unless there are other issues with their health. The high risk doc measures the babies and even though she didn't get a measurement on the girl last time she says they are doing great and they are in the "normal range". I go to the regular doc and the first thing she says is the babies are on the small side. How big does she expect 2 babies to get inside my body? If they are 5lbs on the next ultrasound, I'm gonna be thrilled. If we get them to 5lbs, that is way more than I expected. One of my book breaks down where the weight comes from. That would be 10lbs worth of baby, 3lbs worth of uterus, 2lbs per placenta (4lbs), 2lbs amniotic fluid for each (4lbs), 2lbs worth of breast tissue, 8lbs worth of fluid volume, mother's body stores 8lbs. That's 40lbs! Now I've only gained 126-1/2 and I can tell ya my body isn't storing much, I'm not swelling and my body isn't bigger other than my belly. This 100lb body is still carrying a lot of weight. I feel like a bug with a HUGE belly and little extremities. 

Baby Non-Stress Test, April 22nd

The baby's non-stress test went well. They only had to get "buzzed" once. My sister took me so she got to experience hearing their heartbeats. It was kinda funny, her eyes got big when the boys got really loud and fast. It's amazing how much it can change. I only had 2 contractions the 1/2 hour I was hooked up. I had taken my medicine before I left the house and that seemed to work. I also ate some watermelon and nutter butters to try and get them moving. As soon as they hook them up lately they do nothing. They got moving toward the end of the 1/2 hour. 

Last night and today I'm having a lot of rib pain front and back and once again I feel like my belly button is ripping from the inside. Everything is so tight now, I can't seem to get relief from it no matter what I do. Deep breaths really hurt. There is just no room in there. I have another non-stress test and a docs appt on Friday...and then the ultrasound on the 30th. :) The doc made the comment "if I make it that long" and here I am still chugging along so far.

Lots of Contractions

I've been having lots of contractions today! Every time I stand and also when I sit. Sometimes every 5 mins. My belly seems to have suddenly got really heavy. The babies must be getting bigger. I'm not gaining weight but it's not for lack of eating. I've been quite spoiled with Nicks parents brining Olive Garden, Isaacs and chicken corn soup. My Mom and Dad got us lots of Schwan food, bunch of groceries, pizza and subs and beef stew.......mmm. Had some church friends also give me some meals. I've been pretty spoiled food wise. :) It's nice to have the grocery snacks to munch on too! 

Nick just told someone on the phone I have 2-3 weeks to go......I'm gonna smack him silly. Does he know something I don't? I'm feeling like any day. 2 weeks at the most! lol If I go 3 weeks longer he's in trouble. lol

I measured my waist for kicks and it measures 39 inches. I measured the waist of my pre-prego jeans and they measure 29 inches. It sure feels like I have more than 10 inches on me. lol Crazy! And WHAT were people guessing at my shower when I was 29 weeks???? A lot more than I am now! lol

34 Weeks!

Made it to 34 weeks. Still having a lot of contractions but not any different. Last night I had them every 10 mins for an hour and then they spaced apart. This morning I had them every 10 mins again. This morning all 4 feet were poking out of my belly, I was moving them around to try to get them to positions that they didn't hurt but I'll tell ya there just isn't the room to easily push them back in anymore without there being pain some where else. They are starting to feel like little baby feet and their heels are definitely boney!