37wks 4days: Meet James and Kate

Holy Shit people, time flies when you're carrying twins and trying to get ready for their arrival! I made it to 37wks 4days. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of that. I also delivered them both vaginally, I'm pretty freaking proud of that too. This pregnancy was BY FAR physically the hardest thing I have EVER done.

The morning of August 3rd J and I headed to the hospital for my induction. My blood pressure had started to creep up, I was itchy all over, and quite frankly, freaking over it. We were both ready to meet our babies.

After we checked in and dorked around a bit they got me hooked up and started me on the drugs. As I suspected, I had been having some contractions but I barely felt them. I was a centimeter dilated. I quickly learned that because Biscuits was so freaking low they had to reach around his head to check my cervix. There's not a whole lot of room in a vagina to be reaching around anything! Basically it was the first time of many that day I questioned this whole VBAC idea of mine. Holy smokes did that hurt like a son of a bitch!

After a few hours the contractions were getting a little more intense but I could breath through them, hell, I could talk through most of them. This is when I started to get real cocky. Like maybe I just have a high pain tolerance or something? Maybe I'm just an absolute bad ass? Maybe the universe was rewarding me for all the hell we'd been through with a nice easy labor? Keep in mind, through this whole process I am being treated like a magical unicorn. People are coming in and out, looking at my read outs, and talking about my plan. Not only am I attempting to deliver these guys out my hoo-ha but I'm doing it after a section. AND Gravy is still breech. I guess this is rare as fuck and worthy of a few extra gawkers. Better believe, I ate that shit up. "Come on in people, this is a teaching hospital after all. Check out how brave and awesome I am!" I am an idiot.

Dr. S had a resident working with him that day. She was, in fact, a bad ass. We will call her Dr. BA. She came in and wanted to check me and possibly break my water to really get this party started. She checked me and I was at about a 3.5/4. The pain was so intense I called out to Jesus. I'm pretty sure I lost my bad ass status. She broke my water and I vowed not to be checked again until I'd had an epidural. Probably not the best decision I had made.

After my water was broken it didn't take long for my contractions to really pick up. For a while though, I was still doing alright. Still feeling like I was hot shit. I also had a real morbid curiosity about how bad this was really going to get. I mean, people do it every day, right? Let me tell you what people, it gets bad. REAL BAD. At one point I was sitting on the side of the bed holding the nurses had, breathing through a contraction and when it was finally over I just looked at her and yelled "BITCHES DO THIS THEIR BATH TUBS!! WHAT THE FUCK!!" You see those shows about women who didn't know they were pregnant starting to go into labor, those women must think they are dying, like knocking on deaths door. It was FUCKING INTENSE. My personality shifted. I threatened divorce was mostly serious. It was time for the epidural. If only that sucker would have worked a little better...

By the time I was mostly numb and the nurse checked me again I was at an 8.5 mabey a 9. It has been an hour and half since Dr. BA had broken my water. That's crazy fast. I guess Biscuits was ready to get the fuck out. But like I said, I was only mostly numb I had a spot on the left side of my abdomen that I could still feel EVERYTHING. They rolled me around and shit but none of that worked. They ended up giving me a bolus which is just a fancy name for a big dose all at once. Finally I felt some relief.

Accept now I couldn't feel anything. It's real hard to push a baby out of your body if you can't feel ANYTHING below your nipples. They decided to have me "labor down". Basically, enjoy my new found numbness and get some rest. Every now and then the doctor popped in and asked if I could feel any pressure. I didn't. The nurse assured me that when it was time I would definitely feel the pressure. I didn't.

After about an hour and a half Dr. BA wanted to do some practice pushing. Basically, since I still couldn't feel anything she wanted to see if I could push before moving me to the OR. All twins are delivered in the OR. Guess what guys, I can. Maybe, a little too good...

On the third practice push Biscuits' heart rate dropped. Like lightening they were throwing things on top of me, putting an oxygen mask on my face and wheeling me to the OR. We were flying down the hall! Dr. S met us in the OR but to my shock did not immediately start cutting my body open. Dr. BA explained to Dr. S that Biscuits was right there and that she thought with a little help from some forceps I could still deliver him vaginally. We didn't have much time though. Dr. S told me he was going to count to three and I needed to push as hard as I could. On three, with tears streaming down my face, I pushed with everything I had. Wouldn't you know it, that little shit popped right out! We was thrown on my chest, rubbed down and promptly taken over to his own little team of doctors and nurses. They gave him a little cpap to get going and he in turn peed on everyone. Meanwhile, I still had to deliver another baby.

Gravy was what they call an assisted delivery. Basically, using ultra sound as a guide, Dr. BA with Dr. S's guidance went up there and pulled her out. One leg, then the next, one arm, then the other, and out she slid! It was pretty surreal! It was certainly eventful but everyone made it out safe and sound. Internets, meet James and Kate.

31 Weeks: My Water Babies

How far along? 31 weeks

How big are B&G? The internet says 3 1/3 pounds. We have another growth scan on Friday so we'll get a better idea then.

B&G's Health? Nothing new since the last post. They'll check on Gravy's fluid on Friday too. I'm a little anxious about it. Dr. S says a pocket of fluid on an ultra measuring more than 8cm is considered "too much" or  polyhydramnios - thank you Dr.Google. Dr. S says anything from 8-15 is considered mild to moderate. Gravy's is measuring at 8.7cm. So barely over the normal range and no where close to the severe range. Crossing our fingers that Friday it's back within range or at least not any higher! PS this condition occurs in only 1% of pregnancies. Lets be honest, we all knew I wasn't going to get through all 38 weeks of this shit show without being diagnosed with something stupid rare.    

Health of Momma? Overall health is still good! Blood pressure is still nice and normal. I do start weekly appointments this week so I guess that means shit's gettin real! It's crazy to think that I delivered Audrey at just 34 weeks, that's only THREE weeks from now!

Weight gain? 17 or 18...I don't really know. Not because I'm not tracking it but because I can't freaking remember.

Weird Cravings? ALL. THE. ICE. I buy it in ten pound bags from Sonic. It's cut my number of slushies to almost zero. So I still get the ice I want but not all that sugar I should do without. A slushie does sound good right now...maybe I'll stop on my way home...

Stretch Marks? Still none but man my belly has started itching like crazy in the last days or so. I'm sure they are right around the corner.

Skin? My complexion is still good. 

Hair? Super thick!

Sleep? Uhg, I have a hell of a time getting comfortable these days. My belly is just SO BIG. Luckily I only wake up to pee once a night. That aint too bad.

Best moment this week? Probably all my baths. I do that now. Every night. It's fantastic. I'm sure I look ridiculous with half my ass hanging out my tinny bathtub but it gets some of the weight of the twins off my body. I think they dig it too. I have a feeling they are going to be little water babies just like  my other two. 

What I miss? Being able to see anything below my waste. I had to get help to put lotion on my legs the other night and shaving them is going to have to be a group project before long. 

What I am looking forward to? Tonight we are taking the kids to the Alpine Inn for dinner. It's this super trashy dive that only serves fried chicken. One of the walls is all windows. Outside those windows they have set up platforms in trees. They throw all the chicken scraps onto the platforms for the raccoons. You read that right, they feed wild raccoons as a sort of show. Here's the thing. The chicken is freaking delicious and the kids love watching the raccoons. Aiden's been but it will be a first for Audrey. I should probably look up the sign for raccoon.... 

I also have a pretty killer GNO planned for Friday. That reminds me, I need to make an appointment for a brow wax..

Milestones?  The first trimester is over!!

Fears? I think I covered it with the polyhydramnios talk. Honestly I don't have much time to worry about shit. I'm just taking life one day at time.

Thing I'm thankful for?  My Amazing husband. He's really had to come with his A game. I'm basically worthless after 3pm most days so dinner, baths, and bed time are basically the J show. I try to shout encouraging words from the couch...

Week End Review: Lots of good stuff this week! Audrey got new SMOs, we got MB's room painted FINALLY, and we finished the week in the pool at Grandma's for Father's day.

29 Weeks: 9wks left! Single Digits People!!

How far along? 29 weeks

How big are B&G? Last growth scan Biscuits weighed in at almost 3lbs and Gravy was at 2.5lbs. They were around the 45th percentile. I'll take it!! 

B&G's Health? Good for the most part! Gravy'd fluid was measuring a little high today. Of course it could mean a whole bunch of things or more than likely, nothing. Dr.S doesn't seem too concerned at this point. He says we just need to watch it. 

Health of Momma? My blood pressure is still looking good! My cervix has shortened some but that's normal at this point. I'm still well above 2.5cm which is great! My feet has started to swell when I don't wear my compression socks so even though I look ridiculous, I'm trying to be better about it. I really HATE the way they feel when they get all swollen.  

Weight gain? 17lbs - slowly but surely. I'm definitely eating more sugar than I'd like but some days I just NEED a slushy!

Weird Cravings? Watermelon slushies from Sonic. Really mostly the ice part. Really mostly ice. That and Audrey's Flinstone's vitamins...I think I might have an iron deficiency... 

Stretch Marks? Shockingly, I still don't have any stretch marks. I guess I'm just lucky.

Skin? I've definitely noticed more blemishes but still NOTHING compared to my pregnancy with Audrey. Full disclosure though, the face wash and moisturizer I am using this go around is about 6X more expensive than the cheap Walmart stuff I used to get away with. I tell myself that's the difference nut who knows.

Hair? SUPER THICK! I sure wish it would stay that way...

Sleep? This could be so much worse. A friend of mine loaned me her pregnancy pillow but I'm not sure it's for me. With my back issues sleeping in one position all night makes me stiff. This pregnancy pillow contraption really keeps you in one position all night. So while I'm nice and comfy to fall asleep I wake up sore. I might go back to my strategically placed cloud pillows.

Best moment this week? We went to the drive-in again! It's just really fun. We didn't last for the whole movie. No amount of blankets and pillows can make a pregnant lady comfortable in the trunk of a minivan for long. BUT it's such a fun summer family activity.

What I miss? Wine.

What I am looking forward to? We have a lot fun things planned this summer! Really though, I just want these babies to get here already. I am already so done being pregnant.

Weekly wisdom? This is the BY FAR hardest thing I have EVER DONE. Are you a twin? Do you know a twin mom? Tell her thank you and give her a hug.

Milestones?  We are in to the third trimester people!! 

Fears? How much harder is this going to get?..?..

26 Weeks: Happy Birthday to Me!

How far along? 26 weeks

How big are Frick and Frack? The internets tells me 14 inches long. According to their growth scans they are trucking along in the 45th and 46th percentiles. Fingers crossed we can keep it that way. Somewhere in the 40's or 50's is ideal, I aint trying to have two tiny babies but I'm not trying to carry 15lbs of baby either. a good solid 6lbs or so is what I'm looking for!

Frick and Frack's Health? Everything looks great! Our anatomy scan showed no abnormalities, which felt pretty abnormal for me. I kept asking, "You sure? Nothing we need to keep on eye on? No bright spots? No missing bones? NOTHING?" Everyone still has plenty of fluid and no one is trying to make an early exit.

Health of Momma? Welp. last week I took and failed the one hour glucola test, the one for gestational diabetes. So on Monday I got to take the three hour test. I bitched and moaned about it for three straight days but I did pass. I just hate that it makes you feel like shit for twenty four hours. There is plenty of good news on the health front though. My blood pressure is still behaving itself and my cervix is still nice and long. It looks like these babies and my body might actually cooperate long enough to avoid any serious NICU time *knocks on ALL THE WOOD.

Weight gain? 16 lbs - growing at a pretty nice slow steady rate. crossing my fingers it stays that way.

Stretch Marks? Miraculously, I still don;t have any stretch marks. I do massage my belly every night before with these magical massage bars. Really just because it feels good. It relaxes me and the babies. I just bought two new ones because I used up the two I had. They smell fantastic.

Skin? It's starting to get a little sketchy. Still nothing like with Audrey though. A few extra blemishes here and there. BUT, weird thing. I've gotten two cold sores the pregnancy. I hadn't gotten one in years.

Hair? Super thick! It's greasy but I'm so happy to have hair again and don't even care!

Sleep? Well I'm up to two cloud pillows these days and for the most part can get comfortable to fall asleep. It takes a while but I've got a routine down. I have been having a lot of really vivid dreams though, Usually bad dreams too. It really sets me up for a crummy day to wake up scared and upset. Why can't I have super vivid sexy time dreams? Now that's a way to wake up!

Best moment this week? Passing my diabetes test! That would have been the last thing I freaking needed.

What I miss? anything below my waste. Shaving is getting tricky...

What I am looking forward to? Audrey is officially moved into her big girl bed! Now I just need to make the sheets for the twins and get the dust ruffle washed and ironed. I can't explain it but I'll feel better once they have a place to sleep.

Milestones?  I turned 35! I'm officially considered AMA (advanced maternal age).  

Thing I'm thankful for?  I had a great Birthday! JJ took the day off and the three of us went to the children's museum. Audrey LOVES it! Then we got ice cream at Ted and Wally's. That night we met everyone for dinner at La Mesa. I'm a lucky lady folks!

18 - 20 Weeks: Yeah I got a little behind. But Pictures.

18 Weeks

19 Weeks

20 Weeks

17 Weeks: Even Steven!

How far along? 17 weeks

How big are Frick and Frack? Avocados, I'm told.

Frick and Frack's Health? Looking good! We found out at our ultrasound that Baby A is a boy and Baby B is a girl. That keeps our clan even steven!!

Health of Momma? other than being tired all the time I'm good. 

Weight gain? 3lbs

Weird Cravings? Greek yogurt. Every night.

Stretch Marks? Not yet. 

Skin? Still looking clear!

Hair? growing like a weed.

Sleep? I told J he needs a sleep study...

Best moment this week? Finding out we are having a little girl! I would have bet our house we were having two boys.

What I miss? This week? Red wine.

What I am looking forward to? Deciding on names. I think it's going to take us a while. and we have to come up with the two this time around. Yikes!

Weekly wisdom? One day at a time. 

Fears? Too many to count. Preterm labor...

Thing I'm thankful for? We are so lucky! We have all the support anyone could ask for. I'm always amazed by the number of good people we have in our lives. Milestone parties like this one only remind me even more how many people we have in our corner.

15 Weeks: Welcome to the second trimester!

How far along? 15 weeks

How big are Frick and Frack? We've reached apple people! Now how is that different from a lemon? Ya got me.

Frick and Frack's Health? Just hanging out. I've been checking my blood pressure every night before bed and it's still good. We have another appointment on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll find out the gender of baby B. Otherwise, this gender reveal shindig is going to be a real let down...

Health of Momma? Oh you know, things are only getting harder. But I feel OK for the most part. Still sick at night but at least I can take meds for it. I'm really just zapped by 3pm. Like can't get off the couch, zapped.

Weight gain? 2lbs. Yes I realize that's going in the wrong direction. I give up.

Weird Cravings? Still Icees and yogurt. Oh and I ate almost an entire container of hummus last night. J makes these yummy pita chips, it was a perfect snack turned dinner!

Stretch Marks? Not yet. BUT a twin mom told me this week that when she was pregnant her skin couldn't keep up with the stretching and her belly got all these little cuts all over it. So....that's fucking terrifying.

Skin? Seriously going to jinx myself.

Hair? I swear it's gotten curlier. Is that a thing?

Sleep? getting harder. My tummy is just so full and hard in the evenings. I think I need to order another cloud pillow.

Best moment this week? We moved the changing table into the hall and got Audrey's toddler bed set up. I think it's safe to say she's excited.

What I miss? bending over.

What I am looking forward to? My Ultrasound on Tuesday!!

Weekly wisdom? Don't be a helicopter parent. I caught myself following Audrey around at story/song time today at the library. Another mom said, "Don't worry, she just has to find her spot." You know what? That mom was right. Audrey found a spot in the crowd and sat and listened to the books and stood up to dance to the songs. 

Milestones? Mine or Audrey's? Just kidding. 

Fears? A MILLION TINNY CUTS COVERING MY BELLY!!

Thing I'm thankful for? Other moms at the library that aren't afraid to offer advice. I think I get so worried about her being accepted by other kids and parents that I follow her around hovering over her trying to....I don't know...I don't know what I'm trying to do...

Week End Review:  Well the toddler bed business is going...medium. I put her down for her nap in it today and J found her an hour later in the hallway. She usually naps for two hours. Tonight might be interesting.....