31 Weeks and Counting Down!

Yeah, still working on the holiday post...Today we had a doctor's appointment so I thought I'd share the latest twin update.  Here's me on Christmas Eve, at 31 weeks:

Today the babies had strong heartbeats and were definitely looking bigger.  There was no way they were going to fit on the ultrasound screen together!  They're packing on the pounds now!  Someone else is definitely looking bigger, too...Alan should really think about those "sympathy" pounds he's putting on ;-)  Everything looks great and we're feeling lucky that we haven't had any complications.  I start non-stress tests next week to begin regularly monitoring the babies.  We got some clarification on when we can expect these little guys, as well:  38 weeks (Feb 12th for me) is really the max they want to see them go.  Beyond that, the chances of losing one increase exponentially due to the decreased function of the placenta (this limit is about 41 weeks for a singleton baby).  So, if they haven't come by then then we'll be induced or a c-section will be scheduled. 

I mention the c-section because after today it looks like it's time for us to wrap our heads around that as the most probable method of delivery.  See, with Adam, he was head-down from the first time we saw him on ultrasound and he never changed.  He was quick and easy...then.  As for these babies, not so much.  "Baby A" (the one closest to the cervix) has never failed to present breech on these ultrasounds, and she's the only one that matters.  No, I didn't just give anything away!  I *think* that baby is a girl.  If she isn't head-down when labor begins, then no chance of even trying a vaginal delivery.  If she is head-down, then we'll give it a try and they'll even attempt to deliver "Baby B" breech.  Since these babies are growing well and fast now, there's less and less chance they'll turn so that's where we stand.  It's time to start praying (because, honestly, who really wants to have a c-section?) and have our first little "talk" about doing what Mommy and Daddy say.  Ultimately, we want nothing more than to get these babies here healthy, but a little praying never hurt.  So, if praying is something you live by, I could use a little help :-). 

And while you're praying - My Mom is scheduled to arrive here on January 29th, so pray she makes it in time! 

Just a Nugget

I'm working on a post of holiday stuff, but thought I would hold you over with this true "Dayton Day to Day" nugget.  On Christmas Eve, we went to buy a box spring for Adam's bed because we had only bought the mattress before, to see how it went.  Knowing they would charge us at least the price of the box spring or more to deliver, we figured it should fit in the van and we'd just handle it.  Alan grabbed a tape measure and did some research to be sure.  But, alas, despite our thorough planning, we resembled that minivan on Cars that McQueen sees passing Mack and gets upset over:

Sweet.  Only here can we pull that off without being completely embarrassed.  I guess if there is an upside then it's this:  Since the mattress wasn't taking up the entire inside of the car, we had room for a hand-carved teak bench that we decided to buy, too. 

Just Adam

I thought it would be a good time to give an update on the Monster.  He turned three in August and is currently obsessed with anything Toy Story.  He got the chance to meet Woody & Buzz Lightyear at Disney World in October and was completely star-struck.  He can narrate the entire Toy Story and Toy Story 2 plots and is waiting with excitement for Toy Story 3 to come out this summer.  The other day I went and picked up his 3-year pictures.  To be honest, this was the first year I was really worried about having pictures made.  In the past, he's been fun and photogenic and I always knew I would walk away happy, despite having spent way too much money because the decisions were just too hard.  This year...not so much.  He's three, after all.  I wasn't sure which child would wake up that morning and, even if it was the angel version of him, which child he would morph into just in time for the photo session.  Thank God, we were once again able to fool everyone who only knows him by photograph and here were the results:

They're all adorable and, of course, I got them all in some form or fashion.  You'll notice Doo-doo is there (the bear), which has made an appearance in nearly all of his portraits.  Picture #4 is especially funny to me because it has Rex (the dinosaur from Toy Story) in it, too.  It's funny because he's not particularly attached to Rex in general, he just went through a phase that week.  If you've read previous blogs, he was also in a picture with Adam at Cape Zanpa, by the lighthouse - which was about the same time these were taken.  I'm glad I'm one of those people who has pictures made regularly, because they really are worth a thousand words.  Looking back at his monthly, then yearly photos, I am flushed with so many memories.

 

6 Months old and just sitting up!  I think this was actually the first time it was captured on film.  Also just getting attached to that bear...

9 Months old - he was kissing a picture of a brown-eyed girl in that book, which he did every time he saw her.  I hopped in some of these pictures with him because I was about to lose my hair...

One!  He loved animals and could make most animal sounds, and this tractor made animal sounds.  He loved pushing it around, ramming it into things.

Christmas 2007 - He literally stopped screaming for 3 seconds and they snapped the picture

Two!  Still attached to that bear and this time he wanted to take Cookie Monster with him.  Another phase, but that one actually lasted a while.  Also, this was before he got the handbook on "How to be a Terrible Two-Year-Old" (don't worry - he got it!  But it was nothing compared to the one on being a three-year-old).

There was no Christmas 2008 picture...there was no chance in hell he was going near enough to Santa to get a picture of them together.

Christmas 2009 had two phases - the first time he would stand near Santa and tell Santa everything he wanted, but would not sit on his lap.  The second time he went ahead and hopped up on his lap, but I have a feeling that had to do with the fact that Santa was actually handing out gifts...

Obviously, he's growing up.  And despite what the calendar may say, it has taken a lot less than 3 1/2 years.  It goes fast.  Last week he started preschool and I had a little breakdown.  He has spent every day of the past few years with me and now he won't.  If I wasn't pregnant with the twins, I would wonder how on earth I was going to fill my days.  Because he always filled my days.  Soon enough, though, I know he'll have replacements in that department and, don't get me wrong - I did learn pretty quickly how to enjoy the free days.  Even recognizing the freedom it gives me and the positive effect it's having on him, it's hard to do.  On his very first day at school, they started correcting his pronunciation of "yellow," which is "lellow," and I happen to think it's cute.  After his first two days at school, he no longer lumped "L-M-N-O-P" into one while singing his "ABCs" - he actually enunciated each one.  That's great!  But the lump is so cute...I can only hope they don't soon correct the fact that he calls hangnails "snails."  I'll miss that when it's gone.  However, I don't miss that he generally uses manners and nice words now when asking for things (I say "generally" because he is still three and still has plenty of "three" moments).  On Friday he came home with his first craft - a noodle wreath - and now it proudly graces our front door - Okay, I couldn't find anything better at the BX, but it's actually pretty cute:

I could write and write about Adam.  What can I say?  He's our first-born.  But since he has politely asked me about 15 times now to read Fly Away Peter to him (which we just got yesterday and have already read about 10 times), I guess I should go be a Mommy and read it.  He also just told me that Al McWhiggin stole Woody again so we have to go rescue him.  Toy Story...

I've got a runner in my pantyhose

There are a few things I have been meaning to blog about lately:  The '80s-themed holiday party we attended, some local "engrish" spottings (check out engrish.com to hold you over until I post pictures of funny engrish I've actually seen), the circus act that was my mammogram earlier this week...the list keeps growing.  Since my camera is in the car and I'm too lazy and tired to walk out and get it to upload pictures, the first two options are out for tonight.  The mammogram is actually a funny story, but the short version is that they didn't think there was any way in hell they were going to get around my belly (which was actually getting bigger as they stood there debating the issue) to get the job done.  After some creativity and incredible, gumby-like moves by me (at least in my opinion), the most painful mammogram I've ever gotten was a success and revealed nothing of concern.  I do slightly wish there had been a video.

What I really wanted to complain about is this:  My first stretch mark.  Ever.  I made it through my first pregnancy without any.  I will go ahead and assume it's because I repeatedly spent about $40 on L'Occitane Shea Butter Body Cream because that makes me feel better about the money.  This time, however, I opted for the Suave brand of Shea and Cocoa Butter Lotion because it's about the only thing I could find at the commissary when we got here.  Well, let me tell you something, Suave - I can tell the difference between you and the more expensive brand!  And so can my belly!  And I have a stretch mark to prove it!  Of course, it probably doesn't help that I am bigger now, at 28 weeks, than I was at 37.5 weeks, which was when I delivered Adam...but that's beside the point. 

So, now here I am with a red, ugly stretch mark on my lower abdomen.  I discovered it about a week ago while looking in the mirror.  Actually, it appeared a few weeks ago but it looked like a vein at first.  You know, how when you're pregnant and you can see every vein in your belly because your skin is stretched so thin?  I even had Alan look at it (as if I can even see my lower abdomen myself) and he confirmed it was just a vein.  Seriously, why did I ask him?  Anyway, last week it turned red and I was furious.  I grabbed a hand mirror and got a closer look for myself.  Sure enough - stretch mark.  Damn.  And you want to know the worst part?  Now that that little sucker has infiltrated, it's running wild!  My belly might as well be a pair of pantyhose because it's just getting longer and longer.  If only clear nail polish or hairspray worked on that...

Stretch marks, spider veins, thunder thighs, complete loss of physical fitness, heartburn from absolutely anything I eat...these babies better be cute!

Just Sayin'

Tonight we went to dinner, and when we got home I changed into pajamas, natch.  I noticed as I was folding the pants I wore to hang them that they were split right on the ass seam.  Of course.  28 weeks and bustin' out of my last comfortable pair of maternity pants.  Crap.  That's about all I can handle tonight.