Amy at 180

Today, Adam got on the scale and asked me, "How much do I cost?"  "You weigh 30 pounds," I said.  "Okay, now your turn.  How much do you cost, Mommy?"  Crap.  180.  55 pounds.

Here's Adam seeking shelter under the 33-week belly from an approaching air-strike.  You can tell he's totally ready to take them on, though, right? 

That's the East China Sea in the background.

We had appointments up to our ears this week and they all went very well.  Tuesday started with the MFM specialist, who told us both babies were now head-down and she did not think it was likely that either of them would turn at this point.  However, after "Baby A" delivers, there is no telling how "Baby B" may react to the sudden extra space...She told us that the babies were really stretched out and taking up all of my uterus...as if I needed to be told that.  She also told us that "Baby A" weighs about 5 lbs 11 oz and "B" is weighing in at 5 lbs 6 oz.  Of course, the ultrasound estimate isn't the most accurate and may be off by as much as a pound, but they believe, based on all data, that the babies are growing well and thriving and are at healthy weights.  Upon leaving, I asked her when I should make an appointment to see her again and she replied, "I don't think you will.  I think we'll have babies."  Did anyone else see that freight train coming?


Alan and I left there and headed up to Labor and Delivery for a quick look-see.  Unfortunately, all labor rooms were full so I couldn't see one.  Here's another prayer request:  Pray that doesn't happen when I actually show up in labor!  It was a little bit of a deja vu, though.  When I showed up in labor with Adam, I swear I was put in a storage closet until a room freed up.  There were a lot of babies born on that full-moon night.  I digress...Anyway, we did get to see my delivery room - the OR!  I will deliver, no matter how the babies are presenting on ultrasound, on an operating table.  This is just a precaution so that if, say, "Baby B" decides to start doing flips after "A" is born and things get complicated, they can immediately do a c-section.  I'll already be prepped and ready and have been advised to take the epidural so that I can actually be awake to see the birth, should it go to a c-section.  Otherwise they would have to put me to sleep.  After confirming some other stuff, Alan headed to work and I headed to my non-stress test.  Not much happened there.  Babies moved great, heartbeats sounded strong. 


Thursday I had an appointment with my OB and it looked like the babies had not dropped yet and I wasn't really dilated yet.  It is looking like Janice might make it in time!  We're hoping so...


I thought I would use this opportunity, in case I don't get the chance to do another one of these before the babies arrive, to list a few things I've learned during this pregnancy. Here are 10:

1. EVERYTHING is different when comparing a singleton pregnancy to a twins pregnancy.  Since I've had one of each, I feel like I can make a pretty accurate comparison.  I know each pregnancy can vary with the same woman, but every single thing from the first day I found out I was pregnant has been different.  Every.  Single.  Thing. 
2. There really is no limit to what your body can accomplish.  Considering I didn't gain twice as much weight as I did with Adam (thank God), yet twice as much had to develop and thrive and fit - and do it in less time than with one baby - it's pretty friggin' amazing.  People say, "You look great!  I was that big with one baby!"  Yeah.  Well, that may be another story...the point is that I have double going on in this amount of space:  two heads lodged in my pelvis and lungs, four legs kicking, four arms punching, two placentas, two amniotic sacs...TWO!  It's amazing.  As for my reasonable weight-gain, I owe all the credit to a book and a friend who recommended it:  When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads by Dr. Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein.  I did what it said, even when I didn't feel like eating another bite and it has paid off.  This book would be a great resource, even for a singleton pregnancy and I can't thank MJ enough for recommending it.
3. It isn't polite and is actually a little offensive to immediately ask if someone who's having twins or multiples did IVF.  It's really none of your business, either way. 
4. Stretch marks breed like bunny rabbits.  Remember that blog I wrote when I was so disappointed about my first one?  Yeah.  That was nothing.  And they itch like hell.  Damn them.
5. There is no blissful second trimester with a multiples pregnancy.  Your husband should learn this right away, so as to dispell any romantic thoughts he might have about that.  It will be easier for him to deal with the sooner he knows.
6. If you find out your pregnant with twins, it would be a good idea to go ahead and buy lots of Maalox and pillows.  Even white rice is going to give you heartburn and surrounding yourself with pillows is your only hope of getting any sleep.  That is, if the heartburn lets you...or the calf and thigh cramps, potty trips, hip pain, difficulty breathing...
7. Trust me, you have never witnessed fear like that you witness when you tell your husband "twins."  Especially if you have to tell him over Skype.
8. If you're going to include an older child in choosing names for a baby, be prepared to consider names from popular animated movies or cartoons.
9. It's a really strange feeling to not recognize or relate to your own feet.  These aren't mine.
10. When given the challenge, your husband can really step it up.  Tonight, Alan made chicken parmesan, coating the chicken with crushed reduced-sugar frosted flakes instead of corn flakes, because that's all we had.  Let me tell you:  It was gooooood.  Another night, in an effort to help me sleep better, he slept with his back pressed to my back for support and to keep me from rolling over.  It didn't work, but he was trying to help.

Whatever we've learned and not learned (because I'm sure that list is way longer than 10), we're ready for this.  We're expecting these babies any day now and the excitement is overflowing.  What an honor to be chosen and trusted by God with this task.  He wouldn't have brought us to it if he wasn't going to help us through it and we give him all the glory and have faith that he'll carry us when we need him to.  Thank you, God, for this blessing.  Now, if it's not too much to ask, could you just go with our plan of letting Mom arrive before you bless us with them?  Thanks.

35 weeks