20 Weeks - update on me!!!

We have passed the 20-week mark!! Yea! For some reason, this is a big milestone for me. It feels like I am really pregnant and everything will be ok. (Of course, now that I am used to feeling the babies, especially the girl, I had a minor freak out this week when I didn't feel her all day - I was going to fake something to go to my doctor to get a quick u/s. Luckily, she finally moved late at night - whew! Why do they cause us such stress??)

The baby showers are staring to get planned, which is exciting. One will be family and girlfriends on October 24th, and the other will be a couples on November 6th. Football season is really hard to plan anything around, so we only have limited dates. October 24th is the Alabama away game, and Nov. 6th is the Memphis game, which we may/may not go to. Speaking of football, tailgating has started and so far, so good!! The drinking doesn't bother me, as I have an ample amount of junk food to ingest instead, LOL. The heat was awful the first game, so hopefully it will start to cool off a bit. I am going to go to as many games as I can. I am thinking I can make it to November - but we'll see!

My sister Ginny's wedding is this Saturday. Hopefully the rain will stay away! If not, though, everyone can just take shelter underneath my bridesmaid dress, as I am pretty sure 100 people can easily get under there. I will post pictures next week!

How far along? 20 weeks, 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed in a few days, but I gained like 5 pounds in a week, which I have already been worried about. My weight is still low for where I am supposed to be, but I think I am still on track, and am still happy with what I see in the mirror every day. I am terrified I will wake up one morning and be 1,000 pounds. My next weight milestone for twins, is 24/24. Gain 24 pounds by your 24th week. So, I am doing really good on that. I think I have gained like 14-15 pounds.
Maternity clothes? Still nothing but my jeans! These flowy dresses, tops, and my super Bella Band have been doing awesome. However, I did get a Pea in the Pod gift card from Jake and his sister, Jennifer, for my birthday that I am really excited to use. WooHoo!
Best moment this week: Being past 20 weeks!! Yea!! And finally feeling the baby girl move after my freak out.
Movement: yeah, it pretty good now. I can't feel the boy very much because of the location of his placenta, but I can feel the girl alot. Usually, however, its mostly when I am really hungry, really full, or really have to pee that she decides to say hello.
Waist Diameter: I decided to add this one for funsies. Right now it's at 39 inches. LOL!!
Food cravings: Still loving chicken biscuits, spicy food and anything sweet. Basically anything you put in front of me.
Gender: Still a boy and a girl! No extra parts in there!
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Its still a halfy, but I don't think its as bad as it was...
What I miss: Sleeping on my back. I bought a new pillow, an Utterly Yours pregnancy pillow. Its supposed to support your back, stomach, and force you to sleep in your left side. Do you know how hard it is to stay sleeping on the same side all night! My hips kill me! So, the Utterly Yours usually gets thrown in the floor in the middle of the night.
What I am looking forward to: I don't go back to the doctor until 24 weeks, so I am looking forward to that. And getting my bedding fabric finalized!! I don't know what has possessed me to do this. Do you know how expensive fabric is for TWO cribs?? Jeez!! Oh, and feeling the babies start to kick!
Milestones: I have hit 20 weeks, so that is HUGE!! Now, I guess the one is what the earliest I can be to deliver and the babies be "ok". I am thinking 26 weeks maybe?? Sure, they'll be in ICU for a while, but at least its possible. Just think, if I had triplets or quads, I could be delivering in just a few weeks - yikes!!
Realization of the week: YAY!!! This is going to happen!!!!!

20 Weeks - B.A.N.A.N.A.S.

Who else wants to sing Hollaback girl from Gwen Stefani?

Baby Stribs - 20 Weeks

How your baby's growing:Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. (they weighed about 11 oz. each at my appt last week) He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurments are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. (the little girl had hiccups at the last u/s appointment) He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery). EWWWWWW!!!! How am I going to do this???

How your life's changing: The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. (I actually have round ligament pain, and have had it now for several weeks. It feels swesom, like a hernia) You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being. (Do the radndom adolecent zits that pop up on bizarre places like my neck, ears and chest count as "glowing"?) Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (I have been feeling this alot now!!) (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

20 week appointment (at 19.5 weeks)

I had my big 20-week ultrasound appointment on Wednesday- even though I was only 19 weeks and three days.

In the 20-week appointment, they do another anonomy scan. Meaning, they measure EVERYTHING, which is cool. I was in the ultrasound office for almost an hour. Jake couldn't be here for this one, which was terrible. He has a business luncheon come up the day before, and his boss was coming up, so he couldn't get out of it. I told him not to worry. They literally gave me a TON of pictures. In fact, the u/s tech said I wasn't allowed to look at them until after I left, because she could get in trouble for giving me so many, tehe. I told you I was special!! Mom was even amazed that I get ultrasounds every time. I mean, of COURSE I will! My next appt is in 4 weeks, though, which is a long time. And the next time I get to take the super glucose test, where you have to drink a bunch of yuck to see if I have gestational diabetes. Which, Lord I hope not, because Mama and the babies like their sugar.

Ovary updates - they are still huge and covered in cysts! Surprise, surprise! My left one is up near my ribs still, and the left one is now down next to my cervix. And actually, my doctor thought that was funny and/or lucky. Because with twins, the babies tend to get closer to the cervix, which causes early delivery, which we don't want. Well, that ovary is not letting anything through there - it's like its a barrier to my cervix, which is funny.

Everything looks great with both. Baby Boy Stribling in head down (way down) and his feet are under my right breast. Baby girl is still sideways, and hear head is basically where Baby Boy's feet are. I hope he doesn't kick her head. She was all over the place. She absolutely refused to cooperate, which took so long in the measurements. She also had the hiccups! That was really exciting to watch on the screen. It was just so cool!!! I can already tell she is going to be a handful. And where her placenta is located, I will be feeling her much more than the Baby Boy. Anyway, all looked find. They measured hands, arms, legs, spleen, spine, head, bladder, kidneys, etc. Baby Boy has a bit of a problem in the kidney area. He has some dilation in the tubes that go from the kidney to the bladder. It's very common in boy babies, and is basically a little urine back-up. It should resolve on its own before delivery. If not, they just give him an antibiotic when he's born. Here are pictures for you to enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, today is the big day. No not the "delivery" big day, just the other much less-important one. I am officially 30ish this year. Happy Birthday to me! I am normally one of those "I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!" people. On any given birthday, I may tell numerous strangers about my special day. But not this year. This year I finally have my birthday wish that I have been wishing for for long time. (Plus not to mention I am now in my thirties, so honestly, whats to celebrate there??)

But I am happy. And I do want to celebrate. I finally have my birthday wish. Thank you to my husband for giving me the best gift I could have ever imagined or asked for. The twins are the best, most wonderful present in the whole wide world. I cannot wait to meet them.

So sweet and precious....

18 weeks - hot like a pepper

Baby Stribs - 18 Weeks

How your baby's growing: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. (UH OH!!!! THEY BETTER GO DOWN! Has anyone seen my fathers ears?? Geneitcally, we are already in a little bit of challenge there) A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (Um, not our son, he likes for everyone to see)

How your life's changing: The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being. Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently. (YAY!!!!! I am right on time, then, right???)

18 Weeks - update on me!

Well, here we are at 18 weeks. This is beyond a doubt - crazy. How am I 18 weeks? How am I this far already, but yet I cannot wait to be 30 weeks and counting down? I am finally to the point that I am going to get highlights in my hair. I have put it off, and put it off. Surely by now its safe. And don't ever get me started with this Swine Flu stuff. I have heard it from everyone, and I PROMISE to get vaccinated. Plus, my being at schools all day is probably worse for me too.

How far along? 18 weeks, 2 days
Total weight gain/loss:Well, if you read this post, you will see I was still at a good weight a few days ago. Now, I have not stepped on a scale since then, so I am hoping I have not jinxed myself. Plus, UT football starts on Saturday, and -me likey- tailgate food.
Maternity clothes? Still have nothing but the Old Navy maternity jeans. Good thing my dresses are flowy!
Sleep: I still have my good nights and bad nights. I haven't gone into another room to sleep in a while, and thats good. My hips and knees have been hurting very bad. And I am trying so hard to stay on my left side, but if ever I wake up in the middle of the night, I am right on my back, dang it.
Best moment this week: Nothing so far this week. Looking forward to football starting!!I am still looking at bedding fabric, which is now a lot harder that I thought. My sweet friend Larissa's mom is going to make it. I thought it would become easier once I had made a decision (set #2, by the way), but its almost worse. B/c now I am comparing multiple beiges, pinks, and blues, at multiple fabric stores and websites.
Movement: I felt a bit of flutterings last week, but nothing since then. And that makes me sad, and also makes me think something is horrible wrong in there. Why can't they give take-home ultrasound machines for obsessive, neurotic people like me???
Food cravings: Still nothing weird. I am patiently waiting for the ice cream with ketchup toppings to start. But, just eating normal. And actually have been less hungry than I was during the first trimester. Still am loving chicken biscuits though.
Gender: Sweet boy and girl. Wanna help us with names?????? Need help with the J's!
Labor Signs: HE- to the -LL - NO
Belly Button in or out? *sigh* I am still a halfy. And I am starting to think its cute. That must be a sign of pregnancy. Because why on EARTH would I think something so gross be cute?? What I miss: Working out, or any form of exercise. I am now a wee bit worried about gaining 20 pounds in a month.
What I am looking forward to: the baby showers are in a-plannin'. stages. I am trying to plan ahead for bed rest and my "no pictures in the third trimester" rule.
Milestones: I am looking forward to getting to 20 weeks. That is technically my "safe period".
Realization of the week: That I am very, very lucky to be carrying multiples. I have so far eaten basically anything I wanted, not been able to exercise at all, and don't look like a fatty-fatty two-by-four-can't-get-through-the-kitchen-door. By all means, I SHOULD BE. But, I am thinking that b/c I am carrying twins, they are needing most of the food I am consuming, as opposed to a single baby. So, thank goodness for that.