2/14/08

Went to get another ultrasound today and that darn mystery baby just will not show us the goods!!! : ( Well, I guess it wants to keep it a secret. Our next ultrasound is in another month, but with each day their space gets tighter and tigher so I don't know how much luck we'll have going forward.

2/18/08

Finally!!!!!! We felt the baby move for the first time last night! : ) It was so cool b/c I haven't been able to tell if they are moving or not and haven't really felt much, then I started feeling like a flutter in my stomach, so Jimmy put his hand on my belly and we just lied there and next thing you know....it moved! It just felt like a flutter in my stomach to me but Jimmy felt it too so it had to be the baby. Yeah!! I was getting so sad because everything says that I should feel them by now and I hadn't.

2/21/08

OMG! Can I say back pain! Owwww. : ( Well, I can't sleep well and every morning I wake up sore. I've tried pillows, wedges and now a back brace, but nothing is really helping. I'm gonna go see a chiro tonight, hopefully he can make me feel better.

2/25/08

Ok, so the chiro def helps but I need to go often because it's only temporary. No other updates yet, but we have an appt tomorrow. Still can't really feel movements, just very small flutters and not very often.

2/28/8

Oh Shock, mystery baby still wouldn't open it's legs. If this continues I will be forced to really name this baby "Mystery Baby" when it's born. Just Kidding : ) Well, I'm feeling them move around more now, but it just feels weird to me. I guess I need lessons on bonding or something. ; )

3/3/8

Wow, Ok, so I've had awesome day. Talk about energy! I think I actually 'worked' a full 8 hours today, went to the bank, dry cleaners, gas station and now I'm doing laundry. I LOVE being productive! I feel great. : )

3/13/8

We go for another u/s on Monday. Excited to see them and hope they're doing well. Over finding out the sex, but whatever, maybe it'll happen, maybe it won't. Getting very big now and definetly walking, no waddling, like a true preggo.

3/20/8

Well, the mystery baby loves being a mystery. We had the u/s on Monday, and they said they thought it was a girl, but weren't sure (again). Then we went for a 3-D u/s today and once again, they could see one boy, and couldn't tell the sex of the other. Jimmy thinks the boy they saw is the mystery baby, so I guess that makes us back at square one, where we really just don't know. It was funny seeing them on 3-D though. They say I'm still not far along enough to get good shots or that maybe I didn't drink enough water, but they just looked like crazy clowns or puppies or something. Weird. I guess we'll have to go back in a month.

3/29/8

Well, our doc visit went well. The babies are growing concordantly, my cervix is 3.1 (which I guess is good) and the babies are approx 1.7 lbs each. So far I've gained a whopping 21 lbs! I like to think that 20's in my belly and the other 1 is my boobs. hehe ; ) Oh well, I don't pay attn to the scale, not nowadays anyway. The 2 little monkeys are moving around a lot more now, and the movements are feeling weirder and weirder. Sometimes it feels like are flipping completely around with no room. It feels creepy from the outside, and inside, it def doesn't feel like they're floating in water. 26.5 weeks now and signing off. : )

4/7/8

Good News! 1. I don't have diabetes. : ) This was a concern of mine b/c I LOVE sweets, and I've even told my husband that if we end up having something, it'll probably be this. hehe 2. The nursery is finished! Well, it doesn't have any furniture or anything yet, but my hubby had the room completely redone. I'm talking, new ceiling, hardwood floors installed, all new paint, new window and closet casings and crown molding and baseboards throughout. It looks beautiful! I love you Skove Top! Thank you. : ) I can't wait to furnish it, but we're mostly waiting for our shower so we can see what we get and what we still need. Which leads me to 3. Our shower has offcially been planned for May 3rd! : ) It'll be co-ed and hopefully lots of fun, friends and family. Oooh, everything is finally coming together, I can't wait and I'm Sooooooo excited!

4/14/8

Ok, now Mystery Baby is outta control. We had another ultrasound today and the baby literally had its hand between its legs covering its goods. So instead of seeing boy or girl parts, we saw fingers. At this point I think the baby is just messing with us. : S

BTW, I'm getting really tired of just the daily routine. And going to work, then having to do anything else (i.e. grocery shop, lamaze, etc.) just exausts me! I feel like I'm pushing myself and it can't be healthy. I hope my doc puts me on leave soon.

4/17/8

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! My doc officially put me out on disability leave today!!!!!! : ) Woo Hoo!! My BDay is manana and I couldn't have gotten a better gift! It's official, I'm excited, and mostly relieved that now I can finally take it easy and care for and prepare for these sweet little monkeys. Can I just tell you how happy I am right now?? Now I can finally be a preggers mama preparing for my babies and not just some crazy working chick that happens to be pregnant. Soooo excited. : ) Did I mention how happy I am to finally be out on leave? ; ) Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord! : )

Ok, enough about me. The babies are now 3.25lbs for the boy and Mystery baby weighs in at 3.5lbs. That's almost 7 lbs of baby inside me!!! I've gained 25 lbs total so far and my cervix is measuring at 4.5 which is great. All 3 of us are doing well and growing like crazy.

4/21/8

It's so nice not having to work. : ) Look at me. Just sitting here, playing around on the internet in the middle of a Monday. : P

I haven't worked in like 5 days now but I've consumed my days running so many errands and hanging out with my Mom that it still doesn't feel like it. Today I'm gonna study my Farsi and go to my last class tonight from 6-9, then I will officially not have any commitments left. So nice. Also I think the babies are trying to break free through the front of my stomach.(hehe) Or maybe they're just growing and trying to make more room! Wow, what a miracle and how cool that it's happening to me. : ) I'm so happy. I think I'll take a nap now. muah!

p.s. Laptops SUCK when you don't have a lap.

4/28

Ok, so I went in on Friday to have a non-stress test just to check on the babies and everything was great. : ) Now these guys probably saw how great my insurance was, becuase although everything came back as A-OK, they call me back to tell me that they want me to come in every 3 days to keep checking on them!!!!! Are you joking me?!? Every 3 days? And nothing is wrong! Hello?! Do we see a problem here? Yes. I will not be taken advantage of and treated like a cancer patient when there is clearly nothing wrong me or my babies. It's just sad b/c I'm sure they prey off of new mothers' emotions and try and scare people into doing this all the time. It is clearly just a scam to get as much money out of my insurance as possible and it should be illegal. What a shame that you can't trust anybody anymore these days. I guess we all just have to remember that doctors and hospitals are all just businesses too and are looking out for their pockets first. : (

4/29

So I cancelled that appt yesterday and they actually called my doc and "told on me". I'm pretty annoyed with this testing center at this point,needless to say. So I went to my doc this morning and talked to her, she said that they told her it was only one more visit not one every 3 days. So she called them with me there and we rescheduled it. Of course while I was there I had a Braxton Hicks again, so the girl was like "you might have to come back tomorrow." WOW, now it's everyday just becuase I'm having Braxton Hicks? Dude, guess what? That's totally normal! It's your body practicing. Anyway, I refused to leave until they told me for sure and then called my doc in front of me. So, guess what? All of a sudden they came back with "Oh, it's fine. You don't have to come back." That's what I thought.

Bottom line is that I had 2 dr appts today and all 3 of us are doing GREAT! Thanks everyone for caring. Can't wait until this weekend for our shower! : ) : ) : )

5/1

Today was like the best day ever! My honey took the day off b/c we had our maternity photo shoot today. So the day was spent being pampered, then doing the shoot (hence the new photos) and then just spending the rest of the day together: just us two. We had lunch, watched TV and I fell asleep in his arms. I love him so much! And it was so nice to just take it easy together and not have a care in the world besides just loving each other all day. What a beautiful day. Thank you Lord. : )

5/2

Can't wait until tomorow for our Baby Shower!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )

5/7/8

Well, we had a GREAT Baby Shower and I just want to thank everybody who came out and celebrated wth us. I've never felt so blessed. We not only had about 80 people come out and share their time & love with us, but we received so many gifts and gift cards that it took us over 2 hours to open them all and the nursery is now completely set up. : ) Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Lord and all of our supportive friends and family. We love you and can't wait to share the babies lives with you.

5/14

We went today for one of our last ultrasounds and it turns out that both babies are over 5 lbs! Baby A measured at approx 5 lb 12 oz and Baby Boy at 5 lbs 1 oz. They're not exact weights, but the point is that I now have over 10lbs of baby inside me! Woah. I guess the good news for me is that I've only gained about 32 lbs so far, so already a third of that is just baby, not including water, placenta, etc. Woo Hoo!! : ) All 3 of us are doing great and now were just working on the finishing touches to the nursery, installing the car seats and packing my hospital bag. We're getting close and it's getting exciting... : )

5/20

Ok, so the bags are packed and in the car with the car seats, so were are ready to go! Most of the nursery is finished with the exception of blinds on the window and a door on the closet, so I'll have to take pics and put them up soon. I'm so pleased with how it turned out. : ) We got the proofs of our maternity pictures and they are SOOO beautiful that I'm struggling to pick just one for the portrait! I want them all!

On another note, I start fetal monitoring on Thursday which consists of me going to the hospital twice a week just to make sure everything is 'OK'. They basically just monitor the babies' heartrates and if I am having contractions or not and they do this supposedly because I am considered 'high risk' b/c I'm having twins. I actually am totally worried about this because 1. it's totally unnecessary. Twins or not, there has been nothing wrong with me or the babies the entire pregnancy to qualify me as high risk or needing this done. 2. They are totally just doing it for the insurance $. I got the bill from my ins co and they are getting like $1300 a pop. No wonder they want me in there twice a week. 3. THEY requested it, not my doctor. Which annoys the h3!! out of me but now my doc thinks it's a good idea so is sending me. >:( And lastly and MOST important 5. I am paranoid that now that they are looking extensively at me and the babies so often, they are gonna find SOME reason to get concerned over the babies and freak me and my doctor out causing me to get induced early or something. This is my greatest fear right now.

5/24

Sick, Sick, Sick!!!!! So we went to the movies last night and I must've caught the stomach flu from somebody in passing. (Just my luck) I've been sick all day, my whole body aches, I have a fever of 100 and I started vomiting. I finally got so dehydrated, and couldn't keep anything down (or in), that I had my hubby take me to the hospital for an IV. Well, just because I'm pregnant the ER was not allowed to help me but instead HAD to take me to L&D. It was so frustrating. I won't get into all the details or this will turn into a book, but let's just put it this way: it took 2 1/2 hours just to finally get an IV started because these guys wanted to believe so bad that I was in labor! Granted, the dehydration and vomiting was so hard on my stomach that I was having contractions (and I mean I could actually feel these). But these guys wanted me to be in labor so bad that they wouldn't even let me suck on ice chips and I was severely dehydrated! These guys were not only planning my labor but practically had me set up for C-section and I was only there for the stomach flu!!! So we ended up in the hospital for about 5 hours and needless to say I have a lot to talk to my doc about at my next visit on Tuesday.

5/27

Wow. Ok, so we went to the doc today and as it turns out I'm already 1 cm dialated and 50% effaced! Maybe these babies are gonna come sooner than we thought. : ) I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow and am 8 months pregnant, just entering my 9th month. The docs say as long as I am at least 35 weeks they are happy, (which doesn't seem like it'll be a problem). ; ) So now it's just a waiting game and I'm excited to know that everything is ok and my babies will here soon. (I'm giving them 2 weeks max.) We'll all see... : )

5/30

Lost my M.P. early this morning..... : )

6/2

Great news! Had an u/s this morning and Baby A is measuring at 37 weeks +4, weighs 7lbs 5oz and has a HR of 160. Baby B is measuring 37 weeks +5, weighs 7lbs 10oz and has a HR of 155. Baby B used to be smaller but it looks like he caught up. ; ) I can't believe how big these babies are!!! : ) I now have approx 15 lbs of baby inside me! They are both head down, in position, spine up and ready to be delivered. According to the u/s they are on track to be born on about June 18th. I'm excited. : )

6/3

Had 2 more doc appts today. I'm now 80% effaced but still only one centimeter dialated. And the babies heart rates do not fluctuate when I have contractions. I'm so excited. It's looking more and more promising that there will be no reason that I cannot have a natural delivery. I'm hoping to last another week and a half or so (until the 15th) but I am ready and excited and almost can't wait! : )

6/8

Well, still pregnant. As of Wednesday I'll be 37 weeks and the babies will be considered full term! : ) I would say "I did it!", but honestly, God did. I haven't done much but be a lazy bum! Ha ha Well, I don't mind having them anyday now except for Friday the 13th (that's when I'll probably end up having them, right?). My hubby originally wanted me to have them on the 15th, Father's Day, but now he's getting so impatient that he doesn't want to wait that long. He keeps telling me to do jumping jacks, etc to make them come out! Ha ha Well, maybe I'll start going for walks or something, but as for now I'm just gonna wait until my next doc appt on Tuesday and see how dialated and effaced I am and see what she says.

6/10

My belly is now measuring a whopping 47 weeks (how is that possible?), I hit 37 weeks tomorrow and both babies are doing great! I am now 90% effaced and 2-3 cm dialated and the doc can feel the first baby's head ! (how have they not fallen out by now, I don't know) ; ) She scheduled us an induction date of Thursday June 19th, 2008 (I'll be 38 +1 then) so if they still haven't shown us their cute cubby faces by then, then that will be their birthday. : ) They are just gonna break my water and she said they should come right out on their own. (If that's as close to "natural" as I can get, I'll take it). That's all for now, but we're getting pretty darn excited. We officially have a date! : )

6/17

Still Pregnant! I am one day away from being 38 weeks and in 2 days (max) I will have my little ones. : ) : ) : ) We both can't wait!!! Went to my last doc appts this morning (thank God) and all is well as usual (truly Thanks to God). I am still between 2-3 cm diated and the first babies head is at 0 station and the doc said my bag is bulging out (well break already!). ; ) Tomorrow is a full moon so maybe the pull on water will break my water (or however that theory works). hehe Anyway, I also want to take this opportunity to remind myself later that I am bored! Ok, when I first left work it was relaxing and exciting and we had the shower to look forward to, then setting up the nursery, etc. But now that it's been 2 months and everything is set up and done, I have absolutely nothing to do all day long while everyone else is at work and I am bored. I want to make sure I document this now because later when I am feeling overewhelmed with baby duty I don't want to allow me to lie to myself and reflect on this as the "good ole days" or the glory times. No. I'm bored and it isn't that fun and I welcome all the work and labor that these two little monkeys will bring. I love you guys and can't wait to meet you. <3

FYI-Official total weight gain: 38 lbs! : ) : ) : ) Woo Hoo! : )

6/18

Well, today's the day that it all happened. We had an appt scheduled for tomorrow to go in and get induced but God answered my prayers and we didn't make that appt. Around 2 pm we were home and Daddy was making some BBQ. Well, at 2:18pm I had this major menstral-like cramp and I told my hubby that we should start paying attn in case this becomes one of many and maybe labor is starting. To be continued..

Ok, so anyway within 20 minutes or so I was having non-stop cramping. Like one wouldn't even go away and another one would be peaking, it was horrible. So finally I said let's just go to the hospital b/c this hurts too bad and if it's not the real thing maybe they can at least give me some pain meds. Well, we got there at 3pm and my doc happened to be there already for another patient. She came in and checked me out and I was already 6cms dialated! So she broke my water and came back in about an hour (I got an epidural in that time) and when she came back to check my progress I was 9cms dialated. My doc just started cracking up saying, "I can't believe it but you're gonna deliver before my other patient and this is her 3rd kid!" So she asked me for a practivce push and my hubby could see the head coming out. So she said to stop pushing and immediately they took me into the OR to deliver. With all of 2 pushes and by 5:46 pm Shalyse Rahz was born and 18 minutes later Cameron Neoz was born at 6:04pm. So I ended up only having about a 3 hr labor from start to finish! Thanks God!!!!! : )