7 days (or less) left!

The time is almost here! I can't believe it but am so ready for it to be done at the same time. I had a growth scan last Thursday. It showed that Samantha is still smaller than Mallory, by quite a bit now. Samantha weighed in at 4 pounds 11 oz. The doctor is hoping she will get to 5 pounds by birth. Mallory weighed in at 6 pounds 1 oz. No concerns with chunk-o's weight!

I had another check-up yesterday. Just a biophysical profile to look at breathing, fluid, and heartrate. All looked fabulous. Samantha was really breathing a lot this time and it was so cool to see.

But to throw a wrench in things, my OB is NOT on call this weekend. So, she wants me to have an internal exam done tomorrow (Thursday) to check and see if anything is going on down there. As of last Thursday, I was not dilated at all. But if there is something going on down there, she might re-evaluate when the babies are born. I guess she just doesn't want me going into labor over the weekend. She wants to deliver the babies, which I really want her to do also. So we'll see what's happening on Thursday but these babies might come a bit earlier than the 30th!

The Little Soccer Player

I finally have some pictures of my little soccer player, Raegan. She still loves to play soccer and is doing very well. She still has no fear of anything and sometimes uses her arms a bit too much. (We're working on it.) Anyway, here is my soccer star!

Raegan also participated in a Trike A Thon benefiting St. Jude's Children's Medical Research. She had a great time and ended up completing 28 laps (with us asking her to stop). She raised $81 towards research.

Whooooooooooooaaaaaaaaa! Have some diapers!

I went to my diagnostician meeting today because they were having a diaper shower for me. Holy hell did I get loaded up with diapers and wipes! I really did not expect to get that much diaper loot. Everyone was so generous! Needless to say, we have NO room in our house for all of these diapers. So, we currently have all preemie and newborn diapers and all other sizes have been moved to mom's house. We'll have to get them when they are needed. Check out the loot! And this was JUST from today's shower. I also had a diaper shower on Monday at one of my schools! And all of these diapers will be filled with shit shortly :)

I spoke too soon

Not that my body still isn't amazing me but it's just not kicking ass like I had hoped! As of Friday, I am no longer a working fatty. I'm now sitting on my butt at home, per doctor's orders. My blood pressure is still a bit higher than my average, my swelling is lovely (the doctor called my puffy!), and I had some traces of protein in my urine. I really need to read more about pre-eclampsia so I know what it is. She doesn't think I have it at this point but that I might be in the early stages of developing it.

And, my made of steel cervix went down drastically this week. From 4.8cm to 3.2 (or 3.0). Entirely too much of a jump in one week.

So now I'm going to see the doctor twice a week. Next Thursday I have another growth scan to look at the babies sizes. But at this point, if the babies decide they are ready to come out, my doctor will not stop them! That's a crazy thought. I guess this means they really are coming out soon! I still hope to hold off until my scheduled c-section on April 30th. But my main goal is making it to 36 weeks, April 24th! I can do it!

So what did I do on my first day at home? Nothing. Not a damn thing. I watched TV, grabbed lunch with Aaron, napped a bit, then watched more TV. I got nothing accomplished that I wanted to do (pack a hospital bag and scrapbook). Maybe this coming week?

Then for the highlight of the day....I went grocery shopping in a SCOOTER! It was so much fun! I decided that I couldn't just give mom a list of what I needed so I scooted along and pointed at things. People stared and I really wanted to race some old people, but it was fun! I plan on doing it again next week. I highly suggest that everyone tries it!

And, here's the gut. 34 weeks 1 day. Still no stretch marks :)

24 days and counting!

Well I'm beginning to think that my cervix is playing tricks on me or the doctor doesn't have a clue what she is doing. I'd like to continue to think it's just my cervix though. This week's measurement went UP to 4.8cm. I'm perfectly content with this great measurement but it's still rather odd that my cervix continues to change in my favor. I'll take it though!

But although my cervix looked great, my blood pressure went up a bit. Definitely nothing too high though. I've been taking my BP twice a day now just to monitor it. And the bottom number (what do these numbers mean anyway) isn't anywhere near what the doctor considers dangerous. YAY!

Now to this baby condo machine (thanks for that reference Rachel) better known as my uterus. I'd have to say that my body has impressed me lately. Although I'm extremely uncomfortable and my cankles have their own cankles (thanks Erin), my body is really holding up well. Go uterus GO! I keep telling it it only has a few more weeks and then it can get a lifelong break. These days can't pass by quick enough!

Oh and for the yay part! My doctor really wants me to stop working. She said that her twin patients generally stop working at 30 weeks and here I am at 33 plus weeks and I'm still trucking along. However, I finally caved and decided that going part-time is in the best interest for my sanity and health. So starting this week, I'm going to work 3 days a week. I'll cut back to 2 days a week depending on how I feel or how much my schools piss me off. I already have some minor plans for my days off this week. Tuesday they are coming to clean carpets (much needed). Friday I might have lunch with a friend and hope to go and have the infant carseats installed and have Raegan's carseat checked (as I've become a freak about carseats lately). So, just me, the dogs, and the cats 2 days a week. It will be heavenly!

We went yesterday to have my beached whale pictures done (maternity). It was really fun. Raegan and Bryan both went and I hope we got some really good shots of the gut with the family. I'll forward the information to you via email so you can see them once they are posted.

Raegan also had her Sibling Class this weekend. She learned how to hold a baby, feed with a bottle, swaddle the baby, and change their diaper. She also got a tour of the hospital to see where the babies will be born, well for those delivering vaginally. She got to see a newborn in the nursery. She seemed to have a lot of fun and I'm hoping she mastered the diapering. I'm going to put her to work soon enough! Here are a few pictures from the class.

I hope everyone has a great week. I'll continue to update for the next 24 days and then you'll get to see pictures of Samantha and Mallory! YAY!

Quick Cervix Update

The PA measured me at 3.7 cm on Thursday. Well her first measurement was 4.5 cm so I'm pretty doubtful that her measurement was accurate. Either way, I've bought myself another week of work. I see the OB on Thursday and at that point I think we'll discuss working part-time (3 days a week) until the babies are delivered. I've come to the conclusion that slowing down is needed if I want to keep these babies in another 32 days! And I do want them to be chunky monkeys when they are born (although I don't think Mallory will even need to try). I would like some more fat on Samantha before she comes out though!

Oh, the babies were both practicing breathing at the sonogram. It was very cool to see their chests move up and down. Mallory's breathing seemed stronger but she also has a lot more tummy weight to move around.

Have a great weekend! We're headed to Raegan's soccer game in a bit.

Perintologist Appointment Update

Well, here I thought we would get some great pictures of the babies and nothing! We got 2 terrible pictures of their faces, which were barely recognizable, and a VHS tape. Yes, VHS. LOL! But let's talk about why I was at the specialist.

He did measure both babies and felt that Samantha's stomach was just fine. It is only measuring 6 days behind where it should be. Not a big deal. Anyway, she weighed in at 3 pounds 11 ounces, 37th percentile. Just fine for a little girl. Chunky Monkey Mallory is still big. She is apparently getting all the french fries and ice cream that I've been eating. Mallory weighed in at 4 pounds 3 ounces (didn't catch the percentile but it continues to be near 90th percentile I'm sure)! Both babies had plenty of fluid and both had great blood flow from the placenta to the umbilical cord. So, yay! The doctor didn't feel like there was a need to see me another time.

As for the momma, me, my cervix just continues to shorten. Blah. It was at 3.2 cm. which is a .6cm decrease in 5 days. If I haven't told you already, my OB says that 3 cm is bedrest and 2.5 is hospital rest. Which means I probably will be sent to bed soon. (insert screaming mad smiley face here).

I see the assistant on Thursday because my OB is out of town. I don't see her putting me on bedrest. But I see the OB the following Thursday and I bet that's when it will happen. As much as I don't want it to happen because things will get difficult with money and getting Raegan to and from places, I will do what I need to do to keep these girls inside for another 5 weeks.

Please keep your fingers crossed that my cervix continues to hold steady or gets longer! I'll update again on Thursday after my appointment.

And just for good measure, here is the gut. 31 weeks and 5 days. 5 weeks from tomorrow and the babies will be here!