2 Hours Traffic

Pretty darn busy for a person on bed rest......

It has been a few very hectic days (for a person on bed rest at least).

On Thursday, Bob and I went to the clinic to get the boys scanned and meet with the perinatoligist.  We were happy to find out that Baby A was measuring a little ahead of schedule at 2.5 lbs and Baby B was measuring 2.2 lbs...right ON schedule.  They looked perfect,and the peri was very positive about the babies and about the pregnancy.  He isn't that worried about the cervix at this time.  He feels that now that the uterus is so large that the babies are putting weight on my pelvis more than my cervix.  He set a goal of 32 weeks.  He feels that any time after that is bonus time!

Thursday was also interesting because while we were at the clinic. there was a 'code black.'  What is a code black?  it is a TORNADO WARNING!

They were running behind anyway, so Bob and I hunkered down in a little room with a recliner for about an hour.  When we finally got home, we drove our neighborhood and there was some pretty intense damage...some very large pine trees were completely uprooted and half of a large willow tree was strewn across the area.  Crazy.

Friday, my mom came up for a visit and helped us get ready for the baby shower here on Saturday.

Saturday, there was a family shower held for me/babies at our house:

It was perfect.  We played a couple of really fun games and had some great food.  I loved that after the presents were opened, everyone stuck around for a while and we sat around and just talked and laughed.

I, of course, received some amazing gifts and I am so grateful for everyone's generosity.

I also did a quick little digital layout celebrating "tomorrow."  I am not officially 27 weeks until then, but I thought the photo taken on Saturday was close enough!

A Completly Materialistic Post

"STUFF." I have been looking and researching for a long time, but I am just starting to get excited and we are starting to purchase things.

I actually BOUGHT a couple things yesterday.  I purchased online my baby bedding from Glenna Jean(SPA collection)  and our diaper bag from Crumpler.  I love the quality of Crumpler and Bob can carry it too! 

We are planning on purchasing our furniture at Babiesrus at the end of the month (Contempo by Babi Itallia) and I hope to buy our stroller by the first of the year (Maclaren Twin Triumph)...notice how it ever- so- cutely matches the diaper bag.  ;-D

I also just bought these from Beebee Mod at Etsy:

She is having a sale and I have been eying these up for a long long time!  I also found out I have a Paypal credit hanging around and decided this would be the perfect time to use it!  I bought Alice the Alligator and Oliver the Owl in 3-6 mo and Choo choo and Rocket Man in 6-12 mo.  By the way, she is really nice to correspond with.  If you see something you like that was sold, she will repost it for you if possible.  Just E-mail.

I am thinking there might just be some cute photos down the line.  ;-p

The Floating Babies say there are 99 days Left!

Tomorrow morning is 26 weeks, and we are getting close to that next milestone of 28 weeks and the 3rd trimester.

Bob and I had our 12th anniversary today.  We celebrated as much as possible and had a great dinner from Anton's Fish and Whiskey, one of our favorite places in the area.

I am looking forward to my shower on Saturday.  Since I am on bed rest, it is going to be here at my house.  It will be fun to feel like I am having an almost normal pregnancy for a day.

I have no pictures to share, so I thought I would post another ticker to honor reaching the under 100 status!

A little List

• U/S yesterday at 25 weeks and the boys look good
• ...so does the cervix.  It is holding around  1.8 or so.
• Found out I have a dynamic cervix...which means it changes in length and shape.  The U/S tech thought it was pretty cool to watch on the screen.
• My fundal height is measuring 33 weeks...so if I were a singleton pregnancy I would be thought to be 33 weeks along. 
• In a few weeks when I am measuring close to full term, I may start having some pre-term labor because my body will think it is time to evict its inhabitants.
• My Dr is advising against steroids until there is a sign that we are getting closer to labor.
• She is feeling optimistic about going much longer.
• She is also pretty convinced she wants me to have a C-section.  I am not so convinced yet.
• I was also informed that if I have these babies 28/29 weeks or farther out, I can have them in St. Cloud.
• Next week we are going to do a scan do check to see if the babies are growing on track.

The Moving Finger writes;

and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

These words from Fitzgerald's Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam for some reason are haunting me today.  I read these words for the first time in high school, and I found a certain simple truth in them that I still find today.  Bad things happen to good people, and unfortunately, it has nothing to do with how nice, smart, clever or faithful we are.   We can't change the past..and the beat goes on...blah blah blah.... (but Fitzgerald said it better.)

I wish I could change a line for Sarah today though....

Please light a candle for Sarah, Scott  and Ada.

Sarah is a woman on my pregnancy board.  She lost her son, Zane, in October after complications from delivery.  we were both due around the same time for our 2nd pregnancies.  She was 25 weeks, and found out yesterday, that her little girl, Ada, had passed away in utero.

It is obvious why I feel a connection to her, but the fact is she has touched the lives of many.

Sarah is a strong and lovely woman, who has helped many others through their losses on the message board I participate on.  She is an integral part of the board, and hundreds of women are sad, angry and shocked by this news.  There is so little most of us can do (she lives in England), but if you have a moment, please light a virtual or real candle for Sarah, Scott and Ada today and mediate, say a prayer or send positive vibes their way...whatever works for you.

A Fighting Chance!

I don't want my boys to have to fight their way into this world. I don't want them to have to struggle to breathe, to be fed through the stomach, to be hooked up to monitors and machines.

I want them emerge pink and chubby; screaming and kicking...appalled at being pushed from their warm and cozy thirty seven week (plus) home.

So,  I don't want them to have to flight, but I am content tonight knowing that they have the CHANCE to fight if needed.  No one wants to have a baby at 24 weeks...no one wants a micropreemie and all the possibilities of death. pain and disability that can be associated with being born too early, but there is some peace knowing that if my body cannot provide them a home anymore, they may be able to have a chance....a chance!!!!

I can't say if this is normal for all pregnant moms, but I think it is a unique perspective of those of us with previous losses and/or high risk pregnancies.  With every little milestone, the fear doesn't go away, but our hope blooms just a little bit more.

So, I will do my part.  I will continue to try and keep my little guys safe as long as I can, but I was so happy that I got to sing to them today:  Happy 24 weeks to you, happy 24 weeks to you, happy 24 weeks to you both, happy 24 weeks to you!!!!!!!!!!! (yeah, it was a little awkward sounding. )  :-D

My "spot"

The Dr's appointment on Thursday went fine.  My cervix is a little shorter, but not as short as it was before, and everything else has maintained, so I am still on bed rest at home.  Of course, I always want to hear things look better, but I am just relieved and grateful that I am basically "maintaining."  If I can continue on this path, I "may" just be able to avoid the hospital.

I also found out I have (more than likely) SPD.  I have had quite a bit of pain on my left side of the pelvis.  It really hurts when I walk and roll over in bed.  It doesn't normally hurt when I am reclining, so that is the good news.

On Thursday, I was fitted with a maternity belt that will help to keep some weight off from my pelvis and it will also hopefully help to avoid future back pain (that I know is coming.)  Even without the SPD, many multiple moms are fitted with these.

I just had to share this photo of Jasmine. 

This is where I spend a good portion of the day, on my bed with pillows, remote and my writing/dining table.  Jasmine likes to take over when I leave...she likes it when it is nice and warm.  I included a close up so you can see her in all her "glory."  She has no modesty and a whole lot of entitlement issues. 

Gotta love her though!