Monday, November 28, 2016

37 Weeks Pregnant

My babies are officially considered full term as of today! While I am so happy to have made it this far, I am feeling so, so ready to meet my babies and not be pregnant anymore. I thought the last few weeks of being pregnant with Asher were difficult but I really had no idea. Carrying two full sized babies inside me is starting to feel almost unbearable. 

My doctor has said that as long as everything continues to look good on my weekly NSTs, as well as with my blood pressure, she is willing to let me wait it out to go into labor on my own. Typically, doctors recommend induction (or even more commonly, c-sections) with twin pregnancies, especially once they hit about 38 weeks. I'm sure induction will be mentioned at my 38 week appointment but I'm still hopeful that my babies will come on their own time. 


Babies at 37 Weeks 

At 37 weeks, the babies are most likely around 6.5 pounds each and up to 22 inches long! Asher was 20.5 inches long when he was born, so I'm guessing they will be a similar length. Apparently, they are the size of honeydew melons so just picture having two of those shoved into your belly with no room to spare and that's about where I'm at.  I'm still waiting to feel the "lightening" that happens at the end of a singleton pregnancy, when the baby drops into the birth canal. Somehow I don't think this happens when you're pregnant with twins because I haven't dropped at all and can barely breathe due to the pressure on my lungs and constant kicking of my ribs. 


Weight Gain

As of my appointment last week, I was up 3 pounds from the week before. I'm at the point where I'm far more concerned about water retention than actual weight gain. I swelled up a lot after I delivered Asher, mostly I think because of the pitocin they gave me after Asher was born (which apparently is extremely common with twin births as well.) At this point, I'm expecting that I'm going to look like a human water balloon. Should make for some interesting photos. We actually have a photographer lined up to do a Fresh 48 session, meaning she will get some photos of the babies after their births, but while we are still in the hospital! 


Eating

My stomach is so squished that eating anything kind of stinks. Plus everything gives me heartburn. I am having no cravings these days and instead am just daydreaming about what I'll eat once I feel relatively normal again. I was starving when I was breastfeeding Asher, so I can just imagine how I'll be feeling nursing two babies instead of one! 


Feeling

In the last few days, my body has been sending signals that I need to slow way, way down and take it even easier than I had been previously. I've been swelling up to the point where it's kind of scary and it hasn't been going down. Even just sitting up, rather than lying down, causes my feet, ankles, and legs to swell almost instantly. 

I'm also just exhausted and feel way too tired to do any of my normal activities. Poor Asher has watched a Christmas movie two days in a row, which I feel guilty about but he is completely thrilled. I'm hoping this exhaustion is a sign of labor and that the babies will be making their grand entrance sometime in the near future. 


Sleeping

I basically spend the night in a half awake/half asleep dream-like state. I stress about things at 3am that seem somewhat silly in the light of day, like worrying that I won't remember how to care for a newborn, or wondering how I will manage to take all three kids to the doctor at once. 


Something to Be Happy About

We managed to go cut down our tree AND get our house decorated for Christmas this weekend. This is a relief because I was worried that if the babies arrived before we got our Christmas tree, it might not happen. Asher is so excited for Christmas this year and I think it's the first time that he really understands the holiday. We have read 'The Night Before Christmas" several times a week for the past month or so. He was so adorable decorating the Christmas tree with his special ornaments and so far hasn't messed with the tree much (fingers crossed that it stays that way.) 

Asher also met Santa for the first time! It was so cute because despite his excitement of meeting Santa, he refused to sit on Santa's lap and clung to Josh's leg during the whole interaction. He did show Santa his stuffed Santa Claus that he brought from home with him. Later, he proudly told another little girl, "I talked to Santa!" 

Here are some photos from our holiday themed family weekend...










Something to Look Forward to


I can't stop thinking that no matter what, in just a few short weeks, my babies will be here! As rough as the end of this pregnancy has been, this is what has been keeping me going. Soon the discomforts of a twin pregnancy will be a distant memory and I'll be living life as the mama of three boys! 

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

36 Weeks Pregnant

Did you know the average twin pregnancy lasts 35 weeks? According to the March of Dimes, more than 60% of twin births occur before 37 weeks. I am so happy to have made it this far in my pregnancy and am really hopeful that these babies stay put for at least one more week so they won't be considered pre-term. My doctor keeps telling me that the babies could come any time, so I'm trying to take it easy as much as possible to increase my chances of having full term babies. 



Babies at 36 Weeks 

I had an ultrasound at my appointment last week (probably my last one before the babies come!) and they were both measuring over 5 and a half pounds! They are gaining about a half a pound a week each at this point, so they are probably around 6 pounds now. 


Weight Gain

Last week at my appointment, I had lost a pound despite being incredibly swollen. It's unfortunate because the long drive to my doctor's office usually means I'm swollen by the time I get into see my doctor just from sitting in the car! At this point, I know the babies are growing at a good pace and that water retention is common with twins, so I'm trying not to focus so much on the number on the scale. I'm healthy and my babies are healthy; that's what matters most! 


Eating

I'm still finding that I'm hungriest around lunchtime. I try to just go with it and eat whatever sounds good to me, while trying to stay healthy. By late afternoon and evening, my heartburn is so unbearable that I really don't want to eat anything. The list of foods I have to stay away from is growing daily but currently includes red sauce, red meat, and anything spicy or rich/buttery. 


Feeling

I think I'm officially at my limit physically with this pregnancy. I am just so incredibly uncomfortable all the time. My back is killing me, making it difficult to stand, sit, even lie down comfortably. I can't even find a way to relax in the bathtub or my bed. I'm trying to stay positive because I really am so happy I made it to 36 weeks but I really just can't wait to hold my babies and not be pregnant anymore. 


Sleeping

I'm barely sleeping these days between the back pain, heartburn, and swelling that causes my feet and hands to go numb all the time. I have to roll from side to side often because I get crampy from the weight of the babies. Plus I get out of bed almost every hour. 


Something to Be Happy About

We got SO much snow over the past few days! We have over 30 inches and it's really adorable how excited Asher is to go out and play in it. He and Josh have been having so much fun shoveling, sledding, and building a snowman. The snow is now officially too high for Asher to walk around in, but he's still enjoying himself. The cold doesn't seem to bother him one bit! 






Something to Look Forward to


As long as the babies don't come in the next few days, we are planning on getting our Christmas tree on Friday! It's been a tradition every year that we have lived together in New York that we go to a certain Christmas tree farm (one where Josh went as a child) to cut down our tree. Though it is kind of early to get it right after Thanksgiving, we figure we might as well do it while we can! I am so looking forward to it and I know Asher is going to love the entire experience. 

Monday, November 14, 2016

35 Weeks Pregnant

Just for comparison's sake, at 35 weeks pregnant with Asher, I was still taking the dog on nightly 3+ mile walks. This time around, I feel like I deserve a trophy when I walk downstairs to the basement to do a load of laundry. The end of the third trimester with twins is no joke.




Babies at 35 Weeks 

I'll know more after my ultrasound at my doctor's appointment tomorrow, but these babies are getting big. I know this because my belly is so huge and heavy that it takes my breath away at times. No wonder, because my apps estimate that the babies are around 5.5 pounds each. The good news is that with every passing week, the babies are developing more and more and preparing for life outside the womb. As of this week, their kidneys are completely developed and their livers are functional. 


Weight Gain

I don't have anything to note here as I haven't had my doctor's appointment yet this week. I can update this section later in the week.


Eating

I feel really hungry mid-day and then hardly hungry at dinner time most evenings. Between chasing after Asher and my total exhaustion, I don't snack between meals, so I try to make myself eat dinner every night even though I don't always feel like it. With how much the babies are growing these days, I'm trying to focus on getting more protein into my diet. I've been eating a lot of cheese and yogurt these days.


Feeling

I swear, every day gets harder as these babies get bigger. Standing or even sitting up for extended periods makes my back ache and my legs/feet swell. Getting up off the floor feels nearly impossible at times. I just want to sleep all day every day, which unfortunately isn't an option for me.


Sleeping

I'm starting to have dreams about the babies coming. I'm not sure if this is a sign or just occurring because I'm constantly thinking about it when I'm not sleeping. A lot of my dreams center around my anxiety about induction and c-sections, basically all of the unknowns associated with the twins' birth that could possibly be different this time around.


Something to Be Happy About

We got some art hung on the walls in the nursery this weekend, including some beautiful prints that were a gift from my sister, Sarah! I'm still waiting on an ottoman to arrive for in front of the nursing chair but things are really starting to come together. Here is a sneak peek...





Something to Look Forward to

I am so looking forward to hitting the 36 week mark in my pregnancy, my next goal for my babies! I am at the point where every day that passes where I am still pregnant with two healthy, growing baby boys feels like a triumph.



Thursday, November 10, 2016

34 Weeks Pregnant

As evidenced by my photo this week (complete with giant belly, Josh's sweatshirt, slippers, and excessive swelling) being 34 weeks pregnant with twins is not easy. Every day that goes by, I tell myself that I am one day closer to meeting and holding my babies. It's so wonderful knowing they will be here soon. As uncomfortable as I am feeling, I don't want them to come until they are good and ready.




Babies at 34 Weeks 

According to my apps, the babies are officially the size of pineapples. Each is between 19-22 inches long and approximately 5 pounds. At 34 weeks, I am so relieved to have made it to my first goal for this pregnancy. The babies' lungs are nearing maturity, which is excellent news! My next goal is to make it to 36 weeks, as I was informed on my hospital tour that babies born before this point are required to spend time in the NICU no matter what. Here's to hoping for at least two more weeks...


Weight Gain

I've mentioned a few times that I knew I had been retaining a lot of water lately but it wasn't until this week that it really showed on the scale at the doctor. Last week I started swelling pretty severely. My feet, legs, hands, and face are all swollen and the more active that I am the worse it seems to be. On Friday, I was starting to get concerned (my feet were starting to look like purple bricks) so I went down to Rite Aid to check my blood pressure. My BP continues to be excellent, so despite the discomfort of all the swelling (not to mention the difficulty of seeing the scale change pretty dramatically in just a week), my doctor isn't overly concerned. She did mention that this could be my body's way of preparing me for labor.


Eating

I haven't had any new cravings, and everything gives me heartburn to the point where I just don't want to eat anything (don't worry, I still eat; I have to help these babies grow!) Plus I'm so exhausted by late afternoon that cooking is really starting to feel like a chore when it's typically something I enjoy.


Feeling

I'm really not sure if I've ever been this tired in my life, including how exhausted I was in those first few weeks after Asher was born. Being pregnant with twins is truly a unique type of exhaustion that affects your entire body head to toe.

Honestly my swelling is my biggest complaint this week because it's making it hard to do anything. Even just something as simple as a trip to the grocery store results in my feet and legs swelling up to the point where I can barely walk. My hands have carpal tunnel from all the excess water. I experienced some swelling when I was pregnant with Asher but never to this extent. I had no idea how awful it could be!


Sleeping

Sleep has been a challenge lately but it is to be expected at the end of pregnancy. It's difficult to get comfortable, especially with two babies in my body. I constantly have to roll from side to side because I start to cramp and I'm getting up about every hour to go to the bathroom.


Something to Be Happy About

Josh and I met our doula last week and we are really excited to have an extra support person and advocate, especially with all of the unknowns associated with a twin birth. We'd been going back and forth about using a doula this time and were apprehensive because of the cost, as well as the increased risk of cesarean this time around.

Through the multiples group that I joined, I heard of a doula who is one birth away from finishing her certification and looking to attend a vaginal twin birth. I immediately jumped on this opportunity and luckily, we ended up being a good fit. She seems very knowledgeable and I'm certain she will be a calming presence while I'm in labor.

The catch is that she had a few scheduled vacations during the last few weeks of my pregnancy, so I'm crossing my fingers that she will be available when I go into labor. She was up front about this and Josh and I decided to move forward with her, even though we are taking the risk that she may be out of town when the babies are born.


Something to Look Forward to

Lately everything has been so challenging for me because of my constant swelling that I am really just looking forward to feeling like myself again, even though I realize this will take a while. I miss running after Asher, scooping him up into my arms when he asks me to hold him, going on long walks or hikes with my family, and so much more. I know being a mom of three is going to be demanding, but I look forward to not having the physical limitations that come along with being pregnant with twins.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

33 Weeks Pregnant

My doctor keeps telling me my minimum goal is 34 weeks, so I'm pretty happy that I'm almost there! I'm now having weekly doctor's appointments with non-stress tests and am still having monthly sonograms as well. The NSTs have been going pretty well. Because of the positioning of the babies and the fact that they are both boys, it's sometimes hard for them to distinguish between the two heartbeats but overall everything has looked great with the babies so far.

This week, my doctor also noted that I was having contractions during my NST, which I wasn't too surprised to hear. Lately I have been having contractions that are more intense than Braxton Hicks but still pretty mild in general. They have still been irregular and not very painful, so my doctor didn't seem overly concerned.




Babies at 33 Weeks 

The babies are estimated to be about the size of honeydew melons this week, at approximately 19 inches long and 4.5 pounds each. My apps informed me that over the next four weeks, the babies will each put on another half a pound per week. This is great news because the bigger the babies are, the better chance they will have at being healthy and avoiding NICU time. But my belly feels so tight and stretched to the limit already, so I really can't imagine how it's going to feel as they get bigger and bigger. 


Weight Gain

I gained two pounds last week, which puts my total weight gain at 36 pounds. I'm inching closer and closer to the weight I was at when I had Asher. The nurses keep reassuring me that I have two babies in there and I will simply gain more weight this time. Still, I wish they just wrote down the number and I didn't have to see it every week, yikes!

I'm retaining a lot of water these days. My legs and feet feel incredibly swollen by the end of the day each day, especially if I am on my feet a lot. I've been nervous about pre-eclampsia but my blood pressure continues to look good, so hopefully it's just water retention.


Eating

My heartburn has been so bad that it makes me not want to eat dinner. Even with taking Zantac and Tums, I'm miserable by the end of the day. For a while it seemed like acidic foods like tomato sauce or spicy meals were the triggers, but lately I feel like everything is giving me heartburn no matter what.

New cravings this week include Halloween candy (of course) and homemade macaroni and cheese.


Feeling

I pretty much just feel like I'm eight months pregnant with twins. For a while this pregnancy felt no different, if not easier, than my pregnancy with Asher. Now, I can't even go trick or treating with my son because I am having too many contractions after walking a block and a half. My belly is huge, which makes everything more difficult, plus I'm completely exhausted. I feel bad for poor Asher, who will come up to me when I am resting on the couch and sweetly ask me, "Mama not feeling well?"


Sleeping

Sleep is overrated, right? I get up every few hours no matter what and have difficulty getting comfortable. I've also been woken up by cramping and contractions several times this week.


Something to Be Happy About

Asher was so adorable trick or treating in his fire truck costume this week. It was the first year that he really understood Halloween and got into wearing a costume and being part of the festivities. Between school, his play group, and Halloween night, he got a lot of wear out of his fire truck costume.





He also adored carving pumpkins with Josh and was especially interested in removing the pumpkin guts by hand.






Something to Look Forward to

I am really looking being able to put on my own shoes again in the near future. And just fit into my shoes in general. I hit an all-time low this week when I couldn't even get my Toms on my fat feet. Josh lovingly referred to my pinky toes as Vienna sausages today. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be that pregnant woman wearing flip flops in December in upstate New York.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

32 Weeks Pregnant

Wow, 32 weeks; entering my 8th month of pregnancy! It's starting to feel real that we are going to have two babies soon, and also a little scary. Asher is so far from a newborn that it's hard to remember everything from that stage. I'm sure it will all come back once they are here.

We are starting to refer to the babies by their names, which makes everything seem more real. We are saving the surprise for everyone else once the babies are born, but it's so darn adorable listening to Asher whisper the babies names into my belly.





Babies at 32 Weeks 

Most of the apps this week compare the babies to obscure fruits and vegetables that I can't quite picture (jicama anyone?) As of my appointment a week ago, the babies were measuring at about 4 pounds each. Everything looked good in my ultrasound last week and there was only a 2% size difference between the babies, which is great! At my appointment this week, I will start having non-stress tests, which consists of hooking me up to fetal monitors that track the babies heart rates, as well as any contractions that I have, over a period of time. 


Weight Gain

As of my appointment last week, I had gained 3 pounds, which puts me at 34 pounds gained total. I'm still feeling pretty swollen these days, particularly in my legs and feet, so I'm trying to drink a lot of water.


Eating

Overall, I'm not feeling as ravenous as I thought I would being 8 months pregnant with twins. I'm still really craving apples and peanut butter, as well as lime flavored Greek yogurt. Mostly I just want a turkey sub from Wegmans, but I have been staying away from deli meat as is usually recommended during pregnancy. This is definitely the first thing I want to eat after having the babies.


Feeling

My belly is so incredibly heavy. If the ultrasound technician is correct in her estimations, I am carrying around as much, if not more, baby than I was when I gave birth to Asher. So, from here on out it really is uncharted territory. I'm having a lot of the aches and pains that I had at the very end of my last pregnancy. It's hard to imagine how I'll be feeling if I'm still pregnant in six weeks!


Sleeping

I'll sleep again eventually right?


Something to Be Happy About

We bought our minivan this weekend and Asher thinks it's the coolest thing ever. We went to a family party over the weekend and the first thing that Asher told everyone upon arriving was, "I have a minivan!" I'm just relieved that it's one less thing I have to worry about when the babies arrive; I can now officially fit all three carseats in my car at once.




Something to Look Forward to

Last weekend ended up being a bust in terms of completing our final preparations for the babies due to a flooded basement. So this weekend I am looking forward to doing that, along with attending Asher's playgroup's Halloween fundraiser on Saturday. Is there anything cuter than a bunch of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers wearing costumes? I think not.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

31 Weeks Pregnant

I'm getting to the point in my pregnancy where it's starting to get really difficult just to function semi-normally. I'm definitely the size that I was at full term with Asher. To stay positive, I keep telling myself that with every week that I keep these babies in my belly, it means more time that they spend developing and less time in the NICU.

I'm starting to think about how Asher will transition to his new role as the big brother when the babies arrive. I know he is going to be so sweet with them but I worry about how he will feel about my attention being split between the babies and him. I think he senses the changes that are coming and has started regressing with potty training in addition to his difficulties sleeping. Anyone have any tips about how to make this transition a little easier on him?




Babies at 31 Weeks 

I'll know more after my appointment this week, but my apps estimate the babies to be the size of coconuts, approximately 3.3 pounds and 18 inches long. Apparently the babies are starting to develop more fat and their eyes can now react to light. 


Weight Gain

My doctor said to look out for swelling that doesn't go down when I rest and my feet are elevated, which is what I'm starting to notice. I'm certain that this will be reflected in my weight gain this week. I'm already looking forward to the days where the numbers on the scale will go down instead of up every week. I remember at the end of my pregnancy with Asher, when I was retaining a lot of water, I gained 7 pounds in one week. I'm praying that this doesn't happen again.


Eating

My latest craving/pregnant obsession is apples. Asher and I picked out a big bag of organic apples at the grocery store and have been eating them every day since. I've really been digging apples with peanut butter but also like to just eat them plain.

I've been feeling less like cooking lately so my meals have been really simple. Luckily I got the new Skinnytaste cookbook, which is perfect timing because it consists of slow cooker meals and 30 minute meals. I love Gina's recipes because they are so easy, but always flavorful and healthy. I'm looking forward to trying out some new recipes this week!


Feeling

My belly is starting to feel really heavy, which makes even every day activities like grocery shopping extremely tiring. Rolling over in bed is nearly impossible. I really can't imagine how I will feel in a couple weeks when the babies are even bigger! I feel very fortunate to not be working right now. Even though my days with Asher are long, I have the ability to sit down when (*if) he naps. I remember how hard it got to be on my feet every day when I was still teaching and pregnant with Asher. Not sure I could do it again this time around with twins!


Sleeping

Very little sleeping is happening these days. This section is starting to feel repetitive and slightly depressing. I need a nap.


Something to Be Happy About

We put down a deposit on a van and are going to pick it up next weekend. Seriously, I never thought I would be so happy to buy a minivan. I was actually one of those people who insisted I would drive a large SUV and never have a van but look how things have changed! I mean, the sliding doors, dvd player, seats that fold into the floor. What is there for a mom of three NOT to love? 


Something to Look Forward to

We are hoping to finish up with the nursery this weekend. My mom is here visiting and brought us a dresser and I ordered a rug, which should be here Friday. I have been look forward to putting away all of the baby clothes that I have washed and folded. Even more exciting is that we might actually reach my goal of having everything ready for the babies by 32 weeks!

Monday, October 10, 2016

30 Weeks Pregnant

Wait... wasn't I just 30 weeks pregnant with Asher? Maybe it's because 30 weeks was one of the milestones that we documented during my last pregnancy, but I clearly remember taking the photo on the left in our backyard in Florida like it was yesterday. It's funny for me to see the side by side comparison. I was carrying much higher with Asher than I am with the twins!



Despite all of the preparation we have been doing around the house, it remains hard to believe that we are getting so close to the arrival of the twins. Still no update on the car situation, which is a little stressful. I never thought I'd be so desperate to get a minivan!


Babies at 30 Weeks 

The babies are the size of cantaloupes, each at approximately 3.1 pounds and 17 inches long. No wonder my sense of balance is so out of whack. According to my apps, one of the babies may be getting ready to lower himself down into the birth canal. My doctor did a quick ultrasound at my appointment last week and this is definitely what we saw! Baby A's head is very low, and baby B is just above him, which is great news.

I continually get really stressed out about the fact that I seem to be feeling Baby A move much more often than I feel Baby B. My doctor has assured me that both babies have strong heartbeats and it is rather common for some women to feel more movement from one twin. Despite hearing this, I still think about it a lot and can't help but worry. Two babies = twice the worry already.




Weight Gain

I had gained another 4 pounds as of my last appointment, which puts me at 31 pounds gained as of 30 weeks. I try not to think about it too much, as my doctor is perfectly happy with my weight gain, but it's hard not to stress about the numbers I see on the scale. (Numbers, I should add, that are getting pretty close to what I was at when I gave birth to Asher.) I just keep reminding myself that breastfeeding two babies will help me lose the extra weight that isn't babies, fluid, or placentas. For those who aren't aware, breastfeeding twins burns on average an extra 1000 calories a day!


Eating

My appetite has been good this week and I'm not having as much trouble breathing after eating meals, which may mean that at least one of the babies has dropped into a lower position, taking the pressure off my stomach. (Judging by this week's photo, I'd say this is definitely true!) I'm not ravenously hungry but I've been eating three meals a day. I've been craving spicy foods, especially anything with sriracha, which is unfortunate because I end up with such bad heartburn all the time.


Feeling

I have been feeling so swollen these days. And no, I don't mean swole like my students used to say. What I mean is my feet look like they couldn't possibly fit into regular shoes anymore and my ankles are pretty much non-existent.

Oh and I'm exhausted, my back hurts, and I have terrible heartburn. Yep, I'd say that pretty much covers how I feel 24/7 right now. I'm sure this is all part of the territory when it comes to a twin pregnancy but I am so. over. it. Sorry babies.


Sleeping

Poor Asher has another ear infection so once again, this has been affecting my sleep as well. We got more antibiotics for him, so hopefully he will start feeling (and sleeping) better soon. I have also started having weird dreams about the babies, specifically dreams in which I've forgotten about one of them. I'm no professional dream interpreter but I'm sure it has to do with my anxiety about taking care of two babies at once.


Something to Be Happy About

We attended an event over the weekend for Babywearing International of CNY and got some tips on tandem wrapping the twins. It was super helpful and will hopefully make us a little more confident wearing both of the babies from the start. Josh actually won a wrap while we were there, which is really exciting. While we have a lot of carriers, I only had one woven, non-stretchy, wrap prior to this and I wasn't a huge fan of it. The one that Josh won is really beautiful and I think we will end up using it quite a bit!




Something to Look Forward to

My mom is coming to visit next week and Asher can't wait to see his Nana. Every day he asks me, "Is it Sunday? Is Nana coming today?" I know he is looking forward to some bonding time with her.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

29 Weeks Pregnant

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I swear it's starting to feel like each week goes faster than the last. After a lot of research and polling moms in the multiples group that I joined, 32 weeks has long been my goal to have everything "done" when it comes to the babies. As this date approaches fast, I'm starting to get very nervous that this won't actually happen. I'll even go as far to say that I'm pretty sure it won't all be completed by this date. I have an ongoing list of baby to do items that I feel like we make progress on but there never seems to be enough time. I just keep trying to tell myself that it will all get done eventually and the twins are going to stay put for at least 9 more weeks...




Babies at 29 Weeks 

According to my apps, the babies are now approximately 17 inches long and 2.9 pounds each. Asher was 20.5 inches long at birth, so it's crazy to me that they are almost as long as they will be when they are born. They will still more than double in weight over the next 9+/- weeks. (Asher was 8 pounds 5 ounces!) Everyone always talks about how twins are smaller but my doctor told me that's just because twins often come early. I'm mentally preparing myself for two more big babies; they are measuring ahead after all!


Weight Gain

I've reached the point in my pregnancy where I'm regretting this section of my weekly blog posts. Seriously though, stepping on a scale is outright depressing when you are having ONE baby, let alone two. I have a feeling that the number on the scale will reflect some water retention this week. I've been feeling swollen every day, pretty much everywhere but especially my legs and feet.


Eating

My appetite is back, which is good. I'm still trying to focus on eating as healthy as possible and cooking at home but I have to admit I'm getting tired. Sometimes cooking and cleaning up just seems like such a huge effort. I'm still keeping up with it, but I'm wondering how long I'll actually be able to do it. I currently have 17 meals stocked in the deep freezer and I've already found myself considering using them when I'm exhausted. It's better than ordering pizza (again) right? The frozen meals are supposed to be for when the babies get here, so I'm hoping I'll be able to make it through the next two months without using them. We'll see!


Feeling

It's funny how true the second semester energy versus third trimester exhaustion theories have been so true for me in both of my pregnancies. I more or less felt great right up until about 28 weeks and then I hit a wall. This weekend, we were in the car on the way to AppleFest in Ithaca and I was feeling so terrible that we decided to just come home instead. Josh kept Asher occupied all afternoon so I could take a nap on the couch. Not very exciting, but I'm learning that especially with a twin pregnancy, it's important to listen to my body.

I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able have the experience growing not one, but two babies. But that being said, I feel enormous. My back hurts. My feet hurt. I'm just ready to be able to tie my shoes and pick up my two year old. I am really looking forward to holding my babies in my arms and feeling like myself again.


Sleeping

I still can't decide if my trouble sleeping is pregnancy related or due to Asher's difficulty sleeping. Multiple times this week, I've spent hours in the middle of the night lying on Asher's bedroom floor rubbing his chest or back so he will go back to sleep. The poor kid has a cough again and his molars still are cutting through, so he's not sleeping for more than a few hours without waking. This means, of course, that Josh and I aren't getting much sleep either.


Something to Be Happy About

The first few times he went to school, Asher was absolutely fine with it. But in the second week, he decided that he would rather be at home with his mama and daddy. While we are still dealing with some separation anxiety issues with Asher, I think he's finally starting to make a little bit of progress. He didn't cry or seem anxious during breakfast this week and was happy that he got to bring his favorite stuffed bunny, Hoppity, to school with him. When Josh and I dropped him off in his classroom, he did cry a bit, but his teacher told me later that he calmed down much faster than he had previously. When I picked him up, he told me he didn't want to go home because he wanted to play more! I'm hoping it continues to get easier for him and that he starts to enjoy school more and more as time goes on.




Something to Look Forward to

This weekend, Josh and I are going to an event for International Babywearing Week and hopefully will learn some tandem wrapping skills! I loved babywearing Asher, pretty much up until my doctor told me I had to stop carrying him during this pregnancy. It became a lot more infrequent over time but when Asher was a baby, we had many days where babywearing was the only way to calm him. I am so looking forward to learning to tandem wear the twins.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

28 Weeks Pregnant

Well hello there, third trimester! Time is seriously moving too fast. How am I already 28 weeks pregnant? As of my appointment last week, Baby A was measuring 2 pounds 15 ounces and Baby B was 2 pounds 10 ounces. There is approximately a 10% difference in size between the two but because A has been consistently measuring larger from the start, my doctor assured me there is nothing to worry about. Ultrasound size approximations are notoriously unreliable anyway.

All of a sudden I'm feeling so much more movement from the babies than I ever did before. Knowing their positions thanks to the ultrasound means that I can somewhat differentiate between which baby I am feeling. The best news that I got at my appointment last week was that the babies are both head down. Obviously this doesn't mean that they will necessarily stay in this position but I was still relieved to have Baby B move from his transverse position into something more preferable for delivery.




Babies at 28 Weeks 

Apparently the babies are the size of coconuts this week! My apps all estimate the babies at around 15 inches long and 2.5 pounds, so the measurements taken at my appointment last week definitely put both A and B ahead in terms of size. This is excellent news, especially for twins. I also hit a significant viability milestone at 28 weeks. Babies born at 28 weeks still need help breathing but their lungs have matured to the point where their survival chances are significantly better.


Weight Gain

I had gained another 4 pounds as of my last appointment. My babies were looking great on the ultrasound so I am happy with this number, as was my doctor. This puts me at about 27 pounds weight gain so far this pregnancy, which I am perfectly fine with as I enter my third trimester!


Eating


I haven't had any major cravings or even been all that hungry this week. As the babies grow bigger, my stomach feels smaller. When I eat large meals, I end up regretting it because I feel like I can't breathe. At some point, the babies will "drop," which should provide some relief.



Feeling

I'm officially starting to swell quite a bit and experience the back pain that I knew was inevitable. I still feel pretty well overall but I can feel my energy level starting to fade more and more. Every day tasks are getting harder because of the Braxton Hicks contractions that are pretty much non-stop when I'm not sitting or lying down. I've been experiencing them since about 16 weeks pregnant, which my doctor says is common with twins, but they are much more intense lately.


Sleeping

Sleep? What's that? Josh and I originally thought Asher's difficulty sleeping lately was due to his schedule changes but I noticed his two year molars coming in when I was brushing his teeth the other night. Teething explains his restless behavior at bedtime, as well as his frequent waking during the night. Ibuprofen helps a little bit but he's back to waking up a minimum of 2-3 times a night and usually crawls in bed with us around 6am. It's been rough to say the least, but at least it's preparing us for being up all night with newborns again soon.


Something to Be Happy About


It finally feels like fall in Central New York! We celebrated last weekend by taking Asher to a local pumpkin farm. Asher had so much fun picking out pumpkins, taking a tractor ride, petting the animals, and checking out the hay maze. This is our second year in a row taking him there and I'm thinking we will have to make it an annual tradition.










Something to Look Forward to

We are knocking to do items off our list left and right. Josh has been awesome about making it a priority on the weekends to get ready for the babies and I'm finally feeling like we are getting there. The nursery is almost complete and I am so excited to share photos of it soon!

I'm also pretty sure that we are close to deciding on names for our babies! It has been really difficult narrowing down two names that we love equally, sound good together, and go with our last name. We have gone back and forth a bunch but I *think* we may have a final decision soon. :)

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

27 Weeks Pregnant

This is my last week of my second trimester, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I know this is probably a normal feeling, but sometimes I feel sad that my time with just Asher is coming to a close. It feels like the end of a big chapter of my life! I have loved staying home with Asher and being here for all of the nap time stories, snuggles, and big hugs. I love watching Asher grow more everyday. It is strange knowing that our weekdays will no longer just be the two of us when the twins are born. I know Asher is going to be an amazing big brother but I can't help but feel emotional about all of the changes to come.




Babies at 27 Weeks 

The babies are now approximately 15 inches long and over 2.2 pounds each! My various pregnancy apps compare the babies this week to acorn squash, cauliflower, or a bunch of bananas. The babies are currently swallowing amniotic fluid as practice for breathing on the outside, which is pretty cool to think about!

I'm feeling quite a bit of movement all day, but it's hard or me to distinguish between the babies still. I get an ultrasound on Thursday, my first in over a month, and I'm really looking forward to understanding more about their positioning. At times my belly looks really funny because of the two babies in there. It will be visibly lumpy and when I feel around, I can feel larger baby body parts like their heads or bums.


Weight Gain

I won't know until Thursday, but I don't think I'm having any issues gaining weight. I just want to be sure I'm not retaining too much water. I haven't felt too swollen so far this week but it really depends on my activity level and the temperature outside. I mean, why is it still 80 degrees in September?! I am really ready for some cooler fall weather.


Eating

I think my biggest craving lately is grapes. Last week alone, I went through two of the containers of the organic red and green grapes from Wegmans. I did have a little help from Asher but I really couldn't get enough of them! I haven't noticed any other major cravings, though I did come home from the grocery store with some very random purchases today that were definitely not on the grocery list, which I usually stick to pretty closely so I can save time. (Apparently I really needed lime flavored greek yogurt and sea salt dark chocolate caramels too!) 

I am still cooking up a storm lately, which makes me very happy as I see my deep freezer filling up with meals as the weeks go by. Last week, I visited a friend who just had a new baby and made two batches of Skinny Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. There was no way Josh and Asher would let me get away with only making them for someone else!


Feeling

I'm still feeling pretty well overall but carrying Asher is becoming difficult for me. I'm not really supposed to be picking him up but there are times when it's hard for me to avoid. Earlier this week, he fell asleep on the way home from the grocery store - a four minute drive - and completely refused to wake up to come inside. I carried him up to his bedroom, but I struggled quite a bit getting up the stairs. Afterward my stomach was as hard as a rock thanks to Braxton Hicks contractions, which start up instantly when I do anything physically demanding. I think it's time to admit my limitations now that my third trimester is looming.

My heartburn has been a bit better this week and my SPD has still not returned. I feel tired and heavy but also surprised at how well I'm still getting around! My gestational diabetes test will occur at my appointment this week. I'm a little nervous because GD is more common with twin/multiple pregnancies and can cause health problems for both mom and babies.


Sleeping

Sleep has been challenging this week but not because of my pregnancy. Asher has been sleeping terribly I think in part due to all of the changes he has been experiencing lately. He recently started up with school two days a week, plus Moms and Kids on Wednesdays, and on top of that, he has also not been feeling very well. Several nights last week he didn't fall asleep until hours after his normal bedtime. It's been rough! Hopefully he starts sleeping well again soon.


Something to Be Happy About

I started my childbirth refresher class this week. I say "I" and not "we" because Josh was in Connecticut so unfortunately, I had to go alone. Despite being awkward and a bit lonely because I was partner-less, it was so nice to spend time thinking about the babies and their impending birth. I especially enjoyed the final portion of the class concentrating on relaxation, breathing, and visualization. It was so calming to be able to spend time focusing on the twins without any outside distractions. It made me realize that I need to take time to do this as often as I can.


Something to Look Forward to


Next week, the childbirth class will continue, as well as a multiples class at the hospital. I'm so interested to find out what this class will entail. I'm also looking forward to meeting some other local moms who are pregnant with twins!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

26 Weeks Pregnant

All of a sudden I feel SUPER pregnant. When I drop something on the floor, I evaluate how important it is that I actually pick it up. Sometimes I will try to talk Asher into picking it up for me (usually unsuccessfully.) They say with twins you are about two months ahead belly-wise so I'm looking at least 34 weeks pregnant. Needless to say, strangers are perfectly comfortable asking me when I'm due and what I'm having. People offer to help me put my groceries in my car or wait to hold doors for me. My belly button totally protruding (something that never happened in my last pregnancy) and somehow I'm supposed to cook these babies for at least another 12 weeks?!



Babies at 26 Weeks 

According to my handy dandy pregnancy tracker apps, the babies are now about 14 inches long and 2 pounds, each about the size of a butternut squash. An interesting fact for this week is the babies can likely detect light and dark and hear noises like Josh's voice. One of the warnings on the app this week is to watch for preeclampsia, something I am a lot more worried about with a twin pregnancy than I was when I was pregnant with Asher. Apparently preeclampsia is more common with twin/multiple pregnancies and includes a rise in blood pressure, protein in your urine, and rapid weight gain (fluid retention.) Preeclampsia can lead to various issues including prematurely born babies, which is what worries me the most. I wish I could stop worrying about so many things but having two babies in there makes me even more anxious!

I'm feeling movement all the time, but especially in the afternoons and evenings. This is probably due to the fact that I'm much busier during the day. I can't really tell the positioning of the babies, despite how hard I try. Sometimes I feel kicks up near my ribs, in the middle of my belly, or even way down low below my belly button. I didn't get an ultrasound last week, so I'll know more about their positioning after my appointment next week.


Weight Gain

I almost had a heart attack when I saw that I had gained six pounds since my last doctor's visit. I mentioned in my previous post that I was worried I have been retaining water because I have been swelling at times (especially on hot days or during long car rides or periods of sitting down.) When my doctor came in to see me, I immediately started asking questions about my weight gain. Should I be worried? I mean, there is no way I'm eating enough to account for that much weight gain! 

My doctor assured me that especially with twin pregnancies, there are some visits where a higher weight gain will be recorded, usually because the babies went through a little growth spurt. She said we are going to keep a very close eye on my blood pressure and water retention, as well as future weight gain patterns, to make sure it's not something else going on. I have to admit I was pretty worried after this appointment, but I'm trying to just focus on eating healthy and getting enough water for now.


Eating
One thing I have been trying to do this entire pregnancy is start my day with a nutritious breakfast. Usually it is oatmeal with blueberries but sometimes I'll make an almond milk smoothie or avocado toast topped with egg whites. 

I've still been making a lot of dinners (and freezing many extras too!) Last week I made - and also froze - eggplant parmesan with homemade marinara and Skinnytaste's Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken. I also whipped up a few batches of homemade spinach basil walnut pesto for the freezer because our basil plants are getting huge. I hope I still continue to have the energy to cook in the weeks to come but for now I'm taking it day by day. 


Feeling

Most days, I'm feeling exhausted by late afternoon and my back is starting to hurt by the end of the day, which is not surprising considering how big the babies are getting. I'm still functioning okay for the most part though, so overall, I don't have too much to complain about. I feel a lot better than I thought I would at 26 weeks pregnant with twins! No major aches or pains, my SPD has not returned yet, and I'm still (mostly) keeping up with Asher. 


Sleeping

I am still sleeping fine, thankfully! Rolling over from side to side is starting to get extremely difficult but that's about it. I feel really lucky considering at this point in my last pregnancy, I had terrible insomnia and was only sleeping a few hours every night.


Something to Be Happy About

Asher started his two year old program at the local Y this week and it was just so adorable seeing him making new friends. I was a little emotional at drop off, I mean wasn't he just born yesterday?! How is he old enough to go to school? A lot of the other children were crying when their parents left but Asher went over to the shelf and happily began playing with trucks. He didn't even really notice when Josh and I reluctantly left. What a big boy!

Here are some photos from his first day:

          







Something to Look Forward to

We finally started doing some set up in the babies' room over the weekend. We now have two cribs, a changing table, side table, bookshelf, and two lamps. It's definitely getting there! I ordered a bunch of things off our registry, including crib mattresses and baby bedding. I can't wait until it arrives! It definitely makes the twins' impending arrival seem even more real. Asher has also been happily referring to his old room as the baby room which is such a relief! I will put up photos of the nursery as we make more progress in the space. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

25 Weeks Pregnant

These weeks really are flying by! My doctor has said they don't typically let twin pregnancies go past 38 weeks, which means my babies will be here in about 13 weeks. So crazy to think!

I'm starting to a little feel stressed about our car situation, particularly the fact that our current cars cannot fit three car seats. But - we are going to list our Jeep for sale this week and have decided that we are officially buying a mini van. Never thought I'd be a mini van person but I'm actually kind of excited!





Babies at 25 Weeks 

Apparently the babies are now the size of rutabagas, and learning this resulted in Josh and I googling exactly what is a rutabaga. I bet my parents would have known! According to my apps, the babies are each approximately 1.5 pounds and about 13.6 inches long. I was also informed that my uterus is now the size of a soccer ball. Somehow with twins, I'm guessing that it's even larger!

I am still mostly just feeling kicks in the same place in my belly (upper right side, just below my ribs), which makes me think that the babies haven't changed position over the last few weeks. I know it's early on in my pregnancy still, but it makes me nervous that both babies aren't head down and baby B seems quite comfortable in his transverse position. My doctor has warned that the transverse position is even less ideal than breech, so hopefully as the babies get larger, gravity will help pull them into better positions.


Weight Gain

I won't know until after my appointment tomorrow, but I am sure I am gaining weight steadily. My belly feels and looks bigger this week than last week, as evidenced by my protruding belly button. The heat combined with long car rides to/from Buffalo and Canada caused me to swell up quite a bit over the weekend. Hopefully I'm not putting on a lot of water weight like I did when I was pregnant with Asher.


Eating

Not sure how I haven't yet mentioned this but my entire pregnancy, I have been obsessed with bagels. Prior to being pregnant, I never really ate bagels. Maybe once in a blue moon. But I find myself buying several bagels from the bakery at Wegmans every time I'm there. I'm eating bagels with cream cheese and tomatoes, egg sandwiches with avocado, and even just plain bagels toasted with butter. Josh laughs when he seems me unloading the groceries with the inevitable bakery bag of bagels every week. I'm sure the carbs aren't great for me but I can't help but want all. the. bagels.


Feeling

My heartburn is killing me slowly and all the Zantac and Tums in the world aren't making a difference. Someone asked me the other day why it is that pregnancy causes heartburn and I didn't really have an answer because I know some ladies never experience it at all, while others are tortured by it for most of their second and third trimesters. Apparently the old wives tale is that heartburn is associated with hairy babies (definitely true with Asher!), so I've decided that these baby boys must be werewolves.

My SPD has been better the last few days, which is a huge relief. I don't know if the babies shifted positions and took some of the pressure off my pelvis or what, but I was able to walk in the Labor Day parade with Moms and Kids without much pain.


Sleeping

I have been falling asleep way earlier than normal. I'm usually a night owl but lately I'm asleep by 10pm and I'm perfectly okay with it. Asher is still sleeping through the night, which is so refreshing after almost two years of terrible sleep. I think that's why I'm actually sleeping soundly, despite being pregnant. Gotta get my sleep in while I can! Crossing my fingers that these babies will be better sleepers than Asher.


Something to Be Happy About

Josh finished painting the trim in the baby room! I have a serious urge to nest so it will be nice to finally be able to get started setting everything up. It will also encourage me to finally make some decisions about the decor (rug, bedding, etc.) that I've been really indecisive about up until this point. I can't wait to see everything come together!

We also had a great time in Buffalo! Asher absolutely loved staying in the hotel and swimming in the pool. We took trips to the Buffalo Zoo, Niagara Falls State Park, and even a trip to the IKEA in Canada to pick up some things for the nursery. It was so nice to spend some time away as a family before we add two more members in the next few months!

Here are some photos from our trip:







Something to Look Forward to

We realized today that we have absolutely no plans for this weekend, which hardly ever happens. We've been so busy lately that it will be nice to have a low key family weekend. Asher has been begging us to go to the museum (honestly not sure whether he is talking about the Museum of Play or the Ithaca Sciencenter) so we will probably take him at some point. Here's to hoping this weekend includes lots of rest, snuggles, and just hanging out with my guys!