oh, and a few last pics:-)

Little did I know

So, little did I know that when I wrote that last entry, it would be my last for months and months! I am sorry about that! I would have tried to write something more meaningful and goodbye-like. That being said, if there are any readers still out there, I am guessing that this may be my last post or next to last or something like that. Life has gotten too crazy. It literally went nuts. I have no time to go potty, let alone post and the little time I do get onthe computer, I am too busy trying to check out how everyone else is doing! So, things here are wonderful. We've moved to a bigger house, love it, have 3 absolutely beautiful girls. Teagan is doing wonderfully and really loves and cuddles her little sisters a lot. Hannah is laid back, mellow and unwilling to try to learn to crawl, though she is very talkative, and Seane is my little monster...crawling and attacking everything without reserve, she is really something to marvel at. It is wonderful having 3 completely different personalities, all wonderful in their own way. I can't even begin to say how blessed I am. Though I am exhausted, still breastfeeding, running around after all three of them all day, life has never been better. Brett and I need some alone time at some point, but for now, we find it when we put the girls to bed early and collapse on the couch:-)

Thank you all for being such great friends and supporters. I will continue to try to check in with you all on your journeys. Hugs!

pictures!

I said I'd put up some pics, so I did. However, I realized when I got down here that the pics on this computer are all pretty old...mostly from the first month they were here...so I have to download a bunch from my camera and phone...but, in the meantime, here are some highlights from the first month or so they were with us...

My triplets: Okay, the middle one is bigger, but, well...aren't they cute all dressed alike?



Frazzled mommy! I can't believe I was even wearing my glasses! I never do that!



Loving on the puppy!



In case you were wondernig, this picture is totally typical...Hannah is fine, mellow, Seane is screaming and annoyed and Teagan just looks like she is putting up with it all because she has to. My three girls are all incredibly different in looks and attitude, so far. Its amazing.

Out of the loop

So, I've been MIA, not only because I am incredibly busy lately, but also because of those knees! They kept me out of the basement office until just recently...so all of my email/internet/etc has been via my iphone and I haven't had the effort to update here. It looks like the hormones that release your hips for childbirth also released my knees so I had major soft tissue injury to my knees, got an MRI the day after the twins were born and was put on crutches with strict instructions to stay off it...well, I live in a split level and had newborn twins and a toddler so you can only imagine the amount of times I rehurt it. It was so bad that at one point, my husband was away and I got out of bed to check on the babies and fell, pulling the bedroom curtains down on top of me and then proceeded to be unable to get up again. My knees just were incredibly painful and weak and wouldn't actually hold me up. Three months later and they can hold weight but I still can't fully bend or straighten the left one...I am going to they gym since I am allowed to ride a stationary bike and maybe swim (trying this week) but I really am praying they get back to 100% soon! This has been the hardest thing ever.

That being said, my family is amazing! The girls are all wonderful...although all three are currently sick and mommy is tired. They were healthy from day one and have been wonderful nursers so I haven't yet had to supplement, but, alternatively, I have no time to pump so I am just starting to be able to leave them for longer than an hour here and there (which is mostly okay with me). DH and I had one date night so far and it was wonderful and I am looking forward to more in the future. We are house hunting and found a big, beautiful house not too far from here that we are likely to be moving into in a few weeks...this house got small very very fast:-) I am constantly tired but constantly in awe of how fast they grow, how different they are (looks and personality...they are amazing), how loving Teagan is and how smart she is getting. There is so much for me to be thankful for. I guess that is something...just a few years ago I thought I would never have a baby of my own, and was told by my doctor that I would never carry a baby myself...and here I am, 3 years later, with three beautiful daughters!

I have a ton of pictures but not on this computer. I will try to post a bunch later or tomorrow but I thought I'd give an update anyway. I miss all of you and am trying to keep up with what is going on with all of you. I've finally emerged from the stress and funk that accompanied the intense pain and inactivity that the knee caused. I can't even describe how that impacted me emotionally as well as physically...I didn't have PPD but definitely struggled with my inability to do anything with Teagan, carry my own babies up and down stairs, etc. It was HARD.

They are here!

This is gonna be another very quick post...I went in on Monday for my biweekly NST and sonogram and baby B's heart was a little fast. The OB said it probably meant nothing but wanted me to go to L&D for observation and then to induce since I was already 39w1d and it was "time" (considering I was walking around dilated to 5 or 6, I agreed) . So, over we went. We got there at noon, were on an NST until 4. At 4 they started very light pitocin, at 4:45 I got my required epidural, at 5 they broke my water and the girls were born at around 8pm. Things went fast...it was crazy. Hannah (baby A) was born head first and then they pulled Seane (baby B) out by her little feet a few minutes later. It got a little hairy when it appeared a shoulder was stuck, but I pushed once and out she came, she had one loop of cord around her neck, they pulled it off, rubbed her a bit, she was breathing and fine! They were 6lbs 2oz and 6lbs 4 oz, respectively and they are perfect. They do not look alike at all...barely appear to be sisters, let alone twins, which I think is wonderful. Seane looks just like Teagan did as a baby and Hannah totally looks like herself. They are amazing. Teagan is actually being a great big sis and seems excited about them. Here are a few quick pics taken in the hospital...

37w3d

Still here. Have a ton to post but am too busy lately...and rarely get on the computer to write a post b/c I have to go down stairs to do it and my only real pregnancy complaint at this point is incredibly painful knees. I am actually worried they won't hold me up much longer. Hopefully, more later...and soon, an announcement!

2 days to 36 weeks!!!

Its taken me forever to get here and get an update down on the blog. I am 35w5d today and just looking to make it to Sunday, at least. For the time being, I seem okay...but for the last couple of weeks, I have had some really bad contractions (some getting to only 7 min apart for hours) and some serious doubts about being able to make it to 36 weeks....but, here I am. I am hoping to get to 37,though, to be honest, my body somewhat disagrees with this since it feels like it is giving out! I am exhausted and worst of all, my knees are hurting more than I could ever have imagined. Apparently the relaxin loosens the joints, all the weight pulling forward compromises the integrity of the joint, and then I live in a split level where anything I need to do requires using stairs. I am in agony! I have family visiting a lot and helping out, which I appreciate but also, on some level, hate. I hate that I can't do things myself, I hate that I can't play as much with Teagan, and I hate that I feel so not "me". But, that being said, I love these babies and want them to be strong and healthy...and I am leaving their birthday up to them, so we will see what they choose:-)

Besides that, I have absolutely nothing to say...too tired to really be coherent. I just took a pic on Sunday so I will post that one soon...to give you an idea. I haven't gained as much as I wanted to...but I am glad I didn't listen to my doctor (the one I changed to on recommendation of a friend) and I front loaded the weight gain. This particular doctor told me not to worry about gaining and that it all comes on quickly at the end. I didn't believe him so I purposely gained weight faster...he didn't seem happy...but here I am, almost 36 weeks, and barely up 38 lbs. And, I haven't gained in about 3 weeks...I just can't eat enough with my stomach all squished up. So, I am trying to keep eating and my new (the OB that delivered Teagan) seems to think I am doing fine....but I am starting to look funny with this HUGE belly and not so big anywhere else...I think I am actually getting skinnier in places and I don't think it is good for the babies or for breastfeeding eventually....

So...on that note, off to get breakfast ready. I will try to update soon...

Picking Organic apples and nursery pics!

This is gonna be a short post. But here are some pics for the friends and family who have hung in there with this incredibly slow moving blog:-) Here is my little beauty picking organic apples...and then laughing on the floor of our living room. She is my little miracle!






And...as promised, nursery pics for our soon to arrive little miracles:

So, we are basically all ready...now we just wait:-) Hopefully, at least 4 more weeks. I'd like them to stay in at least until 37 or 38 weeks. However, not sure I want them to stay in to 40, lol, though I know it is safer that way...but, eeek! I'm tired!

Baby A is head down!!!!

The appointment went great today. I am so happy I changed back to my original OB. Here are some pics of our little ones...

The elusive baby B...hiding behind her arms...She looks a lot like her big sis. She is mostly head down though still considered transverse, with her head slightly lower than her body...either moving into position or staying there, either way is a good position for birth, they said:-) She is estimated to be 3lbs 8oz!!!! Her head measures smaller than her sis though she is estimated to be a half pound bigger!

Baby A...who had graciously turned head down (and is likely to stay that way since room is running out...but she could surprise us!). She doesn't look like her big sis, which is great! I wanted them all to look a little different and so far, they do! With baby B looking more like T but A having her own adorable look! She is estimated to be about 3 lbs.

Both babies are measuring good. They are in a good position for birth. I'm not worried that B is slightly bigger than A b/c her head is measuring smaller (she's got a chunkier belly!) and everything else looks good. Of course, with twins, its still a good chance of c-section but I'm hanging on to hope! Everything else is great. I can't wait to meet them, but will happily wait another 7 weeks or so....!

Getting ready

I haven't really said much about this pregnancy and I do feel a little bad. I have been getting excited and getting ready...the nursery is ready, I will take a pic today and post ASAP. We bought a couple of preemie outfits to take them home in just in case they come early...and even if they don't, since Teagan was little at almost 42 weeks and I am guessing that any babies of ours that come earlier than that will be little. We have been doing everything to get ready...I've been nesting like crazy (aka, trying to clean but it is so hard for me to get down and clean and organize the things I want, oh...and...SHOPPING). I just haven't posted about any of this. Its not just that I am busy. I know it makes it seem like I am not excited...but I am. I am so excited to see two tiny little peanuts, to hold them and introduce them to their big sister. The issue is that it is so much harder the second time around! I constantly worry about how Teagan is going to feel. She is such a loving, open, confident baby that I am worried about her feeling replaced or pushed aside. Another obsession of mine this entire time has been how we are going to arrange everyone who wants to visit in the first few weeks. My mom is here for T when I am giving birth and when Brett needs to be with me, but then my MIL has offered to come in too (though we aren't sure when this will be since I am hoping to go into labor naturally). Then we've had lots of offers of people "taking Teagan off our hands" in the first few weeks and I am trying to find a way to nicely tell people that I want her with us. She is already going to be feeling like she is on rocky ground with two new babies in the house and then people are going to take her somewhere else (away from us?)? I'm afraid she will really feel replaced. So, I am finally figuring this all out and getting stronger about it. My thoughts are that we don't want house guests in the first 2 weeks. Brett will be home with me and, between us, we need to work out a schedule that is doable before he goes back to work. After that, people can come and visit but Teagan is only going out for regularly scheduled activities and maybe (maybe!) a short trip somewhere (if she wants to go). Regularly scheduled activities are her pool classes and her parent/child gym classes at the Y or our church playgroup. Besides that, I want her here, being a part of the family, getting love from everyone who is willing to give it HERE. I'm putting my foot down. And, finally, I am starting to breathe again. Truthfully, this has literally been obsessing me for 2/3 of this pregnancy and it really isn't fair b/c I want to just enjoy it and I spend so much time trying to figure out what I think is best for everyone and then feeling like I am being railroaded into something else.

This probably seems petty but here is the truth. Everyone wants to be there when the babies get home, right? So, you have the entire family there, ooohing and aaaahing and helping out, then your hubby goes back to work, everyone leaves and you are left with babies that aren't on a schedule, all alone, with, hopefully, a few frozen casseroles left in the freezer from the church family. Panic hits. I have not experienced this since we put our foot down last time too...but I have friends who have had really really hard times.

The other issues is...I am planning to breastfeed twins. If you've ever had even one baby home in the first few weeks breastfeeding, you know that modesty is out the window. You are figuring things out and the babies' feeding comes FIRST. Now double that. There is no hooter hider on earth that is going to help me stay modest while feeding 2. So, I just have to whip them out and feed...maybe after they get on a schedule (oh, about 2 weeks...?), I will be able to get away to another room and feed while company entertains Teagan...but there it is....another reason for us to have 2 weeks as a family.

Crazy that this has been bothering me so much, maybe. I expect T to do well for the transition but I don't expect her to be a "little mommy" as a lot of people have said. She is going to be a precocious little beautiful toddler who wants mommy's lap and attention and will have to adjust to having 2 new siblings in the house. But, I want her to feel and react however is natural to her and still feel loved and appreciated. It is going to be a balancing act.

SO...that is what I've been up to. I haven't really wanted to put it into words b/c I was worried that it would seem like I was ungrateful. I am not. I am extremely excited and feel incredibly blessed that we have two little ones on the way and that we have such wonderful family and friends who want to help us out. I can't even express that in words. Teagan will be a big sis and will have family to complain to about her parents and life, even if we aren't around...which is beautiful to me. There will be fights but I am also looking forward to three little girls, 2 boxers, 1 chihuahua and mom and dad crammed into a messy bed on Sunday morning!

Besides that, I haven't documented that I have changed OB's once and then back to my old one (the one that missed T's birth even though I was induced) b/c the practice I changed to acted like I was asking for a home birth when I asked if we could try a vaginal birth if they presented right (well, that was one of the reasons). I haven't documented that they are getting stronger and stronger and kicking me constantly...and strongly! I can actually see the movements and, once in a while, I get a big tushy sticking out and have to gently push it back in, for which I get kicked! I also haven't documented that Teagan has been adorable and pulls my shirt up, says "babies!!!" and then kisses my belly button...even though, I know she doesn't understand it in reality AT ALL...it is adorable and was totally unexpected. So, I've missed a lot but, thus far, its been beautiful and relatively easy. I am getting huge. Today is 30w4d and I have a growth ultrasound and OB appt, but I am guessing (and hoping and praying) that all is well. I will update soon:-)

Hearts are normal

The fetal echocardiogram took 2 hours! It was incredibly hard to do because it is almost impossible for me to lay on my back for more than 5 minutes...I was close to passing out a few times, we did some sitting up and some on my sides and we got it all completed. With great results. So far, their hearts are completely normal. All good here. Just a quick post and update....since I have an 18 month old whose favorite word is "mommy!!!!" running around me trying to get to the keyboard!

Oh...and woke up with pain in the belly and by this afternoon, you guessed it...stretchmark! Ugh. I got away without them from having Teagan but I knew I was in trouble when I found out we were pregnant with two. Such is life...we get a beautiful gift in having 2 more girls...but I have to pay just a tiny bit for it in probably never wearing a 2 piece again...not too bad of a bargain, I guess.

quick belly pic...29w2d

I am so tired...I keep promising an update...but by the time DD goes to bed, I want to pass out on the couch! So, soon! In the meantime, here is a current belly pic! I have a big appointment with a pediatric cardiologist on Thursday to make sure both babies' hearts are healthy and normal (everything seems normal but since I had a fixable heart defect at birth, they are at risk for something similar, so we are just being careful). I will update then. I am not nervous at all really...just interested in the 30 minute ultrasound I get!!!!

Moms of multiples are freaks of nature

I know a lot of people have probably seen this video, its been around a lot. I just had to repost it. So ridiculously true.

26 weeks...GD tests, etc

I am terrible at getting on the computer lately. My beautiful girl is seriously a handful! I get an hour to myself in the morning by locking her in the family room with sesame street so I can do laundry, take a shower and anything else that needs to be done...and I still have to check on her 5 times because the kid does not sit still. She watches it from standing on top of the coffee table or toychest and jumping up and down, she tries to open the screen door to the fenced yard (and sometimes succeeds), she does everything in her power to stay moving constantly! I know TV is frowned upon but, lets be honest, I'm 26 weeks preggo with twins and sometimes need a little break!!!! So, she watches sesame street and sometimes Blues Clues, but that's about it for now. Talk to me again closer to Oct. 30!

A couple of weeks ago I had my first one hour GD test and failed with a whopping 185! I was told I'd likely have it because diabetes runs in both sides of my family and I am carrying fraternal twins, which significantly increases the likelihood...so I was ready. I took the 3 hour test last friday and was sure I failed. Everyone I've ever heard of who passes that feels awful and sick by the end of it. I felt fine! Absolutely fine. Drank the icky stuff, sat there and read the kindle in between each blood draw. On Monday I bugged the OB's office for the results but they didn't get them....then Tuesday, whew! I passed! With flying colors! My blood glucose levels were on the low side! yay!!!!! I was dreading the added worry, the diet (in conjunction with my celiac diet, eek), and the increased chance of a csection, which I don't need with the doc already telling me it is likely. Ugh.

Anyway, that is about the only stuff I have to update on for now. Terribly boring, I know. I will try to post later this week with some pics and stuff. My HUGE belly and my beautiful girl and maybe a few puppy pics....

Quick belly pic and update

Things here are going great. I am getting huge. Today is 23 weeks! One more week until the first major viability milestone, but things are looking good. I am still swimming about 25 laps once or twice a week and taking a prenatal water fitness class once a week. Oh, and my major exercise is chasing a very active toddler around...and it is exhausting! The girls are moving constantly, which is great, and makes me remember how much I loved being pregnant with Teagan. For now, I am still pretty comfy, though my sides and ribs are a little sore from growing so fast. Here is a pic taken at just over 22 weeks, on my way to teach my last yoga class:

And, for good measure, a pic of my beautiful little girl in her bathing suit, which she loves. It is hard to find appropriate little girl clothes (according to me, I realize this is a very subjective comment), but everything is very suggestive, even for baby girls, so this is a cute one piece we found that she loves...


And, a quick picture of our big, male boxer leaping in the spray from our froggy pool, moments before he landed on it and killed it:

GIRLS!

Yup, its confirmed as TWO GIRLS! Eeek, my poor hubby is going to be woefully outnumbered. But, they are beautiful. Everything looked great. They are measuring 9oz and 10oz, right on track, and were laying head to head and foot to foot....I'll post some pics. Just adorable. And, my cervix is at 4.2! So, no restrictions yet! Things are going great!

2 heads together, plotting against us already:

A pile of feet:

Beautiful profile of baby A....baby B hid her face (boo) but we get a second ultrasound in 2 weeks as a result (yay!):

I am HUGE!!!

I love that kid's smile! check out those pearly whites! Okay, so she was making a whacky smile, but it gives you an idea of her personality:-)

Today we should hopefully find out the sexes of my babies! I am so excited! there have been hints (as many of you know) that we have 2 girls, but I am really not sure. Hopefully, they cooperate!

On a different note, here is a quick (and horribly ugly...) belly pic taken on friday...just under 19 weeks pregnant.

Quick post...more later

Its been forever. My daughter is exhausting! She is amazing, beautiful, loving and funny...but so so tiring! She is one of those kids that just runs constantly. Nothing stops her until she literally passes out. Its nuts! but, she's hilarious and adorable and I have some cute pics I will have to post soon.

I am doing great. 16 weeks with twins and I look like I did when I was 30 weeks pregnant with Teagan. Its hilarious. Not only do you get bigger on your second pregnancy, but its twins! But, I've been doing really well so far. Nothing new at all to report. I can't believe I have nothing really to say. I have another 2 weeks until my anatomy scan, which I am dying for. The NT scan ultrasound tech was willing to guess at gender and it looks like Baby A is definitely a girl and Baby B is maybe 60% girl, its hard to tell so early...they say that if you see a penis, you are having a boy but if you don't see one that early, you just don't know what you are having (genitals aren't fully formed yet at that stage, so you can't be sure). So, we are guessing 2 girls but really not sure...deep down, I am absolutely unsure...and dying to find out.

More later...

Urgent care and uterine entrapment

Things have been progressing nicely...I know, I've been a bad bad blogger. But, in my defense, I am EXHAUSTED and a little nauseous still. The nausea has gotten better but is still there once in a while, however, the exhaustion...wow. I'm TIRED. And, I have a delightful and very energetic 14 month old to chase around, so I'm pooped and barely have time to check on everyone else, let alone write a post...but this last week warrants a real blog entry.

Friday morning I woke up at 3 am and had to pee something awful...and couldn't. Not for the life of me. I know this isn't entirely unusual in pregnancy with women who have a tipped uterus since I had a little bit of this with my daughter...at about 18 weeks. So, I sat there and wiggled around, leaned forward, leaned back, etc.....nothing. Okay, back to bed. Maybe next time. I tried repeatedly until 6 am when I got the faintest of half hearted trickles. And then nothing again. So, knowing this is likely the same thing I had before, when the uterus is stretched enough that it is taking over the entire pelvic cavity (happens sooner with twins...about 11 weeks I guess), and if you have tipped uterus, it gets kind of stuck there for a while, pushes on your bladder and...um...closes your urethra. So, Brett went to work, I went to the pool to see if swimming can make my uterus move. It didn't. Nothing...then a slight trickle when I tried as hard as I could. Around noon, I was desperate and called my OB who was closed but I did the emergency line and he called back. He told me to try a few positions but that the trickle I am experiencing is not the stuff from my bladder but rather overflow b/c my bladder is totally full. He suggested I try to get on my knees and chest for a few minutes and then try again. If that doesn't work, its off to urgent care for catherization. He said to avoid the actual emergency room because they will leave me waiting too long and this is getting critical. At 3 pm (12 hours after it started) I finally made it to urgent care, totally mortified, and had to be catherized. They were amazed at how much my bladder held. So, it was emptied. RELIEF. Then I was told that in order not to have to go back to urgent care, I have to pee every 2 hours at least...even setting a timer at night. Apparently, if I sleep through one needed pee break, my bladder might overfill and get stuck again....so the weekend went by. I was mostly able to pee (if I leaned forward and lifted up my belly) and sometimes, not so much. But, I got through it...and I am exhausted. So so tired. I was also scared b/c I did the google search and heard that most cases eventually correct themselves but some extreme cases can get stuck and can cause miscarriage. So, first thing this morning, I made an appointment with the OB to discuss. She said that there is no way this will cause miscarriage, my babies are fine, but she is glad I came in. We talked...this should be over by the end of the week, hopefully and then she gave me a quick ultrasound, which was incredible of her. She knew I was worried. The babies were doing great. They were stacked on top of each other like in bunk beds and baby a on the bottom was rocking out and going nuts in there and baby b was snoozing away. It was wonderful. So, now no worries about miscarriage and I can handle the discomfort until it gets better...but what a weekend!

Besides that, Easter was great...though filled with some worry. Teagan had her first family egg hunt...the church one is next weekend. I have some great pictures but am too lazy to upload today:-) I will do it this week though b/c she is a sight to see in her cute little easter dress!

The twins and their big sis

So, we had another ultrasound on Wednesday. This time with the OB, who I am immediately leaving and finding another doctor ASAP. The ultrasound went well...the big baby in front is baby A who is very clear and more towards the front in my very tipped to the back uterus. The baby to the right (blurry) is baby B. Aren't they cute? They are right on top of each other already but both have nice big mansions for the moment:-)

The OB appointment went down hill from there. I only saw the nurse practitioner...we waited an hour to be seen, found out I've been assigned to the NP and not likely to see the doctor at all anymore, she didn't ask me any history questions or if I am on any meds, did my pap and pelvic exam and couldn't get to my cervix (this has NEVER happened before). She proceded to dig around for 10 minutes with the metal speculum looking for it, until I sat up and told her to stop, but, luckily, by then, she had gotten the pap b/c I was close to telling her to get the hell away from me with her metal torture devices. She actually had the nerve to suggest that I was deformed down there (Are you a DES baby?) b/c she couldn't do what doctors and nurses have been doing for YEARS (I mean, come on people, I did infertility, EVERYONE has had a hand down there). Not to mention, my daughter was held in by that cervix and then birthed through it so I'm sure it exists and it works properly! It was awful. She was weird about prescribing prenatal vitamins but then asked me about nausea as she reached for her pad to write me an anti nausea script! I was like, yes, I'm sick but I am doing ok, but can I get a prenatal, please! I left with no prescriptions. Anyway, I already found another doc and have an appt in 2 weeks. Ugh.

On another note, we got some cute pics of Teagan done for her first birthday...I"ll put one here. She is the sweetest, cutest, most loving thing. Lately, she's started dancing in circles in the family room...its so cute, I'm dying to get it on tape but she is such a ham that as soon as she sees the phone or camera, she smiles and runs for it and I don't get any dancing on film!