First road trip

We went on our first road trip this past weekend with mom, Aunt Angie, cousin Lauren and cousin Zachary to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Minnesota. It was Grandma's birthday (we tried to surprise her, but grandpa HAD to tell her). We had a great time helping her celebrate although we made quite the mess at her house, woke her up a lot, and kept her busy the whole time we were there! Mom did a pretty good job handling us at night by herself since dad had to stay home (he sure missed us!). Mom says we can never sleep in the same room as her again because apparently we are really loud sleepers and make goat noises all night long. Ooops!

Three babies under 5 weeks and a 2 1/2 year old....crazy, huh? (P.S. We love mom's minivan! What other car can fit four carseats and an adult in the backseat? AND Lauren got to watch and we got to listen to Dora the whole way!

Wide awake and ready to go!

Calvin, Zachary and Miles

Our first stop at McDonalds in Clear Lake took 90 minutes!! Mommy and Aunt Angie had to change 5 diapers, two outfits (Miles and Zachary peed out of theirs), feed three babies, feed one 2 1/2 year old, and themselves. We were quite the sight, but we were on our best behavior! Everyone thought we were triplets! There were two other sets of twin boys (one identical set...one fraternal set) at McDonalds too!

Miles checking things out!

We didn't cry AT ALL in the car!

Calvin bright eyed and looking around.

On our way home we made it 3 1/2 hours and then had to stop at a rest stop to eat. We liked stretching our legs out on the ground. Once again...we were quite the sight! Three babies, one toddler and two moms (I think the moms are outnumbered!). This stop only took us 45 minutes!

Miles, Calvin, and Zachary

We did lots of fun things like go shopping, go out to eat and took our first trip to the Minnesota zoo.

Miles

We didn't see much though because we slept almost the entire time.

Calvin

Good thing mom and Aunt Angie had extra sets of hands to help feed three babies and a toddler. Four on four....we could go anywhere!

Mom and Calvin snuggling at the zoo.

At grandma and grandpa's house we played with our cousin Zachary. Isn't he so cute in his little sweater?? Looks like a little man!

And we pretended to be superheroes and fought off evil villians!

Calvin, Miles and Zachary

Aren't we adorable?

And we played in the playpen and perfected our super hero moves. (Zachary--sorry about the high kick to the face)

We cuddled with Grandma and Grandpa a lot too (or slept in our carseats while we were shopping)! Now that we are back at home we want someone to hold us all the time...even when we sleep. Mommy says "no" so we have cried a little more than we usually do. Mom says we are on grandparent detox and need to come down from our grandparent high. It is hard work, but we are getting better and better every nap at sleeping in our own cribs again.

Miles chillin' with Grandpa Brad

WOW! We were exhausted when we got home.

Miles

We had such a great time and can't wait to go visit again! Maybe next time mommy and daddy will leave us there for a few days ;)

Calvin

One month old today!!

Miles and Calvin~
I cannot believe you are one month old already. Where has the time gone?? Seems like yesterday your dad and I were childless and celebrating St. Patrick’s day with green beer and parties. This year we celebrated it with two beautiful baby boys (and maybe a green beer too J…for mommy and daddy of course!) I wouldn’t want to celebrate the holidays any other way! I love being a family of four!

I know God had/has a plan for us…for our family. If we wouldn’t have struggled with infertility…we wouldn’t have you TWO boys! Over the past four years every shot, treatment, and miscarriage (yes…I said it…even though my heart still aches for that baby…I know it was all in God’s hands and Grandma Cynthia is enjoying that little baby in heaven) was worth every tear so that I could be your mommy. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat for you. I would do anything for you.

I still can’t believe you are both ours. Part of me is sad that you are already one month old and part of me is excited to see what the future holds. You are growing up so fast and changing every day. You are already growing out of your newborn clothes (remember when those barely fit you!?!?) You two are both amazing, beautiful little boys and the past 30 days have been the best…even with the sleepless nights and exhausting days. I wouldn't trade those days and nights for anything!

Your dad and I can’t complain at all though. You are easy babies…hopefully it stays that way! We put you both on a schedule right away when you came home from the hospital and it has made our life simple (well…as simple as twins can be J). You eat every three hours, then you play for a little while and then we put you to bed. Repeat. When one of you eats…the other eats…and we don’t usually let you eat before the three hour point unless you are both awake and mad (sorry…we are mean parents but it works!) We have to be strict with you or else we would be feeding one of you ALL DAY LONG. At night you eat and go right back to bed…on your own! That’s right…no rocking, no swings, no arms (okay…sometimes you fall asleep in people’s arms, but not very often!) no bouncy seats, nothing! We only use a white noise machine (and an occasional pacifier) to signal that it is bed/nap time. It makes our life so much easier and yours too because you can put yourself to sleep. Makes happy parents and happy babies!

Since we have a strict schedule we have been able to get out of the house and enjoy this nice weather (70’s and 80’s in March in Iowa…unheard of!!) We have been to Target, the mall several times, out to lunch, on a picnic, the hospital to meet cousin Zachary, a St. Patrick’s Day party and to many doctors appointments. Many people think I am crazy for getting out of the house with twins….but I would go crazy being IN the house with twins J You are so easy and predictable so I know I can take you anywhere without you (or me) having a meltdown because we both know you eat, play, and then sleep. Repeat.

In one short month we have gone through TONS of diapers (sometimes 4-5 during one diaper change), outfits, bibs, sheets, changing pads, burp cloths, etc. Who knew boys could be so messy? You have both pooped on your dad, spit up on him, peed on him and each other. Miles--at your two week appointment the doctor was checking you out and you started peeing on your brother! You’ve peed on the floor, on the mirror during a sponge bath and pooped in the bathtub (Miles)! Your dad and I just laugh because it is too darn funny!

I can’t believe how different you two are. You came out looking completely different and almost a pound apart. Miles has darker hair and Calvin has blonde hair. Miles has a smaller, thinner face and Calvin has a round, bigger head (but I love your big ol’ noggin!) Miles has a darker complexion than Calvin. Calvin is quiet and Miles is loud (I think it is because Calvin was in the NICU where it was calm, dark and quiet and Miles was in the regular nursery so he learned all his bad habits from the other babies, right? J) I can’t wait to see you two grow up together and watch your personalities change.

Miles….oh mighty Miles. You are sassy, loud, and know what you want and when you want it! You are loud when you get your diaper changed (you hate that), loud when you eat, loud when you poop (super LOUD!) and loud when you sleep (you sound like a goat). You have quite the lungs on you, but I still can’t complain because even when you cry I think you are cute and you make me smile. You usually only cry when you are hungry and since you are the smaller twin…you usually get hungry before Calvin…exactly at the three hour mark. You are amazing…like a little alarm clock. Sometimes you will let us go 4 hours between feedings at night (okay…it has only happened twice so far, but your dad and I really enjoyed getting three full hours of sleep). I can’t wait to see you grow up (but don’t grow up too fast)…you are going to be quite the little leader.

Calvin…oh calm Calvin. You are such a sweet boy. You hardly ever cry and when you do…it comes out as a soft whimper. We can hardly ever hear you through the baby monitor because you are so quiet. Good thing your brother is loud so he can wake us up when it is time to eat! Sometimes when your brother cries you decide to follow along and then about a minute later you stop crying and look at me as if to say “hmm…I wonder why I was crying?” You love to snuggle and stare into my eyes. You seem so curious and I just know you are going to be one smart little boy!

You two are so lucky because you have one amazing daddy! He has jumped right in to being a daddy of twins with both feet. He wakes up with you in the middle of night, changes TONS of diapers, holds you, is patient with you and LOVES YOU so much! I can’t believe how quickly he caught on to everything….I didn’t have to teach him anything! He is a natural. He is one funny guy…but you already know that because he says and does funny stuff all the time with you (especially at 2 in the morning!). He reads to you and plays with you even though you might not “get it” yet. I love watching the three of you together—it melts my heart! I can’t wait for all the years to come! Grandma Cynthia would be so proud of her son and her two grandsons. She is smiling down on you from heaven J

I love all three of my boys so very much!
~Love, Mommy

Not the greatest pictures ever....but what can you expect from a one month old? I think they are still pretty darn cute!

Who is one month old?? This guy!

Hmm....so THAT is how you spell my name??

Twins: Almost 37 weeks

Hello Everyone! Here is what we have be up to lately.....

-Our c-section is scheduled for Monday, February 20th (5 days away! Yikes!) I can't believe we have made it to 37 weeks (average twin pregnancies make it to 35 weeks!) If you would've asked me in October when I had rib problems or in December when I had the flu I would've said NO WAY! I didn't think it was possible for me to make it this far, but I am so grateful my little munchkins have decided to stay put until now.

-We went to the perinatologist (high risk doctor) for our growth ultrasound. She decided it was time for the boys to come out into the world because little A just isn't growing as much as they would like to see. Our little peanut (Baby A) was 4lbs 6 oz. two weeks ago and is now 5lbs 1oz. BUT our chunky monkey (Baby B) went from 5lbs 4oz. to 6lbs 12oz!!!!!!! WOAH! That is one big twin...I wish he would share some of those desserts with his brother though! That is almost 12 pounds of baby (not to mention about 5 more pounds of placenta). No wonder why I am sore!

-We had two baby showers in the past two weeks. One with my former co-workers and one with Andrew's family. The boys are truly blessed to have such amazing people in their lives (and they are completely spoiled already!)

-Andrew and I have been getting last minute things done around the house....although I have had a lot of things done now for MONTHS since I never thought I would make it this far. I am glad I started "nesting" months ago because I get WAY too tired these days to get much accomplished.

-I have my last OBGYN appointment on Friday, my last non-stress test on Thursday, my last chiropractor visit on Thursday and went swimming for the last time on Monday. Seems so surreal that I am done with these things!

-This is my last "pizza Thursday". Sad! Andrew and I meet his brother at Murphy's bar every Thursday for pizza. It has become a tradition for the past few years (well...probably 5 years at least!) and I am really going to miss it. I DO get quite the looks these days...not everyday they get a super preggo chick at the bar! How old do you think the boys have to be before they can go to the bar too?!? :)

-I asked Andrew if we could go on our last date (for a while at least) this weekend. Hopefully I can find something to wear that still fits. Maybe I will post a picture :) We'll see!

-Here is a picture of me from Monday before my last time swimming at 36 weeks 1 day preggo with twins. Ignore my swollen arms...I just had my allergy shots done. BUT you can definitely tell my face and ankles are swelling up. Yikes....is it Monday yet???

Five days and counting. Can't wait!

Twins: 35 weeks pregnant

How far along: 35 weeks!! Our c-section is scheduled for Feb. 27^th since both babies are breech and are probably going to stay that way (24 days or less)

Size of the babies: On Monday Baby A was 4lbs 6 oz. (our little peanut) and Baby B was 5lbs 4oz. (our chunky monkey)

Total weight gain/loss: 50 lbs—whoa! I am measuring 41cm so my belly is the same size as someone who is 41 weeks preggo with a single baby. Yikes! No wonder why people stare at me in public!

Cravings: Orange juice, oranges, clementines, and Orange Julius. I think it is because I have a cold….my body must want Vitamin C

Morning sickness: Nope

Sleep: Not so good lately. The boys are very active from 10PM until about 1AM so I usually don’t get to sleep before then and then I wake up a few hours later STARVING. But I have been taking naps during the day so that helps.

Other pregnancy symptoms: Sore, uncomfortable and my feet have started to swell. I guess I officially have cankles! L But no contractions yet and I am not dilated at all….my doctors and nurses can’t believe it!

Baby Movement: Lots! The doctors and nurses always comment on how active they are because they won’t sit still during ultrasounds and my non-stress tests. Baby B still manages to rotate from head up to head down about every other week….I don’t know how he does it since he is the bigger baby, but he finds a way!

Favorite maternity clothes: Not much fits me anymore. I basically live in my pajamas these days unless I need to leave the house and then I somehow squeeze into maternity clothes.

Weird dreams: I can’t remember any, but Andrew had a dream about seeing the babies’ faces through my skin…..like one of those pin toy things. Kinda creepy!

How is pregnancy different than expected? I never thought I could get this tired. I barely do anything during the day and I am still exhausted all the time!

Highlight this week: We had another appointment on Monday with our perinatologist (our “at-risk” doctor) to check on Baby A’s fluid level and Baby B’s brain.

Baby B’s brain hasn’t changed (which is good!)….the fluid pockets are the same size as they were 4 weeks ago and haven’t gotten any bigger. He was much more cooperative this week when they were trying to measure his head and they were able to see the corpus callosum artery. A few weeks ago they were afraid he was lacking that artery which separates the left and right brain….and therefore could have a mental disability. But on Monday they saw the artery so that was reassuring!! Makes me feel so much better!! Worst case scenario now…they may have to drain the fluid on Baby B’s brain when he is born and run some more tests.

The amniotic fluid levels looks great for both babies so that was good to hear too! Like I said earlier….Baby A is our little peanut and Baby B is our chunky monkey….there is almost a pound difference between them (18% difference) so we go back again in two weeks to make sure they are both still growing at a good rate. They are in the 22^nd and 47^th percentile compared to other babies so their growth is starting to taper off….which is normal for twins, but they want to keep an eye on them because if they stop growing (or if there is a 25% difference in size between the two) then they will just take the babies out because they will be able to grow better outside the womb.

Overall, the doctors seem impressed with my lack of contractions, no dilation, excellent blood pressure and good weight gain…..so I guess I might make it further than I thought I would! Can’t wait to meet our baby boys in less than 3 ½ weeks!!!

You know you are SUPER pregnant when....

-You can no longer wash your hands at the kitchen sink without turning sideways to reach the water

-You can’t clip your own toenails and your husband has to do it (bet he never thought he would have to do that! He is the best!)

-You have indentations from where your socks are too tight on your ankles (I guess I officially have cankles now!)

-You can’t go longer than 2 hours without having to pee and have worn a path in the carpet to the bathroom

-You sneeze and you pee your pants in public…and you didn’t even have to go to the bathroom!

-You start carrying around underwear in your purse “just in case”

-You have to roll out of bed instead of just sit up

-You have to give yourself a pep talk before getting into bed because you lose your breath every time—what a workout!

-Flipping over in the middle of the night turns into an Olympic sport

-Your bath towel doesn’t fit around you anymore and your big ol’ belly pops out

-You have to ever-so-carefully balance on one foot to put your socks on in the morning because two hands just can’t reach your toes anymore

-You get up in the morning, eat, take a shower and then need a nap because you are exhausted already

-You tell your husband “I just want to cry” for no reason at all

-You can’t go more than a few days without dropping or breaking a dish, plate or glass…oops!

-You can barely fit between your car and your husband’s car in the garage

-You can hardly turn around when you are driving to check if someone is behind you (thank goodness for back-up cameras!)

-Your 2:00AM peanut butter sandwich becomes habit forming to your unborn children

-You have to sit a good two feet from the table because your belly is too big

-You spill food on yourself at every meal because you have to sit so far from the table—and your husband just laughs at you….at every meal!

-A stranger wonders if you are going to have the baby right NOW (wow…are you trying to tell me something?)

-You can’t reach the items in your shopping cart anymore because your belly is too big

-You buy 10 maternity items and refuse to try them on because it would be “so much work” only to get home and find out that they are all too small—they looked HUGE on the rack!

-It gets difficult to shimmy into a bathroom stall in public because your belly is so big

-You get out all the baby clothes and “organize” them….for the third time!

-Your husband finds you rocking in the chair in the nursery just for fun or finds you “peeking” at all the cute baby clothes that are ready to be worn

-You constantly “play” with your belly because the babies are kicking you to say hello

-You sleep with your hand on your tummy and dream about how great life is going to be

Then I think back to where I was a year ago and remember that “I would die for that!” I thank God for our two little blessings still in my belly. I would do anything for them…and go through anything for them! This video still makes me cry every time I watch it and is a good reminder to cherish every moment….even the painful, annoying, hurting, not-so-good ones!

Twins: 33 week update

Update on the past two weeks…

-Went in for my weekly doc appointments on Thursday which have been pretty uneventful (which is good I guess J). Doc just asks if we have questions, does a quick ultrasound to check heartbeats and positions and that is about it!

-Started doing my weekly non-stress tests at the hospital. The first week it took us an hour and a half because my active baby boys wouldn’t sit still and kept kicking the monitors off. This week we passed in 30 minutes though!

-We have a tentative BIRTH date set! Since we will most likely have a c-section (baby A is feet down and will probably stay that way) I asked if we could set a date. February 27^th will be their birthday unless they decide to arrive earlier. The doc initially said February 29^th and I said “no way! I don’t want leap year babies!” 37 days or less (but I am not counting down or anything J)

-We see the perinatologist/specialist again on January 30^th to check out Baby A’s amniotic fluid level and Baby B’s brain. They will do a very detailed ultrasound at that appointment and we will find out how big the babies are. Right now I am guessing they are almost 5 pounds each (that is 10 pounds of baby!!)

-Since I am carrying 10 pounds of baby and 45 extra pounds (yes…I said 45!! I am gaining two pounds/week! Yikes! But luckily it is all in the belly so far) I am very sore and tired all the time.

-Speaking of tired...these boys must be preparing me for parenthood! I think I need to have a chat with them about their sleeping habits!

Dear baby boys:

-I love to feel you move inside my belly…but I do not appreciate the Kung Fu punches and little body parts that stick out at least a half inch. I know it is cramped in there BUT keep your arms and feet inside the abdomen at all times!

-You cannot and will not make your debut through my bellybutton…it is not an emergency exit!! So please stop pressing on it from the inside….it hurts your momma!

-I am trying to figure out a way to “sleep train” you in-utero (so I can write a book about it J), but I am not having any luck. You are extremely active from about 10PM-1AM and then wake me a few hours later because you are hungry. People say you are just preparing me for a month from now…but I would rather hear you cry then feel you kick me in the ribs! No kicking…it’s not nice!

-Eating. I swore I would never be “one of those people” who had to get up and eat in the middle of the night because quite frankly…eating after 9PM seems pointless. But for you….I do! If I don’t eat a PB sandwich before bed, you wake me up 4 hours later….starving! If I don’t appease my growling stomach...you two won’t stop moving and therefore I cannot sleep!

-Your dad and I have been reading books on how to “sleep train” you, but I think you are doing a pretty good job sleep training HIM. He used to be a really light sleeper, but now that I have to get up so much in the middle of the night…he has learned to sleep through anything. Congratulations boys…now we have to un-train him so in a few weeks he will help me feed you in the middle of night!

-You are getting WAY too used to this quiet house without the daycare kids around. Loud noises scare you now! Last week loud music scared you and yesterday you about jumped out of my abdomen when I turned on the blender! Get used to the loud house…the daycare kiddos are coming back soon (well…in April)!

-Most of the time you two are pretty fun to hang out with and I have enjoyed the past 8 months with you….but I think I am ready to be done now so I can see your precious little faces and hold your tiny little hands. So, you can rent your space for another 2 weeks and then you are welcome to come into the world at any time! We can’t wait to meet you!

-The countdown has begun. My bags are packed. I’m ready to go!

Twins: 31 week update

Here is an update of what has happened this week....

-This is my first week of "temporary retirement" and I sure do miss my daycare kiddos already! I have found myself talking to my belly ("boys, what should we eat for breakfast?" "Boys...what should we do now?") a lot since I don't have three little two year olds to talk to anymore. Sometimes I would get annoyed with their continuous chatter...but now I really miss it! How can you not miss these cute little faces???

Sweet Miss Mesa

Little Miss Harlow

Handsome Mr. Wyatt

And Sassy Little Lauren

They have all started at different temporary day cares this week. I know it has been quite the adjustment for everyone, but I think it will be good in the long-run. Hopefully they will be so excited to come back to Sara's house in a few months. I sure will miss them! Don't grow up too much!

-Although I have missed my daycare kids a TON....I know going into "temporary retirement" was for a good cause and happened at the most perfect time. I am starting to get exhausted this week and it sure is nice to kick my feet up or take a nap whenever I need to.

-Thank goodness I didn't have the kids this week because I have been SOO busy with appointments that I haven't enjoyed retirement too much. I have had two chiropractic appointments, 1 dentist appointment and a really lengthy high-risk doctor appointment (took 3 1/2 hours!) this week!

-We met with the high-risk doctor on Wednesday and it took WAY longer than we expected. We had an extremely thorough ultrasound (it took an hour and a half!! 45 minutes per baby!). It amazes me every time we get to see our little boys....this time we saw hair on Phineas' head (not his real name)!!! It is getting more difficult for the ultrasound techs to get good pictures of them though because their bones are hardening and therefore causing more shadows on the ultrasound AND they are getting so big that they can't move around much to get a good angle.

Dr. Drake looked at all the ultrasound footage and eventually met with us. I was glad that she took the time to watch the entire ultrasound because sometimes I feel like the doctors rush it. We learned that the boys are growing great and have adequate amniotic fluid so that was reassuring. Dr. Drake even called them "juicy" babies because they are already 4 pounds (Phineas) and 3 1/2 pounds (Ferb). We could have some good sized babies if we make it to 38 weeks!

She did have some concern about Baby B's brain. She saw the "prominent lateral ventricle" (fluid on the brain) that our other doctors saw too. She is concerned that he may be lacking part or all of the corpus callosum (the fibers that separate your left brain from your right brain). Unfortunately, they couldn't get a very good angle of his brain so we have to go back in a few weeks to see if he changes positions so they can get a better picture.

She was very reassuring though and told us that his heart and everything else look great. She said it was very odd for this problem to arise late in pregnancy and it was a good sign that we didn't see this at our first anatomy scan at 20 weeks...and hopefully the problem will just go away on its own. If it doesn't go away, Baby B could have a mental disability and/or developmental delays. Although it was difficult to hear those words...there is nothing we can do about it right now and we won't know anything for sure until after the babies are born and he goes through more testing.

It was reassuring to hear that this isn't life threatening. He will be okay....he just may have some delays (or he may not!) It was also encouraging to hear that the babies wouldn't have to be delivered early because of this UNLESS baby B gets more fluid on his brain that causes his head to get bigger than normal. So now we just wait....and wait....and wait some more!

Dr. Drake told me to stay away from the internet, so I have avoided looking up any terrible news. She told me to not diagnose the problem before we actually have a problem. Andrew was glad that she told me that because Dr. Google can make me go crazy sometimes. So, for now I am trying to stay positive and I keep reminding myself that other parents don't get ultrasounds this late in pregnancy....so maybe lots of kids have this and they just don't know about it and it is really nothing to worry about. But prayers would be greatly appreciated!!

-Less than 7 weeks (but hopefully more than 4 weeks) until we get to meet our precious little babies. We are getting really anxious and excited!

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers! You have all been so sweet with the kind messages! Glad to know we have so many people supporting us!