Punching Bag?

Not sure what to blog about right now.  We've officially hit 22 weeks! Woohoo!  To be honest, it's been a little crazy in life right now, but even though...I feel like time is going slowly right now.  I've started to feel the aches and pains of pregnancy.  I can't sit on the floor or other really hard surface for too long or else my lower back gets REALLY sore.  Same thing happens if I stand/walk for too long (we're talking an hour+).   My feet are definitely starting to hurt by the end of the day, even if my job doesn't require me on my feet all the time.  I guess it's all the pounds I'm putting on. I'm trying to keep active a little to make sure I'm gaining the "right" weight.  It definitely seems that weight gain is beyond my control, which is VERY weird for me!!  

I'm LOVING feeling the boys move more often.  They love to kick/punch me after I eat and while I'm at work!  Even Baby B is getting more active, which again...I'm loving!  I definitely feel like a punching/kicking bag sometimes! It is so amazing the wonder that I'm carrying our children... Despite the aches and the pains and the fears and worries, I'm grateful everyday for the opportunity to be going through this.  After such a long journey, I can't believe we've finally made it here. I can't believe we've been so blessed. 

As for those wondering names (seems to be one of the first questions asked after people find out their both boys), we do have names, but we're holding off on telling people what they are!  I don't want the judgments, or "comments" about what we choose...plus they're not set in stone until they're here and even then we have a LITTLE time!

So...here's to 22 weeks!

"So...looks like the rumors are true..."

I've officially passed the "are you just getting fat" / "I might regret asking you if you're pregnant" phase.  Over the last week, people at work are just starting to ask the question/state the obvious.  It kind of makes me uncomfortable having everyone "know".  But, I guess it's an exciting time, so I have to go with it! ;) Price you pay for getting preggo.  

Funny thing... Sung and I were discussing people "finding out" about the twins.  Seems like we have a standard script that tends to happen for both of us:

Sung/Me: "Yes, we're expecting."
Person: "Do you know the gender yet?"
Sung/Me: "Yes, two boys."
Person (prying a little): "Oh?! Do twins run in your family??" (aka. did you conceive these naturally or through medical intervention?)
Sung/Me: ....(answer depends on the person)...

Sometimes if they're close or really sincere or I think they might need to know (aka they're going through infertility too), then I might say "Nope they don't run in our family. They were medically induced twins" ;)  If I feel like they just "want to know" or if there's a bunch of people around or whatever, I get a little irritated and tend to just say "Nope they don't" and leave it at that.

On the other hand, I have to start registering for stuff (I have a co-worker planning a baby shower and she's very emphatic that I need to start registering!). ;) So...mommies out there...what should and what SHOULDN'T I register for?  I've been reading up on some stuff, but give me the practical stuff! Is there anything you got/registered for that you haven't used. Or is there anything you can't live without now that you WISH you'd registered for?

Halfway

I feel bad that I haven't been posting lately... Works been crazy, Life's been crazy, and I've pretty much had NO time at all!  I feel like we CONSTANTLY have stuff to do, so much that we're not getting ready for babies (but we are actually doing a lot)! 

 My sister is getting married at the end of the month and we get to play "hotel" for some of her in-laws, so we figured cleaning up the extra bedrooms had two pro's...Getting them ready for guests AND getting them cleaned out for babies (no the boys won't be in separate rooms, but when you're doing one already...might as well do the other)!  So far we have painted the nursery, cleaned out and donated many many boxes of stuff, moved other stuff to the attic (oh and sung actually had to add an attic ladder and plywood in the attic first so we could get stuff up there), and just this weekend Sung and Doug put the crown moulding in the babies' room.  What do we have left to do? Paint the OTHER guest bedroom, add moulding, moved the futon from the nursery to the spare room, move the twin from the spare room to the nursery, find cribs!!, and decorate!  

Not too bad, but to be honest, I'm feeling the time ticking... I've definitely been growing quite a bit faster lately and I'm definitely been feeling pregnant.  I've had an unusually good pregnancy.  Besides my little ligament incident a few weeks ago, I can't complain too much...  But I guess my current "issue" is discomfort, particularly at night.  During the day, I'm good. I can still wear my heels to work and take the stairs up to my office on the fourth floor.  But come night time...I just can't get comfortable.  I don't pee all night (maybe once in the night, but not every night even).  But, I can't find a position that allows me to sleep real soundly.  I'll sleep on one side, with pillows to support my back/belly and one between  my knees (like I'm supposed to, right??), but after an hour or two...I just don't feel good.  My hip has been getting sore while I sleep and then I just can't get comfortable.  I switch sides and still...can't get comfortable.  So, if anyone has some miraculous tips on how to sleep comfortably...LET ME KNOW!!

As for the boys (and sorry we'll still publicly call them "the boys", not dispelling names), they're doing WONDERFULLY!  We had our 20 week ultrasound on Wednesday... Both are "measuring" about 13 oz each (hard to believe they're almost a POUND EACH!).  Heartbeats were both strong at 143 and 145.  Baby A (the one closer to the cervix, and most likely to "come first") was head down and Baby B was breech.  Baby A has his feet up near my ribs and is my active one.  I feel him kicking me multiple times a day (particularly a little while after I eat or if I'm at church or the temple).  Baby B isn't quite as "violent as A.  I feel him shift around and sometimes he'll punch or kick me (again, their favorite times is when I'm at the temple or at church it seems), but overall he's been much calmer than his brother.  

We didn't get any REALLY good pictures of both of the boys.  B was photogenic and we got another nice profile shot, but A was hiding his face and we couldn't get a good shot of it. :(  But, we've been trying to keep up on the weekly belly shots, so here is the 20 week shot! 

Yes, I do look like I doubled (and then some) since the last picture I posted!

Sung and I are getting VERY excited! Can't wait until we finally get to meet these little guys of ours!

Holy Ligaments, Batman!

Had my first "emergency" appt last week. Wednesday morning I woke up with a pain in my lower right abdomen.  At first it was just a little irritating, like digestive pain or something, but it got worse and worse as I headed to work.  Once I got to work, I tried moving around to find what would make the pain go away, but nothing helped. I left a message with my OB and waited to hear from them.  The pain just got even worse and I couldn't sit at work anymore.  I left and figured I'd head towards the dr's office just in case they called back.  I tried calling one more time and the nurse answered (thank goodness)!  Told her the pain was pretty bad and I just couldn't get it to go away, but told her I thought it was just digestion or maybe some ligament pains.  She went ahead and told me to come in (I was practically at the office my that time anyways).  They did a quick ultrasound to check the babies and my cervix (both babies were fine and cervix was long and closed).  Talked to the OB and she said there was a round ligament that ran RIGHT over the spot that was hurting.  She said that usually these pains don't come until 20-24 weeks, but with twins...the uterus thinks it's further along than it is (and babies are just stretching things out!).  Luckily a couple tylenol helped and just taking it easy.  

Plus...we had our 18 week appt today and baby B was TOTALLY right down low near that same area, so I'll blame him on stretching things out! ;)  

Along those lines...our appt went well. Baby A was a wiggly guy and the dr almost had to corner him to get his heartbeat (he kept moving away).  Baby B was nice and calm and way down low!  Heart rates were 140 and 145.  Can't wait for our 20 week appt AND ULTRASOUND in a couple weeks!  It will be good to see our little guys for a nice long hour or so!  And we'll see if A continues to be wiggly like I feel him being.  I have started feeling them move more often.  Sometimes it will be just feeling the weight distribution change as they shift positions, but I have gotten a little nudge from baby A a couple times!  A couple times it's even almost made me sick to my stomach with them shifting positions at the same time! It's like my insides are churning around in opposite directions!  Definitely an experience!  Haven't posted a belly picture lately...so...let's see if I can get one on here today...

18 weeks!

15

Hit 15 weeks on Monday! We had an ultrasound last Wednesday and our babies decided not to be shy at all! So...at 14.5 weeks we found out we will be having two little BOYS join our family! I was a little shell-shocked. Sung...thrilled (though he "says" he'd be just as happy with two girls...)! I mean come on...I had TWO possible outcomes that involved at least one girl! Ok ok...I've gotten over that. I'm just happy they're healthy and to be honest I'm glad they're the same gender! At least they can share clothes, a room longer, decor for one gender...can you imagine if it had been one of EACH?! That would be literally like having to buy two of EVERYTHING! 

So...here's my 15 week belly shot. I'm starting to feel big...what a long way I have to go still though...

Public again!

I'm back!  We went through quite a journey this last fall/winter, and I didn't quite feel comfortable announcing all we went through to everyone (because we didn't know how things would turn out).  BUT, after our whole process (which you can read in the previous posts now public), we are pleased to make an announcement!!

As Sung said, "I'll let the pictures do the talking!"

Long Wait

The last two weeks have been hard. I've had a tough time waiting for our 12 week appointment and ultrasound NEXT Monday. We were supposed to have our appointment tomorrow, but I'm in a class for work all this week and they won't let me miss... :( I'm ready to hit that "12 week" mark and be "in the clear" so to speak.

I haven't had any morning sickness really...only food aversions. I absolutely can't do boiled chicken in a creamy/cheesey casserole or soup...just the thought of it turns my stomach. But, other than that...no real problems with it at all. And, I haven't really gained much weight (only about 4 or 5 lbs) since we found out we were pregnant, which worries me a little only because I know that you're supposed to gain weight earlier with twins (because you can't gain it as easily later). I eat ALL the time though, and I'm trying to make sure I get the recommended amount of water/fluids daily as well...

Bought some maternity clothes online, and I'm getting excited about being able to wear them soon! Not yet though...I can't quite pull it off yet. But I'm sure it won't be long. It's pretty amazing how women's bodies change so naturally during pregnancy. I feel soo blessed to have the opportunity to experience this.

So, Sung and I are going to try to do weekly pics of the "belly". So, here's our 10 week one from last week. I'll see if I can download my 11 week one too and attach it later!

10 weeks! (but I am leaning back a little...)

First OB Appointment - 8 Weeks 2 Days

What an awesome day! We went to our OB's office today for an ultrasound appt, then a meeting with our OB. We had an awesome ultrasound tech! The babies look sooo much more like babies! Though still a little stubby! I called them my little gummy bears! The ultrasound tech must have liked our excitement, because she was like "hey...let me try something". And, she did 3-D pictures of the babies!!!! It was CRAZY! And, we saw them moving for the first time! They were whirling their little arms around! I think I'm totally smitten, and have no idea how I would feel if we lost one at this point...

Our meeting with our OB went well... We discussed everything from labor and delivery plans, to weight gain (which is REALLY intimidating!), to doctor appointments and test schedules. We will be having appointments every two weeks, with ultrasounds every other appointment to make sure the babies are growing on schedule and fairly evenly.

I bought a book about twin pregnancy and I have to admit...It absolutely terrified me about making sure I do the right things for this baby during this pregnancy. Gaining enough weight, keeping myself healthy but not overdoing it, chances of pre-term labor or delivery...it was A LOT to take in. I'm starting to realize that I'll be able to plan even less with a twin pregnancy. There are soo many more things that can go wrong or different with twins. So, here's to hoping I can handle it! I have to one way or another!

Oh and on a side note...I know every pregnant woman has things they hate that people say to them during their pregnancy...Well, I've found one already that absolutely "rubs me the wrong way". So, if you see me, PLEASE do not say "Wow! You're way too small to have twins!" or "You can't have twins, you're too small!" I'm pregnant with twins. They're there and hopefully not going anywhere and I'm not going to choose to change this situation myself! So, I'm GOING to carry twins and that's that! Okay...I know people are just excited, but that was my pregnant rant for the week! ;)

Ultrasound # 3 - 8 Weeks 2 Days

Had our LAST ultrasound with our infertility doctor today... I have to admit it's a little bitter sweet. I LOVE Dr H and our nurse Lynn! We've been with them off and on for over 2 years now, so it's been quite a journey to get here. I've definitely seen them more than my OB/GYN, so I'm a little nervous about moving on... Though I know it's a good BIG step for us! We had a good ultrasound, but due to some (TMI) yucky progesterone, our picture wasn't very clear. So I won't post any pics. Twin A was very blurry! But, the heart rates have increased again! They were at 168 and 176! And both were again measuring on schedule!

I made my FIRST OB appointment for next week. Our OB wants to do an ultrasound (due to there being TWO)! Sound like there will be alot of monitoring through our pregnancy...

On other news, I DID get sick last week. Wed night I was running a low grade fever off and on all night and Thursday morning I was feeling AWFUL. I called my family Dr since I'm not officially with my OB and I'm release from my Infertility dr. He wasn't in, but I met with his nurse practitioner. (The nurses were all excited for our pregnancy! ) They tested me for strep because my throat was so red and irritated looking, but the quick test came back negative. So, she gave me a list of meds I could take. I took a little bit of Tylenol and regular plain Robitussin. I was terrified of something happening, so I took as minimum amount as I could and lived on popsicles and other stuff to fight the sore throat. Luckily, by Saturday, I was doing pretty good. EXHAUSTED, but no more fever and just a cough instead of a sore throat and a cough. Was still pretty wiped out Sunday, but felt pretty much back to normal my Monday! Thank goodness! And with this "graduation" to our OB, I'm pretty thrilled! Can't wait to see our babies again next week!

Ultrasound #2 - 7 Weeks 2 Days

Went in for our second ultrasound this morning. I was soo anxious before this ultrasound...I have a deep fear of losing one of our little babies. It's funny how quickly you get attached to these little beings growing inside of you (though that is still very surreal for me). I think I've been trying to protect myself from something bad happening, so I almost always have this thought in my head reminding myself that something could happen. After over 3.5 years of infertility, I think I've hardened my emotions to protect myself "just in case".

But, enough with the depressing stuff! Our babies (still can't believe that's plural) are doing WONDERFUL! They were bigger blobs this time! And heart rates increased from last time (139 and 141)! Here's a pic from our appt:

Twin A and B measuring right on schedule!

On another note...Think I might be getting sick...Sore throat, painful cough, and just feeling cruddy...I'm hoping it doesn't get too bad, I'm nervous about taking meds and other stuff while this early on in pregnancy.