Daddy's boys make him smile

I would have been excited no matter what the doctor said. When we were told we would be bringing two little boys into this world, my mind went blank, and I smiled. It's how my brain says, "I'm speechless". This is the way I show extreme happiness. I don't jump around, yell, or laugh hysterically.

When my father surprised me with a car on my birthday, I smiled. It was a big smile, but just a smile. When I had won a school-wide spelling bee a few years earlier, I reacted the same. When I got married, when Melissa told me of our first pregnancy, when we learned we were having twins. Smile, smile, smile. Though not everyone will see it, my eyes begin to tear up, too. I don't know why I feel I need to keep my composure at these times, it's just how I am.

Most people I know, say my emotions are hard to read. That might be true in many cases, but chances are, if I'm smiling, I'm genuinely very happy.

Oh BOY oh BOY!

We had our anatomy scan bright and early on the 25th.  I am happy to report that both babies looked perfect and there is no doubt that they are both BOYS!  Andy and I are both ecstatic at the good news.  Lefty was estimated to weigh 12oz and Righty 11oz.  I have almost 1.5lbs worth of babies in me already!  Lefty was very cooperative and gave us a great profile photo.  Righty was his normal sleepy, stubborn self and refused to show off.  I'm always amazed at how unique they are already.  They will be named Jacen Ivan and Spencer Logan.

Our next OB appointment is on February 9th, then I start seeing the nurse at the Perinatalogist's office weekly beginning the 14th.  Every four weeks we'll get an ultrasound with the Peri as well.  I'll definitely be seen very frequently!  I'm so thankful that they will be following us so closely in hopes of preventing preterm labor since that's probably my biggest fear right now.  I have some worries about finances and how we're going to manage two babies but I know all of that will work itself out.  With Andy by my side I know we'll be just fine!  I've said it before but I'm going to say it again anyways:  We make a great team.  I can't wait to raise Jacen and Spencer together!  It's definitely going to be a whole new adventure.

One perk of being sick

I've been sick since Friday with a bit of a cough.  It worsened on Sunday and today is a full blown annoying hack.  Andy is sick too but he seems to have come down with the congestion versus a cough.  I fully intended to go to work today but last night I couldn't stop coughing long enough to get any decent sleep.  The #1 piece of advice I've heard from other twin mom's is to listen to your body.  It seemed pretty obvious my body was telling me to take it easy today.

When we got up with morning Andy encouraged me to call the nurse at my OB's office.  I have a history of developing bronchitis pretty easily and the Robitussin DM that is pregnancy safe was not doing anything to stop the cough.  So I made the call and we waited to hear back.  My OB's nurse finally called and said that they wanted to see me today before prescribing anything.  It's the office policy that twins require an ultrasound at every appointment.  Since we were just going to be seen by the nurse practitioner we were scheduled at the ultrasound lab at 1pm and with the NP at 2.

The one perk of being sick?  Getting a surprise peak at our babies!  The ultrasound technician was the same as the one before, she takes a lot of time to go over details and has fun with it.  Both babies look great and we're pretty sure we know what they are!  But we're not going to tell quite yet, we want to confirm at our anatomy scan next Wednesday.  Ben & Jerry's cherry garcia ice cream is the only thing that has sounded good the past few days so I had some for "lunch" about an hour before our appointment.  It made for some hyper babies!  Even Righty, our normally calm child, was bouncing around and mooning us.  It's always amazing to see them.

The visit with the NP went well, she thinks that I'm "flirting with bronchitis".  I'm to take cepacol lozenges during the day and a prescription cough suppressant with codeine at night.  Cepacol is definitely weird stuff.  You know how when you're having work done at the dentist they'll numb your gum with a gel before injecting the real numbing stuff?  These lozenges make your whole mouth and tongue feel numb like that.  It's a little unnerving.

I just hope Andy and I can both get some good sleep tonight and be on the mend by tomorrow.  But I can't complain too much about being sick since it afforded us a surprise peak at our babies!

Registering, an OB Visit, and a Wedding

Andy and I have neglected our blog for the last week but I promise we have good reason!  We have been very busy.

On Saturday we took our schnauzer, Pixel, to my parent's house.  My mom is nice enough to groom our dogs for us and save us lots of money.  Andy and I didn't want to drive the 30 minutes home just to drive the 30 minutes back to pick her up so we headed to Babies R Us and started our registry.  Yikes!  We spent about two hours walking through the store, me with a list and Andy with a scanner.  We chose most of our big items so now I just need to make sure of the safety of them and register for the smaller items.

We had an OB appointment on Monday at 17w2d.  It was seriously the world's quickest appointment and ultrasound.  The ultrasound lasted less than a minute but both our babies looked great.  We can't wait for our anatomy scan with the specialist on the 25th!  We're both eager to start calling our little ones by name.  Andy is not so secretly wishing for Lefty to be a boy and Righty to be a girl.  I know his main desire is healthy babies, just like me!  But I think he has a soft spot and wants a daughter as well as a son.  Two weeks until we find out for sure!

I've been having some pretty intense back/shoulder/rib pain for the past several weeks.  My doctor wasn't concerned at all and said it's just normal for pregnancy, especially with twins.  We talked more about labor and delivery possibilities which is both exciting and scary.  I originally wanted a medicine free birth in a freestanding birthing center.  With twins the birthing center is definitely out which I am totally fine with.  We're certainly hoping and praying that I have no complications and our babies don't require any NICU time but we want the best to be available just in case.  The requirement of medicinal intervention upsets me a little more but I will obviously do anything and everything it takes to get them here safely!

Two of our best friends got married yesterday so immediately after our OB visit we went to their wedding rehearsal.  It was neat to see the venue and to practice what our roles would be.  Andy and I were very honored to both be a part of their big day, Andy was a best man and I was a bridesmaid.  We ate a fabulous meal afterwards courtesy of the groom's father.  Chicken fried chicken, onion rings, mashed potatoes, and broccoli rice casserole?  Yes please!  Have I mentioned that my appetite is back with a vengeance?  I'm not sure I'll make it 20lbs by 20w since I'm up 16 so far, but with the way I've been eating the past few days I just might!

Yesterday was the day of the wedding.  The girls were all very envious of the guys!  We had to be at the bride's apartment by 10am to start hair and makeup.  The guys got to play video games and go out to lunch.  Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I am not a hair and makeup kind of girl.  At all.  I honestly do not own any makeup.  I hate the stuff and I was lucky enough to find an amazing guy that hates it on women as much as I hate wearing it!  The last time I wore makeup was four and a half years ago for another friend's wedding.  I didn't even wear makeup for our wedding.  But I'll wear it for someone I love and the bride and groom might as well be family to us.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful!  I know our friends are very in love and that definitely shone through during the ceremony and the reception.  Andy and I were very honored to have been a part of it!
 

17w3d

The four of us!

Relaxing after his best man speech

Don't ever say Andy can't dance!

Happy 2012!

Yesterday was a bitter sweet day for me.  It marked one year since we found out we were pregnant for the first time and it marked the last day of a 2011.  2011 was a year of complicated emotions and trying times.  But instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the year I'd like to focus on the positive that has come from it.

I have found out that I am a much stronger and resilient person than I ever thought possible.  There were many times in the first half of the year where I felt I had reached my breaking point, I couldn't take anything else.  But I continued on.  I changed and grew.  I'd like to think that I'm a more compassionate and empathetic person now as a result of all the struggles.

I have an even closer relationship with Andy.  I was in love with him a year ago but I can honestly say that I'm even more so today.  He has been my rock and I know I can depend on him for anything.  He's been my partner in every sense of the word throughout this journey.  I think he has grown and changed a lot this year too.  I used to be the strict planner/organizer of our relationship while Andy was the happy go lucky go with the flow guy.  This year has taught me to relax more and I think it's taught Andy to plan more.  Funny how that works.

I have a relationship with God.  I hate to say it but I don't know if I would have found Him if not for the sadness of 2011.  I have taken Him for granted my whole life.  I needed something to rely on for strength and found it in God.  It's not that God is new to me, it's that for the first time I allowed myself to believe and understand the power of His love.  I allowed myself to accept it and experience it.

Last, but obviously not least, our twins.  They are by far the largest blessing I have ever been given and I am so incredibly thankful for them each and every day.  They are worth every heartbreak and tear that we went through to get here.  Now they just need to continue baking for at least 22 more weeks!

I'm looking forward to an even better 2012!  Our next OB appointment is in a week, our best friends are getting married the following day, our anatomy scan is the 25th, I'll be having a work shower sometime at the end of February/beginning of March, and our babies should be here at the end of May.  What's not to be excited about?  Welcome 2012!