32 weeks

Well, we have an official update. Today marks 32 weeks in our pregnancy, which is very exciting for us! Truthfully, every day we make it at this point is pretty exciting for us considering that 40% of twins are delivered before 35 weeks and spend time in the NICU.

Speaking of delivering, about a week and a half ago, Tim and I spent the night in labor and delivery because I was having contractions about every 6-8 minutes for 4 hours straight. They gave me i.v. fluids and then a magic pill that I don't remember the name of to stop my contractions. Thankfully, the medicine and fluids worked to stop my contractions and I was discharged home early that morning.

The following Monday after this episode, we went to the doctor to follow up on everything and found out that the twinkers weigh 4.1 and 4.6 pounds! I was so thankful that they were growing at the same rate and that they were so big at that point (75th percentile---little chunkers). I am now going to the doctor every week to check to see if I'm dilated more and check on the twinkers to see how their lungs are growing. At the last appointment, the doctor REALLY wanted me to try to get to 34 weeks, which is around June 7th in order for their lungs to be more developed. So, that's our new goal and you can be praying that we will make it to that point at least (ideally, we'd love to go to around 37 weeks or end of June).

I am taking it easy and am off work now and spend my days with my feet propped up and on the computer, reading, chit chatting with family and/or friends (i'm getting a new cell phone plan because I went WAY over on minutes for this month and still have a week left...oops), watching tv, scrapbooking, or watching Tim do his daily honey-do list. He has taken over all house work and last-minute twinker preparations, and between him and Jeanette and take-out menus the cooking around here is covered. I posted some of the pictures of the nursery that I watched Tim finish this weekend. There are also some 32 week prego pics of me. Will keep ya'll updated....thank you for the prayers.

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The Swaddled Bear

We took the last of our baby classes on Monday - Baby 101 at the hospital. Although we did learn certain things we didn't know going into it, we were a little disappointed. We were expecting a hands on class and instead we got an 80 year old showing us slides of her great grand daughter using a 1950's slide projector (see below for those of you who don't know what a slide projector is).

We also learned about the five S's that are supposed to help soothe a crying baby. Here is a demonstration of the first S: Swaddling.

Here is a picture of me to show what kind of load I'm carring around these days. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to carry twins but am also dealing with the reality that these twinkers are REALLY heavy. The doctor said my stomach is measuring about the size of a mom carrying one baby at 40 weeks. We still have 7 weeks to go so it will be interesting to see how I feel over these next 7 weeks....PRAY!!!

Tim's MBA Graduation '08

Well, Tim is officially done with school! I can't tell you how excited we all are about that! Both of our families came in for his hooding ceremony and graduation weekend. Tim graduated as the top student in his class and we were all very proud of him (including the twinkers). I must say--Tim is such a good student and I think he would stay in school all his life if he could! God has truly given him amazing gifts to learn and study and obviously to do well in school, too!

Tim with his mom and dad at the hooding.

Tim walking out after he has been hooded..note the cheesy smile!

Tim and I at the reception...

Tim with his top scholar award (more cheesy smiling!!!)

Tim being hooded...

My parents and I at the hooding ...

Battle wounds

Most of you who know me know that I am a clutz when I am NOT pregnant. However, pregnancy has enhanced my clutziness and depleted my brain cells TIMES TWO! Anyway...so last night I'm cooking dinner....poppyseed chicken (a famous Leigh Anne Salter recipe which is one of our favorites) to be exact...I had one pot of chicken stewing and then one pot heating up that I was going to cook rice in. So, I used a measuring cup to measure 1 cup of "chicken water." Well, about that time the water started BOILING intensely and splashing. A drop from the splash got on my arm and I reacted by spilling the measuring cup that was full of scorching hot water straight up into the air. Well, since my belly sticks out so far, the water had no where to land but there. I had on a cotton shirt, but could already feel the burn.

So, first I went into adrenaline mode and wet a towel with cold water and put it on my belly. Then, I grabbed my cell phone and called my doctor's "hotline" since it was after office hours. At this point, I start crying and I'm kind of hyperventilating because I think that I just scorched my twinkers. I left my # with the answering service and told the lady on the answering service that I was cooking dinner and burned my twinkers so she probably thought I was CRAZY. Thankfully, the doctor called back within about 3 minutes. He was so sweet- he told me to take a deep breath and tell him what happened. I explained it to him and he automatically told me that the twins did not feel a THING. I said, " so you mean they aren't sunburned or anything?" He reassured me probably 5x that they were fine...he told me to keep a wet cloth on my belly and I could even ice it. He said to put Neosporin on it as it would probably start to become blistered, which it did. Needless to say, the twinkers did great and survived one of mommy's blunders. Unfortunately, I am sure there will be many more to come. I attached a pic of the battle wound...pray for my sanity...sometimes I think I'm losing it!

Hope this doesn't gross anyone out seeing my pregnant, scorched belly....

29 week doctor visit

GREAT NEWS...I had a doctor's appt. on May 5th and everything looked great. There are still no signs of preterm labor and I heard 2 very strong heartbeats. I didn't have a sonogram this time (so we didn't get to measure them or weigh them), but we will have one in 2 weeks at my next appointment. I had to do the diabetes/glucose screening, but haven't heard anything from the doctor with the results yet. He said that having twins puts me at a little higher risk for gestational diabetes, but that he would be surprised if I had it. I can't tell you how happy I am to be having a "boring" twin pregnancy as the doctor says. I am so thankful that the Lord has been so gracious to give us these precious gifts. Keep praying...they need to stay in here for several more weeks at least!!!