Thursday, January 20, 2011

I'm Reminiscent These Days

At some point in every pregnancy, every woman starts to remember what she misses about NOT being pregnant. I am noticing such things already, quite a bit earlier than in my previous pregnancies. The cause of such reminiscing:






This ginormous thing! You want a glimpse of what this might feel like? Here's what you do:

First, go find your self a nice round 20 pound medicine ball and strap that baby around your torso, being sure to place the strap around your lower back. Next, grab two 1 pound medicine balls and affix each one to your chest, in addition to the boobies. Now, hunt down two to three 1 pound dumbbells and attach those at random to your hips, butt, and/or thigh. Don't forget: each month, you get to add 4-6 more pounds to the torso area and/or that rear end area. Once you're all strapped up, go do life (laundry, aerobics, grocery shopping, chasing a toddler, room mom it up, and sleep well!). Let me know how you enjoy finding a wardrobe to fit around all those "pounds" too. :)

In all honesty, I love being pregnant. I enjoyed nurturing my 4 babies and am currently enjoying carrying C & M's twins. I do not want to rush them out by any means, but here are a few things that I will look forward to after delivery (comment me up if you can relate!).

1. Stomach sleeping (oh man, I miss this!)

2. Being able to squat comfortably (to reach into the laundry basket, the pick up the crumbs off the floor, to tie a toddler's shoe, etc)

3. Pulling out all the stops in my cardio classes (going to do this one asap!)

4. Being able to shave my legs easily (if you don't know, you don't want to know)

5. Being able to get in or out of a chair without groaning or other weird noises (it's not pretty in my house these days)

6. Not going to the bathroom 27 times a day (no, I'm not exaggerating)

7. Not walking with a waddle

8. Being able to reach my overhead cabinets (seriously, you give it a try)

9. Regaining my balance (that's important)

10. Being able to pick up my sweet 3yr old again (he's a big 'un!)

Next Tuesday is the gestational diabetes test, and a quick "how you doing?" with the OB - No ultrasound. :(

Legal news: I spoke with my attorney today and we are getting the ball rolling on a pre-birth order. This will allow C & M's names to be placed on the birth certificate before birth. This is important because in the state of TN, any mother who gives birth is considered the legal mother, DNA aside. The hubby and I will make a short court appearance in February to finalize this part of the surrogacy. I am definitely looking forward to naming C & M as the parents on the birth certificate. What a sweet time in this process!

Readers, thank you so much for being patient with my sporadic posts and random thoughts. I am so thankful for each of you follow and read along, even you silent lurkers. :)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Grow, baby, grow!

Sorry I didn't update earlier, readers. I have spent the afternoon baking: Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf & All-Natural Chocolate Chip Cookies (no butter or white sugar!). But that's not what this blog is about nor is it what you came here to find out. So, let's move it right along then.



I am 24 weeks, 1 day and my belly is on the grow, for sure! I have approximately 14 weeks left before our proposed induction. I think 14 weeks will go by so fast as we move through winter to welcome spring. Time moves quicker the older I get, so it will be April before I know it!
I had an ultrasound today to check on Baby B's growth. I always enjoy seeing them on the screen, wiggling and moving about. The technician also allowed me to see some 4D images of them, and she printed those off so I could send them to C & M. Baby A stuck his finger right up his little nose just as the picture was being taken - C will have her hands full with that one, I'm thinking. :)
C was not able to be at the appointment today, so she was conferenced in on speakerphone so she could listen to the OB herself and ask any questions. I feel so fortunate to have such a caring and accommodating doctor.
Baby B is still measuring 1 week behind Baby A, but the most important thing is that both babies showed 4 weeks of development since the last check, 4 weeks ago. Both babies are developing at the same rate, so the OB is no longer concerned about the disparity between the two. Also, Baby A weighs 4 ounces more than Baby B, which is to be expected with multiples. Baby A is currently head down, so each appointment looks more promising for a vaginal delivery. My cervix is continuing to be strong, so hopefully this is an indication that we will not be going into early labor. I am free to continue as I have been, no bed rest necessary. Yay! I also asked about my aerobics classes. As of now, I am free to continue with those as long as my comfort allows. Yay, again!
I will go back for another appointment in 2 weeks for the icky glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. (I chose fruit punch flavored glucola.) Two weeks after that, I will be seen for another ultrasound. Moving right along, we are indeed!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Need a chuckle?

I have decided that when I get old and wrinkly (and I mean no disrespect by using those adjectives: I will inevitably get old and according to my genetics, I could be quite wrinkly), I am going to use that as license to say whatever I might be feeling to anyone, pregnant or otherwise. Case in point:

The other night, as I was sipping on some herbal tea in my local Starbucks waiting for a friend, an elderly gentleman took notice of my belly. Here's the conversation that followed:

Elderly Man: "So, I guess you're about to deliver any day now, huh?"
Me: "No, actually I have a bit more time left. I won't be delivering until end of April."
Elderly Man: *with astonishment* "Wow! You must going to have a big baby."
Me: "Well, no, not really. I will be delivering twins."
Elderly Man: *more astonishment* "Twins?! Two of them?! I don't know how women can have two babies, but I guess, I guess they can. Wow, two of them!"

I took advantage of a long pause, assuming this was the end of our conversation, and continued my reading, waiting, and tea -sipping. It wasn't the end.

Elderly Man: "Do you have any of them?"
Me: "Pardon me. Any of what, sir?"
Elderly Man: "Kids. Do you have kids already?"
Me: "Yes, sir. I have 4 children at home."
Elderly Man: *most astonishment yet* "Four! You already have four, and now you're having two more? That's six! Six kids! What will you do with six? *shaking his head* Six! Are they all your husband's?"
Let me take a moment here to tell you that this is NOT the first time someone has asked me if all my children belong to the same man; apparently, I have a certain look about me that leads people to believe I am quite friendly with the opposite sex. Really?Me: "Yes, they're all my husband's. And I won't have six children. I'm actually carrying these two for another couple, so I will still only have four."
Elderly Man: *confused now* "So, you're carrying for another couple? They want you to carry their children? How do you do that?"
Me: "Oh, the wonders of medical science are great, aren't they?"

Thankfully, my friend showed up at this time, putting an end to my awkward conversation. The elderly man just looked at me for a second more, chuckled to himself, then went back to enjoying his cookies and coke.

Things to Never Say to a Pregnant Woman, EVER
(all have been said to me in some form)
1. "Yeah, I looked like you when I was 9 months pregnant" -- I'm only 6 months.
2. "You're hips must be getting ready for the birth."
3. "Wow! You're huge!"
4. "You seem to grow each time I see you."
5. "How much weight have you gained?"
6. "'Are you sure there's not two in there?" -- There is, this time.
7. "Don't you know what causes that?"
8. "Haven't you had that baby yet?" -- Clearly no, if you're asking me and I'm still pregnant.
9. "You must be having a big baby."
10. "You look tired." -- This code for "you look awful."
Leave me a comment adding your own; I'd love to read them. Hope you got a small chuckle and I'll see you all in a few days.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Black is Slimming, right?

Maybe that fashion rule doesn't apply in my situation, hehe!! We are 23 weeks, 2 days and chugging right along in this pregnancy. Other than the concerns from my last appointment, I'd have to say that this pregnancy has been pretty textbook. Although I confess that I' might be feeling my age a bit more than in my previous go 'rounds.

My aerobics classes may be numbered soon. Each week seems to get harder and harder, and I am no longer able to keep up with the class (whereas I used to be able to keep up and in some cases outdo some of my classmates...even only 2 weeks ago!). I think after this month, I may be resigned to ellipticals and long walks around Target. I have no restrictions on my activity -- it's just getting plain uncomfortable and at times impossible. I mean, really, ab work with this belly!

My lower back has been causing me quite discomfort in the last few weeks as well. You might even be able to see in the photo up there that there is quite a pull on my lower back from the belly. I'm chalking this up to the fact that I am carrying two and the way I'm carrying in my lower belly. Although, I wonder if this back pain is any indication of possible back labor? I've never had back labor before, but I hear it is no picnic. Now I ask you, anyone had labor that was a picnic?!? At any rate, the lower back discomfort along with the sciatic pain is definitely lending itself to some waddling and sometimes all out limping. It's not pretty, people!

Next week is the OB appointment and ultrasound. I always look forward to those, and I'm sure you do too as they make for much more interesting posts. :) C was supposed to come, but has decided that she cannot. Apparently, airfare jumped a pretty penny since her last flight. (I hope this is temporary, for sure!) I plan on having her on speaker phone during the appointment so she can listen to the OB and ask her any questions. This will work out well, I think, since no way could I write all the information down that I get and I certainly couldn't remember it all!

Unless anything unusually blog-worthy happens between now and then, you all can find me back here on Tuesday! It's a date!