33 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  33 weeks

Total weight gain? 31 lbs - we have eaten our share of Christmas cookies this week!

Movement? A lot

What I miss?  Not much, but if i had to say something....sitting comfortably!  

Sleep?  Not bad besides getting up almost every hour to potty :)

Symptoms? I think I am having more contractions - had a positive FFN today

Best moment this week?  Being home for Christmas, going to Christmas Eve service at church, a white Christmas!

What I look forward to?  Appointment tomorrow - love hearing Max and Claire's heartbeats

Today I took another FFN test and it came back positive.  This means that there is a 50% chance we could deliver in the next two weeks.  SCARY!!  It's also nothing to freak about bc there was this girl at the hospital that had a positive and she delivered six weeks later.  Really, it just makes me more anxious/nervous.  I am going to be analyzing every thing I feel now.  I go tomorrow for a non stress test.

It's crazy and exciting to think we could be meeting our babies in the next two weeks!  How cool would it be if they were born on 1/1/11?!

Bored

Dare I say it?
I am extremely bored today.  Maybe it is 2 months of being on bed rest that will do that to ya!  There is so much to get done around the house and it is just egging me on to do it.  There are still some baby clothes that need to be washed and put away, we still need to find a place where we are going to keep bottles and baby utensils - then once we find that place, we need to clean it and find a home for what used to be there!  Justin's parents are coming tomorrow, Christmas eve dinner is at our house, bathrooms need to be cleaned, etc.....
And I wish more than anything, I could do something about it!  Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be still and laid down for the babies but I am just itching to do things!  I'm sure I'll be kicking myself two months from now when I am getting no sleep, but for now, I need movement!

32 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  32 weeks / 8 months!!

Total weight gain? 26.5 lbs

Movement?  Yes!  Max gets the hiccups at least twice a day!

What I miss?  just the usual things people do every day : cook, clean, drive!

Sleep?  Not bad - waking up every hour for trips to the bathroom

Best moment this week?  Our appt last Thursday:  good report!

Symptoms?  I think I am having more contractions.  Very emotional! * see below!

What I look forward to?  Appointment tomorrow and Christmas at home!!

*Oh. My. Hello. Hormones!  Friday night Justin wanted takeout and I immediately said Village Tavern, my favorite!  I was wanting to try a cheeseburger ( haven't had one in over 4 months) and really wanted their chips with ranch.  I call in the order specifying ranch with the chips.  Justin gets home with my beloved chips, I open the box and NO RANCH!  You have got to be kidding me!  Tears immediately filled my eyes and I cried. A lot.  Crying as if something really bad happened.  Justin just looked at me like I had 5 heads.  The whole no ranch ruined my dinner.  All the crying left me all stopped up so I couldn't taste anything I were to eat... so cereal it was!

It all took me by surprise!  I haven't had a breakdown like that or had a craving so bad it made me cry this whole time! 

Had to throw in this picture!  I think this really shows how big I've gotten!

Cry baby

Man, have the hormones kicked in high gear!!  I'm not sure if it has to do with my insecurity of being home or what.
Today we had a check up appointment with Dr. Cousins.  I was very nervous going in, worrying I was going to be put back in the hospital.  She had written "no wait" on my appointment papers since I am on bed rest.  They took us right away, get in the room, ready for her to come in and the nurse says she is running 30 minutes late! What! I was fine, but still wanted to wait on her. THEN she came in again and said she was still running behind (she was in surgery at Womens Hospital) Nurse said a diff. doctor could check me and finally I said ok. (enter flood gates)   I really was looking forward to seeing Dr. Cousins.  Then, whatyaknow... I hear the voice... she is here!!  I got to see her after all.... all that crying, that is!!  I swear I could cry on demand right now!! ha!

Appointment went well.  I have now gained 26 pounds, which she is happy with, measuring 37 weeks.  Cervix is still dilated, but hasn't changed since I was in the hospital.  Good news!
We go back on Tuesday for one more appointment before Christmas.  Hopefully this means my wish came true:  Christmas at home with our families!!

Life is good :)

31 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  31 weeks

Total weight gain? I'm thinking 25 lbs... I'll get weighed on Thursday

Movement? A lot!

What I miss?  Comfort of hearing our babies heart beats 3x a day

Sleep?  It is so nice to sleep in my own bed next to my husband!

Best moment this week?  Coming home :)

Symptoms?  Contractions and my upper thighs on the side are killing me - I thought it was from the hospital bed, but I am beginning to think it is just part of being pregnant and getting bigger!

What I look forward to?  Appointment on Thursday - only if it's a good appointment!  Dr. Cousins will check my cervix again and hopefully we will be ok to stay at home.  I've been good!

I'm as wide as our tree!

11 more days til Christmas!!

Home Sweet Home!

I AM HOME!!

I took another FFN test today along with getting my cervix checked.  Test came back negative!  Dr. Cousins checked my cervix and although it has dilated a little more, she let me come home.
We asked lots of questions and I know how to behave!
I'll go for a check up next Thursday and have numbers if I need to reach my old nurses!

 I am so grateful to be home.... but I think the first day or two will be a little scary.  I am so used to being hooked up on monitors, hearing our babies beautiful heart beats and only a step away from the nursing station.  I miss my nurses already!  They were amazing and cried when I was leaving today!  I can't wait to take them some goodies and thank them for all they have done for us :)

Ultrasound

I was awakened this morning for an early ultrasound.  Our babies are getting big!
Claire was 3 lbs 10 oz and Max was 3 lbs 9 oz.  Neither wanted to get their picture taken, however we got two little shots of Claire's face - or should I say cheeks and lips!  She was being cute.  We got to see her open and close her mouth and saw her tongue doing the sucking/swallowing motion!
Max wouldn't face us at all... go figure. We haven't seen him since we found out their sex back in Sept.  She did say it looks like he has long legs!
Cervix hasn't changed much.  I'll have the FFN test tomorrow morning and should know results before lunch.  Dr. Cousins will come check me and asses if she thinks I can go home tomorrow afternoon!

Keeping fingers and legs crossed!

30 weeks!!

Pregnancy Highlights

 not sure what's up with the hair poof!

How far along?  30 weeks!!! *Dr. Cousins just checked in and measured my belly... it is measuring 36 weeks!  She is excited to find out their weights on Thursday!

Total weight gain? 23 lbs - lost a lb this week

Movement? Yes, so much that Mr. Wild Man Max has flipped upside down or I should say right side up?!

What I miss?  My bed.  This past weekend they had to bring me a new hospital bed bc mine had such a huge divet (is that a word? sp? what ev!) from laying in the same spot for a month.  I had been sleeping on the metal bar and my legs were in a lot of pain.  My new bed is much better!

Sleep?  better besides frequent trips to the ladies room!

Best moments this week?  Having a really cool nurse on Sunday that let us do a mini u/s to find Max and Dr. Cousins saying my cervix was looking good. = possibility of going home Friday!

Symptoms?  Contractions

What I look forward to?  Justin (love you!) getting his hair cut Wed, U/S Thursday, ffn Friday!

We are definitely growing EVERY day!

Today I got a little emotional.  This happened last time they told me I might be able to go home.  While I am very excited about the possibility, I am also scared as hell!  It is so comforting to hear our babies three times a day and having the nurses 2 steps way if I need them.  What if I miss something, or don't feel it?

The decision will depend on my cervix and if the ffn comes back negative - so we will have to wait til Friday to find out!

 I also got flowers today from my best friend!  Our family and friends have been so amazing to us!

Stockings

I can't tell you enough how wonderful the nursing staff is at Women's Hospital.  This morning I had a nurse that I haven't had since the first week and she had a little extra time so we "played" with the traveling ultrasound machine!  Max has been so wild so we decided to track him down.... turns out, he has flipped.  His head is now at the top of my uterus!  This seems to be a good thing because it has take a lot of extra weight/pressure off of my cervix.  Dr Cousins also decided to do a "surprise, I'm gonna check your cervix".  Great news.... I haven't dilated any more and it seems my cervix hasn't shortened anymore either!  SO...there is a possibility I get to go home on Friday if my FFN test comes back negative! Yay!

Tonight the Nurse Tech came in with a basket of baby socks and glitter glue/puff paint and we got to make Max and Claire Christmas stockings!

I am not creative, but this is what I did with my 5 minutes!  They are hanging from the tv stand :)

Today I am 30 weeks.  We took a picture and it is HORRIBLE so the pregnancy highlights will have to wait until tomorrow!

A room with a view

That's right!  I have a room with a view.  I may not be able to get out of bed or be outside, but I can surely see it snowing outside my window!

It's actually a pretty good deal.  I get to enjoy the pretty sight of snow falling on the trees and ignore the soggy grass and slush afterward! 

Justin has the afternoon and night off to watch the SEC championship football game.  I, on the other hand, am enjoying  a nice cup of hot chocolate (thanks to my wonderful nurse) and watching the game on my little tv!

29 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  29 weeks 3 days (every day counts!)

Total weight gain? Finally gained!  24 lbs.  I gained 3 lbs this week... that makes my Dr. happy :)  I have only gained one pound since being on bed rest.

Movement?  More and more each day!

What I miss?  A full night of sleep

Sleep? not so much!  it doesn't help that a nurse comes in at 12 and 4am for vitals and medicine.  I have a hard time going back to sleep after the 4 o'clock.

Best moments this week?  (-) FFN ! 2 more weeks!!  Our families have been awesome!  This past weekend they both went above and beyond to help get us ready for Max and Claire's arrival!

Symptoms?  Continued contractions.  

What I look forward to?  Next Thursday we have an u/s and get to see how much M & C have grown and we will have a FFN on Friday.

Dr. Cousins just came in for her daily check up and said it feels like they are really growing!  

We're growing!!

Thanks Amillion!

Wow!  We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  This post is for our family:  Payne's and Fredrick's!  The past couple of weeks, they have all gone out of their way to get us and our house ready for babies!
Thanksgiving day Mom, Dad and my Aunt Ann made a beautiful dinner and brought it to the hospital and stayed to visit

I was so stuffed!  Not to mention the wonderful nursing staff brought me a plate of their potluck Thanksgiving!

Friday, all the Fredricks worked around our house, cleaning baby dishes, washing baby clothes and blankets and putting cribs together!

The cribs are the size of a linebacker!! 

Darcy read the directions and made sure the boys understood!

It's coming together!

They take up more room than we anticipated so we are still figuring out the layout of the room

Glider

After all their hard work, they brought Mexican to the hospital and we played games.  I lost.  :)

Saturday there was still a lot to do around the house, Mom knocked off some Christmas shopping for me and bought crib sheets and mattress pad covers, Teddy and his Girlfriend brought me a smoothie, then it was time for the UGA/Ga Tech game.

After hours of cheering, eating and clapping, the Dawgs pulled a W!!  That makes Justin and the rest of the family very happy!!

 Before Justin left, he helped track Max and Claire.  They are doing great and very busy in Mommy's tummy!

So far today, there has been more laundry, cleaning and Grandpa Fredrick took the BOB to REI so they could put it together.  He was super kind to swing it by the hospital to show me all the bells and whistles!! AND it fits in my trunk! Can't wait to take them on their first walk!

Before the Fredricks left, they took a video of all the things they did around the house - it looks great!  Mrs. Fredrick surprised me by putting wreaths on all the outside windows!!  I had commented last year that their house looked so nice with the wreaths and they so kindly put them on ours!

THANK YOU TO BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS AND UNCLES FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT!!  Max and Claire are so lucky to have you in their lives!

28 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  28 weeks! Third trimester! Huge Milestone!

Total weight gain?  as of last Wed. , 20 lbs - get weighed in tomorrow

Movement?  They have been VERY active!

What I miss?  Still going with fresh air... and I would love to be decorating for Christmas!

Sleep? Much better!  

Best Moment this week?  making 28 weeks! Dr. Cousins took me off the toco (contraction monitor)!  I only have to do it 3x a day now!

Symptoms?  Not much has changed!  still have contractions, though I think they have really slowed down! 

What I look forward to?  Giving thanks, family, and we are doing another FFN test on Friday

Super excited - Justin picked up our cribs and nursery chair!  They are going to put them together this weekend!  Can't wait to see the nursery coming together.

Here is a blurry picture of the chair with the plastic wrap still on

Thought for the day:

                                  "There are 4 things that you cannot recover in life:

                            1. A Stone.......after it's thrown,

                            2. A Word.......after it's said.

                            3. An Occasion....after it's missed, and

                            4. Time.........after it's gone." 

Weekend Milestone!

Quick weekend update!

First and foremost.... WE made it to 28 WEEKS!!!!  This is a huge milestone for the babies!!  Justin did a "we made it to 28 weeks dance" this morning!
More bragging on the hubs..  Saturday he woke up and did a lot around the house, came back to the hospital with a new, clean wardrobe, groceries and a well rested self.  We had take out and played cards - well, he creamed me in rummy!  I love him!  Each day I am falling more and more in love with him!  I can't wait to see him be a dad :)
Today Mom and Brooke went to our house and cleared out boxes and presents, making room for the cribs to be set up!  House is looking great, at least from the pictures I see!!

OH: BIG STEP:  Dr. Cousins took me off the 24 hour contraction monitor!! FREEDOM!  I just have to do it three times a day!  I was a little nervous at first, I mean.. it has been like a security blanket for me! 

28 week pregnancy highlight tomorrow!

Growing Babies!

Our babies are getting big!!  Yesterday, after patiently waiting, they came to take me on my "field trip" at 3:30.  They did all their measurements, checked my cervix and tried three times to get good 3d pictures.  On the third try we got a few good pictures of Claire's face and one picture of Max with his hand covering his face.

Claire's foot

 somebody's hand! 

Max and Claire each gained a pound and are measuring 28 weeks. That makes their Mommy and Daddy very happy :)  Not much has changed with my cervix.  All they say is it is very dynamic - which is why Dr. Cousins doesn't have a "feeling" about me...meaning usually she has a feeling when someone will go in labor or if they will be here for a while. But NOT ME. Go figure!  We will just keep taking our days.

No change means I still have shower and bathroom privileges! YAHOO

This is Claire.  If you look in the middle you can see her face.  She has a little squishy nose (justin) and it looks like she has Angelina Jolie lips - not sure where they came from!  Definitely still sporting chubby cheeks!

 This is Max. He's hiding.  His hand is in front of his face.  We did get a quick glimpse and it looks like he has my chin?  We'll see!  It appears he doesn't like his picture taken!

 

                "Be happy and your children will be, too." 

Hodgepodge

I have lots of random thoughts and comments today.

*just weighed in for the week and did not gain any weight.... not sure how that happened!
*It looks pretty outside and I wish I could just take a ride and sit out there for a few minutes
*I'm having a contraction
*I really want to take a shower, wash, dry and style my hair, and get dressed in "real" clothes
*Get all my thank you cards done in blink of my eye
*Finish a book
*Give thanks to all my friends and family for all they have done

*Today I am being selfish bc I just want to be at home, sleep in my bed - with my husband, not on a separate couch, do my own laundry, cook my own meals, clean my house (yes, I said it), decorate my babies' room, Christmas shop, decorate our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas,  go on a walk and lots more.
Justin brought me back to reality by saying if two years ago I was told I would have to stay in the hospital for 2 months to have healthy babies, I would gladly do so.  I only want what is best for them.  I think captivity has gotten to me.

*I enjoy when visitors stop by!  Yesterday I had three sets of visitors - complete with laughter, starbucks, goodies from The Fresh Market and Mom's Spaghetti!

Looking forward to our U/S tomorrow!  can't wait to see how much Max and Claire have grown!

OH! how could I forget yesterday and today's thoughts for the day!
Yesterday:  "kiss someone goodnight even if he is already asleep"
Today:  "leave everything a little better than you left it"

Thought for the day

        Happiness is found in the small and simple things that

                          happen in life.   :)

 

This is so very true!  I am very appreciative for those simple things that make me smile and happy every day :) 

 

 

27 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  27 weeks

Total Weight Gain?  Find out Wed

Movement?  They are very busy!  I had a mini u/s Friday to track down Max!  He is very active!

What I miss?  Fresh Air!  

Sleep?  Didn't get much this weekend.  Last night I was up a lot and apparently had a lot of contractions so the nurse kept coming in to check on me.  Hoping to get a good nap today!

Best Moment this week?  Keeping the babies in!  Justin coming back from his guy's weekend

Symptoms?  Continued contractions, dilated 1 cm

What I look forward to?  U/S Thursday!  We get to measure the babies! and I'll have my cervix checked again.

Update

Today we had another FFN test and they checked my cervix.  We had good news on the FFN - it came back negative! Apparently, my cervix is funneling? So it didn't necessarily shorten any more, but I am dilated 1cm.  Dr. wasn't happy about that and gave me the first steroid shot (I'll get the other tomorrow)  that way we'll be prepared if they come soon.
I freaked out as usual, but got over it.  We are still hoping and praying they'll stay in til at least 30 weeks.

When the nurse came in with the shot I did all I could to stall! It worked for about 20 min.  I squealed, but it wasn't too bad!  The nurse the other day told me they hurt, but I think the flu shot hurt worse than this!
We'll just keep taking it day by day, week by week!

Words of the day

Mom started sending out thoughts of the day from her book of  8,789 words of wisdom.  They make me smile and are pretty darn good thoughts!
She started Tuesday, so I'll take you back a few days:

Tuesday:  "Tomorrow will become a yesterday"

Wednesday:  "It is a gift to lead a simple life"

Today:  "Remember the day you met your loved one"

I'll never forget the day I met Justin!  Dancing at Greene Street!! Love him!

Just another day

Not much to update.... I do the same thing every day!  Yesterday was very quiet - no visitors.  Today I had quite a few.  My good friend, Brooke, brought me coffee, a robe and a shirt, childhood friend and her mom brought me TCBY and I had a surprise visit from my friend's mom that lives in Florida!!  It was so nice to see everyone.  Racked up on magazines...I'll be busy for a while!

Had a weigh in today.  I gained back the two lbs I lost so I am up to 20 lbs.  Feeling good.  Had a few contractions, but nothing bad.
Mom is bringing a chicken and rice dinner tonight! AND my cousin Elizabeth is in town from work so she'll come by for a little.

With tomorrow being Veterans Day, I'll have lots of visitors!

Looking forward to our checkup appointment on Friday.

FYI: I was not an English major, nor was I ever a good writer... so I am sure there are run-on sentences, commas in the wrong places and many other errors :)

Max and Claire's Baby Shower

There are not enough words to describe how special this day was!  One of my best friends planned this shower from Florida, we changed the location three times and it was perfect!  My dr. had suggested we have it in the hospital.  The room was perfect and everything looked great!

After the shower they brought the decorations to my room!

We received so many wonderful gifts!

Mom demonstrating the mamaroo

Blankets galore!

and much, much more!

Love all my family and friends!

My best friend, Ashley that gave me the best shower I could have asked for! and she even planned it all from Florida!  AND stayed with me in the hospital for two nights! Love her!

Afterward, Mom and my aunts had fun wheeling me back to the room!

Thanks Dr. Cousins for letting me have a shower at the hospital!