What have we been up to?

The past couple of days have been a blur and flown by.  I can't believe our babies are already 8 days old!  They spend most days eating, pooping, sleeping and more pooping.  You wouldn't believe the amount of diapers we have gone through!  Claire is famous for having a poopy diaper and when we go to change she poops while putting her in a clean diaper or the second we get her dressed, she gives us a blow out!  They have played on their play mat, had some tummy time, read books, spent time in their mamaroos, and today we went on our first family walk!

Justin and I spend most of our days staring at our precious babies.  I can't believe both of them were in my tummy!

I have been patiently trying to breast feed.  Max will not latch on, he just plays and Claire is pretty good most of the time.  She usually stays interested for about 10 min. and I don't think that's long enough to get what she needs.  I have had trouble producing enough for both of them so I have had to supplement with formula.
They have been on an every three hour feeding schedule that has been working well.  Claire, my little chunk, is always first to wake ready to eat!  We just upped the mL to 50.  They are good eaters and we haven't had one spit up! ... i just jinxed myself! 
Their first dr appointment went well.  Claire gained 2oz and Max gained 1.5oz.  Max's body temp was low (96.8) so we keep him layered.  They love swaddling and their daddy is the best at doing it!

We have had a lot of visitors!  Claire and Max are loved!  Their Aunt Darcy is coming to spend the day tomorrow, Justin's parents are coming for 4 days in Feb. and my aunts in VA and NY are coming at the end of Feb.  Can't wait for them to see and meet our babies.

Tuesday we are going to get their pictures made.  A local photographer was wanting to do some work with newborn twins and is giving us a free sitting fee. SCORE!  We will buy the cd with their photos.  I am so excited.  Hopefully we will get great shots and have an announcement out soon :)

not sure about tummy time!

Introducing Max and Claire

Proud Parents

of

Max McKinley (5 lbs 13 oz) and Claire Elizabeth (6lbs)

Healthy and Happy!

We are so in love 

More to come.....

False alarm

How many false alarms til it's the real thing?  I mean... damn...!!  Get these babies OUT!
Last night I was very crampy and had few contractions and was uncomfortable the rest of the night.  Today I went to get a manicure and to Target to get a few last minute things.  When I was in Target the pains increased again so I hurried home to lay down.  I was having some more painful contractions about 7 min apart, so I called the doctor's office.  They said to come in, so I did, and it was nothing... still 4cm.  Dr. Cousins was glad I came in and said please call if I need anything... she also said she wouldn't be surprised if she saw me again this weekend! OMG.... I will be a mess all weekend analyzing everything!

Any day now!

Just left my weekly appointment and we are getting very close!
I was 100% effaced and a full 4 cm!  Dr. Cousins said to stay close to home!  I'm kind of freaking out.... I wander when it will happen? 
She measured my belly and it was measuring 44 weeks - HOW.. last week is was 39!  Someone has been doing some big moving in there!!

36 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along?  36 weeks.. Holy cow.. that's 9 months!!

Total weight gain?  36 lbs

Movement?  A lot, along with hiccups!  I love feeling them move and will miss that once they are here!

What I miss?  sleep :)

Sleep?  Up every 1.5 hrs to go to the bathroom...then it takes a while to get comfortable and fall back asleep

Symptoms?  cramping - see below

Best moment this week?  I made it through a MUCH needed mani/pedi!! It was uncomfortable, but looks so good!

What I look forward to?  Meeting Max and Claire

This morning I actually thought it was time.  I had a little bleeding along with cramping and started to freak out.  I called my friend Lindsay, who is a L&D nurse and she said to page Dr. Cousins.  While I waited to hear back from her I packed my bag.  She called and said to go to the hospital to get checked.  She was not on call, but met us there.  They hooked me up to the toco and heart rate monitors.  Babies looked great and I only had a few contractions.  I was closer to 4cm dilated and 90% effaced.  My blood pressure was a little high when we got there (whose wouldn't be after freaking out?) so they made me stay hooked up to check my blood pressure multiple times.   It went back to normal in no time!

I'll have my weekly appointment Wednesday for another update.  I wander when they will make their appearance for real?!

A little bit of food heaven!

Yesterday I made some delicious food!  It was another very cold day in NC so we needed something to warm us up!  I remembered a recipe I made a few months ago in the crock pot and it was the perfect choice, chicken with creamy red potatoes.

Ingredients:

Chicken - I used two breasts

1.5 lbs of red pototates

1 can cream of potato soup

1 envelope of ranch seasoning

1 8oz block of 1/3 fat cream cheese

Cut potatoes in 1 inch cubes and put in bottom of crock pot.  In a separate bowl, mix soup, seasoning, and cream cheese then spread on top of potatoes.  Cut chicken in strips and put on top of spread  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

And the best part is:  

Easy clean up!!

These crock pot liners are awesome!

Then there was dessert!  Actually, double dessert!  Cupcakes and white chocolate hot chocolate!

When I was in the hospital a friend had brought me some white chocolate hot chocolate.  It was one of the best things that has ever gone in my mouth!  I went to buy one the other day and it was $3.34 for a small and was/is loaded with fat.... this lead me to experiment and make it "healthier".  

I started by using google to find recipes.  They all seemed pretty similar:  heavy cream, white chocolate chips, half and half and vanilla.  ALL loaded with FAT!

I splurged and bought 1% milk and used fat free 1/2 and 1/2.

I began by melting white chocolate chips (1/3 cup?) and the milk.  Once the chocolate was melted I added a couple of tbs of 1/2 and 1/2 and a 1/2 tsp of vanilla, stirred until it came to a boil and enjoyed!!

Man oh man was this delicious and you didn't even miss the fat.  Next time I'll try it with skim milk :)

And of course the cupcakes :)

Appointments

Just a quick update after my two appointments!
Yesterday we had a NST (non stress test).  They both passed.  I really dislike doing those. Basically you sit in a recliner for 20 minutes to an hour based on how babies behave.  I am always uncomfortable in the recliner, although nurse says most women like it.  The test monitors contractions and looks for the babies movement and an increase in heart rate.  They like to see the increase twice in 20 min... if not, it starts over.  I had some irritability, but no contractions.  Claire was very active and passed the test in the first five minutes.... Max, on the other hand, made us stay for close to 45 min.  He must have been taking a nap.

Today I had my weekly check up.  Dr. Cousins checked my cervix and we did a strep test.  Oh.. and the dreaded scale.  I gained 3 lbs in a week!  I am really getting close to a number I don't want to see.  She is very happy with my weight gain of 35 lbs... and no stretch marks!  I am 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  Overall another great appointment.

Warm soup for a cold winter night

I cooked!!  Tonight we had Potato Cheese Soup.  It was so creamy and good, and the best part - it was a weight watchers recipe!!

Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 medium onion(s), chopped
2 medium carrot(s), coarsely grated
3/4 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 pound potato(es), cut into 1/2-inch cubes (use small red potatoes)
29 oz vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free creamer, such as fat-free 1/2 and 1/2
8 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese

Instructions
Coat a nonstick medium pot with cooking spray and set over medium heat. Cook onions until they just begin to color, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, salt, pepper, paprika and mustard, stirring to mix; cook until carrots begin to soften, about 2 minutes.

Add potatoes, broth and half-and-half. Increase heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Add cheese and stir to melt; puree in batches in a blender. Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving

35 weeks!!!

Pregnancy Highlights

 I was looking back through pics and this is at 21 weeks - And I thought I was getting huge then! ha!

How far along?  35 weeks!  We hit the next big milestone!!  Crazy how far we have come!

Total weight gain?  32 lbs.. will get an update at Wednesday's appointment

Movement?  A lot!
What I miss?  ?? fitting in  most of my clothes :)

Sleep?  When I am not getting up to go to the br, it is pretty good

Symptoms?  Went off my contraction medicine and bed rest and I have noticed an increase in contractions.  my back is very sore - maybe I celebrated freedom a little too much?, very frequent trips to the br, legs hurt when I sleep and first get up, clothes getting snug!.. the usual!

Best moment this week?  Making it to 35 weeks :)  Going off bed rest!! 

What I look forward to?  Meeting our precious babies!!

So very large!!  I had issues getting dressed tonight.  Jeans just aren't that comfy, these leggings are comfy, but show how large my rear and legs have gotten and I have very few shirts that are long enough to cover my belly!  

I browsed the maternity section at Target yesterday and decided I wasn't spending $20+ on something when I spend most of my time in the house in my pjs and sweats!  Maybe I should have bought a shirt that I could wear out?!

Free at last!

Okay, okay.... I know today wasn't officially 35 weeks, but I started my freedom today - one day early :) It felt great!  Today was the first time I have been in a Target in over 2.5 months! I can hardly believe it myself!
We got Max and Claire a few pairs of pants then headed to Macy's, Old Navy and Carters to do exchanges and make more purchases!  It was cute to see Justin getting excited over clothes.  He picked out their outfits at Macy's:  Puma, velour sweatsuits for next winter!!  He said they had to have them! 
After resting for two hours we headed back out to meet our friends for a birthday.  It was at a bowling alley and I lasted a little over an hour.  I stood the majority of the time bc sitting is uber uncomfortable! (not sure if uber is used correctly, but I have been wanting to use it! ha!)
We'll see how the next few days go.  It will be interesting to see what it's like not taking Procardia, my contraction medicine, along with freedom to move about as I please.  I was pretty tired from my outings today.

We're getting there!

For Christmas Mom and Dad got us this beautiful bookcase that matches Max and Claire's nursery.

I still need to get more baskets and I can't wait to get off bed rest so I can buy cute things to fill it up :)
I think I am going to fill the baskets with blankets, toys and burp cloths?

Delicious

A certain someone in the house has been wanting cupcakes!  It did not disappoint :)

34 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 34 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain? 32 lbs

Movement? Yes, along with lots of hiccups!

What I miss?  Pretty happy right now!  Sleep is always going to be something I miss!

Sleep?  Not bad besides getting up every hour for trips to the ladies room!

Symptoms?  Not much has changed

Best moment this week?  U/S today! Can't believe how big they have gotten!

What I look forward to?  Making it to or past 35 weeks so I can be off bed rest!!  I am so ready to meet these babies!!

Today's appointment recap:  2 cm dilated , Claire is head down and weighs 5lbs 4oz and Max is breech weighing 5lbs!  Dr. Cousins is very happy!  I'll go off bed rest and medicine Sunday!

 

Christmas pictures

I decided to hold off one more day on my 34 week pregnancy highlights.  I have a dr appointment tomorrow which will make for a better update!

Because both siblings were out of town/country for Christmas, we celebrated 3 times!  We got two big gifts:  Canon Rebel T1i and a bookcase for the babies room along with lots of other fun things!  It was a beautiful Christmas in NC with snow falling for more than 12 hours and an accumulation of 6 inches!

I gave Justin an updated Ipod Nano that was engraved "Husband of the Year"

So excited for our new camera! - now I have to figure it out!

Justin surprised me with cowgirl boots!  Not easy to put on with a huge belly!  Can't wear them yet bc  I think I need a bigger size - not sure how they are supposed to fit.

Mom got us a signed Elf on the Shelf for the babies!

Loves his new golf bag!

Jeff, Darcy and I all got new Toms!

It was very nice to see and be with all of our family!

falling behind

I have been a bad blogger!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I have so many pictures and fun things to blog about - BUT i have not uploaded any pictures. 
We did get a Canon Rebel T1i for Christmas!  It is a big step up from our regular digital camera.... lots of learning to do!  Amy, a friend from High School, is coming over tomorrow to give me a lesson!  I should have all pictures uploaded by then :)

Christmas decorations were taken down, guests have left, and we have a quiet, clean house!  We welcome 2011 and look forward to all our new adventures :)

btw.. 34 week update tomorrow!  Can't believe how far we have come!