Pictures!

Here are a few pictures that my very talented (and patient) sister in law took for us last weekend. Braxton is 20.5 mos and I am 33 weeks pregnant with the twins. Enjoy!

http://jmmphotos.zenfolio.com/liedel

34 Weeks and admitting you just can't do it all...

So we made it to a pretty big milestone yesterday. 34 weeks gestation. That means that if the babies came now, according to lots of statistics they would be ok. However, we are hoping for a minimum of 37-38 weeks. How I am going to manage that given how I have been feeling lately, not so sure.

This week was a real eye opener for me. The loss of my dad was by far the hardest thing I have been dealing with and continue to deal with on a daily basis. However, aside from that major loss I have to admit that my emotional and stress levels have been somewhat constant. Definitely I have had some things pop up that threw me into a brief tailspin, but nothing that made me question my abilities to do this anymore. This week has been a true test. Unforeseen issues at work that led up to 12 hour days of non-stop demands just wiped me out. Normally, my not 34 week pregnant with twins self would have taken it in stride. This week it literally chewed me up and spit me out. I left work every night so uncomfortable I was in tears at the thought of my nightly commute. So exhausted when I got home all I wanted to do was lay down and cry. But even laying down was and is hard. The final straw was Thursday night, when I went to get on the expressway to come home and it was at a dead stop. It was like someone opened the dam, I just started balling. I just couldn't deal with it. That was what they say on TV - an 'ah-ha' moment. I can't keep doing this because the only ones I need to worry about need me to be strong and positive and not utterly exhausted and emotionally spent. They need me to keep it together for 3-4 more weeks and do my job. My REAL job. Its time I admit I can not do it all. And admittedly this was a very hard thing for me to do. Dependence is not my strong suit. But one day at a time is my motto. I have a very worthwhile reward at the end, I just need to let go for a few weeks and accept help. So wish me luck. Thankfully I am blessed with a wonderful support system.

So anyway enough about that. Let's celebrate week 34. In fact today is 34 weeks and 1 day :) My agenda - I took a shower. I am updating my blog. I might take a nap? We'll see. But rest for sure...oh and next ultrasound is Monday AM. So we get to see what they are up to. Looking very forward to that!

I hope this finds you well.

~B

32 Weeks & We Passed!

So we are fast approaching a very large milestone in a twin pregnancy. The 32 week point is a big deal in terms of the babies survival rate, minimal potential health issues should they be born at this point etc. The next big one is going to be 34 weeks. And once we reach week 37 we're doing great! 60% of twin pregnancies deliver before 37 weeks though. Here's hoping we're in the minority on this one! Our tentative delivery date is Halloween. This mom is hoping that we get to pull it up to 10/24/11 b/c I have never been a fan of Halloween. Only time will tell...

We had our last ultrasound on August 22nd. Both babies and mom are doing great. They measured about 3+lbs. each and were within centimeters of each other in terms of length. Baby A has the larger head, just slightly. And Baby B has a larger belly :) But both seem to be doing quite well and are growing at an above average rate. We like that.

The next appt. was on August 29th. That was the lovely 3 hour glucose test for gestational diabetes. Thankfully after drinking what tastes like flat Sprite with extra syrup and getting poked every hour for 3 hours, we passed that test. No gestational diabetes for us. So that too came as a relief.

Now it's just a matter of taking it one day, then one week at a time. Trying to rest as much as possible. The long holiday weekend has helped with that. We did have some unforeseen issues, not related to the pregnancy, arise recently that caused some stress but nothing that we can't work through. Gotta love being a 'slumlord' :)

We need to get a few things for the babies yet but nothing pressing. Crib mattresses, take home outfits, another boppy and cover...but that is all stuff we have time to get.

Well enjoy what's left of the long weekend. I am off to soak in what feels like the first day of fall in Michigan. Cool crisp air, the type that requires you wear a nice sweatshirt, the clean smell of cut grass and leaves burning. One of my favorite times of year...

~B