Yesterday Rob and I went in for our weekly appointment with the doctor. We were scheduled for another Non-Stress Test like we had the week before where they put monitors on your belly and listen to the heartbeats. Well, since there are two babies, it makes it hard - especially since they move around a LOT. So, we tried to get them set up on that machine, but it wasn't going well. So, they had us get their heart rates via sonogram. The babies looked good, and their hearts were beating around 140.  It's always nice to get a sneak peek at Madilyn and Carter! They are still breech and transverse, and are currently head to head. They also checked my amniotic fluid and said it looks good. The babies have a lot of fluid to move around in - which makes sense because yes, they ARE moving around a lot! The doctor also said my cervix is high and looking good. We talked more about my swelling and how things have been going for work. After talking, my doctor decided it would be best if I took full bed rest. Medically things look great, but because of my swelling and the fact that I am having twins, she felt it would be best to put my feet up for the next three weeks. At next weeks appointment, we are going to have our last growth ultrasound which will tell us how big the babies are before we actually meet them! :)

So --- I'm in denial about a few things. My last day of work was today. My long term sub has been working half days for me which has been nice in many ways. But I called her yesterday to let her know what my doctor said, and that starting Thursday, she would be in charge for good! It was hard to leave work today for many reasons. I want to make sure that my kids are taken care of, and that my sub has everything ready and knows where everything is! It was also hard to leave because I was saying farewell to my Broadway family. I work with an amazing group of people, and feel like I have the best team around. Not seeing my coworkers/friends every morning is going to be an adjustment but I know once the babies are here I won't even have time to think about that!

I'm also in denial that Rob and I will officially be parents in 3 weeks. 21 days. Seriously?? Where has the time gone?? I am counting down the days in my head and checking my list to make sure that everything is ready for the big day. I pray that on their birthday everything goes well, and I hope that they don't come early! I have faith that they won't come early and everything will be great for me and the babies on the day of. Even though three weeks seems like a good chunk of time, I know it will go by in the blink of an eye, and May 2nd will be here before we know it! :) Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers these last few weeks. I'll be sure to update with any news -- and soon will have some pictures of some sweet faces!! :)

Dr. Visit - 4/3

Rob and I went in for our weekly visit today. We had a stress test done on the babies which is where they put monitors on your stomach and they have you get comfy in a chair, and they listen to the heartbeats for about 20 minutes. It took a little while to get things ready - as you can imagine, it is harder to get both babies to cooperate and stay in a position that will detect their heartbeats! But, after about 25 minutes they took the print out from the test to the doctor, and the babies did well enough to pass! Had I not passed, they would have had to have done the same test, but with the ultrasound machine. So -- very glad that worked out. We went and saw the doctor after that. Nothing too much to report from her. We asked her about bed rest, and we agreed that half days seemed feasible for now and that she would check on me next week to see how things were going. We also asked her about traveling since this weekend is Easter, and Rob and I were planning on going to Bridge City. She said that being pregnant with twins and traveling at 34 weeks wouldn't be the best idea. At this point of being pregnant with twins is like being at 37-38 weeks with one baby. And, really, twins can come at any time - but even more so when week 34 starts. So, per her advice, I am going to be staying home and will be putting my feet up and resting! :) 

After the meeting with the doctor was over, I had to go give blood, and schedule my next two appointments. Next Tuesday, we will be doing another stress test, and then the week after that will be our last growth ultrasound before the babies are here. It's crazy to think these sweet babies could be here at any time - I am really hoping that they will stay inside and cook as long as they can. Rob has been very supportive (of course) and constantly reassures me that even if they came in 4 days instead of 4 weeks that we would be ready for them. And I know he's right - I just want everything to be perfect and give those babies as much time in my belly as possible! 

Dr. Visit - 3.27

Rob and I went in for our doctor visit on Tuesday. We knew we were going to be having a growth ultrasound down which was exciting because while we had seen the babies two weeks prior, it was just to check their positions and not size. So, we got called back and got the ultrasound started. Both Madilyn and Carter stayed in their same spots. Carter is still on the right and is head up and transverse. Madilyn is breech, and her head is near Carter's. Once the ultrasound tech got all of the measurements taken, she told us how big they both measured. Rob and I were pretty off on our estimates - but I think since we thought it had been about a month, they would have grown substantially. However, that is what they WILL be doing in the next month! Anyways, Carter weighed in at 4lbs 9oz, and Madilyn weighed in at about 3lbs 12oz. The tech did say that those measurements are not quite accurate because it's hard to get a good view of both of them. So, she said in reality, Carter probably weighs less and Madilyn weighs more. Her guess was that they are both somewhere around 4lbs 4oz. Once we finished that part of the appointment, we went to meet with the doctor. She said everything is looking great - but that I am starting to swell. Of course, it comes with the territory and especially with twins! But, we talked briefly about if half days would be a possibility. I told her that since getting to week 32, it seems like I've gained 100 pounds, things are getting more difficult, and I am swelling a lot more. She said it was pretty common for women to start "really feeling pregnant" around this time - and being that I have twins, she is not surprised I am starting to feel that way! We also talked with her about when we would like to schedule the C-section, and it looks like these little babies will be here on May 2nd or 3rd. We will get the official date most likely at our next appointment - they had to make sure everything was cleared with the hospital before it was official. So, we are looking at the beginning of May - unless there are any complications or I go into labor on my own. I'm hoping and praying that everything continues to go smoothly, and we can have these babies here when they are scheduled to be here. I can't believe how SOON my little ones will be here!! Rob and I feel like everything at the house is ready for them - now it's just making sure that WE are ready! :)

Dr. Visit - 3/14 - 30 weeks

On Wednesday, Rob and I went in for another doctor's appointment. This appointment was just a check up to see how things were going for me and the babies. We had an ultrasound done, but this one was strictly just to see where the babies are positioned. These spots are more than likely where the babies will be up to the time of birth. Anyways, Carter is on my top right side - sort of transverse across my belly with his head up. Madilyn is towards the bottom left of my belly button, and she is breech - so her head is up too. So, needless to say, no heads are down which means a C-section is going to be the route we take to get the babies here. Once the ultrasound was over, we waited a few minutes for the Doctor to come in. She was happy to report I had only gained a pound in the last two weeks (and how THAT is possible I don't know considering I had THREE showers between my last appointment and this one!). She asked if I had been having any issues, and I told her that sometimes (at night especially) my fingers/hand are tingly and numb. This is not uncommon during pregnancy. It's like carpel tunnel and I am not getting complete blood flow to my fingers. So, she recommended I get a brace to sleep with to see if that helps. Also, I've started to notice that my legs/ankles have started swelling. Also, not uncommon. And my Doctor even said - it sort of comes with the territory. So, the plan is to try some support hose, put my feet up whenever possible, and then check back with her at my appointment in two weeks. Speaking of our next appointment... We will do another growth ultrasound which will tell us how big the babies are -- AND we are also going to pick a day to schedule the C-section!! Aaaa!!! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by, and that these babies will be here before we know it! So, we are looking to schedule it between week 37 and 38, which means the very end of April or beginning of May. Of course, that is if I don't go into labor before then, which could be possible. (!!!!!!!!) So, needless to say, since the appointment, I've done what feels like 100 loads of laundry, and I'm really wanting to get everything ready since I'll be going back to work on Monday. So excited.. nervous.. anxious..!! Just can't wait to have those babies be here with us! :)

Rob's Work Shower

Rob's teammates hosted a baby shower for us this past Monday which worked out great for me since it's Spring Break! :) The shower was held at the office at about 4. Even though I didn't make Rob come to my work shower, I went to his since I am the one carrying the babies - and because he asked me to! Also, it was really nice to be able to meet most of the people he talks about from work and to put a face with the name. Anyways, once the meet and greet finished up, we enjoyed some lemonade and chips and cheese. We then had a quick Q and A of baby/parenting questions. Afterwards, it was time to open gifts - which were all very thoughtful. (We even got 2 sets of Armani clothes! These babies will be stylin'!!) Cake was after that - and being pregnant, that was my favorite part of the shower! :) Thank you to those people who helped get everything together for that shower. Rob and I only continue to feel more blessed when people shower these little babies with love!

Bridge City Baby Shower

On Sunday, March 11th, Rob and I had another baby shower to attend. This one was held in Bridge City and had a few people helping to host. The shower itself was held at the Methodist church because there was quite a list of people who were invited. We had some really yummy food and a really yummy pineapple punch. We had two super cute (and delicious!!) cakes that were in the shape of pink and blue onesies, as well as some cookies from Rao's bakery. We had a few more finger foods - but of course, being pregnant, those are the two things I remember best! :) While the guests arrived, they filled out little cards where they guessed when the babies would be born, how much they would weigh, etc. It was fun to read some guesses after the shower! Then we played a game where we were able to use the letters in Madilyn and Carter's names and come up with as many words as possible. I'm happy to say that I won - I think it is from all the games I have been playing on my Iphone! But that was a fun game! Near the door where the guests came in, there were two baskets with baby items in them. As the shower went on, my sister-in-law Sherri took those things away and had us write down as many items as we could from the baskets. I did not win that one! Then we played the Price is Right with those baby items and BOY was I wrong on a lot of the prices. I'm sure I will be learning the prices here soon! The person who got the most right closest to a dollar won - which, as you can guess was not me either. But everyone really enjoyed that game. After games and being social, it was time to open gifts. Once again, Rob and I were overwhelmed by the generous gifts that came our way for Madilyn and Carter. It is amazing to think how loved these babies are and they haven't graced us with their presence yet! We received lots of wonderful items - all which will prove to be very useful. One of the hostesses took pictures at the shower, so you will have to wait to see them. However, here is a picture of what the nursery looked like once we were home and unloaded everything! It's what I like to call a beautiful disaster! :) Thanks again to the hostesses for an amazing shower. Rob and I feel so blessed and lucky!  

Baby Shower - Spring

So - my sisters Catherine and Carol and my friends Kelli and Janae hosted a baby shower for Rob and I at our house in Spring on March 3rd. We had about 20 people or so come to the shower, and everything was just perfect! I will have to get pictures from the hostesses so you can see everything! We had an oreo and milk bar (even with chocolate milk! mm!), fruit, veggies with homemade ranch (yum!), a delicious cake - and lots of other goodies. Kelli and Janae had some games planned for us. One of them was that Rob and I had been asked prior to the shower to answer parent/baby related questions without discussing them and email them back to Kelli. At the shower, it was our job to guess what the other said. It was a close game - but Rob ended up winning. Another game that we played was to guess how many M&Ms were in a bottle. Then another game was played by 3 people, and they had to be sitting and  pretend like they were pregnant by putting a balloon by their stomach. The person who could tie their shoe without picking up their foot or popping the balloon won. The games were really fun, but what I really enjoyed was getting to see so many friends and family come together to celebrate these babies. Rob and I were overwhelmed by the generous gifts, and are really appreciative of what we were given.  Something else that I really loved was that instead of getting a card, the hostesses asked for people to bring baby books instead. It was great to have books to add to their library, but even more meaningful that most of them had something written in them from the person who gave it. Thanks so much to Kelli, Janae, Carol, and Catherine for making this shower so special for Rob and I. I look forward to seeing and posting pictures soon! :)