Time for a Giveaway!

Welcome to the first oily blogHOP!

We are so excited to have you here.

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for little bottles of lemon as you read through the blog posts. At the end tally them up and you can enter a fun giveaway to win the Gentle Babies book by Debra Raybern, a total must have for Mom's with little ones.

If you have gone the whole way around the blog and found your way back here, go to http://www.theoilycrunchymama.com/blog/2014/8/28/lets-talk-allergies to enter the number of lemon bottles you counted on the whole blogHOP.

Entries will be accepted until 9AM (PST) on 8/29 winner will be selected at random on Sept 1st!

For today & tomorrow only, if you order your PREMIUM STARTER KIT from me, you will be entered to win this cute little USB diffuser! (This giveaway is my personal giveaway. That means that are 2 separate promos going on.)

For instructions on signing up & purchasing your PREMIUM STARTER KIT, check out THIS BLOG POST & follow the instructions to get started. Once your order has processed, you will be entered in this fun little giveaway!

To continue on the blogHOP, visit my friend over at (http://kateheadley.weebly.com/essential-oils/back-to-school-essentials/) and keep your eyes peeled for the little bottles of lemon!

Twinkies | 3 months

Our cousin asked us when we were announcing that I was pregnant with twins if we were "trying to have twins." As much as I love you, Adam, that might be the dumbest question I've heard. To date.

If I knew what it would be like, the pregnancy, the bed rest, the kangaroo pouch, I would have graciously declined. Then, I met these two baldy boys, and I fell in love. They are the coolest little dudes I've ever met. The sweatiness, leaky boobs, and black circles are totally worth it.

The novelty of twins is so funny to me. They are just my boys. Twins don't really mean a whole lot to me, but strangers sure think they are a freak of nature. Cute freaks of nature, but freaks nonetheless. "Oh, are they twins?" Nope, stole one. "Are they identical?" Nope. "Are you sure? They look exactly alike?" I'm sure. "Gosh, I could have sworn they were identical." I am about to karate chop your neck.

Their personalities are really starting to develop, and thankfully, so are their hair follicles. Jax is a pretty contented little boy. He fusses when he's hungry or wet, but beyond that, he's pretty chill. Jett is my worried, little, old man. The poor boy already has wrinkles on his forehead. But when he locks eyes with you & smiles his big gummy smile, omg. I felt immediate mom guilt when they were born over my tears that I wasn't having another girl. However, I have come to realize that you have mom guilt for every single thing you do with your children, so whatever. Just pile it on the other things I suck at. I digress.

The boys. They're growing, they're changing & they are already 3+ months at this point. And yes, Maddie loves them, but she's not terribly thrilled with the split attention & their crying. The idea that she might not be the center of the universe is lost on her.

The Instagram Curse

This morning has been one of those mornings. You don't see the photos of these mornings on Instagram with an ethereal filter. These mornings are fueled by Starbucks. These mornings are sticky, smelly, grumpy, whiney, loud, & exhausting. After finally getting the boys to sleep after, literally, hours of nursing back & forth, I walked into our room, where my husband was just emerging from his sleep (as I type this, it is currently 11:46am), I announced that I was "quitting motherhood."

What you can't hear is Jett crying, the sound machine blaring, Pocahontas singing, & Maddie yelling, "Hey, Mama?" from her bedroom every 30 seconds.

For the past 3 hours, I have made breakfast, nursed, changed diapers, nursed, watched The Croods, nursed, watched Pocahontas (after successfully talking her out of Frozen), nursed, dressed Maddie in a princess dress, nursed, dressed her in a new shirt, finally peed, rocked Jett on the nursing pillow while simultaneously bouncing Jax in the bouncer on the floor with my foot. Did I mention that I nursed the boys? I'm actually nursing Jett while I type this. #multitasker

Just as Jett finally fell asleep (although, I have no idea how he can sleep when his sister is stomping through the house like Godzilla & yelling, "Hey, Mama!" every 15 seconds), Jax woke up. I rocked him back to sleep on the couch, and finally laid half down/half up & found a blog to read on my phone while Pocahontas crooned about painting colors of the wind (what the hell does that even mean!?).

I find myself going to Kelle Hampton's blog when I need a more fairy tale view of motherhood. If you follow her on social media at all, you know that her life seems perfect. It's not, but it appears that way. She wrote a post back in April & referred to a similar post, "I'm Done Making My Kid's Childhood Magical." The idea being that childhood is already magical & there is no need to go crazy with Pinterest parties, Pinterest crafts, & the token Instagram photos to prove what wonderful mothers we are. I, like Kelle, found myself wanting to defend the elaborate parties, invitations, and "isn't-motherhood-perfect" Instagrams. I am one of the worst offenders when it comes to this, but I justify it by saying that I want to create a magical day for my kid. And I truly do. I want to go all-out with birthdays. I want my kids to know that the day they were born was a hugely special day. However, this article was such a great reminder in the midst of infant twins, sore nipples, a hyper almost-4-year-old, a Lanolin-stained nursing tank, & day 3 of a messy bun, that while I think I suck as a mom, these kids (well, the twins eventually) will have a magical childhood simply because they are kids. Pinterest didn't suddenly make childhood, birthdays & summers fun - they just are because being a kid is fun. (Swapping out a twin to nurse the other twin).

This is the year of letting myself off the hook. Every time I have an "I'm-failing-as-a-mom" moment, I am forcing myself to say "you are a great mom." I'm not a great mom because of the elaborate parties I put together. I'm not a great mom because of the photo books I make for the kids. I'm a great mom because I take care of them everyday. I wipe boogers, I wipe butts, I wipe foreheads. So, maybe I have moments where I could have done better. We all have those. But dammit, I'm a great mom. And you know what I'm going to do right now? Put deodorant on, finally, and eat some fattening Del Taco because eating a salad doesn't sound like fun right now. And that's ok. We'll eat our balanced meal another day.

What does your house look like this morning (err afternoon)? Can you top mine? Send me your pics. Let's have a contest to see who has the nastiest-looking house. If it's littered with kid things, you're doing it right. Magical childhoods are messy.

a.

The Twinkies' Birth Story: Part 2

Some parts of part 2 need to be filled in by my husband and my mother-in-law. I was a zombie for most of Friday, so even though I was given loads of information, it has been permanently lost in my brain abyss. As soon as I got loopy right before the C-section, information was no longer clicking in up there.

Jax was born at 12:36pm. He was a gray, bloody mess, but he was a doll. As soon as Dr. P lifted him over the curtain, I was crying. I have mentioned before that I am an ugly cry-er, so I'm sure that Maren's pictures will show you the hideous face I made. They whisked Jax to his warming bed and he instantly began to cry, which made me cry more. Josh stepped over to see him, came back to me, touched his forehead to mine and with tears in his eyes, he said, "he's so cute!"

Jett quickly followed as he was yanked from his spot in my rib cage at 12:38pm. Jett was all arms & legs as Dr. P quickly lifted him up for me to see him. Between tears, feeling barfy and the realization that I just gave birth to twins, it didn't dawn on me that I hadn't heard Jett cry yet. I had a limited view, but I knew that there was a barrage of nurses surrounding the boys, furiously working on a cry. He finally cried. Moments later, the boys were whisked out of the OR and were in the NICU in less than a minute. I happened to be lucky to have been in the dark at this point. I was crying, I was threatening to puke on Josh yet again, and I was busy listening to Dr. P quote lines from the movie "Pitch Black" while he removed placentas, and apparently, some organs, according to Josh.

The once-quiet NICU was now abuzz with nurses and doctors working on getting my boys stable, namely Jett. What wasn't mentioned in the OR was that Jett's cord was wrapped around his body a few times. We were unsure of whether or not he was without oxygen or if he was even getting blood flow back in from his cord. I appreciate that no one acted hysterical or alarmed while I lay on that operating table. I was already taking deep breaths to try to keep the vommies at bay, so hearing that would have flipped me out.

***

I have been waiting for this information for a couple of days, and just asked our AMAZING NICU nurse last night about what happened when the boys came out. Jax was taken out & his nurse, Susan, got him under the warmer and on a C-pap immediately. He responded very well. Jett apparently wasn't done being in utero, so things took a while with him. Before Dr. P pulled Jett out, they found that he was facing the wrong way & had to be turned (OW!) and his cord was wrapped around his arms and legs, and he was gripping it, cutting off blood flow to his little body. He was immediately put under the warmer and put on the C-pap, but had to have a little help getting breathing consistently - he didn't need resuscitation, but he needed more stimulation to get motivated to breathe.

Both of the boys were taken to the NICU, shortly thereafter, where Jett was intubated and given surfactant. Surfactant is used to lubricant the lower lungs to help get them moving on their own. Jax was taken off the C-pap after an hour or so, and was given oxygen through a canula. Jett was taken off his C-pap a while later as well. For the first days, both of the boys had to have an OG tube (oral) for their feedings, but then graduated to the NG tubes (nasal). Jax has ripped his out a million times, and was able to take his feedings by bottle for a couple of days, but he tires out quickly and does half and half now. My little Jett is still relying mainly on his NG tube for his feedings, and is back on oxygen at the moment.

Jax & Jett are doing better everyday. The main thing now is learning to eat. Being preemies, one of the last things they develop in utero is the suck, swallow, breathe routine, and they weren't in long enough to learn it. They are now developing that skill. Jax is able to do over half of his feedings with his bottle before his little body tuckers out and he has to finish through his NG tube. Depending on how awake Jett is, sometimes we try a bottle, but more often than not, I let him sleep during his feedings and opt for the NG tube. His little body is working so hard that it's just better to let him sleep, rather than expend too much energy.

And have you ever seen cuter boys?! Omgeeeee! I just stare at them the whole time I am with them, and then stare at pictures when I'm not with them.

Pray for our litter. Maddie has been sick since Saturday, and I haven't been able to see her. Josh & his parents are taking care of her, but, as a result, the 4 of them are unable to come visit the boys. This was not the transition to twindom that I was hoping for. I was really hoping to make this far less painful than it seems to be.

Thanks for the love, prayers, texts, emails, comments, etc. We appreciate it all.

xoxo,
a.

The Twinkies' Birth Story: Part 1

Yesterday, I got up at 7:30am for a routine prenatal check-up. I was tempted to skip the appointment because I was getting super frustrated with being violated checked every few days, only to hear that there had been no change. I had been waking up the past 4 nights with terrible, bearing down contractions that were 2 minutes apart and lasted for about 30 minutes. Because I knew the routine, I waited them out, and eventually, they stopped.

The same thing happened in the wee hours of the morning on Friday. I was suddenly awakened by horrible contractions around 2am, they died down, and then I slept fitfully for the rest of the night. I woke up at 7:30 with contractions that were painful, but not terrible. I proceeded to get ready (hair was the priority), grabbed a banana & a protein bar, and headed out the door with my MIL.

Contractions were 4 minutes apart, but still not horrible, so I didn't say much. Every once in a while, one would get painful, I'd have to stop & breathe through it, and then I'd move on. Walking into Dr. P's office, I was cranky. I had already declared to Josh that when Dr. P announced no change in my cervix, I was going to karate chop his throat. Pregnancy makes me so dainty & feminine. 

Dr. P walks in and asks me if I had eaten breakfast...random, but yes, I had. He uses the doppler to find the heartbeats, I peel my "skivvies" off, as he likes to call them, take a deep breath & watch him focus. He smiles & says, "Head up to L&D. You're a 4 or a 5. Let's have some babies." As in true Andrea form, nothing motherly escapes from my mouth: "are you shi**ing me?" "I shi* you not," he replies. So, I dress, head up to L&D, and am eventually put on the monitor. The boys look great, but suddenly the contractions have picked up. They are quite painful & now 2 minutes apart.

Last belly shot! 

And can we just pause a moment to thank my hairdresser for making me look fabulous for surgery!?

Here's the weirdest part. For the 2+ hours that I was up in L&D being monitored, I was in a weird zen-like state. I texted the family & closest friends I needed to text. All very matter-of-fact. Not Andrea-esque in any way. I should have been more hummingbird-like, but I just wasn't. I was in shock. I was planning on karate chopping my doctor that morning, not having TWO babies. So, I chatted & texted & breathed through contractions. We had gone from "c-section in 8 hours" to "you won't make it that long - probably 4 hours" to "you're going in in 30 minutes." It moved fast. And that was fine with me. Then, I got up to pee. And it hit me. I laid back down in the bed while I was "prepped" for surgery "down there," closed my eyes and the room was so loud that it felt like I had turned on a white noise machine. It was hitting me right now. I no longer wanted to do this, I wanted my girlfriend, Maren, my photographer, to leave and I wanted to go back to bed. I wasn't ready.

They put a sexy hair net on my head, threw a warm blanket over my shoulders and we waddled walked to the OR. It was a bright room with lots of sunlight, but it was chilly. I hopped up on the operating table, and they began the process of inserting my spinal. I was floating just 2 minutes later. Suddenly, the room was abuzz. There were 5 nurses surrounding each incubator, my nurses, the anesthesiologist, and Dr. P. My husband & Maren came in shortly after.

He's the best! Dr. P paused for a picture before heading in to slice me & dice me like Dexter. And ladies, he's single & ready to mingle.

Josh kept his forehead to mine for most of the surgery, talking to me, telling me he loved me, and making jokes. He even held up the air sickness bag at maximum arms length when I started to heave from the medication. He jumped up to see the boys as they arrived, and to witness the murder scene that was unfolding in the OR. He was sure this was how I was going to die. I cried the second Dr. P lifted Jax out to show me my first little boy! He was the cutest little old man I'd ever seen. They jostled me around some more & out came Jett, the other cutest little old man I'd ever seen. Jax quickly cried his cry of indignation, but Jett took a bit to make some noise. They were both quickly rushed out of the OR & into the NICU. Their story to continue in Part 2...

Jax Thomas (4 pounds, 9 ounces; 18 inches)

Jett Lucas (5 pounds, 3 ounces; 18 3/4 inches)

The anesthesiologist announced that I would feel sick now because they were "putting my uterus back into my body." I don't know if him saying it or them actually doing it made me sick, but I was heaving again. They began to get placentas out and stitch me back up, and I was relieved to know I was almost done. The nurses cleaned up the murder scene, Dr. P leaned over & kissed my cheek, shook Josh's hand & we were rolled out the door to recovery. Josh headed off to see the boys, and I closed my eyes in recovery with Maren, & then, Kylie at my side.

The rest of the day was a blur. I was rolled into the NICU from recovery after an hour, but wasn't able to see much. I was able to touch Jax, but Jett was having some breathing issues, so it wasn't as easy for me to get through the sea of nurses to touch him. I spent the rest of the afternoon laying in bed, resting, finally eating, hearing tons of information that people swear they told me, but I have zero recollection of hearing.

Yes, the boys are doing well. Yes, I will update you about the first 24 hours with them. Yes, I am doing well. And yes, I am in pain, but I'd choose a C-section over natural any day. And before you blow up my phone asking about Jett, I will tell you everything tomorrow. He's doing GREAT, and every update we get is an improvement from the last one. I will probably be headed home Monday, but they will, more than likely, be here for about a month.

Thanks for reading, caring, praying, texting, and loving our litter. Look for Part 2 of the Twinkies' Birth Story tomorrow. Right now, I get to milk myself pump for the boys and then I'm going to go snuggle them some more.

xoxo,
A.

35 weeks | 3rd Trimester

I wrote this the night before I went into labor. Figured I'd publish 35 week stats & then update you later today on the Twinkies!

Taken by my MIL after my FIL remarked that it was shocking that I was able to stand. Not the most attractive picture of me, but it's the best shot to show how my belly defied gravity!

Official maternity photo. 

My BFF, Pollyanna (aka Kylie) really wanted me to have an ethereal, feminine photo of me lying on our bed, in a flowing dress that drapes beautifully over the beach ball while Maddie kisses my tummy. True to form, I opted for my yoga pants, the ratty slippers that are falling apart and my token Starbucks cup. 

How far along? 35 weeks
Babies are the size of a? Coconut
Total weight gain? 34 pounds
Maternity clothes? Obviously.

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? Sleep has been spotty this week. LOTS of painful contractions that are waking me up or keeping me awake. Shockingly, my moaning & groaning hasn't woken Josh up once. He'll clearly need a loud wake-up call when it happens.

Miss Anything? Not waddling.

Movement? Jett has decided to lodge his large head into my rib cage and wedge himself at a ridiculous diagonal angle, so that feels great.
Food cravings? Still blueberry pie. I may need to call around before I'm no longer pregnant & it is no longer acceptable to wolf down a pie alone.

Belly Button In or Out? Out.

Rings on or off? Depends on the chub of my fingers each day.

Symptoms? Not much besides that overwhelming feeling that my pelvis will shatter at any minute from the sheer volume of these two.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Lots of painful contractions. We're praying these contractions are opening that cervix. In fact, I may have burst into song the other day with "...Open the flood gates of my cervix..." 
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy!
Looking forward to? Not being achy all the time. 

Dear Twins

Hi, it's me, Mom. You have now been inside of my body for 35 weeks. Today, I am 35 weeks large. You two don't seem to care.

When I first found out I was pregnant with two babies, I was totally panicked. Panicked. We bought a brand new car just 4 short weeks before finding out our bundle of joy was 2 bundles. You two wouldn't fit in the new car. That we just bought. Not the most motherly of thoughts when it comes down to it, but that's what went through my mind. I'll make it up to you at some point.

Just a couple of months later, we were given the warning that this wasn't going to be an easy pregnancy. Now, many of Mom's friends thought that mandatory bed rest seemed like a dream. No, no. Let me tell you. I have too much energy/OCD/ADD/anxiety to bother laying around all day. I mean, you can only rewatch The Office so many times.

Oh, and pelvic rest. Thanks a lot.

By the time we were just shy of the third trimester, I landed in the hospital for 6 weeks with contractions & nearly no cervix. You guys will hear about Mom's short cervix for the rest of your lives. You're welcome.

Here we sit. The three of us. Jax, your head is slamming up against my cervix & bladder. You have totally made me pee myself. I hope you enjoyed that. Jett, if you could find it in your heart to move your head out of my rib cage, I wouldn't find it necessary to lean over chairs & couches to try & use gravity against you. And while we're at it...after 8 months of stretching, sweating, aching, crying, hormoning, hemorrhoiding, and peeing, I have just one simple request: getoutgetoutgetout!

I'm very excited to meet you both. I know you're both going to be super cool and super fun (I mean, look at your sister. We clearly make rad kids.), so just do me a solid. Waking up with contractions at 2am, that cause me to squeeze your Dad's leg, that inevitably lead to nothing, is really not my cup of tea. It's a lot better out here, so let's get this show on the road, little dudes.

Love,
Mom

34 weeks | 3rd Trimester

We are finally in the home stretch and I am finally free! As you can imagine, my first day of freedom included Starbucks and Target. Plus, my mother-in-law took me for a mani/pedi! She thinks I deserved it after this debacle - I think she's right.

Since being back home, I've already had 2 follow-up visits with my favorite doctor. People, we are at 2cm dilated & 80% effaced! I count this a huge victory. My body feels battered and bruised. It's time for these boys to make their appearance. Given the position of Baby A, the cord presentation issue we had before and just the overall nature of twins, I won't be going past 37 weeks...END IS IN SIGHT! None of us, including Dr. P, believe that I'll even make it to that point. 

So, now, we wait. Nails are polished and shiny. My hair is the most beautiful ombré I have ever seen thanks to my amazing hairdresser, Miranda. Girlfriend offered to come down to my hospy room and do my hair in the bathroom! I mean, she's a keeper! Text me for her number! You will dump your girl in a flash to go see this GEM!

How far along? 34.2 weeks
Babies are the size of a? Butternut Squash
Total weight gain? 36lbs
Maternity clothes? I can finally wear my maternity clothes out!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? Besides waking up every 4 hours to take my Procardia (which stops contractions), I sleep as well as I can being the vast size that I am.

Miss Anything? Not waddling.

Movement? Always.
Food cravings? Blueberry pie. I've wanted it my whole pregnancy, but I have yet to get a piece.

Belly Button In or Out? Out.

Rings on or off? It still fits, but it's not comfortable.

Symptoms? My entire body is achy & sore, but it's the end, so this is the fun I can expect.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Increasing contractions. I forgot how much these suckers hurt.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy!
Looking forward to? Their arrival!

24 Hours of Hospital Bed Rest

A few of my friends have asked me to write a post detailing the events of my days stuck in the hospital. As it is my last day here, I figured I would oblige. It isn't like a day at the spa, but it really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I chalk that up to a positive attitude, good friends and family making the trek down here, and my amazing nurses who I will miss. The nurse practitioner came in this morning to check my reflexes and ask about my pooping schedule, then proceeded to tell me that the nurses are all sad I'm leaving because I've become their favorite patient. That brought a huge smile to my face because they have been so fun and kind and wonderful. Being nice and kind to your nurses pays off. They deal with a lot of cranky, nasty patients. Be nice to your nurses!

If you ever find yourself stuck in the hospital on bed rest, remember to be Tigger not Eeyore. Keep your hours filled and the time will pass much more quickly than you realize.

7:30am Wake-up. I am either awaken by the nurse practitioner coming in to ask me about my bowel movements and push as hard as possible on my giant belly OR I wake up in a panic scrambling to get my pants on before they throw back the covers to reveal my giant granny panties.

8:00am Monitoring. I have come to hate this so much. I also start the morning out with a dose of Procardia to keep my contractions at bay.

- Breakfast somewhere between 8 & 9.

8:30pm Zach from rehab calls me every morning at 8:30 on the dot to ask if I'd like to attend beached whale society pool time. It's always him calling, so I just answer the phone with "Hi Zach!"

Now, here's the thing about pool time. I have made some friends attending pool time who I now check-in with everyday (they all delivered the same week while I sit here with an achy butt, waiting for these boys to stop stretching out my skin) and get to hear all about how their littles are doing in the NICU. Then, there are those who just stare at me when I try and talk to them. I'm pretty sure some of these moms think I'm a nut, but hey! We're stuck here together - we might as well be chummy. Or at least civil.

9:00am I waste away the hour either monitoring if I got a late start or chatting on Facebook or watching The Mindy Project, which is my new favorite show (sorry I didn't listen to you, sister).

10:00am Pool time. Again, this could really go either way. The very first time I went down to the pool, the PT who rolled me there made up this elaborate story about what a treat this is. She said all of the other patients call it "the spa." What Pollyanna didn't realize is that this is clearly a joke. This room was built 20 years ago, the pool is a small square that looks like it hasn't been tended to in a while, and there is no calming spa music - just the very loud hum of the fan in the ceiling that forces you to talk louder so the others can actually hear you.

11:00am Thankfully, I am back in my room. Shower time.

I don't know what it is about these showers, but they are heavenly. All of my overnight guests have said the same thing. When Kylie and I first arrived and checked out the room, we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies walking into the Ritz Carlton. The showers had been upgraded with really nice tile and the towels were rolled (not folded like a commoners towel at the Motel 6) and placed into beautiful, built-in, wood shelving. I mean, it really doesn't taken much to impress us.

So, shower time lasts longer here. And hey! At 33 weeks, I'm still able to shave my legs every single day. I consider this a huge conquest!

12:00pm Procardia again. Depending on the day, guests usually begin to arrive at this time with food. The hospital food isn't terrible, but it isn't great. Thankfully, friends and family are more than willing to bring anything this fatty is craving. Unfortunately, I want salt and then sweet. Luckily, there is a Starbucks two blocks down from the hospital.

I have made friends with some of my nurses and they are now Facebook friends. As I am being discharged today, I will now say that I have been rolled to that Starbucks many times, praying none of the doctors or nurses happen to catch me. In 6 weeks, I was never caught. Others have been caught, but not me. I'm just such a small person that I am able to slip past without anyone knowing (did you catch the sarcasm?).

In the 6 weeks that I have been here, I have had 3 or 4 days without a friend or family member stopping by to keep me company. You guys! That is incredible! THANK YOU so much for helping make this time go by faster. Having company made all the difference in the world.

12:00-? Continues with friends, coffee or maybe a nap for the little one. I usually get to go outside at this time, which has been hit and miss with the weather lately. When it's nice, oh man! It's so lovely to sit outside in the sunshine and breathe fresh air.

3:00pm More monitoring. Kill me.

4:00pm Procardia. More visiting, TV-watching or whatever I can do to fill my late afternoon.

5:00pm If Maddie is here, we usually take her down to the playroom in the Children's Hospital. We attempted a puzzle once while she played. She told us we "weren't very good at puzzles."

6:00pm More visiting, playing or TV-watching.

7:00pm Shift change.

7:30pm Final round of monitoring for the day. Again, kill me.

8:00pm Procardia.

8:30pm Done with montioring. Another short shower to wind down. I'm telling you...there's something about these showers here.

9:00pm Old lady pill time. You wouldn't believe the amount of pills I take every night just for this pregnancy. Josh isn't sure how I can take all of them and not get sick.

9:00-11:30pm TV binge. And texting my cousin, my sister and my sister's high school buddy.

11:30pm Mouth breathing and drooling.

12:00am Awoken out of my mouth-breathing sleep for more Procardia.

4:00am Again, more Procardia.

7:30am Back to the scrambling panic to find pants before the nurse comes in to check my reflexes.

33 weeks | 3rd Trimester

We're headed home tomorrow! The boys are growing and looking good, and all of the contraction medications and the bed rest have helped me get 6 weeks more out of this pregnancy. I am so grateful to the doctors and nurses who took such great care of the 3 of us. Baby A is measuring 3lb 11oz and Baby B is measuring 4lb 4 oz. All good numbers, but I am still trying to pack in the protein to beef this littles up before they try and make their debut.

Once I'm home, I'll have 5 days of STRICT bed rest, and then I am home free. I already have my vanity appointments set for next week, so I can get out of the house and feel like a human being again. 

Thanks once again for the prayers, visits, love notes and encouragement! It's been the least fun season, but it's kept the twins cooking for a good chunk of time.

How far along? 33 weeks
Babies are the size of a? Durian Fruit
Total weight gain? 30 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yoga pants & maternity tanks!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? The nurses are shocked at how well I sleep considering my girth and the fact that I am in the hospital, but cooking 2 babies really takes it out of you.

Miss Anything? Normal life

Movement? Always.
Food cravings? It's no longer banana nut bread thanks to a saint at church!

Belly Button In or Out? Out.

Rings on or off? It still fits, but it's not comfortable.

Symptoms? My pelvis feels like it's been beaten with a baseball bat.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Still having contractions, but considering this gut is measuring full term, that's not terribly surprising.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy!
Looking forward to? Going home!

Dealing With The Know-It-Alls

One of my favorite people in the world is my cousin-in-law. I really consider her my twin and one of my closest friends. We truly could have been separated at birth - we are so alike that it's bizarre. We are both currently gestating, and are both currently miserable. The great thing about having a close friend due the day before you are is that you can talk through the highs and lows of being pregnant. Alicia and I have a nightly texting ritual, asking about the day, new aches and pains, as well as sharing pictures of baby clothes and our hideous, flat belly buttons.

Our conversation the other night got my granny panties in a twist. Everyone has their story, and everyone wants to share their story. We all do it; we've all heard the stories. Problem is... no two stories are the same. Is labor and delivery hard? Yes. Is there a part in our delivery stories that we felt like our head was spinning like in the Exorcist? Of course.

Here's the problem in sharing the stories: sometimes we freak new moms out. Sometimes we set them up to fail by being "helpful." Share your story - that's fine, but don't intentionally try to scare the hell out of your friends with your horror story about how awful the epidural was or how the baby will have 3 eyes if you dare choose to take the sweet nectar drugs. Odds are it really wasn't that bad. And really, when you look back, wasn't it just a tiny blip on your radar? You are too busy fielding temper tantrums in Target and wiping butts to dwell on your vaginal vs. C-section delivery.

Everyone thinks that their way is best. There is nothing wrong with confidence in your decisions and being able to defend what you believe in. How do you deal with people who love to force their opinions and decisions on you and your body?

The funny thing about pregnancy is that people seem to think it's a team sport. If I remember correctly, this started with man-to-woman. Definitely wasn't a zone defense type of situation. I don't care if your sister's ex-boyfriend's mother-in-law's aunt had a completely natural birth, and only gained 20 pounds. Congratulations. I also don't need to hear that you prayed for death after the doctor sliced you open with a kitchen knife, and all you did was cry for weeks on end. Not helpful.

Some of these examples are direct quotes they heard while they were pregnant. Some of the quotes came from family members, friends, and the best, perfect strangers. Please share your most offensive comment you received while you were pregnant. I'm sure we can all commiserate together.

Weight gain.
"You look so small. Is that safe for your baby?" "Oh, how much have you gained?" "Is your doctor concerned about how much weight you have gained?" For some odd reason, how much or how little you have gained becomes everyone's business. I'm realizing the irony of that statement as I have been posting my weight gain my entire pregnancy. The only thing you need to worry about when it comes to your weight during pregnancy is what your OBGYN thinks. If he/she thinks you're looking like a Mack truck, then ease up on the Oreos. Otherwise, unless your friends or family have secretly become an OBGYN, their opinions on your blubber are none of their business. And feel free to let people know that it's not their business. OR you could ask them how their doctor feels about their extra tub.

Delivery.
Did you know that there is more than one RIGHT way to deliver your babies? I didn't either because so many people are concerned with letting me know that there is only one way, regardless of the statistics on issues, the long conversations that you have with your OB, or the information all over the place about what is safest for you and your babies. Here's the cool thing about what we know in this day and age: having babies come out of your body, whether through your lady garden or through a very small incision in your lower belly, either way, you are a mom.

If you make the best possible decision for your babies and your body, then that's the best decision for you. The irony of people shoving their opinions down your bloated throat is that they were pissed when they were pregnant and people gave them opinions. It's a trap. Ignore them.

Drugs.
In the beginning, God created man and woman. They sinned and now childbirth is like blowing a watermelon out of your nostril. Therefore, if you have a low pain threshold and you need to get juiced, do it. If you are able to hold out (like my mom), sneeze and suddenly your baby is out, by all means, go for it. I am a huge weenie when it comes to pain. Two hours into labor, I was ready for my epidural, and I'm so glad I did it. I don't have a high pain threshold, I didn't want to scream obscenities the entire night, so I went ahead and did it. And you know what? It was fine. I was fine, Maddie was fine. If you don't believe in the drugs, don't take 'em, but don't do the snotty girl thing and pass judgment with your eyes when I tell you that I was a much more pleasant person after I was floating.

Does this mean you can't share your personal story? Of course not. This is just a reminder that some of us are beached whales pregnant and walking into unknown territory. This is not the time to tell me that having twins is the most miserable thing for the first 6 months and you cried the whole time. Not helpful. Choose your words wisely. Feel free to tell me that it's difficult, but that you get on a schedule and things start to get easier. Don't tell my cousin not to get an epidural because YOU couldn't handle the after effects. Use your filter.

Feel free to share your most obnoxious "helpful" advice you were given while you were pregnant! I need a nice Starbucks after that!

xoxo,
a.

32 weeks | 3rd Trimester

Things are starting to look up! Baby A's cord has moved, my cervix has stayed the same for the entire FIVE weeks that I have been here, and I'm inching closer and closer to being able to head home and deliver with my doctor at my hospital. Funnily enough, I'm a little bummed that I might not deliver here. I adore my nurses and everyone is just really nice to be around. 

My poor body is exhausted and in pain. My back hurts, my pelvis hurts. These boys are getting so heavy to carry around. I joke that my first outing when I get home will be a trip to Target with a Starbucks in hand, but I doubt that I will make it much further than the dollar bins because the waddle is just out of control at this point. 

Thanks for your prayers, gifts, goodies, kind words and support. Y'all have helped me make it 5 weeks confined to a small hospital room. When this is over, we are having a giant PARTY to celebrate! 

xoxo,

A.

How far along? 32 weeks
Babies are the size of ? Squash
Total weight gain? 29 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? Yoga pants & maternity tanks!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? Sleeping so hard even though my body is really aching. 

Miss Anything? Normal life

Movement? All the time, but they seem to have finally settled. They are both settled in sideways and are facing each other.
Food cravings? Banana Nut Bread...randomly.

Belly Button In or Out? Out.

Rings on or off? It still fits, but it's not comfortable.

Symptoms? My pelvis feels like it's been beaten with a baseball bat.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Contractions have started to pick up more, but nothing that stays too consistent.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy!
Looking forward to? The end!

31 weeks | 3rd Trimester

I have officially been in the hospital for ONE MONTH! It really doesn't seem that long since I have had so many AMAZING visitors who come bearing lattes, magazines, movies, and dazzling personalities! I am so blessed/stoked/amazed/humbled/loved, and you guys are making me feel that way! 

I started this entry last night & erased most of it because things can change quickly around here. I just got back from my growth scan/cervical length check. Cervix is holding steady at 6mm, but as soon as we looked at my cervix, we noticed an issue. Baby A's cord is hanging down into my cervix. It can right itself, but it's a cause for concern. I'll get an IV soon in case anything should happen. If his water was to break & my cervix is open, his cord could prolapse & that could be fatal. THANKFULLY, none of my doctors want me to go home. Last week, there was talk of letting me go home, & Lord Jesus, thank You, I am so glad that didn't pan out. I'm a button away from calling my nurses if my water breaks, & they can have me in the OR in 10 minutes. 

In addition to the cord issue, Baby A is measuring small. He's in the 21st percentile (2lbs 14oz), which means he only gained 4oz in 2 weeks. He's not in any danger, but again, it's something to watch closely. His brother is measuring right on track at 3lbs 11oz. My nurse popped in after the ultrasound & I told her the news. She promptly told me to fatten up, & eat Cheetos & french fries. Josh is currently out getting Carl's Jr!

All of this to say, please keep us in your prayers. I'm scared, nervous, and thankful that I am in the safest place for myself & my boys. Dr. P kept warning me of how quickly things can change in a twin pregnancy. I rolled my eyes most of the time because I thought he was being a little dramatic, but oh man, he was right. Things change on a dime around here. 

Thank you again for the love & support we've gotten. Pray for our Jax & Jett!

How far along? 31.1 weeks
Babies are the size of ? Pineapples (Baby B is at least)
Total weight gain? 29 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? Yoga pants & maternity tanks!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? I've done pretty well, but I'm starting to have so many aches & pains that keep me awake. My poor body thinks I should be done, and these twinkies aren't done cooking yet.

Miss Anything? Normal life

Movement? Yes, but it's finally starting to settle down. They are finally growing enough to stop the constant flip flop. 
Food cravings? Still Coke!

Belly Button In or Out? Depends on baby location.

Rings on or off? On.

Symptoms? The pregnant ones.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? A few things that lead my doctor to believe that the boys might be here sometime next week.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy with a chance of weepiness.
Looking forward to? Driving the sexy, new car my hubs bought me!