Home Bound

Just to start off, I'd like to give you an update on my coveted snow cone machine ... that never materialized. The one that I wanted to get wasn't in stock at the store ... so now I'm debating whether to order the darn thing online or just scrap the entire idea.

The weather here is cooler now (well, today) so the urgency and desire for it has dwindled considerably. We're in NH so by now, we usually see the leaves changing to mark the Fall season. A handful have but because the weather has been so unpredictable, the plants seem to be confused what time of year it is. I have spring flowers blooming!

In other news, my doctor told me at my most recent office visit this past week that she would like me to stay home until the babies are born. My work schedule had already been decreased to three days in the office and two days at home. So until further notice, I'll be working from home full time now (except the few days I'll trek into the office to train my temp). Unfortunately, the temp hasn't even been hired yet so let's just hope nothing happens until I'm able to put in a few solid days of training.

The rest of the visit just talked about any other symptoms I may be experiencing. I think it's a lot of the usual stuff that happens at this point in the journey. Ligament pain, soreness, fatigue, pressure and the overall feelings of "Enough already!"

Honestly, most of it isn't horrible except trying to extricate myself from the pillow fortress I must recreate in bed each night to get to the bathroom in the dead of night ... only to find that by the time I get there and sit down, someone has moved.

Pee? What pee?

I still have several weeks to go since I am not scheduled for my C-Section until the week before Thanksgiving. I'm usually the one who cooks Thanksgiving dinner every year - bird to all the fixins - but I won't be doing any cooking at all this year. I've been told by my husband that he will be ordering turkey dinner in (which I'm wary of) but I'll leave those details to him for once. I'll be busy juggling babies' feeding schedules!

Nothing new in the nursery yet.

Baby shower is this Sunday though!

Ken has been working hard to keep as many details a secret as possible.

Pictures and details to follow ...

Cauliflowers

My doctor ordered a three hour fasting glucose test to see if I had gestational diabetes. Now, she allowed me to come in at my leisure but recommended first thing in the morning since it is a fasting test. Given that I'm always hungry, it would not be a pleasant experience in the best of circumstances.

I already had an appointment scheduled yesterday afternoon so I thought I would get the test out of the way the same day but it may not have been a wise choice given it was the first day after Labor Day weekend when every man, woman and child were on their way back to reality from where ever the last days of summer took them. 

Needless to say, I made it to the hospital around 8:30a and started my test at 9:00a. If anyone has ever taken this before, you'll know that you need to have your blood drawn four times throughout the test. Your first draw at the beginning before "the drink" and an additional one each hour after "the drink".

"The drink" sort of tastes like flat orange soda with extra scoops of sugar. I was forewarned that people do become nauseous. I heard the warning but didn't pay it any mind until *GULP!* I started feeling clammy and thought I was going to drown in my own saliva!

Babies and I got through the ordeal intact. Afterwards, there was nothing to do but to RUN, NOT WALK to the nearest food source available.

Hospital cafeteria.

Not ideal because I secretly do think they lace all their food with laxatives but I didn't care. I ordered a grilled cheese with tomato. It could barely pass for diner food but nothing ever tasted so divine!

Doctor's appointment that afternoon was a little more entertaining than my morning. Nothing new to report during the office visit other than my climbing weight and sore muscles.

Ultrasound didn't really produce any good pictures (hence, none are available to post here) but I found out that they've moved since the last time we saw them. They are both laying vertex with heads touching (so think the meeting of the minds around my belly button).

When I looked at the size comparison online, it said that a baby this age should be about 2 pounds and the size of a cauliflower. I assumed that was more for someone who carrying only one baby and probably didn't apply to multiples.

Turns out that my boy is a massive 2 pounds 11 ounces (54th percentile) and my girl is 2 pounds 4 ounces (40th percentile). So not only are they cauliflowers, they are VERY plump cauliflowers! I'm wondering if they will even fit into any of the preemie clothes we already have for them when they are born!

BUT I'm not complaining. Above average is good and I'm glad that both are healthly. Constant movements break up each day. Now I know why! Both are bruisers!

Don't be disappointed with no updated pictures from yesterday. I have my 3D/4D ultrasound appointment scheduled tomorrow afternoon so I will be posting those pictures as soon as I upload them!

Measuring Up

Yesterday, I had my weekly doctor's appointment to check on the babies' development and progress. Nothing out of the ordinary (which for this lady is great news). Blood pressure is excellent. Both heartbeats are beating in normal ranges. There is much more movement down below especially after mealtimes and when I want to sleep. I suppose this will start breaking me in to the sleep deprivation that is to come!

They decided to measure me (just for laughs) and no surprise that I am currently measuring the same as a woman with one baby at THIRTY-FIVE weeks! 

That is a THREE and a FIVE (35), folks!

It explains the ligament pain, back aches and puffy feet. I also feel about 35 weeks along but still have a ways to go before I hit that magic number.

For now, I'm appreciating each day, every movement and even every pain as a part of the collective joys of pregnancy. No one can quite explain the experience so I'm blessed to be a part of this "club".

And just so you know, even though I've complained that nine months (about 270 days) seems like a really long time to make a baby, it takes an elephant SIX HUNDRED PLUS days!! That comes out to something like twenty months or almost two years.

Comparatively, I'm quite happy with nine months.

Sickness during a Delicate Time

No one enjoys being sick when they have absolutely nothing else going on around them. Add something ... oh, let's just say pregnancy ... into the fray and it's a horse of a completely different color altogether!

One the major things is having to scrutinize any medications before taking them to ensure proven safety to this little one inside. It's a completely horrible experience to be this miserable and hope that that misery isn't seeping through to the baby. Even now, I just can't bear thinking that the baby might be suffering.

I've been assured that the baby probably has no idea I'm even sick other than noticing the increased amount of fluids and all the jiggling around due to the sneezing and coughing.

I haven't been able to sleep in several days since the minute I lay down, a coughing fit begins. This is in addition to the broken sleep I'd been getting due to all the bathroom trips.

Now, I know this entire post is a huge vent session but this is my reality lately and I'm bringing it to you.

Yesterday, to add to an already dreadful time, I threw my back out. Not picking up anything heavy or doing some crazy exercise. Simply getting one roll of toilet paper onto the holder *POP* goes the back!

Try putting on socks, pants or even going to the bathroom this way. It's just no way to live, folks!

So to recap:

• hacking cough
• no sleep
• no effective meds
• no bending over
• painful bathroom visits (sitting, wiping and standing ... not the actual going or doing)

I've simply had better days and hope that goes away this week. I have multiple doctor's appointments today ranging from the therapist to the family practioner to fuel that hope.

Wish me luck!

Oops!

I realized today that I originally posted that I was 17 weeks pregnant but as I was going over some appointments, I am really 18 weeks and 1 day (today). If anyone did the math with my due date, it would have been blatantly obvious.

You've heard of pregger brains before, right? I think I might be bringing it to a whole new level with my daily antics (sometimes shared and sometimes not). Let's just say that the things I'm willing to admit (oh, like wearing shirts inside out, putting on intimate garments inside out (or twisted - don't ask) and getting dates confused) is child's play to the things I won't own up to publicly.

I'll look back on this next year and laugh about it ... or it will be as others have said ... post pregger brains being a lot more hilarious than pregger brains.

Pray for me, folks.

Sleepless Nights ... Sleepier Days

I'm feeling a lot better in terms of nausea, dizziness and overall adjustment ("growing") issues. However, now that Baby is now eating and peeing more, so am I. Unfortunately, since the little one has no concept of time and won't for quite some time, this means hunger pangs and bathroom trips at all hours of the day AND night. I've resigned to leaving several snacks like trail mix, crackers and cereal by the bedside table along with the bottles of water to wash down the handful I may have at 2:30a.

This is a pretty accurate self-portrait (clipartguide) of me at work during the day since my fairly new night schedule has started. I've become Costanza and wondering who I can hire to build my custom sleep cubby underneath my desk.

Lite Equals Nausea

Just a quick note about eating anything with Lite, Lean or Healthy in the label whilst preggers ... it almost always equals nausea (at least for me).

Korean BBQ, Butterfingers & Nutty Buddys

It should go without saying that my boy has got a good appetite (which I like) but these days, I'm not sure who the pregnant one is because he CRAVES Korean BBQ every single dang week! I don't mind Korean food (obviously) but since it's just the two of us if we go to a restaurant, the minimum order for BBQ is 2 ... which means I end up getting meat each time too!

We had dinner with my folks on Saturday night and guess what was on the menu ... KOREAN BBQ! Now that my mom knows that Ken loves the stuff, she has become the enabler! (Just kidding, mom!)

Lately, I've been klutzy to the extreme. Just dropping things left and right and wondering if my brain can't tell my hands to keep it's grip! Just this morning while pumping gas, I dropped the nozzle (yes, seriously) and I was afraid it would start spraying all over the place (think Zoolander gas hosing scene)!

Then a few nights ago, I've been wanting those old school favorites we used to love from school cafeterias and ice cream trucks ... the Nutty Buddy. Does anyone remember those? I never much liked them as a kid but felt myself wanting a taste of the chopped peanuts and chocolate filled cone. Needless to say, Ken wasn't allowed to come back home without them last night. And yes, it was DELICIOUS!

Sickness ... Over?

Although I woke up feeling tired today - per usual - I am feeling less nauseous overall. I still have dizziness and slight headaches but I'm not complaining.

Tomorrow is Baby Hamilton's 11 week birthday (lol) and according to a cute checklist from The Bump, Baby is about the size of a Lime now or 1.6 inches .25 oz.

I feel slight twinges here and there but from what I read, it isn't actually the baby I'm feeling but my stomach and uterus expanding.

I'll be sure to post some tummy pictures soon (if I dare) because according to Ken and La-La, I definitely have a noticeable "baby bump". Isn't it still too early for all of that?

I'm embracing pregnancy with an open heart but I don't know if I quite feel the same about maternity pants and bras ... you get my meaning?

Second Ultrasound

Second ultrasound was on July 17, 2009. Ken and Emma were both able to make this appointment. Baby Hamilton is 8 weeks 4 days here and heartbeat is at 175.

This ultrasound technician was not as good as my usual person so this picture looks a lot worse than the last one but what is obvious is my growing uterus!! (Not to get all technical on you guys!)

Although I'm not really showing yet at this point, my entire abdominal area is sensitive to the touch and bothersome to have any (and I mean ANY) pressure (light or heavy) on it.

I even lost quite a bit of weight although I'm not sure where since my clothes aren't fitting like they should and can I repeat my last paragraph? ANY pressure!!

The most noticeable changes these days aren't physical! They are emotional and internal - nausea, dizziness, queasy with sudden movements or long car rides and sensitivity to many, many smells. I suddenly also have an aversion to a lot of foods I used to love. I'm also saddened and upset to report that my most beloved tomato in all of its glorious forms is not currently a food option without acquiescing to cardiac arrest inducing heartburn.

I'm looking forward to the end of the First Trimester as I've read on many sites and in several books that is when a lot of these inhumane treatment to preggers tapers off and you enter Pregnancy Utopia.