Boys are Tough!

When we thought we were pregnant with girls, I immediately knew what I wanted to do with the nursery.  We had one name we were 100% sure on and quite a few others that we really liked, so names would be easy.

Now, thinking about boys... we have 1 name we both love and the other?  No idea really.  And today I spent too much time pouring over pictures and bedding sets online.  Found one we mostly like... but no immediate thoughts there.  

But you know what?  I'm sure it will be perfect.  These babies are just making me think a lot now!

Tada!!

First and foremost, we had an appointment with the High Risk Doctor yesterday. The babies look like BABIES. I loved it. We could see leg bones and arm bones and even the different hemispheres of the brain. It was amazing. Both babies were measuring a bit ahead. I was 15w3d and both were measuring in the 16w2d-16w4d range for each of the measurements. Nice heartbeats... just perfect. So... as we're having the ultrasound, the nurse asked if we wanted to know the genders. I said yes, and she said she had a pretty good idea right then. She had to wiggled Baby B around a bit, but in the end she was pretty postive about Baby A and mostly-positive about Baby B (yes, I know it's a little early to know so I'm leaving the possibilty of misinformation out there). Anyways, the results? Flavors or colors or whatever you want to refer to it as?

Looks like in October we will be the proud parents of... not 1, but 2 baby
















... BOYS!

And before you ask, yes, we caught the painters before we found ourselves in a pink bedroom situation.

I'm shocked still. We both thought for sure that we were having AT LEAST 1 girl. We were fairly certain that it was 2 actually. Just a feeling. But, alas, my feelings were off. (I hope this doesn't indicate my future "mother's intuition"!)

So, to clarify... I'm shocked, but still thrilled. I'm still so excited to see these little guys in October! :)

Other than that, I don't have much. :) Still exhuasted, but feeling good.

15w2d

Holy COW I am avoiding my paper like the plague.  I do NOT want to write this at all.

How far along? 15 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: About 3 pounds up.  Though I swear this fluctuates daily.

Maternity clothes? Yes, my fabulous parents bought me me tons of maternity clothes.  :)  And I wear them happily.

Stretch marks? I still maintain NO

Sleep: Back to school... I am SO tired.

Best moment this week: I got to relax like crazy last week.  It was so nice.  And our appointment last week was happily uneventful.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: I still haven't really gotten an appetite yet.  So, no.  :)

Gender: Still thinking 2 girls.

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Nothing!

What I am looking forward to: Tomorrow's appointment!  Movement.  And, though it's not pregnancy related, finishing my class!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't do too much at once!  I am so worn out!

Milestones: Maternity clothes (they're so comfortable!)

Thursday's Appointment

Thursday's appointment went well.  It was quick-- blood pressure and weight and all that.  We also heard both babies heartbeats.  One was mid-140's and one was mid-150's.  All is well and I'm looking forward to pictures on Tuesday!  (We didn't get any Thursday...)

That's all for now!  I have school work to do!

Happy almost-15 weeks!

Vacation Week...

It's vacation week here in Massachusetts.  I still have my grad classes to work on, but my regular school is on vacation and my kiddies are out enjoying their time at various locales throughout the United States.  I thought this week would end pretty boring, but I am enjoying it.  And dreading next week when I have to wake up at a normal hour every day.  :)  

Yesterday I got to see a few of my friends I hadn't seen in awhile.  

M used to teach with me, but then got a new job closer to her house (she used to commute over an hour every day).  We caught up in the afternoon to update each other on our lives.  I had already told her about the twins, but she was my support of sorts when all this started.  She was a bit further along in the IF stuff than me, but she's been there every step of the way.  She had her first failed IVF in Dec of 07, took a break and then just had another failed IVF in Feb of this year.  I found out that she just had 3 "snowflake babies" (frozen embryos) transfered on Friday.  So, of course, I am hoping and crossing and all that good stuff for her.  So, it was nice to see her, but I hoping that the next time I see her she will be glowing.  :)

I also saw S who I hadn't seen in who knows how long.  We've kind of lost touch, but I don't really mind it.  We're in two totally different places in our lives and just generally not the same as we used to be back in 6th grade.  Either way, it was nice in some ways to get together and catch up.  She's getting married in 2010, so she was asking for advice and talking about plans.  She also asked me to be in her wedding party.  So I guess I know where I will be on June 5th, 2010.  :)  

Tonight we're meeting with some people about the house.  Not exactly sure what about... I just do what I'm told.  :)

Tomorrow AM I have an appointment (yay!) so hopefully I'll get to see the babies!  :)  Then later I'm meeting up with another friend, N, who I haven't seen in awhile.  (Notice a pattern about me seeing people?)  Then I don't really know what.  My mom wants me to come down again so we can go clothes shopping again- she doesn't think I got enough so she wants to shop some more.  Only problem is that we don't know where to go.  There's really not much out there.  I guess I'll just have to look online some more.  

But that's that.  I am just eagerly anticipating tomorrow's appointment.  I hope, hope, HOPE I get an ultrasound.  I need to see the little guys.  (girls? guy and girl?)

Marathon Monday!

Ah, so right now the hubby is in the city with some of our friends cheering on another friend at the Boston Marathon.  I stayed away because I had papers to write, but they got finished way too early, and now I'm here alone and bored.  With NO idea what to do.  Anyways...

Yesterday we were driving out of the city- because we had met up with the same friends for dinner- and we called another friend to see how they were doing.  Johnny had her on speakerphone so I could hear and she said she was going good, but that she was "under the weather and drinking ginger ale".  Immediately Johnny and I both yelled "You're pregnant!!"  And she is!!  She's due one month and one day after me- November 18th.  How cool is that?  Admittedly a part of me immediately thought "Thank god we got pregnant first!" because I would have been pretty heartbroken if we hadn't, but it's so cool!!  And I was telling Johnny, this is the first case of someone in a LONG time meaning to get pregnant and having it work quickly.  I'm surrounded by either people who CAN'T get pregnant when they want, or people who are married with "oops" babies or who are unmarried/not in a stable relationship and have babies.  It's so nice to see it can work.  The first time.  Correctly.  :)  

Anyone smell arranged marriage?  :)

14 weeks 2 days!

Another week come and gone...

How far along? 14 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: Honestly, I don't know... I think about a pound, but I'll know for sure on Thursday morning when I go back in!  :)

Maternity clothes? Yes!  I got jeans and khakis and a bunch of shirts.

Stretch marks? No- and I'm sticking to that!

Sleep: I'm not quite as tired as I've been!  Yay for Trimester 2!

Best moment this week: I have a huge bump!  :)  Haha.  And we learned that one of our best friends are due only a month after us!!!!!  How cool is that?!?!

Movement: Not yet- though I am anxiously waiting!

Food cravings: Not really right now.

Gender: Still thinking 2 girls.

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Nothing!

What I am looking forward to: Thursday's appointment, seeing Becky and Roy!!, enjoying vacation... things are just GOOD right now.  :)

Weekly Wisdom: I don't know...

Milestones: Maternity clothes (they're so comfortable!)

Quick Stories

Three quick K stories for you. Pretend you find them amusing even if you don't. :)

1. Every day my kids do a number chant for the math program-- "6 is 5 and 1, 7 is 5 and 2" etc. The other day I did boys vs. girls. Both groups did great, but the boys were SO quiet. And let me tell you- I do NOT have quiet boys. So I asked why they were so quiet this time and M quickly answered "Because we don't want to hurt the babies' ears." Awww. :)

2. I have this boy in my class who is cute and sweet as can be, but he doesn't EVER stop talking. not EVER. So he drives me crazy but I love him anyhow. He knows this. Darcy frequently tells him not to drive me crazy in the afternoon. Anyways, apparently he doesn't mind that I'm always shouting his name because today at lunch the kids were sitting down and B, a girl, sat next him and he yelled "No! I don't want to sit near a girl!" To which I sat down next to him and asked, "Do you mind if I sit next to you?" and he said "No". Then I reminded him that I'm a girl and he said, "That's okay because I want you to kiss me! Kiss me!" (Note: I did NOT kiss him!)

3. The girls were talking about babies today- popular convo now, wonder why?- and one said "You can't have a daughter til you're old!" Then G quickly looked at me and amended- "No, you don't have to be OLD, you just have to be BIG!" (They know I don't like to be called old... so they have decided I'm not old, but to make me old enough to have a baby I have to be
"old-young".)

Have I mentioned before that I love my class??

13w4d... a balloon!

Last time you saw me... I think it was 4/6 (12w2d)

And now here we have... 13w4d

A bit bigger, don't you think?

Nothing in particular

First of all, I'm a whole lot calmer about the whole child care thing today.  :)  I get stressed easily but then I can move on.  For awhile at least.  I promise you have NOT seen the last of that freak out.  But either way, I know that I am incredibly lucky to be a teacher (and LOVE my job) and to have flexibility and to have fabulous family willing to help us out.  We knew going into this so young that we'd need help and that I probably wouldn't be able to stay home.  We could have waited another 5 to 10 years to be a little more stable, but we didn't want that.  We wanted children young, so here we are.  Things will work out, I'm confident.  :)  But I am still holding out for a miracle... :)

Secondly, I am huge.  HUGE.  I know it's no where near the end result, but c'mon... I'm just over 13 weeks and I have a basketball.  Maybe a child sized basketball (if they make those) but those babies are definitely enjoying growing in there!!  HA.  I waddle (but that's due to the painful hip), pee every hour, and LOOK pregnant.  I love it.  :)  

Post 3 for the day... Child care

Want to immediately freak me out?  I mean completely freak me out??  

Start talking about childcare arrangements for after maternity leave.  I dare you.  It's not stressful because I think I should have all the answers.  It's just stressful because I don't want to have to THINK about child care.  I want to take care of my babies.  I want to be the one home with them every day.  I don't want to be leaving them with anyone all day while I'm off at school.  I want to be home.  

Now, we're buying a house, so this probably isn't all that practical.  We need my income and part of me totally gets that.  But on the other hand I'm just so sad when I think about leaving the babies after just a few weeks.  It's absolutely tearing me up inside.  I know we can find people willing to take a day or two of care, but I don't want to shuttle the babies off to 5 different people a week.  I want consistency (ME!) and why should they get to spend the whole week with the babies I have worked so hard for and waited so long for while I'm at school?  Just typing this is making me sad.  And the prospect of dropping the babies off at ungodly hours so I can get to school on time isn't fun either. 

I know there are no easy answers.  Johnny keeps reminding me that I have summers and vacations off.  And I know that's true... but having some time doesn't replace the time that I'd be missing.  I don't want to miss milestones.  I want to be there.  I have wanted to be a mom for longer than I have wanted anything else in my life.  I don't want to miss anything.  But I feel like I have no choice.  Could we make it without me out there?  More than likely.  Would we have to cut back on everything?  Absolutely.  But I just don't know what to do.   

My mom is a nurse and I've been contemplating taking a class to become a CNA.  Do I want to be a CNA?  Nooo.  And the pay is pretty crappy too, but jobs are there and I could work night hours.  Then there would be the prospect of no sleep, but also the prospect of being home every day while Johnny is home at night.  

I wish I could just win the lottery.  

Paint!

I swear I'm not that crazy!  The reason we're painting the room pink is that we can't find out the sexes until the end of May.  The painters HAVE to have the place painted sooner.  We know exactly what we want for a girls room, boys room, or combo room.  So, either way we'll be taking a gamble.  And we also don't want to have to paint in a brand new place once we move in (the annoyance, fumes, etc.).   And what's the point of painting it a neutral color when I know I'm going to want to change it?  :)  So, we're taking a gamble... and if we do have to change the color in the end... well, then, I guess I get a weekend away while it's painted! 

13w2d

Another week come and gone...

How far along? 13 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: Up 1 pound! I think it's still the same...

Maternity clothes? Bella band and one maternity shirt. Unfortunately I can no longer button my "big" pants, SO I guess it will be off to to stores soon!

Stretch marks? I don't think so, but the other night Johnny oh-so-nicely said to me "You know how you keep answering "no" to stretch marks? I think you have to start answering "yes"." He claims I have some on my back, but I think he's crazy.

Sleep: Usually 9 hours. And naps occasionally. But even that is not enough! It would be plenty if I wasn't up every hour!

Best moment this week: We told lots of people, we did some hard-core looking at Babies R Us for double strollers (options are so limited!)... it's been a good week. :)

Movement: No!

Food cravings: Oh yes, they come and go. Johnny is so good about filling them, too!

Gender: I still think 2 girls. And we're going out on a limb and painting the nursery pink, so hopefully we're not completely wrong! (We need to choose a color for the painters before we move in and we both think they're girls, so we're taking a gamble!)

Labor Signs: Noooo

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Nothing!

What I am looking forward to: Registry, the next appointment.

Weekly Wisdom: I've lost too many brain cells to be wise.

Milestones: 13 weeks!



And, really, I've been planning going to bed since I woke up this AM, SO you probably won't get a belly picture tonight because I plan on being sickeningly lazy tonight. :)

Matt vs. Nap

My little brother's name is Matt.  He always would brag when we were little that his name, according to the baby name books, means "gift from God".  I wonder, however, if he ever somehow read the book wrong and instead of looking up "Matt" he looked up "Nap".  I'm not sure how he would have done this.  You know, the vowel sound in Matt and Nap is the same.  And an M kind of looks like an N.  But really, no offense to my brother, but a Nap is definitely MUCH MORE of a gift than Matt.

And those are my two cents after a fabulous nap.  :)

Just a few things...

Yesterday my hubby and I were in the Boston Globe.  We're in an article about first time home buyers.  We also sign our Purchase and Sale Agreement today.  Oh god.  

Yesterday I was patted.  Officially patted.  By a grandmother of one of my students!  She patted me and commented "Oh, you're not too big yet!"  HA.  I am huge.  To myself.  

And it's Good Friday so I'm off from school.  I basically just woke up and ate breakfast.  Is it pathetic that I'm ready for a nap already!

8 Things... in no particular order

A few things...

(1) I miss my hubby!  Monday night he spent at the gym, Tuesday night he spent out with "the guys", and tonight he's at the Red Sox game with some customers.  I miss him!!  Tomorrow night we don't have anything going on at least!  :)

(2) I am tired of waking up to go to the bathroom at night!  Here's what my night looks like.  Bed at 8:30pm (no laughing), up at 10:30pm, up at midnight, up at 1:30am, up at 3:00am, up at 4:45am, then up at 5:30am for good.  And I'm only 12w4d.  This cannot get worse.  Or I'll be spending the whole night sleeping on the bathroom rug!  :P

(3) I need opinions on Cord Blood Banking.  Here's the deal... since CB Banking became popular (or at least since I started to hear about it) I have always planning on banking my future kids cord blood just in case.  Seemed like a good idea.  After we got pregnant I got information about it, we planned it into the future baby-budget.  

THEN I get the packet of info from the hospital and it says quite clearly "We at BIDMC do not endorse the routine banking of cord blood for private storage."  Then it goes on to list the reasons... the odds you'll need it are slim, there's no way to be sure it will be of "good enough" quality if you ever did need it, if your child needs it at a very young age due to cancer, it's quite possible that there will be cancer cells in the stem cells, etc. etc.  So, now we're not sure what to do.  Do we still privately bank the blood?  Or do we publicly bank it for the general public?  

It's tough because we both know that our family histories are pretty clear of childhood cancers and diseases.   But then, down the road, what if something does happen?  Would we be able to live with knowing that we might have been able to do something had we banked blood?

So, I'm just wondering... what do you guys think?  Obviously I'm going to talk to my doctor to see what she says, but I'm just not sure.  It would be nice to save that $3,000-$4,000 (we'd have to bank twice), but is it worth it?

(4) I was called chubby at school today.  Nicely.  By the secretary.  But chubby really isn't a nice word!  I was also told by another person that I am glowing, so maybe that makes it okay?

(5) One of my K kids knows more about my pregnancy than I do!  Well, not really, but I had another child asking me questions (sexes, when they're due, how many, etc.) and M was able to answer all of the questions before I could even get the words out of my mouth!  

(6) I cannot even describe how much my right hip hurts!  I'm such an old lady when I get out of bed or off the couch (unfortunately those are the two places I spend most of my time...), but I can't help it.  It hurts!!!  :)  But really, I'm not complaining.  Every pain and inconvenience means that those babies are making themselves at home, right?

(7) I am rapidly losing brain cells.  I think I only called kids by the correct name (on the first try)... maybe 3 times today.  Usually I have to go through 3 names to get it right.  Sometimes I end up saying "Who ever you are!".  They find it funny.  To be honest, so do I.

(8) All my blood work came back good from both my regular OB and my high risk OB.  I guess I'm not a carrier for anything they tested for.  To be honest I don't remember what they tested for, but I guess that's good!  They did, however, somehow mess up my Fifths Disease testing.  I'm a little annoyed simply because that's the one I'm nervous about!  I work in a building with 150 kids aged 5-10.  It would be nice to know if I had to be nervous about this!  As far as I know, however, I have not been around anyone exposed to Fifths Disease so it should be nothing to worry about either way.

12w2d

It's already been another week?!

How far along? 12 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: Up 1 pound!

Maternity clothes? Just the bella band. Pants unbottoned style.

Stretch marks? Nada

Sleep: Usually 9 hours. And naps occasionally.

Best moment this week: I have a BELLY! And we told a TON of people so that's exciting!

Movement: Not yet!

Food cravings: Not really.

Gender: I'm thinking 2 girls now. It switches daily.

Labor Signs: Noooo

Belly Button in or out? Innie

What I miss: Nothing!

What I am looking forward to: Making a registry! Getting a bigger belly.

Weekly Wisdom: I've lost too many brain cells to be wise.

Milestones: I've got a BELLY! :) <3

So you only get one picture... only because I don't feel right putting actually belly-skin pictures on here. So you get one of me in my shirt. :P  And I know the belly doesn't look that impressive, but it is to me!

12w2d

Clothing pictures

Here are some pictures!  

One of the first outfits.  (We have 2 of all of them)

Cute ducks.  :)  From Johnny's parents!

It says "Mommy Loves Me" ... and I do!

It says "Adorable Baby"

Another one from Johnny's parents.

My parents went to Florida and visited the Red Sox Spring Training complex...

From my brother and his wife.

And another from my parents.  :)  They made sure it is big enough for the babies to wear for Spring Training next year.  

I still have yet to take the belly picture as promised!

12 Weeks!

Here we are!  12 weeks today.  :)  I'm feeling good, on last check the babies were doing well, and things are moving along rather uneventfully.   :)  Yesterday we told whole masses of people... Johnny's entire family (pretty much), my grandfather, my aunt and uncle, and my cousin and his wife.  All were thrilled.  Every single one asked if twins run in the family (well, the other's family because they obviously knew about their own side of the family).  Ha... oh well.  :)  

That's really it... I have so much school work to be doing, but I'm just procrastinating a little before editing my paper.  I will post pictures soon.  I have 4 cutie baby outfits to post pictures of, so I will get to that.  Honestly, I have been awful at taking the belly pictures.  I have to get better at that and I will.  Perhaps I'll think to take a 12w picture later this afternoon.  If I do, it will be posted.  Promise.  :) 

Really, time is going so slowly and so quickly at the same time.  I can't wait to go make a registry, but I'm afraid of doing it too soon.  Which will work out because the next few weekends are crazy... next is Easter and the weekend after friends are visiting.  Maybe the beginning of May?  Oh, and to top off all of this craziness, looks like we are buying the townhouse I mentioned awhile back!  We picked out counters and cabinets the other night.  Assuming nothing falls though, it's ours and we'd be moving in June.  So, yes, just a little stressed, a little busy, and a little unwilling to work on stupid papers.  :)  But very happy at the same time.  

Woo! and Hello? Is that my belly?

Less than 200 days left!  I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the ticker to get under 200.  Time is going by quickly and slowly at the same time.  I'm loving every second.  :)  

I ended up sharing my news with school yesterday.  And then last night I also emailed all of my parents from last year and this year.  I got many congrats.  It was nice-- and I was also told that Miss S. from downstairs had spilled the beans to more people than I guesstimated.  Oh well.  But, since everyone knew, today I decided to stray away from my oversized sweaters and instead wore a shirt that I used to wear all the time that is a bit more form fitting.  It was the first time I've really worn anything that is more clingy since... well, before the IVF.  Probably since before the cycle in October.

So I put it on this AM and looked in the mirror... And let me tell you, at 11w4d I almost had a heart attack.  I have a belly.  A round baby belly.  I swear I don't know where it came from because it was NOT there before and I haven't put on any weight, but it is there.  My babies are there and they're growing and they're making their presence known!

I LOVE IT.