17 weeks and counting

So this past week has been pretty uneventful and that is just how we like it! The ankles still swell a smidgen from time to time but just when I'm working. With the day off they are back to the ankles I know. I'm still feeling great. The only change this week is the increase in my appetite. Let's just say...I had a little ice cream yesterday morning....before noon! I'm toying with the idea of joining Matt in Tampa in a few weeks, while he'll be working I could sit at the pool...the last relaxation trip I could have before the babies join our family (externally that is, because they are already apart of our lives internally! Does that make sense?)

So this week the babies are the size of turnips (I don't know if I've ever actually held a turnip or seen one for that matter) weighing about 5 ounces each measuring 5 and a half inches long. The book says my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe....that's if I was having a singleton...look at me...seriously, I beg to differ! The babies can now do twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. I do feel the occasionaly twitch but as quick as it's there...it's gone. I've ask them to do it again but they don't seem to obey very well yet..haha! Also, the babies now have the ability to hiccup...even though I won't be able to feel that for quite some time...still cute to imagine!

Meet the Doctor

So today I did 3 of my favorite things....went shopping at Target, took a nap, and heard the babies' heartbeats! We had our first official appointment with our OBGYN, Dr. Kasper. I've met her at work but never as a patient myself and Matt came with me and got to meet her too. She was very patient with me and answered all of my questions (and believe you me....I had a list of them!).

The past few days a few things have changed with my pregnancy and because I'm a little crazy...I worry. Monday I discovered I had some pitting edema in my ankles, which happens in pregnancy however usually a little later in the game. Because I'm carrying twins Dr. Kasper reassured me it's because I have more fluid and it will most likely get worse before it gets better. With rest on Tuesday my ankles got better but after 12 hours of work Wednesday there was a little swelling but hardly noticeable! All the more excuse to put my feet up and rest! I also checked my blood pressure while I was at work (remember I'm crazy) and it was a little high for me. Dr. Kasper reassured me that because I'm pregnant my heart is working 40% harder and when I'm "working" (not completely calm and resting) it will be increased. She just doesn't want to see the diastolic (the bottom number of your blood pressure) in the 90s and mine has been in the 70s, so I'm ok. And, there were a few times I saw "stars" but again I have an increase blood volume and it's all going to the babies so it is all ok as long as my blood pressure stays ok. Hey...I'm new at this! I know I'm a nurse, but I think that makes me more crazy then normal! All and all, I still feel good with no real complaints!

This week the babies weigh 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of apples) and they are 4 inches long. I have also been feeling the occasional "bubble" movement in my belly. I hesitate to say flutter because that's not what it feels like. I would better describe it as a fish tapping it's fish tank. But who knows....maybe it's gas?

Oh yea...we also found out the due date has changed....well maybe it didn't change but we were misinformed. Based on the first ultrasound we had the due date is now 8/8/2010 (also Matt's birthday!). With the excitment of the pregnancy and then the shock of the twin pregnancy it's possible we were not totally in tune (interpret as...jaws on the floor, eyes bugging out of head, zoned out type of shock!)

We scheduled our next ultrasound for March 23rd, when I'll be 20+2 weeks. We will have an in-depth ultrasound on the babies at that appointment and hopefully be able to find out the genders of each baby! But most importantly we are anxious to find out each baby is healthy and growing well.

WARNING****I said I'd never do this, but below are some pictures of my naked belly, I figured before it gets stretched to the max I'd post a few pictures while it's still presentable! Hey the bigger the belly the bigger the babies and that's the goal, big healthy babies!

I took these two pictures in the bathroom mirror myself. My belly button is already much wider than it is normally!

A New Wardrobe!

So, I'm in my 14 week and officially in maternity gear. Thanks to a great friend, who loaned me her entire maternity wardrobe, I can now rotate more then 3 long sleeved shirts I currently own. It's like I hit a gold mine, from designer jeans to cute tops that don't make me look like I'm wearing a tent, I couldn't be luckier! My sister has passed down her stash too but she was pregnant more in the spring and summer so that will come in handy in a few months, once we get rid of this snow!

This week the babies are the size of lemons and measuring 3 and 1/2 inches long! I'm still feeling good, no complaints!

Below are two pictures, depending on the angle my belly can look pretty big! And in the evening when I get home from working a 12 hour day I look even bigger! I think the muscles get tired of trying to hold everything up and they let loose....Matt just giggles at me then points out where he thinks Baby "A" is verses Baby "B". Bring on the oils and lotions cause there is no stopping the growth of this belly!

The Eagle Has Landed

So the word is out and it feels good to share our exciting news with everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the emails, facebook messages, and kind words we've received. We are blessed to be able to share this experience with so many friends and family. Over the past week I've been feeling better, less need to put food into my mouth constantly and even enjoyed my first diet coke in months. My mommy friend Erin said it would help calm me down (after a frustrating 40 minutes on the phone with the U-verse representative...not my most shining moment of this pregnancy, the "crazy" came out of me) Erin explained she enjoyed a few caffeinated beverages throughout her 2nd pregnancy and she thinks it gave her a more laid back baby! Hey, I'll try anything in moderation :)

So even though my eating has slowed down the growth of my belly has not! Above are a few pictures of my growing waistline, which until last week wasn't much different then it was pre-pregnancy. The one in the green shirt (my first real maternity shirt from my sister's collection) is at 12 weeks (when the babies were the size of limes) and the next picture is obviously at 13 weeks (when the babies are the size of medium shrimp!). At this rate when I'm 20 weeks people will be asking me when I'm due with anticipation that I will say weeks away, verses months away. Hey, if I have to gain 100 pound to get these babies healthy and to full term then I say bring it on....but I'm hoping for a lot less!