Thursday, May 27, 2010

30 sounds so much better then 29....

...and we are almost 30 weeks!  It's generally about this time during each week I start telling people I'll be _________ (fill in the blank by rounding up to the next week) on Sunday.  Sunday is the day I turn a new week.  So if you asked me today, I would say "I'll be 30 weeks on Sunday."  This past week has presented a real change.  Last week the weather was cool and I was feeling good in my capri's and even a long sleeved shirt.  This past week it's been HOT and HUMID!  We skipped spring!  Every day for almost a week we've reached close to 90 degrees.  People have said to me since the day I announced we were due in August, "it's going to be a hot summer for you!"  I laughed and thought, I can take it, I like the heat, bring it on.  Well, it's here!  I'm the type of person, I generally swell in the summer...fingers look like sausages, and my feet don't like to be put in "shoes", well this is a whole new ball game!  Wow!  I almost couldn't get my work shoes on this past Monday, and they are backless!  It's ok, I'll make it work.  Matt might be sleeping in his snowsuit but I'll be comfortable!  I'm still feeling ok, contractions still come and go. 

Speaking of Matt, recently I diagnosed him with "Couvade Syndrome", this is a real syndrome, I am not making this up!  In a little book I have called "Your Pregnancy Day by Day" I came across a small section on this particular syndrome.  The syndrome is defined by "a man sharing some of the same pregnancy symptoms as his partner beginning in the first trimester and continuing until birth."  It all started in my first trimester when Matt claimed to be "sooo tired" and I thought wait, aren't I supposed to be the one that was exhausted?  Didn't think much of it but then when I was maybe 15 weeks or so he started having cravings, he used that word even.  He "craved" Mexican food for a few weeks!   I don't think I've claimed to have been craving anything throughout this entire pregnancy...although I have taken advantage of the foods I typically try to limit in my diet (ice cream, icing, white cake with white icing...you get the point).  His recent complaints are his heartburn and one day a few weeks ago he came home from work and showed me the pitting edema in his legs from his work socks!  Too funny, I just laugh!  The only thing he hasn't shared with me is the weight gain....and I'll tell you I've put forth my best efforts in helping him gain weight with me, yet no such luck.  I feel like I can truly say I haven't been going through this pregnancy alone!

So in week 29 the babies muscles and lungs continue to mature.  Their heads are getting bigger to accommodate their growing brains and their skeletons are now hardening.  I had my glucose tolerance test last week and I passed!  That just means I can keep eating my white cake with white icing (in moderation of course!). 

Not much else to report.  I've recruited my mom into helping me put the finishing touches on the nursery this weekend so hopefully I'll have some more exciting pictures to post next week.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Third Trimester

We are officially into the third trimester.  It still feels like it's going so fast!  I'm still feeling great and looking BIG, to me I look and feel big but that I hope that just means big healthy babies!  Speaking of we went to the doctor today and had a check up and got to see the babies again.  Today I am 28 +4 days.  On ultrasound, our big boy is measuring around 30 + 2 days, weighing approximately 3 pounds 2 ounces, and our little girl is measuring 27 +4, weighing 2 pounds 6 ounces.  She is measuring in the 18th percentile and he is measuring in the 84th percentile, which the doctor told us is still considered "normal" for twins.  He didn't have any concerns with their discordant growth at this point and said he'd see us again in 4 weeks for another ultrasound to measure their growth.  My cervix is still long and closed so I no longer will go for every 2 week ultrasounds, which is good but because I'm kinda crazy I appreciated the quick peek at the babies every 2 weeks.  But that's ok, this means I'm tolerating these occasional contractions quite well and they aren't changing my cervix.  She is still breech and he is transverse again so I can pretty much sign myself up for a c-section at this point, but I've been counting on that anyway.  My doctor said if all continues to go well she'll let me deliver anytime I want after 37 weeks.  Personally, I'd like to make it to 38 weeks to grow these babies as big as possible but for right now we are just thankful for every day and every week longer these babies stay inside, healthy, growing as much as possible.   I've seen handfuls of babies born just a little too early who have to spend days and weeks in the NICU because their lungs are underdeveloped.  Like I said....one day at a time!  Everyday is a good day :)  In week 28, the babies can now blink and they have eye lashes.  They are developing billions of neurons in their brains and adding more fat to their bodies to prepare for life outside the womb.  The cankles are here to stay along with the hourly bathroom trips...but that's what drinking a gallon to a gallon and a half of water a day will do with 2 babies sitting on your bladder. 

This week I had another baby shower hosted by my work friends.  It's always great to see my work friends out of our work environment, wearing everyday clothes, where we can just spend time catching up.  I must say, I truly work with the BEST group of women!  We had lots of yummy food, a cake I could have eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and received some wonderful, generous gifts for the babies.  We received a cute play mat for the babies to play on the floor with, BOTH of our infant car seats, and our twin pack 'n play!  Plus, a bunch of cute onesies, diapers, burp clothes, blankets, hangers, lotions and soaps, and the list goes on and on!  We are beyond blessed and it just goes to show these babies are so loved by more then just our families but our friends too.  I was beyond surprised and shocked and thank you doesn't even begin to say how grateful we are.  What a blessing it is to have some of these huge items checked off of our list!  I am beginning to feel more prepared. 

Matt and I purchased our stroller this week as well.  The pictures below are of some of our newest "toys". 


This is where the babies will sleep when they come home from the hospital, we'll have it set up in our room. 

The stroller without the car seats. 

The stroller with the infant car seats. 

The stroller with 2 doggies, and one infant car seat, maybe Matt could just put the other baby in the Baby Bjorn when we go for walks...the neighbors will think we are CRAZY!



The new diaper bag Matt got me for my first mother's day! 

Friday, May 14, 2010

Friends, Family and Furniture

So it's been a very good week in the Hursh Home!  I had my first shower this past weekend and was able to see many old friends!  Matt and I were blessed with so many generous gifts!   From ExerSaucers to diapers I'm feeling slightly more prepared!  So many cute items I couldn't take a picture of them all or I'd bore you to pieces!  Just know we appreciate all the wonderful, generous, thoughtful gifts!  The other great thing that happened this week was the baby furniture finally came!  We paid a little extra to have it delivered and put together which probably saved a few tense moments and a lot of hours of labor for Matt and I.  (or hours of labor for Matt...with me hovering over his shoulder!)

In week 27 the babies each way approximately 2 pounds, the size of a cauliflower head, and measure about 14 and 1/2 inches long.  They are sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing their eyes and possibly even sucking on their fingers.  With more brain tissue developing they are very active now!  Their lungs are still immature but with a lot of medical help they would be able to function if they were born now (let's not get any crazy ideas my little babies!) This week for the first time I felt my big boy have the hiccups, it only lasted a minute maybe two but I'm 99% sure that's what it was and I'm about 99% sure it was him because I had seen them the day before on ultrasound and they hadn't moved too much from where they were last time we saw them on ultrasounds.  Speaking of, the ultrasound I had a week ago showed my cervix was still long and closed!  The babies were active with heart rates in the 130s - 140s.  She is sitting breech on my cervix and he is head down, her feet kicking his head.  They were face to face, very cute!  We see them again this coming Thursday and they will be measured again to check their growth.  From the number I saw on the scale this week, they better be growing :)


Aunt Mindy and Grandma Pam! (Matt's sister and Mom)


Granny Joyce, me, Cousin Josephine, and Aunt Amy

I bought Josephine some musical instruments to take to her Granny's house!

Josephine modeling her new hair bow!

The babies' wardrobe is getting much larger!

Grandma Pam and Grandpa Mike bought us this changing table/dresser.  (Zoe likes to sit in the nursery and watch me as I piddle around in there)

Granny and Papaw Bender bought us a crib for each baby!

Big Belly

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Moving right along...




I've been bad this past week or so about updating but the weeks are just flying by.  Plus, there's not much new to report...which is a good thing!  I still feel good but this past week with the increasing temperatures has proven to be an end of era.  I can no longer comfortably wear my wedding rings, which kinda makes me sad but they are merely a small representation of a much bigger life commitment. 

In week 25, the babies weigh about a pound and a half each (which our big boy must weigh more like 2 pounds because he measures big) measuring about 13 and 1/2 inches long.  They are putting on body fat and this week and if we could see them we would be able to tell what color their hair is!

In week 26, the babies can now hear our voices better.  They are inhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential in lung development.  They are now weighing about a pound and two-thirds (give or take) and 14 inches long each. 

No baby furniture as of yet but I know it will be here soon!  Tomorrow I head back to the doctor for a quick check to make sure my cervix isn't changing, fingers crossed all is well!  This weekend I have my first baby shower, hosted by my sister, Erin and Allie (3 of my best friends!).  It's a true blessing to be loved by so many friends and family.