26 weeks 3 days

In case you can't tell where the babies are, Torin is pointing to them for you! :) As of this past Thursday (26 week doctor's appt.), I am measuring 39 weeks pregnant. That's right, I'm full-term with a singleton right now. This is how big I was with Torin when I delivered him. I've gained 25 lbs. thus far and imagine I will easily hit the 40lb range by the end of the pregnancy.

This is officially my last week of work. My OB is signing my work restriction papers at my 28 week appointment on the 31st of March. My anemia isn't any better (not any worse, but not better either) and with how big I'm getting, it is getting more and more difficult to move around. I don't have to be on bed rest as of now and am hoping to make it to the end with only work restriction and modified bed rest. We get to see the babies again on the 31st with a full ultrasound, so I'll have their weights, etc. at that time. I'm guessing they are both moving over the 2lb range about now.

Food Coma

Paul, Torin and I decided to go to breakfast Sunday morning at Johnson's Corner (famous for their cinnamon rolls) which is only a couple minutes from our house on I-25. We got home and were so full, we all ended up on the couch like this. Torin stuffed himself full of cinnamon roll and pancakes. It was delicious! Normally nap time is after 12:00 P.M. These photos were taken at about 10:00 A.M.

24 week 1 day ultrasound/dr.appt

Baby Girl Profile - 24 weeks Baby Girl Face - 24 weeks

My ultrasound went great on Friday and it again showed us two healthy babies. Baby girl is weighing in at 1 lb 10 oz and is measuring right on track at 24 weeks 3 days with a heart rate of 151.

Baby Boy Profile with Leg - 24 weeks

Baby Boy Face - 24 weeks

Baby boy is big just like his big brother was weighing in at 1 lb 14 oz and is measuring a week ahead at 25 weeks 3 days with a heart rate of 151 also. Torin always measured ahead as well in his ultrasounds, so I'm expecting another big boy on the way!

Mommy update:

The babies are completely healthy which is great news. Mommy, on the other hand, is not in the best of health. My anemia continues to worsen unfortunately. I am now at the point where if these very expensive iron pills I'm on don't increase my blood counts, I will be going in for IV iron supplements and possible blood transfusions. The words work restriction and modified bed rest were brought up by my OB, so I'm close to being done working if my anemia doesn't improve soon. I've gained 22 lbs now and am measuring 36 weeks pregnant. YIKES! I will be measuring well into the 40s if not 50 weeks pregnant by the end I have a feeling. I've started having a few braxton hicks contractions now in the evening which is normal at this stage. I've now moved to doctor's appointments every two weeks to keep on top of my anemia and monitoring my contractions and cervical length. We are about 13 weeks out hopefully until they are here so time is going by pretty quickly these days. I guess we have a lot of work to do in these next few weeks especially if I'm put on bed rest!

Sharing with Friends

Last week I took Torin and Hope for a wagon ride since it was so nice outside. Torin thought he would be a gentleman and pull Hope for a while.
That is, until he realized he couldn't push the wagon through the grass.

But they shared goldfish for a snack in the wagon for quite some time.

Food and wagon rides are fine to share. Toys, on the other hand, are a little more difficult to share for 19 month olds.

Notice he is trying to climb into the exersaucer with Hope! Too cute!

Sharing is such a hard thing for one year olds. Unfortunately, he is going to have to learn this concept pretty soon since he won't be the only child in the house anymore.

Mental Picture of the Day

Friday Joke Of The Day...

Yesterday at about 4:45 P.M., if you would have been driving in our neighborhood, you would have seen a pug on the loose running down the sidewalk on High Plains Blvd. A little bit behind this naughty beast, you would have seen an adorable 18 month old boy squealing in delight as he chased after his best friend down the sidewalk. And finally, a LONG way behind that little boy you would have seen a gigantic-bellied pregnant woman moving as quickly as her body will now allow her to asking adorable little boy to stop chasing the dog away and swearing at such dog under her breath.

Got that picture? (chuckle, chuckle)

The situation was resolved by a friendly driver getting out of their vehicle and catching the pug for the gigantic-bellied pregnant woman. This exhausted pregnant woman then was able to carry naughty beast and adorable boy back home (two blocks) when at such time she rang her incredibly handsome husband on the phone and said these exact words..."If the dog isn't gone by tomorrow, I'm taking it out back and killing him myself." Now, gigantic-bellied pregnant woman has had some time to calm herself after this incident, however, she still doesn't want such dog in her home anymore.

Is anyone looking for an adorable 5 year-old dog that listens incredibly well, never escapes out of the house, and would absolutely NEVER pee on your favorite pair of shoes in the closet all in the matter of three days? Please let us know if you are interested in having this joyous bundle of fur enter your family.

The Shower

I've been writing a lot more lately especially at night since I'm hardly sleeping. Thanks to Unisom, I'm able to sleep a little bit better until Paul comes in and wakes me up wanting to cuddle at midnight. GRRRR! (I love you dear, but I'm going to start wearing a sign that reads "If asleep, do not touch." :)) Mostly I write to the babies and Torin, but occasionally I'll jot down some things just for me. Here is a recent piece.

The Shower

I have never been one to appreciate a shower. It is, after all, only water. In the past month however, the shower is my sanctuary. My fifteen minutes (on a good day) of 'me' time. The only 'me' time I get anymore. Literally speaking, I'm still not alone. I carry my two beautiful twins with me wherever I am. But during those fifteen minutes, they too are quiet. They aren't kicking me or each other and are probably sleeping I'm guessing, since one of them is constantly moving lately. Thanks to my twins I no longer need to worry about shaving my legs in the shower as I haven't seen from my thigh to my knee for a good three weeks now (I do take baths to shave my legs yet :)). So that gives me more time to do absolutely nothing in the shower but rest once I've washed my hair.
For those fifteen minutes I don't have to worry about my job, hear the words "Mrs. B, I forgot a pencil again" or "my homework" or whatever the excuse is for the day, be asked to run another data report, attend yet another meeting, grade anyone's paper, plan any lessons or help a single struggling student with literacy or math.
For those fifteen minutes, I don't have to worry about the house by throwing in another load of laundry, vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, folding, washing, unloading, paying the bills, doing the budgeting, figuring out dinner (or cooking it since that too is my job lately), writing a grocery list, updating a calendar, sending a birthday or anniversary card, and cleaning up any of the day-to-day messes that an 18 month old boy and 5 year old dog can make.
For those fifteen minutes, I don't have to worry about my husband by picking his clothes up off the floor, reminding him for the tenth time of an appointment or what is going on for the day, telling him where he has placed his phone, money clip or any other item that has been misplaced that day, wonder if he will come home with a job or not since his company is so dependable (insert sarcastic eye roll here), try to give him 'husband and wife quality time' once Torin has finally went to sleep for the night, make every effort to not look like a complete wreck when he walks through the door at night (I used to primp my hair and do make-up touches, now it is more like making sure I don't have snot on my shirt and my teeth are brushed), and have him feel loved, supported and important in my life.
For those fifteen minutes, I don't have to worry about being a mom (unless Paul isn't home, then I still need to pay attention some). I don't have to read a book for the twentieth time that day, sing the same song over and over, watch the movie Shrek yet again that day, dance, jump, climb, play 'peek-a-boo' or 'get you', wipe a nose, change a diaper, feed a meal or snack, get more water or milk, change clothes, pick up toys, play outside, work on saying more words, and anything else you do for the most important thing in your life that you love unconditionally.
For those fifteen minutes, I can be me. I can think about what I want, feel what I want, look how I want (let's be honest, the twins are deciding this for me), and no one can change that. I love my fifteen minutes in the shower. I look forward to my fifteen minutes in the shower. I cherish my fifteen minutes in the shower. Lately, I wouldn't survive without my fifteen minutes in the shower. Thank you to the person who invented the shower.

Below is what I do those days that Paul is gone during my shower. I set Torin on the floor with books and snacks. He is wonderful while I'm in the shower. I mean, I come out of the shower to this, but I can grab the broom and take care of this mess.

Yeah, right! I send the dog in for the only thing he is good for these days. Again, this is my shower time when I don't worry about these things.

Walking the Dog

We went out for a walk a week or so ago and Torin decided he was ready to walk the dog for the first time. I'm not really sure how it worked out better; Torin walking Cooper or Cooper walking Torin. :) Either way, Mom and Dad got a kick out of it.