An Average Day at 10 Months

Schedules and routines are probably the most common topics I get asked questions about!  I think that most parents wonder about how to do what's "best" with each child's day.  I feel that if your kids are happy, healthy, and growing and you're content, then you're doing something right!  

Since I am a teacher, it's in my nature to creates routines and schedules of what my day will look like.  Throwing twins in the mix made this even more important to me.  Having a routine gives me a slice of sanity since I generally know what to expect, plus the boys get to know what they can count on.  

I have read several books (including 12 Hours of Sleep by 12 Weeks and Baby Wise) that discuss schedules with babies, so I've taken different things from each book and applied what I found most helpful.  We are currently on a 4-hour feeding schedule.  That means our days look something like this:

7:15 AM    Wake up, get out of crib, change diapers, independent play while I make the bottles.
7:30 AM    Drink bottles on Twin-Z pillow on floor
8:00 AM    Breakfast (typically some combination of fruit, oatmeal, puffs, pureed foods + water cup)
8:30 AM    Diaper change and dress kids for the day; play time
9:00 AM    Nap  --  I get ready for the day, clean up the kitchen, and start a load of laundry
10:00 AM  Play, diaper change, then get out of house (run errands, groceries, go to library, etc.)
11:30 AM  Bottle feed
11:45 AM  "Lunch" (foods they can feed themselves, like pieces of meat, cheese, fruit + water cup)
12:15 PM  Play time, diaper changes
1:00 PM    Nap -- I eat lunch, fold clothes, complete to-do list things around the house 
3:00 PM    Depending on wake-up time, run other errands or tidy up around home; play time
3:30 PM    Bottles and diaper changes
4:00 PM    Walk 
5:00 PM    Dinner (generally leftovers of food I've made, which I'll puree if needed)
5:30 PM    Evening play, usually independent while I make and eat dinner
6:15 PM    Signing Time and sound practice
6:45 PM    Bottles
7:00 PM    Bath and story time
7:30 PM    Bedtime for Jacob and James

After they go to bed, I clean up the play room and kitchen, sometimes watch a show with Seth, and try to exercise before showering and heading to bed.

We have nights that we have to get up several times because of teething or boys not feeling well; other nights we'll only get up once.  When they do wake up, usually putting a pacifier in helps them fall back asleep.     

I knew it was time to take away their third nap around 9.5 months because they would be upset when I put them in their cribs and could not be soothed unless they were out playing.

I generally make minor adjustments to our schedule based on how long naps are or if we have appointments to attend.  Instead of taking my bigger stroller I have found it most helpful to leave my umbrella stroller in my car at all times.  My diaper bag is constantly filled with all the necessities I would need if I was out during a feeding time or a diaper change was needed.  If  I used something up, I immediately replace it when I get home.  

A Restart and Reboot

It’s been a long time since my fingers have met my keyboard to type out a post.  I miss writing.  I have a lot of thoughts and things I want to share.  Mothering twins has been a dream come true (I mean, just look at the journey we took to get where we are today).  But it’s hard.  Oh so hard.  Many nights with too few hours of sleep.  Two babies with different needs.  Concerns of health (especially hearing) are always at the forefront of my mind.  

Raising these boys means everything to me and I want the best for them.  I want world peace and kindness to/from others to be the only thing they know, but unfortunately, that’s not reality.  I wish I could always keep a cool head and never feel frazzled, but that’s not real life either.  It’s being the best I can be, whatever that is for the day.  

Recently I have been trying to figure out what kind of impact and mark I want to leave on the world.  I think the best impact I can have is on raising two caring and kind boys, but sometimes that doesn’t feel like enough.  Occasionally it feels like I am getting pulled in two different directions—one where I have no monetary contribution and another where I should be doing this or that to make money.  Wondering if what I’m doing is enough—living up to impossibly high standards that don’t really exist.  It’s interesting going through all these different feelings when I’m really doing exactly what I have wanted for so long.

Motherhood is intense and wonderful and better than I imagined.  It’s also harder than I imagined too.  Emails pile up, boxes get left unpacked, things aren’t as clean or organized as I would like, but I’m happy.  I’m doing something that I find great value and happiness in.  Even when there is a hard day (or night), there’s also some good I can find.  I honestly find that trying to find some good in a really bad day or night changes my perspective.  Nothing is permanent.  Babies grow out of schedules and clothes, but they never outgrow needing love.

And remember—

I am enough and you are enough.  Exactly as we are today.

World Prematurity Day

During my entire pregnancy I tried to prepare myself for the boys being in the NICU.  As many moms of multiples are aware, I knew it was more than likely that the boys would come ahead of schedule and have to spend time in the NICU because they're twins.  But with each appointment, we'd get good news that the boys were healthy and growing ahead of schedule so I started getting my hopes up that they would be skipping the NICU altogether.

Unfortunately, we weren't lucky enough to have the boys come straight home with us. After a bit of scare due to preeclampsia, the doctor ordered an expedited delivery of the boys (for both my health and theirs) two weeks ahead of my scheduled c-section date (at 35 weeks instead of 37 weeks). After a successful delivery, Jacob and James arrived in this world just one minute apart. The boys were quickly rushed out of the delivery room because both mine and their blood pressure levels were low, and they needed to make sure they were healthy and well. After stabilizing the boys, I was finally able to hold both my sons for the first time for a brief, few minutes until they were taken upstairs in the hospital to the Unit III NICU (where babies who need more intensive care/monitoring go), where they were placed under a heat lamp and given tubes for feeding. 

Jacob weighed 5 lbs. 9 oz. and James weighed 6 lbs 5 oz. so they were still a relatively healthy weight, but due to their prematurity, they were still unable to feed on their own. After a few days in the Unit III NICU, the boys were more stable and could be transferred to the "regular" NICU. Although the boys were doing well, their little bodies still were learning how to successfully breast and bottle feed. It seemed like there'd be great progress some days, and others, not so much. The rule was that the boys had to successfully reach their target feeding levels for 8 consecutive feeds (or 24 hours). It ended up taking both the boys the same amount of time to master this skill -- just under 3 weeks in fact (19 days to be exact). It was the longest 19 days of my life.

I wanted to be there every hour of every day, watching over them and caring for them. Whenever I wasn't there, I was worried sick. Plus, my hormones were still way out of whack and I was an emotional basketcase. I never knew I could love these sweet boys the way that I did, but I wanted to give anything or everything I could to help them finally come home.  One night, when I was especially sentimental and emotional, I wrote a note to myself on my iPhone while I was at home during a pumping session:

I cry.  A lot.  I miss my boys.  I feel like I'm missing out on things by them not being with me.  I don't want to miss a thing.  That's one of the reasons I decided to be a SAHM.  It's been my dream to be a mom and it seems like I keep getting delayed.

I know we are really lucky to have healthy babies.  Learning to eat is just a difficult skill when you're 5 weeks early.

When the nurses told me I could bring clothes for the boys I was hesitant.  I didn't want them there long enough to have clothes from home.  After a couple days of them being there, Seth and I ended up stopping by Walmart to pick up a few of their little onesies.  And then a few days later I brought more stuff from home for them to wear.  I'm now glad I did because they look so cute.

Feels like NICU time is never ending.  I hate the unknown most!

** I wrote this post several months ago, but with twin boys taking up most of my time, I haven't had time to blog as frequently so it never got posted.  Opening up this draft on World Prematurity Day seemed fitting.  I am so grateful I now have my 9.5 month old twin boys at home with me.  Looking at them now it would be hard to tell they ever spent time in the NICU.  It is amazing what skilled healthcare and technology does for babies born early.  I am forever indebted to science for getting my babies here (in more ways than one)!  

Jacob in the NICU on his first day of life.

James in the NICU on his first day of life.

The happiest baby boys at 9.5 months old.

The #RasTwinBoys Favorites List

I get plenty of emails and direct messages about items that I've been using with my boys.  To help make it easier for me (and anyone who's interested), I've decided to start compiling some of these frequent requests here on my blog so everyone can refer to this list to find all my favorite items! =)

Everything I include on this list are items that I absolutely love and would buy again! A lot of these have been real lifesavers and have made twin life twice as easy!

Here's the list, in no particular order:

1. The Everything Pillow

The tiny twins lounging on the Twin Z pillow as 4-week-olds.

I love the Twin Z pillow.  Whether for napping, bottle-feeding or lounging, this has been a real lifesaver! (I haven't use it for breastfeeding, but you can use it for that too!) If I had to pick just one twin item that I could buy, this would be it! It's so handy because you can use it for so many things, plus it's super comfortable for the boys. The cover is washable too, just in case there are any leaks, spills or accidents. =)

2.  Bath Time with Twins

Angelcare Tub Support

These tubs are great because they allow me to bathe both boys at the same time with ease!  Plus they are big enough for the boys to grow into, and both seem to find it very comfortable. They're stackable too!

3.  Keeping the Germs (or Bright Lights) at Bay

Scuddles Baby Car Seat Cover

These car seat covers are light and breathable, which is perfect for the hot and humid weather that Houston is famous for! The pattern I have is "Star", but that's currently sold out (apparently I'm not the only one who loves it).  They have some other cute styles too!

As you can see in the photo, while we waited (two hours!) at the library getting our passports, we kept these on to keep the boys covered from germs and help them sleep better while we waited!

4.  My Best Friend for Breastfeeding--The Breastfriend Twin   

Me, my two boys and my Breastfriend!

This really has been a breastfeeding lifesaver for twins! I do not know where I would be without it! I use this several times a day at home, and I've even taken it with me on a roadtrip to use in the car. It's easy to spot clean and wide enough to use with both babies.  Plus, it has a little pouch so you can include little essentials (or a little mid-feed snack for mommy in there). I absolutely love it!

5.  Growing Month by Month

This measurement blanket is super adorable and always seems to be popular (lots of questions and comments on Instagram) every month when I post the boys' growth updates. We definitely love them beyond measure! The blanket is super cute and it's fun to keep track of just how much the boys are growing each month.


6. Merlin's Magic Sleep Suit

Boys looking cozy in their Sleep Suits!

These sleep suits double as sumo wrestling costumes apparently! The picture was taken a few weeks ago, and the boys are already growing into them nicely! These sleep suits help the stay comfy during naps and through the night.

One thing we have really liked is that it keeps the boys comfortable without being too heavy. Plus, since the boys don't like being swaddled anymore (that stopped at around 2 months), they can still move around and self-soothe, but the sleep suit limits their movements enough that they won't startle by hitting themselves in the face!

There are also several different sizes, materials and colors -- plus what's not to love about the Michelin Man look on the boys!  ;)

7.  Wubanub Pacifiers

Seriously, these have been the best pacifiers we've used.  As tiny babies, it made it easier for the boys to hang onto their pacifiers and now that they're older, they love to grip and play with it. Gerald the Giraffe and Marvin the Monkey are the favorites around here (we went with an animal safari theme for part of their nursery)! They also have elephants (in pink too), penguins, puppies and kittens, bunnies, hippos and more!

8.  Strolling Around with Two

Joovy Twin Roo+

The Joovy Twin Roo+ is the perfect combo of a car seat carrier and stroller.  I always get compliments on it when I'm out and about.  I absolutely love the convenience of not having to lug two heavy car seats around, and you can flip the car seats in either direction by using the adapters. Plus it folds up quite nicely.

I've used it daily since February (4+ months) and have had no issues with its quality. It is heavier than a regular side-by-side stroller (but that's because of the car seats), and when those car seats are attached, it's about the same width as a side-by-side.

9.  Mosquitoes Stay Away

Stroller Net

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the mosquitoes! Since we do daily walks around the bayou near our house and mosquitoes sure love water, this stroller net is a must! The net is super handy because it's adjustable (has elastic) so it can fit on almost everything!

10.  Staying Cool in the Summer

Stroller Fans

Sometimes I don't want to stay cooped up indoors all day, but with the Houston heat, I'm always cautious to make sure the boys don't get overheated.  To help solve this, we decided to get these handy, clippable stroller fans!

The husby had initially suggested these a couple of weeks ago (before it got hot!), but a few recent walks in the "warmer" weather spurred me to action so I finally bought them. I can confirm they work great! Also nice because the included battery is rechargeable so we can stay cool all summer long! The boys seem fascinated by the fans, which really do seem to keep them cool! Let's just say they're fans of the fans! They have these in both black (like I have) and blue.

All the links are affiliate links to Amazon (which we use to buy everything!) so using them helps us out! If we find more great stuff, I'll be sure to share updates on Instagram and here on my blog. Thanks much and best of luck to all you wonderful mommas out there (and double kudos to all the twin moms too)!

January 31, 2017

Jacob Wayne and James Kenneth Justice Rasmussen joined our family on January 31, 2017 at 5:08 PM and 5:09 PM respectively.  Jacob was 19.5 inches and 5 lbs 9 oz.  James was 20 inches and 6 lbs 5 oz.  

Newborns! Jacob Wayne on the left and James Kenneth on the right.

In the recovery room holding both boys together for the first time.

Last time leaving the apartment before the boys were born.

Arriving at the hospital!

So swollen!

Monitoring the boys.  I heard them hiccuping!

One of the first meals I ordered.

First family photo!

It's taken several weeks to find the time to write out the boys' birth story.  Thankfully I had written notes on my phone so I could remember things!

What a whirlwind two days!  I went to the doctor on Monday afternoon (January 30th).  I had a massive headache, was very swollen, and extremely uncomfortable.  I found out I gained 8 pounds in one week and was weighing in at 212 pounds!  I was surprised I had ended up gaining so much since weight gain was minimal during the first part of my pregnancy.  

The appointment started with an ultrasound.  The tech didn't get any good pictures of the boys' faces, but was able to get measurements of them.  When it was time to meet with the doctor, my blood pressure was taken and it was super high again.  The high blood pressure combined with the torturous headache and swelling made the doctor think I needed to head to the hospital for observation and testing.  

I called Seth at work and he wanted to go with me.  We gathered up my hospital bag and packed a few things for him and headed out the door.  The hospital had free valet parking so we dropped off the car and checked in.  I was put in a wheelchair and taken to my room on the 2nd floor (Room 2222).

They had a snack room with popsicles and crackers.  My favorite thing was the cranberry juice with chewy ice.

Every 4 hours my blood pressure would be checked and the boys would be monitored.  They kept track of contractions (wasn't really having any) and their heart rates.  They drew my blood several times, checked my "fluid" levels over a 24-hour period, and gave me the steroid shot for the babies' lung development.

With the way the doctors and nurses were acting, I thought everything was going to be okay and I would be sent home and put on bed rest.  We ended up with quite the surprise on Tuesday afternoon!

Dr. Journey (the on-call doctor from my clinic) came in right after I ate lunch around noon.  She said with the results from my tests combined with my headache they did not want to wait too long to take the boys out and that we needed to mentally prepare ourselves because they possibly could be arriving that evening.  She also told me not to eat or drink anything the rest of the day!  Seth and I thought that meant the earliest the boys would arrive would be around 9 p.m. or so, but my actual doctor had other plans.  Dr. Hardy came in even though it was her day off!  The nurse came to my room at 4 p.m. and started prepping me for surgery.  I was wheeled to the third floor and put in a room so Seth could change.  Dr. Hardy came to talk and check on me.  She walked with me to the operating room (I was wheeled by a nurse).  Seth was told to go to a waiting room and they would come get him in a few minutes.

The operating room was really cold.  I didn't think they would start my spinal block/epidural until Seth came in, so I was in for a shock when the nurse told me to hold onto her and the anesthesiologist stuck the needle in my back.  I thought we were only practicing!  The pain shot up my back and hurt until the medicine started to work a minute or so later.  The anesthesiologist did some checks to make sure I was numb and then had me lay down.  That's when things got a little crazy.  

Extreme pain started radiating from my neck and shoulders.  I couldn't get comfortable because the table was so narrow.  All the doctors and nurses started getting mad at me for moving around and I kept trying to tell them how much pain I was in.  Eventually they had to hold me down and I got a panic attack.  Since I was freaking out so bad they gave me some drug that put me in a major haze. FINALLY, they let Seth in and I calmed down but I don't really remember much of the boys' birth.  I only recall the doctors saying blood pressure is dropping and next thing I know Seth was holding the boys next to my face.  

I was so happy to finally see them!  They immediately went to the NICU since they both had low blood sugar and James was having trouble breathing (grunting) since there was still some fluid in his lungs.  

They wheeled me to recovery and I hated not being able to feel my legs nor be with my boys.  It was such a crazy and scary feeling.  I felt helpless which led to another mini panic attack.  Luckily Seth was with me and helped me breathe through it.  Since I couldn't see the boys myself, Seth went to the NICU to FaceTime and get pictures for me.  

I thought my swelling was bad before the C-section but I ballooned up afterwards!  I have lots of stretch marks on my behind and legs because of the swelling!  The nurses all commented on how swollen I was too.  The swelling made my legs and feet painful to touch.  I honestly felt like I would pop like an over-filled balloon!  On  February 9th I could finally start feeling some give to my skin, but was still puffy for about a month afterwards. 

I was surprised how sweaty I was after they were born.  I asked why and they told me I would be sweating and peeing out all the excess fluid in my body.  I was so swollen none of my shoes fit and I could only wear the hospital's no skid socks around.  Even those were a bit small!  

The pain from surgery was pretty unbearable the first few days.  I could not sleep.  Every time a nurse would check on me I would be up in pain or pumping.  They finally gave me Norco and I could manage better and actually get rest.  

One upside of my hospital stay--besides having my wonderful twin boys--was that I really enjoyed the hospital food.  The room service menu always had several very tasty options.  My favorite meal was the sliced turkey, baked potato, and veggies.  I think I ate it 4 or 5 times! 

I pumped every 3 hours even though nothing would really come out.  My milk finally came in after a week and a few weeks later I was producing a surplus.  We would take my milk to the NICU and the nurses would mix it with formula to give to the boys.

We stayed at the hospital for 6 days and left at the very last minute.  It was so hard leaving the boys there.  We had my room until midnight and stayed in the NICU until 11.  We then packed up and the nurse helped us carry our stuff down.  On the way home we filled my Norco prescription at the only 24-hour pharmacy open.  While there we picked up a heating pad with auto-shut-off so I could use it for my back pain.

When we finally went home (on Saturday, February 4th), we thought we lost our house keys.  We had the Tile app and tried using it to find them.  The app said they were at a Spin class I hadn't been to since before I was pregnant so we knew that was wrong.  I tried calling the hospital to see if they had our keys in lost and found, but wasn't having any luck.  I finally just called the emergency line at our complex so we could get in.  It was supposed to cost us $60, but Ernie ended up letting us in for free.  Thank goodness our boys were not with us!  That would have been quite the welcome home!  Seth eventually found the keys at the bottom of his bag a couple hours later!     

While I was getting prepped to have the boys, Seth wrote me this email while he was waiting (on 1/31/17 at 4:49 PM):

Carlie--

I'm sitting in the waiting room but wanted to write this now so you have this when you get done.

Know that the last ~8 years have been the best of my life. You've made me so happy and make me complete. I know the last few years have been rough on you in many different facets but just remember that we got through it together and we'll keep doing that for the rest of our lives. You've been so incredible at staying positive and resilient in the face of incredible mental, emotional and physical pain. You certainly all the best for the love and dedication you've maintained!

Now that we're adding to our family, I'm so happy that you'll be the mother of our children. You'll love them and teach them how to be a good, caring person just like you. You light up my life and you'll light up theirs. There will be many sleepless nights (mostly due to the abundance of nightlights!) but just like everything else, we'll get through it together. I love you more than anything. I'll love them both more than anything. I love you all, forever and for always. Looking forward to sharing every day with you and our family!

-Seth

Sometimes I still can't believe I survived the IVF process and pregnancy.  With all the shots, medicine, timing, multiple ER visits, some scary health situations, and a not-so-average delivery--I'm grateful for modern medicine.  These boys are literal science miracles.  I am amazed every time I look at them and think about the process and time it took to get them here.  It's unbelievable sometimes, but I am so grateful.  They are my perfect little babies.  I'm so glad I get to live my dream job of being a mom now.

34 Weeks

I am 34 weeks with our boys today!  I am definitely feeling very pregnant and uncomfortable.  My feet are very swollen and now my hands are too.  Laying down doesn't help bring the swelling down like it used to.  It's strange because my right foot is a lot more swollen than the left.  It hurts right above the toes like the swelling is hitting a nerve.  The numbing of my hands happens at night but also doing anything normal during the day.  Sleeping is even more difficult than it used to be.  I can tell my body is ready for the boys to come out!

At my appointment yesterday my blood pressure spiked quite a bit from what it usually is (I don't remember the normal number, that's just what the doctor said).  I also had protein in my urine so those two things plus the swelling means I have the beginnings of preeclampsia.  I gave a blood sample to check my organ function and now I have to take my blood pressure a couple times every day.  I'm also doing an at-home 24 hour protein test.   I will probably find out more on Wednesday.  If things look good, I'll hopefully make it to my Monday appointment and be closer to 35 weeks before they're born. 

I want to make it to 35 weeks because my doctor said white baby boys before that gestation seem to have a harder time in the NICU (more time spent there) compared to white baby girls and babies of other races.

On Friday the 20th I got a special package in the mail from my friend, Brittany.  She made name blankets for the boys and sent me a Lula Roe shirt and leggings!  

33 Weeks and 4 Days
Here's the outfit Brittany gave me.  The Tall & Curvy leggings stay up on my belly much better.

The super cute blankets Brittany made!

We got amazing pictures of Jacob Wayne's face yesterday. James Kenneth was wiggling around too much so we only got 1.5 chubby-cheeked pictures of him.

Baby James Kenneth Justice Rasmussen

 Baby Jacob Wayne Justice Rasmussen
Jacob is very calm.  I videoed part of the ultrasound so that I could send it to Seth and we got the sweetest smile from him while his brother was kicking him (love taps?).

It was nice getting a good view of Jacob's face today since we usually just see James.  He must know they're going to be making their grand entrance soon and wanted to give us a better peek of his little face.  

Since the boys really could come any day now and my birthday is on Friday, Seth picked me up some ice cream cupcakes to enjoy all week.

Daily reminders have now been set-up so that we don't forget to add the boys to our health insurance once they arrive!

Update--just got an email and my blood work came back normal!  My blood pressure is staying lower again too.  I still have to submit my protein test tomorrow and BP numbers Friday, but maybe I won't be sharing a birthday with the boys after all!    

33 Weeks

I have 10 pounds of baby growing in me!  I am surprised how big our boys are!  I guess it makes sense since my belly is so big.  At my appointment yesterday I found out that I broke the 200 pound barrier (I weighed 201).  I definitely made up for not gaining much weight during the first part of the pregnancy.  Jacob Wayne (A) and James Kenneth (B) are both growing really well and are still ahead of schedule.  James is 9 days ahead of his gestation age and Jacob is 4 days ahead.  Jacob weighed in at 4 lbs 10 oz and James weighed in at 5 lbs 6 oz.  I'll now have weekly appointments until they arrive!

We only got these two pictures of James (B) because Jacob was too squished up and hidden during his ultrasound.

Sneak peak of the maternity photos I got done last week.

Seth put together one of the mini cribs.  I am glad I changed the style of crib I want the boys to have because I like this look more and it will eventually switch into a twin bed.

My new middle of the night snack has been Lara Bars with a glass of milk.  Lara Bars are fruit and nut bars that are all natural so it feels like a healthy choice.

The past few days my hands have been going numb and it wakes me up in the middle of the night.  I think my swollen feet and legs didn't want my hands to feel left out.  =)

My back still bothers me and I like to sit most of the time, but I'll take it so the boys can keep getting bigger and maybe even have no NICU time!  

32 Weeks

I woke up this morning quite uncomfortable, nauseous, and with a higher heart rate.  I can't get comfy in any position and keep moving around to find an ideal spot.  Seth decided to work from home in case I need his help.  I'm basically going to be wearing my pajamas all day and keeping my feet up!

I wear my compression socks every day, but my feet are constantly swollen.  My ankles aren't crazy cankles though.  I'm guessing the socks help with that.  I just have fat feet instead!  Ha!

I've been waking up every night between 2 and 3 AM starving so I'll eat a bowl of cereal or a Blueberry Nutri-Grain bar with a glass of milk.  I always brush my teeth after my middle of night snack!  =)

Seth always says, "I love you and I love you two," as he places his hands on my belly.

Besides holding the boys and kissing their cheeks, I'm most looking forward to less back pain pain when the boys are born!

< 5 more weeks until we meet them!

Car Seats

We've reached another milestone--the car seats are installed!  It may be a few weeks early, but I was just too excited!  While my dad was here, he helped us figure out the LATCH system in our Highlander, so installing today was pretty quick.  I was worried that car seat installation would be difficult to get done right.  Reading the manual and watching installation videos helps!  It's really not as intimidating as I thought.

What we wore on the day we installed their car seats.  Well, we actually changed into sweats to put their car seats in because it was a chilly day.  

Seth working on the car seats.  We also added the mirrors to the head rests so we can see the boys from our rear view mirror.

We're ready for driving with the boys!

Squeezing In

A part of pregnancy that I didn't think about was how much my belly would stick out.  I obviously knew it would be large, but it didn't register how that would affect me.  For example, the full length mirror in our bathroom has a belly mark from where my stomach hits it when I am putting on my make-up, I can't squeeze past Seth when he is working in his office, and now parking spots are too small!

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment.  I made sure to park at the end so I wouldn't be too close to anyone.  That did me no good because when I got out there was an SUV next to me.  She parked over the line and her mirror blocked my door.  I literally could not get in because the door wouldn't open more than 5 inches.  I decided to just laugh about it and go around to the passenger side.  After about 5 minutes, I made it to the driver's seat.  The funniest part was that while I was texting Seth in the driver's seat, the driver of the car came back and she almost hit my car while she was pulling out!

   

At the doctor's appointment I found out I'm measuring as a 38 week singleton belly and hit 194 pounds!  My blood pressure is still really good.  It was weird going to the doctor and not having a list of questions on my phone.  Maybe these boys will stay in until February 15th after all!

30 & 31 Weeks

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the finish line of this pregnancy.  My parents have been very helpful the past week getting everything set-up.  I feel prepared for the boys to come even though we ended up returning the twin bassinet.  The cribs we ordered instead arrived one hour after my parents left today.  Everything else is ready to go!

While they were here I was able to go on a few short walks with them.  Breathing is difficult since the boys take up so much space.  That just means I need a lot of breaks when doing anything.

I threw up once this past week and still get heart burn.  Sleep continues to be difficult and comes in 1 hour increments.  Once a night I get a 2 hour stretch in.  I'm sure it is quite the sight watching me try to get out of bed since my belly is getting so big.

My body is retaining water so I can't fit my wedding ring anymore.  I have a fake one I wear instead.  To help with my leg swelling, Seth has to put on my compression socks on every morning.  They are very tight so I am glad I have his help.

Before my parents left I got a Father's Blessing which was comforting.

30 Weeks Bump

My dad and Seth setting up the Rock-n-Plays

Watching everyone else work.

The twin bassinet we returned.

On Wednesday, December 28th, my parents were able to attend the boys' ultrasound.

Waiting for the boys to show up on the screen.

Watching the ultrasound TV screen.

Baby A (Jacob Wayne) is really crowded at the bottom.  In one of the 3D pictures you can see his arms and legs bunched up to his face.  He weighed 3 pounds and 10 oz.

Baby B (James Kenneth) was stretched out across the top of my stomach.  He weighed 3 pounds and 14 oz at the ultrasound last week.  That makes me think he's over 4 pounds now.   

Both babies measured a week and day ahead of their 30 weeks and 1 day.  If they stay in for several more weeks we are going to get some "chubby" twins!  

I had some leftover IVF medication that we spent too much money on so I couldn't just throw it away.  Instead I donated it back to my IVF clinic.

We rearranged our room so the rockers can be right by my side of the bed. 

The set-up.