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.