Countdown is on!

Yep, I look like I have a balloon under my shirt, or a beachball. I am ready for it to be popped! Just a quick update this week - I am no longer working so sitting in front of a computer isn't that appealing when I am not being paid to do it :)

Had my first (and only) NST yesterday and everything looked great. Saw my Dr. today and we are all set for induction next week. 8 more days...I am SO ready! Don't get me wrong - I am absolutely terrified of labor, but so ready to not be pregnant anymore.  I still hope they might decide to come before then on their own, but at least now making it to the end date seems managable. Not working definitely makes things easier as I feel less pressure to try to sleep through the night, and I can just take naps throughout the day. Seems that I can't really sleep in much more than 45 minute increments...I guess it is good practice for what is to come.

In other news, we interviewed a nanny over the weekend and really liked her, so we went ahead and offered her a position. She won't start til March when I go back to work, but what a relief to have that settled - I was pretty nervous about finding someone that would be a good fit. I felt very comfortable with her, and she's worked with both twins and triplets in the past so I feel confident in her abilities.  Things are really coming together!

Now I just hope that labor goes as smoothly as my pregnancy has been, and that my babies are healthy.  Wish me luck!

Crazy Prego Lady

It's official. I have become the crazy prego lady. I think I did a pretty good job of staying sane for the past few months, but I think the hormones (and lack of sleep) have finally taken their toll.  Case in point: my dr. appt this past Monday...

I had my u/s appt at 8am. Of course, they didn't call us back until about 8:30.  Since I'd hardly slept at all the night before, I was already pretty cranky.  It didn't help that the u/s itself was extremely uncomfortable...lying on my back and having someone push hard on my tummy is not fun.  This was thankfully my last one. The "little" ones are now estimated at 6.10 and 7.1! No wonder I am in so much pain...
Then we had our dr. appt.  After waiting another HOUR, they finally called me back. They had to re-do my strep test bc the hospital apparently hadnt put the results in my records...grrr. For those of you who have been pregnant, you know what I mean...for some reason I always assumed it would be a mouth swab (ha, yeah right).
So I asked Dr. again at what point he would consider inducing and this time he said if nothing was wrong I should go to 40 weeks! Meaning 1/4/12. I just lost it and started crying. Like a three hanky emotional breakdown. DH jumped in and said he was worried about my health, that I wasn't functioning well, etc etc. Anyway, I guess we finally wore him down, because he said that since this time of year is somewhat hectic, he would go ahead and schedule an induction at the hopsital for 38 weeks.  That way we have an appt in case we need it, but if something happens before then, or if I decide I'd rather not be induced (haha), then we can always cancel it.  So now we are scheduled to go in the evening of Dec. 21 for delivery (vaginal) on Dec. 22. It is SUCH a relief to have an end date in sight. I still hope they decide to come on their own before then, because I have heard pitocin is not pleasant, but really, I can't imagine another month of feeling like this. Plus I really worry that they are getting cramped in there. My belly is huge, yes, but there is still only so much room.
Dr. also is still advocating for vaginal birth. Not only that, but he asked if I wanted to do it naturally. HA! Are you kidding me? I told him politely that I would like any and every drug possible, please. I am kind of surprised by this because I've read that most drs. require moms of mulitples to get an epidural in case they have to move to emergency c/s.  I guess he is really confident that I won't need one...that makes one of us.
Next appt is Monday morning for NST (my first one at 37 weeks) and then Dr. appt on Tuesday. 

Weekly Stats

How far along: 36 weeks

Weight gain/loss: Still gaining, but it is slowing down thankfully.

Maternity clothes: Dresses and leggings are my friends these days.

Stretch marks: Not really, but these ripple things just above my belly button could be mini stretch marks?  They don't go out to the sides of my belly or anything, but they aren't exactly cute...

Sleep: I am so tired, and yet I dread bedtime because I know how uncomfortable it is going to be and how I am going to be up half the night. I may try taking something to help at this point.

Best moment this week: Today, because it is my last day of work. Woohoo!

Food cravings: Orange Juice for my sore throat.

Movement:  Yes. Painful jabbing and rolling. My belly looks like an animal has been put in a balloon and trying to bust out.

What I miss:  Coherent thought. Sleep. Energy. Sleep.

What I'm looking forward to:  Not being pregnant anymore. I hate to say that, and it has been an amazing experience that I am so so thankful for, but, my body is done.

Milestones: Induction date set! Thank goodness!

December...

Wow. It's hard to believe that December is here. It seemed so far off a few months ago. In some ways, this pregnancy has flown by, and in other ways it feels like I've been pregnant forever!
I think my last post was somewhat cranky, so I want to emphasize how absolutely thankful I am to have made it this far with no major complications. I realize I am extremely lucky, particularly in light of some recent events. 

Last week, one of my dear friends welcomed his son early, at 26 weeks, 2 days. Little Dylan weighed only 2lbs, 2oz, but as far as I know things are going as well as they can under the circumstances. He will of course spend alot of time in the NICU, but hopefully without any major complications.
Also last week, another person that I've never met but feel like I know from following her blog, gave birth to twins at over 37 weeks. Even though everything seemed fine at her last u/s, 3 days later when she had her c-section, she lost one of her babies.  Thankfully the other one seems to be doing very well, but I can't even imagine the pain she and her family are going through. I hope anyone reading this will keep both of these families in your thoughts.

Anyway, as for me, I'm over 35 weeks now and still continuing to somehow get bigger:

(yay, it's not sideways!)

I'm pretty uncomfortable and not sleeping much, but overall doing well. I am just getting anxious for these kiddos to join us!

Weekly Stats

How far along: 35 weeks, 2 days

Weight gain/loss: Continuing to steadily gain a couple of lbs each week. Almost 50 total.

Maternity clothes: not much fits at this point so I am wearing alot of the same things over and over. I am SO thankful that so many people loaned or gave me clothing. I hardly had to buy any maternity clothes and I was able to have a relatively expansive work wardrobe for most of my pregnancy.

Stretch marks: Not that I can see, but my stomach is starting to get...ripples? That's the only way I know how to describe it.I just have a hard time believing that my stomach skin is ever going to go back to the way it was.  Oh well. I just want to be able to fit back into my pre-pregnancy wardrobe at some point.

Sleep: Sleeping less now than ever. I tend to be able to sleep in bed for a few hours, but then have to get up and sleep on the sofa propped up for the 2nd half of the night. And by sleep, I mean close my eyes and wait til I have to get up and pee again. It's not a big deal when I am home during the day because I can nap, but when I am in the office it definitely takes a toll and I find myself exhausted by the end of the day. Thankfully my workin days are winding down! (for now)

Best moment this week: Oddly enough, it was probably when DH and I went to the hospital in the middle of the night on Sunday as I was having alot of contractions, and some were painful. They monitored me, and indeed the machine picked up that I was contracting every 5 min or so. It felt good to be validated and know I hadn't gone in for nothing. My cervix was still completely closed however, so after drinking alot of fluids, the contractions slowed down and they sent me home. I think we both knew this wasn't going to really be it, but it was nice to go in and know what to expect when I really do go into labor. Plus everyone was really nice, and, freak that I am, I like being a patient and being monitored. I never knew this about myself until I went through IVF and the medical procedures that went along with that process.

Food cravings: My throat has been pretty sore lately, so I've been wanting alot of ice cream to soothe it. And decaf gingerbread lattes from starbucks :)

Movement:  Somehow they still have room to wiggle all around and kick and poke. I really need to get a video of my stomach because there's no way to fully describe it.

What I miss:  Uninterrupted sleep.  Guess I won't be getting that anytime soon!

What I'm looking forward to:  Dr. appt and ultrasound on Monday morning. I am really curious what the Dr. is going to say about their size and (fingers crossed) maybe an induction date?  Or even better, maybe they will decide to come on their own! 

Milestones: I finally feel ready. I feel like we've done pretty much everything we can to prepare and get the house ready; hospital bag is packed, carseats are installed...bring it!