31 Weeks

I love it when people ask me if I'm due any day now.  No.  I'm not.  But it did become even more a reality today when I had my 31 week appointment with my doctor.  I didn't have an ultrasound this time.  He measured my belly and told me I was doing wonderfully!  That's always nice to hear and reassuring that things are going as they should.

I measured at 40 weeks today which is full term for a single baby.  No wonder I feel "cooked".  When I asked the doctor what I measured, he said, "Big...you're big."  I'm not sure if he was hesitant to make me really feel my actual girth but he hesitated to say the number of weeks.  I just laughed.  It was no surprise to me!  I know I'm larger now than ever because my stretch marks are having babies of their own!  One of these days I'll brave a bare belly photo just so you can admire the forest of veins and stretch marks that have overgrown my once smooth belly.  My belly button has literally been turned inside out.  There is no more room for it "give".

I went to my visit today with a number of questions.  Sometimes I ask the same question to multiple doctors just to see if they're on the same page or if I'll get a variation of the last person's answer.

1. I've been having strange cravings:  fabric softener, bleach, dishwasher detergent...really any cleaning product makes me drool.  I switch the laundry loads and have the urge to take a bite of the clothing.  I can see myself gnawing on a shirt or pair of shorts like a donkey.
1. Answer: You need more iron!  I asked if it was normal and he paused and smiled and said, "Well, not really, but it usually means your deficient in iron."  I assured him that I wouldn't give in to the craving.
2. How does my body know to keep these babies in any longer??
1. Answer:  It doesn't!  (Oh good, that really doesn't help my paranoia of pre-term labor.)
3. Can I go on a short road trip to Colorado next weekend?
1. Answer:  We'll start checking your cervix next week (WHAT?? Whoa!!!) and if you're closed, you can go, if you're dilating, we'd rather you stay here. (I knew they'd be checking me starting at 32 weeks but it really put things into perspective that these babies could arrive any day now.)
4. Are there doctors that aren't comfortable with breech deliveries?  
1. Answer: Everyone is comfortable with breech deliveries.  We are cautious about them but we're all capable of doing them.
5. When should the babies be in position (Vertex = head down)
1. Answer: Um, now! (Yay! Both babies are vertex!!)

So, I left my appointment feeling pretty happy but seriously nervous that I'm not going to make it as long as I hoped I would.  I asked the doctor at what point the babies would be able to go home with me and he said by 35 weeks and sometimes 34, babies are usually good to go home with mom.  This was very reassuring news for me.  I've been telling myself all along that I wanted to make it to 38 weeks.  This last month or so, I've been telling myself that I'd like to get to at least 36 weeks.  I guess what it really boils down to is that I want my babies to come home with me.  I'm still hoping for big babies (relatively) and shooting for at least 6 pounders, hopefully 7, but with how huge I am right now, I'm just not sure that's going to be a possibility.

Anyway, I leave you with my latest belly bump:

31 Weeks (measuring 40 weeks)

To Be A Mother

I've been thinking lately how strange it is that I almost have as many kids as my own mom has.  It's a weird feeling.  You can never truly appreciate what a mother or parent does until you have kids of your own.  I often ask my mom how she did it and she looks at me and says, "I don't know.  I think I've blocked it from my memory!"  Maybe it's the same thing that happens after you have a baby.  Eventually you forget the pain and misery and only remember holding that newborn baby in your arms.  Nature has a strange way of making you go through it all again!

I can't say enough good things about my mom.  She has truly been a rock in my life.  I always know I can go to her with my problems and she'll know just what to say to make it better.  I hope I can be like that for my kids.  She's my best friend (along with my sister and most of all, my Honey...I guess you could say my whole family are my best friends!). 

I think I have the greatest job in all the world.  I relish being a mommy.  My kids bring me more joy than anything else in life.  It's both trying and ever-so rewarding.  Each night after we put the kids to bed, Jon and I relate the day's experiences to each other and it's usually all to do with the kids and the funny things they said or did.  I'm happy to say that all frustration melts when I open their bedroom doors after they've fallen asleep and I see them lying there peacefully.  Sometimes I wish I could climb right in with them and snuggle them to my heart's content!

Motherhood is also wonderful because I get to be a mother with the best father around.  Jon is the best partner to have in raising my kids.  Sundays are a difficult day to provide any pampering but he gave it his best even when he was feeling miserable himself!!  He truly sacrifices so much for me and the kids.  I love him.

Last night, just before the kids got in bed, I got the best Mother's Day card ever made:

29 Weeks

I had another ultrasound today to monitor the growth of the little chicklets.  I have one more regular appointment in 2 weeks and then I'll be going weekly!  I can't believe I'm already to that point!

They doctor measures the circumference of their heads and bellies and then measures the length of their femur.  They were measuring just 2 days apart which is perfectly normal and could even be closer than that based on the tiniest error in measuring so, we're happy!  They each weigh about 3 lbs right now.  That means I have 6 lbs of baby in me already.  I feel it!

Baby A is head down (vertex) and Baby B was head up (but think she has since turned).  This could change still so I'm not really worried to much about positions at this point.  As long as they're head down by 32-34 weeks, we're go for natural labor!

I'm grateful things are going so well and can't wait to hold these little girls (but I can wait because I want them to double in size first)! 

The Weekend of all weekends

We had a very busy week this week with Jon's graduation from the BYU MBA program (hey-oh!!!), the Easter egg hunt, Easter, and spending time with family.  Jon had finals up until the day before he graduated so we really didn't get to breathe until Sunday afternoon when we ate Easter dinner with my family at Laura's house.

Jon's graduation was at 8am and he had to be there at 7am to line up with the rest of the graduates which left me with gathering the kids, toys, candy, movies, etc. to keep them busy during the long ceremony.  I parked as close as I could to the Marriott Center where the graduation was held but I still ended up carrying Sophie on my hip, dragging Jonah by one hand, and carrying two kid's backpacks, a diaper bag, and my camera in the other arm for about a half mile uphill.  I got many pitiful looks on the way up and even one lady cheered me on as if I were finishing a marathon.  That's kind of what it felt like, too!

The ceremony was beautiful and I cried the second I sat down long enough to look at all the people gathered.  My mom and dad drove all the way from Colorado the night before to be there for us and that meant the world to me. 

Thank goodness for snacks, candy, iPods, and grandparents to distract.  They really were very good though.

Jon's dad is a professor in the Humanities department at BYU and had his robes on from his alma mater on Saturday.

After the ceremony, we had a little family luncheon at our house and basked in the graduation glory and relief.

Saturday brought the annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt and the kids had a blast.  Jonah kept saying he wanted to get at least 60 eggs (the limit was 5).  You can imagine future soccer games in our family by the display at the hunt:  me screaming, "Go, Go!!  Faster!!  Look here, here!!" and then hurriedly ushering them back to the starting line where the first 3 kids to collect their 5 eggs one a solid chocolate bunny.  Sophie took third and Jonah took First in his age group.  I was so proud!! ;)  Jon said he always knew I was a pageant mom.

On Sunday, we packed up our homemade rolls and chocolate mousse and headed to Laura's for Easter dinner.  We dyed some eggs while the funeral potatoes finished cooking.  The kids lost interest in about 3 minutes but Jon and I enjoy dying them even more so we didn't mind.

My dear sister broke out her scissors and master hands and gave Sophie, Jonah and I new hairdos.  I'm forever in Laura's debt for the constant mullet prevention she does with my growing-out phase.  

Before

 

After (ADORABLE!)

Before

After (tough guy, I can hardly get him to smile anymore unless I say, "Boogers and Poop!!" before snapping the shot)

And at last, I had Jon take another belly shot this week.  I had my 27 week appointment on Friday and the girls sounded good.  They've been moving a ton and often keep mommy up at night or during attempted naps.  I'm measuring at 36 weeks so you can imagine my eagerness to be done (even though I still have 10 or 11 weeks left).  We went to the mall on Saturday and one little girl pulled her mom's sleeve and said, "Whoa!! Mom, look!!!"  Then one kid in primary said, "Wow! Sister Bush has a ball in her shirt!"  Yes, thank you, kids!  Honestly though, I didn't mind.  I think the same thing each time I look in the mirror.

27 Weeks with Twins

37 Weeks with Sophie

It really was the most wonderful weekend (sugar highs and crashes included).  And now a tribute to my awesome husband:  Jonathan worked so hard these past 2 years and even before his MBA to make sure he was doing the right thing and going to the right school and getting the best experience possible to support our family.  I watched him take on challenge after challenge and he morphed into an even more amazing husband and father than he already was.  I'm so proud to have him next to me and am overwhelmed by gratitude to our Heavenly Father who, no doubt, made miracles to get us through school.  Our parents and family are also indispensable in our success these last few years and we owe them big time!  I love you Jonathan!

Staying Busy

Every once in a while the Good Mom in me comes out and I try to do fun activities with my kids.  So often these past few months my kids have only had the company of the Crabby Mom.  Here are a few things we've been up to:

Bunny Ears!

This provided hours of fun for my kids.  We saw these on the Sprout channel and I thought they were so cute and decided I'd try to be patient enough to make them with my kids.  They hopped around for days afterwords, chasing each other and laughing (a welcome sound at any time).

Wrestling Daddy!

Poor Jon has been absolutely slammed with finals and projects and homework.  I'm sure he's wanted nothing more than to come home to his bed and sleep but being the amazing dad he is, he let's his kids climb all over him and wrestles with them for a good half while I finish up dinner.  I've been fairly fragile lately, keeping me from the more aggressive playing with my kids.  My belly is sensitive and in the way and my back feels like it's about to snap in half.  Luckily, I just purchased a maternity belt which should make these last few months a bit easier.

"Camping"!

I'm going to pretend it's the weather and my belly keeping us from a real camping trip (instead of the real reason I'm now terrified of camping with my kids).  This was a great way to ease the seemingly constant stressful atmosphere in our home and the kids had a blast!  The best part about it, besides the s'mores with dark chocolate, was the fact that we got to go inside, have baths, and sleep in our own beds!

25 Weeks

I've been going to the doctor every 2 weeks since I hit 20 weeks but still only have an ultrasound every 4 weeks.  I will never get over how wonderful it is to see these babies growing.  My summation of a twin pregnancy thus far is that it IS very different from a singleton.  The main differences are the size of my belly and the constant movement of the babies in separate parts of my belly.  I'm much more worn out at this point when usually I'm feeling fantastic at 25 weeks.  I'm getting very uncomfortable at night and have to get up at least 2 times to pee!  Jon's mom volunteered to buy me a maternity belt because she "doesn't want to see my belly dragging on the floor!"  That tells you just how pregnant I look. 

It is strange feeling "done" when I know I have three months to go.  I'm anxious to be more comfortable again but LOVE being pregnant simply for the miracle of it.  Plus, I'm not anxious for these girls to come out early.  I want to avoid the NICU at all costs and if that means being immobile for the last few weeks and so uncomfortable that I can't sleep at all, I'll do it!

This was our first ultrasound where we didn't get to take home any pictures but the girls looked beautiful and are growing wonderfully.  The doctor estimated Baby A to be 1lb 11oz and Baby B to be 1lb 10oz.  Can't ask for better growth in twins!

I forgot to ask Jon to take a belly shot so we'll have to settle with a self-portrait.  It doesn't exactly show the girth but it's what a see when I look down. ;)

25 Weeks

Hey look, it's Spring!

We had a few beautiful days last week to go to the park and play.  I took the camera along for one of them.

Cafe Rio for the poor

We've been watching our pennies lately which makes it difficult to spend money on going out to eat.  There's only so much you can do with chicken and rice and I even made Jon go get the propane refilled because I needed another way to cook and add flavor.  We grilled for 3 days straight and it was delicious.  It came time again to throw something else into the mix yesterday so I decided to throw some chicken in the crock pot with some green enchilada sauce that we happened to have on hand.  I added a few fresh garlic cloves, some cumin, and some red chili powder.  I shredded it about 2 hours before we ate and busied myself making the pico de gallo and guacamole.  I also whipped up some cilantro, lime rice.

Not only was it lovely to eat, it was lovely to look at!  It wasn't quite the same as Cafe Rio but it was a good loose interpretation of the real thing and was very satisfying!

Pregnancy Must-Haves

I've found that a few things are absolutely vital to my survival and happiness during pregnancy.  In no particular order:

1. My Kindle - I've spent more and more time on my bed with my feet up during this pregnancy than my others and my Kindle is always in my hands!! How nice to be rid of the stack of books on my dresser.  I even read my scriptures from my Kindle every night. LOVE it!
2. Ice Water - It's always been difficult for me to drink enough water but now it always sounds good to me.  There's nothing like a giant cup of ice water to keep me feeling refreshed throughout the day.
3. MAC Studio Fix Powder and Concealer - Some lucky ladies get that "pregnancy glow" but I get the "pregnancy blotches" instead.  I hate heavy makeup and never wear foundation.  These products give me just enough cover to look normal and cover the dark circles without being a greasy mess.
4. Fruit - Luckily, I'm always craving a good piece of fruit.  Don't get me wrong, I still need my chocolate and the occasional candy but often if I eat a piece of fruit first, I feel satisfied!
5. Jonathan - With only 13 weeks left to go (can you believe it??) I'm starting to slow down and have needed my honey's help much more lately.  He has been a wonderful support and partner through it all.  He'll often make me lie down while he bathes the kids and puts them to bed.  He lets me nap if I'm super tired and he's not drowning in homework.  I love this guy!

What are some things you can't live without?

The first of many this year

You might think there was something going around the Green/Bush families when you hear the number of babies joining our families this year.  On the Green side, 4 of the 5 of us girls are pregnant.  That means there will be 5 new babies this year, starting with Audra who is due in just a few days.  Then there's me and the twins, Laura and her second baby, and Annie with her third in October!  For the Bush side, we've got Melissa who just had a beautiful baby boy this week, me (with the two), and Natalie with her fourth in August. 

Grand Total: 7 babies

My sweet sister-in-law, Melissa, had her sixth little bundle of joy a few days ago on the 30th of March.  He is so precious.  Melissa found out after a few months of her pregnancy had passed that the baby had Down Syndrome.  He also has clubbed feet, meaning his feet rotate inward at his ankles (the cutest little feet you've ever seen).  Needless to say, it's been a difficult journey for her and her family to adjust to the reality but what a blessing that little boy is!  He's been in the NICU since he was born trying to gain his strength and things are looking really good for him.  Jon and I were able to drive up to the hospital yesterday to visit them and to see the baby (he's still nameless ;) ).  Melissa had requested that I be there at the birth to document for them but that little guy decided to come a few days earlier than scheduled!  

Being in the NICU was a new experience for me.  If you've never visited one before, here are a few things I observed.  First, you have to scrub in (yes, I was living my Grey's Anatomy fantasy).  Being in the NICU is an emotional thing.  All of these babies wouldn't have had a chance 100 years ago.  It's a miraculous thing.  It's kind of a solemn, peaceful place with dimmed lights and angel nurses tending to these little, tiny humans--some with feet no bigger than my big toe.  I'm grateful that those babies and families have the second chance a NICU offers.  I also know that I don't ever want my babies to have to go there.  It's emotionally draining and difficult to see your tiny baby with countless tubes and wires connected to their little body.  It seems unfair.  Looking back on the births of my two kids, I'll always be grateful for those first hours I could spend immediately after birth holding them next to my skin and nursing them and enjoying them.  With NICU patients, most are whisked away immediately after birth to start treatments, often without the mom ever touching them.

Baby McKrola was born on March 30th, 5lbs 9oz.

Welcome to the Bush family, little guy!  We love you!