Week 24

We made it to week 24 and am still up a little bit.  :)

Today has been a bit rough.  It seems they are moving around quite a bit because my stomach will hurt and be super hard in one spot, but then a few minutes later not hurt and not be hard.  I don't think it's pre-term labor because not my whole uterus is hard - just the spots that make me hurt.  So somebody is putting their head or butt or something up to me trying to make more room.  I never had growing pains growing up - gee are you surprised?  They stink!  Although I must admit I wouldn't mind having some in my legs still (to get taller).  lol

Next week should be a busy one if I can keep up with it all.  It starts tomorrow with a shower for my sister-in-law who will give birth in about 3.5 weeks.  Monday I'm going to try to get to the multiples parents goup at 10am, then have an ob appt. at 11am just down the road at the other hospital.  Tuesday, the multiples parents (of the newborns/infants) meets in the pm, and Wednesday I have another check with the physical therapist I went to last Wed.  I need to keep up on the exercises she gave me (and get the dang wrist braces!) because they really do help.  I've had to increase the pillows I sleep with as well, but that is helping too.  The only drawback to that is that there isn't any room for John in the bed anymore.  LOL  Not sure where he is going to sleep when he visits.  I've got them on both sides since I still roll over and sleep on both sides... so the bed is pretty much just amass with pillows.  Now if I could just stop waking up in the middle of the night having to pee I'd get some good sleep.  Theoretically anywho. 

The absolute best thing about being here is that I reconnected with a good friend.  Weird, but we just let life get in the way - ok, and a few hurt feelings on both sides about that - and quit being as close.  After some heartfelt texting (funny, but it is 2011) we realized how much we missed each other and wanted to be true friends again.  God works in mysterious ways right?  

For those of you praying/thinking of my dad it is much much appreciated.  He is still in ICU, but I do believe things are going ok.  I think he just needs to gain some more weight so the meds aren't so tough on him, then they could get him off the meds and into a regular room.  Either way, the surgery was successful and everyone is anxious for him to get going with rehab, but no one wants to rush him either.  Stupid catch-22.

Well that's my news for the week.  I'll see about getting a pic tomorrow at the shower - I'll look decent at least.  And I'll be sure to post on Monday after the appts. 

Happy Monday!

Another Monday down.  Into the 23rd week now.  This weekend, 6 months!  I went to a make-up class today for Expecting Multiples.  It's the class I could never find info for and when I called I had already missed the April sessions and knew July w/b too late.  The lady (Jennifer) was so nice to meet with me.  Have a few new things to think about/talk about with John.  On a good note, the two sets of trips she sees continually went to 34 and 37 weeks.  The 34 wkers were in the NICU for only about 3 weeks.  My ultimate goal is 35 wks since she said that is kind of the NICU may not be needed cut point.  

I've been in Anch for a tad over a month now.  I miss my dogs like crazy.  As much as Sophie makes us crazy - I love her kangaroo jumping right now.  Of course, this is because I'm not around it I'm sure.  lol  No matter how crazy she makes you, she looks at you with those huge puggle eyes and all is forgiven.  Right John?

the face of innocence

~Steph

23 weeks

We made it to 23 weeks, but oh the difference a week can make!  Last weekend I was pretty active and mobile, this weekend not so much.  I'm just definitely slowing down which is fine by me.  Had a dr. appt on Wed and all babies are over 1lb. now.  A little concerned about my cervix, but we'll keep an eye on it.  If it measures below 3 (cm? mm?) I will end up in the hospital on bed rest.  That is NOT one of our goals, hence the more resting and laying down less activity.

John is visiting again this weekend which is nice.  Carol's surgery got rescheduled, so I won't have to worry about that for another few weeks.  Dad's surgery is Tuesday but it's early enough I'm hoping that by the time I wake up in the am it will be over and all will be well with the world.  :)

John and I went on the maternity center tour this afternoon.  It was nice to see all the different rooms.  I got to see the surgery recovery rooms that connect to the NICU which is probably one of the ones I'll be in.  We didn't get a tour of the NICU yet, but we will soon I'm sure.  On Monday I meet with the instructor for the expecting multiples class I missed earlier this month (could not find the registration for it and the next one isn't until July).  It's super nice that the instructor will meet with me!

~Stephanie

A few more pics

 Me in my new pj's

 (thanks Kim!)

Elvie and my pregnant belly

Bed Rest Baby Shower

 My new shirt

 One of the two proud grandmas

 Elvie and Mary

 Cute elephant blanket

 Too perfect of a sign

 ~ and my gift helper Emma

 Many thanks to all who got us gifts!

great balloons!

22 weeks

We've made it to 22 weeks!  This past Saturday my sister and sister-in-law threw an awesome surprise baby shower.  I was suspicious something was up with John's visit, but wasn't truly expecting my sister to be here.  She was awesome in getting John and us the hotel suite for the weekend.  It would have been really awesome if he had been able to stay an extra day, but alas work duties called him.  He'll be back in 4 days for the long Easter weekend though.  

The suite at the Cook was a great place to hold the shower.  It was the perfect size and cozy for all.  I'm glad people from multiple aspects of my life were able to attend.  I would bet the last time that type of inter-mingling happened was at the wedding.  

After the shower John, Kim, Elvie, and I just hung out in the suite then went to a semi-late dinner.  Yesterday we had a birthday lunch with the four of us and mom, and Mary at Glacier Brewhouse.  Yum!  Then John packed up all the shower gifts and headed home to get the dogs.  Kim, Elvie, and I headed out to show Elvie all the old landmarks so she has a point of reference when Randy talks about his childhood.  Dinner was Moose's Tooth which is always good.  Today found us dropping mom at the airport, heading back downtown for the mandatory Lucky Wishbone visit before Kim and Elvie took off down the Seward Highway.  They were headed for at least Beluga Point, if not all the way to Girdwood.  

As for the babies, I think they are doing good.  The lowest one is quite a little mover and the other two seem to plan their kicks and movements a bit more.  This am however was the first time baby girl #2 (I think) was moving a bit so I put my hand on my belly and pushed a couple times to be rewarded with a "knock it off mom" kick back.  The next dr. appt is this Wednesday (my bday).  It's with the perinatologist (Dr. Richey) who does the 3d pics, which I lovingly refer to as alien pics.  They just look a little weird - hence my name for them.  I'll try to take some pics of the pics and load them here Wed night.

I will miss my family when they are all gone tomorrow.  I'm super glad Elvie finally got to AK - and at a gorgeous time too!  Mom had a good visit and Kim loved being the mother hen for a few days.  Her and Ken will be back around Memorial Day weekend to go help John with the reorg happening in the house.  I hope I'm able to be up a bit still, but we'll have to see.  

More to come on Wed!  :)

two weeks fly by

Two weeks have flown by!  Mom is vacuuming again as both Carol and John are coming in tonight.  Carol home from vacation and John says he wants to visit again.  I'm suspicious, but gotta just go with it.  lol

We got the quilt squares laid out last night.  Need to sew them together today then I'll have a pic of the quilt top to post.  Can't believe we got it all done!  Am so happy we did!!

This has been a pretty easy week.  We did a touch of shopping at Kohl's and picked up an outfit for each at Fred's but it's mostly been a resting week.  It is definitely getting more difficult to be up and around - and when I am there is a big difference between wearing the support belt and not wearing it.  Hope to maybe get to Moose's Tooth for lunch today as they have their baker (potato) pizza back.  Yum!

Hope my dad enjoys his visitors this weekend.  My aunt (his youngest sister) and cousin are visiting and cooking him dinner.  I'm sure we'll skype tomorrow which will be fun.  I'm hoping to maybe go to dinner for my birthday Sat night, but we'll see. 

Those are my thoughts for now.  Thanks for joining my wandering mind today.  :)

~Steph

It's only been a week

you'd think it had been much longer than that, but I'm hearing all those asking where the updates are.  This past weekend John and the dogs visited - woo woo!  Funny how much mom claims to love Sophie until she learns that our dog is actually part kangaroo.  She got a bit frustrated with the puppy part of her, but then those big eyes look up at her and all is (almost) forgiven.  I do believe her offer of "any time you want to ship her to me" has been rescinded.  lol

Mom is very proud that we were able to go buy the cribs for the kiddos.  So, they have cribs, mattresses (probably better than my own), car seats, and two stroller options.  My sister got us a chair and ottoman, another big plus.  Now John needs to get started on cleaning out the room for all the furniture to go into.  I do not begrudge him that task at all!

Mom and I have hit two quilt stores.  She finally picked up some fireweed fabric.  We've also almost finished all the squares for the quilt top we are making.  Will probably finish that tonight, then the laying out of the squares starts.  The Lord will definitely need to help us not argue during that as we are both picky (aka perfectionists)!

John and mom did agree to dress up some and go to Simon's for dinner last Saturday.  Yummy food, especially the desserts.  Cheesecake for John/mom and lemon sorbet for me.

Today had us going to Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up a shower seat.  Shockingly, all they had was teak - the cheapest of wood right?!  Where are those 20% off coupons you see in every magazine when you need one? 

That's about it for updates.  Mom has been taking tons of pictures, some of which surely need to be deleted.  Hopefully we'll be able to get some up on fb and here soon.
 ~Steph  

Mom and the Dr. office

I had a check up today.  I knew mom would get to hear the heartbeats, which she did.  That was fun enough.  When she asked me if I've been having any cramps or pain I told her growing pains, which led to a "we should get a sonogram next week".  I knew mom would be ecstatic about that!  Turns out we went in today!!

Mom got to see all three moving, squirreling kiddos.  I know she was happy and we have more sonogram pics.  All is looking great.  tmi for some, but cervix is still great.  :)

20 weeks

We are at 20 weeks.  I'll have mom take a pic and post it later.  1/2 way done feels great, but I'm a tad concerned that the second half is going to be TOUGH.  I'm ready to be done, ha ha.  Too bad John is telling me I need to keep cooking them.  Here hoping we can last another 15 weeks or so - wouldn't that be fantastic!!

Mom is on the way!

Mom is on the way!  Woo Woo!!  It's been almost a year since she visited us at Greely.  That visit was to see/help with little Sophie pup - who she instantly fell in love with.  This visit is to see/help with a big belly.  Her first visit with the grandbabies who she also instantly fell in love with.  :) 

Here's hoping we are still talking 2+ weeks from now.