Today's NST- 34 Weeks

NST stands for "non-stress test" and is a way to monitor the babies' movements and heart rates. It takes 30-60 minutes of me lying down doing nothing while I have two heart rate monitors, a contraction monitor, and a button to push when I feel movement. I'll have to do this twice a week from here on out.

From what I could tell, Baby A's heart rate stayed in the 140s and Baby B's was in the 150s. I had a couple of contractions that I didn't feel, so that was interesting. I can remember the same thing with both Jacob and Ella when I was hospitilized with stomach flu for each of them. It's very strange to see the monitor register something that you, yourself, don't even feel.

We passed with flying colors and will go in again on Friday!

Ella's Birthday

Ella's birthday breakfast was a specially ordered doughnut with pink icing and sprinkles.

Today's Doctor Visit - 33 Weeks

Blood pressure is good, babies' heart rates are good (140s for A and 150s for B), all aches and pains and stretching are normal. I now have to get two non-stress tests per week so the next two weeks will have a total of six appointments- two next week and four the week after. The good news is that I've suddenly found time to work on lesson plans!

Jacob's Birthday

Jacob's birthday breakfast was cinnamon rolls and orange rolls.

Today's Doctor Visit: 32 Weeks

Grandma, Aunt Peggy, and Ella got to come along for the ride this time. Baby B is still breech, Baby A is still head down. Both are growing great and look amazing. Baby A is 4 pounds and B is 4.6 pounds. Both babies have a lot of hair and are starting to get chubby. My stomach is really stretching now- I can feel parts of my skin tearing. It's just another thing to add to the ol' list of complaints!

Baby A:

Baby A Yawns:

Baby B:

Baby B's Sweet Face:

Jacob & Ella at Monkey Joe's

Jacob and Ella had their joint birthday party at Monkey Joe's, an indoor bounce house place. This is the first year we've invited friends from school so it was a nice, big turnout. The kids had a great time, suffered a few injuries, got over them, then went back to playing.

Jacob's cake was a chocolate dragon and Ella's was strawberries with flowers. The kids both received great gifts and a good time was had by all!

Texas Comes to Indiana

Grandma and Aunt Peggy are here!

After much driving, the pair have arrived bringing a baby crib, rocking chair, and a multitude of baby items. We've organized and arranged and shopped until there is not a thing in the world these little guys could need.

Mom brought cards from the ladies at FUMC Holliday so I got to have two surprise, long-distance baby showers in one day! Since my crib was missing its hardware, the gift cards were used to get two new cribs and mattresses. Just need to figure out how to organize the closet and we'll be set!

Luck had it that I had a sonogram scheduled so our two honored guests got to see the babies first hand. I usually have to go to appointments alone so it was nice to get to show off the boys for once.

Surprise!

Went to Jacob's Irish Dance ceili and ran into Maroua, Ryan, Rami, and Laila! We walked into the Knights of Columbus hall on Friday night, expecting to eat and watch Irish dance when someone walked up to me and said, "Hey, double pregnant." I was amazingly surprised to see Maroua since she lives two states away. I mean, let's face it... Irish dance fundraisers at the Knights of Columbus are not exactly tourist destinations! It was really good to catch up and the kiddos had a great time running around and eating cookies. I, myself, ate entirely too many servings of green beans and potatoes, but at the time it made sense. I haven't had any true cravings during this pregnancy, but every now and then I'll eat something and be unable to stop. It's as though I've disovered the food for the first time and it's the best thing I've ever eaten.

The Jawadi/Ochsner Fam came over Saturday morning for yet another surprise. I received a long-distance surprise baby shower! Hope sent diapers, wipes, and nursing pads; Lisa sent super fancy birdhouses and a gift card; Michelle sent two hooded monkey towels; Gram and Paula sent gift cards; and Maroua brought me a ton of Rami's baby clothes. It was an amazing and unexpected gesture. We took the kids over to the Hilton for some swimming and wore them out completely. Mom called and she and Aunt Peggy were nearing the house, so we packed up and headed home. Once there, I had ANOTHER long-distance surprise shower! The ladies at the church had all written cards and included gift cards. I feel so loved! We are now able to get everything we need for the boys' arrival.

Today's Doctor Visit - 31 Weeks, 1 Day

It was short and sweet. Blood pressure is fine, weight is fine... I'm having issues sleeping because of leg cramps so the nurse practicioner recommended magnesium and potassium. Today I learned that a kiwi has as much potassium as a banana. This is good because I'm not very fond of bananas. Baby A's heartbeat is in the 140s and Baby B's is in the 150s. And no, we don't have names yet...

After the doctor was Ella's ballet class where she received her super-ultra-glittery costume for her recital. Pictures will be April 21st and the recital is in May.

Last stop was the siblings class at the hospital. Jacob and Ella learned about diapering, folding laundry, germs, swaddling, and belly buttons. Next we took a tour of the maternity ward. The rooms are such that they are for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum and they're set up really nicely. There's a minifridge, microwave, 2 TVs, fold out bed, and food is served as it is ordered instead of on a schedule. The kids were mostly impressed with the view from the 4th floor. We walked by the nursery where the kids got to see a newborn baby.

Week 31

It has hit me. I am miserable.

I have been uncomfortable for some time now, but have now definitely passed into the realm of miserable.

The following are activities which I find to be terrible:
*sitting
*standing
*lying down
*sleeping
*eating
*breathing
*cleaning
*driving
*putting on socks
*putting on pants
*going to the bathroom
*bathing/showering
*typing
*feeding the cat

I now take Prevacid, so I only wake up once a night choking on bile, but the indigestion has been replaced with leg cramps. I wake up several times a night with my calves on fire and I wake in the morning feeling as though I've just run five miles. I've hit my goal weight so I only force myself to eat more than I want instead of eating more than will stay down. I've quit the Ensure and soda and am trying to eat actual foods and water instead. It's nowhere near the calories I'm supposed to have, but it makes me feel better, mentally and physically.

I've been able to fake "fine" for a while now, but this week I'm miserable.

Recital Pictures

Available here:

http://www.pictage.com/client/event.do?event=1209524

Rather than look through 1200 pictures of curly-headed kids, just look for the folder labeled "Jessica's Favorites." Those are all the pictures of Jacob.