Couldn't find the membrane to measure the fluid but both babies had full bladders so were good this week! Both weigh about 3lbs 6oz. They're going to try to get me to 32-34 weeks managing my iron, blood count, and blood sugar! Unless something happens before then. Only 2.5-4 weeks left! Yikes!!

Below are pics of gabe. Gavin was facing my behind. Both are head down!

Well 29 weeks. We've made it this far. The twins have TTTS, together we've had SFLP, and I have gestational diabetes and today found out i now have a low white blood cell and platelet count, iron deficiency, and anemia.

The only common pregnancy complication we haven't had is pre-eclampsia. And we shouldn't rule it out yet because I could still possibly go another 6ish weeks!

I am super uncomfortable. I have riib, chest and upper back pain, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness. I'm beyond exhausted. My lower back and abdomen feel like I've been shoveling for a straight week. My hips grind. My pubic bone feels like its breaking in half and the heartburn, number 2's, and nausea just put it over the edge.

Their movements now feel like I'm ripping from the inside out :/ guess that's what I asked for lol

Ethan is super fussy today. His teeth are coming in and hes clingy! I feel bad he has been stuck in the house and hasn't seen or done much his first summer!

It's nap time for us though. E's a sleepy wreck and mamas a sore mess. Grandma Lori is doing our dishes right now :) that woman deserves an award for dealing with me AND Ethan everyday that Tim works. Tim too! He's such an amazing man and father putting up with all our demanding requests, cries, and late night complaints.

Well I have figured out what I need for my cloth diaper stash.

Im thinking for Ethan, Gavin and Gabe I'll need 60 unbleached prefolds, and 24-30 one size covers. Plus a good garbage can with a lid. Two reusable "wetbag"/Pail liners that are rewashable and natural fabric so they absorb oder ect.

I've been looking at kawaii and alvababy covers because they are the most economical and have pretty good ratings! our intitial investment will be around $400 but to disposable diaper one baby for a year is $1,300! That's almost 3.2k to potty training per child! And I refuse to do that for 3! Almost 10 grand could buy us the van we need.

I'll probably have to slowly build my stash over time and I've been thinking about attempting to see a few of my own covers, and have had a few friends volunteer so hopefully it won't be too hard. :)

The twins will have to wear disposable until they reach 7-8lbs anyways so we can use up a bunch of our stash we still have from our gigantic first one who was a 9lb+ rock!



E is doing good :) He is whistling now lol He doesnt know what hes doing but for about 75% of his bath last night he was just whistling while playing. It's super cute!

I am so glad I invested $5 in a sock monkey for Ethan and two for the twins! Ethan carries the thing everywhere.

The twins, by the way, feel HUGE. They should be just around, above, under 3lbs a piece now and its getting very uncomfortable when they move and roll. Sometimes enough to take my breath away. We have a growth ultrasound on Thursday so we will know for sure how big the little guys are getting!

Ethan and I just finished a breakfast of nutrigrain bars, strawberries, kiwis, and oranges. The twins seemed to enjoy them as well! Just hanging around with E today until Tim gets home at 3p :)

Ethan first Oreo experience lol

I forgot to mention earlier I am planning on cloth diapering the twins. I would love covers and prefolds as gifts! :) even if you don't know what they are the associates at most baby stores and google can tell you!

I'd love to be thifty and make my own covers! There are patterns all over the Internet! Anyone want to help me with this :)

Today was the first day I think I've panicked about having two more babies. Two helpless newborns and a baby on the verge of being a full blown toddler.

It's not that we don't have almost everything we need. The only things we absolutely need to bring them home are more preemie and newborn diapers, some more all in one cloth diapers, a few more preemie and definitely newborn outfits, 0-3mo mam pacifiers, and some bottles made for breasted babies just in case. And we need to figure out how to get a van on our one income so we can take all of our children to places together, at this point we'd have to take two trips to go anywhere, which is virtually impossible.

I am panicking about the emotional and physical responsibility I'm going to have as a stay at home mom to these tree little men. I am scared of not having time to shower or eat, let alone to remember to change everyones bottoms, and when to feed them all, making time for myself to go to the bathroom, and sleep more then 2 hours a night while caring for all three.

I know I'm a strong woman and I just need to keep telling myself that. This fight with TTTS isn't over. We still only have a 65% chance of bringing both boys home after 4 weeks out of the womb even if we make it to 36 weeks. I know we will most likely have to face time away from the babies while they are in the nicu and have a fairly large chance of not bringing them home with us, as well as facing multiple health issues. I'm trying to stay positive here because these are going to be my last baby's, my last pregnancy. I am sort of depressed that it all happened so fast. It is sort of bittersweet knowing I will never hold babies inside my belly again. and that this pregnancy has been so full of complications.

I am at a point now at almost 29 weeks where I don't really have time to panic like this. I need to suck it up, face the reality I've made for myself and get this show on the road!

I still need to commission help to get the four boys room ready and purchase some shelving to try to organize the chaos that will so be! I have Rubbermaid tubs full of clothes everywhere, everything is stacked against the walls and inaccessible. I need to try to fit all three carseats into the station wagon to see if we will need help getting the little ones home when the time comes. I also want to make some freeze ahead crock pot meals so Tim, Ethan, and I aren't living off of frozen pizza for 6 months.




On a lighter note Ethan went to a cookout with my dads side of the family yesterday at lake taylorville. He saw his great grandparents for the first time since birth and got to encounter dogs larger then 10 lbs for the first time in his life. He seemed to have a good time! It was nice for me to get out of te apartment as well. It was probably the last outing besides doctors appointments I'll probably be able to partake in for a long time.

I'll soon have c-section recovery, Ethan, and two breastfed newborns. We will be housebound for quite some time!

Off to feed my little man lunch. After three gerber biscuits I think it's time for some real lunch.

Didn't update after my appt yesterday. I was exhausted. With Ethan being sick and being this pregnant I have energy to do nothing but eat and sleep.

Both babies heart rates are at 147 :) both side by side head down but Gavin has his head more in my behind then Gabriel does. Both of them have about 2.8cm of fluid and have fluid around them. The head of the MFM department saw us yesterday. He said I need to start writing down all leakage I feel, all cramping, all contractions, any pain ect. Since almost all mothers who have had the surgery deliver by 32 weeks and we are almost 29 weeks!

We are having Ethan's birthday August 11th and I will send out invitations! :) he is registered at toys r us for his birthday! No clothes! He has plenty for fall now :) just a booster seat, potty chair, and developmental toys please! He LOVES monsters inc :)

Well last night we had our first bout of sickness with Ethan. He spiked a 103 degree temperature so we made a 3am trip to the emergency room. He has two severe middle ear infections, a sinus infection, and FOUR teeth coming in at once. Poor guy just wants to be cuddled :( Tim's sleep now. We've both had about 3-4 hours because little man constantly wants loved on while he's sick.

I have an ultrasound today at 3p and will update after! Today it's just fluid levels which are hopefully better then 2! We seem to be declining each appointment :/ LOtS of cramping and contractions lately so I'm not sure how much more my body can take! We're almost 29 weeks. 32 is our goal, then 34, then 36 is the max they'll let me go!

Got my first round of baby shower gifts :) bottle labels, two adorable hooded blankets, 3 packs diapers, faucet cover, 3 lullaby cds, nursing pads, and other stuff! I'm feeding Ethan some applesauce and having a brain fart :)

Well off to eat, get Ethan settled for Tim's mom, "na na", and wake him up to make it to my ultrasound at 3pm!

Update later

Well yesterday I think I over did it. We went to old navy to get the boys some new fall clothes and me a few tops and I am sore today! My feet were swollen last night and I could not sleep. Ethan's runny nose is finally starting to clear up and his cough is only when he's laying down. We did get him an awesome monsters inc t shirt, which he carried around all night, and a sock monky which he loves! We also got the twins each one as well :) they look so cute sitting together as a pair by our two bassinets!

The boys were active last night! Gabe had the hiccups for the first noticeable time and Tim and I got to feel them :) Gavin of course didn't enjoy them as much and kicked at me and gabe the whole time trying to get him to stop lol

My next appt is Tuesday to see the ob and then on Thursday to see the babes on an ultrasound!


I am so in the DIY and crafting scene I just wish we were in a place to get everything on my wish list! I'll unfortunately have to wait until tax time unless you would like to make a donation to the bed rest boredom relief fund :) my wish list includes: Craft wish list

Felt
Fabric
Bobbins
Thread
Elastic
Zippers
Paint
Hot glue gun
Brads
Index card rings
Zig zag scissors
Scrap book paper
Canvas
New brushes
Needles
New foot for sewing machine
Key rings
Patterns
Pipe cleaners
String
Cord
Construction paper
White paper
Nice Markers
Crayons
New colored pencils
Buttons
Googly eyes
Yarn!
Crocheting needles
How to book!
Wire
Hula hoop or wire circles
PVC pipe
Old apt mail boxes
Staples
New drawer pulls
foam for door thingies
Ironing board/backing
Stuffing!
fleece

Lots and lots I know! Donation of supply's welcome :)

With Ethan's birthday in less then 6 weeks we are starting to plan for his first party! There is a wish list on toys r us for Ethan's birthday. We just got all his fall clothes so he needs nothing on that front besides 2T snow pants, a gift card for boots/fall shoes, and socks!

He really needs a booster seat, potty chair, and educational toys! I've really been trying to work with him on shapes, body parts, numbers 1-10, and the alphabet! He's really into sorting, building, and problem solving! ( he's recently discovered climbing!) :) he's always trying to fit things into places and match things up.

He love love loves monsters inc! We've had the DVD checked out from the library almost a month, and anything that he can dance to :)


On another note I want to nest so bad! I had a list of all the things I want to and need to do to our apartment before the babies get here. And another huge list of things to finish baby proofing. I just need lots of help!

If anyone is looking to get rid of bunk beds or is selling them super cheap we are looking for some for Ethan and Xavier! We are just going to transition him from our big bed to his own instead of a toddler bed. Also a toy box!

Just let me know :)

Well today we had a visit from aunt Cathy! :) it was nice to see her and we got some goodies. Today the babies have been fairly quiet, not a whole lot of kicks but little wiggles. Not worried yet, just hoping that they're sleeping or quietly playing with each other.

Ethan's cold is getting worse. Snotty nose, small fever, crappy dry cough. It's only been 3 days so hopefully the end is near! :)

We got a new learn and play phone today and he is addicted!

Silently hoping this storm hits us so it will be easier to fall asleep. We really need the rain anyways with this darn drought and excessive heat.

Well off to veg on the couch with Ethan until he's ready for monsters inc, his bottle, and bed.

Today was pretty uneventful!

Gavin is 2lb 4oz and Gabriel is 2lb 1oz. They are both measuring 27w2d just like I am! :) Their fluid pockets are both still decreasing and are right at 2cm. My MFM isn't concerned about delivering them this week because they also had full bladders and stomachs with good Doppler blood flows. We did however talk about steroid shots next week and he said they only do steroid shots if they are planning on delivering within 7 days! So if their fluid keeps decreasing then that's the plan! so close it's scary!

I have lost 3 more lbs this week totally almost 8 in the past two weeks and am only up 8lbs from my starting weight. lots of pain, lots of stretching, and cramping :/ and beyond exhausted!!

So boo on fluid decreasing and feeling like poo but yay for growing babies! My dr came in the room doing a 2lb dance lol because 2lbs or 32 weeks was our goals for 95% survival!

Plus both little men are Head down and so smoothed their little profiles have pig noses! :( but that definitely explains he searing hip pain. It feels like they have an ice pick and are trying to chisel their way out the center of my pubic bone. Talk about uncomfortable. Plus my ribs are killing me from the flexing legs and wiggling toes in them and my hips grind when I walk. I know understand why when the elderly fall down they have a hard time getting up! I feel like my entire body is running on an 1/8 of a tank of gas and were nearing the fumes!

For now Ethan and I are laying in bed watching monsters inc for the gajillionth time and waiting for "dada" to get home from work :)

It's been a long hard trying exhausting day.

I confess last night and today were the worst pregnancy nights I've had in my life! After the contractions let up, I had searing pubic bone pain, heartburn, felt like my hips were being torn apart, my ribs hurt, I'm weak and exhausted and barely slept. After two more extra strength Tylenol and a 20 minute hot shower of me sitting on the side of the tub I feel a little better. I don't know how much longer my body is going to let me stay pregnant! My cervix was 6cm last week and sealed up tight. Well see today at 3pm! I'm so exhausted and Ethan has a cold :( but is at least in a decent mood today just super cuddly! Which is never a complaint in my eyes :)

Is it time for them to come out yet?! I'm so exhausted it is painful to type this lol lifting my thumbs and keeping my eyes open has now become an Olympic event in our household. We have out next appointment Thursday at 3pm for an ultrasound to measure growth and fluid levels and then I still have to take my 3 hour blood glucose test.

Ethan is getting so big! So long are the days of crawling. Our little man is walking and attempting to talk all th time. He's a little conversationalist anymore just blabbering back and forth to me and his daddy :) he is getting so big! It is hard to believe that he will be 1 in like 6 weeks! time has really flown by. And now that I'm 27 weeks 2 days it's starting to get close to time for the twins to make their grand entrance into the world. I'm constantly worrying about all these growing pains, cramping, ect turning into preterm labor! I know regardless of of we make it to 36 weeks or not it's going to be ptl but our goal is still 32 weeks. Then 34, the. 36. Hell I'd be happy with 30 we've made it so far since our diagnosis with TTTS :) we were told we'd lose Gavin by 23 weeks and gabe shortly after but thanks to the miracle of science and the skilled hands of the neonatal surgeons at Cincinnati children's we will soon be meeting our two identical little men :) I can only hope they will turn out half as amazing as Ethan but I don't see us having a problem there.

Praying with all the complications that can arise with a normal twin pregnancy on top of what we've been through already that our babies will be 5+lbs a piece, (Ethan was 9+) and have no major health complications!

I don't think anyone is planning on throwing me a baby shower for the twins but I registered on babies r us anyways. I figured it is at least a list of what we need whether it be new, used, or hand me down :) take a peek and if you have anything you'd like to give the peas in a pod let me know!

Below is a new pic of e and a 27 week belly shot!

Well I failed my glucose test. Normal is 50-120 and mines 163 so they think I have gestational diabetes from not eating enough. I've lost 3.5 lbs since last week as well :/ I have to go next week to do a 4 hour test to confirm. And there's a list a list of complications. Over sized babies, high blood pressure, increase risk of still birth, ect so if I do have it I'll have to go twice a week for non stress tests on me and the babies to watch our hearts and for contractions ect. As well as my weekly ultrasound with the maternal fetal specialist for my TTTS and my weekly ob appt to monitor everything else.

Let's hope today was a fluke and it was wrong. The nurse said with my number being that far above normal I probably have it :(

Had a doctors appointment today! only measured Dopplers and fluid levels today. Babies have good blood flow. Gabe is now presenting first as "twin a" and Gavin is up higher now as "twin b." both have 2.3cm of measurable fluid from the membrane and we are supposed to worry if it gets less then 2. They said even though we're getting low that there is still fluid floating around the babies not just the little pocket they measured. both are head down now, which explains hip pain and kicks in the ribs! I did my blood glucose test today and they'll only call if the results are bad. I have lost 2lbs. No doubt from the 105 degree weather we've been having. the doctor also said my increase in contractions is because done taking my procardia for now unless their future echoes show issues.

Other then that I'm just exhausted and burnt out on being pregnant. With Ethan being 10 months and being 6 months pregnant already I feel like I haven't been me in 2 + years. Not that I don't love my boys.

Update on Ethan: he's 32 inches and 25lbs and walking everywhere! I think he's looking just like daddy these days :) below are pics of Ethan and of Tim

E loves monsters inc! We've had to watch it before every nap and bed time for about a week now :) he lays down and gets so into it! He doesn't do it with any other movies or tv shows. It's absolutely adorable. For all your adoring fans out there, little man turns one in less then 8 weeks and our birthday wish list includes: a booster seat for the kitchen table, a potty chair, a potty seat for the toilet with a step stool, 2T and 3T clothes for fall/winter/spring, and possibly a monsters inc toy if they still make them? he's really into these Pixar movies :)

Anyways thought I'd update about the little man.

Me, I'm just big and uncomfortable. With only almost 4lbs of babies in there I feel like I'm about to burst! normal pregnancy complaints for this momma!

Reading diana gabaldens outlander series and totally sucked in! Not even half way through book 1 and addicted. Also watching Samantha who. Finished drop dead diva. Gotta love this bed rest :/ NOT.