BD -9

We're getting closer and closer. The girls were squirming more at the NST than I think I'd seen before, but everyone thinks they're going the full 36 weeks. That's good news for the twins but not so good for Gina.

The quest for names is still on. You'd think with a little more than a week to go we'd already have them. We have an idea, but now Gina isn't quite sure if she is happy with their first names. Then we have to work on middle names, of which I expect them to have more than one... I keep saying they're gonna have 7 middle names! We'll see.

So the nursery is finished, with the exception of hanging a couple of pictures and now we need to get the Christmas decorations up. And when I say 'we' I mean 'me'! The house has to be ready for the girls' first Christmas. I'm planning on getting a smaller tree than years past and putting the ornaments that won't fit on garland. Teagan's tree is already upstairs but I have to find the ornaments for it. It should all come together by this weekend...I hope!

The last couple of years, since Teagan was called Home, Christmas hasn't really been Christmas, especially for Gina. This year should be different. This year the magic should be back. Sure we'll be exhausted but as far as I'm concerned, it'll be perfect.

B-Day minus 12.

I guess this could be considered our 12 days of Christmas. Except this year I'll get the best presents I've ever received. Sure, when I was little I'm sure Santa brought many gifts that were the "best ever" but I'm certain this really will be THE year for the BEST EVER!

Of course, 12 days is the longest we'll have to wait, if they come sooner that'll be good, too. Gina is already having contractions and they're not front or back ones - it's the whole uterus doing its glorious thing, getting ready for the finale of its ultimate purpose.

And so we wait...Gina doesn't sleep well now but I'm like a baby...except for the crying...and the diapers.

And speaking of diapers, we're stocking up on premies. Gina has just ordered a case that, combined with what we already have, will make just about a weeks worth. "How many is that?", you ask. About 200 per week! That's a whole lot of diapers, not to mention the stuff inside them. Our Diaper Champ is definitely going to get a workout.

Baby B cooperated last night and let me feel her move and hiccup. They are so close to the surface now, it's much easier to feel heads and bottoms. I swear they are separated from the outside world by less than 1/2", or so it feels.

Sometimes I think I should be disappointed that I haven't been able to feel them move that much. Truth is, I'm not even phased by it. The way I figure it is that I'll feel them squirm plenty very soon plus all my other senses will be "tickled... soon... very soon.

More Great Pics.

Unfortunately Aunt Shelly couldn't make it up to take pics of Gina so I had one of my clients take them...don't worry Shelly, you will still be our "official photographer" for the girls.












Can you believe there are 2 in there?

The Nursery is Finished!!!

Well, functionally, we're ready. The mattress is in and covered with a sheet and the only things missing are the girls!

Sure I have to frame and hang the pictures, maybe put up a shelf or 2, but that's just accessorizing.

Here are some pics.


The roadblock of a crib. Even this one arrived cracked too but useable so I didn't want to wait for the replacement headboard... I'll fix it later!








Gina wanted a chandelier for the girls room...already they're princesses!










Here's a baby's eye view from the crib!

Updated pics of Mommy and the Belly.

It's just so amazing how big the girls are now. And there are 2 in there! It seems like she could pop any time now. Her belly is so tight you could bouce a quarter off it! But we won't do that, right?

What a busy week it's been so far.

Monday morning we ended up at OB Triage because Gina was up all night with stomach cramps but didn't know if it was contractions or some sort of stomach thing. She was having a few mild contractions but the nurse just referred to them as "irritability". Our awesome peri, Dr. Katz, was doing rounds at the hospital so he came down and saw her, did another FFN, then sent her home.

Tuesday started with the fetal non-stress test followed by a growth u/s. A very excited Grandma "M" came to get a glimpse of her grand daughters. The girls weren't very cooperative, though. They hardly let us get a good look at them as they're so cramped in there. The u/s tech we had was all about business, not really having a look around, even to try to get any pics for the collection. Oh well. The girls are measuring about a week behind, at 3lbs. 14oz. and 3lbs. 15oz., but are well within the acceptable range for developement. That means 4lbs is well within reach and definitely doable if we have a little cooperation!

We also learned that Monday's FFN came back positive. The test, when negative, is a great predictor that labor won't start for at least 10-14 days, however a positive result is NOT an indication that labor will come within the next 2 weeks, only that it is a possibility.

So that's where we are. Tomorrow marks the end of week 33 and Gina keeps saying that they'll be here by week 34.

The end of week 34 happens to be Thanksgiving.

How appropriate...We certainly do have a lot to give thanks for.

It's close to being finished!!!

The crib came this morning and, though it has a slightly cracked headboard, I put it together tonight. The replacement headboard will take about 2 weeks to get here but I couldn't wait, we just needed to get the furniture situated. I must say the nursery looks better every day. I'll pick up the matress tomorrow evening and we'll get the crib set up and then post some pictures. We now just have to get these awesome Shag Disneyland prints framed and on the wall and...we're done.

I got a massage last night and it was awesome. Part of the conversation, polite chit-chat, was about the twins of course. My masseuse said she was going back to school so she could become a nurse midwife. Great idea. But she said something during the conversation that kind of caught me offguard. I may be making something out of nothing but she said she thought it was awesome how her friend's body could make a little woman. The obvious thing would be to point out that her friend gave birth to a girl and that someday she'll be a woman.

But that wasn't the thing that got my attention. It was that her friend's body made her baby. Wow. I wonder how many people have this idea, as if the baby is just another part of mother. No, it's not. From the moment of conception the baby has DNA unique to itself. For quite a few days it develops without even being implanted and when it does implant the placenta is formed and this insulates the baby from the mother and prevents her body from rejecting the baby because it has different DNA. Sure, the things Mom puts in her body nourish and affect the baby but the baby develops according to its own schedule. And half the DNA comes from Dad, but I would never even think of saying that it's awesome how a man's body produces a baby.

I think this concept may be born (pardon the expression) from the idea that it's a woman's body and no one should tell her what to do with it. After seeing our 2 girls develop, and even Teagan at nearly 19 weeks, it's patently clear that this just isn't so. They really are their own bodies and they just happen to be living inside and are supported by Mommy. That's just the way God designed it.

She was right about one thing though...the miracle of life is truly awesome.

Another Look

Gina had her first Fetal Non-stress Test (NST) last Friday. I couldn't stay for it but wish I had. She said they really got to see them moving well and saw their chubby cheeks. The only concern they had was that their fluid levels were lower than they had hoped to see. So instead of having an NST every week we now have them twice a week. Of course we don't mind seeing the girls every 3 to 4 days. The one on Tuesday was great. They still want to keep an eye on the fluid levels but said the girls looked great.

So tomorrow will be the 3rd and I won't miss seeing the girls. Especially since they wake them up and get the girls to move. They were pissed off on Tuesday when they were putting the monitor probes on Gina's belly but I missed that. I haven't seen them too active and I don't get to feel them moving that much, as everytime I put my hands on the belly...they stop! So to see them move and kick should be awesome.