A year ago today was the beginning

The beginning

Ready to Pop!

Four months later!

I can't believe a year ago today I had my transfer. As I look at my two beautiful little dudes I can't help but reminisce about how much it took to have them. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, and if my husband can be persuaded that would be very soon! Will and Finn are now 4 months. Every day is a reminder of how lucky we are and how in love I am with these two.  

I'm BACK!!! Just a few months late

Introducing William Dillon & Finnegan Bennett. The boys are just shy of 4 months now and doing wonderfully. After being born during an emergency c-section because I developed preeclampsia at 36 weeks, I decided to take a hiatus from blogging and spend all my time getting to know my two little dudes. We spent a month down in Cape Cod and have been traveling quite a bit with the boys. I am now back to work FT and while it has been difficult to leave the littles, it has also helped with my sanity and the regrowing of my lost brain cells :) They are just such amazing, beautiful little men and we couldn't be happier at this point in our lives.

William Dillon was born first on April 27th at 11:58am weighing in at 5lbs 8ozs, his brother followed three minutes later weighing in at 5lbs 1oz. Both little nuggets were 19 inches. We spent an extra week in the hospital due to severe jaundice and weight loss. We have a pretty good schedule going now with the boys and I am hopeful to find more time to continue updating. Their four month check up is next week and we are so anxious to see how much they weigh and their length. Not looking forward to the dreaded second round of shots though.

I could go on and on about all the awesomeness of the past three and half months. I wanted to thank all of you for checking and wondering how we all are. It has been a pleasure going back and seeing all you lovely ladies with your new bundles and bundles to be. What a journey it has been and I can't wait to do it all over again :)

Earth Day has come and gone.....

So my much anticipated, much talked about, much believed day of delivery has come and gone. I am beyond happy I have surpassed 36 weeks. I just didn't see it happening, but damn do I have one iron uterus afterall. Based on Tuesday's appointment there is no change in dilation, still stuck at 2cm,  but the contractions are still coming. I feel real crampy today and Finn's butt is so far under my rib I can feel him in my back.


One of my very crunchie VT nurses told me maybe I can have Arbor day babies instead. She is the same women who has tried to convince me to grind up the boys placentas and scatter them over my much neglected garden. Sorry maybe for some, but I have a weak stomach for guts and gore, not too mention using my mixer?? HUH?


Anyway, I am scheduled for a C-section May 6th. I am hopeful that nature will take its course before modern medicine, but nonetheless I have a date on the calendar. I had Thai last night, a very sweaty mani and pedi experience and also a great accupressure/massage. Here is to Full Term Twins!

False Alarm Numero Uno

My 35th week began with a trip to the L&D. I was up all night last Wednesday with cramps and nausea and by Thursday afternoon I was counting contractions about ten minutes apart. Once my husband was home we decided it was best to head on in to see what was going on.

At first my contractions were coming on pretty fierce, but they subsided after some fluids. I am still dilated at 2cm but a tad more effaced at 90%. We had a rather interesting nurse who at one point told us to "wrap our heads around the fact that I would be delivering that night", while I swallowed my vomit she left us for 30 minutes only to return with a doc who found no cervical change. Of course she apologized up and down for freaking us out. I guess I was contracting so much that she figured things were progressing. I just wish contractions always meant dilation. Needless to say I was anxious to get home and into my own bed.

I am now on a strict bedrest. Strict bedrest rules are not exactly easy for me. I really want to clean the floorboards (again). Instead I am sinking further into the couch watching Swamp Loggers, Deadliest Catch and Lifetime. It's not the same doing this on a Sunday when you are pregnant and not hungover :)

Dilating, Contracting, Cankles Oh my!

Today we began the series of biophysical exams and non-stress tests, both little dudes passed with flying colors. I am about 2cm dilated and 80% effaced at this point. I wish that my doc had a crystal ball that told me how much longer, but reality is that I could stay this way for another 2 weeks. I still have Earth Day as the day in my head though and well so far I have been pretty much on target with things. I am happy to hear that things are progressing though. I am just so uncomfortable that even the simplest tasks are getting difficult, like drying my hair:)

In the last week I was introduced to serious water retention. I have hamburger helper hands and a neck like a linebacker. I feel like a water buffalo with one big mass of boob melting into a belly. Contractions are getting a bit stronger but no pattern. This is my last week of work as I am now on a modified bedrest. This Thursday marks my 35th week. I have cankles galore and even my flip flops don't fit very well. I am having a hard time even typing since my knuckles are like a gorilla's.

I have succumbed to the fact that a C-section is 95% likely. I am trying to swallow my disappointment but I must admit I am totally bummed. Will is still head down but his bro is breech. With Finn being the bigger of the two little Will won't be able to "pave the way" for his brother and it is likely Finn will get stuck. Then I would ultimately end up with a c-section anyway. I just don't like the idea of not being able to hold them right away or have some control. Instead my hands will be strapped down. My mom and sister won't be able to be there either which puts tears in my eyes as I type. I saw my nephews born with my mother and I wanted them there so badly. My husband and I were hopeful that he would be able to place them on my chest and to cut the umblical cords as well. We are just happy that we are so lucky but towards the end you do spend a lot of time wishing you had a tad more rule. I know with twins this birth plan is more likley to happen in a field in Bulgaria then a Level III hospital but I did have my dream. As long as they are healthy and come out kicking I can deal with yet another scar and a longer recovery.

It's Taco Tuesday and my boys are hungry. Until next time. Ciao Sisters

Brooke

Operation Nursery- 94% complete

I feel like a blowfish/oompa loompa. In fact I feel like I am going to explode at any moment! I just can't wait. We are so excited. We even packed the dudes hospital bag and picked out their going home outfits! Birth plan complete, even if there are three versions. We found our Mrs. Doubtfire for the boys and their bassinet is all ready for their two little bodies. Yes I am in full nesting mode.

I feel blessed that I have had a pretty good pregnancy other than just feeling like I do towards the end. My last OB appointment was Monday and my cervix is softening up like a fat kid. Not that it means much but my doc thinks I have about 2-3 weeks left. I am 33 weeks today. No change in dilation. Lots of contraction and intermittent cramping. Baby A, also known as William Dillon Thomas is head down and right above my pubic bone. I have that lovely heavy feeling and dropping sensation. I have to pee almost every ten minutes. Baby B, aka Finnegan Bennett Thomas is in an awkard "transverse oblique position". I think of them as ying and yang :) I still have room at the top of my uterus but I am growing more wide than upward. I waddle but hey no stretch marks! I love you Bio-oil.

My parents came up last weekend to help decorate the nursery. I am so happy with the way it came out. I have quite the handy husband. He ripped up the old carpet, put in wood floors, added wainscotting and fresh paint. I am just so relieved that the big parts are complete. Even if the two littles will be in our room in the beginning, it feels good to get stuff put away and organized. It is the one thing I feel like I have control over. The rest will hopefully fall into place and by that I mean both head first. We just need to put up the window treatments, more wall decor and then await the arrival of the dudes.

I caved and bought a Prenatal Cradle. It looks medieval but it really works!! My back is really bothering me and last week I tumbled head first into my closet. I grabbed at my clothes to help break my fall and ended up swaying back and forth until I could get my balance. I didn't realize how top heavy I really am. It was priceless, definitely Oscar worthy.

30 Weeks and fully showered with love

I didn't totally fall of the face of the earth more like I have fallen on my butt and I can't find the energy to get up. I feel like I am literally running on empty. I am so happy to hit the 30 week mark and my motherly instinct has me thinking not much longer now.

My sister-in-law threw me a Vermont shower two weeks ago and I had my Mass home shower last weekend, which was hosted by my mom and sister. I had so much fun at both and was beyond floored by the generosity of gifts. It was so great to see all my friends and relatives, many of whom I haven’t seen since my wedding in October of 2008! As usual my family out did themselves and I feel so blessed and lucky.


My house is packed full of presents and there is more plastic in my downstairs then in Hollywood. I can't wait for the final touches on the nursery so I can find a home for all the stuff.


Here are some pics!

My hometown lady loves

College Sorority Sisters

We got the macdaddy stroller! I totally cried

The amazing diaper cake made by my crafty sister. I had no idea that it was all diapers!

My Vermont Shower

The awesome elephant cookies made by my SIL.

We had our 30 week growth scan and I am trying to remain optimistic that Baby A will make up the discordance asap. Baby B is currently 3lbs 3oz and Baby A is 2lbs 14oz. I am now going in every week and will start the non-stress testing and biophysical testing next week. More to come.......

Nothing like the good ole stomach flu

I totally jinxed myself about having a story book last couple of weeks. As soon as my sister, niece, nephews and friends left last weekend, I began a nasty bout of the stomach flu. By Sunday morning I still couldn't keep anything down. We decided in the early afternoon it was better to be safe than sorry and headed to the Labor and Delivery. Turns out I was severely dehydrated, contracting quite a bit and a tad dilated at .5 cm. I had yet another fFN, thankfully negative, was pumped full of fluids and monitored for several hours. It is a really scary experience when you feel that awful and have no idea how it is affecting your babies. Luckily they are just fine, but my body has taken quite the hit.

I had my normal follow up appointment yesterday and am measuring in at 31 weeks. So about 3 weeks ahead of a singleton. I feel huge so that makes sense. In two weeks I have our next growth scan and am very anxious to see how much bigger the boys are getting. Of course they have decided to move yet again and are now both in an "awkward transverse breech position" as so qouted by the ultrasonographer. Hopefully they will do yet another 360 before their arrival, but they are pretty cramped in there and running out of room. My stomach gets all contorted and alienesque when they move. It is quite the sight. Crazy to think that they could be here as early as the next 7 weeks!

26 Weeks

Today I am 26 weeks. 6.5 months, WOW!! It really is going by fast. According to Baby Center my two dudes are the size of English hothouse cucumbers. Um yeah, I had no idea what those were either, but just picture a cucumber about 14 inches long. I don't really like referring to my children as fruits or vegetables but I am glad that they are progressing onto bigger produce comparability.

I had another growth scan on Monday. The Princes are 2 lbs each and very active. Both babes are no longer transverse. Baby B is now head down and closest to my cervix, while Baby A is breech.

The Braxton Hicks contractions have been pretty intense at night so I was given an fFN test. Again the test was negative and my cervix is still long and closed. Definitely different being on the other side of what I sell for a living. The reassurance is so uplifting!

Looking forward to a nice long weekend. Nesting is in full effect!!!

Soon To Be my Third Arm

No! that is not me with two strangers children, but yes I did just buy this. After being convinced by three friends with twins and several positive reviews I went ahead and bought the "EZ-2-Nurse Twins Pillow". It is like an oversized boppy, but more square with a back support and two spots for the babes.  


At first I was scared, actually I was petrified. The idea of tandem breast feeding makes my boobs hurt already. I have no expectactions other than I really want to try to breast feed both of my boys. It is important to me, but I am also realistic that it may be beyond difficult at times. I hope to follow the advice of fellow bloggers and friends that have gotten their twins on the same eating schedule, yes it is possible they say.

Perhaps if I can master the art, I can be hands free, do an infomercial and feed my two dudes all at once, just like this lady below. Hey if it makes one of the hardest things, but one of the most important things easier, I am all for it!!

Our two dudes in 3D

I can't believe it has been almost three weeks since my last post. I have surpassed the 24 week milestone for viability. I feel a sense of relief. There is something to be said when your physician tells you your children’s chance of survival increases exponentially from here on out.

Looks like if I make it to 38 weeks I will be induced. I am hopeful of a natural birth but have a second and third birth plan in place, just in case our two princes decide that head down is not their idea of a way out. Scary to some, but I am not one for scheduled caesareans unless for good reason.


I have the monthly growth scan next Monday and am really anxious to see how big they are getting. I feel pretty good; my energy comes in crazy bursts. For instance after dinner on Sunday I decided to mop the floors until 12:30am. Then on Monday I cried all day. The heartburn still keeps me up at night but I have resorted to Pepcid AC. I am also not as ravenous as I have been in the past, in fact a few times I have had to remind myself to eat something. I say that and then tomorrow I will be a bottomless pit.


The nursery is coming along awesome, carpet removed and bead board up, now onto painting and wood flooring. I am heading to my hometown for the weekend with the hope that my amazing husband finishes quite a bit before my return.


On a side note I wish someone would put together a Twins for Dummies manual. It amazes me how little people know about a twin pregnancy. There is a whole different set of rules, please don't pretend you even know what you are talking about. Sorry, my first vent in all my blogging, but maybe I will draft up a brochure to have on hand when the questions/comments are being vomited all over me. I have no time to explain people. Oh and I am tired.

We were able to see our two dudes on 3D ultrasound and while emotional and beautiful it was also kind of sci-fi. Nothing like seeing your unborn children's faces. The U/S tech had some extra time to kill and just started to play around with the 3D/4D scanner. I guess 26-28 weeks is a better time to view them since they are likely to be a bit chubbier. I swear they have my husband’s nice full lips and well my family’s nice big head.


Here are some pics of our snuggly bugs. The eye socket thing creeps me out but I did see their eyes in the 4D video. The still portion of 3D adds to the alien effect, just a heads up for those anxious to get some pictures.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





I love the one of Baby B curled up, knee to chin. Baby A was camera shy that day :)


I already love these little guys so much!

Bedding, bumbos, boppys, bottles, bibs OH MY!

I have officially crossed over to baby buying bonkerdome. I can't stop. It is physically impossible for me not to check www.greenbabybargains.com/ or www.babysteals.com/ everyday. It used to be that I anxiously waited each morning for the Gilt Groupe or Hautelook sales to begin; now I can't live with the thought of my children without the adorably fantastic 100% organic alpaca onesie. I need help. There is a magnetic force and it has become my latest crack.

So my beautiful baby boys bedding has arrived. Now say that five times fast! I just love love love love it. I waited for some after Christmas sales at Layla Grace and it felt like X-mas morning all over again when it arrived on my front porch. I did a mock set up and made sure everything looked perfect. I can't wait for the nursery to be finished! The colors are a great nautical mix of blue and yellow in a seersucker print with mosaic sheets. Kind of hippy meets preppy WASP is the best way I can describe it.

Next I need to find a chaise lounge or glider but I am yet to find one I like, then I am done. On the good side I know better than to go too crazy (if that is possible) before my shower. I just have to have some of these outfits and sleepers and shoes and hats. Sometimes they actually make me cry and I find myself smelling the clothes oblivious to the sales person gaze.

When I was first married, Andy begged me to be practical...thank God I lived by my credo: 'Veni, Vidi, Visa - I came, I saw, I charged it. Hope everyone had a great weekend :)

21 weeks and growing and growing and growing....

I was talking with my friend Nikki last night and she asked me how big I was getting. It dawned on me that I literally woke up one morning and needed help getting out of bed. Being vertically challenged my legs dangle off the bed when trying to ground them, so either I need the help of my husband or I slither off my bed on my back using my hands as a lowering device. The mattress is higher than I thought.

Oh and I have horrific heart burn already. I never knew how bad that can actually feel. I also have finally succumbed to throwing away all the old, yes um old and used pregnancy tests. I was neurotic, I am still neurotic.  Honestly there was something about seeing those lines get darker and darker each day. I put the dates and times on them and I had no intention of every throwing them away. My husband told me it was best and that saving the biohazard bin with all the needles was worse. Sorry I am not ready to throw those away just yet.

Welcome to my world.

Cheers to 2010!

What a year it has been. I still can't believe that it has been 12 months since we began our journey. It seems like yesterday, but we are hopeful that the painful, heartbreaking and trying period is behind us. I thank all you wonderful women who have supported and shared with me over the last several months. I know many of you are still struggling or have experienced yet another loss. How you remain positive and strong is often beyond me.

I feel blessed to be in my position and my heart and hopes go out to everyone who is still in the shoes I once possessed. I will always cherish the friendships and words of wisdom from everyone who has touched my life through this process. So without crying more than I already do lately, Cheers to a healthy, successful, baby filled 2010!

There is 2 feet of snow up here in VT, so I spent the majority of the weekend nesting and cleaning like crazy. I still tire very easily and get some interesting nudges and growing pains, but for the most part still feel pretty good for 5 months with twins.


NYE was tame and spent with my brother and sister in-law. We enjoyed a nice dinner and were home by 11:50pm. I was out cold by 12:10am! I guess I should enjoy my sleep while I can:)

**Here our 11 year old husky gets comfortable in our front yard. She is totally in her element. At least I get out of shoveling!