Week 33

Our new apartment

An eventful Tuesday night

So....Tuesday was a productive day, work-wise. I worked from home and got a lot done to prepare my co-workers for the clients they will be covering for me. I was so excited that Wed would be last day before Leave. I was so looking forward to some peace and quiet in the house, by myself, to get silly nesting kinda projects done. (All I wanted was at least a week.) I put dinner in the oven and started to feel a little crampy so I laid down to take a nap. When Brian got home I woke up and went to the bathroom before we were to sit down to dinner. To my surprise I saw signs that something was happening and got really nervous. I came out of the bathroom and told Brian that the boys may be coming sooner than we thought. I immediately called the Dr.'s office and they asked if I was having contractions too. I said that I didn't know....I'm a first time Mom, how would I know what a contraction feels like? I did tell her that I was a little crampy but I was chalking it up to Braxton Hicks. She asked if I was timing them and I said no. She said that I should come into the office since it's twins and not close to full term. When I hung up we started timing and they were 15 minutes apart and by the time we got to the Dr. office they were 12 minutes apart. We waited patiently in the waiting room until they finally called us back and put me on the non-stress machine. By that time they were timing at 7 minutes apart. The Dr. said she'd be back to check on me and when she came back they were 4 minutes apart. She said, "ok, I'm going to send you to the hospital so they can get you on some meds to slow this down." At this point I was a little nervous but yet still in shock as to what was happening. We walked into the Ob triage and they were waiting for us. They put me on the machine and now they were between 1 1/2 - 3 minutes apart. The Dr. came in and checked me. He said I was 2 cm and totally efaced. He said I'd have to stay the night and they were going to do everything to slow this down. He said there was a 50/50 chance they'd be born that night but that he preferred that they not be. I looked at Brian and we were both still in shock. I was wheeled up to a L&D room and I saw 2 cribs waiting there. I said "hold up! If they are born tonight it's not going to be in this room...I'm having a c-section." The nurse said she wasn't sure and prepared anyway. I was hooked up to a ton of monitors and there we stayed, all night, being checked by the nurse every 1/2 hour. The contractions were tough and I couldn't imagine how they could get worse. They eventually did space out further and weren't as intense. Neither Brian nor I slept all night. We kept going back and forth with getting excited to meet them that night and then being frightened that it was too soon. I was given a steroid shot for the boys lungs. (before 34 weeks they aren't totally developed and the steroids speed up that process) The Dr. came in and checked me again and the good news was that I was still 2 cm. As he was checking me he said that it was so thin that he felt Evan kicking him. I said "oh yea, he loves to kick me!" The Dr. said to expect to at least stay again Wed night as I'd need the 2nd dose of steroids. Wed morning Mom & Dad came to sit with us and wait. I was moved to the high risk OB wing and told that I'd be here until at least Wed (34 weeks). Brian was relieved because he was afraid he'd have to deliver babies at home. I was on meds all day long and the contractions seemed to stay further apart and not as bad. We went downstairs to our High Risk Dr for an ultra sound and they confirmed that I was 2 cm and they agreed that I should stay until week 34. Pastor Jeff surprised us with a visit and we so much appreciated that. We chatted for about 1/2 hour with him and he prayed for us. It was a great prayer and it really warmed our hearts. (For the record, he thinks the boys will be born on the 4th of July....I'm thinking with his God connection and all we may have our sons in a few days.....we'll see. Ha!) Last night I got the 2nd steroid shot and we tried to get some sleep. It wasn't perfect sleep but definitely better than the night before. This morning Brian went to work and Mom came over to hang out with me. Corinne & the girls came for a short visit and the girls were amazed checking out the room and all the machines. The Dr. came in to visit with me and broke the news that I'd need to be on hospital bed rest until the boys are born. Their goal is for me to get as close to my scheduled c-section at 37 weeks. Ugh! That means I could be here a whole month! But, it's for the boys and I'll do anything for them. Not gonna lie though....I kinda wish they'd just come out now though because I'm SO uncomfortable and I feel helpless. I need people to help me in and out of bed and I really can't do anything for myself. For anyone that knows me they know that I'm very independent and a "doer." I guess in the long run it's better that I'm here because if I was at home I may be tempted to do chores around the house. The Dr. also told me that I can't get out of bed unless its for the bathroom and I can only shower every other day. I'm not allowed to sit up, I need to be reclined or laying down. Ugh! I know Brian is feeling overly anxious because when he's here he tends to pace a lot....but his ADD is partly to blame for that. We both also miss Jadie....the JJ's picked her up on Tues night.....but we know she's in great hands and she will be celebrating the 4th of July at the shore without us! She'll have a blast. So....back to the hospital visit, in my new "apartment." There are times that I feel fine but there are times that I'm really uncomfortable. As the meds are wearing off the contractions kick back up and I'm miserable until I get the meds. The boys are fighting for space and I can totally feel it, which also makes it hard for me to get comfortable. Our boys are ready to come out and see the world but we want them to "cook" a bit longer.

Last weekend at the shore....childless

This weekend was our last weekend at the shore, before the boys are born. We decided to play it safe and stay home all of July in anticipation of the boys arrival. It was a relaxing, quiet weekend. Friday night we watched the Phillies game with Johnny and then went to bed. Sat morning we did our usual Coffee Talk run and sat on the back deck enjoying the morning. Then we walked Jadie down to MeMe & GPop's to hang out. After Johnny was done his work, the 3 of us went up to the Windrift for a late lunch....which then turned into many drinks for Brian & Johnny while I people watched. It was a beautiful day on the deck so I didn't mind. Plus I wanted Brian to have a nice time because he really won't be able to have too many drinks as we wait for the boys....he'll need to be on guard to drive me to the hospital. I had a ball watching everyone at the bar getting drunk...now I know how Dad feels when he's watching people drink. When we got home Jeanna got down so the 4 of us hung out watching the Phillies game. Today we had an early lunch with Mom & Dad and headed home in the early afternoon. We had a great weekend but it was SO sad to leave! I felt like it was Labor Day weekend and the summer was over. But the reality is that the summer is just starting. It's going to be really difficult for us being home all of July while everyone is down there having fun. I think for the 1st time in my life I'll be spending the 4th of July at home! As we pulled away from the house I told Brian that the next time we see the house we will have 2 little one's in the car with us. That was a strange, yet exciting feeling. We are so super excited for Evan & Gavin to arrive but we aren't ready for our summer to be put "on hold." So, as soon as the boys are born and we are sorta settled we will be right down there again.

Week 32

Father's Day Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Father's Day at the shore with the family. Saturday we had a BBQ for the Dad's at the Krib and invited the Camarote family. We had a blast playing latter ball, washers, riding the wave runner, and just plain 'ole family fun. All the little kids ran around playing with all the toys while the dogs tried to keep up after them. I watched Brian having a ball celebrating his 1st Father's Day. It was so awesome to see him so happy. That night I gave him his gift from the boys, well part of it...waiting on the other gift to come in. I gave him a glass beer mug that says "Happy Fathers Day 2011 We love you, Evan & Gavin." He seemed to really like it. Sunday was a chill morning and then in the afternoon Dad took Brian, Ryan, and Johnny golfing. They had a blast. We were all so happy to see Dad feeling good enough to go golfing. It's been quite some time since he's golfed so the boys were very excited when he asked them to go. We ordered in dinner when they got home and had a relaxing night. I'm hoping Brian had as much fun this weekend as I did watching him.

Week 31

Jadie and Daddy

Our boys are going to be beasts...

We had an appt at the High Risk Dr. this morning. The boys are doing great! Evan weighs 4 lbs 4 oz and Gavin weighs 4 lbs 6 oz. Can you believe it? I have close to 9 lbs of baby in me! Crazy!! Brian says the boys are going to be beasts. haha! The Dr. is very happy with how things are progressing and told us they look great. Brian asked if there is a point that they get too big would they want to take them out of me earlier. The Dr. said no that if they get too big and uncomfortable that they will come on their own. Brian also asked if he thinks they we will make it to our July 27th date and the Dr. said no that he's thinking mid-July. So, we will see. Everyone start placing your bets. haha! I'm doing well myself....just getting big! My belly is sticking out further and further every day! My ankles are really swollen so Brian keeps nagging me to sit down. I'm also getting carpel tunnel in my hands but the Dr. said that is normal. I have 9 more work days left....my last day is 6/29. I'm still amazed that I'm not on bed-rest! I guess all the trouble we had on the front end of pregnancy has given me a "free pass" to no bed-rest.

Week 30

Dreaming about our boys

Week 29