Without the Bitter, The Sweet Just Isn't as Sweet...

Ever since I was younger I've always tried to look for the positives that come out of negative events in my life. My ability to do this was strongly tested in 2009 with the loss of our first pregnancy early in the year. I will admit, it was not easy, but with the help of family and friends I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I look at it with a whole new perspective in that our first baby was not strong enough to do all they wanted here on earth. But God works in mysterious ways because he has blessed Ryan and I with two little miracles. Words cannot describe the excitement and joy running through my heart everytime I feel a little poke in my belly. I don't know if it's because of everything that happened early in the year that has helped me appreciate this precious gift or if I would feel the same if I was blessed with twins the first time around. I feel no worry, no fear because I know these babies will be born with so much love surrounding them that they will be stronger than they'll ever know.

In looking back through the year, there have been so many wonderful events. I have seen family and friends marry the ones they love (12 weddings to be exact) and I couldn't be happier for all of them. Marriage is such a wonderful gift and it always finds the soft spot of my heart when I see someone I care about find that person they want to wake up to for the rest of their lives. So many new babies have entered the world this year including a new baby niece, Ava, for Ryan and me. Ryan and I were fortunate to keep our jobs this year and we are both very thankful for that as well. We are both looking forward to all the excitement 2010 will bring to our lives!

All in all, I think 2009 was a year of tests of strength, courage, and love and I wouldn't change a single day. Here's to a Happy and Healthy 2010!

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne."

We Got a Makeover!

Well at least our blog did anyways. It's not completely done so you may see some more changes to come soon! I figured I would make it a little more decorative. So thanks to the folks at Thecutestblogontheblock.com, our blog now coordinates with the twins' nursery colors and theme!

I am hoping to set up a few new fun things on the site in the next couple of weeks mainly to keep me entertained while I am on bedrest in 3 1/2 weeks! So keep checking in!

26 Weeks...

How far along? 26 weeks
How big are the babies? Eggplants!
Best moment this week: Spending Christmas with our families!
Symptoms: Backaches are becoming more frequent
Movement: They are moving quite a bit these days. Less kicking and punching and more rolling.
Food cravings: No real food cravings this week.
Genders: A Boy and Girl!!!
Milestones: Less than 100 days to go!!

Development: Babies' are soaking up your antibodies, getting their immune systems ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and they'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.



Headlines from the week:
Who are they...? AFC East champs
After missing the playoffs with an 11-5 record last season, the Pats clinched this year with a week left

UMass purchase ensures better future
AS AN alumnus of University of Massachusetts Boston, I am pleased to endorse the very smart purchase of the Bayside Expo Center for future growth and development of its very dynamic campus.


Weather today:
Mostly Cloudy, 36 Degrees

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone safe and happy holidays!

25 Weeks...

How far along? 25 weeks
How big are the babies? Eggplants!
Best moment this week: Seeing the twins at my appointment!
Symptoms: Everyday tasks like getting off the couch are proving difficult.
Movement: They are rolling and kicking all over the place in there.
Food cravings: The babies are on strike from real sweet foods now. They are loving the popcorn tin we got though!
Genders: A Boy and Girl!!! (This has been confirmed again at this last appointment)
Milestones: My belly button is starting to become an outie

Development: That oh-so-handy sense of equilibrium is kicking in, and the babies are learning to distinguish right side up from upside down.


Headlines from the week:
US agency investigates possible gender bias at colleges
A federal civil rights agency investigating possible gender discrimination in college admissions will subpoena data from more than a dozen mid-Atlantic universities, officials said yesterday

Can a lull in solar activity head off climate change?
It might help but don’t expect it to last, scientists say - the sun isn’t the real issue


Weather today:
Snowing, 21 Degrees

The Twins are on Strike!

So I may have indulged a bit at yesterday's holiday party in my building at work.

After sampling pretty much every sweet imaginable, I paid for it big time last night and had the worst belly ache. I couldn't even think about having dinner. Well I believe the twins were not impressed with their sugar highs which led to sugar comas and so today even the sight of anything sweet makes my belly turn. This may have a serious effect on my Christmas enjoyment this year. Also, isn't it supposed to be me lecturing them on how many sweets they should intake as too much will give you a belly ache. Ok, lesson learned!

24 Weeks... V-Day!

Due to technical difficulties and a faulty memory card, there will be no belly picture for this week. I don't want to leave you empty handed though so I will provide a picture of what I think closely resembles myself at the current time.

How far along? 24 weeks
How big are the babies? Still Papayas!
Best moment this week: Tapping on my belly and having the twins kick back... We're already having play dates!
Symptoms: My belly button is offically flat and I have been getting quite a bit more tired lately
Movement: They are rolling and kicking all over the place in there.
Food cravings: I've had a bit of a sweet tooth, I blame the upcoming holidays
Genders: A Boy and Girl!!! (This has been confirmed again at this last appointment)
Milestones: I have reached Viability Day! This basically means that the babies now have a chance of survival outside of the womb. Not that any of us want them coming out right now, so keep cooking little ones!

Development: Babies' skin is becoming more opaque as the fat starts to pack on. And, thanks to the formation of small capillaries, their newly thick skin is taking on a fresh pink glow.


Headlines from the week:
Tiger Woods has cheated on his wife, but also been named Athlete of the Decade. Interesting week Tiger.

The Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6!


Weather today:
Partly Sunny, 33 Degrees

Special treat for you... More updates! I also had my 6th Appointment today. The Dr. did a quick ultrasound to make sure heartbeats were doing well and they were. We also confirmed that that are still definitely a boy and a girl, however they may have swapped spots! We also got a great look at Kaylie's foot continuously kicking Cavan's head. I wish I had a video of that. I mean we actually saw her leg extend and flex her foot and proceed to kick her brother in the head several times!

My belly is currently measuring 32 weeks! Hence the whale picture above. There was a little glucose in my urine, but that may have been the juice I had with my lunch right before the appointment. Lesson learned. I have my Gestational Diabetes test at my next appointment so I am hoping that I pass with flying colors! *Note to self, eat protein and nothing else on that day!

PS. Don't forget to put in your votes by clicking on the Expect.net box to the left! Remember it's all for fun and you don't need to register to make a guess!

More Interaction...

So I found this website that is basically like an online baby pool to see what everyone's opinions are. I thought it would be fun to see what everyone thinks. It's called ExpectNet! It's free to use and you don't need to register to make a guess. Basically just click on the little orange and white box with the teddy bear at the end of this post or to the left and then click on "Enter a Guess for Baby A" then "Enter a Guess for Baby B". Once there it will ask you a few questions about you (i.e. who you are and how you know me or Ryan) then it will ask you for your guesses on gender, weight, length, and birthday! You can leave me a comment on here if you have any problems entering your guesses.

It's fun too because once the babies come, I enter in all the correct information and the game tally's up who has the highest score based on all their guesses. Here is the breakdown of "Penalty points":
incorrect gender: 400 points
date & time: 5 points per hour
weight: 5 points per ounce
length: 10 points per inch

Remember to make your guesses for both babies! Also, as we know right now, Baby A (baby on the bottom) is Cavan and Baby B (Baby on the top) is Kaylie.

It's all for fun so Enjoy!

23 Weeks...

How far along? 23 weeks
How big are the babies? Still Papayas!
Best moment this week: Katie and Baby Ava coming home.
Symptoms: Slight swelling is starting in my feet, but I still have ankles!
Movement:A lot!
Food cravings: Shrimp tempura maki!
Genders: A Boy and Girl!!!
Milestones: I am now starting my every 2 weeks Dr's appointments

Development: Babies' little faces are fully formed...minus the baby fat, of course. The next task at hand for baby: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!


Headlines from the week:
Banking on fewer branches
Financial institutions look to ATMs, online transactions, and nontraditional locations to keep costs down and customers happy

A consumer group contends one of the holiday season's must-have toys is unsafe.
But the maker of the robotic Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters defended its product Saturday against a study by San Francisco-based GoodGuide that said higher-than-allowed levels of the chemical antimony were found in the toy.


Weather today:
Clear, 33 Degrees

Letters to the twins...

Dear Cavan,

As fun, squishy and comfy as it may be, my bladder is not a play toy or a pillow. Thank you.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Kaylie,

As fun, squishy and comfy as he may be, your brother is not a play toy or a pillow. Thank you.

Love,
Mommy

Dr's Appointment Update

So I had my 5th Dr's appointment today and my Dr. said everything looked great. I got a little peak at Cavan and Kaylie, but unfortunately have no pictures to share this time. Although I can report that Kaylie is very determined to evict her wombmate. Poor Cavan was curled up into a little ball while Kaylie, the womb pirate, sprawled herself out just fine. They were VERY active in there, squirming and moving all over the place. I will say it does look to be getting a bit crowded in there and it took my doctor a couple minutes to determine who belongs to which body parts. All in all they both look happy and healthy. Cavan is considered breach right now, but will most likely end up head down. Kaylie is transverse and laying across my belly. She will most likely be the deciding factor or C-Section or not.

We are still a go for bed rest starting at 30 weeks. However, one bit of information that made my jaw drop a bit, if Kaylie and Cavan are both head down and we're all healthy my Dr. said she would let me go as long as 40 weeks. Now it's very unlikely that I will make it that far anyways, but the thought of lasting another 18 weeks is a bit shocking to me. Also it appears that my Dr. has decided to take a vacation during my 38th week which would have been as long they would let me go if I needed to schedule a C-section. So now that may be pushed out to 39 weeks. Again, it will be highly unlikely I will go that far out, but it's still in the back of my head now.

As far as me physically, the Dr. said she had no problems with my weight and that I was gaining at a healthy pace. I could beg to differ with that when I saw the scale jump 10 pounds from my last appointment 4 weeks ago, but if she's not worried then I'll just keep doing what I have been. My belly itself is measuring the same as a woman with one at 29 weeks.

One last bit of information, at our big ultrasound they noticed a bit a fluid around Kaylie's kidneys, but said it wasn't too much to be concerned about at this point and will only become a concern if it gets worse later. Well today my Dr. had referred to Baby B as a boy and mentioned that the fluid around the kidneys was common in boys. I politely mentioned that we were told Baby B was the girl. She then said, hmm, that's interesting, it still can happen with girls, but is more common in boys. So when I go for my next big ultrasound at 28 weeks I may just have them double check for safe measure.