Packed Up and Ready To Go!

Well....technically NOT READY to go....but packed, for sure!

Here she is!  My hospital bag!





Cute bag, yes?

What's inside?  Oh...you know...mostly just the standard.
But, besides my unmentionables,
 I DID want to share with you the t-shirts
that I have chosen for labor/post delivery.
(Yes, this chick plans to resist the hospital gown as much as possible!)

"Love Made Me Do It"                          For the Brooklyn Babies and Daddies

And something you may not find in most hospital bags?

Yes, my friends...those are Cranium Cards.

I MAY or MAY NOT be requesting that
 Jill and the guys distract me during labor by playing games. 
 Charades, anyone?  
 I rock at charades....just sayin'.

I plan for this bag to sit right where it is for another few weeks...

 ...but I'll be damned if I'm not prepared.  :-)







The Babies Are Coming! Are We Ready?

I felt compelled to offer a bit of my perspective for surrogates and budding intended parents alike who are either going through this journey or contemplating it. In a recent blog post, Jeni opened the 'floor' to questions to be fielded by me from her readers. I will attempt to answer some over the next few days / weeks.

To begin with, George and I can not believe how quickly the time has flown by. In the beginning of the process (summer of 2010), there is a sense of urgency, excitement and anticipation for the process to happen already and when it finally did, it flew by.  As we approach the end of the journey and look forward to the arrival of our children (a boy and a girl: Gustavo and Milena) due in November, we are filled with the same anticipation and excitement we had when we were beginning the process.

We're frequently being asked by our many friends and family members, "Are you ready?"  While I understand many of them are referring to the material things that need to be in place at home for the arrival of babies, I confidently answer, "I've made a huge room for them in my heart, my mind, my soul and now my apartment. (Giving up the home office was tough!) Yes, I'm ready.  Gustavo and Milena, we're ready for you. The question is: are they ready for us?  We've got an amazing world filled with love in store for them.

32 Week Appointment

Our appointment this morning went VERY well.  Baby Girl is still head down, in fact, she's VERY head down, if there is such a thing!  :)  Her heart rate was 155 and she is weighing 4.1 pounds!  Baby Boy is ALSO head down!  Yay for that!!  His heart rate was 143 and he is weighing 4.3 pounds!  Both babies looked absolutely fantastic and still had plenty of amniotic fluid to swim in.  Actually, there really isn't space for swimming any more, but they can for sure practice blowing bubbles.  :)

My blood pressure continues to stay in check, my cervix is measuring 3.5 cm., which is great, and I continue to be a super pro when it comes to gaining weight.  LOL!

Our next 3 appointments are on the books and they are the next 3 Wednesdays, with our next scheduled (and possibly last) ultrasound being on Wednesday, November 2nd when we will be just about 35 weeks.  The Dr. said that the 35 week mark is our green light...meaning if we go into labor at that point, they will go ahead and let us deliver.

Anyway, that's all from here!  Enjoy your weekend!

32 Weeks!

Holy Cow!  The weeks continue to fly by!  Suddenly, we find ourselves at 32 Weeks!  LESS THAN 6 weeks to go! 

Babies should be weighing in at almost 4 pounds each!  They measure just under 19 inches long!  When I cheated and looked ahead the next few weeks, it states that the babies should each gain a half pound and a half inch per week, from now until delivery!  Wow!!

Just for the sake of keeping it real, I will say that my body has begun to feel the effects of being V-E-R-Y pregnant!  At night, I switch off from sleeping on my left side to my right side, back to the left, then right, etc.  At this point, that works for a few hours, then my hips are so sore, neither side is a good choice, so sleeping sitting up becomes necessary.  I have had moments with swollen feet and ankles, and a few days where walking is painful due to the pressure I feel on my pelvis.

As my doctor so accurately pointed out, I have basically been "full term" for several weeks now. That means that this is all to be expected and VERY minor compared to what we could be dealing with at this point.  I think it is SO important to keep things in perspective! 

And the belly continues to grow....

32 Weeks

So tell me...Is black still slimming for me?  :)

My mom arrives today!  She is here for only a short time, but I am really looking forward to spending some time together!  She is going to come with me to my appointment tomorrow morning, where we will have an ultrasound, so that should be fun!  I will of course update after my appointment! 





Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone!  :)

A Quick Shout Out

I am feeling the need to shout out to a couple of fellow bloggers whose blogs I am unable to comment on. Jeni definitely DOES NOT like to be forced to be silent. :) Please know that I follow ALL of your blogs very closely and I absolutely adore being able to share in the journey with you all!

So.....
Mike and Tony-I am so excited for you guys and I love the honesty and emotion you share with all of us on your blog.

And, Stacey-You're SO close!!  I can't believe your babies are almost here!  Thank you for all of your sweet and supportive comments on our blog!  I am so looking forward to pictures of your twins VERY soon!

The blogger "family" is one that I never anticipated having.  The support that we all give each other is amazing, and so necessary.  Thank you to all of you bloggers out there!

-Jeni

Time For A New Poll!

I think it's time for some more voting to take place! 

As we get closer and closer to the delivery of these precious babies, I'm curious to see when all of our followers think we will deliver! 

Feel free to place your bet!  Just underneath our Baby Ticker is the Poll!  I can't wait to see what everyone thinks!

Get Ready To Say "AWWWW!"

My good friend and fellow surrogate Andrea posted this picture last week and I just keep going back and looking at it over and over!  This is such a sweet "twin" moment, and I just had to share it with all of you!  I absolutely can't wait to meet George and Farid's precious twins!

The Human Body Is Amazing!

Care for some perspective on this fine day?

Or how about just a giggle?

Check this out.

Camera 1
My First Night of Yoga-8 Weeks Pregnant

Camera 2
Yoga This Week-31 Weeks Pregnant

Seriously folks, isn't the body an amazing thing?  It's strange for me to look at the "Camera 1" body. I can't remember not having a belly!  How cool is it that the body is capable of making this space in such a relatively short period of time? And as we near the end of this pregnancy, I begin to think about my non-pregnant body.  Will I miss my big belly?  Yes, yes I will.  Will I ever see that "Camera 1" body again?

You bet your sweet bippy I will!  :)

Gimme 6 months.

Betcha I won't need that long.  :)



The Results Are In!

Our Fetal fibronectin test came back NEGATIVE! 

Hooray! 

This means that there is a less than 1% chance that we will go into labor in the next 2 weeks! 

 Phew!  Huge sigh of relief! 

Thanks for all the "negative" energy!  :)

31 Weeks!

Let's hear it for 31 Weeks!  T minus LESS THAN 7 weeks!

These babies are gettin' big, I tell you!  They each weigh about 3.5 pounds and measure 18 inches long!  I do believe I've got more baby in there than I have ever had before!  :)  Babies will continue to grow at a rapid rate from now until delivery.  Under-skin fat is continuing to develop and the surface skin is more pink than red.  Studies show that babies are dreaming when they sleep.  Dreaming about meeting their Daddies, no doubt!  :)

I feel like I am about the same size as last week, although it's admittedly getting hard to decipher between ginormous and hugantic!  LOL!!

31 Weeks

Contraction Action...Go Away!

Last night I was surprised by a short bout of contractions.  REAL contractions.  I immediately planted myself in bed and guzzled about 8 and a half gallons of water.  I kid, of course!  I ended up having a total of 5 over the course of about an hour and a half.  Fortunately after that, they went away.  These made me very nervous and I was anxious for my already scheduled 2:00 appointment to arrive today.

The Dr. did an exam and decided that although my cervix is soft, it is still closed and about 3 cm. long.  (Sorry if that's TMI, but we ARE talking about pregnancy/birth here!)  I felt like that was great news!  She went ahead and did a Fetal fibronectin test (see below).  We are obviously looking for NEGATIVE results.  I try to keep "NEGATIVE" thoughts away, but in this particular case, NEGATIVE is our friend.  Hello, friend!  :)  I will update when we get our NEGATIVE results!

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Fetal fibronectin is a protein that acts as a "glue" during pregnancy, attaching the amniotic sac — the fluid-filled membrane that cushions your baby in the uterus — to the lining of the uterus.
Fetal fibronectin is often present in cervical secretions during early pregnancy. Fetal fibronectin also shows up later in pregnancy, about one to three weeks before labor begins. If your health care provider is concerned about preterm labor, he or she may test a swab from your cervical canal for the presence of fetal fibronectin. A positive fetal fibronectin test is a clue that the "glue" has been disturbed and you're at increased risk of preterm labor.

Other than that, the appointment was really boring.  Yay!  Blood pressure still good (120/70).  Gained one pound, and had to move up a notch on the dreaded scale.  OY!  Heart rates 145 and 128.  Anemia is in check.  HO HUM.

I have some super exciting news to share with you!!!  Farid has offered to be a guest blogger!  How cool is that?!  So, to all of our readers...if you have any questions for him, any subject you'd like him to cover, let us know in a comment!  Farid is like me... very open, very honest...so have at it!  What do ya wanna know, friends?!

Well Wishes For George and Farid

In honor of our 30th week of pregnancy,

I invite you all to leave a message for George and Farid!

Whether you've been following our journey from the beginning,

 or if you're a new follower,

I'd love for you to leave a comment at the bottom of this post

for Farid and George! 

They truly are amazing men,

and they are very excited that these babies will be here so soon!

So go ahead and let them know  how happy you are for them!

I know they'll get a kick out of reading all of your comments!

Thanks!

-Jeni

30 Weeks!

Our final decade!  That means T minus LESS THAN 8 weeks before these little ones make their debut!

This week the babies are weighing 3 pounds a piece and are 17 inches long!
Their brains continue to develop and are getting even more wrinkles. 
The lungs are now almost mature. 
Their bodies are growing and building up more fat under the skin.

YOU GO, BABIES!!!

30 Weeks

I have an appointment this afternoon, and will continue to be seen once/week from now until delivery!  I am feeling very well!  It feels like I move at a snail's pace, but that's to be expected, right?  My RBS (Restless Body Syndrome) has set in, full force.  What?! You've never heard of RBS? :)  How about Restless Leg Syndrome?  Heard of that?  Same thing.  Only all over my body! :) And always at bedtime.  Nice.  At first, I was really bothered and annoyed by this. (even though I've had it with every pregnancy)  Now, I just recognize it as a reality and each night, when it hits, I hop up out of bed...well...maybe not "hop", but you get the idea...and walk around reading, watching TV, or just walking, for as long as it takes.  Once my body feels nice and worn out, I "hop" back into bed, close my peepers, and usually I'm good to go! 

Other than that...it's life as usual around here!  And it's a pretty great life! 

How Deep Can One's Belly Button Be?

You know all of those adorable pregnant women who have the cute little popped out belly button?

I am not one of them.

But I want to be. 

So bad.

I have given birth at 40 weeks to a 7 pound, 5 ounce baby and my belly button had not popped.

I have given birth at 38 weeks to a 7 pound, 11 ounce baby and my belly button had not popped.

This is my opportunity!  :)  Yet here I sit at nearly 30 weeks,  WITH TWINS,  and my belly button still has not popped!  Is it just because I have the world's deepest belly button? It's almost flat at this point, but alas, no popping.  Lol!

So....Belly Button Gods, hear my cry:  I WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ADORABLE PREGNANT WOMEN CLUB! I WANT MY BELLY BUTTON TO POP!

please.

My Body Speaks

My body definitely has a voice.  And her voice has grown louder and louder over the last 2 weeks.  The important part?  I listen to her.  Closely.

I watch my feet like a hawk.  Any signs of swelling and I plant my butt in bed or on the couch.  Braxton Hicks?  Same thing.  Some days I wake up and feel completely drained of energy.  On those days, I really try to take it easy and conserve as much energy as I can so that my body can give everything it's got to these babies.  I feel so fortunate that we have had an uneventful pregnancy thus far.  As we near the end of this pregnancy, I feel it is even more important to listen to and take care of this body!  And I am lucky that my lifestyle allows me to drop everything and make taking care of myself a priority.

Each morning, when I wake up, I think, "One more day.  We made it one more day without any issues."  Every day counts!   Those days keep turning into weeks and I know that before too long, we will be in the clear and we can take a nice deep breath and relax! 

In the meantime, I will keep listening to the good 'ol bod!  I trust her.  She's taken care of us thus far!

29 Weeks!

Oh my goodness!  I haven't posted in a week!  Bad girl, Jeni!    This week has flown by and has been VERY busy!  But let me update you on these precious babies!

Reports say Babies are weighing about 2.7 pounds.  (Ummmm...these babies weighed more than that LAST WEEK!  I'm guessing we've got two 3 pounders in there right now.)  Their length from head to toe is about 16.5 inches.  Crunch THEM numbers! 

Yep... 3 pounds x 2 + 16.5 inches x 2 = LOTS 'O BABY!!!  :) 

Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature and their heads are growing bigger to make room for their developing brains. (See letter to babies)

Dear Babies,
Jeni wants you to be VERY smart so let's make those brains nice and big.  However, Jeni would also appreciate it if your heads weren't TOO big!  Catch my drift?  I thought so.  Thank you babies.
Love, Jeni

29 Weeks

Thanks to Krista, for taking my 29 week belly pic this week!  With pretty wallpaper background and all!  I'm sure my faithful followers are not missing seeing my bath towels in the background!  :)

So, here's to an uneventful 29th week!  I am very excited for next week...30 Weeks!  I don't know why but there's something I like about weeks that start with a "3" for this pregnancy!  Just think!  We will officially meet these babies on a week that begins with a 3!  That's so exciting!

One Month's Time

Ever wonder or get to thinking about

how much a body can change in one month's time? 

 Let's see....

24 Weeks

28 Weeks

  Good.    Lord.

Now take a moment.

Just one moment.

And imagine 32 Weeks.

Oy.  :)

28 Weeks!

Welcome to the 3rd Trimester!!

Babies are about 15 inches long and weigh about 2 1/4 pounds each!  Wow!  They can now blink, and their eyes sport lashes! Fingers crossed that we have a baby in there sporting Farid's lashes!!  Seriously, folks...they are incredible!  :)  Babies are adding more fat each day in preparation for the outside world. (I hear ya, kiddos!)

How's Jeni feeling?  Quite Fantastic!  I was definitely prepared to feel pretty darn uncomfortable at this stage of our pregnancy, but I'm really feeling quite well!  Sure, I get tired.  Sure, my hips and back ache from time to time.  But overall, I am very comfortable and continue to live my normal life...even if Skyler says I "make a lot of noise" when I get up!  Her favorite thing to do to me when I'm trying to get out of bed, get out of the car, or even just stand up from sitting is to yell, "HEAVE, HO!!!"  That's definitely what it feels like sometimes, but once I'm up, I'm good to go! :)  Thanks a lot, Skyler.  You COULD offer me a hand, but instead, you crack jokes...I wonder where you get THAT from???

28 Weeks

If you're grasping for the right word here...I believe its, RADIANT!  :)

Yesterday was our 28 week appointment and it was so fun to have the guys there for that!  The office staff is always thrilled when they accompany me to my visits!  In fact, there is a definite look of disappointment on their faces when I show up solo.  Come on people!  Don't I count?!  Lol!

We had an ultrasound and the babies are looking great!  Baby Girl is HEAD DOWN!!!  Did you hear that????  Yahoooooo!!!!   Her heart rate was 150 and she weighs 2.8 pounds!  Good girl!  Baby Boy is head up which is completely a-o-k.  His heart rate was 136 and he weighs 2.9 pounds!  Wow!  We are all thrilled that the babies are so happy and healthy!

My blood pressure is still good.  Gained another 3 pounds.  Lots of amniotic fluid.  Cervix is still long, although it has shortened in the last month.  All good, good, good!!!  The Dr. even let George and Farid operate the doppler to find each baby's heartbeat!  How fun!!  Sorry you had to have a close-up view of the stretch mark covered belly, guys.  It is what it is, I guess!  :)

Well, I guess that sums it up from here!  Sounds like the guys might be coming with me to yoga tonight!  The girls from class are going to be so excited!!!

Go Ahead And Try

Farid and George arrive tomorrow!!!

I am SOOOOOOO excited!  I can't wait to see them!

Just TRY to wipe the smile off my face!  Go ahead and TRY!

You can't do it! 

And shame on you if you even wanted to!  :)

Now Hiring

Wanted:

Entertaining, Detail Oriented Individual

Available At A Moment's Notice

For Pedicures.

Experience With French Manicures A Must

Willingness To Shave Lower Half Of Legs A Plus

Ability To Flatter Boss With Words Like: 

"My goodness...your legs and ankles are looking so slender!"

Is Helpful.

Hours: Flexible (though I am not)

Pay:  I Do Not.

If Interested: Please Contact Jeni

(and a psychologist),

 because you've probably lost your mind.

We Got Lei'd!

Hopefully, you read that right!  :) 

Yesterday we received a package.  Not just any package but a package from Hawaii!!  George and Farid  (sweet as they are) sent leis for my family and Jill!  The moment I opened the box, the smell was intoxicating!  The leis were packaged with some loose flowers sitting on top which I promptly placed on a plate on the kitchen table.  The house smells fantastic!!  The lei that is for me is untied and is for "an easy birth".  Sounds perfect!! 

Jill stopped by to get her lei and we took advantage of the opportunity to get a picture in!

The girls were so excited when they got home from school! What a treat!  We took a family picture to share with you all too!

I wore mine all afternoon...and just in case you doubt whether that's true...here's me lookin' like I look on most afternoons that end in a "y"...only I think my blood pressure was even lower than usual...gosh, those flowers smell SOOOOO good!!

Thank you SO MUCH Farid and George!  We loved getting lei'd!  :)

27 Weeks!

This week, the babies should be weighing in right at 2 pounds each, and be about 14 1/2 inches long!  They are sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing their eyes and perhaps even sucking on their fingers!  Too cute!  Their brains are very active now (of course they are!), and although the lungs are still a little immature, they would be capable of functioning (with medical help), if they were born now. Which we all know will NOT be happening for another 9+weeks!  :)  Here's to a happy, healthy, boring week 27, and to George and Farid getting to see their kiddos in just a week!  :-)

27 Weeks

Basketball, anyone?!

A Couple of Updates:

It has been a while since my last post!  Things have been busy around here, but fortunately, nothing too exciting in the pregnancy department.
(That's the way we like it, right?)

But for the sake of posting...here are a few things I thought I'd share with you:

My appointment on Thursday went well.  Uneventful, as expected!  The Dr. and I spent more time talking about the guys and how much she enjoyed them during their last visit, than we did going over all of my boring stats.  :)  I absolutely love that as more and more people from "my world" meet George and Farid, they all seem to have the same thing to say about them. 

"Wow!  They are so great!"
"I LOVED them!  You're so lucky!"
"It's really neat to see the relationship that you all have!"

I could go on and on....

My heart is full.

At my appointment, they listened to the babies heartbeats on the doppler!  This was the FIRST time I have had them use the doppler as this is the FIRST time I did not have an ultrasound!  Baby Girl's heart rate was 145, while Baby Boy's was 135.  I was measuring 32 Weeks, had gained a pound and BP was 100/60!  All great news!  She also tried to manually feel how babies were situated.  She could feel Baby Boy's head, which she felt was still head up.  BUT, she could NOT feel that Baby Girl's head was up!  I hope! I hope! I hope!!!!  We shall see next Wednesday at my next appointment where we WILL be having an ultrasound!

Speaking of our appointment next Wednesday, guess who will be coming to town for that?  Can you guess? Huh? Huh? Can ya????

Farid and George are headed back to Denver for a couple days next week!  YAYYYYYY!!!  I am very excited, and as usual, the girls update me EVERY DAY with how many more days until they get here!  :)

I will leave you with a couple cool pictures:

Farid and George spent last week on a Babymoon in Hawaii!  Many, many fantastic pictures were taken but I thought I would share this one with you:



Let it be known that I requested a picture of them in grass skirts and coconut bras...
This one's good but I still think we missed a great opportunity!  Lol!

Another cool picture I have to share with you?

Thanks, Janet for the great picture!

My neighbor sent me this picture, taken from her backyard.  Yes, that's my house with a double rainbow falling right into it!  Cool, yes?  One rainbow for each baby.  Awwwww.......

26 Weeks!

26 Weeks

Babies are almost 2 pounds and measure 14 inches! That's 4 pounds and 28 inches of baby!  Go babies!  The twins are also practicing their breathing by inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid.  The network of nerves in their ears are better developed and more sensitive than ever before.

I have a general check-up this afternoon.  It is my absolute first "boring" appointment.  No ultrasound. No testing. No blood draw.  It feels kinda strange to just have a simple visit! :)

The belly continues to grow...In public, people assume I'm "ready to go" at any moment!  Last week, while waiting in line, one woman stated, "This poor lady's gonna deliver before we get through this line!"  The look on their faces is priceless when I inform them I won't be delivering for another 10+ weeks! 

Women look a little somethin' like this:

While men tend to look a little more creeped out:

And children, well they're just plain 'ol horrified!  :)

That's right folks.  At least 10 more weeks.  Get over it!   :-)

Members Of The Congregation:

Can I get a Praise the Lord?  (Praise the Lord!)

Do I hear an Amen?  (Amen!)

Join me in a Hallelujah!  (Ok...now I'm just getting annoying.)

Gestational Diabetes, I DO NOT HAVE! 

I received the delightful news today that my numbers came back within the normal range!  I think I'll toast to that!  In fact, I think I'll make it extra fancy tonight!  Yep, you heard me right. I think I'll add a lemon wedge to my ice water this evening! 
(Boy!  Celebrating while pregnant just isn't the same, is it?)  :-)

Thanks for all of the support and positive thoughts!

I Crave...

Red Grapes.

Can't get enough of 'em.

Nuff said.

Gestational Diabetes Screening

I survived!

3 hour GD screening went well!  Here are some numbers for ya!

16 Hours without food
3.5 Hours at the Dr.
1 Surprisingly comfy vinyl lounge chair
1 Tang on crack
4 Vials of blood
1 People magazine
3 Trips to the bathroom (What!...It's important to stay hydrated!)
1 Business article (Thanks, Farid!)
20 Scrabble Plays
7 Texts
2 Facebook Posts
6 Levels of Angry Birds

...and 2 more days until we find out our results!  I'll keep ya posted!  :)

25 Weeks!

Head to heels, babies now measure 13.5 inches long!  They are weighing in at about a pound and a half each!  The long lean look is being exchanged for some baby fat. (Yes, yes it is.  Oh! Were we talking about the babies???  My apologies...)  :-)

Babies seem to get more and more active with each passing day and I am absolutely loving the fact that Baby Boy is now large enough (and strong enough) for me to be able to feel his movements through the placenta which is anterior on his side! Feeling the babies from the outside is pretty easy to do at this point.  My girls have been enjoying feeling the kicks, punches and rolls.  However, Skyler does NOT like the fact that you can SEE the kicks, punches and rolls!  She thinks it's creepy!  I will admit, it is a little bizarre to be sitting quietly and have my ENTIRE mid section jump with a big kick...usually compliments of Baby Girl (Farid and George, you may have a little soccer player in there!)

Jeni's doing really well these days!  Moving much slower...but feeling pretty good!  And look how big the babies are getting in the swimming pool!

25 Weeks!

Tomorrow morning is our 3 hour Glucose Test!  I'm feeling good about things!  I'm going to think positively that the numbers come back in the normal range, but I am also not feeling stressed should they come back elevated.  I can manage it.  After all...I AM pretty spectacular...don't you all agree???



Ahem!  I SAID...."DON'T YOU ALL AGREE?"

That's better.

Epic Fail!

SON OF A GLUCOSE!!!!

I failed the 1 hour Gestational Diabetes screening!  Dang!

Now what?

Now they need to do a diagnostic test to see if I actually DO have Gestational Diabetes.  Here are my instructions for prepping for the test:

For the next 3 days, I eat only 5-6 servings of carbohydrates per day.  Fast Thursday night through Friday morning and then head to the Dr.'s Office bright and early Friday morning.  They will do an initial blood draw, then have me drink the sugary solution (Jill and I decided it's "Tang on crack") and draw blood again after 1, 2 and 3 hours!  I'm going to be a regular ol' pin cushion!  :-)  Joy.

We'll keep our fingers crossed for normal numbers!!   :-)

I Would Love To Know...

When I am singing, and the babies are kicking me...do those kicks mean:

"SING IT SISTAH!!  WE'RE FEELIN' YOUR GROOVE!"

Or is it more like:

"SHUT YOUR TRAP LADY! WE'RE TRYIN' TO SLEEP!"

Hmmmmm.......

Results of 24 Week Appointment

Care for some stats?

Baby Girl had a heart rate of 155 and weighs in at 1 pound 8 ounces!  It was pretty cute...she faced the camera, had all of her measurements taken and then at the very end, we watched as she slowly but surely rolled over so that we couldn't see her face anymore!  She was D-O-N-E with this photo shoot!  Silly girl!  We needed more pictures of your face!!!!

Baby Boy had a heart rate of 130 and is also weighing 1 pound 8 ounces!  We got many cute pictures of him!

You're probably wondering if baby flipped!  The answer is this:

We had a baby flip alright...just not the one we wanted!  Baby Boy has flipped so now BOTH babies are breech!  Ack!!!!  In fact, their heads are currently 2 cm. apart!  It's actually quite cute seeing the two of their heads like that...brother and sister...side by side.  We had quite a chuckle deciding what Baby Boy might be whispering to Baby Girl to encourage her to head towards the light! The tech said it is still early...and that having Baby Boy's head up might actually give Baby Girl more room to flip.  If Baby Girl does not flip, we will be forced to have a C-section.  But we're not throwing in the towel yet!  Lots of positive thoughts.  Lots of  Belly Buds.  And lots of time on my hands and knees.  She'll turn when she's good and ready.  I like a stubborn girl!!  :)

Some stats on me:

Amniotic fluid looks great!  Kiddos are still swimmin' in an Olympic size pool!
Cervix is still nice and long!  TMI, I know but this is actually REALLY good news!
Blood Pressure:  120/70
Measuring:  31 Weeks
Weight Gain:  Remember how we were shooting for 24 pounds by 24 weeks?  Should I feel proud that I am an over achiever?  30 pounds.  (All amniotic fluid and baby, I'm sure...)
Gestational Diabetes:  We should have those results on Tuesday.
Anemia:  Got it.  Lame.  Iron supplement for me!

Not bad all around, huh?  I will see the Dr. every 2 weeks from now until 30 weeks when we will begin weekly appointments.  Crazy!  We're in the final stretch!

I will leave you with some pictures of the cutest twins on the planet!

Baby Girl  -  Profile
Skyler INSISTS she sees Farid's eyelashes in this picture!

Baby Boy....Fast Asleep......



24 Weeks!

Wanna see a magic trick?

Now You See It!

Now You Don't!

This is my optical illusion shirt!  I didn't realize I had a magical shirt until I was wearing this the other day, walked into my bathroom and stopped dead in my tracks!  Where was my belly in my reflection????  I quickly turned to the side...PHEW!  There it is!!!  LOL!

So...24 Weeks!!  The big word this week?  VIABILITY.  What does this mean in terms of the twins?  Well, it means that now that these babies have reached the 24 week milestone, should they be born early, they have a wonderful chance at survival... Yay!

BUT! 

And that's a BIG BUT! 

The BIGGEST BUT you'll ever see! LOL!

These kiddos DO NOT have my permission to be born yet!  And trust me...they know this is the case.  We talk on a daily basis, these babies and I.  And I have made it VERY clear.  We have an understanding...a plan if you will!  Once their daddies arrive in Denver in November, they not only have my permission to be born, they will be STRONGLY encouraged to be born!  An eviction notice of sorts!  :-) 

In the meantime...we will just lay low...chill...and grow nice and big and strong! They're on board with the plan.  What well behaved children!  :)

At 24 weeks, the babies each weigh about 1.2 pounds and are over a foot long!  Their brains are growing quickly now and taste buds are continuing to develop.  The lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs in the lungs inflate once babies hit the outside world. 

Appointment tomorrow afternoon!  Will update after that!  Have a fantastic Thursday, everyone!

10,000 Pageviews!

WOW!

How lucky are we to have so many people following our journey?! 

We feel the support! 

We feel the love!

THANK YOU!

Less Than 100 Days!!!

"Hubba-what???" you say?

Follow along with me as I do the math. 

(Jill- Concentrate.  Focus. It's just numbers.  LOL!) 

Technically, our "Ticker" states that we have 113 days left, right?  Well, our due date is December 8th.  The Dr. has already stated that she won't let me go past 38 weeks, which is Thanksgiving day to be exact! 

So if you take 113 technical days left minus 14 days that we for sure won't be pregnant...you're left with 99!

Does that make anyone else super excited? 

And maybe just a wee bit terrified?  :-)

Next Appointment On Friday!

Our next OB appointment is this Friday and it's gonna be a long one!  Of course, we will be having another ultrasound.  Another 2 hour ultrasound!  I am very excited to see the babies again and especially excited to see if Baby Girl is head down!  My vibes tell me she is.  Please send out all of your positive energy that she is as well!  Gracias!  :)

I am also due for my Gestational Diabetes screening.  This involves drinking a deliciously sugary drink, waiting one hour and then having a blood draw to see how the ol' bod is processing said sugar.  I  must say...I love the drink!  Or at least I did the last time I drank it 7 years ago!  Haha!  They really don't want me to drink all of that deliciousness BEFORE the ultrasound as babies will also be enjoying the sugar rush and may make it difficult for the tech to take measurements! 

Sooo....First: 2 hour ultrasound. 
Second: Chug-a-lug.
Third: Appointment and wait one hour.
Fourth: Blood draw. 

One + Two + Three + Four = Friggin' LONG appointment!!  :)  I'm dragging Jill along for entertainment....er...I mean...emotional support. 

I will obviously post all of the wonderful results (and pics) after the appointment!

Now if you'll all join with me:

"Head DOWN! Head DOWN!  Head DOWN!"

Well done.  You guys are good.

I Miss NY!

Is it really possible to miss a city?  It doesn't help that as I watch TV, read the news, and see movies, New York is EVERYWHERE! What do I miss?

The lights!

The Bridges!

The "Statch".  Hee! Hee!  That's for you, Sarah!  :)

The Food!  Guava and Goat Cheese Empanadas Please!! 

The Energy!

And these guys most of all!

23 Weeks!

What are the babies up to this week?  Well, let me tell ya!

Since their sense of movement is well developed by now, babies can feel me dancing.  No word yet on whether or not this is a good thing.  Dancing well, I do not!  :)  At more than 11 inches long and just over a pound, it is reported this week that I may be able to see squirming going on through my clothes.  Yeah...I've seen this a few times and was even able to catch it on video last week.


So last week I'm sitting around, watching TV and innocently thought I'd rest the remote on my belly.  I was immediately informed that this was not a good resting spot as both babies attempted to kick that remote off! 

Hit button in lower right corner to view full screen. 

It's easier to see the kicks in full screen.  :)

And here is the latest belly pic for ya:

23 Weeks

An Attitude Adjustment

The last week has been a week of transition for me.  In lots of different ways.  Allow me to explain:

First, the girls went back to school last Wednesday. (I know!  Early, right?!)  Skyler started 5th grade and Savannah is now in 1st grade which means a full day of school!  This also means that I have been presented with a scenario that I have never had before....the entire day to myself!  Don't get me wrong, this is something I have been looking forward to for quite some time!  But it's an adjustment nonetheless.  I definitely enjoy my down time, but I am so used to being busy, that this seems like LOTS of down time...

Second, I have been mentally battling the "worries".  As I stated last week, at this point of our pregnancy, the main concern is making sure the babies stay IN.  There seems to be lots of "scary" news in Surrogacy Land of late so I have been consumed with the "I don't want that to happen to us" thoughts.

Third, the good ol' uterus is on the grow.  In fact, Baby Girl has decided that she'd like more space. (Typical girl, right?) My body has chosen to accommodate her wishes but the only way more space is available is for my ribs to adjust.  So they have.  I seem to have a rib, or ribs, (it's hard to tell) that are shifting?  I'm not sure exactly what's taken place in there but I have constant pain in my right rib cage.  No, it's not terrible pain, just uncomfortable.  Deep breath...ouch.  Rolling over....ouch.  Sitting too long....ouch.  You get the picture.

Soooooo.........I found myself sliding into bad attitude territory.  It is SO easy to get caught up in all of the "un-perfect" things in life.  At least it is for me!  I am a generally positive, easy going person, and yet I still found myself dwelling.

I'm bored.  I'm nervous.  I'm in pain. Blah, Blah, Blah.

Here comes the attitude adjustment part!

This morning I decided I needed to stop dwelling on the negative and begin dwelling on the positive!  And, OH what a difference that makes!

Think about this!  Having the girls in school all day, allows me more time to read!  I love reading and yet it's something that I usually find myself doing at bedtime and we all know how that goes. Read 2 paragraphs, slowly lower chin to chest, gently rest eyes....  :)  Having more time to myself also means I am able to take care of this pregnant body better.  Nap??? Sure!  Go right ahead!  Who's stopping you?  The house stays cleaner, it's nice and quiet....let's face it....the next best thing to Heaven!  LOL!

I am celebrating the fact that we have such a healthy pregnancy!  I am so thrilled to be carrying twins that are perfectly healthy little beings!  I like to think they are super happy in there, swimmin' around, enjoying their summer!  We have been pretty blessed with an easy pregnancy and I am ready to celebrate that!  I am TRUSTING (that's for you George and Farid), and EXPECTING that we will continue to have an easy pregnancy and there is absolutely no reason why that won't be the case!  Enjoy it!  :)

And as far as the pain goes???  I am happy that my body is accommodating these babies!  They deserve to be comfortable and how amazing is it that the human body is capable of creating that space for them?  I choose to focus on the little miracles that my body is supporting!  It is truly an incredible thing!

Ahhh...the power of positive thinking!  Seriously folks, in only a few short hours, I feel like a different person!  As Jason Mraz would say....Ah la la la la la la Life Is Wonderful.

One of my favorite songs (and on my "labor" playlist) by the way... 

Take care peeps!  :-)

22 Weeks!

22 is a great number!  I love the number 22!  I don't know why.  I just like it!  :)

At 22 weeks, the babies are developing tiny tooth buds beneath the gums!  They are now 11 inches long (the length of a spaghetti squash) and about 1 pound each!  Great job babies!  We are so proud of how big and strong you are becoming!

As the belly becomes larger, I have noticed that more and more people are drawn to the belly rub and pat, (and even a high five????)  Now I know that many women HATE the fact that people want to touch their bellies during pregnancy.  I am not one of them.  Not only do I not mind, but in my head, each belly rub and pat is just one more way to show these babies how much people care.  Maybe I'm weird, but that's just the way I see it!  :)

I am still feeling absolutely marvelous!  I am very aware though that we are approaching the period of this pregnancy where I am going to want to begin taking it easy.  Not that I don't already take it easy.  Let's face it...I have spent more time on my arse in the last 5 months than I can remember.  BUT...As we approach the last few months of this pregnancy it is my #1 priority to keep these babies happy, healthy and IN!!!  These are crucial times, where we want the babies to continue to grow nice and big so that when it comes time for them to be born, their daddies will be able to welcome 2 full term, healthy babies that are good and ready to head back home to New York!!

So if you need to reach me in the next few months, you will surely be able to find me layin' around, feet up, nice cold ice water in my hand, probably watching trash TV.  LOL!

Lessons Learned From A Pregnant Woman

So...I've been keeping a list of all of the realizations I've come to recently and thought I would take a moment to share the ones I've got so far...

LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PREGNANT WOMAN

• Turning to the side to squeeze through a tight space is no longer the best strategy.
• Removing your toenail polish before OB appointments DOES NOT make a difference on the scale.
• In the battle of Bladder vs. Swift Kick....Swift Kick wins every time.  
• The "pregnancy glow" is not nearly as enjoyable when paired with the extra cottage cheese on your thighs....
• A brief cardio workout in the Ladies Room after leaving your urine sample DOES NOT make a difference on the scale.
• Absolutely all wrong can be blamed on hormones. 
• Just because you emptied your bladder at 1:34 AM, does not mean you won't need to empty it  again at 2:56. And again at 4:07. And again at 5:29.
• The blood you just so generously provided for yet ANOTHER prenatal test DOES NOT make a difference on the scale.
• Although the moans and groans your wife makes while trying to roll over in bed might sound "naughty", I guarantee you...this is NOT the case.
• Pregnancy, with all of it's ups and downs, with all of the funny moments, and the not so funny moments is absolutely, 100% a MIRACLE!

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Belly Memories

Shall we????

8 Weeks

Sad, but true....I can hardly remember this body. :)

12 Weeks

I think I see some babies!

16 Weeks

Yes! There they are!



20 Weeks

Oh Lawdie!  Where'd that come from??



21 Weeks

The latest and greatest...and gettin' bigger by the moment!
I'm ready!!  Bring it on!!!