32 Weeks 4 days

Appointment yesterday morning!! It went very well. Not only did we get to see both the boys, but they also had a "clean bill of health". Baby A is at 4 lbs. 13 oz and Baby B is at 4 lbs. 11 oz. SO CLOSE to 5 each!! :) They have both been so extremely active the last couple weeks....I can hardly catch my breath after shoving one butt back into place, I have to shove the other back out of my rib cage. We were surprised to learn that Baby B is actually the "mover and shaker". We've been worried about him because I rarely feel him move, especially compared to A, but the ultrasound tech said, "oh no, he's the mover". So, it must just be the way he's positioned that I can't feel him as well. So we feel better.

Hum....what else? The visit with the doc went well. Davies was out this week so we saw Dr. Brost for the second time. I liked him much better this time than last. Must take me a little bit to warm up to people. They are all so impressed with how well the boys are growing. Took a lot for us to get pregnant, but boy, they all say I can sure "grow some babies". They said that A is still head down and that he's really low. Starting to make his descent I guess. B is still breech, which they aren't concerned about, but it does make things a little more complicated because now at this point, it's my decision whether or not to have a c-section or go naturally.......we'll see what they say next week. I guess I won't make any decisions until we get a little closer. Speaking of close....Dr. Brost thinks I could go in another 3 weeks. Again, only speaking in averages. He said it is extremely rare that they have to induce at 38 weeks.....well, looking back at my track record, that will most likely be me!! If that's the case, the babies will most likely be 7 1/2 lbs. each! If we go at 36, they'll be 6 1/2.

Couple other things.....he thinks my rash was not the PUPP but perhaps an allergic reaction to something. He said a. PUPP does NOT go away, which mine seems to have and b. PUPP typically isn't as severe as what I had.....the scars, scabs, and swelling I have/had. Lastly, we got our work restrictions. Yay! I will now be working from 7:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. I am very much looking forward to that!!

And....we were lucky! Baby B FINALLY decided to cooperate....we have a new photo of him. We were so happy.....it's been a while since we've seen him :)

Week 32

Crapola! 32 down, 6 left to go....although, I could have sworn it's been 6 weeks already for two weeks!! So, let's just say 5? LOL! Optimsitically speaking of course :)

Not a lot to report, since I did the mid-week "fill in". My work is throwing a baby shower for me over lunch this afternoon and John is driving into Rochester for it....I am so lucky to have met such kind and supportive people in this department. I am going to do absolutely everyting I can to hold a spot so that in a year or so, I'll be able to come back.

We started our prenatal classes on Tuesday. Not bad...not really much to talk about. We had a full group of couples. John and I of course had the earliest due date and were the only ones having multiples, so that shows you how far behind we were in planning classes!! I think the next closest due date to ours was two weeks behind us and the majority of them were into May. We told the instructor that we'd try to make it to all of them, but that it would be a toss-up. Tonight we have our "Magnificant Mulitples" class....we are really excited to learn some insider info on having multiples!

As I think about what I've already typed so far, it all sounds so familiar, I must have shared most of this information the other day, so I'll just stop now and post this weeks photos.....I seem to "pop" almost daily now!!





Bish and I went for pedicures on Monday. I did baby blue for when I have the boys :)

31 weeks 5 days

Hum....a mid week post? That is so unlike me? Nothing new to report, again, so unlike me. Just thought I would pop in and let everyone know that things have been going MUCH better! I still have the rash, but not nearly as bad as it was. And the itching really only acts up in the middle of the night! It must be a combination of the twice daily showers with the "old man soap", the twice daily dose of antihistamine, prescription topical ointment, and "good" lotion!! I think I'll have a few scars from the scabs that turned into sores, but after how I felt last week, I'll take it.

The boys have been SUPER active the past two weeks and I'm starting to feel a little blue thinking about after their born how I won't feel them all the time and have them "with me" at all times. Trying to explain this to John, I could just tell he couldn't understand. He said, "what do you mean? They'll be in the hospital room with us, or right down the hall in the nursery"....yes darling, my point exactly! They will no longer be "with me" at all times. After all this time we've had together, I know I'll really miss the bumps, kicks, rolls, and tugs... :(

We start our prenatal classes tonight (6 weeks of every Tuesday evening) and it'll be a toss up whether or not we make it through all of the classes before the boys come. I only hope they cover some of the important things in the beginning! This Thursday we are taking a Magnificent Multiples class, which we are super excited about. We are hoping we get some "tip and tricks" in regard to sleep schedules, likes, dislikes, etc. Grandma says that we'll just "learn". I told her I didn't want to learn the hard way if I didn't have to and she said, "you will". Thanks G'Ma!

Not a lot else right now. We'll be 32 weeks on Thursday and we head back to the doctor on Tuesday...I'll have a new weight report and baby placement update for you!

Week 31

Getting there!! I have to say, I am starting to feel much better. Either it's the new ointment from the doctor, or it's the "old man soap" I've been using. The stuff is REALLY smelly (and actually, I think that's the cause of my recent "morning sickness"). Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap.....smelly!! But, the rash is clearing up and I had a couple of stretches last night where I slept for several hours in a row. I think I had an attack at 11 p.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m. So whatever I've been doing the last couple days, I'll continue doing.

Had a doctor appointment on Tuesday (after the embarrassing run in with my doc at the triage on Monday). They did an ultrasound and while we were unable to get any photos of the boys (there's just no room for them) we were able to get their measurments and growth ratios.

Baby A = 3 lbs. 11 oz 65% percentile
Baby B = 3 lbs. 10 oz 62% percentile

I told the doc that I was starting to get a little nervous about how BIG their heads are looking!! I guess they say it's not the head to worry about, but their shoulders...

He asked what my thoughts were on labor....what a loaded question right? I told him, "well, I'd rather it be sooner than later". And so we discussed time frame. He has said he won't let us go past 38 weeks, which will be April 15, which is a Friday. The "fine line" is that they only do inductions on Monday's. So I asked him if we'd be able to be induced on the 11th, or if he'd make us wait til the 18th. He said the 18th. I said, "COME ON!"......and then he said that he fully expects me to go on my own before then. So, it could be anytime from now until the 18th. 7 weeks tops (give a few days. Everyone is so concerned about us and what happens when the boys come, and how we are going to be sooo exhausted. I have to be honest, I love the boys sooo much already, and love feeling them move inside of me, and see their growth each time we go to the doctor, but honestly, they have sapped every bit of "life" out of me. Even the lady at the hair salon said that my hair, nails, and eye brows aren't growing like a normal prengant woman because the babies are taking so much from me. And the sleep issue, and the discomfort. I can't wait for the day that I have a little energy and ambition to make it through the days. I don't mind losing sleep at night to feed the babies....it'll beat losing sleep becuase of all these other issues I've been experiencing. We'll be just fine! (famous last words?)

Oh, and the other bit of good news is that Baby A has flipped back down! So, B is still breech and doc asked what my plans were for c-section, epidural, etc....I think he was asking what my preference would be and I of course was dying to say "c-section!!" but of course said, "let's go natural". I'm planning on having an epidural anyway so if he does have to "reach in and grab B's leg and pull him out"...well, I'm not going to feel it anyway! :)

That's about it for now.....I've attached the newest photos. As of Tuesday, I was still at 22 lbs. gained for the entire pregnancy. I dropped 6 lbs. from the week before. I thank my husband for giving me the nasty stomach bug (AGAIN).

John wanted a photo of me from the back, he says you can't even tell I'm pregnant!

Family Baby Shower!!

Here are some photos from my baby shower. Thanks to all for taking time out of their busy lives and quiet Sunday's to attend. A special thanks to the following ladies,

De Bleck, Biff, Susan, Katie Rotz, Josh and Emily Bishman, Stingy, and Ambie. If I've forgotten anyone, well then, I am an ass.

My wonderful husband and I

Stinger and I - she was my maid of honor

Biff and I....my unofficial sister-in-law and Drake's mommy

Biff and I going "toe to toe" or I guess, "belly to belly". She's due the end of May

Auntie Lisa and I, my unoffical Aunt, Godmother, and sometime house guest!

My cousin Becky and I - she is due the begining of July

Ambie and I!! LOOOOOONG time friend! She was my personal attendant

Mom, me and Susan. I think we took these same photos last year for her shower.

Mom and I

Mom, me, and Grandma. She said that in order to take any more photos, we'd have to contact her agent.....no lie~

The "Gappa" Women. Biff, Mom, Susan, Aunt Millie, Becky, Grandma, Paulette, and Krista

Drake, Charlotte, and Bish



Measure the belly. You wouldn't believe how big people thought I was! Only two were even a little close.

Drake, me, and Andy. Drake WANTED the piece of cheese Andy had....he was going in for it!! LOL

Uncle John and Drake

Uncle John and Andy

Aunt Lisa and Andy

Back to the "Power of Positive Thinking"

Let me start by saying, last night was MISERABLE!! Not only did the tips of my fingers itch, but in between my toes as well!! So, when I came in this morning, the ladies at work were like, "oh! You need to go in...that looks terrible!" Well, I should admit, I didn't need much prodding. I was already fairly confident that I didn't have the Cholestasis, but was hoping for some relief from the PUPP (yes, Dr. Fallon is in the house, self diagnosing again) LOL! So, off to Labor and Delivery Triage I went. I was a little embarrassed when the doctor finally came in to see me and it was "Norm" (our regular OB whom I am scheduled to see tomorrow anyway). Um....awkward, "Hey you! I know, just saw you last week about this, but it's worse". He let me know that the blood work results came back and that they were all normal (thank you God), but that it's most likely PUPP and aren't I scheduled to meet with him soon? Um...yeah, tomorrow.....so, yeah, a little embarrassing that I couldn't hold off one more day...but I was really hoping for a steroid or a cream or something....what I got was typical "Norm" nonchalance fashion of, "well, there's nothing to be done for it and it won't go away until after delivery". Yep, just what I was afraid of. So, they told me to get dressed and head out. So, after much itching of my arms, legs, boobs, and butt, I dressed myself and schlepped back to my office. I will admit, I had tears in my eyes thinking of how uncomfortable the next 8 weeks will be. But, then, in typical "Beth" fashion, I snapped out of it and thought, "the boys are healthy, they had them hooked up to the monitors, I get to see them tomorrow and I need to start thinking positive again". When I worked at McNeilus, I sat next to this guy who thought I was just crazy because I always "rounded up" on the clock when it came to the time. Like, I would look at the clock at 2:10 in the afternoon and declare that it was 2:30. After a while he asked me if I had trouble telling time and I just said, "no, just trying to make the time go by faster. I am thinking optimistically". So, bringing back that mentality, even though we just turned 30 weeks on Friday and we essentially have 8 weeks left, I am going to start using "Beth Time" again. So, instead of 30 weeks, I will say we are 31 and that we have 7 weeks left. At the end of the week, that will actually be true, but in my mind, it's accurate as of right now!! :)

So, I'll just sleep when I can and if I'm awake at night, so be it. John's traveling until Wednesday anyway so it's not like I have a lot to stay up for when I get home after work anyway. We'll beat this.....we've beat everything else thus far! Hopefully I'll have more baby pictures tomorrow from the appointment. Stinger is going to accompany me as John is traveling. I am hoping to have the boys during a time frame which she is around. I would love to have her at the hospital with me. She's a good source of calming energy for me and I think she'll be good companionship for John. She unfortunately has a trip to Vegas planned in March and a trip to FL planned for the beginning of April.

As usual, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Week 30

I haven't given much of an update lately....we've been really busy!! We had our shower (Big shower) last weekend and our "Aunt and Uncle" from Las Vegas staying with us through Wednesday. It kept us extremely busy. On top of that, I've developed a rash that started on my belly and has now spread to my arms and legs. I've been to the doctor for it twice and have called into triage about it once. The first doctor (who is not our regular doctor) said to "use a VERY good lotion" (one of which he could not recommend) and to take "lots of cold showers". Well, that didn't work. I went back a week later and saw our regular OB doc and he was a bit more concerned. He kept asking if I was feeling the babies moving okay (what is okay in a senario like that?!) and sent me for bloodwork to test for something called "Cholestasis of Pregnancy". I really didn't think anything of it, just thought, "oh, if I have it, hopefully they'll give me a pill and it'll go away". Well, then he proceeds to tell me, "let's hope its not that. If it is, it carries a high percentage rate of still born deaths". So, now I am officially worried! The test takes about a week to run, and they had to mail it off to California....I know, the Mayo Clinic had to outsource blood work?! The more research I've done, I'm convinced it's something called, "P.U.P.P" which basically starts as a rash on the stretch marks (and we all know I have plenty of those) and moves to the arms and legs. Good news, no adverse affects on mom and baby (Babies) but it lasts on average 6 weeks, or just after birth. Not sure how I'll be able to handle 8 more weeks of the extreme itching 24 hours a day!! The boys have been rolling around quite a bit, so I feel reassured that they are doing well. Even if I have this "Cholestasis", the doctor said that I would be monitored heavily. Twice I week I would be hooked up to fetal monitors. I have an ultrasound on Tuesday (regularly scheduled) so it will be nice to get a peak at the boys, make sure they are doing well,and get the results of the blood test back. On top of that, I also had another round with the stomach bug. He and I are really going to have it out one of these days! I don't know what's worse, having the flu several times throughout the pregnancy, or actually being allergic to being pregnant?!






Besides all of that "junk", things are good. I MUST get photos up of the baby shower, and of the nursery (thanks to my mom we got it all squared away). I am as usual, so thankful for all my wonderful friends and family that came together to help put on a great gathering to welcome our little boys into the family. They are already loved by so, so many people!