The Waiting Game

Today I am 37.5 weeks pregnant with twins. I say this because it was "safe" to have the babies at 36 weeks. And here we are. Almost a week and a half later. I say we because Darren is on "HIGH ALERT" with his cell phone. Although April Fools has past, I call him probably once a day to tell him to head to the hospital to meet our babies - just to keep him on his toes. The bags are packed (mine and the babies' bag). I have my OB's cell phone number with the instruction - "if you feel labor pains call me and head to the hospital, no need to wait." Yet here we are - waiting.

I took this picture last week, these are Darren's hands on my belly (the belly is actually larger than it appears). I have a few pictures just to document. And let it be known, I do NOT look good in some of these photos. The rest of my body is not growing - but my belly is. I refuse to photoshop pregnancy pictures (by photoshop - I am referring to people who would alter their pregnancy pics to look a little more slim - shame on you!). I don't photoshop because this is the one time in our lives, it is pretty socially acceptable to put on weight. And at a certain point in life - you really just need to own it. So here I am - owning the belly and the tired face that comes with it.

35 Weeks

I see this picture and think - I should probably put on makeup. Or do my hair, but when you have a 10 lb bowling ball in your abdomen, you pretty much lose the desire to do much besides get dressed. You just stick to the basics.

36 Weeks

If at all possible - I look worse at 36 weeks than at 37. How did that happen? I was smiling but I have the puffy face, no make-up and it was late at night but I had procrastinated this picture, so I had Lexi take it quickly. Then we laughed really hard when we looked at it. I might look a little pathetic. The belly however is quite impressive. And about a week bigger :)

37 Weeks

This is the most recent picture. This was a great day. I slept in. Took a nap. Then ate food. Took another nap and still was on track for going to bed at a decent hour. Please notice how the belly has gotten bigger - if possible. And still WITHOUT stretch marks. I have a c-section scheduled on April 19th and it is a waiting game. What is going to show up first - the stretch marks or the babies? Only time will tell.

The doctor estimates that each baby is about 6.5 lbs but those numbers could be off by a pound. It made me a little sad because I was hoping each baby was at least 15 lbs each - to compensate for some of this weight gain. Right? Just kidding. However, I went to the doctor this week and I LOST 5lbs!!!! What? This is mainly because I have been diligent about my support hose and wrapping my feet at night. All water weight but hey - I will take any victory:)

This is my HOPE list this week:

1) I hope my babies can grow as much as possible, so they get here safely and can avoid a stay in the NICU.

2) I hope that they are healthy - don't care how much weight that it - I just hope their bodies are developed to what they need to be. I am hoping for very very strong lungs.

3) I hope I stop snoring after the babies are born so my husband can sleep in the same bed as me. He always starts out there but once I fall asleep - he migrates to the couch. (Sad truth - some people have VERY congested sinuses throughout their pregnancy - I am such a person). On the weekend, he naps as well because he is a light sleeper and I know I snore loud. Here is a picture of him napping the other day. Since he doesn't like his picture taken, I had to sneak up as if I was a wildlife photographer. It is not easy to sneak with a big belly.

4) I hope there are no complications with the c-section. I am hoping it is a smooth as my pregnancy. For that matter, I hope that the first few months of motherhood will be like my pregnancy. (This is a hope list - I am aware that some of these things might not happen).

5) And last and this one is not that important - it is quite vain. I hope that I can fit into my regular clothes within the year. I'd really hate to buy a new wardrobe. I really liked the clothes I had. But like I said - this is really not an important hope item. That's why I listed it LAST. I just got a double BOB stroller to help facilitate my return to my wardrobe and transport these little ones with ease.

Darren and I are just curious as to what their little personalities will be. Baby Boy has stubbornly remained in the transverse breech position for the last few months. Since he is baby A (the baby who comes out first), he is the one who calls the shots in the delivery. Some might think it would be a doctor but that is not the case. I wonder if this is an indication of a stubborn personality? Baby girl however, has been very flexible. She initially moved to the correct position (vertex) and then followed her brother's example and is now currently transverse breech as well. So maybe we will have a sweet baby and a sassy baby? I'll let everyone know if a few months. Once I get a better feel on our babes and parenthood. :)

Grumpiness

As the weeks of pregnancy increase - so does a grumpiness factor. This is a direct result of walking funny, not getting a lot of sleep and realizing that you are really too tired to do anything but take naps and eat ice cream.

This was the week that I really started to notice that pregnancy has to only last 4o weeks, because there would be a higher murder rate in the world if it went any longer. With that said, I would like debut a helpful list. These comments have all been made to me in the past week.

Top 5 Comments/Questions That Could Shorten Your Life

This is a very last trimester-pregnancy-specific list. But a valid one that could save lives if they were avoided.

1) You are HUGE.

Really it could be any word related to size - enormous, gigantic, etc. Really? I am? I didn't notice that I was huge when it takes me a solid minute to get out of bed. To get out of bed, I have to do a crazy rocking motion and then use my legs for momentum. Due to my huge size. Thanks for the update buddy.

2) You look like you could burst.

I know I do. I feel like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory who had to be de-juiced to save her life. ("Violet - you're turning violet!") Again - these obvious statements really don't get a chuckle. They get a death glare from the pregnant lady.

3) You have to be ready to deliver any day!

No, actually I still have 3 weeks. But thanks for the reminder that I LOOK as though I am 40 weeks pregnant.

4) You look miserable.

This one is conditional. I had this comment made to me when I had actually made an attempt to look cute - somewhat do my hair and put on make-up and an ensemble that didn't include sweats and Crocs. Physically I am pretty darn tired, but I look miserable? I was trying to look happy. What do I look like when I don't try? Probably worse. :)

5) Are you having twins?/You have to be pregnant with twins!

Luckily for these people, I AM PREGNANT WITH TWINS, but what if I wasn't? What if my body just gets this big when I get pregnant next time with one baby? That comment would probably make me feel pretty bad. As of right now, it is just slightly irritating.

The only disclaimer to this list is a friend/loved one trying to be funny. As if you knew they were joking. For example - the husband can make those comments because it is his pregnancy too and he has a lawful obligation to love my body and the changes it is experiencing. If Darren told me I was huge, I would agree. Then ask him to get a bowl of ice cream for me - to which he would happily oblige. No hard feelings. The check out guy at Home Depot does not get the same consideration.

I am going to write out a helpful list of comments/questions that are kinder and less life-threatening.

Top 5 Comments/Questions That Are Perfectly Acceptable

1) When are you due?

This is a safe comment. But can only be followed with a surprised tone like - "Wow - you are almost there - you don't look like it!" Please don't say - "Wow - you look like you are much further along."

2) Are you having a boy or girl?

This is an easy question and you can focus on the cute baby/babies, not their huge mama.

3) You look incredible!

I know that in most of the cases when I hear this term - it isn't true. But guess what? It is SO NICE TO HEAR. So just tell a white lie and spare the pregnant lady.

4) Are you so excited for your baby/babies to come?

Again, focus on the babies. 99.9% of the time you won't go wrong. (There is a .01% failure rate, but it is very very rare).

5) I hope you are just relaxing and getting rest.

Why thank you. Sleeping is about the only thing I can manage to do :) And not even that well. So I take a lot of naps and drink a lot of cold water.

I bring up the grumpy comments because I had a "situation" this week. I had to get my teeth cleaned. The appointment was early in the morning and I had a rather sleepless night. I had to do that rocking motion thing to get out of bed and physically I was a little worn out. But I got up. Got dressed and lumbered to my appointment.

As soon as I walked in, there were a lot of questions and comments asking about due dates, sexes of the baby/babies. Not a problem. I don't have a problem with those questions at all. They are from kind, curious strangers. I told the ladies working the front desk that I was expecting a boy and girl. That comment usually causes a bit of excitement and again, I was tired, but I didn't mind it. These women were very sweet and excited except for one of them that asked this - "So, are they real twins? Or did a doctor have to help you?"

I can deal with rude people fairly well, but my filter is a little loose when I am really tired. Throw in some hormones, and it could get downright dangerous. Those questions were rude. She had hit on two things.

1) REAL TWINS? I have been carrying 2 babies for almost 9 months. They feel pretty REAL to me!

2) NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS old lady wearing Tinkerbell scrubs! I don't know you. So I don't want to discuss my medical past with you. Just focus on the health of my teeth.

It literally took me about 20 seconds to answer her because I was soooooo irritated. And for a second I thought - Since I am growing/creating two lives right now - doesn't that give me the right to end a life? Especially this one?

Eventually, I put away all of the inappropriate comments that I REALLY wanted to say and simply told her the truth. "Well, we had some trouble getting pregnant. We had to get a little help." Then I stopped talking for fear that something mean would come out.

After my teeth cleaning, I went hope and decided the best medicine for a morning like that was sleep. And maybe a bath, followed by another nap. And food.

This is what my shadow looks like at 35 weeks pregnant. I will post some happier thoughts this week along with some belly pictures, but I thought that even my shadow looks a little funny. :)

You know you're pregnant when....

1) You find yourself crying a little bit during Glee. GLEE!!!!! In all fairness, it was the part where I saw Sue's Down Syndrome sister - who didn't shed some tears? I don't even watch the show regularly! Boo. 

2) Thanks to Glee, the following day I was listening to the Wicked soundtrack and shed a tear or two over "Defying Gravity."

3) I cried in parts of Ghosttown. Yes, I know it is a comedy, still got a little weepy when he was helping all of the dead people.

4) Hocus Pocus - I am truly ashamed of this one. It was a dumb Halloween show (emphasis on DUMB), but when Thackery Binx saw his little sister Emily at the end of the show, it really touched me.

5) Cried when I dropped Lexi off at the airport. She and Cash left me for Puerto Rico for 3 months. I am excited for their adventure but sad that I am not going to see Cash or Lexi for 3 months.

So pregnancy has made me a little weepy, but I am told that is perfectly normal. Please don't be alarmed if I cry in your presence. So far, it has been the most perplexing part of pregnancy.