more pictures

Using the same link as the previous post, go check out the second shoot's proofs. This time we added Brett!

Umm. Sorry

It's been a long time since I've written. Are you still there?

This week, on Monday, we had an up-and-coming photographer come do a photo shoot for us to help us make sure we have memories of this extraordinary time and larger-than-life belly. Click here to go see the pictures she took.

With Christmas coming, we are truly bedecked! Though I can't be out of bed long to enjoy it, and I haven't seen the lights outside much, we're enjoying our last Christmas season as a family of two. Thanks to Momma, we even have two rubber ducky ornaments playing chase on our Christmas tree!

If you go look at the pictures that Carrie took, you'll notice that I have a ridiculous belly. My arms are nowhere NEAR as long as my belly requires them to be to reach things. So Momma has spent a few afternoons here helping me wrap and write notes. Bless her! Always grateful for such cheerful help!

B's mom took me to see Dr. Korotkin last week. The babes and I had a wonderful report and we are happily steeping along. It's not going to be too long now! I'm guessing about a month until we have some Little Miracles around here.

The Babes are so active all the time. I love that! Even when they are kicking me in the ribs or bouncing on my bladder, I'm a happy camper. I'd much prefer to be kicked than not to feel them. It's always fun when B gets to feel them - they often stop whatever they're doing when he leans over to feel. I think they don't like being on stage!

I hope you're still out there. It won't be long before we have to change the title of the blog to something new. Hang on! It won't be long until Team Beaker has its two final and BEST teammates!

If I forget to tell you, Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah! And I hope your New Year is as blessed as ours plans to be!

Go Team Beaker!

Just a Few Thoughts at 30 Weeks

Okay Okay, I haven't posted belly pictures! We keep forgetting!

Something about which to think:

--> In nine weeks, I would be full term for a singleton pregnancy. As it is, the doctors are going to start watching me super carefully, because these babies could be ready to be born any time after the next few weeks.

If that happens, Brett & I could be parents in a few weeks. Holy Crow. Doesn't that terrify any of you people out there??? Brett & I will be responsible for raising two little people in the way that we see best! That should put a bit of shake in your quake! These kids will sing at the tops of their lungs, slink away to quieter places to read on their own, climb things for the sake of climbing them and do all kinds of goofy things. They will probably also be stoic to the core.

I think I feel sorry for the neighbors.

--> I have already hit my 30th week of pregnancy. Not only am I well past halfway, but I'm almost finished! After all this time, after all the false starts & heartaches & terrors, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

--> This has not been a light cross to bear. Nothing in the world could possibly help you deal with the losses that we've had. With the sole exceptions of our families & close friends. Sometimes, the only thing holding us up was each other! (Anecdotally: this morning, at Dr. Smith's appointment, he had a bit of a time finding The Little Girl's heartbeat. I felt Brett tense while he held my hand [which is his standard position for these doctor appointments]. Even though we'd felt her kicking me a few minutes earlier, we were still pretty alarmed. Eventually, Dr. Smith found her and everything was alright. But for that minute or so, Brett & I were holding each other up.) When you've gone through what we've gone through, everything else seems so unimportant. My Grandmother used to say, "Your hurt's your hurt," meaning that though I might get migraines so bad they lay me out, your headache isn't any less important. But, having been through a ridiculous amount of hurt and loss and fear and all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly things, nothing else (so far) requires much work to Let Go. These many years have taught us a lot - we (as a Married Entity) are stronger than we ever thought we could be; there's nothing we can't do with a lot of prayer, a lot of hugs and a lot of help from others (even when they don't know they're helping!); yes, life throws things at you to see how fast you can duck, but while you're down there, sometimes you find a penny lying on the street; things are never so bad for you that they aren't worse for someone else - through the gift of time, talent and/or treasure, we can be Simon for someone who is far needier than we are.

(sorry, I'll stop pontificating.)

--> Bed rest is fine. I started losing my mind around December 1, but thankfully, Momma comes at least twice a week and I look forward to that enough that I'm able to stay pretty positive. I'm keeping a record of all the books I read while I'm on bed rest. So far I'm in the middle of my 11th, though my tenth is one that I'm struggling with reading. We'll see about that one! I just like to lie here and feel the babies. I think that's my favorite part of the day. Oh, and getting up for dinner is great too!

We are so grateful to everyone who has helped carry us through the past four years and then these added months (especially with bed rest). I have been so grateful for the phone calls, the visits and the outpouring of generosity to the Bambinos.

These are many sappy thoughts. I just thought I'd share them. Now, my absolute favorite part of the day is coming - Brett is on his way home - and I want to be unencumbered when he walks in the door.

Next week, expect an update from Dr. Korotkin, but don't be looking for pictures!

Go Team Beaker!

Get Your Stories Straight People!!

It was a cold and rainy morning this morning when we bundled up and schlepped off to see Dr. Korotkin. Brett woke me up way earlier than I wanted to be up (but it's not like I don't sleep most of the day anyway) and we headed out the door to see the Good Doctor (who might be my favorite doctor of all time, though my orthodontist is a close second).

Here's the basic scoop (or what we're willing to share):

The Babes are doing BEAUTIFULLY! The time that I have been pregnant is 29.5 weeks. The Babes are both measuring at 29 weeks 2 days. They both weigh about 3 pounds and a few ounces. Obviously, they can't weigh the Babes; that figure is based on the measurements that the ultrasound technician takes of them.

The Boy is hanging out really low, making movement pretty uncomfortable for me. But I'm so happy to get up and do things that I don't really care! They are both very active all the time. It cracks me up when I start looking like aliens have taken over my body and my tummy goes in fourteen different directions! I think they like Christmas music!

Here's the reason for the title of this particular blog: I don't know that these two doctors are communicating! Some things that Dr. Smith is telling me don't jive with what Dr. Korotkin is telling me. It's kinda driving me crazy! But as Dr. Korotkin deals with twins all the time, I'm deferring to his wisdom in a lot of cases. (Also, his advice doesn't make me go crazy within the week.) Dr. Korotkin has said that the extent of my bed rest isn't for me to be tied to the bed. It's really more that I need to be resting and keeping myself pretty quiet. But I don't need to be constantly stuck in bed! Great news! And!! Dr. Korotkin wants Brett & me (yes, that's grammatically correct) to go for a 15 minute walk every night after dinner. That would make me so happy! To get out and go for a walk - Oh Man!!!

Obviously both doctors are really looking after me. I'm now going to start seeing Dr. Korotkin every other week in addition to my weekly visits to Dr. Smith. These babies are SO well protected and watched over! But I really wish they would communicate and get their stories straight to I could have consistent advice! Geez...

Team Beaker really needs a little talk.

In the meantime, I'm resting well. Less grumpy than I had been and really excited for evening walks!

Go Team Beaker!

Miscellaneous Informational Tidbits.

I know, I know: I haven't been keeping up with this like I should and so some of you think I've dropped off the side of the planet. The good news is that I haven't! So, Yay!

So, let's see... what don't you know? I'm officially 29.5 weeks. Saturday will make 30 weeks. That's a huge milestone - one that fills me with hope for the Bambinos. I know I need to post some pictures. The babes are already starting to drop, so my belly (while still humongous) doesn't look as big as it has. I'll post pictures soon.

Tomorrow we'll go see Dr. Korotkin for our monthly visit with him. Hopefully the ultrasound pictures will be worth posting! They haven't been that good lately. Well, what I mean is that they aren't something we're willing to post. Perhaps you'll get a double dose of pictures this week!

I have been so grateful for all the people who've come to visit me - Momma has been here at least once (sometimes twice!) a week since I got in the bed, Cathy has been a frequent visitor, Mimso has come and sat with me and played cards for hours, Andre took such good care of me when she babysat me while B was out of town... I'm beyond grateful to those who are taking time to come see me and sit with me even for 30 minutes!

I knew, when I was extolling the virtues of bed rest in October, that I would be singing a different tune when December came. What's funny is that I didn't expect my new tune to start on December 1!!! I have hit the point where I'm starting to get a little loopy. I think part of what has killed the allure of bed rest is that for almost 2 weeks I had someone here with me constantly - first Andre and then Barbarosa was home for 5 straight days. Then this week, I've been kinda on my own. Kinda. I've been reading voraciously - like I did as a kid - but that's starting to lose it's glitter and glitz. I'm thrilled that I have Christmas packages to wrap and Christmas crafts to complete. Sounds fun! Anyway, it's not all bad. I had a few papers that were due while I've been on bed rest, so that gave me things to do - though now they're all done. Daddy has promised that he'll come play cribbage with me some and I'm really excited about that! And really and truly, I'm never alone! These babes keep me in stitches while they kick and turn and tickle me from the inside. They're beginning to run out of room!

We're hoping to go at least 6 more weeks before they come. I can do 6 more weeks, right? Right???

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that I'm still here, Things 1 & 2 are both still here (Praise God!) and we're all doing well.

Hope you are, too!

You Know I Get More Thoughtful This Time of Year

It's traditional in my Family of Origin (what a term, right?) to bring out the Christmas music on Thanksgiving. I follow that tradition in my own family (of two for now, well four counting Lucy & Pasqua) to some extent, but I get restless and round about my birthday (which was Monday) or a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, I pull out the music. I don't subject B to it until Thanksgiving, because he'll be patient with me enough to listen to it nonstop until December 25. Then it gets lovingly packed away and he makes a HUGE deal of putting in secular music and listening to it with an all-too-pleased look on his face.

Anyway, this year, I brought out the Christmas music two weeks ago. I've been listening to it while I have visitors, while I'm reading and while I'm just lying about being the Woman of Leisure that I am these days (hah hah hah hah ahhhhhh). The following is a Christmas song with which I have bonded this year. I am particularly fond of the lyrics, and Frank Sinatra sang it - which makes it even better in my mind. So, I looked up the lyrics and realized that it is a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow! Imagine my delight to find that this song that I've listened to over and over again is actually a poem by one of the best poets in the world!

I particularly love the second to last stanza, so pay attention! Enjoy your Christmas or Hanukkah Season (or both). And I hope that your Season is as hopeful and joyous and blessed as ours is!

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Alas, No Video

I wish I could show you what I look down and see all the time. These babies are getting so big and so active all the time that my belly is constantly changing direction. Andre is in town for November and is babysitting me while B is out of town. She has been absolutely fabulous! Andre has cooked meals three times a day - and three snacks - and generally taken wonderful care of me. I'm very very lucky to have someone so nice doing nice things! I'm getting a little spoiled! But that's not what I'm writing about.

Andre is here. Andre has a voice like no other voice in the world. For being right at 6 feet tall, Andre has a very high voice. She was reading to me about something on Monday night and the strangest thing started happening. The babies started shifting my belly all around! When Andre starts talking, they start kicking and playing. I truly believe that they like her! A Lot! Andre kept reading and Barbarosa (who was in town for this occasion) and I just sat there and watched them kick and turn and play. The Boy (for that's what we've named him) has a crush on Andre, we've decided. He's the one that starts all the kicking and then The Girl (for that's what we've named her) joins in after. He's an instigator.

I wish I had video of the belly to share. Perhaps Someday I might share some. But in the meantime, Go Team Beaker!

What happens when B starts nesting

When we started, Brett had a Man Room. The walls were dark blue (not our choice, but we left them when we moved in) and covered in posters of concerts he'd attended. He had a desk made of pieces of plywood that had been hot glued together. His room was a catch-all for anything that wasn't in the playroom (which has since become our shared office and guest room). Note the stain on the carpet.

We let my oldest big brother have his way with the closet and the floors and this is what happened! We have gorgeous hardwood floors in there now and an expanded closet to fit all the baby clothes and supplies.

After getting the office done, and taking a break for a week, B started painting. The new color is a beautiful spring green that is cool and soothing for our little Beans.

Then came the construction of the cribs. CribSSSSS. Two. Brett obviously had help in the form of The Little Blond Bombshell. She was really more management than anything. B built the cribs in under three hours, there was minimal amounts of cussing and he only lost patience with Management (Lucy & Pasqualina) two or three times. He's really good at putting together cribs. I might be willing to hire him out.

And there's the first one finished! He did a great job! He's very handy with an Alan Wrench. Allen Wrench? Cribs, check!!

And here's the almost finished product! The bumpers are in(ish), though they won't be staying once the Babes arrive due to SIDS and my terror of that awful tragedy. We'll put them back once they've outgrown the risk of SIDS and we lower the mattresses to past infant size.

Didn't he do an amazing job? He's so Smart!!

Now we just need some babies to go in those cribs!

GROW TEAM BEAKER!!!

Bed Rest.

I went to see the OB today (we'll see the specialist tomorrow) and he has officially put me on bed rest starting today. Part of me is relieved - the extra weight has been really making me knees and feet hurt and I get really tired really quickly. But part of me realizes that I'm going to be stuck in bed for a long long time! I have lots of activities to keep me busy: books, scrapbooking, crossword puzzles, magazines, movies... I'm so happy that there are lots of people who want to come visit while I'm resting also. That will help kill the boredom. Some.

I'm happy though! The Babes have been kicking and playing and having a good old time in there! It's so nice when I get to feel them on a regular basis. I enjoy feeling them - it's nice to know that ultimately, I'm not alone!

My Little Beaker Team. GROW TEAM BEAKER!

A Ghost Appearance

It all started when I was in high school. Momma & I would put this fly in various places and try to startle each other. Once under the covers, once in the laundry basket, once in her medicine cabinet. It was a lot of healthy tom-foolery and it was kinda fun to know that she was going to come upon the plastic fly and get startled. Then the fly disappeared and we found other things

with which to annoy each other: a rubber snake (which we wisely abandoned after Daddy got bit, though a new one made an appearance when Daddy got well and we could laugh about the Snake Bite some), an eyeball (which I believe made some appearances in my lunch), a lizard and then random little things.

When Brett & I got married, he upped the ante some. Brett got into really random things to do to the mother - he'd change the sounds on her computer to make chicken noises or leave a Clinging Koala with Al Sharpton's head in her art room. There was a parrot that made a few back & forths and Brett's favorite must be the coconut husk baboon with his parachute. Momma got Brett back by almost sending me to the grave with a chicken hanging in our refrigerator by a noose. She employed one of my brothers to plant that one.

One of my favorite pranks, though, was a few years ago - 2006 - when we had Kamber come to town. Kamber, Brett & I went Pumpkin Picking in Ellijay and found some really fantastic pumpkins. We plotted. We knew what we were doing! We knew that this would be fantastic! We practiced at home, we worked tirelessly for ages to set the thing up. We knew who would have what job when we made the drop. It was going to be flawless! We created Seymour. Seymour Butts.

We created him in our driveway, practiced the set up, then took him down. Seymour Butts was going to Moon the parents' house! He was designed and we would set him up to be looking up at the mother's art room. We drove over to their house after we knew they would be in bed. Stealthy as ninjas, and swiftly as a finely tuned machine, we set up Seymour and then ran like maniacs, laughing all the time. Believe me when I tell you, it was a little startling to get home and the parents had already called to tell us they knew we'd done that! They'd been at the symphony and came home maybe 5 minutes

after we left!!! We were almost caught! But we weren't and it was perfect.

The next year, Billy helped me create Scarlett O'Furin. I lost all the pictures, for some reason, but I'll find some and put them up someday. It was a great scarecrow parody on my mom - including raised pinky finger, gloopy jewels and wine glass. It was truly remarkable.

We skipped last year. But this year, we knew they weren't suspecting anything! My "condition" doesn't allow me to do much, but this I insisted on. I'd seen the pictures on the internet somewhere (google "chicken wire ghost") in February, and I knew that that MUST happen this year. So last night, Billy & Emmalee came over and we set to creating this ghost. We shaped and molded and shaped some more. Then, under cover of darkness, we took him over there and set him up in the jungle. He appears to be pointing to something in the ground. He's truly spooky.

Here's a great picture of him set up:

Halloween Cracks me up and I can't wait to introduce Thing 1 and Thing 2 to the fun of Gentle Jokes and Pranks!

Aaaaannd I'm done.

I didn't get to this yesterday, like I thought I would, so I will today!

B & I really like Dr. Smith. He (Barbarosa) is coming around on the idea that Dr. Smith is the positive version of someone else we know. Dr. Smith comes booming into the room every visit "So!!" He booms, "I hear you got yourself knocked up!" Somehow, though we've heard it a million times (it's our own private joke as well), when Dr. Smith barges in announcing himself like that, it cracks me up! He bustles around telling us stories of his Days of Yore and cracking jokes about "Frick" and "Frack" as he calls the Babes and my inability to not be pregnant. Hah hah hah hah.

Then, as suddenly as he enters, he leaves with, "Put your shoes on and we'll talk!"

The Babes, he reports, are doing fine. I'm growing. According to the nurse's eyeballing, I measure the same as a woman who's 35 weeks pregnant would. I'm only 23 weeks pregnant. No wonder my back hurts so badly! My stats are good.

We will go in on Monday the 2nd for the Dreaded Gestational Diabetes Test. A neighborhood friend of mine said she was borderline for hers. I'm a little terrified of mine. Heavens knows, I don't want to be on Bed Rest AND have "The Diabetis" as a sister-in-law calls it. But the biggest part of our visit (besides our "Definition of the Day" [mixed emotions]), was that Dr. Smith is going to move up my bed rest by almost 3 weeks. I'm going on bed rest at the very start of November. He told me to go ahead and tell my professor that I'm done with class, to quit work (hah hah hah) and grab a ton of books from the Library, 'cause I'm done. So, November 1st-ISH will be when I get sent to bed.

Please come visit me.

Movement & Massage

I got my first pregnancy massage today. I just broke down and did it! With all the extra weight added on, my back has been a wreck! My circulation feels great! For the first time in a few months, my toes don't feel like they're little sausages attached to footballs. I might actually be able to put on my wedding band. Unlikely, but maybe I'll give it a try...

The babes are moving so much now! I can feel them through the day, especially after I've eaten. The boy is really active - kicking and punching and rolling over. I guess I'll have to enroll him in Karate pretty early on, huh! I don't feel the girl as much. I read somewhere that one can't compare one pregnancy with the next. I guess that depends on the baby! So, I'm not too worried about the girl. I feel her every once in a while - generally at night - so I'm happy. Someone - I can't remember who - wants them to stick all 4 feet and 4 hands out at once so I'll look like a bumpy lump! I think it'd be kinda funny, too.

Brett can feel the babes, though he hesitates to say "Yes, I felt that." I think because he thought they'd be punching him harder. He swears that the babes are out to drive him nuts!

We have a visit with Dr. Smith tomorrow. It's time to start talking birth plan, so that will certainly be on the agenda for tomorrow. It's also about time to do the gestational diabetes test - about which I'm nervous! I have a lot going on tomorrow, including finishing up a small paper and going to school in the afternoon. I'm not sure when I'll get around to posting about the visit, but I'll certainly get to it after school tomorrow night. Just be patient!

I hope you're doing well.

Magic, Music and Miracles

We went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner on Friday. Nothing too exciting, right? WRONG! Kellie & David plied us with MAGIC. Every Friday night at the Mellow Mushroom, there's a fellow who goes from table to table performing magic tricks. When we got there, we thought that surely there wouldn't be any way that he'd be able to spend time with us - the place was packed. But sure enough, we were able to get him to come over and amaze us. Which he did! He stayed right by us for ages doing card tricks, tricks with string, tricks with balls and tricks with his shoes. It was so cool! Having watched Andre learn how to do magic at Eddy's Trick Shop when we were kids, and watching her performances in the evenings, I believe that I have some working knowledge of "tricks" and how they work. But do you know what? That fellow was amazing! He wasn't doing magic with smoke & mirrors & magnets like David Copperfield and David Blayne. He was doing up close blow-your-mind tricks that amazed and astounded. One where he placed a torn up card in my hand (and I'd been the one who tore it up) and when I opened my hand, it was WHOLE! Whole I tell you! Sheesh! Another trick in which he placed 3 balls in Brett's hand and when Brett opened it up, all these balls spilled out! MAGIC!

We totally enjoyed our last trip as a family of two. David & Kellie were so much fun - open to whatever and eager to have whatever amount of activity I felt up to! We watched the 1931 Bela Lagossi Dracula for a little Halloween fun one night. We went to an awesome Meat & Three Barbeque Establishment one day. During the days, Kellie & I picked out fabrics for the nursery (swatches to come later) and bought flowers for their porch and generally enjoyed having time together. David & B - well, let's just say that they enjoyed our second M with great joy and to great extent!

The biggest part of the weekend, though, occurred on Saturday morning. I've been feeling the babies for a few weeks. They kick and turn over and punch and jump on my bladder. They think it's funny, I've decided, to send me running for the bathroom. But Saturday morning we had a small miracle that wasn't repeated until Monday night. On Saturday morning, I was resting my hand on my tum tum and someone kicked the tar out of me and I felt it THROUGH my skin and in my hand! A first and a Miracle! For the rest of the weekend, B kept trying to feel it and they just weren't interested in performing for him. But then, last night, while in bed, he rested his hand on my tummy, and we talked about the fun we'd had with David & Kellie. B was about to give up and go to sleep - he'd even rolled over to turn out the lights - and I felt it again! "You're driving me crazy, babies!" said B. But he put his hand back to wait patiently. And you know what?? That little Furin Boy gave his daddy a high five! I think the lack of ferociousness in his punch was a bit anticlimactic to B, but it was still pretty exciting to him nonetheless.

We had a wonderful weekend full of Magic, Music and Miracles!

Baby Update

We (the Babes & I) just got back from Dr. Korotkin's office. He's so very nice! We had a good visit. The babes are doing very well. They're just growing and growing! We have some pictures, but they aren't great because the babes weren't being too cooperative (especially that little boy). I will post some later in the day, maybe.

The Stats:

They are measuring at 14 oz and 15 oz respectively (Baby A and Baby B).

Baby A is measuring at 21 weeks 1 day and Baby B is measuring at 21 weeks 5 days.

Given the length of my belly that they had to go up and down to get any kind of picture, they are measuring about 10.5 inches or so. We saw fingers and toes.

Heartbeats are perfect.

Baby A is resting his head way down low - no big deal. He's hanging out just boppin around. It explains why sitting for any amount of time is kinda painful for me.

They are both head down right now.

So, except for the whole still not sleeping well at night thing, everyone's doing well. Babies are happy and healthy. I'm healthy. Brett's healthy. We're just trucking along.

Pictures to follow. I'm going to go lie down for now.

Twins!

This website had me cracking up. It's a bunch of Stuff, but it's Multiples Stuff. Yes, Virginia, you CAN buy Thing 1 and Thing 2 Halloween Costumes! Thankfully, the Babes won't be here for Halloween this year, but Next Year is a WHOLE NEW BALL GAME!

Click here for Just Multiples.

I'm Layin' Low

I hear banging in the other room. A hammer smacking into metal. What's he building in there? We have a right to know! On the other hand, I hear curses low under his breath. I hear things fall. I hear "Dangit!" every few minutes. The fan won't hang right in the Nursery. B has moved on to the Nursery today and the fan is being less than cooperative. In his excitement to get something done in there to prepare for Babes, he's trying to install the new ceiling fan before the sun goes down and all by himself. Ordinarily, B can install a fan in a few minutes - he's had a very big lot of practice. I left for the 20 minutes that I thought it'd take him to do the fan. That was a couple of hours ago. I decided that I'd better work on this instead of trying to be helpful. I'm laying low. I'm steering clear. I'd like to hope I've learned that much from living with boys most of my life.

I had to lay low this morning, too. We took the canopy to my mom's childhood bed over to their house this morning (much to their chagrin) and Momma & I shut our mouths and went into the other room while Brett & my dad lifted the canopy over the back of the house and into the attic. Then we laid low and went downstairs while they shoved gently moved things out of the way so they could put the canopy in an out of the way space in the attic. Somehow, I don't think Daddy & Brett think that Momma & me being helpful is helpful.

I didn't have to lay low when we went to the Baby's Room to pick up our glider! Wahoo!! We have our glider! Our first official piece of baby furniture in the house! I love it! It's so pretty and looks so nice in our room. We've decided to put it in our room until we want it in the nursery for story times at night. That way we can rock one while the other sleeps, if we need to.

We also finally picked out a dresser for the Nursery. That was bothering me. It will come in with the cribs at the end of the month or the beginning of next month. It's awfully exciting to have this furniture beginning to come in. It won't be long before we have a house that's baby ready and functioning!

So, I'm in here, laying low. But B has started whistling and that's always a good sign. Even when it only lasts a few bars. I'll continue to lay low, but I feel a little better about working on other things knowing that he's feeling a bit better too. He's going to be an amazing Papa. He just wants it all to be Just Exactly Perfect. And it will be.

The Funny Things That Happen When You're Pregnant

1. A neighbor looked at me and said, "Woah, you're bigger!"

2. It just took me 40 minutes to waddle around the block to get some exercise.

3. When I informed the people at Walgreens that I was pregnant, they said, "No Kidding!"

We're at 20.5 weeks. If it's like this now, it's only going to get bigger! better!

Clean Sheets & Warm Hugs

I landed 2 and a half hours ago, but I'm still high above the world! I had a great and wonderful visit with Mom & Dad Ramsden at the Clean Sheets & Warm Hugs Bed & Breakfast (ie., their home in Celebration, Fl). I timed my trip just exactly perfectly so that the second day I was there, we celebrated Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!

Here's a picture of her birthday cake while it was displayed for all to see before dinner. It was a perfect size for three of us.

Here's a picture of the birthday cake after we sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed a piece each.

We went to Cocoa Beach. We walked on the beach and got a little bit of sunshine on our cheeks and sand in our toesies. Then we went to a restaurant on the harbor so we could watch the boats come in and out and look at the cruise ships. I got a hamburger. I really liked that hamburger. I could have cried about that hamburger. But I didn't. Instead I ate it all up.

Mom & Dad Ramsden have been fantastic and wonderful members of Team Beaker - so supportive, so loving and so enthusiastic! We like people like that on Team Beaker! And we certainly love Mom & Dad Ramsden!

Go Team Beaker!

p.s. just a random thought that I just had: the next time I see Mom & Dad R., I'll (hopefully) have two little babies!!!

Dele is Huge-ish

I guess when you're growing a couple of them, you get large.

Here I am at 19.5 weeks... My first official posting of the Baby Belly.

Go Team Beaker!

Down the Rabbit Hole

Brett and I are reading Alice in Wonderland together at night. Each night, we take a chapter and read it out loud. We alternate who's reading. We're not sure if the Babes can hear us, though originally that was our hope. We're just enjoying having some time together reading and enjoying the story. We love having something interesting and new to discuss - especially when one of the footnotes (we have one of the most highly regarded annotated versions) strikes our thoughtful bone.

Sometimes we feel like Alice while we wander through pregnancy. It all seems so curious! With the Babes, I think I feel them, then I'm not so sure, then I question what I thought I felt before. It's as if we are down the rabbit hole - so surreal, so exciting, so curious!

We went to see Dr. Smith today, who, speaking of characters, never ceases to crack me up with his demeanor. He is very laid back (a quality that is definitely prized on Team Beaker). He is constantly reminding me that what happens to pregnant people happens to me in spades because we've got Two.

Here are (some of) the things we asked him and his answers:

* Why can't I breathe anymore? Because you have two Space Occupants that must grow somewhere.

* Why are my hands and feel swelling? Because you have two creatures in there and therefore instead of having 50% more blood running through the veins, you have 80 - 100% more blood in your veins.

* Am I doing alright size, growth and otherwise? Yes. Fabulous. You have two in there.

See? Very good at reminding me that I'm having twins.

I'm very excited that on Friday, I'm heading to Orlando to take one last solo trip to see Mom & Dad Ramsden. It's a bit of a See You Later, Alligator to my days of easy travel and relaxation before I find myself chillin' in bed for a few months. Dr. Smith gave me his okay today and reminded me that I'm going to swell more because of travel in an airplane and admonished me to chill out more while I'm down there. I can handle that! I can't wait to see Mom & Dad!

That's all I have for today. Sleep has been elusive for the past week or so. I feel like I'm steering the QE2 into a marina slip when I try to climb into that enormous bed of ours. And it's only going to get worse... I've been sitting too long now, and I have been told to get up and walk around more than I have been and also to keep my feet up more. Mixed messages much?

That's okay. He's a good person to have on Team Beaker!

So, Go Team Beaker!

Halfway Home

** After being "reprimanded" for not writing in a whole week, I thought I'd tell you why, Dearest, I've been out of touch and catch up a little bit while I'm at it. I'm sorry. Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa! **

Neighbor-friends will stop me on the street and ask "How far along are you, Dele?" My answer almost always includes not only the weeks pregnant I have become, but how many days on top. I can't forget - "can't" because I neither want to nor am I able to forget - all that we've been through to get this far. Every single day that I am pregnant is a MIRACLE! So, today I am Eighteen Weeks and Four Days into this amazing Journey. Today I am halfway there! What an amazing thing to count among my blessings! (An aside: I worry that I use to many "excited stops" in my writing... Then I remember that this is a very exciting time for B & Me and I'm allowed to use whatever excited stops I want to use and even more!)

People also stop and ask me how I'm feeling. My answer is always "I'm Growing!" Okay, so it's not really a feeling, but that answer encompasses the root of all my feelings. I'm growing! Praise Him! It's my turn to grow! I'm growing! Oh, my goodness, my feet hurt whenever I put them on the ground! I'm growing! My skin stretches 'round my rounding belly - it itches! I'm growing! We have two little miracles coming to live with us - two people for whom we're changing our existence, reworking parts of our house, shifting our paradigms - and we haven't even met them yet 'cause they're still brewing! "I'm Growing!" encompasses my fears, my excitement, my joy, my trepidation, my hopes, and the thrill of becoming parents.

I was telling my mom the other day that while I'm really excited about creating and brewing and steeping these babes, I don't care for the physical price we pay - backaches, headaches, aching feet, swollen hands and toes, tremendous weight gain (particularly with twins). But when you appear pregnant, people are generally so stinkin' nice. I went to Publix and I had a basket full of milk, apples, mango, and a few other things I needed. I went to get in line - the shortest, which had only four people ahead of me. My dogs were barkin', but I wasn't going to complain - I'm used to aching feet! But the cashier grabbed my attention and told me to go over to Customer Service to check out. I went over to Customer Service and the nice guy there checked me out tout suite and sent me on my merry way. I thought that was super sweet. People care. People try.

So why have I been out of touch? Well, we're having some floors redone at our house in gleeful anticipation of the Babes. I had to go to my parents' house while they were working because, well, polyurethane just can't be good for developing lungs! B & I can go home tomorrow, hopefully, and we'll have lovely floors and be one step closer to being ready! It's definitely fun to get ready for these little people!

Go Team Beaker!

Confirmation!

I always get nervous before going to the doctor. I get nervous when I don't go to the doctor. I'm probably better off just getting these little people here. Then I can have a whole different set of worries!

Having just come back from seeing Dr. Korotkin (who, I'm convinced, is the most patient doctor in the whole entire history of ever), we have new pictures to share! Before we go to the pictures, I'd like you to know that we were watching the ultrasounds and just being obsessed with the Wonder of our Babies and then Baby B opened up her mouth and swallowed! It was the most amazing thing to see! Since I know you're here after the pictures, I'll post them on up here! Explanations will be after each one.

Oh, PS: What confirmation??? We are definitely having a Boy and a Girl! They are just exactly perfect!

Go Team Beaker!!!

This is Baby A's little legs and belly. You can see his little feet at the bottom and his legs are pretty clear. His head is farther back, so you can't see that very well.

This is a really cool picture of Baby A. You can see his head really clearly. You're looking at the top of his head. Then, you can see a little circle under his head: that's his belly. On either side of his head, those are his forearms, elbows and little hands. His hands are in fists up by his face!

Here's a great picture of Baby B. In this one, you can see her nose, a few of her ribs (those are the white things glowing in her belly section), and her umbilical cord attaching her to me. So amazing!

Here's Baby B from the back - It looks like she's looking over her shoulder at you, sorta. The white stripe is her spine (all those beautiful vertebrae!) and then you see her head from the back-ish. From the way that her legs are going in front of her (you can see her thigh to her knee), it looks like she's sitting Criss-Cross Applesauce. It's like she's turned her head a little to the side to listen to a conversation at the table behind her. She's so smart!

We have 12 pictures here at home, I'm not going to post them all. They aren't all as clear as these that I've posted. Brett can really tell what he's looking at, but I'm not always certain! He'll have to explain them to me again and again! It's hard to see them from my vantage point at the doctor.

Everything is looking good with them. Today was the Anatomy Visit in which we checked how many of what and said "Hoorah!" at the wonder of it all. I am growing perfectly, quoth Dr. Korotkin. I'm not growing too fast or too slow, which is great news to me! The babes are growing wonderfully too! They weigh about 7 oz. each, which is amazing! I feel wonderful, though I'm still unclear as to whether or not I actually feel them. He said I'll be totally sure I feel them in a couple of weeks! Craziness, man, craziness!

I do want to be clear about something: Baby A is the one that we can never get pictures of. He wouldn't show us his "goodies" to check his gender. He does handstands. He's got a mind of his own and a headlamp. He's obviously going to be a Furin. Now, he's also the BOY. I am pretty sure that I didn't sign up for a BOY FURIN. I never did anything to deserve that! I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life worrying that he's going to fall off a roof, fall in a river, fall in a cave, fall down a mountain, run too fast, play too hard and learn how to do all kinds of things that I KNOW my brothers know how to do and will teach a new little Furin. I'm such a sweet person - never gave Momma any grief - what did I do to earn a Boy Furin???

... I love him already! I can't wait to meet the little Golden Boy!

Today's been a good day. I really like today! I hope you do, too.

Seventeen Weeks & Counting

Last night Brett and I went out for Bangladeshi for dinner. Bangladeshi, for those who aren't in the know, is like Indian food, but a million bajillion times better and there's no curry! I don't like curry. Apparently, though, these sweet little Beans (who are growing rapidly and are so much larger than Beans) really like Bangladeshi. They've been in there just happy as happy could be! I think I feel them kicking or something. It's nice that they're already showing the adventuresome side of their eating habits.

Brett's painting the office today. It's turning into a great shade of blue - peaceful, restful and clean looking! He's so happy when he's preparing for the Beans. ...the cutie.

Happy Days!

Go Team Beaker!

Beyond Grateful

I believe that Life Happens.I believe that Moments in Life happen and are as easily ignored as cherished. A friend of mine posted this link on YouTube. It's about life's Moments. This video is one of the most beautiful Reminders of Life's Moments that I've ever had the pleasure of watching. One of the instants the video brings to mind is birth. At that, I was stopped in my tracks. I don't think that in all of my obsession with the Science and the miracle of Science I have stopped to really praise God for the pure, unadulterated JOY that He has chosen to bless us with until today. I truly believe that God has a Plan that is Infinitely Greater than and plan we could ever come up with. I am beside myself, right now, in Awe and Joy and Gratitude for the Lives that Brett & I are getting ready to welcome. Praise Him!

Grateful

I went back to OLA today. I went to talk with a teacher (one whom I consider to be a Master Teacher) about my project for my master's program. I have to say that walking in the door of that school is like walking back into the waiting arms of family. The Master Teacher sat with me and spent all kinds of time discussing what she does and how we might implement what my class requires and what we can do in the time I have before my semester is finished. I am so grateful to this teacher, whom I respect greatly, that she is willing to have me invade her space and learn from her and practice with her. I also ran into (well, hunted down) a bunch of friends who remain at school to catch a glimpse and grab a hug. It was honestly like seeing a loving family again. I miss school, and often wonder if I've made a tremendous mistake in leaving for now. I realize that come November, I'm done, so I obviously wouldn't be teaching this year, but it's hard to go back and see all the little kidlings who are so excited about learning. I do miss it. 

Anyway, I'm grateful that I could go back there to do this practicum. How fantastic that there is a place a person can go and be welcomed back like the Prodigal Son?! I'm grateful to the friends that I've kept there that are continuing to pray for Thing 1 (OH MY GOSH! THEY'RE PLAYING IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Thing 2. I'm grateful for the Love that is in that school. (I'm extremely grateful that Thing 1 & Thing 2 are in there playing while I'm writing this. Holy Cow.)

Okay, I'm avoiding writing my paper. I have to go write. I wanted to give a shout out to all those people (you know who you are!) that have showered me with so much love and so many prayers, even though I'm not there any more. I'm grateful for you. You're part of Team Beaker as much as anyone.

GO TEAM BEAKER!

Enormity

This has been an enormous weekend!

First the best news: Not only are we expecting, but so is Brett's cousin! She's exactly a month behind us & we couldn't be more excited! 2010 is going to be an incredible year for babies. We have quite a few friends who have shared their news that they're expecting - all at different stages - and I have to admit that it's really nice to be among that number.

The other enormousness: we bought the cribs today. It was a process and a half. We went to look at them a few weeks ago. That original trip was daunting. There are so many choices. So many features to look at and consider. We are very glad that we have a couple of great books that helped us pare down the choices. We finally narrowed it down to three cribs that we loved. We also knew that we wanted to support a quasi-little-guy. We ended up out at Baby's Room Norcross where the owner (who's a twin himself) helped us make sure that we made the best decision. He talked with us ever so patiently and reviewed our options on the three cribs we liked. Then, feeling very good about ourselves, we made the decision. Click here to see the cribs we chose. We also went ahead and ordered the glider (with the lock & nursing ramp). I can't wait for that to come in. A friend told me that once we get it, I'll never get out of it. I believe it! 

We left Baby's Room feeling a wonderful mixture of feelings. We're elated that we have made it far enough in pregnancy to purchase cribs. We're beside ourself with JOY that we had to get TWO cribs. We're overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude & fear & excitement & trepidation. But now, we have places for them to sleep. 

Next up: Strollers and Car Seats!

Go Team Beaker!

Rest in Peace, Reading Rainbow

**Disclaimer - today's blog is a place for me to express myself as an educator & a momma-to-be. Don't expect Baby News today! But I love you anyway & I hope you still love me! **

As I fixed my bowl of cereal this morning, I listened to NPR keeping me informed about the world, the nation, and the weather. I enjoy listening to NPR because I feel so much more aware of current events & the world around me. I plan to encourage our children to listen with me, and it will hopefully be as much a part of our mornings as brushing our teeth and getting ready for school. 

Today, I was given grievous news. Not grievous in the An Important Person Just Died kind of way, but grievous in that An Important Piece of Childhood Is Being Cancelled.  Click here to link to the article. Reading Rainbow will air its last show today. It's lost its funding because the Almighty Government decided (under the previous administration) that the focus in Educational Television should be on teaching phonics and spelling and the skills required for learning to read. Reading Rainbow doesn't speak to that. Reading Rainbow, and LeVar Burton, speak to the LOVE of reading and so, for that reason, Reading Rainbow - an iconic children's show - has lost its couple-hundred-thousand dollars a year funding and is going off the air. 

It's a sad time for anyone who grew up hearing the Oh So Recognizable Theme Song ("Butterfly in the Sky! I Can Fly Twice As High! Take A Look! It's In A Book! Reading Rainbow!!"). Even I, who grew up without a television, knew the theme song. I've seen the show a million times. I've played the videos for my Kindergarteners & First Graders. Its simple three part plan (Book, Adventure, Kid-to-Kid Recommendations) inspired countless children to Take A Look! 

As an educator, a Reading Teacher, someone who is working on her Masters in Reading Education, I am deeply troubled by the demise of LeVar's show. Ask me why & I'll tell you. I'll tell you anyway. The children of our society are being tested to death. Schools are held to standards that are set not by educators, but by politicians who left school after college (or graduate school) and never looked back. If a school doesn't meet the annual progress standards as set by the politicians in Washington, the school loses Federal Funding. This same principle is being applied to public television. The Almighty Thinkers in Washington decided that the focus in education television should be on phonics and basic reading skills. If a children's show doesn't accomplish the PreStated Goals, the funds are yanked and the show dies. So where does that leave literature and the love of reading? "Who Cares?!" says Washington. "Skill 'em, Drill 'em & Kill 'em!" they shout! And so, when presented with what remains of a choice, our children are left to choose between Spongebob Squarepants and Sesame Street yelling "A is Apple!" Where is the inspiration to learn something for the love of learning or to read something for the love of reading? Children are learning that learning is something you do to pass a test, not that it's something you do because you love to do it or are interested in something. Isn't that sad?!!!

Children learn best when they are engaged and interested. It's an perpetual process that occurs even when a teacher (or a parent) isn't trying to teach. Children learn from our body language, they learn from the words we use around our spouses or our co-teachers. Children learn from what's going on in their environments. Reading Rainbow gave that one more kick of inspiration to Take a Look in a Book. Can other shows help inspire that interest in reading - that interest in learning?? 

As a momma-to-be, I'm alarmed by what I'm seeing in our society. Remember how I just said that children learn from the interactions they have with others around them (teachers, parents, & peers)? A neighbor of mine said that she was watching Nickelodeon (the children's channel) last night at 8:00. While she was watching (I'm not sure if her children were with her or not), one of the characters said the word "b*tch" on the show. Another wonderful one is the show about the 15-year old who got pregnant in high school. What on EARTH are we teaching our children if they are able to encounter words (especially derogatory words) or see teenage pregnancy glorified like that at home or on a trendy television show? How about showing anti-depressant medicine ads during Pinocchio (another fine example I heard recently)? I totally understand why I grew up without a television. I'm not sure that it helped me fit in too well, but I know why I'll be limiting the amount of television these Babes watch! 

So, that's my rant for today. I'm so sad to hear that teaching the WHY to read has become less important than teaching the HOW to read. I'm alarmed that children's programming has been allowed to become morally bankrupt and demoted to Washington's standards. 

The Babes are doing great and I need a nap. Read in Peace, Reading Rainbow...

Oh, There You Are!

My body has been strangely quiet the past two weeks. No threats, idle or otherwise, of morning sickness. No strange smells or cravings. Nothing super out of the ordinary, except back pain. I half wondered if I have dreamed the whole thing & I'm just getting fatter without reason. Thankfully, we had an appointment with Dr. Smith today. Actually, the truth is, I am pregnant! I am growing for a reason! I just happen to be in the second trimester where not much happens. 

There are no pictures today to share. We got to see the Babes because I asked O So Nicely if we could see them. All I care about is seeing heartbeats. God Bless Them, They're still there!! Two little heartbeats. Two sweet angels just hanging out. I just wanted to know that they're still there & they're doing well. They are! 

My weight gain is fine - remembering that I'm having twins. Dr. Smith gave me some ideas for strengthening my back, which would be nice. I'm measuring at 19 weeks (19 cm), which is perfect for twins. Brett & I have to get flu shots (including swine flu shots, which will be available in October), so that should be fun. Woohoo. We have to start looking for pediatricians. Anyone have any advice about that? Particularly you people around here (Becca!!)...

In other news, I start school this afternoon (4:30) and I'll continue in class until mid-November according to Dr. Smith's calculations. 

He said that that date is a rough estimate & it could go earlier or later. He also said that it will be STRICT bed rest. (Crud.) His analogy was an hourglass. If you stand an hourglass up, the sand comes out. If you lay it flat, nothing goes anywhere. I've decided that I'll do whatever it takes to keep these Babes in there, steeping, until they're healthy enough and ready to come out. Brett & I are going to get a cleaning person to come once a week to clean the house & help us because I know that no matter what good intentions everyone has, this house will quickly fall apart if I don't have help. There are too many hairy things living in it for it not to get cleaned often. 

Also in other news, our fabulous contractor (read: Brandt) will start on the small amount of renovations that we're doing in preparation for the Babes next week. We're redoing floors, expanding the Nursery closet, changing doors, moving some vents and doing some basic nesting things that we can't do on our own (read: Brett can't do on his own). 

Also in further other news, we'll be ordering our baby furniture in the next couple of weeks & we're also going to be going to birthing classes pretty soon. Should be a hoot, I guess. We want everything done and prepared for when I go on bed rest (mid-November) so we don't have to think about it too much later on.

I have to go read for school.

Go Team Beaker! 

Growing Pains

Anyone out there have any advice as to why my back is hurting so much? I haven't gained a lot of weight - only X pounds in the 15 weeks that I've been pregnant. I've gotten to where I can't sleep at night it's so bad! Aaarrrrrgh!

B & I are going to see Dr. Smith on Tuesday. We'll get to see the babes, but I'm pretty sure there won't be pictures to share with you. I MAY post pictures of my growing belly, but I'm not sure that I don't just look like an overstuffed couch.

School!

I had a little bit of good news today! Remember I'd been bummed about not getting to go to school this semester because of the Big Stupid Meany? Well! Last night I emailed my advisor about a class that she's teaching this semester. She was so nice and welcomed me into her class with great cheer! So I'll start on Tuesday and the class lectures end on Nov. 17th. I'll maybe miss a class or two on bed rest. I'm so excited about being in school. I'm so grateful to my professor for being so willing to be flexible & easy to work with. 

Hoorah!

Birds, Squirrels & Brett

Here we are at fourteen weeks. 

We have a week off of going to doctors, so the Babes will have to grow on their own for a week. Brett & I have placed the ultrasound picture from last week on the refrigerator and I walk by and stare. I wonder if their noses will ever be less than amazing? Hah! I suppose when they're leaking green stuff I will become less than enthusiastic about them. But still! Even then! We've waited such a long time for those noses! 

Brett, God Bless Him, has already started nesting. It's really cute. He's obsessed with getting the office and nursery done. Not necessarily with the furniture in the nursery, but painting, redoing and preparing. He's in love with Sherwin-Williams right now. He worked tirelessly on what will be our office/guest room all weekend. He took all of the contents out of what was my playroom and put them in the front room on Saturday morning. Yes: bed, desk, two bookshelves, and their contents removed within a matter of three hours. Then Billy & Emmalee came over and while Emmalee & I chatted, Billy & Brett pulled up all the carpet to expose the hardwoods underneath. Then Brett spent the afternoon and evening pulling up carpet nails. He's been so busy! On Sunday, we went to Sherwin-Williams as soon as we could to get paint and caulk and "hamsters" (which may be a real term, or may be something I picked up from the Ramsdens and kept using!) and a wall paper book. He then spent all of Sunday caulking around the room! So I could be of some help (I can't be of much when it's this intensive), I patched holes around the room. Go Team Beaker! But it's something. B wants to start painting tonight! After we go to the gym! After dinner! Which means starting at like 10! The man is a machine! He's a Nesting Machine!! He's putting the birds and squirrels to shame. It's something to behold.

Go Team Beaker!

Big Stupid Meany

I had great hopes for school this semester. I had emailed with my advisor and she'd had great hopes for me for the semester. They've all been dashed. Here's the story: though I'm getting mixed signals from the OB and the Perinatologist, there will be a time that I'm on bed rest to keep these Babes safe. That's my greatest priority and I'm going to stick with whatever Dr. Smith ultimately tells me. After all, he's primary care for these Babes while they're steeping. 

I emailed the professor who's teaching the class that I was REALLY excited about taking. I'm a good student. I have a 4.15 GPA after last semester, a fact about which I'm very proud. I thought that my academic record, and the fact that I wasn't going to blindside her, and the fact that I'm not having just one but TWO babies might have softened her. NOPE. She said congratulations (which she closed with a period, not an "excited stop.") and proceeded to tell me that my grade would be based a large part on class participation and I wouldn't be able to do that during November and December. No trying to work with me. No help. No let me think about it. She replied to me within 20 minutes with a NO. Wow. Georgia State at its finest. What a Big Fat Meany.

So, for all of my excitement and enthusiasm about being in school and my hard work from last semester, I am rewarded with a Great Big Finger. Fabulous. Why, you ask, is this such a big deal? Well, I feel like I've been turned around at every attempt to get my Masters. I waited when I was at OLA because we didn't think I'd be there that long. Then I waited because I kept getting pregnant. Then when I thought "Stuff it, I'm going back to school," I got pregnant my 6th time. That was the one I lost in January, and as we all know, I lost it for a little while. Then, I went back and Kicked Butt this summer! A tough semester, but I learned a lot and enjoyed being in school again. Now, when I've got a good momentum going, I'm being turned away. Are there any other classes I can take? Nope. They're all full because school starts next week. 

I'm really bummed. I thought getting my Masters would be a great thing: I could go back to work sooner, Brett could get a break and do what he needs to do, career-wise, and everything would be great. I realize (and don't lecture me, please) that the Babes are the most important thing in the world. 

Please don't think that I of ALL PEOPLE don't know that carrying Babes to term and having a family is extremely important. After what we've been through, I dare someone to say that I don't have my priorities straight. I was just hoping to have another class under my belt while I waited for these guys to get here. 

Bummer.

Prawns & Noses

Brett had to go to Jacksonville today so Momma took me to meet Dr. Korotkin this morning. I'm so glad she went because until we were born, she didn't get to see what we looked like. So I was thrilled that she could go and see the Babes today. And what a day to go see them! 

We must have seen 30 minutes or more of ultrasound footage. Thing 2 was very cooperative and let the nice ultrasound lady take lots of pictures, and complete tests that were very important and see the things she needed to see. Thing 1, though, woof! It's a different story! I believe that Thing 1 is the Furin of the bunch: has a mind of its own, was upside down for most of the ultrasounds, and I'm pretty sure has a headlamp in there with it. Crazy Furin! 

We saw little feet and hands, saw and heard the heartbeats and most importantly got to see the NOSES! These sweet babies already have cute little button noses! Oh My Sweet Cow! 

The Babes are 7.2 cm & 6.6 cm respectively, so approximately 3 inches each. Dr. Korotkin settled the "argument" that Petunia & I had been having about sizes. I said they're the size of peaches, she said shrimp. Dr. Korotkin said that they're a bit smaller than peaches, but bigger than shrimp. He says they're the size of Prawns. So that settles that!

From now on out, I'll get seen by someone every two weeks - Dr. Korotkin or Dr. Smith. Dr. Korotkin says that I CAN go to school for the fall semester, if I go with the understanding that eventually I may get yanked out for the end of it. There are so many opinions - it's amazing my head hasn't fallen off! But mostly, they are there to relieve my anxieties, and that's what they're doing!

Here are the pictures from today. Thing 2 is on top and Thing 1 is on the bottom. There are closeups of their faces and the wider shots are of their whole little selves! God Bless Our Babies.

Go Team Beaker!

Thirteen Weeks!

We've made it thirteen weeks! Technically, I'm in the second trimester and that's Miraculous!

Tomorrow Momma & I are going to meet the perinatologist. Hopefully we'll get some good pictures of the Babes to share. Brett's going to be out of town, so it'd be nice to have something to share with him while he's away. 

This weekend we went crib hunting. Talk about a daunting task! There are a million styles out there by a million makers. Thank goodness for the Baby Bargains book! It has been invaluable as we researched the cribs that we found and liked. We have found three or four that we are mulling over. We went out to The Baby's Room in Norcross, where we were assisted by the owner who has a twin sister! Imagine our delight to meet another boy-girl twin set! He was most helpful and Brett & I came away feeling less overwhelmed and more informed about our preferences and what we want to do in the Nursery. We'll have to make a decision in the next few weeks in order to have everything here before I go on bed rest.

Speaking of which: we're not sure how strict the doctor's going to be about bed rest. There's a chance it could be a modified bed rest where I can be up a few minutes every hour or so. Whatever it is, it means totally adjusting our existence for the last two, maybe three, months of our pregnancy. It's all in the name of making sure that I don't go into labor before the 34th week. That's why we want everything done and ready by November.

Anyway, the Babes are theoretically the size of peaches - about 3 inches. We'll see tomorrow! I'll report back after we meet the latest member of Team Beaker!

Go Team Beaker!

Oddness - but I guess normal?

I keep finding myself forgetting things, losing my train of thought, running out of breath & forgetting what I was talking about. In fact, I'm inside but I can't remember why I came inside....

Dr. Smith

B and I went for our 12 week check-up and our first meeting with Dr. Smith today. Dr. Smith is a nice OB, seemingly in his late 50s or early 60s. He is very conservative in some ways, but pretty liberal in other ways. We are his first set of twins in a while, so the nurse was pretty excited and Dr. Smith shifted into Twins Mode to tell us all the News That Is News About Twins.

Most importantly: We did NOT get pictures to post here today. We'll get those next week at the perinatologist and I'll post them then. We DID get to see the Babes in there squirming and playing and doing backflips. I'm fairly certain that I will have my little gymnast to whom I'll be able to teach cartwheels and back-walkovers! We could see good images of arms and legs with the rudimentary ultrasound machine at the office, and are so excited about seeing them in all their glory next week.

A brief run-down of what the Good Doctor said:

1. I will officially be in my second trimester next week. I guess week 12 is the final week of the first trimester. 

2. There really aren't foods that I have to avoid completely and entirely. He said to keep things in moderation and it will be fine. (That means I can have a hot dog!!!)

3. My heartburn isn't going to get any better, but there are things I can do to help it, including propping my head up at night and not drinking anything before bed and taking a wonderful fizzy antacid that he recommends.

4. I will be placed on Strict Bedrest at the beginning of November. That means no getting up except to go to the bathroom. I'll be reading and watching a LOT of movies. I hope people will come visit me so I don't die of boredom. I'm hoping to take a class online because going down to GSU is kinda out of the question. (Conversely, that means no housework!!)

5. I'm allowed to be a piggy, but I am not supposed to be a Hog. I understood the difference, do you?

How am I feeling, you ask? Oh, my. I'm tired all the time. I'm hungry all the time. I have decided that someone is stuffing me with upholstery every night because I look like an overstuffed couch. I will never be a Lovely Pregnant Lady, but I'm Pregnant and that's really all I care about. 

What questions do you have that I might be able to ask the next time I see Dr. Smith? He's a font of information and I am thrilled to have him on Team Beaker!

That being said:

Go Team Beaker!

Limes

Here's what happened at the pool yesterday:

L: Adele, how are you feeling?

Me: I feel pregnant! I look like a giant upholstered couch. I've outgrown my regular clothes. It's all very exciting.

L: You don't look pregnant.

Brett (a minute later): You know, L was just being nice. 

So, at eleven weeks, I'm growing limes. I love every minute that I feel pregnant (which is a lot, given that I'm sick so much and Starving the rest of the time). I think it's hilarious that after all we've been through and all the time and energy we've spent in hoping and praying and trying, we're having Two Babies! 

A neighbor down the street has twin girls - they're fraternal, like Thing 1 and Thing 2 - and she came down yesterday to share some wisdom with me. She, like I, grew out of her regular clothes by 9 and a half weeks. She shared a lot of good information with me and helped me remember that all the people out there who say, "Oh, I didn't show until late in my second trimester, so you're not showing either," didn't have twins! I have TWO little lime-sized people in there! It was nice to spend some time with someone who understood, confirmed and nodded when I asked about things that are going on with me. It's nice to have that.

So, the Babes, in case you didn't read the title, are the size of limes. They're in there, I'm assuming, happily steeping away and sweetly just doing their thing! Isn't it exciting? 

GO TEAM BEAKER!

Just about 10 weeks

I've been mildly busy with school. Just finished my first semester. I have two papers that I need to finish this weekend, but I finally feel like I can breathe and more importantly, write! I've included our two newest pictures of Thing 1 and Thing 2. (An aside: I know there are those of you who don't like me calling them "Thing 1" & "Thing 2." That's an allusion to Dr. Seuss's famous book The Cat in the Hat and I think it's funny.)

 Anyway, we went to Dr. Joffe this week to get his assessment of the spotting I experienced on Monday night. He said it was nothing to worry about and that there are so many things that could have caused spotting. He also told us that he is giving up OB, but not surgery. That means that I am going to go to another OB. The new OB's name is Dr. Smith and he will be in Dr. Joffe's practice. If I have to have a c-section (which is a very real possibility), Dr. Smith will likely call Dr. Joffe to scrub and assist. So, Dr. Joffe would be there in that event. 

Furthermore, most OBs consider multiples to be a high risk pregnancy. Therefore, I will also be seen by a Perinatalogist, Dr. Kerotkin. I will be seen by either Dr. Smith or Dr. Kerotkin every two weeks, which makes me very happy. I want to make sure that these Babes are growing well and staying healthy! 

Here are some of the pictures from our visit with Dr. Joffe on Wednesday. You can see the Babes better in these pictures. you can clearly see a little stubby hand and a leg on Thing 1. It kinda looks like it's lying on its back praying. Thing 2 is a little harder for me to discern. That's partly because it's a bit farther back, so it's harder to get pictures of it. 

It never ceases to amaze me that these two little Things came from the mass of cells that Dr. Perloe transfered back in May. It is nothing short of a Miracle that we're going to be able to be parents! Praise God!

Go Team Beaker!

Go Team Beaker!

B and I went to see Dr. Joffe today. He found nothing out of the ordinary. He said that spotting can occur for so many reasons and to try not to get worked up when that happens (hah!).

We have other information, but I'll post it later. I have to go finish some papers for school and get a bit of rest. It's been a full morning already!

Go Team Beaker!

Sometimes Scary

IVF has not made all things become wine and roses. I have had two instances in the past two weeks that have reduced me to tears and both of them involved bleeding. I started spotting again last night. Every time I see blood, naturally, I freak out.

I talked to Dr. Joffe - he's my OB - and he'll do an ultrasound tomorrow morning to make sure the Babes are alright. I talked to Sheila and she told me that everything is alright as long as it's not a lot of blood and it's not clumpy. Neither is true in this situation, so that's good. She told me that it's alright to go to school today. 

I'm just trying to take it easy. I'd rather stay in bed all day and let the Babes just grow and do their thing, but that's not possible right now.

Will you please just keep praying for us? 

Go Team Beaker! (please keep going!)

A Guest Appearance

Hello, there.  This is Brett writing, in a guest appearance.  We got some awesome news on Friday -- there are still two little people growing in there, with heartbeats and everything. We couldn't be more excited (and freaked out) about having TWO new additions to our family.

Adele has been having a rough time this weekend with the whole morning sickness thing, but I guess that's what she gets for making both of them stick.  While I hope that she feels better soon, and I'm sure she does, too, we are happy that she is feeling very pregnant, even if that isn't so pleasant for her sometimes.

So, now we sit tight and hope that everything continues to go well.  We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.  

GO TEAM BEAKER!!!

Here are some pictures from Friday.  Pretty cool, huh?

Hilarity.

Once upon a time, I ate three balanced meals a day. I would have a morning snack and an afternoon treat (I know, not exactly good for me, but bear with me). I would take a 30 or 45 minute snooze in the afternoons, because I learned from my Daddy that a nap in the afternoons is always a good idea. I would wake up rested and get on with whatever I had to do for the rest of the day. It was a good system and it worked!

Now, though, the Beast has changed! I eat all morning long just trying to find SOMETHING that will make the sickness go away. One morning this week, I ate half (HALF!) a cantaloupe and a bowl of cereal and a little cup of applesauce and three pickle quarters and a thing of crackers and a BLT. Finally, after the BLT, I felt full and not sick. Though I cannot for the life of me figure out why not!

My naps this week have turned into this insane sleeping time in which I wake up expecting to find a beard growing down my face and cars to fly. And I'm never rested when I wake up. In fact, I often feel that if I could go back to sleep, I would be a very happy girl. 

However, I love the fact that these symptoms (particularly morning sickness) are so pronounced. I love that I FEEL pregnant. It's taken such a very long time to feel like this and I'm not going to complain. I think that it would be dishonest of me to say that I feel magnificent because it's simply not true. I feel terrible. But emotionally, I do feel magnificent. I'm loving this! I'm relishing in the need to eat weird stuff constantly. I wallow in the four o'clocks when they get here. I live for my naps and get upset when anything interrupts them. Mostly, I love my Jolly Ranchers that keep my tummy in check! We're so blessed!

We're excited about our ultrasound tomorrow. Hoping that everything is going well and curious as to how many are still in there. Remember, there's a 30% chance that one got absorbed! 

Go Team Beaker!

woof.

Four more weeks of feeling like this? Are you kidding?

Sundays of Grace #6

1. I have been feeling awful! Thank goodness! About 4:00 every afternoon, I hit a proverbial wall. I know that eating something should make me feel better, but sometimes I just can't bring myself to scrounge something up! Thankfully, I remembered (thanks to a friend) the joy of Ramen Noodles. They are yummy and blandish and will fill me up. I'm going through those like they're my new best friend! I haven't yammed in the middle of the night anymore. I do wake up starving through the night. Unfortunately, my retainer makes eating much impossible. One hears that the worse morning sickness is, the more likely the babe is to stick. We're hoping that this amount of morning sickness means that both are sticking! We're grateful for morning sickness!

2. I'm so grateful for Sheila. I've said it a million times before, and I'll say it a million times again. She has been so wonderful! Earlier this week, we had a bit of a fright when I started spotting. Naturally, I see blood and I panic. I called her and left a message and she called me right back. She said that some spotting is alright as long as it isn't bright red or a lot. One of the medicines that I'm on (Endometrin) can cause cervical irritation and that makes blood. That made a lot of sense and made me feel SO much better! I'm so grateful for her! Sadly, after Friday, I'll be released to an OB. That means that my time with Sheila is limited. I'm sure I'll get to go visit her again after the Babes arrive, though! I know she wants to see what we produce! (An aside: since that episode, I've not had any more spotting. Another thing for which to be grateful!)

3. Brett ran the Peachtree Road Race this weekend. He ran it in a little bit more than an hour. I'm so proud of him! I missed being out there running (since I ran it my first time last year) and I'm hoping that I'll be able to train and run next year! I believe I have some grandparents (and a great-grandmother) who are excited to babysit for us while we run! Here are some pictures of our hero running (B is wearing his Team Beaker shirt!) and then after with his new shirt and two of my brothers!

Baby update: we go in on Friday for an ultrasound with Dr. Perloe. Let's keep praying that at least one is in there and happily steeping away! 

Go Team Beaker!

A Totally Different Note

I've already had some morning sickness. I mean, I get ookey feeling when I haven't had anything to eat in a few hours or ... you know... I suppose that's to be expected when you're expecting twins! But last night was something else! I woke up for one of my middle of the night visits to the ... you know... and got myself on back to bed. Well, no sooner did I get in bed and I felt starving. I mean absolutely stomach growling, going to help myself to a little roasted brett's arm without roasting it STARVING. I thought, "I'll fall back asleep in a minute and forget about it until the morning time when I can get up and have some toast." HAH!!! My tum-tum had other plans. It decided that if I wasn't going to feed it, and I mean NOW, it was going to turn on me and I'd be sorry. Well! I got my retainer out faster than you can say "Jack Robinson" when my tummy started turning over. I woke Brett up with "Oh Gosh, Brett, I think I'm going to fluidate all over!" God Bless the man, he woke up! And then he REALLY woke up! We bolted to the special room and my tummy threw a tantrum, "FEED ME! FEED ME! FEED ME!!!" and threatened more bodily damage if I continued to ignore it. So, after the "episode-at-Toilet-Hill," Brett got me some crackers & I drank some Gatorade (thanks Connie for teaching me about the tub o' Gatorade) and we all went back to sleep. Even Lucy, who was walking around acting genuinely concerned for my health and well-being. Even my tum-tum who had forgiven me my indiscretion. Even Brett who was wondering what on earth he's gotten himself into. 

This is crazy. I'm constantly hungry, but I can't ever figure out what they want! For now, toast and mild food. But I've learned my lesson! When tum-tum says jump, I'll remember to ask how high! 

Go Team Beaker! ... straight to the refrigerator and get something to eat!

Sundays of Grace #5

... better late than never...

1. We got to go to the Braves game yesterday (which is why this is tardy & being written on Monday). It was a great game! The Bravos held the Red Sox to only one run, while they themselves scored two! So, while the fans were competitive, it was all great fun and high energy and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

2. We're SO GRATEFUL for the news that we're going to have twins! While we're being realistic and remembering that there is still a 30% chance that one will get absorbed, we're also feeling blessed! Imagine, we're getting a decent sized family all at once! 

3. Billy is moving his sweetheart up here today. It's a big day for him. He's so in love and we're very excited for him. We hope that everything works out for him according to God's Plan and that God's Plan will be that he and his sweetheart are very happy together.

I Know You've Been Checking All Morning

Today is a day that will live in our hearts for an awfully long time. Brett and I are in absolute awe at the miracle that is facing us. We're having twins! Two of them! At one time! Praise God! We've hardly settled into our excitement and certainly haven't processed it all, but here we are, laughing and crying and praying and just generally throwing our hands up in pure, unadulterated JOY. 

Two babies! Wow! I wasn't planning on posting these, but Brett suggested that "Inquiring Minds want to know." Here are the pictures of Thing One and Thing Two. 

I realize they might not look like much to you, but to us, they look like the most beautiful, wonderful, perfect Miracles that God has ever bestowed on anyone. We are so thrilled to know that these babies are in here. Billy will be happy to know that the official due date is between February 14 - February 24, but February 18 is what they're forecasting. February 18 is his birthday. 

Brett and I got to see heartbeats and see both little beans. The beans measured at 6 weeks 5 days today, so they look like little potatoes with sprouts coming out of them and they're about the size of small blueberries. We're pretty blown away by the fact that our family has doubled in size today - we are now four instead of two! How exciting and how terrifying! Team Beaker is huge now!

Keep praying and keep those fingers crossed for us and for Team Beaker. We're not out of the woods yet, (until July 10 or so, there is a 30% chance that one will be reabsorbed) and we still need those positive vibes heading this way!

Go Team Beaker!!