To Continue Following the Zoo...

Please keep visiting with us! We're not Creating the Coburn Family anymore - now we're a full Zoo! Visit the Monkey House by clicking here...

Or, conversely, here's the address: http://coburnzoo.blogspot.com

Lots of Love!

All Us Chickens at the Zoo.

The End

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:27

WOAH! Are those my ankles?

We must be getting on towards the end, 'cause you should SEE my ankles! Actually, it's everything from waist down... Last night when I went to bed, my ankles were the size of large grapefruits. This morning, they're only the size of tennis balls, but my feet - oh my beautiful Furin Feet - I hardly recognize them!

I realize that the swelling is a natural part of the end of pregnancy, but we have to go to the doctor about it anyway. We'll report back later on.

Time is running out for me to "enjoy being pregnant." It's amazing how fast this has flown. And yet, how slowly it has dragged on and on and on and on...

Enough about me, how are you? hah hah hah hah hah ahhhh....

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!