Week 28 - 3rd Trimester HAS arrived!!!

It is official - we are in the 3rd trimester!

During this week, I realized something...throughout this entire pregnancy, I couldn't figure out for the LIFE of me why I was receiving weekly pregnancy emails for the following week...  Then it dawned on me...

I update this EVERY Sunday - but TECHNICALLY, when I'm updating I'm already in the next week.  So I just finished week 28 and right now (Sunday) I'm in my 29th week...yup - took me this long to realize it :)  Which is why I get those updates!

I have felt pretty good this week (physically)!  I've had back pains, but they haven't been AS severe as they have been in the past.  For a couple days this week I was 100% miserable, because I had developed a horrible cold. I thought it was bronchitis because I couldn't breathe and it hurt to lay down (my throat and chest hurt)...I went to Urgent Care on Wednesday, but it ended up being just a virus I caught :(  So Tylenol and rest is what I needed.  Me...rest....???  Yeah right :)  I had my daughter's 2nd birthday to plan - resting was the last thing on my mind :)  It's alright too, because I pulled through!

Babies sizes?  Well, they are both measuring in about 2.5 pounds (according to "what to expect") and measuring about 16 inches from head to toe!  And now multiply that by two...32 inches of baby and 5 pounds of baby (makes me feel like crap for all the "extra" weight women get to carry...stupid amniotic fluid!

I did notice that I'm starting to swell a little bit as well :(  Some days are better than others, but I noticed it in my feet, hands and face today :(  Bummer...

I'm sure this seems like a boring baby week, but it wasn't too eventful!  I have a Dr. appointment this coming week, so that'll add some excitement (sorry, no baby pictures though...)  But the good old gestational diabetes test....oh joy!  AND - our crib and converter set are FINALLY in - so hopefully we can pick that up this week and have it set up by our next post...

Doubtful though - our boys basketball team is in the state tournament, so Josh will be gone a lot...

A few Callie videos!

For the past several months, I have been leading some Early Childhood trainings with a fellow friend/colleague of mine, Amy G.  We have been working with Mower Counties preschool teachers and day care provides to align our early childhood - pre-kindergarten to helping our children move into kindergarten smoothly.  It is a GREAT program and I hope we receive the grant next year!

We have led trainings that have focused on: Vocabulary Development, Fine Motor Skills & Listening Comprehension.  Now these are VERY broad topics that can cover a lot of different areas, so we tried to focus on certain areas from birth-age 6.

Many of the times, I would not only focus on the kindergarten side of my experience, but I focused on the "mom" side as well...having a toddler at home who is doing a lot of these things, it was nice to come with examples!

Here are two videos Josh recorded that shows how we read to our daughter.  This isn't meant to "teach" anyone - but it is so darn cute and funny that I had to post it :)  You have to watch them in order...and remember this - at least she was making a real life connection here :)

Callie also LOVES playing with her dolly and her Elmo!  Often times we will walk into the bathroom and see this...Callie teaching one of her toys how to use the potty! I just laugh!  And typically we don't let her use a lot of TP, but sometimes it's okay for her to experiment with it and learn how to do it!

This is seriously adorable!

27 Weeks: Baby Back Ribs

This week has been pretty exciting for me - I won't lie!  I also won't be the first to tell you that it is rather uncomfortable carrying more than one child!  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being pregnant - I would do this all the time (but you know money, space, food - that all plays a pretty big roll in raising a child - or 3)...

Our babies are currently opening and closing their eyes any time they please!  If you get really close, they might see you :)  Just kidding!  But they are also sleeping and waking at regular intervals!  I wonder if one of them is sleeping and one is awake - if they wake each other up?  Or if they sleep and are awake at the same time!?  I don't wake up from them moving, so I'm hoping that is a good sign (and don't bust my bubble of hoping they'll be good sleepers for me...just let me dream!)

Lately, this carrying twin babies business has NOT been easy.  This blog post isn't going to be as bubbly as most posts typically are...so it's okay to feel a smidge bad for me...I mean, this is my last pregnancy.

This week, the swelling has started kicking in.  It's not super noticeable unless I point it out to you - or you see it an you're just being nice!  My feet still fit in ALL of my shoes; however, I notice by the end of the day that my feet are a little bit bigger than normal - a little puffier...  Also, I've noticed my fingers swelling up more than usual - my rings are getting tight :(  I didn't wear them all day today (Sunday) and it drove me nuts :( :(

My stomach is doing all sorts of changes.  It is REALLY hard and almost impossible to bend over, and then it is cramping up - but not a contraction cramping up - more of a "my muscles are going to rip apart" cramping...

I can no longer see below my stomach.  I look down and see a big double bubble (as a friend of mine at work calls me).

Breathing is almost impossible.  If you've ever been to Denver, CO and have ran the stairs at Red Rocks - you know the feeling when you seriously can't breathe...well, that's me...ALL THE TIME!  It's okay, because I'm still able to breathe, but don't judge me if I seem 100% out of breath much more quickly!  Walking from one place to another has me winded!

The worst - which I saved for last: MY BACK!  I know I have mentioned how it has been bothering me, but this week, I finally did something about it.  Josh convinced me to go into the chiropractor on Thursday and have a maternity massage.  I had about 4-5 of these when I was pregnant with Callie and they are amazing!  The best part is being able to lay on your stomach :)

I went in and explained the feeling felt like someone had a nail in my back and was screwing it in tighter and tighter...then I mentioned how it felt like one of my ribs was going to burst through my skin...

My masseuse, who was AMAZING and I will for sure be going back, asked if I could feel any pressure in a certain part of my back - I explained no, but that was the EXACT spot it hurt.  Well, long story short - looks like these babies need more room.  I have a smaller rib cage and it's not going to be big enough ... they have caused one of my ribs to come out of alignment - it is a "displaced" rib cage...something that is VERY common with women who are pregnant.  I am going to contact my doctor to make sure this is okay to receive treatment for...if so - I can't wait to feel good again :)

So yeah - that explains it - displaced ribs - Thanks babies :)  (hence the title for this blog: Baby Back Ribs!)

My new favorite is when everyone asks me how I'm feeling (which is TOTALLY normal, I do it to pregnant mom's ALL THE TIME & I remind myself, they wouldn't ask if they didn't care)...
But you know when you go to the bank (example) and the banker asks how you are doing and you always answer with an "I'm good, thank you" - or something along those lines...EVEN if you are having a TERRIBLE day!?  Well, I've decided, carrying twins is 100% different...when someone asks me how I am doing - I'm going to be brutally honest...WHY!?  Because 1. it's twins, and it is COMPLETELY different than a singleton pregnancy.  You doubt it?  Well, ask yourself this question - have you carried twins!?  and 2. So few people will experience a twin pregnancy that I feel I owe it to whomever asks me to tell them how it really is...

So here is what I tell people:
"Well, it is COMPLETELY different than a pregnancy with one baby...it's a lot more exhausting and a lot more uncomfortable.  There isn't enough room, so the babies are deciding to make their own by kicking my rib cage out ... it's a great feeling.  I feel fat and swollen all the time and I still have a lot of time left... Other than that - I'm feeling GREAT!  At least I'm sleeping good!"

Which, by the way, in case you were wondering - that is starting to go as well...

Also - I'm including this picture because it makes me sad...I had two stretch marks on my sides from Callie, but they were so small nobody could see them...but guess what - they are here :(  and they're here to stay :(  At least mine look like this:

And not like this (oh you poor, poor thing...I pray to God mind don't get like this...I found this picture on Google...sorry lady with crazy red tiger stripes...)

I do love being pregnant, but I have a high pain tolerance, and my aching back is doing me in...

Twins 1 - Mommy 0

Austin Packer Basketball

All season long, Callie and I have packed up her basketball game and headed to the Austin Packer Boys Basketball games.  We traveled to the away games (most of them) and went to the home games (all of them).  There was a two week span that we didn't go, because she was potty training and I wanted her to feel confident before throwing her out in public.

This has been an amazing season with so much growth and competition!  Teams we have lost to in the past, we were beating!  The crowd was always large and cheering loud!  AND the players have been playing right along with the atmosphere...

Callie is quite the basketball fan :)  Lately, she's only been wanting to wear her "Daddy Shorts" or "Basketball Shorts" - they are the same thing.  Either way, we've been shopping in the boys department buying "basketball shorts"...and I'm okay with it - that way she won't be confused on what kind of athlete she should grow up to be :)  And I've learned that shorts are cheaper than dresses!

Callie and I sit in the same spot for every home game: on the end behind the bench!  On the end so we can be in and out in case she needs to use the potty & by the bench so we don't have a ton of fans around us - sometimes this little one likes keep herself busy!

Here are some fun photos from the last game we attended - We are playing ON Callie's 2nd BIRTHDAY! for the Section Finals game - if we win - we GO TO STATE!!!!  Our boys haven't been there since 1982...

 Part of the reason Callie is so well behaved at games: I stock up on snacks and give them to her frequently!

Here she is probably eating some M&M's...a "BASKETBALL ONLY" treat!

 The #3 is for her favorite player Nathan Schwab!  I'm not worried about showing favoritism...Nathan has been in her life since she was born (I have pictures to prove it!)  And Callie ADORES him :)

 Tip off - GO PACKERS!  They were playing Winona here!

Check out the student section (all in red) - and they stand the entire game :)

 During Packer free throws, the student section does one clap and raises one finger above their head.  If it goes in they drop it down with a "whoosh".  I have taught Callie how to do this - SHE LOVES IT - and she claps regardless :)  So encouraging!

Yes - she has her own chair that she sits in :)

 Time to pull out the suckers (actually after she goes potty for the first time at a game, she has it drilled into her mind that she gets a sucker!).  I love her "Cheering" face here!  She really does cheer them on - it's awesome!

 Peyton & Jordan Ransom with Callie :)  I love that Callie was holding up the #1 - without being told :)

I seriously just told her to take her hand out of her mouth!  That's right girl - #1 :)

 Callie with Nate's younger sister, Payton Schwab - Callie loves this entire family :)  

I may need a Schwab family picture...with Callie!

 There he is - Callie's favorite Packer player...#3, Nathan Schwab.
This picture turned out so stinkin cute!

The McRae Family!
Callie is rocking her new shoes - Packer red!

Uncle Bruce is here :) :)

Bruce, Heidi and the boys have been living in Okinawa, Japan since July 2010.  I know they have loved every minute of it, and we have missed them so much - but I will be very greedy here...I am VERY excited to have them back in the states :)

Here are some facts: Bruce is in the states for the month of March for training.  He is also house hunting for Heidi and the boys.  The whole family is flying back in late June (YEAH).  Their ginormous dog, Trooper is staying with my mom and dad until June :)  Heidi and the boys will be living somewhere in MN (close to my parents!).  On the sad side, Bruce will be stationed in Saudi Arabia for a year :(  We are really going to miss him...

This past weekend, Bruce was at my mom and dads house, so we packed up and headed there :)  It was SO good to see Bruce again ;)  And most importantly, I was SO excited that Callie was able to see her Uncle/Godfather again :)  We sure missed Heidi and the boys, but this was some good uncle/niece bonding time :)

When we first got there Friday night, Bruce hadn't flown in yet, but was going to arrive about 9:00 PM (we tried to keep Callie up, but she was ASKING to go to sleep!).  It was so funny though - we walked in, she wanted Grampa and that was that.  Everywhere she went, he had to go with - yes, this included the bathroom!  I love this picture, because Callie was trying to poop, while my dad just sat there and kept her company :) Haha!  Thanks dad!

It took a little bit for Callie to warm up to Uncle Bruce - as I figured it would.  She hasn't seen him since she was 3 months old!  But let me tell you - that was VERY quick to change :)  He changed the batteries in one of her toys and BAM - instant friends :)  She calling for him, but instead of saying "Uncle Bruce" it came out "Bunckle Goose"  Hahaha!!!!

Callie had a blast playing with Trooper too!  At first, Trooper would run away from her anytime she went near him.  I think he was scared of her size :)  Callie slowly started moving closer to him, and then she gave him a treat - from that point on...she could get as close as she wanted :)  She also can't say "Trooper" - instead she calls him "Pooper"!

I took this SUPER cute video of Callie singing to Trooper!  (Heidi - you'll have to have Trygg watch this!)

Callie's room is COMPLETE!

Callie's room has been a work in progress, mainly because we were waiting out new stages; however, our big girl is seriously big.  I mean, check out this precious face...this is her saying "cheese" for the camera :)  What a ham!

Here's a little 360 of her room :)  This is her little reading corner!  She LOVES it - especially now that we've added her rug!  She is in there with her books, babies and magnetic alphabet letters ALL the time!

Her big girl bed - which she LOVES! Couple things that will be different: 1. we have officially removed the bed rails!  She sleeps up against the wall side of the bed, and we've had them down for a week and she hasn't fallen, so we've taken it out :)  2. This particular night stand is going to be in the nursery - but for now it's housing her books.  I haven't decided if I want to mount some book shelves (there are some at Ikea that would be awesome) or what...but we want books by her bed.  Whenever Callie wakes up from either her nap or in the morning, she sits on her bed calling for us.  If we don't come, she grabs a books and just sits there.  She NEVER gets out of bed - not until we've come in to get her :)

Daddy painted her dresser to match her room :)  She also has her baby crib and her toy chest in her room (our friend's made that for her!)  The light that is on is new and she is obsessed with it :)  She thinks it is so great having her own pink light!  Her CD player plays two CD's - Taylor Swift by day & Baby Einstein by night!

Every little girl room needs some Sesame Street Characters :)  Again - the night stand is not going to be in there!  Unless we find a nice white one - then we'll keep one there.  We also bought a matching floor rug - she likes to dance on it :)

Just another view of her big girl room :)

Callie showing off where her baby sleeps!  She was even nice enough to share her "nice blankie" as she calls it :)

Kisses for baby :)

So there you have it - Callie's big girl room!  I still can't believe she isn't swaddled in a blanket like a burrito - looking huge in her crib...this time is going WAY too fast :(  I want it to STOP so I can bottle more of it up and keep her forever!

We have an XBox Kinnect, and Josh has been trying to get Callie to play the "Elmo" game!  She does pretty well with it now!  She is jumping up and down here, because that is what Elmo said to do :)  So cute!

Week 26 - Money Saving Week :)

This past week has been very eventful.  I had been feeling great, until Wednesday.  During the night (Tuesday night), I woke up very uncomfortable and it was hurting.  I just figured it was the way I was laying, and I went back to sleep.  That morning, while I was getting ready for work, I felt it again - it was like a sharp pain - almost like a menstrual cycle cramp.  I went to work and would feel them randomly throughout my morning.  I'll be honest, it hurt the MOST while I would be up walking around.

I called my Dr. and they said to come in.  I also called my mom right away - just to give her a heads up (something I do with pretty much everything in my life!).  It was about noon and I told Josh I had a 2:00 Dr. apt.  Luckily he was able to go with - had he not been able to, my mom was going to drive down and go with me - just in case!

We went to the appointment and our Dr. ran a couple tests on me to see if I was experiencing preterm labor. He said that the things I am experiencing are probably my muscles stretching - something I never experienced with Callie (I had complete control my whole pregnancy with her)...

I won't make you wait - he called me back later that evening and informed me that my test came back negative and I was NOT experiencing preterm labor :)  YEAH!  My cervix is nice and tight & long he said :)

Yes - I am in my PJ's in this picture - I really don't care :)  

Josh spent the day today finishing up some things in the nursery - the dresser is almost painted (YEAH!) and I think we decided on ordering a big "Phat Head" Gopher M for the wall above the dressers vs. him painting even more :)  Call it the easy way out - but if you ever see these baby gophers in person, you'll understand!

I'm not sure if it was my constant bringing it up and nagging about it, or if Josh decided it was time, but we took some time to go check out more car seats-this time, Babies R Us was our first stop - but in the cities!  Rochester's selection just wasn't very big. 

We met Josh's dad & Sharon there - it was nice to have Callie run around and play with them too :)  We immediately found an extremely knowledgeable employee - Jason - who knew SO MUCH about car seats, safety, and had two children of his own :)  He and Josh were lining up car seats in the store like a jigsaw puzzle.  He was telling us about the way certain seats are made/cut to fit with others.  Finally, Josh brought them to the car - and Jason went with him :)

After a couple attempts and trying out only a couple different seats - THEY DID IT!  I'm not kidding, I hugged him with tears in my eyes (Jason - the employee)...We brought Callie out, had her try sitting in it and everything...

PRAISE THE LORD!

We didn't care the amount of money we spent on the car seats, because it was going to be nothing compared to the loss we would have taken on our vehicle had we had to trade in for a mini van.

We know it probably would be easier - a mini van, but what everyone was forgetting is that we JUST bought this car.  We hadn't even started trying to get pregnant when we first bought it.  It was three short months after that we found out we were having twins.  The amount we would have lost would have been about $8-10,000.00 - we really wanted to make this work!  And we are SO happy that we did :)

Callie will be able to turn around in her car seat in 2 very short weeks - when she turns...TWO YEARS OLD!