34+ weeks and other good news! Saturday – December 29, 2007

I’m now 34 weeks along. Hooray! Every day the babies continue to cook means less time in the NICU. Even though I’ve never been more uncomfortable in my life, I’m REALLY hoping they’ll hold out until at least 36 weeks. That’s my goal. And in addition to that being best for their health, it will also allow us to get settled in the house before all the chaos starts.

We’ll FINALLY be moving back home on Monday, 12/31! There is still a bit of finish work that will need to be completed inside the house after we move in. But, we’ll be IN and that’s huge! Also, the outside still needs a final coat of stucco, paint, and then new landscaping. But – the job is 90% done!

So, let’s go back to the “uncomfortable” topic. Everyone who sees and knows me asks how I’m doing. I probably always reply with “huge!”, and spare them all the details. If you’re REALLY interested in knowing how I feel… a twin pregnancy at 34 weeks is kind of summed up like this:
1. Your belly measures as large as a single baby prego belly at 44 weeks. Not cool. It’s just plain painful for everything below the boobs, most of which I haven’t seen in months.

2. Walking: I don’t walk. I waddle. Both of my grandmothers could easily beat me walking to the corner and back.

3. Chairs: Why can’t ALL chairs recline?! Chairs that don’t recline are like a slow torture at this point. I’d almost rather stand to avoid the circulation cutting off to the feet I can no longer see.

4. Belly itch: Not only is my belly HUGE… it itches SO MUCH its painful. I have patches of red up and down my sides from itching and irritation.

5. HOT! I wish I could say I’m SEXY hot right now… but no. Sadly, I have just become a human furnace.

6. Dinner: I fear dinner because it’s just the prelude to reflux or extreme heartburn. And, if I dare eat too much, too late at night, I feel like throwing up all night. My stomach has officially taken up residency in a new location—my throat.

7. Sleep: Not getting much. Hip pain, getting up to “use the potty chair” (as we tell Gabby) every hour, and serious heartburn are just nature’s sick way of preparing me for sleepless nights. Lovely.

8. Driving in a car: Painful. Not fun. Contraction-mania. And, I seriously DREAD speed bumps… they are painful to go over. If I still had to battle rush-hour traffic I know I would have already had to test one of Gabriella’s diapers because at this point squatting isn’t even an option. I would literally tip over and not be able to get back up by myself. Lord knows that wouldn’t be a pretty site for anyone driving by on the freeway @ 5mph during rush hour… matter-of-fact, it would probably cause an accident.

A wonderful Christmas holiday week! Wednesday – December 26, 2007

For obvious reasons, the Martino’s spent the Christmas holiday in California. We listened to holiday music, ate grandma Leona’s yummy fudge (how cool that she sent it from MN!), and enjoyed several celebrations with wonderful family and friends here. So – it was still fabulous and memorable!

We enjoyed a big holiday dinner and gift opening at Gabby’s godparents’ home (Trish & Todd) on the 21st, before they headed off to the east coast for the week. Gabby just loves her godparents, her cousins Courtney and Tori and her great grandparents Leo and Kenny. It was a really fun night and Gabby is obsessed with the “Rescue Pack” (think “Diego”) that Courtney gave her.

On Christmas Eve, Dan, Gabby & I took Dan’s mom to church, out for dinner and then Dan, Gabby & I opened gifts and enjoyed our little trio of a family. At church, Gabby loved listening to the holiday music and would continue humming after a song would be finished and then laugh with excitement. She also entertained the people around us quite well. At the beginning of the service, after the priest said “Let us pray”, Gabby yelled out “That’s so silly!” and started laughing. She had everyone around us giggling and Dan and I were in tears. Whenever the church would be quiet, Gabby would yell out “I want to see Baby Jesus!” After about 40 minutes though, it was time to explore stuff outside the church.

Gabby had fun opening her first 4 gifts and then she decided to delegate, saying “Daddy, can you open this for me?” And, since Dan’s been such a great husband and daddy (especially while I’ve been on restrictions with the pregnancy), I decided to break down and give him Playstation 3, along with 3 games and extra controllers for when we have friends over. Could it be that this pregnancy has made me insane? I have twins coming, a 2 year old, and I just gave my husband Playstation 3? I must be crazy! But, Dan already seems to be exercising great constraint as he’s been SO BUSY with work and managing the contractors finishing up work at our house.

Christmas Day was spent with our good friends, Kathleen, Michael and their girls. Kathleen made a delicious dinner and her home was decorated so nice – it definitely felt like Christmas Day. And, Dan & I always enjoy spending time with them. The girls played SO nice together too. Gabby and Livi had a blast and Maddy tried to keep up with the two older girls. It was a really nice afternoon/evening.

We’re now looking forward to celebrating a mini re-Christmas with my parents when they arrive in 2008 at casa Martino 2.0. They’re coming out to help us with the arrival of the twins and also with getting settled back in the house. We’re looking very forward to their visit!

10+lbs of baby @ 32 weeks & 6 days! Thursday - December 20, 2007

I’m now almost 33 weeks and its official – I’m carrying 10+lbs of baby! I spent yesterday at the hospital for my weekly non-stress test, an ultrasound and a regular OB appointment. I haven’t posted photos from the last 3 ultrasounds because it’s hard to really “see” features as the babies get larger. Current baby stats are:
Baby A: 5lbs 1oz (59%)
Baby B: 5lbs (58%)

I’m told that since space is getting tight in the belly, the babies’ growth rate will begin slowing down a bit. They’re still above average for a single baby (comparative % above is for singleton pregnancy), so I’m not going to worry yet. But, this might explain my recent loss of appetite. Or maybe it’s that I seem to have picked up a sore throat which makes it painful to even swallow or talk. Not sure… but I do find that I have to remind myself to eat lately. Food just doesn’t seem to interest me.

The babies’ heart rates also looked great. But, since I had 3 contractions over the 30 minute non-stress test monitoring session, the nurses felt it was necessary to share the news with my MD. It didn’t seem like a big deal to me, as I feel the contractions all the time. But apparently it’s a big deal to them when you actually FEEL the contractions as the machine picks them up. The nurse told me she didn’t think I’d have to go down to labor & delivery… all I could think was “Ummm… yeah, let’s HOPE not. Not today, this week, or the following week, please. I still need to get back in my house and get organized.” Regardless, everything seemed fine. My cervix is still fully closed (most important!), but again shorter (between 1-1.5). And, the belly now measures what a singleton pregnancy belly measures at 42 weeks. Just thinking about that makes me stomach itch and my bones hurt. Argh!

Two amazing girlfriends threw us a family baby shower on Sunday. It was so nice and so much fun to share an afternoon with great friends before these babies rock our world. And, it was great to take a day off from dealing with more house errands & drama.

My maternity leave officially started on Monday, 12/17. But, I don’t feel like I’ve been on leave yet. I’ve been running so many errands for the house—that’s almost a full time job in itself. Our move-in date is now officially next Saturday, 12/29. We’re SO excited and it’s nice to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Oh, and two quick stories…
1. Last week I was at Bath & Body Works. An employee came up to me, looked straight at my belly and said “You know, I can show you where our stretch cream products are.” I could only laugh half-heartedly and say “Yeah, I’m not looking for that.” How do you explain to a skinny little teenage girl that she’d be best off not asking REALLY LARGE pregnant women if they’d like stretch cream? Clearly, she has not been around many hormonal and LARGE pregnant women.
2. I was in Target two weeks ago. A guy (mid-30’s, good looking) stops and points at my belly and says “Hey, you better make sure you don’t bump into anything sharp” and begins chuckling… and I look at him a bit shocked, give him an evil chuckle back and walk away in awe.

Need I even make a comment on the above? Anyone who knows me well probably knows what else was going through my mind.

FLASHBACK - Santa visit 2006

Here's a flashback to Gabriella's visit with Santa in 2006.

We haven't yet attempted the Santa visit this year, but Dan REALLY wants it to be a yearly thing... no matter how much kicking and screaming takes place.

I think he forgot that we now have a 2 year old who knows how to RUN.

Stay tuned...

LOVE this time of year! Saturday - December 8, 2007

Dan took another belly photo as we hit 31 weeks. Gabby decided we should also document the growth of her belly. Cute, huh?

I absolutely LOVE this time of year! I love seeing holiday lights on homes and trees lining city streets, holiday parties & music, and getting holiday greetings in the mail from friends and family. And, I was SO excited to go all out with Christmas lights and decorations at home this year knowing full well that Gabby would truly get a kick out of it. BUT… SCREECH! Our contractors are behind schedule and our move back home date has officially been pushed to 12/22. Plan B is now in full force… so we’ve got this fabulous little fiber optic “Christmas’ tree which seems to be doing the trick.

Talk about stressful. I just hope the babies don’t come early. I mean… it would suck for me, of course… but it would REALLY suck for the contractors. I’ve already made phone calls and appearances to very firmly, but nicely, remind everyone of work left to be completed, the schedule, etc…oh and REMIND them again that I’m VERY pregnant with TWINS. I figure… if it’s painful for my husband to hear me nag… it’s gotta’ be REALLY annoying for a man who didn’t vow to love me for better or worse.

My plan was to begin my maternity leave on Monday. But, since our move date pushed out, I decided to convince my doctor to approve of me working through next week. No “new issues” have risen, although she was a bit worried about my recent onset of swelling. I literally had softball size ankles when I got home from work Wednesday night. It felt like my feet were on FIRE. My weight and blood pressure were fine though, so we didn’t worry about preeclampsia. My restrictions remain the same. My discomfort has skyrocketed. And, my belly now measures the same as that of a woman who is 38 weeks along with a singleton pregnancy.

But hey – here’s a quick HOORAY for hitting 31 weeks! Another week down, another week the babies have had to continue growing.

Heartbreaking news... Saturday - December 8, 2007

A woman in Tucson, AZ, died of heart failure while delivering her triplets yesterday. My heart goes out to her husband and her three baby boys. It’s definitely a risk with a higher order pregnancy, and the doctors openly discuss this with you. But, you never imagine hearing about these instances… much less having to live the experience. Truly heartbreaking.

Full story on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/12/07/rathbun.az.father.triplets.help.kvoa

30 Weeks! Saturday - December 1, 2007

I’ve hit 30 weeks—hooray! As you can clearly see… I’m getting huge and probably look as umcomfortable as I feel.

Today, we took Gabby to see the holiday parade in Los Gatos. It was really chilly out – but it was worth it to get out of the house and get some holiday hype for our little monkey. For the first 10-15 minutes, Gabby was very content and in awe watching all the floats and licking cream cheese off a bagel. The next 10-15 minutes were spent being a wiggle worm alongside us, but on the edge of the street. Then, the next 15 minutes were basically filled with daddy chasing Gabby up and down the crowded sidewalks of LG and mommy wondering where they might be. Good times…