The Latest...

No babies yet. I am holding on strong. But I did have lots of helpers today from church. We are being well taken care of around here.

I have to thank Willie R., Marie R., Sue H. and Tanya E.

The cool thing is that three of the four of these women are from my super awesome book club. They are some seriously cool chickies.

Random Thoughts

**Rinar and I went to the thrift store on Saturday and look at the fun hat I found. The kids love it, especially Eli.**

We had a fun weekend because we had special visitors. Jamie came to town for the weekend with his girlfriend. I would be hesitant to call her the girlfriend, but if they are going to hold hands in front of me, then I will go ahead and slap a big label on that one, for sure.

Sorry, no pictures.

Since he was here, he volunteered to babysit for us and so I got my hair done and then Rinar and I went to lunch together and did our thrift store shopping. I decided to darken my hair a bit and cut it short and sassy. I didn't take a picture today when I was all cute, so the pictures will come later when I am cute again.

Did you notice my baby countdown? Can you say 18 days??? We are rolling along. Thursday is the magic day. I will be 36 weeks, so if anything happens after that it is just fine and the doctors will let it happen. I might have said this before, but I am practically senile so I don't remember, nor do I care.

As for being pregnant, it is getting tougher these days. Last night was especially rough. I tried to go to sleep at about 1:30 am. Well, I was up at 2:30 am with a horrible acid attack. But this time, it coated my entire esophagus. It would not go away. Therefore, after fretting about what to do, I finally opted for a recliner and slept several hours there. Then at about 7am, I switched back to my bed. I was therefore able to get a whopping five hours of very interrupted sleep. Awesome, huh? I had not had any food for 7 hours, so it could not have been a diet issue. I have come to the conclusion that the babies schedule a nightly boxing match at about 2:45am and they warm up the hooks and jabs on my stomach. Well, it is either boxing or ballroom dancing. I am not sure which one, but either way, my stomach pays the price.

The Relief Society president has decided that they are going to help me the next few weeks. She gave me an offer I just couldn't (or wouldn't dare) refuse. Hence, I will be having lots of people at my house this week to help with whatever. I am not sure how I feel about this because I get very self-conscious about people in my house, especially if I sit around doing nothing and my house is a wreck. It is hard but I will try to endure.

Wish me luck.

35 Weeks in the Bag

I have officially made it farther than I did with Raef and Zach and I am so happy. My spirits are high and I know that I can endure to the end. Raef and Zach were born at 34 weeks and 5 days. I am 35 weeks today. My OB told me that when I make it to 36 weeks, they will do nothing to stop contractions after that. One week and I am in the clear.

Here are a few things I am looking forward to:

1. Eating whatever I want.
2. Putting the Tums in storage.
3. Taking a long, unimpeded pee.
4. Only visiting the bathroom 3 times a day, instead of 3 times an hour.
5. Touching my toes.
6. Sleeping on my stomach.

These are just a few of the things we take don't appreciate when we are not pregnant. I am ready to appreciate them to their fullest in about 2-3 weeks.

I mention #3 because I specifically remember last year when I was in the hospital after I had given birth to Eli. I went to the bathroom and I got it all out and it felt great. Sorry that I am lingering on about urination, but it is one of those things in life we don't appreciate until it becomes a big, constrained hassle. All you moms out there know what I mean.

Okay, enough about urination...

We went to the car show at the District tonight. They usually have a live band on the weekend and the kids were really excited to see a band there. They get out there and run around and dance. But mostly they just run around. Eli is especially fond of dancing. He got right out there in the middle of the little plaza and started doing his special dance moves. He really got into it. He lifted his legs higher than usually and his head was cocked to the side. Then he spun and spun and spun. When the song would finish, Eli would point at the band and say, "Mom." No, I wasn't singing. That is his way of saying 'More'. Rinar would ask him, "Do you want another song?" and then he would vigorously nod his head up and down. It was a fun night and a good memory.

A Pathetic Pregnancy Post

Oh... the travails of pregnancy. I guess I have become a little bit obsessed with this topic considering the fact that all I do is sit around and incubate every day. I am good for pretty much nothing else.

I went to church today and only stayed for sacrament meeting. But during the time before and after the meeting, I got a lot of very sympathetic women (and a few men) who asked me how I was doing and if they could help me at all. I have come to realize that I must look very pathetic. I mean, people are really feeling sorry for me, which almost makes me feel sorry for myself.

I have decided that in order to gin up as much sympathy as possible, I am going to follow the advice of Mrs. Bennett from "Pride and Prejudice", the best novel ever written...

"Those who don't complain, cannot be pitied."

My feet and hands are starting to feel a little bit swollen. My belly is really starting to be a hindrance to any kind of attempt at movement. And I am running out of clothing options. Hence, Rinar's stuff is looking more appealing every day.

Also, last night was lots of fun. First of all, let me say that having a craving for Krispie Kreme donuts at 9:30pm does not coincide well with any attempts at slumber. And I may have eaten three donuts. I am pregnant, so my memory is not so good, but it might have been three...just maybe. After I ate a few donuts, I went to bed and turned out the light at 12am. This is some kind of record for me. Unfortunately, even with a preventative dosage of 2 Zantac, I popped up out of bed at 12:45 with a horrible acidic surprise at the back of my throat. I downed about 8 Tums and eventually went back to sleep.

It did not last long. I popped up rather frantically out of bed again at 1:30am. It would seem that the only time I can move with any kind of speed is in these pathetic situations. After a lot of coughing, water-drinking, and Tums-chewing I had to go sit up for about an hour until my stomach settled down. I read the news on the internet and contemplated an early morning blog entry, but decided against it because I was practically delirious. By 2:30am I was back in my bed and fast asleep, I mean until about 5:30 when I had to wake up and go to the bathroom.

If there isn't pressure on one end, then there is certainly pressure on the other end.

I guess I really am as pathetic as I look these days.

Gut Check - 34 Weeks

The time has come for another photo of me! I didn't realize how big I am right now. My belly is really out there. I guess I should have figured as much because I have a few little incidents due to poor depth perception on my part. I knocked over my drink that I was desperately looking forward to drinking. Yes, it was my wayward belly. Then I walked past the refrigerator and knocked some magnets off of the door. I was about a mile away from the door, I swear. It is totally understandable, isn't it?

As for my pregnancy, I am doing great! I had another appointment today and they did a quick ultrasound and the fluids look good and the babies are alive and very active. They also monitored me for about 30 minutes. Now I get to go in once a week to the perinatologist, and every other week to my OB/GYN. The biggest concern right now is the amniotic fluid, not my cervix anymore. Hooray for that! I am glad the focus of concern has moved upstairs, if you know what I mean. Now that I am so close to October, I am really going to concentrate on lounging and negligence of my children...oh, I mean the health of my unborn. That sounds better, right?

No really... I have decided to really cut back on school work with the kids since I definitely overdid it on Tuesday. We did do school work all through the summer for this very purpose. Therefore, I think it is time to cash in.

Speaking of children, here is my very enthusiastic photographer for this picture of me.

So demure and laid back, huh? I wish he could just show some enthusiasm once in a while. Sheesh!

So You Think You Can Dance, Eli?

First of all, notice that my countdown chart is in the 20's. Time is rolling along and soon I will be back on my feet. Hooray!

I have been meaning to put this on tape for a while and Rinar finally helped me to remember to do it. Eli loves to dance, but it is not just to any song. He has one song that he loves. I have no idea what it is called but I am pretty sure it is a piece written by Bach. It just sounds like a Bach number. Hey, if you know what it is, would you please clue me in on it? The song is on the menu page of the kids math DVD. When he first heard it many months ago, Eli would kind of rock back and forth. Then he started twirling and now he wants to hear it all the time! So, I flip the TV over to DVD and it comes on and he gets really excited and just starts to spin around. I have seen him actually spin for the entire song.

Now since he has heard it so many times, he knows when it is about to end and starts to demand a replay before it is over. In this video, it starts with him dancing to the end of the song and then asking for more before it plays again. And then he spins...and spins... and spins...and spins...

CAUTION: You could get dizzy watching this thing.

Woe Is Me!

Well, today has been a tough one for me. For some reason this afternoon I got really nauseous. And surprisingly enough, it is hard to find a comfortable position for ultimate incubation maximization.

In other words...HELP! I think I am drowning.

I can't do anything, go anywhere, or even eat anything. Which aspect of this picture would be the worst part for you? I think loss of appetite is the most depressing of the three if you ask me. What can I say, I love food. I was finally able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Unfortunately, sugary desserts don't have the appeal that they once did.

I weep.

At least I won't gain much more weight, right?

On Friday night I ended up taking myself to Labor and Delivery because I was having a lot of unprovoked contractions. I stayed up late watching television and at 11:45pm I started to count contractions, considering the fact that I had not moved for quite a while. Then the contractions followed at regular intervals: 12am, 12:10, 12:20, 12:28, 12:38. I got up and went to the bathroom to empty my bladder just in case. Then I laid down again and 10 minutes later, I had another one.

Rinar stayed home with the kids and I drove myself. I knew I was not in labor, but if I didn't get some intervention, I could end up that way. They hooked me up to the monitors and sure enough, I was having a lot of contractions. So, they did all their checking, did a FFN, put an IV in for fluids, and gave me 2 shots of muscle relaxers.

Can I just digress here and tell you how much I despise IV's? I mean, those things are torturous. They stay in your hand or arm and continually get more and more achy. I try not to think about it, but the more I don't think about it, the more my hand is screaming at me. When I go to give birth, I think I will be more terrified of the IV than anything else.

Anyway, after 2 hours of observation, the FFN (a swab test) came back negative. Hallelujiah. It is a test they do that has 99% accuracy to tell you if you will deliver in the next two weeks. As long as I take it easy I should be able to get to 35 weeks fairly easily.

There you go. I thought I would spice up this pregnancy for everyone a little bit. Now, I hope there are some good things to watch on television the next few weeks to keep my mind off of my impending misery.

One day at a time...one day at a time.

Thoughts on My Pregnancy at 33 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and I hit the dreaded scale.

194

I didn't gain any weight. So my babies continue to gain weight and I am holding steady. I seemed to have slowed down and I am happy about that. Hopefully, I will be able to maintain this trend for the last month. We shall see.

Everything seems to be going well. I talked to my doctor about an amniocentisis. Apparently, they will do an amnio if you want to be done and you are at least 37 weeks. I do not want one, no matter what. I can stick it out for one more week and be absolutely miserable if I don't go into labor on my own. I know I can do it. I have done this before, plus I have run a marathon. This is nothing!

I called my perinatologist' office today and they said that he wants to do an amnio on me at 36 weeks. I told the office lady, "No way!" I guess I will be able to have that discussion with him next week for my 34 week appointment.

I have already decided: I am going to be pregnant in October and those babies are coming home with me from the hospital. No NICU, no tubes. They will be healthy, fat little babies. I know I can do it. In order for this to happen, my house will be extra messy, Eli may be a little neglected, and Raef and Zach might get extra television and computer time. But I don't care. I am having fat, healthy, October babies.

Sweet Stuff for Sunday

This morning, as we were getting ready for church, the boys gave me my first birthday present: 2 beautiful sets of earrings and an elaborate, beaded necklace. Raef was curious to know how I got the holes in my ears so that I can wear earrings. Once I explained it to him, he told me he was glad he is not a girl. I asked him to elaborate. He explained that he doesn't have to have his ears pierced or be pregnant.

Smart kid.

Eli's latest thing is wearing shoes. He loves to wear the big shoes and finds them, no matter which house we are in. Be careful where you leave your shoes. If they are available, he will take them for a spin and they don't always come back.

Here he is in Dad's flip-flops today and tonight.

After church, Rinar decided he would like to have us take a little drive to see the temple. So after we ate dinner, we headed over there. It was a beautiful night tonight and the temple grounds were peaceful. At least they were peaceful until we arrived.

Once they did a lap around the grounds, they came back to the hill and were running up and down it. Raef and Zach were playing a friendly and very reverent game of tackle. They took their shoes off to enjoy the grass, so of course Eli had to give their shoes a drive around the area. It was a lot of fun.




It is time to go to bed. That is one tired little boy.

32 Week Pregnancy Update

I had my last ultrasound yesterday. Hallelujiah!!

I am doing great. It is such a difference from when I was pregnant with Raef and Zach. This time, my body is holding up really well and there are not any signs of preterm labor. Thank goodness!

The entire time I have been pregnant, the girl has been in the breach position, but she surprised us all because now her head is down in the right spot next to the boy. His head is so far down, they can't really get a good look at him. He is hiding. The technician decided to take a few 3D pictures of the girl, and of course she kept her arm in front of her face. So, neither one of them is very cooperative. But take a look at a side view of her.

Doesn't she look just like me? :)

You can really see her arm in the top two pictures. The third picture is a regular 2D.

Okay, so they calculated the weights and these are the numbers.

Boy - 4 lbs. 9 oz.
Girl - 3 lbs. 13 oz.

If you add up those numbers, they weigh more than Eli did when he was born at 39 weeks. They are 32 weeks. Hence, I am bigger than I was with him already, and I have 6 more weeks to go. Gravity is really going to be setting in soon.