the hospital & some randomness

On Saturday, we took a tour of St. Luke's, the hospital where we will likely deliver.  It was long.  But, good to get better acquainted with the hospital, where to go, etc.  It's about a 1/2 mile walk from our house.  3.5 blocks.  Of course, come delivery day, I won't be walking.  Then it'll be a 0.8 mile drive from the house (assuming that's where we'll come from). 

Fortunately, we are already fairly well acquainted with the hospital.  It's where my mom spent a few weeks a few years ago and where my sister-in-law delivered her twins earlier this year.  I did learn on the tour that her room was one of the larger rooms since she got a corner.  Here's hoping we're that lucky! 

We got a big tease by seeing a delivery room, which is quite nice considering it's a hospital.  We won't grace the doors of this kind of room since we're considered high risk.  We also saw the operating rooms, which is where we'll go no matter what kind of delivery we end up with--just in case. 

It all made me reflect on how lucky we are to live so close to such good medical care.  Our hospital is connected to Texas Children's and if we need a NICU, that's where the babies will end up.  One of the women on the tour lives in New York, but will come down to Houston 4 weeks before her delivery date to have access to the Texas Medical Center.  In most situations, the high level of care isn't necessary, but because we're having twins and because they often come early and with some breathing or other problems, we are incredibly fortunate to have these resources, almost literally in our backyard.  Grateful.

So, I've now gained just shy of 1/3 of my starting weight.  I get winded going upstairs to the bedroom.  Embarrassing. 

I'm starting to train someone at work to take over for me while I'm on leave.  This is becoming more of a present reality.  Now, what in the world should I do with my email inbox?  I fear the thousands of emails that will pile up while I'm gone. 

Good news is that doc said everything continues to look really good.  25 weeks!  Pretty amazing how close it's getting...

the bed

So, I've mentioned the difficulty getting comfortable sleeping, right?  And how pillows have overtaken such that the hubs has practically no place to be.  Well, here's the evidence.  If anyone can invent something that truly makes sleeping comfortable, there's a market out there, I'm certain.

That's 5 bed pillows (hubs gets 1), a snoogle and 2 decorative pillows.

happy anniversary

9 years ago, D asked me to marry him.  8 years ago, we were wed. There are so many cheesy and wonderful things I think and feel about D and our relationship.  Suffice it to say, I love him more than anything.

Brazil honeymoon 2003

3 years ago we had our first miscarriage.  In some ways, that was the beginning of the journey that eventually led us to the ability to have children, and doubly so!

This year we're celebrating our last anniversary sans kiddos.  We are clinging on to the final few months of the life that is soon to be but a distant memory of romantic quiet evenings, intimate adult conversation, and carefree self-indulgence. 

Thank you for being the best husband in the world, Lover!!

swelling and popping

The transformation of the body is amazing.  The swelling of the feet, however, not so amazing.  Mine haven't gotten super huge or anything, thank goodness (at least not yet).  But, just enough so that my old shoes aren't very comfortable.  They do look much more sausage-like at the end of the day or when I've been out in the heat. Sadly, I've also had to retire the engagement and wedding rings for awhile.  I can't complain too much, I've only had minor swelling thus far and I know lots of women suffer much worse.  Of course, I still have July, August, and September to go...

But, probably the biggest challenge for me has been the transformation of my belly button!  I've been an inny all my life.  I'm not exactly an outy now, but the inny is definitely protruding--sort of hard to explain and I'm certainly NOT posting a pic.  In any case, it's causing an identity crisis.  You think you've been something all your life and then suddenly it changes!  Fortunately, continuing the trend of pregnancy and baby products with funny names, I suppose I could always go out and get these...

Or, just hold my chin up and embrace my new identity!!

queen or king?

I have always been a big proponent of the queen-size bed.  In a king, I feel like the hubby and I might as well be sleeping in different beds.  What's the point of that?!  The queen is just more intimate.  Since D has been out of town for past 3 nights, I've had the queen to myself.  I have been sleeping with 5 bed pillows and 2 decorative pillows.  And, I've slept well.  Maybe there is something to be said for the king.  Or 2 queens...  Can't wait 'til you're back, honey!...

imagining the big day

I heard that in the past, hospitals didn't resuscitate babies unless they were 24 weeks old, but now they'll do it at 23 weeks.  (yipee!  We're in 23!)  Don't get me wrong, I'd be happy never knowing the answer to that question, but it is starting to sink in how close we're getting to the big day. 

And it made me start thinking about that day.  That day is scary.  Exciting, but scary.  At some point, I will likely experience something strange (water breaking, increasing contractions, etc.) that means, get your behonky to the hospital!  It will probably be unplanned.  Out of nowhere.  All of a sudden.  I won't be prepared (I mean, I'll never be prepared, right?).  I will be so excited.  I will be incredibly nervous that something will go wrong.  I will feel out of control.  Helpless.  Thrilled.  While I'm going through this roller coaster of joy and worry, D will be the happiest person on this side of the world.  He will be excited, like a kid in a candy store.  We'll both forget something really important.  We won't care.

It'll be a day we'll never forget.  Although we might edit out a few details from our memories.  :)

i wonder what it's like in there...

Are they squished?  Doc says they have lots of fluid and Baby A rotated so that both are now standing up, so there must at least be some room.

Do they sleep? 

How does that whole breathing in liquid thing work?  Is it like in the Abyss?

Can they tell when I'm happy, sad, stressed, etc.?

What's it like when I sneeze?  Whoooooaaaaaaa, what was that?!