I've moved!

Please come on over and follow me as I document my life now that the boys are here.

http://bridgitsbeehive.blogspot.com/

See you there!

Sorry I've been MIA....

But I've been busy being a momma to the two sweetest, tiniest little boys I've ever seen. 

Last time we talked, I was waiting on my Level II u/s with the specialist.  Well, I had the appt and the dr didn't like what she saw.  The appt was on a Friday morning and I was admitted to the hospital by 10:30 am that same day.  I was hooked up to the monitors to keep an eye on the babies' heart rates, given steriod shots and started on a magnesium drip by 11:00 am.  Everything moved so quickly! 

Long story short - Baby B wasn't getting enough blood.  His cord had reverse blood flow.  The plan was to monitor for 48 hours and to give me 2 rounds of steriods to mature the boys' lungs.  After the 48 hours, we were supposed to have another u/s to check Baby B's cord and go from there.  Worst case = deliver on Sunday afternoon; Best case = in the hospital until further notice.  Well wouldn't you know it, my body had other plans. 

Part of the monitoring plan was to check my urine for protein.  When I got to my room, I had to give a urine sample before being hooked up to the monitors.  There were "trace" amounts of protein in my urine.  Due to this and my high BP, the OB ordered a 24 hour urine test to monitor/detect pre-E.  Keep in mind that I had just been to my OB's office the day before with a clean urine test.  Well, by the time the 24 hours was up I had full blown pre-E....the swelling was out of control, LOTS of protein in my urine and of course my BP was elevated.  But what did they expect???  I had gone from being a pregnant lady with 8-10 weeks left to a woman about to possibly have outside babies a day less than 30 weeks?  Who wouldn't be freaked out, worried and have BP through the roof?

We never did the 2nd u/s.  By Saturday night, the doctors were just as concerned about my health as that of Baby B.  My c-section was scheduled for 1:00 on Sunday afternoon.  Of course, they were running late.  I was taken back around 2 pm and after what seemed like the longest prep time ever, Mr. MBC was brought into the OR.  Baby A was born at 2:44 pm and Baby B was born at 2:47.  Both were whisked away by the neonatology team, but Mr. MBC was allowed to go with them.  After seeing both boys, he came back to the OR and told me they were both stable and would be rolling them in shortly for me to see them.  I remember seeing them in the clear isolettes and remember thinking "they're so small". 

I was right:

Baby A - 2lb 10oz
Baby B - 1lb 7 oz

I cannot begin to tell you how small 1lb 7oz is.  His brother looks like a giant compared to him, but when compared to other babies "big" brother looks so small. 

We're still at the hospital.  After spending just over 2 weeks in NICU, we've graduated to the Continuing Care Nursery.  Both boys are doing exceptionally well considering their size and young gestational age.  There's still about a pound difference between the boys - they are about to reach 3 lb and 2 lb.  Right now, the focus of the medical team is to help the boys gain weight at a healthy rate and then we'll start working on bottle and breast feeding.

Although it hasn't happened as I planned, being a momma to my boys on the outside has already been fabulous.  Of course there are good days and bad days.  Mr. MBC and I have learned which beeps and dings are a big deal and which ones are not.  It's a trying situation, but I'm confident that we'll make it through it.

I think this will be my last post as Missing Baby Carriage.  I've found my baby carriage, and it's bountiful.  I plan on starting another blog to record our life as a family of five.  I will post the new blog link when it's up and running.  I hope that all of you will continue to follow our journey :)

Still waiting...

Waiting to hear about my targeted u/s, that is.  After leaving another message and NOT hearing back from my nurse yesterday, I stopped by Dr. H's office on my way home.  When I got there, the receptionist said "Just go ahead and sign in and I'll be with you in a few minutes."  I explained that I did not have an appointment but needed to speak to someone since my messages had not be returned.  After findiing out that I am a patient of Dr. H, she said "K is your nurse and she's at the nurses station right now.  Go on back and talk to her."

K is a new nurse.  New in the sense of she's young and that she's just joined Dr. H in the past month.  She actually works for Dr. H and one of his partners.  I think she's still learning her job and is trying to get acclimated to her position.  But regardless, it's not that difficult to return a phone call (or 3)!

She recognized me and asked if she could help me.  I calmly (yay me!) explained that I had left 3 messages regarding my targeted u/s and hadn't heard back from any of these messages.  She explained that she faxed the request over last week and that the other office should call me to schedule the appointment.  She apologized for the confusion.  I know that Dr. H doesn't schedule these appointments, so maybe he didn't know that K wouldn't be the person calling me.  But again - return my call and let me know how the process works. 

K called the specialist's office while I was there.  Apparently they didn't receive the request via fax last week.  K promised me that she sent it out Thursday.  She explained that I needed to get in as soon as possible and that Dr. H wanted it done before seeing him again.  That is not likely to happen :(  Whoever K spoke to said that Friday would probably be the earliest I could get in. 

After finishing the phone call, K kept saying "I'm sorry.  I hate that you stopped by."  I never gave her the easy out by saying "It's okay" because in my mind it is NOT okay.  The last thing I said to her before leaving was that "Bottom line I expect my phone calls to be returned when it has to do with the health of my unborn children."  She just stared at me for a minute and then said "See you Thursday."

10 weeks or less...

Ho.Lee. Crap!  Dr. H said that we'll have outside babies in 10 weeks or less.  I mean, I knew this, but to hear him say it made it that much more real.  EEEK!  So much to do, so little time.

I had a regular appt with Dr. H last week.  It was quite the day.  I started off drinking the lovely orange glucose drink.  So sweet!  Not horrible, but I had built it up to be much worse than it actually was.  Good news = I passed the 1 hour test!!!

Between drinking the glucose and having my blood drawn, Mr. MBC and I headed over for a growth u/s.  It's always great to see the boys on the screen.  Except well, the u/s tech sucked and didn't show me anything.  Mr. MBC got to see everything and said both boys were moving around, kicking, punching, etc.  I'm glad he was able to see it, but I was upset that I could see anything.  Then I reminded myself that I get special moments that Mr. MBC doesn't - like the boxing match that was taking place at midnight last night.  It seems that I have some night owls on my hands.

The growth u/s didn't go quite as planned.  Baby B, H, would not cooperate.  He kept balling up and wiggling around.  Due to his position and poor measurements, he's technically measuring a pound less than his brother, JS.  But, Dr. H is convinced that it's really not that much of a difference.  He went over all the measurements and the development of heart, brain, spine, etc.  He said both boys are right on track and look fabulous.  This made me feel better, but I'm still worried about my itty-bitty H. 

I'm supposed to have a targeted u/s one day this week to get better measurements and make sure there are not cord or placenta issues that the normal u/s did not pick up.  But, Dr. H said he wasn't worried and neither should we.  He said it's likely that I'm gonna have a big boy and a little boy.  As long as both of them are healthy, I don't care how much they weigh....well I do, but I'm trying not to focus on this 1 pound difference.

After seeing Dr. H, Mr. MBC and I went to lunch.  I didn't eat breakfast before the glucose test and forgot to take my snack with me for afterwards.  So I felt so weird!  Jittery, jumpy, nauseated....just plain yuck!  But after eating, I felt so much better.  Word to the wise - eat a protein based breakfast or at least take a protein snack with you for afterwards :) 

Lastly, we headed back to Dr. H's office for our 4D u/s and I was finally able to see both boys.  Such a sweet moment.  JS is definitely my bigger boy.  He's head down and ready to come out.  He was very cooperative during the scan and the u/s tech was able to get some great pics of him.  We even  have one with him smiling...it melts my heart every time I look at it.  It's so neat to see how JS has Mr. MBC's nose and cheeks already. 

Then it was time to look at little H.  He's my "mover and shaker" according to Dr. H.  He did NOT want to be seen.  He was moving all around, but he had his mind made up that we were not going to see his face.  He kept it turned toward my back the entire time.  I tried to switch positions, shaking my belly, poking my belly....NOTHING worked.  But seeing him move around and make fists made me feel so much better about him being so small. 

Side note - the u/s tech that did the 4D scan was different than the one from the growth u/s.  She said she had looked at the scan from the morning and she agrees with Dr. H that some of the measurements are not accurate.  She also told us the biggest difference was in the belly measurement.  She thinks that JS has put on his belly fat already and H hasn't.  She said other than the belly measurement there were not any significant differences. 

*************************************************
My visit with Dr. H was last Thursday.  Mr. MBC and I were out of the office by 10:30.  Dr. H said his nurse, K was going to call and make the appt for the targeted u/s.  She was supposed to call me when it was scheduled.  Well, it's Monday morning and I still haven't heard from her.  I left 2 messages on Friday and no return phone call.  If I don't hear from her today by 2:00, I've decided I'm just going to stop by Dr.  H's office on my way home.  I realize that I'm not their only patient, but Dr. H said he wanted this u/s done before I see him again on Thursday.  I'll keep you posted.

Welcome to 3rd Trimester:)

How far along? 27 weeks - officially in the 3rd trimester

Weight gain/loss: I haven't been on the official scales in over 3 weeks, but I'm guessing I'm up a total of 16 or 17 pounds.  While I'm at my heaviest weight ever, I know that I've had a healthy pregnancy in terms of weight gain and I'm doing what's best for my boys.  At my last appt, Dr H said I'd likely weigh less when I leave the hospital than I did before getting pregnant.  I can take that :)


Maternity clothes? All day, every day. With the weather changing and spring approaching, it looks like I'm going to have to invest in some new tops. 

Stretch marks? On the belly....both sides :(  But only Mr. MBC and I will ever see them, so I'm trying not to fret too much.

Sleep? Good days and bad days....

Best moment since last update? I posted about it here, but Mr MBC finally felt the babies move.  So cool!

Food cravings: Still loving my chicken biscuit in the morning.  I've also added Sour Patch Watermelons to my afternoon snack.  The sweet-sour combo helps keep my stomach calm and not so pukey.

Genders: TWO BOYS!!!! Lots of onesies with trucks, cars, & sports on them :)

Belly button in or out? In...I don't think it will ever poke out.  It's just stretching and looking like a donut.

Movement? All the time!  JS (Baby A) is much more active than his brother, H.  However, JS moves more smoothly.  When H is moving, I know it...very sudden and strong.  I love it though!

What I miss? Being able to talk without losing my breath.  As a teacher, it's getting increasingly difficult to lecture and have discussions with my students.  Crazy thing is this....I can walk through the mall, across the building, etc without losing my breath.

What I'm looking forward to: I have a big day on Thursday.  I have my glucose test in the morning, followed by a growth ultrasound and then a visit with Dr. H.  That afternoon, Mr. MBC and I go back to the dr. for the optional 4D ultrasound.  I cannot wait to see the boys! 

Milestones: Today marks the beginning of 3rd trimester, 27 weeks.  Techinically this means I have 13 weeks left, but I know that Dr H is not going to let me go past 38 weeks.  So Mr. MBC and I will have outside baby boys in 11 weeks or less!!!

Day 11 - Blog Challenge

Day 11-Favorite TV shows


I must say I watch entirely too much TV.  But in my defense, Mr. MBC and I DVR everything so it doens't take as long to watch our shows.  Here's a list of shows that have "season passes" on our DVR right now:
 
Comedies

• How I Met Your Mother
• Rules of Engagement
• Two & a Half Med
• Mike & Molly
• Modern Family
• Cougar Town

Drama

• Desperate Housewives
• Brothers & Sisters
• Grey's Anatomy
• The Good Wife

Reality
(Disclaimer - I'm a reality tv junkie.  I can't look away from it!)

• The Biggest Loser
• Jersey Shore
• The Real Housewives of _______ (any city but Beverly Hills)
• Jerseylicious
• Millionaire Matchmaker
• I Used To Be Fat
• Heavy

Guilty Pleasures
(My kids are never going to watch ABC Family!)

• Pretty Little Liars
• Secret Life of the American Teenager

Holy crap that's a long list!!  I will say that I'm not up to date on all of these shows.  Heck, most days I fall asleep before 8:30 on the couch.

Day 10 - Blog Challenge

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

It's so odd that this is what I'm supposed to blog about today.  I promise I didn't look ahead when I wrote this post yesterday.


By the way....I'm 1/3 of the way through my 30 Day Blog Challenge. Woo Hoo!!

A funny story...

I meant to share this a couple of weeks ago when it happened, but completely forgot.

As you know, I'm a teacher.  High school.  Honors students.  You know the kind that plan everything out and obsess over whether the teacher said "most" or "the majority".  Yeah, those.  Anyway, this is about a conversation that took place in class one day involving me and 3 students - W, T & C.  Here's the exchange:

W raises his hand

I call on him and wait for his question.

W: "When you leave to have your baby, will we have a sub?" 

Me:  "Yes, of course."

T looking back and forth at me and W.

W:  "Well, I know we will have a sub, but will it be a real teacher, a different sub every day or what?

Me: "Good question."  I go on to explain how it depends on several different things, but that the decision isn't up to me.

T is still looking at me and W.

Me:  "T, what's up?  Why do you have that look on your face?"

T:  "You're having a baby?!?!  When?"

Me: "Yes, if everything goes as planned it will be in May."

T:  "So, you're really pregnant"

Me:  "Yep."

C is sitting across the room grinning. 

T:  "Where have I been?"

Me:  "I don't know.  Did you just think I was getting fat?"

T:  "No, but my mom told me to never ask a woman about her age or weight.  I just tend to ignore those things."

C:  "Hey, T.  You wanna hear something crazy?"

T:  "Yeah, like what?  Are you gonna tell me she's having twins or something?"

C:  "Yep.  Exactly."


At this point I just busted out laughing.  Poor T, he had no idea.  The entire class started giving him slack about being so clueless.  It was so funny.  I love my job and I teach great kids, but days like that remind me why I love what I do.

Irrational Thoughts....

Do I over-analyze everything? YES.

Do I make simple things complicated? At times.

Do I consult Dr. Google too often?  YES.

I realize that I obsess over pregnancy-related things that I have no control over.  I worry about the boys coming too early.  I worry about NICU time.  I worry about a lot of stuff. 

That being said...I'm questioning my decision to not consult with a MFM when Mr. MBC and I found out we were having twins.  I spoke with my OB about it and he assured me that he would send me over if any red flags were to arise during the pregnancy.  I even spoke to a real life friend of mine that is a NICU case manager at the largest hospital in the city.  She assured me that my OB was part of one of the best practices in the city.  She also reminded me that twins are not that uncommon these days.  So after talking with Mr. MBC, I decided to not freak out and trust my OB.

Don't get me wrong, my OB has been great.  The nurses are great.  I feel like I'm "that" patient and I come in with a list of questions each time I'm there. 

Why the worry?  In terms of a twin pregnancy, everything seems normal.  Just as it should be.  But I know that things can change at a moment's notice with any pregnancy and even more with a multiples pregnancy.  I'm nearly 27 weeks pregnant with twins yet I haven't had a cervical length check.  My OB says he doesn't do them this early unless there are "problems".  While this may not seem like a big deal (and YES I'm grateful that I haven't had any problems), I still  have this voice in the back of my head that makes me question everything.

Where does this voice come from?  Is it from the trouble that Mr. MBC and I experience when TTC?  Is it because I've read too many stories online about multiples being born way too early?  Is it because in the past 3 days I've had:

• Two fellow May Mommas deliver their twins at 28 weeks and the babies are in NICU fighting for their life.
• Another admitted to L&D because her cervix has shortened so much in one week.  She was having contractions 90 seconds apart and didn't even feel them!
• A dear friend that delivered her twins at 18 weeks and they are now angels.

I don't know.  When I hear/read about stories like this, I let the bad thoughts take over. I know that a shortened cervix is not contagious.  However, I still worry.  The worry is constantly there, but when things like this happen it brings all of my fears to the forefront.

I need to remind myself of all the pregnancy-related positives:

• Today I am pregnant with two healthy little boys.
• I love the feeling of them kicking me from the inside.
• I've made it past V Day, so everything from this point forward is just time for the boys to grow and develop.
• I haven't had any problems or complications that should make me fear all of the what-ifs.
• Each day that passes brings me one day closer to meeting my sweet boys.

Blog Challenge - Day 9

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Since I don't show my own face on this blog, I don't think it's right to show the faces of some of my friends.  Instead I thought I'd provide links to some of my e-friends.  Until you become part of the online blogging community or message boards, you don't fully understand the love, support and encouragement complete strangers can provide.  I count myself very lucky to have these ladies as my friends....

Melissa

Kelly

Rebecca

Mchupie

HeatherCara

Jenn

Megannjay

Lisa

Papps

Lolo

Amber

Gingham

Mrs. W

Sulfa

Stop by these ladies' blogs and say "Hi!"

Movement!

The boys have become SUPER active in the past week.  I can distinctly tell the difference between them.  Up until last night, Mr. MBC has not seen or felt movement.  It's like his hand has so kind of calming effect on them. 

Well, last night they were both going crazy and Mr. MBC finally felt Baby A kick.  It felt so light to him, he wasn't sure if it was the baby.  Anyway, he said "Make him move again..."  So sweet!

5, 6, 7, & 8 (playing catch up)

So I'm not even a week in and I already fail at the 30 day blog challenge.  But, I have been sick and Mr. MBC sent several hours Saturday registering.  So exhausting!

Day 5-Your siblings

• I have one brother.  I think I've mentioned him before.  He's 10 years younger than me, so we basically grew up as only children.  Even though there is a huge age gap between us, he and I are very close.  We don't talk on the phone that often, but when we see each other he always says "Hey, I've been wanting to ask you something...."  I love my baby brother. 

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

• This

Day 7-Favorite movies

• Steel Magnolias
• Love Actually
• Bridget Jones's Diary
• Dirty Dancing
• Sweet Home Alabama
• The Family Stone
• If you notice, they're all girly movies :)

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

• NYC, NY - been to NYC twice and would go tomorrow if I had the chance.  Both trips were girl trips - first with girlfriends and then with my mom, aunt and cousin.
• Phoenix, AZ - went here in college for a sorority convention.  So freakin' hot in June!
• St. Thomas, USVI - Mr. MBC and I went here on our honeymoon.  We stayed at an all-inclusive resort and it was awesome!  We plan to go back for our 5 year anniversary.  The boys will be almost 2 at that point, so I *may* be able to leave them for a few days.

Blog Challenge - Day 4

Day 4-Your parents

Where do I start?  My parents are basically the best parents ever.  I truly hope that my kids will have as much respect and love for me and Mr. MBC as I have for my parents.

My parents started dating when they were both still in high school.  The were set up by a mutual friend.  My dad was the bad boy on the motorcycle from the small town and my mom was the good girl from the city.  From what I know, my mom and dad feel for one another fairly quick.  My dad would drive for almost an hour to see my mom during the week and would go to all of her softball games whether it was week night or weekend. 

They were married at 17 & 18.  Very young!!  I think of my life when I was their age and know there is NO WAY I was ready for marriage at that age.  But times were different then, right?

For me, they are the perfect picture of what marriage should be.  Have I seen them argue?  Yes.  Have I seen them give each other the silent treatment?  Of course.  But I've also seen how they are toward one another.  They've been married for 33 years and they still tell each other "I love you" every time they leave one another and at the end of each phone call.  When walking through the mall this past December, I saw them holding hands and acting all giddy like the teenagers I see on a daily basis. 

In addition to showing their love for one another, they also show the greatest respect for each other.  I remember anytime a vacation or major purchase came up, they always discussed it.  They never make major decisions without the input of the other. 

I remember dancing with my dad on my and Mr. MBC's wedding day.  While dancing, my dad was very quiet and had a tear in his eye.  (I've always been a daddy's girl and still am.)  Anyway, I looked at him and told him I was going to be okay.  This is what I wanted, had waited for it and had the best example of what marriage should be.  After that, he was okay. 

I guess the point of this story....if Mr. MBC and I can have marriage half as great as my parents, I'll count myself lucky.

While the boys will be my parents' first biological grandchildren, they've always treated the Sweetest Girl in the World like she's their own.  Another reason I love them.  They took her in and didn't ask any questions.  Seeing how wonderful they are with her and how much she loves them, I have no doubt that they are going to be the best grandparents in the world. 

And I know that material things don't measure love, but they spoil the SGW and have already started spoiling the boys. 

Day 3

Day 3-Your first love


Not sure how to approach this one.  I had two boyfriends that I used the "L word" with before I really knew what it meant and what it really felt like.  Both of them were great guys, but at 14 or 15 years old, do you really know what love is?

Anyway, I guess my first love lasted for about 5 years.  He and I met through mutual friends and began dating my senior year of high school.  We dated all through college without issue until my senior year of college.  Looking back, we just grew apart and did some really crappy things.  And of course, I think he did a lot more crappy stuff than I.  After we broke up, we talked and dated on and off for a year or so.  I finally washed my hands of him when I found out that he was in a serious relationship and there was a baby on the way.  HELLO??!?!  Could I have been any more stupid?

I will not lie...it was hard.  Very hard.  But after that I learned that my first love should be myself.  I learned that if I wasn't looking out for my well-being and my happiness, neither would anyone else.  This of course excludes my family and friends, but you know what I mean.  I didn't really date anyone for several years and the one "relationship" I had before meeting Mr. MBC ended when the guy told me I wouldn't let him get close and kept my guard up.  He was tired of trying to break it down.  After that, I figured I needed to find a happy medium between throwing everything I had into a relationship and not letting the other person in. 

Enter Mr. MBC....I fell hard.  Quick!  He will tell you that he was scared of my feelings for him and how strongly he felt for me.  Which explains the 6 month break that he and I took between the first time we dated and the second time.  But once we started dating again in October, we were engaged in June, building a home in September and married in March.  I guess you could say we're still pretty hot and heavy :)  AndI love every minute of it.

So cool...

This morning while taking a bath, I forgot all about how this upper respiratory crud, streching, braxton hicks, etc is kicking my arse these days.  Why, you ask???  Because I saw the coolest thing this morning....

While laying in the tub, I saw my belly move - several times.  I guess the boys were trying to wake up as well.  At first, I thought it was a fluke.  I could feel them moving, but wasn't sure that I saw anything.  Well, then it happened again.  Or course, then I started poking and prodding my belly to keep it coming.  The movement was in two general areas.  Based on my last ultrasound and the movement I've been feeling the past couple of weeks, I really think both of them were moving around this morning.  Some of the movement was to the right of my belly button and the other was higher up on the left side near my ribs.

While I don't think this tops seeing two sacs or two heart beats for the first time, it still ranks pretty high up in awesomeness!

Day 2

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name


When Mr. MBC and I started our TTC journey, I thought I'd stop birth control in July and be pregnant soon after.  If you ask any woman in my family, they will all tell you that they are "fertile myrtiles".  I learned very quickly that wasn't the case for me. 
 
Mr. MBC and I were approaching 9 months of TTC and 5 failed rounds of Clomid.  I was talking to a friend one day and she suggested that I start a blog to get all of my feelings and thoughts out.  When I thought about it, she had a point.  Once I decided to start a blog, the name came quickly.  I had found my true love, we were married, but we were searching for the baby carriage.  My biggest fear was that it would forever be missing.  Hence the name - Missing Baby Carriage.
 
As far as blogs are concerned, I'm trying to decide if I'll keep posting here once the boys are born or if I'll start another blog.  If I start another one, I will likely use real names and photos.  Thoughts?

Day 1

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Hi :)  I'm MBC.  I'm a wife, daughter, sister and soon to be mother of twin boys.  I started my blog as a way to deal with all the feelings I had when my husband, Mr. MBC, and I were having trouble concieving.  Mr. MBC and I have been married for nearly 3 years and tried for over a year before achieving pregnancy.  While I know this is not very long compared to what others have (and are) dealing with, I knew I had issues.  Once stopping birth control, I was having 16-18 day cycles.  In addition, I have had issues with cysts since I was 14 years old. 

Mr. MBC has a daughter from a previous marriage.  Luckily, I've been in her life since she was one year old so she doesn't really remember a time that I wasn't there.  I rarely talk about her on my blog because I like to keep a certain level of privacy, but when I do refer to her she's known as the Sweetest Girl in the World. 

Again, in terms of keeping my identity private I'm not going to post a picture of myself.

15 interesting facts....that's a tough one, but I'll try:

1. I've kept my blog a secret from Mr. MBC.  He knows that I participate in message boards like The Bump, but doesn't really "get it". 
2. Mr. MBC and I had 2 first dates.  We dated, stopped seeing each other and then went out again.  If you ask him, the first time we dated doesn't really count.
3. I'm a reality TV junkie.  The trashier, the better.  I love all of cities of Real Housewives.  Jersey Shore is like a train wreck I can't look away from.
4. I'm a teacher.  I have my BS in Biology and Chemistry and my MS in Education.  I'm currently in my 9th year of teaching.  Sometimes I think about going back to school, but then think about all the papers and such....
5. I have one brother that is 10 years younger than me.  Basically, he and I were both raised as only children.  Surprisingly, we are very close.
6. I have internet friends (that I've never met in real life) that know more about my IF struggles than most of my real life friends. 
7. Pregnancy has given me a very loose tongue.  I used to be very good at filtering what I thought and what actually came out.  For some reason, these days if I think it, I say it.  Not always good.
8. I have several friends at work that are pregnant.  We're at different stages - 36 weeks, 31 weeks, 28 weeks, 25 weeks (me), 18 weeks and 13 weeks -  and I love when we compare symptoms.  Of course all of them are singleton pregnancies, so they are amazed that I experience most things earlier than they do. 
9. I'm quite proud that I have only gaind 13 or 14 pounds during this pregnancy.  Don't get me wrong, I wasn't super fit beforehand but I've seen every other woman in my family gain 40+ pounds with one child. 
10. I'm worried that once the boys arrive, Mr. MBC and I will have to give our dog to my mother in law.  He was my dog when we got married, but Mr. MBC considers the dog ours at this point.  The dog is very jealous of anything or anyone that takes our attention.  Not sure how he will react to two babies.
11. When I think about the bringing the boys home, I get excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  I cannot wait to meet them and have them to take care of.  But the idea of caring for 2 newborns is very overwhelming to me.
12. Mr. MBC and I have decided that we are done with children.  This pregnancy has not been the most pleasant experience for me and thus, not pleasant for Mr. MBC.  Additionally, we would need the help of Dr. L again and that means a chance of multiples again.  We are currently trying to decide how we are going to avoid.
13. I've heard people talk about heartburn and indigestion, but never knew how intense it could be until I was pregnant.  It's so bad that Mr. MBC has told me to stop saying "Excuse me" every time I burp.  He said he's tired of hearing me say it.
14. Mr. MBC and I have decided in the past two weeks that we need to finish out our bonus room upstairs.  We've got a very small window of time to get it completed, but I'm confident that we'll get it done before the boys arrive.
15. As I'm trying to come up with #15, one of the boys is going crazy in my ute.  It's the best and craziest feeling all at once.

One day down, 29 to go.....

30 Day Blog Challenge

My friend Gingham is starting the 30 Day Blog Challenge today and I've decided to join her.  Here are the details:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite TV shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

Anyone want to join us???

Update from latest OB visit....

This is about a week late, but I've been so busy at work and completely exhausted when I get home.  I've been asleep on the couch by 9 every night this week.  Mr. MBC has been great about keeping up with housework.  I love that man!

I was orginally supposed to go to the OB today, but I've been battling cough and congestion for too long and called last week.  Dr. H's office was great and got me in that day.  After looking at my throat, listening to my chest and lungs, and asking about my symptoms Dr. H decided I have an upper respiritory infection and the beginning of bronchitis :(  Fun times, huh?  He gave me a prescription for a stronger antibiotic than last time - remember, I've been on a Z-Pak three times since October!!  He also gave me a steroid shot to help keep my body into gear.  He offered to give me a refill on some cough medicine, but last time I took it I felt so weird and out  of place.  He said to take Robitussin and Mucinex to help with the cough and congestion. 

Fast forward to today - I'm done with my antibiotics and I'm still not feeling great.  Still taking Mucinex and I guess it's doing it job because I am coughing up so much crap.  It's kind of gross to tell you the truth.  The worst part is the coughing.  It's worse, not better.  Add in the tightness and crampiness I've been feeling in my ute and my stomach just flat out hurts!

After Dr. H talked about my sickness, he decided to go ahead and do all pregnancy-related stuff as well.  He said he wanted to save me a trip today - thanks Dr. H!!!  First he measured my belly.  I was right at 24 weeks, but my belly is measuring the same as a singleton pregnancy at 30 weeks.  No wonder I feel so BIG!  Then he pulled out the doppler to listen to the boys heart beats.  I always hold my breath until I hear the "thud-thud-thud" of Baby Boy A's heart. Anyway, both boys heartbeats sounded really good and strong; they measured at 144 and 160 beats per minute.  It's odd because Baby A has always had the lower heart rate and he's so calm.  I feel him moving sometimes, but not a lot.  Any time we've had an ultrasound, Baby A has been very chill - sleeping, sucking his thumb, just hanging out.  But Baby B....oh my!  He's all over the place, all the time!  He's always had a high heart rate - so high that one of the nurses at Dr. H office was willing to bet money that he was a girl.  I think a lot of it has to do with his position, but I can always feel him in my ribs and back.  And when we've had ultrasounds, he's flipping and wiggling all around.  Dr H has even commented on how he's "a mover and a shaker" because he always runs from the doppler.  Dr. H has to chase him down.  You can hear all the fluid moving around on the doppler as he's trying to escape the sound.  It's so funny!

After the fun stuff, Mr. MBC and I asked Dr. H when we'd start talking about a date for my c-section.  Originally, Dr. H had said if I made it to 36 weeks, he'd schedule me by week 37.  Well, he's changed his mind but for good reason.  Obviously, the longer the boys are in-utero the better in terms of development and size.  Dr. H is very pleased with my gradual weight gain and how well my body is handling the twin pregnancy.  Now he's thinking he will schedule the c-section right before 38 weeks.  I know 7 days doesn't seem like a long time, but I can only imagine how huge I will be, how uncomfortable I will be and how ready I will be to meet the boys by that time. 

The other good news from last week's appointment is that Dr. H isn't giving me any restrictions just yet.  He said as long as I felt good and the boys were doing well, I can work as long as I feel like it.  Which is a huge sigh of relief because my dad was very sick this time last year and I used a lot of my sick and personal days at the hospital.  I've been stressed about the possibility of bed rest, unpaid leave, insurance, etc.  Well, if everything goes according to my plan (a girl can dream, right?), I'll have around 20 sick days which covers the last month of school.  And, if something else comes up before then I can borrow up to 15 days from the sick leave bank at work and I can have others donate sick days to me.  This is great news because I get paid in full for sick days and Mr. MBC and I will not have to worry about insurance going up during this time.  Needless to say, a huge weight has been lifted.

Unless I have any problems, I do not go back to see Dr. H until February 24th.  This day will be action packed for me, Mr. MBC and the boys.  I have my glucose test first thing that morning.  In the hour wait between blood draws, I have a growth ultrasound to check the boys size.  I cannot wait to see them again!  Then that afternoon, Mr. MBC and I head back to Dr. H's office for our 4D ultrasound.  We get to see the boys twice in one day :)

In unrelated news.....Mr. MBC and I have decided on a lot of stuff for the nursery and baby gear.  I'll share with you guys very soon!

Grrrr....

So I was playing around with my blog design and layout.  About 2 minutes into it, I realized that I have limited abilities while at work.  I wanted to make my blog a little more "boyish" since I don't think the twins would appreciate pinks and oranges and flowers. 

Well, guess what...I can't remember how to do anything. So for the time being, I'm going to have a plain background with blues and greens. 

Oh well!

I'd like to thank....

Isn't that how all acceptance speeches start?  I'm not much on watching the actual award shows, but I love seeing what everyone is wearing.

I've been nominated by 2 lovely ladies for the Stylish Blogger Award.  Thanks to Rebecca and Megannjay. 

Rebecca's blog once one of the first blogs I started following when I discovered the awesomeness of IF blogging.  Be sure to stop by her blog and say "Hello!".



I "met" Megannjay online as well.  She and I bonded over our shared troubles and frustrations where TTC is concerned.  We started emailing occasionally, became friends on FB and now we email regularly.  She's just starting her first IVF cycle.  I've got everything crossed for her and her hubby.  Be sure to stop by her blog and give her some encouragement :)

The rules of the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. (check, check)

2. Share 7 things about yourself. (see below)

3. Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers. (see below)

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award. (on my to-do list)

Seven random facts about me.....be warned - I'm not that interesting!!

1. I grew up in the country - like in the middle of a field.  No stop lights, no grocery store, no WalMart.  Nadda.  My dad grew up there and my parents moved there when I was about 5 years old.  They lived there until recently. 
2. Mr. MBC & I met at a bar.  Oh, the shame!!!  We dated for a few months, stopped dating for about 6 months and started dating again.  We talked for about a month when we were "not dating" and then went out on our 2nd first date in October and were engaged the next June.
3. I have one brother and he is 10 years younger than me.  He and I have a good relationship and can talk to one another about almost anything.
4. Other than Mr. MBC, my mom is my best friend.  She and I talk almost daily.  Now that I'm pregnant, we talk 2 or 3 times a day on certain days.
5. I do not like elevators.  I've gotten better in the past few years, but for the longest time I would not get on a crowded elevator.  I will not go to the back.  I'm that person that stands to the side and lets you walk past me.  I cannot handle the thought of being stuck in the back of the elevator - must.get.off. as soon as the door opens.
6. The thought of having 2 newborns at once scares the bejeezus out of me.  I don't know what it's like to have one newborn, but the thought of two is so overwhelming.  Don't get me wrong, I love my boys and cannot wait for them to be outside babies.  I guess the number of phone calls between me and my mom is going to keep on growing.
7. Right now I'm sitting in my classroom with thirteen 14&15 year old girls.  As I listen to their conversations and see how silly they are, I'm very glad that I'm not having two girls!

Now it's time to share the love.  Blogs that I'm awarding the Stylish Blogger Award to (in no particular order):

1. Alex at Alex's Adventures.  She's about to start her FET cycle.  Good luck, Alex!
2. LadyProf at Attacked by Evil Ovaries. She's celebrating her BFP after her second IVF cycle.
3. Busted Kate at Busted Plumbing.  She's a new mommy to Tuck.  He's so precious!
4. Fertility Chick...she and her hubby have went through many IF treatments and are now seeking adoption.
5. LGLDVM at Hoping For a Chance.  She is in the middle of her first injects + IUI cycle.  Stop by and enjoy her drawing of the difference between a rock and her ovaries. 
6. Emily at Living After Losing.  Her blog is her diary to her boys that were born too early.  She also reflects on the journey.  She's very brave and honest in her writing.
7. Al at Mission: Motherhood.  I began following Al's blog long before I ever thought of starting my own.  She and her husband had trouble along the way to parenthood, but she's pregnant now!  It happened on a break cycle and she's less than a week behind me in her pregnancy.
8. Mrs. W at Nothing Easy.  She's another friend that I've made through online communities.  She and I actually "met" when planning our weddings.  She's expecting her first in September after IVF #2.
9. Kelly at Our Silly Rodriguez Family. Kelly is a full time mom, wife and student.  She blogs about a little bit of everything.  If you're thinking of cloth diapering, she has quite a bit of knowledge on her blog.
10. Melissa at Rick and Melissa plus 1.  Melissa is expecting her daughter in May after losing her first daughter during the 2nd trimester.  She's currently on bedrest, but is making the most of it.
11. Egg at Such a Good Egg.  Egg is expecting boy/girl twins after a long and heartbreaking road.  She's just hit the 3rd trimester and is moving right along in her pregnancy.
12. Christine at The Conception Craze.  Christine is about to start her FET cycle.  Stop by and wish her luck.
13. Lolo at The Little Things.  Lolo is expecting girl/girl twins in June.  She and her hubby were gearing up for IVF and did one last IUI cycle before moving on. 
14. Amber at TTC Isn't as Easy as 1-2-3.  Amber is expecting twin girls in April.  She has been on bedrest for nearly a month and was admitted to the hospital earlier this week due to a shortened and irritable cervix.  Stop by and show her some love.
15. MSC from GP at What's Left? There's Life.  MSC is a new mommy to sweet Lillian.  Stop by and check out the cuteness that abodes from little miss Lily's face.

Thanks again to Megannjay & Rebecca for this awesome award. 

Coming up next - nursery ideas and an update from my OB visit yesterday.

It's been a while....

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but there hasn't been much going on lately.  Just passing time until my next OB appt and then our 4-D ultrasound. 

Here's the uneventful update I know you've been waiting for:

How far along? 23 weeks and 2 days....I can't believe I'm this.close to 3rd Tri.

Weight gain/loss: About 11 pounds up.  Luckily, I feel like it's all belly.  I'm still using the Bell.a Band to hold up my pants because they are too big even with my growing belly.



Maternity clothes? Love them!  Just last night, I had on a pair of yoga pants that were not maternity.  Even though they have an elastic waistband, they were SO TIGHT!


Stretch marks? Just the belly...I guess I could consider it one big stretch mark or several small ones.  Not sure what the better option is.


Sleep? Definitely lacking.


Best moment since last update? Mr. MBC felt one of the boys last night.  It wasn't exactly kicking or nudging, but there was definite movement up near my ribs.  It's weird being able to feel movement on the outside.

Food cravings: Still loving a chicken biscuit in the morning. 


Genders: TWO BOYS!!!! Double trouble :)


Belly button in or out? It's an innie, but it's growing.



Movement? Yes!  It's like it happened over night.  I'm pretty sure I'm still feeling just one of the boys consistently.  And, let's go ahead and admit it - they have their days and nights mixed up. 


What I miss? Sleeping



What I'm looking forward to:My mom is coming up this weekend we are going to do some shopping for the boys.  I have not bought one thing for the boys yet.  I know that when I start, there  will be no stopping me. 



Milestones: Nursery furniture and bedding picked out!  My parents are buying the bedding for both cribs as a gift.  I'll post later this week with pics of the furniture, bedding and other decor ideas for the nursery.

2010 - A year in review....

I've seen this on a couple of different blogs and thought I would join in as well....

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Gotten pregnant!!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't remember making any major resolutions.  If I didn't make them, I guess that means I didn't fail at any, right?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes - several internet friends and a couple of real-life friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the good ole' USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you didn’t have in 2010?

Two healthy baby boys.
A new house.
A new car.

7. What dates from 2010 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

January - April 2010: My dad was deathly ill and in the hospital for the better part of 4 months.

September 8, 2010 - getting my BFP :)

September 23, 2010 - finding out it's TWINS!

December 23, 2010 - Two boys!

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Tough one....I feel like so much of my time and energy for the year was put into IF and treatments that I didn't do anything great.  Unless you count surviving the heart ache month after month.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Geesh...I should have read all of the questions before deciding to play!

Probably not supporting Mr. MBC as much as I could have when he was dealing with some issues in February and March.  I was too focused on my dad and his health.  I didn't realize how much Mr. MBC was hurting and feeling lost.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Maternity jeans....seriously, they are like heaven!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The Sweetest Little Girl in the World.  She's such a trooper.  Her "mother" is not the greatest in the world, but SLGW is one of the happiest, smartest and outgoing children I've ever met.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Dr. Gonzales....one of the first doctors to see my dad when he first got sick.  Let's just say she's been reported to her hospital & the state medical board.

14. Where did most your money go?

Mortgage and household expenses - day to day crap that's not fun.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Finding out that I was pregnant, finding out it was twins, finding out that it's two boys.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

"Anything Like Me" by Brad Paisley.  It came out right before we  had our anatomy scan.  If my boys turn out to be half the man Mr. MBC is, I'm a lucky woman.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a. happier

b. fatter, but pregnant

c. poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Date nights with Mr. MBC

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Cry

20. How did you spend Christmas?

All over the place.  We had 5 gatherings over 5 days.

21. What was your favorite TV program?

Bravo's Real Housewives of .....  you pick the city.  I love them all!

22. What was the best book you read?

Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult.  I enjoy her writing and have read several books by her.  But most of my reading in  2010 focused on Infertility and being pregnant.

23. What did you want and get?

A Nook and digital camcorder - both Christmas gifts.

24. What did you want and not get?

To move to another house.  Our house has been on the market for almost a year :( 

25. What was your favorite film of 2010?

Don't know....

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 32 last June.  I went to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with Mr. MBC, SLGW, my parents, my brother & my MIL.

27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not putting so much energy into my TTC troubles.  I wish I had put more energy into becoming a better teacher, wife, daughter, sister, etc.

28. Who did you miss?

My old roommate.  She moved a state away and we rarely see each other.  We chat mostly through FB these days.

29. Who was the best new person you met?

I met two internet friends that are pretty awesome!

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

I'm an optimistic person, have faith in people, and belief that given a choice people will do the right thing.  I was reminded by a couple of people over and over again that they think only of themselves and put themselves above everyone else.

20 week update and more....

How far along?  20 weeks (and 3 days)....officially on the downhill slide :)


Weight gain/loss: As of last week, I've gained a total of 9 pounds.  Although it's not much, I'm struggling with the way my body looks.  I know that pregnant women are supposed to gain weight, have a big belly, etc.  But I've always struggled with my weight and I feel like I just look fat and not pregnant.



Maternity clothes? All day, every day. I had to invest in some pants for winter over the weekend.  All of December I was able to wear jeans to work, but now that the holidays are over we are back to the professional look Monday thru Thursday and casual Friday. 


Stretch marks? Still just the one on my belly.  I've been keeping a close eye on my hips, boobs and butt, but I have not seen any new ones there.



Sleep? Let's not discuss it.


Best moment since last update? The anatomy scan and our reveal to our families on Christmas Eve. 


Food cravings: Can't beat Chik Fil A in the morning :)  I was good over my two week break from work and did not have CFA once. 



Genders: TWO BOYS!!!!  Mr. MBC and I are so excited. 


Belly button in or out? Still in



Movement? Sort of....I've felt flutters a couple of times, but no major kicks or anything.  I have an anterior and posterior placenta, so Dr. H says that's why I'm not feeling much.  He said he's going to remind me of my disappointment around 30 weeks when they are fighting for space in there.



What I miss? Still missing wine, but not as much now that the holidays have passed.  The one thing I really miss is being able to get comfortable in bed.  I have a body pillow, but it doesn't seem to be helping too much.  My body hurts when I get out of bed in the morning.



What I'm looking forward to:OB appt this week.  My blood pressure has been on the "high side of normal" at my last three appointments.  I've been monitoring my BP at home and it's been holding steady.  I really anxious about the possibility of being put on BP meds.



Milestones: Mr. MBC and I have started making some decisions about the nursery now that we know that we are having 2 boys.  It's nice to get back to my Type A, OCD self and start making a plan.