Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
blessing of grandparents
i've been wanting to write this post for a very long time but time has escaped me. now that i have one of my rascals sleeping in the sling as i type, and the other cozy in his bouncy seat, we'll give it a go.
the boys are especially blessed because they have incredibly wonderful, generous and loving grandparents. j and i are blessed even more. we couldn't have handled the past 9 weeks without the support of grandma lee-lee, grosspapa, nanna nan, and recently grandpa mickey.
my mom and dad (lee-lee and papa) hopped on a plane from chicago to austin the morning i gave birth - talk about excited new grandparents! they made sure jordan and i were fed, cleaned the house, walked matilda, doted on ozzy and abel, took on late night feedings, sterilized countless bottles and nipples, ran to babies-r-us for all the things we desparately needed but didn't know about ahead of time, etc. my dad flew the coop after 10 days but mom stayed a full month to help. my mom was my partner by day in feeding and caring for the boys. i will forever be grateful for the month that she gave to us. i was in a crazy state for the first two weeks after giving birth, physically and emotionally, and she was a wonderful stablizing factor for us all. it brought me an incredible joy to see the boys peacefully sleeping on my mom's chest - a joy that you can only realize once you become a mother yourself. and witnessing how gentle and careful my dad was while holding them, their tiny heads cupped in his slender, artists hands...gosh, it brings tears to my eyes bringing back the memories.
the first month passed faster than i could imagine and it was nanna nan's turn to meet her grandsons. j's mom is a bundle of energy but i think we caught her off guard with the business of our household. a notorious bad sleeper, she zonked out for a full 8 hours the second night she was here! nanna was full of songs and nursery rhymes for the boys, and cooked delicous soups and meals for us all. she was a zealous multi-tasker and would manage to clean the house, cook dinner, rock the boys and do laundry all at the same time! my mother-in-law is an incredible woman and i am so lucky to have her in my life. she brought us unconditional love and laughter at a time when the boys went through a major transition and growth spurt. and i got a glimpse at how much fun the boys will have with their nanna as they get older. we were all crying when she left...the next day i was on my own from 8 to 5.
j's dad, grandpa mickey (mark), met his grandsons just a few weeks ago. i didn't know mark that well before this visit, so i didn't know what to expect. he was so hands-on with the boys from the get-go, holding and cuddling them, singing them songs in his deep baritone, burping them, taking them for walks and basically doing anything we asked. it was so wonderful having him in our home and i relished in seeing how much joy jordan found in watching his dad with our sons.
we are ever so grateful for our parents - for the role models they are for unconditional love, kindness and generosity of spirit. we love you!
the boys are especially blessed because they have incredibly wonderful, generous and loving grandparents. j and i are blessed even more. we couldn't have handled the past 9 weeks without the support of grandma lee-lee, grosspapa, nanna nan, and recently grandpa mickey.
my mom and dad (lee-lee and papa) hopped on a plane from chicago to austin the morning i gave birth - talk about excited new grandparents! they made sure jordan and i were fed, cleaned the house, walked matilda, doted on ozzy and abel, took on late night feedings, sterilized countless bottles and nipples, ran to babies-r-us for all the things we desparately needed but didn't know about ahead of time, etc. my dad flew the coop after 10 days but mom stayed a full month to help. my mom was my partner by day in feeding and caring for the boys. i will forever be grateful for the month that she gave to us. i was in a crazy state for the first two weeks after giving birth, physically and emotionally, and she was a wonderful stablizing factor for us all. it brought me an incredible joy to see the boys peacefully sleeping on my mom's chest - a joy that you can only realize once you become a mother yourself. and witnessing how gentle and careful my dad was while holding them, their tiny heads cupped in his slender, artists hands...gosh, it brings tears to my eyes bringing back the memories.
the first month passed faster than i could imagine and it was nanna nan's turn to meet her grandsons. j's mom is a bundle of energy but i think we caught her off guard with the business of our household. a notorious bad sleeper, she zonked out for a full 8 hours the second night she was here! nanna was full of songs and nursery rhymes for the boys, and cooked delicous soups and meals for us all. she was a zealous multi-tasker and would manage to clean the house, cook dinner, rock the boys and do laundry all at the same time! my mother-in-law is an incredible woman and i am so lucky to have her in my life. she brought us unconditional love and laughter at a time when the boys went through a major transition and growth spurt. and i got a glimpse at how much fun the boys will have with their nanna as they get older. we were all crying when she left...the next day i was on my own from 8 to 5.
j's dad, grandpa mickey (mark), met his grandsons just a few weeks ago. i didn't know mark that well before this visit, so i didn't know what to expect. he was so hands-on with the boys from the get-go, holding and cuddling them, singing them songs in his deep baritone, burping them, taking them for walks and basically doing anything we asked. it was so wonderful having him in our home and i relished in seeing how much joy jordan found in watching his dad with our sons.
we are ever so grateful for our parents - for the role models they are for unconditional love, kindness and generosity of spirit. we love you!
love this invention
i splurged and bought a sling today. it's absolutely brilliant and oh-so-fashionable! the boys can be snug as a bug in here and i can be hands free. i'm wearing abel as i type this and he's snoozing away.
the one i bought is from zolo wear and made from a solarveil fabric which protects my fair lads from the sun's rays and is very lightweight and breathable for the hot texas summers. check out this great austin company at: www.zolowear.com
the one i bought is from zolo wear and made from a solarveil fabric which protects my fair lads from the sun's rays and is very lightweight and breathable for the hot texas summers. check out this great austin company at: www.zolowear.com
Saturday, March 31, 2007
smiles galore!
the boys are having a grand time learning their environment and imitating mom and dad, which means they are smiling lots and lots!
here's ozzy
and our sweet abel
life doesn't get much better then this!
here's ozzy
and our sweet abel
life doesn't get much better then this!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
7 weeks old
i can't believe the boys have turned 7 weeks old. they've grown like weeds. they've swapped personalities. they've turned our lives upside down, in a good way. every time we think we know something about them, they change it up on us just to keep us on our toes. gone are the days when these boys just slept and ate!
here are some things that are for sure, though (or at least i think they are): both our boys are incredibly physical. let's just say active is an understatement. and they are active in the scrappy sort of way. they both are holding up their heads almost completely. they both can push from a squat to a standing position when they have your shoulder for support (they do this when we are burping them). they both can lift their heads, shoulders and chest when on their tummies. they are awesome in their car seats and go for errands and appointments with ease. they also hate it when we put them to sleep. they want to be up and part of the action, despite how tired they actually are. good thing their parents know better and enforce nap time pretty strickly. their wake up routines are hilarious and they make some of the most outrageous faces and stretches on earth, which i hope they never outgrow. they also both take after their father, for better and for worse, and are now on zantac for acid reflux. apparantly heartburn runs in the family.
our sweet lil' abel jacob is not so little anymore and is quickly catching up with his brother. he weighed 7lb 11oz last tuesday and is consistently gaining over an once a day. he smiled for the first time yesterday, st. patty's day. he loves having zerberts blown on his tummy and his cheeks tickled. he also is a big fan of the foot massage. he's still a talker and is cooing and yelping more and more every day. he is the ultimate snuggle bunny and really doesn't like being put down (who would!). mom and dad have resorted to wearing the bjorn around the house with him because the swing, the bouncy seat, his crib and the boppy just won't do. he is also a kung fu master, particularly the praying mantis variety, and practices after every feeding. while he doesn't love tummy time and often gets frustrated, he almost crawled the other day (i know parents exaggerate, but i'm not making this up). he was grunting so hard while he was trying, i actually thought he was going to will himself across the mat!
oz man finally busted through the 8 lb mark last weigh-in (8lb 1oz)! he's still a trooper when it comes to less than delightful doctor's visits, etc. and makes everyone believe he is the mellowest baby on earth. little do they know... oskar is very vocal when it comes to his needs. he doesn't just fuss to let you know he wants something - he bursts out in an immediate lip-quivering wail. but he's pretty easy to calm and also to put to sleep, especially in his swing and even in his crib. he loves baths. he's a voracious eater and resembles a barracuda when going in for the boob. taking after his father again, he's losing most of his hair. but you can see very blonde fuzz growing in its place. ozzy has an amazing gymnastics talent already. when jordan swings him up in the air, he can hold his body completely horizontal, straight as a board, for ten seconds! in gymnastics, we call this a planche. you can also call it a superman. his strength even impressed the lactation specialist, who at our last consult proclaimed, "you better get this boy in gymnastics as soon as possible, he's got such strong legs!" when content, oz moves his arms around like he's conducting a symphony or singing an aria. he also has an incredible grip and has grabbed onto things like the leg of the stuffed animal giraffe on his activity mat and won't let go (and does this as i'm lifting him out resulting in the mat getting dragged across the room).
someone said caring for a young baby is kind of like living in the movie "groundhog day." our reality is far from that. every day is a unique adventure we wouldn't miss for the world.
here are some things that are for sure, though (or at least i think they are): both our boys are incredibly physical. let's just say active is an understatement. and they are active in the scrappy sort of way. they both are holding up their heads almost completely. they both can push from a squat to a standing position when they have your shoulder for support (they do this when we are burping them). they both can lift their heads, shoulders and chest when on their tummies. they are awesome in their car seats and go for errands and appointments with ease. they also hate it when we put them to sleep. they want to be up and part of the action, despite how tired they actually are. good thing their parents know better and enforce nap time pretty strickly. their wake up routines are hilarious and they make some of the most outrageous faces and stretches on earth, which i hope they never outgrow. they also both take after their father, for better and for worse, and are now on zantac for acid reflux. apparantly heartburn runs in the family.
 |
| abel jacob |
 |
| oskar herse |
oz man finally busted through the 8 lb mark last weigh-in (8lb 1oz)! he's still a trooper when it comes to less than delightful doctor's visits, etc. and makes everyone believe he is the mellowest baby on earth. little do they know... oskar is very vocal when it comes to his needs. he doesn't just fuss to let you know he wants something - he bursts out in an immediate lip-quivering wail. but he's pretty easy to calm and also to put to sleep, especially in his swing and even in his crib. he loves baths. he's a voracious eater and resembles a barracuda when going in for the boob. taking after his father again, he's losing most of his hair. but you can see very blonde fuzz growing in its place. ozzy has an amazing gymnastics talent already. when jordan swings him up in the air, he can hold his body completely horizontal, straight as a board, for ten seconds! in gymnastics, we call this a planche. you can also call it a superman. his strength even impressed the lactation specialist, who at our last consult proclaimed, "you better get this boy in gymnastics as soon as possible, he's got such strong legs!" when content, oz moves his arms around like he's conducting a symphony or singing an aria. he also has an incredible grip and has grabbed onto things like the leg of the stuffed animal giraffe on his activity mat and won't let go (and does this as i'm lifting him out resulting in the mat getting dragged across the room).
someone said caring for a young baby is kind of like living in the movie "groundhog day." our reality is far from that. every day is a unique adventure we wouldn't miss for the world.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
boobie monologues
i had this idealistic notion about breastfeeding while i was pregnant. i thought it would be this serene, beautiful, as-nature-intended action. and while nursing two would add a second dimension to it, what would stop me from tandem nursing?
the reality of breastfeeding, for me, has been a shot in the arm. albeit i sit here today, at 5.5 weeks post silverboys birthday, able to tandem nurse at every feeding and provide the boys mom's milk exclusively. but i'll tell you this, it hasn't been a walk in the park.
because the boys were technically born as preemies just shy of 36 weeks, they lacked the strong sucking motion of a full-term babe. they could still nurse, and did from day 1, they just weren't stimulating my milk to come in. so i pumped. and pumped. 8-10 times a day to replicate what a strong nursing baby would feel like. but no milk came in. after 7 days of no milk, i started getting desperate thinking i wouldn't be able to breastfeed the boys. it was a rollercoaster i care not to repeat. i talked to lactation specialists, our doula, and wonderful friends who assured me life would go on and our boys would be perfectly healthy if we had to formula feed them. of course, all the books you read say that any normally functioning woman can produce enough milk for their babies. i have grown to be disenchanted with this kind of dogma. i started to feel like a failure.
it wasn't until the boys 2 week birthday that my milk came in. i don't know what did it - maybe all the herbal lactation tinctures and teas? all the pumping? nursing the boys even though they were barely getting anything (and trust me, they were frustrated to suck on a boob with no gratification!)? whatever it was, my prayers were answered.
since then, it's been a journey to teach the boys to be better nursers. with the help of silicone nipple shields, it's become a lot easier. at our last lactation appt. we discovered i had a fast "let down," which means when the boys start sucking, the milk comes out really fast at first. i went from no milk, to too much milk, and it was overwhelming to the boys. the shields help them control how much milk they take in, similar to a bottle nipple. last week we achieved tandem nursing (both of them "on" at the same time), and we are now starting to ween them off their supplemental bottle (they've been each getting about an once of pumped milk as part of their feed). i'm also weening myself from this foresaken pump, as i've been cleared to transition to pumping every other feeding (down from EVERY feed!). in some ways, it feels like i'm going through a separation and divorce! of course, weening the boys from their supplement means possibly more nursing sessions per day, but i'm willing to give it a try.
along the way i've experienced lots of tenderness, plugged ducts, tons of frustration and heart ache, but ultimate success. it hasn't been easy, i've felt like quitting, but i'm really pround of myself and boys for sticking with it. i've also learned that what i experienced isn't the most uncommon thing in the world, especially for preemie babies. thanks to the amazing support of our hospital's lactation department, where i've received FREE consultations (as many as i need/want), and the support of my family and friends, i've been able to do this. i've also realized that while it's awesome to be able to nurse our boys and give them this nutrition, it's not the end-all-be-all that some folks make it out to be. you ultimately need to do what works for you and your family.
p.s. i was pumping the whole time i wrote this thanks to my porno tube top (aka hands-free pumping bra)!
the reality of breastfeeding, for me, has been a shot in the arm. albeit i sit here today, at 5.5 weeks post silverboys birthday, able to tandem nurse at every feeding and provide the boys mom's milk exclusively. but i'll tell you this, it hasn't been a walk in the park.
because the boys were technically born as preemies just shy of 36 weeks, they lacked the strong sucking motion of a full-term babe. they could still nurse, and did from day 1, they just weren't stimulating my milk to come in. so i pumped. and pumped. 8-10 times a day to replicate what a strong nursing baby would feel like. but no milk came in. after 7 days of no milk, i started getting desperate thinking i wouldn't be able to breastfeed the boys. it was a rollercoaster i care not to repeat. i talked to lactation specialists, our doula, and wonderful friends who assured me life would go on and our boys would be perfectly healthy if we had to formula feed them. of course, all the books you read say that any normally functioning woman can produce enough milk for their babies. i have grown to be disenchanted with this kind of dogma. i started to feel like a failure.
it wasn't until the boys 2 week birthday that my milk came in. i don't know what did it - maybe all the herbal lactation tinctures and teas? all the pumping? nursing the boys even though they were barely getting anything (and trust me, they were frustrated to suck on a boob with no gratification!)? whatever it was, my prayers were answered.
since then, it's been a journey to teach the boys to be better nursers. with the help of silicone nipple shields, it's become a lot easier. at our last lactation appt. we discovered i had a fast "let down," which means when the boys start sucking, the milk comes out really fast at first. i went from no milk, to too much milk, and it was overwhelming to the boys. the shields help them control how much milk they take in, similar to a bottle nipple. last week we achieved tandem nursing (both of them "on" at the same time), and we are now starting to ween them off their supplemental bottle (they've been each getting about an once of pumped milk as part of their feed). i'm also weening myself from this foresaken pump, as i've been cleared to transition to pumping every other feeding (down from EVERY feed!). in some ways, it feels like i'm going through a separation and divorce! of course, weening the boys from their supplement means possibly more nursing sessions per day, but i'm willing to give it a try.
along the way i've experienced lots of tenderness, plugged ducts, tons of frustration and heart ache, but ultimate success. it hasn't been easy, i've felt like quitting, but i'm really pround of myself and boys for sticking with it. i've also learned that what i experienced isn't the most uncommon thing in the world, especially for preemie babies. thanks to the amazing support of our hospital's lactation department, where i've received FREE consultations (as many as i need/want), and the support of my family and friends, i've been able to do this. i've also realized that while it's awesome to be able to nurse our boys and give them this nutrition, it's not the end-all-be-all that some folks make it out to be. you ultimately need to do what works for you and your family.
p.s. i was pumping the whole time i wrote this thanks to my porno tube top (aka hands-free pumping bra)!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
hangin' in our radio flyer
the mohrlein-anderberg clan got the boys the ultimate lil' boys accessory! we can't wait to wheel them around in their wagon, especially in the 4th of july parade...hooray!
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| abel in grey; oz in white |
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| a |
Monday, March 05, 2007
too much love
it's hard to imagine life without these guys. we stare at them for hours, kiss them more times in a day then we've ever kissed anything our entire lives, and take in their smell as if it were our last breath. my mother-in-law says they're delicious. i agree - i want to gobble them up every day!
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| ozzy's sensitive-man portrait |
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ozzy showing off his double chin and receding hair line (left) and aj plotting to take over the world
|
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| aj in surprise and delight |
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
sweet sleep
now that the boys are one month old and have broken the 6 and 7 lb mark (abel weighed in at 6lb 8oz and oz is 7lb 2oz), our doc gave us the go-ahead to let them sleep longer stretches at night. up 'til now, we have been following a 3-hour feeding schedule, even at night. you can imagine how hard it's been to force everyone to get up at midnight, 3am and 6am when we all need our beauty sleep! last night the boys slept a 4 and 4.5 hour stretch, which translated into wonderful stretches of sweet dreams for us all.
it was glorious!!! i never imagined how much i would treasure 4 hours of snooze.
both j and i have suffered from moments of delerium during the 3-hour night schedule, including thinking we have already fed and diapered the boys when they are still fast asleep, as well as j thinking he has been snuggling with one of the boys when they are cozy in their co-sleeper. we had no delerious moments last night, so hopefully we have experienced the last of them.
it was glorious!!! i never imagined how much i would treasure 4 hours of snooze.
both j and i have suffered from moments of delerium during the 3-hour night schedule, including thinking we have already fed and diapered the boys when they are still fast asleep, as well as j thinking he has been snuggling with one of the boys when they are cozy in their co-sleeper. we had no delerious moments last night, so hopefully we have experienced the last of them.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
fool me three times?!?!
we all know the old cliche, "fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me." well i'd like a revision. i've been fooled three times with our lil' abel. yes, we're talking pee here. and yes, we're talking three times being sprayed in the same diaper change. i didn't think it was possible, but clearly this boy has reserves! it hit my forehead, my glasses, my chest, the changing station, the dresser, and when i looked up, the window and the blinds! i'm sure all moms with little boys have their pee stories. but this one left me laughing hysterically in a fit of disbelief and my own gaul at thinking i could outwit multiple streams.
on another note, ozzy and aj are now over three weeks and we are ridiculously proud at how well they are growing. yesterday ozzy weighed in at 6lb 9oz and last friday abel was at 5lb 11oz. abel has had a voracious appetite, so i think he's grown quite a bit since then. i can't wait until he breaks the 6lb mark. it's amazing how you can get so excited about something as small as an once!
here are two pics from our photo shoot last week. gotta run...the boys are calling for their 3 pm feeding!
on another note, ozzy and aj are now over three weeks and we are ridiculously proud at how well they are growing. yesterday ozzy weighed in at 6lb 9oz and last friday abel was at 5lb 11oz. abel has had a voracious appetite, so i think he's grown quite a bit since then. i can't wait until he breaks the 6lb mark. it's amazing how you can get so excited about something as small as an once!
here are two pics from our photo shoot last week. gotta run...the boys are calling for their 3 pm feeding!
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| oz on left, abel on right |
Sunday, February 11, 2007
two weeks old!
the boys turned two weeks old yesterday and we have all settled in to happy family status. it's truly hard to believe that 14 days have passed - it is going WAY too fast!
oskar hersh
(aka ozzy, oz-man, tiger, big o, chunky monkey, block head)
loves: stretching, playing footsie and touch down with his arms, making kissy faces, getting kisses from matilda, manicures
hates: bath-time (mom is not giving up hope)
notes: by his two-week birthday, ozzy regained his birth weight of 5lb 7 oz and then some. he now weighs 5lb 9oz and his head grew a whopping centimeter (j is one proud papa). oz has a really strong neck and can already hold his head up for extended periods of time (which is a good thing, thanks to that huge head of his!). he's a very mellow guy and just likes to hang out and go with the flow. he didn't even cry during his heel prick at the doc's office. he sleeps great and rarely fusses, except while getting a bath. i'm not surprised given the fact that everytime i took a bath while pregnant, ozzy was a wild man!
abel jacob
(aka a.j., a.b., squawk box, abel j, feist bucket)
loves: bath-time, making kissy faces, massages, the swing, eating, the soothie, being read too, walks in the bjorn
hates: being changed (especially the poopy variety), being woken up (who doesn't!)
notes: by his two-week birthday, abel stunned us all with his growth. he weighed in at 5lb 1 oz, up from his birth weight of 4lb 13oz. clearly this boy loves to eat! even though abel was mellow in the womb, he's definitely a rambunctous one. he's fiesty as all get out when he wakes up but calms down really fast. he's very articulate with his hands and fingers and loves to hold his ears, almost a "hear no evil" pose. he sleeps like a champ. he loves the water and just hangs out in the tub. he also burps like a truck driver! abel loves to talk and will just lay in his crib entertaining himself and his brother with all sorts of sounds.
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| here we all are after a nice long walk around the neighborhood (yes, it feels amazing to be able to move around like a normal person again!) |
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| oskar hersh |
oskar hersh
(aka ozzy, oz-man, tiger, big o, chunky monkey, block head)
loves: stretching, playing footsie and touch down with his arms, making kissy faces, getting kisses from matilda, manicures
hates: bath-time (mom is not giving up hope)
notes: by his two-week birthday, ozzy regained his birth weight of 5lb 7 oz and then some. he now weighs 5lb 9oz and his head grew a whopping centimeter (j is one proud papa). oz has a really strong neck and can already hold his head up for extended periods of time (which is a good thing, thanks to that huge head of his!). he's a very mellow guy and just likes to hang out and go with the flow. he didn't even cry during his heel prick at the doc's office. he sleeps great and rarely fusses, except while getting a bath. i'm not surprised given the fact that everytime i took a bath while pregnant, ozzy was a wild man!
 |
| abel jacob |
(aka a.j., a.b., squawk box, abel j, feist bucket)
loves: bath-time, making kissy faces, massages, the swing, eating, the soothie, being read too, walks in the bjorn
hates: being changed (especially the poopy variety), being woken up (who doesn't!)
notes: by his two-week birthday, abel stunned us all with his growth. he weighed in at 5lb 1 oz, up from his birth weight of 4lb 13oz. clearly this boy loves to eat! even though abel was mellow in the womb, he's definitely a rambunctous one. he's fiesty as all get out when he wakes up but calms down really fast. he's very articulate with his hands and fingers and loves to hold his ears, almost a "hear no evil" pose. he sleeps like a champ. he loves the water and just hangs out in the tub. he also burps like a truck driver! abel loves to talk and will just lay in his crib entertaining himself and his brother with all sorts of sounds.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
welcome silverboys!
we are so thrilled and proud to announce the birth of our two boys:
abel jacob (AJ) was born at 3:38am on saturday, january 27, 2007
4lb 13oz and 17.5 inches
oskar (ozzy) hersh was born at 4:48am on saturday, january 27, 2007
5lb 7oz and 19 inches
we were all happily released from the hospital on wednesday afternoon and have been getting the hang of it at home. everything is going amazing! these boys are absolutely wonderful - good sleepers, good eaters and so darn beautiful.
i'm anxious to post more but for now wanted to get the basics up. we are so grateful to all of our amazing family and friends for their love and support during this miracle!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Silverbabies Are Coming!
Hi there, it's not Tracey -- it's Anne. Typing for Tracey who's on the other end of the phone! Here's what she says:
We're all set in the hospital -- the doctor decided to induce. We started pitocin around 2pm this afternoon and should have our Silverbabies with us tonight or early tomorrow morning. Yea!
(Note: Tracey sounds totally calm, and Jordan's getting there.)
We're all set in the hospital -- the doctor decided to induce. We started pitocin around 2pm this afternoon and should have our Silverbabies with us tonight or early tomorrow morning. Yea!
(Note: Tracey sounds totally calm, and Jordan's getting there.)
Thursday, January 25, 2007
sleeping, eating and burping
the life of a newborn, no? well in my case, i think i've regressed to these very basic functions dominating my life. i'm sleeping a lot, at least 10 hours a night, and i wouldn't be surprised if i start adding naps to my daytime routine. i just can't get enough zzz's. hey, i'll take it while i can get it! i'm thinking my body is also storing up energy. and speaking of energy, i'm still able to eat quite a bit. while i definitely feel the boys high up in my ribs and stomach, it hasn't relegated me to super-tiny meals. so i'm trying to give the boys lots of protein in these last few weeks and me lots of good carbs for the marathon that can be labor and delivery. as far as the burping goes, this has been by far my funniest symptom and i've had it the entire pregnancy. i've become a champion belcher and have even achieved the coveted burping-and-talking-simultaneously status that all teenagers strive for. what's even funnier is that, just like a newborn, the action of moving to a vertical status forces them out. so while i'm laying on my side, i'm pretty benign. but watch out when i stand up!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
big boys
we had our 35 week ultrasound yesterday and the boys are bigger than we anticipated - a baby is 5lb 12oz an b baby is 5lb 7oz. yipee!!! i can't believe i have over 11 lbs of baby in me, but boy my body sure believes it. i can really feel the weight of these guys in my stomach and my muscles that surround them are super-fatigued when i move/walk around (which isn't much!). also, my belly is stretching so much now that the skin is getting pretty itchy. so i'm lube-ing up with vit. e and cocoa butter more than ever. when i go to the doctor now, everyone says "maybe we'll see you next week." i still have this feeling that we'll reach our 36 week goal, but it's truly starting to sink in that these boys can come any moment now and we are thrilled beyond belief!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
almost to 35
on tuesday we hit week 35. it seems so surreal and both jordan and i have this sense of calm about the possibility of labor happening any day now. the boys have their growth ultrasound on tuesday, but i know they are big and strong enough that if they were born today, they'd be just fine. my guess is that they're at least 5 lbs each now! i had my last "twin" appointment at the perinatal group on thursday, and while my cervix is still closed and long, laura noticed it had softened quite a bit. the next morning, i lost my "plug" - essentially a ball of mucusy snot that covers your cervix during pregnancy. labor could still be weeks away when you lose your plug, but still it marks good progression! i then saw dr. love friday afternoon and he seems to think i'll go into labor in the next week or two. my blood pressure is still borderline high, but he's being very calm and non-reactionary about it (thank god!). if it goes up dramatically, or if i have any preeclampsia symptoms (protein in urine, headaches, blurred vision, etc.), we'll need to talk about inducing labor and having these babies. the good news is even if this does happen, it won't affect us having a normal vaginal delivery. i still have some loose ends to tie up at work, so i'm going to try and finish all that today, just in case these boys decide to come this week. i know i'll feel much better heading into week 35 and 36 with nothing hanging over me.
wilson!
i have officially named my belly wilson. remember the volleyball that was tom hanks companion in that weird but oddly captivating movie "cast away?" yes, that's right, my belly has a remarkable resemblance to that character. just the right size and proportion, and decorated very similar. i know this isn't the most pleasant image, but i have some broken blood vessels and yes, finally some stretch marks, that radiate upwards from my ballooned belly button - just like wilson's hair! so while i'm stranded on preggo island, i have my friend wilson to always keep me company and keep me (relatively) sane. and while sometimes when i look in the mirror i'm tempted to hurl my wilson out the window, i know, just like tom hanks, i'd be lost without him.
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