Christmas time Catch-up

Before Andrea, Rebekah, Ivica and Rylee left for their Croation Christmas we decided to have a little get together.  We made sugar cookies during the day, so that night we could frost them with Rylee.
Making the cookies...

Frosting and eating the cookies...

Caleb LOVED the sugar cookies, after Rylee ate most of the frosting off of her cookie she left the table and Caleb saw her cookie just sitting there and picked it up and ate it.  It was pretty funny.  They had a fun time especially eating the cookies.

CHRISTMAS EVE and CHRISTMAS DAY
On Christmas eve we went over to Jeff and Christy's house for dinner and watched a movie.  The boys love playing with Briggs and staying up kinda late.

On Christmas morning my mom came up early and we made cinnamon rolls and since Caleb didn't wake up until almost 9 so since the cinnamon rolls only had about 5 to 10 minutes left of baking we ate before we did presents.  The boys were really excited about opening presents and getting candy from their Christmas socks.  They got a fun tool bench, books, clothes, and a few other random items.  Me and Trev decided since money was tight that we wouldn't spend too much on each other so I shopped black friday and got fabric to make him a jean quilt for around $20.  He spoiled me and made me wish I had given him more.  He got me some non stick ceramic frying pans and some Doris Day DVD's I was really excited.  We gave my mom season tickets to Touchan so she can go to all 3 shows this year.  She loved the gift.

 After she left and we all got ready for the day we headed over to New Castle to spend the rest of the day with the Gardner's.  It was a fun day filled with family and fun.  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

21 years of missing you

I'm not even sure what to write in this post....

I love you dad and I miss you all the time.  There are so many times in the last 21 years that I wish you were here to share my happy and sad moments with.  I cry cause you weren't physically around for my first date, my wedding, the birth of my children, etc.  I know you are here in spirit, but I still wish you were here in person!! If it is possible please hug and kiss my babies before they get here!

Thanks for being such an amazing father!!  You were the perfect example of love!!  I want to be able to have your sense of kindness, charity, and love.  I hope I make you proud.  I miss you more than words can say!!

Ultrasound Stats

Yesterday I had an appointment and I don't want to forget the stats...
Baby A (girl)= Heart Rate 150 bpm.  Estimated weight: 2 pounds 2 oz (27 weeks 6 day) all is well.  We got to see her moving her mouth and tongue.  She also emptied her bladder during the ultrasound so we saw it kinda big and also very small.
Baby B (boy)= Heart Rate 128 bpm.  Estimated weight: 2 pounds 70z (28 weeks 1 day) all is well.  He kept moving his feet from by his own face to down by his sisters face.  He is all over the place.

Baby A sits more facial so I feel most all of her movements.  Baby B is deeper inside I don't feel him quite as often unless it is a strong movement.  Both placentas are sitting in my upper left so my left ribs are quite protected, whereas my right ribs have baby girl's feet in them constantly!!

I think my scale is a little kinder than the one at the doc's office (plus I was wearing shoes) according to the doc scale I have gained 22.6 pounds.  I passed my glucose test with flying colors!! Yay!  My blood pressure is still good, but still being closely monitored as twins pregnancy increases your chances of preeclampsia.  I am measuring 34 weeks (which is why I feel so large).  Doctor told me to take it easy until I get to 30 weeks then he wants me off my feet as much as possible and to take two 2-3 hour rests per day.
As of now baby boy is breech which means most likely a c-section.  Not real excited about that, but don't want to add any risks to my baby boy during delivery.  Let's all hope and pray he decides to turn when baby girl goes into the birth canal and gives him a little more room!

28 WEEKS!!

I think I grew since last week!!

How far along? 28 weeks

Weight Gain? 18 pounds.  I feel like the weight gain has come in spurts.

Stretch Marks?  Not yet, but don't think i'll be able to say that much longer!

Belly button in or out?  Out and stretching weird.

Movement?  Lots of movement still.  Starting to hurt when baby girl kicks me in the ribs.  Baby boy is all over the place (especially on my bladder)!

Milestones?  Officially in the 3rd trimester!  Which also means I am now on light bed rest!

Sleep?  Waking up less than 2 times in the night excites me way more than it should!!  I have created a trail in the carpet from the bed to the bathroom.  If it isn't a bathroom break keeping me awake it is hunger or pain.

Best moment this week?  Spending last Saturday with Trevor and the boys... getting out in the fresh air while getting a Christmas tree.  The getting out moments are coming to an end with light bed rest.

Miss anything?  Getting out of bed without pain somewhere in my body.  I miss having a "lap" when Caleb or Kelson want to read books I have to convince them to sit next to me instead of on me.  I miss picking up Caleb every time he wants held.

Symptoms?  Starting to feel braxton hicks (especially when driving).  Sore back.

What I'm looking forward to this week?  Going to my ultra sound on Monday to see my sweet babies and ask the doc all my questions.  And of course I'm super excited for Christmas and family time!

Other random things to share??  My glucose test is on Monday and I am scared to death that I'm going to fail and have to take the 3 hour fasting test!  I have had no problems in the past, but the chances increase when carrying multiples.  I live on carbs and sugar!  Most of the food I want to eat would not be allowed on a gestational diabetes diet.
I feel like I maybe should have gained more weight by this point and I feel nervous I'm not in taking enough calories... hoping the doc can tell me if I am on track or how to help me gain healthy weight.  I don't think it helps that everyone tells me I am small... you wouldn't think it would get old to hear that, but it does.  Especially when I am already worried about my weight.
I am starting to get heartburn again.  I had it at the beginning of my 2nd trimester, but it sort of subsided and now I think it is coming back more frequent.
I am starting to feel like this pregnancy is close to over.  I feel anxious to get the nursery done and be ready sooner than normal.  I am nervous for strict bed rest and hope it doesn't happen!

OH the weather outside is frightful!!

The boys have always loved playing outside.  So, for them... winter is hard!!  A couple of weeks ago when the high temps were under 5 or 10 the boys finally decided to give outside a try.  We got them all bundled up, coveralls, boots, coats, hats, and socks for their hands cause we don't have mittens.  They went outside and enjoyed it for a total of 15 minutes then they were back inside.  I would much rather be inside in the warm so I am glad they don't LOVE the cold and snow!!

The Comparison!

 When I first found out I was pregnant time when by kinda slow, especially while we were waiting to announce.  Then, when I found out it was twins I think time stopped for about 3 weeks!  Ever since the holiday season began (around Thanksgiving) time is going by SO fast!

I have been working on baby quilts, baby burp rags, and getting ready for Christmas.  Oh and I can't forget I have also been growing and growing!!  People tell me all the time "you are so small for having twins!"  Well folks, in my opinion I'm not small!  At my last appointment I was measuring 4 cm larger than a single pregnancy!! I am pretty sure my body hurts like i'm huge!!  I never really got big with singletons.  Let's compare... 

36 weeks

27 weeks

I know it. I live it. I love it.

There are moments in each of our lives that shape us, that make us who we are, what we become, or make us want to be better.  Sometimes these moments are big and monumental, and sometimes they are just "ah-ha" moments while we are living our daily lives.  I will be the first to admit that I struggle with living the small simple things of the gospel... reading scriptures daily has always been hard for me, having family home evening is not very often, and other things to that I know I should be better at doing.  Just because I don't do all these things doesn't mean I don't believe.  I love the talk "I know it. I live it. I love it." By Ann M. Dibb  (2nd counselor Young Women's Presidency) it can be found here.  This is probably my favorite part from this article...

The final phrase in my declarative statement is “I love it.” Gaining a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and diligently living gospel principles in our everyday lives leads many members of the Church to exclaim enthusiastically, “I love the gospel!”

This feeling comes as we feel the Holy Ghost witnessing to us that we are children of our Heavenly Father, He is mindful of us, and we are on the right path. Our love for the gospel grows as we experience the love of our Father in Heaven and the peace promised by the Savior as we show Him we are willing to obey and follow Him.

At different times in our lives, whether we are new converts to the Church or lifelong members, we may find that this vibrant enthusiasm has faded. Sometimes this happens when times are challenging and we must practice patience. Sometimes it happens at the peak of our prosperity and abundance. Whenever I have this feeling, I know I need to refocus my efforts on increasing my gospel knowledge and living gospel principles more fully in my life.

Recently I read a blog post of an old college ward friend that has left the church... It really made me think about the gospel and how much it means to me in my life!  There are definitely times in my life I know that I need to "refocus my efforts on increasing my gospel knowledge and living the principles more fully"  Her blog post reminded me of that very thing.  I need to stop worrying about the trivial and temporal things and worry more about the eternal prospective!  This is the perfect time of year to refocus on my Savior and live the way he did. 

I AM A MORMON!  I KNOW IT.  I LIVE IT. I LOVE IT!