Week 31: There's No Stopping Now!

This is happening. We're having babies in the not too distant future. It used to be fun talking about the babies, because their arrival was so far away. But now, it's real and it's going to be happening. It hit home finally that we will soon be welcoming two babies into our home and we have no idea what we are doing. I'm a little nervous...two babies!! We have about 4 weeks to go until the babies will be here. I had a talk with the babies yesterday and asked that they please hold on until 9/6 to arrive. This is the opposite of our anniversary of 6/9 and I love that idea! They kicked me a few times during and after the conversation, so let's hope they agree as well.

I had a two hour OB appointment this week. Not because there was anything wrong, but there was an emergency case that came in and backed everything up. I had a long ultrasound that put the babies through several tests: breathing, movement, tone, and measured fluid and heart rates. They passed the tests! YES!! It was adorable to see their tiny ribs expanding and contracting as they practiced breathing. Since I had to sit waiting on my OB for so long, my feet turned into huge swollen messes. The OB walked in and declared I had sausage toes. I was up 3 pounds at the appointment, so I'm at a gain of 31 overall. More cheers from the OB re: weight gain. I'm officially 'normal' in terms of weight.

I do all the grocery shopping at our house and I get into couponing. It's so addictive! Target had a deal this past week on diapers. If you bought 2 cases of diapers, you got a $10 gift card. I went in armed with coupons and bought several cases of diapers as well as laundry detergent, blankets and other baby items. I spent $143 but I saved $53 in coupons! This gets me excited. What doesn't get met excited is the cashier who asked when I was due (I said in about a month) and then commented 'oh honey when you were walking up here I felt so bad for you because you are just huge!' I wasn't sure what to say in response to this so I uncomfortably laughed. Thank goodness these killer deals had me in a great mood or I may have burst into tears. **Note on diapers-we are going to cloth diaper once the babies are big enough to fit into small cloth diapers at 8 pounds. In the meantime, we're going with disposables. I figure we have enough to figure out the first few weeks so the cloth diapering can wait a bit..sorry for the delay Mother Nature**

As far as a due date, I'm officially due on 10/05. However, when people inquire about a due date, I have given up saying October 5th because the look of horror and disbelief on their faces quite literally scares me. I always tell them it's twins to try to ease the shock, but to no avail. Twins usually arrive around 36 weeks, so I now am telling people I'm due in the middle of Sept for my own sanity. It helps to ease the shock face of strangers.

Insomnia is the new excitement of the week. At some point, I wake up during the middle of the night on one of my many trips to the bathroom and inevitably cannot fall back asleep. I'm up for about 1-2 hours just laying there like a slug. I'll usually throw in a DVD and eventually fall back asleep. One day this week I was up at 12, 2 and 4; each time it took me at least an hour to drift off again. Last night I only was up for one episode at 4 so I guess it was a good night. I can't believe how sore I get from sleeping. My hips and legs crack every time I roll myself out of bed. I had no idea how creaky my body could be.

Another sleeping note, last Saturday I was up early having one of these insomnia experiences and I became hungry. So hungry my stomach was growling uncontrollably. My stomach growling woke up my husband from a peaceful sleep. I went to fetch some cereal so we could all sleep in peace again.

Putting socks on is an athletic feat for me. I wobble and flounder and my husband gets a nervous look on his face. It's so difficult, after successfully getting on a pair without toppling over, I threw up my arms like I just stuck a landing in gymnastics. C loved it. He has taken over the sock putting on duty for the time being to ensure everyone's safety at this critical time.

I'm obsessed with ice water and ice tea. I have a glass of one or the other at my side at all times. I have to drink. This, of course, means several trips to the bathroom. Last night, he made me laugh so hard I thought I was going to pee on the couch. I literally could not get off the couch (I had limbs splayed in every direction attempting to move but I was like a turtle on its back) and amidst my laughter shrieked 'pee' and 'help.' C sprang off the couch and helped peel me off the couch and I took off in what felt like a sprint to the bathroom (C confirmed it was more of a waddle jog and he was worried I'd trip). I barely made it in time. Not to self: hysterical laughing is not allowed unless I'm on my feet or in a position in which I can easily manuever myself to a bathroom.

Upcoming this week: finish decorating the nurseries (we have finally picked out names so we can hang them on the wall and decorate around them) and pack our hospital bags (I keep having recurring nightmares of going into labor and running around the house in the middle of the night packing a bag).

These babies are coming in about a month. There's no turning back now!!