I got one today. Very controversial in our house. After searching high and low for a mercury-free dose for MONTHS and finding none, my kid's pediatrician's nurse offered me the one and only single dose they had in their shot fridge. I've NEVER been an advocate of flu shots until this year when I learned about the real flu (influenza) vs what I always thought was the flu (24 hr viruses, stomach bugs, etc.)
Plus, everywhere I go, someone has the flu. It's like walking through a mine field. I'm so paranoid. I'm ditching friends, family, trips to the library, store, everything because I'm scared of getting it. It got worse today when I heard the radio report about how the flu is wide-spread in VA partially because the flu shot is offering only partial protection this year. It seems they had a bad guess with which virus strains would be trendy this year and misfired on two of three. Still, I think it's better for me to get the shot than not.
John wasn't happy. I've turned him into a vaccine hater and when he heard I had gotten a shot today I could hear the concern in his voice. Bottom line, we have strong suspicions that autism is linked to vaccines - probably the mercury used in them - but it could be something else. No one knows any hard facts about the causes of autism - or so it seems to us - so we don't want to take any unnecessary risks w/ our sweet little twins. I think it will all be OK. As John says, everything always works out.
On a different note, Mr. Cubby fell down several stairs today while coloring with purple crayon in the stairwell. He was unhurt but did manage to color purple around his right eye and mouth. It is the first (and will be the only) such incident of the crayon variety. We keep them under lock and key but somehow a purple managed to escape notice this morning. Unfortunately, Mr. Cubby likes to walk "like a big boy" down the stairs which means - he falls. We go over butt scooting and backwards sliding down the stairs but he always returns to his favorite way - standing up, leaning forward, modified dive. Totally dangerous.
Wall eraser cleaners work like a charm for removing crayon, fyi.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
24 Weeks
Oh my gosh what a difference a week makes. Last week was my best week yet in this pregnancy. I actually felt pretty NORMAL, aside from not being able to sit up without rolling over. Hello beached whale getting out of bed. I swear my life is looking more and more like a trailer for Shallow Hal. I sit on the bed, the other side pops up. I order a meal, plus a milk shake, plus another meal, plus dessert. I could go on but I won't.
Time for true confessions. My latest phobia is shopping for underwear. (Boys can skip this part). My ta-tas began to bother me about the lack of support I'm giving them. I know, right, who has time to support the ta-tas with all the other crap going on in life. Also the undies, which, by the way, fit me JUST FINE all through my last pregnancy, were cutting off circulation and making me fear for the well being of my babies and my legs.
I went to Target. Normally, I love Target - though the one I usually go to is never stocked with absolutely everything I need so I always have to make several trips a week to see if they've restocked - and buy more stuff - like minute rice, Swiffers, and wire whisks. So anyway, I shopped for AN HOUR trying to find a bra that fit. I didn't care about liking it. I just wanted it to fit. The one I finally bought - doesn't fit. It's too big. Hey, a girl can dream. I'll grow into it, right?
And the underwear (don't ever call them panties in front of me) oh good grief, what an emotional roller coaster that was. First I'm confronted with style choices - hipsters, bikini, briefs, boy shorts, high waist, low waist. Also fabric choice, which isn't hard - 100% cotton only, please. Color choices - someone needs to send a memo to Haines, et. all and tell them that nude is the new white. Why are there packs and packs of white only underwear? I admit to buying them in the past but only out of desperation (and because they were cheap).
And the worst choice of all - size. What a problem size was. You see, I measured my hips before leaving the house. As all girls know, undie size has NOTHING to do with real measurement - just like most girl clothing. So I couldn't tell just by measuring if my girth had increased one or two or even (gasp) three sizes. The undie companies have handy-dandy size conversion charts on the back of their package, which I consulted because I was hopelessly lost. So, get this, every single style had the same and singular measurement on it - the hip measurement. That means, I guess, that if very pregnant me buys a pair of high-waist grannies - they should fit according to my hip size. That's ridiculous. They're not going to fit. My belly size is so out of whack with my hip size that it's not even funny. Ok, so I'll cut them some slack because that was an irrational expectation. But, what did irk me was that both the high and low waisted hipster/ bikinis had the SAME sizing measurement conversion chart. This is a problem because high and low hip measurements are DIFFERENT in most women, at least it is in the ones who aren't shaped like little boys. So I knew I couldn't trust the back of the package. That left me with little else to do than to stand at the wall of underwear for roughly twenty minutes trying to search out a size I wasn't sure of in a color and style that they don't stock in that size. I had three contractions standing there. The stress was awful. I finally settled on a "variety" pack that included a disgustingly ugly pair of lime green undies - no nude, no black, nothing remotely neutral. But hey, at least my legs aren't gangrenous, right?
My latest health complaint is nose bleeds. Gross, right? I know. So nasty. I get them three or four times A DAY. I think I have pregnancy hemophilia. I got one at dinner tonight. My poor family. Thank goodness they're all boys and have a high tolerance of gross things - some even find them interesting/ funny.
Baby wise, things seem to be going well. Lots and lots of kicking. Both have turned away from the outside of my belly (I think) because my organs are taking a beating right now. It's not painful - just weird. The kicks are getting stronger and stronger. The boy has managed to land a few hard somewhat painful kicks just below my rib cage.
Every time we drive past the exit for the hospital on our way to Roy Rogers I feel a pang of excitement now. I'm so looking forward to them being born. Two babies. It's finally starting to sink in.
All in all this week was really fantastic. My energy is back up. I'm having fewer contractions (today was an exception). I sleep less of the day away. I can do more than one thing a day. I do feel puffier. Right now I can tell my fingers are getting puffy, as are my legs.
Oh no! I've gone two whole hours without eating! I should get some jelly beans - not for me - for the babies.
Time for true confessions. My latest phobia is shopping for underwear. (Boys can skip this part). My ta-tas began to bother me about the lack of support I'm giving them. I know, right, who has time to support the ta-tas with all the other crap going on in life. Also the undies, which, by the way, fit me JUST FINE all through my last pregnancy, were cutting off circulation and making me fear for the well being of my babies and my legs.
I went to Target. Normally, I love Target - though the one I usually go to is never stocked with absolutely everything I need so I always have to make several trips a week to see if they've restocked - and buy more stuff - like minute rice, Swiffers, and wire whisks. So anyway, I shopped for AN HOUR trying to find a bra that fit. I didn't care about liking it. I just wanted it to fit. The one I finally bought - doesn't fit. It's too big. Hey, a girl can dream. I'll grow into it, right?
And the underwear (don't ever call them panties in front of me) oh good grief, what an emotional roller coaster that was. First I'm confronted with style choices - hipsters, bikini, briefs, boy shorts, high waist, low waist. Also fabric choice, which isn't hard - 100% cotton only, please. Color choices - someone needs to send a memo to Haines, et. all and tell them that nude is the new white. Why are there packs and packs of white only underwear? I admit to buying them in the past but only out of desperation (and because they were cheap).
And the worst choice of all - size. What a problem size was. You see, I measured my hips before leaving the house. As all girls know, undie size has NOTHING to do with real measurement - just like most girl clothing. So I couldn't tell just by measuring if my girth had increased one or two or even (gasp) three sizes. The undie companies have handy-dandy size conversion charts on the back of their package, which I consulted because I was hopelessly lost. So, get this, every single style had the same and singular measurement on it - the hip measurement. That means, I guess, that if very pregnant me buys a pair of high-waist grannies - they should fit according to my hip size. That's ridiculous. They're not going to fit. My belly size is so out of whack with my hip size that it's not even funny. Ok, so I'll cut them some slack because that was an irrational expectation. But, what did irk me was that both the high and low waisted hipster/ bikinis had the SAME sizing measurement conversion chart. This is a problem because high and low hip measurements are DIFFERENT in most women, at least it is in the ones who aren't shaped like little boys. So I knew I couldn't trust the back of the package. That left me with little else to do than to stand at the wall of underwear for roughly twenty minutes trying to search out a size I wasn't sure of in a color and style that they don't stock in that size. I had three contractions standing there. The stress was awful. I finally settled on a "variety" pack that included a disgustingly ugly pair of lime green undies - no nude, no black, nothing remotely neutral. But hey, at least my legs aren't gangrenous, right?
My latest health complaint is nose bleeds. Gross, right? I know. So nasty. I get them three or four times A DAY. I think I have pregnancy hemophilia. I got one at dinner tonight. My poor family. Thank goodness they're all boys and have a high tolerance of gross things - some even find them interesting/ funny.
Baby wise, things seem to be going well. Lots and lots of kicking. Both have turned away from the outside of my belly (I think) because my organs are taking a beating right now. It's not painful - just weird. The kicks are getting stronger and stronger. The boy has managed to land a few hard somewhat painful kicks just below my rib cage.
Every time we drive past the exit for the hospital on our way to Roy Rogers I feel a pang of excitement now. I'm so looking forward to them being born. Two babies. It's finally starting to sink in.
All in all this week was really fantastic. My energy is back up. I'm having fewer contractions (today was an exception). I sleep less of the day away. I can do more than one thing a day. I do feel puffier. Right now I can tell my fingers are getting puffy, as are my legs.
Oh no! I've gone two whole hours without eating! I should get some jelly beans - not for me - for the babies.
Friday, February 8, 2008
23 weeks
God bless my mother in law. I'm in bed "napping" and she's downstairs with Mr. Cubby. I can hear him careening around the house, bumping into things, chattering away. My mother in law is a saint.
So we've made it to 23 weeks. Sigh of relief. If the babies are born tomorrow - not that there are any signs they will be but I'm just saying if they are - there's a good chance they'll survive. I know, how morbid. You'd think twins would make me all chirpy and excited. Instead, I'm obsessed with whether or not they'll die at birth. I'm sooo wasting this wonderful time, aren't I? I blame my parents, both compulsive worriers.
Baby Girl was kicking and moving around during the sono today. ADORABLE. Baby Boy had hiccups but was sleeping. How he can sleep through being kicked in the head - literally - is beyond me - but it bodes well for my miserly hopes of making them share a crib.
I had a long talk with the doctor today about all my pre-term labor scares. John came with me as my memory. I swear, after my last dr. appt. I could barely remember a thing except that the dr. had said "bedrest" several times. This time, after explaining all my contractions, cramping, tight tummy issues, she said, "Don't worry. It's all normal. You're doing just fine right now." But she said her previous order of restricted activity still stands because the contractions and belly tightness/ pressure are signs that I need to rest.
She also said that I shouldn't worry so much because stress can trigger PTL. Yeah, not the best thing to say to a compulsive worrier because then I worry that I'm worrying too much. No, but really, the appointment set me at ease. And it was good for John to be there so he could hear all this right from the doctor and not his loopy, stressed out wife.
I get to have my glucose test in 1 week. MMMmmmmm. Thinkig about the orange soda stuff made my tummy growl.
Speaking of eating, so far I've put on 22 pounds. It feels like 150. My belly is measuring 26cm now - a 6cm jump from my last dr. appt. three weeks ago. (I know this has nothing to do w/ weight gain but I needed to stick it into the blog somewhere and here seemed logical). I'm on target to gain 24 pounds by 24 weeks. I figure I can put on 2 pounds this week. John swore he'd stuff me full of food so I'd hit my goal. Great guy. "Here honey, have some more ice cream. You're too thin," he says like the witch from Hansel and Gretel. I remind him that my maternity pants are pinching my thighs. I remind him that the ice cream is going to take a long time to melt off my bum but he just smiles and tells me how pretty I am when I'm pregnant. You can't beat that, can you?
In other news, I just read an hysterical blog by another mother of twins. She said she was going to vote for Obama because he has a cute butt. I think I'm going to start evaluating candidates like that too. One of my biggest concerns, the idiocy of the adoption process isn't high on anyone's list so I might as well evaluate by butt.
Ugh. Why isn't spell check working?
So we've made it to 23 weeks. Sigh of relief. If the babies are born tomorrow - not that there are any signs they will be but I'm just saying if they are - there's a good chance they'll survive. I know, how morbid. You'd think twins would make me all chirpy and excited. Instead, I'm obsessed with whether or not they'll die at birth. I'm sooo wasting this wonderful time, aren't I? I blame my parents, both compulsive worriers.
Baby Girl was kicking and moving around during the sono today. ADORABLE. Baby Boy had hiccups but was sleeping. How he can sleep through being kicked in the head - literally - is beyond me - but it bodes well for my miserly hopes of making them share a crib.
I had a long talk with the doctor today about all my pre-term labor scares. John came with me as my memory. I swear, after my last dr. appt. I could barely remember a thing except that the dr. had said "bedrest" several times. This time, after explaining all my contractions, cramping, tight tummy issues, she said, "Don't worry. It's all normal. You're doing just fine right now." But she said her previous order of restricted activity still stands because the contractions and belly tightness/ pressure are signs that I need to rest.
She also said that I shouldn't worry so much because stress can trigger PTL. Yeah, not the best thing to say to a compulsive worrier because then I worry that I'm worrying too much. No, but really, the appointment set me at ease. And it was good for John to be there so he could hear all this right from the doctor and not his loopy, stressed out wife.
I get to have my glucose test in 1 week. MMMmmmmm. Thinkig about the orange soda stuff made my tummy growl.
Speaking of eating, so far I've put on 22 pounds. It feels like 150. My belly is measuring 26cm now - a 6cm jump from my last dr. appt. three weeks ago. (I know this has nothing to do w/ weight gain but I needed to stick it into the blog somewhere and here seemed logical). I'm on target to gain 24 pounds by 24 weeks. I figure I can put on 2 pounds this week. John swore he'd stuff me full of food so I'd hit my goal. Great guy. "Here honey, have some more ice cream. You're too thin," he says like the witch from Hansel and Gretel. I remind him that my maternity pants are pinching my thighs. I remind him that the ice cream is going to take a long time to melt off my bum but he just smiles and tells me how pretty I am when I'm pregnant. You can't beat that, can you?
In other news, I just read an hysterical blog by another mother of twins. She said she was going to vote for Obama because he has a cute butt. I think I'm going to start evaluating candidates like that too. One of my biggest concerns, the idiocy of the adoption process isn't high on anyone's list so I might as well evaluate by butt.
Ugh. Why isn't spell check working?
Monday, February 4, 2008
22+ Weeks
High risk specialist on Friday gave us good news. They redid the Level 2 sono measurements and found that both babies are doing super well. Our girl has closed the size gap to a couple of days. She measured 1lb 1oz and was about 4 days ahead of the average. Our boy is still a week ahead and he was 1lb 3oz. It looks like any concerns about early twin to twin transfusion or placenta problems with the girl have been put to rest.
In other news, I have this great book about multiple births that has been helpful. Much more helpful than the two other books I checked out of the library. This one - I'd get the title if I wasn't too tired to roll across the bed - was written by a doctor who ran a multiple births clinic. (I'm not a doctor so don't follow this advice yourself unless your dr. says to). Helpful medical advice included:
Mothers of twins should drink AT LEAST 128oz of water a day, consume roughly 3800 calories a day, and gain between 20-30 lbs by week 20. Weight gain between 20-28 weeks is especially critical. She actually recommends to many MOM's that they have a milkshake every day to help boost calorie, fat, and calcium intake. How great is that?!?
Also rest is key. Do less. Take naps. Keep stressors at bay. This is especially true after 20 weeks. Women who ignore doctor's advice to take it easy often end up in the hospital with preterm labor or worse, with preterm infants. (Here's me not ignoring the doctor anymore).
Because of the contractions I'm having, I've been checked at every dr. appt. for PTL. So far there haven't been any cervical changes which is great. However, I have noticed that my contractions, though irregular, are getting stronger. Yesterday, before the most amazing Super Bowl upset I've ever seen, I had two strong, scary contractions back to back. The contractions felt REAL. They did not feel like BH contractions. Both took my breath away. I could hardly walk (I was going down stairs when I had the second one) or stand upright. The worst was that I felt that special cramping that is the precursor to the urge to push. I immediately crawled to the couch and put my feet up. John ran in with 16oz of water and a bendy straw. I had one more painless contraction after I got comfortable and then it all stopped. I have had more BH since then, a lot more, but no painful contractions. This evening I noticed that several of my BH were really long - meaning my belly stayed hard for several minutes before slowly relaxing. But it's hard to know if it was a real BH or if it's just two babies pressing up against my belly for a bit.
Pardon my typos. Spell check doesn't seem to be working right now.
In other news, I have this great book about multiple births that has been helpful. Much more helpful than the two other books I checked out of the library. This one - I'd get the title if I wasn't too tired to roll across the bed - was written by a doctor who ran a multiple births clinic. (I'm not a doctor so don't follow this advice yourself unless your dr. says to). Helpful medical advice included:
Mothers of twins should drink AT LEAST 128oz of water a day, consume roughly 3800 calories a day, and gain between 20-30 lbs by week 20. Weight gain between 20-28 weeks is especially critical. She actually recommends to many MOM's that they have a milkshake every day to help boost calorie, fat, and calcium intake. How great is that?!?
Also rest is key. Do less. Take naps. Keep stressors at bay. This is especially true after 20 weeks. Women who ignore doctor's advice to take it easy often end up in the hospital with preterm labor or worse, with preterm infants. (Here's me not ignoring the doctor anymore).
Because of the contractions I'm having, I've been checked at every dr. appt. for PTL. So far there haven't been any cervical changes which is great. However, I have noticed that my contractions, though irregular, are getting stronger. Yesterday, before the most amazing Super Bowl upset I've ever seen, I had two strong, scary contractions back to back. The contractions felt REAL. They did not feel like BH contractions. Both took my breath away. I could hardly walk (I was going down stairs when I had the second one) or stand upright. The worst was that I felt that special cramping that is the precursor to the urge to push. I immediately crawled to the couch and put my feet up. John ran in with 16oz of water and a bendy straw. I had one more painless contraction after I got comfortable and then it all stopped. I have had more BH since then, a lot more, but no painful contractions. This evening I noticed that several of my BH were really long - meaning my belly stayed hard for several minutes before slowly relaxing. But it's hard to know if it was a real BH or if it's just two babies pressing up against my belly for a bit.
Pardon my typos. Spell check doesn't seem to be working right now.
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