The Boys

I waited to post a picture, because I wasn't sure if it was ok with the parents. I would never want to post without their permission. They said it was fine, so here you go!

Home Sweet Home

Filip and Lukas were born on Friday afternoon/evening. Lukas was born at 4:46pm 6lbs 9 oz, Filip was born at 5:27pm 7lbs 3 oz.

They look completely different. Lukas is skinny and darker complected. He has a shock of long dark hair and a nose like a little bird. He is very active and opinionated! Filip was bigger, and has round cheeks, a lighter complexion, with a peach fuzz of light brown/dark blonde hair.

I am doing ok. There were some complications. I was beginning to develop pre-eclampsia. Thankfully, that had just started to begin when my water broke and delivering the boys took care of it! I also was slightly anemic and thanks to some blood clots lost too much blood. I bordered on needing a blood transfusion, but narrowly avoided it (thank god!). I also narrowly avoided a C-section on the second baby. The chord was wrapped around his neck, so thankfully my epidural didn't work and I was able to push him out fast. Otherwise I would have had to have an emergency surgery to deliver him.

Now, I am tired and the girls are hanging on me. I will try to write again soon!

In Labor!!!

Yes, thats right...I am in labor...Hopefully my water breaks soon so I can justify going into the hospital. 6 minutes apart since 6:16 tonight...

36 weeks

At the dr this week I was 3-4cm dilated and the doctor said 60% chance the babies come before my next appointment. I sure hope he is right!!!

35 weeks

Back from the doctor

I saw my doctor today, I am finally dialated! (2cm) not much, but it means there is progress!!! These boys better come soon or I am going to lose my mind.

I am swollen from above my knees down(yuck!) and I am just over it all.

Nesting???

I seem to be nesting, tying up all the loose ends at home. I am hoping that means these babies are coming soon! But if not, at least I am getting a lot of the stuff around the house I needed to get done accomplished!

My Quote for today....

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
-Calvin Coolidge

It is only through persistence, perseverance, tenacity and strength of will that one can continue to accomplish great things...or you know, survive pregnancy!

Neglected again....

My poor poor blog has been neglected recently. I am now officially off work and almost into my 35th week of pregnancy. Unbelievable just how huge these boys have made me! Will try to get a pic this weekend to post, but have been busy this week getting the house ready for the No Baby Baby Shower at my house next weekend. So much to do and so very little time!!!

Has anyone seen two swollen feet?

I know they are down there somewhere, but I just can't seem to locate them!!!

33 1/2 weeks

These are my favorites!

A Huge thank you the fabulous photographer, Mirelle Carmichael. Check her out at http://www.MirelleCarmichael.com

Not my favorites

So the images that Mirelle posted as her favorites were totally not my favorites. I bought prints of my favs and will scan those when I get them (2-3 weeks) and I also loved 2 of them so much that I bought the downloads, as soon as those are available I will post them here!

Not so beautiful pictures.

So Cassie and I don't take pictures quite as well as the gorgeous ones that Mirelle took. But here is my 31 1/2 week belly taken by me:









32 week belly taken by 7 year old Cassidy:

My Surprise for the Guys:

A few weeks back I had a friend from High School who is now a photographer do maternity pictures so that the guys would have some good pictures of the belly for the baby books. Here are the few that Mirelle Posted on her blog. I highly recommend her to do your portraits. Her prices are very reasonable and she makes you feel really comfortable in front of the camera. http://www.mirellecarmichael.com/blog/

32 Weeks!

I am 32 weeks - yay!!!

I am feeling really wonderful today. I sure didn't want to wake up this morning, but once I got up and moving I felt better than I have felt in a week or more.

Filip is driving me bonkers...I can't even describe how much this little man moves around, all day long. As I type he is rolling around and you can actually watch my tummy move as he kicks, punches, rolls and stretches. If you place your hand on my belly you can feel where his little bum is, or where his elbow, knee, foot or other appendages are sticking out. They feel more solid than the area surrounding them and if you put just the tiniest bit of steady pressure on him with your hand, he will move! I like to think it's him high-fiving me, but its probably just him being irritated that he has no space in there! Lukas is far less active, but I am pretty sure that is just because he is jammed down under his brother with no real wiggle room. And of course, because he is a boy, he had to just prove me wrong and give me a swift kick!

Will post a picture soon. The wonderful intended parents sent me a super cute little digital camera so that I can get some better quality pictures of this belly for them! I will make Cassie take one tonight and figure out how to use the software to load it onto my computer!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

False Labor...

...like I expected. Can't wait to spend the weekend in bed. I am so so so over these contractions. So exhausting. Boooooooo....

False Labor...?

Today has been the day of hell for contractions. this afternoon they are coming at pretty steady intervals, and they hurt like hell, but they aren't quite close enough to worry....I will keep tracking them and see where it goes. But I'm pretty sure this is just an annoying false labor. Isn't this fun???

Just Registered!

This year, I'll be participating in a very special event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.

I've agreed to raise at least $2,300 in donations, so I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation? Even if its only a dollar or five dollars. Every dollar gets us that much closer to a cure! Keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train. You can give online at The3Day.org. Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising Web page and make a donation. You can also call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone.


http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/SanDiegoEvent2010?px=4905356&pg=personal&fr_id=1469

One person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States. That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,


Kate

P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program!

Dr. Appt.

Everything went well yesterday, Dr Shima is impressed that I'm still showing no signs of preclampsia or gestational diabetes. My Blood pressure is rock solid, the swelling in my ankles has reduced rather than gotten worse and the braxton hicks contractions are still nice and irregular. He did give me a prescription that I have to take every 6 hours that takes away the painful braxton hicks. I am excited for those to be gone! And he also reduced my work schedule from full time to no more than 6 hours a day, 30 a week. Needless to say I am super excited to get a little extra time to sleep!!! Now if only he could con my teachers into reducing my homework load! ;)

Well, I have people coming over tomorrow...so I need to get my house cleaned and go look into buying a new fridge (long story short my fridge was my brothers and he just moved into a place with no fridge and wants his back - boo to having to buy a fridge!).

Almost 31 weeks...

so obviously, I am still big as a house. Thankfully, time seems to be FLYING by and I am hoping that means that I have these little guys sooner rather than later. I really am very over being pregnant at this point.

I had maternity photo's taken by Mirelle Carmichael this week and will post those as soon as she gets them to me (she said 2-3 weeks).

Before you ask - yes, FAKE HAIR in this picture....I am in desperate need of real extensions, but lacking that I used the clip in kind. The length and body help balance my poor distended proportions.

I have my dr appt today, I am really going to ask the doctor about putting me on limited duty or bed rest. I am having all sorts of icky pregnancy issues (swollen ankles, braxton hicks, and worst of all they are so heavy that i have to pee every time I stand up!!! its no bueno.

Well, I should get back to work...

I am currently mourning the loss of my ankles...

I am...

so tired of being pregnant.

seriously, so over it.

on the positive side, I bought brand new running shoes for the minute that I am allowed to exercise again and my Medifast came today for as soon as I hand these babies over to their daddies. Hopefully I will be able to post shrinking pictures every couple weeks just like I am posting growing pictures now. I am so ready to be normal again!

29 weeks big

only 11 weeks to go....Dear God I hope I don't make it that long!!!

The Belly Pic as Promised...

This was last night. SO HUGE:
This was this morning. Still house sized, but much more reasonable:


As I have said before, anyone who claims that pregnancy is beautiful is full of crap. This isn't attractive. Thank god I am almost into my last trimester. Thats right, in case you have forgotten I am 27 weeks today. Do the math. Don't worry, I'll wait! Thats right, 13 weeks left until these little buggers are full term. Thats 13 more weeks of growing. Can you imagine??? I can't.

Belly Pic to follow soon

But here is proof that I really am big as a house. Me on the right, Ina the malnourished twig on the left and the cute little blonde is Erin who is 7 WEEKS FURTHER ALONG than me. Thats right. I'm a house. FML.

So big & heavy

I think I am at 24 weeks, as big as I was full term with Bryanna. I feel like a whale. I'm having trouble sleeping, sitting, walking...basically just life is difficult at the moment. Will post a pic sometime soon I promise.

tried..

So I got all dolled up and went out with friends( This required me being awake past 8pm doing something OTHER than homework. Amazing right?). I tried to get a picture to show how big my belly was, but my arm wasn't long enough to fit the belly into the pic. Nice, right?