30 Weeks (+4 Days!)

Well, last week just plumb got away from me.  Life is getting busier and busier as the due date gets closer and closer.  We're trying to get all of our baby-prep done before Colby leaves for two weeks at the end of this month and squeezing as much fun into our days as we can before life changes FOREVER!  Last week, I got most of their clothes washed and put away--still have another load with some bedding and clothes that I've more recently aquired, but I'm also waiting on more hangers since I grossly underestimated on my first order.  These girls will definitely be well dressed!

I spent a lot of time figuring out how I wanted to organize everything, and I think I've got a system down.  I decided to put all their little sleepers, socks, hats, and Baby Legs in their clothing dresser, the diaper changing table (which is just a three drawer Hemnes dresser from Ikea) will hold all the disposable newborn and cloth diapers plus accessories, and I think their blankets and Halo blankets will fit in the bottom drawer.  In their wardrobe, I'm hanging all of their "outfits" including onesies, and toys, books and baby carriers are going on the wardrobe side shelf.  I'll post pictures once everything is put away, but I think it'll work out, and despite Germany's aversion to closets, so far it seems that we have plenty of storage space.
Even Colby went a little nuts with the nesting!  I went to a baby shower on Tuesday night, and when I got home, he was hard at work in the basement putting together the strollers and the Pack n' Play!  Our plan is to use a Double Snap n' Go with their carseats for the first few months, then transition to the Baby Jogger City Select when they're a little older.  So I gently explained that we could probably leave the Jogger in its box since we won't be needing it for another five months, but what can I say, the boy was on a roll!  And I confess, I do kind of love seeing all of the gear assembled!  We've still got the swing and Rock n' Play in boxes, but I'm sure he'll be on to those next!

We also went to our birth class at the hospital weekend before last.  I felt pretty well versed on how this is all going to go down before we went, but I mostly wanted the hospital tour.  And I did learn a few things--namely that since I'm a "high risk" pregnancy, I'll have to remain on the wired monitors rather than the wireless and that while I'll be allowed to labor in the laboring rooms (assuming we don't have to do a c-section), I'll have to actually deliver in the OR so that there's enough room for two warmers and two baby teams, and in case there's a complication we'll be ready to go.  Neither thing is a huge deal, but definitely good to know ahead of time.
The big news since my last update is that I am officially gestational diabetes FREE!!!  The three-hour test was absolutely awful.  I had to fast for eight hours before the test, so I ate dinner, then had a snack before I went to bed around 11 pm.  I showed up for the test thinking I would be done a little after noon, but come to find out the THREE HOUR glucose test, actually takes FOUR HOURS.  Uuuugggggh.  So, I went 14 hours without eating, had nothing but a bottle of insanely sugary liquid in my stomach, had to give 12 vials of blood because my doctor decided I needed a prenatal panel as well, and nearly passed out standing in line waiting for my Subway sandwich.  It was a dreadful experience, but at least it's another milestone down.  I think after my next appointment at 32 weeks on September 27th, I'll start doing the Fetal Non-Stress Tests (NST) and a Group B Strep test will probably happen sometime soon as well.

The last week, everything seems to have gotten really difficult.  Sleeping is more of a trial than ever.  I carefully position myself on my left side with a pillow between my knees to try and alleviate the constant hip and back pain, but I always wake up on my back and freak out because OH MAH GAH, I'm killing my babies.  I wake up on average every hour and a half to two hours to go to the bathroom, which is a Herculean effort in of itself as it typically takes about three attempts to haul myself out of bed.  And the girls have gotten big enough that all that precious movement is now absolute torture--Annabelle in particular, I think because she's transverse along the top of my stomach.  It seems to happen especially in the evenings, but the rib pain is extraordinary, and all I can do is lift my arms to try to raise my rib cage and breathe through it.  The Braxton Hicks are also coming on much more frequently and are way more uncomfortable now.  Seven and a half more weeks!  Awesome!
One funny thing is that I've finally noticed how much hotter I'm running, temperature wise.  We were outside quite a bit this weekend, and while Colby was bundled up in a long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt, I was wearing a light sweater and pushing up the sleeves.  I'm typically freezing cold when the temps are in the low 70s, so this is a very noticeable change!  I'm usually hanging on to Colby to warm up, but it's definitely the opposite now!

I still haven't put on any more weight, but that definitely doesn't mean I'm not getting bigger.  My arms and face seem to have gained the most obvious roundness, and my hips are getting wider--I assume this is part of what is causing the hip pain as all my joints loosen up.  My belly has grown about an inch just in the past week, and by my estimates (using the handy Ikea measuring tape that I've now outgrown), I'm about 40 inches around.  Most annoyingly, I thought I was all set on maternity clothes through the end of this pregnancy, but now a bunch of my fall/winter shirts are getting too short.  My Motherhood Maternity shirts are particularly guilty of this transgression, which is surprising since their whole schtick is maternity wear!  It doesn't help that I already have a very long torso, so the combination of long torso and massive belly is pretty difficult to keep covered.

PHEW!  That was a long one!  But thanks for sticking with me, and my next update will come following my 32 week appointment.  Almost to 32 weeks already!  How is that possible???

Comments

[Jen]

You are just so cute. And I bet those little English cucumbers will be extra cute, too!

[Sara]

This is so exciting!!! For a woman pregnant, on top of that with twins, you're looking smashing dawling! :) Hang in there...your arms with be full with two adorable little girls before you know it!

P.S. If you're okay with giving out your full name and mailing address I'd love to send you baby gifts! I think you have my email address?

[Molly]

Adorable! Nobody should be that stinking cute with a whole Vegetable stand in their belly. ;)
And that glucose test sounds horrible.

[Account Deleted]

i feel so happy and it reminds me of the days when i was pregnant. Why dont you try wearing some funny t-shirts so that you can feel funny too.. :) just joking . .. all the best...i wish the baby is healthy and keep on having the sexy veggies. http://www.bigtimeteez.com/funny%20t-shirts

[Karen]

You look fabulous! The BJCS is a great choice. Every mom I know with one (either twins or two kids close in age) absolutely LOVE theirs. Plus it is pretty stylish for a double stroller. :)

[Solange]

You look great :) Good job Colby for nesting along with you! It must feel good to get things put away and assembled with time to spare. You definitely don't want to be running around at the last minute or worse once the girls are out to get things in order. You will not have the time or energy or even desire to assemble anything in the first few weeks.
It's so great that you passed your 3 hour test...that must have been horrible. I actually enjoyed the taste of the orange drink but I don't think I would have handled it well after 4 hours plus fasting. Yuck.You are a trooper!

[katelin]

eeee it's just all so exciting!! love seeing the baby stuff assembled and your fruit pics, too cute.

[Lynn]

Oh my gosh, you look great! Seriously ... you're so lucky to have the glow. I know you have a few more weeks to go, and they may not be the most pleasant, but damn. At 30 weeks, I felt and looked like a greasy whale. Go you!

[A Super Girl]

So...I have an apron from Etsy in the same fabric of the blue/yellow flower fabric that's on your right stroller. I love it!

You're looking good, definitely have the pregnancy glow :-)

[Elizabeth]

You look ridiculously amazing, and I'm so excited that everything is coming up so soon for you!