Belly Shots! (weeks 17, 18 and 19)

As requested....I was holding off posting photos because I thought it might be better to have something to 'compare'. I think week 18 was a 'pop' week and I finally look pregnant!

Someone asked me if I minded people touching my belly--as a general rule, no, I don't mind. I like it! Ask me a couple of months from now and who knows?!

17 weeks, 3 days pregnant with twins

18 weeks pregnant with twins

18 weeks, 6 days pregnant with twins--doing prenatal yoga

19 weeks pregnant with twins

18 Week Recap

How Far Along? 18 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? +19 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I broke out with some of the maternity shirts this past weekend but can still wear a lot of regular shirts as well.

Broke down and bought 2 cheap new bras and a new sports bra. I can breathe better, but I still prefer bra-less the best!

*Funny Story* I was getting dressed to go to Chicken's Bday dinner and silly me thought I could fit into at least one of three dresses I had chosen to wear. I put them on--they did still "fit"--but what they accentuated was how tightly they hugged my ass AND my belly. Not the best look! A little too hoochy baby mama.

I pulled out one of the new maternity shirts that I'd never even tried on before and thought it was going to look huge on me but holy crap it totally fit.

I also tried to put on a fall jacket and it doesn't fit across my bust anymore!

These two things made me really feel pregnant.

Sleep? My BFF suggested trying brea.the right strips at night for my stuffy nose and THANK YOU JESUS. The relief was almost instantaneous. These magical strips combined with my super Comfort U pillow has made my sleep MUCH better!! I still get some leg cramps/hip pain in the middle of the night, but I stretch it out and it's totally bearable.

Aches and Pains? The nose strips have even made a difference during the day and I don't even have the (tmi) stuffed up, bloody/crusty nose this week. My gums are still bleeding a little bit, but not so bad now.

Still need to get to the dentist.

My stomach is incredibly tight and 'heavy' at night. If I eat dinner too late at night or too big of a meal, I have mini barfs when I lay down to sleep. Nice, huh?

Best Moments of the Week? Seeing the twins on the u/s. Getting gifts of books to start the children's library. Finishing our baby registries. Getting my first pre-natal massage. Celebrating Chicken's birthday. Going to Justin's 30th Birthday Bash and hanging with the South African crew (and staying at a party until *gasp* MIDNIGHT!!).

But best of all, my wife telling me how sexy I look pregnant. She's loving my body, even if my OB thinks I'm fat. Piss off OB lady!!

Movement: Feeling more, it's like little fish nibbling on me.

Food Craving: No cravings (except sweets!)

Food Aversions: None

Morning sickness? None.

Gender: It's either a boy or a girl. Or two of each.

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button: Looks the same. Still have not taken the belly ring out, but I will.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night without getting up to pee or stretch my legs out.

What I'm looking forward to: The Brandi Carlile concert this weekend!!!

Weekly Wisdom: You can't always eat what you want. Well, you can but you'll gain 10 lbs in 30 days. Put down the cookie.

Yoga really helps with the leg cramps and lower back aches.

Milestones: I totally look pregnant now. No one is wondering if I'm the girl who ate too many cupcakes. I had two neighbors stop me totally shocked and said "Look at YOU! When did this happen?!" So yeah, people now know for sure this bump contains babies. I love it!

Fat with a Side of Naughty Placenta

I had an OB appointment on Thursday....and didn't get the best news. I mean, overall things are fine--perfectly fine. The babies are great and moving all around and my blood pressure is fine and I feel awesome.

But I was told I'd gained too much weight this past month. And I had to be really careful not to let that happen again. And no, she didn't exactly call me fat, but that's what I heard.

Because I came into this game on the side of underweight and it had been suggested that my body might not even be able to support a pregnancy because I was so thin--this was a big blow to me.

Now that I feel like 'me' again, I thought I'd been doing all the right things in this 2nd trimester--I eat well, I exercise, I try to drink a gallon of water a day. With the exception of two very abnormal McD's breakfast sandwiches, I have not had any food from a single fast food restaurant, I don't drink soda, I don't eat processed fake foods from cans or boxes or have ingredients I cannot pronounce.

I thought I was doing the right thing by packing on the weight and getting over my fear of just that--gaining weight. And now I'm feeling like shit about myself. Because I gained 10 pounds this past month. Oops.

But if I'm really honest with myself, this is no one's fault but my own, right? I have had a sweet tooth in the 2nd trimester that was not present in the 1st. And because I kept telling myself 'the babies need the extra calories' I allowed myself to indulge in those sugar-filled cravings. My energy level has gone up to 'normal' and I'm enjoying being in the kitchen again. And baking.

Lord, I have been a bakin'. I have made blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies and banana muffins and apple bread pudding. And while I have given most of my baked good away to friends, I have also sampled each and every one of them quite a bit. Now, I tried to make myself feel better by making the muffins with bran, whole wheat flour, yogurt and for god's sake they have FRUIT in them!! But yeah, still a fair amount of sugar and overall heavy hitters on the carb content.

And if I was really honest with myself about the exercise part, well, it's easy to gloss over that as well. I do go swimming and I do prenatal yoga and I do go walking and I do prenatal pilates...but how much and how often? I don't really know. I should have a schedule and I don't. I know I don't do these things quite as often as my head (ego?) likes to think I do. I know I exercise every week a fair share--but clearly some of my exercise time has probably been spent on the couch watching reruns of Wife S.wap while eating muffins and drinking a glass of milk.

Not the worst thing ever...BUT.

Sigh. So that's where I am. I was advised to gain 40--45 pounds at the most and I'm about halfway through this pregnancy and I've gained 1/2 that. Now, if you look at it that way I'm doing alright. BUT, if I continue to gain at a rate of 10 lbs at month, well then I'm a wee bit fucked and you'll be gawking at belly photos of me and my lardy lumps.

So, I have strict orders of gaining 4 lbs a month from here on out. And that's what I'm going to try to do.

On to my naughty placenta before you stop reading because this post is so freaking long. It seems I have 'marginal placenta previa'. This is where your placenta is marginally covering the cervix. It's not a good thing and can lead to bleeding and premature labor amongst other things.

Now, almost 50% of pregnant women have this somewhere along the 2nd trimester and the placenta moves up by itself later in the pregnancy. It's almost more common in twin/multiple pregnancies. I am trying not to worry about it too much at this point, but of course you know I came home and googled the shit out of it and freaked myself the fuck out. It seems that most women diagnosed with 'marginal' were given a set of restrictions including: no sex, no exercise, no orgasms (argh!), no lifting.

Well, hello?? It would've been nice to discuss this in further detail with me, no? I called the nurse's line and they confirmed no restrictions....but I just don't know. My gut tells me I might need to look for another OBGYN. I like where I am....but I'm not sure I'm getting the most specialized treatment for my twin pregnancy and I always feel like they are walking out of the door as they are telling me stuff. It's like the fastest one night stand ever and I didn't even have a good time.

Chicklet and Shadow Boxer Go on a Big Photo Shoot

We had our big ultrasound with the high risk specialist Sept. 11, when the babies were 16 weeks, 4 days, but I'm just getting around to posting it. I'm running a bit behind in blogging this past week.

I am always so anxious about these appointments and true to form I slept like complete shit the night before. It didn't help that the date was a reminder of very bad things in our fair city.

Nevertheless, the twins are doing Great!!

We got an excellent, glowing report. They are both measuring a few days ahead and are a little over 6 ounces each. Their heartbeats are 150/151, so that's right on target as well.

We did my first cervix measure and it's just fine. We have no need to worry, for now, about any kind of preterm labor.

They have all the right number of finger and toes, organs, brains--you name it. If they were supposed to have it, they do.

It's still so crazy to me how much they are moving all around and yet I can't feel it hardly anything.

They are SO much bigger than the last time. This process of making and growing a baby still trips Chicken and I up. There are live human beings growing inside me. Quickly. And before you know it they are going to have to come outside of me and we'll be watching them watching us with everyone blinking in shock at what the hell just happened.

It's crazy.

We got over 20 photos; here are my faves:

Chicklet waving an arm in the air "Power to the Baby!"

Chicklet feet, so cute! I cannot wait to munch on these toes.

Shadow Boxer, well...boxing. It was the right name for sure.

Shadow Boxer feet, more baby toes to munch on!

17 Week Recap

How Far Along? 17 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? +16lbs

Maternity Clothes: I am full on with the maternity pants and jeans. I don't need any maternity shirts yet and am able to still wear a lot of my pre-pregnancy shirts and some of Chicken's shirts.

I still haven't bought any new bras, but it's on the list...

Sleep? Much tossing and turning. Hip pain is now added on to the calf pain. I got up in the middle of the night a couple of times this week and did stretches on the floor before returning to bed.

The fact that my nose is stuffy also makes it hard to sleep.

Aches and Pains? My nose is even stuffier--even to the point that there's been some blood, but I didn't have a true headache all week. I have a little bit of lower back pain, but not too much. My gums have started to massively bleed when I brush them, so it's time to make that 2nd trimester dentist appointment.

My stomach started to feel very tight and stretched this past week. It is especially bad at night when it feels like it just can't get any tighter. In the morning, it's all back to normal.

This means I must eat my 2 biggest meals for breakfast and lunch and do all activity before 5pm, because after that it starts getting harder just to walk with this tightness and shortness of breath.

Best Moment of the Week?

Instead of staying home this past week, Chicken put me in her suitcase and we christened it "Take Your Puffer to Work Week". It was great to be with her all week long.

I missed the furballs at home, but Fab C was doing a great job giving them loads of kitty love. Thanks Fab C!

Having our monthly brunch with the New York City-area TTC Bloggers and meeting the new baby.

Going to a Rosh Hashanah outdoor tea party hosted by my favorite gay.

Getting a free EZ to Nurse Breast feeding Pillow and 5 free child/twin books.

Movement: Still feeling the same ticklish movements. Since I know which side each baby is on, I can tell if it's Shadow Boxer boxing me or Chicklet tickling me. I love it.

Food Craving: No cravings, still red meat loading.

Food Aversions: None.

Morning sickness? None.

Gender: It's either a boy or a girl. Or two of each.

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button: Looks the same.

What I miss: Walking for hours without having to pee. Now, I feel like I have to stop about every 15-20 minutes! Breathing normally. I definitely have the classic shortness of breath when walking.

What I'm looking forward to: The O/B appt on September 24th. Another u/s to reassure me the kidlets are still alright.

Weekly Wisdom: Trying to drink a gallon of water a day is hard work. Maybe you can do it, but I can't. Yet.

Keep walking, swimming, doing your pre-natal yoga and strengthening exercises. They are so good for you.

Milestones: I think I am actually starting to look pregnant this week

Week 16 Recap

How Far Along? 16 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? +14lbs

Maternity Clothes: I am full on with the maternity pants. I even went to ON and bought a pair of maternity sweatpants! I don't need any maternity shirts yet and am able to still wear a lot of my pre-pregnancy shirts and some of Chicken's shirts.

I only have one bra left that I can wear, so I need to get cracking on that.

I thought I could wear Chicken's bras, but the underwires hurt, so that won't work.

Sleep? My sleep is still not going so well during the night. A lot of tossing and turning and for the first time, some leg pains. I'm now stretching very well before going to bed to see if that helps.

The fact that my nose is stuffy also makes it hard to sleep.

Aches and Pains? I am having more and more of a stuffy nose, but my headaches seem to be subsiding. I have a little bit of lower back pain, but not too much. I've battled lower back pain since I was in a bad car wreck when I was 16, so it's only to be expected.

Best Moment of the Week?

• Seeing our perinatologist at 16 weeks, 4 days for +1 hour ultrasound. The kids are alright! I'm always so nervous but Chicken never falters that everything is going to be just fine.
• Got to have lunch and catch up with this fine lady.
• We brought dinner out to these ladies and their babies and had a little twin bootcamp. Chicken changed her first two diapers there, poopy ones at that and she even got peed on! We also left with a bag of bottles, thanks girls!
• I re-connected with an old work friend who has 8 month old twin boys. She gave me loads of advice and I also got see how the 'other half' with twins lives as she has a full time nanny who even goes on vacation with them. She made it look pretty easy....!
• The twin moms group I joined has been the best. This week I met with a twin mom who sold me 3 huge bags of fall/winter maternity clothes for $20 and a huge bag of newborn gender neutral baby clothes, swaddling blankets and a big box of preemie (just in case) diapers for $20. Some of the stuff still had tags on it and it's all in great shape.
• Another friend gave me this body pillow. These are so expensive and I'm so thankful that she gave it to me. I don't need it quite yet, but I know I will soon.

Movement: The afternoon/evening of our u/s on Sept. 11th, I felt quite a bit of movement. It feels ticklish and it's so cool!

Food Craving: I have no cravings, but I've been trying to eat as much red meat as possible.

Food Aversions: None.

Morning sickness? None.

Gender: It's either a boy or a girl. Or two of each.

Labor Signs: No, thank God and my cervix was tight and closed when measured at 16 wks, 4 days so we are all good on that front.

Belly Button: Still in, but the belly ring needs to come out soon. How do I get this thing out?? It's been in since I got it pierced 12 years ago.

What I miss: Being able to take a hot bath.

What I'm looking forward to: Next week is "Take Your Puffer to Work Week"!

Weekly Wisdom: Try to walk everyday if you can and do stretching for your legs and hips.

Milestones: Making it through every week with me and the babies healthy is always a milestone.

16 Week Belly Shot

16 weeks pregnant with twins, 119

The other twins have gained weight as well

15 weeks, 3 days--Still in regular clothes (but Chicken's pants)

15 weeks, 5 days pregnant--Busted out the stretchy waisted pants for the first time and a form fitting top that shows the bump.

Thanks for all of your comments on my post the other day. I was truly having a down and out day (week) and I resisted blogging about it, but I'm really glad I did and I truly appreciate all of you out there with sympathetic words. It means a lot.

True to form, Chicken came home, we had a fantastic weekend and I'm feeling much, much better! We went to a family BBQ, a Bris, a Labor Day BBQ and had dinner with Chicken's little brother who is in town from Paris.

There wasn't much relaxing for either of us as we were super busy. We also must've walked a couple of miles each day and I felt so good, though tired.

Overall, it was a perfect 3-day weekend and my week has started off much better than last week.

I met an old friend work friend today for lunch and got to tell her the big news. She said she couldn't 'quite tell' by looking at me, but she was suspicious because of my clothing choice. She knew we'd been trying for a long time and was so happy for us.

Afterwards I stopped by Buh Bye Baby where a spent an hour getting totally overwhelmed with all of the baby crap we have to buy!

I was asking one of the clerks about their cloth diapers and she said "how much does the baby weigh?" "the babies aren't born yet" "oh, well, the mother will probably want to start off with these" "I'm the mother" "oh!"

So, um, yeah, as I suspected, people can't really tell for sure that I'm pregnant yet.

I gained three pounds this past week, so 14 lbs total. There was, I admit, a bit of a sweet tooth that got out of control. It included: donuts, banana-blueberry muffins, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and too many kinds of "I'm at a BBQ and there are 10 different kinds of chips I must eat".

I can't do that every week or else I'll end up at +65 lbs. I'm aiming for +40/+45. I might not freak at +50, but even my doctor does not really want me to go over +45lbs.

Is it true that that with a twin pregnancy you gain most of your weight during the 2nd trimester and in the 3rd you are so big you simply can't eat as much so you don't have the same kind of weight gain?

Yes, I know. I said last week I wasn't freaking out about the weight gain. Well, I'm still not freaking out, but I am getting nervous.

Off to eat steak!

Week 15 Recap

How Far Along? 15 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? +11lbs

Maternity Clothes: Found a pair of Chicken's jeans and capris I can wear for now. Better than what is in my closet.

I finally took my two pairs of (super cute) maternity jeans and a pair of pants to the tailor. It's time. I need them. And it's perfect timing as the weather is turning cooler and I actually want to wear jeans again.

I need to buy a pair of sweatpants. Yes, I have no sweatpants. Neither of us do so I can't even borrow Chicken's.

Sleep? A nap here and there, but usually with 8-10 hours a night I make it through the day without a problem.

My sleep is not going so well during the night lately. A lot of tossing and turning and for the first time, some leg pains. I'm now stretching very well before going to bed to see if that helps.

Aches and Pains? The classic 2nd trimester stuffy nose that started in week 14 has seemed to settle in even further for week 15. Nothing like waking up with only one nostril working!

Still dealing with the freaking headaches. I had one that lasted all day this week which left me in the dark on teh couch most of the day. Even Tylenol didn't help.

And I'm waking up with a headache about 5 out of 7 mornings. Those normally don't last more than an hour or so but it's a horrible way to start your day.

Best Moment of the Week? Chicken coming home from South America; going to a family BBQ where I got to 'show and tell' the rest of the family, going to a Bris for the first time and meeting new people.

Movement: I do believe I felt the first of the 'quickening' movements this past week. Feels sort of like someone blowing bubbles in my belly! Crazy! Haven't felt it much, so I'm still not sure....

Food Craving: Still no real cravings. Although I did go to McD's for a bacon/egg/chz on a biscuit breakfast special this week--complete with hashbrowns and an OJ. Tasty! I guess that was a craving b/c I don't do fast food.

I've managed to mostly stay away from sugar so far, but have felt a sweet tooth emerging. I have fought it with a few spoonfuls of ice cream here and there. Until I caved in walking by Dunkin Donuts and bought (and ate) a chocolate iced donut and a Boston creme donut. They weren't even that good. Very disappointing.

Meat sounds good, so after I found out my iron count was slightly down I bought a steak and Chicken made a lovely Steak Dianne dinner. YUM. She is the best cook.

Food Aversions: None.

Morning sickness? None.

Gender: It's either a boy or a girl. Or two of each.

Labor Signs: No, thank God

Belly Button: Still in.

What I miss: My wife who is always traveling, massages, riding my bike, not worrying about how heavy the groceries are and if I should be carrying them.

What I'm looking forward to: Our u/s September 11th at the high risk specialist where we will get to see the babies on great equipment and gets lots of photos.

Eating lunch with a friend every day this next week and talking to real, live human beings!!

Chicken coming home from Mexico after only 3 days because it's a holiday week.

Going to a Labor Day BBQ and seeing Chicken's little brother who is in town from Paris.

Weekly Wisdom: Keep drinking water! Keep exercising even when you don't think you want to. It will always make you feel better.

Bella B Tummy Honey Belly Butter is the best out there! I use it twice a day at least and it is great!

Milestones: Wearing a pair of maternity pants and a form fitting shirt out in public for the first time to display the mini bump.