Good day!
3.5 months later I sit in my recliner at home with a laptop that's back up and running and ready to fill you all in briefly before pressing forward.
I left off in May, discussing my relief from morning sickness and anticipation of finding out the sexes of these babes!
Well, we're having a boy AND a girl and their names are Aiden Robert and Paige Ellen. We just like the name Aiden, Robert is my dads name and my grandfathers middle name, Paige is my great grandmother Quinlan's maiden last name and Ellen is Scott's mom's middle name- there hehe.
As of this writing I can tell you I had an ultrasound one week ago and Paige was 4.5 pounds and Aiden was 5 pounds. Today I am 33 weeks pregnant and counting.
On to the title of this blog- Becoming a Stay at Home Mom.
Never, and I mean NEVER, in my life did I ever imagine I would ACTUALLY become a stay at home mom. I thought about it once in a while but I never figured we'd be able to afford it financially, etc. God tends to have other plans so I'm not shocked haha.
Scott and I sat down one day and calculated the cost of having 3 children in daycare. It came out to $70.00 less than what I make a month...and that didn't count gas. Not to mention, we'd likely have to have the 3 kids at 3 different daycare centers because at-home daycares can only have a certain number of kids under 2, etc.
Alas, we looked at each other and said "let's figure out how to have me stay at home!" Scott is EXCELLENT at finding and maintaing side jobs, so, between that and altering our budget some (like going down to basic basic cable, signing up for WIC, etc) we are able to make it work.
My last day of work was August 28th and that couldn't have come a day too soon. I have nearly 10 pounds of baby in my body, not to mention 2 placentas, 2 umbillical cords, and 2 fluid sacs filled with fluid. ALSO, I am carring these babies COMPLETELY out front so it looks like I'm simply defying gravity when I stand.
Unfortunately for my physical state, Quinn's last day of daycare was Friday, 9/4. LUCKILY he's not a needy boy so I can play with him some and then sit in the recliner some while he plays independently (fancy word for ALONE) and then we can go ouside to our newly fenced in back yard and I can veg. in the sun while he runs around with sticks. I spend most of that time simply praying that he doesn't fall with the sticks because it will take me a good few minutes to get to him once I get myself up and going (inertia is a cruel thing).
That's all for today. HOWEVER, expect a blog ALMOST daily from here on out until the twins are born. I have my lap top on what's left of my lap, with my feet up, watching Regis and Kelly, as Quinn takes his morning nap.
Later for now!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Second Second Trimester- relief!
Once again, too much time has passed.
The first 14 weeks of this twin pregnancy were HORRENDOUS…..That’s what I get for thinking this second pregnancy would proceed much like my first, wonderfully. I had my head in the toilet for most of the 14 weeks and they went by so fast, in part, because I was either in the bathroom or asleep the whole time.
Hormones, man…what the hec! No, what THE HELL! I just wish men and others who don’t have children could experience that for a day, then they could stop telling their pregnant friends to get over it or, “it’s not that bad..” For the record, no one said that to me- that would be deadly….My husband did, however, ask that I stop wasting our food..hahaha.
Anyway, here I sit, 18 weeks pregnant with twins…2 heartbeats beating strong. June 4th we find out the sexes! We think they are fraternal because there are 2 placentas, so I have 3 possibilities…..boy/boy, girl/girl (ah!), and boy/girl. I ASSUME it’s boy/girl because that’s what statistics lead me to believe…but I also was statistically in the small group of women who are sick the ENTIRE first trimester, so we shall see.
Diet…….
You always hear pregnant women discussing cravings, eating too much, eating too little, whatever. Counter that with what the AMA says is reasonable, an extra 300 calories a day, and you have confusion. IT makes perfect sense that if one is taking their vitamins and eating off the food pyramid first, 300 calories is good- it’s a tiny person-you need NUTRIENTS over calories.
But what do you do with twins? It is not as simple as 600 more calories a day. If you were dieting before you were pregnant you’ll need more, etc. So I decided to go to the nutritionist with a referral from my midwife. I gained 60, yes 60, pounds with Quinn and still had about 30 of it on me before this pregnancy. “Luckily” I only gained about 3-5 pounds in the first trimester (if that) due to the whole “head in the toilet” thing.
The nutritionist told me lots of things. She said to aim to gain 35 pounds and do that by gaining about 1.5 pounds from here on out and eating THREE THOUSAND calories a day! A DAY!! At first this seemed to be a very promising proposition. Eat 12 servings of whole grains, ungodly amounts of fruits & veggies, and good protein, dairy, etc….
So, on Monday I decided to write down every morsel of food that passed my lips, count the calories and the exchange (grain, fruit, etc.). Even after forcing a yogurt and an apple down my throat at 9pm I came up with 2250 calories. I really don’t think I could have eaten more (that included ice cream!) So, I’m just going to keep it around there for a while and see what my weight does.
Next Thursday we find out how healthy they are and hopefully what sex they are!
The first 14 weeks of this twin pregnancy were HORRENDOUS…..That’s what I get for thinking this second pregnancy would proceed much like my first, wonderfully. I had my head in the toilet for most of the 14 weeks and they went by so fast, in part, because I was either in the bathroom or asleep the whole time.
Hormones, man…what the hec! No, what THE HELL! I just wish men and others who don’t have children could experience that for a day, then they could stop telling their pregnant friends to get over it or, “it’s not that bad..” For the record, no one said that to me- that would be deadly….My husband did, however, ask that I stop wasting our food..hahaha.
Anyway, here I sit, 18 weeks pregnant with twins…2 heartbeats beating strong. June 4th we find out the sexes! We think they are fraternal because there are 2 placentas, so I have 3 possibilities…..boy/boy, girl/girl (ah!), and boy/girl. I ASSUME it’s boy/girl because that’s what statistics lead me to believe…but I also was statistically in the small group of women who are sick the ENTIRE first trimester, so we shall see.
Diet…….
You always hear pregnant women discussing cravings, eating too much, eating too little, whatever. Counter that with what the AMA says is reasonable, an extra 300 calories a day, and you have confusion. IT makes perfect sense that if one is taking their vitamins and eating off the food pyramid first, 300 calories is good- it’s a tiny person-you need NUTRIENTS over calories.
But what do you do with twins? It is not as simple as 600 more calories a day. If you were dieting before you were pregnant you’ll need more, etc. So I decided to go to the nutritionist with a referral from my midwife. I gained 60, yes 60, pounds with Quinn and still had about 30 of it on me before this pregnancy. “Luckily” I only gained about 3-5 pounds in the first trimester (if that) due to the whole “head in the toilet” thing.
The nutritionist told me lots of things. She said to aim to gain 35 pounds and do that by gaining about 1.5 pounds from here on out and eating THREE THOUSAND calories a day! A DAY!! At first this seemed to be a very promising proposition. Eat 12 servings of whole grains, ungodly amounts of fruits & veggies, and good protein, dairy, etc….
So, on Monday I decided to write down every morsel of food that passed my lips, count the calories and the exchange (grain, fruit, etc.). Even after forcing a yogurt and an apple down my throat at 9pm I came up with 2250 calories. I really don’t think I could have eaten more (that included ice cream!) So, I’m just going to keep it around there for a while and see what my weight does.
Next Thursday we find out how healthy they are and hopefully what sex they are!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Mommy Diaries: The Second First Trimester...
Mommy Diaries- The second first trimester.
Good afternoon fellow readers. I have fallen off the planet and I apologize. Let me take a minute to explain.
Over the last year, for you faithful readers, you’ve heard me mention that my husband and I would start trying for baby #2 when Quinlan turned one. Well, true to form, his birthday was 2-2-08 and on 2-17-08 I found out I was pregnant. Here’s where it gets interesting, frightening, or comedic, depending on your point of view.
After peeing on the stick, I called my OB office and they scheduled me for a “confirm ultrasound” 2 weeks later, when I’d be 6 weeks pregnant. That appointment is just to say “yes, you’re pregnant, congrats, see you in a few weeks.” Mmmmhmmmm.
My husband and I had to bring our son to this confirmation ultrasound appointment because the daycare provider was at a funeral. So the three of us walk, oblivious of the events to follow, in to the exam room. Sure, it started off normal enough, “Get undressed, put the sheet on, flip the switch when you’re ready…”
That’s where things got…interesting…The doctor came in and began the internal ultrasound, to find the sac. As soon as the image appeared on the screen I became flushed with a racing heart. I knew exactly what I was looking at (thanks to TLC, Discovery Health, and the Internet) but I did not say ONE WORD as I lay there, waiting for confirmation from my OB. I glanced over at my husband who was turning an interesting shade of red- he must have known too. The OB was silent for a long time scanning back and forth and back and forth before saying, “Ok, here is one normal sized baby/yolk sac (who can remember the details here)…and here is another one, the same size...It’s twins.”
*Let me interject and simply say, yes, twins do run in my family...but only 2 sets in the last 4 or so generations...so if thats running, its running*
Even as I type this I get chills. I, for the first time in my life, immediately went in to prayer. Prayer for their health and mine, prayer for sanity, prayer for financial support, prayer prayer prayer. Normally I would try to THINK..but now was no time for thinking…it was time for praying.
I looked right at my doctor and with an exasperated tone I uttered (I’m not lying) “HOLY SHIT!” He laughed, as did the nurse. They said they hear that time to time. My doctor lightened the mood by saying “At least it’s not 8” (he has a funny sense of humor) and said “congratulations” before handing me the picture of 2 6 week old yolk sacs and orders for a blood test.
One of the nurses at the station outside cheered, as she has twins 2 months older than Quinn. Scott’s first full sentence, I do believe, was “We’re going to have 3 kids under the age of 2.” My response? “Yep.”
The ride home is almost another post in itself. Haha. However, it consisted of silence mixed in with (From my husband) a lot of “how…” “what….” “how are we?” “what are we?” I looked at him and I said “trust God and Pray.” He said he’s never seen me so calm.
I hope you enjoyed the first post of the second pregnancy! I will write another, probably tomorrow, discussing the hellacious world of twin pregnancy symptoms and never ending morning sickness…
STAY TUNED!
XOXO
Andrea
Good afternoon fellow readers. I have fallen off the planet and I apologize. Let me take a minute to explain.
Over the last year, for you faithful readers, you’ve heard me mention that my husband and I would start trying for baby #2 when Quinlan turned one. Well, true to form, his birthday was 2-2-08 and on 2-17-08 I found out I was pregnant. Here’s where it gets interesting, frightening, or comedic, depending on your point of view.
After peeing on the stick, I called my OB office and they scheduled me for a “confirm ultrasound” 2 weeks later, when I’d be 6 weeks pregnant. That appointment is just to say “yes, you’re pregnant, congrats, see you in a few weeks.” Mmmmhmmmm.
My husband and I had to bring our son to this confirmation ultrasound appointment because the daycare provider was at a funeral. So the three of us walk, oblivious of the events to follow, in to the exam room. Sure, it started off normal enough, “Get undressed, put the sheet on, flip the switch when you’re ready…”
That’s where things got…interesting…The doctor came in and began the internal ultrasound, to find the sac. As soon as the image appeared on the screen I became flushed with a racing heart. I knew exactly what I was looking at (thanks to TLC, Discovery Health, and the Internet) but I did not say ONE WORD as I lay there, waiting for confirmation from my OB. I glanced over at my husband who was turning an interesting shade of red- he must have known too. The OB was silent for a long time scanning back and forth and back and forth before saying, “Ok, here is one normal sized baby/yolk sac (who can remember the details here)…and here is another one, the same size...It’s twins.”
*Let me interject and simply say, yes, twins do run in my family...but only 2 sets in the last 4 or so generations...so if thats running, its running*
Even as I type this I get chills. I, for the first time in my life, immediately went in to prayer. Prayer for their health and mine, prayer for sanity, prayer for financial support, prayer prayer prayer. Normally I would try to THINK..but now was no time for thinking…it was time for praying.
I looked right at my doctor and with an exasperated tone I uttered (I’m not lying) “HOLY SHIT!” He laughed, as did the nurse. They said they hear that time to time. My doctor lightened the mood by saying “At least it’s not 8” (he has a funny sense of humor) and said “congratulations” before handing me the picture of 2 6 week old yolk sacs and orders for a blood test.
One of the nurses at the station outside cheered, as she has twins 2 months older than Quinn. Scott’s first full sentence, I do believe, was “We’re going to have 3 kids under the age of 2.” My response? “Yep.”
The ride home is almost another post in itself. Haha. However, it consisted of silence mixed in with (From my husband) a lot of “how…” “what….” “how are we?” “what are we?” I looked at him and I said “trust God and Pray.” He said he’s never seen me so calm.
I hope you enjoyed the first post of the second pregnancy! I will write another, probably tomorrow, discussing the hellacious world of twin pregnancy symptoms and never ending morning sickness…
STAY TUNED!
XOXO
Andrea
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