Everything is Coming Together

Week 34 began this week. We're getting so close to meeting our little cubs. I am now beginning to get scared. Not to meet them, but of our pregnancy ending... and mostly of the pain I'll have to endure twice over to birth them and/or the thought of being cut open. I'm preparing my mind for zen and trying to think happy thoughts to get myself through the whole hospital experience. Of course our prime objective is to bring home two healthy babies shortly thereafter. I'm still trying to will them to be born mid January and to grow over 6lbs each...

Last weekend was very busy. Saturday was our baby shower! It was perfect. I had such a wonderful time. Rebekah threw it for us at her house, which was very gracious of her. She decorated with pink and blue streamers and balloons, set up a food table and made a really yummy punch. I had the chance to visit with good friends for a few hours and our babies were completely spoiled. We now have so many things we'd never thought of for our babies. They received clothing, swaddlers, books, a wipes warmer, a diaper genie, blankets, socks and a bunch of other adorable things, including a handmade diaper cake. The food was great and I did get to eat real cake! In fact, I am still eating cake..yums.

All of the guys painted the first coat in our master bedroom while we were at the shower on Saturday. Then Sunday Phil and my Dad painted the second coat. Now, we're just awaiting furniture and mattress deliveries next Saturday on the 17th, and we'll have a real adult bedroom. Ahhh. I can't wait to sleep in a fluffy bed which doesn't hurt my hips. Phil also hung our Christmas lights in the front yard on Sunday. Our house looks festive now! We then spent the evening at Phil's aunt and uncle's house for family dinner. They were very happy to see us. As usual, they spoiled us with home cooking and deserts.

This week I went swimming on Monday morning at the gym for about an hour. I love being in the water. I feel so at home in the water and yet, I like to think about our babies floating in their own water. Kind of neat. I swim gentle laps and use the flutter boards sometimes, as well as the foam weights, kettle bells and pool noodles to get an arm and leg workout. I guess I still don't know the size of my belly as I whacked it against the side of the pool pretty hard trying to get a pool noodle which I thought I could reach. Hoping the babies are okay in there, and that I bruised my ego and my muscles more then them. I used the doppler at home to check on them later in the afternoon. Both of their heartbeats were music to my ears. I still worry about them.. but I'm told it never ends.. I guess that will help me to be a good mommy.

Monday afternoon the drywall sanding crew arrived and sanded down all of our basement walls. Phil began priming the walls the same evening. It only took him one evening to prime the entire basement by himself. He's taken on so much home renovation work and never complains. He just gets it done. I'm so proud that he's my husband. We can not wait to see it all finished, sit back and admire his handiwork.

Phil priming the basement walls

Tuesday morning we had another OB appointment. It's been snowing a lot here this year and I am loving the Christmasy feel! (I really hope the snow sticks around for Christmas and New Years.) What I'm not loving as much, are the slippery roads. We know how to drive them being that we are from Manitoba, but I'm afraid of the other drivers on the road. At the appointment my blood pressure measured 116/78 and the babies heartbeats were 145(her) & 155(him) approximately. Today's appointment included the routine strep B swab and I'm guessing we'll find out at next weeks appointment if I'm all clear or not. The OB said she wasn't worried about me having bumped my belly, Monday at the pool, as there were no signs of anything amiss. She also said that depending upon baby girl's position on this weeks' ultrasound, we may be booking a c-section for early January, around week 37 or 38. We will be discussing it with her at our next appointment. The med student measured my belly again and it's now between 52 & 53 weeks big. I love it! (Phil painted the first coat of colour in the basement Tuesday evening.)

Wednesday I took it easy at home and just tidied up as much as I could. In the evening, while Phil was painting the second coat of paint in the basement, I went for a prenatal massage. One of the last few I imagine I'll be getting. It was so nice to lay there and relax fully for an hour. My muscles thank me I am sure, and I also still believe that massage is good for the babies. I don't feel comfortable laying on my stomache any longer, even with the pregnancy support pad they usually use, so asked if I could lay on my side instead. It was lovely. I would go everyday if I could.

Thursday evening we had our house professionally cleaned. We hired a small company which uses natural cleaning products, so no chemicals. They did a wonderful job and our house is looking nice again. I think we may be having them return again in a month or two. I love having a clean house! Phil spent the evening with the intention of getting some electrical done and waiting for our flooring. He discovered that most of the electrical wires he'd run, and the data cables, were mangled by the cut out tool the drywall guy had used! We called the company asap and after a long evening, called it a night. Friday morning the company called back first thing and sent out two guys to fix the damage and replace the wiring.

We went to the Foothills Hospital for another ultrasound on Friday morning. I really find piece of mind in these frequent ultrasounds and love knowing how our babies are growing. Grow cubs, grow! We love you and will see you in another 3-4 weeks. While we were there, and just as we'd gotten into the back waiting area, the fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated. Once they let us back into the building we were finally able to get our ultrasound done. Baby girl was head down! Baby boy was also head down! (Now they just need to stay that way for us.) She now weighs 2353g or 5lbs 3oz and had a heart rate of 141bpm. He now weighs 2439g or 5lbs 6oz and had a heart rate of 150bpm. They're now only 4% apart in size, which is really good. We also are guessing that by week 37 they will both be over 6lbs. My blood pressure was checked once again and was 110/68. We asked them for photos if possible and got a few, but they're quite difficult to get at good angles now.

Twins' heads - Looks like he has hair

Baby Girl hugging Baby Boy <3

This weekend my parents are coming back for another visit and to help Phil with our basement renovation. We greatly appreciate the help! The plan is to lay the sub-flooring and start the laminate flooring installation. My Mom and I will likely clean the house some more and get the babies' room organized and wash their cute, little, tiny laundry that we got at the shower. We're planning to have our truck detailed next week sometime and have Daddy Phil install our baby car seats/buckets. Our hospital bags are mostly packed now and we think we're nearly ready to rest for Christmas.

34 Week Belly Bump