Pregnancy in a Recap

I know I'm going to forget what it's like to be pregnant with these twins, probably much sooner than later.  I remember when William and Ryan were about 8 months telling a friend it really wasn't that bad being pregnant with twins, then I became pregnant with twins again.  I was wrong.  So here is a reminder what it's been like.

I can still wear my maternity pants (something I couldn't do with William and Ryan) but I only have 2 shirts that are long enough to cover my massive stomach while wearing them though.  Other than that I have a pair of maternity lounging pants that go up high enough on my stomach that I'm not completely exposing my belly.  For the most part of my pregnancy, once I got fairly big, I've mainly wore large undershirts and sweaters and that has been nice and been able to cover my growing belly, until now.  Now it's a challenge to be modest.  For the past 3 months or so if I'm not in public I'm either in those lounging pants or some sweats.  If I'm going out of the house I will put on my jeans, but the minute I'm home I'll change into something more comfortable.

Last weekend I noticed that instead of the round orange shape my belly used to be it is now more of a lemon shape with a bulge at the bottom.  I was worried about what it could be until I went to my doctor who informed me he sees it often.  Apparently my stomach can retain fluid like my feet or hands do and it collects and pushes it out into a bulge.  Weird and gross. And with each passing day it seems to hurt more and more as it gets bumped and hit by counters, children, and yep even my legs...it's pretty low and big.

My stomach has gotten to be so big that I only have to lean slightly forward and my stomach touches the chair, or whatever I'm sitting on.  This makes picking something up off the floor that William and Ryan drop during meals extra hard.

Sleeping is hard, true I'm not nearly as bad as others and can usually go back to sleep when I wake up every hour or two to go to the bathroom.  But with every roll over, and with every step into the bathroom there's some sort of pain.  My doctor tells me it's just because those muscles haven't been used for a while and so when you do, it hurts.  Luckily I only have 5 more sleeps, including naps!  I sleep with 2 or 3 pillows under my head, one extra large pillow between my legs, and one for my back.  I'm pretty sure when I was pregnant with William and Ryan I had at least 2 others in there, so at least is getting better.

Getting up and down off the floor and couch, well it's a wonder I can do it.  There's pain and discomfort that has grown exponentially the past couple of weeks.

I love to feel them move.  People ask how it feels to have two move inside, the truth?  Not that much different.  Normally they only move a little bit and taking turns, there's really not that much room to do flips.  The only problem is when they both stretch and I can feel a jab way down low and one way up top; that doesn't feel too great.

My children's head go to either the middle or bottom of my stomach.  That's all they can see.  There is usually loving smudges and food around this area, and we'll just pretend it's all from the kids.  (It's not.  It's hard to eat over your plate when there's a big ball shape stopping you)  And yes, it hurts when they use my stomach to lean on or climb over.

It's getting harder and harder to bend over and clean up the floor, but luckily I have little boys to bribe.  Most nights if they pick up all the toys, garbage, and dishes off the floor they get to watch a short show, or read extra books and eat a treat.  It works most of the time.  It's amazing how well they can clean if they are motivated to do so.

Morning sickness was bad.  That time is even now like a blur, a very hard blur we came through.

Jacob and I joke that with twins there was never a point were you feel good, like normal second trimesters in regular pregnancy.  You are sick, then are so big you feel like you're in your third trimester, and then you get to your third trimester and it's that much harder.  Luckily I did have a month or so when I actually felt fairly good, not great but because I knew what was coming I knew to enjoy that time.

I've had 5 ultrasounds and 7 non-stress tests on top of my regular doctor visits with this pregnancy.

But none the less, I would do over and over again for the result of having two adorable children to cuddle.  Speaking of cuddling, here are their blankets.  I designed them and cut the fabric, mom sewed (my stomach's too big), we had someone else quilt them, and I hand sewed the binding.

 I just realized I never wrote their names in the blog, and now it seems like I should just wait until they are born, but here's a clue with their first initial.

Eye of the Storm

This is something that has been on my mind for a while and I wanted to get it down before the babies get here, hopefully it will help me through the rough times that are ahead.  Let's face there will be many, along with a lot of joyful times.

I wish I could remember where I read or watched an interview with a woman who talked about how to find Peace in our crazy lives.  She talks about how as mothers we are or need to be the eye of the storm, the peace a midst the chaos that surrounds our family.  And how that peace needs to come from within.  I loved these thoughts and started thinking more about peace. I thought of the scripture John 14:27 where Jesus says:  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

I love a few of different parts of this verse.
1.  We can have the peace of our Savior.  Through the atonement, we can have His peace and comfort when times get rough.
2.  The peace that comes won't be what the world has to offer or what the world expects.  I think of the worldly view of peace and I think of a clean serene house where all of my children are playing happily together, there are no troubles in our lives whatsoever.  But really what our Savior's peace will do is give us the comfort and serenity while the house is a mess, the dishes are piling up, dinners are cold, kids are running around screaming and fighting, and there is uncertainty of your husband's job.  His peace will help us find the eye in the storm.
3.  He asks us to not be afraid or be stressed out when life's storms are surrounding us.  But to believe in Him.  Believe in His power in our lives.  Believe that there is purpose in our lives and all of these hard scary times will just make us stronger and help us be who we need to eventually be.  Have faith in our Father's plan and know that He will always be with you to accomplish the hard tasks.  Know you are not alone, He will be here with you.

Let's face it there's a storm raging, if not in our homes than all around our home. Times are hard.  I keep thinking, once such and such happens life will be easier.  It never is, there's always something.  How comforting to know that everything doesn't have be calm on the surface for me to feel the peace on the inside.  I also love the idea of making our home a place of peace from the storms our kids will face at school and wherever they go.  I want them to feel our Savior's peace always in our home no matter what, but the first step?  Find it myself.  Instead of trying to find the strength and peace within myself, thinking I can do it all myself.  Look upward and receive a much greater strength and power that will not only help me find the peace among the chaos but also for my family.  Have the eye of the storm in my heart and then I can radiate that peace and help my children find it themselves.      

Parents

Jacob and I are really so lucky to have such great example of wonderful parents to follow after.  Both sets of parents have shown nothing but unconditional love and support for us and have served us (directly and indirectly) SO much during these last couple of months.  We are beyond grateful!
Like I mentioned before my mom and sister have come every weekend since January, to help take care of our little family.  My dad has come some weekends but is often left home to take care of business in Idaho, which is not easy either.  With their help we've made quilts for these new boys, cleaned and organized all of the boys' bedrooms, clothes, and toy room, deep cleaned my fridge, stove, and couches, not to mention the little things like putting little ones to bed, making dinner, cleaning up, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms and floors, laundry, taking kids to the park and on walks...the list really could go on and on. Not to mention the multiple times both Jacob and I were sick and they needed to take care of us as well. Once when returning to their own lives, which are busy, they too got our sickness and had to stay home from work or my dad, whom never takes a sick day, just took extra long lunches to try and sleep it off.  And then to top it off they will take our boys for a little over a week after the new twins come, so Jacob and I can bond with these new babies and I can rest and heal in peace before I try and tackle this new challenge.  We will forever be grateful for their service to us!

And then there are Jacob's parents who are currently serving as mission president in Korea, who have given us their busy time to talk and encourage us.  Especially when Jacob's job has been really stressful, it seems his parents are the only ones who can help him through, and for that I'm eternally grateful.  When they were being called, President Eyring told them: (and I'm paraphrasing) I know it will be hard for you to miss big events in your children's lives, but know that the Lord can take care of them much better than you can."  By serving their mission they are helping us have the Lord's strength.  While writing this it's made me think no wonder I've been able to make it through the weeks taking care of the boys when Jacob has worked an average of 12 hour days 6 days a week for the past month or two.  We've talked about how much of a blessing it has been that I've been able to still do so much; I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't extra blessings from Marshall and Susan.

As we raise our family the task of being a parent can be overbearing, luckily we have amazing examples of parents to look to!

Bad News...Good News

The bad and good news from today.

Bad news:  I didn't take a shower and although my brother said my hair didn't necessarily look like bed head hair, it also didn't look like I did it....Good news:  I only have 7 days until I deliver twins, so I don't really care what I look like.

Bad news:  The power went out today while Steven was at Preschool and I couldn't get the van out of the garage to get him on time...Good news:  It came on soon after so I was only 4 minutes late.

Bad news:  I was awoken from my nap to Ryan crying.  I went in to find both boys with their pants off and Ryan with his diaper off and poop in his crib.  Good news:  Instead of playing with it, he stood, pointed, and cried for me to take it away from him. Thankfully, it was an easy cleanup as well.

Bad news:  A door to door saleswoman came to the door and woke up Steven from his nap, meaning I would no longer have silence in the house.  (note:  When she looked at me she just laughed and when I declined her sales pitch quickly, she didn't argue...because she was still laughing.  Apparently being large with children and looking like you just woke up is funny.)...Good news:  We snuggled and watched Histeria on YouTube, it's like Anamaniacs but about history.  It really brought back some childhood memories.  

Good news:  My neighbor brought over dinner which all the kids ate.  No bad here, just good.

Bad news:  The rain today made all of us feel grumpy and the need to cry today, especially William and Ryan,...Good news:  Thanks to long naps and reading "Consider the Blessings"  by President Monson, our night was actually a happy and good one.

Good News:  Steven came into the room multiple times wearing a disguise and using made up names and voices of each new person.  Adorable...Bad news:  When trying a new disguise he almost knocked out one of his front teeth and was scared all of his teeth would fall out.  It's still unsure what will happen with said tooth, but it seems a dentist visit just moved up on the to due list.  

So long 26!

I love how when you become a mom, or really an adult, birthday's are really just another day...with some cake and ice cream at night.  But this birthday was really fun.  It started out with a visit from my brother Matt and of course calls, texts, and facebook messages from friends and family were sprinkled throughout the day.  Then Mom and Mel came and brought me lunch before I went in for a non-stress test.

I love the relationship my boys have grown with my mom!

After I returned from my non-stress test, everything was great with both babies, Mel gave me a foot message, it was really nice.

Once Jacob got home we went out to dinner just to the two of us.  It was so nice to be alone and Jacob gave me the sweetest present and took off his glasses during dinner so all he could see was me. I had all his attention.  (He gets distracted very easily when we are out for dinner, so this was such a nice gesture!) Then we went to Walmart to pick up some last minute items for the babies and our hospital bag.  Unfortunately I'm not really allowed to walk, and really can't walk long distances anymore, so Jacob insisted I ride in this cart.  I felt a bit foolish but I'm glad I listened because there was NO way I would have been able to walk all around the store like we did alone.  He even put his jacket down to cover the wet seat, what a cute husband!

In case you've never seen these carts, they are made for two children,
but luckily they are just a straight bench so a very pregnant woman
can also sit on it and be fine.

Then home for a delicious cake and really by then this pregnant girl was worn out! But it was such a great day, thanks to everyone who made it special!  Here comes 27 and all the excitement it will entail.