Nursery Buddies

I just love the boys in their Sunday clothes.  Zade is getting more and more handsome every day, looking more like a little boy and less like a toddler.  He does great sitting on the couch for his picture to be taken.  Anywhere else doesn't seem to work.  I love that Dace first gave us a way too cheesy grin then showed us how he really felt about getting his picture taken. 

Zade's new trick

Tuesday afternoon, Dallin took Zade up for his nap.  We were both in the office at the bottom of the stairs when I heard him making noise.  I asked Dallin if he was in his crib.  He said yes.  Is the door closed?  Kind of, he said.  Weird, it sounds like he is right there in the landing upstairs. 

A moment later, I hear him on the stairs.  Oh my gosh, he got out of his crib!

I went to the door and he was coming down the stairs with the proudest look on his face.  He came down and ran into the office laughing and beaming from ear to ear.  I couldn't help but laugh because he was so pleased with himself and because it meant such a big change that we were not ready for.

We took him back up to see how he did it and that is the video we took. 

Dallin has rigged up an expansion to the bars to keep him in there.  He straps on 2 tennis rackets to the sides of the front bar and then he doesn't have the room to get up and over nor can he get over the extra height of the racket.  We were planning on putting him in a bed next month but now I don't know if we should go ahead with it or get a crib tent to keep him there a bit longer til he is mature enough for a twin bed. 

We never had any problem with Dace in this regard.  He never got out of his crib and even when we transitioned him to his twin, he never got out of bed.  It took him several weeks to realize that when he woke up in the morning he could walk out of his room on his own.  Zade will be more of a challenge adapting to the free range of a twin bed so we are still trying to figure out what we want to do. 

Live Through A Hurricane - check.

We had a grand adventure today.  Dallin told me this morning that the waves were supposed to be 10 feet today and we should go check it out.  It was a fairly nice morning, overcast but calm so we thought we'd venture out to the beach.  It had been a while and the boys needed an outing. 

We got there, set up our chairs (not because we planned on staying a long time but because neither Dallin nor I can stand for too long) and this was the view:

The waves weren't high but the water was just murky and the clouds out at sea were dark black.  The wind wasn't strong at all- a typical beach breeze really. 

I ventured out to the water with Zade and looked to our left.  The hotel at the other end of the beach was barely visible, they were getting pounded with rain and the wind was blowing towards us.  I took Zade's hand and we walked back to the boys.  We needed to go.  That rain was heading our way. 

In the time it took me to start strapping Zade in the stroller and Dallin to fold up a chair, we felt our first few drops.  Seconds later, we were in a COMPLETE whiteout of rain and strong winds.  Both boys started freaking out and crying and I didn't blame them!  I was scared too.  Dallin grabbed Dace but was trying to pack up the wagon as well, I tried getting Zade's back to the rain and trying to get Dace from Dallin.  I didn't know if Dallin could handle both.  I felt completely incapable of physically protecting my children.  It was the scariest moment of my mothering life.  "How are we supposed to do this?"  I shouted as we are trying to pull a stroller, a wagon and Dace all towards the boardwalk and trying to protect them as much as possible and try and see where we were going.  I was tempted to just ditch the wagon, pull Zade from the stroller and make a run for it but we got everything going in the right direction. 

I raced down the boardwalk with Zade who had stopped crying and was just a little dazed and we waited under the trees for Dallin and Dace to catch up.  Poor Dace was still traumatized and crying.  The rain subsided a little bit as we walked back to the car.  We got the boys in safely then loaded up and headed home.  Here is the aftermath: 

After we got home, the boys went straight into the tub and bounced back to normal after that.  I think it took me an hour to breathe  my heart rate back down.  I had rushed a little too quickly and am really feeling it in my hips now.  I have been sitting as much as possible the rest of the day but my pelvis is not happy.  I think the twins were clinging to each other during that adrenaline rush. 

It was quite a scary adventure but Dallin says at least now we can say that we have survived a hurricane because that was just the tip of the storm that touched our shore.  I shudder for what is heading straight for NYC. 

What We're Watching

This-

Currently, this storm will impact us and we will evacuate.  We are hoping and praying for a drastic change of course because really, does our summer need to get any more intersting?  not really. 

We are prepping for it and will keep you posted as to what our plan of action is. 

18 months and 37 years

Guess who is a big boy now?  A big nursery-goin' boy? 

This guy...

Zadek is 18 months old today. 

AND-  a shoutout to my parents today on their anniversary.  I am pretty sure it's 37 years, maybe 38.  We love you and hope you have a great dinner to celebrate your first anniversary as empty nesters. 

Dace Art

Dragon.  By Dace Dean

This is the first cut n paste collage Dace did.  Dallin asked him if it was a snake.  No, he said.  It's a dragon.  Do you see it?  He cut all the shapes by himself and put them all together on his own.  I personally think it's freaking brilliant.  But what am I, other than the biased, proud mama.  ;)

A Buffet of Dean Details

I really wish I was updating this more because I know people are missing the updates.  I need to be taking more pictures too so maybe I will set that as a goal next week. 

First off, let's talk about Dace.  Oh that boy is such a sweetie.  He came in to wake me up this morning and said, "Mama, you are still my sweetie."  Talk about putting a big smile on my face first thing!  How glad am I that I am still his sweetie because there are some girls at church that are really giving me a run for my money.  :)

He is getting really, really good at building these towers.  He built this one on Sunday night and again asked me to take a picture of it.  It is the best one he has made yet.  Maybe award winning architecture is in his future.  I guess we will see. 

Yesterday we picked him up some craft supplies.  I have been feeling bad that he is watching more shows than usual these days just because I am almost useless company and entertainment and there is only so much Dallin can do with them too.  So I thought that some craft supplies for another option might be a good thing.  Boy was I right!  He painted and drew and cut and pasted for about an hour and a half this morning!  and loved every minute of it!  I think we have our new morning activity while Zade sleeps.  yay!

Like his chocolate goatee?  Dad made pudding this morning. 

And then we have our chunk, Mr. Porkchop.  Mr. eat all day and never get full. 

Zade mastered his first word- cracker.  Of course it would be a food object.  He can also say amen but it's more like ah-min.  But he is very proud of cracker and kind of sounds like a parrot, repeating it over and over again when he's asked to say it.  He climbs on everything, is in to everything, will eat anything he finds and wants to eat anything he sees on the counter no matter if it is only seconds after a meal.  He loves running around with his brother, is sleeping through the night almost flawlessly and LOVES getting his shoes to go outside or for a car ride.  He is quite the amazing little boy who can fake cry like none other and has quite the little big personality.  Did I mention he starts nursery full time this week?  Yup, he is 18 months old in a couple days. 

By way of Dallin- He was released from the bishopric on Sunday, after nearly 3.5 years of being in the branch presidency then the bishopric.  We both knew it was coming but it happened quite abruptly.  I was home with the boys who were sick when he texted me the news.  It is bittersweet.  However, I am very much looking forward to having him home Sunday mornings and afternoons and sitting with us in church.  He was called in a week before Dace was born so I have never known a sacrament meeting with kids and a husband to help.  Its going to be a great improvement. 

As for me- slowing down and growing bigger.  That will be my life for the next 10 weeks, give or take.  We saw the doc today.  Babies are good but my weight is not.  I've only gained a pound in two weeks.  How weird is that?  I still eat almost all the time and am sleeping and resting more than I am doing anything remotely physical. I've had some days without an appetite but I seem to make up for those on other days.  So I need to increase my snacking over the next couple weeks so that I am gaining more weight because the babies are starting to use up what I have stored so far.  Sighhhh, fine. If I have to.   Pass the doughnuts.  ;)

post-post:  totally forgot to mention the biggest, best news- WE have our approval for medicaid!  yippee!  still don't have all the details yet but the majority of Dallin's bills should be covered, if not all of them.  Huge answer to prayer.  what a relief!

Second Ultrasound

We saw the twins today!  Dallin and I went into the hospital for our second ultrasound.  It was pretty neat.  Both babies are doing well and are a good size.  Baby girl is 2.7 lbs and Boy is 2.11 lbs.  Already over 5 lbs of baby in there and that will probably triple before this is all over.  wow- that makes my back ache just thinking about it.  ;)  Today they were laying horizontal over each other, like I have bunk beds in my tummy.  Baby girl is still A, closest to the bottom and baby boy is on the top bunk.  both have their heads on my right side. 

Baby girl loved the camera and gave us a lot of good face shots.  Baby boy was just as shy as last time.  The tech tried and tried to get a decent profile shot but he was not cooperating.  Neither was she.  As soon as baby girl realized we were trying to get his picture, she butted her head into every shot, trying to push his head out of the way.  It was funny and really neat to see them interacting like that.  At one point, he turned to the camera and opened and closed his mouth, like he was blowing kisses to mama then finally gave up on the whole charade and rolled over completely, giving us a nice view of his spine and brain.  Sister then realized the show was over and settled down too. 

I've also realized that my counting has been wrong.  I assumed that since 38 weeks is full term for twins, it would bump my due date and how far along I am.  Not the case.  It is still based on a 40 week expectancy.  So today I am 26 weeks and 3 days.  I will post some pics tomorrow.  Gotta scan them in and it is too late for doing that.  I really should be sleeping but that is easier said than done these days. 

Huge

I'm still 11 weeks away and I am already feeling huge. Like massive.  As in, I am sitting here typing this and can feel my stomach resting on my thighs!!!  As in, some of my maternity clothes no longer fit.  Ew!

BUT, and this is a big but, kind of like my big butt, I still am stretch mark free.  Woot woot!  Can I just mention again how much I love my Udos?  I swear that stuff is my saving grace. 

This morning, after my shower, I was lotioning up my tummy and Dace walked into the bathroom and stopped dead in his tracks. 

"Whoaaaaa!" he shouts.

Me, laughing, and kind of suspecting what he was whoa-ing about, I had to ask anyway.  "What, Bubba?"

After a short pause, "I like your... BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG tummy!"

I guess he thinks I'm huge too.  ;)

Meeting The Doc

Tuesday morning Dallin and I took Tighe to the airport then killed a bit of time in Savannah before going to our first appointment with Dr. McLeod. 

I'm still humming and hawwing over our meeting.  It was kind of....diasppointing. 

I went back first to do some paperwork with his nurse (who was great- loved her!) weigh in etc.  Then I grabbed Dallin and we went to the exam room.  After a few minutes wait, McLeod and his nurse came in.  He gave us both a quick handshake then wanted to measure the tummy, then quickly checked the heart rates, then checked my ankles then walked out.  The nurse helped me up off the table, gave me a book about prenatal and postpartum info and I was starting to freak out in my head thinking, that's it?  He's not even going to talk to us?! then she told us to go down the hall to his office for a talk.  Oh- okay, phew!  I almost freaked out. 

So we went down there and he was very matter of fact asking questions about how far along I was, what vitamins I was taking, warnings about cutting my work down etc then opened it up for questions.  I asked him and talked to him about some of my concerns and the overall vibe I got from him didn't jive with me really well.  He isn't warm and friendly at all.  I remember that from the one and only time before we dealt with him when Dace was a baby.  My friend had the same experience with him too.  You could say his bedside manner is beyond lacking, at least in my opinion.  I don't know if that is the difference between a doctor and a midwife or between a male and female.  He seems to blow off most concerns and questions like my feelings are not justified and that my worries are no big deal.  I don't like feeling like that.  I like feeling cared about and that my feelings are justified (midwives are so great for that) and he is almost the complete opposite. 

BUT -he is very easy going, he will not put me in the OR when everyone else seems to think that is where twins MUST be born.  He is fairly easy going as to most of what I want and don't want and that is his saving grace.  I left the office feeling rather deflated but at this point he is our best option and I can just hope our relationship improves over the next few weeks. 

Last night I couldn't fall asleep, thinking about the appointment and wondering if he really is the best fit for me.  I texted with Emily C for about an hour and she talked me off the edge- thanks, Em!! I feel better about it today and have realized that I can and should only focus on the things I can control.  I can focus on doing the best I can throughout the rest of this pregnancy and just focus on having the best delivery I want and do whatever I can to create that experience.  The rest is out of my control. 

One of the most frustrating things about the appointment was that there is no consistency with information about this pregnancy.  I have been reading this book that is specific for twin/multiple pregnancies.  It's written by 2 women doctors who both have had twin pregnancies and run a multiple births clinic.  But McLeod disagreed with most of what they had said and that I was doing.  Who do I listen to?  Even my midwives had conflicting opinions.  Most people think twin pregnancies is just two babies but it is SUCH a different ball game than a singleton pregnancy.  For instance, the book claims that weight gain before 28 weeks with twins is crucial because after that there is little room for the stomach and it can be a struggle to keep up healthy weight gain.  So that weight gain prior to 28 weeks becomes a storage for both babies and mama.  They say to gain 38 lbs by 28 weeks.  McLeod disagreed.  He says 40 lbs overall.  Forget about the 28 week thing.  Book says to drink 8 16oz glasses of water a day.  McLeod says 4 is sufficient.  Book says 38 weeks is full term for twins.  McLeod is still clocking me for a 40 week pregnancy although he doubts we'll get that far.  But farther along is better. 

In the end, I have decided to side with the experts.  McLeod has delivered hundreds of twins in his 30 years of practice but specializing in the prenatal care of a multiple pregnancy is something he does not do.  And I will continue to listen to my body, follow its lead and trust in my instinct.  Because it has been pretty amazing up to this point. 

When he listened to the heart rates, he said that baby girl was head down and kind of curving up my left side while baby boy was laying horizontal over top of her.  Maybe he was at the moment but for the most part, I think he is head down and feet up as well.  Even as I have been typing this, he's been kicking me in the ribs almost constantly, not kicking out my side. 

I asked him about positioning and anything I can do to assist that and he almost seemed to sneer at the suggestion and commented that babies don't listen outside of the womb, why would they listen to me while in there?  I totally disagree.  I am a huge believer in visualization and talking to my babies in utero (so are the midwives).  I know almost for a fact that Zade's delivery was the way it was because I coached him about it on a nightly basis for weeks prior AND visualized his position and delivery in my head for months.  I know the power of both those techniques and his negative attitude about it really surprised me. 


McLeod says that I am in the critical point of a twin pregnancy.  That from now until about 32 weeks, I am most at risk for preterm labor.  So I am supposed to be doing little as possible, getting good sleep and doing little work.  I am minimizing the best I can but I am still probably doing too much.  It's funny but we both think that Dallin is now in better physical condition than me and definitely is moving easier than I am.  We are both running at 50% so there are times around here where we are a sad sight to behold.  But as I slow down and get bigger and sorer, he is slowly getting back to normal.  We really need a miraculous healing in his back so that everything is perfect in his CAT scan on sept.2 so that he can get out of the brace and officially take over so that I can become the patient. 

Today I have decided that it's not really that big of a deal.  Yes I miss my midwives already but I can still see them and ask them any questions and so I will be leaning on them for support and answers.  But the reality of the situation is that this is a doctor in a hospital birth.  How much involvement will he really have when it comes to the delivery, other than checking on my occasionally then swooping in at the last minute when the babies make their exit?  I think i'll try and plan it so that we get to the hospital about an hour before they are born and our time with McLeod will be minimal.  That might seem really cranky on my part but I don't think I am going to get the support and commradery from him that I do with my midwives.  And there is no sense in crying about it.  He's going to give me the delivery setting that I want so we will stick with him but use him as little as possible, as was the plan from the beginning.  Jill, my midwife, will be there and so I will lean on her for whatever I need.  I am grateful to be able to work with him because it keeps me away from a planned Csection and it keeps me out of the OR.  Everything else I can do myself.  :)  Any disappointment I feel about this relationship I blame on my midwives because they obviously spoiled me with my first 2 babies.  :)Everything is going to be fine. 

An Uncle's Visit

My brother Tighe was here for 10 wonderful days.  He was a great help to me and the boys loved having someone to climb on and hang off of and play rocket rides and wrestle.  We spent time at the pool, one trip to the beach but Tighe went on his own several times, including for a couple sunrises.  We had lots of laughs and some good chats and made great memories.  It was sad for everyone to see him go but we were so glad he was able to come visit. 

I gotta comment on this.  Zade LOVES french fries and they are a big treat in our house because we never have them.  As they were getting less and less on the table, Zade started stock piling them and stashing them.  I love that he even tucked some in the front fold of his shirt.  Hilarious!

Gotta go crabbin'!

Chillin' on the beach with his fruit snacks, watchin' the tide roll away.  Life is good. 

Sunrise on the beach, compliments of Tighe.  I haven't seen on in almost 4 years.