32 Weeks

As previously stated in my other post, I am currently 32 weeks along! Well, technically, I'm on the last day of my 32nd week. Another week finished! I keep praying that God's plan is to keep these babies wait until the end to be delivered.

My unplanned visit to the hospital proved to be the most "excitement" I've had this pregnancy. For that, I certainly cannot complain...especially since I'm carrying twins. I came home with 2 massive bruises on my forearms that just looked worse in the aftermath as they turned dark purple and blue. Poor Kyle had a hard time looking at them. I know he hated not being able to go to the hospital with me since he had work all day. Mom had a bit of a struggle with being so far away, too. I can't sit here and honestly say that I preferred to go by myself but I understand there was nothing I could do about it since we live all the way in California and Kyle has obligations because of the military. 

I had another growth scan ultrasound this week. I always enjoy these simply because I get to see how much the twins have grown. Usually they take like 45 minutes and my back hurts because of all the pressure the babies are putting on me. Somehow the technician from this scan only took like 15 minutes! I also was allowed to lie on my side, taking all that pressure off my back. She quickly measured each twin and whatever else she needed to do and then she was done! Both babies are head down. Hallelujah! Basically how she described them, they were almost mirroring each other by the way they were positioned. Both babies' butts are at my rib cage, which is why I always feel so much pressure up there!  I did make sure to tell her I didn't want to know the sex of the babies. I'm always nervous whenever they do ultrasounds that they will end up telling me what sex they are, so I try to make sure to tell them as soon as they start that we want it to be a surprise!

Baby A weighs 4 lbs with a heart rate of 147 bpm. Baby B weighs 3lbs 12oz with a heart rate of 163 bpm. They are right about on track for my 32nd week of pregnancy, which is great. The technician said she could also see hair on both of their heads already! Considering they are a product of both me and Kyle, I can't honestly be surprised though. The tech was able to get a picture of Baby B's chubby little face but since their head is basically lying on top of Baby A's head, she couldn't get a picture of both. 

Symptoms:

• I've gained 29lbs by the beginning of this week. 
• Heartburn
• Lots of strong baby movements
• Baby hiccups
• Difficult with moving and turning from side to side. 
• Braxton Hicks Contractions

Being pregnant around Marines has been rather entertaining. For the first time I had someone tell me I was big. Granted, it was by a guy and they tend to be a little more direct about things, hah! I guess his actual phrase was, "You look like you're about to explode!" Another Marine told Kyle that I looked huge, but chose to tell him when I wasn't around! Of course men will have a different opinion than women do, but regardless, it doesn't hurt my feelings since all I've heard until this point was, "you're so small for how far along you are" etc etc.  Another one saw me and immediately asked if I had stretch marks. That comment caused him to get a few odd looks from people standing nearby.

On a fun note, I think our nursery is ready. It certainly isn't decorated like a lot of nurseries probably are, but there isn't much I can do since I can't paint the walls, etc. Also, having to put 2 cribs in one room makes it a little more challenging to add other things to the room. That's okay, though. We will wait to really decorate their rooms until we buy our own house (hopefully next year)! I've even packed a diaper bag and hospital bag, just in case the babies decide to come early.

So, I'm hoping we are pretty much finished with the preparations. I still have to do a few more things like boil parts for my breast pump and sterilize the bottles even though those bottles aren't going to be used for a while if I can avoid it simply because I want to exclusively breastfeed for as long as possible. Of course, I may periodically pump a bottle, but only so Kyle can feed them occasionally and have that experience with his babies. For those coming to visit...if my breastfeeding is still going well, then I won't be pumping bottles for you to feed the twins, only for Kyle. Sorry, we still love you! But that is non-negotiable.

I also still need to set up a little basket with diaper changing stuff for downstairs so I don't have to run upstairs every time they need a change. Little things like that are still left, but thankfully they are little.

We also should be getting our maternity pictures back very soon!! I can't wait to see them. I love our photographer. We are even going to set up a date to chat about the twins' newborn pictures soon. Most of you will expect pictures that are done in a studio, but please remember that our photographer is a natural light (outside) and more lifestyle photographer meaning there is no studio. She doesn't carry props either, so if we have props then Kyle and I have to supply them. Even though our newborn pictures won't be like the typical studio ones you see, we are okay with it. We believe she'll do a beautiful job regardless. Working with twins is going to probably be a challenge, but it will be fun nonetheless!

I have posted my 32nd week picture. I feel big. Actually, I feel bigger than big, but that's okay. :) I only have a few short weeks left (probably due between Feb 15-22) until my beautiful babies are born and they stop attacking me from the inside. Since they are both head down at the moment, the idea of not having a C-section seems much more real which would be fantastic!

Babies are the size of a Bok Choy! What a fun veggie name...