03.28.09
Lucas and Kyla in 3D
LD emailed me the pictures from yesterday. Here are the best ones. 
Aren’t they adorable?
03.27.09
Painful realization
So as you know I’ve been pumping like a mad woman for almost 9 weeks now. It’s all consuming and even when I’m not pumping I’m thinking about the next time I need to pump. Well, next week I’ll be attending a conference in Houston. I’d already thought about the fact that it will be difficult to get in as many pumpings as I usually do (8-10 per 24 hour period). But today I sat down with the conference schedule and tried to figure out when I would be able to fit in some pumping. It started to look doable. Not a perfect situation, but not the worst either.
Then, on the way home from work today it hit me… What do I do with the milk that I pump? I’ll be staying in a hotel, and I doubt they have a fridge/freezer. I hate to think of pouring it down the drain, but I can’t just leave it sitting out either. I should only be 2 days that I can’t get it into a fridge/freezer (I’ll be staying at my sister’s starting on Friday night), but that’s 8-9 oz down the drain (maybe more)! I know it’s not a lot, but I work hard for that!!! 
BTW- LD went in for the re-do 3D/4D ultrasound today. She said they were able to get pics of both babies (more of Lucas than Kyla). Her DH is going to scan them into the computer so we can see them. 
I wish I could have been there. 
03.19.09
A thinker and a stinker
Sadly, I do not have any pics to post today. The babies were uncooperative and the u/s tech was unable to get any good ones. She said we could come back in a week or so to try again. So we have an appointment for a week from tomorrow (3/27). Everyone pray they’ll cooperate then. I don’t think we’ll get another chance.
We did catch glimpses of Lucas. However, he had his hand tucked up to his chin/face the whole time (N called him a thinker), and his umbilical cord got in the way too. Then there was Kyla, who wouldn’t stop wiggling. So all we saw of her was a blur (actually, more like monster blobs). She was quite the stinker. I think we’re going to have our hands full with her… I can’t wait!
03.17.09
Shower
Well, I survived the shower. And amazingly, opposing family members were quite civil. Mom even talked to Dad on Saturday and didn’t bolt at the first opportunity.
I always feel awkward when the only reason a group of people is gathered together is because they all know me. I feel like I have to spend time with everyone, yet there never seems to be enough time. Fortunately, almost everyone knew at least one other person there (sorry T!), so they were able to talk to someone familiar. I’m glad I was able to see everyone, even if it felt weird opening present after present and having all eyes on me. I guess I only like to be in the spotlight when there is a stage and acting involved…
The babies made out like bandits. I think just about everyone got them each one or two outfits (or in the case of some relatives, about 90!). We have a HUGE pile of presents sitting in the living room (still one more load of stuff at my aunts house to pick up). We don’t have room in the babies’ room right now (there’s already a pile of stuff for them in there!). My plan had been to start cleaning the sewing room today to make room for moving furniture from the babies’ room to there. Unfortunately, I haven’t quite gotten started on that yet. That’s not to say I haven’t been productive. I’ve finished all of the thank you notes and will be heading out to mail them in a few minutes (have to finish pumping). I also set up an appointment with the vet for Chili. She woke up at 3 AM and screamed in pain. When I woke up and checked on her, she would yelp any time I touched her leg. This morning she wouldn’t get up and I had to carry her outside to the grass. She seems to be favoring her left front leg and won’t take even a step. She’s been laying on the couch all morning (I put her there). I also made an appointment to take my car in for an oil change and inspection. But I may have to call and change the time. I don’t know that I gave myself enough time between appointments to come home and pump! I didn’t think about it at the time.
Tomorrow we are going to OK for our 3D/4D ultrasound. I’m excited. LD came down for the shower and I did get to feel my little boy kick a couple of times (my daughter appears to be a bit stubborn). I’m looking forward to seeing their adorable little faces tomorrow. I’ll try to post pics on Thursday.
03.12.09
Viability, Baby!
Today marks the completion of 24 weeks of pregnancy. In the baby world, this is a big deal. From this point forward, if the babies decide to make an early entrance, they have a decent shot of surviving, though they would certainly spend a lot of time in NICU.
Of course, we’re all reminding these babies that they better stay put for at least 12 more weeks.
03.08.09
Upswing
I’m sure it’s been pretty obvious over the last month or so that I’ve been fairly hormonal/depressed/moody whatever you want to call it. It’s a wonder N put up with me as long as he did (he did finally snap back at me last week, but I can’t really blame him). I was beginning to wonder if it was the pumping that was making me such a mess. I’m happy to report, that must not be it! Because I’m finally feeling back to my normal self and seeing things in a much more positive light.
The real turning point was Wednesday. I’m not sure if it was seeing the babies, finally finishing my period after having the IUD removed, or a combination of the two that flipped the switch, but I’ll take it. I’m able to smile again and haven’t had even one crying jag since then. Believe it or not, that’s a bit accomplishment.
Thursday and Friday I got to show off the ultrasound pictures at work and break the news to everyone that we were no longer having two girls, but instead one of each. The squealing that went on in that building was deafening! LOL. Also, I finally talked to a student about the babies. It was a teacher’s kid, so I wasn’t quite as concerned about talking to her. She came in and saw the babies’ pictures and said “Wow! You’re having two?” I said “Yes. But they’re not in my tummy. They’re in Oklahoma.” She asked “Are they already borned?” I told her, “No, I have a friend who is keeping them in her tummy.” She looked at me a little funny so I said “Remember how I told you about my heart? Well, my heart can’t take care of a baby inside of me. So my friend is taking care of them until I can.” Her response was “That’s very nice of her.” Yes. Yes, it is!
Yesterday I decided I was tired of my hair being so “blah” so I went in and got it all chopped off. I told the girl “chin length” and I guess it is when it’s wet and/or flat. But as soon as it dries, it’s more like “earlobe length.” It’s okay. I’ll get used to it I’m sure. But for now I’m not really “wowed” by it. However, I went to a gathering with coworkers that evening, and everyone else seemed impressed. Hopefully it will grow on me. N didn’t comment when he got home last night and when I asked him about it he said “I’m trying to figure out if I like it.” Guess we’ll both have to get used to it. 
Today I went to visit with my dad before heading over to Ft. Worth to visit a friend and her surrogate who just delivered her son. I got to show Dad the all of the pictures from the ultrasound as well as the DVD. It was nice spending some time with him and I really ought to do it more often, considering he’s not THAT far from me (okay, about 45 minutes, but that’s only 15 more minutes than what I drive to work every day). He’ll be coming over next Saturday to visit when my sister comes up for the shower. She’s going to leave my nephew with me while she and my mom go to my aunt’s house to get things ready for the shower and Dad will come play with W for awhile. Then my sister will come back so we can all go to dinner and then take W back to my aunt’s with her. It is going to be strange not having any of my family staying with me while they are in town.
After visiting with my dad, I went to visit with my friends. I was a little nervous at first, since I’ve only met each of them in person once, but after a little while I relaxed and was SO glad I went. And I think being around a baby might have even increased how much milk I’ll get today. Not 100% sure yet, but we’ll see tonight!
I found it interesting watching the interactions between C and M. C (the mom) had tried to induce lactation but is apparently having some trouble. M (the surrogate) will be pumping once they leave the hospital and go back home. But in the mean time, M has been nursing the baby. I have always said I think I’d be way too jealous of another woman nursing my baby (though LD has said she will if I want her to). But C handed him over without so much as a blink. Why do I feel guilty for feeling like I would be unable to do the same?
Lots of stuff going on. Time seems to be just speeding by and it’s amazing to realize we have less than 100 days (most likely) before we will meet our babies. Part of me can’t wait, and part of me wants things to slow down a little so I can catch up and get ready! LOL
03.05.09
Ultrasound Update
So we had our Level II sonogram yesterday. The babies are looking awesome. Baby 1 is measuring 23w0d and Baby 2 is 23w1d, so right on target. We got to see their spines, hearts, brains, hands, feet, tummies, and adorable little faces (see the pics below). And most interesting of all, we got to see their “naughty bits” as N has been known to call them. And it appears that Dr. K was wise to tell us not to cut the tags off of anything, because he was wrong. We are not having two girls. We are having one of each! Caught Nathan and me by surprise, but LaDonna said “I told you so.” Personally, I think she cheats.
Oh! And we got to feel little Baby 2 move!!! He’s a strong one! LOL Hopefully we’ll get to feel them both some more when LD comes down for my shower in a week and a half. This was just the pick-me-up I needed. As a matter of fact, I got more milk than I have any other day! A grand total of 4.25 oz.
But everyone, please pray for LD. Especially on Wednesdays. She looked SOOO tired. She says that clinical days (Wednesdays) are miserable. But she still insists she doesn’t regret anything. Hopefully she still thinks that in a couple more months. (We love you LD!!!)
03.02.09
So much for that idea.
Every now and then it feels as if God is orchestrating things to fall exactly into place. When you feel like that, you get really comfortable. But God likes to keep you on your toes. So it’s a good idea to never get too comfy… I got reminded of that little lesson today.
Back in August I had mentioned to someone that I was interested in finding a job share position (two people sharing one position, each working part time) for the 2009-10 school year. Overhearing my comment, a librarian from another school said she too was interested in sharing next year. It was like a match made in heaven! We were both looking for the same thing, at the same time. Perfect, right? So I asked our district library coordinator about it. She said that the district would only pay for insurance for one of the two that are sharing. Small panic. Until I talked with my potential sharer, who said she is on her husband’s insurance and I could have it. Great! No problems now…
Then I get an email from the library coordinator today. Apparently, for “financial reasons” the district is no longer allowing job share positions. So we’re out of luck. And the carpet was yanked right out from under us.
We’re both expecting children and want to be able to work our schedules with our husbands so that we do not have to use childcare. Just when we should be at our happiest, we’re stuck wondering if we’ll even be able to afford to keep a roof over our children… Okay, it may not be quite THAT bad (I hope), but it stinks. And I’m not sure what we’re going to do.
I’ve come up with two possible options. One is to substitute. It doesn’t get paid much, and it does not provide benefits, but if I work 90 days or more within a school year I get credit for a year in TRS. Plus, it’s very flexible and I can work around N’s schedule, whatever that might be.
The other option is to work at a book store part time. Barnes and Noble and Borders both provide benefits to part time employees. I’m not sure if they’re any good or not, of course. And I’m sure they pay didly, but at least it would be a paycheck, and I’d have the option of working weekends for more flexibility with N’s schedule.
Honestly, the substituting sounds like the better option to me, but I don’t know what N will think, or what would be best financially. We may be tightening our belts even more than we originally thought. One thing’s for sure. I’m glad N didn’t change his job status and drop insurance.
