Happy 2nd to You, Ian!

Happy 2nd Birthday to you Ian. You know that Mommy can’t be with you right now, but that does not mean I have forgotten you. It is hard to believe you are already two. Two years ago today I was giving birth to you and for the first time saw the sweetest face. You have grown so much and are turning into a handsome little boy.

Each day with you is full of more surprises and laughter as you are a little clown but that is okay, everyone needs humor! Keep on being the amazing boy you are and enjoy your special day of turning TWO!

P.S.- Your birthday is my blogs 100th post!

Hotel Hospital

I am sure you are saying to yourself that is about time for an update! Gets pretty annoying doesn’t it? You will be happy to know that you will be hearing a lot more from me.

On March 25th, ’09 (27 weeks 2 days), I had an appointment to see my OB because 10 days earlier at my 26 week check the doctor found my cervix to be shorting at 2.8cm. On Wednesdays check it went to 2.2cm so he sent me straight over to the hospital. They ran tests and checked the babies. They are growing well and I am free of infections. Currently (Day 2 in hospital) I am taking 10mg of Adalat in the morning and 60mg of Adalat in the evening to control the contractions. Which as of today, have been gone since early this morning. Wednesday evening they also gave me coricosteriods to develop the girls lungs faster.

I’d have to say I was not expecting this at all because I had been feeling pretty great up till then. It shows you how different pregnancies can be. It also very difficult being here alone stuck in bed 24/7, but I am trying to remember this is all for my babies. The Peri came by today and told me what would happen if they were born now or in the near future and helped ease some of my fears. They do have a great chance of surviving and thriving..and the kicks in my belly are a good reminder.

I do miss my family a lot and are so glad that my Husband is making every attempt to come see me each evening (which I look forward to as soon as I start the day). I also miss Ian but thankful that I have my Mother-in-law to care for him while I am here. His 2nd birthday is tomorrow and my Husband is going to take him to large indoor playplace and my Mother-in-law is going to give him a cake. I so wish I could be there for him, but I am sure through all the festivities he will be so happy and tried he won’t really know I am missing.

That’s all for now.. I will update you more tomorrow.

Back to Winter Wonderland

Back to winterland here in Switzerland. I arrived back about two weeks ago to a pile of snow! It felt so weird to be wearing a light sweater and then arrive where I need to bundle like an Eskimo. Ian flew back great. Momma is proud of you! He slept most of the way, because our first flight was during his nap and our international flight was during most of his nighttime. That’s how flying should be! The only trouble we had was that our first flight was delayed so I had to run to my international flight, with only 3 minutes to get there. Being pregnant and running with a stroller is no fun! I hope never ever again!

I had a lot of trouble adjusting my first week back but I am doing loads better this week. The hormonal overload didn’t help. Now only if I could not cry over every little negative thing. My Husband has some kind of surprise trip planned for us this weekend. So sweet. I think we are going a few hours away to get in the warm sunshine.

Last weekend we went out and purchased our stroller. Cost: 1, 300CHF (that’s with a Twin discount) Why they want to treat strollers as if they are a motorized vehicle is beyond me…but you have to get what you need. We purchased the TFK Twinner Duo with 2 soft carry cots. This thing drives like a dream and with the cots I can take the twins out without disturbing them; makes for a great Moses Basket too.

I also purchased a rocker seat. The one I originally wanted wasn’t there anymore, must be discontinued, so I picked the Chicco Dream. I liked that it came with a toy/liner and an attachable blanket. I can’t tell you how many times Ian peed or spit up in his chair and I had to take the whole seat off to wash.

Time to get back to the rest of my week!

Here is my belly at 23 weeks:

Up to the Richmond Area

This past weekend I went up to visit my Sister, Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins. It was so nice to see everyone again. Saturday we went to visit the Maymont, which by far is one of the most beautiful places I have visited in Virginia and it isn’t even springtime yet. It is hard to imagine what it would look like then! I am going to let my pictures do most of the talking this time..

Very cool animal farm..

Isn’t my sister just beautiful..

Yup, Ian did sleep through most of it. He was exhausted!

My cousin TJ, everyone walking by loved his hair!

My Uncle, Aunt, and children..

They love ice cream..

The trip really was a lot of fun but I think Ian was sad to be leaving his Aunt Lauren..

But he did get to come back to a fun wagon ride with Grandma and Grandpa..

While I took photos of the sign I wacked in half when slipping on ice while driving home Wednesday.

There is nothing worse than that feeling of losing control and doing a 360 on the side of the road. My lesson learned.. never hit the gas on ice. But if Ian could sleep through it, couldn’t be too bad..right righhht?

As always, more pictures on flickr.

Yay, I'm Halfway!

It is so exciting to be at the twenty week mark in my pregnancy, which means I am halfway there or maybe even less (twin pregnancies usually run 37 weeks). So far my body is letting me celebrate by allowing me to feel better. No more cramping which means more enjoyable time with Ian.

my 20 weeks twin belly

I still wish I could chug some Redbulls for the exhaustion but I will take that over cramps any day! Heartburn hit me a few days ago. I had this horrible around 30 weeks and on with my first pregnancy. Now tums are my new best friend.

Mr. Buddy has been accelerating with his words; he can now say sit down. Now only if he could use that when he isn’t getting in trouble!

Ian saying "sit " after I told him to sit down

But actually he really is a good boy (for the most part). I took him to watch my mom at a bowl-a-thon over the weekend and he would stand there clapping and yelling ball. It was his first bowling adventure, and to a boy who loves balls, it was a ball heaven.

Being "Handsome just like Daddy"

making noises with a cup

Oh,Ian and I are feeling a lot better from our sicknesses. Thanks for all the prayers.

Life on a Spin

Life really likes to throw you for a spin. Since my cough was still around at the 2 week mark, yesterday I headed over to the doctor, mostly out of concern for the Twins. He diagnosed me with some type of infection but unsure, also he ordered a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) test just to be on the safe side. My numbers came back just slightly above the norm but he said not to worry..ha funny to tell that to a pregnant woman when all we do is worry. Now I am working on taking my “$50” 3 pill antibiotic and the “I can sleep and talk again” cough syrup.

Today my little man has a high fever and had trouble sleeping so I headed over to the doctor. After the torture of cleaning the wax out of his ears, a mom’s worst nightmare, and a screaming ear check they said it is the beginning of an ear infection. My guess it’s what is left over from what he was sick with before we left to visit the US. My little trooper has been out of it all day and trying to sleep but only to be awoken (by pain?). I feel tonight is going to be a long night of temperature checking and trying to keep the fluids in. Got to love the sick winter season!

Even through all of this we are still managing to have a nice visit. There is nothing like spending time with your dad and sister playing Halo on the Xbox360. Time to get back to night watching the little man. Please keep us in your prayers!

Shed Some Hair

Happy Friday! It is for us, Ian finally got his second haircut today and was a trooper. I bribed him to sit with me using Gerber fruit snack..sadly that only worked for a total of 5 minutes. My boy is a snack inhaler. I tried to get him to sit with coloring books, that only lasting 3 minutes then poor Mommy had another coughing attack. You know the kind you can’t breathe than you almost vomit. So yah, I was rushed a drink all while Ian was trying to jump to the floor. One last attempt using the “Yes, for this once you can dig through my purse” trick. And viola we had a finished cut!

So before…

And after..

Someone is sure happy about it.

Skipping on to the twins, so my belly has really popped out in the past couple of weeks. I am surprised how fast you grow with twins compared to a singleton. I got to looking back at how I started and I look skinny..and I thought I was fat at first..haha! Here is a little progression..

6 weeks

12 weeks

18 weeks 4 days

I also have been having some period like cramping the past couple days. I think in my subconscious it really has me worried because I had my first miscarriage dream last night and I still can’t shake it. Then I took a nap today and was dreaming of rushing to the bathroom because my cramps were so bad and then I really woke up with those cramps. I must be lifting Ian too much, but as a Mom I can’t really slow it down. I can foresee me needing some extra help in a couple months. I just need to keep looking to God for a healthy pregnancy.