Movin' right along!

Finally.

Finally, the carpet installers got here and reinstalled new carpet in lieu of the botched job on the entire upper floor of our house.  What does that mean for me?  It means we have furniture again, and a spare bedroom again, AND we can FINALLY work on the nursery! I will be snapping photos along the way in order to create a before and after photo album to come soon. 

So, moving forward, we have a custom closet 'solution' we are working on, we have chosen some fabric and a friend of my parents' will be sewing curtains and crib skirts, and we have repainted a lovely wood dresser to prepare it to be both storage and the change table.  We have both cribs (one is together and the other to be assembled, likely tomorrow) and then from there, it's the little details.  Lights, wall hanging (I have a great plan for this, but will surprise you), etc. 

Of course, we also have to get the contractor in to tear up the entire basement and rebuild from ground up before October, and create storage solutions in our garage to accomodate the reduction in storage space in our home.  So.  Lots to still do.

Glad to be able to start!

Got cool reno albums?  Took photos of your nursery creations?  Would love to see them...!

Reality sets in

So....we met with the CHEO surgeon yesterday.  You know when you KNOW something is going to happen, but you haven't truly accepted the situation?  Or maybe, less about acceptance, you just haven't fully conceptualized what that reality is going to look like? 

That was me yesterday.

As I was asking the questions, "When will she go into surgery if she is able to breathe?", and "How large will the scar be?", and "How long is her recovery time and how long might she be in the hospital?" and more, one by one my questions were answered and the reality was sinking in.

My baby could die.  My little girl might not be able to breathe and be stablized in order to even undergo surgery. She may be able to undergo surgery but take months to recover in the hospital... months when she is not home with her sister, and where Mom and Dad are living between two crazy realities. She may ultimately be alive, but have persistent medical issues as severe as requiring a tracheostomy and breathing apparatus for life.  She has a serious condition that will be very tough on both her and Mommy and Daddy.  Full stop.

Do I have optimistic faith that she will make it through and be healthy on the other side (still a strong possibility)?  Yes.  But I have to be ready to face the myriad of other possibilities, don't I?

Easier on a day like today after a good sleep and positive progress happening around me (finally got the carpet reinstalled properly and my 'team' is working on reconfiguring our entire upper floor to create order from chaos and tackle some fun nursery projects), but tough yesterday after a poor night of heartburn induced wakefulness...

While I generally have a positive attitude and am determined to enjoy both this pregnancy and my dreams of a perfect eventual outcome, it's not all roses, and I would be remiss to pretend that it was.

I will say this, though...I wouldn't change a thing, and I will face this head on.  We have quite a journey ahead of us.

Anyone for a top 10 list?

So, I thought it was time to share, REALLY share, some of the insights I have gleaned (or am living through) on this wacky road to motherhood.  Perhaps you can relate.  If not, perhaps you can learn, laugh or feel uncomfortable, 'cause really?  This process is CRAZY.

So, without further ado, here is my list of top 10 'interesting tidbits' related to my twin pregnancy.

*WARNING* - the following list may be shockingly personal, but good for a laugh or two also.

1. At only 25 weeks my pelvic bone area started feeling (and still feels) as if it was the day after a night of crazy, rough sex (i.e. very bruised). I told my parents this, and then realized they could be asking themselves how I know what that feels like...
2. When you have two babies, both positioned with their feet down, you realize quickly that your bladder is more like a fun, cushy kick pillow than a formerly well-functioning organ of your body.
3. My nipples are massive purple targets.  The babies will have to be blind not to see them.
4. I'm shocked, but I have no stretch marks yet.  I have been using natural belly butter and oil products, and they seem to be working.  That said, with three months to go, and being of the ripe age of 38, surely they will start creeping in soon? (oh, and as an aside...you call your product "Whale Oil"?!?  Really.)
5. I can't get off the couch.  Or, at least not in one motion.  I shuffle forward in about three stages and then use my arms to get me up and off.
6. My Mom, well before we found out that Baby B has a diaphragmatic hernia, gave me a Mayan "Worry Free" pregnancy doll pictured here.  I rub this doll's little belly often and make a wish for a successful outcome to all of this.
7. Swimming in late pregnancy saves you.  Buy a pass, and go feel weightless for a while.  Seriously. (and if you can do this in the summer at an outdoor pool?  Alls the better)
8. I have amazing family and friends.  Their love, support, generosity and willingness to help seems endless, and I know I will need to lean on them, possibly for months or longer. It's amazing to know that if you fall, there are a myriad of people to catch you.  It had to be said.  Thank you.
9. You know your relationship is solid when you are pregnant, and you become closer to your husband than you have ever been.  You know your relationship is ubersolid when you are faced with losses, complications and fear of the future and this, too, brings you even closer. 
10. Being pregnant is amazing...beyond description...and I am truly blessed.

Just...wow.

The funniest thing lately has been to catch a view of myself in the reflection of windows or mirrors. It's shocking to me just how big this belly already is at only 26 weeks.  I meet and/or know women who are days away from their due dates who look smaller...it's crazy.

In other amusing news, our couch, which was a Real Canadian Superstore bargain when we bought it over 6 years ago, is sucking me in.  It's not only a circus routine to get out of it, but it's a great source of amusement to my husband, who likes to make grunting/groaning noises even as he assists in hefting me up to my feet.

In case you missed it...here's the belly.

I can't wait for the professional shots I have lined up at the end of September.  Seems crazy that the shoot is still almost two months away and that THAT date is still over a month away from the due date!?!  Nuts.

Another ultrasound, this time a level 2 in depth one, is coming up in two days, followed by another dialogue with the doctor.  With all the activity I have been feeling (I THINK mostly from Baby A, but ya can't always be totally sure with two of them in there), there's excitement to see them again, even if it is mixed in with trepidation... This past couple of weeks feels like a major leap forward in their size, as I felt distinct baby parts moving and kicking out, pushing against my abdomen, and it just feels like space is being eaten up at an alarming rate. 

Also cool?  The kick - mommy touch - kick in response action is amazing, as detailed in my last post. Instinct or no, ya can't help thinking "what a brilliant little baby you are!"....

So yeah.  Recap = Massive belly sure to get even more massive. Cool stuff related to the former. More info to come in a couple days...