36 Weeks and we have a Plan!

Good Morning! I am currently writing from my bed rest "hidey hole" this morning. I decided yesterday that the world would be a better place if more people took time for some bed rest. Maybe not three weeks of it, but a mandatory bed rest once a month would make for a lot less grumpy people...haha! As much as I never wanted bed rest, I have actually enjoyed my time at home preparing for these little ones to come! I have had time to sleep, pray, read, finish up grad school, write thank you notes, and dream about what the next chapter of our life is going to look like. We are so excited to be at the end stage of this journey and about to begin the most exciting next chapter! We are so thankful that these past weeks of bed rest have helped prolong this pregnancy to 36 weeks! We are officially 9 months...PRAISE GOD! Bed rest has allowed for these babies to grow just a little bigger, stronger, healthier, and hopefully they are ready to enter this big world! So thankful that God has been guiding our doctor and nurses through this process and they were able to know what my body and my babies needed!

36 Weeks! Please ignore the hair, outfit, and bathroom...bed rest is rough on a girl...haha!

Speaking of guidance...Monday morning we were given a little bit of a surprise with a change in plans. I was scheduled this week to have my sonogram on Wednesday and my doctor's appointment on Friday. I had just seen my doctor on Friday and he had assured me there was no change and we were doing good. So...I was very surprised to get a call Monday from my nurse saying that my doctor wanted me to have my sonogram that day and come in to see him on Tuesday. When I asked "Why?", Katy just said that Dr. Sutliff was getting "antsy" about me...which didn't give us any clarity at all...haha! We were not quite sure what we were walking into on Monday and Tuesday, but were thinking maybe things were about to start moving along a little more quickly!

At the sonogram on Monday, the tech checked both babies' growth and weights. It was much more difficult this time to get accurate measurements or readings because the babies are so much bigger and squished in there. Everytime she would try and measure something on Adelyn, Tucker would move into view...haha! He's already SUCH a mess! According to the sonogram, Adelyn was measuring 36 weeks 1 day and weighing 5 lbs 15 oz (+ or - 14 oz). Tucker was measuring 36 weeks exactly and weighing 6 lbs 1 oz (+ or - 14 oz). Both babies had strong heartbeats, but they were both moving the entire time so it was a little difficult to get. The both looked beautiful and healthy...and were surprisingly both head down for the first time ever. Tucker has always been head up, so immediately we started wondering if this would change our delivery plan!

On Tuesday, we headed to see the doctor, not quite sure what he was going to say. We put all of our bags in the car, ready for anything. We were trusting that God was in control of the situation and have been praying that God would lead our doctors throughout this process to do what is best for both me and the babies. For the first time ever, Dr. Sutliff joined us in the sonogram room to check on the babies' positions. Tucker (I told you he is a mess) somehow had returned to a head up position over night. He is my little monkey man for sure! Then we headed to an exam room to be checked, where I found out I have progressed in dilation to about a 3 and am now 80% effaced. My belly measured 44 cm which would be equivalent to a woman with one baby being 4 weeks overdue...haha! After the exam, we were summoned to the office to make a plan. Once again, it felt like getting called in to the principal's office...haha! Poor Derek was nervous as could be, but I was surpisingly calm. Derek says he was just excited...who knows...haha! Whatever he was, he was being super funny!

Once we got in the office, Dr. Sutliff decided to schedule a c-section for next Wednesday, March 6th. The twins will be 37 weeks on that day and considered full-term. There is still the possibility of my water breaking or going into labor before that time, but if that doesn't happen then we have a plan and a date. We will go in for a doctor's appointment the day before to check everything and see what the babies' positions are and then we will go in early Wednesday morning to meet our twins! We feel confident that at that point they will be plenty big and developed and should be ready to enter the world!

It took me a little bit to write this blog because I really wanted to gather my thoughts to see how I felt before I started writing. I have to admit, I immediately felt a sense of peace and calm after the appointment knowing that we had a plan in place. We had been thinking that he may want to do a c-section this week and I just wasn't sure the twins were ready yet. But I feel very confident in the decision to schedule one for next week and that the twins will be healthy and mature at that point. I even remember Dr. Neal in San Antonio predicted March 6th for twins during one of our first appointments, before we had EVEN done the retrieval! Too funny how these doctors know these things! I feel that God is completely leading this process. You would think we would be concerned when we heard that Dr. Sutliff was going to be unavailable all weekend, but then he told us the on-call doctor was Dr. Dunham, who I have known forever and we go to church with. We completely trust him and know that if I go into labor, I will be in WONDERFUL hands. Funny how God is laying out the path before us as we prepare to bring these babies into the world.

The other thing that keeps running through my head is that I am going to be a mother at this time next week. A mother!!! And Derek is going to be a daddy! I still can't believe how good our God is to fulfill the desires of our heart!!! We have dreamed of this day and longed for this day for 6 and a half years. And it is almost here!!! We are going to get to hold our precious babies in our arms, kiss their sweet faces, rock them, feed them, cuddle them, and get to finally see what they look like. After so many years of wanting and waiting...GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I just can't believe that He chose us for this precious gift!!! My heart is so overwhelmed and I am so excited to be so close to this dream! Every hard day, every tear, every shot, every patch, every procedure, surgery, back pain, sleepless night, everything has led to this moment and we are finally here! Part of me just can't believe it but all of me wants to proclaim just how GREAT our God is!!! I can't get over this incredible plan that He had for us all along and how weak I was in my doubt and faith before.

God has definitely used this journey to stengthen me, my faith, Derek, our relationship, and our view on Christian family. We have been so blessed by so many during this journey who have encouraged us through prayer, meals, love, gifts, cards, and encouraging words. Our twins are the luckiest babies in the whole world because they are already loved by SO MANY of you our there. We knew they would be the most prayed for babies ever because they have been prayed for SO MANY times before they were even born!!! We ask that you continue to pray for us this next week as we anxiously await their arrival. We also ask that you join us in praying for our doctors and nurses...that God guide their hands and decisions as they care for me and our sweet babies. Please pray for my health and safety during the surgery and for a speedy and pain-free recovery!

I will keep y'all posted if anything changes between now and then...and let you know how our Tuesday doctor's appointment goes! In ONE WEEK we will be able to put faces to our sweet Tucker and Adelyn! Praise God!

"As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him." Psalm 18:30

Shower Recaps

Since I am officially done with my grad school classes, (YEA!!!) I figured I would try and recap my showers and post pictures. Sorry this is a month late...but I knew it was going to take awhile to add all the pictures. So my bed rest today is dedicated to adding pictures...fun!

Church Shower- January 27th

The ladies of Johnson Street threw me a FABULOUS shower on January 27th in the family center foyer after church. I had Derek bring me to the shower and told him to hang around a little bit to make sure I didn't need him. I wasn't feeling super great during this time, and now that I am on bed rest I can see that I was a little swollen. Plus it was unseasonably hot for January so I was SWEATING! I am SOOO glad I had Derek stay because I had to put him to work opening presents!!! We were OVERWHELMINGLY blessed by our church family and friends that there is NO WAY I could have opened all of those presents! We opened for a solid hour and 15 minutes straight...and even had two FABULOUS assistants (Jordan and Stella) helping us out! Those two were wonderful...bringing us presents and removing tissue paper for us...HA! It really cut down on my having to bend down which was NICE! I also had LaBecca writing down all of our presents for both me and Derek...which was quite entertaining!!! Between the three of us we had quite a few laughs!

Shower Hostesses: Tanis Price, LaBecca Buselli, Loann Baker, Jennifer Timm, Cyndy Ashlock, Leslie Ashlock, Maria Gonzales, Brenda Kearney, Elaine King, Shirley Johnson, Sue Sorrells, Patti Wyatt, Pat King, Karla Smith

The hostesses were wonderful! They decorated the tables with quilts and little boots and our maternity pictures from Jessica. They also got us our double stroller which we LOVE!!! We were so excited to get to play with the stroller once we got it home...ha!

Me and sweet Stella- who I nannied when she was a baby. Stella broke me AND Derek in on how to take care of a baby!

My AWESOME hostesses!!!

Me and mom...she is ALWAYS my number one fan and supporter!

Outfits from Mimi and Papa (Derek's parents)

My precious ring with my sweet babies' names!!!

Can't wait for these two to wear their boots!

One of my oldest friends...we have been through all stages of life together...SO glad to have her here this day!

Parents to be with the grandmas

My sweet sweet Jordan Girl- the sunshine of my life!

Adelyn's "Coming Home" outfit from her great-aunts

Sweet afghans from Margene- everyone in our family has their own afghan

This pretty much sums up the day...Derek and I opening presents, LaBecca trying to write down all of the things, Mom walking around talking to everyone

Daddy is proud of his future basketball stars

Derek let our assistants open a gift...while they were opening they were discussing sleeping arrangements for when they both move in with us to help with the twins...haha!

Anxious grandmas!

We are SO BLESSED!

Derek's family- Tucker and Adelyn will be the first grandkids for Mimi and Papa and Aunt Mitsy

Me and my girls! Wore my Mammaw's pearls so that she would know I was wishing she was there!

Couples Shower- February 2nd

My friends decided to throw us a couples shower at the church lake house on February 2nd. Kortney headed up the shower and did an awesome job on decorating and making yummy snacks. We had a great afternoon with some very sweet friends who blessed us so much! There were several games to play which ended up being quite hilarious! The hostesses even got Derek a "manly" diaper bag backpack so that he could be a cool dad and pampered me with a gift certificate to the Palladian for a massage, mani & pedi! It was a great day!

Shower Hostesses: Kortney Pritchard, Jessica Boling, Hope Alexander, Kristen Lyons, Talisha Johnson

LOVE LOVE LOVE this blue-eyed boy!

Eating snacks with Taylor and Vance

Brooke, Chris, Laura, and Earl

The Pritchards and Lolli (Laura)

The first game we played was a diaper changing competetion. Couples had to hold hands and use their outside hands to work together to change the babies diapers. There were three flights, and then the winners got to compete against each other. It was quite entertaining to watch "parents" vs. those with no kids.

Flight One- Taylor and Vance won!

Jordan thought this game was AWESOME!

Flight Two- Derek and I won! Jaxson was not too interested in changing diapers

That's teamwork right there!

Flight Three- Hope and Robbie were winners!

Championship Round

Derek and I WON! We are both just a tad competitive...haha...but we definitely worked hard on this one! I see lots of diaper changes in our future...so speed is NECESSARY!

Definitely their best side

The next game we played was a toilet paper measuring game. Couples had to guess how many toilet paper squares around my belly was. This was not quite as fun b/c everyone thought I was WAY bigger than I actually was...haha!

This is why I don't like Brady...he asked me if this was big enough to fit around me...

Only 12 squares thank you very much!!!

Kortney and Brian were right on the money with 12 squares and Grant and Hillary were next with 14. Brady and Lemire were last with 19...that's 28 inches bigger than I really was!!!

Present time!

Three of my favorite ladies ever! Kortney was checking to see if mom's baby had broken its water...another fun game we played. Each person got an ice cube with a baby in their drink and had to wait until the baby was free!

One of the funniest pictures...Derek and Kortney are not paying attention...Jordan and me are involved in the bibs...and Kyndall has her leg up on Derek for some reason...

Another classic moment...me hiding my eyes so Brian could get my present from the car...Me, Derek, and Kortney had lots of these moments working together for three years!

Me and the hostesses! Unfortunately TaLisha and Kristen were out of town. LOVE these girls!

Excited Parents To Be....can't wait for our sweet babies to be here!

 

Well I am super excited that I got all of these pictures on here! It has been an all-day affair trying to get things loaded. It was also really fun to go back and re-live our fun showers!

 

 

Be looking for a post tomorrow or Wednesday! Things may be moving along just a little sooner than we thought...our sonogram was re-scheduled for today and I am going to the doctor tomorrow. I will have more details soon! Love to you all!

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you," Colossians 1:3



No Change is a Good Thing

Good Saturday Morning!

Thought I would update everyone on yesterday's doctor's appointment...which won't take long because there was hardly any change...haha! Apparently bed rest is doing its job b/c I have not dilated any more or had any other labor signs this week. Which is GOOD! Dr. Sutliff basically said we are working now for every day that we can keep those babies INSIDE. So bed rest is working...which is nice to know b/c it is not the easiest to stay home for this mama!

35 Weeks...thankful to have made it this far!

Another WEIRD added bonus of bed rest is that I have been losing all of my water weight. I did not know that I was swelling all that much but apparently I was more swollen than I thought. In one week of bed rest, I've lost 8 and a half pounds!!! Craziness!!! Bedrest is pretty much the easiest diet I ever went on! I was really nervous at first because I kept seeing the scale go down and was worried that something was wrong...but my nurse assured me this happens a lot with bed rest when people get off their feet from working. Whatever the case...I'll take it! Less to lose after these twinkies come!

My bed rest "hidey hole" as I call it

Bedrest has been good for one more thing in my life...GRAD SCHOOL! I have submitted my last two papers for my LAST CLASS and am waiting to finish up a group project this weekend. By tomorrow, I should have everything turned in for this class!!! I am so excited to be DONE with this chapter of my life and also SO GLAD that I decided to go ahead and get my master's at this time. I wasn't quite sure how grad school was fitting into my plans, but God was faithful and opened the doors for me to pursue this dream and finish! As long as I pass these last assignments...I should be walking the stage in MAY with my two little babies cheering me on! I will still have an internship to complete this summer, but all of my coursework will be done. YEA!!!

So overall, things are going good! We are still on pins and needles daily, waiting for the day these sweet babies decide to come into this world! Waiting is SO HARD!!! On one hand, we are selfish and are SO READY to see their sweet faces! But on the other hand we want them to stay in and GROW as much as possible, so that we can hopefully take them straight home from the hospital. I wish I was one of those naturally patient people because waiting is SO HARD for me!!! Especially with all of this added time to lay around and think...haha!

 A fun comparison...6 weeks on the left and 35 weeks on the right

Please continue to partner with us in prayer! We are still waiting for my water to break...not knowing when that will be! We want these babies to stay in as long as possible so that they can be BIG and STRONG when they come out. If we make it to Wednesday, I have a big sonogram scheduled to check the babies' weights and measurements. Then, if we make it, another doctor appointment on Friday. Who knows what the week will bring!!! So far our guesses keep changing on the day they are coming so I just quit guessing...haha! We know God is in control...and His plans always FAR EXCEED our own! Thank you for loving us and our twins! We know you are all as excited as we are...things are getting SO CLOSE!!! We can't WAIT!!!!

"If it is a matter of strength, He is mighty!" Job 9:19

Bed Rest!

Hey guys! Just wanted to give a quick update on how things were going...

34 Weeks! (Last Wednesday)

 We had a doctor's appointment on Friday to check and see if anything was progressing after Monday's crazy appointment. Thankfully the medicine seemed to have calmed my contractions down because there was no significant change in my cervix. The babies were both doing good, and we were in and out super quickly from the doctor. 

Dr. Sutliff does want me resting much more now, trying to get these babies to stay a little bit longer INSIDE! So, last week he allowed me to go to school for a couple of days to get things ready, but nothing after Friday. Which means I am officially on BEDREST! Thankfully I am not confined to the bed ALL day...but I was instructed to lay down for 2-3 hours in the morning on my left side and 2-3 hours in the afternoon on my left side...which I started on Friday. I was always COMPLETELY against bedrest...telling everyone that I was going to work until my water broke...but I must admit that I am handling it MUCH better than expected!

After last week when things started changing so much...I realized that this is what I need to do to keep these twins in as long as possible! The longer they stay in...the bigger and healthier they should be! And my last couple of days at school were SO TIRING that I am thankful that my doctor is ordering rest! I am not the best at being still...but am doing good so far! I am currently propped in bed with a whole bunch of pillows and my laptop...not too shabby! It is also SO WONDERFUL that mom is retired because she has been SO HELPFUL during this time! She has been coming and helping get stuff ready, taking me to lunch, picking me up, and all sorts of other fun mother duties! I still think Derek should be assigned some type of bed rest but I don't see that happening....haha!

So what are we waiting for now??? Pretty much my water to break!!! Every night we go to sleep wondering if this is going to be it and then we wake up every morning wondering the same thing...ha! We are trying to go as long as possible...but also SO ANXIOUS to see these sweet babies' faces!!! I can't wait!!! We are pretty much ready at the house with clothes washed, bags packed, nursery ready, etc....just waiting for the big event! Right now its still looking like a c-section as long as Tucker's head stays up...but we will see for sure when we get in there!

We are still coveting your prayers daily during this time! We are anxious and excited and also have no clue what to expect!!! I still can't believe we will be bringing TWO BABIES home in the next few weeks!!! HOW AMAZING IS OUR GOD???? I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would give me a baby and how much MORE did He have in store for us!!! I can't wait to hold and snuggle my precious little Tucker and my sweet Adelyn girl!!! I can't wait!!! God is so good and His timing and plans FAR EXCEED our own! What a lesson I needed to learn in my life!!!

Please join us in praying for Tucker and Adelyn's health and growth this week! We are hoping they get big and strong during all this rest time! Also please pray with us for our doctors and nurses that will be taking care of us and making decisions about my health and the babies' health. Pray for Derek as he is about to have THREE of us to take care of instead of just me...haha! And please pray for us as we become parents...that God will grant us the wisdom to raise these children to know and love Him. We pray continually that God is being glorified through this process and we thank God daily for all of you who have partnered with us during this journey! We love you all!

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

A pill, a shot, and resting time...

Today we went to the doctor to check and see how things were after Friday's sonogram. We were obviously a little anxious & unsure...not quite knowing what they were going to tell us! As of today I am 33 weeks and 5 days...trying to hold on as LONG as possible! I also measured 43 cm of belly which would equal 43 weeks...haha like 3 weeks overdue for a single pregnancy! Dr. Sutliff checked me and went over the ultrasound with us...and then called us in to his office to discuss a plan of action...kinda like being called in to the principal...haha!

So here's the lastest...my body has definitely decided to start things rolling! We are currently dilated 1-2 cm and 60% effaced. Our doctor wanted to go ahead and be proactive with both the twins and the labor status, so he started me on some medicine. The medicine is to try and calm down my uterus and my contractions to hopefully delay labor as long as possible. As for the twins, I was sent to labor and delivery to get a steroid shot to help develop the babies' lungs. I will go back again tomorrow for a second shot that should go into effect within 24 hrs. So hopefully by Wednesday at 4 the babies' lungs will be in better shape in case we go in to labor. Dr. Sutliff also wants me laying down and resting as much as possible...which I will be discussing with my principal tomorrow.

SO...we apparently we are in the HOME stretch!!! Can anyone believe that its actually here??? I asked Dr. Sutliff how long he predicted until baby time and he said probably within the next two weeks!!! Thank goodness we got the nursery all ready to go this weekend!!!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of these two miracles...but also need your prayer more than ever at this time! We are praying for two big, healthy babies with developed lungs who are ready to function in this outside world! We would love nothing more than to be able to bring the twins straight home and not have to be in any kind of NICU environment. However, we are trusting that God is in control and that He will bring these babies at the perfect time into our family. We also are praying that God's hand is covering the hands of each doctor, nurse, and everyone else we will be working with during this process. We are still preparing for a c-section since Tucker's head is still up, but we are confident that the Lord will see us through this process!

I will try and keep everyone updated as much as possible these next few weeks! I should have a little more rest time which means more blogging time! Hopefully I can get those shower pictures posted ASAP! As always, we thank you for your partnership during this journey and CAN'T believe we are about to meet these precious babies!!! We are going to be parents!!! Praise the Lord!!! Love to you all!

"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5


What's a blog with no pictures??? Here's a little preview of the nursery...

Sweet cribs!

Dresser/changing station

Coming home outfits and cutie patootie hats

 

Bookshelf by Grumpy/ Curtains by Mimi

 

Can you read the scripture?

 

 

Quick Update

Hey Everyone! Thought I would give a quick update from Friday's sonogram to let you all know what's going on! I say quick because we will actually be going to the doctor tomorrow to find out more information...so I am planning on updating again tomorrow evening. Things are starting to get CRAZY!!!

So...Friday we had a big sonogram to check the babies' weights and sizes and make sure everything was going good. The twins looked great! Both of them were weighing in at 5 pounds 1 oz (give or take 12 oz) and were both measuring a week ahead in length (34 weeks 3 days). Derek is hoping already that they got some of Uncle Grant's height...haha! Adelyn had a heartbeat of 149 and Tucker's was 160...but as usual he was moving around WAY more than his sis! Adelyn's head is still head down, ready to go and Tucker is still up top with his head up. As long as his head stays up, we are looking at having a c-section...which will be safest for both babies and mama! Crazy to think we have 10 pounds of baby in there...plus all the fluids, and cords, and all that other good stuff! No wonder I'm so big...haha!

33 Weeks on Wednesday

We kinda had a feeling something was going on with our sonogram tech because she wanted us to wait in the lobby to call the doctor and see if our doctor wanted to see us. That had never happened before, so we figured something was going on with my cervix. The tech would never tell me my cervical length, which made us think something was different. Our doctor was out of town, so we went over to see our nurse after the sonogram. As I walked through the door, she immediately asked me if I was having contractions...which I responded "No...I mean I don't think so...I don't know.."! Haha! I have been having what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions where my stomach tightens up, but I haven't felt any pain and they aren't consistent at all. My nurse went on to tell me that my cervix has significantly shortened since the last sonogram so there was a little bit of concern. I was scheduled to see the doctor on Wednesday, but they moved up my appointment to Monday instead. I was also told to "significantly cool my jets" this weekend (haha) and rest.

Of course this made us all a little nervous!!! I did a super good job of resting on Friday evening but Saturday felt an extreme need to get all of the nursery done and the newborn clothes washed and bags packed and everything...haha! Mom came over and helped me with bedding, washing, folding, arranging...all of those little nesting things that made me feel a whole lot better in case the babies decide to come this week. It wasn't exactly "taking it easy" but it made me feel better...ha! And it was awesome to have mom come help with all of the fun nursery stuff! Derek was on daddy duty with building shelves and other "manly" jobs...haha!

Church this morning

So at this point we are waiting to see what the doctor says tomorrow. I'm sure he will check and see if I am dilating at all and where we need to go from here. There is also a possibility of getting some steriods to help the babies lungs develop in case they are really about to come. We are anxious, but also at peace because we know that God is in control...as He has been during this whole process! We ask for your prayers tonight and tomorrow for our doctors, nurses, and everyone else who will be caring for us and the twins. We also ask that you pray specifically that Tucker and Adelyn stay healthy and strong and continue to develop! We are praying that they do this growth inside as LONG as possible so that we can take these sweet babies home! Whatever the case may be, we know that GOD is in control...and who better to be in charge??? Love to you all!

"May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16


P.S...I am still hoping to post shower pictures and nursery pictures very soon. My internet at home is super slow but I haven't forgotten!!!