37 and 38 Weeks

Tomorrow I will have made it to 38 weeks! I'm pretty impressed, since that's unusual for a twin pregnancy. All of those prayers paid off, thanks everyone! I also think it's funny since every time I saw a medical professional they predicted an imminent birth, from 33 weeks onward.

I've been pretty busy as we've waited these last days for the twins to come. My mom got here around 1:30 am Wednesday, and she treated me to a lovely pedicure on Friday. It felt great, but didn't get labor started. Friday night we were all sitting around watching tv when we heard a knock on the door. Who could be knocking at 10:30 pm, we asked? My brother! He came down and surprised us before he leaves for tech school. Saturday morning we went and walked around a baby expo at the mall, and in the afternoon we went down to the oceanfront to the Neptune Festival. I thought all the walking might start something, but no dice. Miah had to leave first thing Sunday morning, but it was so nice to get to see him one more time.

Sunday evening Daphne and Brian (my in-laws) arrived with Alie and Elvis, our 5 year old niece and 3 year old nephew. We've spent some fun times at the beach wearing the kids out! My mom took some cute end of pregnancy shots of me in the ocean.

Wednesday I had my last Dr. appointment. She was pretty incredulous that I was at my appointment and said she'd been watching the postpartum list to see if I'd had the babies. She went ahead and stripped my membranes but doubted it would do anything since I've been so dilated for so long, and she was right. We went ahead and scheduled what is technically an induction for 7 AM Friday morning. I say technically because I'll be booked in to the hospital ahead of time, but all they are going to do is break my water. I'm a stretchy 5 cm dilated, so that should start things. This hospital is really supportive of moving around and laboring naturally so I am hoping things will go well, even with all of the rules and restrictions that go along with having twins.

I'm trying to write a semi-coherent post about the last week of this pregnancy but in all honesty I'm so tired I can't even think straight. I'm still doing well and could probably hang in there and bake the babies a little longer, but I won't cover up that the last week has been really difficult. I've felt sick and nauseous for most of every day, and I barely sleep at night. Exhaustion definitely makes me more emotional, less patient, and stress is worse. In the last five days I've suddenly gained six pounds (the Dr. promised me it is water weight) and I've notice my ankles look a little puffy for the first time. Basically, I'm falling apart at the seams!

I will really miss my big belly though, for as hard as it is to haul around, and feeling the babies kick around and play. It's the most incredible thing! It's sweet the way the littles pat it and kiss the babies. Shane told me tonight that he can't wait to hold his babies, and he will be really careful with them. I can't wait for the kids to meet them tomorrow!