Life w/ multiples...

Where in the world do I begin? As I read the previous blogs ....I am taken back to a simpler time. A time where meals were eaten...nights were for sleeping, & grocery shopping w/ the whole family was a normal weekly occurance. Now, meals are hurried & at times consumed w/ one hand in 5min, nights are for bottles & Cheslea lately reruns ( not talking wine or beer bottles either) & grocery shopping w/ the whole family is a true freak show. Would I change anything about my life right now? NO WAY!!! I am beyond thankful for my 3 beautiful, healthy children even though I am busier than I ever dreamed possible.

People are very interested in twins...I am seeing this everytime I leave the house & go in public. I always hear the comments that people think they are so original and funny...ie. " better you than me", " busy girl", " Are they identical?" & my favorite " are they twins?" ...My answers for the first few weeks were very polite and even flattered...now, I have come up w/ more " Suitable" answers for such questions. Example: Are they twins? usually just leads to a stare and a sarcastic smirk b/c really...could they only be 2 months apart and be mine? Overall, people have been very kind. Not only strangers but our family and friends. So much kindness that I don't know what we would have done without them. Both of our mothers have been exceptional w/ the help ....both in meals & babysitting they have been fantastic. I don't think we cooked for the first month and a half & words can't express what that did for us a new family of FIVE! I still some days are in shock to think " I have 3 kids...how did that happen?" unlike most people have 2nd child and have time to adapt to that...I went straight to 1-3. Now that it is all said and done I can't imagine our family w/ out Charlie & Sylvia. They really are so magical & we are beyond blessed.

Thanks again to all of our family & friends that have helped us....we seriously couldn't have done it without you guys...Much love from our growing family!!! xoxox

p.s. This post would have been longer but Sylvia is ready for her night bottle & snuggle. Who can say no to that?

" But your so close"

I am coming to the end of week 34 of this very LONG twin pregnancy. I still have a discordance between the two babies of about 23%. Our little boy is bigger by exactly a pound...but our little girl is still a good size. They took me off 'Strict' bed rest & am now on moderate bed rest...which is a good thing considering how uncomfortable the end is turning out to be. I have been getting so much help with Lizzie during the day from family which as been amazing. I don't know what we would do without all this help. I am able to keep her now that they gave me more freedom w/ the bed rest but I can't do anything really 'fun' with her. I look forward to recovery so her and I can have some fun outings together again. Lizzie has been handling things really well and I don't think she has thought anything of it. She knows I have babies in my belly & because of that I am unable to lift her. Lets see if she is as understanding after the babies are home with us. I titled this post " but your so close" b/c I hear that 100 times a day & it just doesn't seem true. I do know I am close but it is getting really tough. I have tried to keep a good sense of humor about it but I am getting so 'DONE' w/ this. I have a lot of baby in my belly which causes me to have trouble sleeping, eating, walking, breathing, sitting,....you get the picture. I need to remind myself that it is in fact almost go time & to just try to enjoy all this rest I am getting. I don't have many pics...(avoiding those these days) but have some of Lizzie enjoying summer. We were able to enjoy a lovely dinner one night followed by a carriage ride...she thought she was a princess & it was so cute to watch her so excited.

a bump in the road....

I went to my 30 week ultrasound & got some not so great news. Baby A & Baby B are both looking really good & I have been doing well also. Problem is the difference between the two babies is 20% which they consider borderline dangerous. Right now baby girl is in the 40th & our big baby boy is in the 65% . They sent me directly to the hospital to meet w/ a Perintologist. That is where they did another ultrasound, Non stress test, Doppler...Also got steroid shots as a precaution just in case I have to deliver early. They put me on strict bed rest which has been hard. Mainly because I have so much to do to get ready for two little ones & a 2.5 yr. at home. I got really lucky & my first week my mom was off so she was able to help a lot. I am now going to the doctor every week for heavy monitoring & to continue to check the growth of the babies. Thanks to all of friends & family for support, phone calls, meals, visits, & prayers. Esp. would like to thank all who are helping w/ Lizzie. She has been having a great week spending time w/ Grandma & will love all the time w/ her cousins this summer. ( even though I miss our days together so MUCH...I know it is for the best) Also thanks to my friends esp. Valerie & Lisa for throwing a great " Sprinkle" for us...even though I was sitting in a chair all night, it was so nice to see our friends supporting us. We got a LOT of much needed items. Will keep everyone posted.

Mother's day & 29 week twin update

Big belly!!

Another great Mother's day this year...even the weather turned out great. This year we were able to go see Grandma Wagner on Saturday night. Lizzie got to drive her car and have fun w/ uncle Sean & Rachel. Andy took Lizzie to see Grandma Ruwe for breakfast which she loved. Even though I had to work on Sunday for a few hours ...I was able to come home and get a nap w/ Lizzie which was great. When we woke up...the sun was out & we were ready to play. Got to spend Mother's day night just hanging out at home which was PERFECT.

29 week Twin update: I am in the final STRETCH of pregnancy & it is going so fast. We still have to decorate a nursery but hopefully that will be very soon. I am ready to get everything organized and together so I can spend a few weeks relaxing before the babies come. So far everything w/ them is looking really good. I can NOT complain. I am having more aches and pains but nothing that is alarming in anyway. As much as I am going to love meeting our little boy & girl...and not being pregnant. I am going to miss feeling them have wrestling matches in my giant belly. I will post some pics of my growing twin belly....It is hard to believe it is going to get a LOT bigger. I feel like I am going to POP!

Spring & 25wk update

Time is FLYING by so fast...I can't seem to get it to slow down! I have been trying to do so many fun things with Elizabeth throughout this pregnancy. I have been enjoying all of the things that we like to do together before she has to share her time. We had a blast in Disney & the fun just continues. I know she will always have fun & maybe even MORE fun once the babies are born.

Speaking of babies...They are doing great! They have an estimated weight of 2lb a piece at this point! That is the same as a singleton baby at 25 weeks which is VERY good news. I am measuring about the size of mom carrying one at 31 weeks! Needless to say, I am feeling large these days but I know I still have a lot of growing to do. Twin pregnancy is very hard and much different that carrying one baby. Despite it's challenges, I have been doing very well considering & am so thankful for that. My goal is to carry these 2 babies to 38 weeks and bring them home with us. So far so good!

here are some pics. of Elizabeth getting ready for Easter & enjoying Spring. I need to take a new 'belly' pic but this is all I have for now. I have it hiding under an apron to avoid dye getting all over my white shirt.

I have seen this before????

Lizzie 6 weeks old

...and again w/ daddy 2.5 years

I was taking this picture today & thought to myself " I have seen this before!" Not much has changed in 2 1/2 years!!

17wk twin bump pic

about 15 weeks pregnant w/ Elizabeth

17 weeks pregnant w/ twins

Here is a picture of my growing bump. I found the pic from about 15 weeks and the difference is obvious. This is also my second my pregnancy so my body is very comfortable with stretching.