Gifts Galore!!

I have been very blessed with the people in my life - I have always had way more friends than family that actually cared - but recently I have have become more aware of who are my true friends!! These are the people who are my family.

My coworkers put a shower together for me - of course I was not able to attend because of being on bedrest restrictions from work. They sent me a wonderful card and a gift card - we were able to buy the car seats that we needed with it.

My Dork sisters sent me a surprise shower is a box - I got the cutest (large I may add) diaper bag that I am sure will house the necessities for the girls along with some very cute hand made goodies (booties, hats, baby book) and bibs, stuffed animals and a very generous gift card too. Plus you can not beat the beautiful array of cards that they sent me.

This will help us buy the rest of the stuff for the girls nursery - I am very exicted to get that stuff and get it set up for the girls!!

I am so thankful to know so many people that are so generous! I am very lucky to know so many great people! Thank you all - you have touched me deeply!

Quick Update:
The babies are doing well. Baby B is still breech - and her head is in my ribs - hence the breathing issues. They are too the point that its pretty hard to measure them. They are not going to be small babies. I am just about 4 cms dialated. She figures I will go into labor in the next week or so, but if I don't we are calling it done at 37 wks (around March 17th.) She says to stay positive and know that I will not be pregnant in 3 wks. She told me that I can stop taking the brethine at the end of this week since my body is pretty sensitive to it. I have only taken 1 today and I hope thats all I need. The contractions are not regular - but they feel stronger - so its a matter of time.

Thank you for all the prayers!

TAC Spring Special
Here are the up and coming TAC offers - aren't these little animals adorable!


www.theangelcompany.net

Here are some of the Limited Edition stamps that TAC has put out:

www.theangelcompany.net

Lastly, Here are the vintage stamps that are on speical for March:

www.theangelcompany.net

April's Stamp of the Month:

www.theangelcompany.net

We are almost to 34 weeks!!!

Since I really can not do too much because of being on bedrest the most I can do with this blog is keep you updated on how things are going.

Tueday is 34 wks which means I can deliver at my hospital here locally with slim chances that they would have to go to downtown Cleveland to Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital. This past Thursday I went to the doctor - she felt that I should be able to keep these little ones in until 36 wks. They are getting to the point of which it is too hard to keep decent ultrasound photos. They are both weighting about 5 lbs each. I was 3 cms dialated and 70% effaced. She told me that if I had more than 5-6 contractions to take the Brethine and if they continued through that to call her and I would get some steroid injections.

Friday even that is what happened so I was admitted for 24 hours so that I could get some steroids for the babies. At that point I was still 3 cm dialated and 80% effaced. So technically I have been diagnose with preterm labor. I was on the brethine around the clock from 4 pm to about 8 am the next morning. My heart rate sky rocketed and I had rapid breating rates - so they took me off the brethine as long as they contractions laid low.

They did until I got home last night. I took a brethine and then had about 6-8 contractions an hour. These were probably brought on from the steriods. I was able to take a tylenol pm to help sleep and was up every few hours for potty breaks. The babies have not been moving too much today and I have had a lot of pressure in my lower back. Baby A is in he canal and is face up. I am thinking that is where the most of my pain is coming from. The contractions have subsided to about 2-3 per hour - no real intensity in them. My goal is to get to the 48 hour mark of which the first dose of steriods were administered - that would be 8 pm tonight. Studies have showed that getting to this point will be the most benificial for the girls and anything longer than that would be better.

Madelyn left of a indoor water park this morning. She is hoping that I do not have the babies prior to her coming home tomorrow.

Grace is excited about the girls - but also seems a little 'set' aside about things. I think once they are here she will feel better.

Matt transfered our saltwater tank to our original freshwater tank and put the freshwater in the saltwater tank. Now that we have done that our clownfish have spawned a million eggs so it seems. If all goes well we should have baby nemos in about 5-6 days. Grace loves that we will have babies soon.

Well that is it for now - I will keep you all posted - and one day some stamping stuff should start grazing this blog again.

Another update:

I a now 32 wks 3 days pregant. I went to the doctor yesterday. The girls are both head down and are about 4.5 lbs each. They both are looking great. Our concerns are just gettng them to the point that their lungs are a-ok. The fetal fibronectin test came back negative which is good but I am on complete off my feet restriction for the next two weeks based on my exam in the office I am 2 cms dialated. I am still able to work so that is great since that doesn't require any standing or being on my feet.

My feet are very swollen - there isn't a whole lot that can be done about that either. I just keep them up as much as I can. I have bad chin splints too - and achy joints. I guess I didn't to fee any of this because I didn't with the other two girls.

The doctor told me I am as pregnant as a woman with a single child at 39 wks. So she knows how I feel.

We got the crib all set up, here is a photo of the crib:

And one of the girls - Baby A (Brooke) is the one on the top. She is facing up the photo is hard to tell - but she has her little mouth open. Baby B (Dakota) is on the bottom. she is on her side and is a little more photogetic.

I wanted to take some time give you guys a quick update.

I haven't had anytime to really stamp lately - I miss it, but I find that if I am in the studio I am up and down too much and that does not work while you are suppose to be on bedrest. I am very happy at this point to be on just general bedrest - and not completely restricted. I typically sit all day long and evening - I find that I am more comfortable sitting they laying down (except I get a numb butt). I get very sore sides from laying too long and it is too hard to roll over at this point. So, laying in my bed at night is laying enough at this point.

The braxton hicks contractions are still happening - but if I have 5 within an hour I can take a Brethine and that typically keeps them away for about 6 hours - or keeps them few and far in-between.

I am lucky enough to sill be able to work from home - so that really keeps the stresses down - no work = no money so hopefully I will be able to continue to work until they are here.

I see the doctor again on Thursday. The girls will get measured to make sure they are growing - the bigger they get the better!! Hopefully I have not dialated anymore. I a sure I will then go back again in another week to have this test repeated that will determined with decent accuracy as to wether or not I will go into labor within the following 2 wks. If that is the case - then I should make it to the 24th - at that point I should be off bed rest and can have the girls safely at that point. I am not sure if they are going to do any steriods for the girls lungs at this point - I am sure we will be discussing that more on Thursday.

Sunday was the babyshower / superbowl party. It went very well. My friends Lisa and Chrissy did a great job pulling it off! It is great to have such wonderful friends!

One goal of the shower was to get us on a great start with diapers:
This is what 1322 diapers and 972 wipes look like - and when I went through more stuff last night I found yet another pack of newborn diapers!
Click here to see photos from the shower!