Beautiful Babies Due in 2011 (Combined Group)

[Sdtryingagain]

Hey ladies! So 90% of my hospital bag is packed and I thought I'd share my list (I consolidated many different ones from the internet and also deleted all the things I know I didn't use last time)

DH bag: Cord blood kit, pillow, phone/charger, Ipad/charger, toiletry bag, change of clothes, camera/charger
Sibling bag: Change of clothes, leapster, Big brother shirt, snacks,small diaper bag, sipper cup
My In-Labor supplies: Insurance card, wallet, cellphone/charger, hairband, chapstick, mints, waterproof pad for car, mints, preregistration hospital papers and prenatal record
My Nursing supplies: My breast friend, breastfeeding iphone application downloaded, breastshield, lanolin, breast pads cloth and breast pads gel
My PostPartum supplies: Journal, Nursing PJ's (2 amiee's gowns- thanks Rio!), miracle cami (still in the mail) for skin to skin, Black bravado nursing tank/black yoga pants and wrap to go home in, toiletry bag and a little make-up (which included a little spurge on some travel size fancy hair products just to feel nice), travel hair dryer, flip flops, medicated/flushable witchhazel wipes, peri-pads icepacks x 5, 3 pair cheap black undies
New Baby Bag: coming home outfit, 2 side button newborn shirts, 2 hats, swaddle, cardstock to get his footprints for scrapbook, fuzzy blanket for cuddling, 3 thin receiving blankets for head support in car seat on drive home, car seat
Misc: gift for my midwife

I'm getting really excited!

[lou71]

SD-- LOL... You're getting excited and I'm getting terrified! Can I back out of the childbirth thing?

[blairwh58]

Lou- So exciting that you will be meeting Chloe very soon. Hopefully the pre-e stays under control and you can hold off until next week when everyone is in town. As for the contractions I think they can start up the Magnesium again but Im not sure how often they can put you on it. Ive also heard some people get put on Terbutalinebut who knows.

SD- You know youre getting close when the bags are packed and ready!!

Ryann- Dont worry about posting- I can only imagine how chaotic things have probably gotten since you went back to work. Im sure it will take a little time to settle into a routine and get used to everything.

AFM- 27 wks today- woo hooo. Had my glucose tolerance test this morning (at 5:30a which was a little early for a thumb prink, nasty drink, and blood draw- but oh well) and I passed yeaaaa. My doctor said I was on the edge- 129 and 130 is usually the cut-off...but that she wasnt worried about the babies getting too big so no worries. No 3 hr test for me!! Asked her if I should plan on being here the whole pregnancy and she said yea. Even though there may not be cervical changes with all the contractions she would just rather keep me here than send me home and me have to come right back. At this point i think its safer for the babies that I just stay here anyway so they can keep things monitored and under control.

[kjm1824]

Lou - Fingers crossed that you will make it till Monday - but keep an eye on those symptoms. You are in my thoughts and prayers that things stay the same till then. It is so exciting that you will meet Chloe soon. It is amazing!

Blair - Yea for 27 weeks. Keep those babies baking. Sorry about prolonged hospital stay but you have a great attitude and know that it is best for the babies. I hope they get the contractions under control again. I laughed when you were talking about all your cervical checks. I had exactly one before going into labor. That thursday morning was the first time they checked it. Maybe luckily because then my water broke and I went into labor. So I think I had the fewest checks of all. Hope the food situation is getting better. Do they know the size of your babies right now?

SD - sounds like you are ready to go. We were packing in the minutes after my water broke. It was on my list to pack the bags all that week that I went into labor - I just never believed I was going to go that soon so another task always took it's place. Way to be on top of things. Chapstick was a lifesaver. That was really the only thing I couldn't have done without (well and ice chips....)

Ryann - I can't imagine going back to work. I will be exhausted too. Right now I am up 1 to 1.5 hours a time with them at night each time they get up (about twice). I let DH sleep cause he is back to work. I hope those times go down before I go back. How long is it taking you with 2? Were you able to solely breastfeed them (before your mastitis) or did you have to bottle feed them some and pump like I do right now after breastfeeding? Mine are just not strong enough yet to breastfeed the whole time - too much work.

Kat - sounds like your nursery is coming along. I guess with a scheduled c-section it doesn't matter what position Lucas is in so that is good. Enjoy your shopping trip.

Margi - Way to hang in there. I noticed your ticker - you are getting close. But keep those babies baking - I know first hand that 34 weeks is much better than 33 weeks, and past 34 is even better. Sorry about the swelling, that must be miserable. I'm praying the procardia starts helping ease those contractions. You don't need another thing waking you up at night.

Rio - I hope you are doing well and Lizzy too. Is the incision finally healed? I just wanted to thank you again for the encouragement with breastfeeding. I absolutely love it (what little I can do). And being able to pump and help the little ones when they were in NICU gave me such ownership and joy. One nurse suggested I take a night off and get a good nights sleep before the babies come home. I just started crying, because the breast milk was my lifeline to them, the only thing I could do for them when they were in NICU. So I refused. I still can only breastfeed them twice a day and I still give them a bottle of expressed milk afterwards as they are too little and weak to do all nursing - too much work. But they are taking up to an ounce at a time now.

I know I missed several of you but you are in my thoughts and I am following along. Hope you are all doing well and having uneventful pregnancies.

AFM: Loving being home with the babies. OK, I have to brag - they are the best little babies. They are so patient and good. My mom and stepdad are here helping but most of the time the babies are sleeping. For the other moms that had premies - how long before they start waking up more? Mine have about one time a day that they will stay up for a little while after feeding, otherwise it is back to sleep. Also my nursery furniture finally came in so this weekend we will get the nursery set up - better late than never. My mom and I painted letters for their names and little animals to hang on the wall - they turned out so cute. I will post pics when the nursery is finished. Baby pics to follow.

[kjm1824]

Here are some pics. I hate that my super cute pictures are too large to attach and I don't know how to minimize them. But here I some I took on a different setting.

IMG_0971.JPG

IMG_0977.JPG

IMG_0984.JPG

[yingz]

OMG kjm I love the pictures. They are so adorable!!! I am so happy for you!

Ryann,
Thanks so much for your reply! I appreciate it! I don't know why but my pm stuck in the outbox and didn't go anywhere... So i will post it here.
My sister went to OB's office yesterday afternoon and the nurse prescribed Zofran. She only took one pill and she already felt a lot better. I am so happy. She still has the dizzy spell though. OB's office also drew her blood this afternoon and tested for anemia, one possible cause for dizziness. We will know the result today. I also told her to have her OB check her pulse and look into tarchycardia as well. That's a bunch!!!
I'm sooooo happy for you and your sister! Isn't it fun to have the kids grow together?

Lou, good luck today. I will be thinking of you.

Yingz

[blairwh58]

kjm- Those babies are too cute. They still look so little. I laughed when i saw the pic of them snuggling in the boppy because the other day my mom asked why i needed 2 boppys on my registry...so I laughed and said well mom we cant just stack them on top of each other. Guess when they are little we will be able to sit them together sometimes through, They are both very adorable little ones and i cant wait to see more pics. So glad to hear things are going well and they are doing great!! As for the food...the menu doesnt change each week so itll be the same stuff each week...not fun but I have some family willing to bring me meals if I get too sick of everything.

[HopeIsAllIHave]

SD - Wow, reading your list makes me nervous. I have not even started packing my bag yet, but maybe I should start soon. Maybe half those things, I don't even have yet. You're certainly ready for this baby!

Lou - So sorry to hear about the dilemma. I can certainly understand both sides of the story, but being in your position, I'd want my DH to be there for me during the last few days of pregnancy, too, especially when the light at the end of the tunnel is so near. I hope you get to wait till next week to meet your sweet Chloe so most of your family members and friends are present. Oh, I feel so envious of those who have family members nearby I soo miss my family in Cali! I did webcam with them for the first time since the move, last night, and it felt so great!

Blair - congrats on reaching 27 weeks! That's wonderful! I'm so glad they're keeping you at the hospital to keep you monitored. And yay for passing the GTT!!

KJM - your babies are just too beautiful! Love the pic of them snuggling together; too precious!

Ryann - I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to leave the twins at home to go to work, but I'm sure it'll get easier over time. Can't say the same about exhaustion though. Must be tough; I commend you for your courage! I don't know what kind of mess I'd be once I return to work after having Athena. I don't even want to think about it at this time, but I know it's inevitable.

AFM - had my midwife appt today. My fundal height measured at 35.5 weeks, so pretty much on target. Also had my first cervical check today, and the results? Well.. 30-40% effaced. No dilation yet. I guess that's good news, but I hope I won't stay preggo till week 42 or anything. Midwife recommended I try the natural remedies of softening the cervix by drinking red raspberry leaf tea and taking evening primrose oil. I'll have to do my own research on it before starting any of this, of course. She said it's not like it's a magic pill to induce contractions or anything; it may help bring on labor by 2-3 days. I guess that's something, especially as I get closer to the end. The baby did indeed drop last week, but still has some more room to drop even further. Had my GBS screening done today too, so hopefully that comes back negative. I'm down to weekly appointments now, so the end is slowly coming into sight. Bought a mini crib that was just delivered today to keep by my bedside so I'm looking forward to putting that together with the hubs either tonight or tomorrow. I'm just getting so antsy to meet my baby already!!

[lou71]

Blair- yes, they can try terbutaline. Also nifedipine (Procardia). Hope something helps!

Kjm- precious babies! What do they weigh now?

Ashley- get packing girl! You never know.

Afm- Induction is Tuesday! L&D is booked until then and I'm doing pretty well. DH and I had a long talk and he has come to realize he cannot leave me for any reason. Whew. His grandma is doing worse. She isn't breathing well. I'm 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated. OB called that "a good start".

[Sdtryingagain]

Lou- I'm so happy to hear that your conversation with DH went well and I think his rollercoaster of emotions is understandable given the feelings he is probably experiencing. I think guys get more nervous/overwhelmed just thinking about having a kiddo than we really understand. My mom has a funny story about my father trying to fix one of his windshield wipers in the parking lot on the way into the hospital when she was in labor....I think they freak out and do odd things that are really stress reactions more than true insensitivity.

Ryann- Going back to work is sooooo hard! Hang in there!!

Blair- So glad that those babies are staying put, but sorry you'll be hangin' in the hospital for so long. How are you feeling about that?

Hope-please don't let my list make you nervous, I've always been obsessive about planning/preparing when I'm feeling excited/nervous about anything in my life. It is the way I've always coped with change. Just through a chapstick in the car and you'll be just fine, there's nothing you can't live without. My packing and obsessively organizing my baby supplies is totally unnecessary--- just keeping me busy until this lil one arrives! I'm driving DH nuts and driving up the stock prices for target and amazon

KJM- those pics are adorable

Margi- I'm sure that you make those Shrek feet look gorgeous I ordered Jobst stocking for my last pregnancy-- they helped a bit, but it certainly wasn't a complete fix

Rio- How's that incision? I can't believe how long it's been to heal

Margi-

[rypell1985]

Lou...Congrats on having your date set! I'm so glad DH decided to be there no matter what. I already told my husband that I live too close to let you go through labor alone if it came that! But obviously your husband is the much better pick! I can't wait to "meet" Chloè!!!!!!

Kjm...I'm going off of memory from the questions you asked, so sorry if I don't cover them all I never actually breastfed because I got too scared when the NICU nurses told us how many calories babies burn when they are awake and working for anything, and I really didn't want them to lose any weight. I pumped for 4 weeks, but was only supplying about 50-60% of what they needed. Also, the twins are 10 weeks now and I'm STILL waiting for them to be awake between feedings. I get about an hour total each day. It's crazy! Your babies are adorable and I'm so glad they're doing well!!!

[lou71]

Update- DH's grandmother died this morning. He's not going to leave, even his dad told him to stay. But I thought that since the baby would be born on wednesday that his parents would be back in town by then, however, his mom is shooting for a wednesday funeral to give the out of state grandkids time to plan and get there. Ugh, whatev.

[anton]

*CRASHING*

Lou- I am sorry about your loss .......

...OMG!!! you are going to meet Chloe on Tuesday!!! that is fantastic! I am SOOOO excited for you!!! Be cool honey and everything will be OKEY!!! and dont forget to breath while you push!! I am going to stalk the board for your news! and again, I AM SUPER HAPPY FOR YOU! xoxoxo

anton

[lou71]

Ryann- you're waaay too sweet.

Anton- thank you sweetie! Xoxo

[margi26]

Kelley: Aw... they are adorable!!! thanks for sharing your sweeties!!

SD: My OB recommended those as well, thanks. Trying to decide if worth it so "late in the game" but probably a good idea to get some.

Lou: Sorry to hear about the loss, but so glad that DH made the "right" decision..and wow, Tuesday is so close! So excited for you to meet Chloe! Take it easy this weekend--your life is going to change forever next week!! hope all goes well...what time do you go in?