The Dreaded "BR" - and I don't mean Baton Rouge

Yup - the good ole BR.

Bed Rest.

Me.

Pooh.

Actually it could be worse - it's only modified bed rest which pretty much means that I am limited to movements around the house and it's not recommended I go on 2 or 3 hour shopping adventures. I'll still be able to work regularly for the most part as long as I keep my feet up and all that good stuff.

And thank goodness for credit cards, pay pal and the internet.

Still, I was pretty disappointed to have this happen at only 21 weeks. Kinda made me feel like a failure in some ways. But I am willing to do whatever.it.takes to keep these kiddos baking for as long as possible.

So today was a pretty bizarre day. I had my routine ultrasound and doctor's visit this morning and quite frankly, after a dozen of these, I was pretty much sure I would breeze through it, grab my bagel sandwich from my favorite deli, and then be heading home. Not so much.

Apparently, during the ultrasound, it looked like my cervix was softening or shortening or funneling or something equally not good. When my doctor checked me, I wasn't dilated or anything but it gave her enough concern to schedule a procedure this afternoon to put a stitch in my cervix.

I knew I was in trouble when she asked me when was the last time I ate or drank.

And then I immediately regretted that I only had one of my precious Thin Mint cookies after breakfast instead of the customary 3 or 4.

Anyway, they knocked me out at 5:30pm tonight and I was home thankfully in time to catch the majority of the Bachelor Tell-All and scarf down a huge sandwich and fries. Followed by a Sonic candy sundae. Oh, the important things in life, huh?

(It should be noted that the charge nurse warned me to only have a light meal tonight and nothing greasy or heavy since "your stomach is the last thing to wake up after general anesthesia". Ummm yeah. Pretty sure that little warning shouldn't be for a pregnant woman with twins who hasn't eaten since 6:30am. And I feel perfectly fine. And actually still kinda hungry. What's for breakfast?)

All went well and hopefully this will be the last little scare and these little guys can get comfy for the next 16 or 17 weeks. If that means 16 or 17 weeks of Bravo Housewife marathons and pajama pants, bring it on.

Indecisiveness

Gone is any decision making ability I previously possessed. For the last few weeks, I have noticed I am unable to have an opinion on almost everything. This is so unlike me. I have always been somewhat impulsive and once I decided to do something, it was full speed ahead - darn the consequences in some instances.

It's served us well in the past I guess - we bought our home here in Houston after just 7 hours of looking, never to look back. I picked out the tile, paint color, cabinet stain, crown molding, etc in just a matter of an hour or so. And I still like it.

When I go grocery shopping, I usually go with a list but I am never afraid to deviate if I see something that strikes my fancy. I just throw it in the cart and don't really think about it.

Now, I am almost paralyzed.

The grocery store has become a form of torture. I walk back and forth from aisle to meat counter back to aisle back to meat counter, just trying to decide what dinner's going to be. Yesterday, I did something I've never done... I was all set thinking we were going to have steak and potatoes upon entry to the grocery store. Well, I got to the meat counter and instead of steak, I opted for some stuffed chicken breasts.

After perusing the aisles a bit more and doing some serious thinking, I decided that stuffed chicken breasts were not going to be acceptable and I wanted steak instead. So I headed back for the meat counter and handed back my package of chicken breasts to the butcher and asked for 2 ribeyes instead. The bewildered butcher looked at me like no one had ever returned meat to the counter before - and all I could do was point to my belly, and say "that's not what they decided they preferred for dinner."

Lord.

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours with my hubby in Rice Village to go baby stuff shopping. He was determined to get me a diaper bag for some reason and I was super excited. I mean, how many times does the hubby actually say "I want to take you shopping and I want you to get whatever diaper bag you want." Well, he said that - but once he saw that some of the designer models were well over $200, he changed that tune pretty quickly. However, we went in and out of 6 or so pregnancy/maternity/baby stores in the area.

Guess what I didn't come home with?

A diaper bag. Or much else for that matter.

Couldn't make up my mind. At all. For a diaper bag. Geez. (And yes, I do realize how much life has changed that a diaper bag can trigger an afternoon of shopping. I used to shop for clothes. But I have since abandoned that pasttime and instead live in the same pair of black pant every.single.day.)

All we had to show for our little shopping extravaganza was a tiny little A&M infant cap for Ryan to wear home from the hospital (our currently no-named little girl will wear an LSU one for her momma) and "What to Expect in the First Year" (We have moved from pregnancy books into "first year" books since we realized that we have about zero idea about what we are in for in just a few short months).

Man, that always happens - cash in hand, willing husband --- nothing purchased.

I came home and surfed the internet for probably another 2 hours looking for a diaper bag. Pretty sad.

My mornings are spent with the refrigerator door wide open as I debate breakfast options. I used to just have the same thing every morning, turkey sandwich and cheetos (don't judge - I'm allergic to eggs so most breakfast options are closed to me!). Now, I jump between sandwiches, cereals, frozen waffles and god knows what else. Usually, I start pulling the stuff out on the counter to have whatever I have finally decided on, only to change my mind, put all the stuff back (sometimes after it's been made) and pull out something else.

Pretty sure I am losing it but the best breakfast to date was a small bowl of cereal, a waffle, bacon, and a half PB&J. All cause I couldn't make up my mind. That's where the pregnancy pounds come from - not from intentionally overeating, but because you can't make up your mind so you just go for it all.

Now I'm off to eat my grilled chicken salad with a side of french fries. Cause I couldn't decide what sounded better.

Pregnancy Randoms...

Oh, gosh - I have been so terrible about blogging lately. But actually I have an excuse - I have been 100%, completely exhausted at night. Some days it's all I can do to get through work and get dinner on the table (ie: call local Pizza place & arrange for delivery). Some women get lucky and feel just wonderful in their 2nd trimester - me, I get anemic. Severely.

I'm glad there is at least a reason I have no energy, but honestly it's the heart palpitations, shortness of breath and verge of passing out that's really bothering me.

Girls, eat lots of things with iron, that's all I can say. Chicken livers apparently is the highest in iron counts but I haven't yet reached that level of desperation. I'll take my 2 iron pills daily, thanks.

Ironically, the iron pills can only be absorbed when you have an empty stomach. Anyone else see a problem with this?

My stomach is NEVER empty. Even in the middle of the night thanks to 2am M&M and anything chocolate cravings.

Anyway, I am just trying to get through this whole anemic thing and pray that the iron pills kick in soon. I think the other main problem is that these children are determined to sit right on my artery behind my uterus so if I am sitting for too long, then it causes me to feel like I am going to pass out.

I think my friends at the bagel place were super impressed when I walked in, ordered my sandwich, and found the nearest bench to lay down on so I wouldn't pass out. Happened at the dog kennel, too. Awesome.

BUT besides all of this - I am more excited every day about these little ones. They are moving and somersaulting now which is the coolest & most peculiar feeling. I can't wait until Matt can actually feel them. I am almost 21 weeks so over halfway there. Really, I only have about 3 1/2 months assuming I make it to 38 weeks. Praise the Lord!

I guess we are doing pretty well on getting the baby stuff up and going -- Matt has painted the "nursery", we've ordered the furniture (yes, 2 cribs & how all that furniture is going to fit in the room will be an engineering and organizational nightmare. Wondering if we can stack them like bunk beds? ha), received the bedding, and starting registering.

For those who even remotely care, our bedding is from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child and is a combo of polka dots and stripes in a color called "Silver Sage". I adore it. I really was tempted to do one pink set and one blue set and have them in matching patterns but it brought up all sorts of vagueness - like what color do I paint the walls? So to avoid that little headache - and because I am lazy & tired (see above), we went with the same color. They will have their names above their crib in some form or fashion just as soon as I can convince my husband that paying $10 per wooden letter is not completely insane.

Ok, so it's kind of insane. But when I compare it to his offer to make the letters himself with some fancy tool and imagine the headache of that day --- well, I think it's pretty darn reasonable.

Registering was a whole other ball of fun - but I will say my hubby was pretty darn cool about the whole thing. He walked around with his insane pregnant wife for 2 hours in Babies R Us as I debated pros and cons of nipples on 15 different kinds of bottles and all things breastfeeding. Registering with an engineer is always an interesting experience - he tends to be so logical about these things and not evaluate the items by the really important things --- the color, the patterns, everything that is meaningful to me.

Something I have been really bad at is taking belly pics. I am finally really starting to show so I am going to be better about this. And next time I post a pic, it will have my face in it, I promise! It's just that Matt usually takes it late at night when he gets home and that kind of hair atrocity has no business being posted on the world wide web.

So here's a 20 week picture:

And today we hit another milestone -- I was at Subway and a girl in line actually asked me how far along I was! Whoo - hoo! That was the first time that someone actually noticed I was preggers OR was brave enough to ask.

My stomach grows every day - kind of amazing actually. Every night Matt gets home, his eyes go straight to my belly and they widen a little bit - like he's forgotten that I am pregnant and he's surprised everytime to see this little belly. ha. But it does make it very real for him now that it's completely noticeable and on the days I don't feel like cooking... well, I just point to the belly and no questions are asked when I speed dial Pepperonis.

Tonight, however -- I am cooking dinner! The miracle of all miracles. And then my kitchen is closed for the rest of the weekend.

In Him,