Random Pregnancy Stuff

I had some random thoughts going through my head that I figured I better write down so I don't forget. Here goes:

What's it like with two? That's the question I get asked ALL THE TIME! I guess it's like one, but more crowded and more movement. Emphasis on the more crowded. :) And, when one of the boys starts moving around, it seems the other has to. I love watching my belly jumpy around. Although, last nite, I swear I had a little fist sticking about half an inch out of my belly. It was kind of creepy.

Water, Water, Water: This pregnancy I can't seem to get enough of it. I drink about 90-120 ounces of water PER DAY. Seriously, it's insane! With Jenna and Brody I drank water, but not to this extreme. With Jenna and Brody I craved pop, so I would settle for a 7UP/Sprite or Root Beer. Not so much with the twins. I hardly ever have pop and when I do it tastes too sugary. The other day Aaron bought an orange pop for us to share and the boys were nuts afterwards! I really thought they were going to bust out of my belly. :)

Sleep: It's been a rough go of things the last few weeks. I can't sleep all night in bed because it's uncomfortable. I usually start the night in the chair and sleep there for 3-4 hours before heading up to bed. It's just better on my back, which has started to hurt recently. Aaron has been sympathetic to my sleeping woes and says that mother nature must be getting us ready for the babies because he is up almost as much as I am.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll have more I want to write later...

Date Night

Saturday nite a couple of friends of ours were nice enough to volunteer to watch the kids for us so we could have one last nite out before the babies get here.

We are so un-exciting. We went to Legends, watched basketball and had supper. The thing is, it was really nice! No interruptions just us. Ahhhhh....

After that we shopped for a few last minute baby things and found they had some good deals going on. For example, we got the twins two winter coats and hats for a total of $12!!! I was pretty excited about that. :)

Our last nite out for awhile. Now we just sit and wait for the arrival of our new babies...

34 Week Appointment

We had our 34 week check-up yesterday. It feels to me like things keep constantly changing with this pregnancy and it's kind of exhausting.

We started our appointment yesterday with a growth ultrasound. I got so nervous because the gal doing it kept flipping back and forth between the babies and then stopped and said she had to check her report. I was so scared, but she came back and showed us Baby A's kidneys. One of them has almost no fluid around it. She was excited for us and we were excited. They are estimating Baby A to be about 5 lbs. 11 oz. (although he could be bigger, but his head is so low she had a hard time getting an accurate measurement) and Baby B about 5 lbs. 13 oz. She also did a four part test on each of them and they each scored 8 out of 8. I can't remember all the components, but that's another plus.

I was on the monitor for awhile and the heartbeats looked great and I didn't have any contractions. The doctor was at the hospital, so we purposely stayed so we could get his take on the kidney thing (it was the doctor we liked). He came and said he hopes it's a positive on the kidney front, but we'll have to wait and see. We understood that, but it's been such a hard road we like to think optimistically when we can.

Dr. Wang also talked about delivery. And the fact that he thinks we'll go ahead with a vaginal delivery. I was like, WHAT?! The other doctor said (and I explained) and he said with me having such big babies before he doesn't see a problem with a vaginal delivery. Soooo....that threw us for a loop! Dr. Wang would like to see us make it to 37 weeks (April 8th-ish) and if I haven't gone on my own, we will be induced.

Personally, I think if I make it to the end of March, that would be a miracle! I will head back down next Friday for another appointment.

Wacky Wednesday

To celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday, West Marshall had a week of special activities and events planned. One day they got to wear their pajamas to school and on Wednesday, they got to dress wacky! It was a lot of fun for Jenna and the kids. Here is my wacky girl:

**Have you ever seen a bigger poser in your life?** :)

33 weeks

Ok, I actually meant to post this LAST Friday, but, I'm slow! I'm 33 weeks and will be 34 weeks on Friday!! As you can see, I'm getting BIG. I feel like I'm expanding outward, but also getting really wide, which makes sense since there's two babies in there. I'm having a problem finding shirts to fit over the bottom of my belly!!!

I'm feeling ok. I'm not going to lie and say I feel super, because I don't. However, I've made it to almost 34 weeks and I'm still working and walking around and not on bedrest, which I think is wonderful (knock on wood!).

The boys are getting big! I can tell by the way they move around and the hard body parts I can feel. We head back down tomorrow (Thursday) for some time on the monitor to watch the heartbeats and contractions, another growth ultrasound and to set-up a time for the C-section.

The doctor would like me to make it to 37 weeks, which would be April 8th. I don't know if the boys are going to stay put, but we'll give it our best go. I will do anything I can to keep them growing and developing in there. It's kind of weird to actually set up a date for the C-section because it makes everything seem so real!

I will update you all again after our appointment tomorrow.

The Way I see it...

The Not Knowing

I don’t think I’ve every felt more conflicted by my emotions than I am at this particular time in my life. I realize that’s probably a normal thing, giving everything my family and I are going through, but it’s kind of mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Do you ever have the problem when you can’t make your brain just stop? The thoughts keep popping in and out, in and out. They distract me during the day and when I try to sleep at night.

The thing is, as unorganized as I sometimes am; I really am a planner at heart. I like to know by the middle of the week what I’m doing on the weekends. If I’m meeting family, I like to know when everybody’s going to be there and what the plans are. I can’t help it, it’s just how I am.

This whole pregnancy is the exact opposite of what my personality is generally like. I can’t plan anything. I don’t know that I’m going to make it full-term with these babies (38 weeks). I don’t know if Baby A is going to be ok, even though I constantly think happy, positive thoughts and pray for the best. I don’t know how long one or both of them may have to stay in the hospital. I don’t know how long I’m going to take to recover.

Then there’s all those feelings about this being the last time I’m going to be pregnant and the last time I get kicked in the ribs by the little stinkers or get to watch my belly look like it’s full of jumping beans as it moves around in a crazy manner. As of my last appointment, they want me to make it to 37 weeks (April 8th or so). I will be 34 weeks this Friday and 37 weeks feels like a long way away at this point. I know, it’s not really in the scheme of things, but it feels that way. I know I need to keep these babies in there as long as I can so they can continue to grow and develop. At the same time, I’m ready to meet the little guys. So, I’m anxious and yet sad that it’s almost over all at the same time.

Do I tend to over think things? Um…yes! Like I said, it’s just my nature. I know what’s going to happen is going to happen and I just need to take a deep breath and actually remember that once in a while.

Things are going well at home though. I actually think we’re sort of, kind of ready. As we have with our past two kiddos, I’m sure we’ll think of about 52 things we’ll need while at the hospital, but that’s probably normal (or normal for us).

At work, things are coming along slowly but surely. Chris and I are working on some stories for when I’m gone that we think you’ll enjoy about a wide range of topics.

I have three quotes that I’ve used as my thoughts of the week that keep my going. The first: “A strong positive attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” The second, “Hope costs nothing.” And finally, “When nothing is sure, anything is possible.” But that’s just the way I see it.

Burdorf Birthday Weekend

A week ago we had family down to celebrate the kids' 5th and 3rd birthdays. Compared to years past, it was pretty low-key and a very low-stress affair, which, considering my current condition I was happy about.

Almost everybody was able to make it, which was great! It's always fun to get everybody together to catch-up and I think all the kids love to play with their cousins too.

My mom and dad were such a big help this year! They brought all the food for the day and all I had to worry about was the cake and ice cream. Ahhhh...it was great!

The kids, like always, made out like bandits in the gift area. They are set for spring and summer clothes.

Cake time! We had a State Center gal do the cakes (she is just starting out as a part-time job) and she did AWESOME! The cakes looked great and tasted even better. Brody's was a fire truck or "woo-woo" as he likes to call it.

Jenna's cheeseball smile, along with her "Tangled" cake. I loved how she made the writing look like her hair!

My dad decided to bring the materials to build a sandbox for the kids. I can't wait for warmer weather so they can use it.

A random shot of the Burdorf Boys!

A big thanks to everyone who made it down and made it a memorable time for Jenna and Brody! It meant a lot to have you all here!

The Way I see it...

Music

As I sat enjoying the West Marshall concert they had with the ISU Wind Ensemble, I started to really look at the kids in the band program. I looked at how many kids played both athletics and were also in the band. Do you know how many do both? Not nearly enough.

I was lucky growing up in a school where music was a big deal and you were actually in the minority if you weren’t in the band or choir. Am I slightly bias because my dad was a choir teacher for 25 years? Yes, and I openly admit that. However, my parents always encouraged us to be well-rounded individuals and so that’s how my siblings and I grew up. We were involved in sports, music and drama, along with a variety of other extra-curricular groups at school. I have never ever regretted being actively involved in so many different things.

I know there can be a certain stigma and dividing line drawn between athletes and musicians. Do any of you watch the show, “Glee?” I just started to this season and I’m kind of addicted. Anyway, on the show, despite the fact that there are a couple of football players and cheerleaders in the Glee club, the group as a whole is treated pretty badly by the rest of the athletes at the school. I’m afraid it’s a little true to life and I find that extremely sad.

Not every person is going to be able to dribble a basketball. Not every person can sing on key. But, I’m willing to bet there’s a lot more musical talent out there than what’s actually participating.

The great thing about band or choir is that it’s a lot more like athletics than you think it is, judging by the life lessons it can teach you. Hard work, discipline, success, failure, teamwork and perseverence, just to name a few. They are both “teams”, in essence, going out there with a “play” that needs to be run to do well. This can be a hook-and-ladder in football or a piece of music played by the band.

I know for a lot of students who read this, it may be too late to learn to play an instrument, but I hope for the youngsters or maybe their parents, they encourage their child/children to get involved and broaden their horizons when it comes to extra-curriculars. How do you know what you’re going to like, unless you give it a try? Just something to think about, but that’s just the way I see it.

More quotes from the kiddos

Two more stories I had to type up before I forgot:

1. The other morning I was running late for work and I told Brody 15 minutes prior to leaving to put his coat and hat on so we could get going. 15 minutes passed and Brody, of course, wasn't dressed and ready to go.

I was not happy and I said, "Brody why don't you have your coat on and why aren't you ready to go?"

Brody replies, "Uh...I don't know...'cause I was jacking around."

OMG! I could have died laughing! I have no idea where he could have heard that from... :) Guess I better watch the mommy mouth around the kid.

2. The other nite at supper the kids did their prayers. Brody always goes first - short, sweet and to the point - and Jenna second.

Jenna's prayer went like this:

"God is great. God is good and we thank him for this food. And God...please watch over Grandma Beadle because I sure do miss her a lot."

Do you think I wanted to cry my eyes out? I did! What a sweet thing to say.

Big Weekend!

We're very excited at the Burdorf House right now! It's March, which is officially birthday month. Due to the fact that I really wanted to be able to celebrate the kids' birthday BEFORE the babies get here, we're having it this weekend. Lots of family is headed our way on Friday/Saturday and we can't wait. It will be a low-key, low-stress time and we can't wait to see everybody!!

Crappy News

After our last appointment with Dr. Negativity, Aaron and I agreed I should call down and try to arrange my appointments around my regular doctor's schedule, as to avoid the doctor we don't like. So, I called the other day and was told that our regular doctor is going on vacation. Out of the country. And won't be back until March 28th!!! OMG!!!

Talk about news I didn't want to hear. I was devastated, to say the least and pretty much had a breakdown of tears, tears and more tears. The problem is that they're the only two at the perinatal center, so we don't really have a choice.

That means I have to keep these babies in here until March 29th. I have to! Never mind the fact that I've started to have contractions every now and again the past couple of weeks....

Where's Daddy?

Last Saturday night I had to cover the Colo-NESCO and West Marshall basketball games at the Round House in Marshalltown. For the WM game, Aaron once again did his radio gig as the color guy. Where he sat was way up high pretty much in the rafters. Brody kept trying to see him and Greg snapped this picture of him looking for Aaron. I love it! So curious with his hands in his pockets. :)