Baby Steps

Rach was here last week taking care of me. She drove 3 hours to Phx airport, then took a flight, managed to leave three little kiddos at home and brought Brinnie for a week! Pfhew.... and we played as much as a girl on bedrest can play! She taught me how to make a pillow or blanket for the twins. She says every mother should make their baby at least one thing for them to have forever! I have never even sewn a button on a shirt my friends, so I'm workng on it! Thank You Rach- why didn't we take pictures!! Lame

More good news......Guess who's slowly getting off bedrest!?! However, I am still predicted to bleed until mid September. I was so excited about not having a period during pregnancy. I've long discovered I'm one of the special folks who gets one everyday :) Don't be jealous you're not as special as me! Now, about less bedrest, I almost did a cartwheel when Dr. Judd said I can do light activity once every few days... So I went to put gas in my car and found myself having alot of fun doing it. Funny how the things I used to dread are the very things I can't wait to do. I have a new and very deep respect for the 'little things' I've taken for granted in this life. Who cares if my hair isn't long enough or my clothes are wrinkled I can get out and see what the world has to offer. Being in bed for four months helped me realize the small things that I overlook are actually huge blessings given to me for free. The other night I was able to feel the rain and I stood there until I was soaked!!!....laughing like a child- life is good!

~~ I shall have pictures soon ~~

Another Restless Night

It seemed to have started about 7:30pm. I was browsing around on my laptop here in bed when I felt blood suddenly spill out. I've been constantly bleeding now for months but this was the fast gushing kind, which hasn't happened since the night we had our huge scare in the hospital. I can't explain the emotional feeling that came at that exact moment, but I can tell you I was terrified to look down and see what color it was. I was praying it was dark brown as it has been lately; that's a good sign of healing. Although I knew it couldn't be by the amount I was losing. We've done this before and we knew the drill. On the way to the hospital, I was cramping and having some pain. Actually I was feeling that discomfort most of the day and called Gordon to make an ultrasound too. I'm telling you my heart always know when something is wrong. Last time I didn't cramp up while I bled and the combination of the two is about the worst feeling in the world. Yet I was surprisingly calm this time around.
The Doctor wanted to run all kinds of tests. First I needed to urinate in a cup to test for UTI and bacteria causing the hemorrhage. My sample was so concentrated with blood they couldn't get any results. So we resorted to using a catheter. They also gave me an IV with a needle large enough in case they needed to do a blood transfusion. After what seemed like forever, we
finally got an ultrasound and shockingly there they were! Our two babies with heartbeats and active as can be. One was punching the air and the other was swimming circles. We even got to find out the sex!!!! BUT we're not telling yet only because he wasn't 100% sure. Let's just say I was totally surprised!! The new hemorrhage is a pretty good size and only time can heal and answer questions.
It really blew my mind to see the minies happy as little clams. Each week that goes by, they get stronger and my confidence raises a bit higher. It's such a delicate process and emotional ride. Shane and I are home now and I'm back to stage 3 bedrest until it heals....approximately a few months they say. It's getting seriously difficult being in bed all day and night, it truly is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Then I have small moments when I picture my future or remember what fighters I have growing and I smile. A mom would do anything for her children and I'm already catching a glimpes of that. This, in the long run, is worth my battle.

Eco-friendly AND Organic for this growing family

I do hope you take the time to read. As you know, I've had all the time in the world these last months. So I've researched something that I believe has changed me...forever I hope.

My friend Lindsey sent me an email about plastic bags a few weeks ago. After watching the video, I was so disappointed in myself. Realization set in....I totally abuse plastic bags! Then I became upset because America is such an advanced country YET I don't understand why we're sooo behind AND so selfish. Over 200 species of animals suffocate to their death because of our ignorance. They mistake a plastic bag for food. We use 8 million pounds of plastic annually. The real reason landfills aren't overflowing with plastic is because most ends up in an oceanfill. San Fransisco has finally banned plastic bags. Good for them!

This morning, I recieved a "Pamper Me" package from Shane's mom overflowing with delicious lotions, candles and eye pillows and the coolest teacup (I love tea) I was most excited about.....THE ECO-FRIENDLY polyester ENVIROSAX. She does live in San Fran so I'm sure she's already on board! Its so cute! It's like she read my mind or something. I can't wait to get off bedrest and go shopping. Thank You Shelly! (I personally like the polyester bags better than cloth. Seems it would be easier to clean. http://www.envirosax.com/)


The other thing I've religiously studied is Organic Food. I believe what we put in our bodies and our childrens bodies is sooo important. Haven't you noticed little girls are fully developed at age 11 now? Haven't you nocticed our moms for the most part didn't have any problems getting pregnant? Now 'a days women left and right have infertility problems and several even struggle with keeping a pregnancy. I really believe it has to do with the environment and all the hormones we consume in our diet.

I'm certainly not a Doctor but have talked with many and had my mom grill the butcher at the Market....they say chicken is THE worst and contains the most hormones and are loaded with steriods. This is somewhat how it happens: chickens are born, pumped full of hormones then only 6 weeks, yes I said only 6 weeks later! they're fully developed and shipped off to fast foods and markets around the U.S. This is hardly nutritious food here, folks! (my mom and dad were on a Harley trip back East and up through Canada where they learned the longer version about what they put in chickens and trust me it's a story you don't want to hear) Meat experts say you want to look for "free range" meat, meaning no hormones. FYI: Costco's kirkland brand: skinless boneless chicken breasts are steriod free! I was certainly pleased to know that's my chicken, by choice, anyhow.

Berries are also the worst fruit we can possibley put in our bodies. They are like sponges soaking up all the pesticides....then we eat them! Seriously? GROSS! My cousin Carrie does hair for a big time; well known nutritionalist who said if you can't find organic berries buy the ones grown in the U.S.
Organic fruit is more expensive and doesn't last as long; due to its NATURAL FRESHNESS yum-yum.... but absolutely worth every penny spent.

So, my friends....take this message as you will. I only wanted to share a fraction of the things I've learned over the past few months. Hope you fill those polyester or clothes bags with lots of healthy goodness! XOXO

House Arrest Update

Oh, okay! Esther! I've had several people tell me I can't keep them waiting. I'm alive! I've been having the time of my life and living it up every night...NOT! I've been up to ...nothing. Haha. No really; nothing. I'm going on the 4 month of bedrest. (The past two have been stage 3- meaning only bathroom priveleges and some of the time I needed to use a bed pan.) I'm still bleeding alot, but I get to go downstairs a few times a day now and occasionally I get to sit outside. My hyperstimulation is still hanging around and my left ovary is still much too large. As of lately, my bleeding seems to be slowly healing but it relocated right behind both placentas; which isn't good. BUT I want to keep this post upbeat!!...I truly have sooo much to be thankful for!!!!!! (I only wish we could have made it to the big Pebble Beach trip over the fourth! You all owe me lots of blogging pictures)

I really wonder if anyone else has a family like I do. I'm sure everyone feels like they have worlds best...and they should!! Mine are UNREAL! My mom has visited about 5 times in the past 3 months. Every morning she asks what I want for breakfast and if I asked for pancakes or danishes flown in from France I really think she'd find a way to get them here. When I watched food network and saw something that looked good she'd be making her grocery list and within hours that dish was in front of me. Anyone who knows my mom will laugh when I say the produce manager and butcher at the grocery store have come to know my mom by name!
Keith and Charayye have gone the extra mile, Rachel is taking a turn to visit next week, and I can feel my dads sincere love and encouragement through each phone call!

Shane works his butt off, cleans the house, gets me things to eat all through the night, gets up to go to the bathroom with me, last night he set up a big picnic for us. His patience, understanding, and devotion makes me cry.

I will update more soon. PROMISE! I'd post pictures if I had recent ones. Just picture this: I look well over 6 months pregnant. I never thought I'd show this much in the early stages of the second trimester- I also never dreamed we'd get twins. Some of the tummy bulge is my hyperstimulation hanging around though. One major plus....only my family will appreciate...get this- I swear my feet are actually getting skinnier as my tummy grows. Hella cool, huh! It's great! The minies are moving like crazy and I have an ultrasound in two weeks to check on the bleeding AND to find out what sex these precious babies are....

What do you picture Shane and I having?-

...Girl-Girl/, Boy-Boy/, Girl-Boy??