Bed Rest and Babies Update

Time seems to pass pretty slowly these days. Bed rest seems to stretch each day into what feels like a week. I'm now able to keep up with all the crazy paternity tests on Maury and of course I cry at least once each week day while watching Ellen. I've been reading quite a few books too. I just finished "It Sucked and Then I Cried" by Heather B. Armstrong. She's the creator of one of my favorite blogs (www.dooce.com). The book is all about her first pregnancy with her daughter and her battle with postpartum depression afterwards. I know it sounds a bit depressing, but her writing style is so unique and is also truly laugh out loud funny. While I don't always agree with her opinions on politics and religion, I recommend that everyone checks her out - its worth your time.
As far as baby updates, I've been seeing Dr. W weekly and all seems to be going much better now that I'm on "house arrest". She is optimistic that with my improvement over the past week and a half that we may be able to make it to full term for twins, which would be 37 weeks. We hit 33 weeks this past Friday. At my last appointment she began the scheduling process for my C-section for the last week in April. She asked if we had a preference on a birthday for the babies for that week. I couldn't think of a reason as to why one date would be better than the next, so I told her to pick the date and time. We'll find out the outcome at my appointment this coming Wednesday. I've updated the baby ticker on the blog to reflect a due date of April 27 until we get the actual date this week.
Our next ultrasound is on Monday, April 6. This will be to check the size and development of both babies. I'm anxious to find out their approximate weight and length. I can't imagine my belly growing any more than it already has. My contractions have increased a bit over the past week, so I anticipate some changes in my medication to come, too.
I would have never thought we'd make it to 33 weeks but we're excited about the possibility of making it to full term. Being able to avoid the NICU would be the best ever. At my last appointment I asked how long we could expect a NICU stay to last if the babies were born between 32 and 33 weeks and she estimated a 2-3 week visit at that point.
Everything else is coming along nicely. Casey has totally taken over all household duties and seems to be enjoying his new role. He should have the nursery complete with the rest of our furniture and baby items by the end of the coming week, too. Once all is done I'll have him take pictures for the blog. He's done a great job so far and his diaper shoot was VERY successful. Our diaper stash is quite impressive. The Yukon was so full of diapers when he came home that the smell of diapers was actually nauseating and you could smell it from outside the vehicle. It now makes sense as to why drug smugglers try and use diapers to throw of the drug sniffing dogs at border crossings!

Quick Updates

Where's Rica been? Rica and Casey have been busy! All was going well until my weekly appointment w/Dr. W this past Wednesday. She shut me down and placed me on bed rest until Hailey and Mason make their debut. I wasn't in complete agreement with her, however after how I've been feeling the past couple of days I know she was right. Here's whats been going on with Team Turner since our last posting:

• A week ago this past Thursday I had crazy abdominal pain and thought for sure my uterus was tearing apart. Dr. W sent me to Labor and Delivery. Turns out it was only gas - how embarrassing! Casey and I both got a much needed laugh about my diagnosis. A couple Gax-X Ultras later and we were back in business.
• I had another shower hosted at Casey's mom's house by my fabulous mother in law and Michelle. It was amazing and so great to see everyone and spend time visiting. Michelle and Evonne totally outdid themselves, as usual. Pictures will be posted when I start to feel a little better.
• The nursery was really coming along, my bed rest will be a pretty big bump in the road. Casey has already started putting together all of our fun shower stuff and organizing in my place. Once complete, pictures will be posted.
• Casey will make one last trip (hopefully) to Babies R Us and Target to grab the last of our "must have" items next week.
• Today marks 32 weeks gestation for the babies. Our next goal is 34 weeks. Dr. W thinks if I stay down and manage my blood pressure, contractions and gestational diabetes there's a chance we could make it to 37 weeks. Knowing that we could possibly avoid the NICU makes my current condition/state seem worth it.
• Casey's diaper shoot is tomorrow. I know he's excited about hanging out with all his buddies and adding to our diaper supply. He enjoyed stopping in at the end of my shower to load up all of our gifts and to seeing everyone.
• My Casey turned 33 this past Wednesday! I couldn't help but ask him how he thought he'd feel when he turned 35 and had two, 2 year olds? He just shook his head and laughed and said, "I can't even imagine how fun its gonna be!"
• Any ideas or tips to make bed rest more entertaining are more than welcome!

Casey and Hailey....6 Years From Now

I ran across this video on another blog and couldn't help but think that our little Hailey (who already has her daddy wrapped around her finger) will have Casey cheering in the yard, too!

Here are the much promised photos from my Hewitt shower (in no particular order):

Tiggs Looking to See if She Got Any Gifts

Shower Toys
More Shower Gifts

Our Diaper Collection

Pink Onesie

Tyring to Keep the MCTX Girls In Line

Ready to Cut the Cake

Clothes and Blankets from the Shower

Opening Our Scapbook from Wendy....Unbelievably Special!!!!

Realizing How Many Diaper Changes Are in Our Future

Kick in Crawl

Half Belly Shot

Checking Out Our Loot with Barb

Jenn (mom of twins) and Angie (step-mom of twins)

Opening More Gifts

Dad and Mom To Be

Congrats Rica and Casey

Trying to Figure Out How I Can Sneak a Piece of Cake Without Casey Noticing

Shower Snacks

My goal is to have the photos in order for my next posting....now if I can just figure how to do that with Blogger. Surely I can't be the only person that seems to post backwards?!?! Any tips out there, internet?

Where Does the Time Go?

The Team Turners Twin Countdown is now under 30 days. How does that happen? I can't believe March is underway and April is just around the corner. Within the month Hailey and Mason could very well be here...so crazy!
We've been busy with baby preparations, working and realizing we're in the last few weeks of just being a couple with two cats. Its really sinking in that our routine will be completely turned upside down, and for the better.
This past week I had my baby shower at work. I've been working at home for the past month or so and I drove in for the last half of the afternoon. The hostesses went above and beyond and made the entire event so much fun. Casey was there for the festivities, too and he had a great time. We have pics of the shower that will get loaded probably tomorrow along with some updated nursery photos. My next big shower will be this coming Saturday and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and visiting with old friends. One of Casey's friends is celebrating his bachelor party that same day so he'll hopefully have a chance to stop by and see everyone too. I think he was really surprised at what a good time he had at my work shower. Of course much of his good time and laughing can be attributed to Kia, Emmer, Lisa (Big Head), Gloria, Tametra, Morgan and Yolunda. Hands down some of the craziest women I've ever met. They always keep me laughing and I couldn't imagine working with out any of them. All of the shower items have been put away and are ready to use.
Today I spent most of the day in bed. I woke up not feeling well and it wasn't long after that the contractions started. They stayed at around 6-8 in an hour and after 2 hours of being uncomfortable, I called Dr. W. She told me take another one of my contraction pills, drink a big glass of water and lay on my left side to see if they would stop. If they didn't stop, she was going to meet at the hospital for another medication to be administered. Luckily, they stopped and I was able to just spend the rest of today in bed. Casey was in a training class all day for the fire department today so I was glad there wasn't any drama and he was able to remain in class. Dr. W said the contractions are due to carrying twins and the rapid expansion of my uterus. We had our normal appointment this past week and everything went well. We don't go back for another 2 weeks and that point we'll start the weekly Non-Stress Tests, too. Its all coming together and its still sinking in that we have hit the 30 weeks mark! Only 4-6 more weeks to go at the most. Can't wait to meet Mason Adam and Hailey Ann - oh the joy!!!