December 28th marks week 28!!!

No exciting pictures to post or any big news for that matter, except that we have gotten through one more week. Considering that the development of the twins increases greatly day to day and week to week, every Sunday is a huge milestone for us.

Stroller Derby!!!

In order to entertain ourselves this festive day Felix decided that he would test out Connie and Wendy's stroller steering abilities and told them they had to steer the double stroller all around the first floor as well as possible. Felix, being the competitve man that he is, then proceeded to race around the first floor as fast possible, to the great amusement of us all.

Also, check out Felix's festive cover for the wine bottle. Here's to hoping that everyone enjoyed the holiday!

A Semi-Witness Protection Program

It's almost like I am in the Witness Protection Program these days. Besides about three family members, no one sees me except the doctors. So people have been asking "Are you really big?" Because of this, I thought I would include of picture of myself on the blog to let people see how I am doing...don't get too used to it. I am almost 7 months (on Sunday). I feel good. The bedrest really seems to be helping. I have gained somewhere between 35-40 pounds. I have outgrown most of my maternity clothes with a few exceptions. The nice part is that I am not working, so I can lounge in yoga pants and tank tops everyday and don't have to worry about work clothes.

One crib up...one to go

Stage 1: This is (was) our office. It's the biggest bedroom in our house after our room. This was the beginning stages of clearing the room out in preparation for the nursery.

Stage 2: All cleared out and ready to go...

Stage 3: Crib in its box is too big too fit up the stairs...have to take it apart and bring it up in pieces....

Stage 4: All the pieces upstairs...

Stage 5: Starting to put it all together...

Stage 6: Almost there.....

Stage 7: All done!!! Felix did all this by himself since I am unable to help out in the preparation of the nursery these days. He deserves ALL the credit.

Now we just have to get the other one up!!! Always double the fun. :-)

Little things that make me happy these days...

This framed puzzle of Pooh was given to us by Felix's Aunt Ana Elia. It took her weeks to put together and then she framed it beautifully. It will make a wonderful addition to the nursery...

This water bottle is one of two new ones I purchased online the other day. Docs want me drinking plenty of fluids and its like I can't drink enough these days...I average 3-5 liters of water a day. The only problem is our Nalgene bottles spill when I drink out of them, and plus they are old and in need of replacing. These new ones have built in straws, hold a liter each and do not leak, even when full and you hold it upside down. Kinda of like a grown up sippy cup :-)

Good news from the doc and getting our gear ready

Went to Greenwich Hospital yesterday and the signs of labor are not progressing and in fact seem to be reversing. Such good news. The medication seems to be working and I am just to stay on bedrest until I go back on New Year's Eve...how different our New Year's plans are this year !

Above are the pics of our stroller...similar to the one on a previous post, but in blue. The pics show two different configurations of the seats-twins facing each other or both facing away. They can also be turned so that they are both facing the pusher of the stroller. This one (unlike the red one) can accomodate TWO infant car seats, but since we don't have those yet, Felix just assembled it with the regular seats that it comes with. This whole possibility of pre-term labor has really made us realize that we need to get with the program in terms of preparation for these two. Over last weekend, Felix finished the clearing out the office, which is now the nursery and soon the cribs will be up.

No news is good news...at least these days...

Well, I went back to the hospital today for a follow up. It seems as if all the medication is working, since the doctors saw no progression towards labor or contractions or anything like that. Who knew such an uneventful appointment could be so monumental!! So I was sent home, told to continue my meds and they will check back with me in a week. By then we should get a better reading of how big the babies are measuring...two weeks ago, they were just under 2 pounds each. Each Sunday marks another week in our crazy journey and this coming Sunday will be 26 weeks. The doctors say if we can make it to 32 weeks, that would be great. Here's to hoping the Sundays come quickly these days!!!

View from my window

Isn't it pretty? That's all I got to see of the snow this weekend. We went back to hospital on Friday and the doctors admitted me overnight. They did a test that came back positive, which indicated that there was a very slight chance that the babies could be born in the next two weeks. So they kept me overnight to administer medication and injections. The medication is to calm the "contraction-like " behavior they were seeing-whatever that means, but I am not feeling any contractions. The injections were to help speed up the lung development of the twins since that is what they are most worried about. They released me on Saturday and put me on restricted bed rest which means that I am to be in bed all day with the exception of going to the bathroom and a ten minute shower a day. It's a little nuts..but Felix has been amazing...I don't know what's harder...not being able to do anything for yourself, or having to wait on someone hand and foot all day and still get all the regular day to day stuff done. My mom and Felix's mom are also on duty during the work week when Felix is not around. However would I survive without all these great people in my life?

p.s. we finally got beautiful 3-D pics of our little girl, but since I am not at school, I don't have access to a scanner, so unfortunately we can't put them up..but she looks great!

Out of work for good

Well, I never thought this would happen so early. But the doctor has placed me on bedrest effective immediately. I went in for a routine ultrasound yesterday. The babies look good, measuring well, but apparently my cervix is shortening a little too quickly and if things continue to progress like this my chance for pre-term labor is extremely high. They monitored me for contractions, but as of now I am not having any, which is a very good sign.

This came as a total shock to Felix and I, but whatever is best for the babies is what we need to do. I am working with my colleagues at school to help finish out the semester. I also joined NetFlix and between that and work and the holidays , I think I should be busy until January.

So that's the scoop these days. I am going back to the doctor on Friday where they will check me out again, and maybe monitor for more contractions. But already, after one day of being off my feet, I really do feel a difference. No pressure, no pain. I guess I didn't realize just what a strain I was putting on my body every day at work.

Stayed tuned for more....

A Shout Out to My Students!

These are two of my precalculus students (whose names I cannot list due to school rules). They are currently enrolled in a child development class at my high school. They made these mobiles the other day and brought them to my office as a gift to me and the babies. Of course they are riddled with choking hazards and can't actually be used, but the thought was very sweet and so I thought they deserved a mention on the blog.

Belly Envy

So, I think Felix is envious of my ever growing belly. He has resorted to trying to stuff our huge exercise ball under his fleece to gain the same attention and preferential treatment that I do. Actually, this was just another humorous moment between the two of us this evening as Felix put together our new rocker/glider (thanks Rita!!!) It's so comfy, I think I actually prefer it to my bed these days.

Our boy is very photogenic

Felix and I (with BOTH our mothers!) made a trip to Greenwich Hospital yesterday for a routine ultrasound. We have them every three weeks for about two months more and then it will be every two weeks. It's great fun because we always get lots of pictures.

Yesterday our girl did not feel like cooperating at all and because of this we have no images of her-or rather we do, but they look less human and much more alien like.

Our son, however, was more than happy to pose for the camera, both in 2D an 3D. At one point, he actually had his hand extended and looked like a little wave -not really..but it was cute (doc didn't snap that one) Notice how the boy totally has Felix's nose!

Check out our gear!!

Check out our stroller! Well actually, the one we will get is blue, but basically the same. It's not too wide and the seats have all these configurations...babies facing you, babies facing front, babies facing each other, and the list goes on. It also holds two infant seats, which many double strollers do not. We spent the afternoon at Babies R Us and began the registry of items we think we will need. We only got through about 10%, but after two and a half hours, we were spent and wanted to come home. Got our cribs, they look great and once we get them all assembled and up in the nursery, there will definitely be pics.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to our Blog!!! Felix and I have been wanting to do this for some time and while we are sure these posts will become much more interesting and amusing once the two little ones arrive, we thought it might be fun to start it now and document the whole preparation process.

As almost all of you know, Felix and I found out this summer that we are expecting twins and just about two weeks ago we found out it was a boy and a girl. The pics included here are some (of many) that we have. The closeup that is not labeled is of the boy and the closeup labeled "Profile A" is of the girl. I also posted the last clear picture we had of them together. In this picture they are inverted (one head down, one breech), but they are both breech now-or at least they were last time we saw them!

So check back regularly...and you can be amused at our attempts to pick out all of the "equipment" we will need for these two little munchkins and we will be sure to document all the other aspects of this crazy ride! Enjoy!