Toddler Beds, Scares & Pregnancy

First up, Benjamin & Ella update.

We put together (or really, Jon put together) the toddler beds on Sunday night. They REALLY enjoyed playing on them that first night especially when Jon was worried that they would fall out of their beds and onto the floor and he put a futon on the floor between the beds. Yep, as one should have expected from toddlers, they were jumping off their beds and onto the futon or diving onto the futon. So the futon went away and they did stay in their beds all night long. The first morning, Benjamin woke up and was just sitting on his bed (this is what Jon tells me as I'm not there when they get up). This morning, they were out of their beds and waiting by the door - I wonder how soon they will figure out how to open that door.

While Jon was putting together the toddler beds, Benjamin and Ella were sitting on the dining room chairs (yep, they know how to climb onto those chairs) and playing with things on the table. Thinking that a childproof cap is exactly that, I didn't have a problem with Benjamin playing with the vitamin containers. Ella was enjoying some cereal out of a plastic bag we brought with us earlier that morning to church. Well, I was in the kitchen doing some dishes (I could still see both of them), but you know anything can happen in a split second with children. I turned to see what they were doing and noticed Benjamin had opened one of the vitamin containers. I FREAKED thinking he was playing with my iron pills. It turns out he was playing with Vitamin C and only one was missing (which Jon might have taken). However, until we knew it was Vitamin C, I was really freaking out and Benjamin was crying really hard because I was yelling at him and Jon was trying to see if he had any in his mouth. All of this happened in just a few seconds. Needless to say, I've put the vitamin containers into the kitchen out of arm's reach. Jon was talking to his brother at the time, and so I called him back to let him know all was o.k. Thank God all was o.k. I tried to tell Benjamin I wasn't mad at him, I was just scared because I loved him so much and didn't want anything bad to happen to him. I don't think at 19 months they quite get that.

And now to the pregnancy update:

This baby is super active. I play the guessing game of "what body part is that poking on the side of my belly?" I'm pretty sure that the baby is not in the same position it was last Friday when I saw my OB last.

During the day yesterday (and a little bit on prior days), my thigh has been spasming (is that a word?) and it would hurt to walk, but thankfully, it wasn't happening all too often. But when I got home yesterday, it seemed to kick into high gear and I felt A LOT of pressure down below to go along with it. I wasn't sure what was going on, but it turns out sitting down really helped. Of course, sitting down when children want dinner or a number of other things isn't easy. Thankfully, Jon came home shortly after we got home.

Then this morning, as I was eating my breakfast, my whole belly and back HURT. It stayed like that for a good 10 minutes. I'm not sure if that was a contraction or what - it certainly seemed like one - but whatever it was, it really hurt. Thankfully, I haven't had another one since except for the usual belly tightening every so often. Since then, what I've felt more is the baby moving all around and body parts being pushed out. I'm starting to think this baby is going to be an active baby much like Ella was. Benjamin was a lot more easy going.

That's about it for now.

Week 34 update - Pregnancy

I got the results of the first glucose test that I was 1 point above the line, so I had to go do the 3 hour testing. I did that last Friday and am happy to report that I don't have gestational diabetes this time. Hooray!

I went to my OB appointment this morning and I am measuring right at 34 weeks and because of that, she doesn't feel the need to do an ultrasound (last time, the baby must have been in a different position to make me measure bigger). This baby will not have a lot of in utero pics unfortunately. The baby is still up high and its head is down. His/her back is on my left hand side so that's why I tend to feel more movement on my right hand side.

She didn't do a FFN this time as she doesn't think it is necessary this point in the pregnancy, but since the baby's head is up high, she doesn't feel like it is going to come soon. After she checked my cervix and was listening to the heartbeat, the baby started moving around a lot. One particular kick or punch rather hurt. My OB mentioned that this baby moves around a lot each time we come.

I mentioned that my heartburn continues to my OB and she gave me a prescription for it. I also was told that my iron levels are low, so I'm taking an iron supplement which makes the need for the "poopy powder" as Jon likes to call it more necessary.

Next appointment in 2 weeks on 02/06.

And now to embarrass myself...

The other night, I had a bit of a scare. It's actually funny now and quite embarrassing, but I'm going to share anyway. So I was taking a shower and as I was getting out, I noticed that the water was pink/reddish. I was bleeding. I FREAKED! I thought maybe I lost my mucous plug or something...but I checked and there was no blood coming from down there. I called Jon in for assistance. I couldn't find the source of the blood - maybe I just bled a little so I maybe I should be checked out. After a while, we found out the source of the blood. I had a scratch or owie on my butt that was bleeding. I must have scratched it while in the shower. Ugh - we were so close to calling the OB - that would have been really embarrassing. I'm glad it was just a scare.

19 months!

Today, Ben & Ella turn 19 months. I look back at pictures of them and think of how big they've gotten and much they've learned.

They both love to climb on things and especially like to climb up onto their chair and table set that their grandma and grandpa got them for Christmas. Luckily, they haven't figured out how to use the chairs to climb up onto things they really shouldn't!

They both still love to play the crawling game with their papa - in which they crawl all around the house and make a silly noise while doing so.

They both like to throw a ball all around the house and try to play with the kitties too, but they can't throw that far yet.

Ella LOVES her doll we got her for Christmas and especially likes her doll to be naked. Sometimes she asks for the dress to be put back on though. She tries to get the shoes on the baby and on herself, but gets easily frustrated when she can't do so.

They are both enjoying their megablocks. Benjamin especially likes to build just one straight tower and gets mad when they break apart.

They also like to dance and sing (and some head banging too). They like to rotate their arms in front of them to indicate they want to sing "wheels on the bus" and they put their fingers together for "itsy bitsy spider" and they say "itsy" too.

Oh, and Benjamin said "meow" the other day when playing with a Beanie Baby kitty. :-D

In other news, our crib that we have for Benjamin has been recalled so Jon set up the pack n play. Since Benjamin doesn't really fit into that anymore, we put Ella into there and Benjamin into Ella's bed. At first, we had it the other way around and Ella was not happy that Benjamin got the "cool new bed". Benjamin was cool with sleeping in Ella's bed and Ella was very giggly to be in the pack n play. We are planning to get a toddler bed for Benjamin this weekend and convert Ella's bed into a toddler bed at the same time - otherwise, there will be much crying that Benjamin got the cooler bed again. As soon as we get the voucher to buy a new crib, we'll get that for baby #3.

OB appointment - 32 weeks

Last Friday, I had my 32 week OB appointment. She did the FFN test (which came back negative - thank God!), then she checked my cervix and it long as it should be. I'm at a -3 right now. So far, things are not at all like the twin pregnancy (knock on wood). The baby is up high she said, but she did feel the baby's head though. I said, so the baby's head is down there and she said unless the head is really bony. She then measured my belly and said the top of my belly felt like there was a little butt there. :-D (awww, a little tushy!) I was curious what position the baby was in so I know whether a VBAC is even possible - though the baby's position could always change and probably has since Friday with all that movement I feel. She also said that my belly is measuring big, so I might have a good size baby in there.

She gave me a list of what I could take for heartburn and for constipation (both unfortunate side effects of pregnancy).

I then I had to sit around for a while until the nurse could come back in to take my blood for the glucose test. I'm still waiting for those results - they should come today or by Wednesday at the latest. I'm hoping I pass this time! This time, I, umm, threw up a little bit of the drink toward the end. It is just that disgusting. Way too much sugar in a short period of time.

I go back again on the 23rd and my OB said that she might order an ultrasound because I am measuring big. I can't wait - I want to see this little guy or gal!

Pregnancy Stuff

This morning, I had a painful contraction. Thankfully, the painful ones haven't continued. I did have some cramping earlier too. I read somewhere that feeling period-type cramps around this time is something to watch out for too, but they seem to come and go. I see my OB again in one week so I'll ask about it then.

After I told a coworker that I haven't had a leg cramp in quite some time, the other night, I had a really, really bad one. It was painful, then it would go away and I'd think I was done, but then it would keep coming back. Ouch!!!! Since it seems like labor will be more painful than this, I might be in trouble. Jon and I were reading the childbirth stuff last night, and I am getting nervous about a vaginal delivery. Of course, I may not get a chance at a vaginal delivery and having another C-section will be harder this time when I have twin toddlers that want to be picked up! I wish I knew which position the baby was in right now. I can take a guess, but I'm not certain.

A coworker of mine is pregnant (after a short time of trying) and I found out last night that a friend of ours from the dorm kitchen days is also pregnant. She just got married this past year, so that was quick too. Before, this news would just make me sad and I am still a little jealous of those who got pregnant so quickly, but having the twins and this pregnancy certainly makes things a lot easier. Congratulations to both of them!

18 month checkup & potty stories!

Last Friday, we took Ben & Ella in for the 18 month checkup.

Here are the stats:

Ella:

Weight: 24 pounds 1.2 ounces (50th percentile)
Height: 32 1/4 inches (75th percentile)
Head Cir.: 47 (55th percentile)

Benjamin:

Weight: 28 pounds 5.4 ounces (80th percentile)
Height: 34 3/4 inches (>95th percentile)
Head Cir.: 51 1/2 (> 95th percentile)

There were no shots this time. One of the shots that they would have done there is a shortage of, so will have to wait until next time (2 year checkup) and the other she said we could just wait until next time for it, so we chose to do that.

In other news - Ella has went potty on the toilet last night for the 2nd time! Right before her bath last night, she sat on their little potty and went poo! Earlier in the day - I had just changed her and she started grabbing at her diaper. She laid down in front of me (I was still on the floor after changing Benjamin) and wanted me to change her diaper. I told her I already changed her, so she got up and went and got another diaper and brought it to me and laid down in front of me. She had indeed just went pee. So she is definitely ready for potty training. She was very proud of herself as we clapped that she went potty. (Is it funny to everyone that you can get excited about things like this? It would be nice to have at least one of them out of diapers before #3 arrives).

Benjamin I think knows he has gone potty too as last night, he started grabbing his diaper and walking as if he had something on his bottom bothering him. He had gone poo. Perhaps he'll go on the potty sometime soon too. The pediatrician thinks that if he sees Ella going potty on the potty, he will want to follow.