What a year

I thought I would pop in and reflect on a great but trying 2007 and have something to prove to myself later on that life is not always bumpy! I have so much to be grateful for.

2007 brought....

-a very fun vacation with our family to Mexico. The cruise ship was fantastic, and after the initial bumps and bruises... the trip was fantastic! We had so much fun exploring the ship, eating sooo much food and just having a grand old time!

-a fun visit from my PIA sister and her family. They all came up in June and stayed for 10 days... we were able to go back to NYC and stay the night there and had so much fun! Even though she really irks me, I do love her.

-my girls growing up even more. Kelsey turned 14 in August... wow. Allison hit double digits with 10 in April. Sometimes, when I look at them, I honestly can not remember what it was like when they were little. It was like a different life. They were so little and sweet. Now all we seem to do is fight and argue, and occasionally snuggle. I love those girls so very much. I wish I got to spend more time with them!

-the harsh reality that the girls will be grown and out of the house before we know it. Kelsey will be a SOPHMORE next year, and Allison will move into Junior High.

-10 m0nths of constantly trying to get pregnant. Another HSG showed both tubes open. We got to visit a creepy RE before finding Johns Hopkins. I think I got felt up! EWWWWW. We had a big scare when one of D's sperm analysis came back with very low numbers. For about two months, we thought his boys might be the issue. I felt so horrible for him!

-the JOY of finding out that our insurance would cover 90% of one cycle of IVF. ER was Oct 12, which would be the day of conception for all you numbers nuts. ET was Oct 15. Two embryos went in, two babies are currently growing in my belly.

-visits from Grandmas... even if we go a bit crazy for a while.. the visits are always fun and good for us all.

-jobs STILL, thank God. We have gone through some unsure times since the merger of PHH by GE was announced. We are still waiting for news, but at least we still have jobs.

-new friends... Nina and Jenn at PHH have been good friends to me.

-a one year wedding anniversary and 2.5 years with the man of my dreams.

-losing Parker, but gaining Rocky.

So, it has been a good year. I can't believe how time has flown. Hard to believe that next year, we will have two babies to care for.

Im so grateful, although I rarely think about it, and express my thankfullness to God, I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband, two great kids, two PIA dogs that I love, and two babies growing.

AHHHH, Christmas! and updates

Need to catch up...

First with babies... we had the first trimester genetic screening Wed., Dec 26 and got two late Christmas presents. The babies have officially been named Baby A and Baby B for the remainder of the pregnancy. I can not believe I am in the second trimester!

A very nice ultrasound technician had me lay down on the table (fully clothed, YEAH!) and proceeded to show us our tiny babies for about an hour. She was looking to measure a fold of skin on the back of their necks and check their nasal canals to determine the level of risk for Downs Syndrome (because, lest we forget, of my advanced maternal age). Long story short, the babies both seemed to measure great!

Baby A is turning out to be the brat of the two... he or she would NOT wake up for an extended period of time, even with alot of bouncing and prodding from the tech, ON TOP OF MY FULL BLADDER. When Baby A was awake, he or she would flip flop and not get into the best position. Baby A is a brat. You can see a head and body in this pic, and a leg if you look close enough.

Baby B, on the other hand, was a little angel... flipping and turning in all the right directions. Baby B is a little higher up, so it might have been easier to see him or her. Baby B showed up some moves... dancing and hiccuping alot. You can see Baby B's head, body, leg and foot in this pic, a much better pic.

And my favorite pic... a tiny hand out of the blackness.

So, all in all, the babies are growing by leaps and bounds. They are getting big. Approximately 3 inches each now and about 2.0 grams. We saw their heartbeats and heard the chug chugs. Baby B was 150, Baby B was 148 BPMs. D was absolutely flabbergasted with the whole thing. He was in awe and was like a little kid... so excited. Im so grateful that I have him.

Christmas came and went. My mom came in town last week and has been ok, save for a few minor episodes, but once D's mom was with us Christmas Eve, started being so weird and obnoxious. For Christmas, between the new puppy, Rocky (see below), and the kids, both moms were on my very last nerve by 8pm... I was in bed by 8:45. I hate feeling so stressed, but I was just a bundle of nerves. D's mom left last night after a rough day. I dont know what it is, but every time my mom is around other people, she either clams up or really really opens up and is obnoxious. They are so different, and seemed to get along, but I knew D's mom was ready to go home. It makes me feel bad, but I can't make everyone happy. I need to realize that.

So, Christmas Eve lunch went well, we had fun.

Christmas was great! The kids got almost everything they asked for. Overall, the weekend and Holiday were good. I just find myself worrying too much and getting upset for no good reason.

I need to chill out.

Pics from Christmas...

Crappy day

So, the past 24 hours has been plain crappy. On the way home last night, Allison called me and said that Parker, our two year old yellow lab, bit Kelsey. Now, knowing the issues we have always had with Parker, I thought, well, she nipped her.
The truth is... Parker got Kelsey's hand pretty badly. She scraped it up and left a deep puncture would between her middle and ring finger. We spent two hours at the medical aide unit, instead of 5 at the ER... had to fill out another bite report (that is two for parker), and will have to go tomorrow to a surgeon to see about getting Kelsey's hand sewn up.

And, tomorrow morning, we have to take Parker back to the SPCA, where we got her over a year ago. We have known all along that she comes with alot of baggage, but this is the last straw. The kids cried all last night, and I found D sobbing at his desk today, it breaks my heart. We all love that stupid dog, why can't she love our kids? She would be fantastic with just adults, but with Kelsey and Allison, and now twins on the way, it is way too risky.

Knowing that we are doing the right thing, and praying that she finds a good home does not take away the pain of giving away a family member. The girls love her, although she is such a b**** to them most of the time. I love her, but D really loves her. She is his dog through and through. the SPCA told me we MUST bring her back there, or we would be liable for any further bites. They will quarantine her for 10 days, then hopefully be able to adopt her out. Please God let them find her a good home with just adults. I hate the alternative thought. Even though she is a dog, she is a member of our family.

I also dread hearing the lectures and I told you sos from his family next week. His mom is coming in Monday, and has already tried the "I knew it" tactic. And we are having lunch with his dad and brother and family Monday, and I know when they see Kelsey's hand they will freak and try to lecture.

Parker will be gone as of tomorrow morning, and I will take Kelsey to hopefully get her hand stitched up.

What a sucky day!

I'm fat

Well, our second OB appointment was yesterday evening. We had to sit and wait forever, but we were able to finally hear both heartbeats. THis was a huge sense of relief to me, since I had convinced myself that one of the babies had vanished.
I was up almost 10 lbs since last visit, however (the nurse kept saying, it's5 per babys!), but the dr wanted to "talk about it". UGGGGHHHHH... I wanted to skip outta the office at that point.

So, I did tell her that I have been eating very badly, and sometimes the only things I can keep down are bad bad bad foods... pizza, cookies, fries, etc.... Um, what i did not tell her is what I am having a hard time admitting to myself; the fact that I am in the "I can eat whatever" mode, when I am not feeling so sick. I find myself eating EVERYTHING!
So, she did say that we would talk about this after the nausea has passed.

Which, speaking of, I have not had to take one of those blessed pills yet today... first time in a week and 2 days. Pray that this feeling of normalness hangs on. I'm trying to save the pills so that I'm not so sick over Christmas.

Also, my last *&$#@(*% progesterone shot is FRIDAY! Thank God. I tried to stop last night, but D did not think it was a good idea.

Hey, speaking of D, he has been really moody lately, wonder what is up. He says that everything is ok, but I don't believe him. I wonder if this whole thing is scaring him. HMMMM, I hope he feels like he can talk to me.

The girls have been fantastic to me, very helpful and they really are trying to be sympathetic to me. Thank God!

I'll post more after our genetic screening next Wednesday.

me thinks

My body might be recouping from the constant nausea and toilet hugging. I have had two good days... just a tad of nausea every now and then, but my appetite has increased dramatically. Who am I kidding? I have ALWAYS had a more than healthy appetite. Seriously, a couple of co-workers were just talking, and one of them had two cup-o-soups today for lunch... TWO? I was like, when is ONE enough. One of the ladies said "we are only eating for one." WHAT? Since when was one cup-o-soup adequate for a lunch? (Dont talk to me Campbell's!!!).

Oh well.. I am now craving gooey chocolate chip cookies.

It snowed here today... still snowing. Been snowing ALL day!!! It is beautiful, let's see how the ride home goes!

How many more weeks(otherwise known as my life hunched over the toilet)

Of this constant nausea, throwing up, dry heaving and crying? I feel like all I ever do is cry and bitch. I am always bitching and moaning and complaining to d. I am always on my knees bent over the usually dirty, pee laden toilet. I know this is for a good cause, I know these babies will be well worth this. I was NEVER anywhere near this sick with the girls... ever.
Seriously, if I dont eat, I get sick.. if I do eat, I feel like crap and usually either get sick or have nausea so bad that I want to make myself sick.
Nothing helps, no ginger ale, no sprite, no crackers, no bread...
Crying makes me feel better, but makes me look and feel like a pussy. I'm trying to make it through today so that I can go home and collapse in bed. Dan will be responsible for making dinner. I just can't do it.
Pray that this goes over without me killing someone.