Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

Friday, March 30, 2012

If I had Millions...

This is inspired by my friend Jamie over at Sticky Feet: Part Deux...

Sometimes it is fun to think what we would do if we had the money to do what ever we want...
1. Pay off all debts.

2. Redo our house & add on. Starting with the kitchen of my dreams.
File under: Dream kitchens
3.Start a foundation to help couples who can’t afford IVF.

4.Quit “real” work and do Stampin’ Up! full time.

5. Buy a house on a lake in WI for fishing and family time.

6. Get new vehicles.

7. Go with my best girlfriends on a 2 week vacation every year. Just us no Hubby’s or kids.
Amalfi Coast view, with cruise ship
8. Send my Husband on the exotic hunting trip he dreams of.
9. Buy my Dad a fishing boat.
Pontoon Boat
10. Help parents with the costs of funeral and burial of their infants and children.

11. Go back every year on our Anniversary to Mexico where we were married.
foto habitacion
12. Give to my church to support the general budget.
Faith UMC
13. Build the most awesome playground/ tree-house in our yard for the boys.
Tree House Studio
14. Go on trips across the country to find antiques to fill my house with.
15. Build an even more beautiful garden in memory of Eleanna.

So what would you do if you didn't have to worry about the Money...

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

24 Weeks

How big are they: Baby Center says...

24 weeks: Baby is the size of an ear of corn

Your babies have caught up with an ear of corn in size and gained about 1/4 pound since last week. (Length: almost a foot.)
Twin babies, fetuses at 24 weeks - BabyCenter
If I had to guess...I'd say they are somewhere around 2lbs this week.

Maternity Clothes: It's hard to believe but some maternity shirts are a little short...
Weight Gain: Total so far is 17#'s which considering their size at this point seem reasonable.

Belly:It is most certainly growing. The whole world knows that I'm pregnant now.

Stretch Marks: Haven't really noticed anything major.

Sleep: It's a good night if I only get up 2x...

Best Moment of the Week: We registered for our baby showers. Also we have bought a few little things for them too.

Movement: Last night I was laying on the couch they were moving so much they made me jump...it was so funny. Also the cats now think that my belly makes a good pillow... until one of them decides to kick to kick kitty off. It's so funny Baby B sent Cosmo flying one night...lol...

Food Cravings: Milk

Gender: Two little buddy boys...

What I Miss: I'm still missing Eleanna. She'll always be my only little girl...

What I'm Looking Forward to: I'm looking forward to working on some thank you cards this weekend. And also make some artwork for their walls.

Weekly Wisdom: Walking around for 2 hours is exhausting...I'm still trying to recover...

Milestones: We have reached viability! This is a big deal. Below is the survival rates by weeks of gestation. At 24 weeks the Dr.'s will do what they can to sustain life. I have seen other charts with higher rates of survival for 24 weeks. At this point I am feeling really good and have no reason to think that they will be born this week, but it is just good to hit this milestone.

Up until 21 weeks: 0% survival rate

at 22 weeks: 0-10% survival rate

at 23 weeks: 10-35% survival rate

at 24 weeks: 40-70% survival rate

at 25 weeks: 50-80% survival rate

at 26 weeks: 80-90% survival rate

at 27 weeks: greater than 90% survival rate

Emotions: I can't believe how close we are getting... They could very well be here in about 12 weeks.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

23 Weeks

How big are they: Baby Center says...

23 weeks: Baby is the size of a large mango

Your baby weighs about as much as a large mango -- just over a pound. (Length: more than 11 inches.)

The Ultrasound says...

At the ultrasound yesterday baby A weighed 1lb 7oz & B weighed 1lb 6oz. Overall there was a 4% difference in size between A & B which is well below the 20% (which is where they would be concerned.

Maternity Clothes:Recently I put most of my "regular" clothes in totes. This give me more room to put my maternity clothes away. There will need to be some serious purging of my clothes after all of this. It's been really warm so short sleeves are a must...
Weight Gain: Total so far is 17#'s which considering their size at this point seem reasonable.

Belly: Mom went with me to the Dr. yesterday and she made a comment that I definitely look pregnant now.

Stretch Marks: Haven't really noticed anything major.

Sleep: The last 2 nights I slept really well. I got new bed pillows a couple of weeks ago and that helps.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the boys again. It great knowing they are healthy and active. Also Todd was able to feel them move. So exciting!

Movement: Their movements are much more pronounced. More like they are kicking me.

Food Cravings: I had to have a Eddy real fruit Popsicle.

Gender: Two little buddy boys...

What I Miss: I'm still missing Eleanna. She'll always be my only little girl...

What I'm Looking Forward to: I'm looking forward to working on some thank you cards this weekend. And also make some artwork for their walls.

Weekly Wisdom: It's a good idea to wear a maternity belt to hold your belly up...it makes things much more comfortable.

Milestones: We are in the "grey week" where we would have to decide what kind of measures that we are willing to take as far a resuscitation, but after 24 weeks we will have reached viability which means they will be put in the NICU if anything happens after that point. That's a really big deal.

Emotions: Things a are really starting to feel so much more real. They are looking so cute on the ultrasound pictures now. I can't wait to kiss their little cheeks.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

22 Weeks

How big are they: Baby Center says...

22 weeks: Babies are as long as a spaghetti squash

Your babies have stretched to the size of a spaghetti squash and weigh almost a pound each. (Length: nearly 11 inches.)

Maternity Clothes:Recently I put most of my "regular" clothes in totes. This give me more room to put my maternity clothes away. There will need to be some serious purging of my clothes after all of this.
Weight Gain: We'll have to see at my next Dr. appointment on 3/21/12.

Belly:I'm now getting lots of comments on my cute belly. I have to say that right now I'm loving it. I think it's cute too. :)

Stretch Marks: Haven't really noticed anything major.

Sleep: Still up quite a few times to go to the bathroom. I've also been tossing and turning a lot...

Best Moment of the Week: Not really baby related, but on Saturday I went to our regional Stampin' Up! event in Milwaukee. They had a contest there for the best card example and I was one of 4 chosen to win a $50 shopping spree from SU! out of about 1000 people. Needless to say I am super excited about this.

Movement:I feel them move a lot more now. I'm still waiting to feel the for sure on the outside. We had a fetal EKG on Friday. Both babies were moving like crazy... Baby B had the ultrasound tech very frustrated. The ultrasound took almost 2 hours to get all that they needed to see in their hearts. The good news is after all of their checking every thing looks good. This means that there are no anatomical abnormalities and very little chance of genetic defects in either one.
Symptoms:Not much. I can tell my belly is getting heavier.

Food Cravings: Nothing really this week.

Gender: Two little buddy boys...

What I Miss: I'm still missing Eleanna. She'll always be my only little girl...

What I'm Looking Forward to: All of it really... We are working on our registry and we have a shower coming up.

Weekly Wisdom: Sunday is nap day...

Milestones: I'm to the point where people can really tell I'm preggers not just bloated. I love it.

Emotions: I'm so looking forward to them being here. Todd was so cute this week. He went to the store for Dog food and brought back with him 2 I <3 Mommy outfits for the babies. It was so sweet. I'm so blessed to have him be the one I get to raise these boys with...I can't wait to see him in action.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

21 Weeks...kind of a big deal...

How big are they: Baby Center says...

21 weeks: Babies are as long as a carrots

Your twins -- are currently the length of a carrot -- weighs about 3/4 of a pound. (Length: 10 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

Maternity Clothes:Recently I put most of my "regular" clothes in totes. This give me more room to put my maternity clothes away. There will need to be some serious purging of my clothes after all of this.
Weight Gain: About 11#'s I need to gain another 9# in 8 weeks or so.

Belly:I feel a little bigger yet again.

Stretch Marks: Haven't really noticed anything major.

Sleep: Still up quite a few times to go to the bathroom. I've also been tossing and turning a lot...

Best Moment of the Week: Sunday we went to get the cribs with Todd's Grandpa. You could tell he was so happy to get them for us. We also went to Red Lobster for lunch. It was such a great family day with Todd's Mom too.

Movement:Certainly feeling them a lot more. This never get old. I have been stalking them to see if I can feel them on the outside, so Todd can feel them too. But, nothing yet.

Symptoms:I am feeling a bit more pain in my hips etc. but nothing major.

Food Cravings: Cereal. Lucky Charms and Reese's Puff taste so awesome.

Gender: Two little buddy boys...

What I Miss: I'm still missing Eleanna. She'll always be my only little girl...

What I'm Looking Forward to: Now that we made it to 21 weeks I'm looking forward to 24 weeks (viability).

Weekly Wisdom: 8:30pm is a great time to go to bed.

Milestones: I've reached 21 weeks. This means that I have been carrying these little guys longer that I did with Eleanna. I'm so happy and thank God for every day I had with her, and for everyday I get to share with my boys. Now it's time to move on to the next milestone... viability, reaching 24 weeks would mean that they would try to save the babies if they were delivered at that point. Of course that is still very early a survival rate it low, but low is better than nil.

Emotions: I am so excited to have their room put together for the most part. There are a few accessories that I want to make yet, but 2 babies could be pretty comfortable in their room right now. After years of infertility and a loss I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a baby's room in my house. There were many times where I thought that room would be a guest room forever. It is such an awesome feeling to sit in there and soak it all in. While Todd put the cribs up I did my first "baby" laundry so I would have sheets to put on their cribs.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Twin's Room

Here are are a few pictures of the room I still want to add more accessories, but this is most of the furniture. I think it's turning out good so far.