Because I've Been Napping...

No, really. 

That's not a "dog ate my homework" kind of excuse.  Because y'all...I'm just tired.  Plain old tired and exhausted.

I have so much to catch up on, and I had big plans for this blog to act as a baby book of sorts for the twins, but I've just been such a slacker about it.  Saddening, really.

Here are a few of the highlights since my last post in JANUARY!  Agh!

• I'm 38 weeks pregnant with baby Avery Grace.  What's that?  Oh, yes, we decided on a name.  See, it's been too long.  Here's a recent belly shot at about 37 weeks.

• Reese and Truett are 22 months-old.  They are so delightful and then turn around and make it necessary for me to step outside and occasionally scream until I can't scream anymore.  But mostly, they're delightful.  They're learning so much.  In fact, as I speak, they've figured out how to climb up on the toy box under the spiral staircase and pull themselves up onto the stairs which are blocked by a gate at the bottom.  I found them at the TOP this morning and wondered how they'd figured it out.  BUSTED!  Every. Single. Day. 

• They love to sing, especially Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The Wheels on the Bus, Jesus Loves Me, ABC's, and a little sing-song my MIL sings to them but we changed the words to.
• They're learning their letters and numbers and Reese can now count to 6!  Truett's up to about 4, I think.
• Their vocabular grows daily, and that is really fun to be witness to.  In true girl fashion, Reese is quite the chatterbox and has a pretty extensive vocab.  She says words and I have to say, "Where'd she hear that?" 
• These days they love, 'Paydoh' (Play-Doh), and 'Caynons' (Crayons), Legos, 'Boo Cues' (Blues Clues), 'Beats' (Fresh Beat Band), and 'Tee Tee Nandy' (tee tee candy). 
• And that brings us to potty training, or the lack thereof.  I can't lie...having them out of diapers by the time the baby arrived would have been super fabulous.  But it ain't happening, folks, and it's all because of me.  I just am not motivated.  At all.  The thought of taking two toddlers to the bathroom every 20 minutes makes my head spin at this point.  I've seriously considered Googling "potty training bootcamp" and packing their bags for a week away.  Just kidding.  Kind of.  They both show interest, although she more so than he.  And the candy bit has been a big incentive because they don't get it any other time from us.  But, three in diapers it will be.  *sigh*

Here's a little video I shot the other day to give some insight into what goes on MULTIPLE times a day with two little toddler brains working together.  I hope you laugh, and then pray for their mother.  :)

One Month Come and Gone: Part 2

Picking up where I left off in the previous post, here we are in the OR, either right before or during the delivery.  Do you think we were a little happy...um, maybe deliriously...just a smidge?

All was well in the delivery room in the beginning.  Even though he was Baby B in-utero, Truett demanded to be born first, and ended up Baby A after they were born.  He was born at 7:46 a.m. and Reese was born at 7:47 a.m.  She will now always have a big brother to protect her! 

After the babies were delivered, my doctors were working on the other side of the sheet and I started feeling TERRIBLE!  It turns out I was hemorrhaging pretty badly from a gash in my cervix and the medications they gave me to get it stopped made me so, so sick to my stomach!  It's such a strange sensation to feel like you are going to vomit (sorry if that's TMI), but not be able to feel your stomach muscles.  I could see Truett's isolette from the table where I was laying and I felt so sick I couldn't even really focus on him when they showed him to me.  It made me really sad.

I ended up having 2 units of blood while I was in the OR and then 2 more units and 1 more unit of plasma after I was back in our room.  

But once they gave me some anti-nausea meds and I started feeling better I could start really enjoying the experience and what an experience it was.  Hearing those babies cry for the first time was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.  I know that is so cheesy, but it is so true. 

I love this one.  Team Jenkins 4-Eva!

Dr. Hales and Dr. Devine hard at work!

Truett Zeldon Jenkins

7 lbs. 5 oz.

7:46 a.m.

Reese Kathleen Jenkins

6 lbs. 4 oz.

7:47 a.m.

First family picture!

Mamma and her babies (Truett on the left, Reese on the right)!  I waited for this moment my whole life, but most especially the last four years and of course, the last 8 1/2 months.   

Daddy and his babies...Reese on the left and kissing on Truett.  I love that his watch has the date and time showing.  Isn't that special?! 

 Proud Daddy wheeling his babies down to meet the family.

 

The babies' entourage was waiting down the hall for them.

 

 I had tshirts made as a surprise to the family.  They had their "grandparent" names on them and then a superscript number kind of like, "to the power of."  So, my mom's was Sita squared (I don't know how to do that on my keyboard), Rich's mom's was Nonni (to the power of 4 because she now had 4 grandbabies), his grandmother's was Nanny to the 11th power because these were her 10th and 11th grand or great-grandchildren!  I even had some made for my nephews.  Theirs said, Cuz squared.  The shirts were a hit with the family and with the hospital staff!  Everyone knew who we were the whole time we were there, for better or worse!  :)

After the babies were born, they were taken to the nursery and McH went with them while the doctors were still working on me and while I was in Recovery.  

Reese

Truett had to spend about an hour in the oxygen tent in the nursery, but all was well!  

 After we finally made it back to the room...you can see the blood pump behind me.  This is me with Truett.

 McH with his boy!

 I LOVE this picture!  My brother and sister-in-law live in Washington State and couldn't be there, but once we got back to the room and were settled a bit, we Skyped with them.  This is Reese Skyping at one day old!  HA!  I love that you can see their faces on the screen.

 Truett and Reese with Mamma.

 We had several visitors during our stay.  Here are the babies with my sweet friend, Penny.

 Reese with Tesa and Brandon.

 Love this picture because it perfectly sums up our 5 days in the hospital.  Here is McH asleep on the couch, and my dad asleep in the chair with a baby.  Those first few days were exhausting!  Little did I know that only gets worse once you get home!  Ha!

 Mamma sound asleep with her baby girl.

Sister and brother.  Makes me a little sad...Truett doesn't even fit in those Newborn footies anymore.  He's too long!

 Our room at Covenant.

Our AMAZING OB/GYN, Dr. Devine!  We loved her and not just because she is an Aggie!

This is one of favorite nurses, Libby!  She was so sweet and helpful.  She really made our stay pleasant and comfortable!  

 Here's another of our favorite nurses, Cindy.  She was with us most nights and had the most positive attitude and sweet disposition.  I don't know how these ladies stay so happy and motivated, but they were such a blessing to us during our stay.  

My sister-in-law, Dawn, made a basket of goodies for our visitors and the nurses.  They were bags of maroon and white M&M's and each bag had a little card tied to it.  They were all in a basket for people to take as they came to see us.  It was so cute! 

To be continued...

One Month Come and Gone

I've decided the best way I can pass the time while I'm breastfeeding (which seriously seems like all I do all day long at this point), is to check Facebook, do my online shopping and update my blog, finally!
Don't get me wrong, breastfeeding is certainly a special time and I love the bond it is forming between Reese and Truett and me.  However, anyone who tells you that breastfeeding in the wee hours of the morning is ALWAYS special and fun, is LYING!  :)

I honestly don't know where to even go with this post as it seems SO MUCH has happened in the last 2 weeks since my last one, and really in the last month because I haven't said much about the babies' birth day or the weeks thereafter.  So, to make it a little more organized and manageable for me, I'm going to make a few mini-posts within this one, big long one.  Bear with me and my scattered brain!


BIRTH DAY and HOSPITAL STAY


Sunday, April 17, 2011

We drove up to Lubbock the day before (Sunday) and stayed in our favorite hotel, the same one Mom and I stayed in the week before our retrieval and then transfer.  Mom and Dad were with us and they stayed Sunday night, as well as McH's parents. We had to be at the hospital for all my pre-op by 5:30, so we tried our best to get to bed at a decent hour, but there was really no sleeping for me.  Everyone else would meet us at the hospital around 7:00 for the scheduled c-section at 7:30.  

Funny side note.  The instructions for the night before surgery included taking a shower and washing with antibacterial soap.  I realized I hadn't packed any, so we headed to get some and ended up at a United Supermarket.  Dad ran in and was back out in a matter of a few minutes.  As he gets closer to the car, I see he has a rather large bottle of soap in his hands.  I finally realize what he's carrying and I immediately DIE laughing...

By this time, I was so tired and ready to get back to the hotel, I figured it wouldn't hurt anything and guess what I took a bath with that night!  Classy.


As I said earlier, I didn't sleep much Sunday night.  On the drive up, McH and I talked about how our lives were about to change so incredibly in just a few hours.  It was the most surreal moment in all my life: very scary and very exciting.


MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY REESE AND TRUETT!!!!

We got up SUPER early Monday morning and got ready to head to the hospital.  Here are pictures of me that morning just before we left the hotel.  I admit, most of me was very, very ready to have these babies.  At this point I was extremely uncomfortable and every thing was painful. 

 What happened to my rear?  I think it was sucked forward with the belly! 

 Exhausted but on CLOUD 9!  I was so ready to go meet these babies!

I was excited, exhausted, overwhelmed, and just so thankful to know I was about to be a mommy and was about to meet these little aliens who had invaded my body for the last 8 1/2 months! 

I just thought I knew love before this.

You should feel VERY, VERY special.  I really contemplated whether I would post these pictures of me but I just figured this blog is about being real, so here goes.  **deep breath**

McH in his operating room scrubs.  Notice the boots!  Love my cowboy daddy man!

Trying to be calm as I wait for them to wheel me to the OR.

Somewhere in that face is me!  HA!  This is sitting outside the OR area entrance.  I couldn't stop shaking both because I was cold and I was a little nervous and excited...just a little.  So, McH was distracting me taking pictures.  Lovely.

To be continued...

How far along: 37 Weeks Today (less than 2 days until D-Day)!

Size of Babies:  Baby Center says: 
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away (um, so glad that's not true for me). If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like the length of swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

(Image from Google)

Total Weight Gain/Lost: About 60 pounds.  I gained two pounds last week from Wednesday to Wednesday. 

Maternity Clothes: Uh-huh.  Either maternity or McH's XL.  I could get away with Large shirts, but they just aren't long enough.  Even XL shirts creep up over my belly so I'm constantly pulling them down.  HA! 

Gender: Baby A is a GIRL (Reese Kathleen) and Baby B is a BOY (Truett Zeldon).

Movement: Yes. They are so big and LOW that when they do move, especially Reese, she usually ends up punching me places that just aren't nice!  She hits nerves that sends shocks down my front and my back!  As much as I LOVE feeling them move, and having others feel them move, I have to say those painful moments I won't miss much!  

Sleep:  Not great, but okay.  My dad took our 3 dogs to back home with him and will leave them there for a few weeks/couple of months, while we get used to a new normal with the babies.  I slept really well last night not getting up to let them out!  :) 

What I Miss:  Feeling normal and not having to sit like a man! 

Cravings:  Watermelon!  I've almost eaten an entire one by myself (no snickering about the irony there).  Cold things like ice and popsicles.  I bought some 100% fruit popsicles and I have at least 2 a day.  I've been putting ice in my water just so I can chew on it when I finish drinking. 

Symptoms: Discomfort, lack of mobility, swelling and now I am pretty much on bedrest because my blood pressure sky rockets if I'm up for more than about 10 minutes at a time.  I'm just so thankful this didn't happen any sooner!  Although these last few days I really wanted to get some things done.  Thank the Lord for my parents being here to help SO MUCH and for McH's parents being so close to help with whatever we need!  Now, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law have moved here!  We are so blessed!

Best moment for this week:  Just hearing the babies are still doing well and having some final plans about Monday!  Also knowing I made it to my goal of 37 weeks felt so good! 

I can't believe this is my last pregnancy highlights post!  I will try my best to post pictures and information as soon as possible (or get someone to do so).  Thank you ALL for the blessing of your prayers and thoughts for us and for these sweet miracles!  We are overwhelmed with so much support, love, encouragement and good wishes!  We love you all and can't wait to share God's true miracles with you! 

Pregnancy Highlights: 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks Today (8 days until D-Day)!

Size of Babies:  Baby Center says:  Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (or more), like a crenshaw melon, and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At Wednesday's appointment, the babies' heads were so low they couldn't get an accurate measurement, so their weights couldn't be calculated.  In case you didn't know, they use ultrasound measurements of an arm bone, a leg bone, the abdomen circumference, and the head circumference to come up with an approximate weight, once the babies get to a certain gestational age.  Before that, they use crown to rump measurements.  

(Images from Google and Baby Center)

Total Weight Gain/Lost:  Ahem.  Let's just say I almost cried on the scale at Wednesday's appointment, and that I am just praying the 'ole "breastfeeding will help you shed those pounds fast" adage, is really, really true!  

Maternity Clothes: Uh-huh.  Either maternity or McH's XL.  I could get away with Large shirts, but they just aren't long enough.  Even XL shirts creep up over my belly so I'm constantly pulling them down.  HA! 

Gender: Baby A is a GIRL (Reese Kathleen) and Baby B is a BOY (Truett Zeldon).

Movement: Yes.  Definitely noticing their movements have slowed down because they just don't have much room in there.  But as I type, they're squirming.  Their moves are less jerky and more just fluid glides. 

Sleep:  Eh, still not great, but I've started taking really big, long naps during the day.  

What I Miss:  Energy.  Sleep.  Stamina.  You know, same old, same old.

Cravings:  I've really been craving healthy food the last couple of weeks.  Salads, veggies, fruits, yogurt.  I made a DELICIOUS strawberry/banana smoothie the other day and then made myself almost sick when I drank the whole thing!  HA! 

Symptoms:  The end-of-pregnancy discomfort has hit FULL FORCE!  Sleepy, very emotional, and having crazy dreams!  Oh, and I can't leave out those lovely stretch marks.  I was so hoping I was going to make it through with very few of them, and it seems they are worse and there are more of them every day!  I have to be completely honest and say they really depress me.  I hate that I am so shallow about it, but it is really so strange to watch your body permanently change right in front of your eyes.  Praise God for my wonderful husband who says to me, "they aren't that bad, babe and besides I will look at them and every time think that that is where my babies lived for nine months!"  I love him so much. 

Best moment for this week:  Wednesday's appointment was good because things are going so well.  The doctors were really happy with everything and really impressed with how far I've made it and how few complications I've had.  The 2.5 hour trip nearly did me in.  I ended up the last 30 miles home, laying in the back seat, so I'm certainly not looking forward to the next appointment this Wednesday, but I'll be ready to know our final plans and hear what they have to say.  


I can't believe I will only have one more pregnancy update to write and then I'll be blogging about precious babies with lots of pictures!  YAY!

Pregnancy Highlights: 35 Weeks

How far along: 35 Weeks Today!

Size of Babies:  Baby Center says:  Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (picture a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

(Image from Google)

Total Weight Gain/Lost:  I think we all remember this from last week.  Moving right along.

Maternity Clothes: Uh-huh.  Either maternity or McH's XL.  I could get away with Large shirts, but they just aren't long enough.  Even XL shirts creep up over my belly so I'm constantly pulling them down.  HA! 

Gender: Baby A is a GIRL (Reese Kathleen) and Baby B is a BOY (Truett Zeldon).

Movement: Yes, but I've definitely noticed that slowing down a little bit.  Don't get me wrong, they are still little wiggle monsters and some days are more active than others, but I think they are just running out of room to do much moving.  Still moving more at certain times of the day and in certain situations.

Sleep:  Eh, still not great, but I've started taking really big, long naps during the day.  

What I Miss: It's a little redundant but I still miss having stamina and being able to do even the simplest task without having to sit down in the middle to rest.  I also miss feeling pretty.  My skin has really broken out lately, and when I look in the mirror, I just hardly recognize myself.  

Cravings: FRESH PINEAPPLE!!!  Really, I've been craving any kind of fruit and just healthy food in general, but especially pineapple.  I've read if you eat a lot of it (and I mean, a LOT) it can put you into labor, but you would have to eat like four whole pineapples in one day to make that even a possibility.  Our United has fresh pineapple cores in a container and I'm addicted!

Symptoms:  All the normal stuff, I think.  The swelling I talked about last week has diminished significantly.  Yay!  Of course I'm tired, and I've started having moments of just not feeling good, kind of like 1st trimester queasiness. 

Best moment for this week: It may not seem very exciting to others, but our video baby monitor came in this week and we were able to play with it a little bit and figure out how we are going to mount it in the nursery!  I was so excited!  McH had a good time figuring out the exact perfect place to mount it on the wall.  We ended up getting the Summer Infant Best View and I love it already!  And it's even better because I figured out I won't need another camera (unless I want one to put in another room)!  Yay!  While we were playing with the camera (which pans and zooms the room...so cool), I would zoom in on the cribs and just picture each baby in their bed.  TWO WEEKS!