Pregnancy Update – 21 Weeks

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Belly Shot 21 Weeks

This week I saw my Ob/Gyn again.

I weighed in at 152 pounds, so I’m up about 32 pounds. For some reason it looks like more, based on my last two pregnancies – see my Belly Comparison. The clothes I wore when I was 8 months pregnant don’t fit at all. But I hate the thought of spending money on clothes that I will only wear for a few months. In the end, Adam eyed my last two ill fitting outfits and marched me to the fancy maternity store and spoiled me with a new wardrobe. I tried to buy everything tent like. Hopefully it will cover me until the end of the pregnancy.

People keep asking me if it’s a girl or a boy in there. I love to see the reaction when they find out it could be both! Then they realize I’m carting around 2 other kids! I should start counting the times I’ve heard, “Good Luck” and “Oh My God” when these sort of conversations occur. It’s a lot.

I’m also starting to gather a lot of very odd and funny comments about twins and pregnancy. For example, one woman at Whole Foods the other day said, “I gave birth to a 10 pound, 5 ounce baby so I know what that feels like.”

 

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Pump It Up

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The School Gang

Today Jack and some of his school mates met up at Pump It Up.

I have a love/hate relationship with this place.

In the winter, I love that it’s a place the kids can run wild and get all their energy out.

I hate way it always smells like a gym locker room. Like sweaty old socks.

The kids seemed to have a blast. They were so excited when they first arrived that they spent a good 10 minutes just running up and down the corridor, unable to pick which one of all different inflatables to jump on first.

Over winter break they had special 1 & 1/2 hour time slots for $8 per kid, adults free. My super coupon Mom friend, Kim, managed to get in for only $5 per kid with a coupon she found online. She always seems to find the best deals and I got some good tips from her today. Might have to share them in a future blog…

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Meli Cafe

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Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I guess it’s no secret, since we decide to dine at this place out after seeing it on Check Please, but people, if you haven’t tried Meli Cafe, GO TRY IT!

We used to be Toast regulars, but when the outspoken and hilarious manager (Jill) left we realized the food wasn’t superior to all other brunches. Just her quick wit was. So, we’ve been venturing out.

Everything we tried was amazing. Even something as simple as scrambled eggs. Look at the picture of Jack’s Strawberry Banana Smoothie! It has whipped cream and fancy chocolate pictures on the sides! I got crepes. Love it when they have crepes both sweet and savory. Adam got an omelette that could only be described as umami yummy.  Also, they had a lot of vegan options, something I’m hoping to do more of once these pregnancy cravings stop taking over my brain.

I was pleased to see they used kiddie cups made from 100% recycled corn that were compostable. And recyclable take home containers.

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Building Friendships

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January 2012 - New Year's Brunch at the Cameron's

The new year is always a time to reflect, isn’t it? Seeing these three play together this morning made me realize how having kids has changed our lives.

April 2010 - Easter Egg Hunt

Josephine, Angus and Jack have been hanging out together since they were all in diapers. Okay, it wasn’t that long ago, but life without kids seems like another an eternity away from the life we’ve built for ourselves now.

March 2009 - Playdate at the Calisoff's

Because of them and many more, I’ve been very blessed to have built some great friendships of my own. I hope it continues for many more years to come.

Happy New Year! Wishing all who read this a great 2012!

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Enchanted Railroad

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Enchanted Trains

This morning we went to check out the Enchanted Railroad exhibit at the Morton Arboretum.

Since we discovered this place, I’ve found it much more kid friendly than the Chicago Botanical Gardens. So I was pretty excited to see how their train exhibits would compare.

Surprisingly, the Chicago Botanical Gardens has a much better train exhibit.

Still, these trains managed to hold the kids attention for a good 30 minutes. Afterwards, we went to the Children’s Garden in search for gnomes. They hid 15 all around the garden and Jack found them faster than we did. Gave me the first taste of what it’s like to be the old, slow person of the family!

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Strep Throat

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Well, looks like a father’s instinct (but not necessarily a mother’s!) is the best radar.

This past month Adam made me bring Ben to the doctor’s office three times.

Ben has been coughing most of the month and not sleeping well at all as a result. Twice we went to have his throat checked, his lungs listened to and his ears looked at. Twice we were told everything looked good and it was probably just a cold.

Maybe all the night waking was due to the transition from crib to bed, I thought?

This morning Ben woke with a rash all over his body. Two days before that he was plagued with red splotches. I was sure he had allergies. Adam thought it was something else.

So, we headed to the doctors office this morning. I stayed in the waiting room with Jack watching family after family get called in and leave. Ben was still in there. Not good.

They took the strep test and it was positive. Apparently you can have strep but not have any obvious symptoms. The only way to tell is to take the test. The doctor said strep with a rash is quite advanced, a form of scarlet fever!

Adam came out to tell me. You should have seen the other mother’s in the waiting room shrink away from us in terror.

Jack was tested and came out negative.

Every person has their quirks. For example, I have a closet love of country music. Also I don’t like sharing food or drinks, even with your family members. Yes, I do see the weirdness – I can swap spit with my husband but don’t want to share his drink. But I actually think this quirk is served me well this time around! Now I just have to make it the 24 hour period until the antibiotics kick in and we are all safe. Strep while pregnant sounds scary…

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Pregnancy Update – 20 Weeks

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Two Heads are Better than One

This afternoon Bubbie graciously babysat the two kids I already gave birth to so Adam and I could go see two kids I have yet to give birth to.

Today was the big 20 week ultrasound. And this is a picture of the two babies. You are looking at the top of their heads.

Our most important discovery was the fact that the babies look great and are developing normally.

We also found out some other interesting things…

The ultrasound technician pointed out that our twins had a Lambda sign, a triangular shape where the membranes meet the two placentas. She said it was normally a sign of fraternal (not identical) twins.

Another thing that makes me thing they are fraternal is that the twins are already showing their individuality. Twin A (AKA the one closest to the exit) is in the 75% for it’s size. Twin B is in the 50%.

Twin B

Twin A had long, narrow feet reminiscent of our first born. Twin B’s feet were shorter and fatter.

Twin A was hiding by the time the technician was very nicely taking the 3D scans for us for free. But here is the 3D image of Twin B…

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Playmates

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Something has changed lately between Jack and Ben.

Normally when they spend time together, the ratio is about 75% crying with 25% laughing. But recently it’s become more like 75% laughing with 25% crying.

I don’t know what happened, but I couldn’t be happier about it…

Watching Scooby Doo Together

Jack 'Reading' Books to Ben

Some game, not sure of the rules, but they created it and enjoyed it together.

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An All Day Affair

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Today we met our friends Adler and Roya at the Children’s Museum. Our friends stayed the morning. We made it an all day affair. It was the first time I was testing out Ben and his no-nappiness. Most days I give him a quiet period, usually in front of a movie. If he falls asleep, great. If not, great!

"Ice Skating" with Roya

There was definitely a period in the afternoon where we all looked tired. In fact one Dad’s comment was, “I’m not sure who is more tired, you or the kids”. Perhaps I was pushing too hard and it was a mistake. But we made it through with a little help from some sugary lemonade. Coming home in time for dinner, bath and the last night of Hanukkah presents was much nicer than an afternoon of watching the kids move toys around the house like a tornado.

Whenever Jack has vacation from school I’m filled with dread at the thought of juggling more kids. But one thing I’m realizing is that it’s always more fun with Jack around. If he were at school today, Ben and I would be at Target or doing some other mundane task. Having all the kids with me makes me want to do more fun things for them, which at the end of the day translates to me feeling like a better mom.

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A Visit to Bull Valley

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I guess it’s true no matter where you live, but it’s very easy to forget there is a whole world out there that is very different to the life you are living right now.

It always surprises me when we drive out past the city limits just how much space, land and life there is teeming outside the city.

It was a very pleasant view from my car window when we arrived in Bull Valley this morning.

Tickle Torture

We were on our way to visit Jamie and Morgan, a couple who I’m not sure which one of our family members likes more. Lately it seems Jack and Ben are in stiff competition with us and they may be winning.

They bought a beautiful house five bedroom house on five acres of land in Bull Valley. Quite a change from city dwellings!

The kids ran themselves ragged and were both passed out almost the minute we left the driveway. Partly because Morgan and Jamie make such great play mates and partly because there is SO MUCH SPACE!

It was so peaceful and pretty I felt compelled to force a family photo…

FIVE acres! Nothing but nature for background.

 

 

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