In the home stretch for my twins - 35 weeks!

Been awhile since I last posted. Just a recap on the weeks that went by so fast...

...and you expect me to walk straight with my 35 week twin belly?

At 32 weeks U/S babies weigh approx 4lbs. Each. Pretty good weight for twins. Dashielle spinned from breech to cephalic, then in the middle of the U/S changed to Oblique/Variable. She is a very active baby even in the womb. While Callie, remained cephalic/head down the entire time.

At 32 weeks, I failed my 1-hour glucose test. I had 15.5mg/mol when the normal values should be 10.0mg/mmol. So, OB decided to go for a 3-hour test. The test was generally okay, good thing, we started at around 6am (no food since 8pm) then every hour they would get urine and blood for 4 times. 1st was at 6am, then drank sweet glucose drink (was tasty, like soda), then another extraction at 7am, 8am then lastly at 9am. I was done and so famished, so hubby and I had a delicious breakfast date. After the results came - I saw it and everything is in normal levels! Hurray! No GD! I felt entirely blessed.

Had an U/S at 32 weeks (Baby B spinned to both cephalic, I was hoping for a normal delivery) but at 36 weeks, Baby A turned breech! Which gave me a ticket for CS. I was fine, as long as the babies would be okay.

Now, I have a Dec 14 final check-up and a scheduled CS on Dec. 16. I'm getting very excited, truly God is amazing. Even the OB was surprised at how my body and the babies cooperated. Reaching till 37 weeks w/o any complications the entire pregnancy.

She even said that It's a blessing already to be able to reach to 36 weeks.

Even if there were so much set backs that have happened throughout this pregnancy, God is faithful and gracious. Whatever He has started in me He has completed them to perfection. I was not even trying but He has already completed the work in my life.

Great and wonderful things I see. There's freedom now and He has protected me entirely the whole year.

27th week... 1 more week to 7mos!

There goes my 29th week twin belly!  I am proud of those stretchies,  marks of a mother!

Next week is going to be a busy day in work. We will be organizing an international conference. My workmates are very understanding, but really in my heart, I'm a go-go person esp at work and I never want to feel incapacitated. But, I know my priorities and I'm gestating! I'm better off keeping these babies inside till full term and listen to my own body than feeling so guilty of not being on top of my usual capacity.

Last week, there was a typhoon 'Ondoy' which caused so many floods (waist deep to 10ft high) that made international news as a major disaster. The whole country is in sorrow, but it's so good to hear a lot of people were helping out. Facebook and twitter were bombarded with cries of assistance.

A week after Ondoy, A branded super typhoon that could possibly hit Phils has placed fear and panic to people. While those who were affected are recuperating, Pepeng is just about to come. What's good is that people are more prepared now, govt forced evacuated places that are still flooded, suspended work/school, even my parents bought a generator, we have stashed food and necessities good for 1 week.

A lot were praying, I'm expecting a good thing... That God will amaze us again, that this storm isn't what they all say it is. Because, God loves me.

After hours of waiting, a little rainfall started, not even a regular typhoon wind blew. At 2am, I was awaken by God and told me He has quieted the storm and diverted its course bec of a high pressure area in HK which made it just a regular typhoon. Its windy, but no heavy rainfall... Just enough to clear up muddy mess left by Ondoy.

God is awesome!

25 weeks with twins and counting - We're having 2 girls!!!

18 weeks, twins!

A lot of things has happened, busy with work and simply, too tired to write.

Yes, I've grown a veryyy huge amount of belly. The movement of the twins are pretty strong already - they wake me up in the middle of the night. I feel them at certain times already, every 6AM, 8:30am, after lunch, 4PM, 6PM and a lot more by 9-10PM, then again at 2AM. This might be their wake-sleep patterns already.

During my 21st week, I had an ultrasound. Yes - we're having 2 princesses! 2 girls and Ice will be the Big brother ("Kuya Ice"). He's still so excited and every night, he would pray "Jesus, please take care of the babies and make them safe." He would kiss my belly at every chance he can.

One day, while we were having a marriage care group in our house (Had 5 couples, who we meet once a week). My 4 year old Ice, got out of the room and asked me in front of all the couples "Mommy, are the babies fine?" Then, I told him "Yes, baby they're okay"... he kissed my belly and left. The ladies we're like... "awwwww..... that's so sweet!" and when they said that, I realized how sweet my baby is.

I'm blessed in every way. My Ice is blessed and he will be a man after God's own heart. he will be a good Godly leader, faithful and strong. At a very young age, I myself will be astounded as to the words of wisdom that will come from his mouth... All because of how Jesus loves him.

Ice, will be a very good brother (Kuya) to the girls...

I'm on my 25th week now, basically aside from not being able to sleep well at night, and belly is growing like a big gant basketball. Everything is good. I still keep watch that I don't tire myself too much, listening well to wha my body is telling me, it's more important to me right now to keep the babies inside till full-term (37 weeks for twins) than spending stressful time for work. Great thing, my partners are very understanding with my situation, But, I know it's also hard for them for me not being able to measure up with their expectation which makes me feel a bit useless and undeserving of my position.

As a mom, priorities shifts when you have a kid but especially when you are expecting (and more so, if 2). I don't know yet what will happen when the twins come out, I know how to take care of them. Career-wise, I'm still in this I-think-I-can-manage mode but then waiting as well for an instruction. I know my Lord has wisdom already ready for it.

13 weeks with twins on my belly!

My 15th week twin belly!

My belly has grown! It's so exciting to see them grow. I'll be having my next check-up this coming week and would like to see the twins on ultrasound.

My son kisses my belly when he sees me and says "Hello babies... come out, come out wherever you are!" It is so cute and so loving that my big boy adores his babies. :) I'm so blessed to have such a sweet boy. He's very sweet and so excited with the babies. I'm already having dreams of making him sleep at his grandparents house for days when I deliver the twins, and it makes me feel so sad already. 3 days ago, his dad rearranged his bed (which used to be beside me since his birth) and placed it on his bedside. I felt a separation anxiety that I cannot hug or kiss my Ice in the middle of the night anymore. So, I asked my son to sleep in the middle of the bed for 2 more days then last night, he fell asleep on his own bed. I still wake up in the middle of the night just to check if my Ice is cold so I could cover him with a blanket which he detests so much. Just this morning when he woke up, he went to our bed and hugged me... he's having separation anxiety too, I guess! haha... My sweet boy!

I felt so loved when I hug Ice, and feel the twins moving inside as well. As if we're group hugging!

I can now feel the twins move, like tapping on my belly especially when I sleep on my side. Been having sleep problems at night now. It's a bit harder to find the most comfy spot. It helps a lot to prop 3 pillows on the beds headrest and sleep on a reclining position. Giant plump pillows are very cozy. But, after awhile... I would slide down and sleep on my back which makes my left leg numb. It is not advisable to sleep that way because it blocks a major vein on my leg - the vena cava. If I sleep on my sides, the twins start to move and kick... which is a lot of movement that I feel so much.

Still love corned beef in the morning, my husband is sick of it. Morning sickness diminishes a bit. Working for more than 6 hours a day gives me a really bad lower backache and an aching uterus. I still hate the smell of a cabinet, the car and too much perfume.

Still on flats or at least, a 1 inch high heels. But, I'm missing my high-heelped work shoes.

The best book for Twin moms & moms of multiples!

During the past month, I've lost 4 pounds already. It alarmed me because I never want to lose weight during my twin pregnancy. I've been reading a lot about twin pregnancy and found out that morning sickness (times 2 for twin pregnancy) could be a great factor why I'm losing weight.

The book!

Finally, my book I ordered from Amazon.com - When you're excpecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads by Dr. Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein arrived 3 weeks ago. I've been devouring every bit of it. It was a very, very, very good book for moms expecting multiples. It teaches so much about what to eat, a lot of tips and even delivery and raising twins.

It's not the usual pregnancy book or not even a usual twin pregnancy book about the basics. When I bought another book Twins: Pregnancy, Birth and the first year of life, I just read it for 2 days because a lot of the facts there are readily available on the web or even singleton pregnancy books. Maybe, because during my 1st pregnancy (this is the 2nd), I've read so many books already about pregnancy and there's not much of a difference as to what I really need to expect, nutrition, delivery of twins in a more detailed manner. The book by Dr. Luke is the best book, which you can't find on any website. Not even my own OB can advice as good as how she explained twin pregnancy.

It is a must have, now after 3 weeks following Dr. Luke's advice on nutrition, regularity of meals, and knowing your body well, I've finally gained back my lost weight (eating 6 meals a day or every 2 hours at least), decreased my worsening morning sickness (by not making myself hungry) and even her positive approach of twin pregnancy complications that moms of multiples worry about too much. Now, I'm more focused on my babies and making sure they will have an optimum weight when I deliver them.

I give it 5/5 stars! A must-have for twin moms to be.

Ice: Mom, you have 2 babies in your tummy

My sweet twin pumpkins!

Weeks prior to my appointment at the Sonologist - In My Womb (http://www.inmywomb.com/), my 4 year old was already telling me that I'm having 2 babies. He would always tell us... "Mom, you have 2 babies in your tummy". I would even correct him and tell him "But Ice, it might just be 1 baby". I just don't want to discourage him. But he would still insist "No... Jesus said it's 2 of them". We were even kidding him about his thoughts. As a mom, and having been disappointed about several occassions where I though I could be pregnant, I would just tell my son, "Ice, what if it's just 1 baby, and not 2? Is that okay with you?". He would just say... "Okay... then after the 1st baby... then the 2nd baby". We thought he meant it's okay to wait for the 2nd one after several years or so.

I've never known of any twin running in our family even my husbands. I have never taken any pills or any fertility medications. The mere thought of having twins never crossed my mind but as a child, I would always want to have 1. But, this time, I felt fine just to know I am pregnant and fine as well that I am having just one.

I was 9 weeks pregnant during our 1st visit with the Sonologist. I was excited to see the baby but of course, I still have those slight thoughts of what-ifs there's no baby at all. I've tons of books about pregnancy and childbirth. I would use medical terms at times and my OB would ask me if I had any medical background. I just said, I red a lot of books almost everyday about pregnancy. From what I've learned, you cannot always expect that there's a baby even if you get a + result. An Ultrasound is the most accurate one to know the viability of a baby and if carrying twins/multiples. There are times that it could be an ectopic pregnancy or a pseudo pregnancy you're carrying. In that case, just a placenta but no baby. Nevertheless, I felt positive that I'm having a baby.

I had the worse morning sickness for weeks already, during my 1st pregnancy I had those morning sickness but not as worse as this time around. I get hungry very easily and if I don't eat, nausea, headache and vomitting will occur. I feel really worse.

Inside the Sonologists room, Oliver, my husband was there and my 4 year old, Ice. Ice was very excited, he knows everything about this baby. When I told him were going to see a baby on a TV, he woke straight up and went to take a bath right away that morning.

Finally, the Sonologist did the exam. She didn't tell me right away that I'm carrying twins, she was making sure she's right. I can already see 1 placenta but no view yet of the baby or babies. All I was there for was to check 1 baby.

The sonologist asked me if I am taking fertility pills... told her No. Then asked if twins run in the family... thinking very hard... told her, I don't think so...No.. Those questions seem very puzzling to me, but I didn't mind. I thought, maybe just some routine questions for all. When all of a sudden she said... "well... seems like you're having Twins!" Me and my husband was like... "Whoa!! huh!!! Really now?" Then she said, "Yes, look at this... 2 placentas, and here's the 1st baby and then the other..."

I told Ice... "Ice, you're right! Mom has 2 babies!" then Ice was screaming in the room saying "Wow! 2 babies! 2 Babies!"

The doctor monitored the heartbeat and indeed there were 2 of them. 2 good fetal heartrate of 148 and 166bpm. Dichorionic - Diamniotic = fraternal twins (came from 2 eggs). My husband started phoning in family and they were unbelievably shocked. Because, Ice was also spreading the news to them weeks before that I have 2 babies in my tummy.

We couldn't believe what just happened. Even when I was faithless... my Jesus was faithful to give us what we desire to have. Those years of waiting and disappointments were not his plan. Because, his plan is to give us life more abundantly. Yes, He did blessed us with 1 and now with 2. He is the God who restores those days of sorrow and replaced it with days of blessings. The days were complete, as if the days gone have been restored to us a hundredfold.

Now as we await for the days to come... all I see are 3 great kids who will grow as persons after God's own heart. Loved, highly favoured and ultimately blessed.

What God has given He has provided for its needs for every tomorrow that He will bring. For today, all is well.

Blessed with 1... now makes 3!

The most awaited line of all time.

Yes... finally! I am pregnant... and it's not just 1 baby but twins! After my 1st child, Isaiah, I thought it will be such a breeze to follow another baby when he's 1.5. My husband and I have a plan and a target (well, at least my personal target) to have kids on or before I'm 30. I was 25, with my firstborn. Never had any pregnancy complications... smooth sailing one. 3 hour labor and that's it!

We wanted to build a family with at least 3 kids. That should be 1 kid a year and a half from my 1st child.

But, with stuff and things... it didn't come... just yet.

When Ice turned 3 he started asking me if there's a baby in my belly (if I was pregnant). I was shocked for my son to be asking for one. I thought, maybe... he just wanted a playmate. Having all the pressures from family about having another grandchild. Of course, in my head was... if you only knew how much I wanted to have one for more than a year already and how frustrating it is to see a negative pregnancy test everytime I would check a week of a missed period.

I've never seen my OB about it, I just hoped and hoped and waited and hoped... until finally, I have made a conclusion... I do not need to worry about anything, my God knows me wants and desires. Everything about me is important to him... he minds the slightest thing about me. He knows how much we wanted a baby and so therefore it shall come to pass.

It was not easy to believe just yet when you know that every missed period might be a positive pregnancy. But, what I know in my heart is that my womb is blessed and therefore it is healthy and well. Jesus was stricken all disease so that my whole body (including my womb) is well and healthy.

On May 10, 2009... when I wasn't thinking about babies at all. :) I tested positive on one pregnancy kit. Prior to testing, I was thinking already... oh well... whatever will be the outcome, I'm still okay, But, of course, if you wanted a baby so much, you would either be in denial of having a negative would be fine, or simply feel so excited if you get a + test.

I was overjoyed, knowing about this pregnancy. After learning that I'm getting 1 positive out of dozens of negative tests before... was one of the best days I have ever have.