Melons

Today (7/23/09) we are officially at the halfway mark of our pregnancy! When did this happen!?!? We are definitely a lot bigger than last week and we’re/I’m really feeling that morning sickness. I don’t mind as it gives me peace of mind that these two little cantaloupes are growing up a storm!

So now that we’re back I said I’d get back to our normal routine. Eek! This has been a hard week with feeling like hell and having deadlines and a report to write. Then there’s next week, we’ll be leaving to Mexico! BUT I do plan on getting some exercising done there. We’re staying at a resort that has a private beach and N had done repeats from one end to the other the last time we were there. I figure since I wake up early when on vacation and given that no hangover’s will keep me in bed I’ll do these at least four out of the seven nights we’re staying out there. When we were on our trip in November we managed to get out three out of the seven nights in Huatulco and that was humidity hell. Plus we did stair and hill work. Yep. This is a flat beach, but nonetheless a beach with sand. Will do it!

Other than the MS I’m feeling great! Sure I’m starting to feel tired a little quicker and can’t move as fast as I used to without breaking a sweat but I’m all good. N attributes this all to bootcamp/xfit, as do I. Really couldn’t imagine being pregnant and not being able to do all the stuff I did beforehand. I still run (shorter distances), sprint (slower) and lift stuff but why shouldn’t I? There are people that have been questioning me and I know saying negative things behind my back because of the activities I do, or haven’t stopped doing as they so eloquently put it. But why? Have they carried twins before? Do they not know the physical stress it takes on your system thus the need to make sure your body is fully prepared to carry the extra load? Are they doctors? All of mine have said to continue with what I did before, while keeping tabs on my system of course. Then there’s Sara. She’s proof that you can work out hard and carry a full term healthy baby.

My goal = produce the best possible produce.

Baby Max

Congratulations to my inspirational mama! Sarita gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby boy!

She's one of the few women that know where I'm coming from and how I'm feeling. Thank you again Sarah for breaking in the peeps over at The Academy that pregnant ladies can too lift heavy shit.

I pray that in 20 weeks I too will have equally great news to share!

Mangos

Oh my little guys how you have well how you have... Good thing you two like mangos because they've never tasted better!

Last week was our LAST in Sacramento and now we're finally back! It's nice to be able to see my babies daddy on a daily basis. Plus, being home is so much more relaxing and comfortable.

We're almost at the 20 week mark, only two more days! But I haven't posted about week 19 yet. Everything is going good, no complications which is awesome and no food cravings that I can't handle and we've been working out. Well this week's been hard... more to follow. Last week I did a xfit session and it nearly killed us. Seriously. I was in such pain. BUT this was all normal soreness although I do think my caloric intake for the day was short so I felt the aftermath the following day. Funny how if you listen to your body, or babies, you'll find all the answers. All is well though and I'm planning on some more running this week while I still can.

Yesterday was a first and worth a mention. I was sick twice, once at home and once on a bus, in public. Good thing it was on my way to my parentals and Little A was picking me up at the stop. Oh, and I had a bag so no one was hurt except maybe me. This morning I swear I woke up with a belly twice the size of yesterday's so I expect that all that feeling nasty yesterday was just another growth spurt. All that hormone overload, twice!

One more thing, N had mentioned that my face looked thinner. This is not a good thing as I'm NOT supossed to be losing any weight. I'm afraid of weighing myself in fear that I haven't gained anything or worse, lost. See with twins its apperently a cardinal sin if you lose any weight. I've been warned by my OB and my multiples book so I better check tomorrow. According to Dr. Luke we should be between 20-25 lbs. up. Ack!

Food Aversions: Eggs
Mood: Really pissy if you upset me...
Energy: Normal
Exercise: (7/11) First Water w/ Aunty Rocky, (7/13) 400m sprints & 30 squats x 4 rounds, (7/14) Squat thrusters, dead hang knees to elbows, step ups, 800m run, lots of jump rope (7/18) First Water w/Aunty Rocky.
Tummy: Oh yeah!
Produce size of babies: Guess!

Another appt. update

We had our regular OB appt. with the Doctor that is to deliver us. Babies are great and my stats are great too. Gained some more weight, 16 pounds PP... BUT the doctor loves that I'm at that weight and according to my Twin/Multiple book I'm below what I should be at... So I guess as long as I keep eating healthy I'm good.

Genders... The doctor gave us some different news than yesterday! Now we'll just have to wait till our next appt... August 10th... seriously.

18 Week Ultrasound

We went in and the OB Department screwed up the order so we had to wait approximately 2 hours... The first technician kept on saying "baby" to me but I thought it was just a slip until he finally looked and saw two, to his surprise. Once we finally got seen by another tech the appointment/analysis took 50 minutes. I guess with two she had her hands full. Turns out they're both very healthy internally and all organs, limbs and such are growing on time. I'm thinking they're a little big as they both measured at 22 cm, ~7.5 inches. According to BabyCenter 18 week old are about 5.5 inches long. The tech also noted that Baby A had long legs! Well I do come from tall people. They're weights are also pretty hefty, coming in at 9 oz. for Baby A and 9.1oz for Baby B. Again, BabyCenter is saying "almost 7 ounces". Guess these little guys are growing up a storm. We're both so happy to know that they're healthy and moving about in their little womb. N had the biggest smile when the sexes were revealed. More to come on that later...

Oh, and it turns out we're starting our 5th month today!

¡Caliente!

No new stuff going on. Nausea has been back but not unbearable. Tomorrow we have our big appointment to track the babies’ growth among other things… Friday we have our regular OB appointment. Can’t believe it’s been 18 weeks!

So things have been annoying me, a lot. I’m sure my hormones are to blame for about 80% of it but really people are… uh… loud mouths? I seem to get advice/opinions everywhere I go/am, a LOT of it. Unsolicited at that. People who have no business whatsoever to even comment on my pregnancy. Things about what I should and shouldn’t be eating, “you’re running!”, “you’re flying every week!!!”, and so on. Now I’m no Doctor or baby genius but I do read and like to inform myself. I have taken the time to figure out what I’m doing and how it’s affecting the little duo I’m growing. Heck even my own mother, a mother of three, has not questioned me once! She has stood by my decisions and has only asked how I feel and other things about my well being, both physically and mentally. So why I ask do people think they’re all knowing pregnancy geniuses!?

Once other issue, genders. Again, why must people voice what THEY want MY, well N’s too, babies to be. I don’t mind the guesses but when I hear shit like “I hope they’re a boy and girl” it really angers me. So what, if they’re the same gender you’re going to be disappointed? Seriously people shut the fuck up already about you and let me be. Our number one priority has been that these babies are safe and healthy. N and I don’t even really discuss genders all that much, just their health and what I can, and am doing to ensure that. For this reason I’m on the fence on announcing their genders. We’ll end up revealing them, I’m sure of that, I’m just not sure I want to do it right away, like tomorrow when we find out. We’ll see.

The age old question of twins and what we did to conceive them. I get asked all the time how I was able to conceive twins. Really!? Sometimes I want to tell em that we did it back to back… Or other interesting things to shut them up. Then there’s the speculation of whether they’re “natural” or IVF, IUI, Clomid, etc babies. First off who cares! Second off does it really matter? Twins are twins no matter how they were conceived. They’re special, ALL babies and pregnancies are special. Don’t treat me with special attention just because I have two in there as opposed to one. Oh, and did I mention there is another person in my office that too might be expecting two… Let all the speculation and comparisons begin… Ay ya yay.

Turns out much is actually going on…

Food Aversions: Same
Mood: Good. Very sensitive...
Energy: Better.
Exercise: (7/07) walked 3 mi., 50 pushups, 50 dips, 60 stepups, 60 lunges.
Tummy: Yes
Produce size of babies: Bell Peppers

Last week of 4th month! Whoa.

Super Mario Bros.

So this week (17th) the babies are the sizes of turnips. All that made me think of was the original Super Mario Bros.2. Gawd big sis and I played that nonstop the summer vacation we got that game. So many fun times with my big sis and little bro. I know my two little ones will also have many memorable summers together playing games, plotting against N and I, spending summers in other countries with their aubuelitos and just having plain fun.

This past week was filled with work and rest. On 6/26 Miffy and I went for a three mile walk through some hills, 6/27 we headed to the Rose Bowl and ran the hills, 6/28 we all went to Newport and probably walked another 3 miles. On top of that I had gotten into another crazy cleaning and cooking frenzy. Needless to say work set me over the edge and the absence of a partner last week had me with no motivation and energy to do any type of exercise. Blah. Then this weekend all I did was clean, scrub floors and walls clean so no walking/running was done either. Since I only have this and next week left in Sacramento I'm not too worried since I'll be back to xfit once I get home.

Overall I'm feeling much better, not my normal self but I doubt I'll feel that for a loooong time. I am after all growing two humans. No morning sickness! Nausea is still there but I've managed to keep everything in. I'm doing about 6-7 small meals throughout the day since a whole meal won't go in without me feeling like wanting to die afterward. I think cravings are starting to set in but I've been strong enough to restrain myself. Thoughts of foods with no nutritional value and high in calories fill my brain once, twice, eight times a day. Luckily I've found alternatives such as Big Sticks and Fudge Bars and nonfat frozen yogurt. My belly is definitely there and growing...

Something that has me and others surprised is my lack of discomfort. I mean physically I get tired but I can manage and do so. Of course I carry my big back pack and lift my suitcase onto the car/shuttle/plane. N and his uncle were pointing out last night that my body was prepared for this given that I was running a ton PP. True and I also attribute my well being to xfit. I've been observing lots of pregnant women lately and I see how they struggle just to walk from their car to the store. My fears of having a difficult 3rd tri are slowly coming to an end.

Food Aversions: Still all food at the Residence Inn and fast food in general.
Mood: Great!
Energy: So so.
Exercise: (6/26) walked 3 mi.,(6/27) ran at Rose Bowl including east hill,(6/28) walked at Newport Beach.
Tummy: There.
Produce size of babies: Turnips