The Combs Krewe

I feel like we've reached a big milestone! Weeks and weeks ago my doctor told me, "Just get to 34 weeks." If the babies were born at this point, they would most likely be fine to come home with me. So now I'm all like, "Okay, come out babies." Generally I'm 100% for waiting until your body and your baby (babies) decide to birth. I know that due dates are really just guess dates. I've been really encouraged lately by a couple of mamas who chose to go 41 and 42 weeks with their babies. Yep, that's my position on birth...just let it happen as it will! It's hard to keep that in mind though when you get to this point, however. Days aren't so bad; nights are. Doesn't it always seem that way, though? Sickness, loneliness, whatever. It's always worse at night. All day I feel resolved; some nights I accidentally break down and cry. It's truly not THAT bad but there is a culmination of little things that wears me down.  Fir...

33 weeks, wow! That suddenly seems like a lot of weeks behind me and not many left in front of me especially considering that this is the gestational week that Jathan was born during! Also on my mind is the fact that my doctor said anytime after 34 weeks is usually great for twins to be born. To be born! As in, outside of my body and being cared for individually by me. Eeek! I waffle back and forth between being so, so ready and wanting to hold on as long as possible. Yes, it is uncomfortable. Yes, they are quite heavy. No, I don't have many clothes that fit anymore and I can barely put on my own shoes. No, I'm not getting much sleep. But. What if these are my last babies? Never take your fertility and your family for granted. You never know when God will only choose to bless you with different kinds of miracles from now on. I want to cherish each little movement and protect them with all that I have for as long as I can. I don't want to rush them into the big worl...

A few weeks ago I was dreading the every 2-week and eventually every week doctor visits, but this week I was looking forward to it. I am growing closer and closer to my due date and, being in the third trimester now, am experiencing different things. My feet are sometimes swollen in the evening which is worrisome for a former pre-eclampsia patient but the doctor said that's normal especially when simply sitting upright at the dinner table cuts off the blood supply to my legs because my stomach is pressing down on them! I also am experiencing more frequent and more intense Braxton Hicks contractions. But after a check yesterday, I now know that I am not dilated at all so they are indeed "fake" contractions. It's comforting to have a little confirmation that everything is going remarkably well and that everything I'm feeling is normal, because although this is my fifth pregnancy, I don't have a lot of experience with normal. I also had my monthly ultrasound...

Today marks 31 weeks into my pregnancy! How am I feeling? I'm feeling very pregnant . I'm feeling very conspicuous . It's awkward to have everyone stare at me. So many people stop and talk to me. So many people can't believe I will grow EVEN LARGER. I met a lady earlier this week who, upon finding out that I'm having twins due on April 3, absolutely and openly gawked. She eyed me up and down with her mouth wide open. I am not exaggerating in the least. She kept saying, "Bless your heart." I really wasn't sure what to say back. I don't know how to explain how I feel. Almost guilty. Almost immodest somehow. I feel like staying home. I feel like I shouldn't feel that way. I'm feeling heavy . I've gained over 40 pounds and sometimes my little size 6 feet sometimes have a hard time carrying me around past supper time. Of course, laying down really is not an option anymore. I'm a stomach sleeper and am missing it. I can't li...

It's Mardi Gras season and I have loved collecting little things to decorate our home with. Here's a few pictures of our decorations. The wreath on our front door came from Sam's last year. I thought it was an excellent deal since I'd seen several very pricey ones in home stores. I love all the colors and glitter. I added some ornaments in Mardi Gras colors to the urn on our table then circled it with a boa and added some masks and beads. (Sorry for some reason I couldn't get the picture to turn upright!) The top of our bookshelf just behind the table holds an umbrella that Keeleigh got at last year's parade, some boas and beads, and--my favorite--a little jester doll from the French Market. I decorated over the balcony door with beads, a boa, and some masks. The outside of the balcony door holds the rag wreath I made last year. (Again, couldn't figure out how to get it turned the right way.) And on the railing ar...

Today I am 30 weeks pregnant! According to my Babycenter email the babies are around 3 pounds (which supposedly they were 2 weeks ago at my ultrasound) and are a little more than 14 inches long. I am feeling lots of hiccups and lately they have all been very low so I'm hoping that is a sign of a couple of head-down babies. I also have Braxton Hicks contractions constantly. Sometimes it's so strange during these contractions; it feels like my stomach isn't even part of me just something sitting on my lap growing harder and heavier. Other times the contractions are uncomfortable, and I find myself trying to sit very still during them then running to the bathroom to empty my bladder! The kids have begun to ask about the babies often. Jathan and Ryland love sitting next to me and feeling them move. They think it's funny that the girls are already kicking their brothers. This morning the girls were moving so much that Jackie could feel the bed shake! Tomorrow is my ...

Last week I had my regular OB appointment. Keeleigh and my mom got the opportunity to go with me. After arriving late thanks to stupendous NOLA traffic and a long wait, we were finally called back. I was happy to find that I weighed two pounds less on their scale than the scale at the ultrasound office, ha ha. It was also great that my BP is still wonderfully perfect. The doctor saw us quickly since we'd had a long wait, and because my mom and Keeleigh were there, she did a little impromptu ultrasound right then and there to show them the babies. She took her time pointing out all their little parts...feet and fingers and other slightly less cute sounding things like brains and amniotic sacs. I will now be seeing the doctor every two weeks and because preterm labor is a risk in twin pregnancies the doctor wanted to check me for dilation. I was actually opposed to this mainly because it seems pretty pointless to me but consented. Of course I was not dilated at all and the twins...