36 Weeks

 3/4 sleeve scoop neck / A Pea in the Pod (similar) *

denim bootcut jeans / Motherhood * hoodie sweater / TJMaxx  

How far along? 36 Weeks- can't believe I'm here!

Total weight gain: 34 pounds.. and the weight of this belly can be felt with every ache of my tired body.           

Maternity clothes?  Getting dressed has become a challenge.  I'm pretty much wearing the same thing over and over- or at least I feel like I am.  For a couple reasons: One; it fits.  And two..  the effort of figuring out something to wear wears me out more than the act of showering/blow-drying/makeup.  I have a doctor appointment on Monday?  I'm contemplating the attire on Friday Saturday.  In pregnancy defense- I was like this pre-babies.. but with a bigger selection to choose from.  I've worn the crap out of my maternity clothes.

Stretch marks? None.  My belly button is officially an outie.  I can really see it through every shirt I but on, where as before I could see it but not all the time.  It took 36 weeks and over 11 pounds of babies to push that sucker out. I won't expect that any singleton pregnancy in my future will provide the same result.            

Sleep: I'm in the "I can sleep all day, any day, anywhere" mode.  I experienced this in the first couple months of pregnancy- and it has, for sure, returned.  What kills it for me is that I am sick with exhaustion during the day, but when it is time to shut my eyes at night I'm beaming with energy.  The usual: Bedtime doesn't usually happen until at least 11:30p to midnight, and then I'm up about 4-ish, with 2 or 3 races roll-and-waddles to the bathroom because my bladder might explode.  Then, back in bed before 7am for a nap until mid morning, and then another 3+ hour nap mid afternoon.  I know that afternoon nap is what screws me up for real bedtime, but I've decided that I am going to sleep when I want/need to sleep and be awake when I'm awake.  Monday afternoon after we returned home from the doctor, I refused a nap- I felt horrible by 7pm, but I was determined to stay awake.  No reason, just determined.  I was asleep before 9:30p, and woke up about 5am (of course potty breaks in between) and back to sleep about 7am until 10am.   This could easily be the best moment of my week.                   

Best moment this week:  The perinatologist appointment on Monday went really well.  The growth check on Jolie was awesome- she gained 8 ounces in 7 days!  At this point in pregnancy she is supposed to be gaining about an ounce/day, so I was proud to hear that she had made some headway.  She is still pretty little at 4 lbs 11 ounces, but she is growing- which is such a relief.  My sweet Parker is at 5 lbs 8 ounces- she's gained 6 ounces since last check.  When Dr. Koster was measuring her leg bone you could see all the muscle/fat around it- she was laughing out loud at this girl's chunky legs.  Jordan was oozing with excitement because he wants so badly some chunky babies!  All in all, I was pleased with the results of what Dr. Koster found.. even though I couldn't tell a single thing we were looking at on the monitor.  They have gotten so big!  Thats a first!          

Miss Anything?  Wardrobe variety.                  

Movement:  At any given time I have a lopsided belly.  These girls move and move and move.  On Monday, Parker had flipped and was head down- yet again.  I have a feeling she will have issues with indecisiveness in her coming years- perhaps taking after her momma's problems with clothing selections?        

Food cravings:  None.  Although.. while we were out on Monday, Jordan asked me what I wanted for lunch.  I almost rhetorically spit out "Red Lobster".  When you lay in bed and watch 16+ hours of television- you see way too many commercials.           

Symptoms:  I am super congested, and while I've had this issue throughout my entire pregnancy, I halfway think it is a sinus infection.  I woke up on Saturday morning with a migraine that lasted until Sunday night (literally). Monday I was still reaping aftermath of the monster of a headache with head pressure and a constant feeling of 'blech'.  Feeling better now- but still congested.  Other symptoms to complain about?  Sore neck and back (oh. emm. geee.)          

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nada. 

Labor Signs:  Procardia twice daily is keeping me stable as far as preterm labor goes.  My cervix is still around a 2.1. Braxton Hicks contractions come and go- there was actually a day this weekend that I didn't remember having any at all.  Yesterday morning I had one that shot pain into my back.  Getting closer!    

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week I have been made aware of my short fuse with my sweet husband on one occasion.  It was that same day I was refusing to nap.  Goes to show I just need to take a nap when my body is telling me to.          

Looking forward to:  All of it.  Dr. Koster made mention on Monday's appointment that she would expect that next week (37 weeks) she would give the "go-ahead" to Walsh for delivery. I almost wiggled off the table with excitement! I have another sono/NST tomorrow morning with Walsh and  maybe she will tell me something then.  I'm okay with next week.. and I'm ok with the following week (12/12/12 is the date we have been tentatively working towards) either way I will (hopefully/prayerfully) be able to bring these sweet babies home with me/us.  I just cannot wait to meet these little girls.  The time is so close, and I am so ready.