Blessings from Week 31

Well, hello there!! 

31 weeks was good for us! 

AJ got back to Logan from work/church responsibilities on Tuesday evening. Then Wednesday afternoon got the call fm Novi's CEO that he was needed in Seattle for a conference. Sadly for me, he left early Thursday morning for his week and a half long trip. 

I miss him so much. I am definitely not built for AJ to be gone for long periods of time. When we were first dating, AJ was pretty intent on being in the Army. I knew that would be very difficult for me, but I was willing to make it work. I am grateful that AJs path led him to business... A week for business trips is way better for me than deployment. 

It also gives me more respect families who are in the military or other long-trip working situations. 

So blessing #1) AJ is only gone for a week and a half... Not longer. C:

- I was able to go to the Ogden Temple open house with my Aunt Gayle and cousin Abby. When a new LDS temple is completed, it is open to the public for around a month before it is dedicated as a sacred building. This allows all people to come and see what LDS temples are all about! 

- My mom and dad are back from their 2 weeks being away!! It makes AJ being gone much easier because I have people around me... Plus mom's surgery went well- so life is good! 

- Emma cleaned the kitchen to spotless perfection! When I came home from the open house, the kitchen was clean. It was such a nice surprise! 

- Emma and I had lunch with our Aunt Diana and cousin Ashleigh! It was so wonderful to see them- especially because Diana lives in Indiana and we don't get to see her often. We had a lot of fun chatting and eating and catching up on all the things going on in our lives. 

- I am grateful for technology- being able to meet my nephew Chrisitan while living so far away.... Being able to talk to AJ while he is on his trip... And staying in contact with my friends while I'm in Logan. Technology rules! 

Not too much going on right now, but we are definitely happy!! 

Love, 

Grace

Happy Week 30

This has been a really good week.

- AJ had a vacation from work... Meaning we had a ton of time to spend together. It was so fun just to relax and recuperate together. I love my husband so much!

- We had an awesome (repeat awesome) ward activity. MASTER CHEF MYSTERY BOX CHALLENGE. We gave bags of secret ingredients to different groups and each had to make either an entree or a dessert. We had some AMAZING creations come out of those kitchens! It was so fun to cook together and eat together and talk together. I love ward activities!! 

- I met my new OB here in Logan. He rocks!! I told AJ that we may need to move to Logan permanently so that this OB can deliver all of our babies. C: He is just the perfect mix of "it's your babies, your way" and "I know what is medically best for you and your babies." We went over my very flexible birth plan (flexible because I know with twins often times nothing happens the way it was planned to), and he was on board with everything. He had advice on each point but most of it was in line with what I wanted already- sooooo I felt pretty good about that. He also was super happy with how healthy the boys and I looked! He thinks we have a good chance of making it to 36-37 weeks!! After months of stressing out about super preemie babies, it feels wonderful to get such poisitve feedback. 

Look at my baby bump grow! I'm measuring @ 37 weeks (even though I'm only 30 weeks along)

Then a few days later I had my Maternal Fetal Medicine appointment. They were just following up to make sure that no signs of twin to twin transfusion popped up in the last two weeks. And there were none! The tech doing the ultrasound and the perinatologist kept saying how healthy the boys are and perfectly they are growing c: I was pretty much beaming from ear to ear. Baby A clocked in at 3 lbs 8 oz (8 oz growth in 2 weeks) and Baby B at 3 lbs 5 oz (11 oz growth in 2 weeks)!!! They are growing so fast- no wonder I'm tired and hungry all the time! 

- I made homemade cookie dough ice cream sandwiches! I have been craving sweets lately- which is funny because for the first two trimesters sweets really had no appeal. Anyways, I saw these ice cream sandwiches on Pinterest a while ago and have been dyyyying to make them- they are just pretty expensive to make with my food allergies. But this week I finally caved and I am so glad that I did! AJ and I plowed through the first batch in a day... Emma barely got any! So last night I made some more! 

Just writing about it makes me want one. Be right back....

10 am isn't too early for cookie dough ice cream sandwiches, right? C:

- AJ and I set up the crib! It is so pretty, I love it. We found this great deal on KSL a few weeks ago (crib and mattress) and I have been really excited to get it set up. I practiced reaching in and getting something out of the crib...because I am short and the crib seemed tall... and it made this whole soon I will have two babies situation become really real. It was a happy moment for sure. 

- I got to hang out with my friend Kaitlin Shick! We made dinner, and chatted, and just caught up on life! When I lived up in Logan the summer after freshman year, she and I became good friends. We don't really get to see each other too often when I am up here for short trips... So I am really looking forward to spending more time with her while we are living here. 

- AJ and I went to the temple! It was wonderful as always. 

- My parents have this awesome bed that has a remote to raise/lower the head and feet portions of the bed. Since they have been out of town, we have been sleeping on their bed. It's nice because when I sleep on a regular bed, I have to prop my legs up with pillows to elevate them. If I change positions, the pillows fall over and aren't effective. But with my parents bed, I just use the remote to raise the feet and vualah! Elevated, not swollen/sore feet result! Plus AJ can leave his side flat so he can sleep well. I know what I'm asking for for Christmas... JK the bed is super expensive.

- OUR NEW NEPHEW WAS BORN! Christian Spencer Fuller (son of Spencer and Ashley Anne Fuller) was born Friday, August 22, 2014!!! He was a little over 7 lbs and has a lot of hair. C: 

Now they are home and Christian's big sister Clara is ecstatic! We video chatted with them yesterday and it was clear how much she loves her brother. San Diego really is too far away. I'm seriously considering making the drive (but I'm pretty sure my doctors wouldn't be thrilled about the trip c:). 

This week was full of happy things. I am grateful for it.

Love, 

Grace

My Twin Baby Bump

I am 30 weeks pregnant... but my baby bump measures at 37 weeks!

Since I have nothing to compare this pregnancy to- I've been thinking a lot about how different this pregnancy is than future pregnancies will be!

Here are few things I have noticed so far:

I haven't been able to see my feet for weeks.
I don't know when it is normal to stop seeing your feet... but keep in mind I stopped being able to see them around 23 weeks!

I mean... I guess I can see them if I bend over far enough c:

My feet/ankles are swollen all. the. time.
When AJ and I flew to Japan, my feet swelled up like balloons! It was painful and I could barely put my shoes on!
This has become my norm. Every day I cycle through putting my sandals on in the morning, hoping and praying that they will still fit! When I take off my shoes later, I have the braided rope pattern imprinted on my poor little (or I guess not so little) feet.
AJ has been lovingly rubbing my feet for weeks and weeks helping the swelling to go down. Now-a-days compression socks hardly do the trick! The best way I've found is to keep my feet elevated (especially while I sleep).

I am always hungry.
The other week AJ and I were at Noodles & Co. with AJs mom. I ordered Pad Thai with pork and it was deeeeelicious!
After scarfing down the dinner, we chatted for about 30 minutes and decided it was time to get going. We were going to run an errand or two before we got home. I felt embarrassed (but got over it quickly because of how hungry I knew I would be soon) and I mentioned that I was going to be hungry again before we finished our errands. I ordered a second Pad Thai- this time with shrimp! I took it to go and about 45 minutes later I scarfed it down, too!

Sleeping is uncomfortable.... and it has been for a while.
I was on Facebook about a month ago and saw that my friend had posted a picture of her adorable baby bump at 31 weeks. She had to hold her shirt down in order for the bump to be really accented. The caption read something like, "31 weeks! Sleeping is starting to become a pain- I can never find a comfy position!"
I chuckled.
I was 26 weeks and I had already been dealing with the big bump discomfort for weeks!! Sleeping soundly is a thing of the past- replaced with bathroom breaks and waking up with a sore back/neck. I guess I am being prepared for when these boys come and keep me up at night c:

Every week more clothes don't fit.
When my friend Erika was pregnant, she didn't start wearing maternity clothes for a while. Towards the end of her pregnancy she wore the maternity clothes- so I was thinking the same thing would happen to me.
Around 12-13 weeks in, I no longer fit into my pants. My mom and I had gone shopping for maternity pants around 10 weeks (when I first told her I was pregnant). I was SURE that the clothes would sit on my shelf for months before I had to start wearing them. lies.
I remember the first time I wore maternity pants- they felt amazing! I couldn't believe I had kept squeezing into my pre-pregnancy pants because the stretchy ones felt soooo good. I could breathe and move and dance if I wanted to!
I also remember waiting to wear some maternity clothes for so long that once I did put them on they didn't even fit! we had a good laugh at that one. One of my favorite maternity skirts I never got to wear. It makes me look forward to wearing it during my next pregnancy though c:
I boxed away my non-maternity clothes one at a time as they stopped fitting. First the pants and skirts, then the shirts, then the dresses (length is an issue- even if the dress is super flowy... it no longer goes to my knees!!). Now I am having to do the same process with my maternity clothes. Each week I pack one or two more things (pants a few weeks ago and shirts mostly these days) that no longer fit or cover up my bump. I am only 30 weeks along and my wardrobe is becoming scarce!

I already do the preggo-waddle.
A guy in the office next door to me said, "You're walking pretty gingerly these days." That was at 24 weeks and its only gotten worse.

Occasionally I don't fit places/do normal things.
On Sunday I tried to go into a bathroom stall at church that was too small-- I couldn't get in and close the door around my pregnant belly! I had to use another stall!
Two weeks ago, AJ and I got into the car. I reached my arm to close the door and couldn't reach! I was stuck in my chair and couldn't get enough momentum to propel me close enough to the door to close it either. AJ had to come around and close it for me!
I can no longer bend over in the car to "pop the trunk" open. AJ has to come around to the window and do it.
There is a bed at my mom and dad's house that I have deemed the dippy bed. This bed has a dip in the middle of the mattress and if you lay on the edge of the bed you sort of roll into the dip. Anyways- I can no longer sleep on the dippy bed because once I get into the dippy bed I cannot get out. I roll into the middle (stopped by my belly) and due to the angle cannot roll back over to get out. This becomes an inconvenience when I have to pee in the middle of the night and have to wake AJ up to help me out of bed. its pretty funny, actually.
I was sitting at the dinner table one day and Kaylie and Dallas were about to sit down. I moved over a chair so they could sit next to each other... but when I tried to sit down in my new chair I couldn't fit between the wall and the table! We had to scoot the table out a foot so that I could fit in that chair c:


These are the sort of things that have been my twin pregnancy normal for weeks, but probably won't happen until towards the end of my singleton pregnancies. Since I have never been pregnant before- I don't have any real life experiences to gauge the differences.
In some ways this makes the inconveniences easier because I don't know any better. c:

And despite being uncomfortable... I wouldn't change a thing.

Blessings from Week 29!!

WOW~ what a week!! Week 29 has brought some of the hardest and happiest times.

The hard stuff revolved around AJs work. His company has this amazing opportunity to go to Seattle for the semester and take part in a Microsoft accelerator program. Microsoft is providing full time employees to help Novi succeed. This all happened in a matter of two weeks and it forced us to make a major decision- do we move to Seattle or stay in Utah?

First let me mention that 3 Novi tem members are moving to Seattle and 3 team members are staying in Utah. We have decided to stay in Utah.

Monday and Tuesday were both focused on making and coming to terms with the decision. There were pros and cons for the decision to stay. Most of them revolved around AJs ability to grow with the company versus the complicated situation with the twins coming. We decided through prayer that we should stay in Utah- however that decision means that AJ takes a backseat role this semester while the Seattle guys take lead.

Initially this was really hard for AJ. Though the decision doesn't affect equity or pay, he felt gipped that by doing what is best for our family he had to give up leadership and responsibility at work. For two days we really struggled with this. Following the prompting to stay in Utah seemed like a punishment. However, once AJ spoke with the Wade (the CEO) he realized that taking a backseat this semester may be exactly what we need. He will want/need time to spend helping me with the babies. Also, by having less responsibility at work he is able to take paternity leave once the babies come (what what!!) and really enjoy learning how to be a dad.

I would have really struggled in Seattle- but we would have made it work. I am just grateful that we have been able to see the benefit for our family by staying in Utah. Once the Microsoft accelerator is over, AJ will take some of his responsibilities back and things will go back to normal... or as close to normal as we can get with twins c:

Blessings:
- My birthday was this week! I had so much fun- the day was the perfect mix of relaxing and fun-filled. First, I went to lunch with our cousin Christy and her daughter Abby! We tried a Thai place in Provo and it was awesome. The lunch special portion size was huge and I even had enough for... drumroll please... leftovers!
*note: I have not had leftovers in quite a while because I eat and eat and eat. c:
Then I took a nap which was wonderful, and afterwards Stefani Mortensen and I got a pedicure! It felt amazing. I have been dreaming of getting a pedicure for a while now to soothe my poor feet! It did not disappoint! I got a sparkly blue polish (cause I am having boys) and Stefani went craaazy and got green instead of her usual coral/pink. I loved spending time with her. Our husbands get along so well- sometimes I think they have the same brain- and the 4 of us love to hang out. It was good to spend some time with just Stefani, though. I am grateful we had the chance to develop our friendship independent of our husbands!!
When AJ got home from work- we went to the temple! This has become one of my favorite birthday activities and I think it is something we will continue to do for our whole lives. It is good to step out of the me-me-me attitude of birthdays and remember that its just another day. The temple does that for me- it helps me remember that there is so much more than presents and cake! 

- AJ and I had breakfast with my Aunt, Gayle, and cousins Abbey and Ethan! It was really nice to catch up and to get her advice on the whole Seattle situation. 
- As a surprise birthday gift, AJ planned a dinner with friends! He planned it for the day after my birthday so it really was a surprise c: Oh my oh my oh my it was so much fun!! We hung out in Kaylie and Dallas's backyard, ate Hawaiian haystacks, and played with the puppies. It was the perfect gift!! 

- We moved to my parents house in Logan, UT! It has been fun to hang out with my lil' sis Emma, chill on the porch with my puppy-doggie Sookie, and get things ready for the babies!! 

- Our frame stroller came!!! I am so excited for this thing- it fits folded up in our trunk and when it's in use the car seats clip in to frame. I love it! 

- I went to see my new OB in Logan. It went so incredibly well- I could not have asked for a better OB. He instilled confidence in my ability to carry these babies to 36 or 37 weeks! I feel on top of the world and I believe that these boys will be born big and healthy! 

Much love, 

G
 

Blessings from Week 28!!

WOW! 28 weeks.

The fact that I can say, "I am 28 weeks!" is a blessing in and of itself!! When I was put on bed rest at 22 weeks, I thought that 28 weeks seemed so far away. But hey hey hey I made it!

This week was AWESOME- nothing too amazing in particular happened... but just the general feeling of the week was wonderful.

- I had not one but two ultrasounds! I had one on Monday and the babies were looking healthy. I texted my OB about the babies and he asked me if I had seen the Maternal Fetal Medicine group at the hospital. I hadn't been to see them and he was really surprised- i think its time you go in- he said. Apparently I should have gone in to see them a while ago....... oops. c: He scheduled an appointment for me.
Basically the MFM group does more in depth ultrasounds for high risk pregnancies. With the twins sharing a placenta they are at risk for something called Twin to Twin Transfusion... therefore I am considered high risk.  
The ultrasound with the MFM went really well!! The babies were stubborn and wouldn't show their faces- so the tech had to dig into me (which hurt) but they are big and healthy! 3 lbs and 2 lbs 11 oz!! I am ecstatic! They also show no signs of Twin to Twin Transfusion! I am feeling so blessed with not only how healthy I feel but also with how healthy these babies are. Life is happy and good.
- No more bed rest! I was officially given the go ahead to live my life normally again!! The OB also said that I can go on a 20 minute walk per day! It feels so wonderful!
- I also spoke with my OB about moving up to Logan. Call me crazy... but we have come to the conclusion that moving now makes WAY more sense than waiting for the babies to be born before we move up. I mean... moving not only ourselves but two babies and their stuff and trying to get it all set up right after they are born? no way jose. I asked the OB about moving- gave him the pros and cons of it- and asked his advice.
He said to go for it! 
His reasoning is that the support we will get in Logan with family (especially in the latter part of my pregnancy) will be crucial. He also mentioned that I have to develop a relationship with a new OB anyways (sadly, he is switching clinics) and so now is a great time to make the move. I am so glad I received his support- it makes the move so much easier!
- My aunt gave us deeeelicious peaches which I used to make peach raspberry cobbler!!!!!!! Oh my oh my oh my delicious. It didn't last very long.
- My niece Clara turned 3! She is just the cutest thing on the planet and in a few days will have a baby brother! I CANNOT WAIT!!
- I had brunch with my friend Sarah Riley! We lived kitty corner to each other for almost a year- and we didn't realize it until just a few months ago! I wish we had realized it earlier/taken advantage of the close proximity before because now I am moving to Logan and she is moving to Washington... so I am bummed that we won't be closer.
- AJ and I went to see our friend Stefani at her BYU dance major Senior Showcase! She choreographed the opening piece- it incorporated dance and the visual arts. Her dancers were drawn live by artists on stage. It was awesome! Stefani also danced in the last number. She really is a gorgeous dancer.
- Sunday was just the perfect day. AJ and I got home from church and spent the evening just relaxing. We watched the movie Fireproof, which was wonderful. It really made us grateful for our relationship and grateful for our faith.

All in all it was a great week!
c:

It Poured Cats and Dogs and Blessings in Week 27!!!

Here's why::

- I felt just plain old healthy! I mean my feet hurt a lot- but otherwise I felt great! I love feeling happy and healthy! I think this has something to do with my new mantra "Positive Thoughts!" I've come to realize that positive thinking can relieve stress and help my mind focus on how good I feel. The past few months I've been so stressed and scared about the worst-case scenario that I haven't really been able to focus on feeling good. This week I decided that attitude is everything- and it worked for me. C:

- the boys kicked a LOT this week. I love feeling them punch my organs! It means they are growing stronger.

- I had an ultrasound today in preparation for week 28-- the boys are doing well! Baby A is 2lbs13oz and Baby B is 2lbs5oz. Baby A is vertex and spread out all over my left side which leaves little room for Baby B! He is scrunched with his legs up by his face! Poor boy! His butt is in Baby A's face though- I think that's pretty good payback! 

Baby A profile

Baby B profile

- we had our Hyde Park baby shower and it was wonderful! I love the support of the ward up there! I lived in that ward for the summer after my freshman year at BYU and since have been to visit only. Still the ward is so generous and kind to us! The friendships I made years ago with the relief society members is still strong and I was amazed at the love and excitement they showered us with! Not to mention the good food! 

(Side note: I love the boys in my family! My dad, AJ, and Ryan all came to the shower. Ryan was initially grumpy gills because it was an all girl shower-not by necessity, just because I didn't think boys liked baby showers. When my sister arrived, she told me that Ryan wanted to come and so we called him! It was so fun to have the boys there- and I think I will do co-ed baby showers from now on! It was fun to celebrate with AJ and not just be the sole recipient of love and well-wishes!!!!)

- we have received generous help in so many ways throughout this pregnancy! This week we felt especially grateful for a note that a good friend left. I am amazed constantly how people are inspired to do/say exactly the thing that we needed- God is good and He inspires people. We are blessed to be surrounded by people who follow spiritual promptings. 

- I got compression socks! My feet have been swollen and sore for too long! I ordered some socks online and then Kaylie (remember the awesome couple we are living with) saw a great deal on compression socks when she was buying scrubs!! So I was able to save some money! Wahoo wahoo!! 

- while we were in Logan this weekend we got to spend some good time with family! On Saturday we all went to brunch! My little sister is prepping for college and has been working a crazy loco amount! I was so happy she had Saturday morning off and we were all able to be together! We went to Herm's and I got corned beef and hash. Oh my saliva! It was so so so good. I could eat that every day and never get sick of it! C:

- church was moved to 12:30pm! This past year our ward started at 8:00 am and AJs meetings started at 7am! Now his meetings start at 10am! We are lucky dogs able to sleep in! 

- I found a way to use the leftover green cabbage in curry! It's been sitting in our fridge for a while because I only have one recipe that I use green cabbage for....but we found a way! And it actually tasted delicious in the curry- I may make it a permanent addition! 

- my birthday is next week- just looking forward to it made me happy! 

- we had Sunday dinner with the Parker's! We had a great gospel discussion and I was so grateful for their insights into certain topics. I definitely learned a lot! 

- my hair looked great the other day ... And I didn't even do a thing. I got out of the shower, brushed my hair, and put it in a bun. When I took it out it looked like I had curled it and I felt great! I'm going to try to duplicate the look! 

- it's August! 

- ALSO-- it literally poured cats and dogs here in Provo!! I love the sound of a storm. It reminds me of growing up in Indiana... Man oh man it makes me happy! 

Basically I'm just a happy camper. Feeling super blessed, healthy, and happy. I know as we focus on the good things, we see more and more of the good things! Isn't that amazing? 

Love, 

G