The boys are here! :)

Elliott and Oliver are here!

They were born on 2/22.  Elliott Alexander was born at 4:26am weighing 7lbs 14oz. He was 20 3/4 inches and Oliver David at 4:39am weighing. 6lbs 3oz 19 1/4 inches via VBAC.  It was a rough labor, but they are here and that's all that matters! :)

We are back at home as of today at about 4pm.  More updates and the story of their birth to come....

Last day Pregnant! (And Maternity Pics)

Its funny to think that this is the last full day I will be pregnant! (unless of course the induction takes a long long time).  I feel like I just wrote a post like this before I had the girls because I wondered if I would ever be pregnant again.  Obviously, I was fortunate enough to be able to have more kids!  This time, I really don't know if I will be pregnant again.  I hope so, but who knows.  As of right now, there are no plans to have more kids in the immediate future.  We have 3 embryos on ice that I do plan to use  later on... but probably not until the girls are in school. I can't imagine having 5 (or 6!) kids at home under the age of 5.  That just might send me to the nut house.  :)

It is a bittersweet thing to give birth tomorrow.  I am so so so excited to meet my little boys (and share their names with everyone!!) but I am also a little sad to get rid of my pregnant belly that I have carried around for 9 months.  People always ask me if I'm just miserable... and really I'm not.  My body failed me so much trying to get pregnant that I think its making up for itself by allowing me to have successful (and fairly uneventful) twin pregnancies.  I know so many women that just whine and complain about being pregnant with multiples.. how hard it is and how they just want the babies out.  Well, I too want the babies out but I also want them to be healthy and strong so they can come home with mommy from the hospital.

I am lucky that my back doesn't hurt, my feet aren't really that swollen, and I didn't really gain weight in any other area than my belly.  I would imagine that in about 3 weeks time I will be back down to my pre-pregnancy weight and my belly will just be a distant memory.  I will miss the look on people's faces when they ask, "When are you due?" And I would say mid-March.  They looked at me and asked if it was my first and I would say, "No, these are my 2nd set of twins."  The look on their faces were just priceless!!  Then, they would ask, "How old are your other twins." And I would say, "16 months" and they just wouldn't even know what to say.  Some of my friends loved going out with me just to see people's reactions because it was all too funny.  I guess I will prepare myself now for the, "Are they quadruplets??" and the "Do twins run in your family??" question even more often.  I really need to come up with some witty responses because I get tired of feeling like I need to explain myself.

In just 18 hours I will be at the hospital getting checked in and hooked up to an IV with the wonderful pitocin in it.  I am really excited for the opportunity that my doctor is giving me to try and VBAC.  I trust him and his judgement and if anything goes south then I will obviously get another c-section.  But, if I don't try for a vaginal birth now, then I know my chances of ever having one are gone.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous... especially since the boys' heads were measuring 38 weeks when they were only 34!  But, I'm sticking with my plan and that's all there is to it.

I got maternity pictures taken  when I was 35 weeks and 3 days.  I took the maternity pics when I was 35 weeks and 4 days with the girls... so feel free to go back and find that post if you would like to compare bellies :)  I think the pics turned out pretty great!!!

 I will see you all on the other side as a mommy of 4!!!

Family Photo

Mama and Evy

Mama and Charlotte

Daddy and Mama

Char and Evy

Evy, Mama and Char

Last Appointment before the Big Day!!

I had my last prenatal appointment today before the big day!! (Unless of course they come before then!!) I did my usual NST and the boys cooperated well.  I was only on there for about 30 minutes and they seemed to be doing just fine.

After I got unhooked from the NST, I had to wait an hour for the doctor... yep a whole hour.  They told me he was running behind, but that's quite the understatement!!  He checked my cervix and it "might" be at 1cm, but was definitely not a 2 or 3.  My cervix is "way back there" and he said he wasn't going to torture me by really trying to check because I have an induction set for Thursday anyways.  Which, by the way, he said could take DAYS.  Really? Days??? I guess I better beef up my suitcase with some magazines, a book... something.  I'm bringing my computer too so I will throw in a couple movies or something I guess to watch as well.

On a side note, the Doc that I don't really care for came to check me for the NST today.  I told her about the induction and she said it was pretty "Gutsy" for Dr. B. (my doc) to be doing that.  I really didn't appreciate her opinion on the matter because she seems to be less experienced and well, she honestly scares the crap outta me when she says stuff like that!! She's also the one who tried to convince me months ago that I shouldn't have another c-section because future pregnancies (if there are any) could rupture my uterus causing an emergency hysterectomy or death.  But, she also is now telling me that another C might be the way to go.  So I just don't know about her... I trust my doctor and my own instincts.  If something isn't going right, then a c-section it will be.  I know that ultimately I need to do what's going to be best for myself and the boys!