Infertility Unfiltered: Let's Catch Up Chronicles

Wow! . . . . . . .

So hi! I can't believe its been since, wait.. when? Life completely swooped in took me on a ride and I finally have the time . I have so much to catch you up on, but I'll do it in parts so as not to overwhelm you with a ton of info.

April:
I can tell you right now that the month of April was so completely overwhelmingly busy. From baby/birth/hospital classes, to putting in a TON of time at work to build up my comp time, to running around and trying to finish last min things before babies arrived, and somewhere in there I had my baby shower, that by the way I did almost completely myself b/c my friends and family suck. Yea.. they suck. I mean not ONE of them stepped up to plan anything. I had to ask my friend if I could use her name on the invitations. Isn't that sad? So my hormonal self when into a little depression thinking that no one loved me or cared about me.
Even though my baby shower was thrown by me, myself and I - that just meant I got to control everything - and it was a hit! I've had people to this day tell me how great my shower was. (just by the way it was organized, food, set up, etc). I had rented out a small space at a fire hall, and bought a lot of things on sale b/t micheals and party city. I didn't really have "games" but I had gotten these paint pens to decorate onsies, and it worked out great. I've washed the onsies a ton of times and the paint hasn't faded or gotten over anything. Then I had people write funny quotes on diapers, and then the gift bingo. By the end of April I was 30 weeks already, basically a ticking time bomb. I mean look at me! I am round like a bomb you would find in Mario Brothers.

Taking the classes was fun, it really did prepare me for just about everything - even the birth education classes. I didn't think those videos were gross at all, I cried! The teacher even had a twin birth video to watch just for me. I highly recommended taking classes if your hospital or OB provides them. Yes they cost money, but its was so nice to have information and expectations told me by a professional. All the teachers were either nurses that worked at the hospital or retired. So you were able to separate fact from fiction. I know everyone has their opinions, but I def learned a lot from these classes. I was the only person having twins in the 3 classes that I took.
Side note - I think its weird that people still find it so fascinating when they run into someone with twins. Twins have been all around me for a few years now, so the "shine" has worn off. I mean two of my really good work buddies are twins, I'm the 3rd person in my office to have twins. But I still get "looks" where ever I go. (more on that later).

My shower "look"

Me and my baby daddy.

May:
May is when I started to have weekly appointments for both high risk and regular OB, every week I had considered myself a champion -I've made it this far, with huge babies in my belly! I was still trying to work as much as I could. Work was so incredibly busy, training two people to take over my tasks' while trying to get as caught up as I could before leaving. Again - ticking time bomb. I needed to be ready to go at any moment and I didn't want to come back to a complete mess.
I was also diagnosed with Cholestasis at week 32. Of course Dr.Google scared the crap outta me. Backing up a second. I had just randomly read a tidbit on one of my apps about abnormal itching all over (starting with the feet and hands). So I mentioned it to my doc about a week and half later and they tested me for this Cholestasis. It's basically when the liver produces to much bile acid for the gull bladder to handle and it leaks into the blood stream. This would affect the babies to where it would be to much for their little liver to handle, and it could make them poop (machonium, sp?) Both of which would result in an emergency c-section. Worst case scenario would be a still born.
I had my blood tested on a Friday, but didn't find out the results till Tuesday- and they wanted additional testing and wanted me to come in "right now" so that my high risk doctor would get the results before wed's appointment. Que the freak out. I wasn't ready yet. That night my husband and I ran around and tried to prepare, packing hospital bags, getting that other car seat, making arrangements for the dogs/cats, etc. I was ready for my high risk to tell me at my appointment wed morning "go straight to L&D."
Turns out my blood levels were 2x the normal rate, but he wanted me to try medicine 1st. My high risk doc was a rock star, he really wanted the best for me and my babies. Because of the Cholestasis, he did want me to go ahead and give birth at 36 weeks. The end is near! The babies looked fine, measuring just perfect with their perfect little heart rates. So I started on the medicine and my levels went down - thank goodness! Later I learned my cousin had this too, diagnosed on a Monday and was induced on Wed.
Week by week I was doing ok, I was really just getting through each day and getting through each week, until week 34. Man!!! It's like a switch turned on and it made everything so hard. I could hardly stand for more than a few minutes. My feet swelled up so bad. I was uncomfy any which way. Heartburn and acid re-flux SO BAD.
36 weeks landed me on June 2nd, so everything was arranged for a scheduled C-Section. You know what? I didn't care any way these babies came to me, just as long as they did. I never had a birth plan (other than I didn't want both a c-sec and a vag).
I worked 2 jobs till 22 weeks, then I worked my main full time job till 35 weeks (May 27th). Funny story. I work on a 3rd floor of our building. My last day of work, a Friday - they had a fire drill. REALLY? You want me to waddle down three flights of stairs, knowing that my water(s) could break at any second. Really????
I had hoped to get in a lot of rest before June 2nd, but my in-laws were over every day before then. I get they wanted to help. But I was just tired/sore/unbeknownst to me already having contractions (more on this later). She wanted to organize everything (kitchen cabinets, baby stuff, etc), so I just sat in a chair and watched her do things for me. I will say that we got a lot done.
I can remember complaining every night how much pain I was in, how much it hurt when they moved around. How she (baby girl was right on my cervix) was grinding at my hips (later learning those were contractions - duh kim!!). I couldn't have imagined having to make it to 38 weeks. Not without going on a self superscribed bed rest.

In the days before birth, I had gotten to a point where I was really ready. I didn't know how hard it would be, but I knew I could survive it and that I was meant for this. It was a very interesting feeling going to sleep on June 1st, knowing I would wake up the next day and have two babies.

Part II coming soon - -