One more sleep ...

Wow! I cannot believe that it's just one more sleep before I get to meet and hold my babies in my arms! It's been such a long time coming and I am so grateful that it's finally happening! The last 5 days have seen me rather tired and ravenous - yes, ravenous! I have been gorging on corn chips topped with cheese and salsa or anything "naughty". The babies are sure expanding a lot of energy, surely they must know something is up!

I received a call from the Obstetrician's room today informing me that we are to head to the hospital earlier tomorrow for the elective caesearean. Instead of 1:45pm, it will be 1:00pm. That means, I will be wheeled into the operating theatre fully-awaked at 3:00pm instead of 3:45pm and the babies will be born sometime after 3:15pm instead of 4:00pm! Wow! I am going to be a REAL mummy and will be my babies for the FIRST TIME!

I am so excited, grateful and relief that it's all coming together and happening in such an orderly manner.

Jared and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful marriage and great friendship with each other. We both know how deeply blessed we are with our miracle twins and will cherish them for the rest of our lives.

It's finally happening!

The last two months of my pregnancy has been physically and psychologically challenging to state the least. As I admire my burgeoning body and marvel at its ability to nurture and grow two healthy beings, it comes as no surprise that my energy levels have also plummeted to support the the miracles as well as my poor battered body!

The sharp prolonged ache on the pelvis, on my private parts as well as my water goblet of a belly which measured 46 inches last weekend makes resting very challenging. Every change in position to prevent 'dead leg' or one of the many awful symptoms of being sedatory, takes CONSIDERED effort!

Yes, friends who are parents assure me that all this is NOTHING as compared to parenthood. Oh dear...

At the appointment with the Obstetrician more than a week ago, he had given us three dates for the caesarean to take place - Friday 15th April, Good Friday or Friday 29th April (The Royal Wedding). I expressed my concern for the first date because the babies will only be 36 weeks young. Obstetrician assured us that they are of good weight (in fact, I am carrying two full-size singletons!) and can be "taken out" if I want to. Geee...the offer is tempting however, I told him that I would prefer if we took the 'wait and see attitude' since we check in with him every week.

Who would have thought the week after the appointment was certainly the WORSE week of my pregnancy so far?! My ever present constipation returned with a vengence, my body temperature spiked (another pregnancy symptom), physically I was worse than ever...oh dear....

This week, we went back to the Obstetrician for our weekly Monday check-in and I told him that I CANNOT make it to the Royal Wedding! Then I went on to describe my psychotic and physical state. He then suggested next Tuesday, 19th April as D-Day. I smiled with relief. He then told me to hold my horses because he has to check availability at the hospital since it is the week of the Easter and Anzac Day long weekend...oh dear...

God answered my prayers - the hospital and the medical team are available! YEAH! I felt a sudden surge of hope and energy knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am still the same person - the person who likes to know what is happening and when it is happening. I need a plan!

Yesterday was a momentous day for me as I looked at the clock when it struck 1:45pm (next week on the 19th April - that's my check in time at the hospital), 3:45pm (that's when I will be in the operating theatre fully awake with Jared by my side and 12 other medical staff), 4:00pm (that's when our babies will be born and we will get to hold them in our arms).

Today is another momentous day for me because this time next week, not only will be I be 'new' mummy, it will also be my 33rd Birthday! Yes, isn't that simply perfect! The best Birthday, ever!

34 weeks, 7 days: Counting Down

I underwent my last ultrasound scan at 34 weeks last Friday and all is well with the children. They are growing on track and combined weight is 9lbs 13oz! Yes, its quite amazing that I am carrying that amount of weight! We are please that they are of good sizes too! Our daughter weighs 5lbs 1oz (2.3kg) and our son weighs 4lbs 12oz (2.1kg).

On the following Monday, we saw the Obstetrician for our weekly check up and he assured us that all is well and then he dropped the bombshell:

Obstetrician

 "You can have your babies next Friday (15th April at 36 weeks) if you like!"

Me

(Speechless for a few seconds)

"Isn't that a bit too early?!"

Obstetrician

"Not at all.
They are a good size and that's the average timeframe Twins are being born. Since you have opted for elective Caesarean, you can choose.
It can be next Friday, Good Friday (only for emergency cases), or 29th April (that's your absolute last date)."

Me

Ok. I plan to keep them in me for as long as possible so we play it by ear based on our weekly appointments?

Obstetrician

Yes. Let's do that. In the meanwhile, take this Indemnity Form home.
Read it thoroughly, sign it and bring it back next Monday when I see you.

Me

Ok.

32 Weeks, 4 Days: A Never-Ending Rock Concert from Within

Time seems to go by so slowly since there isn't much to do at home and perhaps I should just confess and state that I am in no mood to do anything more than the essential requirements. Day time television programming is drain on my intellect, the hordes of books on my bookcases have been re-read umpteen times are now very predictable, pre-recordered shows I have watched so many times I now know the dialogue, etc...

Sorry for the whinge. One thing for certain, I am very bless. Bless to not have to fulfill work obligations and a husband who does not berate me for doing little - in fact, he's been more than understanding and wonderful.

We saw the Obstetrician today for our routine fortnightly appointment and once again, it was rather uneventful. The usual complaint from me about being breatheless - the Dr smiled and told me that there's nothing he can do to fix that! Gee...thanks! hahahaha

Babies' heart rates check out fine and yes, I am doing well.

The never-ending Rock Concert from within my belly led by two lead 'drummers' more appropriately known as my children have been keeping me amused, uncomfortable, body temperature hot, inability to slumber at night and constantly breatheless.

Yes, it is annoyingly tough and amusing assuring all at the same time. One thing for certain, yes, I seem to enjoy using this term, I am grateful for them. Grateful that they are active & well.

I shall continue to count down and every night I am unable to slumber draws them a day closer to being born...I shall remind myself that.

30 weeks, 1 day: Sleepless in Brisbane

Yippeee! I am very close to the finishing line, so to speak and haven't had a good night's sleep for the last 2 weeks. Must be mother nature's way of preparing me for motherhood.

It's been wonderous feeling the active movements of both children coupled with Braxton's Hicks - however, the hot and humid Autumn weather in Brisbane has been awful for all of us especially those of us who are pregnant. I am often breathless due to this and it is not a nice feeling.

I started putting together my toiletrie bag today which will go into the hospital bag - hopefully, I will get it all packed and ready by this weekend, just in case. I do not like not being prepared.

What I will have in my hospital bag

• Toiletrie Bag containing travel sized items such as shampoo, conditioner, facial wash, toner, moisturiser, toothpaste, toothbrush and comb
• Comfy button front pyjamas (easier for breast feeding)
• Heaps of comfy underwear
• Heaps of maternity pads
• Heaps of breast pads
• Bedroom sleepers
• Comfy shoes for coming home
• Outfit for coming home
• Pens that work because there will be heaps of forms to fill in
• A note pad so that I can record whatever that needs to be recordered
• Two jumpsuits for the babies when they come home with us
• Two pairs of hand mittens when they come home with us
• 2 blankets when they come home with us
• 2 swaddle blankets when they come home with us

Next Monday is my routine fortnightly appointment with the Obstetrician and prayfully, it will be yet another uneventful appointment where he tells us that all is well and that the physical discomforts I have been enduring are all part of the package we call 'Pregnancy'.

29 weeks of Gestation and 7 more weeks before birth!

Yippeee!!! 29 weeks as of today and both babies are growing well and active! In fact, the boy is more active than the girl - perhaps, he's got my hyper gene afterall!

The 3D scans were very interesting because we can kinda make out their features - one thing for certain, they are both very cute, sport chubby cheeks and have long feet! The girl has gorgeous delicate features such as a define nose (like her dad) and the boy has a flat squishy chinese nose like mine!

Regardless, they are both healthy, active and well - all parents desire that.

When I asked the Obstetrician this weeks at our fortnightly appointment when he anticipates their arrival, he looks at me - looks at the chart and unceremoniously declares, "At 36 weeks!" I sat dumbfounded because I have always been of the view that 38 weeks is full-term for twins. Oh well, he knows what he's doing and so far, he has been SPOT ON with my progress.

Am I nervous about labour? Yes and No.

Yes because of the pain and the unknown however I am assured that the medical team will know what they re doing and I am afterall, giving birth at one of Brisbane's leading hospitals which prides itself on having all the mod cons and also I have been there on two separate occassions for other surgeries and both times, I have been so well looked after.

No because it is part of pregnancy and I have been looking forward to motherhood.

I believe all parents will attest that labour is the easy part, it is the nurturing and upbringing of the child or in this case, children that will be the hardest on so many levels and I am looking forward to it.

Please GOD, let me have easy children who will obey my every word!!!!

28 weeks and 2.2kgs worth of babies

Valentine's Day this year was particularly special for us because we had an in-depth scan at 27 weeks 4 days.

Once again, it was marvellous to see our children on the screen - grateful for their growth and appreciate their active movements. This time, we had a much better look at their feet with toes (yes all 10 on each child) and their faces! Oh wow! They are so cute, chubby and absolutely perfect! Yes, I am biase and not ashame of it.

The icing on the cake was when the sonographer told us that our babies are the same size as singletons at this gestational age! Wow, just when I thought our babies are slightly smaller due to the compact size of my belly...each baby weighs 1.1kg~ there you have it, people, I am carrying 2.2kgs worth of babies in me...no wonder the fainting and breathelessness!

I love touching my belly, feeling their movements and having conversations with them. They are the absolutely sunshine of my life and I will do whatever I can to hold them in me for the next 10 weeks.

Thank you God for gifting us these miracles and also for creating science so that our dream for a family is possible. Amen.