That was strange. My friend reminded me that I needed to change the name of my blog from Collins + 2 to Collins + 3. To make that actual change made it a little more real. Wow! We are going to be a family of 5 in 5ish months! Twins! Oh my goodness. I asked the Dr. how common twins are, he said on Okinawa twins are very common. Mostly because there are so many pregnancies to begin with which makes for the higher possibility of twins. I am glad to know there are other moms out there who are going to be able to let me in on twins secrets.
The other thing I keep doing is not what my friend did: my friend who reminded me to change the name of the blog also has twins. She was a mom of twins who does not dress the boys alike, she does not call them the twins, she even went so far to make them independent that she pushed them out on different days! Each boy has a different bday. I on the other hand have already imagined two little same outfits, two little matching hair bows (we don't know the sex yet) and even naming the kid rhyming names. So I am being a total dork about this.
Well, if we have girls, L had more than enough clothes for the girls to use, but they won't match. L was so blessed by those around her with cute girl clothes that we will have more than enough. Boys though -- we have nothing for a boy. My mom asked , "Didn't L have anything that was neutral?" No, she didn't. People could not resist buying the totally precious girl clothes (who can blame them!). If we have boys, or even since we are having twins, its a good thing M was promoted!! We now need the $.
Can you tell I am still taking in the reality of TWINS!!!! Oh MAAAN!!!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Double Trouble
I was apparently correct to be nervous about yesterday's sonogram. On the drive to the Dr. I was telling M, I hope they are not going to tell us TWINS! I have known in my heart from the beginning that it would be twins. But to have it confirmed was WOW! The Dr. was looking and looking at the sonogram screen and being very quiet. Then he looked at me and said, "I have news, its twins." My first response was, "That's going to be a lot of work." Then I said "Crap." Not the most motherly response! M, however, was smiling from ear to ear and immediately was on cloud 9.
M and I have had several conversations about twins because I had suspected. I told the Dr. that I thought we would find out there were 2 little beanie babies, and the Dr. said mothers usually know. Weird.
For the rest of Tuesday I was overwhelmed and trying to figure out how I was going take care of twins and an almost 2 year old. However, when we were able to FINALLY start making phone calls (the time difference is a killer) I started getting really excited. We are going to be able to do this! We can make this happen.
I had said I wanted 3 but I hate being pregnant so now we get to have 3 kids without ever being pregnant again! So Double Trouble here we come! I am going to enjoy the next 5 months with only my Lou Lou and hope that she gets as much as possible from our time with just us. Then we will jump in to a life with 3!!!
This does move my delivery date. We were originally due March 30, but because of twins the Dr. talked about taking the babies earlier. So lots of prayers please for continued health of babies, health of mama and that delivery will go well. Pray L will take well to having 2 babies invade her space and pray we are given the strength to do this!
M and I have had several conversations about twins because I had suspected. I told the Dr. that I thought we would find out there were 2 little beanie babies, and the Dr. said mothers usually know. Weird.
For the rest of Tuesday I was overwhelmed and trying to figure out how I was going take care of twins and an almost 2 year old. However, when we were able to FINALLY start making phone calls (the time difference is a killer) I started getting really excited. We are going to be able to do this! We can make this happen.
I had said I wanted 3 but I hate being pregnant so now we get to have 3 kids without ever being pregnant again! So Double Trouble here we come! I am going to enjoy the next 5 months with only my Lou Lou and hope that she gets as much as possible from our time with just us. Then we will jump in to a life with 3!!!
This does move my delivery date. We were originally due March 30, but because of twins the Dr. talked about taking the babies earlier. So lots of prayers please for continued health of babies, health of mama and that delivery will go well. Pray L will take well to having 2 babies invade her space and pray we are given the strength to do this!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Baby Jay
We are getting ready to walk out the door to go meet Baby Jay on the sonogram. I have been nervous about this for a while. With our first pregnancy the problems got worse with the sonogram. I know in my head this is ridiculous to be nervous, but in my hormonal pregnant heart I am nervous. I am hoping all is well and healthy. I am hoping that Baby Jay is developing well that we get to see little fingers and toes.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Bye Bye hot mama
So right around L's first birthday I announced I had been on a mission to become a hot mama. I was no longer the mama of a tiny baby and could take a little time to do my hair, pick out nice clothes and had lost some wight. Well, that hot mama has gone out the window. In July we found out we were expecting little bundle number 2. Those of you who know me, know that our first pregnancy was difficult. Difficult due to complications and and all-day sickness for the entire pregnancy. Upon finding out that number 2 is coming, I was hopeful that this pregnancy would go better. I hoped and hoped and hoped.
That hoping and lots of praying has lead to a less nauseous pregnancy. I am not sure if I know how to manage better or got the anti-nausea medicine sooner or the prayers of all who know us, but it has been better. While I still have gotten sick and am nauseous a lot, it is still better than it was with L. So that was an improvement.
Also, since last time the Dr.s were all nervous and I think they created more complications than we really had, I have been very hesitant to even go to the Dr. Plus with a move around the world, it was difficult to get to a Dr. I have been to the Dr. to confirm the pregnancy and for my first appointment with the nurse to get blood work, paperwork and all the first appt. stuff done. But I have yet to see an actual Dr. And I have had no complications so far! While I appreciate having healthcare and recognize that professionals who really do want to take care of me and the baby, I have appreciated not having nervous Dr.s who want test after test done involved. Anyway, that was a side track.
The point is, we are complication free so far and sickness is better. However, I have still been nauseous with lots of throwing up. So caring about how I look when I haven't even been up to showering for the day is low on the list. My hair is getting little longer and without thinking I went right back to pony-tailing it. It would have been nice to keep looking like a hot mama, but pregnancy just sucks that right out of me. So I am giving my self from now until the new baby is a year old to look like the dumpy mom I prefer to and feel more comfortable with. When this next baby is one, the hot mama is coming back. Until then, we are in survival mode. Though I have had several days of feeling really good, so maybe I will be feeling completely better soon. Plus on Mon. I get a script refill, so I am excited about that!
Bye Bye Hot mama for now. Will see you again in the future!
That hoping and lots of praying has lead to a less nauseous pregnancy. I am not sure if I know how to manage better or got the anti-nausea medicine sooner or the prayers of all who know us, but it has been better. While I still have gotten sick and am nauseous a lot, it is still better than it was with L. So that was an improvement.
Also, since last time the Dr.s were all nervous and I think they created more complications than we really had, I have been very hesitant to even go to the Dr. Plus with a move around the world, it was difficult to get to a Dr. I have been to the Dr. to confirm the pregnancy and for my first appointment with the nurse to get blood work, paperwork and all the first appt. stuff done. But I have yet to see an actual Dr. And I have had no complications so far! While I appreciate having healthcare and recognize that professionals who really do want to take care of me and the baby, I have appreciated not having nervous Dr.s who want test after test done involved. Anyway, that was a side track.
The point is, we are complication free so far and sickness is better. However, I have still been nauseous with lots of throwing up. So caring about how I look when I haven't even been up to showering for the day is low on the list. My hair is getting little longer and without thinking I went right back to pony-tailing it. It would have been nice to keep looking like a hot mama, but pregnancy just sucks that right out of me. So I am giving my self from now until the new baby is a year old to look like the dumpy mom I prefer to and feel more comfortable with. When this next baby is one, the hot mama is coming back. Until then, we are in survival mode. Though I have had several days of feeling really good, so maybe I will be feeling completely better soon. Plus on Mon. I get a script refill, so I am excited about that!
Bye Bye Hot mama for now. Will see you again in the future!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ta Tas
My good friend is walking in a breast cancer walk. If you are so inclined, check out her blog and support her in honor of someone you love who has had breast cancer. This particular issue is close to my heart since all 3 of my grandmothers have had breast cancer. Please take a moment to just check out the blog. Dana is a preacher's wife and the thought of her wearing a T-shirt that states "I love my ta tas" is worth the read!
http://www.danaelaineellis.blogspot.com
http://www.danaelaineellis.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Surprises
We have had a few surprises about moving to Japan.
Our apartment and apartment building are amazingly clean! The apartment was spotless when we moved in and so far the building appears to be close to spotless. Very well done!
The locals who work at the on-base food courts are hard and dedicated workers. I have yet to see a person standing around. They are always cleaning, cooking, serving, preparing. These people know how to take care of their businesses!
The island is not as pretty as I thought it would be. I had pictured the island of Oahu or the Big Island of Hawai'i. So far I have seen run down buildings in Okinawa. Lots of traffic. And tons of older people who walk everywhere. But no beaches, beautiful gardens or sun kissed skin. I am being told that the Northern part of the Island will more than fulfill my original expectations of moving back to an island, but due to our bundle baking I have not been up to being out and about.
The cross walks chirp at you. Is it like this in other parts of Japan? Each time I drive through a chirping intersection, I crack a smile. I think the chirping is for the blind people to know when and where to cross. It is an interesting concept and I am glad blind people are so well taken care of.
The storage we have in our apartment is astounding. Almost all of our things are put away. We only have about 5 more boxes to unpack of things that I actually need to put away. The boxes in our ginormous storage areas are our Christmas stuff, clothes I will not be able to wear while pregnant, clothes I will only be able to wear after delivery and clothes I hope to fit back into a few months post-baby-delivery. Then a few boxes of clothes L has outgrown and will grow into.
The speed at which JCPennys is able to ship and send things we can only order on-line. Though M and I have lived in 5 different homes, we have to buy curtains EVERY time we move! That is expensive!! Not one place has yet to be a place where we can reuse all of our curtains. But JCPennys had us covered! They had exactly what we needed, shipped it quickly and did not charge us crazy amounts to have it shipped! Thank you JCPennys! Walmart however SUCKS! They are saying it will take up to a month to get our order here and when I clicked an APO address, the shipping cost more than doubled. No more shopping on-line at Walmart!
The sense of community of base and in base housing. Do you know that a neighbor saw us moving in with our stuff. She came over to introduce herself. Me in all of my unshowered, pukey glory smiled and shook her hand. She asked if there was anything I needed. I said, "No, but thank you. Oh wait, do you happen to have tums?" I had been up the night before with the end of 1st trimester heartburn and was not wanting to deal with heartburn for the day. We only have one car and M was at work. The woman ran to her house brought out her bottle of 5-6 tums left and handed me the bottle. Later in the day, she rang the bell while I was showering. M, who had gotten home early and had stopped to get me Tums, answered the door. Do you know that my neighbor had gone to the store and bought Tums for me?!?!??!?!?!?!?! M thanked her and said he was actually able to get me some, but what a lady! Acts of kindness are a regular occurrence in the building. I am grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people.
These are just a few of my most recent thoughts. Have a great day!
Our apartment and apartment building are amazingly clean! The apartment was spotless when we moved in and so far the building appears to be close to spotless. Very well done!
The locals who work at the on-base food courts are hard and dedicated workers. I have yet to see a person standing around. They are always cleaning, cooking, serving, preparing. These people know how to take care of their businesses!
The island is not as pretty as I thought it would be. I had pictured the island of Oahu or the Big Island of Hawai'i. So far I have seen run down buildings in Okinawa. Lots of traffic. And tons of older people who walk everywhere. But no beaches, beautiful gardens or sun kissed skin. I am being told that the Northern part of the Island will more than fulfill my original expectations of moving back to an island, but due to our bundle baking I have not been up to being out and about.
The cross walks chirp at you. Is it like this in other parts of Japan? Each time I drive through a chirping intersection, I crack a smile. I think the chirping is for the blind people to know when and where to cross. It is an interesting concept and I am glad blind people are so well taken care of.
The storage we have in our apartment is astounding. Almost all of our things are put away. We only have about 5 more boxes to unpack of things that I actually need to put away. The boxes in our ginormous storage areas are our Christmas stuff, clothes I will not be able to wear while pregnant, clothes I will only be able to wear after delivery and clothes I hope to fit back into a few months post-baby-delivery. Then a few boxes of clothes L has outgrown and will grow into.
The speed at which JCPennys is able to ship and send things we can only order on-line. Though M and I have lived in 5 different homes, we have to buy curtains EVERY time we move! That is expensive!! Not one place has yet to be a place where we can reuse all of our curtains. But JCPennys had us covered! They had exactly what we needed, shipped it quickly and did not charge us crazy amounts to have it shipped! Thank you JCPennys! Walmart however SUCKS! They are saying it will take up to a month to get our order here and when I clicked an APO address, the shipping cost more than doubled. No more shopping on-line at Walmart!
The sense of community of base and in base housing. Do you know that a neighbor saw us moving in with our stuff. She came over to introduce herself. Me in all of my unshowered, pukey glory smiled and shook her hand. She asked if there was anything I needed. I said, "No, but thank you. Oh wait, do you happen to have tums?" I had been up the night before with the end of 1st trimester heartburn and was not wanting to deal with heartburn for the day. We only have one car and M was at work. The woman ran to her house brought out her bottle of 5-6 tums left and handed me the bottle. Later in the day, she rang the bell while I was showering. M, who had gotten home early and had stopped to get me Tums, answered the door. Do you know that my neighbor had gone to the store and bought Tums for me?!?!??!?!?!?!?! M thanked her and said he was actually able to get me some, but what a lady! Acts of kindness are a regular occurrence in the building. I am grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people.
These are just a few of my most recent thoughts. Have a great day!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dedicated to Auntie M and Uncle M
So actually this is more in appreciation of my dad and stepmom. You see, as I am putting away all our stuff from our big move, I am realizing how much my (parents) little brother (2 years) and sister (6 years) have passed along to my baby girl. There are wash clothes, bibs, the bumbo, the baby swing, clothes, towels, socks, toys toys and more toys, books, bottles -- so much baby stuff that has saved us tons of money! So thank you Trents for passing along baby stuff. L appreciates it, we appreciate it and our bank account appreciates it!
We are getting settled into our new home. Getting - that is the frustrating part. I have been too sick and tiered to be of much use, so M comes home after working all day and works on the house. Then when I am trying to get things done during the day, L is there to "help". How will she learn things unless I let her help, but how do I get anything done because she is helping? I put books on the shelf, she pulls them off. I put toys in the bin, she pulls them out. I put packing materials in a box to be recycled, she pulls all the materials out all over the floor. So as much as I get done, I still end up getting nothing done because of my helper! I will steal a phrase from my dad and say to her. "L, quit acting like you are one!" But she is one, she is healthy and she is so far learning lots and her brain is working well. So I continue to try to remember to be thankful for healthy arms and legs, thankful that she is curious and figuring out the world around her, and thankful that because of her smarts she is trying to "help".
Speaking of things she is doing...here is a run down for our family far away.
Using about 50 words
Used one 3 word sentence two different times
Used the potty a handful of times now
Following a ton of one step commands
Knows where the bathroom, our room and her room is in the house
She combines several two-word phrases "mama up" "dada down"
She is making requests through sign language and verbally
She is doing some pretend play -- feeds an animal or "talks" on the phone
She gives hugs and kisses galore
When she gets excited she stomps her two feet back and forth
She likes to read books and be read to
I am thankful that she is meeting her developmental milestones, and I repeat that to myself after I have heard "mama" for the 18 millionth time during the day. Some mommies never get to hear "mama". So pray for me that I can continue to appreciate the gift of my baby girl, especially when I am frustrated with picking up the books she has thrown on the floor for the 80th time.
We have our appointment on Sept. 29 to meet our little Baby Jay. We will have our first ultrasound and checks to make sure all is well. I am excited to see Baby Jay on the ultrasound screen. I will be 14 weeks along. At 15 weeks I could feel L moving, so I am hoping I get to feel Baby Jay in the next several weeks too. I like when you can just fee a flutter rather than a kick to the rib. The flutters feel magical to me. Oh -- great news -- it has been 2 1/2 days since I puked. Maybe I won't be sick this whole pregnancy!!!!! It would be incredible to me to have the nausea go away! However, I am already thankful that this pregnancy has had no complications. With L the multiple complications had already started. I had kept saying if I could deal with only being sick or only the complications, I would do so much better. So to have 2 1/2 days with no throwing up and no complications, I am grateful! Baby Jay seems to be growing well. I am in maternity clothes and my tummy is poking out. Though to look at me you would wonder if I was preggo or putting on weight.
I am headed to take a nap while L is down. Gotta take advantage of the quiet, because the unpacking can happen later. As long as it happens by the time Baby Jay arrives.
Have a wonderfully wonderful day!
We are getting settled into our new home. Getting - that is the frustrating part. I have been too sick and tiered to be of much use, so M comes home after working all day and works on the house. Then when I am trying to get things done during the day, L is there to "help". How will she learn things unless I let her help, but how do I get anything done because she is helping? I put books on the shelf, she pulls them off. I put toys in the bin, she pulls them out. I put packing materials in a box to be recycled, she pulls all the materials out all over the floor. So as much as I get done, I still end up getting nothing done because of my helper! I will steal a phrase from my dad and say to her. "L, quit acting like you are one!" But she is one, she is healthy and she is so far learning lots and her brain is working well. So I continue to try to remember to be thankful for healthy arms and legs, thankful that she is curious and figuring out the world around her, and thankful that because of her smarts she is trying to "help".
Speaking of things she is doing...here is a run down for our family far away.
Using about 50 words
Used one 3 word sentence two different times
Used the potty a handful of times now
Following a ton of one step commands
Knows where the bathroom, our room and her room is in the house
She combines several two-word phrases "mama up" "dada down"
She is making requests through sign language and verbally
She is doing some pretend play -- feeds an animal or "talks" on the phone
She gives hugs and kisses galore
When she gets excited she stomps her two feet back and forth
She likes to read books and be read to
I am thankful that she is meeting her developmental milestones, and I repeat that to myself after I have heard "mama" for the 18 millionth time during the day. Some mommies never get to hear "mama". So pray for me that I can continue to appreciate the gift of my baby girl, especially when I am frustrated with picking up the books she has thrown on the floor for the 80th time.
We have our appointment on Sept. 29 to meet our little Baby Jay. We will have our first ultrasound and checks to make sure all is well. I am excited to see Baby Jay on the ultrasound screen. I will be 14 weeks along. At 15 weeks I could feel L moving, so I am hoping I get to feel Baby Jay in the next several weeks too. I like when you can just fee a flutter rather than a kick to the rib. The flutters feel magical to me. Oh -- great news -- it has been 2 1/2 days since I puked. Maybe I won't be sick this whole pregnancy!!!!! It would be incredible to me to have the nausea go away! However, I am already thankful that this pregnancy has had no complications. With L the multiple complications had already started. I had kept saying if I could deal with only being sick or only the complications, I would do so much better. So to have 2 1/2 days with no throwing up and no complications, I am grateful! Baby Jay seems to be growing well. I am in maternity clothes and my tummy is poking out. Though to look at me you would wonder if I was preggo or putting on weight.
I am headed to take a nap while L is down. Gotta take advantage of the quiet, because the unpacking can happen later. As long as it happens by the time Baby Jay arrives.
Have a wonderfully wonderful day!
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