Bennett & Brody - 9 Months

Game (back) on!

So, it has been awhile. The fog is clearing so here are some pictures from over the past 9 months. Vertical Nicole will have to update the site with more pictures of beautiful little Harper. I don't know if we've mentioned this before but we believe in arranged marriages so she most certainly will marry Bennett or Brody; we're not sure which yet. I hope you enjoy the photos.

- Horizontal

Meeting Santa for the first time - December 3, 2010


Thanksgiving 2010
8 months old - November 6, 2010
7 months old - October 6, 2010

5 months old - August 6, 2010 (6 month photo to come)


4 months old - July 6, 2010
3 months old - June 6, 2010
2 months old - May 6, 2010

Hey Where are my pants and why is she screaming?

Bennett, Harper, Brody
Boys 4 weeks 6 days
Girl 3 weeks 1 day

3 Amigos

The boys are 3 weeks 3 days. Harper is 1 week 5 days.

Harper's Arrival

Here are some of the first pictures of Harper.

Ultimate multi tasker

I will post pictures of all the babies later, but Harper Christine Judith Burke was born March 18 9:00am. She weighed in at 8lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long.

I am currently posting my blog, breastfeeding and those 2 things alone would be a pretty good multi-tasking feat. But That Isn't All. I'm giving Nolan a bath and watching the Biggest Loser. That is all it takes to be a mom, the ability to multi-task.

Good Night
Nicole

Brody & Bennett Arrived!!!

Born March 6
Brody on left weight- 6lbs 14 oz 21 inches 5:58pm
Bennett on right weight- 7lbs 6 oz 21 inches 5:46pm

Nichole & Rich are doing great!

I'm sure she will fill in more details soon.

Proud Vertical Nicole

Update #2

Water broke at 12:30

Horizontal in the hospital

Just a quick update Nichole was checked into the hospital this morning and the petossin was started around 8:30. I will give updates as I get them. I can't be more excited for Nichole and Rich!!!

Finally (so happy to be able to say that vs. "Already?")!!

It seems the word has spread like wildfire on our other favorite social media outlet, Facebook, that I am scheduled to be induced tomorrow. It's not right that our BFF Followers (all 13 :) didn't hear it here first :). I know from others that being scheduled to be induced can change, giving priority to spontaneous laborers, so I've got my fingers crossed that tomorrow is the day. I also have a friend who was induced for 5 days straight until she had a c-section on the 5th day, so I'm trying to keep my excitement and anxiety in check. With that said, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we face the thing I'm most terrified of (labor/child birth) and hope that tomorrow is the golden day that we meet our little twin babies. We'll get a call between 5:30 - 8:30 a.m. tomorrow letting us know what time we're scheduled for, or letting us know it was postponed. It's fair to assume that no news is just that: no news. We'll update the blog with pictures and details as soon as we can. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Thanks for following our story so far.

- Nichole, with an h

Was that my outside voice?

I learned a very valuable lesson from a dear friend of mine several years ago. We were at a friend's wedding and she asked a "star athlete" from our high school when she was due (we had not seen her in years). The woman so gracefully pointed at the 1-2 year old child running around the room and said, "That's my baby". Apparently she was not pregnant. Oh my God. I mean, OH MY GOD. To my friend's defense, the woman seemed to have picked up several pounds and maybe not lost the pregnancy weight. My poor mortified friend turned and walked away as I laughed my ass off - at my friend's embarrassment, not at the woman. Truly, I was just glad I learned that lesson through her and not myself because I guarantee I was seconds away from asking that same question. Well, now I am so fearful of saying the wrong thing that I won't say anything at all, even if it is clearly obvious that someone is pregnant. Apparently, not everyone has that same fear.

I haven't been offended by anyone's comments (probably because I haven't been allowed into society for nearly 12 weeks - so I haven't given people as much of an opportunity). However, over the past week I have been amused at how fearless some people (usually strangers) are. Here are a couple comments I've heard.

- Rich and I were in the elevator at the doctor's office and a woman came in and said, "You look like you're going to deliver in about 7 1/2 minutes!" I laughed and said I hoped so. After she left I wanted to run after her and tell her it's twins. Apparently I felt like I needed to justify the girth of my belly. But still, no intro 'hi', no 'good afternoon', just a passive-aggressive way of saying, "You are huge!"

- Yesterday I was doing my part to try to get the stages of labor to progress and I went to the grocery store with Rich. It was so weird trying to ignore people's looks, like I am a freak of nature (let's be honest, I kind of am. It's AMAZING bellies have the ability to stretch like this and hold two lives inside it.....so wild). So we were just about done getting what we needed and I told Rich we should buy a pregnancy test, just to get a good laugh at the cashier's face. We opted out but got a good laugh just thinking about it. However, I guess the joke was on me. As we walked up to check out I heard some loud voice say something to the effect of, "....about to pop!" I looked up and the borderline teenager/adult cashier - from TWO lanes away - was yelling through her line and the next check out lane (all full of people by the way), "Wow, you look like you're ready to pop!!" Embarrassed, and not sure how to react, we just got in line at the nearest register (not hers) and I said again, "I hope so." The cashier and bagger in our lane just kept their head's down like they were embarrassed. Not sure if they were embarrassed for me or for her but either way it gave me something to talk about the entire way home. :)

I have to wonder sometimes if these people realize that they are speaking in their outside voices :).

- Nichole, with an h

Twin Update

The time has come for these boys to join our crazy world. I'm 37 weeks, 4 days and ready. The doctor said during our appointment yesterday that I was in early stage labor (dialated to a 2-3) and she thought I'd deliver today. I think she just said that because she was doing deliveries today and I have been very vocal about how I'd like her to be the one to deliver our babies. We've only got 2 more hours until she's off though so these boys better hurry (or wait until next Tuesday!). I did do my part - got up early (for me), "got ready" with no shortcuts, took Lola for a walk, went out to lunch, and drove around with Rich and did errands. I got home and had no signs of going into full blown labor but was very sore and tired. I've been trying to continue to be active but I am exhausted (amazing how easily that happens these days). Either way, we're scheduled to be induced on Saturday, so we'll get to hold them before you know it.

- Nichole, with an h

~ 36 Weeks

I look at this and think it's amazing I can hold myself up. It makes me feel better to say I'm a day away from 37 weeks, but does it really matter? Nicole (no h) just got back from the doctor and he said she's having a big baby. She just needs to stick with me and no one will believe her, even though, believe it or not, the circumference of our bellies are measuring exactly the same. I swear. We just didn't measure top to bottom.... anyway, enough of my trying to justify things, here we are with our beautiful bellies.

The Year of the Tiger and more Chinese

My colleague just spent a month in China and has shared with me some of the superstitions around having a baby. I cannot help but be thankful I have yet to strike an animal over the past nine months. This list also inspired me to read a little about the Chinese zodiac and learn about the year of the Tiger (also below). Interesting and also amusing stuff....

When having a baby:
*If you're pregnant, use of glue will cause a difficult birth. So will sniffing glue.

*If you strike an animal during pregnancy, the newborn child will look like that animal and behave like one. If you're ugly this might be an upgrade.

*You should never praise a newborn baby because it will invite evil spirits and ghosts. "Oh! What a ghastly wretch of a baby!"

*A concave navel means a prosperous life. Inny's are the best!

*A baby with more than one hair crown will be mischievous and disobedient. All party officials have two.

*A baby with wide and thick ears will live prosperously. Ear modeling was big in the Tang dynasty.

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

02/14/2010 - 02/02/2011 (Metal)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of a Golden Tiger, which begins on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. The first day of the lunar New Year 2010 falls on the 14th day of February, which is Saint Valentine's Day, so it is a day the West celebrates as a lovers' day, a day of romance. To the Chinese, it is the start of the Golden Tiger Year. The Tiger is the third sign in the cycle of Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs. It is a sign of courage. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered by the ancient Chinese as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts. On New Year's day itself, it is beneficial to celebrate, to be happy, to have smiling faces, and to refrain from scowling, quarreling, or criticizing anyone.

- Nichole, with an h

Foods of our labour

When you are pregnant, there is a cool website (www.babycenter.com) you can sign up on, that guides you through the 40 weeks of your pregnancy. It gives you fun facts about what body parts are growing, how to prepare for the new baby, vitamins, healthy foods, etc, etc. I use to say to Brian I grew a nervous system today, what did you do?

This site also gives you a comparison on the weight (W), size (S) or length (L) of you growing baby. Horizontal and I have had a good laugh on some of their comparisons. Here is their list.

Week 4 Poppy Seed (S)
Week 5 Sesame Seed (S)
Week 6 Lentil Bean (S)
Week 7 Blueberry (S)
Week 8 Kidney Bean (S)
Week 9 Grape (S)
Week 10 Kumquat (S)
Week 11 Fig (S)
Week 12 Lime (S)
Week 13 Medium Shrimp (S)
Week 14 Lemon (S)
Week 15 Apple (S)
Week 16 Avocado (S)
Week 17 Turnip (L)
Week 18 Bell Pepper (S)
Week 19 Heirloom Tomato (S)
Week 20 Banana (L)
Week 21 Carrot (L)
Week 22 Spaghetti Squash (W)
Week 23 Large Mango (W)
Week 24 Ear of Corn (L)
Week 25 Rutabaga (W)
Week 26 English Hothouse Cucumber (L) – Quite specific on the type of cucumber…
Week 27 Cauliflower (W)
Week 28 Chinese cabbage (W)
Week 29 Butternut squash (W)
Week 30 Head of cabbage (W) - This vegetable comes in handy after the baby is born too...
Week 31 Four navel oranges (W)
Week 32 Jicama (W) - What the ---- is this?
Week 33 Pineapple (W)
Week 34 Cantaloupe (W)
Week 35 Honeydew melon (W)
Week 36 Crenshaw melon (W) – Another one, What???
Week 37 Stalk of Swiss Chard (L)
Week 38 Leek (L)
Week 39 Mini Watermelon (S) – I’d say a full watermelon, but that is just how I feel

36 Weeks!! Yea!

That's right...36 weeks, I don't care what anyone says. I haven't vented about this much on the blog (thought I'd spare you) but healthcare providers really struggle with counting up to 40 weeks. There was some debate at the perinatologist's office as to how far along I was, which ended on the number I had been telling them all along. Today, back at the OB's office, the ultrasound tech said I was 36 weeks, 5 days. Trust me, I would notice those bonus 5 days. Then, today when my OB said I was 36 weeks, I corrected her by telling her, "No, I'm 35 weeks and 7 days." Yeah, that really sounds stupid when you say it out loud. She said, "Yeah, 36 weeks." So there you have it. I'm 36 weeks as much as anyone can tell. With that magical number comes a lot of good things:

• I've graduated from "strict" bed rest, and can move around and sit up (still can't work or do housework - no lie). This is the bed rest people envy. However, now I don't feel like moving....not even an inch; I'm so stinkin' sore and uncomfortable.
• The only major development still going on with twins is weight gain during these final weeks (lungs, liver, kidneys - all done).
• No more meds, which means I can go to bed at 10 pm (instead of 12 am after I had taken a dose) and I don't have to wake up at 6 am to take another dose.

The boys are getting more stubborn (sleepy, lazy) but they managed to get all their points for the biophysical and NST tests today, which means they are not under distress, their hearts are beating well, they are moving around and they are practicing their breathing. The doc checked my cervix and it's still closed, so no signs of labor yet. Only 2 more weeks until the doc decides it's time to force them out into this crazy world. Rich is chomping at the bit, but I am patiently waiting. I know it will get only get nuttier when they arrive.

- Semi-vertical Nichole, with an h

Cheap Entertainment

You probably cannot read this sign, but it cracks me up where they have it placed. It says, "For Patient Privacy Please Wait Here Until Called". Can you see how close it is to the counter? That was really nice of them to consider the patients' privacy, not that it's really needed unless someone is trying to be anonymously pregnant (hard to hide at a perinatologists office).

Pretty much any pregnant woman's body (even non-pregnant) expands from the counter to the sign. I'd for sure feel like a creepy stalker if I stood at that sign while someone else checked in for their appointment. My twin boys would be close enough to kick them in the back! I did fantasize about how funny it would be to stand there like I thought it was normal while someone else was checking in. That, sadly, was my weekly entertainment at the perinatologist's office for 8 weeks. Although it would lose all entertainment value, I suggest either moving the sign back a few feet or changing the verbiage to say, "Wait here to freak out the hormonal pregnant person in front of you. And, good luck."

Back at my OB/GYN's office, they have the same sign but it is positioned about 5 feet from the counter. Clearly the person responsible for that sign has the same space issues I have. No wonder I'm happy to be back there (well, and I think my OB walks on water).

Today marks 35 weeks and 3 days. After 9 weeks of bed rest, I could not feel luckier. Now we're just watching for signs of labor. Life is so good.....

- (Still) Horizontal Nichole, with an h

Being Vertical

Yes, as the other prego said, being Vertical has it's disadvantages. There are always things keeping you from doing important things like blogging (sorry it has been so long again), but it does have its advantages, you can get your own oreos whenever you want. And I have been making sure I am getting them WHENEVER I want. 6:30 am with coffee, 10:45 snack, 12:00 before lunch appetizer, 2:30 mid afternoon, 6:30 dessert with the family, or a 9:30 snack to make it through the night. I don't believe I've ever had an Oreo between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am, but there is still 4 weeks, 6 days and 19 hours left before she arrives....... Something to look forward to.

This is Nicole the Oreo Obsessed Vertical One signing off.

Oreos

If you are wondering where "Vertical Nicole" is and how she is doing, I'm afraid you are going to have to wait. Her little baby girl is demanding Oreos - lots of Oreos (lucky for my boys, they share) but Nicole is really busy keeping her little girl satisfied. What a good mom, taking one for the team. She promised to update you more often in her last entry, so keep checking back. Being vertical has its disadvantages, it keeps you much busier. :-)

Baby Bellies: ~33 weeks

"Vertical Nicole" is 33 weeks in this picture and "Horizontal Nichole" is 33 weeks, 4 days (I'm hoping the 4 days means something since my belly has taken on a life of its own).

Overachievers

I may be the first person to say this, but I am sure my kids are gifted. I'm kidding, of course. I'm very happy that they are cooperating and keeping themselves comfy in my big ol' belly. We had a doctor's appointment today and they did a "10 point stress test" (not the official name) and the boys each got the full 10 points (see what I mean, overachievers :). It just means they are moving around, practicing their breathing and their hearts are beating well. They estimated Baby A to be 4 lbs, 12 oz and Baby B 4 lbs, 8 oz. I'm very excited about this except they also said they can be off by up to a pound. Um, okay.

On a separate note, it seems we are getting more and more prepared for their arrival and their room, although a work in progress, is just about done. I hope they like sharing small spaces, because it's not going to get much bigger outside the womb :). Here are some pictures.


















The purple and green walls and their closet (they are almost as bad as girls with so much clothes, thanks to our friends and families - I'm going to have fun with that!!).
















The orange, yellow and a little bit of the green wall.

~ 32 Weeks

Nicole and I were not together this past week so Rich was kind enough to do a belly comparison. Here we are at 32 weeks and 5 days. Yep, I win again :) I'm confident that vertical Nicole will post her 32 week picture as well. Right, Nicole?

So Many Numbers, So Little Time

I've never been a numbers person but numbers are spinning around in my head today. Here are just some of those numbers:

• 1: The number of days until I complete my 32nd week (YAHOOO!!!! It's a big milestone in fetal development)
• 6: The maximum number of weeks until the babies arrive
• 4-5: The minimum number of weeks until I hope they arrive - I want them to be ready to come home, bypassing the NICU as much as possible
• 37: The week that twins are considered full term
• 13 & 14: The dates in February that I hope the babies are not born but fear they will be (I am admittedly a little superstitious and I'm an August baby, so I don't like the idea of sharing their birthday with another "holiday").
  
• 2: The number of mattresses I need to order today for the cribs
• 4: The unbelievable number of inches my belly has grown since Nicole and I measured our bellies just 3 weeks ago (seriously FOUR!!)
• 24: The number of months I think it will take to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy
• 330: The approximate number of ounces of water I've been drinking every day (seriously- and I tested negative for gestational diabetes)
  
• 15: The average number of times I go to the bathroom every day
• 3-4: The number of times I get up each night to go to the bathroom (this is TMI, isn't it?)
  
• 2: The maximum number of contractions I pray for every time (twice daily) I send my monitoring sessions into the nurses (I'm allowed a max of 4-6)
• 7: The number of books I want to read before I'm done with bed rest (good luck with that)
• 1: The number of books I've already read
  
• 194: The page number I'm on in my 2nd book (Twilight)
• 3: The number of shows I've added to my list of favorite shows (Dr. Oz, The Doctors, The Bachelor)
• 3: The number of weeks (+1 day) until the Olympics start, which I hope to watch on bed rest
• 8: The number of days until they measure the babies to make sure they are growing properly. They'll estimate how much they weigh, too. I can't wait for that.
• 0: What I know about giving birth. The only thing I know is to say yes to the epidural.
  
• 1,000+: The number of times I get kicked every day. I LOVE it.
• Too many: The number of Oreos I've eaten since Nicole gave me a package last week. I really don't even like Oreos in my non-pregnant life (I hate that they get stuck in my teeth but on bed rest, anything goes!).
  
• Countless: My blessings. Not to be too cheesy but it's true. We are very lucky - for the babies, each other, our friends and families (those are big ones), the list goes on....
  

- Nichole, with an h

One More Thought

I just remembered one more thing. I was getting ready to sit down and add to the blog today, but I needed a little snack before I started. What does a 7 month pregnant lady have for a late afternoon snack? 2 pieces of co-jack cheese (not bad), 3 oreos and a pickle. SERIOUSLY?!?!? But I did learn that 1 serving of oreos is 3 cookies, so everyone out there that always assumed a serving would be just 2 cookies, you have been short changing yourself for years. Go by oreos and make up for lost time.

Long Time between blogs

Hi Everyone -
It is the vertical Nicole. It has been a long time since I blogged. I've had lots of funny things that have happened that I kept saying "oh I should blog about that", but of course I see something shiny and forget to do it.

1st update, we have a date for our next arrival. She is coming out March 18, we check into Fairview Southdale hospital at 6:30am for a 8:30 scheduled c-section. We are 99% sure we have her name down, Harper (still thinking about the middle name). It is weird to have her name picked out already. With both our boys we didn't have a name until we saw them in person. I found the name Harper in the book with 50,000 baby names and for some reason the name jumped off the page and really stuck. As you may notice I did put 99% leaving me a little wiggle room just in case, I doubt it will change.

2nd I've been meaning to blog about Maternity pants and my hatred of them. They either go totally over your belly and you feel like your grandpa (no offence grandpa). In the beginning it kind of feels good to have that band over your belly, but now it just feels restricting. Your other option is below the belly and let me tell you, in the beginning they just fall down all the time and you are constantly adjusting (weird). Now my shirts don't cover my belly so I often am showing off more of my mid-drift than I ever imagined. NOT PRETTY. I'm thinking about investing in a Mu mu.

I've been over to see horizontal Nichole and talk to her almost every day, she is in good spirits.

Good bye for now to all you bff followers. I promise it won't be this long again before I post.

Vertical Nicole

29 Weeks