Well this weekend sure isn't turning out how I thought it would. I had plans to play Bunco with my friends (yes, I play Bunco and love it), show up to my hair appointment with unbelievable excitement (we all know getting your hair done is the best feeling, right?), and attending a football-watching party for the BYU vs UofU rivalry game tonight. All fun and exciting things.

Well, my main new goal for this weekend is this:

It all started at my routine appointment where I get strapped to all sorts of monitors as they watch the baby's heartbeats and check to see if there is any contracting. Well there was, which was a bit of a surprise to me. If I had been contracting, it hadn't been painful or regular enough for me to notice. They then took a "fetal fibronectin" test to check whether or not my body was producing a protein that can indicate preterm labor. They sent me home to lay on the couch until I heard my test result. 

At about 4:30 pm they told me to head straight to labor & delivery because all signs were pointing to preterm labor. I have to admit, after this call I was scared and emotional (duh). Luckily Russ was home within 10 minutes and we headed out together. Thank goodness for Russ. 

I was given a steroid shot last night, and will receive one more tonight. This is meant to help the babies' lungs get stronger at an accelerated rate in case they do in deed decide to come early. I have also been given some medicine every 4 hours that help relax the muscles and hopefully slow contractions. I will be here most likely till Monday morning so that I can have an ultrasound with the neonatalogist to check the babies' physical state (besides heart rates).

I woke up this morning feeling pretty crappy, I'm not going to lie. I was frustrated and discouraged as I watched contractions come across the screen every 2-5 minutes. It probably didn't help that I got a max of 4 hours of sleep and have cables coming off of me all over. I really want these babies to be healthy, and I'm going to try my best to keep them inside. I'm 33 weeks and 3 days, so luckily if they came today (which hopefully will not happen) they would be OK. We would have time in the NICU, but they would be OK.

When I am released I will be on strict bed rest. I'm trying my hardest to stay positive and optimistic. At least while I'm in the hospital I get huge meals brought to me, right?!? (how's that for looking on the bright side?) :)

32 Weeks!

Forgive the quality of the picture. I'm just still patting myself on the back for doing my hair today. I'm 32 weeks and 1 day, and I thought it was time that I quickly documented how things are going. Even though this pregnancy has been looooooong, I also cannot believe I have a maximum of 6 weeks left! Crazy!

* I have grown out of most of my maternity clothes by now. This should get interesting.
* Baby girl keeps flipping from breach to head down (boy has always been head down). At this point I am just expecting a C-section, and if something changes last minute it will be a nice perk.
* I feel movement almost all day long. It's really fun. When they both have hiccups I feel like there is an earthquake inside of me.
* These babies are seriously IN my ribs. Sometimes I feel kicks in the back part of my ribs, which really hurts my back. I still get comments like "you are so small! I can't believe there are two in there!" These comments get kind of annoying because believe me, there are two in there. I want to say "I wish I was popping out further so they weren't jammed up in my rib cage." Discomfort aside, it's still a miracle.
* I had to stop wearing my fat, fake wedding ring last week. I gave up on my real ring in June. But it was a bit depressing when the fat ring no longer fit.
* The nursery is coming along! Just some last minute touches here and there and I will be set.
* I. Am. Exhuasted. A lot of twin moms get put on bed rest which I have been fortunate to avoid thus far. However, sometimes I wish I was prescribed bed rest so I had an excuse to be laying down all day. I am still working both my jobs (accounting and piano teaching) pretty much the same amount of time I was before I was pregnant. I have also maintained my calling as 1st counselor in the Young Womens' organization (a group for youth ages 12-18) in my church. We'll see how much longer all of that lasts.
* Still no set names.
* Sleeping? Not really happening.
* I go back and forth between getting extremely excited to meet my two little babies and extremely terrified that I will be a mom to two newborns. Like I know how to keep two newborns alive! :)

At the end of the day, I am just so grateful that both babies are healthy and I've made it this far. I'm trying to take it day-by-day, and you know what? It's working. :)

Trinity Lake, Round 3

About a month ago we went on our third annual trip to Trinity Lake, a remote and gorgeous lake in the Shasta National Forest in Northern California. I look forward to this trip all year long. It's my favorite! We are disconnected from everything spending the days as we please - fun is definitely had by all. This year I couldn't really do, well, anything, but I still loved every second of it. 

*All pictures are taken by Bella Torgerson - thanks Bella! You rock behind the lens.

Glass. A skiier's dream.

This guy obviously stole the show pretty much all week. He loved the boat!

Go Russ!

Captain of the boat.

My bro.

Pure happiness.

My doctor didn't really even want me to go. I was just about 28 weeks along -- he said being so remote wasn't the smartest thing. Well I went, and it was worth it. My dad bought a "Relaxation Station" that was just what the doctor ordered... kind of. 

My cute parents - Dad must have just finished with a sweet ski run.

So this happened. Stu and Russ shaved mustaches. No comment.

Me and the G-man. 

These guys have fun together. They were mustache twins. It was gross.

The air chair was a new addition -- I can't wait to try it next year! (Russ's face cracks me up, by the way,)

Can't wait till next year. It's crazy to think I will have two crazy 10 month olds running around. Oh how life will change, but definitely for the better. Thanks mom and dad, another amazing trip to remember!