The Couch Chronicles- 35 Weeks

So how do you do bed rest with a toddler...

5 Drastic Changes at Our House

Since the Mama Got Put on "Partial" Bed Rest

1. Your sheltered first child will very quickly learn the names of all the characters in every Disney movie you own. I never purposely put Charlotte in front of the TV for her first year, and after that only sparingly (like Sesame Street) and she never seemed that interested. I know, I know, that will only work on the first kid but every first time parent has their "thing"- like trying to avoid sugar, right? Now she has to get her "Monsters, Boo!" fix at least once a day, then she asks for movie after movie if you let her. It's been nice cuddling her on the couch and funny to watch her get so excited/worried/mad watching movies, but inside I'm cringing at how quickly all those months of trying to avoid having a TV addict kid went down the drain. I don't know how else to do bed rest with a toddler though. Anyone want to loan me some new DVDs? Please!

2. Your husband will have to make dinner and go grocery shopping... not just for a few basics, but for conditioner and face wash that involve venturing down previously unknown aisles of the grocery store- with Charlotte in tow (because she begged daddy to "Go, please!!!"). I'm pretty proud of him- he's really taken over so much while having some big deadlines at work too.

3. Housework starts to look really appealing while you're permanently imprinting the shape of your basketball shaped abdomen in the couch. Man, what I would give to be able to dust my plant shelves and organize my kitchen cupboards right now! It reminds me of how appealing everything else seemed when you were supposed to be doing homework.

4.You'll start to let other pregnant women do favors for you. Why is it that all my pregnant friends are going out of their way to babysit and bring me food? My mom and non-pregnant friends have been so great too, but it's the pregnant ones that make me feel like a real slacker. That's true service.

5. At any mention of the word "go" your poor cooped up daughter will run to get her shoes, and yours, as fast as her pudgy little legs can carry her. Then you say, "I said go to the bathroom, not go outside." The sad thing is- this is going to be a lot closer to what our life is like after the babies come.

It's honestly a lot like first trimester, laying on the couch, your house a mess, wishing you could do something about it. Except I feel uncomfortable instead of nauseous. I really don't feel that bad physically most days- just bored and lazy. I can't really read or do other projects unless Charlotte's asleep, and then I'm supposed to be sleeping.

My mom came for most of the last 3 weeks which has really helped with the cooking, cleaning and keeping Charlotte happy, and I have been able to quilt which makes me feel like I'm doing something. I think I need to have the doctor tell her what "partial bed rest" means. It's become her personal mission to let me off the couch as little as possible and single-handily keep these twins growing. I'm going to start faking more bathroom breaks! :-) Moms never stop taking care of you.

Charlotte has also started more "terrible two" behavior since (or maybe because) I've been on the couch. We've had a few tantrums where she lays and on the floor and pretends to cry (which I ignore), running away from mom usually with something she isn't supposed to have like scissors (which gets her in big trouble). Couldn't she wait another year or so to start testing her boundaries? Right before we have newborn twins is not the ideal time.

34 weeks I can't even believe this stomach is attached to me-

it is like it's own planet it's so far out there! I've honestly contemplated waking Matt up to help roll me over at night it's so difficult and uncomfortable!

Pregnancy Progress Report

Weeks:35 (sounds much better than 31 but I'm hoping for at least 36)

Weight Gain: Still 1 more pound to gain to be at my ending weight with Charlotte- but I'm SOOO much bigger. Oddly enough I slowed down on gaining while on bed rest- losing muscle? less snack trips to the kitchen?

Blood pressure: good

Fluid: perfect

Cervix: Held steady for 3 weeks then went to 19mm last week- really good for this stage with twins. All that bed rest is paying off and now we're we're to the point where they are not worried about it anymore. Yeah!

Baby A Boy

Weight estimate: 4lb 6 oz woo hoo! 4lb mark!

Position: Head still super low- I don't think he's moving which means I'll most likely get to try a "regular" delivery

Movement/Practice Breathing/Blood flow: Really good, they both move a ton

Baby B Girl

Weight estimate: 3lbs 13oz

Position: Head up- so after he's out she'll either-

a. turn on her own

b. the doctor will turn her or

c. deliver breech since I just had the larger baby boy

Movement/Practice Breathing/Blood flow: Really good

You could see a little hair fuzz on one of the babies in the ultrasound- would anyone like to guess which one?

I'm really starting to get excited! I'm so happy to have made it this far that I don't have the heart to worry about the labor, delivery, or newborn craziness yet. I'm just enjoying not worrying as much about super early babies. Here's hoping they wait 2 more weeks to come!