Ten on Tuesday: TV Guilty Pleasures

1. The Girls Next Door (E!)
2. Ace of Cakes (Food Network)
3. Big Brother (CBS)
4. Project Runway (Bravo)
5. Inside the Actor's Studio (Bravo)
6. Semi-Homemade Cooking (Food Network)
7. Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E)
8. Anything on The History Channel
9. Roseanne (reruns on Nick @ Nite)
10. All of the house flipping/real estate shows (Designed to Sell, Flip That House, Property Ladder, etc).

Contractions? Round Ligament Pain? Cramps?

I had another semi-rough night. I honestly don't know what I am feeling...sometimes it feels crampy...sometimes it feels like contractions...sometimes it's a dull aching/pulling feeling. It was that dull aching and pulling feeling that I had last night. The pain was located extremely low on my belly and towards the center. I am thinking that it's the infamous round ligament pain that I've read about. Perhaps, it's just the feeling of my uterus being stretched to the max that is keeping up at night. Whatever it is, it's keeping me on full alert and making it even more difficult to get a good night's rest. I also had a lot of baby movement which added to an already sore situation.

I have an appointment to see my OB on Thursday morning and I will definitely be asking about this. I hope he takes a look at my cervix just to give me some peace of mind that nothing has started happening yet. He hasn't done a pelvic exam since my first appointment with him at 8 weeks...though I hear that's normal.

Hubby left for yet another business trip at 5 AM yesterday morning. I hate that he is gone, but after this week's trip things will slow down a bit for him. I am sure I must sounds horribly clingy since I talk about his business trips so often lately, but when I am laying in bed having contractions (or whatever it is) in the middle of the night all alone it adds to the scariness factor. If something were to happen, my mom is 250 miles away and Hubby is hours away by plane. Plus, he has a way of comforting me and calming me down.

Anyway, I am venturing out of the house for a bit today. I need to drop off some dry cleaning and return some wall lettering at the baby store.

Check out this funny little video about fighting fetuses.

11 Things People Do That Annoy You

I am trapped in my home office while my maid does her magic, so it's meme time!

1. People who don't send Thank You notes.
2. People who are chronically late.
3. People who don't know how to merge onto the highway from the entrance ramp.
4. People who talk on their cell phones while you are sitting in a restaurant or in the car with them. This especially applies if they don't tell the caller they are busy and will call them back -- i.e., if they actually have a damn conversation with the caller as you just sit there.
5. People who don't return their emails or voicemails.
6. People who just generally don't keep their word. If you say you're going do to something -- and especially if others are depending on you to do it -- then you better do it.
7. People who make racist, sexist, anti-Semitic or homophobic remarks.
8. Drivers who don't give a little thank you wave when you go out of your way to let them in. This may be just a Southern thing.
9. People who are just excuse-makers; no sense of personal accountability; cannot admit fault; who always assumes the victim role.
10. People who are having a conversation with who ever is in the room with them while you are on the phone with them.
11. People who let their kids run wild and free at the store.

Full Moon Predictions & Bad Round of Contractions

I had a not-so-fun day. Hubby has been so busy traveling, that he went up to his office to get some more work knocked out. So, I had the day to myself. While he was gone, I decided to go run a few minor errands. Anyway, I went to a very cool monogram store close to my house and ordered all kinds of cool stuff for the twins and my mom's birthday gift. As I am standing there at the counter, it hit. Contractions. Hit. Hard. My back began to ache. I was having very painful cramps/contractions. The lady at the store had to help me to my car! So I rushed home and called Hubby at work. He immediately came home and tried to comfort me as I rested in bed. He made an attempt to time the contractions -- 8 minutes apart, according to him -- but I am pretty sure he wasn't doing it correctly. [Mental Note: Teach Hubby how to time them!] Anyway, they left as soon as they hit, but I spent the rest of day in bed. The whole episode lasted about 45 minutes. It scared the hell out of me! It really scares me to think I will be home alone all of next week while Hubby is away again.

By the way, my mom looked up the full moon schedule and had predicted twins arrival to be March 3rd or 4th. The 3rd is a full moon, and I was born on a full moon. So was Hubby. I know that's not scientific, but I have heard this same prediction from a few nurses too. Something about the gravitational pull I suppose.

I am off to bed. Exhausted. I can tell I am getting bigger and bigger every week now.

27 Weeks

I just got back from my ultrasound and the twins are doing great. Thank God! I was so worried about this appointment. The boy weighed in at 2 lbs., 3 oz., and the girl was exactly 2 lbs. So they have doubled in size in a month. Their heartbeats looked excellent as well. I feel such a sense of relief. The babies were squirming and active during the ultrasound. They look so good!

Congratulations Madame Speaker!

What a great day to be a woman! I just finished watching Nancy Pelosi get sworn in as the first woman Speaker of the House. All American women, regardless of political affiliation, should feel an extra sense of pride today.

There is something about Pelosi that reminds me of my own mother. They don't look a like nor do they share the same political viewpoints (mom's a Republican), but there something in the mannerisms that is similar. Too bad my mom hates politics as much as she does because I could see her in that role. She is tough. She has an amazing ability to see both sides of the coin. She is practical and logical. And she would be an excellent referee. Not to mention, she has an inspirational bio.

My favorite sound bite from Pelosi's acceptance speech was when she thanked her husband and children for giving her the self-confidence to go from the kitchen to the Congress. I think my own husband would be supportive if I ever wanted to take that path because he has been supportive in all of my career decisions and paths -- and there have been several. But I don't think he would truly enjoy it. He likes watching politics from a distance and in small doses.

We have always joked about the idea of me getting into politics down the road, but it's not a realistic idea. I would much rather be behind the scenes. To be the puppetmaster pulling the strings, but not the actual puppet...so to speak. Besides, too much of my youthful bad decisions have been witnessed by too many folks. :)

Well, I wasn't able to reschedule my doc appointment. I am still on to see him tomorrow morning. I have felt more baby movement today and last night, so I am feeling a little better about that. Hubby -- who just returned last night from a business trip -- informed me this morning that he is going to have to leave again tomorrow. Apparently, he is having to fill in for a co-worker who is preparing to argue in front of the Texas Supreme Court next week. He will only be gone for a day, but he will miss yet another doc appointment and ultrasound.

I hope his schedule slows down once the twins arrive. I am going to need his help.

Oh, and it was nice seeing Norah O'Donnell back on MSNBC...she is carrying twins (due this spring) as well and looks great!

Nothing new

Well, Hubby has returned from his business trip. He ate dinner and went straight to bed. Exhausted.

Nothing new to report. Weather has been rainy and chilly all day. This has been the wettest winter in recent memory.

I can't wait until Friday. I need to see the twins again.

Kick Babies, Kick!

Alright I am getting a bit concerned about a slow down in baby(ies) movement(s) in the past few days. It hasn't been a complete stop, but it's been a definite slow down and change in pattern. I had gotten so used to their kicking schedule that it's alarming when that changes. I have an appointment to see my perinatalist on Friday, but I am wondering if I should try to see if they have any time available tomorrow. Am I being paranoid? Is something wrong or are they just starting to run out of room in there? My gut tells me there is nothing to be worried about, but I don't always trust my gut. The other shitty part is that I can't do a traditional "kick test"...drinking a Coke or Dr. Pepper (sugar = BAD for diabetes), laying on your left side, and then counting the amount of kicks in an hour. *sigh* One of the reasons I was going to just wait until Friday is because Hubby really wanted to go with me, and he won't be back in town until tomorrow night. What to do, What to do.

I got a call from the nurse again because I expressed such concern about my out-of-control sugar levels. They have really jacked up my insulin amounts! Unless you're a diabetic, these numbers won't mean much, but here are my new amounts...

Breakfast: 70 units of Humulin NPH & 50 units of Humulin Regular

Lunch: 50 units of Humulin Regular

Dinner: 50 units of Humulin NPH & 50 units of Humulin Regular

Bedtime: 50 units of some new insulin...I can't remember the name right now

To put all of this in perspective, when I first started taking insulin -- when I was 7 weeks pregnant -- I started out taking ONLY 5 units of insulin at bedtime! The docs tell me a lot of this is due to having two placentas...which is better for the twins, but not so great for diabetics. These two placentas have completely taken over my hormone production and natural insulin is a hormone. They also tell me to not freak out because this is exactly what they told me would happen as I approached my third trimester. I feel like I am fighting against nature in all regards...the battle with the insulin and the battle to keep these twins in the oven for as long as possible. And it's only going to get worse as the weeks go on. It amazes me to think I will actually be able to go off the insulin injections and back to taking a pill a day about two months after delivery.

Oh, and I'm 26 weeks, 5 days.

Yet another Meme!

Okay, clearly I have problem because I can't seem to walk away from anything that isn't a quiz or meme. I know it's getting boring and tiresome for anyone who actually reads this blog.

In 2007...

Will you be looking for a new job?
I don't think so. It's more like I will be restarting my real estate career later in the year. It all depends on how my twins are doing, but I definitely miss working.

Will you be looking for a new relationship?
No, I am very happy in my marriage right now. It hasn't always been like that, and I feel like I finally am where I want to be.

New house?
I hope so. We are going to start looking this summer. We need a bigger house thanks to the twins. For the first time, we are having to think about stuff like schools, parks, safe neighborhoods, etc.

What will you do differently in 2007?
I have a feeling that becoming a parent for the first time will force me to do almost everything differently. I hope to have more patience.

New Year's resolutions?
Yes, and I've already posted them.

What will you not be doing in 2007?
Putting myself first. Probably won't be going out much either.

Any trips planned?
The only thing we seem to know for sure is that we will be going out to Vegas for a friend's wedding this fall. I am also hoping to take the twins to our favorite Galveston cabin late in the summer. I love going there and I want to introduce the babies to ocean as soon as possible. Of course, this may not be happening since they will still be so young.

Wedding plans?
Not for me! I know one of my close friends will be getting married and possibly another one will too. I am looking forward to just be a guest!

Major thing on your calendar?
March 1st...that's my goal on holding in my twins. That marks 36 weeks.

What can't you wait for?
March 1st...and the birth of my twins. I am also looking forward to next Christmas.

What would you like to see happen differently?
Less friend drama

What about yourself will be changing?
Everything...the challenge will be keeping some part of myself from not changing.

What happened in 2006 that you didn't think would ever happen?
Getting pregant. Getting pregnant with twins!

Will you dress differently this year than you did in 2006?
Yes, I will be out of maternity clothes!

Will you do charity work?
I wish I could, but the truthful answer is that I won't have time.

Do you expect 2007 to be a good year for you?
Yes...one of the best.

How much did you change from this time last year until now?
A lot. I wasn't very happy this time last year for a huge range of reasons. It's like the difference between night and day now.

Do you plan on having a child?
Yes! Two of them.

Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
I hope so, but some of them are going to have to step up to the plate more in the near future. I hope to make more friends that are in the same boat I am in currently...new mother, mother of twins. I am still the only chick in my circle of friends that is married. I feel like Miranda sometimes!

Major lifestyle changes?
Yes...the biggest...parenthood

Will you be moving?
God, I hope so!

What will you make sure doesn't happen in 2007 that happened in 2006?
Getting pregnant...we are done with that.

Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
Yes, but my someone was sleeping!

One wish for 2007?
Healthy babies, Healthy me

Welcome '007

And another year has arrived. And another New Year's was a dud. Once upon a time, this was my favorite holiday of the year. I loved the sense that a new year brought in a clean slate. Anything was possible. I have had some great New Year memories with friends. This year, like the past few, rang in with little to no fan fare in my household. Hubby and I went to a nice steakhouse for an early dinner. When we got home, he went to bed at 7:30 PM with a headache. I settled in on the sofa to watch a Law & Order marathon on TNT. As midnight approached, I switched over to one of the countdown shows in Times Square. By 12:05 AM I was back watching Law & Order. B-o-r-i-n-g.

This is going to be a big year for me. I will be turning 30 in March. I will become a mother (times two!) for the first time in March (or possibly February) as well. We will be buying a new house this summer.

Hubby returned to work after having about a week and half off. He will also be back to travelling a lot again. He will pretty much only be home on the weekends in January! Who would have guessed that a lawyer would travel so much.