Week twenty-four.

Well. Gosh. This is six months, folks! Two thirds [or less] depending on whether I'm more the traditional, convection or microwave oven type.

Shrimps:

• Are having dance parties every night. Especially Boy A. Andrew likes to think they're practicing for trail running and is looking for tiny huraches. 
• Should double their weight in the next month... bringing them to 2-3 pounds each. That's the size of chicken I usually get at the grocery. I will have a roaster chicken in my belly. You should go find poultry next time you're shopping and appreciate me.
• Fun details continue to develop, like hair and subcutaneous fat (I spelled that one without looking). Realization of the week: fraternal twins can have different heights and body types. All along I've just been thinking of faces and hair color. 

Laura:

• Around this time the twin pregnancy week-by-week info gets really cheerful: "With the uterus persistently growing and stretching, each symptom becomes amplified. Ligament pain and pressure of the uterus are increasing. Frequent urination is making a comeback. Edema (extra accumulation of fluid in your tissue) can be causing swollen extremities. Fatigue is getting worse and if you don't already have them, hemorrhoids will likely make an appearance" Thanks for the encouragement guys. 
• All I can really say is I want a back brace during the day and to float in a waterbed at night. Also tums are a gift, albeit an un-tasty gift, from the gods.
• Finally got around to some organizing in the soon-to-be nursery.
• Turning 30 tomorrow! 

Andrew:

• Was checking the popularity of Jean Luc as a name tonight
• Is getting over the flu(?) which Laura escaped because she got the shot like she was supposed to...
• Built some shelves in the kitchen when Laura was away, alright!

Merry Christmas!

The little peppers and how they grew.

Well then. Ultrasound today, and everything is ship shape! Two boys. All body parts are present and accounted for, and we've got Boy A weighing in at 1 lb. 1 oz. and Boy B at 1 lb. even. Right on track.

Here's Boy B, who is not blowing smoke rings. That's apparently the umbilical cord. 

This one's a little harder to see the profile on, but Boy A currently has their fist to their chin, as though he's contemplating a right or left hook to Boy B for sitting on his face. 

Choice is power.

Behold the wrath of Laura's hormonal but perfectly allowable rage:

Booooo, Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht. Booooo. I called the office on a whim today to be sure I was getting the anatomical ultrasound Wednesday and wouldn't you know it I'm not. Because the doctor FORGOT. I assume doctors have more training than me and know their stuff, that's why we pay them the big bucks. I assume they have secretaries and fancy computer programs to remind them of when appointments are and what kind of appointments they should be. Also it irritates me when people with a webmd education self-diagnose and tell doctors what their problem is. In this case, however, I should probably kick myself for not asking questions earlier. But not for real because I'm pregnant.

We are moving our insurance dollars elsewhere ASAP. Put myself in for another practice and we'll see how quickly they can get me in. They are also affiliated with the closest hospital to our current location. Take THAT Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht. Boooooooooo.

Note: My panties are not in a bind because of gender. Gender, schmender. I am just irritated because every website, book, person and doctor you talk to give a very narrow window for this thing to occur- 18-20 weeks. Which I believe is because they're looking for other things. Possibly preventable problems. Which makes me want to howl with rage and gnash my teeth and stuff. RAWR.

*Update* I went and picked up a referral today and was able to get an appointment with a radiologist for Thursday at 1pm.

Belly shot two.

22.5 weeks, just before gender time! Let us know your gender guesses and preferences, and we'll see if the doctor obliges...

Week twenty two.

Shrimps

• Are supposed to be moving in a way I can at least feel them... am curious if I've chalked too much up to indigestion. Hmmm. For the guys, imagine laying in bed at night with a hand on your stomach trying to guess whether internal movements are coming from gas or creatures living inside of you. It's weird. Also not knowing where your organs are at, exactly.
• Are really digging ice cream. 

Laura

• Is now on par with Andrew's current weight. He's always said he should weigh more, but the only option I see is for him to gain sympathy poundage. Fortunately we got him some bacon and sausage at the grocery tonight...
• Is looking for energy/motivation which seems to have wandered off. Let me know if it wanders over your way.
• Continues to struggle with twin math. Reading through baby/pregnancy books is one thing, but trying to guess at what figures and facts mean in cases of multiple babies is tricky. 

Andrew

• Is becoming aware of the birthing process. When our friends had their baby this week, his comment was something along the lines of, "it's really weird to think that that baby was in her belly last time we saw them." Yep, that is how this works.
• Has been stressed with work a bit but is still super helpful and supportive!
• Is reading off angel and babylonian names to me as I type... don't think we'll be going with any babylonian names.

Week twenty one.

Oops, kind of skipped a week... we were all busy, right? Nobody missed it too much? We had an excellent holiday and wish we could skip all this work nonsense and go right into the next one. Also had a super fun time with the Vogel Sr's and PA friends this weekend.

Shrimps:

• Are demanding an increasing amount of food and not giving Laura any of it, apparently. 
• Have yet to kick noticeably but should happen soon!
• Will reveal their gender in two weeks or less.

Laura:

• Is eating tums like candy, or at least once a day instead of the never it used to be.
• Has gained a quarter of the recommended weight for twins, better than nothing!
• Is having some quality weird baby dreams. So far the twins have been redheads, a boy and a girl, misplaced in the hospital and grocery stores, lost in a WWII bombing and then found years later. The last one was a real tearjerker. 

Andrew:

• Is starting to introduce sweet potatoes and corn to his diet, which makes for more delicious dinners in this household!