"Full Term" - I Need My Mommy!!

I am officially 39 weeks pregnant with the twins!  If you'll remember with me WAAAYY back in August when we were told the big news of the TWO babies, we were also told many "wonderful" facts about what happens with twin pregnancies and births.  Among other things the most common/general concern was preterm labor, low birth weight (makes sense that these go together).  I was told that the "AVG" twin is born at 35 weeks and weighs 5.5 lbs. and medical professionals (and those "medical professionals" at walmart...) began to let me know as soon as I started looking really big, that I would not make it to my due date.  Of course, our midwife had the usual concerns about me taking it easy to prevent pre-pre-term labor (around 32, 33 weeks) and it did make me slow down a little with how much I picked up and carried my now almost 18 month old! But I still sorta stood on the side of -- I am not going to "throw myself into labor" unless it was going to be time anyway...

You see, about 20 weeks prior, we (my husband and I), or course, starting praying for these twins and this whole unknown process we were about to go through.  I asked and believe the Lord told me that I didn't have to buy in to the "facts" that these babies were going to be born early just because they are twins (because twins do not develop any faster than a single baby, so what is good for one, is good for two... and FULL TERM - 40 weeks is good for one, or in my first son's case - 41 weeks).  I was lead to pray and ask that they make it full term - 40 weeks and that they both weigh at least 6 lbs.  My hubby joined me, and some friends and family joined us.   And it was oh so easy to pray for 40 weeks when i was barely even showing...

Now...  these past few weeks have been CHALLENGING, in that; tests show the babies weighing over 6 lbs. each (and estimate which could be off by almost a full pound) and I am... let's just say... I began feeling physically ready to not be a whale pregnant several weeks ago...  I began, thinking... "hey! 37 weeks could be considered full term even for a singleton...  i would be ok with that!"  I justified looking forward to the 37th week and definitely started letting people know I was ready (even though our house/nursery etc. were not ready!)

Just when I thought "it" (the belly) couldn't get any heavier or lower... it did (has) and it did begin taking its toll on what I could physically get done in one day... I just couldn't keep up with what I was used to being able to get done... but I sure did try... like I said before, I hadn't really ever thought "I better be careful not to work my body into labor!"  But my prideful self was definitely becoming more and more open to the idea of receiving help whenever offered! (advice that multiple twin moms had given me!).  There had been talk/plans that this time around my mom would come to help and be here BEFORE I went into labor (which none of us knew when that would be), but whether they were coming immediately or not... I was moving slower and needing help keeping up with daily maintenance and cooking dinner every night, not to mention I couldn't even begin to start organizing closets, washing baby clothes, getting all of those things you want done before you have to go to the hospital done! So my awesome mommy was thinking and praying about in what timing she should come stay with me and Tater while Hubby worked.  One night when I was 36.5 weeks along I was awaken by a VERY intense contraction, the kind with the back pain very much involved! (I could tell baby A was "sunny side up" his spine on mine).  Not a huge surprise to me since I have the sort of uterus that practices contractions starting around twenty-something weeks and slowly prepares for labor over time. I only expected that one... but 15 min. later... another one... and 15 min. later...  for almost 2 hours.  I knew my doctor would have been completely fine with twins making it to 36 weeks (like I said the avg is 35), but I knew it was too soon!  I wasn't sure where this was going, but if it was going to turn into full blown labor, I did not want it unless it was the Lord's timing.  So, still half asleep in between the 15 min. I placed my hands on my stomach and asked the Lord to stop this labor if it was not supposed to be happening yet.  They Stopped.

The next morning my mom called and asked if she could go ahead and come that day... I was like "YES"  We are so grateful to have her and she is the perfect example of a servant's heart.  She came prepared to stay for as long as she needed to (until they came, at this point we thought could be anytime in the next 4 weeks..!)  She has done laundry, dishes, all the cooking... helped me organize baby stuff (when I say helped, I mean she pretty much did it, seeing as how I had to sit down every 5 min!), allowed me to rest and enjoy these past couple weeks with my husband and first born!  She expects nothing in return!

Just a few days ago she shared with me that the night before she came, she was awaken in the night to pray about when she was supposed to come and help me... (no doubt, she was awaken the same time I was having those contractions) and when she got up the next morning, she knew she was supposed to come that day!
And because of her help, now for about the past week we have been ready, I mean really actually Ready in all the ways you wanna be... House ready, clean, organized! and of course there's still my flesh that is ready to find relief! So it has been very hard and I will admit I have prayed to go ahead and go into labor already!! But this week I find peace and am reminded of what the Lord had me praying for when all these physical circumstances were not an issue!... 40 weeks!

My Prayer Journal entry dated Aug. 21st, 2012

So here I am saying... Sorry everybody, you gotta wait one more week!  Because our God is FAITHFUL!

Our Progress

For those of you who have been gifted with the great gift of TWINS you know the constant monitoring and checking of these babies that takes place during the pregnancy. there are constant sonograms, checkups, and just another handful of "procedures “that you must undergo when having twins. I thought I would take a chance and brag on God and how Gracious He has been to us throughout this process. We had no idea when we started this journey that Twins would be considered such an "extreme" risk. Especially when I have read and been told of twins so early in the Bible with Jacob and Esau. So, for my wife and I, twins are a natural "normal" part of life, well kinda. (Maybe natural is a better word to describe it) Anyway, the journey began with us of course hearing all the wrongs that could go on with a twin pregnancy, a complete rain storm on an already heavy day when we just found out. The Journey has been everything but a rainy day. For the past 36 weeks we have had nothing but complete and utter BLESSINGS, from the Lord. He has been overly gracious and wonderful to us. Sometimes I feel like I am something special because of how greatly blessed I am. And then I realize I am because I am one of HIS. We have been told numerous times over and over, as if it is the Law of Doctor that they must warn you and fill your head full of the "what if's" and the "worst case scenario". Well, as I described to our Doctor during our Last visit, my wife and I travel a road in life that is sunny 75 degrees, perfect, beautiful day. I don’t worry or travel down the roads of "what if's" that is in the Drivers hands and I am not the Driver, HE is. Therefore, we don’t concern ourselves with the worst case scenario, because God has told us He will never take us down a worst Case Scenario road. In fact the word very Clearly says that He will make Straight our path, Guide us into abundance and Love us the whole way. Again, Therefore, we don’t travel those roads. This has always been foreign to our Doctors because that seems to be the only roads they travel. However, with exception for our Midwife, who has been an absolute blessing in our lives. I’ll call her D, she has been and unbelievable advocate and strength when I know that we have made her life tough. Even from the first day we found out we were having twins, she said that she wished it wasn’t us. Not because anything wrong, she just knew how we operate and said that with twins the road is much more complicated. With that said D has remained with us the whole way. Swinging the bat in whatever direction we have asked. She has truly been a "God Sent Angel" for us. I can only hope that this journey that we all have been on, including D, that we have blessed her as much as she has TRULY blessed us. Anyway, I just wanted to brag about how God has continued to "beat" the odds. First my wife is a amazing woman, sorry ladies, she stands out bounds above y'all. With that being said you must know that she is 5'3'' 110lbs. so she is not really considered the peak of physical stature. All I am saying is if you were picking a basketball team she might not be your first pick. (Wink, wink, sorry babe) So of course when we started this journey the concern everyone had was could she carry these babies. Well ladies and gentleman here were are going on 36 weeks and she has had no problems, no back pain, in fact she has maintained taking care of our 16 month old and taking care of the house, all while growing two humans inside of her. How about unbelievable, praise the Lord. But it doesn’t stop there. With twins there are some many things that I learned, that I did not know in the beginning. Like about their growth, about the Amniotic fluid index, about the movement, heart rate, practice swallowing, and many more things. These are all things that they continually monitor to make sure the babies are growing developing adequately. Well, all of these things have been amazing, scoring off the charts, she and the babies have been doing amazing. At one point the Dr. said that they were concerned about the growth of the Babies. With twins most times one will be bigger than the other. Which is normal, however, you don’t want one to be too big, that means it is stealing nutrients from the other baby. Well, as is normal Baby A is larger than Baby B. The Dr. told us that they wanted to monitor that because if they continue to grow farther apart they will have to intervene. Well, we sought another opinion from the GREAT PHYSICIAN. We called on DADDY and asked him to grow baby B to bridge the gap in weight, but to not stop the growth of Baby A. You might think wow that is pretty specific, and kinda demanding. Well you have you have to know My DADDY. He loves me, and my wife and these Babies more than I love Me, My wife, and my Babies. I know the will the Lord has for us so I can ask with Confidence that it will be done. And guess what, that is the very Testimony of what happen. Baby B has grown and bridged the gap, while Baby A continues to grow, healthily. Praise the Lord. This Birth has been a completely unbelievable journey, one that I personally thought was going to be rocky, tough and challenging. It goes to show you that although we may think that the waves are crashing, the boat is about to capsize, the Lord lays quietly comfortable resting at the head of our ship. It is only when we fix out eyes in the eyes of the beholder that we can see past all circumstances, all situations, and see strait to the peace and confidence that surpasses all understanding. We have and will continue to fix our eyes on HIM instead ourselves on his eyes as he directs this ship, into wholeness, and perfection as the Author and Perfector, He has promised good to us, so we will sit patiently and trust in his DIRECTION.