A Word From "Dad"

As I write this, there is a great group of women with Danielle at her family shower at Evergreen. It still humbles me to know how many amazing people these twins have in their lives. We are so thankful for that.
The thought of the babies being born SOON makes the muscles in my body tense, my hands clinch, and I have to remind myself for a moment to breathe out...but I am ready. This "holding pattern" at home is waiting for the change of a lifetime. I can almost feel a family living in our home already.
Anyhow, I apologize for falling behind on posting new videos. I am working on one to put up soon though so keep checking back...hopefully by the end of this week.

ps: Suzanna...your lasagna was STUPENDOUS!!! Thank You!

31 Weeks...whoohoo!!!

We have made it another week! The girls are bigger, stronger, and totally wilder than ever before! They are still growing, so I get to keep them inside for at least another week...well, that is as long as they want to stay. :) It is crazy to think that 32 is the magic number for many doctors...that is next week! Holy cow! I am hoping that the girls want to stay longer, but if it is time to come out, we are ready!
I was really put to the test this week mentally and physically. I got a severe ear infection...yes, the kind we would get during childhood when we would go swimming. It is a total mystery. I remembered the pain I endured as a child, but I must have blocked out exactly how bad it was. They sent a doc to check me out and even he was impressed with my ear. That says it all! My whole head has felt swollen like a balloon with no hearing and excruciating pain. They put me on antibiotics and pain killers. Isn't it funny that you are only allowed tylenel when pregnant, yet they were practically showering me with percocet!?! Hmmm... well I am officially done with the pain part, I have almost regained my hearing and ability to close my jaw, and I am sleeping through the night. The toughest part was that I finally felt trapped. I couldn't handle visitors, I napped (passed out) on and off all day long, I felt SO out of whack. But who said this vacation was supposed to be all bells and whistles?
I am now moving forward and staying focused on these girls! Baby B has flipped head down. I noticed that Baby A has upped her activity lately and then I found out why...her sisters feet are in her face! I think they are interacting constantly. I no longer have to feel for their movements...their body parts are protruding from my belly constantly. We have some silly girls on the way!!!

The Name Game (Update 2)

It`s that time...
To celebrate a great growth appointment this morning, a few more names have been shed from "THE NAME GAME". We have had lots of great guesses...see if the names YOU guessed made this cut!!!

Baby A weighed in at a whopping 3 pounds 13 ounces. You go, girl!!!
Baby B is close behind. She made her Mom and Dad very happy today with her (much-anticipated) 2 pound 2 ounces.

Danielle is in great spirits and everyone at Evergreen has been incredibly kind, professional, and helpful.

Here is a list of today`s NAME GAME drops...

Lisa Chloe Rose Amanda Jessica Hannah Julie

30 weeks and counting...

We have made it to the thirties!!! This is a big marker for all babies! The girls are doing great and we are anxious to find out how they are growing on Tuesday morning at our next ultrasound. Suddenly their kicks have gotten wild! I actually need to re-adjust my body position to accommodate their rocking and rolling! Baby A is still head down, nestled in for the long haul, and Baby B is undecided, she changes hourly. We have a reputation on this floor because the girls are a little tricky to monitor. I think each nurse loves hanging out in my room but they dread my non-stress tests which is when they monitor the babies heart rate 3 times a day for an hour. It may sound easy, but with my squirrelly little bundles, it is more like a 2 hour session each time. This is my 13th day on bed rest. My days seem to go in chunks, beginning with breakfast, monitor, protein shake, lunch, monitor, protein shake, dinner, monitor, protein shake. Sounds like a blast, huh! :) I am still a happy camper because I have been blessed with so many visitors and phone calls. Of course, who could have a bad day after that HUSKY game! Even the girls were kicking and cheering! I have trained them well! My Mom got to visit and see me in person this week...she is relieved! We refuse to call this place a hospital so we refer to it as a hotel or spa. I even tried bed rest massage! Kona came to visit me in the courtyard! I burst out crying in front of a crowd of people...a worthy spectacle. Meanwhile, Mike is holding down the fort and completing our many nesting projects that we started this summer (while I supervise from bed)! Honestly, what a guy!! I hope everyone has a great week and keep sending us your positive thoughts and prayers!

Optimism...

What would life be if we didn't have the bright side to look at? I can officially say that I have been in the hospital for one week and, honestly, so much GOOD has come out of it that I can't even bring myself to think of anything negative. First of all, the girls are great! They are so silly...they definately feed off of each others energy and wake each other up. They are quick to react to their Daddy's voice when he walks in the room and they settle down for the doppler exams when I talk...so, I get to talk all the time! :) We will have another growth scan next week. By the sound of their heart beats and blood flow and the strength of their kicking, they must be growing. Baby B loves her sister. How can I tell? She is now in the middle of my tummy, right under my belly button. I think they are spooning! The bed rest seems to be paying off. I am totally stable and actually doing better than last week. Now, for the fun stuff! Top ten reasons that bed rest rocks:
1. My husband has turned into superman, working by day, remodeling (and cleaning!!!) by night while still visiting me at some point each and every day!
2. It is as close to having a butler as I will ever get...the water glass never hits empty!
3. I have connected and reconnected with more friends in one week than I have in the last couple of years combined! Without the visitors and phone calls, I would be writing the top ten reasons why I am miserable!
4. They send cleaners in each day...the place is immaculate!
5. I am totally up to date on all the gossip magazines and I can play my favorite dvd's over and over and over again!
6. My meals and milkshakes (protein shakes) arrive every few hours...okay, so it smells like airplane food, but it tastes good and you always get at least 5 choices!
7. I have created a throne that has 4 pillows, a snoogle (body pillow), a down comforter, a "Camp Rock" blanket, a belly wedge, and remote controls for the tv, dvd player, lights, and, of course, my nurses.
8. The nurses are fabulous...though some are more strict than others, I have learned to kill them with kindness...I mean really, could I be in better hands!?!?
9. My class is in great hands with their new sub and I am so thankful for their patience and understanding!!!
10. I have discovered this week that I have an even more amazing support system than I could have imagined...I mean, we knew we were blessed with a fabulous life full of wonderful family members, friends, and neighbors, but WOW!!! Even Kona is high on everyone's priority list! Our daughters have such a great life ahead of them!
On that note, thank you everyone for making this first week positive! I am realizing each day that it is for the best so I need to make the best of this experience!

Hotel Evergreen...

Or shall I say...Evergreen Hospital! I knew it was coming, but I can't believe I am sitting here saying it...I am on hospital bed rest! What?!?! Well, here is the lowdown. I have been blessed with a fabulous pregnancy...and to feel THIS great for twins...not just twins...twin girls...is a real miracle! I went about my normal routine all summer and made a conscious effort to rest each day on my couch (watching all my favorite shows). I even started the school year 2 weeks ago and met my amazing class last week...23 of the sweetest kids in the world ready for 2nd grade...but they also knew that at some point this year I would be leaving for a little while to take care of my own munchkins and returning later on to finish the year. Well, that time came WAY sooner than later. Our babies are doing wonderful! I am past the 28 week mark and it feels like the safe zone. But, we still have a while! The girls are very active and I swear they spend their days planning an escape through my belly button.
Baby A is currently weighing in at 3 pounds 3 ounces. She is in the 85th percentile for size (I knew those Beresford/Garfoot genes were in there). Baby B is our little tike weighing in at 1 pound 12 ounces. She has a different umbilical cord (a double vessel as opposed to a triple) so she is growing as fast as she can with what she has to work with! Their heartbeats (quite possibly the best sound on earth) are strong and steady and their blood flow looks terrific! They want to keep a close eye on the girls and on me for the duration of the pregnancy. So far I have been checked in, strapped down, poked with needles, shot with steroids (in my rump), and all kinds of other fun initiation activities that they do to new patients. I feel like it is hazing week! One of my best friends, Erin Zacharda, has the ultimate appreciation for this experience. She was on the same floor this time last year for 65 days before her beautiful triplets were born. I would visit on Sundays. Aparantly, I had so much fun, I decided to have multiples and get a room of my own! It has been a total walk down memory lane!
Anyways, so far so good! I love visitors and phone calls!!! I just upgraded my cell phone plan so my minutes are unlimited...the friends and support and distractions have already been such a blessing! Mike has been a champ! We were in the middle of our "nesting" stage at home and he will be taking over all the duties from here on out while visiting me all the time and taking care of Kona and the cats! Secretly, I can tell how relieved he is to know that the girls and I are in such good hands and that I am seriously resting! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers! I am keeping these girls in for as long as possible!!!

Update...

The first round of names have been removed from THE NAME GAME! Check to see if your choices are still in there! Dani and The Girls are doing well. Dani is back at school to cherish the short time she has with her very special class this year. The Girls have us convinced that they have their favorite foods picked out already...savory foods get "Baby A" awake, and "Baby B" loves sweet treats (bring on the chocolate protein shakes). They were laying head-to-head at the last visit to the Doctor, and are looking as cozy and beautiful as ever!!!
Oh, and they wake up to Gospel music...not too sure where they get that from!!!