Week 27

I apologize for a lack of posts this past week.  We have company in for Memorial Day weekend, so things are busy but fun.  More on that later!  In the meantime, this was an eventful week, pregnancy-wise.  Here's the summary.

The good:

MJ was able to feel the twins move for the first time this week! I've been feeling very strong and frequent movements for several weeks now, but every time MJ put his hand on my belly, the twins would stubbornly refuse to move. But one morning this week before MJ got up to get ready for work, I could feel the twins practicing their MMA moves, so I grabbed MJ's hand just in time for him to feel a few good wallops. Finally!

Also, the babies appear to be doing fine.  They are currently about 2 pounds each, and their eyes can open and shut and respond to light.  They are about the size of heads of cauliflower, and they are getting plumper and more baby-looking all the time.

The bad:

I'm afraid to say that I started getting pretty uncomfortable this week.  Up until now I was feeling pretty good, but this week I've had an almost constant backache that has been fairly bothersome, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep.  The hip pain I had briefly last week has not reappeared, thankfully, so hopefully that's a thing ot the past.  But unfortunately I've also come down with a cold.

Needless to say, sleep has been elusive between my backache, my stuffed-up nose, and the carpal tunnel syndrome.  A few nights ago, as I lay there tossing and turning, I recalled pregnant friends of mine raving about their pregnancy pillows.  So out of sheer desperation, I shoved a spare pillow behind my back.  WOW -- what a difference!  It didn't miraculously make my back pain go away, but it definitely eased the discomfort enough that I could sleep.  Hallelujah!

This week I also had to say goodbye to my beautiful engagement and wedding rings.  My fingers had swollen just enough to make taking them off tricky lately.  I didn't want to risk waiting too long and possibly needing them to be cut off if they got too tight later, especially since I still have 12 weeks left to go (sigh).  So now I'm wearing the temporary wedding band I bought when I was pregnant with CC.

The worst of week 27:  The dreaded ankle swelling has appeared! So far it isn't too bad -- nowhere near how swollen I was the last few months of CC's pregnancy. But I am frantic to keep it at bay. I am drinking water like a maniac and putting my feet up at every conceivable opportunity. Please please please let it not get worse -- I still have three months to go!

The ugly:

I am, at this very point, the exact weight and size I was when I gave birth to CC.  I've gained 35 pounds (same as with CC) and my belly is now 38 inches around (same as with CC).  It's a disheartening thought, especially since I'm only carrying about 4 pounds of baby (compared to CC's 8 pounds, 9 ounces).  I have to remind myself that I am also carrying two placentas and two times the amniotic fluid.

From now on, I'll be in uncharted territory.  The next three months will probably be the most difficult of my life, physically speaking.  Every week, I'll be bigger and heavier than I've ever been in my life, and who knows what symptoms that will bring?