Any Day Now...

Wow, how life has changed since we found out we were pregnant with twins.  We've had multiple ultrasounds to follow the growth and development of the boys; our insurance through the Navy expired and we switched to Medicaid until Matt is able to include us on insurance through work; Matt started a new job with a government contracted company, hoping to get his foot in the door to a federal job to finish out his time in so he can receive his pension later.  We are in the process of trying to find a different living arrangement, since my mom's house is already full to the brim, and adding two more babies to the mix just complicates things further. 

As for the actual pregnancy, by my original due date of April 14, I'm 38 weeks pregnant, but my due date was changed by my original doctor at the midwife office to April 22, since the babies were consistently measuring about a week behind my dates.  Since my OB appointment a week and a half ago, I've been dilated two centimeters and both boys are head down.  Our ultrasound two days ago showed Caleb to be weighing around 5 lbs 9 oz and Christian to be weighing around 5 lbs 4 oz.  I'm so stoked that they're both over 5 lbs, because at our last ultrasound a month ago they were both right at 4 lbs each. 

In regards to delivery, I am planning on a vaginal delivery of both babies unless an emergency arises.  I do plan on having an epidural in the event that the doc needs to help reposition Christian (baby B) after Caleb (baby A) is delivered.  He's informed me (as I've heard from others) that this process is NOT comfortable and an epidural would be ideal.  As well, it would be good to have the epidural in place in case for some reason an emergency cesarean becomes necessary.  Considering my adjusted due date of the 22nd, I would be 38 weeks pregnant (full term for twins) on Easter Sunday (April 8th), thus, my OB has suggested that we induce on Tuesday, April 10, if nothing has happened by then.  That way, no matter what due date we go by,  I'd be at least 38 weeks along. 

How have I been doing?  Well, ask any pregnant lady who's near the end of her pregnancy and she'll tell you there's a point where you just say, "I'm done."  I'm past that point.  Overall, I've had a wonderfully smooth and healthy pregnancy, especially considering I'm having twins, but I'm at that point where I'm READY to have these boys and meet them face to face.  I've been incredibly blessed to have avoided edema (swelling) most of this pregnancy, but it recently decided to move into my lower legs, feet and hands (though my hands have been swollen in the mornings for a while).  I feel like my whole pelvis is bruised, so it hurts to walk.  My lower back pain has worsened and I get bouts of moderate cramping in my lower abdomen.  I still get Braxton-Hicks contractions, and some quite long and strong, but nothing that's regular.  Physically, I'm done.  I'm so ready to have these boys and get back to being able to move like a normal person.  Emotionally?  I'm still so shocked that we're having twins and that I'm going to be a mom of FOUR children.  And not only FOUR children, but TWO of those boys!  I always thought I'd be blessed to have even ONE boy, but two NEVER entered my mind.  God has definitely surprised us! 

I have to say...it has been a lesson in faith to witness and experience this blessing God's bestowed upon us.  God has shared with us the miracle of His good and perfect timing by giving us these children when Matt was without a job for so long, while we've been living with my mom and adjusting to civilian life.  He has shared with us His amazing creativity giving us not only two babies, but two boys with this pregnancy.  He is sharing with us a huge responsibility by giving us TWO MORE children to care for, expressing to us how much He expects us to rely on Him in raising these children.  He has shared with us His unbelievable provision by providing us everything we need in this time when we have needed quite a bit.  He has provided us a place to live, food to eat, transportation, the love of family and friends, financial assistance, emotional healing, and through all this, an opportunity for Matt and me to grow in our relationship.  I have grown so much in my Christian life lately as well.  I am still struggling with many areas of my life, but going through all the changes that have occurred lately and seeing God's hand working so meticulously in my life ALL the time, I am immensely baffled by His works.  God has continuously provided for us not only through the many things He's given us, but MANY times through the things He's taken away from us.  I'll spare you the detail, but even when something we thought we needed was no longer there, God was using its absence to provide something else for us.  It is complicated, but trust me in this...God knows what He is doing and we are dumb to think that we have ANY inkling of what is best for us.