Results

Results are in and they were negative for gestational diabetes.  YAY!!!! The results did say that I am anemic and all I need to do is take more iron.  What great news.

Pray Please

Please say a prayer for my Daddy.  He went back to the doctor today and the doctor told him he will have a heart cath tomorrow morning (April 1st).  The doctor was very optimistic about there not being anything abnormal, but it's still a "surgical" procedure on my Daddy.  Please pray that they do not find any blockage and everything comes back with normal results.  Also, please keep Justin's Great Grandmother (Granny Lacy) in your prayers.  Mrs. Darlene told me this weekend that she was put back in the hospital.  She's a tough woman but hates being there.  Please pray for Jusitn's Grandfather (Paw Paw), also.  He is doing better and we hope he stays on that path for a long time.   


Also, Justin and I went to the doctor yesterday for our 24 week check up and gestational diabetes test.  First of all when we got to the doctor's office I went to the desk to sign in, something I have done a thousand times before.  I signed in and turned around to go sit down.  The nurse called me back and asked me what doctor I was seeing today. There is a place on the sign in sheet for the doctor that you are seeing.  Well, I asked her if I wrote his name and I looked down and all I wrote was "Doctor Doctor."  I guess that you had to be there to appreciate the moment.  The entire office died laughing, along with my supportive husband. 


Moving on.  Dr. G said I am measuring at 28 weeks but i'm 24 weeks.  WOW!!! It's all very comical right now.  We heard the heartbeats and this was the first time that we could hear 2 VERY distinct heartbeats.  Music to my EARS!!  Both girls are doing great with fast and strong heartbeats.  I was disappointed when Dr. G told me that my nurse of 3 years (she was his nurse for 11 years) decided to go home and call it quits with the medical field.  She was amazing and always made me feel so comfortable.  My new nurse is amazing, too.


We still have not heard back on the results from the gestational diabetes test.  However, my new nurse (Tracy) told me that I need to cut back on my salt intake because i'm already swelling and not to mention I have gained 10 more pounds!!!!  I knew our scale at home was not broken.  She even made me get on it twice to make sure their scale was not wrong.  Turns out that the girls love to eat!!!  All I can do now is keep my humor about it.  Keep praying for everyone and have a great week!

Renovation and Relaxation

I could not resist posting this.  This is a picture of Justin taking a break from putting in our new floors!!!!  Justin's parents were so gracious enough to come down all weekend and put in the floors with Justin.  Of course the girls didn't stick around to help with the hard labor.  Thanks again Armstrongs!!!!!!

SNOW CONES!!!!!!!

Justin and I went to visit my mom and step dad a week or so ago in Biloxi.  While we were there, Whitney took this picture of me watching some yard work being done.  I had no idea how much I have grown.  It seems like last week we were looking for some "sign" of my tummy growing. 

We are now 23 weeks (24 Tuesday) and everything is perfect.  I have gained a total of 11 pounds (yay!!) during this pregnancy.  We went to the Doctor over my spring break and they told me that I was at 11 pounds.  Well, a few days ago I got on our scale at home and it had me weighing in at an extra 9 pounds.  So, i'm confused.  How could I gain and extra 9 pounds in less than a week to put me at a total of 20 pounds? Anyone?  I am not worried about how much weight I gain for my sake.  I am more worried about the babies health.  If you remember, at first the doctors were all worried because I was not gaining any weight and thought it would be dangerous for myself and the girls. 

The doctors all say i'm doing great, though.  I'm just curious as to how in the world someone gains 9 extra pounds in a week.

The girls are kicking up a storm NIGHT and DAY!!  I was over at my friend Lauren's house the other night talking with her about being uncomfortable, sleep, etc.  We were discussing how hard it is to sleep at night because there is no good position to get comfortable.  She asked me if I was still sleeping in our bed and I said yes, but I am using a body pillow. I have tried the couch in the evenings and neither seem to help.  Anybody have any good ideas?  I have never been pregnant before so I am brand new at all of this.  I don't know if it is because I am carrying two V. one or if it's just because that is what happens.  

We go to the Doctor on Tuesday for my check up and gestational diabetes test (yuck).  Please pray that all of the tests come back normal and we don't have to go through any of the steps that come along with gestational diabetes.

We also start our parenting/lamaze classes on Thursday.  NO, I am not having an ALL natural birth without drugs.  Women that can do that have my applause.  I signed us up because it offers more than just the birthing process and thought we would have a good time and learn a little bit in the process. 

Anyway, on to my real topic..........CRAVINGS!!!!  I have always been one to enjoy a good snow cone.  For the past month I have wanted to hurt somebody to get a snow cone.  I can not seem to get enough snow cones.  I wonder why a snow cone and not ice cream.  I also can NOT get enough milk.  Every morning I get up I drink a 32 oz glass of milk and in the afternoon......a snow cone.  Justin was so sweet the other day.  He came home from working a long day and walked in the door with my favorite snow cone. 

Update:  Justin's grandfather is out of the hospital and is doing fine.  He is at home and all is good with him.  Also, my Dad is going in on Monday for some additional tests on Monday (March 29).  I know God is with him like he has been with Justin's grandfather, I just can't help but worry.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Snapshots

Okay, so these were too funny not to post. The top picture is an awful picture of me and the amazing "double wide" stroller my brother bought us with car seats!!! We love him and so do Olivia and Allie.

The one below makes me smile all day. If you know how much Justin hates to paint, you know that he was having a blast painting two different colors. This was Justin in the nursery after he about had a heart attack putting up the chandelier and getting on to me for leaving drips on the wall. Where the two colors (coffee bean and fairy tail pink) meet, we are putting up a white chair railing and then some other pictures of bunnies up. "It's a work in progress for my baby girls" is what Justin says. How adorable is he. LOL!!!

The Name Game

We have ended the name game. Though there was never really a big "debate" on names since we have been talking about names since the day we talked about starting a family. The girls names will be Olivia Grace Armstrong and Alexandra Lynn Armstrong (Allie).

We went to the doctor today for a follow-up appointment from Birmingham. All is good with heartbeats fast and perfect!! I have mentioned before about how crazy our doctor is and every time we go it is always a "show." He tickled us today by telling us stories of very HEAVY women being pregnant or "getting" pregnant. You can imagine how that conversation went. Anyway, he measured me at 23 weeks, but I am only 20 weeks today. That is completely normal for someone carrying "multiples." My sister loves to say that I'm carrying multiples. Since I have been pregnant I have gained a total of 10 pounds. That is a huge accomplishment for me since all of the doctors were worried about my lack of weight gain. My belly is getting bigger by the day it seems.

Last night I was in the bath tub (my nightly ritual and relaxation) when I felt the babies moving. They usually move throughout the day and especially when I get into a warm bath. Last night the coolest thing happened that I have yet to see. The babies were kicking up a storm and I saw the babies actually kick through my stomach. I freaked and was so excited because I have heard stories and read articles about babies doing this. I immediately called for Justin to come and see/feel them do this. Justin has felt them move but it has been flutters that he can feel. So, last night with some coaching on my part he could feel and see the babies move/kick/hit. I know that I am not the first person to have a baby or babies, but it is just such an amazing miracle to see this and go through it. God is certainly amazing!!!!

We have new pictures from Birmingham and I have to say that some of these pictures are very confusing if you have no idea what you are looking for. I apologize for not putting captions/descriptions next to each picture as I have no clue on what I am looking at. Enjoy!!! Keep praying and thank you to everyone that has been so supportive and continues to be.