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.

Pretty in Pink!!!!!!

Well.........if you have been living under a rock you have not heard the news. It's official, Justin and I are expecting twin GIRLS!!!!!! Yes, twin GIRLS!!!! We went to UAB yesterday for our appointment to make sure I was okay, as well as, the babies. We also went to find out the sexes. As we were watching the screen, my heart was beating so fast with excitement and not to mention nervousness. All of the books that I have read and statistics we have heard about twins being dangerous for the mother and the babies scared me. The doctors and books all say that carrying multiples is more dangerous because they are more at risk for congenital defects/abnormalities because of space (minimal room to grow) and other defects. I was worried about the defects because of my "small" size (said Dr. G) and the available space for the babies. Anyway, when we had the ultrasound the doctor said both baby girls were perfect and there were no abnormalities physically at all. They both have very strong and healthy heartbeats, all of their toes, fingers, organs, etc.

The funny part was before the doctor joined us, the technician was probing around and looking at the first baby (baby on my right side) and said, "well, i can say with certainty that this baby is not bashful at all and you are having a little girl on the right." We laughed with excitement and because we already know she will be rowdy! A few minutes later the technician said the same thing about the one on the left. We knew then that we were in for a wild ride!!! Justin is so excited and is pumped about being surrounded by spoiled rotten little girls.

One last thing that happened during the appointment that showed us their personalities was that both of the girls (that is so neat to say) were facing my right side (they were spooning to the right). The one closest to my right rib has been kicking me and I have been worried this past week because I couldn't feel the other one. Well, here is why. The one behind her was and has been kicking and punching the one in front of her and the one in front has been kicking and punching me. We were able to see that happening on the screen were amazed at how well they already "get along."

We are so blessed and can not wait to meet these balls of fire. We are 19 weeks and doing great. Life is good. Keep us in your prayers, especially Justin, as he is seeing pink night and day now.

New pictures are on the way!!!

Growing by leaps and bounds!

Here are the babies at 13 weeks! We were not scheduled for an ultrasound that day. Our doctor is a little crazy, but in a very good way. We went in for our 13 week check up and when they went to check the heartbeats (listen to them), we could only here one. The doctor said that was completely normal because of the twins. As our doctor was listening for the heartbeats, I got so emotional that he (our doctor) started laughing and told me how adorable that was. He asked me if I wanted to see them and I couldn't say anything, so I just shook my head to say yes. As I was sitting up he was telling us where to go to wait for the ultrasound machine to come open. I left everything in the room (i can't remember ANYTHING these days!!). I was talking with the doctor in the lobby, I asked Justin to go back and get my stuff in the room. The doctor walked back to make sure Justin found his way back and stopped Justin. He saw Justin with all of my stuff and said to him "Get used to it man. This is your role from now on. Your role is to carry the shit. So, go carry the shit!" Justin didn't tell me this till after we left and I laughed so hard I couldn't breath. Like I said, he's a little crazy. I don't think he can help it since he is from Barbados but lived in England almost his entire life.

The picture can not even capture what the ultrasound was like at that moment. I, of course, cried some more when we heard and saw the heart beats again. Music to my ears. Then I cried some more when the tech told us that both babies heartbeats were identical at 162 beats per minute. The baby on the left is our "chilled" child. I say this one takes after Justin (lol). The baby on the right can not stay still. Hmmmmm, I wonder who this one takes after. The baby on the right is facing towards the screen as if he/she knew there was a camera on her/him.

Other than me crying and my memory fading, all four of us (I have to include Justin) are doing great. My labs are perfect and I'm in great health, as are the twins.

I have to brag on my wonderful husband and give him the credit he deserves. Justin has been so amazing through all of this. He has cleaned, cooked, done laundry, and yes he has even driven all over the city for me to get me what I crave! I am very blessed to have him as my husband and can't wait for him to be a daddy. He is so excited!! I am just now showing to where it doesn't look like I have a beer belly and getting bigger everyday. Justin comes home everyday and rubs my belly and every morning he will text me to see how I feel. Every night before we go to bed, he rubs my stomach and talks about how excited he is. He is going to be such a great Dad!!

And more crying as I type this.