22 Week Ultrasound and Pregancy Pains...Literally.

Yesterday I went in for my "big" ultrasound with the perinatologist. Jeff couldn't go with me which has been a little strange this entire pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Zach, he came to every appointment with me....sometimes if it were just a blood draw appointment! He was really involved, which was really nice. This pregnancy, it's a waaay bigger help for him to watch Zach while I go to my appts. Needless to say, he's hardly been to any. Yesterday was no different. At this level ultrasound, the Dr. will be able to tell you the gender. Since we don't want to know the genders, it was a little anti-climactic for me. I was a little concerned going in that I wouldn't even be able to look at the screen for fear I would see a "hot dog" or a "hamburger". I told the Dr. that when she handed me the special glasses that allow me to see the u/s screen. She asked (skeptically) if I knew how to read ultrasounds. I said no, but I've seen so many I worry that I'll pick up something. She assured me that when patients don't want to know the gender(s), she goes really fast by those areas and would be surprised if I could tell top from bottom. I trusted her and boy, was she right. She was so fast with that little wand, I could barely tell the difference between the face or the foot and she kept jumping from Baby A to Baby B! The good news is everything looks great! They are growing concurrently, which is what they want to see. They are 1lb and 1lb, 1oz. All the organs are where they are supposed to be, all limbs are present, the hearts look good...I'll have my next u/s at in early June, when I'm around 26 weeks. There they will try to do a 4D, where you can see the baby like it's in front of you...but she said it's a 50/50 chance of getting good pics/views with twins. I guess they start to get pretty squished in there.
I've been feeling pretty good lately, but since Saturday my luck has changed a bit. I've started having these pains in my groin area...on my left side it right where my thigh meets my pelvis....like my bikini line (TMI, sorry). Anyway, it's been progressively getting worse, like a sharp, shooting pain. Walking is a problem, I'm limping most of the time. Yesterday at Kohl's, I was really glad I had Zach's stroller to lean on for support. I asked the Doc what the deal was and she called them "round ligament pains". It's the ligament inside that hold the uterus and as the uterus gets bigger, they stretch to accommodate it. I asked what I can do about it and she said pretty much nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Greeeeeeaaaaaaaat. She said stretching can actually aggravate it. I just Googled it and the articles said Tylenol, sleeping with a pillow and a hot pad in the area.
Then, to top it off, I took Z to his activity class tonight. We haven't been in two weeks because of Hawaii. I asked the girls running the show if they could help me a little more tonight since I'm having these issues. They were a big help all night. Zach did great, and for the first time really followed instructions, sat in circle time for a pretty long time, did the excercises....by the time class was over, I got an incredible stitch in my right side. It still hasn't gone away and it's spasming so much that I'm actually standing up to write this. Here's the part that really bums me out. I'm 5.5 months along. I have at least 3 more months (hopefully?), how in the hell am I supposed to do this?!?!? I can't pick Zach up, I can't run after him or dance with him. This is starting to get really hard. Of course, I worry (because I worry about everything) that because I'm limping so much, I'm going to make my sciatic nerve act up (it did while prego with Z) and then I'll really be Hop-Along-Cassidy.
You know, I've come to the conclusion (like I didn't know this already about myself), that I really don't like being pregnant. It hurts, I puke, things on my body turn colors I've only seen in a Crayola box (won't get into detail), last time I starved the last three months (gestational diabetes) and now it's even worse because I have a two year old that wants his Mommy and Mommy can barely move. I'm like a 96 year old.
I'm trying to look at the positives...babies are healthy, 3 more months to go (freak out!) and we went to Hawaii and I felt pretty darn good and my son had the best time!!
But this is getting hard. And, I have a feeling it's only going to get harder.

Part 3 and final of Hawaii! Jeez!

We really need to stop taking so many darn pictures! But we have the cutest subject in the world, so what are parents to do?

OK, so the next day we drove into Kailua which is the next town over and there they have all the shopping you'd need. There is a mall, Safeway (instead of "Bob's Market" in Waimanalo), Starbucks...all the neccesities. We went and had breakfast and Moke's which is a mom and pop place...possibly the best breakfast EVER...is that because I'm hugely pregnant? No idea. But it was G-O-O-D. It was nice to sit down and have a real breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal or yogurt before running ot the door. We then went over to Kailua Bay, just down the street. Lanikai Beach is next to Kailua Beach. It's shallow, hardly and waves, there is an island out quite a distance and at low tide it's only as deep as 6 feet, so you could practically walk out to it the whole way (which we did not do). There is snorkeling, which we also did not do...I didn't bring my suit (why, I have no idea....a tip: always bring your suit!) This beach is the most beautiful beach, the sand is white and so soft...no rocks to worry about. This day in particular was just glorious!

This is my absolute favorite picture! I can't wait to blow it up and frame it!!

Needless to say, Zach had the best time this morning. As you can see, the kid never stopped smiling...not once. It was a weekend (Sunday, I think) so there were lots of people and kids to play with, although he really just needed the water to entertain him. Unfortunately, we had to go back to our hotel for naptime because we had a luau to go to and it would be a late night.

We cruised over to the west side of Oahu to Ko Olina, which is where Paradise Cove is. This place is a big luau spot, and it's very touristy. They do the whole show...they have demonstrations on how to open a coconut, climbing palm trees, a little canoe ride in a lagoon, tattoos for the kids, the whole roasting of pig and then unveiling and of course, the dancing, music, fire dance, singing, etc. during the buffet.

I didn't think Z would sit still for this...he never moved a muscle! I forgot he loves getting hand stamps at My Gym, so I guess I should've known!
Watching something spectacular, I'm sure.



This is at the unveiling of the roasted pig. They roast it in the ground for up to 8 hours in a pit filled with...hot rocks and banana leaves (I think...something like that) and everyone watches to see them pull the whole pig, yes head and all (ewwwww...) out of ground and take it to the kitchen. Zach was under the impression that all of these people had gathered around to see him dance.

Finally, we get to sit and eat, buffet style. While we ate the hula girls came out, the half naked, ripped little 19 year old boys...(sigh)...hey I'm writing this blog, not Jeff. Getting Z to eat at this time was a challenge. Actually, getting him to sit in the stroller was a challenge. So, being the best parents ever we gave him rocks and dirt and stick to play with. What a wonderful idea....everything from the kid to the stroller was filthy in 12 seconds. But, we got to eat.

Zach learning the hula.

Dinner was over, so Zach got to be free from his tortuous stroller...I'd swear, you'd think there were spikes coming up through the seat. Zach found this little girl who was dancing and he thought that looked like the most fun ever, so he cut a rug with his new little girlfriend for 25 minutes!

Now, before you all start judging me that my kid is running around with his pa-poo (pacifier), before he decided to cut loose he was cuddling with Jeff and we thought he was going to fall asleep. He uses his pa-poo for night-night. No, my child will not be 5 running around with his pa-poo, I promise.

My little Cassanova giving his girlfriend hugs...looks like he was trying to cop a feel and she was having to hold his hands back!

Ok, this is the best picture EVER. He's obviously having the BEST time, but to me he looks like that 50 year old guy that has too many cocktails at a wedding and suddenly becomes John Travolta. It'd be perfect if he had the tongue sticking out!

The next day, we went back to Lanikai Beach, in hopes of recreating the perfect day from the previous day. Well, no such luck. It was overcast, it rained, it was colder...Zach fell asleep on the beach again for almost 3 hours...yes, you read right...3 hours! Jeff and I are freezing our dupas off and Z was snug as a bug in a rug...er...beach towel and my wrap. We passed the time by making sand sculptures.

How come I look like an obse mermaid? Is this how Jeff see's me? He couldn't make me a svelte, sexy mermaid? Notice the sleeping child covered by the umbrella and the boogie board?

After Sleeping Beauty finally woke up, we went to the Pali Lookout to look out at nothing. It was raining, windy, cold and foggy.

We went into Waikiki again, and ended up eating at PF Changs. Yum!! We brought along the portable DVD player and while we ate a very enjoyable meal, Zach watched Toy Story. It was wonderful!

The next day, our flight didn't depart until 2:45pm, so we got to the Hilton Hawaiian at about 10:30 or so and went in the pool. It was pretty chilly, it was a bit overcast and the sun was hiding behind a tall building, but Z still had a good time going down the slide and playing on the big steps in the pool. We were going to forego his nap so he'd sleep a lot on the plane, but Z had other ideas.

The flight home was pretty good, he only slept for an hour, but it all worked out. We got back home around 1am. We gave Zach his milk and put him to bed not long after 1. He slept the next day until 12:30pm! His usual 11-12 hours! We skipped the nap, he went to bed that night at his usual time (between 7:30-8pm), and he got back on track in one day! Such a trouper!

More talk of Hawaii

Ok, part two of our trip. We went to the Honolulu Zoo the next day and boy, what a great place! If you haven't been and you're a "zoo person" or your kids are, this is the place to be. It's beautiful to walk through, the animals are really close up, and they have a great kids zoo or "keiki zoo" where you can pet some of the animals. Of course I loved that part as much as Zach...ok...probably more so.

Zach's favorite thing of all time...water fountains!

This is the "keiki zoo". There are tunnels that Zach could go through and he could pop up in the middle of this circular aquarium...with daddy's help.

This peacock was standing right in the walkway and judging by the way he was showing off his feathers and shaking them at us, I could tell he really didn't want us on his sidewalk. He was pretty, though. While Jeff was on one side of the peacock and I was on the other, two guys kept him at bay while I pushed Zach past him...very quickly. Who says chivalry is dead? Maybe just from your husband but not from complete strangers.


There are more animal pics but I'll spare you. Pretend that you see lemurs (my favorite!), hippos, alligators and an elephant.

That night we went back to the Hilton Hawaiian to watch their big fireworks show they do on Fridays. Zach was pooping out so I bought some milk at the gift shop but no one would warm it up for me. So my hero husband jets off with the sippy to find a nice person to do it. He says I'll catch up, just start walking. I go down the pathway and all of a sudden men start putting up caution tape and roping off the area. I'm thinking WTH? So I make it through and they rope it off behind me, but now I realize that Jeff is still back there, he can't go the way I went, it's almost pitch black out...how's he ever going to find us????

It took a while...about 20 minutes, but finally he finds us...out of breath from running up and down the beach, the pathway, around the hotel. He just made it for the show. I could see why they cordoned off the area...the fireworks were literally above our heads! L-O-U-D, too!! My first thought was "uh-oh, how is Zach gonna like this? I bet he starts screaming." But, he proved me wrong and loved the fireworks! Of course I held him the whole time and I think if I'd tried to put him down he would've had a fit, but in mama's safe arms, he loved it!

Some other pics actually before the separation and subsequent fireworks

The next day we went to the Dole Plantation where they grow the Dole pineapples. Again, it's a very touristy thing to do, but we knew Zach would love the train ride/the "choo-choo"! Here I am flaunting the girls that I now have and wearing my pregnant Angelina Jolie dress...
The train ride was about 20 minutes and that was all Zach could take. What he really enjoyed was smushing his face against the glass and making smushy-faces at the Japanese tourists seated in the car behind us. Yes, they took pictures. I wish I did because I'm sure it was hysterical. This is probably where Zach picked up the germs that gave him the sniffles. Unavoidable. Oh well.
The trip to the Dole Plantation would not be complete without a Dole Whip. Yum!!! Heaven!
We decided to take the long way towards home and go up to the North Shore and around towards the east side, where our place was. It didn't look that far on the map.....

UGH! It took 2 hours! There was traffic, road construction and idiot tourists who drive like they've never seen the ocean! Ok, maybe they haven't but pull off to the side, people! Jeez!

We got back to our place but realized we still had time before dark and nite-nite time so we went up the road a few miles to Baby Makapu'u beach. It's a lot of lava rock which makes nice little coves that are wave proof. Again, perfect for little ones.

Ok, part three will come tomorrow. Sorry about all the parts but I'm done for the night!

Aloha! We are back (sigh)

We got home last night from our fabulous, spontaneous trip to Oahu, Hawaii. Jeff and I didn't believe we were actually going until our feet hit the ground. This trip was planned about three weeks ago. We were talking about how we won't be able to go anywhere for a while, what with the twins on their way. Also, Zach flies free until age two and that happens on April 30th. Also, I only have about 3 more weeks that I can fly, doctors orders. So, all of these reasons came together and we thought, why not? I wasn't stressed at all about flying with Zach this time. I had enough anxiety when we flew to Michigan last fall to hold me for a while. Besides, I figured if he acted up, who cares...it would be 5 hours of hell and then we'd be in Hawaii! Luckily, we were able to utilize an empty seat in our row, so he was able to sit in his carseat and not in our lap. That alone is the reason he's really almost a joy to fly with. If I had to deal with my wiggle-monster the entire time, this post would be completely different, I can assure you.
It took us forever to get our luggage, forever to get our rental car, but we finally made it to our "hotel". Jeff found this place online, and it was a really good deal...$115 a night! It's a house with four suites, all separate, private entries, the caretakers live on one side and the other side are the suites. The house was built for this purpose 20 years ago. We had full use of the kitchen, the laundry and beach toys. The house sits 6 houses away from Waimanalo beach, which is the windward side (eastern side). The first few days the wind was blowing pretty hard, but luckily it was just a little weather blowing through.
This is the place we stayed at in Waimanalo.  Our suite was in the back.

By the time we got in, we didn't have much time to go anywhere.  We walked down to the beach.

Jeff and Zach played in the huge hot tub while I organized our stuff and unpacked.  The water was like bath water, so it

was perfect for Zach.

We went to the market and loaded up on groceries.  Jeff made us dinner and we ate on the patio.

God, we are some tired looking people.  Long day, for sure.

     The next day, we went to "our" beach and hung out until it was Zach's nap time. 

He's quite my handsome dude in his shades

A dad and his son.  Contemplating life.  Or contemplating a big poopy diaper....Sometimes the same thing.

After Zach's nap we headed into Waikiki and went to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort.  We had been looking into staying here but ultimately decided it would be better NOT to be in the heart of Waikiki.  There is this lagoon that is open to the public, ocean fed, no waves, manmade...perfect for Zach's age.

The Hilton Hawaiian pool behind the lagoon.

Zach loved these boats!I could do this about three times.  Then daddy took over.

We then decided to be super ghetto and sneak into the pool.  Not that it was some big covert mission...we just walked up to the towel counter, asked for towels, collected our towels, no questions asked and then

jumped in the pool!

  We walked around the property for a bit...

We headed back towards our place and Zach helped wheel this cooler the entire way back to the car!  My

little helper!

Since he was such a big help, we decided to let him ride in the car this once

The next day we went to Hanauma Bay.  It's a very popular tourist attraction and wildlife sanctuary.  It's known for it's snorkeling and you only have to venture about 10 feet into the water before the reef starts.  It's also perfect for little kids because the waves are almost non-exsistent and it's very safe.  Jeff and I had been there 10 years ago and I remember it being very cloudy and the snorkeling wasn't very good.  Well, in the last ten years they've really done a number on the place because the snorkeling was awesome! 

Starting to poop out...already!

Jeff off to snorkel

Zach decided he'd become a true beach bum and take a snooze on the beach

1.5 hour nap.  I snorkeled while he slept, it rained while he slept...he never moved.  Jeff made a tent of beach chairs and boogie boards we had brought to shield him from the rain.  Too funny!

Awake and time for cookies!!

Cheese!!

We were at H.B. from 8 am until 2 pm...we were having so much fun!  For me it felt so good to be in the water...the best I've felt in months!  I guess the weightlessness of it all was good for me.  It was also the most excersise these legs have felt in a while and boy did I feel it that night!

I'm surprised the wildlife enthusiasts didn't come throw water on me to keep the beached whale from drying out.

"Daddy, more weeee!" 

I'll work on this more tomorrow...it's late and I still (STILL) have laundry to fold! 

Hellllooooo Hormones

You know you're pregnant when:
your 2 year old smacks you in the eye and you instantly dissolve into tears. You then scoop up your toddler and bring him to your husband (sobbing, of course) and between tears you hand him over and say, "he hit me in the eye, he needs a time out."
You then fall onto the couch, sobbing like a 4 year old for the next 2 minutes.
After all is said and done, you feel much better and said toddler has given kisses, hugs and an "I'm sorry, Momma".