They have arrived!

At 8:45 twin "a" arrived 2420g and 490mm and at 8:47 twin "b" arrived
2410g and 490mm. We are truly blessed :)

week 35-37 - today 9th September 2008

Well what can I say.....these last 2 and a half weeks have AAAAAbsolutely flown.....so there have been no updates other than the fact that my tummy has continued growing.....which means the babies have grown :) On Thursday last week, at our 36-week scan, the girls weighed in at 2.5 and 2.7 kg's so they have done outstandingly well.....and fingers crossed there won't be jaundice or ICU etc etc.....and we'll all come home together :)

Brad took us including my folks for a nice Sunday drive and a picnic on Scarborough beach - and the photo of me in the final days with my Mom :)

The phones have not stopped ringing today.....and countles sms's and emails coming through wishing us luck...has made the eagles take off in my tummy. Am really feeling nervous now. Spent today getting the nursery cleaned up and sorted out for the final time, and have done the last bit of paperwork to sort accounts out. My folks have been amazing helping me out and putting up with my nervousness....they are superstars!!!! and I don't know what I would've done without them! Got rid of the cabin fever by going to visit Catherine and her twin boys and get some last final tips before the Big Day tomorrow. Cath has been amazing with the advise. Would be lost and afraid of the unknown if she hadn't been there and done it already!....and trust me she definitely got the t-shirt ;) I just hope I remember it all!!!!!

Brad is frantic busy at work and with a broken phone system (amongst the other stresses) does not make for a happy man....and with my hormones raging, well we are an overheating oven with 2 little buns a-baking ;) but hopefully all will simmer down really quickly. We have been told so many scary stories about not coping, I think subconsciously we are both a bit worried and nervous about the unknown, so therefore and understandably a little stressed out. Lovely recipe!

Anyway.....tomorrow is D-Day.....must be at the hospital at 6am, and will be in theatre at 8am for the 5-minute procedure, and then welcome our little angels into the world.

Thanks for all the love and support, the phonecalls, emails and sms's and staying in touch and reading the blog to stay up to date with the pregnancy and hope you've enjoyed the journey with us :)

All our fondest love
Linda & Brad and the girls xxxx

Enjoying last weekend before the chaos!

Baby shower

Yes, we had one of those and the boys came along too!
Now its 3 weeks later and we still washing those clothes.
Mmmm :)

Confusion abounds in hemphill home

Chinzy is obsessed with the tummy and has resorted to following the
incubator around the house and on high protection alert!

34 weeks - 18th August 2008

I'm feeling pretty excited by the BIG EVENT!!! just around the corner and we're really in the homestretch now......people were correct, the time has flown by and I can still remember as clear as a bell the day I did the home pregnancy test!

Hectic!!!!!!

These darlings are moving about a lot now, and to see my tummy poking out at all various angles is still very weird (in a beautiful way) for me. I can't believe this is happening to me...someone who thought they'd never get married let alone have children!...I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming ;) Brad is amazing as always and is so proud of his little girls. He loves to touch my tummy as they poke around and they play with him! Where he puts his hand, they kick or punch, so it's big fun and games already!

Pregnancy Calendar - Week34

The baby is now on the move, and making the trip down towards your pelvis, with its head then resting on your pubic bone. Everything is working for the baby now, although it is still not at full weight yet, I know it might feel like it, but its true.

You will have noticed the weight change, its known as lightening or engagement, which is why you can see pregnant women at this stage walking like they are carrying a watermelon between their legs with that waddle when they walk.

The other downside of engagement is that your bladder becomes even more squashed. So expect more trips to the bathroom.

about your body

With all this poking and prodding you're probably starting to feel like a science experiment. And for all your hard work you'll probably get a punch in the ribs or a kick in the pelvis.

your growing baby

Your baby has put on another 300g in two short weeks. Fluid passes through her kidneys and contributes to the amniotic fluid. The immune system is still immature and the baby continues to receive your antibodies. Your baby's movements may be decreasing in frequency, but not too worry - it's just because your uterus is somewhat of a tight squeeze these days, given his increased size. Your little one may have a lot of hair on his head at this point and his skin is now pink, rather than red, thanks to the white fat deposits underneath it.

tips for dad

Sometimes, when the two of you are lying on the bed, you'll see movement under the skin on her tummy. This is quite startling at first, but becomes very special. Gently touch the place where the baby moved. Talk to your baby ? he knows and recognises your voice.

{see honey...told you so ;) }

the comparison as at 12th August 2008

...and just when I thought my tummy couldn't stretch anymore???

Seeing this I can also understand why I'm visiting the loo every 2 hours - practising I've been told/warned for the many nights I'll be up:

pic 1 @ 20 weeks
pic 2 @ 24 weeks
pic 3 @ 28 weeks
pic 4 @ 33 weeks

33 weeks - 11th August 2008

Howdy!

In all honesty, starting to feel a teensy bit apprehensive about what's around the corner. I have 3 weeks to go today till 36-week gynae appointment....and anything could happen between now and then! AND also that DOC said I might not be able to go longer than 36-weeks....which means 2nd September birth etc etc....so many factors!!! However am positive all will be fine and that I'll go twin full-term to 37-weeks. The girls are moving around A LOT and in one way I want them to stay in as long as possible to get strong, but also can't wait to meet them. Brad feels his whole life is on hold waiting for their arrival, so we can move on to the next step in this journey together as a new family unit. He's going to be the best Dad (I just know it) and these girls are going to wrap him like play dough around their itsy bitsy little fingers :)))) (something I think he'd deny..haaa haaa haaa ;) )

Here are 2 pics I took this morning....one the side profile you have all come to know so well, and the other a full frontal.....which is not for sensitive viewers....so I've put that one right at the bottom of this blog....my belly button doesn't look healthy with all the veins and stretched to it's poor limit. For me that had an "inny" of note and super-sensitive at that, even I wonder if it'll ever go back to normal :)



This is what's happening this week:

Your baby is now about 5lbs and 17 inches long, and getting more active in the kicking and punching department, although their starting to feel a little cramped as they have less space to somersault in.

You might feel at this stage that you just want to get on with it, and to get the baby out. Its normal. You will also need to start planning the details of the big day, what to pack in a bag, the route to the hospital, what birth you would like, etc.. The motto from now on is Be Prepared.

about your body
You're quite possibly experiencing a strange, aching feeling in the pelvic area. The weight of your uterus is now putting pressure on the ligaments supporting it, which makes these ligaments sensitive and uncomfortable. You are possibly wondering how you're going to make it through the next few weeks. Behave like a prima donna if you have to. Rest is the best gift you can give to yourself. This is not a luxury it is a necessity.

your growing baby

Your baby spends 80 percent of his time breathing amniotic fluid. He is fully formed and just getting bigger and stronger in order to cope with the outside world. The pupils of your little one's eyes can now detect light, constrict and dilate, allowing her to see dim shapes. Her lungs are now almost completely mature and she's moved into position for delivery. The next time you go in for a check-up, your health care provider should be able to tell whether she's facing head down or bottom first.

Carrying The Load

No doubt you're starting to feel rather house-like.so you might want to know exactly where all that extra weight is actually going (based on a typical 13kg pregnancy):

• Uterus 1 kg
• Placenta 1 kg
• Amniotic fluid 1 kg
• Breasts 1 kg
• Blood 1,3kg
• Retained water 1,5 kg
• Fat 3 kg
• Baby 3,4 kg

Do remember that every woman and every pregnancy is different - but a rough guideline says shorter women should expect to put on between 10 - 12 kg and taller women 12 - 15 kg

32 weeks - 4th August 2008

Goodday!

Had 32-week scan Tuesday 5th August and both girls are doing fabulously - of course :))))) They both weighed in at 1760-ish grams, so are equal on all counts. I must admit though although Doc says there's still lot's of fluid, there are just so many legs and arms and moving about, I don't know how she manages to scan them both without getting confused and measuring the same femur twice!

This is what happened in week 32:

Your womb and baby are now sensitive to heat, so when you put a hand on your belly you might get a kick or punch in return. All baby's have blue eyes at this point, the chromosomes will change it later. Survival rates from now on are good, 90% of babies born at 32 weeks survive premature births.

Your bladder feels permanently full, you might also feel light headed if you bend over or move too quickly. This is because your blood is pooling in your lower body, so try getting up very slowly.

about your body
Your growing uterus is pushing against your bladder and your spine and you may feel breathless as your lungs are squashed. It is not advisable to fly long distance from this time on.

your growing baby

Your baby now weighs 1800g! Her movements do decrease close to your due date as there is less space to move around but if there's a dramatic change notify your doctor. Your baby's muscles are constantly contracting and relaxing and her pupils respond to light.

tips for dad

Her growing uterus is pushing against her bladder and spine. She feels breathless because her lungs are squashed, offer to carry everything and avoid places with stairs and big parking lots.

31 weeks - 28th July 2008

Hellooooo!!!!

Well, I seriously fell off the wagon these last 2 weeks....and time itself has just whooshed by. Brad was away in the Transkei doing the Imana Wild Ride....I was frantically getting the babyroom cupboards all neat tidy and sorted for the pending arrivals, painting the workbench with primer....before I left to join him at Umngazi.

So to backtrack quick....

This is what happened in week 31:

Your baby continues to grow and is nearing their birth weight and its going to be putting on about half a pound a week from now until two weeks before its born. So just when you thought you were heavy enough, it’s going to get harder. The baby’s skull is still fairly soft, as this helps during childbirth, and some can have the soft spot on their skull for up to a year before the skull fuses together. This week, the baby’s immune system has increased to protect from the germs in the outside world.

Heartburn and increased back pain are the order of the day. To reduce the heartburn try eating smaller amounts of food more regularly. Put your feet up as much as you can, try putting them on cushions and elevate them above your head. You might start to leak milk at this stage, so you might need some nursery pads to help you retain your last piece of dignity.

about your body
I am woman hear me roar! Your breasts are now about a third bigger than what they were before you fell pregnant. You're super-human at the moment and not just an ordinary woman. Revel in your newfound beauty. If you're expecting twins their growth will slow down dramatically.

to do list

Take time to bond with your unborn baby and listen to soothing music or even read a story to your baby. Rub oil or lotions on your entire body so as to decrease the severity of stretch marks should they occur.

your growing baby

Your baby is making breathing motions, narrowing her pupils, focusing and blinking. The skin is becoming pink rather than red as a result of the white fat deposits that have been laid down beneath it. These will provide energy and regulate temperature after your baby is born.

tips for dad

Because her breasts are now much larger than their normal size, she might feel like it's a blessing or think that they have a life of their own, which she hates. Give her loads of compliments and make her feel like a goddess. What about giving her a back or foot massage to ease her aches and pains?

In the life of the Hemphill's:

Brad flew to East London on Monday, and started the Imana Wild Ride on the 29th July. He had an absolute ball as always....and although I missed him terribly, I was able to rest up and live on soups for the week he was away....ie. no cooking, just heat my stock-pile and eat :)

I left on my epic journey on the Thursday morning...flight to JNB, connection to Umtata, then hired car and drove to Umngazi....and had wonderful afternoon just lazing about and feeling chuffed that the travelling had gone so well and that the babies were contented and happy like their Mommy ;) and excited to see Brad on the Friday. The weather was awesome :))) so was not missing the cold and rainy Cape Town at all!

Brad and the peleton arrived at about 2pm on the beach amidst a
sandstorm gale...and after banging the gong, we all piled into the boat, and jokes of me swallowing a Weber with 2 turkeys was the conversation of the crossing back to Umngazi itself for hot showers, lunch and a very welcome afternoon nap cuddled up in my sexy husband's arms! It was a great weekend, with most of the crowd leaving after breakfast. Brad and I spent a wonderful day reading and generally just relaxing with me having A LOT of naps! Brad hired a boat in the afternoon and we went for a drift up the river for a nice little sundowner all by ourselves ;)