The Highly Anticipated Belly Pics...Yea, right?!?

First, here is a picture from when I was pregnant with Barrett at 14 weeks and 2 days. Then it goes current....

Alright already....here are a few belly pics. One with it covered and the other not so much. It's quite the belly already, I think, and I know it's only going to get crazier. My sister told me to post pics just to keep all of you women informed of how a twin belly looks. Here it is at 14 weeks and 2 days. Please keep in mind that this is my second pregnancy too (be kind).

I had a stranger notice that I am pregnant, which did not happen to me until about 21 weeks with Barrett. That tells you something about this belly. Moving on....

School has been going well. Conferences are next week, so that makes for a long week. At least we get Friday off. I keep reminding myself that after conferences, there are breaks coming up (thanksgiving, chrsitmas, etc.). I just need to keep on keeping on. Feeling-wise I have still be nauseas somewhat and getting off and on again headaches. I've also been having trouble with my ears, which I think is due to Barrett having an ear infection last week. I have to go in to get another test done to see if my infection is gone, which my instincts tell me it's not. I don't know the next step after that. My next doctor's appointment is not until November 12th, so I guess I'll find out more then.



As for Barrett, he's doing much better now. Like I said he had a double ear infection a couple weeks ago and lasted up until just a few days ago. He took the medicine like a champ, though and he made it through just fine. He's back to his happy self. As you can tell he's loving being outside. He actually walked to the slider door and tried to open it to go out. He's is happiest outside. I guess when winter comes he'll just have to be all bundled up. It'll be humorous. Isn't he just the cutest?!?

Friend Wedding

Last night I went to my friend Glen's wedding. It was at the same recpetion hall that Ben and I had our recpetion at, so it was fun to revisit. I flew solo though because Ben stayed home with our sick little boy. Barrett has a double ear infection that has pread to his eyes and nose. He is pretty miserable these days, but he's finally on some medicine and things are looking much better. I had to dash out of work early on Friday to get him to the doctor. Oh, the things you do for your child. :) Anyway, last night was a very fun evening with friends. Rex, you may appreciate the above pose, since it is the one we often portray due to the picture you made for us. Last night we just seemed to chat a lot and catch up on things. There was a LITTLE dancing from me before I called it a night. When the party started getting somewhat wilder is when I decided it was time to go home. I just loved catching up with my friends and I miss them so much! We'll hopefully all be together again for the UM v. MSU game in a few weeks.

12 Weeks

Everything is going great! We went to the doctor today and they did another ultrasound to make sure everything was still going well and that the babies heartbeats were looking good. The babies are looking great, which is a huge relief now that we are past the 12 week marker. As many of you already know the risk of miscarriage now goes way down. Whew! Below is a new ultrasound picture of the babies. Twin B is on the top and twin A is on the bottom. The doctor did confirm that they are fraternal twins, so there is a possibility that we could get one of each gender. We go to the doctor again in one month and they scheduled us for another ultrasound. All of these ultrasounds are just to check on the babies' hearts, since it would be too difficult to find both early on with just the doppler thing.

As for how I've been feeling, it's been a rollercoaster. Every day I go from feeling not so good to good to not so good again. I get headaches off and on and I have been non-stop stuffed up since school started. I am also really tired, but that seems to be subsiding somewhat. I have to snack throughout the day and not do big meals, because stuffing myself makes me feel so sick (which is different from the overstuffed feeling when you're not pregnant). Overall I am feeling good and hanging in there. I do have a little baby bump already and I know some of you are anxious to see it, but I'm going to wait until I am 14 weeks. That is when I first started showing the belly last time, so I can't seem to get myself to show it any sooner than that. You're going to have to be patient! :)

Delbert's Birthday Party

Sue taking her grandsons for a wagon ride.


Barrett & Louie watching the cows and playing with feed.


Ben took Barrett for a quad ride in the sprinkling rain.


The birthday grandpa with his two favorite boys!



We just got back from spending the afternoon over at grandma and grandpa's house celebrating Delbert's 56th birthday. The idea was that there was going to be a hayride (and for some of the brave few there still was), but the rain had different plans. It was cold and wet so many people decided to stay back and just enjoy each other's company. It was a great afternoon. We ate a lot and played cards.

My next doctor's appointment is Tuesdays, so I'll post more again after that! :)

GUS 1995-2007

Well, I'm sad to let everyone know that Gus was put down yesterday evening. His liver was failing fast and there was nothing they could do. The doctor's also believed there to be a tumor. My sweet father had to be the one to take Gus in. I think he is having the hardest time out of everyone. Gus was my father's constant buddy through all the highs and very low lows these past 12 years. Gus will now join my mother and be her buddy until we all meet up again. We will miss you Gus.

He's 13 Months Old!!!

Such a boy!


He'll put his arms up like this and then slam then down (making a lot of noise in the process).


He's a walking fool now! :)


Barrett and Mommy




Barrett continues to amaze. Friday night he went to the local football game with Ben and then Saturday I took him to the MSU tailgate, then shopping, then out to lunch (and he never fussed the whole time). By the time we got home later that afternoon he slept for about 3 to 3 and a half hours to make up for the missed morning nap. What a trooper. Saturday night we decided to head up to Ben's grandma's for one last night and day (Sunday) out on the lake. We spent Sunday soaking up some last minute rays and swimming a bit. I forgot my camera, though, so sorry...no pics. It was a nice relaxing day. I kept thinking about how crazy it was to be swimming in October! The only thing that gave the season away were the trees across the lake that had various colors. It was such a busy, but nice weekend.

Barrett's stats @ 13 months:
**Has 2 naps a day
**Walking all the time (occassional crawl, but rare now)
**Says 'moo' and 'mamma' (mamma is used for both Ben and me)
**When he walks he sometimes puts his hands above his head or waves them in front of himself
**Love his walking toys
**CLIMBS EVERYTHING!!! Even his toys and the coffee table
**Knows how to get off of the couch and bed. He even knows how to back down stairs
**Wants to be outside every possible minute
**Loves to get into cupboards, especially the ones with tupperware and pans
**Probably weighs around 25 lbs., but feels heavier
**Has two molars now...that makes 10 total teeth
**Love his daddy (mommy is not so cool anymore) :(
**Smiles almost all the time, but does have some fussiness
**Continues to get cuter and funnier every day!
**

Sweet Gus

I have some sad to news to pass along. I got a call from dad and Katrina Tuesday night and they told me that they have to put Gus down sooner rather than later, according to the vet. Gus had gotten some blood work back and it looks as though his liver is failing and soon to follow will be his kidneys. Wednesday night many of us gathered at the Rainey house to hang out with Gus one last time. Dad and Katrina are not quite sure when they will take Gus in, but it will probably be soon. It was a bitter sweet night, as Gus is more than just a dog to all of us. Gus is one last link to our mother since it was she (along with me) that went and got Gus one day. Gus has had a good long life and he will be missed very much. It is hard to explain all the sadness I am feeling about the upcoming day....awe poor Gus. He's been quite a wonderful dog! I will post again with an update when I can.