IVF Adventure: Hello 3rd Trimester!

28 weeks...at most 10 weeks to go! Time continues to fly by. This past weekend I was honored with a great baby shower. It was so special to have my family in town and my close friends around to celebrate the Burchell Babies. As my mom put it...we have everything we need to bring the babies home (now it's just those extra "fun" things we want). We can change them, feed them, and they have a place to sleep. What other essentials are there? I am in complete amazement at how creative my friends and family are! Miss B had the cutest decorations, great games and prizes, and delicious homemade parting gifts. Miss T made the most adorable cupcake display (almost too cute to eat...ALMOST). My sister and her husband used their kitchen skills and made the coolest fruit salad ever. And my mom finally started the curtains which are the perfect touch to the nursery. I'm honored just at the thought of the time and creativity that went into the day. I have no way to express how grateful I am.

Todd was also a sneaky little daddy too. He planned, scheduled, and pre-paid for a salon day for my sister and I where we got manicures, pedicures, hair cuts, and coloring! He had a little bit of a selfish motive - I have been complaining about my "half and half" hair for quite some time and I'm always complaining about my Flinstone feet. But it was a nice surprise, very unlike my Burchie to do that.

I also have hit my emotional peak I think. I was inconsolable when my mom left on Sunday, really just lay in bed most of the day crying and upset. And it's not that I won't see her or that I never talk to her - we talk a lot and she is going to come down to help once the babies are born. I was just a wreck. Once I was able to gain composure, it was time for my sister to leave and the vicious cycle started again. Once I was able to gain composure in the late afternoon, I was going through one of my many daily Cocoa Buttering sessions and saw how intense and how fast the stretch marks were growing and completely lost it for a 3rd time over the weekend. These babies are definitely taking a toll on my body, not that I ever was or had the dream of being a model but I don't think bare midriff will ever be in my future again.

I am starting to get uncomfortable, but as long as I don't think about it, it isn't so bad. Sitting upright all day is tough and driving is really difficult longer than 30 minutes. I'm getting used to the belly - i notice it's a great place to rest my arms, my cups, my laptop, my plate of food...it's pretty convenient! People still tell me I look great and "small for twins"...I'll take that while I can!

Here are some pictures from the shower - I'm happy to report that 28 weeks after IVF we are still strong and healthy and we continue to be thankful for Dr Meyer and his team at USF for their skill and expertise that makes our family more complete in 10 short weeks (if that!!)