Trick Or Treat!

We met up with good friends for trick or treating and a mini party.
A fun evening to eat yummy Halloween treats really!

As soon as we exited the van it began to rain. I tried to walk a bit to follow the kids and take pictures but the heavens knew what I was up to. The man of rain up in the sky took pity on my poor husband Cesar and made the heavens pour down upon my bare head, and protruding belly. Cesar is away on business this weekend and has put me on his own version of prescribed bedrest. He even called in backup, better known as his mother, to make me sit and be quiet. We need these babies to hold out until this coming Tuesday morning, a c-section has been scheduled.




When Hugo and his friends returned to the house they were soaked. Well, the fireman was pretty dry! I stripped Hugo of his costume, he chucked his treat bag to the side all on his own. All he wanted to do was play with the big boys action figures. He only came to visit me once upstairs. Once the older boys returned from the candy gathering they popped the movie Coraline in and that was it. Hugo was glued to the couch in the playroom. He was sooo sleepy.

33 Weeks

This photo was taken 3 days before baby Hugo entered our lives at 39 weeks.

This photo was taken about 20 minutes ago on the first day of my 33rd week of pregnancy. I am wearing the same sweater with a tank underneath just as above, only you can't see the tank top. It has inched it's way up to mid tummy level. Sorry for the glimpse of the bottom of my belly. I tried and tried to yank the sweater lower but all was not in my favor. I tried and tried to yank my leggings up over the bump. The elastic band would stay up for .5 of a second and that's it. I was lazy and didn't pull on some jeans to match the top photo more closely. I'm a little bushed from all the last minute preparations of the day.

My new babies might be arriving tomorrow.

Photo Strip Love

This is Hugo Augustus.

This is what we did today.

Auntie Maggie's Contest

Our silly Auntie Maggie has challenged all the cousins to a silly face contest. Isn't she a fun Auntie?! We practiced. I had some ideas, Hugo had some ideas and we laughed like silly at each other on the couch this afternoon.

The top photo was my idea, kinda sorta...

The closed eye thing was all Hugo's idea.


This stunner was a combo of what Hugo wanted to do, eyes closed, mouth closed, with a little tinting by momma. Enjoy!

32 Weeks

How 's this shot for roundness sakes?!

I had some doc appointments today and received some disquieting information. First, I had a stress test which was interesting but not a big deal. The girls heart rates are strong, their movements - a lot. The test also showed that my belly experienced a contraction or two which I didn't feel. No problem. I was given the flu shot and told that if I wished, the H1N1 shot would be available in their office next week. I was afraid the shot would hurt, it didn't! Chicken me. I have weekly appointments scheduled from here on out.

My second doc visit, over at the fancy pants ultrasound place, was a bit different. This was a follow up visit to monitor the blood flow in the girls umbilical cords and brains. The scans showed that Baby A has diminished blood flow compared from two weeks ago. This was not what I expected to hear. I thought for sure that all the numbers would be the same and they'd ask me to return in another two weeks. So, I'm driving back up this Friday morning. I had blood drawn earlier today to check my antibody levels, hopefully the information will be ready for the docs on Friday, hopefully. Who knows tho, with my luck, on Friday they'll tell me that the pieces of the puzzle still aren't adding up and I simply need to return next week to be monitored once more. The doc was confused you see. He said that all the other info on the babies is positive. They appear to be very healthy and this was not a problem in my previous pregnancy. Why is this happening now?

I was frozen on the table with my belly full of slime and a giant piece of paper shoved into and over my leggings. What? What, what, what? Was all my brain could utter.

I feel like I don't know what is happening. The doc told me that normally Baby A would need a blood transfusion - while she's inside me, mind you. Pretty freaky. Would I be put under? What if Baby B gets real squirmy and is poked by the needle? She is the squirmy one of the two. How do they administer the transfusion? Through the umbilical cord? Where will the blood come from? I've got some questions forming quite the que at the moment.

The doc also explained that since I am 32 weeks and the babes have been measuring at such healthy weights that they might just take them out early. Okay. Like, how early? This weekend early? How quick can I book an air ticket for my Mom? How long will they need to be in the hospital? What about their lung development? What about their ability to suck? What about the fact that I'm not ready. Well, I could be. I don't want them in my belly forever but, this seems early. I've got some sewing to do. I've got more house cleaning to do.

I've got questions for the Friday morning docs.

Last night I received a blessing from the Bishop and Bro Webster while at church for Young Women's. It was beautiful and calming for me. I know that all will end well. I just don't know about the in between part.

This last shot is for my sister Maggie who has been searching for signs of fall in northern California. Miss you Mags.

Lavendar + Birds + A Tree = Nursery

Here are some clues as to what's a happening in the girl's nursery...


More pics to follow hopefully soon! I am moving tortoise slow these days. A little here and a little there gets accomplished each day. All my fingers and toes are crossed that the girls will remain quietly content in the belly so that all will be ready for their arrival.

A girlfriend helped me to install their infant car seats in the van this afternoon. Goodness, did that ever change the vehicle. Shocking. It shows me that deep inside, I haven't truly grasped the concept that two babies are really entering our family, at once. Two people. Two.

31 Weeks

I had another visit with the baby doc today. Do you want to know the good news or the bad news first? I guess I get to decide, I'm going with the bad first.

The Bad News: Cesar's blood is positive for the antibody. The bad news might still turn out to be fine in the end. I have another ultrasound scheduled for next week where the docs will track the babies blood flow in their umbilical cords and brains. Supposedly, everything looks normal at this time.

The Good News: I should really call it The Fun News!
Baby A weighs 4 lbs. 4 oz.
Baby B weighs 4 lbs. 10 oz.
Baby A is head up while Baby B is almost in the right down position. The doc said that once their in the down position it's very unlikely that they'll change position again. Good girl Baby B!

Our Tuesday

This was what we saw at the dump today. Are they buzzards? I don't know. I've never noticed them out in mass like this before. What could they be after? What might be going on at our dump that we don't know about? It's a transfer station, nothing is buried there any longer. Supposedly.



Little King Ferdinand greeted us at the door of his classroom today. He loved his crown and wanted us to know that he made it all by himself. Once in the van I questioned him about his day and he told us that Columbus went across the ocean and discovered America. Wow. I was pretty surprised to learn that A. he is actually listening to his teachers and B. that he remembered enough to tell me. He still doesn't know the names of any of the kids in the class. He did tell me once that Thomas wasn't sharing. Hmmm, I wonder how well Hugo was "sharing" that day...

Visitors With A Camper

My mother-in-law Carolina has been itching for one of these vans for years now. She finally made the big purchase and this past weekend was our first chance to see it. Carolina and Jose have a few small trips under their camper van traveling belt, such as: Niagra Falls, John Adams birthplace and now, a driveway in the picturesque Catskills of upstate New York.

Hugo freaked out with happiness upon their arrival. He was h-y-p-e-r hyper, with a capital H mind you, all day long yesterday. He dragged poor Vovo from play thing to play thing out in the yard and once in the house, from room to room in search of his favorite objects in which to show off and share. After dinner they made off for Hugo's bedroom hand in hand. I think Vovo was made to read nearly every book Hugo owns. Vovo finally returned downstairs to tell me that he thought Hugo was tired and had been crawling under his sheets as his stories were read. As I walked up the stairs I noticed Vovo making a stealthy bee line for the camper outside, we didn't see hide nor hair of him the rest of the night. Pooped out the poor man was! As was Hugo, he passed out in 2 seconds after I turned off his light. Hip, hip hooray for Vovo! Woo hoo!




Hugo climbed up on Vovo's lap with zero hesitation and little invitation. He wanted to share the fun of his Backyardigan's game with everyone. Hugo also assembled his puzzles one after the next for his grandparent audience. He showed off his counting skills in both English and Spanish and played preschool games on my iPhone, including a learn to speak Chinese for kids. He was also loud, bossy, messy, neglected all form of table manners and begged like a puppy dog for lollipops.



Our weekend visit was over before we knew it. Short and sweet but very much appreciated and enjoyed. Kisses were shared by all and words were spoken of our not seeing one another again possibly until the girls arrival. Will they arrive before Thanksgiving? After? At the end of November? Not until my mid December due date?? Who knows. Hugo would say, "It not big deal Mom." And he's right. The holidays are sorta on a pause/hold button in this household. It's no big deal.



Cesar had energy to burn and decided to get a jump on all the pine needle raking. Hugo helped gather the piles and watched as Papa made a bonfire where Vovo's camper van had been parked. Fall is in full swing now and we three need to get a move on with the yard, buttonuping the house, and completing the nursery. The room did progress this past week but, it has been a slow progression to say the least. I'm getting excited though! Little girls are coming...