our home has expanded by four feet

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After 17 days and 6 hours, on December 13, our babies were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.

Last week, every day was a roller coaster with high hopes of bringing them home but only to be told "maybe tomorrow". I appreciate the nurses and doctors and their best interest in keeping our babies healthy and strong enough to come home.

So when we were told today that they might come home, I didn't really believed it. Not until they went over the discharge instructions, made me watch a 1980 'do not shake your baby' video, and started collecting their belongings. Of course all that took nearly 3 hours!

At the peak of rush hour, we left the hospital towards home. I was so excited I couldn't stop giggling! Until we hit really bad traffic and decided to trust iPhone and take a little detour. Let me just say that the alternative route did not exist. And so we're back in the freeway and nearly 3 hours later (for a 50-minute usual drive) we made it home.

And so now it begins - life with twins = every 3 hours: feed, change, burp, pump, repeat :) Oh, and try to fit in a nap and some food in between.

the final countdown

{cue in Europe performing The Final Countdown}

Yep - this is it. In a few hours, we're going to be parents, officially.

We made it to 251 days, or 35 weeks and 5 days! Who'd have thought!

US measurements:

Baby A = 6.5 lb

Baby B = 4 lb

Pri's total weight gain = 15 Kg (or 33lb)

So the other day I went in the convenience store wearing my maternity skinny jeans (pictured) while Jonas filled up the tank. As I'm facing the cooler trying to make up my mind which kind of mineral water looks particular refreshing, I hear this African-American fella saying "dang, look at that a**". As I turned around to give him the stink eye, he couldn't be more surprised. The look on his face was priceless. Mastercard priceless.

our newest family addition

The newest addition of our family has finally arrived!

Thanks, Ka, for doing all the driving, packing, unpacking, cleaning up, etc. But that's not her. It's my mom!

Yeay for moms and their cooking, patience and endless spoiling!

feeling swell

I made it to almost 34 weeks without swollen ankles!

And to 32 weeks without belly stretch marks!
...is it sad that i'm actually celebrating such feats? lol

8 months

... and counting!

happy halloween

Oh yes we did it!

And no, it's NOT Dodgeball...

... happy 2nd Bday, Gussy!!!

But the real winners are these

baby shower

My mother-in-law along with my sisters-in-law were kind enough to host a baby shower for me!
Everything was so cute and well thought - just take the snacks, for example: double mint gum, double bubble gum, double stuffed oreos, twix, chocolate and strawberry pocky, double judges, and much more!
I was overwhelmed with everyone's generosity in literally showering me, the babies with gifts. I'm so thankful for all the preemie outfits - I know we'll use them! And the diapers! And the cool gadgets! And the car seat! And the awesome diaper bag! I can't say "thank you" enough. I am forever in their debt.

Who would have known I would deliver exactly a month later!

come on and safari with me

{cue on Beach Boys "Surfin' Safari"}

Slowly but steady...

First, we painted it orange (and by "we" I really mean Jonas).

Then, we painted it sand (which turned out to be this close to the original paint).

Now, we're working on the animals (and I can proudly say "we" because I helped!).
Soon enough (before the Greek gods make their appearance), we'll shift furniture around and finish this I-had-no-idea-how-much-work-and-time-it-would-take project.
Exciting!

two heads of lettuce

30 weeks and 75Kg! Yeay!

PS: Gotta love those prenatals! Check out my nails!

tias corujas

What an awesome {belated} bday gift to have: the aunts-to-be visiting the double-trouble-to-arrive :o)

"Do you take Viagra?"

... is a question I feel like asking those who ask me if I was on fertility drugs when I conceived twins.


Those who know us know we weren't; those who don't know us have no business in knowing anything.
So if you're ever curious and feel like asking a total stranger whether or not they were on fertility drugs when they conceived twins, know this:

• Although assisted reproductive therapies (including in vitro, ovulation-inducing drugs and artificial insemination) account for 17% of all twins and 40% of all triplets born in 2007; identical twins, on the other hand, is not influenced by fertility-enhancing treatments.
• Identical twins form when a single fertilized egg divides in two separate embryos while fraternal twins occur when two eggs are independently fertilized by two different sperm cells.
• 
  
• The odds of having identical twins is about 3 in 1,000, whereas the birthrate for all twins is about 32.2 in 1,000.
• 
  
• The causes of identical twinning are generally unknown and unidentified. No one really knows why an egg splits.

• There's no hereditary trait that influences a predisposition to having identical twins, unlike fraternal twins.

And now, to illustrate my point, enjoy - Thx youtube for filling my pumping sessions with joy :o)

doctor's order (part 2 of 2)

I don't really care for McDonald's. But Jonas is on a mission. So instead, we go to Jack in the Box whose Raspberry Milkshake makes my mouth water even as I type.
The universe decides to crush my efforts - Raspberry Shake is seasonal and guess what? We're a season too late. So I go for the next awesome cold drink - Mango Smoothie!!!

"Do you really think you're going to gain weight by drinking that?", I hear coming from the driver's seat. Oh, boy. He is on a mission.
I add some mozzarela sticks to my order and a small curly fries for good measure and leave with a 849 calories meal.

Mission accomplished.

doctor's order (part 1 of 2)

"Let's talk about your weight gain", says the nurse practitioner.
"You mean lack of weight gain?", intervenes the oh-so-handsome father-to-be.
(apparently I haven't gained any weight during the past month - I have also not lost any weight)
"I'd like you to add Boost or Ensure protein shakes to your diet"
"But nurse, I already have 2 Boosts a day!"
(she looks at me and I can't really tell whether she's surprise or in disbelief)
Disclamer: the following statements may produce unkind feelings torwards me

"Did you know that McDonald's Chocolate Triple Milkshake has one thousand calories?", says the nurse.
(my eyes grow wide wondering 'is she serious?!' I decide to joke back hoping for clarification)
"So, what are you saying, should I have one of those once a week?", I reply.
"More like every other day", replies the nurse - dead serious.

27 weeks

no longer aliens

Apollo



Adonis





(un)expected (?) hospital stay

one week.
That's how long we (and by "we" I mean, I) stayed in the hospital.

Not sure why I'm smiling... perhaps with the prospective of a week at the 'spa'

During our weekly perinatal appointment, the doctor became concerned for the health of the babies and sent me to the hospital alerting us of the possibility of delivering them on that very weekend - at 26 weeks.
So I went in with the mind set of checking in at a spa - healthy food, pampering, lots of leisure time - but I soon discovered that it was more like a run down motel. When I found out I had no cell phone coverage in my room and that the hospital's wi-fi was down, that place became much more like a prison... lol Thankfully, during the last couple of days the nurses allowed me to use their computer to get in touch with the outside world, namely work and masters. And did I mention I was on a modified bedrest? That means I was allowed to get out of bed to use the restroom on my own (big deal!) and stroll around the ward once or twice a day.
In the end, we all survived (including Jonas who had to sleep on the couch). And, after the not-so-fun steroid shots on my Brazilian junk, thanks to all the prayers, positive energy, cosmos of the universe (you name it) the babies turned around and decided to behave :)

new ride

The time has come. We must upgrade our car. It was perfect timing as our beloved 'Red' 1999 Concorde recently died. And so our quest began - the quest to find a car that would 1) comfortably seat two infants and three adults 2) with each infant in a separate row (preferably), 3) have adequate storage space (for the double stroller, diaper bag, etc), 4) have better mileage than Red (which quite frankly most cars do) AND  - most importantly - 5) be within our (very tight) budget. Oh, and let's not forget - and 6) NOT be a minivan. A new car would be nice but not necessary.

We looked at quite a few models and makers, many with which we felt in love. But the $$$ tag harshly brought us back to reality and so we would find ourselves starting the process all over again... Until we - and by 'we' I mean Jonas - learned about Ford Flex! All our troubles were solved! Yeay for husband and his systematic (re)search!

Fastforward a few hours (because, man, buying a brand new car takes a looong time! PS: Did I mention "brand new" car? :) and we're the proud owners of our first family car! It seats 7 passengers which is quite convenient: Dad, Mom, Vovó, Twin A, Twin B, Tia Kaká e Tia Trica :)

Meet, "Brown":

Sweeeeeet!!!

two eggplants

Vo Debinha came to visit the big belly over Labor Day Weekend.

(6 months - 73.5 Kg)

two papayas

Why do women turn to me to tell me their pregnancy horror stories or their friend's? Is it to make me feel bad because I have never actually had morning sickness? I take Skipper's, the Madagascar penguin, advice to heart and "just smile and wave"...

(almost 23 weeks - 73 kg)

is that a basketball inside your shirt?

No. It is not. However, I'll take that as a compliment since it was about time I had a bump as proof that there's something (or somethings) in there :o)

5 months - 2 cantaloupes, and 71.5 kg

On a side note, "it feels like mumps" was DD's (dear daddy) comment when first felt the babies' subtle movements while at the theatre. I've never had mumps so I can't tell...

and the twins are...

BOYS!!!

{18 weeks}

two turnips

4 months - 68Kg

cravings

I really don't think I've had any crazy cravings (yet), but ask Jonas and he may tell you otherwise.



as crazy as it gets



Ramen from Republic Ramen

Brazilian aisle at Lee Lee Market

my new best friend

Crest Kid's Toothbrush!

"Your kids will look forward to brushing when they have Elmo and Friends on the handle of their toothbrush."

- and so will I!

Although I'm hated by all ‘motherkind’ due to my nonexistent morning sickness, I am a victim of my 3 to 4-times-a-day brushing teeth routine – it gives me the gags. Until Jonas, after witnessing it first hand, suggested replacing my current freebie toothbrush gifted by my dentist to a kid's toothbrush. And voila; problem solved - just like that.

super human powers

I get home and as soon as I open the garage/kitchen door I can smell something rather... how can I put it?... odd, off, foul.

I start sniffing the hallway, the pantry, the garbage can trying to find the source of this nauseating scent. No luck.

I decide to follow it and learn that this smell made its way to the living room, up the stairs, and to the office.

I stop at the office door and Jonas asks me what’s wrong. “I smell something…” I hesitantly walk in, sniffing motion continues. I kiss him hello and “O.M.G. what IS this smell?!”, I bluntly ask as I sniff HIS HANDS!

“I had a tuna sandwich for lunch – like 3 hours ago! You have super-human powers”

Hmmm… not sure whether I should take that as a compliment… lol

two peaches

3 months

yep, definately two

Here's baby B (Adonis) being the center of attention, waving hello to the curious crowd...

... And here's baby A (Apollo) hiding from the world, featuring an ostrich.

tw...w-h-a-t ?! ?!

"I don't hear a heartbeat - I hear two", says the ultrasound tech.

happy mother's day

...to me :)

*giggles*