I have a wicked cold

I rarely get sick. But pregnancy has certainly given me plenty of ailments to content with.

I've been tackling them as best I can, but this morning I woke up with a terrible cold.

It started yesterday with a slightly sore throat. Sniffles.

I went to bed and after tossing and turning most of the night, I got up at 5am to try to get this snot out of my head.

It's been getting progressively worse and worse. I am so stuffed up it's like I can't open my eyes fully.

I've been vigilant with the hand washing, the not touching my face, all the precautions because of the flu and H1N1 and I take public transportation.

How could this have happened?

And there isn't much I can do except rest, drink tons of water, and wait it out.

Total suckage.

Got to go blow my nose.

34 weeks pregnant dance

Papa and I had a photoshoot on his iPhone -- LOVE the Camera Bag app.

I got all Stevie Nicks on him and spun around in the babies room.

I just had McDonald's and nothing could stop me!

I was craving a McDonald's cheeseburger.

No onion. No pickles please.

It doesn't help that McD's is downstairs from my job.

It doesn't help that I am 34 weeks pregnant with twins and when I crave something I obsess about it until I have it.

It doesn't matter that I hardly ever eat McDonald's and I know it's not "good" for me or the babies.

Mama wanted McD's. And it was oh my gosh so good.

I feel beautiful and ugly at the same time

My sister and I were sitting around eating these chocolately yummies I made for her birthday and I told her how I feel so beautiful yet so ugly at the same time.

She's pregnant too and said she understood exactly how I feel.

It's like I can look at my belly and think wow, just amazing. So beautiful, so womanly, so incredible.

Then I look further at the water retention in my legs, look at my tired eyes, puffy face, and think, wow wretched.

It's also the aches and pains during pregnancy that can really get me down, wearing me out, making me feel pretty darn horrible.

But the reward is just so great that it makes it all tolerable. I mean, I barely complain.

Ha! OK, I complain. A LOT. But complaining makes me feel better.

And it's all worth it.

I even think I will miss my massive twin baby belly.

I know I will actually.

The swollen knees, calves, and ankles though, will not be missed at all.

PS: I don't have preeclampsia or toxemia. I'm just terribly swollen, comes with the twin mama-to-be territory I suppose.

My Day of the Dead baby shower

My birthday falls on Dia de los Muertos and my baby shower was about a week before, so when we were planning (yes, I worked with my sister to plan my own shower) Jen suggested Day of the Dead theme.

Brilliant!

This was my friend shower, taking place at my house -- food, drinks (non-alcoholic for me), fun, an easy celebration of my twins...and a chance for me to have a party before the babies get here.

Plus, I love the Day of the Dead message -- celebrating the lives of those no longer with us. These are people who won't meet my twins in this life, so it's a way to bring them together in thought and spirit.

Gifts for the twins!



Mr. Puffins being bad.



Me trying to be cute and friend Jen.



Yummy cupcakes baked by Elizabeth and my sister.



More presents!




Uncle Grande.



Mark & Mellie, newlyweds.



Gretchen, Leila, and Jenny.



Mom & dad.




I had a blast!

Preeclampsia and toxemia are bad words

That swelling I've talked about is progressively getting worse. And not just oh I'm swollen a bit worse, like oh my you have elephant legs worse.

I had my family baby shower this weekend and my cousin Tracy and good friend Keri were there. I haven't seen either in a while -- Tracy lives about 3 hours from me and Keri lives up in Cape Cod. Both of them had preeclampsia when they were pregnant. Both of them were shocked when they saw how swollen my ankles, feet, and legs were.

My hands are swollen, too and three of my fingers on my right hand are numb. All the time. My wrists are in constant pain. It's carpal tunnel from the swelling.

According to my doctor at my last visit a week and a half ago, my blood pressure was fine. They do test my urine, but I don't know what my protein count was -- I didn't ask. And I know I should have.

I told my OBGYN of my swelling, but didn't show her. She told me to get compression socks and stay off my feet as much as possible.

I asked her if I got compression socks that went to just below my knee, wouldn't my knees swell? She said no.

She was wrong. My legs have become unrecognizable. Marshmallowy. Achy swollen pain.

Even when I wake up in the morning, after hours of laying down, feet up, I'm still swollen.

I can deal with swelling, but the pain that comes with it makes it difficult to walk, sleep, and sit. And worst of all, if it is preeclampsia/toxemia, I'm worried about my babies.

I see the doc on Wednesday. I will be showing her my swelling. Asking for my urine and blood pressure readings for comparison over the last three visits.

I'm worried.