Two Weeks

Zara and Alexandra are two weeks old tomorrow and it has been an awesome two weeks with them. We are continuously reminded how lucky we were to take our 35 weekers home with us from the hospital without any NICU time or health issues. Our pediatrician told us it is pretty rare to take a baby under 5 lbs home with you (Zara was 4 lbs, 13 oz when we left the hospital).

Earlier this week at another pediatrician appointment they both were back up to their birth weights and had each grown an inch in those 10 days since they were born! So far they are long and lean at 2% for weight and 45% and 55% for height.

Other notes from the past two weeks:
- M told me he has "post-partum elation" :)
- We finally figured out how to tell the girls apart around Day 8 and confidently snipped those hospital bracelets off them on Day 10 (they were getting snug as the girls grew)
- The girls love baths and "tummy time"
- M has been reading to them a lot and playing music for them - they seem to like it
- We had a photographer come to our house to take newborn photos. The girls were naked in most of the photos and they both pooped on M numerous times (twice it was running down his legs). I managed to escape with only one small incident.

A big thanks to all of our family and friends who visited us in the hospital and at home, sent flowers and balloons and dropped off yummy dinners!

Zara and Alexandra are Here!

The babies are here and we are loving them to pieces!



Zara Gabrielle Shirzad
6:01 AM June 4th
5 lbs. 2 oz

Alexandra Grace Shirzad
6:03 AM June 4th
5 lbs. 8 oz

The girls were born at 35 weeks, 5 days and needed no NICU time. Natalie went into labor early Friday morning and contractions were 2 minutes apart by the time we made it to St. V's. Alexandra was still breech so we had a c-section (our OB, Dr. Brodsky, was on call that night so that was nice). It was all fast and crazy, but the recovery has been going well so yay for that! We are home now enjoying our little girls!

35 Weeks and Counting

The belly is measuring at 48 weeks! If you have seen me lately, you probably noticed that I am down to about 3 shirts that fit :)

34 Week Update

Well we are getting towards the end now.. yipee! We are excited to meet our girls and I am super excited to be done with being a prego marshmallow. Today was my last day of work and I am on orders from the doc to take it really easy and spend my time resting with my feet up. My blood pressure has been getting higher and I am swelling like crazy! Look at those sausage fingers!  No official complications but she said my body is saying to rest! Ok, I'll try :)

In other baby news we also had an ultrasound today. It might be the last one depending on whether we make it to 37 weeks. Baby A is 4 lbs and Baby B is still breech and is 4 lbs, 3 oz. It is pretty doubtful that B will turn so all signs point towards a c-section. If they don't decide to pick their own birthday between now and then, they will be evicted at 38 weeks. The short-term goal is 36 weeks for full lung development and to put some more meat on these little girls ( I have plenty of meat on me, thankyouverymuch). I have not had any signs of labor so making it past 36 weeks is realistic.

So I will be chillaxing at home for the next 2-4 weeks if you want to call and keep me company.

Babies Shower

Sara and Lydia hosted a great shower for the babies and I. It was so much fun! It was held at a cute little cafe in SE Portland. Here are some pics:



In the middle of the games. That was some yummy punch too!





Some of the Shook ladies :)

And that is all I'm posting because my double chin stole the show in the others :)

Thanks again to the best friends and family ever!