So why is it, that when you're pregnant, you don't look as big in pictures as you really are , but when you not pregnant, pictures make you look bigger. Here's what I look like now, but I swear to you that my belly is twice that size - I'm huge! I wobble! I can't see my feet!












Of course I'm talking to Agi - it's thanks to her that I finally took these pictures.










And this is where I spend most of my days. :)
I'm taking in all the rest I can get. But I did make major dinner today! Ribs, potatoes and kapusta zasmazana (cabbage). Mama would be proud! Boy, what a house wife - who'd have thought.

Food / fight

I just ate a half a gallon of ice cream! And I think the kids had their first fight. I was laying down on my back watching my belly do the wave for five minutes. Or maybe they just liked the ice cream.

Since we want to have the twins at a different hospital than the last time, we had do meet with a new doc last week. This new doc is very nice, capable, he did a thorough exam and we are generally very happy. Especially since he didn't try to talk me into a c-section at all costs. But he wanted me to have another echo exam, this time with more of a specialist. He was pretty set on this exam even though it's a bit late in the pregnancy and we've already been to the doc that found the heard defect in our Jas. And so I've been on pins and needles from that visit until today. I just got back from the exam and happy to say (again) all is well. There are no heart defects, no other organ anomalies (including brain, liver, kidneys, large vessels) and no cleft palate. Cooooool!!!!! I was so nervous I started crying on the table before the exam. The doc thought I was feeling weak or sick. Well, I actually was... Phew, glad that's behind me. Just one more big test - giving birth - and all will be well.

Ok ok. No need to yell at me! I know I've been neglecting my duties. Here's the scoop.

Jacek had knee surgery about 3 weeks ago (an old contusion gone bad) and has been on crutches since (only 3 more weeks left). We actually make a pretty good pair - I'm wobbling and he's hopping; we're at about the same speed, so it all works out. But whatever we do, we do together. I can get us there (wherever), but then Jacek has to lift it, move it, load it into the car (whatever it might be). And since work starts at 9 am and ends at 9 pm - it's been interesting. But we did have a great rest during the xmas break. We went to our summer / winter cottage and did absolutely nothing. We had the fireplace going and it was nice and cosy. My in laws live just next door, so we had a home cooked dinner everyday. But there was not Internet access, so - no pictures.

But we're back home now. And here is what's new (besides the knee). I'm no longer working (got a doctor's note - hurray!) Both kids are doing well, although I got a scare last night. I though the girl stopped moving, but she just flipped from downside up. Now both are positioned with their head right under my liver (and they've started kicking the bladder this afternoon). A couple of days ago my belly was lob sided again, and now I know why - the kids were just flipping around! And I was surprised why my belly felt so hard and uncomfortable.
Other completely new situations for me:
I now buy ice cream.
I've eaten my first whole bar of chocolate in one sitting! And it took me all of 5 minutes. Actually, I've never before eaten a whole bar of chocolate even in many sittings (herring was my thing).
I went to the bathroom, got up, and went straight to the other bathroom in my apt. without even thinking about it. Hmm - going pee literally every 3 minutes! But why I changed bathrooms...?
And to Ags - yes, I actually am washing the dishes sideways, just didn't notice it 'til you asked :)

So to finish up, here's me at 25 weeks ...

Happy happy joy joy

The big ultrasound is behind us. And all is well. We had a visit with one of the best prenatal ultrasonographers in Warsaw today. All the essential measurements were done, the little hearts were checked out aaaandd.... we know what the sexes are!! Do you want to know? The exam was a couple of weeks early, but the doc said that he was able to check everything out without a problem. The kids are the right size and they are really feisty. They were both squirming throughout the exam. Happy!!

baby 1

baby 2

and a little bit bigger...

Picture update. Just a little bigger, but it feels a lot bigger. I sleep with pillows on both sides of me, thanks to Agi I have a great body pillow that makes life a bit more comfy. Although that's not what Jacek would say, he gets about 1/5 of the bed now with me, my pillows, and the dog.

Jacek and I had a great time with Jesse when he came to visit us two weekends ago. Wish I could have showed him some of the Warsaw night life, but maybe next time. I was out cold by the time it was 10 pm. Jesse took a couple of pics, go take a look: http://thelaststudent.blogspot.com/

Next update after next doc appt (Dec 4th).

Here's a little bit bigger me.

I just got up and am having chocolate chip cookies and coffee for breakfast. Healthy, huh..

In the pics I'm talking on the phone with Ags. I was just telling her that I could feel the little buggers moving around as of two days ago. Cool! It feels like little butterflies in my tummy.

And here is my other favourite part of the package I got from Agi. Yuuummmmmmyyyy!!! Just need to add a little nuts... If only I could get my butt off the couch to bake these puppies, boy, would they be delicious.

pillow talk

Here's a copy of my last emails to Agi after I got a package from her:

1. You are the bestest sister of all sisters. Thank you for the package and the great pillow and the cookie mix and browny mix and underwear and tshirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not only did receiving a package give me great joy (I love to open packages, who doesn't), but a barrel of laughs. Check out these pictures.
The first - opened pillow case for the body pillow. Obviously a pillow case for a body pillow - or so you would think.
next one coming right up

2. So then I try it next to the body pillow, maybe it's folded up somehow in a special way? who knows? but no, it just doesn't seem to work.
soo....

3. so then I though, maybe it's like the underwear - stretchable!!!! I gave it a good try. But, as you can tell, no go..
It was a good try though, don't you think?
:)
love you long time

new doo

Here's my new hairdo.

And my growing belly. Yes, it's only the third month.

You think I look 5 months pregnant? Everyone says I do..

I thought that ice cream would make pregnancy headaches go away, but it doesn't...

Hi guys,
Today was another interesting food day. Cooked cabbage with onions and meat (like my mom's bigos) followed by chocolate chip cookie - sounds disgusting even to me. But, hey, when you gotta eat, you gotta eat! Some say it's because of the twins - one wants sweets, the other wants "normal" food.
Yesterday I got my hair cut. It's the shortest it's ever been - shorter than Grandma's! I'll get a picture up soon.
I'm generally feeling much better now, no more hangover, but everything still stinks (including my dog and my couch).
My dog, Inka, is soundly sleeping next to me. I can tell she's having a really nice dream because her tail is wagging.

Pickles!! Half the jar!

Icecream!!!!

4 hours later...

OHHHH, THE HEARTBURN!!!!

The 'Tums' are a pack of lies!

cravings

This morning I HAD to make myself matzahbrei (when was the last time you had matzahbrei?). I asked Agi to send me a bag of Wonder bread - I would love a sloppy, all American, peanut butter and jelly sandwich (yuk). In my purse I have a bag of almonds and dried apricots, but that's not all! I've almost finished the 3rd baggie of gummy bears. Now I HAVE to go to the mall to get a Submarine sandwich (yes, we have Subways here). And yesterday I HAD to have chocolate milk. And of course spaghetti is on the menu about every day of the week. Last time I didn't have all these cravings, spaghetti basically got me through the whole pregnancy. And there's still 6 months left...

ADDENDUM
As in Jacek's opinion the previous pictures didn't show exactly what we did during our vacation, here is a quick picture update. I think nothing needs to be added :)

Egypt

Just got back from Egypt last night. Jacek and I went with a couple of friends. Of course we went to a windsurfing base. Everyone had a great time. I've actually never had this type of vacation, but no complaints.. I spent almost the whole time in our air conditioned room as I couldn't sunbathe, go swimming or horseback riding. I spent a little time lounging in the shade reading books. The rooms were great though and they had the best TV ever; a channel that played American movies all day long, one after another, with Egyptian subtitles and almost no commercials. So all in all I watched about 10 pretty good movies and read 4,5 books. :) HAPPY CAMPER ME!
Here's some pictures..

The windsurfing base. It's amazing to see the mountains beyond the hotels; they are massive and completely bare.

It's back to basics when there's no wind. Everone would rather be on the water, but hey, they'll take theoretical lessons over doing nothing.

Here's our room. Each day the cleaning men made some kind of shape out of the blankets and towels. And you can see that there's not much of a belly. But I haven't been able to put on my normal pants anymore. I'm back in the pregnant people clothes.

Jacek and some of the guys went on a quad trip in the mountains. They had a great time, all were gritty and grimy afterwords. Similar trips could be taken on horseback or camel. Last year I went horseback riding up in those hills -- pretty rough and barren terrain.

And we're back home. This shot is just so Agi can see my hair and my belly (she's been relentless!).

Yesterday we were both back at work. My happily feeling crappy feeling has lessened a bit, but still feeling crappy. Next doc appt on the 8th. We'll keep you posted.

xoxo

Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting home, still in my pjs. It's wonderful not to have to do anything but, as my sister says, let my body do the work. The pregnancy is fine. Still a bit sick around the edges, but not as bad as a couple of weeks ago. Whether it's my body getting used to it or Dr Li's little plasters in my ears, who cares, as long as it's a little bit better. I can eat again, as long as the food is not fatty.

I'm waiting for a radio talk show - Jacek will be interviewed for the second time already about his practice. He has actually become pretty famous here in Poland as a vet. ophthalmologist. I'm so proud of him! The last time he was on there was some political news on (I don't know if you guys know this, but here is a whole lot of political unrest here in Poland lately) and they cut his interview by and hour. He was supposed to be on for two. But a whole bunch of people kept calling in with questions, so they asked him to come back. Last time he was on right after our last president (Kwasniewski), and it looks like the situation is repeating itself; once again Kwasniewski's voice is on 10 minutes into Jacek's scheduled time.

As for me, I'm still going to work, but I've cut down to about 3-5 hours a day. I just can't seem to not work all together like everyone says I should. I have some hard and interesting cases, and they just won't let me be. Friday there was a dog that was sent in for a cardio exam before exploratory surgery. I was listening to the heart and I could barely hear anything. Strange, I though. So this is how a basic day works (and why one just can't go home on time). Just a basic exam, should have taken 20 minutes, 30 if I found heart disease and had some explaining to do to the owner. I decided to do an echo (ultrasound of the heart) and there it is - soft tissue in the area where the lungs should be; like the liver, maybe some intestines. So now I need to do an X-ray with contrast to make sure my suspicions are correct - a diaphragmatic hernia (basically a hole between the abdominal cavity and the chest cavity). 45 minutes have gone by. Jacek calls, when will I be home. Xray will begin in 15 minutes and will take a couple of hours because we need to see the contrast in the small intestine. So what are you gonna do? Leave this dog and go home? Two hours later the small intestine is full of contrast but not in the abdominal cavity; the intestines are beautifully curled around the heart. I guess the dog was going into surgery anyways, but this way the surgeon won't have a surprise when he opens him up on Monday.
I also have four unexplained mystery cases that I'm trying to solve. It seems we have a new parasite in dogs in Poland; we've found it in the blood and fluid from the chest or abdominal cavity. So far four labs haven't been able to tell me what it is (two of them in Germany).
Just a whole lot of puzzles to solve.

But back to this weekend just for a moment. With my extra free time I found some pictures of the girls from when Agi was here that I didn't even know I had. They are really cute! Zofia decided she had to try on some bras, a little early but hey, she was able to wrap one around herself twice. Check out the rest of the pictures through the flickr linka above.

Tuesday we're off to Dahab, Egipt. Jacek will be windsurfing and I'll be reading. :) JOY!!

dr. Li

Went to dr. Li last night for my nausea. A Korean doctor that practices conventional and unconventional medicine. So he put some little peaces of tape all over my ears and today only two episodes of nausea. Who cares how it works as long as I feel better!

And I read one great book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See can't remember who passed this one on - Connie, Agi? - but it was excellent and whoever it was thank you thank you !!

Plan to take even more time off from work during this pregnancy to read more good books :).