As if I was some kind of freakshow...

Have things ever changed in the last few weeks. I have become seriously uncomfortable at night time. I can't lay down because of severe heartburn and I can't sit up because my ribs feel like they're being bruised! With a few attempts to walk through a mall and even Target, I am starting to be willing to give up the fight and just not go out. Which, if you know me at all, is very hard!

As for the last dr appointment, well, it was interesting. As always the ultrasound specialist was heaven sent... all the ladies are so kind and warm - such a God send! All of our tiny little babies are looking great with wonderful heartbeats and good growth. AND YES WE KNOW ALL OF THE GENDERS!!! You will have to check back tomorrow night to see the results though, as we have yet to tell our wonderful parents - who really have been so patient in waiting - I honestly don't know how!

Anyway, the ultrasound went smoothly and only ran about 45 minutes this time. I did have a quick question for the doctor though, and as my regular doctor was on holiday, I said I didn't mind waiting for the dr in the office for the day. Boy was that ever a mistake!

I had been suffering from horrible heartburn and reflux for over a week and it was to the point where I was afraid to eat anything - including water. Everything seemed to have a reaction and I was just not willing to deal with the painful after affects of whatever I decided to chow down on. I asked the doctor if I could take anything aside from TUMS to help ease the pain because it wasn't doing anything for me anymore. She suggested Maalox instead of switching to a RX for it. Okay fine... but then she went into sharing all kinds of information about my situation that completely threw me for a loop... and not just a somersault kind of loop... I'm talking about a Six Flags main attraction roller coaster kind of loop!

As stated by this doctor:

• "The human body was not designed to carry 4 babies at once - of course your facing issues."- I found this completely judgemental and crass! As if I was some kind of freakshow... OH OH... did I forget to tell you, wonderful doctor, that YES I was out in South Dakota in the middle of September where a UFO beamed me up, probed me, and sent me back down on this earth for you to look down upon...... IF IT WASN'T MEANT TO HAPPEN - IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!
• "I would arrive at every appointment from now on with a packed hospital bed rest bag in your car and backup plans for your kids, because there will be a time where you won't be allowed to go home. They'll just transfer you from here to the main hospital".- Whoa whoa whoa... slow down... hospital bed rest!? Can we please arrive at even discussing home bed rest first!? Which, btw, my regular doctor hasn't even brought up with me! I do see benefit of pre-planning and YES it has kicked me into gear on preparing everything for the inevitable. Seriously though, at the risk of sounding completely cynical, I'm not being committed and I'm not being arrested... depending on the severity of the situation, if I need to leave, I am completely free to do so!
• "You will develop pre-eclampsia, you will develop preterm labor, you will face other complications. If you treat yourself like a 90 year old now, maybe you can dodge 1 of the bullets".- Inspirational speaker of the year! Just an amazingly uplifting doctor!!

I didn't even know how to process this meeting. I mean, I just wanted to know what to do about my stinking heartburn!! In the end though it did get me moving with planning and make me listen to my body a little bit more then I was before.

One of the hardest things for me to do though is ask for help. Which, being completely honest, is two-fold: (1) I know my friends and family are facing their own obstacles and busy lives. I hate interrupting to ask for something to be done for me. (2) It makes me seem weak and vulnerable... and that just doesn't work for me. This situation though forces me to ask for help and forces me to accept the gracious and wonderful help of my friends and family.

Oh the things that I will learn and have learned already on this amazing journey!!