Guess who's in my belly!?!

On Wednesday, me and my babies had a little photo session with our favorite perinatolgist. Let me tell you that I had been a ball of nerves for a week. I am not one to sit back and let things happen. I NEED to know EVERYTHING. I really could not of cared on Wednesday what kinds of parts they had. I just needed a complete kidney count, a good look at their little noggins, and peace of mind that my kids are ok.

The technologist (who was amazing) could tell that I was anxious and agreed to let me see their kidneys first. I was born with 3 kidneys (none of which worked very well) and am down two one somewhat lazy one so, I wanted to make sure that they got L's fabulous pee parts and not mine. Hooray!! They did! Once I saw this, I was able to lay back and look at our babies.

L was working and could not be there for most of the scan. The tech saved the surprise for both of us until the end. She first look at my lower right side and announced It's a Girl! Visions of pink bows and tutu's danced in my head! We have a girl! Then as L stood anxiously, she scanned my upper left and announced It's a Boy! Can you believe it! We have another boy! I have never felt so fulfilled and blessed.

This whole time I have felt all of it is too good to be true. I don't know why I do this to myself but I kept waiting for something to go wrong or be wrong. Maybe it's the fact that I scan patients everyday and there are things wrong. Maybe it's that I have always had something medically to deal with and it is a normal thought for me to assume that there will always be something medically wrong. However, after this last scan, I have vowed to myself and my husband to RELAX. Sure there might be things be wrong but, there is nothing I can do except deal with it when or if it happens.

So here's to the rest of my pregnancy! I am 19 weeks along and starting to feel someone kicking my bladder. My belly is really starting to expand and I can no longer sleep in the superman position (face down arms up). We are tossing names around and trying to come up with a nursery suitable for both a boy and a girl. I like this part! Before we know it they will be here my new excuse for not being a faithful blogger won't be work it will be babies!

When he grows up...

All little boys have hopes and dreams of what they want when they grow up. Our little man is has big dreams too. Big dreams to be able to say bad words.

After dinner tonight, Jace had an interesting question for me. "Emmy, when I turn 21 can I say bad words?" I had to think about this one for a second. "Well Jace, when you turn 21 you will be an adult so I guess you can say bad words if you really need to."

His response, "I will need to say bad words because sometimes grown ups get angry and need to say bad words."

What could I say to that? He is absolutely right. Sometimes grown ups do need to say bad words. And with his obsession with everything grown up (tie, pocket shirt, dress shoes, coffee cup) I guess cussing is just a natural extension of that.

I just hope that along with his desire to say bad words when he grows up will be a desire to maybe attend med school or save the planet too.

Our Tough Weekend

We had a hard weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon until yesterday afternoon in the hospital. We're so glad to be home and sleeping in our own beds again.

As I have written about before, I have a kidney problem. I only have one and it doesn't always perform the way it should. We have known that at some point during the pregnancy I might have to have a procedure to take the pressure and work load off my kidney. I was hoping it would happen a little further along but, it was this weekend.

I went into the hospital on Saturday because I had a fever that I just couldn't seem to break. I was admitted because of the babies and my history. It was decided on Monday to put a Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube in my kidney to help it drain and clear up the infection I had in it. It was a very painful procedure because it was done without any sedation and very little pain relief (basically it was numbed up and a tube put directly though my back into my kidney). I felt immediate relief from the tube placement.

The plan at this point is for me to wear the tube (with a drainage bag) until the babies are born and possibly have a reconstructive surgery as soon as I can. It is scary for all of us but, I will pull through this like I have a million times before.

The best part about it all is I got to check in with my kids a couple times. It's scary carrying them around doing big procedures and not knowing what the heck is going on in there. They did an Ultrasound on Saturday and the technologist is pretty sure of what we've got growing. I am very excited about this news but don't want to jinx it until my next Ultrasound and they can be certain of their parts. I will share the news as soon as I can.

I can tell you that my precious cargo is fine and growing very quickly. I was so happy to see those strong heartbeats and impressive karate moves. I can't wait to meet these two. I am so curious to know them. I hope they look and laugh like their daddy. I hope they think like me. I hope they are strong babies with no kidney or other issues.

Keep us in your prayers. I will keep you posted.

Big Big News

We have big, big news. It's actually news squared but I don't know how to make that symbol.

We are having TWINS. Yep, two kids at once. I have known this for about 6 weeks and I still can't fully wrap my head around it. I was shocked to find out that I was pregnant and then when she said two I think I blacked out. I nearly did. She was doing the ultrasound and all I could think was "please don't find three."

I was waiting to tell everyone until I got the ok from my perinatologist. That's the doctor you see when you have more kids in you than kidneys. Everything looks great for all of us. (That's weird to type). My kidney is in better shape now than before I started growing babies. I feel fantastic.

I have an app on my phone that tells me how big they are and what's going on in there. Every week it tells me the approximate size of my babies by comparing them to fruits. So, now I call Fridays "Fruit Salad Fridays." It's become my new favorite day of the week. This week I have peaches.

I will add some pictures soon. I just wanted to drop a quick note to say all is well and two more Pinas will be joining us on or around 9/9/10.

What'd you say?

Parenting makes you say the craziest things. I would have never guessed the things I am constantly saying to Jace now. It's amazing how many times a day I say "what's in your mouth?"

I said something I would have never guessed I would have to say tonight. Jace and I make cupcakes (and a huge mess) after dinner tonight. When he finally got to eat his, he was really excited and dropped a lot of it on the floor. Next thing I knew, I see Jace on the floor eating what he dropped like a puppy. I actually had to say "No sir Jace, we do not eat of the floor." Wow.

Well hello there, Mr. Senator

You know that rule in the parenting handbook that says something like, never leave your child alone in the car EVER. Well, I broke it and the government came after me.

On Saturday, I was trying to get Jace to his fashion show on time and realized that I had left the camera in the house. My man was not able to attend Jace's show and I knew that he was counting on me to take pictures. So, I turned around and went back to the house. At this point we were really running late so I had a huge decision to make. Leave the boy strapped in his car seat for 2 minutes while I run in to get the camera, or take him in with me.

Getting a 2 year old in and out of the car is a huge production. Just buckling the seat is a big deal. So, I asked Jace if he would be ok in the car for a couple minutes and we both agreed it would be ok. I locked the door and ran up to the house. I was in the house just long enough to grab the camera and an extra pair of shoes for him, and I was on my way back out to the car.

As I opened the front door I saw this strange official looking man standing on my porch. My heart dropped as I knew I would be arrested for child neglect.

Me: Can I help you sir?

Strange man: Oh, hello! I am your state Senator and I am going door to door meeting the neighborhood.

Oh heck! What are the chances of my Senator wanting to hang out while I am running way late with my boy alone in the car? I explained that I was running really late and that I would look him up online as I walked him down the driveway. The whole time I was terrified he would look in the car and see Jace.

Luckily, my Senator got back in his car and drove without incident. I guess I learned my lesson though. I will not be leaving the boy alone in fear of the government showing up at my door again.

We're married!!!!

As my favorite rap artist Jay-Z would say, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Stacee Osborn Pina. I am wife to Larry Pina (or LL as Carly would say) and Emmy to the fabulous Jace Pina. We are officially married and happy here in Phoenix.

Last weekend we all got married in Vegas. For those of you who didn't receive an invitation, this is what ya missed.

The only thing I wanted people to say when asked about our wedding is that it was FUN. I think we succeeded. It wasn't just fun, it was crazy fun. I was surrounded with so much love and by so many of the most important people in my life. I am blessed.

I was escorted down the aisle by the dashing Jace Pina, who remembered his most important line, "I do" and then proceeded to be extremely well behaved and polite. L and I were able to stand in front of our friends and family and finally say our most important lines, "I do." And now I'm a wife and step to some amazing boys.

It is such a good feeling to be back here and settling down again. I have so many things to share and pictures to show. I could blog for days. But, I have a stack of thank you's to write and laundry to do. So, I leave you for now with the first picture of my new family.