We All Have Our "FML" Moments

In the past 5 years I have learned that not everyone will understand me and my life's trials... Not everyone will understand the loss of a child and not everyone will understand what it's like to have a husband with combat injuries and combat stress... Though, I embrace both on a daily basis,  I walk the path that's been given to me... I've been humbled more than I ever was before.  We all walk our own path with our own burdens of life... We all have our own obstacles to overcome which is something that we should all understand.  Maybe someone has it worse than us, maybe they don't, but that really doesn't give us the right to judge their situation and hardships.

For a couple weeks I have been disappointed in a few people for their poor sportsmanship.  It's a shame that people sometimes turn their situations into a, what should I call it? "pissing contest" If you will... We all grieve or face our problems in our own way but it really doesn't give us the right to call out one another with the "my shit is bigger than your shit" persona.  What ever happened to "I'm sorry for what you are going through, if you need a shoulder, I'm here for you"?!  Facebook is so horrible for shitty situations.  For instance, one person will post about how their life sucks, ya know, the infamous "FML" and then we have another person who sees this post and then they post something along the lines of "Shut up, your life don't suck, mine does!"

I just don't understand what makes people tick... If you are constantly being attacked about the things you post on Facebook or for some reason you always find yourself in the middle of the argumental drama, I encourage you to take a step back and reevaluate yourself.  If drama is constantly following you, maybe you're the one that needs to change your outlook on things.

If you have lost a child, I'm sorry, I really know how you feel and what you are going through.. It's a rough rode to travel down.  If you are having financial trouble, I know how that goes too... Money doesn't grow on trees when your husband is in the Military.  If your husband is never home and is away, I know how you feel.. I lived the Marine Corps lifestyle for awhile, I didn't see my husband 90% of the time. He was always away on deployment or in the field for training and when I did get to see him it was only for a couple of days at a time. If you have twins, oh my, I'm just learning what you are going through! It's tough and stressful but fun all wrapped into one!!!!  I can go on, but I won't because what I'm really trying to say is-  If you're having a hard time I guarantee that what ever you are going through, there is ALWAYS someone out there that is either 1. going through it too, or 2. has gone through it already.-  It's true! Trust me!

We all have our "FML" moment... We all have bad days... So next time you are thinking about posting something about someone else complaining on Facebook, that isn't "complain worthy" because your situation trumps theirs... I challenge you to stay humble and instead, focus more on YOU and how you'll ride out your own storm.  Believe me, I've been practicing this for awhile now... It really works and makes you feel better about yourself!!!! No one is perfect, remember that!!!

Thanks for tuning in!
-Rainbows and Butterflies! Sugar & Spice & Everyone Be Nice!
 ~Mai

Preterm Labor and the Arrival of our Double Rainbow

Well, we are finally home after a long and trying month...  On June 19th at around 5 pm, while talking to a friend on the phone and eating a batch of chocolate covered strawberries made by my neighbor, I went into early labor... 7 and a half weeks early.   Apparently Baby A had ruptured her sac a few days prior and I just thought it was the case of 'urine incompetence'.  Not actually knowing that I was even in labor, I went to the bathroom and realized that my so called 'urine incompetence' had changed to a dark forresty green color.  I immediately knew something was wrong and hung up the phone to call my husband.  As flashbacks of the twins' older brother Raiden poured in my head, I began to panic. I couldn't afford, mentally, to lose another child let alone two.

After my husband got home, we rushed to the hospital and went straight to labor and delivery, and the nurses called my doctor. After a few hours of membrane tests and making sure the babies were okay, it was confirmed, Meconium Aspiration...  After Baby A ruptured her sac, she had a bowel movement and that is what the dark green stuff I saw upon going to the bathroom.  I was given Magnesium to slow the labor and given some more steroids for the girls, even though I had previous steroid shots for their lung development, we wanted to play the safe card.  I was then sent an hour away to a bigger hospital that had a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.   It was the waiting game for the rest of the night and most of the next day...

Besides the experience we had with Raiden, this was the most scariest thing that my husband and I had to face and I think there were a few people who didn't realize how serious of a situation we were in.  There was a chance we could have lost one of the babies or even both and it wasn't the time to celebrate...

Almost 24 hours later, the doctor decided that the Magnesium wasn't slowing the labor down much and we decided to go ahead and deliver.  On June 20, 2012 I delivered two beautiful baby girls, naturally- there was no c-section performed!

After an hour of pushing,  at 9:53 pm,  Achara Chomli (named after my great great grandma, Chomli) was born, weighing in at 4 lbs 6 oz and 17 inches long.  She was immediately put on oxygen, she couldn't breath on her own because of the Meconium Aspiration.

10 minutes later, at 10:12 pm, Phailin Sueni ( pronounced Py-Lin, and Sueni is my middle name as well) was born, weighing in at 3 lbs 9 oz. and 16 inches long.

We then spent 3 and a half long, emotional, exhausting weeks in the NICU... And was able to bring our Double Rainbow home on July 12...  The transition was an interesting one.  We had to learn to do things on our own without nurses and doctors doing anything... But it was definitely nice to finally feel like the nurses and doctors weren't breathing down our necks all the time.  We finally felt free! We are now home and have begun our adventurous journey as a new family... A family of 4 +1 in Heaven = 5!

Thanks for tuning in, and I would also like to thank everyone for all the thoughts and prayers along the way.... We definitely needed them! And you are more than appreciated than you will ever know!!!!

Love,
Mai and the girls!

26 AND 27 Weeks!

So I've gotten a little behind on my posts.  I've managed to take my weekly photos and fill out the journal, just haven't been able to get it together and get it all up on here.  So I'm posting a 2 for 1 where you get last weeks AND the week before! Sorry for the delay! This week will be up in a few days! Enjoy!

26 Weeks-

How far along? 26 Weeks 6 Days

Maternity clothes?  Need to get some more short sleeves and sleeveless.

Stretch marks? Getting a little more..UGH  Starting to look like I got stuck in a rose bush- never seen stretch marks go all sorts of different ways like this.. Not cool!

Sleep: All the moving into the new house has made me sleepy. 

Best moment this week:  Just being settled into the new house has been great!  

Miss Anything?  Being able to do physical activities especially after moving, it’s hard to move while you’re limited to what you can do. This high-risk stuff is for the birds!  

Movement: My belly looks like I have aliens in there when they move!       

Food cravings: No cravings this week    

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, been good this week.

Have you started to show yet?  I’m having TWINS, I’m beyond showing…

Symptoms:  Growing like a weed! Little backache, off balance, random hair growth in places I didn’t even know could grow hair-eww, shortness of breath.

Gender:  GIRLS!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? I have officially lost all hope for my poor belly button!

Are wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been pretty happy this week, considering all the stress from moving the week before.

Looking forward to: Project Nursery.       

Milestones: This week their lungs and brain are much more developed and they can hear more outside noises.  They are approximately 14 inches,  the size of Hothouse Cucumbers, and are around 1.75 pound apiece.

27 Weeks-

How far along? 27 Weeks 6 Days

Maternity clothes?  I still need to get some more short sleeves and sleeveless.

Stretch marks? Slowly Fading!! Yay! I bought some of this cream called Maderma and it is actually working! Thank goodness!  

Sleep: Been really busy the past 3 weeks, so I’ve been sleeping pretty good!   

Best moment this week:  Getting the nursery painted!  And Mother’s Day of course!

Miss Anything?  Don’t really think I’ve missed anything this week, being busy has helped keep my mind off of things like that!   

Movement: My belly looks like I have aliens in there when they move!       

Food cravings: Fried Zucchini!     

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, been good this week.

Have you started to show yet?  I’m having TWINS, I’m beyond showing…

Symptoms:  Growing like a weed! Little backache, off balance, random hair growth in places I didn’t even know could grow hair.  This is also the beginning of the THIRD Trimester!  

Gender:  GIRLS!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? I have officially lost all hope for my poor belly button!

Are wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: realllllllllllly happy!

Looking forward to: Project Nursery.       

Milestones: This week they look like a thinner, redder, more wrinkled version of what they will look like at birth.  Their immune systems are continuing to mature as are their lungs!  They are approximately 14.5 inches, and are around 2 pounds apiece, the same as Cauliflower.

Thoughts from Daddy: I’m tired of painting. But Mothers Day went off without a hitch… Almost. So I hope Mommy liked it!

25 Weeks

How far along? 25 Weeks 6 Days

Maternity clothes?  Need to get some more short sleeves and sleeveless.

Stretch marks? Getting a little more..UGH  Starting to look like I got stuck in a rose bush- never seen stretch marks go all sorts of different ways like this.. Not cool!

Sleep: Sleep has been abundant this week, thanks to moving.  It’s exhausted me!  

Best moment this week:  Getting settled into our new house after moving! It’s a nice relief!

Miss Anything?  Being able to do physical activities especially after moving, it’s hard to move while you’re limited to what you can do. This high-risk stuff is for the birds!  

Movement: My belly looks like I have aliens in there when they move!       

Food cravings: Dr. Pepper.    

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, been good this week.

Have you started to show yet?  I’m having TWINS, I’m beyond showing…

Symptoms:  Growing like a weed! Little backache, off balance, random hair growth in places I didn’t even know could grow hair-eww, shortness of breath.

Gender:  GIRLS!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? I have officially lost all hope for my poor belly button!

Are wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been pretty happy this week, considering all the stress from moving.

Looking forward to: Starting the nursery, the cribs finally arrived yesterday!!!       

Milestones: This week there is more hair growth, developing texture and color this week! Their baby fat is continuing to fill in their wrinkled skin for a smoother look. They are approximately 13.5 inches and weigh the same as a Rutabaga, which is around 1.5 pound apiece.

Thoughts from Daddy: Cribs and nursery furniture got here super fast and I am not looking forward to putting it all together! 

24 Weeks

How far along? 24 Weeks 6 Days

Maternity clothes?  Need to get some more short sleeves and sleeveless.

Stretch marks? Getting a little more.. UGH

Sleep: Been sleeping great throughout the night.  Haven’t really been napping during the day as much, but when I get in the car, I’m out!

Best moment this week:  Our Dr. appointment.  Everything is looking good ie. blood pressure, weight, both babies size, fluid, placenta ect.

Miss Anything? I said this last week but being able to do physical activities.  This high-risk stuff is for the birds!  

Movement: My belly looks like I have aliens in there when they move!       

Food cravings: Dr. Pepper.    

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, been good this week.

Have you started to show yet?  I’m having TWINS, I’m beyond showing…

Symptoms:  Growing like a weed! Little backache, off balance, random hair growth in places I didn’t even know could grow hair-eww, shortness of breath.

Gender:  GIRLS!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? I have officially lost all hope for my poor belly button!

Are wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been pretty happy this week, considering all the stress.

Looking forward to: Starting the nursery!        

Milestones: Their lungs are rapidly growing this week. They are approximately 12.5 inches and the size of Corn Cobs and weigh around 1.25 pound apiece.

Thoughts from Daddy: I’m looking forward to getting all of our nursery furniture in and set up. I’m also super stoked that we were able to get a good house before the girls arrive. Next month I will be looking in to buying more rifles and ammo lol. 

GENDER REVEAL!

So after lots of poking and prodding to get Baby A in the right position so we can have a glimpse of the goods and then a long debate on whether or not we should even share our 'big surprise', we decided to share the news with you.  Here it is... The moment you all have been impatiently waiting for!!!!!

What's it going to be???? 

BOY & GIRL? BOYS? GIRLS?

TADA!!!!!!!!

SURPRISED!!!!!!!!!

 GIRLS?!!!!!!!!! 

 LOVE!

CELEBRATE!

HOPE YOU ALL ARE AS EXCITED AS WE ARE!!!! IT WAS FUN TO KEEP YOU ALL WAITING! THANKS FOR TUNING IN!

(The two "It's a Girl" custom art were made by a friend at Lazy J Custom Home Decor! Check her out here) https://www.facebook.com/Lazyjcustoms 

23 Weeks

How far along? 23 Weeks 5 Days

Maternity clothes?  Need to get some more short sleeves and sleeveless.

Stretch marks? Had a handful pop up this week. How depressing!

Sleep: Been sleeping great throughout the night.  Haven’t really been napping during the day as much, but when I get in the car, I’m out!

Best moment this week:  By far the 4D ultrasound.  It was the best entertainment ever!  They spent the whole 2 hours kicking each other in the face. Haha 

Miss Anything? I said this last week but being able to do physical activities.  This high-risk stuff is for the birds!  

Movement: Lots and lots, they are little soccer players or something!       

Food cravings: None really this week.    

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Morning sickness this morning but I think it was because I got out of bed too fast.         

Have you started to show yet?  I’m having TWINS, I’m beyond showing…

Symptoms:  Growing like a weed! Little backache, off balance, random hair growth in places I didn’t even know could grow hair-eww, shortness of breath.

Gender:  TBA

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? I have officially lost all hope for my poor belly button!

Are wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: My mood was off and on this week.  One minute I was extremely happy, and then the next I was very stressed, and then right back to happy.     

Looking forward to: Doctor appointment next week.       

Milestones:  They are approximately 11.5 inches and the size of large coconuts and weigh around 1.1 pound apiece.

Thoughts from Daddy: I just can’t believe all of the movement we saw in the 4D. They were nonstop, fighting and battling.