Is this real life?

Man oh man! We're getting so close to meeting our boys I almost can't stand it. When this journey started back in the fall, I honestly didn't think my body would allow me to carry them for this long. I was skeptical after reading a lot of  stories about premature births and such but now that I'm pretty far along, I truly believe I can hold out for at least a few more weeks. We, as well as everyone around us, are so ready for them to make their appearance but I really hope they will keep cookin' for at least another 2 or 3 weeks. Its not that I'm just enjoying pregnancy so much that I want to stay pregnant because that's not necessarily true (even though thinking about not feeling them moving in my tummy anymore is kind of sad to me). I just want our boys to have the best chance possible to be strong and healthy. My dream is for them to go home when I do and not have to stay in the NICU at all. I don't think I'm ready for that. With that being said, don't get me wrong, there are several times a day that I think to myself how ready I am for them to just be here already. Days like today when a simple 45 min drive to Philadelphia to drop off Zach's parents at the airport and then the 45 min ride home seem like an impossible feat. There are times when I feel as though I can't get enough oxygen into my lungs and I might just have a panic attack. Can we say "Where's the paper sack?!?"?  Three plus weeks seems like an eternity at times but then when I consider the fact that we will be parents to TWO little boys by then, three weeks doesn't seem like that long after all. I'm not going to lie, its actually kind of scary. 

We're definitely getting down to crunch time. We've been looking at potential flights for our parents and trying to coordinate all of our helpers but I think we have just about decided that there's no way to actually plan any of this so what's the point? When the time comes we'll just have to wing it. Until then, the dogs and I are focusing on getting lots of rest and just chilling. 

34 Weeks

  
(Once again the light coming through the window makes it look a little funny. Darn you daylight savings time. FYI, this is me in one of MAYBE 3-4 shirts that still fit. Everything else is too short.)

How big is baby? BIG! Not sure exactly how big but I imagine they'll be well over 5 lbs by the time we go to my ultrasound next week. My belly just keeps getting bigger and bigger every day. I can feel my skin, muscles, and ribs stretching and they seem more and more cramped every day. Won't be long now!

What is baby up to? Just practicing their soccer skills and growing a lot. I'm anxious to see how much they've both grown at my ultrasound appointment next Friday.

Maternity Clothes? I'm running out of things to wear. My belly is just too dang big. Maybe I should come out with a line of maternity clothes especially for multiples. Make everything the same size except the belly a LOT larger. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Stretch marks? Like I said in an earlier post, my belly will probably look like Kate Gosselin's before her tummy tuck. I need to talk to my doctor about maybe snipping a little extra off after my c-section (assuming these punks don't turn).

Sleep? Still just sleeping in spurts. I wake up about every hour or if I'm lucky I might sleep 2 hours at a time.

Best moment this week? Zach's parents spent a few days with us so it was nice to get to hang out with them (even though I slept most of the time...oops). 

Miss anything? My momma, good sleep, being able to breathe normally (this pregnancy congestion is no joke), no pain while walking/standing, having more than 3 shirts to wear :) 

Feeling movement yet? They're so cramped now and are moving around so much that my innards are sore. Their little legs always seem to find my bladder too. 

Cravings? Cold deli sandwiches (Jersey Mike's has become my best friend), ice cream/frozen yogurt and soda. Luckily it doesn't make sense to eat yogurt after every meal (like I'd like to) and soda doesn't quench my thirst so I don't indulge too much. My stomach is too cramped to feel like eating a whole lot these days anyways so its lots of small snacks for me.

Food aversions? Greasy fast food, Chinese. Yuck!

Started showing? If I knew how to make an annoyed face on my computer I would so do it. My belly has gotten so big and has also begun to drop a little, I have a roll now haha. Its rather embarrassing actually. You're welcome for the visual.

Gender? Silly boys!

Signs of labor?  None thank goodness. Still hoping to keep it that way for AT LEAST another 3 weeks but 5 would be ideal.

Belly button, in or out? Outty fo sho!

Wedding rings, on or off? Usually off. 

Mood? I've been pretty emotional lately. I don't know if I'm just tired or what but I've had several good cries recently. Poor Zach.

Looking forward to...? My sweet boys being here. I'm probably going to be stingy and not let anyone else hold them for a while, not even their daddy. As their mother I can do that, right? lol

Fascinating Changes

Disclaimer: Since I started updating this blog on a regular basis to keep everyone up to date on our pregnancy, my love for writing has been rediscovered. Its not uncommon for me to get the urge to "write" at all times of the night and early in the morning. This is one of those posts. Please excuse me if I seem to ramble or make no sense. I "wrote" this entry at 6AM this morning on the notepad app on my phone. Right after Zach had left for work and I had gotten back in bed, gotten comfortable, and was about to fall asleep. How convenient.

Isn't it amazing how our bodies change and adapt during pregnancy. Sure there's the obvious or most well
known changes such as nausea, a growing belly, stretch marks, etc but its the changes that seem to be mother nature's way of preparing us for the amazing journey to come that are the most intriguing to me.

Having twins on the way, as you can imagine my body has gone through pretty much any change that most expectant mothers go through. It's just gone through most of it twice. One of the reasons I wasn't surprised when the ultrasound tech broke the news that we were expecting twins is because unlike my first pregnancy (which ended in a miscarriage a little over a year ago) I had begun experiencing nausea at 3 weeks (my first pregnancy I barely experienced any symptoms at all.) This time, I didn't even get a positive pregnancy test until 5 weeks (and Lord knows I had started taking them at 28 days). I think I tested on 3 different occasions over a 12 day period of time.

Another change a woman's body goes through, perhaps the most obvious of them all is a growing belly. My belly had started to "pooch" at about 6 weeks and by about 13-15 weeks I could no longer hold it in. To someone who didn't know me, they would have thought I just had a gut -which I did but this time, there was a little added fluid to keep me from attempting to suck that gut in. Now, that "pooch" has grown exponentially and is more like its own country. With twins, my belly is even bigger than that of a woman with only one baby in there. If I remember correctly, at 27 weeks I was measuring what most expectant moms are measuring at 38 weeks. And to think people had been telling me around that time that I "had no idea what being 9 months pregnant felt like". Ummm excuse me, I've gotten to experience "9 months pregnant" for a lot longer than most women. Going on about 8-10 weeks and I've still (hopefully) got another month in me. Aren't I lucky? lol

The last couple of weeks I have really been able to tell that my body is preparing itself for labor. They say that during pregnancy your joints will begin to feel more loose. I hadn't really noticed that until recently. Now, when I'm walking and/or standing, my knees hyperextend like they were made to do it. Even at night when I'm attempting to sleep, my joints ache as though they've been pushed to do things they weren't meant to do. I guess that's what an added 34 pounds in just a few short months will do for ya.

My sleep schedule has also gotten, well, jacked up. It must be mother nature's way of preparing my mind and body for many sleepless nights and only short spurts of sleep once the boys are here. I haven't slept for more than a couple hours at a time in weeks. Whether its the urge to pee, the pain of being on one side for too long and needing to roll over (which is a task!), the dogs needing tending to, or whatever, I never just sleep straight for 6-8 hours or more like I used to. Now it's an hour here, 2 hours here, an hour and a half here...well, you get the idea.

These changes a woman's body goes through during pregnancy fascinate me. I think sometimes we forget that God made our bodies to do this. This is what we are here for.

Some of these changes just remind me of how soon mine and Zach's lives are going to change and I'm not going to lie, it's scary. Really scary. Not only do I have to get these little punks out of me (most likely by a doctor cutting them out - stubborn breech boys) - but also we have to bring them home and actually take care of them...for the next 18+ years. If that doesn't make you even just a little nervous, you cray! I still feel like a kid myself, how am I going to raise one...errr, two? Yeesh! I am going to be clinging to what the nurse told us yesterday, "just remember to keep telling yourself 'this too shall pass'". I think that is a perfect philosophy for any new parent, especially twin BOYS. Lord help me!!! As tough as I know it will be, even though I am sure I won't REALLY know how tough it'll be until they come home, these boys are truly a blessing and so many people are so excited to meet them. I'm just thankful I get to be their mommy.

As ugly and unpleasant as some of these changes we as mothers go through can be, God gave us the gift of childbirth and I couldn't feel more blessed to be able to experience it. As soon as my boys are here, I have a slight suspicion that everything unpleasant that my body -and mind- have gone through over the last 9 months will fade away from my memory and all I will care about is those two bundles of joy in my arms. I CANNOT WAIT!

Keep cookin' boys!!!

Its getting to be crunch time!

33 Weeks

I had a doctor appointment today. I had a bunch of questions so we met with the nurse first. Out of everyone we've met in all of Jersey, she is probably the nicest. She reminds me of someone from home because she uses southern hospitality, she just has a yankee accent. She stayed in our room for probably 20-30 minutes while we waited on the doctor just to answer any questions we had. Plus, she has twins of her own so she gives us valuable insight not only from a medical standpoint but also from the standpoint of a mother of twins. We went over things such as where to go when I go into labor, breastfeeding twins, getting them both on the same schedule, etc. I feel a lot more at ease just after speaking with her.

When we met with the doctor and went over labor scenarios. Both boys are breech and have been the whole time so I am pretty sure I will have to have a c-section but the doctors don't seem to want to commit to that for a few more weeks. 

They won't schedule a c-section before 39 weeks. When I go back in 2 weeks (at 35 weeks) we will probably be able to make an appointment and if I go into labor before then they will just cancel my scheduled section. If I go into labor before 36 weeks, they will stop labor but if I have made it to 36 weeks then they will go ahead and deliver. Its crazy that we are so close to holding our sweet boys. I am hoping and praying they stay in there for at least another month. I am so ready for them to be out but I also want them to cook for as long as possible. I don't want there to be any reason to keep them in the hospital any longer than their momma. I do NOT want to go home without them. 

(We usually take the weekly pictures at night so the sun isn't usually so bright behind me.)

How big is baby? One website says they are "a little over 4 lbs" but considering a week and a half ago they were 4 lbs 4 oz and 4 lbs 10 oz I'd say they're much bigger than that. Another website says they're 5 lbs. I think that one is a little more accurate. Apparently, we make big babies, which is a good thing. I still laugh when I remember the look on the ultrasound tech and the doctor's faces when they saw how big the boys are getting. I'm just thankful they are both healthy and growing well.

What is baby up to? Doing a lot of kicking. It has actually gotten painful at times. The other night I was sitting on the couch and they both started going to town on whatever of my guts that have gotten shoved to my lower abdomen. I swear if I didn't know any better I'd say there was also a soccer ball in there and they were practicing their passing skills and maybe even some tricks here and there (Heaven knows my belly's big enough). I finally had to use my hands to push on my lower belly to try to raise them up to get them to move higher. That didn't help a whole lot considering my ribs are constantly hurting from digging into who knows what lol. These heifers are beginning to run out of room.

Maternity Clothes? I put on "real" clothes if I'm leaving the house but otherwise, I'm in sweatpants and baggy t-shirts. I want as little touching me as possible lol. Plus, most of my tops are borderline too short.

Stretch marks? That's old news.

Sleep? I haven't been sleeping well at all lately. Its more like I take a lot of short naps throughout the day and night. I usually don't sleep more than about an hour and a half at a time. Either I have to pee, I need to turn over, or I'm just uncomfortable. When I can't sleep, I usually just lay there and watch my belly dance. That always makes everything better.

Best moment this week? The other day we were in the car and  both boys were going crazy in there. I had my hand rested on my belly and they startled me by making a long, dragging movement under my hand. It even made me jump a little. Zach reached his hand over just in time for them to do it again. I think it freaked him out more than it did me. It was pretty funny.

Miss anything? As much as I miss being comfortable, feeling good, my back not constantly hurting, etc, I feel so blessed and thankful for these two little boys. I know they could be here any day and I cherish every little movement I feel because I know it won't be long before I don't get to feel those movements on the inside anymore. I'm not going to lie, its a little bittersweet. Feeling your child/children move inside of you is such a special feeling and I am so thankful that I get to experience that. With that being said, I know nothing can compare to having your sweet baby/babies in front of you and being able to hold them and kiss them and love on them. No matter how tough it gets sometimes, I know it will all be over soon and it will be a totally different experience. I'm just trying my best to soak it all in and enjoy it.

Feeling movement yet? All. the. time. I am so thankful for active babies. It puts my mind is at ease when I feel them moving so much.

Cravings? FOOOOOOOD! I'm snacking a lot. My sweet tooth is still a bit of a problem. Its hard not to eat junk when I'm feeling hungry. Seems like my body tells me I need dessert after every meal lol. 

Food aversions?  I guess the same...Chinese.

Started showing? The clothes I've been wearing throughout the pregnancy have begun to fit differently the last few weeks than they have all along. Tops don't seem to be as long these days.

Gender? Boys.

Signs of labor? No. Hoping to keep it that way for at least another 4 weeks. (Oh geez! 4 weeks!?!?)

Belly button, in or out? Out.

Wedding rings, on or off? Engagement ring when I leave the house, IF it'll go on. Sometimes if I've been up on my feet for a while before I try to put it on it isn't comfortable to put on so I just go without.

Mood? Usually pretty good. Just feeling like crap makes me a little impatient and I'm not really in the mood to leave the house to socialize. Its hard to sit still and not be able to relax. I get all restricted feeling which just makes it miserable. I would much rather be at home in my sweats and reclining on the couch. 

Looking forward to...? Meeting these little rascals.

32 Weeks....Eeeeek!!!

32 Weeks

How big is baby? Well, as I posted the other day, both boys have grown quite a bit over the last month. They were 2 lbs 6 oz and 2 lbs 7 oz at last months ultrasound. This month, Smith was 4 lbs 4 oz and Sanford was 4 lbs 10 oz.  I gained about 5 lbs over the last month and 4 of those lbs were baby weight. I still can't believe they each gained so much! I am hoping and praying that they keep growing so that they will hopefully not have to stay in the hospital for very long after birth.

What is baby up to? Still moving around a lot. Just this week I started being able to feel Sanford's head right under diaphragm. He is turned to my back so I'm pretty sure its him who I always feel kicking me in the bowels (TMI - sorry) and Smith is turned slightly to my right side so I usually see him kicking on my side. And both of them are breach (punks!) so they both like to kick me in the bladder.

Maternity Clothes? Most of my maternity tops over the last couple of weeks I've noticed are fitting me a little shorter than they were. Luckily I don't really feel like going out in public much anyways these days so looking "cute" isn't really an issue but I still have to make sure the band of my maternity jeans isn't showing before I leave the house. That is NOT cute.

Stretch marks? Stretch marks are inevitable, especially having twins. I just can't understand how some people don't have them at all during pregnancy. I'd like to know what it is they're using on their skin.

Sleep? Doing a lot of it lately. My energy level is back up a bit meaning I can actually walk across a room without feeling like I'm going to pass out. With that being said, I am sleepy almost all of the time. I guess all this growing these boys are doing is really taking a toll on mommy.

Best moment this week? We went to a breastfeeding class tonight. It was pretty informative but mostly I think it just put us at ease a little more. It was put on by a lactation  consultant who works at the hospital I will be delivering at and she was super nice so hopefully we will be seeing her when the boys get here. Also, I think just crossing things off my to-do list has put me at ease and I don't feel quite so unprepared these days. Now I can just focus on getting lots of sleep before these boys throw a major wrench in my sleep schedule ;) 

Miss anything? Being able to sing along to the radio without having to take a deep breath midway through each and every verse. I can't hum more than a few words before I'm out of breath. Most everyone knows I sing along to EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. on the radio so this is quite miserable to me lol.

Feeling movement yet? All the time. I still enjoy watching my belly move. I'm waiting for the time when I can actually tell what body part it is that is scraping the inside of my abdomen. I don't think either of them has enough room to do a whole lot of stretching so I think they are both limited to mostly just jabs and pokes. They are definitely filling out my belly these days. 

Cravings? Just food in general. I eat every couple of hours. I've really been craving Diet Sunkist lately. I try to limit my artificial sugar intake but Diet Sunkist has been my indulgence lately. That's usually what I have for "dessert".

Food aversions?  Chinese. Trying to limit how much greasy foods I eat lately as well which is hard when I don't feel like cooking and Zach sure doesn't either. We've been eating out a lot lately and I try to eat well but no matter what I eat, eating out always makes me feel pretty gross.

Started showing? This belly needs its own zip code and my back definitely reminds me how big it is. Standing for more than just a few minutes results in a major back ache.

Gender? Boys.

Signs of labor? None so far. Still being very cautious. I constantly text/call my mom to make sure I'm not overlooking anything. I've been having round ligament pain for weeks/months but its getting worse every week. I reckon this gut is just too big for my muscles and ligaments to support lol.

Belly button, in or out? Out.

Wedding rings, on or off? Same as usual. Engagement ring on when I leave the house. Otherwise, nothing. 

Mood? Pretty good usually. Just feel exhausted most of the time so I'm not my usual goofy self.

Looking forward to...? Meeting my two handsome boys. I can tell the last week or so has really seemed to slow down. Probably due to just being so tired all of the time plus most of my to-do list is done. Up until a week or so ago I was constantly worrying about whether I was going to be able to get everything done in time but now that most everything is done, I can relax and that makes time pass slower. I'm really hoping the next 5 or so weeks goes by quickly. I don't know if I can stand it much longer. 

It is unreal how ready I am to meet my sweet little boys. I still can't believe that they will be here so soon! I'm doing everything I can to keep them in there for as long as possible but its so hard not to be anxious to meet them! I know life as we know it is going to change drastically but I am so ready for that change. I'm ready to see what they look like. I'm ready to get to know their little individual personalities. I'm ready to just kiss and hug on them for hours on end. I'm probably going to turn into one of those moms that I've always rolled my eyes at when they say they can't resist passing up a nap so that they can watch their child/children sleep. Most of all, I'm ready to experience this love that everyone always speaks of. I am so in love with these boys already but I know that once they are born, that love will only be multiplied tenfold. I can't imagine that kind of love but I know I will understand it soon enough. Until then, keep cookin' boys!!!

I thought you said they would slow down by now...

It seems like I'm blogging a little more often these days. I don't know if I have more to say or if I'm just enjoying writing again. I've always been a writer whether it was a journal, a letter, or even just a grocery list. I love to write things down. I can't tell you how many notebooks I have had over the years with endless lists that really served no purpose. They were merely to give me something to jot down. My mom is a list maker as well so I'm assuming I get it from her. Thanks Mom.

I had an ultrasound this morning as well as a doctor appointment afterwards. I got into the ultrasound room and they, as usual, had me lay back on the table. Well, I realized very quickly that I wasn't going to be able to lay that way for 30-45 minutes while they checked everything out. I can't be horizontal at all without not being able to breathe. I started getting out of breath and my head started feeling like it was going to explode. Thankfully the tech noticed my discomfort and offered to let me sit up a little more. It helped a good bit but I still had trouble breathing. Once she started the exam I realized why. Not only do I have a huge uterus taking up all of my lung space but also Sanford's head is literally parked right beneath my ribs and lungs. Punk won't let me breathe! Being that there are two babies, my ultrasounds last about twice as long as most women's. I used to look forward to ultrasounds, and I still do because I'm always curious to see how much the boys have grown, but the last couple haven't been quite as comfortable so I'm not as excited to lean back on the table as I used to be. Can't they do it with me standing up lol? 

After being on the table for about 30 minutes, the tech said "Well, your babies are definitely growing well" as she chuckled. I eagerly asked her how big each of them are, knowing they had grown a good bit over the last month since my belly has just all of the sudden gotten really full feeling. Keep in mind that last month they were 2 lbs 6 oz and 2 lbs 7 oz. She said "Well, Baby A (Smith) is 4 lbs 4 oz and Baby B (Sanford) is 4 lbs 10 oz." For those of you who aren't good at math, that is almost 9 lbs of baby. I'm 31 weeks! 31 weeks!!!!! I've got more baby in there than most people have at 40 weeks. Geez, no wonder I have been so tired and achy lol. Both boys are measuring about 2 weeks ahead but the doctor said they seem to be perfectly healthy and that she would much rather them measure a little big than small. They are both within normal range (69th to 72nd percentile) so she isn't worried at all. They seem to be doing well and staying flexible. They haven't let up on all the moving but I don't mind. I love feeling (and watching) them move. I know I've said it before but I could watch my belly jump and twitch all day long. The only bad news we got was that both boys are still breach. My doctor seems optimistic that they may still turn to a head down position where I can deliver them but I'm thinking the chances of that happening are getting slimmer and slimmer. Ideally I'd like to deliver them but I much prefer healthy babies so a C-section just might be the way to go. I guess we'll see when the time comes. 

Well, I usually don't blog about baby updates until a new week rolls over but I've been in such shock today at how much they have grown over the last month that I just had to put it all down. As for now, I think I'll  get some rest. Afterall, I've got some growing boys who need their rest as well.

6 Weeks and counting!!!

Only 6 more weeks until I'm full term and anything after that is just icing on the cake. I can't believe we've already come this far. Thankfully I've gotten some of my energy back in the last several days so I have been trying to get as much done as possible. My hospital bag is almost completely packed. It should be considering I started packing it about a month ago lol. I only lack a couple of small things now. I've even got snacks for the hospital stay packed. Let's just hope Zach doesn't get the munchies. Maybe I should hide it. 

This week I've mostly been trying to declutter and organize the nursery so that everything has its place. That's not an easy task when you have the nursery and master bedroom smashed in a rather small, oblong room with no closets on this level of the house. It has forced me to get a little creative. With our nomad lifestyle I have gotten pretty good at not having a lot of extra stuff laying around so trinkets and gadgets are to a minimum, especially in this room. Just about every inch will be utilized for something. I'll have to post some pictures of the "nursery" soon. Ideally before the boys get here because we all know it won't look too cute and neat once they're here. Until then, it's rest and relaxation for me! 

31 Weeks

How big is baby? babycenter.com says they are about 3 1/3 lbs and about 16-17 in long. I have a doctor appointment and ultrasound Thursday so we will find out for sure then. I can tell they are growing a lot lately because they are really starting to fill out my belly. I can almost always feel at least one of them right up against the outside of my belly. 

What is baby up to? Doing a lot of moving and stretching. Last night while I was trying to go to sleep they were really moving a lot. I just watched for literally about 45 min. Smith (baby A) is most likely going to be my energetic child. He moves constantly and Sanford (baby B) will probably be a little more laid back. I feel him throughout the day but sometimes it feels like Smith is trying to escape. He makes my belly contort all over the place.

Maternity Clothes? Yep. Lately my wardrobe consists of mostly yoga or sweat pants and one of Zach's t-shirts. It ain't pretty but it sure is comfy.

Stretch marks? I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to resemble Kate Gosselin pre plastic surgery after all of this is over.

Sleep? Better now that Zach is on the couch lol. I still wake up a lot whether its to potty or just to roll over which is rather painful these days. I guess all the weight on my pubic bone (TMI - sorry) and lungs makes for a good bit of grunting and grimacing when I attempt to roll to the other side. Usually by the time I get to the other size I'm literally wheezing lol. Fun times.

Best moment this week? GEORGE! We went to a George Strait concert Friday night and it was a blast. It was a rather interesting night but we had a lot of fun. I'm super glad we got to go.

Miss anything? Let's just say that I hope I don't have the skin of a pubescent boy once the boys are finally here. I've got zits in places I didn't know could have zits. Its rather ridiculous.

Feeling movement yet? I'm thinking the boys are getting a head start on swim lessons in there because they move around like they're trying to kick themselves to the deep end.

Cravings? Just food in general. I've got the munchies all the time. And good smelling laundry detergent. I bought a box of Gain laundry powder the other night and have been doing laundry just so I can smell the detergent. Its not uncommon to see me taking in a few whiffs as I walk through the laundry room. Zach even asked me if I had had the urge to eat it lol. Somebody has seen one too many episodes of My Strange Addiction.

Food aversions? Chinese. I guarantee a week after they're born I will probably want Chinese food. There's just something about it while I'm pregnant that just grosses me out.

Started showing? Sometimes I misjudge the size of my belly and I walk into things. It happens quite a lot.

Gender? Boys!!! 

Signs of labor? No thank goodness. Hoping it stays that way. I've been a little paranoid lately. Any little thing and I'm freaking out calling my mom asking her if I should worry lol. If she weren't just the sweetest human being on the planet she would probably be a little annoyed by now.

Belly button, in or out? Have you ever wondered what the inside of your belly button looks like? 

Wedding rings, on or off? Only wearing my engagement ring when I leave the house...same as usual.

Mood? Mood has been pretty good lately. Just tired and feeling lazy. Not really in the mood to socialize these days.

Looking forward to...? Going to the doctor Thursday for an ultrasound. I love these monthly ultrasounds. Can't wait to see how big they've gotten. 

Our date with George!

Friday night Zach and I went to see George Strait in his Cowboy Rides Away tour. This will be his last tour and we knew months ago when we saw he was coming to Philly we had to go. Zach bought the tickets not knowing whether or not I would feel like going when the time came. With my back hurting as much as it has been lately I wasn't too excited about having to walk 500+ yards from the car to the arena but we were hoping we could figure something out. Zach ended up borrowing a wheelchair from a lady he works with and it was a life saver. He wheeled me from the car all the way to the arena then through the arena to our section. All I had to walk was up the stairs to our seats. And wouldn't you know our seats were on the VERY. TOP. ROW. Zach dropped me off at our section then went to guest services to check the wheelchair leaving me to walk up the stairs alone. No big deal except the air is a lot thinner at the top...or so it seemed lol. I thought I was going to pass out when I got to our seats. I don't even think I took my jacket or scarf off at first. I'm pretty sure I just collapsed into my seat. Even though I drank I think 2 bottles of water, a cup full of ice, and helped Zach drink a very large Sprite, I was determined not to go to the bathroom unless it was an emergency. I was NOT walking back up those stairs lol. Luckily we were on the aisle and there were a couple of seats on one side of us that were not filled so we didn't feel quite as cramped as usual in that arena. Problem was our entire row of I think 24 people were drinking and typically people who are consuming alcoholic beverages "have to" get up more often than those of us who aren't. The first few times I actually stood up to let them all walk by (they always went in groups of 4 or more) but after about 5 trips, this pregnant lady got tired of the up and down so I turned to the side but nothing more. The number of trips they made was ridiculous. Anywho, we had a really good time and King George was amazing! At 61 he's still got it. Here's a few pictures of our night.

(The view from our seats)

(Martina McBride opened for George)

(Girl's got some lungs!)

(Does the high altitude make me look fat?)

(King George)

(He's still got it.)

(The stage was set up so they sang from all four corners so everyone got a good view.)

(One of my favorite moments of the night, "Jackson" by Johnny and June)

("I'm goin' to Jackson...")

(Gettin' it!)

(Farewell to the legend)

(I have a feeling he's going to miss this.)

(My amazing husband taking the wheelchair through the seats to avoid the crowd. Smart man!)

(My ride)

We had such a good time that night. That's just another bucket list item we can check off. The concert was kind of my last hoorah until the after the boys get here and I think it was a good way to go out. From now you can find me in a pair of yoga pants, a baggy (well, not so baggy anymore) t-shirt, curled up on the couch with a cup full of ice and a dog (or two...or three) at my feet. C'mon mid-April!