Setting Up Shop

That's our only explanation for all the movement going on inside Kelly.  They are getting really comfortable in there.  Let's see what they've done in a little over a week. 

The first picture, on the left, was in our last blog post, about Week 26.  The second picture is about a week and a half later. 

 
You out there in cyberspace may disagree, but we think there is some definite growing going on there. 

We are pleased because Kelly is nearing  the end of 27 weeks, which means we are close to achieving our first goal of getting to 28 weeks. 

 As we've written before, getting to 28 weeks means that if Kelly did go into labor, there is a great chance the NICU at U of I hospitals could sustain the kids into a normal infancy.  That's a good thing.  

Everything seems normal, and tomorrow we'll get to see the kids again on the ultrasound where we hope they will be at least 2.5 lbs.  The weights at 24 weeks were 2x 1.5 lbs and 1x 1lb 13oz. 

So we've been setting up shop, too.  Below are some pictures of the nursery, which is about 98% ready for babies.  

Some additions to the room before we started preparing it for babies: two bookshelves, one bed, chest, crib, two gliders, four hanging shelves, fridge, and darkening shades.  Hopefully we have enough storage set up.  

We anticipate going through about 30 diapers a day for the first few months.  Due to the extreme generosity of our friends and family, we're set for nearly three weeks.  Kelly and I will have to do some changing reps before the kids come to make sure we're in top form.  I'd like to get down to about 1.5 minutes for three of them before feedings.  Yes, the stopwatch is ready.  

Our Labor Day weekend has been great.  We had friends and family come see us and the chance to catch up and visit was not lost. 

I've also set a personal record for watching one Iowa game in consecutive days.  With our digital recorder set up (basically Tivo) with the cable, I can watch a three-hour college game in about half that time.  Fast forwarding though half time, commercials and in between plays really speeds things up.  I'm going to tell you what the record is, lest you think I don't have anything else better to do!   It's more than one, less  than ten.  

The Hawks looked pretty good, but need to clean up a lot of things on offense and defense.  They look a lot better at this point than they did last year, and Maine was a lot better team than Northern Illinois was last year for the opening game.  

In other news, my friend from Pella, Kevin DeRonde, got married in Saratoga, WY to his fiancee Tori Runner.  Kelly and I really wanted to be there, but traveling is not our thing right now.  We are wishing them a happy honeymoon and a blessed beginning to their marriage.