Put up Christmas Tree....

On Sunday, November 15th, I was in mood to put up the Christmas Tree, so Kevin brought all of Christmas stuff from the basement into our Family Room. I know it was so early to put it up before Thanksgiving, but you never know how I would feel in later weeks with my big belly. However, it was Gabriella's first official time having a Christmas Tree in our home since she was born. Gabriella enjoyed helping mom spread out the Christmas Tree branches, playing around with it in our pajamas.

VOILA!!!!

We didn't put up any ornaments or Christmas decorations on it until the next few days later. Sorry...no pictures of that.

NU VS Illin

On Saturday, November 14th, we invited Kevin's friend Richard and his family to our house to watch the bi rivalry football game: Northwestern University VS Illinois. Every year, Rich and his family and me (Kevin) and mine try to get together and go to the game. This season, with the two daughters (Rich and Stephanie's Hayden is 9 months older than Gabby), we were unable to go to the game, this year at Illinois. So, we invited the Martins over to our house, their first visit, for football and fun time.

The girls enjoyed playing with Gabby's toys, clad in the respective team's colors, while the adults watched the game. It started early, at 11:00 am, and soon after, we ate lunch: Ela baked some yummy chicken wings with various sauces which we ate with vegetables.

As for the game, it was close, as usual, but Northwestern pulled away in the second half. Unfortunately, due to the start time, both Hayden and Gabby needing a nap before the end of the game, so the Martins left before it finished. And wouldn't you know it: Illinois made a big comeback and almost won. Luckily for us Wildcat fans, Northwestern pulled it out in the end. The win was especially sweet for NU, since it assured that they would go to a bowl game; also, the loss was especially bitter to Illinois, who failed to become bowl-eligible.

Hopefully, we can continue the tradition next year and for many years to come!

The future heart breakers dressed up for their teams!

Kevin and Rich clowning for the camera

Who says Wildcat and Illini fans can't play nice together?!

"Wow, this football thing can wear you out.... Please pass the veggies!"

By the way, Illinois did exact some measure of revenge: at the start of the men's basketball conference season, Illinois beat then-ranked Northwestern in overtime in their first meeting this year.

Random November 2009

During the month of November 2009, Gabriella turned 18 months old. She was getting to be a big girl and was on her own, more independent. At this time, I wasn't able to pick her up to hold her all the time while I had a big belly. My back often was hurting and I was tired. If needed, I was able to pick her up for a short time, but did so less during this time. However, here are the random November pictures:

Loved eating Pomegranate seeds.

Used remote to change the t.v. channel to what she liked to watch.

Helped mom sweeping the floor.

Halloween 2009

On Halloween Day (October 31), my parents came for the weekend and wanted to be here to see Gabriella's first trick-or-treating in her gnome Halloween costume. Gabriella was so adorable in her Gnome Costume. I picked a good one! While we waited for the night, my dad made us a huge pot of Bigos!! Ohh, we loved to eat it. There was plenty of Bigos left so we separated and put it in freezer. It saved my time to cook dinner when I wasn't in the mood to cook during my pregnancy. Thanks to DAD! It was so delicious. Also, my Aunt Danuta and Uncle Jim stopped by surprisingly. It was wonderful seeing them. They gave Gabriella's first trick-or-treat candy.

In the late afternoon, there were many doorbell ringings since many kids stopped by for trick-or-treat. Gabriella was looking at them and analyzed what was going on. She seemed to not understand what Halloween was about, but she was getting there. So far, she loved to run to the door and check out these kids with their unique costumes and give them candies. We decided to take Gabriella out for trick-or-treat in late afternoon since it was so cold outside. So, Kevin, Dzia Dzia, and Gabriella were out for trick-or-treat at the close neighbors. Once she got the candies, she wanted to eat them. No No No.. it wasn't going to happen until after her dinner. She ate one of them. So far, it went great on that day. At night, we chilled out in the family room after a long day!

16 Weeks Pregnant (Twins)

On October 25th, I was 16 weeks pregnant with the twins. I felt great and got into more activities and had energy in the morning until I became exhausted in the late afternoon/evening. I tended to go to bed early like around 8 pm after putting Gabriella to sleep. It went like that daily unless we had plans. Also, I often got up early in the morning at various times such as 1 am, 3 am, 4 am, and I couldn't sleep for about a few hours until I finally got back to sleep. That was not what I was hoping for but would love to sleep through the night!!

During my few OB appointments before the end of October, I attended routine check-ups for me and the twins. So far, twins and I were doing great. Doctor said that twins were moving around a lot even though I couldn't feel them inside my belly. A few times, I felt one of the twins did a BIG POW that hurt my belly!! Oh my goodness! What a strong arm or leg one of the twins has. Hope it will not continue like that for the rest of the months until twins are born.

On Tuesday, October 27th, I had a Gestational Diabetes Consultation appointment in three different sessions to discuss about diet: what foods I can or can't eat; showing me how to use the glucometer to prick fingers for blood sugar (I already learned that from my first pregnancy with Gabby), and surprisingly took ultrasound that I didn't know I was going to have. That appointment took about three hours! My mother-in-law Trish drove from Peoria to stay the night at our place the night before my appointment so she could watch Gabriella. Thanks to Grandma Trish! Gabriella enjoyed her time with Grandma Trish. After my appointment, I went to the pharmacy to pick up test strips and needles for glucose readings. What a long morning I had with that appointment. Glad it was over!!

In addition about my surprising ultrasound I mentioned above: I didn't expect to have ultrasound on that day, not until next few weeks later. I was like okay...let's go and had ultrasound to show pictures of twins how much they had grown since September. I was happy to see them again but sad that Kevin wasn't with me that day. He was gone on business trip. My ultrasound Dr. Meyer asked me if I want to know the gender of twins. I was shocked and asked him if he could tell what they were. He said yeah. I felt bad because I really really wanted Kevin to be here with me so we both would know the genders. Kevin and I were desperate to know what we were going to have. I wish I would call Kevin and asked him but he was probably busy having a meeting or whatever that he couldn't reply right away. I decided to have him tell me! At this time, Dr. Meyer told me that I was going to have a boy for sure and a possibly a girl. It was hard to see that position where that baby was but Dr said possibly girl. I was excited and couldn't wait to tell Kevin the genders. Afterwards, I texted and emailed Kevin right away and told him what we were going to have. He was beyond thrilled to find out!!

A: BOY

B: GIRL

Johansen Farms October 2009

On the weekend of October 16, my sister-in-law Mia and her two kids (Michael Aaron & Madison) came to visit us for the weekend. We all talked to catch up and relaxed while Gabriella, Michael Aaron, and Madison were playing together. The next day, Saturday, in the morning, it was so beautiful and sunny outside even though it was little cold. We went to the Johansen Farms close to our house. They had all kinds of animals that kids can pet, pumpkins to buy, a little cute store to buy all things to decorate for the Fall season/Halloween, all activities kids can participate for fun, hay riding, and so on. We all had so much fun and enjoyed our time being there for the first time since we moved to Bolingbrook. The kids had so much fun. Afterwards, we went out for lunch at Panera. Yummy...

BIGGEST SURPRISE!!

As I mentioned, I found out that I was pregnant in August. Kevin and I were beyond thrilled to have a baby especially for Gabriella to have a sister or brother. So, I called my OB and ultrasound to make appointments. Before we found out, Kevin and I always talked about what if we have one baby or twins. We discussed what things we need in case we are going to have twins. We blah blah blah nonstop until our ultrasound appointment on Monday, September 21st.

On that day of my ultrasound appointment, I was about 9 weeks pregnant. Kevin and I were nervous and wanted to know the answer, but at the same time we are excited! Once the technician did ultrasound my belly, all the sudden we saw that we were going to have TWINS!!! Technician was laughing and was planning to tell us but we knew quickly! Kevin and I were tearing joyful but laughed. UNBELIEVABLE AND SURREAL!! It was so amazing to see that I was carrying twins inside my belly. The doctor came and checked twins, and they both were doing great!

One funny story to tell about me and my two sisters: before we had kids, we realized that we have many twins in our family generations. We said that one of us was possible to have twins. We eagerly waited to see if any of us was going to have twins. So far, my two sisters each have two kids. It was my turn to see if my second one would be one or two. AAAHHHHH IT WAS ACTUALLY ME!!! It was funny.

However, after we found out that we were going to have twins, Kevin called my parents/Danuta and his parents. First, my parents thought we were joking and kept repeatly saying stop playing around with me. We kept telling them that it was true! We laughed. They didn't beleive us until I emailed them with the ultrasound picture to prove it. They were shocked and couldn't believe it. They were thrilled and were looking forward to be grandparents of twins! Kevin's parents were thrilled as well. After we got home, I called my sister in Canada and told her the biggest news. She was so surprised and was so excited to be aunt of twins! We called and emailed all families the news.

During my first trimester of pregnancy, I had morning sickness with awful nausea and vomiting! It was not so fun but surprisingly it was not as bad as I had with Gabriella. I had morning sickness for about two and half months with twins. Afterwards, I felt great and no more morning sickness. Whew.... Unfortunately, I have gestational diabetes and am on a diet.

I will update more about twins in blog in the next few posts. Check it out soon.