Skin..Who would think?

Its amazing how our bodies know what to do when we are pregnant. It amazes me that your skin can stretch that far to hold a full term baby.

I'm currently 26.3 weeks...so about 6 1/2 months pregnant.
My good friend, Heidi, is 37.4 weeks pregnant. (Baby Emma could be born any day now...and we are anticipating her arrival.)
I am bigger then Heidi...even though she is considered full term now.

Skin...skin...skin...
How can it stretch that much?
How can our bodies carry a little human inside of them?
In my case...3 little humans?
All that I can say is amazing...

People have been asking me lately, "How do you feel?"

My response is always...good or okay...but the truth is...its uncomfortable for only being 6 1/2 months along.
My hips ache non-stop.
I sleep sitting up on our couch.
Logan (Baby C) has buried himself under my right rib cage and has become fond of kicking or touching them.
Aiden (Baby A) has dropped down to be on top of my cervix and enjoys kicking my lower uterus which causes my leg to spasm every now and then and some cramping. My belly has recently become heavy due to him.
Austin (Baby B) is a good baby...He has stayed in his spot and just kicks around...not hurting anything inside yet.
A little patch of skin on the left side of my tummy burns from the skin stretching. Ice packs help the burning sensation. John suggested aloe vera, which I put on at night and it seems to work too.
I have gotten some stretch marks in the past few weeks...yuck!

If you have experienced carrying a child, then I'm sure you have experienced any of these problems at some point in your pregnancy.
I've never thought at this point in my pregnancy it would be hard.
But its hard...I want these babies out, but my maternal instinct wants these to "cook"  longer in their natural incubator.

Last night, John and I were looking at pictures from the beginning of my pregnancy to where I am now.
New Statistics:
To begin with I wore a shirt size S/M...now...I am wearing L/XL...but its funny because the XL only fit me around my belly, the larges are beginning to show the bottom part of my tummy if I don't pull up the belly bands. Its crazy to think that someone can stretch and grow that much in only 6 1/2 months!

To begin with I wore a pant size of 6/8...now...I am wearing a L...because the medium belly bands are uncomfortable around my belly.

I'm only wearing flip flops because I'm afraid my feet won't come out of tennis shoes, plus the idea of bending down and to tie a shoe lace doesn't appeal to me right now.

Here are some pictures of the progression of my tummy from the beginning to where it is now...and one day...it will be normal again!

Week 8 (2/14/12)...John and I couldn't remember me being this small...its been awhile!

 Week 11 (3/6/12)...the belly is beginning to form...

Week 14 (3/27/12) The pouch is expanding...

Week 20 (5/8/12) The boys are getting bigger...so is the tummy

Week 22 (5/22/12)

Week 23 (5/29/12) What difference in 1 week...right? Guess this is where the boys hit a growth spurt

 Week 25 (6/12/12)...still growing and stretching...

Week 26 (6/19/12) I turned a little sideways..so all the is interested can see that my belly button is ALIVE! Its now officially an outie...I call my veins a road map to the brothers. 
Its crazy to think that a person's skin can stretch that far. It should be interesting to continue to see how far my skin will stretch in the next 8 weeks...8 more weeks and I'll be 34 weeks...That's my goal.

Some people enjoy being pregnant...others do not. I just know even though I am in pain at times, uncomfortable all the time and can't fit into clothing sometimes that I am doing all this for healthier baby boys. I'm doing this to try and prevent them from spending the first two months of their lives in the nicu. I'll put up with pain as long as it means that our boys will be alright!
So for all the mothers out there...we are tough because after all...we grow humans! Thanks Denise for reminding me...