The Twins Birth Story

Well, the twins have arrived!  They have been with us now for nine weeks...and time is flying by! Here is how they got here...I will post again with how things are going (or this would be WAY longer!! LOL).  :)

On Friday, June 7, I went into labor. I was 35 weeks on the dot. It was totally unexpected, and that evening my contractions were five minutes apart and lasting 40 seconds.  I was not supposed to have a natural birth (I had to have a C-section), so the doctor told us to go on in to L&D. 

We arrived at L&D and they hooked me up to the monitors (something that I was very familiar with, as this was my fourth or fifth time in L&D for preterm labor), and the first nurse came in to check me.  For some weird reason, she couldn't find my cervix to check it (like it could possibly be in another location...I was seriously concerned that she was considered an L&D nurse when she couldn't find something so basic) and had to go and get the charge nurse to check my progression.  I was 90% effaced and not dilated.  So what do they tell me?  Pack up and go home until I dilate. Excuse me?  I informed them that that would not be the exit that they would be using, and so what did it matter if I was dilated or not?  Still, they packed me up and shipped me out.  I went home and labored for the rest of the weekend, something that was utterly miserable. 

Monday rolled around, finally. My son's school was opening that day, and there was no way I was going to miss it. I went with him and took him to his new classroom, and after I saw that he was happily settled in his room with his friends and teacher, we went off to go and see my OB.  I was feeling horrible, not having slept for three days and completely at my wits end.  She went and checked me, too, and found that I was still only 90% effaced and not dilated, but she did notice that my little boy had shifted his head.  Instead of pressing down, he was now pressing out on my previous C-section scar.  Considering I had been contracting all weekend, she was worried now that I would rupture soon with everything thinning.  So off I went again back to L&D to have my babies.

Back in L&D, I was hooked back up to the monitors and given an IV with fluids to try to slow the contractions while the team for the birth was assembled.  I got in one last (in my opinion, horrible) picture before they were born:

At 5pm, I walked back to the freezing OR.  Two doctors, 12 nurses (six for each baby), and one anesthesiologist greeted me as I padded my way in in my bright yellow "fall risk" hospital socks.  The anesthesiologist prepped me and gave me my spinal, which was not a fun experience.  For some reason, as soon as the drugs hit my system, I had a massive panic attack.  I suddenly felt claustrophobic and was freaking out on the anesthesiologist, who was very calm and was able calm me down as well.  And once I was calm, the meds eased up and I felt TONS better.  It was the first time in MONTHS that I had no pain, no pressure, and it felt AMAZING!!  Suddenly, I wanted to sleep.  Why? Because I could.  And could do it comfortably.  I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that if I did sleep, I'd miss the birth of my babies--the last babies I would be having--and almost was ok with that. :) I was SO tired!! But I fought sleep and listened to everyone assemble and begin the surgery.  Then time sped up, and before I knew it, I heard my baby boy crying. :) They cleaned him off and wrapped him up, and brought him to my hubby.  Dan tried to show me my baby, but I couldn't see over the blankets.  Two minutes later, my baby girl came out, fighting the doctors the whole way.  I actually got to see her, and touch her little face.  Baby Elliott was 5lbs 6oz and 18" long, and baby Audrey was 5lbs 11oz and 18.75" long.  Both babies were big for being 35 week twins, something that I was incredibly thankful for.

Audrey on left, Elliott on right.

That would be the last time I saw them for five hours...

They finished the surgery (including my tubal), and wheeled me back to my room.  The boob-Nazi, I mean, lactation consultant, almost immediately came in and shoved a breast pump at me.  Now, I am all for breastfeeding (and do so now), but geez, give me a minute to recover!! Dan came back to tell me that the babies were in the NICU and things weren't looking too good.  So now I was freaked out, and I had a very pushy woman telling me I needed to strap on my pump and get going to try to get my milk to come in.  I got her out of my room, and then was able to find out what was going on with my twins. Elliott's lungs were retracting.  He was on oxygen, an IV, having his glucose monitored, had to have an NG tube, jaundiced, and needed to learn to hold his body temp.  Audrey had aspirated blood when she came out, and they were not sure if it was mine or hers, so she was being monitored as well.  It took five hours, but they decided that they needed a higher level NICU, and just before they were transferred I got to really see them for the first time.  But I didn't get to touch.  As scared as I was, I knew the hospital they were going to, and I would be transferred with them the next morning.

Tuesday morning at 10am, the ambulance came for me.  I finished up the paperwork on their names and all of my transfer paperwork, then was loaded up and shipped to the other hospital in the next city.  It was the same hospital my firstborn was sent to after he was born, and where he spent 9 days in their NICU.  I was shocked that they were in the same bay of the NICU that Zachary was in, and even more shocked that they were in the same slot that he had been in as well (mind you, this NICU is HUGE...the odds are just astounding that they would end up in that slot!)! It was very emotional for me.  I finally got to hold my baby girl, but only got to touch my baby boy (they didn't want me to take him out of the incubator).  I was happy anyway, since I had already missed being with them for the first 17 hours of their outside life.  I was also happy to be in the same hospital, and my room was at the end of the hall by the NICU--the closest room to the NICU that they had (I loved the admission nurse for that).  Tuesday night I was able to hold my baby boy for the first time, and that just made my day.  Life was going great!

I stayed in the hospital until Friday as a patient.  All day and night, I would spend as much time as I could in the NICU, only going to my room to eat the occasional meal, get my meds, pump, take a quick shower, or a quick nap.  I was walking as much as I could to help the recovery process, and it was painful.  But I needed to get better as fast as I could.  Friday night I was discharged, but since I lived over 25 miles from the hospital and had my babies in the NICU, I was able to get a room downstairs in the Ronald McDonald Charity Family Rooms.  It was a huge lifesaver!!  I was able to stay close to my babies, and it was a room that was free of charge.  I am forever thankful to them and my caseworker that allowed for me to stay.  :)  I stayed until my baby girl was discharged the following Wednesday (on day 9), and then she and I went home.  We drove to the hospital daily to be with our baby boy, each taking turns watching Audrey while the other got a few hours with Elliott.  Despite the doctor's estimate that he would be there until my original due date (July 12, making him be there almost 5 weeks), our little superman was out on day 14! 

Elliott in the NICU

Audrey in the NICU

Elliott and Audrey in the NICU



Audrey and Elliott coming home <3

 

Now our family is happy, healthy, and complete....and all under one roof!!

 

The proud big brother!



 

It's been a long time...

I know it's been a long time since I posted.  Like, since I announced that I was having twins.  Things have been a tad busy since then, and everything else has kinda fallen off my radar.  So I will update as best as I can, without being long winded...

Well, I am officially 26 weeks.  :)  Also the size of a barn with my own gravatational pull!  The twins are doing wonderfully, and we now know that we are having a boy and a girl.  :D We are super thrilled that we are having one of each, and can't wait to meet them!  I especially can't wait for them to get here, as this pregnancy has been very difficult for me.   Ever since my 12 week appointment, I have been seeing both my regular OB and high risk OB every two weeks, a cardiologist every four weeks (but now I don't have to see the cardiologist anymore), and my regular GP doctor whenever I have an illness unrelated to the pregnancy. They are making sure that the surgeries haven't affected how well my cervix is holding up, that my heart is holding up for the three of us, checking me to with tests for preterm labor, and also watching the growth of the twins.  While sometimes it feels like I am always in a doctor's office, it's actually nice to be so closely monitored and lucky that I get to see my babies on the ultrasound so often.  :) 

Hubby's trip to China went great, and he had a wonderful time.  I, however, had a rough go of things, as morning sickness did not take a break while he was gone.  Trying to care for a super active toddler and being sick--it was a horrible combination.  Not to mention it was during the holiday season, when I was also trying to get up the decorations and plan for Christmas happening at my house.  Thankfully he got to come home a few days early, and I have never been happier to see someone in my life!  It made for a great Christmas.

 

 

The new year came and went, with me being super tired, and the doctors saying that Z needed to start going to school more often since I couldn't lift or chase after him like I used to.  I have been closely monitored by four doctors with this pregnancy; there is concern since I have had two surgeries for cervical cancer in the last two years.  I have been "resting" for a huge chunk of the pregnancy, and I have been quite surprised just how exhausting that can be!  Still, I haven't been officially put on bedrest, so I am happy with the current arrangement.  :)  I was not too happy with having to put munchkin in school five days a week (but only for half-days, I couldn't quite let go of the afternoons with him--I miss him too much!!).  He, however, is doing just fine with it, as he gets to go and play with his friends and run around and be crazy.  :) 

 

In February, munchkin turned the big 2! I had wanted to throw him a big party like I did last year, but I was way too tired and couldn't do something that I knew would stress me beyond all means.  This was also the case for hubby's 40th birthday, which fell at the end of February (but I'll get to that).  So for little one's big birthday bash, the grandparents, us, and Z all loaded up into our new minivan (now a necessity, seeing as we will have three kiddos in carseats under the age of 3) and drove north to a zoo that had been recommended by friends.  We had a great time--I rode in a wheelchair and Z in his stroller, and the family just wandered around looking at the different animals.  :)  Z loved it, as he loves naming the different animals and the sounds they make.  After the zoo we went to Outback Steakhouse (they have a great GF menu), and the birthday boy got his own brownie sundae.  :)

 

 

 

Hubby's birthday was even more low-key, as just the two of us went to a little bed and breakfast we went to for my birthday last year.  We had planned to go to Fredericksburg and wander around the shops, but my wandering days were over by then.  To top it off, both of us had sinus infections and colds, so our "big night away" consisted of us lying in bed with a box of Kleenex between us, watching movies and playing video games.  Yep, we were living it up!! It was nice to have a night away, but we were almost too miserable to enjoy it.

 

At my 21 week mark, I decided I wanted to have some maternity pictures taken, just in case I was unable to later in the pregnancy. Two sisters in my local mommy group had just decided to start a photography business, and I decided to give them a try.  I had wanted to do the pictures at the 20 week mark, but we had scheduling issues...you know how things go.  But I was pleased with how the pictures turned out, even though Z was doing his best not to cooperate!

 



 

Life otherwise has been relatively...normal-ish.  I continue to try to cook and do as much as I can, but it's getting harder and harder.  I was in the hospital for false labor two weeks ago, a scare that I don't want to repeat.  For that I was given muscle relaxers, and those tend to make me even more tired than I already am! And while I am extremely grateful to be able to have these two sweet (extremely strong) babies, I am more than ready to be done. Only 8-12 weeks left to go, and I am counting down!  I am hoping that I will be more vigilant about writing here, but I can't make any guarantees.  Just not as long between posts, I promise!  For now...I'm off to take a nap before munchkin comes home.  :)  Until the next time...

 

 



New Beginnings

(I wrote this in the wee hours of November 2, 2012....but had to wait a little bit to post it...)

It's a new day...well, it's 1am, so technically it's a new day.  And I can't sleep.  Two reasons, both equally weighing on me.

The first reason is of all the things that going gluten free did not get rid of, it was my RLS--restless leg syndrome.  This began fairly early pregnancy with Z back in 2010, and has never gone away.  It is very annoying.  Normally I would take my RLS meds and be done with it, chalking it up to forgetting to take it.  But I can't do that.  Why?  For reason number two why I am awake.

Reason number two that I am unable to sleep is that I am excited...SO VERY excited!!  Yesterday (the 1st) was my mom's 60th birthday.  Since we had already had the party, there was no celebration for her, but unintentionally there ended up being a quiet celebration.  It was supposed to be a secret, but when there is big news to be shared and celebrated, it is SO HARD to keep it in.  Especially between mothers and daughters.  And I want to yell it from the rooftops, and dance with joy!! 

Why??  Because.....

 

Coming soon....Summer 2013!!  :-D