Happy Belated St. Patricks Day

Our cute kids on St. Patricks Day! It was even warm enough for Ron to take Lucas to the park. Yahoo!

We Love Our Girls

What a wonderful day we had two weeks ago, I gave birth to our beautiful twin girls. Our life has been quite busy during the last two weeks. That is why it has taken me so long to write this blog. When I get a little bit more time, I will write about my birth story and how the babies have been progressing. They are doing wonderfully and we are so proud of their progress!
Emrie Helen - 3 pounds 8 ounces - 17 inches - 4:25 am
Eva Mae - 3 pounds 6 ounces - 16 1/2 inches - 4:26 am

2nd Gymnast in the Family?

When Lucas was born the doctors informed us that he is quite the gymnast because he had a figure 8 knot in his cord.

Now we can add baby b to the list of family gymnasts. Like I said in my previous post, she had been breech for quite sometime and then the last few days has been tranverse across my belly. As of today on the ultrasound before the non stress test, she is now head down. I suppose that she is taking advantage of all the extra room she has inside due to the loss of fluid on baby a. This would be perfect if I was able to have a VBAC. Unfortunately, because of having the emergency c-section with Lucas, I have to have a repeat c-section. So for now, I am just happy that they are both head down and able to say "hi" to each other and not kick each other in the head.

As of today, the babies are doing great. The heart rates were wonderful on the non stress test today. I only had to stay on for my minimum of 20 minutes. Yahoo! Now that they are getting bigger, they don't move off the monitors as easily. My fluid has once again turned a little pink, but they say it is because the baby b moved and probably just irritated the area a bit.

Have I mentioned how glad I am to be at IMC. I have had wonderful nurses and CNA's. I have also had 2 massages. They were wonderful! I am almost at 32 weeks. Yahoo, my short term goal! Now I am looking forward to the 34 week long term goal.

31.2 Weeks

I am still in the hospital. Things are looking a lot better. The scare with my white blood cell count has gone away. The next day my numbers went back down. I am back to the doctors just monitoring me how they were before.

I am still having non stress tests each morning. The babies look good each day with strong heartbeats. They are getting bigger and staying on the monitors much better than before. Normally each morning baby b is really active and the nurses always comment about what an active baby she is. She is no longer breech. She is now transverse and laying across the top of my belly. Silly girl! The fluid levels have been up on baby a, so that is a good sign.

I will continue to keep giving updates.

A Small Change

Last night and this morning has brought on a few small changes. About 7:00 last night I started getting a bit upset to my stomach and a headache. I was assuming that the problem was coming on because I was so extraordinarily tired. I slept horribly the night before. I told the nurse about it and she just told me to watch to make sure that it didn't get worse.

When the resident came in this morning, I advised her of my situation. She informed me that they were going to take my blood and watch for elevated white blood count. They drew my blood about a 1/2 hour later.

My doctor came in a bit later and told me that my count is up. It is not a tremendous jump, but enough for them to be concerned and watch me closer. They were also concerned that my tummy was a bit tender to the touch. This could possibly mean that an infection is trying to start.

Bottom line is that they are going to watch my blood and the tenderness of my tummy. If anything changes for the worse, they are going to have to take the babies. I am hoping and praying this will not happen. I am 31 weeks today, but we really want to get to at least 32 weeks, if not 34.

I am hoping for the best. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

My Home Away from Home

Do you remember the line in Splash where Eugene Levy says, "What a week I'm having!"? Well, that is kind of how I feel. What a long and surreal week this has been!

It all started late last Saturday night, February 20. Ron and I were at his sister's house visiting. It was late at night, which is odd for me lately, because I have been so tired recently and haven't been out late for a long time. I was sitting in a kithen chair and just adjusted and felt a big gush. I immediately looked at Ron and said, "Something isn't right!" With soaked pants and a big puddle on the chair, I ran into the bathroom. We determined that my water had possibly broken. We couldn't believe it because, I was barely 29 weeks. We left Lucas there in good hands and went to Intermountain Medical Center. After a few inconclusive tests, a few hours and then conclusive tests, it was determined that the water of one of my sacks had broken. When the doctor informed me that I would be in the hospital until my babies were born, I broke down and cried uncontrollably for quite a while.

After much more testing, talking to the doctor on call, nusres and high risk doctor I got a room in the hospital on the 2nd floor. I am currently one of three moms on the post partum floor that is actually antepartum.

This is a picture of my home for hopefully the next 3-5 weeks. I am currently 30 1/2 weeks along. The short term goal is to keep me here until I am 32 weeks. The major, long term goal is to keep me here until I am 34 weeks. If I can make it until 34 weeks, they will just take the babies at that time.

I have been through 2 steroid shots to mature the babies lungs, 2 days of iv antibiotics, 5 days of oral antibiotics, 9 nights of not great sleep, a talk with the NICU team scaring me with all that can be wrong with the babies, a talk with the social worker, several nurses, 4 residents, 1 medical student, 4 on call doctors, my doctor (whom I love and adore), TED hose, pumps on my legs to insure I don't get blood clots, being woken several times each night, random fluid leaking, daily non stress tests, 2 heart rate monitorings daily, wheelchair rides, mesh panties, a sore bum, several bouts of random crying and I am sure so much more.

All I can say is, it is all worth it. Knowing that I am doing all I can to keep these babies inside for as long as I can makes me fine with all I have and will go through. They have to keep me here to monitor me very closely. Things can rapidly change. They are watching for contractions, heart beat distress, low fluid levels or infection. If any of these happen, they will immediately take the babies. Thank goodness that I am at a top rated hospital with wonderful nurses, doctors and an excellent NICU.

Lucas misses his mommy but is doing surprisingly well. He has been spending a lot of time with his daddy and some family. I am so lucky that he can come visit. They just barely lifted the ban on patients children coming to visit about 2 weeks ago. I don't think I could make it through without being able to see him. I am also so lucky to have Ron. He is my rock and is the most amazing man in the world. He has not only had to be Mr. Mom, my support, the errand runner, the housekeeper and so much more, but he has also had to work full time. We don't want him to use all of his time before the babies are born. I love you more than words can say honey!

I just continue to pray daily that these babies will be fine and only need short term or no medical help. The doctors are very encouraging by telling me that babies born at this gestation do very well and each day and week that I am able to keep them inside is a high milestone.

I will try to keep updating and maybe even get a picture of me in my calf massagers! :) All I ask is to please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.