4 Weeks Old

Well, life has been busy the past 4 weeks with two newborns in the house to take care of.  The babies are doing great.  Liam's reflux seems to be under control and not causing him many problems.  Lizzie is a bit of a grunter and strains alot to have a bowel movement.  Doctors say this is normal and she just has to figure out how to coordinate her muscles and it will get better.  She is not constipated as she does finally poop, but her grunting and straining does make for restless sleep for us.  We're getting through it though.

 

We had newborn pictures taken of the babies when they were 2 weeks old by Laura at Studio Bloom Photography in Pearland.  She lives super close to us and we went to her house where she has her studio.  She did a great job and was very patient with the babies to get some great shots.  We were there for 3 hours.  Here are some of her photos of the babies...they are so cute.

John went back to work today and Mom is officially retired, so she is at the house to help me out with the kids...and I need it.  Melanie has been visiting too and is a huge help.  Mom and Mel were at the house last night and so John and I got to go to the movies to see Hangover Part III...it was really funny.

Birth Story

The twins arrived on Monday, May 13.  It was a scheduled induction and we arrived at the hospital at 7:30a.m.  After a little bit of miscommunication (our nurse didn't know we were in the waiting area and we were told to wait in that area until our nurse got the room all situated), we were in the labor and delivery room at 8am. 

I was already 6 cm dilated and the nurse and my doctor didn't think it would take very long for the pitocin to work and get me to 10 cm and fully effaced.  Well, that wasn't quite the case.  I ended up having to push a little bit in the L&D room to get my cervix to fully dilate and thin out.  That was different than with Jocelyn.  I knew I wouldn't be delivering in the L&D room and I'd have to go to the Operating Room for that just in case something happened and they had to take one or both babies by C-section.   I had the epidural with no problems.  I pushed quite a bit in the L&D room until I was at the point where they took me back to the OR.  Liam's head was turned sideways and he needed to be facing down, so the nurse had to help turn him a bit.  We got that taken care of before heading to the OR.  I pushed one time in the OR and was told to stop because Liam was on the way out and we had to wait for the doctor.

A couple of pushes in the OR and Liam was out.  They cleaned him off and put him on my chest and he was so beautiful.  That was 4:52pm.  But a few minutes later it was time to push again for Lizzie and I had to ask the nurses to take Liam so I could push (there was no way I could do it with a baby on my chest).  Lizzie decided she wanted to try and come hands first (make a diving entry into the world) so the doctor had to get her to put her hands to the side.  I pushed a little bit more and at 5:02pm Lizzie made her way out.  What an experience.  The epidural was a little different than with Jocelyn where I could not feel contractions but could pretty much feel everything else and could move my legs.  I asked for a bit more of the juice before the sewing began because I knew that would be quite painful.  I do not handle anesthesia very well and I began to shake a lot and couldn't hold my babies.  The shaking got pretty bad where it was painful and uncontrollable and they had to give me some medicine to help it subside, which ended up putting me to sleep.  I was pretty much out of it for the rest of the night.  Little did I know that Liam would be staying in the NICU because of some fast breathing and then some reflux issues.  Lizzie was brought to us in the middle of the night and stayed with us for the rest of our stay.  Liam had to stay in the NICU so the doctors could do more testing on the reflux issue and rule out any obstructions.  Turns out he has pretty bad reflux and they began him on medication.  He also has to sleep at an incline and stay incline for at least 1 hour after eating. 

John, Lizzie and I came home on Wednesday, May 15th and Liam had to stay.  At that point we didn't know for how long.  Nothing really seemed to be wrong, they just had to complete some testing.

We finally got to bring Liam home on Friday, May 17th...after a bit of a fiasco getting his prescriptions filled. 

The babies have been doing great at home and we are working on getting them to put on some weight.  Liam was born 5lbs 14 oz and came home at 5 lbs 11 oz.  Lizzie was born at 5 lbs 12 oz and came home at 5lbs 3 oz.  They've both put on some weight since birth and we hope they have put on much more by our next doctor visit this coming Wednesday.  They are so sweet and we are so in love.  Jocelyn loves her baby brother and sister and wants to give them kisses all the time and when they cry she'll go to them and say "don't worry, big sister is here." 

 

 

 

 

36 Weeks...almost there!

I had my final appointment with my OB today before the babies come!  This past week I had 2 days of non-stress testing at the hospital.  Monday and Thursday I was hooked up to monitors to make sure the babies heart rates were good and were rising with fetal movement.  Everything went great and babies are just perfect.  Today, my doctor checked my cervix and I'm 4 cm dilated.  My fundal height is 48 cm, which roughly translates into measuring 48 weeks pregnant...I'm huge!  We decided that Monday was the day (just shy of 37 weeks). At my last ultrasound they were both head down so first thing on Monday will be an ultrasound to make sure they've stayed that way (really just Lizzie, we know Liam is still head down). If so, then we're going or a vaginal delivery and I'm really praying it all goes smoothly.  These babies mean the world to me and I want to do whatever is in their best interest.

I can't believe it's almost time. I can't wait to meet these precious babies and hold them in my arms.  Hopefully my next post will include pictures of 2 newborn babies! Stay tuned.

35 Week Update

Well, I've made it to 35 weeks and I feel very fortunate to have made it this far.  Still no sign of the babies making their appearance and I'll find out more tomorrow at my doctors appointments (yes, 2 appointments tomorrow...one with regular OB/GYN and another with my perinatologist) when they want to take the babies out if they haven't already come sooner.  I'm hoping it's sooner than later, but we'll see.

I'm ready.  I'm ready. I'm ready.  I don't need anyone else to tell me to try and enjoy this time since I'll be so busy once they get here.  I'm ready to be busy.  I'm tired of being lazy.  I'm tired of not being able to walk more than a few feet before I get short of breath.  I'm tired of my hips and back hurting when I walk.   I'm ready to have my hands full.  I'm ready to be on my feet.  I'm ready for middle of the night feedings.  I'm ready to change diapers.  I'm ready to snuggle with my babies.

Today is my last day at the office and I'll be home for the remainder of the pregnancy...however long that will be.  I'll update this post after my appointments tomorrow. 

Update - at my Friday, May 3rd appointment, the ultrasound showed that Liam is about 6 lbs 6 oz and Lizzie is 5 lbs and 14 oz.  Wow...that's over 12 pounds of baby and we still have a few weeks to go.  Liam's fluid level is a little low so the doctor wanted me to be monitored at the hospital that afternoon and then twice the following week.  My Friday monitoring went fine, babies moving well and heartbeats are good. 
Next Friday (May 10), I have another appointment with my OB/GYN and I'm hoping we set a date for when these babies will come out. 

34 Week Update

Once again, I'm a little late in posting an update for week 34 (since I'll be 35 weeks in 2 days).  Anyways, I went to see my regular OB/GYN on Friday and things are progessing well.  The babies are doing good.  My blood pressure is good and I don't have much swelling in the legs at all (except for at the end of a work day when my feet will get puffy...but nothing to be concerned about).  My cervix was 1 cm dialated and 50% effaced.

 

I have an appointment with both of my doctors this coming Friday.  First I'll see my regular OB/GYN at 12 and then my perinatologist at 1:40pm.  The specialist will do an ultrasound to make a final determination on the babies' positions to see if Lizzie has moved head down like her brother so I can have a vaginal birth.  If she's still transverse like she was last time, then c-section it is.  Either way, we'll be determining a final date to schedule a c-section (or inducement).  I'm pretty much done and physically miserable.  Walking hurts, sleeping hurts, sitting hurts.  I'm still having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing consistent or regular.  On Saturday night, John and I were watching a movie and I had one and you could see this mound build on the top of my stomach...that was wierd. 

 

We're getting so close and I'm getting pretty anxious.  Can't wait to meet these little babies.

33 Week Update

I'm a little late in posting this update since I was 33 weeks last Wednesday...but, better late than never.  I went to see my perinatologist on Friday and had an ultrasound done.  The whole appointment was very rushed because the doctor had been called in for a surgery and they actually cut appointments off with me being the last she'd see until after the surgery.  The nurses were telling other patients in the waiting room that they'd have to come back later and I kept expecting them to tell me the same thing but thank goodness I was able to get in because I did not want to have to come back.  They probably felt bad considering how visibly obvious it is that I'm uncomfortable and it's not easy getting around.

 

Anyways, the ultrasound showed both babies doing great and gaining weight.  Each were just under 5 lbs.  Liam is still in the same position as last time, head down, closes to the exit.  Lizzie has turned but not so she'd be head down.  No, Lizzie wants to be transverse, back down and head facing up towards my rib cage.  Dr. Adam said that this is the worst position a baby can be in to even try a vaginal delivery.  So, unless Lizzie decides she wants to turn head down between now and go time, looks like I'll be having a C-section.  That's okay though, I've kind of been expecting that.  I think we're looking at another 2 to 3 weeks before these babies decide to make their debut. 

 

I'm doing alright.  I sit in the recliner most of the time and don't get out much.  I'm still working a few days a week from the office and it's been okay.  Sleeping is difficult.  I get up every few hours to use the restroom and have to turn over quite often because my hip will start to hurt.  I've come to peace with the fact that a full nights sleep is very far in the future for me.

 

I am so excited for these babies to arrive and can't believe it's only a few weeks away. I'll be 34 weeks in just a couple of days and will give another update after my next doctor's appointment on Friday.

The Twins' Nursery

We've got Lizzie and Liam's nursery about 99% completed and I wanted to share a few pictures of what it looks like.  We didn't change much of the decor from when it was Jocelyn's nursery, but we did add a few extra touches.  I made the monogram letters for above each crib and the canvases with their names on it above the dresser.  John hung up the cameras above each crib and I'm excited to get to use these.  We didn't have the video monitor with Jocelyn and I figured it might be good to have with twins since we'd be able to actually see which baby was fussing instead of trying to decipher crying sounds. 

 

Its funny that the room seemed so big when it was just Jocelyn's but with two babies and all their things, it doesn't quite feel so big.  The closet is filled to the brim and every drawer overflowing (not really....but I'm scared to open one and let everything come pouring out).  We are blessed to have wonderful family and friends who have given us so much for the twins. 

 

My nephew Owen graduated to a big boy bed and so we get to use his crib for Liam.  The cribs don't match in style, but the colors are pretty darn close.  It doesn't bother me at all that it doesn't match and I think it turned out really great.  We'll see how functional it all is once the babies are here and we're actually using all the things in the room for them.

A few more weeks and these precious babies will be here.  I can't wait to get to hold them and take care of them!