In the NICU

Sorry for the lack of posts.  These past few days have been an emotional whirlwind.  In short, we are still in the NICU.  We are making progress every day.

My husband and I started a Tumblr site to keep our family and friends updated.  The link is: http://fostertwins.tumblr.com/

Due to lack of time, I'll just let everyone click over there to see pics and check on our hospital progress.  Hopefully I'll be able to resume a semi normal blogging role in the near future!

Harper and Stella are here!!!

After several days of preterm labor, and 56 hours of actual labor, DH and I welcome two beautiful girls into the world, Haper and Stella at 33 week and 6 days gestation.

Harper had some problems breathing and was put on a ventilator.  She came off the vent 4 hours later and was put on a Cpap machine.  She came off the c-pap 4 hours later is now breathing on her own.

Stella had no problems breathing at all and is only being held in the NICU because she was born 12 hours before the cutoff for the standard nursery of 34 weeks.

While the babies came earlier than expected, both are doing extremely well and we are hoping we will be able to take them home in a week or two if not sooner.

Late in the game we decided to try for a vaginal delivery.  So glad I did.  Harper came out after about 15 pushes and Stella came out exactly 10 minutes later with only 5 pushes.  I only had one small tear that required 1 single stitch.  I am moving around pretty well and feeling generally good.

Harper weighed in at 4lbs, 12 oz and Stella weighed in at 5lbs, 3 oz.

I am taken back by how in love I am with these two little girls and my amazing husband as we begin this very exciting chapter in our life!

Please meet our girls:

Mama is very ready to have these babies!

Daddy is ready too!

Baby B-Stella

Baby A-Harper

Harper

Stella blowing bubbles

Stella

I'll post the birth story when I am not completely sleep deprived!

Visit to Labor and Delivery

Saturday night around 12:30 I started to have some really painful contractions...the kind that start in your back and radiate around.  I didn't think anything of it since I have been having contractions for about the past 3 weeks.  They were painful enough though that I couldn't sleep.  I moved from my bed, to the glider in the nursery, to the couch.  Nothing seemed to help.  Around 3am they were bad enough that I decided to take a hot shower (an cry the whole time).  Still in pain.  I went back to the couch where I stayed so I wouldn't wake DH up.  I fell into a light sleep for about an hour.

When DH got up he started timing my contractions which ranged from 2 minutes to 8 minutes apart and were really intense.  We decided to play it safe and head to the hospital.

While we were there they hooked me up tot he monitors which showed that all of my contractions were 2-4 minutes apart.  The doctor came in and did a cervical.  I am still 80% effaced but am 1cm dilated now. The doctor could feel baby A's head and said he felt my bag of water bulging through my cervix.  I BEGGED them to stop the contractions but the doctor said they won't do that unless they are "productive contractions" meaning they are causing me to dilate.  Since I wasn't in "real" labor they sent me home.

I have been in an unbelievable amount of pain since all of this has started.  A am definitely at the "I am done" point in this pregnancy. I was selfishly hoping that I was in labor so I can get these babies out.  Don't get me wrong, I am glad I wasn't in real labor and we've bought ourselves a little more time, but the thought of going on like this for another 2-3 weeks makes me cry (literally... I've cried several times thinking about it).

I just pray that all of this preterm labor eases up so I can at least get a few decent nights of rest before the babies come.  I asked the nurse how much longer she thought I had and her response was "You could go into full blow labor tomorrow morning or you can go for another 3 or 4 weeks." Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

No news is good news

Today's appointment revealed that I am holding steady.  Still 80% effaced and fingertip dilated.  I told the doctor that I thought I had lost my mucus plug and he said that it means nothing and would venture to say that all of the cervical exams that I have been having week to week are what dislodged it. Whew.

Both babies are still head down...so  by definition both babies are vertex/vertex however, baby B's body is actually transverse across the top of my abdomen.  The doctor said we can go ahead and schedule our C-section for 38 weeks.  He did say that he strongly encourages me to think about having a vaginal delivery, espeically if the babies are born early, to help squeeze all of the fluid out of their lungs.  He said if I am 5 or 6 centimeters dilated, he would like for me to consider a vaginal birth.  He did say that they would of course respect our wishes for a c-section if that is what we choose to do.  What are your thoughts on this?  I know statistically, even when both twins are head down, many twins wind up being delivered via c-section because the uterus is so distended that the contractions are just not productive enough to move the baby down.  DH and I have some serious thinking to do.

The NST revealed pretty steady (and strong) contractions. My BP was 100/50!!!  A new pregnancy low for me! God bless my naturally low blood pressure!!!

We go back next week for our growth scan!!

Unplugged

I am pretty sure I lost my mucous plug last night.  I am surprisingly calm considering.  I think I am going to be a little more strict with bed rest to help keep my cervix closed as long as possible.

Guess it's time to start crossing my legs tighter.

Only 8 more days till I am 34 weeks.  Come on babies.  Hang in there!!!!!!

32 Weeks

How far along: 32 weeks, 1 day

Total Weight Gain: 36 lbs 

Symptoms: Contractions....lots and lots of contractions.  The sad part is I know on a scale of 1-10 these contractions are probably only a 1 of how bad they are going to get....but good god, some of them just hurt!

Stretch Marks: Yes. Tons.  Looks like we are holding steady at just above the belly button though.  Since the babies are already dropping, maybe we can avoid getting any higher!

Sleep: Terrible.  I am able to sleep for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a time.  That is about as long as I can sleep without having to go to the bathroom and/or readjusting my body so I don't get a cramp.

Best Moment Last Week: Finding out I am no more effaced than I was the week prior!

Movement: The babies are starting to run out of room.  Their movements are becoming very deliberate.  I am no longer able to feel little flutters any more...I can only feel good hard kicks and punches. 

Food Cravings: None.  I have been really focusing on consuming as much protein as possible so that the babies can gain enough weight before they are born.  So I've been drinking lots of shakes and eating protein bars.   Other than that I crave ice cream which is a new one for me. 

What I Miss: The outdoors.  Being on bed rest has given me a whole new appreciation for being able to do simple things like clean my house or go to the grocery store. 

What am I looking forward to:  The only thing I am looking forward to at this point is reaching the magical 34 week mark. I am fairly certain I can do it!  

Milestones: 32 weeks!  The babies have a pretty good shot if they were to be born right now...granted, they would probably require a little bit of ventilator assistance. 

How is Daddy? I can't say enough good things about my husband.  He has been taking me to my doctor appointments, helping me through contractions, taking me out at night on car rides which he calls "walking me" just so I can get out of the house, making dinner, cleaning, ....the list really goes on and on.  He has single handedly kept our house afloat while I have been on bed rest.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing and supportive husband.  I think he is really starting to get excited about the arrival or these babies....which could literally be in 2 weeks!


Now for the 32 week pic....again, forewarning on the stretch marks!

Holding Steady

Today's doctor's appointment revealed that I am still 80% effaced and fingertip dilated.  Great news.  At least I know that all of this terribly boring bedrest is doing something good!   I also had a Non-stress test today (NST) which showed pretty steady contractions.  I had about 6 over a 30-40 minute span.  They aren't really painful, just really uncomfortable because they create so much pressure. The nurse seemed slightly concerned about this.  After showing it to the doctor I was sent home with instructions to call if the contractions get any closer together or get more painful.  Both babies heartbeats showed accelerations which is really good. 

The doctor today said if I go into labor in the next 2 weeks the will do everything they can to stop it, but once I hit 34 weeks they will go ahead and deliver the babies if my body decides it is time.  I am still really hoping to hold out for 36 weeks.  I asked the doctor about this and he said it might be possible to go up until my due date.  He said there is really no way to tell.  So now I just sit and wait! 

Getting ready...little by little

So this weekend we did our last Babies-r-us run.  We exchanged some stuff from the shower that we received duplicates of and picked up all of the final little things we needed like a bottle sterilizer, 2 extra car seat bases for our 2nd car, some extra changing table covers, etc.

It's kind of weird to think that will be our last baby run before we actually have the babies.  The nursery is pretty much ready to go.  The cribs are made, the changing table is fully stocked, the breast pump parts have been sterilized.....all of the little things are done.  My husband did some serious cleaning and organizing in there last week while I napped.  I am so greatful for all of his help...especially since I am on bed rest and feel like a worthless member of our household.

So now I am just laying here with my legs crossed tight in bed doing everything I can to hold these babies in. The contractions are still coming...but very infrequent...about one or two every hour. I go back to the doctor this Thursday for my next appointment.  Hopefully not much will have changed!

In other news, our bedroom furniture that we have been waiting for for nearly 8 months from Direct Buy FINALLY arrived.  So glad we are not living out of card board boxes in our room anymore!!!

Our twin bassinet

Long overdue update...

Sorry.  I've been a terrible blogger.  It seems like things have been getting crazy around here.

So lets start from the baby shower.  We had our BIG baby shower this past weekend.  My mom, dad, and 2 sisters flew in for it.  It was so good to see them.  I haven't seen them since this past Christmas.  It was so neat to get to see my parents at 30 weeks pregnant.  Watching my family rub my belly and try to feel baby kicks is an experience I will never forget.  It was amazing. The baby shower itself was fantastic.  We got tons of stuff and got to spend time with great friends.  Notable gifts include our double stroller from my mom and dad, the swing from my sister, the double bassinet from my other sister, and lots and lots of clothes and things from friends.  Here are some pics from the whole shower weekend.

My sisters kissing their nieces/nephews:

My mom and dad at the baby shower

Here are some pics of my sisters and I working on my baby shower cake:

Week 1 of bedrest

Today begins my first full week of bed rest.  Thank god my job is letting me continue to work while I am out on bed rest (or I might seriously go crazy!).  This weekend was filled with lots of contractions so hopefully being flat on my back will help curtail some of those.  I am erring on the conservative side with the bed rest, so I am trying to remain as flat as possible while I work.

Here is my new fancy shmacny office.... Pardon my double chin.  I am looking particularly puffy these days!