The girls are here!

I know...I'm a little late - but the girls are here!

Here is a brief run down of what/how things happened. Actually...it's pretty long!

I hit 34 weeks on September 24th, while I was still on hospital bed rest, which I was totally frustrated with. Not that I was trying to be selfish or anything, but I was ready to be done being pregnant and most of all, I was done being in the hospital. Everyone kept telling me "you want to keep the babies in there as long as possible, that is what's best for them." I prayed many many times that these babies would come soon and that they would be healthy. I was prepared that they would, more than likely, have to be in the NICU.

My days were pretty routine while I was there. Let's start at 5:00am: the lab nurse would come in, flick on ALL the lights (until the last few times when I said "Do you HAVE to flick all the lights on?"), and draw blood. That was pretty much Brandon's alarm clock. He would then get up and get ready for work. He would kiss me good bye and leave for work at about 5:30. I would doze back off and get into a good sleep, then the food service people would come with breakfast at about 7:00am - really...who eats that early? My dad would be there at that time and stay with me for a couple of hours until my mom got there. (can you tell I didn't want to be alone?!) The new nurse would come in between 8 and 9:00am. We would do all the vitals, take meds, ask questions, etc. Dr. Westerholm would make her rounds between 9-9:30am. She would tell me I was doing good and that we wanted to hold out as long as we could, which I didn't want to hear. Housekeeping would come by next to empty trash, sweep floor, etc. Let me say...they need to pop those trash bags BEFORE they come in the room! By this time, mom was there. Noon - here comes lunch. I would eat and then usually shower. Before I could shower, I would have to call the nurse to come cover my arm that had the IV in it. I would get pretty worn out after the shower and have to lay down and rest for a bit. Mom and I would watch Family Feud and nap off and on all afternoon. When Brandon got off work, he would come up to the hospital and mom would go get Kendall from school. Dad would usually come back up there on his way home from work with mom and Kendall. After visiting for a bit, everyone would go home and it was just Brandon and I again. Nurses were in and out all day and all night long.

Two days later, Wednesday, September 26th, things were a little different. I woke up to a little bit of cramping, which I was use to, but it seemed to be getting more frequent. About 9am I told the nurse (my favorite one, Deborah) and she checked me. She said I was dialated to a 1 and 90% effaced. She then passed that info on to Dr. Westerholm. They talked and decided to let me be for a little bit and to check me again in an hour. 10:15am rolls around and Deborah comes back and checks me again. At this point, I was dialated to a 3 and 100% effaced. She said "we are having these babies today!" I immediately sent my mom, dad and Brandon a text that read exactly "oh sh!t, we are having these babies today!" Thank goodness mom had just pulled in the parking lot when she got it. I was excited, scared and nervous all in one. After that, things started going really fast! There were three nurses in my room trying to get another IV going. After two tries, the third one finally took. Since I had eaten breakfast, they were really wanting me to hold off as long as I could for the c section so that there wouldn't be anything in my stomach. God had a different plan, He was ready! Deborah made the call down to the blood bank saying that we were ready for my platelets to be brought up to me so we could get them going. (I didn't know until after the fact, but they had messed up and didn't have the right ones ready to go.) Brandon go there about 12:30pm and they wheeled me back to the operating room not long after. Since I was going to be completely put under, no one got to go back with me. This is where it is different than last time - with Kendall, I was already asleep before they wheeled me out of the room. This time, I was awake! Talk about being a nervous wreck! I remember mom and Brandon kissing me and telling me they loved me as I was headed out of the room. As I am rolling down the hall, the ONLY thing I remember is seeing Shane, yes Shane (***I will get back to that in a second***) and him having his hand out to give me five as I rolled past the waiting room. (oh no...getting a little teary eyed as I type all this) I get to the OR and everyone is in there...doctors, nurses and two NICU teams. I heard the anesthesiologist talking to me and I could hear everyone else talking around me. I remember saying to him - several time - "I'm going to be asleep, right?!" I think I asked him that about 4 times. From then on...it was a blur.

At 1:52pm - "Baby A" (Landry Renee) was born. She was 5 lbs and 3 oz and 17 3/4 inches long.

At 1:53pm - "Baby B" (Brynlee Lane) was born. She was 4 lbs and 4 oz and 16 1/2 inches long.

My precious girls had arrived!! They both had to go to the NICU, but were doing really well! Neither one had to be on the breathing machine, just the nasal C-Pap. The first time I saw them, I remember thinking how tiny they were!! Landry stayed in the NICU for about a week and then got to come home. Brynlee wasn't eating as well and had to stay a little longer (complete opposite now!) About a week later, she got to come home too.

Now that we are all home and settled in, things are going great! My family is complete and I couldn't ask for anything more. Kendall is doing good with the adjustment and LOVES her little sisters!!

How the girls got their names: The whole time I was pregnant, we never put a name with either one of the babies. I didn't want to give them their name until they got here and we could see them. After seeing them for the first time in the NICU, we took Kendall in there with us. As I was looking at one baby, Brandon was holding Kendall and asked her "Who is this?" She replied "Brynlee!" He went to the next bed and said "Who is this?" She replied "Landry!" We really wanted her to be a part of everything before, during and after - so we went with that. Big sister picked their names! Baby A is now known as Landry and Baby B is Brynlee!

***Back to Shane...first of all, I consider us to be really close. He is a great example of what a big brother should be! Don't get me wrong, we had our fights growing up - but then we stood up for each other when one was getting in trouble. He is a crazy, silly, fun loving guy. We don't get to see each other that often, but when we do, we always have such a good time and make great memories. Shane travels A LOT, but it is not very often that he gets to come to Texas for work. On September 25th, he had a meeting here in the area and stayed with mom and dad. He was only suppose to be here for a day and a half or so. I think his flight back home was sometime the next morning (September 26th). Once things started going and progressing with my labor, he ended up changing his flight home to the next morning. What are the odds of him being in Texas..much less for when I give birth?! It's not "luck" or "good timing"...it was Gods plan! He knew how much it would mean to me for Shane to be here. It was part of His whole plan and I can't thank Him enough!***

Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, texts and phone calls. Those are the things that really helped me make it through this whole pregnancy! I love each and every one of you! (Don't worry...we won't be doing this again...these tubes are T~I~E~D!!)

 Here are a few picture of the Brynlee and Landry by Melanie @ Dimples and Dumplins Photography

Brynlee ~ Sleeping beauty

Brynlee

Landry ~ sweet smiles and dimples!

Landry ~ Squinted eye kissy face

Landry

 

Hospital Bed Rest - Update

I am 34 weeks today and still at the hospital - which totally bites!! They are keeping me here until I deliver the babies due to my contractions and the main reason is because of my low platelets. The girls look good and don't seem to be having any problems. I had a sonogram today with the high risk doctor and he said they look great. Baby A weighs 5 lbs and 1 oz. Baby B weighs 4 lbs and 11 oz. Baby B is the the one who is all over the place and never stays on the monitor when they are checking heart rates. I guess she is just trying to keep her girlish figure! My doctor will not take the babies until 36 weeks - but if I start to labor on my own, then that is fine - she will let me go and not try to stop anything. (Don't think I am not looking on the internet for ways to get labor started. ha) I am so thankful for my parents and Brandon. I don't really want to be up here alone - so between the 3 of them, someone is staying with me all the time. I have been in better spirits today and yesterday - but still not ready for visitors. If you know me...you know my anxiety is through the roof - and one question may just put me over the edge. It is really hard not being able to be at home with Kendall. That really takes a toll on me at night!

Twins shower at work

I have to say...I work with the best group of people! They had planned a baby shower for me on September 7th. I ended up on bed rest before then, but my doctor let me go - as long as I stayed sitting with my feet up. So that is what I did. Denise, Joe, Jennifer, Tammy, Suzanne, Cindy and Tommy decorated the room so cute and put on a great shower! Lots of people came and it was so good to see everyone! Kendall even got to come for the last little bit - then her and Joe played while everyone cleaned up! Thanks for everything!











I meant to get a picture of my group - but somehow - we managed to forget.

Dr. appt + trip to Labor & Delivery = Bed rest

Let me start from the beginning - I had a scheduled doctors appointment on Wednesday (I think, I can't keep up these days) The sono tech checked to see if my cervix had shortened at all since my last appt. Shortening is what we don't want. It had a very little bit from the week before. Since I had been having a lot of braxton hicks, they wanted to hook me up to the monitors just to watch for a little bit. They also noticed that Baby B's heart rate was higher than normal. I stayed hooked up for about 30 minutes. Dr. Westerholm came in and was looking at the results from the monitors and she said I needed to go over to L&D to be monitored some more. I got over there about noon and they hooked me up. Baby B finally decided to settle down and her heart rate was normal, so that was good. I kept having contractions, so they gave me a bag of fluids through IV. Let me tell you...that IV was fun. ha Mind you, I hadn't eaten since before my appt at 11 - I was starving! They wouldn't let me have anything to eat or drink until they talked to Dr Westerholm and decided what the next step was going to be.

After doing a CBC test (complete blood count) my platelets had dropped more - to 51,000. Not good. After talking to the oncologist, he wanted me to start taking 60mg/day of the steroids for me and we will test again on Tuesday and pray that they have gone up!

The nurse finally comes back and says that I will get a steroid shot for the babies to help their lungs mature a little faster and then I would be discharged. Let me tell you...that shot HURT!!! And then she tells me I have to get another one 24 hours later. Oh my! We are discharged at at 5:45pm and on strict bed rest - OH JOY! The first thing on my mind is food though...I MUST EAT!

The first day and half of bed rest hasn't been that bad. I am just taking it easy and watching my shows. I just hate feeling so helpless - but I will do anything to keep these girls in longer! I went and got my other steroid shot for the babies yesterday and got a few clarifications to my bed rest rules. (No, this shot didn't hurt any less!) I can get up for potty, quick shower, fix something quick to eat (cereal, etc) and then it is back down for me. I am moving from the bed to the couch to the recliner so that helps a little bit.

I will keep everyone updated as time goes by! Now there is no excuse for not blogging - it's not like I am busy or anything - ha!

28 weeks!!

Oh my goodness...time is really starting to fly by! The first part of this pregnancy was S~L~O~W going (to me at least) I don't know if maybe it's because we found out so early, but now we only have 9 weeks left - MAX!! I have to say - I have some of the best doctors keeping a close eye on me.

First of all, Dr. Westerholm, my regular OB. Dr. W and her staff are the best!! She is also the doctor who delivered Kendall and I couldn't be happier. Full term for twins is 37 weeks - as opposed to the normal 40 weeks for singletons. She says that she will not let me go past the 37 week mark, which is October 15th. I am seeing her every two weeks and getting tons of sonogram pictures each time.

Next comes the "high risk" doctor, Dr. Goldaber. Nothing is wrong, they just consider multiples to be "high risk". He measures each baby's weight, lungs, fluid, etc in depth at each appointment. I see him every three weeks and getting lots of sonogram pictures and even videos of the girls.

Finally, Dr. Diggikar, the oncologist/hematologist. I see him for my platelets. As most of you remember, this was a big issue when I was pregnant with Kendall. I ended up having to have a platelet transfusion right before my emergency c-section with KP. I get my blood drawn every two weeks and they count my platelets. Dr. Diggikar wants them to be above 100,000. Since this pregnancy started, I have dropped to 66,000. He is not worried at all, but has decided to go ahead and start me on the steroids to help boost my numbers up. I just started them this last week, so my appointment next week, we hope to see an increase in my numbers!

I couldn't ask for a better team of doctors and especially the prayer and support team that I have! I am not going to try to mention everyone - but I do have to include a few that go above and beyond to pray for Brandon, Kendall, the twins and I:
My mom and dad - what true leaders they are and I can't thank them enough!! Shane and Michelle - the best brother and sister in law a girl could ask for! Even from far away, I feel like they are right here with me. Kathy Loupe - she is one of moms best friends and has prayed for us EVERY SINGLE DAY - she is a true prayer leader! Mom and dad are a part of a couples life group (Wednesday night group) and I know we are on their list every week! (the amazing thing is, I might not even know a couple or two personally!)Mom is a part of a ladies bible study and the same goes for them, we are on their list each time too! I know I am missing tons of people, but I just want you to know that we appreciate all the thoughts and prayers that are coming to us and the doctors! We love you all very much!

We have decided on names for the girls...Brynlee Lane and Landry Renee. We have not picked who "baby A" is and who "baby B" is and probably will not decide until they make their grand entrance.

I will leave you with a picture Kendall took of me yesterday - 28 weeks!

Gender Reveal Party

We had a little "Gender Reveal Party" for family and close friends to announce the sexes of the twins - 2 more girls! Here are a few pictures that were taken at the party.









Jordan and Mackenna decided to stay and swim with Kendall after the party.





Brandon was just "relaxing" after the big reveal! hehe

The twins are.....GIRLS!

Oh my...two more little girls around here. Poor Brandon - totally out numbered! We had our "reveal party" on Saturday to announce to our friends and family the sex(s) of the babies. It was nice to have everyone there. Thanks to all who came. Thank you mom and dad for letting us use your house to host the party. I am go glad that we got to FaceTime with Shane, Michelle and the kids so that they could watch too. I took a few pictures, but haven't uploaded them yet. As soon as I do, I will post them!

We went to the doctor on Tuesday, May 29th. Dr.Goldaber said we have 2 little princesses to add to the family. He said both of their measurements looked good. Baby A was 6 oz with 149 for the heartbeat. Baby B measured 7 oz with 165 for the heartbeat. He did say that he noticed a spot on Baby A's heart. He called it Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF).

Summary of EIF: a small bright spot seen in the baby’s heart on an ultrasound exam. This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. EIFs are found in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems. EIFs themselves have no impact on health or heart function. Often the EIF is gone by the third trimester. If there are no problems or chromosome abnormalities, EIFs are considered normal changes, or variants. An EIF in the fetal heart may indicate an increased chance of the baby having a chromosome problem (down syndrome). It does not affect the development of the baby or the function of the heart. If the baby has normal chromosomes, there would be no associated problems to be concerned about. No special treatment or tests are needed at delivery.

All we can do now is pray and hope for the best!