3 Weeks Old

At this point, the girls have been home with us for as long as they had been in the NICU.  It's amazing to me how time flies.  Jeff and I are slowly adjusting to parenthood and life being changed forever.  We're having to learn a 'new normal' as he would put it.  There have been bumps in the road, but we are both committed to getting through all of it together.

The week started with the 4th of July.  This was the girls' first official holiday, even though we really didn't celebrate it.  "Mommy" wanted to get them cute outfits, but by the time we went shopping, there wasn't much left.  All I could find were newborn onesies, which were WAY too big.  We made our first trip to Grandma and Grandpa Glover's house for dinner.  The girls handled it like any newborns...they cried.  Of course, Grandma had to pick them up and make them feel better.

The next couple of nights, we battled with learning the girls both have reflux.  We had a few episodes of breathing issues and milk coming out their noses.  The poor girls were miserable.  They screamed so loud.  Jeff and I didn't handle this well.  I hate to see my babies in pain (or discomfort) of any kind.  After a late-night call to the pediatrician, we learned that the girls can't be flat on their backs for long and would have to sleep at an incline.  We moved the bouncy seats into the pack n play to test this out.

After a couple of nights in the bouncy seats, we borrowed the bassinets from Grandma and Grandpa Osgood.  These allow the girls to sleep more horizontal, but not enough to cause more reflux.

On Monday, we packed the girls up and headed to Redding to visit the grandparents on my side.

We also got to introduce the girls to many of our friends up there.  They seemed to enjoy hanging out with the grandparents, but not as much as the grandparents enjoyed having the girls there.  Dad and Lisa got to hold both girls for the first time, as did Great-Grandma Bert.  It was definitely a special time.

Bath time with Grandma Judy

We took another 4-generation photo














Visits with friends

The boys played around taking photos of the girls

The girls are 3 weeks old.

More photos

Second Week Progress

The girls continued to make great progress this week.  When they were only 9 days old, they were moved from their isolettes, and into cribs.  That means that they are able to maintain their own body temperature...one of the last hurdles before getting to come home.

On day 10, Jeff and I had a sleepover at the hospital with our girls.  They have a family room where parents can spend the night with their little one(s) before taking them home and being on their own.  We put the girls in one crib for a bit so they could spend some time together.

The next morning, they got some more "sister time" before heading back to their room and their own cribs.  Mom and Dad didn't get a whole lot of sleep.  I know I was nervous and listened for every little sound they made.  We also had to get up every 3 hours for feedings.  Overall, it was great to spend some quality time together as a family.  I also discovered that I can tell them apart.

On day 12, our girls were discharged from the NICU and came home.  We were so excited to have them close to us.  The grandparents were all very happy as well.  Now we can really start bonding with our girls.

The grandmas finally got to hold and feed the girls.

Two Weeks Old

Family Photos

Four generations on my mom's side...

Grandma and Grandpa Glover

Grandma Judy                                                                                             Grandpa Tom

Auntie Lisa

First Week Progress

This was my first visit up to the NICU to meet my little girls.

Avery                                                                          Sophie

I was still receiving Magnesium through my IV for 24 hours following the delivery, so I wasn't feeling my best.  It was so great to finally get to hold my girls.  Both had feeding tubes and IVs, but no oxygen.  They were small, but looked so much better than I had expected.

I spent most of that day in bed, in a fog.  My blood pressure was still high, (reason for the magnesium) and they had given me another medication to stop the hemorrhaging from the night before.  I was sure glad when all of that was over!

My wonderful husband brought me 2 Winnie the Poohs after delivery.  He said that since I couldn't have my girls in the room with me, he wanted me to have something to represent them.  Our nursery theme is Pooh.

Over the next few days that I was in the hospital, we visited the girls often.  They were doing amazingly well for being 6 weeks early.  Their feeding tubes were removed after only 2 days.  They continued to receive antibiotics through their IVs for a few days, but those were removed after less than a week.

Avery                                                                                                                      Sophie

On day 5, the girls had a little bit of jaundice.  They were put on bili-lights for a couple of days.  These lights were nice and toasty.

...and then...My babies were a week old.

Arrival

For those of you that have been following me, I apologize for my lack of posts.  Things went a little crazy.  I can't really remember each week and what the events were, but I can give you a quick overview.

I was admitted to Labor & Delivery twice with preterm labor.  I think the first time was week 29 and then the second was week 32.  Both times, the labor was able to be stopped.  However, they don't attempt to stop labor after 33 weeks.  Stopping my labor required an IV of magnesium sulfate, which makes me feel AWFUL!!  Needless to say, this was not fun and just added to my wanting this pregnancy to hurry up and be over.

Sometime after I hit the 33 week mark, I was called by one of the Ob/Gyns.  I had gotten some labs and  tests done and she didn't like the results.  I had high blood pressure, protein in my urine, and low platelet counts.  All of these are signs of preeclampsia, which I don't know a whole lot about, but I know that if it's bad enough, they have to get the baby out.  Mine was mild at this point, but they decided to admit me for monitoring...for the remainder of my pregnancy.  UGH!!

My Dr was hoping that I would make it to 34 weeks...and so was I.  There is much less risk to the baby if you make it to at least 34 weeks.  Anyway, on Wednesday June 19th, I was just shy of 34 weeks.  I was not feeling great and early that morning, I felt small amounts of leaking fluid.  I called Jeff to let him know that I thought my water was close to breaking.  He didn't answer his phone...6 times.  He's a heavy sleeper.  I then called my mom and had her swing by our house to wake up Jeff.

The day progressed much like all the rest.  I spent it in bed.  Around 2p.m., my water really broke and the fluid came out.  Shortly after that, the contractions started.  It wasn't long before I was wishing for a c-section because I was so uncomfortable.  I had asked for an epidural, but the Dr wouldn't let me have one until I was dilated to at least 4 cm.  Being a first time mom, an epidural was likely to slow my labor progression.

I think it only took a couple of hours before I was dilated enough and they gave me the epidural. AAHHH!  Shortly after that, I was wheeled into the OR for delivery.  I am not sure how long I had to push before the first twin arrived, but I don't think it was long.  Most of the rest of the day was a bit foggy. 

Avery Grace was born at 5:40 p.m. on June 19th, weighing 4 lbs. .05 oz.

Sophie Ann was born at 7:40 p.m. weighing 4 lbs. 6.3 oz.

I was not able to hold Avery, but they showed her to me when she was cleaned and wrapped.  Two hours later, Sophie arrived and they put her on my belly.  WOW!  That was emotional.  She was small, but not too tiny.  She was beautiful.  Both girls were then taken up to the NICU.  Jeff followed to make sure they were okay.

I wouldn't get to see them again until the following day.  There were some complications during the delivery of the placentas.  The doctor had trouble getting them out.  In the end, she got them out but I hemorrhaged and needed blood.  Of course, I didn't find out any of this until later.

29 Weeks

 

Oh what a week it was!!!  After having a pretty decent previous week, this week was rough.  I ended up in Labor & Delivery on Thursday night of last week with contractions and lots of abdominal pain.  After a few hours, they sent us home with a prescription for a UTI and instructions to come back if the contractions came back or anything else of that kind.  They also gave me the first of 2 steroid shots to make sure that the babies lungs were mature IF they decided to come early.

My parents got to Sacramento on Friday.  We had to go back to L & D Friday evening for my 2nd steroid shot, so everyone (but me) decided it was best for me to stay in Sac, rather than go to Redding for my baby shower up there.  I was NOT happy.

On Saturday evening, I got the worst pains of this pregnancy.  Usually, I have pains on the right side along where my shunt tubing is.  This time, the pains were on the left also and much worse.  I couldn't even move.  I ended up throwing up, which just made me worry more.  Back to Labor & Delivery.  I was in AGONY.

After a couple of hours, they determined that I was, in fact, in pre-term labor.  These weren't just random contractions anymore.  They were regular, and painful.  I was checked into a room and given Magnesium through an IV to stop the contractions.  I had dilated to 1 cm at that point.  They gave me a shot of some sort of pain medication, but that didn't help at all.  The doctor who was on call wanted to wait to give me any meds until they knew what was wrong.  I didn't end up getting anything until the next day, when they gave me the medication that I have a prescription for at home.

After that, things started to get a little better.  I was still having pain, but it was at least tolerable.  I spent two nights in the hospital and was released on Monday after lunch.  Jeff spent both nights there with me and my parents came to visit as well.  While I was scared for my babies, I was glad that I was at least in the hospital...so that if anything went wrong, they could do something about it.  By Monday, my cervix hadn't changed and I was holding at 1 cm.

The rest of the week was pretty rough.  I didn't sleep well at all and had to get up at least a dozen times each night to pee.  My feet and legs swelled SO MUCH from the IV fluids, I could barely walk.  It was crazy.

Luckily, by Friday I was feeling better and the swelling was gone.

This is what my feet looked like on the day I left the hospital.

DATA:

How far along? 29 weeks

Babies are the size of an: Not sure, but they are 3 lbs each.

Maternity clothes? Mostly hospital gowns.

Have you told family and friends? Yes.

Stretch marks? Not from the pregnancy  ;)

Symptoms: Minor headaches, rib soreness and major belly discomfort.

Sleep: Sleep? What’s sleep?  Every time I roll over, I have to get up to pee.

Best moment this week:  Ugh, this was NOT a good week.

Miss Anything?  Not being in pain

Number of times I get up to pee each night: I must have topped out this week at about 12.

Movement: TONS of movement.  I love it!

Food cravings: Hmmm…not really.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells still bother me, but not as much.

Have you started to show yet: Yup.  I feel huge.

Gender: Both GIRLS!!!

Labor Signs: Yep…contractions and I am dilated to 1 cm.

Belly Button in or out? It sticks out in the morning and then goes flat by the afternoon.

Mood: Blah

Looking forward to: This pregnancy being over.

Weight Gain: 22 pounds.

27 Weeks

Well, even though I am posting this late, it was a pretty good week.  Let's see how much of it I can remember....

It started out a little rough.  I was in some pain on Sunday, so we didn't make it to church, even though I was really hoping this would be the week.  I felt great on Saturday, so I had hoped it would last through the weekend.  I spent most of Sunday taking it easy, lying around.

This week, I worked Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  This was a great set-up because it gave me a day in between each work day so that I could recover and relax.  I am still having shunt site pains, which I am managing with my heating pad and a prescription for some pain meds.  I'm really trying not to take the meds too much.

My parents came back into town on Thursday to work on their condo and to prepare for my baby shower over the weekend.  They currently have a table, 6 chairs, a coffee table and a table that goes up against the wall.  I haven't been upstairs in the condo in over a week, so I'm not sure if they've gotten anything for up there.

My work threw me my first baby shower on Thursday.  It was amazing.  I have the best co-workers.  The cake was delicious, and I got LOTS of adorable outfits for the girls, as well as some much needed other things.  While I am looking forward to being off work for a while, I will miss being there on a weekly basis and seeing everyone.

My aunt and uncle from Pennsylvania made a surprise trip to Sacramento this week as well.  They have been on a 5 month RV trip across the US.  They had been planning to meet up with us in Redding next week for my shower up there, but they were in CA a little early.  Since everyone was in Sacramento, they met us here too.  We all (me, Jeff, my parents, his parents, and my aunt and uncle) went out for dinner together on Thursday to Old Town Sacramento.  What fun!  We played a little game for the parents to all guess the girls' names, which we finally decided to tell them since we were all together.  Based on their reactions, I am not sure how crazy they are about the names, but I'm sure they will grow on them.

Anyway, I also had my Sacramento baby shower this weekend, but that is technically part of Week 28, so I'll post that next time.  I am getting SO excited for these girls to get here.

DATA:

How far along? 27 weeks

Babies are the size of an: who knows!!

Maternity clothes? Still rockin’ my skirts this week.

Have you told family and friends? Yes.

Stretch marks? Not from the pregnancy  ;)

Symptoms: Minor headaches, rib soreness and major belly discomfort.

Sleep: Sleep? What’s sleep?  Every time I roll over, I have to get up to pee.

Best moment this week:  Having my parents here again this week and my shower at work.

Miss Anything?  Not being in pain

Number of times I get up to pee each night: I topped out this week at about 10.

Movement: TONS of movement.  I love it!

Food cravings: Drumsticks (the ice cream)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells still bother me, but not as much.

Have you started to show yet: Yup.  I feel huge.

Gender: Both GIRLS!!!

Labor Signs: Not this week.

Belly Button in or out? It’s starting to stick out!

Mood: Blah

Looking forward to: This pregnancy being over.

Weight Gain: 20 pounds.