1 month old

The girls turned one month on the 4th! Time is just flying.  I only have 5 weeks left of maternity leave.  We have settled into a pretty good routine and have adjusted to life with 3 kids.

- They both eat about 3 1/2 ounces every 3 hours.  At night they can go 4 hours in between feedings.
- They both enjoy baths now that they can "sit" in the water.
- They are staying awake for longer periods of time.
- They are starting to follow things better with their eyes. By the way, right now they both have very dark blue eyes.  I am hoping for some brown eyed girls!!!
- They both wear newborn diapers and newborn clothes.  They are filling them out more.  The girls don't look so little any more.  They are getting some "meat" on their bones!
- They had their one month check up on May 9th.  The doctor thought they looked great!  They are both able to ride in their car seats for longer periods of time.

Addison is 7 lbs 2oz. and 20 inches long.  She is the more vocal of the 2.  She requires a little more attention than her sister but still nothing like her brother.  She enjoys sitting on Jack's lap and normally falls asleep whenever she is there.  She grunts a lot.  She will take a pacifier but doesn't have to have it. 

Addie at one month

Morgan is 7 lbs 14 oz and 20 1/4 inches long.  She is very laid back and goes with the flow.  She enjoys laying on Mommy and Daddy's chest and falling asleep.  She loves her pacifier and is becoming a fan of the swing.

Morgan at one month

sisters

First trip to the zoo - May 4th

High 5 Sis

Morgan after a bath

Addie after a bath

Happy 3rd Birthday

Jack is 3.  I can't believe our first born is 3.  Where did the time go.  Here are some of his stats...

- 33 lbs and 39 inches tall
- goes to bed at 8:30 ish and sleeps till 7 or so.  This varies daily and depends on if he takes a nap or not.
- goes to bed better than he was.  Kevin can now come downstairs instead of having to be upstairs with him.  Jack is in his new room with his new bed now that the babies are here.
- very picky eater.  One day he loves something the next day he hates it.  Some of his favorites:  fruit, chicken nuggets, sausage, hotdogs, pasta, snack foods.  He still only drinks milk and water.  He likes to put lemon in his water.
- loves the outdoors.  He would rather be outside than any where else and he would spend all day outside if we would let him.
- loves the farm and all the equipment.  Jack loves to go to the farm with grandpa DeWeese.  He knows all about the equipment and what each piece is used for.  When he talks to grandpa on the phone he always has lots of questions for him about the farm.  Jack pretends our backyard is lots of different farms and he is constantly "transporting" things from one farm to the next.
- Every Saturday morning Jack and Daddy go to the donut store.  Jack has a drawer in the kitchen with his "donut money" in it.  Before they leave, he gets money out to pay for the donuts.  He also sings a song about going to the donut store every time.
- Jack is taking swimming lessons.  He loves the water.  He can jump in the pool and almost get above water without any help.  He can kick his feet and paddle his arms.
- Jack loves to go to the library and pick out books.  He gets to go once a week to get books and a movie to watch.
- He can spell his name, recognize the letters in his name, write his name and when the letters are all mixed up with other letters, he can find the letters of his name and put them in the correct order.
- He can identify a few other letters
- He can run fast, walk backwards and climb
- He is a great big brother and loves his sisters very much!

The First 3 Weeks

The girls are almost 3 weeks old...where has the time gone.  In that time, so much has happened!  The girls have been to the doctor twice for well visits.  Jack has turned 3!  All of our immediate family has been here to visit.  The girls have had their first bath, first walk, first trip  to the park and first visit to Goddard.

Their stats:

Morgan:

- 5 lbs. 10 1/2 oz
-  eats 75 cc  of breast milk every 3-4 hours
- sleeps most of the day
- typically is the faster eater, very rarely burps
- can pick her head up off of your shoulder when holding her
- seems to be a little more laid back

Addison:

- 5 lbs 1/2 oz
- eats 75 cc of breast milk every 3-4 hours
- sleeps most of the day
- typically is the slower eater
- can pick her head up off of your shoulder when holding her
- seems to be a little more feisty

laying in bed with big brother
 

first real outfit - wearing booties from aunt Margaret

Our happy family

Morgan and Addison after their first bath

It has been a great 3 weeks.  I can't believe how fast it is going.

Birth Story

After going to the doctor at 4pm on Wednesday, April 3rd, I got the go ahead to have a vaginal delivery on April 4th.  I was to arrive at the hospital at 8am for an induction.  This was it!  Baby time!

We went out to dinner for the last time as a family of 3 that night and prepared for their arrival.  I don't think Kevin or I slept more than a few hours that night because we were so excited, scared and nervous.

We dropped Jack off at school at 7am and headed to the hospital.  After arriving, we met our nurse, Kim.  I asked her if she was going to be there all day and she said till 7pm.  I told her I sure hope they come before she left.

She got me all hooked up.  I had two heart monitors on for the babies.  One monitor for observing contractions.  An IV for fluids. A blood pressure cuff and a heart monitor for me.  I could hardly move in fear of setting off an alarm.

After Kim checked me around 9am, she determined that I was already at 5cm and I could be stretched to a 7 so there was no need for medication, all the did was break baby a's water.  She thought that things would go quickly and told Kevin that if she said get dressed, he needed to put the scrubs on fast and follow her.  The resident doctor came in shortly after to break my water and then within minutes I got an epidural.  I never felt any contractions.  It was wonderful.  Aside from having to lay so still, I was never uncomfortable while in labor.

My doctor came down around 12:00 and I was at a 9.  She had me roll over onto my side and told me it wouldn't be much longer.  Shortly after 1pm, things started to go really fast.  They checked me again and I was fully dilated,  it was time to go to the OR.  (I had to deliver there incase something happened and I would need an emergency C-section.) 

We got to the OR around 1:15 and everyone started to set things up.  There were about 12 people in the OR.  Everyone had their jobs and everyone was flying around.  One of the nurses noticed that baby a's heart rate was dropping so Dr. Boyles quickly had to get her out.  She barely had her scrubs on when I started pushing.  I think it was about 10 pushes and a few minutes later and at 1:26pm Morgan Faith was born.  When she came out, she was as white as a ghost and lifeless.  It was really scary.  Kevin was not able to cut her cord as they wisked her over to the warmer and the NICU nurse started looking at her.  I was not able to see her as a machine was in the way but I could tell something was wrong.  They kept telling me she was breathing but very pale and they couldn't figure out why.

Morgan Faith

Meanwhile, I needed to get baby b out.  I got to relax for about half a second before it was time to start pushing again.  She was in the birth canal and ready to come.  When I began pushing, her bag of water broke and a TON of fluid came out.  I think I instantly lost 10 pounds by just how much water there was.  I pushed a few times and then Dr. Boyles asked for the vacuum. She attached it and within 2 pushes, Addison Grace was born at 1:41pm.  She came out crying and very red.  Kevin got to cut her cord and then she was taken to the warmer.  It hasn't officially been confirmed but they think Twin to Twin Transfusion was being to take place and Addison was starting to take over.  She was taking the blood from Morgan and that is why she was so red and Morgan was so pale.

Addison Grace

The NICU nurse kept monitoring Morgan and called the NICU to bring a bed down for her but as we waited for it, they decided to put her in the same bed as Addison and she then started to pink up a little.  By the time the bed got there, she was better and they decided she could come with us!  YEAH!  Both of my babies got to leave the OR with me!  We were so excited.

Addison and Morgan

As for me,  I only needed 3 small stitches, much less than with Jack.  The problem was, I kept passing lots of clots and they couldn't get those stopped.  The doctor was pushing and pushing on my stomach trying to get them to stop.  It hurt.  It hurt really bad but she had to do it.  Finally they gave me a shot in my leg and things started to get better.

A proud mommy and daddy

When we got back to my original room, I did skin to skin with both girls in hoping to get their color regulated.  It was helping but I was still bleeding a lot so they had to again push and push on my stomach.  I got even more medicine and finally, it worked.  The bleeding was under control.

Then it was time to weigh and measure the girls.  Morgan came in at 5 lbs 12 oz.  She was 17 and 3/4 inches long.  Addison was 5 lbs 1 oz and 17 inches long.  They are little peanuts but they are healthy.  I tried to breast feed but it was almost impossible to feed both at the same time.  After a few hours of being monitored for more blood clots, I was moved to the post partum room.  The girls went to the nursery for a while to be monitored and bathed. 

Addison Grace

Morgan Faith

It seemed like forever until they finally came back to my room, but once they did, everyone was vey excited to see them!  We were now a family of 5 and couldn't  be happier.  We stayed in the hospital until noon on Saturday.  They did not pass their car seat test but we just wanted them home, so we agreed we would go straight home and not take them any where longer then a few minutes away for the next month or so.

My recovery has been so much easier this time around.  I was up and around the first night.  I was more uncomfortable sitting in bed.  I took very little pain medicine.  My stomach hurt from them pushing on it so much, but other than that, I was in very little pain.

Our first week home has been great.  We are adjusting to our 2 little additions but we are so in love.  Big brother Jack is doing great.  He loves his sisters and wants to help as much as possible.  More on the first week in the next post.

The proud big brother!

Our happy family of 5!

36 weeks

I can't believe it but I am on my last week of being pregnant.  The babies will be here by Thursday or Friday this week.  I am going to the doctor on Wednesday afternoon and if the girls are both head down still, then I will be induced on Thursday morning.  If one of them has flipped, then I will have a C-section on Friday.  I am really hoping that I can be induced on Thursday.  I am really not looking forward to a C-section, but will do whatever is best for these little girls.

Here are some stats for 36 weeks:

- gained 35 lbs.
- only one pair of pants fits me
- only a few shirts still fit.
- I am very uncomfortable and just started being very itchy.  My whole body itches!  So spots or rash, just itchy!
- As of last week baby a was 5 lbs 15oz and baby b is 5 lbs 5 oz
- They both look like they have hair

Only a few more days and they will be here!

34 week update

I went to get a non stress test on Tuesday (34 weeks 2 days.)  The girls were moving like crazy and they were having a really hard time getting their heart rates because they wouldn't stay on the monitor.  This is a good and bad thing.  Good because they are very active.  Bad because I have to sit still for a long time until they can get what they need on the monitor.  Luckily the nurses are wonderful and they never seem frustrated and they take all the time in the world with me. 

Once I left there, I went upstairs to my doctor's office.  My doctor was on vacation so I saw her sister instead.  Normally I am in and out of the office within 20 minutes but not so much this time.  Dr. Beth got called for a delivery so I waited over an hour. I know this is a regular for a lot of doctor's offices but honestly I have never had to do that with this pregnancy and with Jack.  I am very lucky!!!! 

When I finally did see the doctor, I was really impressed with her.  She knew all about me and what has been going on this pregnancy.  She took all the time in the world with me, which I appreciated as well.  So she asked if I was still working and I told her 5-6 hours a day.   She was ok with that until she checked my cervix.  Well to my surprise, I am 3-4 cm dilated.  This is when she started to get serious.  She told me I was done working as of that minute!  She told me I am not on complete bed rest but I need to be relaxing the majority of the day and whenever possible I need to be on my left side.  She also gave me a prescription for Procardia which is supposed to slow down the process of labor.  She also told me that she would be very surprised if I made it to my C-section day of April 5th.  She thought the girls would be here within 7-10 days!  WOW!  That was a lot of info.  I wasn't quite prepared for all of that.  My mind immediately started racing and trying to figure everything out.

So I went to work yesterday for a few hours to tie up all the loose ends.  I put up my out of office message on my email and sent out a letter to parents letting them know that the time has come and I would keep them posted as to when the girls arrive.

Jack definitely had a hard time this morning going to school. He is so used to being the first kid in the school and helping me get all the classrooms ready.  He wasn't quite sure what to do when we got there at 8 this morning and there were kids and parents everywhere.  So he had a very hard drop off and so begins the change in our lives.  I know he will be ok but its hard to leave him when he is so upset.

So today is my first day on the couch.  It is really hard for me to sit still and not be doing anything but I know it is what is best for me and the girls.  Every day they are inside, is one last day they will spend in the NICU.  If I make it to at least 36 weeks, the chances of them going to the NICU at all are very slim.  One thing I am trying to do while on the couch is work on Jack's baby book.  I figured since 2 more babies are coming, I better get caught up on his before all the information gets all mixed up in my head!

I will keep you posted!  Hoping they stay in for a few more weeks!!!

34 weeks

Its hard to believe that I am 34 weeks pregnant.  Where did the time go?  In just 3 short weeks the girls will be here and we will be a family of 5.  I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  But most importantly, I am DONE being pregnant.  Everyone says I look great for being pregnant with twins and I know I am very lucky, but I am getting SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO uncomfortable and the smallest things are becoming so hard to do.  I just want to be able to bend over or stand up without it taking my breath away.

Here are some of my stats:

How far along:34 weeks as of 3/17
Weight gain:  33 lbs

I now go to the doctor 3 times a week.  Once to my regular doctor.  2 times a week to get a non stress test. And every other week I still go to the high risk doctor for an ultra sound.  I live at Riverside Hospital.  The receptionist knows me by name.  I have to say that through this all an how many different doctors and nurses I have had...I have been very happy and they have all been wonderful!

Baby A's profile at 31 weeks

Baby B's profile at 31 weeks

When I went to the high risk doctor last week, both babies were head down for the first time.  I was so excited because that meant that I did not have to have a C-section.  The next day, not even 24 hours later, when I went to the OB, baby b flipped and her head was up in my ribs!  Baby B is going to give us a run for our money.  I am interested to see what she is like tomorrow.  They are running out of room in there.  I can't imagine that she could flip again.  I am going to the doctor every week for the next 3 weeks and on Wednesday April 3rd, we will decide if I can have a vaginal delivery on April 4th or wait for a C-section on April 5th.

At my appointment last week, I also found out that baby A was 4 lbs 15 oz and baby B was 4 lbs 8 oz.  They are right on track.  No wonder I am uncomfortable, I have almost 10 lbs of baby in me;  I told my mom today, that I don't know how it is possible but I think my stomach has grown even more.  I only have a few shirts that actually fit.  Everything else is WAY too tight.

The nursery is ready to go.  Everything has been washed and put away.  The car seats are in the car.  The pack and plays are set up. Bottles have been sterilized.  Names have been officially decided on, but don't worry we still are not sharing!  Now all we need are 2 baby girls!

And a post wouldn't be complete without the "big brother."  This was taken at school a few weeks ago when we celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday.  He is still excited for his sisters.  I just hope he feels that way when they get here.