I had spent 2 weeks at Jill and Rob's house. I think Jill liked having another adult at the house while Rob was gone every other week. But on January 14, when I woke up, I could not feel baby B move. He was normally very wiggly, and I didn't want to be paranoid, but at the same time, I really felt like something was wrong.
The good news was, as soon as I stood up to go to the bathroom, I started leaking more fluid. I knew I needed to go back to the hospital. And it was just nice that I didn't have to be paranoid, but could just do what needed to be done. Jill drove me to the hospital, and I called Zach (who was at Edwards to fly) to drive back down to T.O.
I wasn't such a nervous wreck this time around. I knew everything was going to be ok. I knew that if they could get me 3 more weeks along, I could get further. Dr. Vangeem came in to tell me that this time around I would not be leaving until the babies were born. So to get nice and cozy. The next day, Sunday, January 15, I was doing good.
I had this weird thought that I could have the babies that day. And that if I did have the babies, they would be just fine. That everything was going to be ok.
But I was starting to bleed, really heavy actually. So the nurses kept in contact with Dr. VanGeem. He showed up at the hospital around 7pm and came in to tell me that it was a good idea to deliver the boys via c-section. They wanted to get the NICU team ready and have a good delivery team ready before it became an emergency situation. The NICU dr, Dr. Mah came in to meet us. He told us that with the boys being 27 weeks, that we should be aware of complications this early on. We were able to get another round of steroids to help with their lungs, but he did warn us that babies that early tend to have problems arise. Dr. VanGeem also warned us that the boys had a great chance of living, but their chances of health problems was greater.
We still felt ok and knew this was what needed to happen. So they got the OR ready, and we were able to call our families to let them know these boys were coming! Zach gave me a blessing before I went in.
They wheeled me into the OR about 8pm, gave me an epidural and let me get comfy. The anesthesiologist was great and even put a mirror over my head so I could watch the whole thing. Zach got in his cool suit and cap and came in with the camera.
The boys were born at 8:35pm and 8:36pm. Dr. VanGeem told me I might not hear them cry, but Declan came out first and gave a little squeal! It was the most amazing thing! And he was so small! They took him over to an incubator where Zach was able to cut his umbilical cord. Isaac was born, but immediately he was handed the other direction. At that point, I didn't know there were any issues with him. I just thought, one group had Declan and one group had Isaac. And while Zach was taking pictures, he mentioned he couldn't get any of Isaac. Me, not knowing the situation, told him to just ask if he could get closer. He was told to wait. But got plenty of pictures of Declan. They wheeled both boys together in an incubator to the NICU and I was back in my room before 9Pm. It was so quick!! I was opened and stitched back up in about 15 minutes. I was feeling pretty good too.
Before they wheeled me into my post-partum room, the nurse was nice enough to wheel me down to see my boys!!
I saw Declan first and he was so little!! He was 14.5inches long and 2.1lbs. Isaac was 15.5 inches long and weighed 2lbs. Declan was able to breath on his own, with just a nasal cannula, but Isaac had to be intubated. That is why he was given so much attention in the OR. He had come out blue, lacking oxygen, and I learned later that he was being resuscitated. That's a scary thing for a mom!
But my boys were so beautiful!! And Zach was obsessed. While I was stuck in my hospital bed, Zach spent most of his time in the NICU with our sweet boys! He was learning so much about their care, how the machines worked, and every little detail of the NICU. It really was sweet to watch Zach become this instant mega dad! He sure loves his boys!!
I didn't get to see the boys again until the next day. By that point, my mom, dad, and Jimmy's family had driven down to see us. The kids couldn't go into the NICU, but with Zach, he could take in the adults to see the boys. January 16, monday night, Zach and my dad gave the boys blessings. Unfortunately, I didn't get Declan's on video, but we do have a video of partial Isaac's blessing.
It's amazing how instantly your heart can love someone! And even two people equally. I love my boys so much and feel so grateful to be their mama.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Christmas!
So after a few weeks of bedrest, it was so nice knowing I did not have to go to work!!! Ahh!
We were all going to Vegas for the week between Christmas and New Years. Christmas was on a Sunday this year, and after speaking with Jill and Rob, they weren't heading to Vegas until after their Christmas morning at home. So we decided instead of staying home by ourselves for Christmas, we were going to go spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with them.
I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Karimi in Pasadena Thursday, December 22, So I had Jill bring the kids to us there to spend a couple days with us. We took them with us to Edwards to see planes and things. We even took them to a trampoline park so they could jump. We had a lot of fun. Then Friday, we drove down to Santa Clarita and met Jill and Rob at Cafe Rio. I jumped in the car with them so Zach could go back home for the night with Rockie.
Zach drove down Saturday morning. During the afternoon, we decided to take boogie boards and go off the PCH where the guys would take the kids and slide down a giant sand hill. They made it up one time...and came down one time... It was a lot of work!!! We hopped back in the car and went to some tide pools nearby. We found a baby star fish! Rob wasn't cool with us touching it in fear it was going to die. But walking back to the car, I started to feel a contraction, even though I didn't realize it at that point.
We went back to Jill's house and decided on Thai food for dinner. After we ate, and the kids went to bed, we stayed up and got the stockings filled and Christmas laid out. We stayed up talking and as I was sitting on the couch , again I could feel contractions. They were just minor cramps to me. After talking, we walked to bed about 10:30pm. As soon as I walked into our room, I felt a flush of fluid!! I freaked out!! I had no idea what was going on. I immediately went to the bathroom, and then screamed for Jill to come in. I was expecting blood, but it was so much clear fluid!! I was only 24 weeks along! It was way too early for my water to break!! I put on my shoes and had rob and Zach give me a blessing before we went to the hospital.
There really was so much fluid!! We got to the ER and they wheeled me up to labor and delivery. I was crying uncontrollably and extremely scared! The nurses got us into a room, and had me change into a gown. Then they set up the heart rate monitors. There was a lot of relief in hearing two little heart beats. So strong!! They asked if I was having contractions, but I didn't feel anything. I never could calm down!
They put us in a different room, a more permanent room, and eventually the Ob-Gyn on call came to see us. We had been told by so many nurses that if they were to be in our situation, this was the Dr they would want. So that was a relief. His name was Dr. VanGeem. He came in and told us the game plan. My water had in fact broke. At that point, we thought it was baby A's water. He told me they would have me on a bunch of medications and magnesium to keep me from going into labor. They also were going to give me steroid shots for the babies; to help their lungs develop quicker.
He told me that since the boys were only 24 weeks, there was a chance they might not survive and to consider sacrificing the weaker baby to save the stronger baby.
No way in hell! That was not even an option! And how does any parent make that choice? I did not feel good with that decision! As far as we could tell, from the heart monitors, they were both being strong. I was encouraged to get a good night sleep (somehow) and then in the morning I was going to have an ultrasound.
Christmas day!
The US tech didn't make it in until about 1pm. It was a long wait!! But when they did the ultrasound, both of their fluid levels were high. We learned that it was baby B (the higher one) whose water broke. And baby A was acting as a plug to keep them in. Both babies looked good.
At that point, I was supposed to stay in the hospital another 3 months, or as long as possible, before giving birth. So I was making good friends with the nurses and learning what was worth ordering for food.
We missed Christmas and New Year's in Vegas, but we did have the Russell's from Edwards come visit us. They brought me books and a ginger bread house to keep me occupied in the hospital for that long.
January 2, after I had been in the hospital a little over a week, Dr. VanGeem came in to tell me everything was looking good. The boys' fluid levels were looking great, and as long as I wasn't having contractions he would let me go home...but only to Jill's. Where I was in a close vicinity to Los Robles Hospital. He was not comfortable with me going to Edwards since we weren't sure of the NICU option at Antelope Valley Hospital. Jill and Rob agreed to let me stay with them.
I was supposed to be on bedrest, but i had a really hard time asking Jill...who was 9 months pregnant herself, help me with stuff. So even though I spent most of my time in bed, i still got up regularly to get food or something. And in the back of my head, I was really stressed about that...
We were all going to Vegas for the week between Christmas and New Years. Christmas was on a Sunday this year, and after speaking with Jill and Rob, they weren't heading to Vegas until after their Christmas morning at home. So we decided instead of staying home by ourselves for Christmas, we were going to go spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with them.
I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Karimi in Pasadena Thursday, December 22, So I had Jill bring the kids to us there to spend a couple days with us. We took them with us to Edwards to see planes and things. We even took them to a trampoline park so they could jump. We had a lot of fun. Then Friday, we drove down to Santa Clarita and met Jill and Rob at Cafe Rio. I jumped in the car with them so Zach could go back home for the night with Rockie.
Zach drove down Saturday morning. During the afternoon, we decided to take boogie boards and go off the PCH where the guys would take the kids and slide down a giant sand hill. They made it up one time...and came down one time... It was a lot of work!!! We hopped back in the car and went to some tide pools nearby. We found a baby star fish! Rob wasn't cool with us touching it in fear it was going to die. But walking back to the car, I started to feel a contraction, even though I didn't realize it at that point.
We went back to Jill's house and decided on Thai food for dinner. After we ate, and the kids went to bed, we stayed up and got the stockings filled and Christmas laid out. We stayed up talking and as I was sitting on the couch , again I could feel contractions. They were just minor cramps to me. After talking, we walked to bed about 10:30pm. As soon as I walked into our room, I felt a flush of fluid!! I freaked out!! I had no idea what was going on. I immediately went to the bathroom, and then screamed for Jill to come in. I was expecting blood, but it was so much clear fluid!! I was only 24 weeks along! It was way too early for my water to break!! I put on my shoes and had rob and Zach give me a blessing before we went to the hospital.
There really was so much fluid!! We got to the ER and they wheeled me up to labor and delivery. I was crying uncontrollably and extremely scared! The nurses got us into a room, and had me change into a gown. Then they set up the heart rate monitors. There was a lot of relief in hearing two little heart beats. So strong!! They asked if I was having contractions, but I didn't feel anything. I never could calm down!
They put us in a different room, a more permanent room, and eventually the Ob-Gyn on call came to see us. We had been told by so many nurses that if they were to be in our situation, this was the Dr they would want. So that was a relief. His name was Dr. VanGeem. He came in and told us the game plan. My water had in fact broke. At that point, we thought it was baby A's water. He told me they would have me on a bunch of medications and magnesium to keep me from going into labor. They also were going to give me steroid shots for the babies; to help their lungs develop quicker.
He told me that since the boys were only 24 weeks, there was a chance they might not survive and to consider sacrificing the weaker baby to save the stronger baby.
No way in hell! That was not even an option! And how does any parent make that choice? I did not feel good with that decision! As far as we could tell, from the heart monitors, they were both being strong. I was encouraged to get a good night sleep (somehow) and then in the morning I was going to have an ultrasound.
Christmas day!
The US tech didn't make it in until about 1pm. It was a long wait!! But when they did the ultrasound, both of their fluid levels were high. We learned that it was baby B (the higher one) whose water broke. And baby A was acting as a plug to keep them in. Both babies looked good.
At that point, I was supposed to stay in the hospital another 3 months, or as long as possible, before giving birth. So I was making good friends with the nurses and learning what was worth ordering for food.
We missed Christmas and New Year's in Vegas, but we did have the Russell's from Edwards come visit us. They brought me books and a ginger bread house to keep me occupied in the hospital for that long.
January 2, after I had been in the hospital a little over a week, Dr. VanGeem came in to tell me everything was looking good. The boys' fluid levels were looking great, and as long as I wasn't having contractions he would let me go home...but only to Jill's. Where I was in a close vicinity to Los Robles Hospital. He was not comfortable with me going to Edwards since we weren't sure of the NICU option at Antelope Valley Hospital. Jill and Rob agreed to let me stay with them.
I was supposed to be on bedrest, but i had a really hard time asking Jill...who was 9 months pregnant herself, help me with stuff. So even though I spent most of my time in bed, i still got up regularly to get food or something. And in the back of my head, I was really stressed about that...
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