Delivery

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.