Everyone is doing great! Both girls are nursing well and growing stronger by the day. I am trying to breast feed solely and supplement with formula only at one feeding during the night. Mommy does need some sleep. It is rare but I like to try for at least one four hour stretch. Theories are great reality is another thing. It is no lie breastfeeding is a commitment and takes A LOT of time and patience. Especially with twins. It is super important for me to give them all the goods things breastfeeding provides. I only hope I can keep it up when I go back to work which will be after the first of the year. I am going to do a few days in December just to let everyone transition most of all me. I am trying to minimize my withdrawl. In the meantime I pump and store extra so that we have a back up on hand. Travis has been back to work since the girls were only 5 days old so for the most part I have been on my own during the week. My mom comes out for a day or two during the week and Travis's sister Darci and mom have helped out during the weekend. Thank god for people who remember what is was like to be sleep deprived and are willing to give you a few hours during the night to get some rest. I can't thank you guys enough.
Yesterday was a day of firsts for the girls and daddy. The girls and I went to church with my mom. I was really looking forward to being able to give praise for our little miracles and show all the people who had prayed for these blessings their cute little faces. Our senior pastor was at another church but we introduced them to Jill and Steven. It was a day full of joyful tears as all of our prayers were right there for everyone's eyes to see how great God can be. I never thought this day would come. It causes you to reflect deeply about how awesome the power of prayer and God can be! It also makes you think about all the treatments, failed attempts, heartache, tears and deep despair that was our life for six years. Not gonna lie when Kailey is on her third hour of crying at 1 in the morning I have to remind myself of this. (She's been a little cranky the past couple nights.) We got home and I needed a nap so I left daddy on his own for a couple hours. When I woke up and came down stairs I got the full report. Kailey spit up on him he had changed 5 poppy diapers and they would only take an ounce of the pumped breast milk. I didn't mean to laugh but I did. He looked so exhausted and flustered and I couldn't help but say welcome to my world. Until yesterday he had always had my or someone else's help.
The girls personalities and looks have changed a bit. Mckenna has now become the more patient one while Kailey has found her lungs and knows how to use them! Mckenna still has a round face and delicate features while Kailey is more like her dad long and lanky. You should see the legs on this girl. I called her baby long legs while I was carrying her and she was always kicking my ribs now I know why. She has some long legs just like daddy. Both girls have daddy's cute dimples. They are smiling a little bit and trying to hold their heads up. It's amazing how quickly they change.
We will be hosting Thanskgiving at our house this year and there is plenty to be thankful for. What a difference a year can make.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
We have arrived
Sorry for not posting sooner and I apologize in advance for the short post. I am more busy than ever this first week! Last Friday October 19th all our dreams came true. Mckenna and Kailey arrived safe and sound at 2:09 and 2:10. Mckenna was 6lbs 2oz and Kailey was 5lbs 13oz I had been at the doctor on Wed and no contractions or signs of labor but my feet and legs were so swollen I thought they would pop. My urine was not showing any protein in it but the doctor drew blood just to see if any of the other factors would show up for preclampsia. Nothing was sky high a few of the markers were slightly elevated so they wanted me to do a 24 hour urine and come back on Friday for ultrasound and stress test.
When I got to the appointment my morning urine had protein in it. I have to say I was more than ready to meet my girls I was so uncomfortable and miserable words can't even describe. I had gained 60 lbs 10 of which was just in the last week of my pregnancy from all the swelling. Dr. Holden came in and said well you ready to have a birthday today? She confirmed I still wanted to have a c section since both girls were head down. No doubt in my mind I wanted the c section. Dr. Hubbell was the doctor on call and would be the one doing my section at roughly 1 o'clock. I have a long history with Dr. Hubbell from miscarriages to him monitoring this pregnancy. I was so thankful he would be the one bringing our miracles into the world. He is such a patient man and nothing really rattles him. I was so excited that this day had finally come but I was so scared about the epidural and worried that something still could go wrong at delivery. I called Travis and my mom and headed over to Lake Forest Women's center.
Normal monitoring and paper work ensued. I had requested Dr. Dee to be my anesthesiologist he was in a meeting off site but my nurse said she would call him and see if he would be willing to come over and do my section. He said he would be there after his meeting. I can't believe how accommodating and wonderful the staff at Lake Forest was. The head of anesthesia actually would come in and do my case that's amazing. By this time everyone had arrived. My mom, dad and niece and Travis's mom. Travis's sister Darci lives 3 hours away and was at work and was chomping at the bit to be there but she couldn't get out of work but the great aunt that she is she hopped in the car as soon as she got off work and headed down to meet her nieces.
At around 2 o'clock we headed into the operating room. My mom was able to come in because she works as a scrub tech at the hospital in the maternity ward. Dr. Dee did my epidural and believe it or not it didn't even hurt my IV in my arm hurt worst than that but what a weird feeling to be numb from the legs down. After I was all prepped they brought Travis in. He was right by me the whole time holding my hand and rubbing my head. I was worried he wouldn't be able to handle it in the OR but he did great. Dr. Hubbell walked in and before he started working said Oh my God Brooke how are you even walking. We all laughed. Everyone in the OR was relaxed and chatting. It made me feel very much at ease. At 2:09 I heard the most wonderful sound little Ms. Mckenna graced the world with her first cry. I couldn't see her right away they did the routine stuff but I heard her and knew she was okay. 1 minute later Kailey came out wailing. She made her presence known right away. After everyone was confirmed healthy they brought them over and out them right by my face I kissed there little foreheads and thanked god for the miracles he had given us. Off to recovery for the girls and Travis while they finished stitching me up. Everyone in the OR had known our story and prayed for us and the girls. So it was great that they could see God's work at it's finest. I joked that it wasn't fair I did all this work and Travis gets to hold the girls first where's the fairness in that!
I finally went to recovery and held and breastfeed my girls as soon as we could. They were doing great but my blood pressure was very high. So they were doing everything they could to get it down. It did finally come down and they moved us to our room room 1211. Everyone came in to meet the girls but only for a brief moment because my blood pressure was going up again and I was experiencing some swelling at the incision site so they wanted me to rest. The girls were doing a great job breastfeeding and I was supplementing with formula after every feeding to make sure they didn't lose to much weight. That night I sent them to the nursery so Travis and I could get some sleep and rest up for the big days ahead I needed my strength and some sleep I was exhausted.
Saturday morning the pediatrician came to check the girls out. Both girls were a little jaundice very normal they would monitor that but Kailey had a little heart murmer also very common. They wanted to watch that and would check it the next day. On Monday she got an EKG and we were told that it should close by the time she is one but it will require monitoring.
Travis is a great dad! He did not have much experience with infants so he was a little worried about how he would do. It came very natural to him. He jumped right in changing diapers and cuddling and consouling all his girls including mommy. He went home on Sunday and got the house in order while my family visited.
I am doing amazingly well for having major surgery. I stopped taking pain meds on Tuesday but the best thing I did for the first few days was to take them every 4 hours so my pain never became crippling and I was able to care for the girls. Breastfeeding is going great as well. Both girls latch very well but they do eat every two hours they are hungry little girls. Mckenna makes sure she gets more than her fair share! She is a little piggy and much more vocal than her sister. Kailey is my patient girl. It's only been a week but their personalities are very distinct. I love being a mom and Travis keeps telling the girls how much he loves them.
Thank you to my support team during this past week My mom, Darci and Grandma Reuss and of course my loving husband Travis. I love you all so much and am so thankful to have you all in our lives.
I
When I got to the appointment my morning urine had protein in it. I have to say I was more than ready to meet my girls I was so uncomfortable and miserable words can't even describe. I had gained 60 lbs 10 of which was just in the last week of my pregnancy from all the swelling. Dr. Holden came in and said well you ready to have a birthday today? She confirmed I still wanted to have a c section since both girls were head down. No doubt in my mind I wanted the c section. Dr. Hubbell was the doctor on call and would be the one doing my section at roughly 1 o'clock. I have a long history with Dr. Hubbell from miscarriages to him monitoring this pregnancy. I was so thankful he would be the one bringing our miracles into the world. He is such a patient man and nothing really rattles him. I was so excited that this day had finally come but I was so scared about the epidural and worried that something still could go wrong at delivery. I called Travis and my mom and headed over to Lake Forest Women's center.
Normal monitoring and paper work ensued. I had requested Dr. Dee to be my anesthesiologist he was in a meeting off site but my nurse said she would call him and see if he would be willing to come over and do my section. He said he would be there after his meeting. I can't believe how accommodating and wonderful the staff at Lake Forest was. The head of anesthesia actually would come in and do my case that's amazing. By this time everyone had arrived. My mom, dad and niece and Travis's mom. Travis's sister Darci lives 3 hours away and was at work and was chomping at the bit to be there but she couldn't get out of work but the great aunt that she is she hopped in the car as soon as she got off work and headed down to meet her nieces.
At around 2 o'clock we headed into the operating room. My mom was able to come in because she works as a scrub tech at the hospital in the maternity ward. Dr. Dee did my epidural and believe it or not it didn't even hurt my IV in my arm hurt worst than that but what a weird feeling to be numb from the legs down. After I was all prepped they brought Travis in. He was right by me the whole time holding my hand and rubbing my head. I was worried he wouldn't be able to handle it in the OR but he did great. Dr. Hubbell walked in and before he started working said Oh my God Brooke how are you even walking. We all laughed. Everyone in the OR was relaxed and chatting. It made me feel very much at ease. At 2:09 I heard the most wonderful sound little Ms. Mckenna graced the world with her first cry. I couldn't see her right away they did the routine stuff but I heard her and knew she was okay. 1 minute later Kailey came out wailing. She made her presence known right away. After everyone was confirmed healthy they brought them over and out them right by my face I kissed there little foreheads and thanked god for the miracles he had given us. Off to recovery for the girls and Travis while they finished stitching me up. Everyone in the OR had known our story and prayed for us and the girls. So it was great that they could see God's work at it's finest. I joked that it wasn't fair I did all this work and Travis gets to hold the girls first where's the fairness in that!
I finally went to recovery and held and breastfeed my girls as soon as we could. They were doing great but my blood pressure was very high. So they were doing everything they could to get it down. It did finally come down and they moved us to our room room 1211. Everyone came in to meet the girls but only for a brief moment because my blood pressure was going up again and I was experiencing some swelling at the incision site so they wanted me to rest. The girls were doing a great job breastfeeding and I was supplementing with formula after every feeding to make sure they didn't lose to much weight. That night I sent them to the nursery so Travis and I could get some sleep and rest up for the big days ahead I needed my strength and some sleep I was exhausted.
Saturday morning the pediatrician came to check the girls out. Both girls were a little jaundice very normal they would monitor that but Kailey had a little heart murmer also very common. They wanted to watch that and would check it the next day. On Monday she got an EKG and we were told that it should close by the time she is one but it will require monitoring.
Travis is a great dad! He did not have much experience with infants so he was a little worried about how he would do. It came very natural to him. He jumped right in changing diapers and cuddling and consouling all his girls including mommy. He went home on Sunday and got the house in order while my family visited.
I am doing amazingly well for having major surgery. I stopped taking pain meds on Tuesday but the best thing I did for the first few days was to take them every 4 hours so my pain never became crippling and I was able to care for the girls. Breastfeeding is going great as well. Both girls latch very well but they do eat every two hours they are hungry little girls. Mckenna makes sure she gets more than her fair share! She is a little piggy and much more vocal than her sister. Kailey is my patient girl. It's only been a week but their personalities are very distinct. I love being a mom and Travis keeps telling the girls how much he loves them.
Thank you to my support team during this past week My mom, Darci and Grandma Reuss and of course my loving husband Travis. I love you all so much and am so thankful to have you all in our lives.
I
Monday, October 15, 2012
Energizer Buny
Were like the energizer bunny without the energy still going! I am going to be 37 weeks tomorrow and still pregnant. I can't believe it. I lost my mucous plug last Tuesday so I called the doctor nothing to be alarmed about it could be one day or it could be 2 weeks they said plus I had an appointment the next day anyways. They hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor everything looked good still not a lot of contractions. When Dr. did my internal though she said I was 1 cm dialated and 80-90% effaced. I thought for sure we were going to meet our little angels last weekend. No such luck. I even did acupuncture twice to get things moving no luck. My girls seem to be very content in their little oven. I on the other hand now not only have swollen ankles but have grown tree stumps for legs from the knee down. My skin is so tight it is actually splitting and getting sores. I am off to the doctor tomorrow for another check I will keep you posted! Hopefully we can meet our girls soon!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
35 weeks and still going
I am HUGE!!! Last week I went for ultrasound both girls weigh 4.7 lbs and mom weighs 172. They are doing great. I am on weekly monitoring with my doctor at this point. The doctor says twins usually come between 34 and 36 weeks. I don't think our girls have any plans of coming anytime soon. My cervix has started to soften and I am still experiencing some contractions. Other than that we are doing great. I am still working I have cut back my work week by just 4 hours so I am still going strong. Although walking and normal activity is getting harder and harder everyday. My right ankle is really swollen now almost to the point that I can't get a shoe on. I go back to the doctor tommorow so we will see if there is any progress. I have opted to have a c section no matter what. There are just to many things that can go wrong during a natural birth with twins. I don't need any emergency situations arising. If I don't go into labor by Oct 25th we have a c section scheduled. At that point I would be 38.5 weeks. 21 days and yes I am counting. I am ready to meet our girls!
It still doesn't seem real that we are going to be parents let alone parents of twins. Fun Fun. We did get to have a first hand view of how things go this past weekend. Birdies for Babies golf outing was this weekend and I sat with Katie and her girls for a couple hours while we waited for the golfers to come in. Her girls are beautiful but oh man can you see what we are in for. It's going to be a lot of work but we are ready! Come out and play Kailey and Mckenna!
It still doesn't seem real that we are going to be parents let alone parents of twins. Fun Fun. We did get to have a first hand view of how things go this past weekend. Birdies for Babies golf outing was this weekend and I sat with Katie and her girls for a couple hours while we waited for the golfers to come in. Her girls are beautiful but oh man can you see what we are in for. It's going to be a lot of work but we are ready! Come out and play Kailey and Mckenna!
Monday, September 3, 2012
30 weeks and scared
I went to my Ob on August 24th and had an ultrasound. Everything checked out great! Mckenna weighed 3 lbs and Kailey weighed 3lbs 4 oz. I weighed 160! My cervix was closed and no signs of early labor. Overall a very good check up for all the ladies. Everything is getting a little harder to do and again less energy for me to do it with.
Thursday brought a whole new set of circumstances. When I first got to work I noticed a little spot of blood. I didn't get to alarmed but then about 10 minutes later I went to the bathroom again and there was a little more blood. Leaving nothing to chance I called my doctors emergency number. I wasn't having any cramping and felt fine so they said I could come to the office in the afternoon. I saw my patients and really wasn't all that nervous. I just figured with all the girls movement they stretched something to far or kicked something they shouldn't have.
When I got to the doctors office they hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor. This machine measures the girls heartbeat as well as if I am having any contractions. Dr. O came in and said the girls were doing great but they wanted to monitor my contractions. After about 30 minutes she said I had one pretty big contraction with some other little ones. She wanted to admit me to the hospital overnight so they could watch us all. All of sudden things had gotten pretty serious. Dr. O was telling me that the girls were still to little and if they were coming we need to give me a steroid shot for their lungs but scarier yet if I delivered they would have to go to Evanston NICU. All my worst fears were starting to come true. I never wanted my girls in the NICU plus it was way to early for them to come I was only 30 weeks and 2 days. I tried to stay calm because the more I upset and stressed I got I figured the worse it was for the girls. I called Travis and let him know what was going on but told him not to come rushing over just yet. I wanted to get to hospital and see if things calmed down. At the doctors office they did a swab that can determine if you are secreting any enzymes that are produced before you go into labor. It takes a couple hours to get the results though. When I got to the hospital they hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor again and everyone had seemed to calm down. Contractions had slowed and were much less intense. After two hours Dr. Tart came in and said my swab came back negative and everything seemed to be normal for 30 weeks of pregnancy. If everything stayed that way I could go home after a couple more hours of monitoring. Everything turned out to be okay but it was an eye opener as to how quickly things can change. these things are all normal with a twin pregnancy. My body thinks I am a full term pregnancy so it wants to deliver. There is so much pressure and stretching it signals your body to go into labor.
From here on out I have been instructed to decrease my activity to basically going to work and coming home and on weekends resting as much as I can and no lifting not even a laundry basket!. I have had to cut down one of my work days to a half day. It's much better than complete bedrest or everyone making an early entrance. From here on out it is day by day and I go weekly for doctors appointments.
On the fun side of things I have had my work showers. Both were a surprise so it was so fun. My close friends and family shower is the Saturday. I am looking forward to it. The girls nursery is still not totally complete. I just decided on window treatments. I just want everything to be perfect for them. I have never had such trouble making decorating decisions. So for now we continue to pray and focus on the positive and everyday I remind the girls it's not time to come out and play yet. They have to grow a little bigger so they can come home with mommy and daddy.
Thursday brought a whole new set of circumstances. When I first got to work I noticed a little spot of blood. I didn't get to alarmed but then about 10 minutes later I went to the bathroom again and there was a little more blood. Leaving nothing to chance I called my doctors emergency number. I wasn't having any cramping and felt fine so they said I could come to the office in the afternoon. I saw my patients and really wasn't all that nervous. I just figured with all the girls movement they stretched something to far or kicked something they shouldn't have.
When I got to the doctors office they hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor. This machine measures the girls heartbeat as well as if I am having any contractions. Dr. O came in and said the girls were doing great but they wanted to monitor my contractions. After about 30 minutes she said I had one pretty big contraction with some other little ones. She wanted to admit me to the hospital overnight so they could watch us all. All of sudden things had gotten pretty serious. Dr. O was telling me that the girls were still to little and if they were coming we need to give me a steroid shot for their lungs but scarier yet if I delivered they would have to go to Evanston NICU. All my worst fears were starting to come true. I never wanted my girls in the NICU plus it was way to early for them to come I was only 30 weeks and 2 days. I tried to stay calm because the more I upset and stressed I got I figured the worse it was for the girls. I called Travis and let him know what was going on but told him not to come rushing over just yet. I wanted to get to hospital and see if things calmed down. At the doctors office they did a swab that can determine if you are secreting any enzymes that are produced before you go into labor. It takes a couple hours to get the results though. When I got to the hospital they hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor again and everyone had seemed to calm down. Contractions had slowed and were much less intense. After two hours Dr. Tart came in and said my swab came back negative and everything seemed to be normal for 30 weeks of pregnancy. If everything stayed that way I could go home after a couple more hours of monitoring. Everything turned out to be okay but it was an eye opener as to how quickly things can change. these things are all normal with a twin pregnancy. My body thinks I am a full term pregnancy so it wants to deliver. There is so much pressure and stretching it signals your body to go into labor.
From here on out I have been instructed to decrease my activity to basically going to work and coming home and on weekends resting as much as I can and no lifting not even a laundry basket!. I have had to cut down one of my work days to a half day. It's much better than complete bedrest or everyone making an early entrance. From here on out it is day by day and I go weekly for doctors appointments.
On the fun side of things I have had my work showers. Both were a surprise so it was so fun. My close friends and family shower is the Saturday. I am looking forward to it. The girls nursery is still not totally complete. I just decided on window treatments. I just want everything to be perfect for them. I have never had such trouble making decorating decisions. So for now we continue to pray and focus on the positive and everyday I remind the girls it's not time to come out and play yet. They have to grow a little bigger so they can come home with mommy and daddy.
Friday, August 3, 2012
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