Monday, December 29, 2008

An update from Jana

December 28, 2008

We just couldn't escape it...


Joe (our 6 year old) has been sick since the day the twins were born. We have had him staying at his grandparents' house to avoid the twins getting sick, he would wear a mask and wash his hands excessively or just plain have to stay away from them. We did everything we could to avoid these babies getting sick, including ostracizing my mother from seeing them until she was well, and potentially making our 6 year old feel like we was less important than the new babies who have been sucking all the attention.

I started feeling a bit sick on the 26th, and so I too, was trying to stay away from them and not kiss them (as hard as that is!) as much as possible. Lily started to show signs that she may be getting sick on the 27th. We watched her and sure enough, she is now sick. We took her to the doctor, and the doctor advised that it could be the beginnings of RSV (baby bronchitis - they hospitalize infants for this), or possibly just a cold. We are hoping for the latter, and are taking care of her as best as we can. We monitor her breathing often and give her saline drops in her nose, then attack her (poor thing) with the bulb suctioner. She is so good about it, and I just feel terrible doing these things to my tiny little girl. But, I will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep her out of the hospital - I did it during my pregnancy ( to avoid them being premature), I can do it again.
Stephen is still healthy for now, just dealing with a clogged tear duct (very common for newborns). I feel that Lily and I have the same junk - lots of mucus in my throat and nose that doesn't want to budge! She does vomit occasionally after nursing (her whole meal comes up), and I feel so horrible for her - but am glad she is getting rid of the mucus. Hopefully soon we will see an improvement in her, and can take a sigh of relief. For now, we don't sleep much and are constantly terrified she will choke or gag while we nod off... we have contemplated getting an oxygen monitor that will ring when she pauses in her breathing or when her oxygen saturation is too low. Yes, we are paranoid - but this is our little girl we're talking about! We would do the same for Stephen, and are vigilantly trying to keep him from getting sick as well.
We didn't have any of these worries with our 6 year old - we simply enjoyed him. But then again, we didn't have a 6 year old around when he was born - we were germ-incubator free when he was a newborn! We'll make it through, I just am beginning to think it's going to be a very long road the first year - even though I am breastfeeding, I just can't possibly protect them from it all!
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We had a nice visit with Brian and Jana Fischer in their home, both babies are doing quite well, mom and dad are busy as expected but enjoying their new additions.

Here are a few images from our visit........................

(P.S. Jana looks fantastic............... only weeks after delivering twins........... you would never know she was even pregnant.)
















Thursday, December 11, 2008

Lily & Stephen Fischer Born today 12.12.08 both were 6.3 lbs Lily is 19 inches and Stephen 18.5 inches Mom and babies are doing well.

December 11, 2008

D-Day

I was scheduled for an induction at 8 am December 11, 2008. My doctor was suprised that I made it to 37 weeks, because typically twins will come before 37 weeks, but he didn't want me to go much longer past 37 weeks for fear that the twins may get too big and crush eachother's umbilical cords. I was thankful to have the scheduled induction as I had been having contractions every 8-10 mins for a few days, some were so intense they were waking me from my slumber - not painful, just strong enough to take my breath away.
The night before we spent at home relaxing and enjoying our last night as a family of three. We had a calm dinner (as I couldn't eat anything past midnight) and watched some TV before going to bed. I didn't sleep well due to contractions, and couldn't go back to sleep after 4:30 am because of nerves. We got up at 7 am to get to the hospital by 8 am. We had to drop our 6 year old off at a family member's house so he could get to school @ 9 am, and then we were off to the hospital. It was 7:45 am and my cell phone was ringing - I thought it was a friend of mine calling excited, but it was the hospital - Labor and Delivery. They were calling to tell us not to come in yet because they were too busy for us. They said they'd call us when they were ready for us. Bummer. I was soooo ready to get the show on the road!
Three hours went by and still no news. I tried to take a nap, but the contractions kept that from happening. Brian was putting together some of the last few things we still needed to build - a bouncy seat and the stroller for when they are older. He was really just trying to pass the time - I think he was anxious and not used to having a day off. We finally called the hospital around 12:30 pm and they said I could come in! YAY!
We arrrived at the hospital around 1 pm, got checked in and settled in our tiny labor room. My doctor and I had discussed our plan for induction as I wanted as natural as possible - and he broke my water (Lily's only) at 3:45 pm. I labored for 4 hours or so, and then they started the pitocin because I didn't want to be in labor for days! With a few mishaps and intense moments, Lily was born @ 0323 hrs (not by cesarean) and Stephen was born @ 0327 hrs (also not by cesarean) on December 12, 2008. Stephen was delivered breech - he kept flipping back and forth in utero, and was literally pulled out by the doctor. He had his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and had a few other issues when he was born, but both were healthy and screaming in the delivery room. I was exhausted from the birth as my anesthesia had completely worn off by the time I was delivering them - I felt everything, and am so thankful that I am not going to have to go through that again! I was able to escape the preclampsya that I had with Joe with these babies, and felt great a few hours after they were born.
It was honestly surreal that I had just had TWO babies. I heard them both crying in the delivery room, and just kept looking at my husband thinking, "holy crap! We just had TWO babies! Really?" I still was in disbelief a bit that I really was having TWO babies. They had two distinct cries, and from the momet they were born, I knew Stephen was going to be more clingy than Lily, as he would only stop screaming if he heard or felt someone touching him. Lily was and is still very laid back and just goes with the flow. Stephen is a little more tempermental, but still overall a very laid back and calm baby. They both have bright blue eyes and are very inquisitive, love to look at contrasting things when they are awake.

We are extremely blessed to have such beautiful, healthy babies who are content and growing perfectly. I am breastfeeding exclusively, and it is so gratifying that they are doing so well. I hope to continue to nurse them both until they are atleast a year old and possibly a little longer, we will see.





































Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Emergency room visit - All is OK!

Second ER visit... only this time, Labor & Delivery


November 2, 2008

First I would like to say that I am really trying hard to place myself on bedrest in some sort of way, and not push my body too far. I had some busy days towards the end of last week, so I spent all of Saturday and most of Sunday in bed drinking water like mad (to get rid of the swelling) and just relaxing. At around 4pm I got up to go to Michael's for some treasures to decorate the babies' room with, and then to dinner with my in-laws. Then straight from there I went back to my bed.

At around 5pm or so, I started having spasms in my upper back that were REALLY uncomfortable. I figured I must have tweaked my back getting out of bed or a car or something (I am not the most graceful being right now), but it just would not stop hurting! I tried to crack my back to relieve the pressure and spasm, but to no avail. Then I rubbed, and tried to stretch as best I could, and finally a heating pad (thanks to my mom in law running around town to get it for me). The heating pad finally offered some relief and I was starting to feel more comfortable.

Then, at 9pm I started noticing that I was having contractions pretty regularly. I started to watch the clock to see how far apart they were and they were around 7-10 mins apart. I watched the clock for over an hour and they just kept on coming. They were not painful at all, my tummy would just get hard and then relax - like Braxton Hicks, only frequent. Not knowing that Braxton Hicks contractions can behave that way, I decided I should go into Labor and Delivery just to make sure all was okay, and I figured the earlier the better if it was real preterm labor, they could stop it much easier if it was the beginning.

I waited for my husband to get home from work around 10:45pm, then off I went to the hospital. The whole time I was trying to remain relaxed and not think about them so that I wouldn't bring on more contractions. I arrived at the hospital around 11pm, and checked in. They got me all hooked up - it took some time, these babies are crazy active and don't like restrictions on THEIR belly! They kept moving around making it difficult to track their heartbeats, and they didn't like the one that was monitoring my contractions! I watched the monitor as my contractions would hit and just tried to relax as best I could. The doctor finally came in to ask my history, then he left to go check on some other patients.

A wonderful nurse came back with a bag of IV fluids (not my favorite thing in the world), and a shot. She told me she was going to give me a shot of Tributaline (sp?) to stop my contractions. She administered the shot in my left bicep, told me that it may make me a bit jittery - like I had had 3-4 cups of coffee, and she left again. A few moments later, she returned with the doctor. That's when he gave me all the news - good and bad. He said that my contractions were now 4-6 mins apart (not good), and that hopefully the shot would stop them. They also had plans to perform a fetal fibronectin (sp?), which is a test to see if I am producing a particular chemical that indicates that I am in preterm labor. If that test came back positive, he said that they would be giving me shots to mature the babies' lungs and then they would go from there, all the while attempting to stop my labor as best they could.

At this point, I was shaking all over - not just jittery, but shaking like I had Parkinson's. I literally could not control the shaking, and even my head was shaking when I lifted it off the bed. I was freaking out hearing the words "mature their lungs" and "try to stop"... I just am simply not ready for them to come! I was by myself as my hubby was at home with our 6 year old, but I was still trying as best as I could to not cry sitting there by myself. They performed the fibronectin test, and the doctor checked to see if I was dilated at all. I wasn't dilated at all (good news), but I would have to wait an hour or so to find out the results of the fibronectin test, and to see if the tributaline would in fact stop my contractions.

The nurse then put in the IV and in went all the fluids (my favorite thing); I do have to say, the nurse did a phenomenal job putting the IV in - didn't hurt too bad, and I have no bruise (unbelievable for me)! I laid there shaking, and waiting just watching the clock on the wall in front of me. The contractions seemed to be slowing down, but it was hard to tell because I was shaking so horribly. After about an hour, the shaking slowed down quite a bit, but I still felt very strange. It did stop my contractions which was a good thing, but made the babies a little crazy - they were kicking and moving all over the place!

Finally, the doctor came back and told me the fibronectin test was negative, WOO-HOO! So no meds to mature their lungs, and I got to go home! :) I was still a little stiff from all the shaking so walking was a bit difficult, but I made it to my car and home. I was still having Braxton Hicks, but only occassionally. I got home and went to bed, and have been in it ever since! My doctor just wants me to stay off my feet as much as possible and drink plenty of water. Hopefully no hospital bedrest will come my way as long as I can be diligent about it at home!

I worry that this pregnancy has gotten to be too much for my little body... not sure I was designed to carry two, but I am doing my best! I just hope that my body can hang on a few more weeks so that we can take our son and daughter home from the hospital without complication! I will be praying! :)
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Thursday, October 23, 2008

October 2008 Update - Still Growing....


We saw the doctor again today, the babies are doing well and getting big - my blood pressure is still fine (whew!), and they are BOTH head down! Yipee! I am hoping they will stay that way so that we can continue with our birth plan of no c-section! I am more anemic than I have been, so I have had to double the iron that I take to hopefully prepare my body in case I have a c-section, I will need the blood! My belly now measures full term for a singleton baby, and still growing!
I have had a lot more braxton hicks contractions the last few weeks, but my doctor checked - and no change for my cervix, so we're not in danger of preterm labor, at least for now! :) It's just my uterus practicing for what is to come - which is great, cuz practice makes perfect! ;)
I have followed my doctor's orders for weight gain, and am now steadily gaining a pound a week - which is normal for the last trimester! I'm up 40 pounds now, but all baby! We should know the updated size of the babies sometime in mid November (I'll have another growth ultrasound), and will begin what are called Non-Stress Tests (or NST's) twice a week in mid November as well. The NST's are to make sure the babies are still happy inside, and reactive to stimulus and active in utero. I am not so happy about the 2x a week thing, but whatever is best for the babies! Just lots more trips to the hospital for me! :(

I did make a deal with my doctor - that he not let me go past 38 weeks, and he agreed but said it usually happens before hand... so we'll see! I'm glad though, that he agreed to not let me go past 38 weeks... I might just have two 7 lb babies! Not so bad for them, but oh man my poor belly! lol

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Jana is simply Amazing!

October 13, 2008


Today Brian and I have been married a year! What a year it has been! We are now just weeks (maybe 8) away from meeting our twin babies, planning our almost 6 year old's birthday party for this weekend, and getting our house ready for the cooler months. I am so huge now (or I feel that way atleast), it is exceedingly difficult to get things done around the house that I used to have no problem getting done! I have to spread my chores out over the week because I just get too sore if I try to do them all in one day! I have a great maternity belt that does wonders if I need to walk a lot during the day, it helps hold the babies up! I am feeling great, just starting to get a little more tired than usual as I'm in my last trimester (this is normal for the last trimester), and at times I feel like my tummy skin will be ripped in half if I keep standing! The babies are doing well, on October 2nd I had a routine growth ultrasound and our boy measured 2 lbs 12 oz, our little girl measured 2 lbs 8 oz. She is a bit smaller, but just as healthy - it's normal that she is smaller simply because she is a girl!

We are really trying to get the nursery done in the next few weeks, just in case these babies come early. We have almost all we need, minus a stroller for both of them, the bassinet for our bedroom and some bottles (in case we need to reluctantly supplement with formula). Other than that, I am stocking up on diapers to ease the shock of the funds we'll need just for diapers! We created a budget, and had to add what we used to spend on gas in money for diapers alone! Let's hope these babies pee and poo less than the average, otherwise we're looking at atleast 25 diaper changes a day! :) But, they are going to be breastfed so that's definitely a strike against us!

The largest struggle I face these days is breathing. When sleeping at night, I often wake up out of breath or struggling to breathe simply because the babies are laying on my lungs! I'm sure they love me, but they are very particular with my body parts! They invade my lungs if they need room, and get very unhappy and move in strange ways when my bladder is to full, or my tummy is too full! They are ornery at times, making it difficult for me to walk just because of their positions! They are constantly moving now, and I get heels in my rib cage (on both sides), and elbows in my pelvis... quite fun! I am currently 28 weeks, but my belly is measuring 36 weeks (in comparison to a singleton baby) so I feel all the wonders of getting ready to have a baby in the last weeks, about 2 months early! I think I'll resemble a torpedo by the end! :

Thursday, July 17, 2008

August 1, 2008

The Big News is here,,, as I was hoping for Jana and Brian are expecting one boy and one girl! Sounds like everyone got what they wished for.





August 1st, 2008 is hopefully a big day for Brian and Jana, they have an appointment scheduled that involves a sonogram that will provide us all with a sneak peak into the gender of their babies. That is of course if they cooperate! Stayed Tuned....! I am hoping for one of each!

Camera's will be there!

see you next week.....