Another New Chapter

It has been too long since I last posted. About 20 weeks to be approximate. So much has changed since the last post. Four days later I went back into the hospital for another non stress test. My blood pressure was up and protein was showing up in my system so they decided to keep me over night only to then decide that it was too risky to wait any longer. After breakfast the next  morning I was told that they would start prepping me for c-section surgery that afternoon. Then they moved it up a tad only to move it back a few hours due to a couple in labor moms coming in. Finally at 8 pm that night I was on my way into surgery. I got a spinal shot which numbed me from about the waist down. Like the shots they use for dental work only your legs instead of your mouth are numb. That was an odd feeling but I'm glad I didn't have to feel what they had to do. After all the prepping and cutting at 8:49 pm we heard MariaBella yelling on her way out to be followed by Stella at 8:50 pm. They were 17 1/2" 4lbs 8oz and 17" 4 lbs 6oz respectfully.

MariaBella and Stella

So at 35 weeks and 5 days we welcomed our little girls. However due to them being on the smaller side and not having much fat on their bones it was harder for them to keep their body temperature up. It didn't help that my room was much colder than the nursery so after an afternoon with me their temps were down and had to go in the warmers. Also Stella was breathing on the fast side so it was IVs for her for a few days. They ended up needing to be monitored and stayed in the incubators most of the time for several days. I wasn't released myself until the Wed following due to my blood pressure not coming down fast enough. I knew most of that was the stress of the girls not being perfect and wanting all of us home. The hospital however let me stay in my room so I could be by the girls all the time. So every three hours they got fed. MariaBella was doing well and was soon off of feeding tubes that were needed to make sure they got enough food. Especially since my milk wasn't coming in at first and they were tired all the time so it was hard for them to stay away to eat. By the time the weekend was near both girls were off the tubes, monitors and out of the incubators. On Sunday we were all able to go home and what a difference that made, they were eating better  by that evening. 2 days later when we went to the Dr for their first check up they were already weighing in at more than their hospital weight; which of course was less than their birth weight due to normal loss. However, since they were small at birth every oz counts so it was a big deal that MariaBella was only 4lb 2oz and Stella 3lbs 15oz when we left for home. 
Within 2 weeks both girls were improving greatly and nursing well, Stella was doing the best and the most interested. Every visit to the Dr is encouraging to see that she is happy with their continuing progress and steady climb up the growth chart. They were only hitting in the 5%-10% range but with them being small at birth due to being twins and early, she said they are still doing well. We shall see tomorrow how they have done the last 2 months when we go back in for check ups and more shots. 
The vaccines started 2 months ago and I was worried that they wouldn't handle the shots too well. Mostly thinking that Stella would have a hard time with them since she seems to be more like me and little things can quickly become big things. Both did well and now we face the shots again tomorrow. 

Stella

I know they are both close to 12 lbs now. Stella had to go 2 weeks ago to get meds to fight the Thrush she had in her mouth and she weighted 10lbs 13 oz, 22 3/4" then. I'm curious at home much they both have grown but especially Stella. Looking back over pictures from birth and the month after I can't get over how skinny and small they are. 
Now we round the corner on 20 weeks and I'm so happy to see them growing and it gives me an excuse to rotate their clothes as well as going shopping. Their legs are so long that they grow out of somethings before the rest of them does.
Its hard to believe that its been over a year since we first got pregnant and less than a year until their First birthday. Time does go by fast as they say even though it would seem that it shouldn't since I'm at home with the girls 98% of the time. I do get out on occasion to run errands or grocery shop or even on the rare occasion to hang with a friend, 
And to add to all this newness and excitement not only do we nurse both of them (not tandem any more) but we cloth diaper as well. That has made things interesting at times but I like that it is healthier and all around more natural for the girls.
People ask how we are getting along and what its like raising twins. To be honest I don't know what its like to only have one baby. I have nothing to compare it to. Oh, and I'm getting sleep, the girls started sleeping at lest 5 hours a night at 3 months old. Granted there are times that one or both wakes up early morning or in the night but most nights they sleep closer to 8 hrs or more. Now if only I could get my self back into the habit of to bed by 10 or 11 like when I was pregnant. The following is a picture of the two taken just 2 days ago. 

MariaBella (left) and Stella (right)

MariaBella

Sooner rather than Later?!

Our appointments with the doctor are once a week now and she wants us to go to the Birth Center at the hospital to be monitored twice a week. We found out last week after a test that I have a mild case of preeclampsia, thus the extra monitoring. Sunday when we were done with another session of the monitoring we talked with our doctor when told us that she thinks the girls will defiantly be born in less than 3 weeks. Which is before their due date. A piece of good news that she told us at our appt last week is that twins mature faster than singletons and when something such as the preeclampsia adds a little stress to them they take it as the green light to speed it up so they can be born sooner but still safe. Today we officially hit the 35 week mark at which point the girls are able to be born locally rather than the hospital about an hour away.
We've come a long way in the last year, Sat the 9th  marked the year anniversary of our miscarriage and here we are soon to be holding twins. God does work in mysterious ways.
I'm about half ready to have the girls. It is easier to take care of them right now but my belly is now measuring 45 cm, gets in the way and is feeling heavy. Besides who wouldn't be ready to hold the girls. We see the doctor again tomorrow then another ultrasound on Wed. We're really looking forward to seeing how big they've gotten and how they sit. Hoping that Baby A has moved head down rather than breech.
Going to try to keep up to date....

Full Circle

I'm slacking for sure after seeing that I haven't posted since Sept 2010. We found out mid December 2010 that we are expecting again. Things were rolling along good with doctor's appointments and I had only a couple weeks of morning sickness. Then at 20 weeks we had our first ultrasound and with it a surprise: we are pregnant with twin girls!!

Now we are at the 33 week point, the girls are weighing in at 3lb 7oz and 3lb 13oz as of June 21st which was our latest ultrasound. The doctor told us that twins are considered full term at 38 weeks. That gives us a due date of Aug 1st. However, today she suspects that they may be here sooner; we are looking at anytime after July 11th.
So much has happened in the last 8 months that I should have been blogging the whole time. The surprise of 2 instead of 1 baby, the anxiety of early contractions and hours of observation last month, the sobering news that c-section may be a must and is scheduled and now knowing that Baby A is laying breech and Baby B is bigger may seal the deal of needing a c-section. Which to me is disappointing though I know it may be necessary for the health of the girls.
The whole family is excited to see the girls, especially one of my sister-in-laws who finally gets to be an aunt via one of her own siblings. As for names, we each get to pick one, however the hubby isn't telling the one he has picked until she is born. Only that it will be a variation on one of his grandmas' names and start with an "M". Since I like things in alphabetical order, that baby will be first. So right now we have "M" and "Stella Eileen" for the names. Stella being simple, short, easy to say and hear. Eileen was my Grandma's name and I know she would be in her element welcoming the girls if she was still with us.

Our parents have generously taken care of the big things such as cribs, dresser, high chairs, car seats, etc. plus the start of a growing collection of cute clothes. The hubby has been working to get the nursery ready especially since they may be born as soon as 2 weeks from now. Its hard to believe that we are so close to finally holding these two precious bundles and sobering that we are so close to really becoming parents. And with twins we are grateful to have so many family and friends waiting in line to help out.