Welcome to the World Avery Ann and Hannah Katherine!

The girls have arrived!! They were born on Saturday, 7/21/12 at 7:42pm and 7:43pm. Avery weighing in at 5lb 8 oz and Hannah weighing 4lb 15 oz. Our world has changed so much this past week for the better. We are loving our new, little family!

Where do I begin? On the morning of 7/21, I woke up at 9am to a gush of fluid leaving my body. At first I thought maybe it was incontinence or maybe even blood from the babies pushing on ym bladder, but everytime I rolled over, more came out. Our beagle Cody even moved away from me in bed. I knew something was up. So I decided to get up and check it out in the bathroom. However as soon as I stood up gravity came into play and WHOOSH! more came out! At that time I whispered to Pat...umm I think my water just broke....he looked at me and water dripping down my legs and said we are going to the hospital. call the doctor right now. So as I started to find something to wear and did my hair, our doctor was on call (woo hoo!) She called us immediately and told us to come to the hospital to get checked out to see if this was the start of labor. I could not believe she said the word labor. We were only 34.5 weeks. It was too soon!!!  I was thinking at least 1 more week!!! Pat saw me putting some makeup on and said you have got to be kidding me....get in the car! haha! ...I wanted to look presentable considering I had no contractions! Oh well...also Pat grabbed the car seats and put them in the trunk because we knew there was a good chance we wouldnt be returning home without our two baby girls!

We got to the hospital checked in and registered and they put us in a triage room to make sure things were actually happening. We got tested and yep! this was labor! I was 1cm dilated and 0% effaced, which meant I had a long way to go!!  The nurse came in to put my IV in to start me on fluids and possibly pitocin since my contractions were just not coming. Ultasound came in to check the position of the babies and they were both head down so they plan at that time was to do a vaginal delivery. The nurse then moved me to the labor suite which was about the size of a studio apartment. My doctor ordered pitocin and the contractions took about 2 hours to kick in. 8 hours later the doctor did an internal exam and I was still only 1cm dilated and 0% effaced! The doctor said we may want to consider doing a csection because we could only wait about 12 more hours because since my watre broke the babies were prone to infection. Also, she said if I wanted an epidural to do it now because if we decide to do a csection she wants that well in place before the action happens. My birth plan was to always have an epidural but without painful contractions, I just didnt need it. Within 20 minutes epidural was in place. I have to say it was the most magical drug! It did not hurt going in....they did tell me not to look at the epidural kit on the table. Even Pat was not allowed to be in the room during the epidural placement (hospital policy because too many fathers to be faint.) My contractions while waiting from the epidural were so painful! I have no idea how people have an all-natural birth!!! As she was informing us of these plans she noticed Hannah's heartbeat was dropping to scary rates. she immediately put oxygen on my face and rolled me to my left side and Hannah's heartbeat returned to normal...mine however, was pounding!  I looked at Pat and we both could tell we wanted a csection IMMEDIATELY to get these babies out now. This heart fluctuation was too scary!!!  The doctor said ok and we were in the OR 20 minutes later.

Pat was sitting right next to my head as we waited for our babies. Once we were in the OR babies were out within minutes. We saw Avery and I started to cry uncontrollably! I couldnt believe she was OURS! I looked at Pat and said She is so beautiful!!! (I am tearing as I type this.) Pat looked at me and started to tear as well. I started the waterworks. 1 minute later they pulled our little Hannah out and I cried even more and said she is so beautiful!!! I love them so much already and I have not even held them yet. The nurses cleaned them off and walked them over to Pat to hold and show me. We were so in love. The nurse gave us 5 minutes with the babies and took them to get cleaned off even more and to be moved to our labor suite. I told Pat to go with the babies bc I was fine and to make sure they were OK. Before he left the neonataologist came up to us after he checked them both out and informed us no NICU was needed and the babies appeared to be healthy!!!! I was ELATED!!!!!!!! Pat and I became parents to two beautiful healthy girls. The night was so magical. We couldnt wipe the smiles from our faces!

The staff that night at Rush-Copley were just so amazing! Our labor and delivery nurse Joyce was AMAZING!!!  She would talk with me about everything before it happened. She eased my mind about the arrival of our girls being too early. Always saying no, it's the perfect time. and that they would be fine! She was with me for the epidural and my anxieties. She knew how much I wanted a vaginal delivery, but decided to do the csection and even asked are you sure you are ok?! and offered to stay and talk with me if I was still on edge about it. I owe her so much!! She was so good to me and my family. She even stayed past her shift to make sure the babies and I were OK. She truly went above and beyond!

I know I left out so many details, but the emotions I felt that day all come back to the joy we felt at 7:42pm and 7:43pm.  Nothing else that day really mattered.

Maternity Photos

Being pregnant has been such a blessing and I have been enjoying every minute of it!!!  It is an experience I want to remember for the rest of my life. We found a photographer who helped us capture this amazing point milestone of our lives. Only a few more weeks until we meet our miracle babies!!!  Here are a few of our favorites from our Maternity Photoshoot!

Rush Copley Tour and Classes to Come

As we are in our 32nd week, and the girls are BOTH head down, the doctor is telling us we could very possibly have a vaginal birth if we desired to do so if that is in our birth plan. I, of course, want whatever is the most safe for the three of us. Our OB has said she lets her moms choose if the babies are positioned both head down. If I had my choice, I would like to do a vaginal birth. I feel the recovery would be quicker! I have to take care of TWO babies right away at home and want to be able to move around. However, I am going to keep an open mind and be ready for whatever way the girls want to come. They have 100% of the control here. I am just along for the ride. I am preparing for both deliveries because anything is possible once these babies decide to come!

On that note, I never planned to have a vaginal birth with twins. I assumed I would have a csection. I have never heard in the modern time of anybody I know giving birth to twins vaginally. I just accepted that was the way it was going to be. To my surprise, both girls are positioned to exit vaginally right now. I am now 8 months pregnant and have not taken a LAMAZE class to learn breathing techniques or the stages of labor, etc. I didnt think I would need to learn anything. So, luckily Pat works at the hospital and he is registering us for the 7/28 marathon 1-day class (hopefully the girls do not make their appearance before than!!!) and the class fee is waived! woo hoo! My older sister Kristen informed me it was so important to go to this class. So I trust her on that being she gave birth to 2 babies already so we are going to go to this class, as long as the girls dont come before that date!!!

Last Sunday, Pat and I took a tour of Rush-Copley's Labor and Delivery unit. That is where I will be delivering the twins. Also, Pat works there so it is a win/win situation! I didnt realize that seeing everything and talking to some of the health professionals on that floor would put some of my fears at bay and answer some questions I did have. I think seeing how things were setup and where I would be relieved some of my anxieties! It truly helped! Being I am carrying multiples, my journey throughout the hospital is a little different. I found out if I have a vaginal delivery I will be delivering in the OR in the case of an emergency csection. They want to be prepared for EVERYTHING! I liked that idea. It made me feel like all the bases were covered! Also, we got to see the NICU. Not that I am planning on even having my babies sniff that room, I wanted to learn more about it. We got to see through a window 1/3 triplets being fed. He was a cutie, and so tiny. It is nice to have a Level III NICU at our fingertips in the case we need to go that route for whatever reason! Overall, I am so happy we decided to go on the tour! It really made me feel more ready for the next step. These girls can be here in 1 month or so! Also, to my surprise, there is NO NURSERY!!! I never heard of that! They said they like for the babies to be with mom 100% of the time for bonding in the postpartum room after birth. They like this so when a doctor comes to check out the babies I will be witnessing everything and will be able to ask questions when the pediatrician makes her rounds or any doctor for that matter. Pat and I really like this!!

32-week check!

Both girls are measuring 9 days ahead of schedule at 4lb11oz each. Both heads continue to be down and positioned for delivery. NST revealed no contractions and great Fetal Heart beats! We were told Hannah has LOTS of hair because it is now visible on the ultrasound! Avery has less hair. hehe Good news continues to come our way! We are blessed! Only 4-6 more weeks to go!! :)