Here is Anna getting her Echo.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Echocardiograms
Both girls had to get echocardiograms. Anna, because she has a low resting heart rate, and Kate, because she had a heart murmur. Both girls have the exact same defect. They both have two small holes in the lower chamber of their hearts. The cardiologist said that these holes will most likely close up on their own within the first year, but they will have to visit the cardiologist every 3-6 months for awhile.
Here is Anna getting her Echo.
Here is Anna getting her Echo.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Daddy's Turn
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| Look at that sweet face! So content in Daddy's arms. |
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| She looks even tinier in Daddy's arms than in Mommy's arms! |
Visiting our Baby Girls
Both girls are doing very well! They are breathing on their own without a respirator and have been since birth! Both have a bit of jaundice, so they are receiving light therapy to lower their bilirubin levels. They are also both going to have echocardiograms done sometime today; Anna because she has a low resting heart rate and Kate because she has a heart murmur.
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| Holding Kate for the first time! |
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Look how tiny!   |
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| Anna in her mini tanning bed:) |
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| Doesn't she look cozy? |
Friday, November 25, 2011
THEY'RE HERE!!!
At 2:00 this morning, I woke myself up as I felt like I was peeing the bed. I jumped out of bed (well, as best as I could "jump" out of bed) and waddled to the bathroom. After soaking a towel, I woke Phil and called my mom and sisters. I finished packing my bag and we headed to the hospital.
After arriving and checking in, the nurse checked my progress: 1 cm and 90% effaced. (Side note, this particular nurse happened to be the mother of a student of mine!) They called the doctor and he had them start me on magnesium to stall my labor and gave me a steroid shot to help the girls' lungs. After about an hour, my contractions were getting closer together and becoming more intense. I called for the nurse and when she checked my progress I was already dilated to 4 cm and was 100% effaced! So much for stalling my labor!!! The doctor came and we discussed the options for delivery since Kate was still breech. We decided that a c-section would be the safest route and I was whisked away to the operating room.
Shortly after (at 6:37 am), Anna Elise arrived weighing 3 lbs 14 oz and was 17 in long. Kate Linley was right behind her (at 6:39 am) weighing 3 lbs 11 oz and was also 17 in long. They are absolutely GORGEOUS!
Kate and Anna are in the NICU, but are both breathing on their own and doing very well! They will most likely have to remain there for 6-8 weeks, but we are hoping to bring them home by Christmas:) Thank you for all of your prayers today for our new precious gifts. Please continue to pray for them as they grow and develop and pray for us as we must go home with overflowing hearts, but empty hands. I know that it will be a difficult transition for both of us.
We have already had lots of visitors and can't wait for even more in the next few days (we are very proud parents and can't wait to show off our girls! John and Becky were our first visitors this morning - thank you for all of your love and support, you always make us feel like family and we are so blessed because of you! We love you!!! Next, Kate and Anna's Pop (Phil's dad), Uncle Robert, and Aunt Robin came by to meet the girls! As soon as I called my mom (at 2 am), she booked a flight and was here by lunchtime. Phil's mom also hopped in the car and got here about 10 minutes after mine. I was able to get into a wheel chair and take them to see Kate and Anna. I even got to hold Anna! It was so sweet to be able to spend the day with Mimi and Nana. Later in the day, my friend Meghann stopped by and it was so great to sit and chat with her...an expert on having NICU babies, since her twin boys were there for several weeks when they were born. Thanks for coming Meg...I love you!
Things began to wind down early as we (as well as many family members) have been up since 2 am. Hopefully we can both sleep well and wake up refreshed tomorrow.
After arriving and checking in, the nurse checked my progress: 1 cm and 90% effaced. (Side note, this particular nurse happened to be the mother of a student of mine!) They called the doctor and he had them start me on magnesium to stall my labor and gave me a steroid shot to help the girls' lungs. After about an hour, my contractions were getting closer together and becoming more intense. I called for the nurse and when she checked my progress I was already dilated to 4 cm and was 100% effaced! So much for stalling my labor!!! The doctor came and we discussed the options for delivery since Kate was still breech. We decided that a c-section would be the safest route and I was whisked away to the operating room.
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| These contractions are kind of painful! |
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| Daddy is ready for the OR...doesn't he look sexy in those scrubs! |
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| There goes Anna! |
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| Anna...our "big" girl! |
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| Kate...our "little" one! |
Kate and Anna are in the NICU, but are both breathing on their own and doing very well! They will most likely have to remain there for 6-8 weeks, but we are hoping to bring them home by Christmas:) Thank you for all of your prayers today for our new precious gifts. Please continue to pray for them as they grow and develop and pray for us as we must go home with overflowing hearts, but empty hands. I know that it will be a difficult transition for both of us.
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| Daddy is already infatuated with them! |
We have already had lots of visitors and can't wait for even more in the next few days (we are very proud parents and can't wait to show off our girls! John and Becky were our first visitors this morning - thank you for all of your love and support, you always make us feel like family and we are so blessed because of you! We love you!!! Next, Kate and Anna's Pop (Phil's dad), Uncle Robert, and Aunt Robin came by to meet the girls! As soon as I called my mom (at 2 am), she booked a flight and was here by lunchtime. Phil's mom also hopped in the car and got here about 10 minutes after mine. I was able to get into a wheel chair and take them to see Kate and Anna. I even got to hold Anna! It was so sweet to be able to spend the day with Mimi and Nana. Later in the day, my friend Meghann stopped by and it was so great to sit and chat with her...an expert on having NICU babies, since her twin boys were there for several weeks when they were born. Thanks for coming Meg...I love you!
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| Daddy and Pop |
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| Uncle Robert, Pop, Phil, and Aunt Robin |
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| Nana is admiring her first grand babies! |
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| Mimi is admiring grand babies #11 & 12!!! |
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Girls' Room
This week we put the finishing touches on the girls' room. I know I still have about 7 weeks to go, but it is really comforting to know that if they came soon, we are organized and ready to bring them home.....well, as soon as we install the car seats we'll be ready to bring them home!
The bedding in the girls' room was our niece Aliyana's when she was a baby. Even though it was from over 5 years ago, I was able to find a matching set on Ebay for $25!
They will definitely be pretty in PINK!
It's amazing how fast a room fills up when you put two cribs in it!
The bedding in the girls' room was our niece Aliyana's when she was a baby. Even though it was from over 5 years ago, I was able to find a matching set on Ebay for $25!
This dresser was originally dark wood that didn't match the cribs. We decided to sand it down and paint it rather than stain it....I LOVE IT!
Hopefully I can still fit in the glider when I am using my double nursing pillow!
They will definitely be pretty in PINK!
Little Brycen
This little guy has had a rough go of it in his first month of life! He spent almost a week in the NICU after he was born because of his lungs and then last week he had to be admitted back into the hospital with RSV. Chad and Lauren have had quite a lot to handle....hopefully things will settle down so they can enjoy the holidays.
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| Isn't he absolutely ADORABLE!!! |
Monday, November 7, 2011
Explosion & Self Control
Explosion
After my shower yesterday, Phil and I headed out for a date night. We started at Babies r Us to get a few things off of our registry...the girls' room now looks as if Babies r Us exploded! We got most of what was left on the registry that we needed but will have to order a few items online. Because of the amazing generosity of our family and friends, we didn't have to spend a dime of our own money!
Self Control
I am currently mustering up ALL of my self control to not go into the girls' room and have myself an organizing party! There are two main reasons I am being so well-behaved: 1) I have a ton of stuff to get done for work and grad school and 2) I want my two sisters' expert mommy opinions about things before I decide to rip into packages and tear off the tags. I am hoping I can hold out until this weekend...but I am making NO PROMISES!
After our shopping spree, we went to Ted's for some bison burgers and swung by Krispy Kreme on our way home. If you have never had their Pumpkin Spice doughnut, you are totally missing out! It is only around during the fall, so hurry up so you don't have to wait until next October to try one!
After my shower yesterday, Phil and I headed out for a date night. We started at Babies r Us to get a few things off of our registry...the girls' room now looks as if Babies r Us exploded! We got most of what was left on the registry that we needed but will have to order a few items online. Because of the amazing generosity of our family and friends, we didn't have to spend a dime of our own money!
Self Control
I am currently mustering up ALL of my self control to not go into the girls' room and have myself an organizing party! There are two main reasons I am being so well-behaved: 1) I have a ton of stuff to get done for work and grad school and 2) I want my two sisters' expert mommy opinions about things before I decide to rip into packages and tear off the tags. I am hoping I can hold out until this weekend...but I am making NO PROMISES!
After our shopping spree, we went to Ted's for some bison burgers and swung by Krispy Kreme on our way home. If you have never had their Pumpkin Spice doughnut, you are totally missing out! It is only around during the fall, so hurry up so you don't have to wait until next October to try one!
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