Gwen and Grady's First Walk

We all ventured out tonight. It was a slow short walk, but we made it around the block. Gwen and Grady did not cry, so we are assuming that means they liked it! It took $80 of used equipment to transport them.

 

 

 

 

Conquering my Fears

After five nights in the hospital, my blood pressure continued to be elevated and my liver enzymes were abnormally high. The babies were doing well, so they were discharged. Thankfully the hospital allowed the babies to stay with me as long as I had someone else with me 24 hours a day. Prior to delivery, I actually had really good blood pressure. Apparently the babies did more to my body than we realized. On Saturday it was determined I had to go back to labor and delivery and be put back on magnesium sulfate. I had already had this 12 hours after delivery, but was in such a haze, I barely remembered it. This time, I would remember. It is poison. It delayed the messages that my brain would send to my limbs. Along with being on this came my worst fears. I needed another IV and had to get a catheter put baok in. I can say now neither was all that bad. I also had to have labs drawn every 6 hours, which was not fun. I could not walk, I could barely talk and I could not care for my new born babies. Neal was a champ. He took care of them all night long. After 24 hours on the poison, the docs decided I needed 12 more hours. The purpose of the medicine was to prevent seizures. I still think I was way past the point of having a seizure, however the last seizure that occurred in the family was pretty bad, so I stuck with the poison. The last bit of misery that occurred while on the poison was the bed pan. Yes, you read that right. Something I thought would not happen until I was in a nursing home, but what are you gonna do. I survived, although humiliated.

Liver numbers were still not coming down after 24 hours. Neal took great care of me. He constantly argued with the doctors requesting further testing and consults with the liver experts. Finally on Monday morning I was taken off of the poison as it was determined I was no longer at a risk of seizure. Neal made the doctors perform an ultrasound of my liver, kidney, pancreas and gall bladder. It is scary to have doctors look into the unknown. Thankfully the results were normal. My numbers finally started going back towards normal. I will have some follow up to make sure they return to normal in the next couple of months. By Monday night, my swelling was down and I had the night pregnancy sweats. My body finally turned back on. I was feeling better almost immediately. It is now 10 days after delivery and I have lost 40 of the 50 pounds that I gained. That is mainly due to the fact that you cannot eat while on the poison, so I was on the ice chip diet that Neal invented in years past. I guess that is one positive thing that came out of this disaster. We were all scared, but are feeling as though things will be ok. Our family does not want to go through another organ failure, especially now that there are 4 of us to care for. I am now on blood pressure medication, but hopefully only temporarily.

Arrival at home

Before leaving the hospital we decided to put the kids in some real clothes. I would say within 5 minutes they both spit up all over themselves. Oh well, such is life. I was able to cram my rather large butt in between the babies in the back seat of the CRV. They did really well on the way home, at least that is what we thought. Grady made funny faces the whole way. Once we got in I changed Grady's diaper and he peed all over me and his own face. Neal got Gwen out and she had a blow out all over her onsie. Next thing we know, Tippy is cleaning the dirty onsie. Our new life had begun within minutes of our arrival. This is what we had to look forward to. Perhaps the car ride was a little too much excitement for the little ones. We were settled in shortly after.

First Doctor Appointment

July 8th was the babies first doctor appointment. Babies should regain their birth weight in 2 weeks. Our twins had already done it 9 days old. Gwen was born 5 pounds 7 ounces and now weighs 5 pounds 9 ounces. Grady was born 5 pounds 5 ounces and now weighs 5 pounds 10.5 ounces. We knew he would eventually be bigger than his sister. We no longer have to track feedings, #1s and #2s. They are indicating when they are hungry so it is no longer necessary. We go back next week.

Birth Story

Monday, June 29th I had a doctor appointment. It was my 38 week appointment. I got my weight checked and was up around 50 pounds. Blood pressure was fine. I told the midwife I was not feeling Gwen as much as I typically had. She sent me to OSU to get a nonstress test. Basically they were going to monitor my contractions and Gwen's response to them. Neal met me at home and we got our bags, just in case and headed to OSU. Talk about an adrenaline rush. This could be the day! Once at the hospital, I was hooked up and the babies were great. We found out I was having contractions, even though I could not feel them. I was also 1-2 centimeters dialated. We also found out my blood pressure was running high. After checking with my doctors, it was determined I would deliver that night. It was much easier not knowing it was the day. There was less time to think about what was about to happen. We had to wait a couple of hours because I had ate. Surgery time was scheduled for 6:30. We frantically called everyone to tell them our exciting news. I was excited the babies were finally coming.

I got an IV put it. It was a fear of mine, but not as bad as I thought. Around 6:30 my doctor arrived and they put took me down the to OR. Neal had to wait outside. It took them three attempts to get my spinal done. I felt bad that Neal was sitting outside waiting it was almost a half an hour. For some reason I was not as scared as I figured I would be. I just wanted it over with. Neal then came in. He was much more brave than I anticipated. He was standing up and looking over the curtain taking pictures. I could not believe him. My blood pressure was all over the place and they had to keep giving me a medicine to control it. The medicine gave me the worst headache of my life. It was so bad I begged the anestesiologist to rub my head, which he did. Grady was first out. He began to cry immediately. His color was amazing. He was perfectly pink, not at all like what you see on tv. His APGAR score was a 9, 10 being the best. Gwen was next. She did not start crying immediately. She scored an 8 then five minutes later was a 9. Both very good scores for twins. There really was no pain. A little pressure, but nothing unbearable. Neal went to the nursery with the twins. Due to my high blood pressure I was put on magnesium sulfate for 12 hours. I was put on this because I was diagnosed with preeclampsia which can lead to seizures after birth. This stuff is poison. It basically shuts down your nervous system. I really do not remember much of that night. I do not even remember holding my babies for the first time. I would describe the magnesium sulfate as shutting your body down just before you die. Everything is delayed, you cannot walk and you are slow to talk. All of my family and friends were able to stop and see the babies. The babies stayed in the nursery their first night of life.