We're home!!

Natalie Danielle


Kaitlyn Renee



Kaitlyn & Natalie

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The girls arrived on May 26!

Kaitlyn Renee - born at 5:31pm, 7lbs 1oz
Natalie Danielle - born at 5:41pm, 6 lbs 7 oz

I was induced that morning and had my water broken around 12:30pm. I was about 4cm dilated when my water was broken. By 5pm I was being wheeled back to the OR (where twins are delivered naturally or via c-section). It all happened so fast. I pushed 3 times for Kaitlyn and only twice for Natalie. It was all such a blur. My mom stayed over both nights with me in the hospital since Adam ended up coming down with a cold. Thankfully he was there with me in the delivery room and got some great pictures.

Recovery went well. I did have to be stitched up a little bit, but it doesn't bother me much at all. I stayed two nights in the hospital and came home on Friday morning. I don't think I've gotten more than 3 hours of sleep in a row, but thankfully I can take several naps throughout the day with the grandma's at the house to help.

We've had my mom here during the nights and Adam's mom here during the day. It has been such a blessing. Adam still is feeling under the weather so he's not able to be around much, but has changed his first diaper (which he put on backward - lol) and loves cuddling and feeding the girls.

They are such sweet girls. They definitely look and act different already. Kaitlyn has been the most alert and loves her pacifier. Natalie is more laid back and is a good sleeper. They both are up to about 3oz at a feeding already. Little piggies.

Well they are stirring, so I'm off. Enjoy the pics!

Tomorrow is birth day!!

Holy cow, sorry I didn't realize it's been about a month since I last posted. There really hasn't been much to report other than the normal pregnancy aches and pains.

I had a NST (non-stress test - when they monitor the heart beats and my contractions) at St. Pete's, and a doctor appointment today. The NST was pretty normal. Poor baby A had to be buzzed again because she just wouldn't wake up. After she was buzzed though, she was upset for a long time. It took her a while to settle down. Poor widdle girl! Of course baby B is a show off and she passed the test in less than 10 minutes. I'll be curious if their temperament inside will be the same outside. My blood pressure was high when was having the test done. I think it was 155/90.

Then I went to my doctor appointment. BP was still up there, but it was better. I think it was 140/??. The doc had me lay down for a bit and tried it again. I think it went down to 136/??. I can never remember the lower number.

The babies were measured and my fluid was checked. Baby A was about 7 lbs 12oz, up from 7 lbs 3oz two weeks ago. Baby B actually measured less than two weeks ago. I think she was 7 lbs 5oz before and today she was like 6 lbs 14oz or something. Fluid looked good. I still had some good sized pockets.

Because of my bp and the growth issue with baby B, the doc decided to induce me. When I was at the hospital earlier for the NST I was talking to the nurse about induction and she checked the schedule for me and said tomorrow was a good day. I told the doc that, so he called and scheduled me to come in tomorrow.

He also checked my cervix. I'm 3cm dilated, 60% effaced and a +1. Nobody told me how uncomfortable being "checked" is. Ouch and holy crap!

The plan tomorrow is to hook me up to some pitocin in the morning. The doc said he'll probably see me around noon to break my water then we'll go from there. I'm planning to do a vaginal delivery since both babies are head down. I'm don't have my heart set on it, so I'm up for a c-section if it comes to it. I'd just rather recover from a vaginal one instead of the surgery, and obviously I'll do whatever is best for the babes.

I do have to say though, after the doc checked my cervix around 2pm or so today I've been having a lot of menstrual cramps and some bleeding (he told me that would happen). It's now 5pm and I'm still cramping and still having some bleeding. I wonder if him checking me and messing around in my biz-ness set anything off. I guess we'll see!

Bags are packed, car seats and stroller are in the car. I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be. I can't wait to see them tomorrow. I can't even imagine what they will look like. Eeek!!

I'll leave you with one last belly pic I just took...37w5d.

33w5d appointment

I had my appointment this morning. I got to drink the lovely glucola again, since my babies are large, he wants to double check there is no insulin issues. I should hear the results in a few days.

He did a quick ultrasound to look at the heartbeats this morning and they are still going strong!He also checked my cervix via u/s, still long and closed! I don't know why I'm so surprised, but I really am. For some reason I thought there would be a big change and I'd be sent to the hospital or be put on strict bed rest or something. Nope. My body is holding up really well! It's about time it does what it's supposed to!

While he was doing the u/s we got to see the heads of both babies side by side. They are still both head down. It was cute and he printed the pic for me. I'll see if I can get it posted soon.It is looking like these babies might stay head down. I wondered if they were still in that position (they were at my last appointment), because they have been moving like crazy lately. I guess that is just four knees and feet pummeling my diaphram, lungs and ribs :0)

Dr. M asked if I was still working. I told him I was still working 4 hours a day. He was really surprised. He said I am doing really, really well. I don't know if he was in a particularly good mood this morning or if I am really that amazing (ha!), but he was so happy for me that I'm doing so well.I can't believe 34 weeks is Thursday already! I get to stay in town to deliver - yay!!!

Thursday I'm also trekking back up to Seattle to the bp doc. I know I'm having a NST done, but I'm not sure what else. I'm planning not to work that day since sitting in the car and at the appointment will be enough for my pelvis that day I think.

I had all kinds of questions for the doc today, but it was kind of crazy at his office. Normally after my u/s's I meet him in his office to discuss the results. Today, since I had to have my blood drawn exactly an hour after I drank the gunk I had to go from my u/s to the nurses station. I thought I'd go back to his office when I was done, but he met me out there. He was talking, the nurse was poking me, the receptionist was telling him he had a call on line 1...it was very distracting. The next thing I know he's on the phone, I'm at the reception desk scheduling my next appointment and then that's it.

None of the questions were too important, but more curiosity questions. I guess it's nothing I can't ask about at my next appointment...if I get there :0)

Next appointment in two weeks - I'll be two days shy of 36 - yahoo!! Oh and he said that if I get to 36 then the babies will probably be able to come home with me right away and not have to stay longer!!

Play the baby pool

Someone suggested I start a pool, so I set one up online. If you wanna take a guess at when the babies will arrive click on the ExpectNet button on the left. The name of the game is ladybugs.

Have fun!

32w5d

Sorry I've been bad at blogging lately.

Things are going as smooth as they can. I've reached our big goal of getting to 32 weeks! The doctor said if I got to 32 weeks we've "won the game". He said babies born after 32 weeks generally don't have any problems. Yay!

Our next goal is getting to 34 weeks so I can deliver in town. I only have 9 days left! If I deliver before then I'll have to go up to Tac.oma Gen.eral to deliver since they are better equipped to handle preemies.

Not much new to report. I still don't sleep well and my pelvis hurts all the time, but that is nothing new. I've had a few comments from people that it looks like I've dropped. I haven't noticed, I just feel big :0)

Sorry for the short boring post, but I guess that is a good thing if there isn't anything to report. The babies are continuing to bake away in my industrial sized oven! :0)

31 week belly/1st outfit pics

I always have a heck of a time writing between the pics, and I can't seem to arrange them in the order I want. Today, I don't have the energy to fight with it, so I am taking the easy route...

The first few pics are of the outfits I think we'll bring the girls home from the hospital in. I love the little bunny feet and ruffle-y bottoms. Super cute.

The other pics obviously are of my belly. I don't really feel much bigger since I took pics last time, but Hubby says I am. I know for sure my belly is heavier and it's harder to stand for very long these days.

I have a doc appointment tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes!

The end of the name game

Finally it's been decided. After months, and months...and months of discussion, we've finalized agreed on first and middle names for the girls.

...drum roll...

Kaitlyn Rene'

and

Natalie Danielle

Rene is my middle name, and Hubby's is Daniel so it works for both kids. :0)

Seriously we have talked about names so much it is such a relief to be done. Now let's just hope one of these girls doesn't come out a boy! Ha!