Last post, a little late.

A lot has gone on in the past 72 hours. Everything is good even if it didn't go like we had hoped. 

Coinciding with the scheduled birth of our daughters was one of the worst storms that the Southern US has ever seen and a pretty bad storm by north eastern standards.  

The day before my parents were scheduled to fly out, 2,000 flights we cancelled in anticipation of several inches of snow in Georgia accompanied by an ice storm. There is no snow removal equipment to speak of in the south, nor are the cars or drivers equipped to handle true winter weather.  Over the next 48 hours another 3,000 or so flights were cancelled, and all the roads were closed due to ice accumulation of almost 2" inches in some places.   My parents were scheduled and rescheduled eventually a total of 5 times before successfully getting on a plane and arriving 2.5 days late. 

But wait there's more.  On the way into Atlanta Thursday, my parents totaled their truck!   While driving on a completely iced over highway, they lost control of the truck and hit the center median head on. 

Other than cuts and bruises, they are just fine.  But they didn't want to worry us, so we didn't find out till they showed up on Friday night. 

Which brings me back to us. 

We showed up early, 0530, day of delivery.  Wife went in just before 0800 for her epidural.  The first epidural did not work so another attempt was made. This one worked, very, very well.  When I walked into the OR, to sit next to her, the first thing I noticed was the mask on her face, and the anesthesiologist assisting her breathing with a bag.  This was terrifying! And confusing! Was she ok? Was she awake? Was I supposed to be there? 

Turns out, Wife had what we call a "high" spinal. When the medicine finally worked it slowly spread upwards. Shortly after laying down she noticed trouble taking a deep breath. Followed by her arms and chest going numb. Soon she couldn't take normal breaths and the numbness spread up her neck to her face and the anesthesiologist had to assist her for about 15 minutes. 

Section went fantastic. Babies were out quick, 2 min apart. No significant bleeding, which was a huge concern of ours considering how stretched her uterus was with two babies and extra fluid. The docs estimated 5+ liters of amniotic fluid in there with the two babies and placentas!

Kyle Kathryn, born 02/13/14 at 8:39 am, 6lbs15 oz and 20 inches long. 

Ryan Michelle, born 02/13/14 at 8:41 am, 6lbs9 oz and 21 inches long. 

Both babies were evaluated and cleared by the neonatologist to go to the regular nursery. However, a short time after arriving, Kyle was proving to be a trouble maker. Kyle wasn't able to clear all the amniotic fluid out of her lungs (less common with vaginal births as it literally gets squished out). She continued to require small amounts of oxygen, so after a few hours she was transferred to the NICU. 

I'm late posting all of this because my parents were MIA and I didn't want to tell my parents until they could see her. Nothing like hearing your brand new granddaughter is in the ICU and you can't see her to see she's ok. 

After just under 24 hours of oxygen, Kyle was doing much better. She was taken off oxygen and later that day allowed to nurse for the first time. And man was she hungry!!!

On day two she came off the IV and day three (today) she was moved to a nursery. It's like the regular nursery but with NICU nurses. Here she remained "property" of the NICU. After a morning and afternoon of back and forth with different docs about whether Kyle could go home despite needing nothing for 48 hours and having normal labs, we got the all clear!

It's been an adventure, an it's not over yet, but we are well on our way!

Babies come in snow storms!

My family on Long Island has been telling me for the past three weeks "Babies come in snow storms!"  This is usually a mantra said as they frantically shovel the porch and walkway of grandma's house so that we can "get out" if Wife goes in to labor.  Well, today, the D-day of our scheduled c-section, there is quite a snow storm. 

The storm started yesterday morning down south in Alabama and Georgia. Unfortunately, this means that my parents, who were scheduled to fly in early yesterday morning, are still stuck. As of right now, they have had a total of 5 flights cancelled and currently do not have a flight.  This means they will not be here for the births which they are quite sad about that. But they will get here in the next day or so I'm sure and as long as everyone is safe that is all that matters. 

We got 1" of snow this morning and are expecting another 5-9" in our area. 

I told Wife she'll get to tell the girls he had to trudge through the snow to getti the hospital to have them and it will be true!

Waiting to go in now. I'll update when we are out. 

Home stretch!

A lot of lasts today!

Today was our very last MFM appointment. It snowed, again. We got their early, again. And half the staff and doctor were late. Again. 

Last ultrasound!!  Ultrasound looked perfect. Now both babies have an absolute ton of fluid so Wife looks like a giant torpedo is sticking out of her belly. She started getting stretch marks about two weeks ago, and now for the past week she has developed numbness in the center of her belly. We are attributing it to all the stretching and hopefully it will come back after the babies are born!

Baby A: I am already a sucker for those pouty lips!

Baby B:  last week the eyes were open, this week her mouth!  One of my favorites!

Last NST!! Baby B behaved for the heart monitoring and we finished that segment it just about a half hour.

We have all been counting down te days and there are just over 2 days left!

I spent today running errands and finishing up projects. 

Just in the nick of time, our car seat covers came. As it keeps snowing this will be a plus in bringing the girls home. 

I have to reinstall one of the car seats and return a couple things to Babies R Us and I think we are all ready on the baby stuff front. 

Also in the nick of time, I finished my painting. I now am sure I want to put it in the girls room, so I'm glad I finished it before they came cuz there is gonna be NO time after!

Tomorrow is pre-op testing and registration. 

Wednesday my parents are coming in. 

Thursday is babies. 

O. M. G. 

Last OB appointment ... Kinda

So yesterday was our last appointment with the regular OB before the delivery!

I'm posting tonight because we've had some problems with the internet. Specifically, we used up all the data plan on our phones with a week left in the month. So, except for internet at my cousins house, who we let the dogs out for, we've been out of touch with the outside world!

I've gotten a lot done on my painting...

And we went to game stop and bought a couple of used games for the GameBoy DS and PlayStation PSP that we brought with us "just in case". 

I also started working on putting the blog in print form because I think it might be a cool thing to have as a keepsake. Especially as this was originally meant as a journal for me to have and to show the girls when they are older.  Unlike the painting I have no hopes of finishing the book before the girls are born.  I have not decided but I was planning on having Thursday be my last blog post.

Thursday we had our normal bedside look-see with the doctors little ultrasound. Everything is perfect and no babies anytime soon. But we got to see the coolest thing!  The girls EYES!  Baby B even opened her eyes and we got to see eyelids!!

Baby A, for orientation she's lying on her side. Top of head on the right. You can se her right eye, nose, right cheek and chin. 

Baby B is on the left. You can clearly make out her right eye (left side) especially cool is you can clearly see eye lids!!!  The weird thing on the right is A limb belonging to Baby A. 

Baby B again

We got some really cool baby stuff in the mail today from a friend so of course, one of the dogs got a ride in another baby carrier.  

Not that we are counting but...5 days and 6 more nights!!

A New Day, A New Doctor

Today was the pediatric cardiologist appointment.  We had mixed feelings about going but mostly we were feeling "what else are we doing" and "might as well know the most about the girl's health before they are born".

We arrived early at the pediatric cardiology appointment as we again woke up to completely shitty weather.  Last night it was snowing and raining at the same time.  Appointment went really well.  The cardiologist told us that there is no specific cardiac risk factors associated with IVF or 2-vessel cord, just that they occasionally see a correlation that no one understands.  She also told us that 2-vessel cord was not enough reason to get a fetal echo, that usually other abnormalities have to be seen as well and that the most common abnormality is kidney defects and that we would definitely get a renal ultrasound.  I love NY... Except for an ultrasound on Thursday and Monday we are done with all these tests.

The echos on both girls looked perfect, no problems no concerns.  One more check off on the list.

One more OB appointment and then one more MFM appointment and then D-Day!

8 more days for those keeping track at home.

We are seriously ready for babies:

The poor dogs have been suffering while we try out all our baby things on them as we wait for babies to come!

Holy Growing-Like-Weeds Batman!!

So MFM appointment today, second to last one!!

Snow storm today.  Well I use the term loosely. When we woke up there was about an inch on the ground and it was actively snowing pretty hard. We got to the doctors office no problem only to discover almost NOONE from the staff was there!  Apparently they were shocked that WE showed up!  I was like "we are from Michigan, this isn't snow!"  Which of course necessitated us re-explaining our predicament to yet another shocked NewYorkian. 

Finally everyone showed up and we got on with our epic MFM appointment marathon. Despite a growth US, NST, doctor appt, we got out in under 2 hours :-)

!!

Growth US:  all very good news. Baby A is maybe slowing down a tad in growing (also might be the change in US tech) she is now right on as far as dates go. Her weight is estimated at 7lbs5oz! Baby B is still measuring ahead a week or two as far as growth but her belly is smaller and so her weight is estimated at 6lbs15oz!  Still very close so no concerns there. They had really good fluid in their bellies so no concerns there. Baby A had more fluid and Baby B had less, both more than normal, but they seem to be evening out. But in general all very good!

NST (monitoring) went better than usual, perhaps due to an 8am appt instead of a lunchtime appt. Heart rates look fantastic, lots and lots of movement and no contractions. 

Doctors visit was good as well. No legitimate concerns. Dr W (who we saw the first week, we saw Dr A last week) was grumbling about her sugars and her amniotic fluid again. And then was upset we had not gone for the embryonic echo. Apparently we had an appointment, but no one ever told us, it was 4 days ago. ::face palm::  so the office made us an appoinemt before we left for Wednesday of this week. We are not super excited about it as we see it as yet another expense that doesn't seen to have a real reason behind it. BUT we want our babies to be healthy and the more info the better, so like good patients, off we will go on Wednesday. 

The US tech was so cute, as she was doing the 3d pictures she says "you know, I can see both of you on both of these babies, which is kinda weird..."  And I think it's awesome!  I would love it if you could not tell who was the bio mom of the girls. And I totally want people to look at either of us and be like "oh yes, that's so-and-so's mom". So I thought it was really cute!

Now what you all have been waiting for.....

Baby A and her perma-duck lips 

Baby B

Finally put her arm down for a split second

Not that anyone is counting but we have 9days, 1 cardiology appt, 1OB/GYN apt and 1MFM appt left of this pregnancy!