Our Babies Are Here! 11/26/08

What a ride! Well, on Tuesday, 11/25/08 I came home from school and didn't feel so great. By 2:00am I started fighting the urge to throw up (sorry to be gross). I got in the bathtub and SLEPT there for two hours! Weird I know, but I really really really HATE throwing up. By 4:00am there was no fighting the WORST stomach bug I have ever experienced! (To all moms out there...please don't send your kids to school sick...look what happens!) By 6:00am I am telling Jeff that I need to go to the hospital for sickness. By 8:00am we are on our way to Labor and Delivery for IV fluids and anti-nausea IV meds. By 8:30am we are on the baby and contraction monitors that show babies are fine, but mommy has contractions that are two to three minutes apart! Let me tell you, that HURTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By 11:00am my obstetrician came in and told me we were having the babies! What? NO! I was not ready! Babies were not ready! I did not want my birth experience to be in the middle of a fever and vomiting/diarrhea spells! By 11:30am the nurses let me know I was going to a labor room and that I would be having a C-section at 2:30pm. Jeff, meanwhile is having fun taking pics of me before we have the babies because of course he is very excited! These pictures will NOT be posted and will not be viewed by anyone, ever! By 1:00pm I am talking with the anesthesiologist about my most feared topic...epidural. By 1:30pm I am getting an epidural and on so much anti-nausea meds that I am out of it and don't care too much. But, don't listen when someone tells you it doesn't hurt. It DOES! It's just that you forget the pain as soon as you are numb enough to not feel the contractions. By 2:00pm I am getting prepped and the nurses are all looking for Jeff who is off somewhere doing something. By 2:30pm I am in OR getting one of three shots of epinephrine to get my heart rate going (I tried to warn them I had low blood pressure)! By 2:45ish I think, the babies were born! I was so out of it, I don't really remember much. I do remember everyone being shocked at how much dark hair the babies had! I could hear them screaming and it was the best sound of my life.

Remi Blake was born first weighing 5lbs, 14 oz and 19 and 1/4 inches long! She is absolutely perfect and so beautiful that she takes my breath away! She swallowed way too much amniotic fluid and wasn't aspirated quickly enough because they usually worry more about second baby. Cash Owen was born second and had no problems. They took my Remi to the NICU where she remains until this week. Baby Cash was by my side pretty quickly. I don't remember much from this point until the evening when I was moved up to recovery and Cash was brought to my room. I had to wear a mask and not touch him too much for four of five days in the hospital because of my illness. I will tell you about Remi briefly, but that is all because I don't want to relive the worst heartache of my life. Remi was in NICU on CPAP to hold her lungs open so she could take in the oxygen they were giving her. She was on this for almost a week. I was not allowed to see her for three days after giving birth because of my illness. Worst pain I have ever felt. Remi is such a fighter, she got off the CPAP and onto regular oxygen, then on room air within the past couple of days. Last challenge was learning to breathe, suck, swallow at the same time. She did it! She is doing well with her feedings and never lost any birth weight due to tube feedings. She should be able to come home tomorrow!!!! Best news ever!

Cash Owen was born second weighing 6lbs, 4 oz and 19 inches long and looking just like his Daddy! He came home with us Sunday night and has been a very easy baby. He is so handsome and strong. He has been the angel that got me through the last week and a half without his sister. He is so sweet and cuddly. A few days after coming home he started not feeling well and has been sick. We have been to the pediatrician twice this week for his horrible diarrhea. We are trying to figure out if he has the stomach bug that I had or is reacting to a different formula we gave him. He had lost too much weight and was down to 5lbs, 9 oz. Pediatrician put us on a strict feeding schedule where we should never go longer than 3 hours without feeding him. Also, we should let him conserve his calories by letting him rest as much as possible. With his sister coming home in a day or so, I am VERY worried about her getting a bug! Pray for their health!

Both babies are on every 3 hours feeding. They have to be kept awake to eat...sleepyheads! I have been trying to breastfeed, but am not getting much milk. The lactation consultant said this is very common for moms of preemies. Even though they were not too terribly early (36 weeks), my body may not have been ready, just like Remi's lungs were not quite ready. Also, she said with NICU moms there is so much stress that the body has a hard time making milk. If one more person tells me in order to make milk I need to relax I may scream! How can I relax with a sick newborn at home and a sick newborn in the NICU? PLEEEEAAASE! So, I am pumping religiously and getting about 1/3-1/2 ounce every three hours. Jeff is going to get me a supplement called Mother's Milk from GNC. I will let you know if it works.

By the way, in case you were wondering if they are the biggest blessing in our lives and the best thing to ever happen to us...yes! We love them more than anything! Enjoy the pics! Thank you for all your prayers adn well wishes! We love you!

Last Belly Pic! A few days before birth.


Daddy having fun with the camera!

Here they are! Don't know who is who.

Remi Blake was worked on then on her way to the NICU. : (

First Day

Off CPAP!

Daddy and his Princess

On small amount of oxygen


Last night...no oxygen assistance! Only a feeding tube!


Cash Owen...what a mouth!

Waiting for a bath.

Cash is praying that Sissy comes back to him soon!

Daddy and Baby Cash

Uncle Bryce and Cash

Mommy and her baby...look I am not crying!

Cash at home with us.