The boys are here!

We are proud to introduce Micah John Kelly and Seth Benjamin Kelly! After my regular Wednesday appt, my dr instructed me to meet her at the hospital in an hour. At least I made it to just a day shy of 36 wks. I had dilated to almost 4 cm and once we got to the hospital and hooked up to monitors, we realized I was actually having contractions. I was scheduled to have the c-section (one boy breech and the other sideways) at 7 pm, but with my contractions building and getting closer together, it was moved up to 5 pm. All went well with the c-section, D even watched it and took pictures. Micah was born at 5:26 pm, weighing a hefty 6 lbs, 10.5 oz, measuring 18.5 inches long. Seth was born at 5:27 pm, weighing 4 lbs, 15 oz, measuring 17.5 inches long. Both boys were breathing on their own and neither one went to the NICU. They did a lot of monitoring on them before they came to our room. But seeing as how my recovery from the c-section was going slowly, it was probably for the best. They put a dose of morphine in the spinal which sent me into nausea, vomitting and shaking. It lasted for about the next 12 hrs. If I moved even slightly I was reaching for the bedpan. The boys are both nursing well. Actually Seth picked it up immediately - I guess he knows he has some catching up to do. Micah had some problems with amniotic fluid in his stomach and it took him a little longer to get the hang of it (who wants to eat when you tummy feels yucky). Now that they are latching on well, we'll work on nursing together.

We came home from the hospital yesterday. I quickly realized that I would not be going up and down the stairs at least for a few more days. D and I slept downstairs on the sleeper sofa with the boys in the bassinet. Last night was long between feedings, diaper changes, and clothes changes b/c the diapers leaked. Now today we've been waking them up to eat. Hopefully tonight they will sleep better.

We feel very blessed and are so thankful that God watched over these guys. We'll try to update the blog often. Enjoy the pics!

Ready to go home from the hospital

Snuggling together their first night at home

35 weeks

Here we are again. I've made it to 35 weeks and the dr reported yesterday no changes. My little heart to heart with her didn't go so well and she sent us to a specialist today, mostly because she was irritated with us if you ask me. D went with me yesterday because I had such a bad migraine I couldn't drive. That's the 5th or 6th one in a couple of weeks. They did some bloodwork to check for preeclampsia since headaches can be a sign. My blood pressure has been slowly creeping up in the last month or so, but since it started so very low, it's still not considered high. The blood work all came back fine so that's good news.
My dr and the specialist gave us an option today - have an amniocentesis to check the babies' lung development. If it showed that their lungs were mature, we'd go ahead with a c-section now. If it showed they were not mature, wait another week or two or more. Of course there are risks with the amnio. Without the amnio, we wait. So I felt cornered. But my gut said no amnio, D agreed, so we are waiting. Unfortunately the original comments from the dr (twins are full term at 36, she won't let me go past 37) are no longer accurate. Now the comments are no plans until 39 wks unless a problem develops or I go into labor on my own. Of course I'm not comfortable waiting until something goes wrong, or I go into labor with a breech baby A. I think what's so hard is thinking I was so close to the finish line and then having it moved. And after she told me two weeks ago that I wouldn't go another two weeks. She just keeps rubbing it in. The specialist thinks I'll go into labor before 39 weeks. He also thinks Baby A still has time and room to turn head down. We'll see. I told him that I've always had to be induced which adds more fear. I sometimes doubt if my body even knows how to go into labor by itself. I just can't imagine another 4-5 weeks with the stress and pain that my body is in already.
So now is an incredible time of faith and trusting in God for me. I know He can turn this boy around. I know He'll take care of everything in the right time. I just need to rely on Him for strength and comfort - and try not to think about Baby B's shoulder that is pushing into my ribcage right now and making it difficult to breath!
We appreciate all your prayers. Please continue to pray for the boys to turn head down, arrive in God's perfect time, and my patience. I sure need it!

34 weeks

Well we made it to this milestone. After the doctor's comment the week before, this week she said I might go another 3-4 weeks! I told D that if the boys are considered full term in 2 weeks, they will be out or someone will be hurt! Not to complain, but the leg cramps, varicose veins, heartburn, shortness of breath, Baby B getting his hand caught in my ribs, and other unmentionable "irritations" I'm ready for them to be on the outside (okay maybe I'm complaining a little bit). I've half jokingly said that at the 36 week mark I'm going for a run around the block. D can follow me in the van with the hospital bag because a run would be certain to put me into labor. But since the boys are still breech and sideways, I think this week the dr and I will have a chat about setting a date. So we'll let you know, once we know.

Belly pics!

Pictures, there have been numerous requests, so here they are! We'll have to keep taking pics since my stomach actually is growing on a daily basis now. But with these two putting on roughly half a pound a week EACH, it grows quickly. H was my photographer today (with the exception of the one she was in which D took). The kids love to pat my tummy or rest their heads on it. We had to get at least one of them all patting my tummy. The boys actually got quite active during these few pics. They can't wait to join the 3.

I would have done this next one with their names, but well, we still haven't finalized. We think we've made up our minds and then one, or both of us, decide we don't really like it. So for today, A and B it is.

Here's a pic taken at my shower last week. We played the "let's guess how long a string will go around her tummy" game. It's a good shot of my tummy too.

33 weeks!

We're making it day by day! Dr appt, non-stress test, and ultrasound have all gone well this week. I haven't dilated anymore; the boys' heart rates, fluid levels, and movements are good. The ultrasound measurements proved these boys are big. Baby A is still breech. As of last Friday he was measuring (estimate of course) 4 lbs 10 oz. Baby B is still sideways and measured 3 lbs 13 oz. Twins usually run around 20th percentile so I've been told, but Baby B is 45th percentile and A is 62nd percentile! In fact that put baby A measuring more like a 34 wk single baby! If he were to continue at that rate until 40 wks he would be over 9 lbs! Thank goodness that's not going to happen. You could see both babies "practice breathing" on the ultrasound. Their little chests would rise and fall. That's a great sign that their lungs are near maturity. My doctor did say this week that I look pretty close to max capacity and she will be surprised if I make it two more weeks. So, we'll keep taking it one day at a time and see how much longer I can hold them in! Please keep praying that they will turn head down. Dr said unless they turn by next week, we'll be looking at a c-section (which I'd rather avoid!). Thanks for your prayers. Maybe I'll post some belly pics this weekend. I should be taking daily pics now to make a flip book!