Great Friday

Both boys are on room air now and both were circumcised today.  Cole took his first bottle and Lane took a few naps in Momma's arms. 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for pacis!

Both boys love their pacis and these Wub a Nubs from Sassy have cute little animals attached to them so they stay put better! Thank you, Sassy!

They are here!!!

Yesterday morning I started off the day with an early ultrasound. Well, early for me at about 9am, since my wonderful antepartum nurses usually let me sleep until about 9:30!! Apparently, both boys were also used to sleeping in because neither of them was in any hurry to get up and going. After watching them for about 35 minutes (with quite the audience of antepartum nurses cheering them on), several attempts to buzz them awake, and playing Nickelback's Rockstar for them our doctors decided it was best to go ahead and deliver them that day. The only c-section openings were right then or 4pm, so very quickly the ball was rolling. Stuart, also slow to get going that day, was woken up by a call from me to get ready and get up here, ASAP. It took 3 of our fabulous nurses to take me and all 4 of my charts up to labor and delivery. They were so great to stay with me until Stuart arrived. Quickly, I was prepped for surgery and Stuart changed into blue surgery scrubs for the blur to follow. Our wonderful OB and specialist were both able to be there, along with a great anesthesiologist, a nurse who helped with Jace's delivery and some excellent NICU nurses/neonatologist. We couldn't have asked for a better team!!

Baby A, Lane Thomas, was born at 10:34 am weighing 6# 15oz and 19 inches long!!

Baby B, Cole Walker, came at 10:35. He weighed a whooping 8# 2oz and was 20 inches long!!

They had to weigh him twice because no one could believe he was so gigantic!   It was an amazing feeling as soon as they got him out, like my belly was a deflating balloon! I didn't know how much I missed breathing. But I immediately understood why my belly had always been so lopsided, with Cole pretty much hanging off my side.
The boys were 35 5/7 weeks old that day and it marked exactly 14 weeks that I had been on antepartum. Both went to NICU right away, as they needed some oxygen to perk them up. Lane got off his oxygen after a few hours and is now eating very well from a bottle. Cole is a little more lazy. He likes the oxygen and is still on CPAP, but he gets mad at it when the prongs have to be put back in his nose. Hopefully, he will be off oxygen tomorrow. It is hard to get a good look at him with all his equipment, but he also looks like his brothers, just with chubbier cheeks!
Both have been spoiled rotten already by all our great NICU nurse friends and by grandparents that want to snuggle on them. Having them in NICU has given me a little extra time to heal and rest, and I know they are in excellent hands. We had to move to the postpartum floor and I sure do miss my antepartum friends!!! They took such wonderful care of us for the past 3 months. Jace doesn't really get it yet, but he has been putting his Elmo and Horsey in the swings so maybe he will be excited for some real babies to swing.
Thank you again to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers! We love you all.
If you don't mind, please also say a little prayer for sweet baby J who is in NICU right now.

My big boy

I was sorting pictures on my, well Stuart's hard drive that I have taken over, and found this one of Jace from October 2010. I just love it and wanted to share!! I can't believe he is going to be a big brother in 3 days!!

8 more sleeps!

In 8 more days we will get to meet these little guys!! Our good little buddy, Kaleb, counts down days to exciting events by how many nights ("sleeps") there are left. So, in honor of Kaleb, I will say 8 more sleeps!!! Which actually is a very fitting way to celebrate each day we get closer, as nights are really the only time I get uncomfortable. Just imagine a turtle stuck on their back having to find a way to roll over every 2 hours to waddle (now think duck) to the bathroom!! But I am thankful for the hospital bed rails and raised head of the bed. I really think I would have gotten stuck many times in our bed at home. In what has become my trademark, my blood pressure and swelling continue to be inconsistent, one day up and then the next day down, sometimes up and down within the same day. This was well illustrated the other day when, after waking up with very little swelling, I proudly told the nurse practitioner "and my swelling is great today". I was a bit shocked when I pulled up my pant leg to reveal ankles that were overhanging my shoes!! It is all worth it though because they are almost here!!

On an unhappy note, our little Jace has ear infections in both ears. He has kept Stuart up a few nights with hour long crying spells, saying it hurts and pointing to his ears and throat. We are glad that we got him on an antibiotic and can get him all well before these boys come. Poor little guy, it's hard to have him sick and not be able to console him. However, he has become quite the daddy's boy lately and is happy to have daddy hold and love on him.

Edited to add: We had an ultrasound today and poor Wendy really had to work to get the measurements she needed, as both boys are so squished! But..... Baby A measures 6#7oz, and baby B was 6#15oz!!!!

Sad day today....

Our sweet Dessa dog passed away today. She had not been doing great for quite a while but decided today she had fought enough. She was such a good, gentle giant. Dessa became part of our family in Oct. 2002. It never crossed her mind that she was a big dog. She was always so calm and loving, and always great with Jace. We will miss her terribly.

Just a note!!!

We have changed our c-section date to the 18th so we will be 36 weeks on the dot! This opens up the possibility that the boys may not have to go to NICU depending on how they look. Under 36 weeks go to NICU automatically and by delivering at 36 weeks they may get to stay in nursery and go home when I do. Please don't get me wrong, I love my NICU friends and know that our boys would be in the best hands ever. There are a lot of pluses to a short NICU stay too. They would get on a schedule, I could get some things together at home, and I would get a few days alone with Jace. But.... how amazing to think that after over 12 weeks of being here that they may not need NICU!! Of course, even at 36 weeks they still may need a little NICU boost and of course, they may come earlier on their own, but we are ready for whatever God has planned!! Pre-eclampsia is still knocking on the door, but just a gentle tap! So maybe if I don't answer it'll go away! Thank you all for the prayers and thoughts!! And thank you to all the wonderful nurses here on antepartum who have taken care of us- we love you all!
BTW- The 18th is my mother in law's birthday! :)