Saying Hello!

Madelyn was very alert and awake today. She had the hiccups. Bless her heart- they happen all the time. I took this video while burping Jackson...so that is the thumping noise you hear in the background!

It's not this bad!

Big sister Evy fell asleep while holding Jackson the other day. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures. While the transition from only have one preschool age child to two infants and her has been quite challenging, God has truly blessed us. The babies are sleeping well and picking up on the feeding. We are enjoying some awake time and they are so cute (and grunty) while they sleep. We are thankful for the long stretches (4-5 hours)at night! Many friends and church family have stopped by and offered to help. I am so grateful for the help- but mostly for the company. We have been so truly blessed!

They are here!

The Lord has blessed us with two beautiful babies on April 12, 2010! Madelyn Lillian was born at 9:15a. She weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. Jackson Ryan was born at 9:16a. He weighed 6 lbs 10 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. Jackson was transverse and his arms were crossed against my back and he was a little "stuck". He did have sticky lungs and had to have some canal oxygen and eventually a CPAP for a couple hours the first night. Madelyn was able to be in our room from the very beginning. I was unable to get up for several hours due to the spinal block and did not see Jackson until about 11:30 Monday night. I was able to hold him for about 3 minutes. The next morning he had a chest x-ray which turned out clear. The doctor wanted him monitored through his first bottle on Tuesday morning- to make sure that his O2 stats stayed in the 90s and his breaths didn't increase. The step up nurse didn't want to send him back to our room and wanted to keep monitoring him, although everything was going good. I talked her into to bringing him in to meet Evy when she came from school Tuesday about 11:30am. She brought him in on a "trial" basis and eventually they determined that he was fine and he was able to join his sister in our room. Since joining his Madelyn, he is perfect They enjoy sleeping closely to each other and touching. I really have enjoyed being a mom of twins. Sometimes it is a little difficult when they are both wanting to be fed or changed.

Since coming home on Thursday, I have been pumping, feeding, changing babies and I was worn out. Saturday, I decided that I am going to stop pumping and only formula feed. My mental state is much better since making that decision. Last night they slept in 5 hour increments, so we were blessed and feel like normal parents instead of zombies. I am hoping that same thing happens tonight!

The last 24 hours of pregancy...

I only have 24 more hours to be pregnant!! I have already spend 6192 hours pregnant...so this last 24 should be a piece of cake...but I have a feeling it will definitely be the hardest! Hopefully, I can sleep tonight!

I was thinking about some of my favorite things about this pregnancy. I am not the kind of person who will oohh and aahh at you and tell you that "I love being pregnant!" cause I don't! I enjoy the end result and the miracle of it all, but I don't enjoy the day to day, in and outs of pregnancy-especially the last parts! But, I do have some memories of this pregnancy that are priceless!

My favorite pregnancy memories:

~being able to share the news with Michael before his birthday (much earlier than expected)

~the day we found out it was twins kind of rocked my world. I was feeling blessed to get two for the price of one (which has since turned out to not be true-twins cost more!!!)

~Dec. 5 we learned we were blessed with a boy and a girl!

~When the babies where about 26 weeks along, they develop the ability to hear noises outside the womb. Michael encouraged Evy to talk to her brother and sister...so she used her hands to pull down my chin and open my mouth and started yelling down my throat to 'talk' to the babies!

~I loved watching the story of Jesus birth (Miracle of Christmas @ Branson) while feeling my own babies kicking inside me...gave me a connection to Mary-but I am definitely blessed that I wasn't chosen to carry the Messiah-I would have been much more difficult to deal with.

I imagine this will be the last of our biological children. I have had ups and downs throughout this journey, but I am very happy that the Lord chose Michael and I to be the parents of Miss Madelyn and Mr. Jackson. I can't wait to see their faces, touch their skin, and make this all feel real...I am so thankful to the Lord for this blessing!

THREE more days, really???

I generally try to keep the posts here upbeat and light...I'm just not feeling that way today. I could share a long list of aliments that are making the last days seem horrible. I might sound a lot like Rosanna Roseannadanna in this clip!

Then I got to thinking about how there isn't that much time left in this pregnancy. Three days. Kind of similar to the time that Jesus faced when he knew his time of ministry was over. He was crucified on a Friday, rose on a Sunday... maybe if I think in those terms it will get easier. I know that I don't have anything that compares to the pain, agony, humiliation and torture that Jesus went through as he died for our sins. And boy am I glad that I don't!

Easter didn't really feel like Easter this year. We didn't attend church (as I have kind of lived under a rock these days) and we didn't have a big traditional family dinner. We spent time with Michael's family for a few hours before my feet were so big I couldn't stand it and then went home in enough time to enjoy a little outdoor time with Evy.

I am so looking forward to and dreading Monday morning at the same time. I am not a big fan of hospitals, IVs or surgeries...all of which I will be having! But I am looking forward to seeing those lovely baby faces. I am a little freighted of the outcome, praying that each baby will be super healthy and will not spend time in the "special" nursery or need a NICU. I have prepared myself as much as possible to understand what the c-section will entail-so hopefully there will be no surprises there. I am also very excited for our new family members to meet the special people in our lives. I am just wishing I could travel forward a few days and get it over with because the wait is torture!

Tomorrow I have one more NST (non stress test). These tests are usually very stressful for me as Madelyn doesn't like to stay on the monitor. I am praying that she will be cooperative tomorrow and we can get in and out in less than 40 minutes! I also may go and do a little pampering...get my hair cut as it might be the last time that happens for a while.

We do have some prayer requests:
First, that my blood pressure would be acceptable and that there would be no more "pre-eclampsia" talk...and that pre-e wouldn't develop.
Second, that tomorrow's NST would run smoothly and quickly!
Third- that Monday would arrive quickly for me...not necessarily for the rest of you who would like to enjoy a long weekend.
Fourth, that the surgery would go perfectly with no complications and that recovery would be easier than expected
Fifth, that each baby would be healthy, breathing on their own and not spend any time in the nursery or NICU for monitoring.

I believe in a big God. I can't see him, but I know he is there!

7 days and counting....

By this time next week, we will have met our babies!!! I am beyond excited to say the least. Today we had our final doctor appt before they arrive. Everything still looks great! We could even see vernix floating off baby A. The babies are still in their same positions and surgery is a must due to the fact that baby B is transverse. He asked me not to have them on Saturday as he is out of town...but eluded to the fact they may come early. I am just fine with waiting until next Monday as it will be planned!