Welcomed with Lots of Love...

Bryan and I are pleased to introduce you to Morgyn and Grady. Just 2 pics for now, but everyone is doing excellent. I will try to post the events of their first day in a few days. Their birth stats are posted to the right...

Aubry is already the best big sister ever!

 I am a mom of TWINS!

--

The Journey Begins...

The day after my last ob exam, I was told that my blood platelet count was too low to have surgery. Anything above 100k was fine, but anything lower has a risk of additional bleeding. My count was 97k. There was a small chance that surgery would be postponed if they did not increase, so I was immediatly put on a steroid. I had to take 6 pills on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, and 1 on Thursday right before we left for the hospital.

We arrived at Edward Hospital at 6:10am, got a gorgeous gown, and got blood drawn right away to check my platelet count. At 6:45 we found out that the count had increased to 140k so we were still on for surgery.

The surgery was bizarre. It was the weirdest feeling, not really being able to feel anything, but at the same time, feel pressure, pushing, tugging, etc. I was numb from the chest down, and didn't feel well at first, but the anesthesiologist gave me something right away that made me feel much better. Bryan came into the room and complained that I was squeezing his hand too hard. Poor baby! Surprisingly, he was interested in standing up to look over the curtain and watch it all happen! We hear Morgyn cry at 8:52 and just a minute later, Grady joined the noise. After each baby came out, Dr. Lucaric walked around the sheet so that I could see them. When she walked Grady over, he peed all over her and the floor, and almost got Daddy. Bryan snipped the remainder of the umbilicial cords, and then came back to me to tell me they looked good. Grady came out super clean, but Morgyn was covered in that white stuff. Their APGAR score was both 9.9, which is excellent. (This "test" gives points for color, vitals, noise, and other baby stuff). Shortly after, Bryan and the babies went back to recovery while I got "put back together". I started shivering uncontrollably while they were finishing up. It was a weird feeling because I didn't feel cold (although, I really couldn't feel anything!). As they wheeled me up next to Bryan and babies, they covered me with lots of heated blankets. After I warmed up, Idid some skin-on-skin contact with both babies at the same time. Morgyn was apparantly hungry, because she scooted down off my upper chest, looking for some food. So Grady went into the baby warmer, while I fed Morgyn for the fist time. She was a champ! She latched on right away and stayed on for about 25 minutes. When she was done, they switched places. Grady didn't seem very hungry so I just held him. I sent Bryan to go get some lunch, since I was going to be in recovery for at least another hour. While he was gone, Grady ate some. He had a harder time latching, but at least at a little. Shortly after, I was asked if I could be moved into my room a bit early, as there seemed to be many moms wanting to have their babies!! We moved into our room, without Bryan, but he found us right away. Both babies were very quiet, laying in their own little beds. Just a bit later, they were taken to the nursery for a bath.

Visitors: (in order) Grandpa Dale, Grandma Nancy, Grandma Karen & Aubry, Aunt Mary, Uncle B & Aunt Les, Grandpa Mike, Aunt T, Aunt Sandy & Uncle Steve. (Not all at once, but each overlapped the next). Bryan and Aubry were the last to leave. Everyone (including Grandpa Mike and Aubry) held the babies. We took lots and lots of pictures, but looking back at them now, I have no idea who is holding who, most of the time. The babies were quiet all day, and only ate one more time from me.

Who do they look like: The majority of the visitors say that on their first day of life, that Morgyn resembles a "Knutson", and Grady's facial expressions mirror that of Aubry's. I had a hard time keeping them straight. I was constantly asking "who are you holding" "who is this" and so on. They were in the same colored hat, with the same blanket on, plus I was exhausted, so I don't feel bad about this one bit! I know that once we get them home, it will be obvious by what they are wearing. And, if that isn't easy enough, just take off one diaper, and I'll have my answer.

 

 

Big Sister: Aubry was there since 1:30. She was so good! Definitley worn out by the time they were leaving. But she gave lots of love to her knew brother and sister. She was very interested in them every time they made a noise, wanted to watch their diaper changes, wanted to "carry" them to the next person that would hold them, and even wanted to hold them herself. When she got bored with them (honestly, I'm surprised she stayed interested as long as she did, since they didnt' do anything!) she had snacks and movies to keep her occupied.

Bedtime: All visitors were gone by 8, and Bryan and Aubry left around 8:30.After the visitors were gone, I tried feeding them one more time, but neither one was interested, so off to the nursery they went. I posted the 2 pictures above, then turned off the lights and tv around 9:30 and was passed out by 10pm. I had a really good sleep from 10-3,but woke up with those shivers again, and in some pain. I was given some heating pads, along with some blankets, and then some pain medication. Fell asleep for another 2 hours, when they had me get up, took the catheter out, went to the bathroom, stretched my legs, then went back to bed and closed by eyes on and off until 6:30. Sitting is not painful. Walking and being on my feet is not painful. Going from one position to the next is PAINFUL!

The morning: I didn't see the babies until 9am. Both babies slept good, and took some formula. Morgyn came in first and latched on for 40 minutes! Grady went to get circumsized. He came back very sleepy and didn't eat for quite some time after. It was just the three of us for the rest of the morning. Our next visitor wasn't until 1pm. The pediatrician said that everything looked good. They are keeping an eye on their billirubin levels (for jaundice) and said Morgyn's hips are turned out a little, but didn't seem too concerned, just wanted to make a note of it to check their development at her 1 month check up.
And now you are all caught up. It is Friday 3/2, and it's lunch time!