Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
One week old
Some of you may remember Robert's Book of Mondays. For those who don't, you can go back and read the archives from April 2005 where I posted all about it.
Alex and Ava were born on a Wednesday, so naturally they will each have their own "Book of Wednesdays." I will continue to post those pics here each week, just as I did with Robert.
That way you'll all get to 'watch them grow' along with us.
That way you'll all get to 'watch them grow' along with us.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The birth of Ava and Alex ( It's very long!)
Delivery Day- February 28th, 2007
37 weeks
We arrived at the hospital at 2pm on Wednesday, February 28th. Surgery was set for 4pm. I immediately asked if they were ‘backed up’ with a fear that my surgery might be delayed. The nurse said everything was on schedule, but that could change at any time. I was sent to triage, and greeted by a whole team of doctors, nurses and others. I changed into a gown and was hooked up to a monitor to watch the babies’ heart rates. I was contracting every 1-4 minutes. I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since about 8pm the night before, so I was super dehydrated, and I was sure that’s why I was having contractions. The babies were moving all over the place (trying to fight the contractions) so I had to have an ultrasound to determine their positions. Both babies were breech.
My nurse arrived around 3pm. His name was Larry…. He was awesome. He walked me through the whole procedure, and answered any of my questions. He was with me until the end. I also met my anesthesiologist, Dr Hart. He gave me the option of an epidural or a spinal. I had lots of questions, but decided to go with the spinal. Doctor Kriner arrived just before 4, and sat down to talk to us. He made us very comfy. I was so happy to see him! He made sure I didn’t have any questions and then we were off to the OR. Larry said I could ride on a gurney or wheelchair if I wanted. I chose to walk.
I was overwhelmed by the bright lights and ‘sterileness’ of the OR. I took a seat on the table and Dr. Hart began to administer my anesthesia. Within minutes, I was numb from the ribs down. My catheter was administered and suddenly everything was happening very quickly, and I was so anxious and excited.
Bobby was waiting outside the room. I was waiting for him to join us.
Suddenly, Ava’s heartrate took a dive. Dr. Kriner said they had to move fast. I looked at the clock – it was 4:29. He said “We’ll have babies in 3 minutes. Lets go.” I asked for Bobby to come in and by the time he arrived, Alex had already been delivered. Bobby thought he’d have a minute or two to get settled before the surgery started. I looked at him and said, “Bobby, they started already – put the camera on!” He started filming, and got the camera on just in time to see Ava being delivered. (the whole video was about a minute long.) Alex was born at 4:32pm and Ava was born at 4:33pm. Bobby checked on the babies and then brought them over to see me. I started to feel sick, and Dr. Hart put something in my IV to make me feel better. Bobby followed the babies and the nurses to the nursery
Within 15 minutes I was all sewn up and being wheeled to the recovery room. While Dr. Kriner finished up we chatted and joked. I heard over a speaker somewhere that Baby A (Alex) was 5lbs 4oz and 17 .5 in. His apgars were 7/9. Baby B (Ava) was 6lbs 6oz and 19 in long. Her apgars were 8/9.
Dr. Kriner was fascinated by the babies’ placentas. He explained to me that Alex’s placenta was ‘not formed normally - Rather than being shaped like a disc with the umbilical cord coming from the middle, his was shaped more like a tennis racquet with the cord protruding from the side. (It has a name- ‘battle something or other’) He said this was the reason for the babies’ significant size difference. He was shocked that it did not show in an ultrasound and he said the longer they stayed in utero, the more risky it was for Alex – he’d never catch up to his sister’s size. The babies were measuring the same (via ultrasound) until about January… Doctor Kriner said that (30-32 weeks gestation is about the time the growth difference begins to show.
My stay in recovery was long and probably the part I hated worst of the whole day. I had to stay until I was able to wiggle my toes, and lift my knees and butt off the table. I ate some ice chips and watched the clock. I just wanted to see my babies. My parents arrived. They watched Ava and Alex have a bath through the nursery window. Bobby took some pics, and brought them for me to see. Larry was still with me. We went over some paperwork and chatted. He took such good care of me. I was very itchy (a side effect from the morphine in my spinal) I didn’t want to take anything for the itchiness (they said I could have benedryl) but I didn’t want to take anything that would make me sleepy.
It was about 7pm when I was able to leave the recovery room. The nurses had to clean me up (I was very bloody) and pick me up to move me to my bed. I was anxious to eat and drink something, but I ended up throwing up about 4 times – on two different occasions -probably from lack of anything in my system.
I was finally able to nurse the babies by 9pm. The night was filled with excitement. Nurses and doctors were in and out of the room constantly. I didn’t sleep a wink the whole first night. I never could sleep on my back anyway – not to mention how itchy I was, still! The babies slept almost 6 hours straight. Must have been a long day for them!
These babies are as different as night and day. Alex is very mellow and laid back. Ava is feisty and dramatic. Almost everyone that sees her thinks that Ava looks just like Mommy, while Alex resembles Robert in his very young days. When they are together, it is very obvious that they look completely different from each other.
Now, one week later, we are home and adjusting well. I have been nursing about every 2 hours and 3-4 hours at night. After a full week, we have finally figured each other out and established a pretty decent milk supply. The babies sleep great at night, and we have to wake them up for feedings!
Robert is a great big brother. He calls them ‘dadies’ and loves to give them their pacifiers and rub their little heads. He plays well by himself, but we like to encourage him to get to know his siblings. It’s amazing how HUGE he looks now compared to the little guys.
We arrived at the hospital at 2pm on Wednesday, February 28th. Surgery was set for 4pm. I immediately asked if they were ‘backed up’ with a fear that my surgery might be delayed. The nurse said everything was on schedule, but that could change at any time. I was sent to triage, and greeted by a whole team of doctors, nurses and others. I changed into a gown and was hooked up to a monitor to watch the babies’ heart rates. I was contracting every 1-4 minutes. I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since about 8pm the night before, so I was super dehydrated, and I was sure that’s why I was having contractions. The babies were moving all over the place (trying to fight the contractions) so I had to have an ultrasound to determine their positions. Both babies were breech.
My nurse arrived around 3pm. His name was Larry…. He was awesome. He walked me through the whole procedure, and answered any of my questions. He was with me until the end. I also met my anesthesiologist, Dr Hart. He gave me the option of an epidural or a spinal. I had lots of questions, but decided to go with the spinal. Doctor Kriner arrived just before 4, and sat down to talk to us. He made us very comfy. I was so happy to see him! He made sure I didn’t have any questions and then we were off to the OR. Larry said I could ride on a gurney or wheelchair if I wanted. I chose to walk.
I was overwhelmed by the bright lights and ‘sterileness’ of the OR. I took a seat on the table and Dr. Hart began to administer my anesthesia. Within minutes, I was numb from the ribs down. My catheter was administered and suddenly everything was happening very quickly, and I was so anxious and excited.
Bobby was waiting outside the room. I was waiting for him to join us.
Suddenly, Ava’s heartrate took a dive. Dr. Kriner said they had to move fast. I looked at the clock – it was 4:29. He said “We’ll have babies in 3 minutes. Lets go.” I asked for Bobby to come in and by the time he arrived, Alex had already been delivered. Bobby thought he’d have a minute or two to get settled before the surgery started. I looked at him and said, “Bobby, they started already – put the camera on!” He started filming, and got the camera on just in time to see Ava being delivered. (the whole video was about a minute long.) Alex was born at 4:32pm and Ava was born at 4:33pm. Bobby checked on the babies and then brought them over to see me. I started to feel sick, and Dr. Hart put something in my IV to make me feel better. Bobby followed the babies and the nurses to the nursery
Within 15 minutes I was all sewn up and being wheeled to the recovery room. While Dr. Kriner finished up we chatted and joked. I heard over a speaker somewhere that Baby A (Alex) was 5lbs 4oz and 17 .5 in. His apgars were 7/9. Baby B (Ava) was 6lbs 6oz and 19 in long. Her apgars were 8/9.
Dr. Kriner was fascinated by the babies’ placentas. He explained to me that Alex’s placenta was ‘not formed normally - Rather than being shaped like a disc with the umbilical cord coming from the middle, his was shaped more like a tennis racquet with the cord protruding from the side. (It has a name- ‘battle something or other’) He said this was the reason for the babies’ significant size difference. He was shocked that it did not show in an ultrasound and he said the longer they stayed in utero, the more risky it was for Alex – he’d never catch up to his sister’s size. The babies were measuring the same (via ultrasound) until about January… Doctor Kriner said that (30-32 weeks gestation is about the time the growth difference begins to show.
My stay in recovery was long and probably the part I hated worst of the whole day. I had to stay until I was able to wiggle my toes, and lift my knees and butt off the table. I ate some ice chips and watched the clock. I just wanted to see my babies. My parents arrived. They watched Ava and Alex have a bath through the nursery window. Bobby took some pics, and brought them for me to see. Larry was still with me. We went over some paperwork and chatted. He took such good care of me. I was very itchy (a side effect from the morphine in my spinal) I didn’t want to take anything for the itchiness (they said I could have benedryl) but I didn’t want to take anything that would make me sleepy.
It was about 7pm when I was able to leave the recovery room. The nurses had to clean me up (I was very bloody) and pick me up to move me to my bed. I was anxious to eat and drink something, but I ended up throwing up about 4 times – on two different occasions -probably from lack of anything in my system.
I was finally able to nurse the babies by 9pm. The night was filled with excitement. Nurses and doctors were in and out of the room constantly. I didn’t sleep a wink the whole first night. I never could sleep on my back anyway – not to mention how itchy I was, still! The babies slept almost 6 hours straight. Must have been a long day for them!
These babies are as different as night and day. Alex is very mellow and laid back. Ava is feisty and dramatic. Almost everyone that sees her thinks that Ava looks just like Mommy, while Alex resembles Robert in his very young days. When they are together, it is very obvious that they look completely different from each other.
Now, one week later, we are home and adjusting well. I have been nursing about every 2 hours and 3-4 hours at night. After a full week, we have finally figured each other out and established a pretty decent milk supply. The babies sleep great at night, and we have to wake them up for feedings!
Robert is a great big brother. He calls them ‘dadies’ and loves to give them their pacifiers and rub their little heads. He plays well by himself, but we like to encourage him to get to know his siblings. It’s amazing how HUGE he looks now compared to the little guys.
There you have it! Hope you enjoyed it! :)
Friday, March 02, 2007
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