Our daughters are here!

SO UNEXPECTED!!!

Early this week, I began to experience some odd pregnancy symptoms, and when I mentioned them to my doctor, he ordered lab work for a rare condition called cholestasis. This is a condition in which the gallbladder and liver are not functioning normally in pregnancy, and could have an extremely poor outcome (fetal death could happen without warning as the baby takes on the bile of the mother...if I've understood correctly).

Thursday afternoon (1/22), Chris and I were running errands, and the doctor called Chris' cell phone; he wanted us to both come to labor and delivery immediately. Not exactly the kind of call an expecting parent wants to get, but I kind of figured they just wanted to monitor the babies.

We arrived at L&D within 15 minutes. As soon as we walked to the nurses station, the doctor told us that I was very sick and that our babies would be delivered today.....WHAT?! Within two hours, I had labs drawn, sonogram to check the position of the babies (both head down! hooray!), and started on pitocin to induce labor.

A little after 2:00 a.m. on 1/23, I was wheeled into the operating room just in case an emergency c-section was needed. Delivery was so fast and beautiful! Audrey Elise was born at 2:25 a.m., crying and moving well (apgar scores 8/9). Norah Isabella was born at 2:33 a.m., cord wrapped around her neck, and making noise. After a little oxygen, she was also crying and doing well (apgar was also 8/9). Audrey weighed 4 lbs, 2 oz and Norah weighed 4 lbs, 1 oz. The NICU team wrapped them up and let us spend a few minutes with them before taking them to the NICU. They were born at 33 weeks, 2 days gestation. Praise God for a smooth delivery, great weights, and healthy girls for such an early delivery!

They both had a little help keeping their lungs open with a machine called a CPAP, but both were able to do all the breathing on their own. Later that day, both girls were already off the CPAP and breathing room air (a super mile stone!).

Lots of details about their progress, but the bottom line is that they are both doing FANTASTIC! We have been able to hold them, help change their diapers, give a bath, and spend time parenting our little peanuts. Our spirits are high and both Chris and I are on cloud nine being able to care for our beautiful daughters.

I will try to update pictures. I can't believe how busy the hospital has kept me. I thought that was supposed to be a place to rest! For those thinking it's easier having babies in the nursery than at home....it's not! Timing things right and still trying to find the time to eat, pump breast milk, give updates, visit the girls, visit with Ethan....it's all very exhausting!

I just got home today. My liver and gallbladder are still not functioning, so I need to follow up with a couple doctors this week. Hopefully it will not lead to having my gallbladder removed.

Random notes:
"Audrey"=Noble strength, "Elise"=Pledged to God
"Norah"= Ray of sunshine, "Isabella"=Pledged to God

Audrey has lots of dark hair and a slimmer face. Norah has a little peach-fuzz head and big jowels!

Just like in the womb, Audrey is more calm, but Norah is crazy. She has earned the nickname "Wild Thing" by one of her nurses. We are amazed at how much they move around and respond to our voices. We wonder how much they can really see, but it sure feels like they like to look at us and take it all in! Both girls like their pacifiers and look so cute as they suck.

Ethan got to see his sisters yesterday (ssshhh...kids are not supposed to be in the NICU during RSV/Flu season, but a sweet nurse snuck him in last night). He's a proud big brother, and also having fun spending the days with all his different friends.

We are blessed by everyone's help and support. Keep the prayers coming for all of us....we are still floating on excitement, but as exhaustion sets in, I know we'll need the continued prayers for strength and joy.

Pictures today or tomorrow!!

Names

I think...I *think* we might have names for our girls! It's SO not official yet, so I'm not announcing anything, but something clicked last night and we're trying them on for size :) I hope this is it! Both the first names have meanings that seem to fit their personalities thus far, and both their middle names are derivatives of each other, so they have the same meaning (but sound nothing alike). Perhaps they won't be A and B forever!

Off topic...
I forgot that Ethan cracked me up at the sibling class when the teacher asked everyone what they were going to teach their new brother or sister. The standard answers were, "How to talk", "How to crawl", "How to play".... Ethan's answer was (and has been many times before and after this incident) "To not play with the printer." He is such a rule-enforcer, just like his mommy.

32 Week Sonogram

Both girls are growing and looking good! Praise the LORD!
Baby A is still vertex (such a compliant little girl)
Baby B is...squishing A and has her rump up in my lungs...
or something like that....

Sibling Class & Sleep Over

Ethan went to a sibling class at the hospital over the weekend. At first he wasn't too sure he wanted to get in on the action (maybe he was thinking that NOT learning how to change a diaper would work in his favor). He was much more interested in his peanut butter cracker snack and asking me how the video monitor worked. He did, however, enjoy a funny video called, "Sibling Silly" and getting to move the hospital beds up and down.

I wonder why that little girl is giving him the stink-eye?
Making a shirt for the babies
Sleep Over with buddy JACE!
Watching "Cars" and having popcorn and hot cocoa
Waking up to watch cartoonies with a friend

Alone Time

WOW. This is awesome. Today is Ethan's second day back at school. Not that I haven't LOVED working at his school the last couple years...I just didn't realize how wonderful it is to expect to come home to a quiet house. I picked up the house in a super jiffy because I wasn't side-tracked in the transition from dishes to laundry. I read my Bible in a full state of consciousness, instead of trying to do it at dawn before anyone else wakes up. I put my feet up and didn't say a word to anybody. On Tuesday, I hopped back in bed and took a nap next to my snuggly hubby. I am so thankful for this blessed time alone! I hope the babies bake for an extra, extra long time now!!

Ethan and Cyber-Sadie

Has anyone seen that left-over glowstick from Halloween?

The Shop-Vac

Why do people laugh and have to clarify with us when Ethan tells them he got a Shop-Vac for Christmas??

Anyway... Original Craftsman shop-vac was way too big and we ran into difficulty hanging it in Ethan's room. Daddy inherited Original Craftsman shop-vac for the garage.

Ethan went and picked out new and "just my size" Shop-Vac. Perfect for his room! (and luckily, no questions asked about Santa's original pick)

We are now a three shop-vac family--hanging garage, hanging bedroom, and closet canister. Aren't we cool?