Posts
Friday, January 23rd Matt was over at his parent's house sleeping (he's been working a night shift at ARUP for a couple of months for their fabulous insurance) and I was just hanging out at home. I couldn't seem to make myself do anything due to the HUGE belly and aching everything. Not sure if I've mentioned it, but being 37 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins is awful. I mean it. Just plain awful.
OK, so as I was saying, I basically sat around all day watching movies with my kids and feeling sorry for myself. I had been having random contractions for a month or two but seemed to be having more than usual that day and they were slightly more intense. By 3 or 4 in the afternoon I started thinking I was definitely having more contractions than usual, but I got started with Alex and Isaac so I wasn't sure what going into labor on my own felt like. So I did what any modern mom does when she has a question: I googled it. Google said false labor would go away with excercise and real labor would get worse. So I had the boys put on their coats and we went for a walk (waddle) around the block. I ended up having to stop for every contraction because I just couldn't walk through them and this is when I really started getting my hopes up. So when we got home I got out a paper and started writing down when and how long my contractions were while I read to the boys. To my surprise they were about every five minutes and 30 to 40 seconds long, so I called the hospital. I told the nurse about my contractions and asked how bad they were supposed to hurt. She said that was irrelevant and to come in so they could check me to see if I was dialating. Irrelevant? OK, the U of U hospital is not right around the corner, but maybe they'd say I was in labor and keep me... maybe.
Then I got to do what I'd never done before and had always wanted to do, the whole "it's time, let's go the hospital". So I went next door where Matt was sound asleep and opened the door. I said "Matt, wake up. You need to take me to the hospital". He jumped out of bed and started freaking out. Not the most serene wake up call.
So all Matt wanted was to get pulled over and have a police escort to the hospital but the poor guy didn't get his wish. He was speeding down the freeway wondering what the fastest way to go would be. When we got off the freeway Foothill was foggy and jam-packed for what we assumed was a basketball game but really turned out to be a gymnastics meet. So all the way Matt is cursing the U basketball team to lose because of the traffic. Suddenly he decides to cut through the neighborhood and starts taking corners on two wheels (now this part may be a little exaggerated, but that's how it felt to me being in labor and all).
We finally did arrive at the hospital at about 7:00 and Matt wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery. They started by monitoring my contractions and the babies heartbeats for a while and I'm thinking "Could you please check me and see if I'm in labor? Please don't send me home. I will seriously cry my eyes out if you send me home." When the nurse came in to check me I told her Wednesday I had been dialated to a 3 and about 80% effaced and please, please don't send me home. She checked and said "Well, you are now dialated to a 6 and 100% effaced you're not going anywhere". I started to cry then. I was so relieved.
Matt documented the rest pretty well. The epidural only worked on half of my body so my right side wasn't happy, but the doctor did get it working OK right before the actual delivery so that was good.
At about 1:00 AM on January 24th we were told we were heading into the OR for delivery (standard procedure with twins "just in case"). So all 15 or so of us crammed in there and once I started pushing Elsie made her entrance into the world not much longer at 1:25 AM. Now I didn't know how they were getting Daxton out until that night. All along I had been assuming they would turn him but my doctor assured me it would go faster to just deliver him breech. What he didn't mention was that pulling him out was going to make me wish for death. Oh my word, having someone reach up inside me and pull my baby out is the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. I was literally screaming in pain and the whole 3 minutes lasted for about 3 eternities. It was awful. I guess the one good thing about it was I had no idea Daxton was having any problems until Matt told me later. I don't think I could have handled it. So then the doctors took care of me and Matt went with the babies to the nursery where they continued to work on Daxton until he was breathing well. That was the night. It was one crazy ride.
One funny thing one of the doctors/med students/whoever said to me the next day was that the thing he remembered most from my delivery was as soon as I was done delivering the babies I asked for a sandwich, right there in the delivery room. I guess from his view it was funny, but I thought that was a legitimate request. I mean, I didn't have dinner and they don't let you eat at the hospital, who wouldn't be hungry after all that?
Now here we are, one week later. I already love my two precious babies so much and can't imagine our family without them. They are really good babies: eat, sleep, poop, repeat. And my boys have been great little helpers and love their brother and sister. All in all, life is perfect.
OK, so I believe that I am wiping tears. They look so PERFECT! I'm not sure there is any other way to describe it. I can't wait to see them again some time this week.
Okay I love the version with all the details better. Your babies are so precious! After I had Asher , my midwife stuck her hand back up me to check my uterus for tears and that was the most excruciating moment of my life, so I can't even imagine the three minutes of *@## you went through. But you did get some pretty sweet babies out of it!
Okay...I LOVE that picture!! So sweet!!
So sweet! I can't wait to see them- well I can wait until Issac is better. I would not want to come without Cessna- she would kill me!
Precious little babies... Great Job Jen... I feel for you on the reaching and pulling them out... I had 2 of my 3 that way,the first one without an epideral so I feel your pain.
I absolutely LOVE that picture! that is by far, my FAVORITE!!!
Very good. I love hearing labor stories, kind of weird I know. You put good humor into it too! Thanks for sharing! I think your babies are so adorable! Makes me want another one...kind of.
Oh my, how precious. You are my hero... both delivered safe (mostly), no c-section... if I ever have twins, I'll come to you for advice. Congrats!
Wow, so adorable and once again I salute you Jenny!! Hopefully I can see them before they go into kindergaerten:)
I totally asked for a sandwich right after I gave birth to Ethan too! I love that!!!!! I am so happy for your family!
You have no idea how much that picture makes me miss my baby boy/girl twins. They aren't quite so cute now that they are kids rather than babies.
I'm glad your twins are home and doing well. They're beautiful! Enjoy them (because before you know it, they'll just be kids).
Jenny, I love that you asked for a sandwich! I don't remember if I asked or if they just brought me one, but I had a sandwich right after Evie was born and it was the best thing ever. Also, that picture of your babies together is so sweet!
Look, Elsie looks like she's kissing her brother's hand!