NICU Day 2~ Kangaroo Time

Just Camden and I. We lay skin to skin. And I love it!

Grey had a little trouble breathing, so I had to hold off on holding you. But we still held hands.

P.S. Daddy didn't want to hold you both just yet, because you were so small and hooked up to lots of different monitors.

The Day We Met Our Sons

I took notes to remember the time that you spent in the NICU. I wanted to remember all your milestones you conquered as you continued to grow outside of me.

 

The day was Thursday, June 27th. I was 31 4/7 weeks. My doctor was on call and the night shift nurse called to tell him that I was having more painful and frequent contractions. Dr. Garner came to check me and it was discovered that I was 4-5cm dilated and almost 100% effaced. He agreed to watch me for another hour. I was so upset, because I had a feeling that I was definitely having babies tonight. I was having contractions every 2-5 minutes. So now I was faced with the choice of how I would deliver. I chose a c-section because you were still little guys. I chose the section even though I had an ultrasound early in the day that verified that you were both head down. And it was a good thing I did, because during a contraction once Camden was out, Grey flipped and was pulled out breech (feet first).  Grey had spent the whole pregnancy transverse (just laying across my belly). The ultrasound tech said that this way gave you more room. Camden had been head down for about a week.
So, we waited on Daddy to get to the hospital from work, before they took me to the operating room. Poor Daddy didn't even get to eat, because of speeding in for the delivery.

The Spinal Epidural was so freaky, because I was numb from the breast down. I couldn't even move my legs and while I was laying flat, I felt like I couldn't breathe. That was instantly cured the moment you both were pulled out. I knew you would be okay because you both had nice strong cries. They brought Camden to me to see and you didn't even have Oxygen on your face. The toughest part was waiting the hour in the Recovery Room before I was allowed to meet you both.

They wheeled me in on a stretcher to see you both.

Baby Boy A is Camden. Exactly two minutes older than your brother. You were both born right before 11pm.

You were smaller, but more fiesty than your brother. You didn't require any additional Oxygen. Just Room Air through the cannula to keep your lungs inflated.

Baby Boy B was Grey. You were almost a full pound bigger than Camden. You had a bit more trouble with your breathing. You required a dose of Survanta to help your breathing.

Grey~1month

You weigh 5lb 14oz. Even though, you only weigh 1/2 pound more, you look bigger than Camden. You are a temperamental baby. You don't mind crying to let us know when we are doing something wrong. You hate to be burped (at least you don't like it when I put you over my shoulder). But you are ok with me doing it on my lap with you leaning over my arm. You wake to eat twice for the one time your brother eats. You definitely prefer to be held over laying by yourself. You are waking more and more everyday. You like to sit and listen while we talk to you. We love you our sweet Grey. You round out our family.

Camden~ 1month

You are one month old. You have been home 3 days. It feels like you have been here forever. I'm pleasantly surprised how easy it's been to add you and your brother to our family. You weigh 5lb 4oz. You are a very laid back baby; not at all fussy. You are awake a little more than your brother. You spend that time just looking around and listening to everyone talk. You are a deep sleeper. Sometimes I have to wake you to eat, but once you're awake, you are a mighty eater. We love you fiercely. You round out our family.

Camden and Grey are Home

When I found out I was pregnant, I was so sick and I thought I would lose you. Then I had to have surgery and I thought you would never survive this. But instead you continued to thrive and grow. At 20 weeks, I noticed contractions. The doctors said this was a late term miscarriage and there was nothing they could do. And I knew surely I would lose you. That night your Dad and I cried and prayed. The next day you were still with me- just flipping and kicking. Slowly we met and exceeded my goals- 24 weeks (yay we're viable); 26 weeks; 28 weeks (we jumped a major hurdle). 31 5/7 weeks and now you're here! We made it through sickness and surgery. We made it through 11 weeks of bedrest. We made it through 5 Labor and Delivery admissions. We made it through 28 NICU days. And today we are going home

It's been a long time!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. But in all fairness we have had an eventful time. I've been sick and pregnant. We can further combine that with bedrest. We have been in survival mode for so long, it's hard to imagine that it's all over....

Decorating the Christmas Tree

When we first put the tree up, we just added candy canes.

But this little baby wasn't interested in helping us to put candy canes on the tree. She was ok with eating them. See that grin? That's a happy face because I'm finally giving in and letting her eat one.

So I broke a candy cane in half and let her and Cailin share. I thought this would satisfy her. Instead, she became consumed with eating candy canes off the tree. I had to stop her from eating them like 15-20 times per day. A couple of times, she was able to actually eat them, plastic and all, before I could stop her.

Why are you so sad Rylie? Because mean ole' Momma won't let me have another peppermint.

I have had these ornaments since Ariel was about Rylie's age. So we've been putting these same ornaments on the tree for the last 10+ years. This year Rylie has broken more ornaments than any of the kids have broken in the last 10 years. I catch her daily with about 3-4 ornaments at a time off the tree. After about the 5th one was broken, we put the ones that will shatter up high. I don't know what to say about this baby.

See that little bear? He's broken now.
Usually as the kids are unwrapping ornaments and putting them on the tree, my job is to space the ornaments out. But I didn't do that this time. So, now we have groupings of ornaments all over the tree. I think it's perfect though.

Poor tree probably won't survive this holiday season.

Happy 2nd Birthday Rylie

Rylie had a family birthday over my Mom's house. We had pizza and cupcakes with ice-cream. Or make that cupcakes, then pizza, followed by cupcakes and ice-cream.

Cailin is upset because she can't understand why she can't have a cupcake. She doesn't care that we need to sing "happy birthday" to Rylie first.

Opening up gifts from Mumsil

Happy Birthday Rylie

A Day at the Beach

About one month ago, we headed down to the beach. The day was nice and warm. And the light was amazing. We had a blast. It left me wondering how come we don't go to the beach that often.