The gory details....

So Bella knows she has 2 baby sisters. But because they haven't come home I don't know how much she gets. Like, I don't know if she knows they are ours for keeps. She is very excited about them, though and talks about them. She says, "Baby sister in hospital. Getting better." She couldn't hold them yet because she got a nasty cold two days before they were born. She was pretty mad about that.

They were delivered by a C-Section. It wasn't as bad as you'd think or everyone makes it seem. The first few days were uncomfortable, but as long as I had my percocet I was just fine! After about a week I'd say I was mostly recovered. I still get tired pretty easy, but I am lifting things and bending over and stuff. My stomach still looks like I am 4 months pregnant though, which sucks!

So what happened was I was getting contractions the week before and went in to labor and delivery to get checked. I was only 34.5 weeks, I was dilated to 3 cm and she felt a foot when she examined me. They sent me home because I wasn't progressing. I went to my OB appointment with Judd the next Monday and he checked me. Still 3 cm. You know how funny he is though. He said, "When you go to get your ultrasound tomorrow with perinatology tell them I am concerned with the foot in your vagina." He said it so nochalantly. He said in all the years he has delivered babies he has only seen that happen a few times. So it's called footling breach. They were concerned because the placenta isn't supposed to shape that way. So if my water broke, the umbilical cord could prolapse out side of my body and get kinked- putting both babies at risk for death. So they asked what we wanted to do- go on bed rest for a week in the hospital, go on as normal, or have the babies that day. I felt like we should get it done that day and that the babies would be fine. He said that's what he would have done.

So we go in to have the babies at about 3 pm. We were just waiting for Dr. Judd to get there at about 5:30. By 4:00 I was going into labor though contracting pretty consistantly. So it was a good thing we went in that day! I just have to remind myself of that when I start to feel guilty that they are in the NICU still. But yeah, by 5:30 pm they were both born. They took them to examine them for an hour to see if there were any problems. Baby B (Paislee) was having a hard time breathing. So they Trasported both of them that night. My nurse encouraged me to get out of my bed to see them before they left. That was tough 2 hours after surgery but we did it and they wheeled me down to see them. They were in separate isolettes. The nurse got me a mirror so I could see their faces. I didn't get to hold them though- they had so many cords and IVs. It was so hard to see them like that! I couldn't wait to get discharged so I could see them. I was discharged on Friday (a day early) and finally was able to hold my tiny babies.

Both girls are doing well now. Today I am doing "on request" feedings. So basically seeing if they can wake up and realize they are hungry at least every four hours. We will do this for 12 hours. If they do well we will do another 24 hours and if they are gaining weight and feeding well, they get to go home!! What a perfect birthday that would be if they came home on Monday!

The babies are here!

So we had our beautiful little girls on July 29th, 2008. They came at 35 weeks and 3 days... a little too early. Because Baby B had breathing problems they were both transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where she had a ventilator put down her throat. The ventilator is out and she is receiving help with an oxygen tube. They will stay in the NICU until they can eat all meals on their own and gain weight from those feedings. We still have a little ways to go. We are up to 2 feedings a day with mom and the rest through a feeding tube that goes from stomach to nose. It is hard to see all those wires and tubes everywhere, but they are progessing and doing well. We did find out they are for sure identical...the placenta was sent to pathology. We can tell them a part though. We named them: Kailia Rose (she weighed 5 lbs. 3 oz.) and Paislee Renee (she weighed 5 lbs. 4 oz.) Their middle names came from Levi's mom and my mom. I will post some pictures as soon as I have another 5 minutes to spare!!!

Thanks everyone for you love, support and prayers.

When are we going to have these babies???

Okay, so I am not really 39 weeks pregnant, I am 35. The count down is for my "adjusted due date" since twins come a few weeks early. I am definitely progressing...I am dilated to 3 cm and 70% effaced as of last Wednesday. I went into Labor & Delivery because I was getting pretty uncomfortable and consistent contractions. Since I didn't progress in the hour that I was there, they sent me home! I was so mad about it for a few days. But after talking to a nurse in my ward, I realize it was for the best because their lungs probably aren't mature enough yet. I really would hate to have to leave them in NICU because they need extra care. I am getting so uncomfortable and impatient. I am sick of people looking at me and saying dumb things like, "You're still pregnant?" and "You look like you are going to pop!" But if I can keep them in a week or two longer, that will be best.

At my 32 week appointment Baby A measured 4 lbs even and Baby B measured 4 lbs 2 oz. So they are decent sized for their gestation. I have my 36 week ultrasound on Tuesday, so I will find out then what they are measuring. I am guessing about 5 lbs each. I can't believe I am carrying around 10 lbs of baby!!!!

1st Trip to Hogle Zoo

7/12/08
Bella's first trip to the zoo was so much fun! Her Papa Tippetts even came. I got a wheelchair and Levi pushed me around, uphill (bless his heart!). It wasn't too hot. We had a great day.

Bella's favorite animal was the Giraffe. She kept saying "really tall" and "baby giraffe". She loved seeing all the different animals and especially liked the playground.

Bella Turns 2!

It has been a month since Bella's 2nd Birthday. I've been a slacker I guess. We had so much fun! On her birthday we went to Boondock's with the Yakiwchuk uncles, aunts, & cousins. Papa Don was in town so that was special. Bella loved the bumper boats. She wasn't allowed to go on the bumper cars (neither was I) so that was a bummer. She had a lot of fun in the arcade "playing" video games and crawling around in the playground area. She had so much fun, we couldn't even get her to stop and eat some lunch.

Then, for her birthday party we bought a huge blow up water slide. We invited all her cousins and some friends over for some fun. We bbqed and opened presents. We are so grateful for everyone that came to support her. She is so loved! All the gifts were so sweet to. She tried to give each gift back to the giver and said, "All fo me!" It was adorable. We had a lot of fun. And again, we really appreciate everyone that came to support her.

Ultrasounds

The Twin's Progress at 28 weeks...

I went to my appointments last week. I was so excited to see the babies! It is so much fun to get to see them on ultrasound once a month! They are progressing well and both my OB and Perinatologist say we are all doing well. With Twin A measuring 2 lbs. 9 oz. and Twin B at 2 lbs. 8 oz. they are above average for weight at 28 weeks and they are really close to the same....both very good things. We did find that Baby A is breached and Baby B is head down. To avoid a C-Section, Baby A needs to be head first and it doesn't matter what position Baby B is in. It's crazy to think that since the last visit they have both moved from stacked horizontally to up and down. This means we are getting closer! Dr. Judd, my OB, says they will probably come in about 7 weeks from now. Dr. Gaynor, the Peri, says to shoot for at least 5 weeks from now. The closer to term they stay in, the better. I am just getting so uncomfortable with this big belly! It still blows my mind that there are really 2 babies in there. Rhett asked me yesterday if I count as 1 or 3 people at an amusement park. HA HA.

I wanted to post some ultrasounds. I put the first ultrasound when we found out we were having twins! What a shocker! I think we were both in shock for at least a few weeks. Sometimes I still can't believe it. I don't think it will be "real" until they are here at home keeping me up all night. I am not a patient person and it feels like this pregnancy is going by so fast at times and then so slowly at others. We are just about ready for them- just need a dresser, crib, and more diapers!

I am so very excited for them to be here though. Bella needs some friends and I know she will be a very good sister. When she sees an ultrasound picture, she says, "Two manies Baby sisters" and "Oh no, sisters are coming!"