More Twins Pics

Thank you so much to everyone for your well wishes! 

Ah, the wonders of Vicodin.  It has really helped with the pain management so I'm able to move around fairly well.  Since I had a similar surgery when my left tube was removed, I had a pretty good understanding of what the incision would feel like so I felt prepared.

Not so prepared for the hysterectomy part.

I've had a few people ask if I'm OK with it.  Before the c-section, I had asked to have my right tube tied because Todd & I knew we weren't going to try to conceive again.  This was our last year of trying - conception or not.  So, we had already made the decision to take measures to prevent any future pregnancies. To be blessed with twins is beyond words.

I'll save the whole birth story for another post but suffice it to say the hysterectomy was required to save my life.  The babies came out fine and they were attempting to remove the placenta previa when they realized it was deeply attached to my uterine wall.   I started to hemorrhage and they couldn't stop the bleeding.  I was awake and heard the doctor yell 3 things:  we need a mop over here, I need 2 units of blood stat and I need my hysterectomy kit.  And, then it got a little chaotic.  The anesthesiologist started ordering different medicatons and started 2 new IV lines.  He was doing a good job of talking to me to let me know what was going on and at that point, I only worried about my babies being safe.  I remember thinking, "Do whatever you have to do to me".

My blood pressure dropped pretty quickly and I heard the doctors talking to each other trying to get the bleeding under control.  "I need more suction" was a popular phrase.  All in all, I feel OK with everything.  I have my babies and I have my life.  Without the blood transfusion, I don't know where I'd be today.  I urge everyone to give blood at their local Red Cross or blood bank.  I plan to give back as soon as I'm able.

So, how about a baby update?  Both are doing well.  I FINALLY got to see them for the first time last night at 6:00 and then I went back down around 9:30 and spent another 2 hours with them.  Since they are in the NICU, they can't leave the room so we need to visit them. I am so in awe when I see them.  First, I can't believe how small they are.  While they were a good size at birth, they are still so tiny - especially Kendall.  Second, I can't believe I had both of them in my belly.  It's just amazing.  3 days ago, they were in me. And today they are breathing, eating human beings. Simply amazing.

Kendall is taking to feeding a little quicker than Christopher.  Since they were born so early, they haven't learned the sucking reflex yet but they are starting to get it.  Kendall is drinking formula through a nipple and seems to understand how to drink and breathe at the same time.  She has a great appetite and took in 7 cc of formula last night. Christopher is still learning - he was really "gaggy" last night and took in about 3 cc of formula but he spit up some of it so they went ahead and put a feeding tube in to get the rest of the food down.  They'll continue to try to feed him via mouth but will resort to the feeding tube if needed just so he can get the food.

I started pumping yesterday and I am getting some colustrum but no milk yet.  Maybe by tomorrow or Thursday.

Here's a few more pics.  I know everyone says it, but it's true.  I am so in love already.

Christopher
He's now off oxygen but still has the IV lines.

Kendall (for some reason, we have more pics of her.  I'll have to work on getting more of him today).

Our first family photo (don't be jealous of my super sexy look that I have goin' on).