The twins birth story!

The five precious miracles that I have given life to!

Wow, what a crazy ending to a already bumpy journey this time around. Everything that could go wrong seemed to.

Wednesday Oct 6th, I hadn't felt well all day. I felt off. My head felt dizzy, so I told Felix that after dinner I wanted to go on in and just be checked. We arrived at the hospital about 8pm. I had no idea what it could be, I briefly mentioned something about my blood pressure. My sugars had been good all day. I had laid around on the couch all day (my usual), so I knew I hadn't overdone anything. I had been eating semi decently and drinking my water.

We get to the hospital which I should mention I hadn't been seen by the Naval Hospital since I was 31 weeks pregnant. I was 35 weeks at this point.

They had me give urine, started hooking me up to the monitors for each baby, contractions, blood pressure and took some blood. My blood pressure was well up there. The nurse tells me the doctor on call from the Naval Hospital (who just happened to be my favorite) said to call him with the results of the blood and urine. Well, 15 minutes pass and the nurse comes back in and says the Dr is at the Naval Hospital (looking at my records I assume) and he would be there asap. I knew at this point something more was going on... it went from waiting for results to he was on his way right then. I had had very high blood pressures every time the machine would take it... the nurse did a cervical check and found I was three centimeters dilated, which surprised us all.

The Dr arrived, came in and started asking me about how I felt all day. After telling him about my day, he said he was worried about preeclampsia and the babies lung maturity. He had the nurses start an IV with magnesium sulfate (the drug from hell) to keep me from having a seizure, and to stop any small contractions I was now having from time to time as well as a lovely catheter. He went and called one of his colleagues and the hospital in Savannah to get another opinion. He decided to have me transported by ambulance to the hospital in Savannah that was better equipped to handle the babies and I.

The ride to Savannah (about 50 minutes) was an uncomfortable one. It's about midnight at this point. I began having contractions that were coming from 3-4 minutes and that were getting more uncomfortable. After arriving at the hospital, I was asked questions for admission, a bunch of them. It's now a little after 1 am. Felix hadn't arrived with me yet, as he had to go by the house and try to figure out the kids situation. Thank goodness for our exchange student who was able to watch them until someone else could get to us.

The contractions felt like they were coming on top of each other and so painful. I was asking for some relief (which after having three natural pain med free deliveries was new for me), but why lay in this bed and hurt to dilate when I was having a c-section with these breech babies anyway. Felix had arrived at this point. Nurses and doctors were in and out of the room. Still not sure if we were delivering or not, I didn't know to tell Irene and Mike to leave NJ or not. The doctors here came in and said they would monitor me for a hour or so to see if I was progressing and at the point we would deliver... if not, we would have an amnio in the morning to check lung maturity. They gave me a med for the pain (maybe 2:30am), which helped for just over a hour, which I started feeling them again. I was given an Ambien (around 4am), and was able to catch some rest. By morning, I had a whole slew of people coming in and out... taking blood all early morning, checking the babies by ultrasound... I was now told the amnios were off (at 10:35 am), and we were delivering in 25 minutes. Oh my word!!! I immediately called Irene, and they set off for GA.

My blood pressure was still high. My liver enzymes were elevated. I had protein in my urine. I had low platelet count. My hemoglobin had dropped drastically. I had developed HELLP syndrome which is a life-threatening obstetric complication usually considered to be a variant of pre-eclampsia. Among other things... which I didn't find any of this out until discharge. I never knew the seriousness of how sick I had become. My life was in jeopardy. I am so thankful to have been in good hands.

At 11am, I was being wheeled in to OR for an emergency c-section. It all happened so fast, it is kind of a blur to me and I don't think the ambien had time to wear off. I remember vaguely being moved from my bed to the OR table. Being cleaned off for the spinal... I remember the deep jab of the needle numbing me... I remember closing my eyes for a second, and opening them to find, I was all in position with the famous blue sheet/cloth drapped up in front of me. I remember a nurse wiping a cold alcohol swab on my neck and arm which was cold, and then on my belly and I couldn't feel it. I remember Felix finally coming in and being by my side just before little Shawn Nolan arrived into the world at 11:42am at 4 pounds 9 ounces followed by his sister, Gwendolyn Rosemarie at 11:43am at 5 pounds 10 ounces. I remember hearing the word meconium as little Gwendolyn arrived. And a fear came over me.

Gwendolyn was wheeled away as she was having trouble breathing and grunting. Shawn I believe if I remember correctly was brought over for me to see him. I remember Felix being asked to leave with the babies as they finished up with me. I asked for him to stay with me, but was told he couldn't... next I remember is being in recovery and baby Shawn being brought in for me to nurse him. He wasn't dressed... which later became the problem of why he was sent to the NICU because his body temperature had dropped. Gwendolyn was on oxygen for about 12 hours and stayed in the NICU for observation. I am assuming b/c of the meconium, but no one ever told us. Shawn was in the NICU for his temperature, which he was able to maintain on his own very well... I know its from them bringing him to me with just a diaper on to nurse.

I had to stay on the magnesium sulfate for 24 hours after delivery... awful awful awful. Because of the risk of seizuring with my high blood pressure. I was able to get a nurse to wheel me down to nurse Shawn for his 11pm feed instead of another bottle of formula.

Irene and Mike arrived about 1 am, and Irene was there for Shawn's 2 am feed.

I had started having some slight edema about a week before delivery, after delivering I swelled up much much worse. Every part of me from the waist down was swollen and so fat. It definitely felt strange to walk around on Michelin man feet. I continued to drink lots of water and use the potty A LOT (which the nurse said was the only way to help it), and a few days after coming home, my legs are chicken legs again. It was very uncomfortable the first few days in the hospital from the surgery. Hard to get in and out of bed. Hard to sit down on their low toilet and get up. Hurt to laugh, cough, sneeze, which I tried to do none of. My appetite was definitely back in full force! I was just eating and eating! I guess making up for all the time I spent nauseous this pregnancy (which was right up to delivery :( )

I remember everyone complaining of how cold my room was, but it sure felt hot to me, thanks magnesium sulfate. I had such wonderful sweet nurses every day of the stay at the hospital... until the day of discharge. I was discharged at pain med time with no pain meds. :( I asked the nurse to take my blood pressure cause I felt it was high, which she did, and sure enough it was up there, but they still let me go home. I have had my share of tears this go around. Coming out of the hospital with both babies in tow headed for their carseats, I was a ball of tears. The ride home which Mike tried very hard to make smooth, was painful. They really need to re-pave the roads between SC and GA for those of us who are unlucky and have to have c-sections. :)

Irene and Mike stayed with us until the babies were eight days old this time. The plan was for much longer, but I didn't want to be away from Felix and he was headed to FL to visit his sick Mother for the weekend. So, as hard as it was to say goodbye this time, I had to let these two precious babies head home with their big sister and parents.

A group shot just minutes before Irene and Mike + 3 headed home.

I feel almost normal again. Healing slowly, have one spot not healing properly on my incision causing me yet more trouble :( C-sections are definitely different than vaginally, which I would prefer vaginally any day. Blood pressure is trying to work itself out. Feeling really good with the weight I have lost already, and the size clothes I am fitting in. It feels great not to be tied down to the couch or my bed everyday. Slowly getting around more and more. Being able to do things for myself has been nice and not having to rely on everyone else. Which not being able to lift anything over five pounds and not being able to drive stinks, but soon enough it will be over as well!

I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to help start a family almost four years ago, and now have completed this family with two more precious angels. I hope the F family realizes how happy I am for them, of my sacrifices, and how thankful I am to have been able to help!