The Ending.

It seemed strange to be walking into the hospital because honestly I wasn't in a TON of pain. It was uncomfortable...I could hardly walk...or move. But this pregnancy was different than my other two. I have to remember that. Maybe it's because I had been put through so much pain already that I was just numb to it all. Anyways...on Friday, January 21st we arrived at about 2:30 pm. I was walking in already dilated to a 4. When we entered the birthing floor, my nurse took us to our room and I changed into those LOVELY gowns (oh how I hate those) and did a urine sample. My nurse came in (she new a bit about me b/c she had spoken on the phone with my doctor) and asked me why I was there..."you're only 35 weeks...why are you here". She took one look at my urine and thought that I was dehydrated and this was making me have regular contractions. So she started me on fluids to see if that would stop them. They hooked me up to the monitor to check contractions and the babies...and sure enough...after the liquids were gone...I continued to contract. And boy did they get intense! Because my uterus was so large...the contractions were different than with my singleton pregnancies. The pain was in my ribs! During contractions I felt like someone was standing on my ribs and I literally couldn't breath. My doctor came in and confirmed that I was "in labor" and the girls were coming. They admitted me...added some more pretty bracelets to my wrist...and took some blood (two different times). My doctor checked my cervix and said that I was at a good 7. However, baby A (Payton Olivia) was TRANSVERSE. Like really transverse. Both the nurse and my doctor thought she might be head down just from checking my cervix b/c they could feel bone. But after TWO different ultrasounds...come to find out...they were feeling her ribs. So it was decided...C-section it was. My doctor left immediately to go get ready. The anesthesiologist came in to chat about the surgery. He looked at me and said "your having twins?...you look too little to have twins in there." That gave me a good laugh. He left and said that they would be back in 5 minutes to get me for surgery. Well....those 5 minutes were the worst! I told Evan that I couldn't do it ANYMORE and that he better start praying real hard for me. I do believe that I had reached that point...where I needed some help beyond my own. It seems that I always reach that point and have with all 3 pregnancies. But the heavens must have opened and angels must have come to my rescue b/c the nurses did end up coming to get me shortly after and I somehow made it through the 45 minutes it took to get me all ready for surgery and to have all the on-call doctors arrive (they had two pediatricians come in...one for each baby...and an extra doctor to assist my lovely doctor). I have to admit...all the months of sickness...of throwing up...nasty smells...nose bleeds...heartburn...no sleep...getting huge...stretching skin...nasty veins...PAIN...and messy house was worth it all after hearing my two baby's first moments.

I have said several times during this pregnancy (and I'm stating it here), that I do believe that carrying twins has been the most difficult and challenging thing I have done here on this earth.

Payton Olivia was born first (baby A) at 6:53 pm. She did not make a peep due to the meconium in her lungs, but I heard everyone in the room ooh and aah over her.And then not even a minute later, Brooklynn Rae (baby B) arrived at 6:54 pm screaming like she had been doing it in the womb. And notice (her left hand)...she came out signing as well. They took the girls away and finished sewing me up. I was completely out of it at this point. I started barfing and gagging. Oh it was horrible. I don't remember anything after getting back to my room. Which is unfortunate...because they brought us our girls...and I don't remember it. AT ALL. I even held the girls...and I don't remember it. I awoke early Saturday morning and remembered that I TRULY had delivered twins the night before...it wasn't a dream. I immediately wanted to see and hold them. So I woke Evan up and told him to have them bring the girls in. I loved when the nurses would bring the babies to us...I would always get excited as I heard the wheels squeaking down the hallway...and then as the nurse knocks on the door...and the girls enter the room in their beds. They have such a sweet spirit about them. Of course, as always...it's love at first sight. I love their little sounds...their newborn smells...their newness...and their little everything!
Later that afternoon the boys and grandma came to meet the girls.
Brampton claimed Payton as his woman and Cardston...well...he was a little unsure about the babies. Especially their belly buttons. He did not like the leftover umbilical cord. In fact, he started gagging at one point.
After the boys left, Payton started having a hard time breathing. The nurses rushed her away and put her on "no stimulation". They put an IV in her head and fed her through a tube. We were told that we couldn't hold or touch her. My poor baby! I did a lot of crying when seeing her this way. Evan gave her a blessing and we were hopeful that everything would be ok. The nurses would tell us that Payton knew when we left her side b/c she would start to get upset. It was cute to hear...but broke my heart even more.
Come to find out...she still had some fluids in her lungs (TTN-Transient Tachypnea) which is pretty common in c-section deliveries. She was kept this way until Monday morning (almost 2 days). We would take Brooklynn to see her sister in hopes that it would help Payton get better. And get better she did. Monday morning at 5:30 am I walked into the nursery to see how my baby was doing...and they let me hold her (cords and all). Finally. It was hard for me to see her hooked up to so many things and not be able to hold or touch her. Especially when she would cry...I wanted to be able to comfort her.

Nurse Jennifer took care of Payton while she was on "no stimulation". She took such good care of our baby love. And to her we are so thankful! She is a fabulous nurse and we were grateful to have Payton in such good care.

After several days...the girls were back together again! I think they missed each other.

And that's one proud dad of twin girls! I love him.After four days in the hospital and all the craziness there, I was so ready to get home and sleep in our own beds (and start healing)! I was extremely grateful that we were all able to leave together happy and healthy! I'm counting my blessings...over and over again.