Well check

The girls had their two week well check today. They are both back over birth weight. Audrey weighed in at 6 lbs. 10 oz. and Ellie was 7 lbs. 1 oz.  Audrey has a hemangioma on her head but it should go away at some point. Ellie had to get medicine put on her cord stump since it still has not fallen off and was slightly bloody. Tate stayed with my mom. He is still not feeling well. He played outside for a while with Brett and came in and was a giant mess. He left the table without eating supper and put himself to sleep on the couch. 

Brother

Big brother is never far away.  He even used the breast pump just like mom. 

Birth Story

On the morning of April 15 I had a regular OB appointment. I thought I was leaking a little fluid so they monitored the babies and checked for a leak. I checked out fine and got sent home. That evening after my shower I thought I was leaking fluid again. Brett and I agreed that I had better go get checked again so back to the hospital we went. Tate went to my mom and dad's house. This time I tested positive so I would be having a c-section that night. I got prepped and Brett joined me in the OR. I remember feeling very scared this time. There were a lot more people in the room than with Tate. I think most of them were there to take care of the babies once they were born. I also remember feeling more pressure than last time. I had a terrible cough that day and could not cough when I needed to during my c section and was just feeling terrible by the end. At 11:23 pm Ellie Marie entered world at 6 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 inches long. Her sister, Audrey Kay followed at 11:24 pm and weighed 5 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19 inches long. Audrey was having some trouble breathing so she got put on my chest right away. I got closed up and moved to recovery. As the numbness wore off I tried to cough. I could not cough deep enough and it kept making me gag. I could not stop gagging and vomiting. Eventually my body calmed down and I was able to do some skin to skin and nurse the girls. Audrey's breathing was doing much better. We got moved into our room. At some point in the night a nurse pulled back my sheet to check on me and my entire sheet was soaked in blood. Another nurse rushed in and was not so calm about the situation. She gave me a shot in the leg to help stop the bleeding. Brett said there was a giant clot that I passed. They weighed all of the blankets and pads with blood and they weighed in around 10 lbs. The blood loss made me sick and I could not stop vomiting. I could not sleep at all that night. I was unable to keep down any breakfast. That morning the OB and pediatrician made their rounds and said we were all doing well. I got my catheter removed late morning but when I stood up I felt faint. I was finally able to keep down a little lunch. My parents and Brett's parents visited in the afternoon. Tate was a proud big brother. I stood up again later in the afternoon and immediately left a giant pool of blood on the floor. The nurses got my all cleaned up and I was able to pee. I still felt pretty terrible but was able to rest. The next day I woke up and was sick to my stomach again. The doctor said I was full of gas and the nurse said I was probably vomiting because of all the air in my belly so I had to get up and move around more and use a suppository. After many miserable hours later I finally got some relief and was feeling a little better. That evening I passed a big blood clot that finally put an end to the crazy bleeding. The doctor gave me the option of going home that day but I thought I needed some more care. Finally, on Saturday I was feeling fair and was ready to go home. We got good reports from the OB and pediatrician and got discharged. It was completely different than my previous c-section and I have never felt more terrible in my life.  It was a crazy 37 weeks and 1 day that I am not eager to do ever again!  I am glad the girls are here and are healthy. 

Photo Dump

Girls

The girls are here!!  I will try to do a complete birth story soon. I had some issues and still don't feel great. Today Audrey was very sleepy all morning from her jaundice. She perked up and ate better this afternoon. Tate is a bit of a mess and seems to be getting into some extra trouble. Joan is staying with us to help out. 

Pee

Brett rode with us to school today so he could get pop for our annual mass at our country church and then take a tractor home. Tate loved showing him the classroom and gave him a big kiss when he left. When I got Tate from school one of the teachers let me know that he pulled his pants down outside so he could pee. Apparently we need to make it a little more clear where that is acceptable. Tate wanted to take a bath with Brett tonight. They had a blast!  My swelling is creeping up my legs. 

Puddle

The puddle was some free babysitting for me this afternoon!  Tate wanted to wear underwear to daycare this morning and kept them dry. However, he pooped in underwear twice this afternoon. 

Married

Tate and I are getting married!  He just thought it was too funny when I looked like a bride. He gave me tons of big kisses today. He went full speed all day but went to sleep pretty well. Hopefully he has a good night!

Song

Brett and I were finishing supper when Tate ran into the bathroom. We heard a catchy little song!  Tate was singing "Life is so much fun today!  Pooping in the potty, yay!"  What a kid!  He wore underwear all day and didn't have any accidents. The boys played at grandma and grandpa's so I could get some rest. My cough is terrible.  

Tired

Poor Tate had a rough night. I set his tent on his bed to see if that would help calm his fears. He loved it and it fired him up so much he wouldn't nap.  He was on a path of mass destruction this afternoon and was also eager to flush the toilet. (Speaking of toilet he is keeping his pull up dry away from home and rarely having accidents at all at home.)  He bumped his head so we had a little snuggle around 4:30 and he crashed in the chair. Hopefully he gets back on track soon. I have lung congestion but can't cough deep enough to clear it out. Hopefully I am on the mend before the babies arrive. 

Woodpecker

I went and sat at church this morning while Tate was at preschool. I was needing something to relax me. I have had many people wishing for the babies to come now and it stresses me out. I have worked so hard to make a good home for them so they can grow big and strong. Tate has not been sleeping and also seems to be regressing with his eye contact and other issues which also stresses me out because there could be a sibling link. He threw a huge fit this morning because he was cold and did not want to get dressed.  I started thinking about my grandparents who lived just a block away from the church.  Since their passing, their belongings have been sold, their house has been rented out, and even the church has been remodeled. I graduated from high school and college, got married and had my first child. Everything changes so much and is about to change again.  I drove by their house when I was finished at the church and noticed that there were still two plastic woodpeckers hanging on the garage just as there always was when I was growing up. I felt so reassured that everything is going to be okay!  I have a great team of angels to guide me along the way!

Belly

Here is my 36 week belly. I saw the doctor today and both babies had normal heartbeats. I go back next week. Tate was really pretending today. He wanted me to be a teacher. He also had a picnic with Brett a and made him go to jail. Bedtime has become absolutely terrible. Tonight Tate fell asleep on his bedroom floor. 

Day

We have had quite a day!  Tate was tired or didn't feel well because he had a rough time with life today. Brett met us in town for lunch. Tate had a good time!  This evening he put on some makeup.  I made it to 36 weeks today. Our doctor says that babies born at 36 weeks get to leave the hospital when mom leaves. I would still like them to stay put another week!  

Tired

There was no daycare today so Tate stayed home with me this morning. I am tired!!  I try to play with him but I just can't do it. If I sit on the floor then my legs fall asleep. He did a good job wearing underwear today. He doesn't like to pull them back up when he is finished so I feel like I spent the entire day chasing after him with underwear.  I have sinus congestion again and felt funny all day. I am having some different aches and pains in my belly. My swelling was so bad tonight I decided I better take my blood pressure. It was something like 127/82. I guess if it keeps going up these babies will come out soon.  More pics from yesterday. 

Easter

Brett and I went to church this morning. We left Tate with my mom and dad so he could have some Easter fun. We had a good lunch but had to leave right away so Tate could take a nap. Mike and Joan came this afternoon and brought some delicious supper. Tate had a lot of fun today!

Egg Hunt

We dyed eggs this morning and Tate had fun. He was too impatient to let them dry for stickers so he stuck them on his car instead. The boys went to the egg hunt in town. There were no actual eggs involved but rather just candy spread out in the park. Tate has a cold and is crabby. He refused to get in his bed tonight. All of our attempts and making monsters and ghosts go away did not work. Tate just became hysterical and said they were angry and still there. 

Builder

Crafts

My poor body hurt today and for some crazy reason I decided I needed to do Easter crafts with Tate. He had fun and especially enjoyed making carrots out of play doh for the rabbit on the paper to eat.  He finally decided to poop in the potty. He wanted to poop again when Brett got home and he tried and tried and grunted away. We had to make him stop. Brett was admiring my saggy belly tonight and I told him things were never going to look the way they used to. His reply was "me either!"  What???