First appointment at Brenner's / Who needs sleep??

First Appointment at Brenner's

Today was Reid's 1st appointment at Brenner's Children's Hospital at Baptist. The pediatric plastic surgeon he saw was extremely nice and highly recommended from friends, our pediatrician, and Women's Hospital. 

Dr. David felt Reid's head and said by the looks of it, she believes he will probably need surgery.  But, we will need to do a CT scan on June 11th to make sure. Immediately following the CT scan, we will see Dr David again and she will determine if surgery is necessary. If so (and it probably will be), then we will schedule surgery for when Reid is 3 months old. (End of July)  

It appears that both the back and top of Reid's skull have already fused together. If they do surgery, they will make a small incision in the top of his head & place two springs in between the plates. This will cause his plates to slowly separate, giving his brain room to grow. 

Good part: the first surgery will only require a 1 night hospital visit, and the 2nd surgery to remove the springs a few months later will be outpatient. 

Bad part: No momma wants to see her baby go through any of this!!! :(

However, I am SO thankful this is treatable!!  Reid is a very very sweet little boy. I'm so blessed to be his, Stella,& Sam's mommy!!

Who Needs Sleep???

We were spoiled with Sam. He was an easy baby. (He's actually been a pretty easy toddler too!) Still... I thought with 1 baby I was tired.  Pshhh!  

The twins are 3 weeks old today. Seems crazy! Almost everyone asks, "How are they sleeping?" ...to which we laugh...or cry... depending on the day. ;) 

Some nights I'm up every hour, some nights for 2 hours at a time, and other nights for random 30 min intervals. 

But ya know what??  Lack of sleep just comes with the whole newborn territory.  Especially when you have two of them.  Sucking it up b/c before I know it, they will be grown and I'll be wishing they were tiny again.  

Conclusion: 

-Sleep is overrated.

-Coffee is underrated.

-Tandem nursing is gonna be a MUST if I wanna get some decent sleep. For this to happen, the hubs and I tag team... He helps me hold babies on the giant nursing pillow, keep them awake, change diapers, feed me Ben & Jerry's, keep me awake, etc.  He rocks. :D  
-We are blessed. 

Birth Day - Short n Sweet / Birth Day - Longer Version / NICU / Appt at Baptist

( Couple days before delivery )

35 weeks pregnant with twins

Birth Day - "Short n Sweet"

Thing 1 and Thing 2 were born at exactly 36 weeks on Tues, April 30th just after lunch.

Stella Lynn - 6lb 10oz 19in ... Born vaginally, no problems! 

Randy "Reid" - 6lb 12oz 19.5in ... Born via Emergency csection. 

Birth Day - "Longer Version"

The week before I went into labor, I was up 4 nights with false labor.  Kinda strange to me that I only had contractions at night or if I was trying to catch a quick nap. Anyway, by Monday morning (April 29th) I was pretty tired.  I started having some pains/discomforts around 8:30am.  This time, instead of having contractions in my belly, it was back labor.  (Same kind that I had with Sam)  The contractions were pretty consistent throughout the day and slowly becoming stronger.

Hubby and I decided to go ahead and head to the hospital around 1pm.  (Especially since I was 95% effaced and dilated to a 4 almost a week ago.)  No change.  We stayed at the hospital a couple hours walking the halls with no progression and then went home.  

My mom kept little man with her that night since I was pretty sure I'd be heading back to the hospital.  I labored at home until they were around 6min apart, then hubby drove the 30min to the hospital.  (Just after midnight)

As soon as I got there they checked me and said I was at 8cm.  They offered me an epidural, but I had been doing so well I wasn't sure I wanted it.  The 2nd time he asked me I decided to go with it b/c I knew my risk of a repeated csection and I really didn't want to be put under general anesthesia again. (if there was no time to waste)  So, epidural was in ... my pain was gone ... and my labor slowed.  Boo.  

Feelin' No More Pain

Labor slowed... Ben catching a nap.

Around lunch on Tuesday, it was go time.  I pushed for about 15-20min.  When the midwife and nurse saw the head, they called in a giant crew of people.  (standard procedure for twin births)  There were doctors, nurses, NICU ppl, a pediatrician, ....probably even the cafeteria staff... all to witness the birth of Miss Stella Lynn.  Still, everything was perfect.  She was perfect.  :)  We were able to have delayed cord clamping like we wanted. 

Daddy and Stella 

About 10 min later, my water broke again and it was time to start pushing.  When instructed, I began pushing... only to be told to STOP.  The midwife and nurse saw that baby boy's cord was prolapsed.  After confirmation from the doctor, the whole crew of people started moving very quickly.  My heart was racing as they rushed me down the hall to the OR.  (**Oh, did I mention that a sweet nurse had to jump up on the bed with me, shove both hands/arms "up there" to push baby's head back off the cord that was being kinked?  I was PRAISING GOD that I had an epidural!!!)  

Ben came and sat next to my head.  I felt like they were ripping this child from my gut.  (Thankfully felt no pain though)  A min or so later, I heard Randy "Reid" cry... which made me cry.  

Ben went to look at him, then came back to tell me that Reid was being taken to the NICU.  I asked to see him first, and was really scared when I saw all around his lips/nose were blue.  He looked like he had a blue goatee and a really swollen upper lip.  

Reid's blue goatee 

I insisted that Ben go with Reid b/c I didn't want our baby being alone with all the doctors.  :(  

I was so shook up laying there as they stitched me up.  A sweet nurse rubbed my head and face, which really helped to calm me down as I prayed.  

I found out later that Reid's face was blue-ish b/c of the prolapsed cord.  The blood tests do not indicate that anything resulted from the short time of less oxygen.  He also had a partial collapsed lung.   

NICU 

Stella was able to come home with us on Saturday, but Reid ended up staying in the NICU from Tuesday April 30th to Tues May 7th. We were soooo glad to bring him home!  :)  

Twins re-unite for 1st time since the womb!  

Daddy visiting Reid in NICU

Almost time to get outta this place!!

Reid going home!!  

Stella <3

Appt at Baptist

A week from tomorrow, Reid has an appointment at Baptist with a pediatric plastic surgeon.  It looks like the plates in the back of his skull have already fused together. They aren't supposed to do this until age 2. Because of this issue, Reid's head is very narrow and goes to a point at the back.  Something will have to be done about it or his brain won't have room to grow. (probably surgery)  To be honest, some days I am worry free and totally trusting God ... but in the blink of an eye I start to contemplate the "what if's" and I spiral down into tears and stress.  I have to consciously stop myself and say, "No!  ... Jenn, God's GOT THIS. You serve a big, BIG God.  He loves you and loves little Reid.  There is NOTHING that He can't do!" If you think of it though, say a prayer for us.  We'd definitely appreciate it.  :)  

Mother's Day 2013 -- SMILE, KIDS!!