the Babies are Here!

At 2am on Thursday someone decided to kick their water bag open. I was fast asleep and woke up to a huge gush of water- just like in the movies. I experienced a crazy adrenaline rush the likes of which I still don't think I've recovered from! We called my OB and two hours later the babies were out. I'm still trying to get my head around it. On the one hand I really wanted, and thought, we'd go longer. On the other, it was a miracle I made it so far. The babies (we're still working out the names) weighed in at 5lbs7oz and 5lbs3oz, which is very large for nearly-34weeker twins and had my tumm pulled to a 45cm+ fundal length. I started at >120lbs and wound up at 188lbs in just 7 1/2 months. Plus, they were in crazy positions, transverse but stacked horizontally on top of each other so I was extra stretched. (My doctor said she's never seen more unusual positions for twins!) No wonder I was in such agony every time I tried switching sides in bed! It was uncomfortable for all of us. So despite the fact that my labor predictor (fetal fibernectin test) came out negative only a week beforehand, the ship sprung a leak. All the bedrest, drugs or wheelchairs (which I was then using) in the world couldn't have kept these guys in there a minute longer.

It feels sort of strange to have them out now! For so long we've been focused on making our pregnancy successful, and even though I'm a bit bummed we didn't make our 36 week goal, we came really close. So far the babies are doing great. One has needed a little smidge of oxygen flow, but that's it. It's hard to say how long they'll be in the NICU- probably 2-3 weeks. They need to develop their sucking reflex, which typically kicks in a week or two from now. While I wish they didn't have to be in the NICU, I know it's going to give me a badly-needed opportunity to rest and recover. I leave the hospital in a day or two. If all works out well, I'm going to be very, very busy in a couple weeks from now when Caleb and Julian get home from their visit from Nana. Love you all! We couldn't have made it this far without you! We'll get photos up soon!