The First Week

The first week was a little challenging. The babies didn't latch for breastfeeding when they were first born. Being early, they were very sleepy all the time. I had to pump every 2-3 hours, attempt breastfeeding and then we gave them a bottle. That was pretty much all we had time for during the first week. At 5 days old Emmett all of a sudden figured out how to latch on and he's been doing well ever since. The next day, at 6 days old, Alyssa figured it out and hasn't had a bottle since. I'm so glad I kept trying with them because I was afraid I had ruined our chances with all the bottles we were giving them. Our pediatrician, who I love, really encouraged me by telling me not to worry about it, that they would latch on once they got closer to term. It sure makes things a lot easier to just be able to nurse them!

Emmett's first sponge bath at home.
Alyssa's first sponge bath at home
The big kids love to play on the playmat. They look huge to me now!

More pictures from the hospital

Emmett
Owen and Audrey meeting Emmett for the first time.
Audrey was so excited!
Grandma Ellen visiting
Grandma Helen
Grandpa Steve and Grandma Cindy
Visiting Alyssa in the NICU, the fist time I got to hold her.


Emmett's first bath

Together again after Alyssa was brought to our room after her stay in the NICU.


Alyssa's first bath

Audrey getting to hold Alyssa for the first time.
Grandma Helen, Grandpa Jim and Alyssa

Time to go home!!!!

They're here!

On Friday July 1, I started to have contractions that were 5 minutes apart. I called the on-call DR. and he said to go in if they get worse. Saturday they continued at 5 minutes apart most of the day, then got to 4-5 minutes apart. When they started to come 3 minutes apart we headed to the hospital. It was around 5:00pm when we got there. They monitored me for a while and then started an IV to give me fluids to see if they helped slow down the contractions. That wasn't working so they gave me a drug called Procardia to try to stop the contractions. I had two doses of that and they continued to be around three minutes apart. They gave me another drug that was supposed to relax me, that just made me feel drunk. I also started dilating a little bit.

Around 9:00 the on-call Dr came into my room and said that we were just going to do the c-section now since I was in early labor and they couldn't stop the contractions. She said they babies were far enough along now that they would be ok. I was 35 weeks and 5 days. By 10:00 we were in the OR. It all went so fast! Alyssa Grace was born at 10:18pm. She weighed 5 lbs 7 oz and was 17.7 inches long. She had some labored breathing and was sent to the NICU. She was only there for about a day (33 hours) before they released her. She improved much quicker than they thought she would. It seems that she just had some fluid left in her lungs. C-section babies can have this problem since the fluid does not get squeezed out on their way out of the birth canal.

Emmett Daniel was born at 10:19 pm. He weighed 6lbs 4 oz and was 18 inches long. He had no issues and got to come to our room with us right away. They are absolutely perfect and we are so in love with them already! Owen and Audrey are thrilled to have their baby brother and sister here! More updates to come soon!
Alyssa left, Emmett right

Alyssa
Emmett