Eight Years Ago-A Birth Story

Five days before-headed to my last doctor appt.-love that basketball belly.

 

I remember the morning vividly.........not the picture above although I do remember that one too.......I was headed to my weekly doctor appointment.  I had been home from being on bedrest for almost 2 weeks.  I really needed a haircut and color, was very uncomfortable when sitting up and had very few maternity clothes to wear. But really who needs a maternity wardrobe when you are on bedrest wearing nothing but pjs for three months?  Little did I know this was my last appt.  It was a Thursday appointment and at that appointment it was decided if I had not gone into labor by the following Thursday they would induce labor.  But it was not needed.

After 3 months of bedrest, 1 at home and 2 in the hospital, I was now at home waiting for my baby boys to come naturally.  And they did at 36 weeks, but not until their Daddy made coffee.  

It was early on the Monday morning following that check-up as I rolled off the couch.  I had been sleeping in the living room because the couch just felt better to my BIG tummy and gave my back some support..  I woke up that morning to go to the bathroom after about ten times of getting up through the night. There was major pressure on my bladder at this point.  I went and went and it kept coming.  Yep, my water was ready to break.  I called the hospital not knowing for sure and they said, "Get here NOW".

I woke Brant, told him what was going on and encouraged him to GET UP now!  I fed the dogs (not sure how I bent over to do that??) and gathered my things. My bag had been packed for months so it was easy enough. I was not having contractions at this point so it seemed OK to kinda take our time, but I did not mean MAKE A POT OF COFFEE take our time.

But it was OK.  I had already been waiting for months now and a few more minutes would be fine. 

I was getting pretty good at waiting and being patient.  After all I had been on bedrest in a hospital under full construction, endured drug hallucinations from Magnesium Sulfate (with a catheter-WORSE nightmare ever!!!!!), moved from one room to the other while they painted rooms, had a nurse that insisted on waking me up EVERY NIGHT at midnight to check my vitals and a hospital kitchen staff that I insist made me very sick on purpose almost bringing on premature labor.

Yes, I complained about the food.

God tested me through my entire pregnancy because he knew I would need it with twin BOYS.

Anyway back to my story, looking back I did not bat an eye at him making coffee.  This anxious Daddy would need it in just a little while.  I remember we both were very calm, cool and collected that morning.

We did finally make it out the door.  I remember being dropped off at the front and waiting on Brant to park the car.  I can't remember riding the elevator up, but remember walking down that hall to Labor and Delivery.  We checked in-they were expecting me.  The nurse took me to a room and immediately had me change and prepare for what was to come soon.  It was early in the morning.  Still dark outside and the hospital was pretty quiet.

Upon examining me the nurse broke my water and it was now official.  Finally my body had the green light to have these babies.  After 3 months of being on "non-stop pumping meds(Terbutaline) into my thigh to stop the contractions" my body was free to go into labor.  It could do what it had wanted to do for months!  At this point the contractions were mild and the first I actually felt.  I had been having contractions since week 19, but did not have a clue.  Well I was about to really have a clue!

Prior to this morning Matthew was breech.  My doctor was giving me the choice of natural birth or C-section if he had turned.  Of course not totally natural.....I am not that brave.  I knew an epidural would happen.  And it did.  But first we must determine if I can get to push or have a C-section. The nurse did a sonogram and by the Grace of God Matthew had turned.  Both boys were head down, Ryan in the lead spot, and ready to greet the world!

With both being head down I would have the joy of PUSHING!!!!  Joy?

After this things get blurry.  I remember phone calls and Brant being silly playing with all the equipment in the room.  And then the mild contractions turned ugly !!!!!

I remember the epidural, but I can't remember if it hurt or not.  Apparently it did not. 

I remember leaving my room and going down the hall to the deliver my babies.  Because I was having twins I was in an operating room just in case anything went wrong.  For months I had visions of this day. And had read so many stories about twin deliveries. I just knew the room would be full of doctors and nurses.  I could envision me pushing with multiple doctors and nurses in and out while I would bring my children into this world.

But it was nothing like that at all.  It was me (of course), Brant, 1 nurse and a doctor.  A cozy little setting. And my doctor was not there. Wouldn't you know it she was off at a conference!  Really at this point I didn't care who it was taking over. 

It was time!  Time to push.  And push I did!  After a little over just one hour of pushing (thanks be to God!)Ryan was born.  And then I got a little break-twelve whole minutes.  And then Matthew was born.

Ryan-11:05AM 
5lbs. 4oz.
17 3/4 inches  

Matthew-11:17AM
4lbs. 15oz.
17 1/2 inches  

They were here!!!  Finally after years of longing for a baby God had given me TWO!  And they were here.  All that waiting and they were finally here!!! Five years of trying to conceive, countless infertility office visits, testing, procedure after procedure, experimental drugs through being part of a study, injections, OH and let me not forget the six failed artificial inseminations and the last one truly being our last since insurance was no longer going to pay, BUT we made it!  Our last attempt and we made babies!!! Now after what felt like a lifetime of waiting and a short labor, my sweet little boys were finally here!!! Oh what a joyous day it was on April 11, 2005.

I saw them briefly, Brant cut the cords, they were put in the warming trays beds and I was soon going back to my room.  With our babies!!!!  Brant, the proud Daddy carrying both boys in his arms.

 

Unfortunately no one else was at the hospital with us.  Just me and Brant.  At the time we lived six hours away from family.  And friends were all at work or school.  As they wheeled me back to the room I captured the only picture of my amazing husband and happy new Daddy carrying his baby boys, one in each arm. 

But that picture is ONLY a picture in my head.  We have NO picture of that beloved site to share! 

Yep, only a memory.  And one I will cherish forever.  A very vivid memory of Brant carrying those babies down the hall back to my room.  I was crushed I didn't have a real picture of him with the boys.  A nurse "tried" to take a picture and later we found out it did not come out.  Later that day when family arrived there were plenty of pictures of Brant and his baby boys.  And all those pictures are on his computer still in a box in the garage. 

That day I became a mother to two precious little lives.  Bringing two little lives into this world that God had blessed us with.  Two completely different lives born on the same exact day just a few minutes apart. 

Here are my precious babies just hours (maybe minutes...it was pretty crazy afterwards) after being born.


Ryan-left; Matthew-right


And here is one of our new family of four.  I do believe this was the next day. Brant holding Matthew and I am holding Ryan.  I see 2 BIRTHday cakes in the background!!  Brant's parents brought those and they were perfect to this new Momma!




And here they are today.......Ryan-left; Matthew-right

 

 

Happy Birthday Ryan and Matthew!!!!