Just a general update on The Green Gang:
We were able to take Benjamin and Alexander with us from the hospital when we were discharged Sunday night (7/11/10), which was a fantastic blessing for us all. I never imagined that we would be able to take home babies that were born at week 35.
We got home that night and Ethan was still awake to greet us. He was very excited to see us and I was very excited to see him. I missed him like crazy!! He waved at his new brothers and smiled and shrieked, running throughout the house in excitement.
We had the bassinet pack-n-play in the front room, so I took the babies and put them in there. Ethan was all excited to see them as he peered over the side. He was waving and got very excited and happy when Benjamin raised his arm as if to wave back!
That first night was crazy hectic. There was very little sleep the first night. Alexander seemed to think that nighttime was the right time to be awake. I guess I was under the mistaken impression that preemies slept a lot. HA!
On Monday, Ethan was rubbing Benjamin's head while we were feeding the babies. It was very cute. He also touched Alexander and just seemed very excited about the prospect of having two younger brothers (if he really even understands that is who they are!).
I starting feeling bad Sunday night after getting home and that continued into Monday. I was having some big time swelling in the lower extremities and having shortness of breath and a tightening feeling in my chest. I went to the ER after calling my OB.
I am in the cardiology wing of the hospital and had tests done. While there is no official word from my doctors yet, at the last visit they felt that I was experiencing a back up of fluid from the pregnancy. They told me my heart looked fine and there are no blood clots (which were two of the things they were concerned about). I am experiencing high blood pressure and my pulse goes from the 80s to the 40s, so I am waiting to hear about what to do with those issues. I am hoping to get back home either to day or tomorrow.
In the meantime, Rob is Super Daddy, even taking Benjamin and Alexander to their first pediatrician visit. My Mom and Mother-in-Law have really become quite invaluable to the functioning of the Green household, and I am beyond grateful to them both.
I cannot believe how blessed and fortunate I am to have such a fantastic family. I have my three beautiful boys who are the lights of my life. I have an amazing husband who loves his sons and does his best to support us all in many different ways. My family is always there if you need them and I love them very much. I am also blessed with friends (old and new) who continue to brighten my life in ways almost unimaginable.
Thank you everyone!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Day Two for the babies!
Today was a big day for the babies!
Both are off oxygen and are breathing room air. Their belly button IVs were removed earlier and standard IVs were placed. The nurses said that they believe that they will both be off the IVs tomorrow.
They were moved to a different section of the NICU (or the Special Care Nursery, as our hospital likes to call it!) so they are no longer under the heat lights and are in standard "beds" now.
They are also eating formula and evidently gobbling it down with gusto! At their last feeding tonight, they both had 1 ounce. They are ROCK STARS!!
I was also told initially that it looked like Benjamin had curly hair, but... It is thick, dark, and straight. Alexander had a complete bath today and his hair is straight and light brown.
Big brother Ethan got to see the boys through the window while Mommy held them earlier. I think he gets it that those are our babies.
Both are off oxygen and are breathing room air. Their belly button IVs were removed earlier and standard IVs were placed. The nurses said that they believe that they will both be off the IVs tomorrow.
They were moved to a different section of the NICU (or the Special Care Nursery, as our hospital likes to call it!) so they are no longer under the heat lights and are in standard "beds" now.
They are also eating formula and evidently gobbling it down with gusto! At their last feeding tonight, they both had 1 ounce. They are ROCK STARS!!
I was also told initially that it looked like Benjamin had curly hair, but... It is thick, dark, and straight. Alexander had a complete bath today and his hair is straight and light brown.
Big brother Ethan got to see the boys through the window while Mommy held them earlier. I think he gets it that those are our babies.
(Grandma Gayle, Ethan, and Grandma)
Benjamin doing what he evidently loves best at this point: Sleeping!
Alexander: Mommy's Little Spitfire!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Newest Arrivals!!
So, the boys are here, which was a HUGE surprise for me. I did not think that they would be coming today, but as long as they were ready... I was not going to complain. =)
Benjamin was born at 11.14am and weighed in at 6#10oz and was 20" long.
His little brother, Alexander, was born at 11.15a and weighed in at 6#14 oz and was 19.5" long
I am 35 weeks and 2 days today, so everyone was very happy about the sizes!
I was having contractions during my non stress test this morning. I think they were only the braxton hicks ones, but my perinatologist did the ultrasound afterwards and said, "ok, since you are having contractions, we are sending you to L & D." They called my OB and told me that they were either going to continue monitoring and give me fluids OR the babies would be born today. When I got to L & D, they moved me from an exam room to a real room, so I had a feeling... Sure enough, every nurse that entered my room was saying, "so I hear we are having babies today!"
I guess they were concerned that if the contractions got strong enough, it *might* rip open the scar on the uterus from the first c-section, so why take any chances since they are a good gestational age.
I was by myself while all this news was being thrown at me and so shocked/scared/unprepared. Rob, my Mom, and mother in law managed to get here before I was taken to the OR, so that was good. It all happened SO fast that I almost think it was a dream, you know?
They have me sitting up in the rocking chair at the moment and I am on some good pain meds. I am tired, but still wired from the excitement of it all.
Benjamin is now off the ventilator and both boys (I believe!) are still getting a low dose of oxygen through the nasal tube thing. They have IVs in their belly button/umbilical cord area to get blood from and to feed them sugar water as their veins were still too immature to attempt to put in an IV anywhere else. When they were born, they both had the same blood sugar level, which I take it from the nurses' reactions that was an odd thing... They were both 31 and needed to be 50 or over, but they rebounded alot faster than Ethan did with that issue, and now are both in the 70s, which is really good.
I have not been able to go to the NICU yet to see them myself, so I only got to see them while I was in the OR and now through pictures. Hopefully tomorrow... =)
I do not know yet how long they will have to be in the NICU... I will, of course, update with more information as I get it!
I am SOOOOOOO excited and am feeling really, really good at the moment. I think this is the best I have physically felt in a few months. Of course after the drugs wear off... Lol~
Benjamin was born at 11.14am and weighed in at 6#10oz and was 20" long.
His little brother, Alexander, was born at 11.15a and weighed in at 6#14 oz and was 19.5" long
I am 35 weeks and 2 days today, so everyone was very happy about the sizes!
I was having contractions during my non stress test this morning. I think they were only the braxton hicks ones, but my perinatologist did the ultrasound afterwards and said, "ok, since you are having contractions, we are sending you to L & D." They called my OB and told me that they were either going to continue monitoring and give me fluids OR the babies would be born today. When I got to L & D, they moved me from an exam room to a real room, so I had a feeling... Sure enough, every nurse that entered my room was saying, "so I hear we are having babies today!"
I guess they were concerned that if the contractions got strong enough, it *might* rip open the scar on the uterus from the first c-section, so why take any chances since they are a good gestational age.
I was by myself while all this news was being thrown at me and so shocked/scared/unprepared. Rob, my Mom, and mother in law managed to get here before I was taken to the OR, so that was good. It all happened SO fast that I almost think it was a dream, you know?
They have me sitting up in the rocking chair at the moment and I am on some good pain meds. I am tired, but still wired from the excitement of it all.
Benjamin is now off the ventilator and both boys (I believe!) are still getting a low dose of oxygen through the nasal tube thing. They have IVs in their belly button/umbilical cord area to get blood from and to feed them sugar water as their veins were still too immature to attempt to put in an IV anywhere else. When they were born, they both had the same blood sugar level, which I take it from the nurses' reactions that was an odd thing... They were both 31 and needed to be 50 or over, but they rebounded alot faster than Ethan did with that issue, and now are both in the 70s, which is really good.
I have not been able to go to the NICU yet to see them myself, so I only got to see them while I was in the OR and now through pictures. Hopefully tomorrow... =)
I do not know yet how long they will have to be in the NICU... I will, of course, update with more information as I get it!
I am SOOOOOOO excited and am feeling really, really good at the moment. I think this is the best I have physically felt in a few months. Of course after the drugs wear off... Lol~
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