BABIES ARE FINALLY HERE! 12/30/09

Yeah! They are here! Here is the story of the day and the pics are below since I know most of you really just want to see the pics so they are below too :)

Spence arrived at 5:45am and gave me a blessing that all may go well - I felt so good that things would go well and that our Heavenly Father would take care of me and the babies after that. We headed down to L&D at 6am and the nurse monitored the babies for about 30 minutes just to check heart rates which I was so glad for since I forgot to mention this on the last post but I leaked a bunch of fluid and even had a little bleeding Tuesday night so I think that added to my paranoia and lack of sleep. I guess my body was anticipating the birth and was ready for them to come out.

Anyway, after paperwork and monitoring, we headed into the operating room and got started. My anesthesiologist was awesome! I leaned over for the spinal block and felt a little pinch and then nothing when the big needle went in. He was great! He talked to me the whole time and kept me distracted since I have a whoozy stomach usually. The c-section was awesome! I don't think it could have gone any better! It was quick, quick. The sewing up took the longest of course but was okay too. Oh and don't worry - Spence took pictures of about everything he could :) He was right next to Dr. Froerer and asking tons of questions and my doctor was awesome - he talked to him and told him everything he was doing and cutting through layer by layer. Spence loved it and was so sweet to me too! He knows I'm queezy so he was careful what to say and do. Once they got to my uterus, the babies came out quick and fast within a few minutes right after 8am. They whisked the babies off to the NICU but I was able to hear them all cry a bit as they came out and Spence got to see them and take their picture.

They were pulled out in a different order than we've always called them so I'll try not to confuse you guys. They've been relabeled since I've been here anyway. So I won't go into who BABY A, B, and C were.

*I'll just let you know that:

* BABY B came out first and his name is: JAXON

*BABY A came out second and his name is AUSTIN

*BABY C came out last and her name is RIO

The boys were great from the get go - they were on "room air" from the beginning. They never needed to be in an isolette or on air or anything. Rio inhaled some fluid as she came out and so they actually had to do chest compressions cause she couldn't breathe and was drowning. They had to do mask resuscitation. Good thing we weren't in there - we would have freaked out I think. So after they finally got her calmed down and found a vein to use after a few hours, they were able to eventually put her on a CPAP and then even later an oxygen tube in her nose and by last night, she was off of that as well. She is so amazing and has been so quick to recover from that scare earlier yesterday. They are so strong! Just like we thought they would be - cute little things. They do look different as well - the boys have their own little features and she is so cute too (I know, every parent says that)

I was brought back to the L&D room for monitoring and Spence and his parents went in to see the babies and got some great pictures again. My parents came shortly after and were able to see them too with Spence. Mike & Kristin came and went down with Spence again and he was able to change them, hold the boys and bathe them too! So cute - my cute husband changing his first ever diaper! He totally loved it - no, not really actually but he did a great job! I tried to sleep a bunch during the day without much success but I tried. Spence's other siblings came later last night and were all able to see the babies when I finally got to go down too. However, I was totally nauseated all day and was last night too so I had to leave the NICU :( early. I was totally bummed.

I talked to the NICU this morning and all the babies are doing great and had a good night. Then when Spence got here, we went down to see them (my parents & Spence's mom came too). Oh! They are so cute! The goal for today is to try and feed the boys but keep Rio on fluids through her tummy still and through all their noses. They want to check on Rio and make sure she doesn't have an infection from inhaling the fluid yesterday - poor little girl. But even she is doing great. I'm so proud of them - they are doing so great. No word on my release or the babies just yet. Keep tuned for more info on that.

Tuesday Update - Day Before Delivery

They're finally here! And are so adorable! We are so blessed to have these sweet babies in our lives - they are amazing! I'll give you all the details and pics on the other post:

Well, Tuesday day was a good day - I had my last NST!!! Woo-hoo for that. I was so glad - the babies were getting bigger that they had a harder time staying on their monitors and caused a lot of Braxton hicks contractions because of that. They often would all go to the right side of my belly to camp out and got so heavy just laying there trying to be still while they were monitored. So...needless to say, I'm not at all sad about not doing those anymore.

They day went by quickly actually - I just hung out most of the day. My parents stopped by in the AM and I got lots of supportive texts and calls from family and friends all day. The Maughans stopped by at night and brought one of the most favorite treats to share with me - FROGURT! Delicious! Thank you so much! That would be the last thing in my mouth for a few hours. I wasn't allowed to eat past 12pm and then after my c-section I would be on a "clear liquid diet."

The rest of Tuesday night: the nurses came in and gave me an IV - not a good experience again - I'll just say that without the details.... Anyway, I got my IV and blood drawn and then was supposed to get some sleep. Ya right! I did not sleep but maybe an hour total on and off throughout the night. I wasn't really nervous or scared but my mind would not turn off for anything. I kept thinking of everything and anything I could. It was rather annoying actually - I watched the clock all night waiting until 5:45am when Spence came. And then.. the journey began... :)

Growth U-sound update & 33 weeks

We've had a very uneventful few days until today and I'll get to that later. But the last few days have been just great - daily NST's and fetal heart tones and regular blood pressure/temperature checks. My choleostasis is getting so much better - it won't go away until delivery but the itching is WAY better and manageable and gets better everyday.

I've been reading and writing in my journal and having visitors come so most days go by pretty quickly. I love having Spence come every night - he completely makes my day. A few days ago, he brought an old school Nintendo game of our neighbors & friends, Philip & Jenny's. They have a game that has 111 nintendo games on it. It is so fun! Mario Bros., Dr. Mario, Pac-Man and Mrs. Pac-Man - so fun! Thank you Boyacks for lending me your game - it has helped so much pass the time with something mindless :) I love it!

Today, my friends Chandy & Melissa got me a pedicure and my friend Crystal came with Melissa and did it for me. I so loved it! It was great to see them but so fun also to have cute toes for the big day - it felt great to be pampered a bit. Thank you so much you guys for that sweet & thoughtful gift.

First things first, we made it to 33 weeks and here is my pic:

WEEK 33:

I swear I am getting bigger but it really doesn't look like it so much in the pics. But then again, I see myself everyday.

Secondly, we had our growth usound today to check on the babies and see how much they've grown in the last 3 weeks. The last growth one we did was on the 7th when I'd only been here for 2 days. They were all about 3 lbs at the time so my peri wanted me to do another one today since originally, they didn't know for sure when I would deliver.

Here are the growth results:

BABY A: 4 lbs 11 oz.

BABY B: 4 lbs 10 oz.

BABY C: 4 lbs 5 oz.

YEAH! They are growing and have grown a bunch since the 7th so we are so happy! Good weights for these 3 if I do say so myself! Of course, it isn't completely accurate until they are out but at least it gives us an idea of what they will be close to.

Only 2 days to go until the c-section - I can't believe it! We are so excited to meet these little babies and see them. Our little "Atlas" as we call him (baby A) holding up the other 2 and probably plugging the leak is just amazing to me. He's got a single artery cord and yet is doing amazingly well. We love you guys! See you soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Today is Friday - Christmas Day! I can't tell you how different spending Christmas in the hospital is compared to not. The craziness of the holiday season vanished away and I was able to focus solely on family and the real reason we celebrate this beautiful holiday. I'm so grateful for our Heavenly Father's blessings and our Savior and for his birth and the atonement. How grateful I am today to think about our Savior's entrance into this world and the humble surroundings he came into. It is very cool to think about them and their world and the choices they had to make. Anyway, like I said - a very different focus this year for me.

I think I last wrote on Monday - the rest of the this week has been great! All my daily NST's have been fabulous! The babies look great and they have had plenty of fluid amounts every day. I really can't believe it! Who would have thought that 3 weeks ago, I'd still be pregnant with these babies. I really can't believe they have done so well considering the emergency circumstances we came here for. All my doctors and the residents that come in every morning are amazed too! I just feel so blessed - I know it is because of the watchful care of our Heavenly Father and the thoughts and prayers from all of you! Thanks again.

I had some great company again this week which was so fun! I love to see people and exist outside of NST's, babies and all else that accompany my world here. My itching has decreased so much and I can't tell you how happy I am about that - I still take a Benadryl a couple times a day to take the edge off but the rash and the horrible itching is gone. That medicine helps a lot! My blood pressure is great and no signs of infection either. I've only had minor contractions and the usual Braxton Hicks ones for the first time this week but no major leakage or anything else scary. All is well!

I've had a lot of people ask me why if I'm doing so well would they take the babies on Wednesday. The reason is that supposedly the research suggests that when your water breaks, after 4 weeks it is too scary to keep the babies inside for risk of infection to them and to me. My doctor also said that if they are doing well, there is no point in keeping them in - they could do really well on their own being 34 weeks by then. I guess after 34 weeks, the babies really aren't at risk for any major preemie difficulties beside the usual things that can effect all babies.

Well, I hope you have all had a very Merry very Christmas. I know I have. Thanks family, friends and especially Spencer for making today be so great even though I'm trapped :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Week 32! Made it to the 4th goal I'd set!

So originally, I had 5 goals to meet with this pregnancy. Make it to week 20, then 24, then 28, then 32 and finally 36 weeks. Well, we know I won't be meeting the last goal with the c-section scheduled for next Wednesday but I guess 4 out of 5 goals isn't bad right?

All is still going well. The weekend was just fine. All NST's have been looking great and the babies are doing well. They all have plenty of fluid and never appear to be under any kind of stress. They are crazy little movers most of the time during the day and it is very reassuring to know how well they are doing.

I think with the end in sight now, I can more easily feel like this isn't going to last that much longer and we will all be home soon. I'm so grateful for all the great care I've received here and am grateful to my doctors for all their help. The choleostasis is still there but the meds are helping and I'm way less itchy but it still bugs a little bit. There has been no other issues come up now for almost a week or so which is great and we'll keep hoping for that during the next 10 days. But trust me - the countdown is on!

I've had great visitors both here and on the phone through calls and texts and again just appreciate everyone so much for your thoughts and prayers. I'm so grateful for everyone.

WEEK 32:

Thursday & Friday update

Things continue to be going well for me and the babies. The NST's continue to look awesome and the babies are moving around so much! They are so sweet and fun! Although this little girl of ours likes to climb up under my ribs still and camp out - it doesn't help that I'm sitting all day and smoosh her. Poor little babies - they are so squished. I think they continue to grow every day because the usounds get harder and harder. It's harder for the nurses to find these big pockets of fluid like they used to but since I know I'm not leaking any, I know they have plenty which is reassuring as well.

I was diagnosed with choleostasis and so now I'm taking a new medication to help my liver and gall bladder function more properly and it seems like it is helping with the itching. It's not completely better but it is night and day from a few days ago which I could not be happier for. Itching is one of the worst things I think - I would almost have traded that for another day on L&D being hooked up to the monitors all day. ALMOST... not quite though. The good news is that it is just choleostasis and not toxemia too. They were worried that it might have been both but my labs look good and my platelet count is up today too and my liver enzyme count is down. Both good news. I take Benadryl to help with the surface itching and it is helping too. Hopefully by tomorrow, this will all be over and maintained by the medicine.


I have to tell all of those in my neighborhood that attended our neighborhood party last night - thank you so much! Spence told me that everyone was so generous and thoughtful! Thank you so much for your kindness that is shown all the time to us. We couldn't be more grateful!


I'm a bit more emotional these days and feeling a little more isolated from the world. It is hard to look out the window and not feel a part of anything real. My whole world has been NST's and the babies and trying not to have them. It's funny that I say that because I do have lots of great visitors and texts and phone calls all day. I don't mean to imply that I'm isolated like that - just isolated from the "real world" I guess is what I mean. Anyway, I'm doing well and feel very lucky and blessed every day to still be pregnant for the babies sake.


Spence's family Christmas party was tonight and I was sad to miss it. It sounds like it was fun as usual. They are all so funny and fun to be with. Then, Spence came up and we hung out for awhile - he took me for a wheelchair ride which is always nice to get out of the room. This whole experience is just as hard on Spence - our last few weeks of being a couple without kids and I'm here and he's there. We're making it work though! Talk to you soon!

Update for Tuesday & Wednesday

I hate to say that things have been boring since I don't want to jinx anything but really, things are great! We are all doing well. This last week has been great. The NST's both days have been great and their fluids and heart rates continue to be awesome.

I have been incredibly itchy for days now and I can barely stand it! I finally told my doctor and so today, the lab drew some blood to check for cholestasis or pups. Cholestasis is a bile/liver issue that gets into your blood stream and causes itchiness and pups is the regular pregnancy itchy thing. Lucky me right? One more fun thing to add - it's okay though. The results showed that I have elevated levels in my liver but just mildy at this point so they are just going to monitor it and then decide on meds or something else to hopefully fix it. It doesn't impact the babies if treated quickly though so it's okay and all they would do anyway is do NST's and watch the babies so we're good there. I have my daily NST's and 2 times a day Doppler tests on their heart rates so they are definitely monitored.

My doctor officially scheduled me for my c-section on Dec. 30th at 730am. Hopefully, that will be the case and we won't need to do anything beforehand. Going past 34 weeks is not ideal - I asked him about that and was wondering if it would be possible. He said if I really wanted to push the issue, I could try but it was "against his best judgement" to let me go longer than 34. At this point though, I'm so happy to go from a once 30 week possibility to 34 weeks so I'm happy with that.

I also wanted to show you some cute pics of Spence's always kindness from Monday night. He came up Monday night and surprised me with a real mini Christmas tree, mini ornaments and lights. He also brought some Christmas music and egg nog (a family tradition). Anyway, so sweet and thoughtful! It was so fun and we had a great time - it was a really nice distraction too which is always nice for me.

Here's some pics: It's so cute hu? Thanks Spence - love you!