my babies are here

[julnsmokey]

I tried to post this the other day but I guess it must have been too long since it didn't work. I just wanted to let everyone who helped me with my questions to know that I delivered. June 19th Mollee May was born vaginally at 33 weeks. Josef Andrew came crash c-section a few minutes later. I had been on bedrest since 25 weeks with short cervix and hospital bedrest since 30 weeks. My water broke and the next day is when labor started. The babies are in the NICU with some difficulties but they get better every day. We are waiting results on Mollee. She had a PDA and her ultrasound to see if medication resolved it is tomorrow morning. I want to thank everyone who gave me advice on everything from 2 vessel cord to introducing the babies to the dogs. I think I would have gone crackers without this board. Thanks! Julie

[Kelian]

I am so glad that they are both here and doing well...keep us updated as things progress and we will keep sending many positive thoughts your way. I am sorry that things went a little crazy for you with the delivery but glad that it is behind you now. I hope your recovery is smooth and here is tons of growing vibes for the little ones as well!!
Congrats:)
Kelian

[canadianmiss]

Congrats on your new babies..I hope they are healthy and out of the hospital and home with you very soon!

All the best on your recovery too!
Melissa
edd aug 3 b/b twins

[Keeler5]

Congratulations of the arrival of your babies. I hope and pray that everything goes well and they get to come home very soon. Please keep us posted on their condition.

[babybuddha]

Way to go Julie,
Sounds like you did a great job, and hopefully you will have your arms full of babies in a very short time.
Keep us all posted on their progress and we will all keep a good thought going for all of you.
Naomi

[julnsmokey]

Ultrasound today shows that medication fixed the PDA which means no surgery for Mollee. Yeah! Today the NICU nurse said they may move to the intermediate nursery tomorrow. I am so happy. Next step is intermediate nursery then breast feeding and they have to maitain their own temp and they can go home. I am really tired of back and forth to hospital. I can't wait for them to be here. Everyone keeps saying oh you'll wish they were in the hospital again once they do come home. I'm sure they are just trying to be funny but gimme a break! I can't beleive how insensitive that is. Anyone else with same problem? Julie

[denverduo]

I am so happy for you! Good luck with everything!

I tend to agree with you, I don't think anyone in thier right mind would wish the babies back in the hospital. I also think that is very insensative. Your friends are just trying to help you cope so don't take it too personally.

So, a few more weeks in the Hospital and then your babies get to come home! Maybe even less time than that!

Good luck!!!

Congratulations Momma!

~Kimberly

[WendyL]

Julie, you got me all teary with memories! Mine were born at 33 weeks & spent 24 days in an intermediate NICU. Going back and forth was a royal pain in the you know what, but once you get into a routine it's not as bad.
DH actually appreciated the time they spent in hospital being a first time dad, he got to try everything (bathing, changing, etc etc) with someone to give him constant help & advice so he felt more experienced by the time they got home. I'm a first time mom too, but just wanted them home!

And there has not been ONE day that I would want them back there! I think your friends are just trying to help & don't realise how hard it is to leave them behind when you go home. It does get a little bit easier but at least you know they'll have wonderful care when you're not there, and they'll really be home before you know it.
It's all such a distant memory for me now as they run around, play, chat, hug, cuddle.....
Good luck, I hope they come home very soon!
Wendy

[julnsmokey]

Mollee has a murmur again. They think the PDA has reopened. Another echo tomorrow to see what's up. Just when I thought things were going great. The good news is they re both making really great efforts at the breast so at least that's something. I will update tomorrow. Julie

[reneeh]

Congratulations on the arrival of Mollee and Josef!

I hope you get good news tomorrow and will be able to bring the babies home soon.

Hang in there. Renee

[bocbabies]

Julie-
First and foremost, congrats on your little ones arrival. I wish you and your family all the luck in the world. I know how it feels all to well to have your babies in the NICU. My daughter had a PDA and it was followed by a murmur. It turns out the murmur was unrelated to the PDA and nothing to worry about.
I hope you hear good news today. You are in my thoughts.
As for your friends comments, chances are they are just trying to put a positive spin on a horrible situation. If you can, ignore them, they obviously don't know what it is to leave your babies day in and day out. Just know that we all know the pain it means. Soon it will be over and you will be full, literally, with babies at home.
Good luck!
W

[Media]

Good for you Julie! Congrats on your new babies! You had a long rough run w/ bed rest, but you did great! Josef and Mollee will pick up strength in no time, I'm sure of it--please keep us posted!

[Truffles]

Congratulations, Julie on your new little people! :)

[julnsmokey]

Boy am I tired. Mollee had a new echo today and they determined that the PDA is still fixed. Her murmur is caused by a vessel that is just not quite big enough yet but it will grow and she should be fine. Whew! This up and down stuff is getting to me. I finally decided that the percoset they gave me for pain was seriously messing with me so I took myself off it and had a 1/4 glass of wine instead. I highly recommend it. I told the lactation consultant and she said I should throw away the milk I pumped 4 hours later. I thought that a teensy bit o wine was fine especially 4 hours before pumping but i tossed it anyway. Josef is off IV fluids and now will get all his calories from breast milk. He also moved from an isolette to a crib today but if he doesn't maintain temp he could just as easy go back. Mollee is due to go into a crib tomorrow. If all goes well all they have to do now is nurse nurse nurse. Easier said than done I know. Well, that's the news for today. I hope no more bad news ever. I need a nap! :)

[Keeler5]

You poor mommie. I bet you are drained both physically and emotionally. Hang in there and your babies will be home before you know it. Have they given you an estimated date that they can come home?

[julnsmokey]

Well, on Sunday I went to see the babies and I developed a sudden onset fever of 103f. I just got released tonight. I had an infection of the uterus. What fun. meanwhile Mollee decided to not digest any of her feeding yesterday morning so they are letting her tummy "rest" until tomorrow morning. The poor thing is starving always awake and looking for me. It is too sad. I am so tired. I found out that my hematocrit was only 21 so that explains quite a bit. It is now 27 so i guess I'm moving along. Other than that Josef is chugging right along with his only hurdle being better breast feeding technique. (he bites -ouch!) I am still thankful that they are doing as well as they are. I am around other moms and babies in the ICN that aren't faring as well and I feel a little bit guilty. I am going to sleep now and hopefully will have good news about Mollee tomorrow.

[Keeler5]

Hang in there mommy! We are keeping you in our thoughts and in our prayers.

[julnsmokey]

Well, the only good thing that came of the nurses letting Mollee's tummy "rest" was that she was so hungry she figured out the whole breast feeding thing as soon as they let her eat. She went from taking nothing to taking 25 and then 62 cc's at her first feedings. WOW! So now just Josef has to get it and then we can go home. (fingers crossed) I feel better and hopefully the infection will be done with from these antibiotics. I can't wait to go home. I was hoping by my 30th birthday (sat) that I could bring them home. Oh well. That probably won't happen but pretty soon. That's tonight's news report. I have to go back and forth alot more now since they are nursing so probably be a day or two without posts. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Julie

[Keeler5]

Julie~
That is great news. Hopefully they will be able to come home very soon.

[julnsmokey]

Well, Mollee and I are both better and she was nursing just great. However they are still tube feeding both her and Josef. They are never hungry as a result and have almost no interest in nursing. The lactation nurses say this is normal for their gestational age (35 + weeks) and that soon they should figure it out. Has anybody had this problem with preterm twins? I thought all babies were supposed to know how to nurse. Anyway I know I should be gratefull that they are healthy and growing but, I am just so darn tired of that hospital. That's all today. Julie