So now I'm challenged with the task of remembering the past 14 weeks.... This is tough.
We stayed in the hospital from September 20th to September 24th. I didn't want to leave. While in the hosptial, we were visited by an amazing group of family and friends and were completely overwhelmed with their generosity.
We introduced the girls to their new home on Saturday, September 24th- the day after Chris' and my 5 year wedding anniversary. I can't imagine a more perfect anniversary gift!
On Sunday, September 25th, the girls went for their first walk through the neighborhood. It was BEAUTIFUL out! Sunny, warm, blue skies. Mother Nature obviously knew two amazing babies had just entered the world and wanted to impress them.
Chris stayed home with us until the following Thursday when he had to go back to work. I felt homesick when he left. My family unit was broken up and I felt completely off. Luckily my mom was there to help me for the first few days.
Andy surprised us at my front door the last weekend of Sept. My mom and I were sitting on the couch and the doorbell rang.... it was Uncle Andy!! Cue the tears...
Uncle Ryan also came to visit the same weekend. It was a complete Blandfee reunion.
At 10 days old, the girls took their first trip out of the house. We were on the hunt for baby Browns gear and traveled to two Old Navy's and Target in search of the perfect apparel.
Their first restaraunt experience was on the patio of Chipotle around 2 weeks old. They were perfect angels.
Over the course of the next several weeks, we had many visitors so excited to meet our beautiful baby girls! And we were thrilled to show them off!
I tried to get into a groove pretty early on. We'd wake up and eat in our bedroom. When they fell back to sleep, I would take a shower and pump. Eventually, we'd head down to the living room where we spent the remainder of the day.
I can't exactly remember when, but we eventually transitioned bedtime into a process of the girls sleeping in our bedroom with the monitor on while we stayed in the living room. This was tough... really tough. Before this, they would stay in the living room with us until we were all ready for bed. This way, I could sit and stare at them nearly 24/7. Moving them to the bedroom was a good idea though. It started establishing a bedtime routine. Around 9-10 weeks, the girls started sleeping longer at night and we were able to elliminate one of our middle-of-the-night feedings.
At around 12 weeks, we started transitioning them into their own room. This was WAY harder on mom than it was on babies. Our routine became eating around 8:00 and bedtime right after. They'd sleep for a long stretch in their cribs and around 4 am would wake up and come into our room with us. Baby steps for mom...
So that brings us up to now.... they are 14 weeks old and here's what they're up to:
Ellie talks. all. the. time. She laughs and coos and giggles and smiles. You cannot help but laugh.
Charlotte LOVES to stick out her tongue. She'll do it all day long. She'll give you a smile, but you have to work for it and even then it's likely more of a smirk... much like her daddy.
Both girls can now roll over from their bellies to their backs! Charlotte did it for the first time on December 21st- one day after her 3 month birthday. Ellie followed suit soon after on Christmas day!
They eat around 5.5-6 ounces every 3 hours.
They go to bed around 8:00 and sleep until 2:00 am (sometimes longer). They'll take their binkie and go right back to sleep. 4:00 am - 7:00 am is a little dicey sometimes as they reapidily lose their binkies.
They LOVE to be naked! Nakie baby time is their favorite. They'll wiggle and dance. If they are fussy (fussy time = 5 pm - 7 pm), nakie baby time calms them down nearly every time.
They love bathtime and get a bath every other day in the kitchen. We put their tub on the kitchen sink, bathe them there and use the island to dry and dress them. It's worked out perfectly so far.
They've begun grasping things and love putting their entire fists in their mouths.
About mommy:
My body has been a little less than cooperative since giving birth. My guess is that my nutrients are leaving me through my breastmilk and my defenses are a little lower than usual. At a couple weeks old, I developed mastitis for the first time. It's when a plugged milk duct becomes infected and results in breast pain and a fever. It's treated with antibiotics. I went to the doc, got some meds and felt better almost instantly. A couple weeks later... it came back. My fever spiked at 103, but quickly went away. NEXT, the top of my foot randomly became numb. It turns out that because my pelvis is trying to reposition itself, I likely have a pinched nerve. THEN I got a double ear infection and my right ear drum ruptured. O.U.C.H. THEN my Crohn's had a mini-flare and I got pouchitis. THEN my ear infection came back in my left ear. Because of my pouchitis, I was unable to feed the girls my breast milk, so I was forced to pump and dump for about 3 weeks until the meds were gone and out of my system. I'm finally able to feed them again and am super thankful to be back at it.
Phew, okay I think that's it. I'm on the mend now and am hoping my string of bad health is over!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
And babies make four...
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Charlotte Kelly and Elliot Marie entered the world. It was- without question- the very best day of our lives.
I'll try and be as brief as possible in telling their birth story...
Tuesday morning was my regularly-scheduled, weekly appointment. I went in at 10:00- Chris met me there. We must have had a feeling it was time as he usually didnt join me for my weekly appts.
The nurse took my blood pressure and it was high, so she took it again.... still high. A few minutes later, the doc entered. He took my BP and once again, it was high. We chatted for a moment and Chris said, "Doctor, do what you have to do to deliver these babies today." The doc gathered up his things and said, "I'll be right back." We could hear him in the hallway talking, but couldn't exactly make out what he was saying. A few minutes later, he reappeared. He began talking about high blood pressure and pre-E. He explained that in order for me to deliver, I needed to go home and wait for a few hours then come back. If my BP was still on the rise, I was to head to St. Ann's for a c-section. The bad news.... my regular OB would not be there to deliver as she was in a conference. I was devastated. Dr. R HAD to be the one to deliver! And she was going to be the one to notify Dr. J! How would Dr. J know to come to the delivery if Dr. R wasn't there!?
I left the OB in a haze and immediately called my mom to cry about Dr. R. I raced home and gathered things for the hospital and cleaned up the house a bit.... just in case. At noon, Chris came home and loaded the car. We had a repeat appointment at 1:00 that day to re-check my BP. The verdict was- if my BP was still high- C/S. If it had gone down- it was back home and wait a little longer.
We arrived right around 1:00. The nurse came in and checked my BP one last time. I had a terrible feeling it had gone down and my hope of delivering that day was over. (now let me just say, that I didnt want my BP to be dangerously high at all.... I just wanted it high enough to warrent a delivery).
A few agonizing minutes later, the doc appeared and instantly said to head to the hospital. My c-section was scheduled for 4:00 pm! Holy hell, we're having some babies!!!He then went on to say.... Dr. R would be there afterall! And if that wasn't amazing enough.... so would Dr. J!
So we jumped in the car and called our parents to tell them to head to the hospital. I don't think either of our moms stopped long enough to blink before racing to the hospital.
We arrived around 1:30, went up to the 3rd floor, and registered. We were taken back to a triage room where I changed into a gown and was hooked up to monitors galore. It turns out I was contracting about every 1-4 minutes, but they weren't really strong enough to do anything. In triage the nurse took my medical history and got me prepped for my c/s. Dr. R made an appearance and explained that we were stalling for Dr. J who had a 5:00 appt and would be in right after.
So we waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like 3 weeks. Finally around 4:30, I was taken back to the OR. Chris had to stay behind until I was prepped and ready to go. I'll spare the complete details of the OR, but basically, they numbed me from the armpits down and put a curtain up in front of my face. Chris came in and sat holding my hand. Then they got to work...
They were very careful with my incision because of my past surgeries. A few minutes into surgery, Dr. J appeared! When she walked in, I just looked at her crying and said "thank you." I shudder to think where we'd be without her...
Then, a few minutes later, at 5:08 PM, the most beautiful Baby A to ever exist entered the world. I could hear her cry before I could see her. They lifted her up over the curtain so I could see my amazing little miracle and I've never felt such a rush of emotions in all my life- and imagine I never will again. She was perfect. Healthy, plump, pink, and LOUD! No need to worry about that little one's lung development! Chris cut the cord and just moments later... the most beautiful Baby B to ever exist entered the world. Meeting Baby B is a little more of a blur as the OR had gotten a bit hectic at that point. There were nurses caring for babies and doctors caring for me and people taking pictures.... it was perfection.
I could see Baby A from where I was laying. She was in her bed and was so pink and so healthy. I just couldn't get over it. Chris eventually brought both of my little miracles over to me for the first time. I was in awe. How is it possible that these two perfect little beings are mine?! How is it possible that I get to take them home?!
After surgery was finished, I was taken to triage where Chris and OUR BABIES were waiting. Dr. J and Dr. R came in got to hold them. Then we called in the parents... I can't remember exactly how it happened but I imagine there were quite a few tears... and several thousand pictures. Eventually, Chris went down to the 2nd floor for the babies' first baths and I was cleaned up a bit myself.
You're probably wondering why I havn't called the babies by name yet... that's because at this point, we still hadn't decided on names for our little girls! We were pretty confident in Elliot Marie for Baby B, but were still trying to decide between Emma and Charlotte for Baby A... We were so unsure, we continued to call them Baby A and Baby B for several hours after their birth. Finally, with lots of votes from family and nurses, we officially decided on Charlotte Kelly for Baby A and Elliot Marie for Baby B.
The rest of that first evening is a complete blur to me. I know I held them, I know I nursed them, I know I walked for the first time post-surgery. But other details come and go. What I will never forget, is seeing them for the very first time and hearing their very first cries of life. I will never forget the instant love I felt for them and the love that grows stronger and stronger each and every day.
In sum:
Charlotte Kelly was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:08 PM, weighing 5 lbs, 14 oz and measuring 18 inches long.
Elliot Marie was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:09 PM, weighing 6 lbs, 10 oz and measuring 19 inches long.
So it's official... after three long years and many tears, our baby girls are finally here!
I'll try and be as brief as possible in telling their birth story...
Tuesday morning was my regularly-scheduled, weekly appointment. I went in at 10:00- Chris met me there. We must have had a feeling it was time as he usually didnt join me for my weekly appts.
The nurse took my blood pressure and it was high, so she took it again.... still high. A few minutes later, the doc entered. He took my BP and once again, it was high. We chatted for a moment and Chris said, "Doctor, do what you have to do to deliver these babies today." The doc gathered up his things and said, "I'll be right back." We could hear him in the hallway talking, but couldn't exactly make out what he was saying. A few minutes later, he reappeared. He began talking about high blood pressure and pre-E. He explained that in order for me to deliver, I needed to go home and wait for a few hours then come back. If my BP was still on the rise, I was to head to St. Ann's for a c-section. The bad news.... my regular OB would not be there to deliver as she was in a conference. I was devastated. Dr. R HAD to be the one to deliver! And she was going to be the one to notify Dr. J! How would Dr. J know to come to the delivery if Dr. R wasn't there!?
I left the OB in a haze and immediately called my mom to cry about Dr. R. I raced home and gathered things for the hospital and cleaned up the house a bit.... just in case. At noon, Chris came home and loaded the car. We had a repeat appointment at 1:00 that day to re-check my BP. The verdict was- if my BP was still high- C/S. If it had gone down- it was back home and wait a little longer.
We arrived right around 1:00. The nurse came in and checked my BP one last time. I had a terrible feeling it had gone down and my hope of delivering that day was over. (now let me just say, that I didnt want my BP to be dangerously high at all.... I just wanted it high enough to warrent a delivery).
A few agonizing minutes later, the doc appeared and instantly said to head to the hospital. My c-section was scheduled for 4:00 pm! Holy hell, we're having some babies!!!He then went on to say.... Dr. R would be there afterall! And if that wasn't amazing enough.... so would Dr. J!
So we jumped in the car and called our parents to tell them to head to the hospital. I don't think either of our moms stopped long enough to blink before racing to the hospital.
We arrived around 1:30, went up to the 3rd floor, and registered. We were taken back to a triage room where I changed into a gown and was hooked up to monitors galore. It turns out I was contracting about every 1-4 minutes, but they weren't really strong enough to do anything. In triage the nurse took my medical history and got me prepped for my c/s. Dr. R made an appearance and explained that we were stalling for Dr. J who had a 5:00 appt and would be in right after.
So we waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like 3 weeks. Finally around 4:30, I was taken back to the OR. Chris had to stay behind until I was prepped and ready to go. I'll spare the complete details of the OR, but basically, they numbed me from the armpits down and put a curtain up in front of my face. Chris came in and sat holding my hand. Then they got to work...
They were very careful with my incision because of my past surgeries. A few minutes into surgery, Dr. J appeared! When she walked in, I just looked at her crying and said "thank you." I shudder to think where we'd be without her...
Then, a few minutes later, at 5:08 PM, the most beautiful Baby A to ever exist entered the world. I could hear her cry before I could see her. They lifted her up over the curtain so I could see my amazing little miracle and I've never felt such a rush of emotions in all my life- and imagine I never will again. She was perfect. Healthy, plump, pink, and LOUD! No need to worry about that little one's lung development! Chris cut the cord and just moments later... the most beautiful Baby B to ever exist entered the world. Meeting Baby B is a little more of a blur as the OR had gotten a bit hectic at that point. There were nurses caring for babies and doctors caring for me and people taking pictures.... it was perfection.
I could see Baby A from where I was laying. She was in her bed and was so pink and so healthy. I just couldn't get over it. Chris eventually brought both of my little miracles over to me for the first time. I was in awe. How is it possible that these two perfect little beings are mine?! How is it possible that I get to take them home?!
After surgery was finished, I was taken to triage where Chris and OUR BABIES were waiting. Dr. J and Dr. R came in got to hold them. Then we called in the parents... I can't remember exactly how it happened but I imagine there were quite a few tears... and several thousand pictures. Eventually, Chris went down to the 2nd floor for the babies' first baths and I was cleaned up a bit myself.
You're probably wondering why I havn't called the babies by name yet... that's because at this point, we still hadn't decided on names for our little girls! We were pretty confident in Elliot Marie for Baby B, but were still trying to decide between Emma and Charlotte for Baby A... We were so unsure, we continued to call them Baby A and Baby B for several hours after their birth. Finally, with lots of votes from family and nurses, we officially decided on Charlotte Kelly for Baby A and Elliot Marie for Baby B.
The rest of that first evening is a complete blur to me. I know I held them, I know I nursed them, I know I walked for the first time post-surgery. But other details come and go. What I will never forget, is seeing them for the very first time and hearing their very first cries of life. I will never forget the instant love I felt for them and the love that grows stronger and stronger each and every day.
In sum:
Charlotte Kelly was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:08 PM, weighing 5 lbs, 14 oz and measuring 18 inches long.
Elliot Marie was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:09 PM, weighing 6 lbs, 10 oz and measuring 19 inches long.
So it's official... after three long years and many tears, our baby girls are finally here!
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