Saturday, July 31, 2010

what to do..

As of today the twins are still doing great!  Still no signs of infection or contractions.  So we wait- on bed rest at the hospital.  Jared has returned to work, but thankfully he will be off all next week.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with all this time!

Admittedly I have spent MUC H of my time on the computer or watching TV.  I've also be reading a little.  Some from my bible, finished Crazy Love by Francis Chan (loved it), and now I'm starting a Beth Moore book.  But today I've felt like God is calling me to be more disciplined with my time...to be a better steward of all this time he has given me.  I can choose to look at this time as a gift.  As a time to grow closer to God, to pray for others, to count my blessings.  I believe that God wants us to be good stewards of all He has given us, including our time.  So that has become my goal.  I need a lot of help from Him, though, because own my own I easily get lost in my selfishness and pride.  I definitely have to rely on God for everything. Everyday.  So I've decided to release this time into His hands and see what He wants to teach me through all of this.  I know it can only be good things!       

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Stay in there boys...

We got a very big surprise on Monday night.  Baby A's bag of waters broke around 8:20 pm Monday when I was putting Emma to bed.  I had already gotten her ready for bed, and she was sitting next to me in the rocker while I read her a book.  Then the gush came.  Talk about a shock.  I wasn't sure if I had somehow peed my pants without knowing at first, but then it became very clear that there was something wrong when I stood up and my entire pants quickly became soaked.  Of course I atm in a panic rushing around the house to find my phone and doctor's number, praying "help me Jesus".  Emma is running behind me screaming "mama, mama!".  I know she was just as scared as I because she had no idea what was going on, but she knew something was very wrong.

We called the doctor, Jared, and my parents and got in the car to go to labor and delivery.  I was very scared because I figured if the baby's water has ruptured, we have to deliver these babies tonight.  Thankfully the news was better than I expected.  The doctor on call was Dr. Banks, the same doctor who delivered Emma.  It was such a relief to see someone I had met before.  He let us know that there was a good chance that contractions would begin within the next 48 hours (this happens about 75% of the time), but some people go much longer without having contractions when the membranes are ruptured- several days, weeks, or a month or so.  They monitored the babies and just waited to see what would happen.

The next morning contractions still had not begun, so they moved me upstairs to a permanent room.  I was told that I will be on bed rest at the hospital until the babies are born.  Not fun, but definitely worth it.  I would rather be bored to death at the hospital for a month than have very premature babies that are struggling to live.  The babies only weigh 2 lbs each right now and their lungs and brains still have a lot of developing to do.  So the longer, the better!

It has now been over 48 hours- all praise and glory to God!  The babies are still hanging in there and my uterus has not started to contract.  They have been receiving steroids to help mature their lungs and brains, and I've been given antibiotics to try to keep out any infection.  My doctor's next goal is for us to make it to the 3rd trimester (28 weeks), which is about 1 1/2 weeks away.  Then if we make it there, we'll aim for even more time.

One of the hardest parts of all of this is being away from my precious little girl.  She is in good hands with my mom and dad, and I know she is having a blast.  But I just feel so guilty that I can't be there with her.  They are bringing her up to the hospital every day for a little bit.  I had a little emotional meltdown when I saw her today.  I just miss her so much and hope that she knows how much I love her.  Even though the longer I stay up here, the better- for the boys, it is hard to imagine only seeing her for an hour or so each day for weeks or months.  I am so thankful to my parents for taking on the huge responsibility of caring for her.  They are truly a blessing from God.

Jared and I are trusting and believing that God has great plans for these boys. He has brought them this far, and I know He has them in His mighty hands.  That is what keeps me sane, what gives me peace and comfort through all of this waiting.  God is in control and I have to release these babies to him every day.  They are precious gifts from him and, ultimately, they are His children.  I know that he loves them even more than I am capable of.  Our prayer for these babies has always been that they would bring glory to Him, and that doesn't change now.  I believe that God will be glorified through their lives.  Our God is stronger, bigger, and more powerful than any thing or situations.  He is a God of miracles.  We owe all praise and glory and honor to Him for bringing the boys this far, for all He has done, and all He is going to do.  He knows these boys, and He is the One that decides when they will be born.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

Please pray for a hedge of protection around each baby from infection or any harm, no contractions, for the maturity and development of their lungs and brains, for peace for Jared and I, for wisdom for the doctors and nurses, and most importantly that God would be glorified through this.    

Thursday, July 15, 2010

July 4th 2010

I know this is way late..but I just had to post some pictures so that I can look back on them later.  We had a great 4th of July weekend.  We spent time with friends and family, splashed in the water, and ate watermelon until our faces and hands were sticky and pink.   
Emma laughing with Pop Pop.  Her shirt was made by my friend, Whitney.  She makes adorable t-shirts and lots of other things.  I'm so impressed by all of my friends' talent and creativity! 
We went to see some friends the day after the fourth who had a giant blow up slide in their backyard.  I think the "big boys" had more fun than the kids!  Emma and the other little ones weren't sure what to think of all their daddies jumping and running around like children.
Peek-a-boo!


It was an awesome relaxing weekend.  I am so grateful for time we get to spend with our friends!
Ending the weekend with more watermelon, of course!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

What happened to the 2nd trimester?

I am currently 23 1/2 weeks, still in my 2nd trimester.  But these boys have had a MAJOR growth spurt in the last several weeks.  Last week I when I went to the OB my uterus was measuring 28 weeks!  Which is totally normal when you are having twins.  The babies themselves are most likely measuring much smaller, but we won't know for sure how they are growing until we have an ultrasound in 2 weeks.  I'm definitely looking and feeling like I'm in my 3rd trimester already.  I feel like I went from 2nd trimester to 3rd all in a matter of weeks.  But it is all good because that just means they are both growing!  I feel like they haven't been quite as active in the last week (especially baby B), but maybe that just means they don't have as much room anymore.  Here is my belly at 23 weeks...(my belly button has completely become an outie, btw :))