Labor of Love

Well, I haven't been very good about this whole blogging thing. I really hope to get better so that friends and family can see what is going on with the boys. They grow so quickly. The boys have arrived!! They were born on January 30th and both were good weights and healthy. I made it to 36 weeks which from what I understand is an accomplishment with twins. I was so happy they did not have to spend any time in the NICU. Labor was interesting. I ended up being induced because I developed preeclampsia. I had a Dr.'s appointment on 1/29 and was sent directly to the hospital. We got there around 11am. The Dr. came around 6pm to induce me. Once induced I went into active labor pretty quickly. Thank God for epidurals, I was not sure if I was going to get the epidural because I wanted to try the whole natural birth thing. There were some complications and when the blood was drawn I was told if I wanted an epidural they would have to put it in now because my platelets were low (around 112) and if they dropped below 100 then they would not be able to put one in. I decided to go for it and thank God I did. Around midnight I was 9cm dilated so they took me to the OR. They deliver all twins in the OR in case they have to get the second baby out quickly. My little Max was delivered around 1:45am. It was pretty quick and not so painful (thanks to the epidural). Then I started working on pushing for the next baby. Turns out he had other plans. Around 6am the Dr. said it would be best if we did a cesarean. So at 6:43am little John was born via c-section. It turns out it was a good thing she took him because he was stuck on my pelvic bone. I could have pushed another five hours and he wouldn't have gone anywhere. After labor things got a bit crazy. I ended up developing HELLP syndrome due to the preeclampsia. I rec'd a platelet transfusion because my blood platelets had dropped to 20. I was pretty incoherent and exhausted at this time. While in the recovery room from the c-section I remember lying on the bed and I started shaking, I was freezing. My teeth were chattering and I couldn't stop. Apparently my blood pressure was going all over the place too and at one point was over 200. They put some warm blankets on me and that helped tremendously.  The next day I rec'd a blood transfusion. I tell you what that was the best thing; it's amazing how much some blood can help. I think I have an understanding of the whole vampire fetish that is going on now. After that my condition just got better and better. I was released from the hospital on my sixth day there. Luckily since I was trying to breastfeed the boys were able to stay at the hospital with me.  It was so nice to go home. My parents stayed with us for the next week and a half to help out with the boys and cooking. Then Erik's mom came in for a week and after that his Dad and his wife came in for a week. It was so nice to have all of that help. I also think it helped with the boys temperaments. It didn't allow me to get all stressed out which in turn kept them non-stressed. I thank them all for their help.  I would do all of it ten times over again for these precious little boys that have blessed my life.