Hello Babies

     Early on in my pregnancy I had decided that I wanted to do a VBAC. Mack had been delivered by C-Section because he was breech. Because of this reason I was a good candidate. I had two very supportive doctors who said as long as both babies were head down and I progressed on my own, I could go for a VBAC.
    At 32 weeks my body started to dialate and I figured the babies would be coming soon. My doctor gave me the shots for the babies lungs because it was still a little early for them. Surprising enough, the twins stayed put. From this point on in my pregnancy I began going to the doctor twice a week for non stress tests and to check for dialation.
    By the time 36 weeks got here, I was physically, emotionally, mentally done. Everything hurt and I was struggling to sleep. I decided that I needed a blessing to carry me through to the end and through the delivery. I had my dad come over one night and he and Luke gave me a really special blessing. I knew after that, that everything would go good and my babies would arrive safely.
     On January 15, 2 days shy of 37 weeks I went in for my non stress test. I had been up with a headache the night before so I drank some coke that morning. On the monitors that morning, Baby A's heart rate was high. I figured it was the caffeine but my Dr sent me over to Labor and Delivery to be monitored. The babies heart rate calmed down but my Dr considered keeping me and just inducing me right then. I was an emotional wreck. Recently we had found out that Mack couldn't come visit us at the hospital due to flu season restrictions. I had not said good bye to him that morning and was not prepared to leave him for however long I'd be there. My Dr decided that an extra few days would be best for the babies. They sent me home and scheduled the induction for Saturday, January 17th! We had a birthday!
    On January 16 I spent the day cuddling my Mack. Then that night we went to dinner for the last time as a family of 3. After dinner my mom came to spend the night to be with Mack for whenever they called me in. Funny enough the morning came and we still hadn't received a call. So at 9:30am I called L&D to see when to come in. They let me know that they had gotten busy and didn't have room for me until later in the day. They said they'd call when a room became available. So we played with Mack for awhile and then I felt like I could sleep (which I struggled with) so I decided to take a nap. I laid down and fell into a deep sleep. Only a few minutes later Luke came in holding his phone saying that L&D was on the line. I got on the phone and they let me know they were ready for us! With tears in my eyes, I gathered our stuff to load in the car, got Mack lunch and then we were ready to go. As we were pulling out of the neighborhood we got a phone call from my Dad (who was now at our house watching Mack with my Mom) telling us we forgot our suitcase! Ha! After returning home and getting our bags we head over to the hospital. Once we arrived we were quickly checked in and ready to go! 

     Since it was a VBAC and a twins delivery my dr had to stay the entire time. We also had a nurse in our room pretty much the entire time. They gave me my epidural, which worked awesome! I could still feel the contractions and move my legs but I felt no pain. Then they started the pitocin. The game plan was to keep the pitocin low and progress slow for the best, safest chance at a VBAC. My family visited and hung out. And I slowly progressed. I was a 4 when I checked in and by about 8pm I was a 6. My family needed to run home so they knew they had enough time, or so they thought. Not long after they left our baby B's heart rate  sky rocketed. I just sat there full of anxiety and worry as it was well above 200bmp. I knew that was way too high. My nurse decided to check me and I was at a 7. She thought her heart rate might be high because she was descending into the birth canal. A few moments later my dr came in the room. He explained that for a VBAC everything needed to go perfectly and right now there was something wrong. He made the decision to call it and go in for an emergency C-section. I began sobbing for so many reasons. I was scared for my baby's life, I was scared for the c-section recovery, I was disappointed. Guilt for being dissapointed. I had Luke hurry and call my family to get there quick. And they began prepping me for surgery. My family quickly arrived and gave me hugs and then I was wheeled back to the OR. By this point I no longer worried so much about me but was terrified that they get my babies out safely before anything critical happened. They transferred me to the OR table and began the surgery. A few minutes later they had Luke come in and sit by my head. I just remember squeezing his hand and just praying that my babies were ok. I remember crying more this time too. Moments later at 8:44pm Baby A, Archie Luke, came into the world. He was screaming and he was tiny. He sounded just like a kitten. My dr mentioned how little he was. They then brought him around the drape to show us as they took him to be cleaned up and weighed. Then almost instantly it was Baby B's turn. While she was still in me she started crying and my dr joked and said you can't cry yet, your not even born! Haha. At 8:45pm Paige Everly entered the world screaming too. As they brought her by our side me and Luke both commented that she looked like her big brother Mack. I sent Luke to go take pictures and be with the babies while they finished my surgery. As I laid there by myself I just prayed some more. This time a prayer of gratitude. I was just so overcome with how thankful I was for these two new beautiful spirits that joined our family. I truly felt so blessed. Luke eventually came back in to report sizes. Archie was 4.15lbs and 17.5in. Such a little guy. Paige was about a pound bigger at 5.14lbs and 19in. The best news though was that they both were healthy! They were breathing well and got to stay with us! No nicu! Something else we had been praying for during my pregnancy. 

     After they completed my surgery I was taken back to my room where our families were waiting for us. That's when I got to experience what I'd been waiting for. Both babies were placed in my arms and I got to hold my sweet little miracles. We were now a family of five.