*Almost 3 weeks old!*

Wow. I definitely understand why people say time flies when you have a baby(ies). It makes me so happy yet so sad to see them growing bigger and bigger everyday!

So, the boys graduated from the hospital nursery and were able to come home with me last Tuesday! So tomorrow will mark our very first week at home together. And let me say, it has been FANTASTIC! So much better than I ever imagined. People have a tendency to scare you when they find out you're expecting twins by telling you how hard it's going to be. Is it hard? Sure it is! You have two little lives to support! But is it worth it? Absolutely! Let me just say, I have never really been a big fan of newborns. They scare the crap out of me. But when it's your own child, it is COMPLETELY different. I can't stop kissing them. I can't stop staring at them. I love changing dirty diapers. I don't even mind it when they cry! I am just in awe at every little thing at this point. They are my world and the hard work is so enjoyable to me.

The boys definitely have their own personalities at this point. Andrew, my sweet sweet Andrew, is the quietest baby. He hardly cries unless he is naked, but any other time he is just the most mellow kid. His brother Everett on the other hand is completely opposite. He always, ALWAYS grunts, which makes everyone laugh. But he has definitely learned his voice. He cries a few times a day and it's mostly because the kid acts like he's been starved to death. Boy, does that kid love to eat! Which reminds me to add that they are both 2 ounces shy of being 6 pounds! They have both gained an entire pound in the 6 days they have been home. I'm pretty sure they will become chunky monkey's in no time!

skyping with daddy! 

Asleep in their crib 

Meatball LOVES his babies! He sits right next to them all day. 

Everett fell asleep like this. Haha! 

My boys are here!

What a whirlwind the past 9 days have been!!

I woke up the night of September 28th (the day I turned 34 weeks) feeling awful. I thought to myself that maybe this is when braxton hicks really start picking up because surprisingly, I haven't had many of them during this pregnancy. I woke up my mom at 3:30am after telling her that the BH's were coming in almost every 5 minutes, and that's when my mom was immediately out of bed and started racing to the door!

We arrived at the hospital and I was surprised to hear I was already 100% effaced and 1 and 1/2 cm dilated. Panic mode set in and all I was thinking about was "how in the heck do I get my husband home before he misses all of this!" So thankfully he was able to get his work to work out a deal to where he could come home a week earlier than expected, so he was on the next flight out.

An hour goes by and I was already at 3 cm.. We were all thinking, this is it! The boys were going to be here that day! BUT... that's the furthest we got. My doctor had the weekend off (isn't that how this always works?) and was not contactable so all of a sudden I was under the care of a doctor I knew nothing about. The next thing I know they were trying to stop my labor by giving me the turbutiline shot. Boy, I never in my life want to get that horrible drug again! Talk about feeling like your heart might explode! Well, the hospital decided to keep me admitted until my doctor came back to work on Monday so I sat there for almost 48 hours with contractions but no progression.

Fast forward to Monday, my doctor came in the room and gave me the option of breaking my water or going home to see how things would play out on their own, and that they would give me two rounds of steroid shots to give these boys the best chance possible if they did decide to make their presence a little early. So I went home and fought through what turned out to be 5 days of labor, and let me tell you, it was not fun! My contractions were non-stop around the clock, and it wasn't until Wednesday morning did I call my doctor up and said, "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!"

So I arrived at the hospital Wednesday morning and I can't even begin to tell you how fast everything went from that point on. My doctor immediately came into my room, told me I was now dilated to a 5, and that they were breaking my water. By noon, the contractions had picked up to a new pain I had never experienced before, and we were on our way! By 2pm, I was already at a 6, so I was lucky enough to only experience a few hours of true hard labor before I received my epidural. Once I got the epidural (which took 2 tries because they missed the first time, talk about the worst pain in my entire life!) I was feeling amazing, and couldn't believe it when my doctor came in by 5:30pm, and said I was ready to rock and roll!

I was wheeled back to the OR with my husband and my mom. My feet were put into the stirrups, and I swear within minutes I was told I could start pushing. 4 pushes later, my beautiful baby Andrew was born at 6:12pm, weighing in at 4 lbs 11 oz. Immediately following him was baby brother Everett, born at 6:16pm weighing in a 4 lbs 8 oz. A total of 7 pushes between the both of them!

Andrew on the left, Everett on the right

Our first and only family picture!

And just like that, my world has been completely changed. Keith and I have never had bigger smiles on our faces! We just love them so incredibly much! And for being born at 34 weeks, they are doing FANTASTIC! The only thing they are struggling with is finding the energy to eat as much as they need to, so they are being tube fed for the last half of their meals (but sometimes they finish it all!) But breastfeeding has been successful which is a HUGE accomplishment for preemie babies. I'm just one proud momma! 

And as of yesterday afternoon, my husband is now officially gone until April. It will be so hard to enjoy these boys without him, but we will make it through!!

Quick Update- From the hospital!

HA! I know I said I was going to update you everyday after my appointment on Wednesday, but guess what? I'm on day #3 of being in the hospital! 

Saturday morning around 3:00am, I woke my mom up after I realized I was having contractions that were coming about every 5 minutes. My back was KILLING me to! So we hopped in the car, drove the 45 minutes to the hospital, and right away they checked me. I was dilated to a 1 and 1/2 and I was 90% effaced. Baby A's head was fully engaged.  Okay, I knew labor was starting, so I called my husband and got him scheduled on the next flight home. 

Fast forward 2 hours, I was soon dilated to a 3 and 100% effaced. OMG! This is is really freaking happening! 

Around 12:30pm, my husband finally made it to the hospital. I hadn't seen him in over 3 months and it was just the happiest day of my life!! Babies and a husband! 

Sadly, I didn't progress at all the rest of the day. The on call doctor decided to give me a shot to stop my contractions because I am only 34 weeks, which screwed up everything my body was naturally trying to do. I was PISSED, as my normal doctor and I had just discussed this at my appointment on Wednesday that my labor will not be stopped from this point on. Yep, the on call doctor wanted to get his precious Saturday night sleep so he didn't give a F$%@ what my doctor and I discussed. UGH, so aggrevating! 

So fast forward to yesterday, I woke up to what I think was my mucus plug coming out (sorry TMI). I told the nurses, but guess what? They decided they are no longer checking me, so every little thing that was happening yesterday didn't even matter to them. The goal was to leave me alone as much as possible until my real doctor arrives. So my progress hasn't been checked since Saturday night, and here I am, 5am in the morning, waiting for my regular doctor to arrive. 

I am miserable (contractions are still constant and so is the back pain that makes me feel like I am splitting in half) but I am OH SO HAPPY! I have had lots of lovin's from my husband and at the end of the day I know he will get to be here to see the boys being born. He leaves town on Sunday so we have 6 days to let this happen!!