For MOMs by MOMs- Pregnancy & Birth Story!

I've joined the link up again this week to share my pregnancy and birth story. If you are a MOM (mom of multiple) or even a singleton and want to join the link up, click here for the hostess blog this week.

We learned we were pregnant on January 12, 2011. (Click here for more details on that day.) At 3w5d, my hCG level was 131.9. At 4w0d, my hCG level was 379.1... hmmm.. so it was more than doubling every few days. I had a feeling, especially since our last pregnancy was twins. 

 At 6w3d, our first ultrasound showed TWO heartbeats :o) We then entered the world of Baby A (Mac-right) and Baby B (Paisley-left). Mac's heartbeat was 119, and Paisley's was 121. The heartbeat determining the sex was a myth for us because sometimes Mac's was faster, sometimes Paisley's was, and sometimes they were the exact same. Read more here.

6w3d

11w0d

 

22w0d

My pregnancy was pretty remarkable! We went to the OB every 2 to 3 weeks. On July 6 when I was 28w5d, an internal ultrasound showed funneling of my cervix. I've learned that 'funneling' is something MOMs know well, but my friends with singletons aren't familiar with the term. Basically 'funneling' is when the cervix begins to open from the inside from weight on it. As soon as I saw the funnel, I started crying. I was scared something was wrong. Mac's measurements guessed he was 3 pounds 1oz, and Paisley was 3 pounds.

I was put on bed rest and Procardia that day. I also got a steroid shot for their lungs to mature faster. Jordan decided to stay home with me that day, and as we laid in bed, my stomach kept tightening. The tightening wasn't any different than what I had before and was told it was Braxton Hicks. They kept coming, and I got really nervous. We called the doctor, and they advised us to go to the hospital. I packed a few things in case, but I wasn't at all prepared for what was happening.

We had visited and chosen our hospital just TWO days before this! Jordan was off July 4, and we toured Erlanger. Little did we know we'd be admitted just 48 hours later. 

After I was on the monitor, our reality presented itself- we were in labor. I had dilated another 2 cm since that morning at the OB, and I was almost fully effaced. I was admitted, put in an L and D room, and put on Magnesium for 48 hours. The magnesium basically poisons your body so the body starts to shut down. This drug was awful. It felt like being run over by a semi truck. Plus I had to have my reflexes checked every hour- not that I was sleeping. The delivery bed isn't called a 'sleeping bed' for a reason.This drug also saved my babies.

I was in the hospital 23 days. We had a few scares where I was put on heavy cocktails of drugs to make my body stop progressing. Each day that passed without a delivery was a blessing. I was on monitors every 12 hours, and that process was difficult because Mac rarely cooperated. He always rolled around so the 30 minute process took well into 2 hours sometimes. 

I am so lucky to have such a supportive family. Between my mom and Jordan, I never spent a night alone. Our families came to visit regularly, and our hospital room was quickly turned into our temporary home. We even brought our own tv and dvd player, ha! (Although that was more for Jordan than me.)

We were discharged on our anniversary- July 28. I was still on strict bed rest so my MIL came to save the day. She made it possible for me to come home, and I will always remember and appreciate the selfless gift of her time so that I could be home. She drove me to the high risk and my OB each week, and we stopped for a treat after each appointment. She made meals, kept up the laundry, and helped finish up loose ends before M and P were born. I am humbled by my gratitude for her in this phase of our lives. 

I went to the hospital 2 more times after my stay to be on monitors. One time was for a preeclampsia  scare when I had to collect urine for 24 hours, keep it on ice, and bring it to the hospital. That was interesting, ha! It's what we do, right mamas?! 

The day after I left the hospital for the preeclampsia triage trip, my water broke. I was 34w6d. I went to the hospital and labored until 5 the next morning when I was wheeled into the OR for delivery. I was able to have a natural delivery, but we had to be in the OR in case of an emergency. I pushed for about 45 minutes total. Mac was born at 5:22 and Paisley was born at 5:41. Delivery was the hardest thing I have ever done! But it couldn't have been that bad because I hope to do it again one day. :o)

Mac and Paisley were welcomed into the world by Jordan and me, their Nana and Paw Paw, Mimi and GeeP, and Uncle Jeff who waited all night for their delivery. 

The doctor held Mac up for me after he came out, and I remember asking why his face was bruised. Well it was because he spent 6 weeks in the birth canal! Poor boy! He was 'bagged' to help him breathe and wheeled to the nursery. 

Paisley came out very limp. The image in my mind scares me. She took a bit to get herself together. She wasn't ready to be born. Poor girl. She pulled through, though, and spent only a couple of days in the NICU. 

Two days after their birth, the new family of 4 drove home! 

Pictures! How fun pictures are?! You'll have to excuse me.. I was the queen of taking my own pic in the mirror during pregnancy- even if it wasn't a flattering shot.

16weeks

 

21 weeks

  24 weeks

 27 weeks

 30 weeks and my hospital room

32 weeks

My point of view at 32 weeks

34 weeks

 We made it to 35 weeks!

Mac in my arms, and Jordan with Paisley in the NICU

 

My babies!!

 Let's go home!!

For MOMs by MOMs- Introductions!

I follow a blog of a mom who delivered boy/girl twins the same day Mac and Paisley were born, August 19, 2011. (I've posted about her blog before, and you can click here to follow yourself.) Megan and other MOMs (moms of multiples) are starting a blog link up where we will all discuss the same topic once a week. This week is introductions! 

My name is Ashley, and my husband is Jordan. We have been married almost 5 years, together almost 10 years. Woah. 

I always get anxious when sharing our story, because it's emotional, and I don't want our journey to define me, us, or our family. I don't like labeling myself due to a condition we may or may not have or an obstacle we've faced. So in spite of my bundle of nerves, Jordan encourages me to share because we could help and encourage someone else. In this isolating journey, it's important to not feel alone. So here we go...

We learned in 2009 that starting a family wouldn't be as easy as we thought. It had been over a year, and we met with my OB in December 2010. I am a planner, and I didn't handle this "plan" not coming to fruition well. I went on Clomid in January, doubled the Clomid in April, had hcG shots, underwent 2 IUIs, a pelvic laparoscopy, the dye test to look for any blockages, tried acupuncture, and lots and LOTS of hot flashes and emotional roller coasters. 

In August 2009 we met with a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). We found a large cyst in my ovary, and he recommended us come off all meds until this healed. We actually got pregnant that month, found out weeks later that it was an identical twin pregnancy, and that the pregnancy stopped developing. I had a D&C October 1, 2010. It was a devastating time for me, but it also grounded and shaped my faith in our Creator and His plan. 

After a cycle, I went on Letrazole and we did and IUI. I actually didn't test because I hated putting all of my energy into a "stupid stick". So I just pessimistically waited for my cycle to start. It rarely did because my cycles are all over the place so I took a medicine to induce a new beginning for the following cycle. 

I asked that we try something more invasive for the next cycle, for I knew that the best way for me to overcome the incredible loss we had experienced was to have renewed hope in a new pregnancy. Like a gambler, we were all in. I have always said that in an infertility journey, you hit a wall... the wall where you'll do whatever it takes, spend whatever amount, anything to have a baby. 

In December 2010, I began the cycle with increased Letrazole and began giving myself the follicle stimulating hormone shot, Bravelle. We did an IUI on December 31, 2010....

January brought us a positive test, two heart beats, and an incredible journey that we still live today. :o) We have boy/girl twins! Read here about our January 2011. 

After a 23 day hospital stay from preterm labor, I was discharged and on bed rest another 3 weeks. (A post on the pregnancy is next's week topic!) My water broke on August 18, 2011, and McKinney (Mac) Graham and Paisley Grace were born on August 19, 2011. 

Mac joined us later that afternoon, and Paisley was in the NICU for the first 24 hours.

 Their first time together since birth :o)

 The day we came home from the hospital- "Allen, party of 4!" :o)

I am a SAHM and love every minute.. okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. It's hard, super hard, and I don't know how I do it sometimes, but we make it! I have such fun learning M and P's personalities and we are incredibly goofy. I dance daily, and they have learned which songs (like the ABCs) make me dance the most. I laugh and think I'm the puppet here, haha! 

I love running (actually I 'love' the feeling after I run), E!, shopping, and meeting new friends :o)

-ashley