K & S and K & E: The Birth Story

I want to write this down before I completely forget everything...

The girls were born on a Tuesday. My doctor had told me the week before to take it easy over the rest of the week and that we would likely have babies when I came back in on Tuesday. That was what was getting me through. My body hurt and I was ready to have these babies out.

I spent most of the nights staying up until 2 and 3 in the morning watching CSI... a show that I never watched before and haven't watched since.

On Monday night, KG and I went out to eat at On the Border... we called it our last hurrah. Tuesday morning, I went to the doctor's appointment.

KG had to go to Lexington for work, so he left early and made it back before I even saw the doctor. After I had done stress tests & been examined (after which I was informed that the dr had "stripped my membranes" and I would probably start contracting), the doctor said... what day do you guys want to have babies?

KG and I didn't want the girls to be born on the 13th, and I (in my mind) did not want to wait until Thursday. I was so sad because I had already convinced myself that we would have these babies that day. The doctor went to her office to call the hospital and check out availability of rooms. I went to the restroom. When she got back and while I was gone, I think KG told her we'd really rather do it today. The doctor told KG if they didn't come today, then we'd most likely come back to the hospital in the middle of the night anyway. When I came back in, she said let's do it. I was so relieved.

So, off to the hospital we went. By noon, we were checked in and I was hooked up to monitors. I was contracting, but not really feeling anything. My nurse, Heather, was awesome. She kept the mood light, but she was definitely there to get these babies out. I liked her.

I was started on pitocin and around 1 my doctor came over to break my water. Heather had told me she was coming and I asked her if it would hurt... she responded with, "no, but the contractions after that will." Awesome. She was right.

At some point after that, I had to put down my phone... I couldn't focus on the texting at that time. And I had some ice chips for lunch. The epidural took some time. Heather didn't want the person working to do it, so she was waiting on a "better" anthesisologist to come by and do it. I had to wait a little longer, but it was totally worth it. And I'm not sure what all the fuss is about... it sure didn't hurt. Or maybe the contractions were stilling all the epidurals thunder. I immediately felt better and was able to resume texting.

The afternoon went pretty fast. My parents got there and KG's parents got there. They all came back to say hello. At some point around 5pm, Heather came back in to "check" me again (which had happened several times throughout the afternoon... and was not such a big deal once I had the epidural). She said I was dialated to about an 8 and she was going to make me a 9. That was not really fun. But like I said, Heather was there to get those babies out (and she got off at 7... I don't think she wanted to miss it).

Things happened pretty fast after that. My doctor was there, they moved me out of the delivery room and into the operating room (with twins it was required just in case). And it was go time.

I think we went back about 530. The anthesisologist gave me a boost of drugs because I was feeling way more than I wanted to. He was also really great because they kept me on oxygen the whole time, but it was seriously driving me crazy. I kept pulling at the mask, so he finally held it and took it off while I pushed, and put it back on when I had a break. Awesome.

There were a lot of nurses. I guess that's what happens when there are 3 patients. I pushed for what seemed like forever. I remember KG kept telling me what a great job I was doing, and I kept thinking "Can't be that great... still no babies."

At one point, the doctor said I could have a break for a contraction. It was great. Later KG told me that we actually breaked for about 4 contractions. Apparently KM's heartrate dropped and they were giving her a chance to get it back up before we continued or they decided to do a C-section. But it went back up and we kept going... the dr got serious though and said it was time to get this baby out.

Now, had I have known starting out that when we got close the doctor was going to put on all this additional doctor clothing, I would have been sad. At any rate, she put it on and then all of a sudden it was 6:23 and KM was here.

They took her right over to a little table to my left and I remember just staring and watching them and asking (alot) if she was okay. She was okay. They were getting her wiped off and wrapped up and I just wanted to watch her. It seemed like an eternity I was lying there.

Then more pushing... but not nearly as much and it was 6:32 and EK was here, too. And she was okay. The nurses were now working on EK and they brought me KM to hold.

Sweet little white baby. So white. I held her for a little bit and then they brought over EK, and I held both of my babies. They were both so teeny. After a little bit, they took KM back to keep her warm and I got a little one-on-one time with EK. And then it was off to the nursery for both of them. KG went with them. And the nurses.

And it was just me and the doctor and Heather. I think I was still shaking. But eventually they got me back to my room. And I was alone. It was pretty awful. I asked someone to get KG for me and he came in. And then I asked him to get my mom. I wanted my mom. I was crying and crying and I just couldn't stop. It was such a weird feeling.

I don't remember too much after that... the night got so blurry... so KG takes over here:

Drew, Tami and her girls (along with our parents) were there to see the babies weighed and measured. Everyone was taking pictures. Dr Garant came out to celebrate with the grandparents and see the twins. Eva and I went back to take care of emotional Shanna while we waited for them to bring the babies. When the girls arrived in the same “crib” we looked and held. The grandparents went to dinner together around 7:30 or 8. Josh showed up soon after. We took some pictures with him & Drew and then we sent them to get Chick-fil-a . Around this time the nurse came in and we attempted to feed. The girls were very sleepy. The night was a blur but we made it through.