update on Jacob and Joe week 7 :)

I wanted to post an update on Jacob Alan and Joe Robert. I probably will do one major update a week also I have created a facebook page for our sweet boys on facebook under the name of J and J 2013.

Jacob: weighs in at 5 pounds .2 ounces. He received 2 blood transfusions on Sunday and Monday. We are so thankful for people that donate blood. He got baptized on Monday by our pastor. He also gave me a very huge scare on Tuesday, the doctor's decided to lower his oxygen rate and he has been having heart rate declerations and he decided to lower his heart rate to 70 for a few minutes, they ended up having to bag my sweet boy. I was holding Joe during this time and so all I could do was look at Joe and wipe away tears from my eyes. It was a very scary few minutes. We have already been told that Jacob will be coming home on oxygen and monitor's, I also have to learn how to bag him should the need arise. As many aren't aware Jacob suffered a brain injury right after birth. While we don't know the prognosis of how normal of a life he will have we celebrate each day. He has a grade 1-2 brain bleed.

Joe: weighs in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. He is taking majority of his bottles by mouth. He just has to pass a few more steps and then we can bring him home. If all goes well he may be able to come home towards the end of the week. He will also be coming home on monitor's. He also got baptized on Monday :)

I am doing pretty well, just been trying to keep busy. Life is going to get pretty busy once Joe and Jacob are home with many appointment's in Little Rock. The big news from this week for me is that I got to room in with the boys on Monday night. It was great getting to see them for 24 hours. 

Bob and I are so blessed by so many during this difficult time. I can't believe our boys are 7 weeks old today. I can say this journey hasn't been easy and their have been many tough decisions made but we are so thankful for all the prayers and support.

Update on the boys

Life in the NICU:

Jacob: has had a pretty good few days along with snuggle time with grandma and my self. He now weighs in at 3 pounds and 12 ounces and loves his pacifier

Joe: is doing well also and has got his oxygen lowered this afternoon :) He now weighs in at 4 pounds and 4 ounces and loves his pacifier also.

A few of these photo's are from the morning of my emergency c-section, from my babe and I right before they took me back and from the first time of seeing and touching my boys.

the last few weeks.

Wow, were does time go. The last month has been a emotional, mentally and physical roller coaster. But it has also changed the way I view life. Let's start with the week before we became parent's.

The 25th of August I had been having contractions all morning and wasn't feeling well and was timing my contractions so I had gone to Labor and Delivery at 5 that morning. They kept me for a few hours and then sent us home with me on strict bed rest. They told me to call and make a follow up with my OB and so I made it for the next day. I had been having upper right quadrant pain and so since I was already spilling protein in my urine they decided to check my liver functions. They drew blood at my appt and sent me on my way. I got a call that afternoon from my nurse and she said my liver enzymes were high and that my OB wanted an ultrasound done of my liver and then after my ultrasound I was to go back to L&D for my FFN (Fetal fibronectin) screen and lab work. Both my FFN and lab work came back good and they sent me home. I went home and relaxed afterwards. The next day my BP was rising even higher and I put in a call to my nurse and she wanted me to come in so I did. My liver functions were continuing to go up. My appt that day was at 3:30 and so my mom went with me. By 6:45 that night I had received a call from my OB and he said to stop the procardia that night and he was going to call the high risk OB the next morning. I got up the next day and was still having right upper quadrant pain and so I had a few things to get done and so I went and got my errands done. I got home and was about to relax when my OB called and he was like we need to admit you and so I called my mom and had her go to the local hospital with me. They admitted me got an IV started, got blood work done and made sure the boys weren't in any type of distress and had me on monitors for a few hours. They sent me to the other floor to keep me on hospital bed rest. By the next morning my liver functions were still rising and the plan was to just watch me. Around 5:30pm they came and drew more blood and my OB called the high risk and he didn't answer his phone or texts from my OB. My OB decided to call the hospital my high risk is at and they said since I was in such bad shape to send me down, They sent me down at 10:30 that night. I got to the hospital at around 1:30am and was put on contraction monitor's and then my angel Dr. Breniman came in and checked me and I was in active labor. That Saturday morning August 31st, 2013 our boys entered the world via emergency C-section. Jacob Alan entered the world at 5:14 am and Joe Robert entered in at 5:15 am. Both boys weighed in at 3 pounds and 1 ounce each. They have come along way and still have quite a way to come before we will take them home. Some thing I have learned about being a premie mom is that this isn't a sprint it's a marathon. Some days are better than ever.

week 28 update

Week 28: Eggplant

Average size: 13.6 -14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.

Immune system is preparing for the outside world...

How far along are you? 28 weeks

Total weight gain? 16 pounds

Maternity Clothes? yes, all the time

Stretch Marks? yes

Sleep? tired all the time

Best Moment of the week? taking our maternity pictures

Miss anything? Nope

Movement? Yes, their constantly active

Food Cravings? cheese, fruit and water

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope

Gender prediction? 2 happy and healthy boys

Labor signs? a few contractions here and their

Symptoms? exhausted, breast soreness, back pain, swelling

Belly button in or out? out

Wedding rings off or on? off

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy

Looking forward to? my 1st baby shower this weekend.

Next Appt? today in about an hour or so.

week 27 update :)

Week 27: Rutabaga

Average size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.

Baby’s showing brain activity…

How far along are you? 27 weeks 

Total weight gain? 14 pounds

Maternity Clothes? yes

Stretch Marks? yes

Sleep? exhausted all the time

Best Moment of the week? Getting approved for WIC and maternity pictures tomorrow

Miss anything? Nope

Movement? Yes, all the time

Food Cravings? Water, and mc. donalds

Anything making you queasy or sick? The nasty glucose stuff :(

Gender prediction? 2 happy and healthy boys

Labor signs? a few contractions here and their but nothing major

Symptoms? exhausted, sore boobs, insomnia, going to the rest room constantly

Belly button in or out? out

Wedding rings off or on? Off

Happy or Moody most of the time? Excited yet super emotional since their are still on many unknowns right now

Looking forward to? our maternity pictures tomorrow 

Next Appt? Monday morning since we are doing weekly appts.

26 week update :)

Week 26: Lettuce

Average size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.

Eyes are forming and will soon start to open

How far along are you? 26 weeks :) that means only 9 weeks at the most to go until my c-section date 

Total weight gain? 14 pounds

Maternity Clothes? yes, all the time

Stretch Marks? yep

Sleep? good except for getting up a few times at night to use the restroom

Best Moment of the week? having my older sister here

Miss anything? Nope

Movement? Yes, these boys are active all the time

Food Cravings? milk and water

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope, thank goodness

Gender prediction? 2 happy and healthy boys

Labor signs? a few contractions :(

Symptoms? a few contractions, exhausted all the time, breasts are sore, back hurts all the time

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings off or on? Off

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy

Looking forward to? My maternity pictures next weekend and then my first baby shower on the 24th

Next Appt? Monday for my GTT, fetal fibronectin screen, and steroid shots to help mature the boys lungs.

I 

week 25 update

Week 25: Cauliflower

Average size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.

Baby knows which way is up and which is down now…

How far along are you? 25 weeks 

Total weight gain? 6 pounds 

Maternity Clothes? yes, all the time

Stretch Marks? yes, on my legs and belly

Sleep? always tired

Best Moment of the week? one of my good friends getting her first big BFP from IVF :)

Miss anything? Nope

Movement? Yes, all the time

Food Cravings? water and milk and cherries

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope

Gender prediction? 2 happy and healthy boys

Labor signs? Yes, I actually just got out of the hospital this morning I was in for pre-term labor, contractions were 1.5-2 minutes apart

Symptoms? contractions, sore breasts, feet swollen, exhausted all the time, rib pain, back pain

Belly button in or out? out

Wedding rings off or on? off

Happy or Moody most of the time? nervous, emotional and scared that these boys will arrive early than predicted. We are starting steroid shots next appt to mature lungs

Looking forward to? seeing my older sister tomarrow

Next Appt? August 12th and then going every week.