Another First

Sorry, I couldn't resist . . . Mondays are the twins "bath day" -- today I observed Kendyll getting her bath and then gave Bennett his. Afterwards, we put them in these cute outfits and they posed for their first picture together. It isn't the greatest, but you get the idea. Enjoy!

Big Changes!!!

Bennett & Kendyll experienced LOTS of changes over the weekend! On Friday when I arrived in the snow, both babies were wearing "real" clothes (I say this because they look like real babies now) -- the temperature in their isolettes was dropped to a point where they could each wear clothes instead of just diapers. The NICU had a busy night on Thursday -- they had four new babies (including a set of triplets) come in, so they had to move Bennett into Kendyll's "cubicle" space to make room-- it is so nice that they are together now! Bennett's IV had finally been removed and Kendyll's nasal cannula had been removed, too (well actually it "fell out" -- or as I like to think she was finally tired of it and pulled it out overnight -- and when the nurse noticed it wasn't in she saw that Kendyll's oxygen level and numbers were better with it off than with it on!). Kendyll had taken her first bottle that morning and I was able to feed Bennett his first bottle as well -- they still have a lot to learn, but at least this is another big step. And Bennett was moved into a "big boy" bed (open crib) while I was there and Kendyll was moved into her "big girl" bed on Saturday. Now we can get them out, change them, etc. whenever we want (we used to have to wait for a nurse to remove them from the isolette). Although they are big for the NICU (both are around 4 lbs 2-3 oz), they seem so small and fragile to us.

The twins had several visitors this weekend, too. Grandma & Grandpa Zelasko and Nana Williams came down on Sunday and spent the day at the NICU with Bennett & Kendyll. Today Papa Williams is driving down to see them as well (he, unfortunately, had to work yesterday).

Everyone can't believe how much B & K have changed in just a week. We are still optimistic that they will be able to come home in a week to 10 days, but we haven't really been given a timeframe for when to expect to bring them home (the doctors are still using the 36 week mark as a guideline, which would be next week). They still need to gain a little weight, up their formula amounts, take all 8 feedings a day by bottle and pass a carseat test before they can come home. It seems like a lot, but the nurses assure us that once the suck/swallow/breathe reflex kicks in with the baby this will all seem to go by fast. Lets all keep our fingers crossed that they are quick learners! :-)

Here are a few pics of Bennett & Kendyll in their new "homes" and in clothes. Enjoy!

Kendyll in a new outfit from Nana & Papa (Bennett has one, too!)

Bennett in his big-boy bed (learning to suck/swallow/breathe with his pacifier)

Kendyll up close

Bennett up close

Quick update

So the weather is crud here in Columbus today and I'm delaying my trip to the NICU until this afternoon . . . I figured I'd take this opportunity to give a quick update.

Kendyll & Bennett continue to do well. I was surprised with good news yesterday when I arrived for my morning dose of "Kangaroo Care" with the twins -- Kendyll's oxygen had been dropped to almost room air! Hopefully she will lose the nasal line today when I am there. Her IV was removed on Wednesday and Bennett's was turned off yesterday, but not yet removed (hopefully that is gone today, too). He is almost ready for his "big boy" bed and once he moves to that we can start dressing him in real clothes. His sister isn't too far behind. They are both still having a little spit-up issue, but the doctors aren't too concerned about this . . . they continue to maintain or gain weight (although Bennett has had a few minor losses) so the doctors aren't ready to change their formulas just yet. Hopefully they will start bottle feeds soon, too. At least they are for the most part progressing at the same rate.

Here are a few updated pictures we shot on their birthday . . . we hope to have some better pictures soon (it is hard to get a good pic with all of the wires and the lighting isn't the greatest in the NICU).

Mr. Bennett sleeping

Bennett up close & wide awake (without wires, too . . . he was getting cleaned up)

Kendyll body shot

Kendyll up close

One Week Old

Tim & I were playing the "one week ago right now we were . . . " game this morning. We can't believe that Bennett & Kendyll are a week old today!

Things are going very well for us. I was released from the hospital on Saturday and have been making a quick recovery. I'm so happy to say that (so far) the c-section has been the easiest part of my whole pregnancy. I NEVER thought I'd say that! :-)

Kendyll and Bennett continue to grow and improve every day. Tim & I have been spending a few hours a day a the NICU with the peanuts and we are able to hold them for a while each day. I have been spending time doing "Kangaroo Care" -- skin-to-skin time with each baby. We have been able to do some of the normal new parental duties -- i.e. changing diapers and "feeding" them through their feeding tubes -- and it helps to make the whole baby experience a little more real. Kendyll still requires a little bit of help with her breathing through small nasal tubes, but the doctors keep decreasing her amounts and do not seemed concerned at all -- some babies just take a little longer to adjust. Both babies are up to eating 1 oz of formula each feeding and we are hopeful that they will be on a few bottle feeds a day by the end of the week. The next step after that is getting rid of all of their IVs & tubes and moving into a big boy & girl bed -- an open crib vs. an isolette. They have each lost a little weight (which is to be expected for any newborn) and are gradually gaining that back. Kendyll is still outweighing her brother, but we're sure Bennett will catch up soon.

Their personalities are already coming out. Although Bennett has a temper when moved (or wet, etc.), otherwise he is a very mellow baby. When we are able to feed him he normally starts out all wide-eyed and curious and before we know it he is fast asleep until the next feeding. Kendyll is keeping up with her diva reputation. The other day when I arrived, the nurse informed me she thought Kendyll was trying to break out to go home. The nurse had given Bennett a bath and a new, clean isolette and Kendyll was jealous so she kept scooting herself down in her isolette because she wanted to be the center of attention! But overall she is a very good baby, too -- I can tell she misses kicking her brother around (Bennett, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying his freedom to stretch out very much!). Everyone keeps asking us who each baby looks like . . . it is still really too hard to tell, but I think that Bennett's face is shaped like mine and Kendyll's is a little more like Tim's. But that is just my two cents . . . I'm sure it will change several times over the next few months. :-)

We don't have any new pictures (other than the snapfish album), but I'll try to snap a few today on their birthday. I've posted a few of my favorites below, though.

Bennett's sweet, quiet face:

Bennett's "old man" face:

Kendyll's sweet face:

Kendyll trying to break out (her feet would stick out when you open her isolette door!):

Mommy of twins in waiting no more . . .

After 9 weeks of bedrest, the wait is over! Bennett Michael and Kendyll Samantha made their grand entrance in the early morning hours of Wednesday, 2.13.08. Bennett weighted in at 4 lbs 4 oz and Kendyll at 4 lbs 7oz.

It started out as a rough week for me (sorry of this is TMI). I visited the hospital early Monday morning with some cramping and discomfort; turns out it was just an infection that we started to treat with medication. I still wasn't feeling so hot Monday night and Tuesday night I woke up to horrible cramps, so we headed out to Riverside again. We figured this would finally be the time they kept me in the hospital for the remainder of my pregnancy on bedrest. Turns out I was experiencing active labor -- both having contractions and dilating 3 cm in a couple of hours -- so after deliberating with my doctor they decided to take me in for a c-section. Once the decision was made everything moved pretty fast. It was a little before 5 am and we had exactly 7 minutes to call our parents to tell them what was going on! Within minutes I was prepped for surgery and we were taken back to the OR.

Overall, my c-section has been a breeze (and I was SO worried about it!). I'd be happy to share all of the gory details with anyone who is interested, but I will say it wasn't as scary or painful as I thought. It moved pretty quickly, too, and before we knew it Bennett was born at 6:17 am and Kendyll was pulled out two minutes later -- both were screaming and were overall very healthy for being born at 32w6d. Tim went with them to the NICU.

Both babies are doing very well. The doctors have said they could be in the NICU for as long as 4 weeks; they both are having slight breathing problems due to their immature lungs, but are improving every day and they will need to learn to eat and grow a little bit bigger before we can bring them home. Bennett seems very feisty -- he has quite a temper when the nurses and doctors try to move him or mess with his tubes. He does, however, seem to be very glad to be in a bed of his own -- after 8 months of sharing space with his bully sister he seems very happy to be able to spread out! :-) Kendyll was the one who would kick me so hard and in every ultrasound she seemed to be the boss, kicking and hitting her brother. She is still the diva now -- her nurse told me this morning that she is has been very difficult to please and every position they try to move her to she screams. They can only leave her on her tummy and if they try to move her she throws a fit. We may have our hands full with this one already! Big "brother" Tabasco is eagerly awaiting them home, but he has no idea how much his world will change very soon!

We don't have many pictures yet -- both Kendyll and Bennett are in isolettes and it is difficult to get a good shot. But Papa Williams snapped these two with his camera yesterday, so I wanted to pass them along.

Kendyll

Bennett

I will continue to post updates here as the twins grow and I will add more pictures as well. I will probably go home from the hospital on Saturday or Sunday. We appreciate all of the well wishes and support -- Tim and I can't wait to introduce you all to Bennett and Kendyll soon.

Drum roll, please . . .

OK, are you all sitting down??? Tim & I had our appointment at the high risk doctor this morning and had an ultrasound for a growth scan. Both babies look very, very good. And the updated weights are:

Baby A (boy): 4 lbs 6 oz
Baby B (girl): 4 lbs 5 oz

Holy growth spurt, Batman!! We are totally shocked, relieved and excited! I am now officially carrying around almost 9 pounds of babies . . . no wonder I'm so uncomfortable! My poor mother-in-law had a baby over 10 lbs (Mr. Tim) and I always said this was one of the major reasons I couldn't see myself getting pregnant . . . I couldn't imagine carrying a baby that size. Well here we are (although with two) -- but this is a very good thing!! They should grow about a 1/2 lb each week from here on out, which means if we make it to 34 - 35 weeks they will be pushing 5 1/2 - 6 pounds. Holy cow!

It is time for me to waddle back to the couch. Our next appointment is next Thursday, but I may try to post again sooner than that. Our nursery is almost finished (we just need to put away a few more things), so I'll try to post some pictures of that next week.

Take care!

32 weeks . . . Dr visit part one

Tim & I had another OB appointment yesterday. Things are starting to progress more (my cervix has shortened more, but I have not dilated any more . . . sorry if TMI) -- I guess that is to be expected since I am at 32 weeks today. I am still at home on bedrest and my doctor even allowed me to go ahead and leave the house to get my haircut yesterday. I think she could see I am getting pretty desperate being at home. My cousin Leslie (who, along with her sister Rachel, have been GREAT babysitters -- I mean company -- for me during the day over the past two weeks) took me to a salon after my appointment. I feel somewhat human again and she took an updated "belly" pic of me with my new haircut.

(notice my other "babysitter", Tabasco, trying to get into the picture, too)

The doctor said if I can make it another 2 weeks to 34 I should be golden . . . they would let me up pretty much as much as I want (although after my jaunt to the salon yesterday I can safely say I won't go too crazy . . . I get very winded and lightheaded when I stand, walk or now even sit up straight for too long. Gotta love this big, growing belly!). So I am going to start a countdown . . .13 days to go! I am still physically feeling pretty good, other than being uncomfortable from laying down all of the time and feeling huge kicks every now & then (baby girl was jabbing me above my belly button today. . . I'm pretty sure it was a foot).

I still have a few down days and I thank God again for Tim (he'll probably roll his eyes at that one). He is my rock & I don't know what I'd do without him. I wish there was some way to repay him for being such a great caretaker . . . I'm sure this is just as hard for him as it is for me. But we're getting through it and trying not to freak out too much when we think in a matter of weeks (or sooner) we'll have two screaming babies to take care of! Quite a scary thought for two people who have not really been around babies much!! But I've decided that I'm going to try to give up worrying for Lent (along with the other obvious things this year like working and dieting) -- I don't have much control over things, so it makes no sense to worry over things I can't control (famous last words).

Ok, enough for now. We have an appointment with our high risk doctor tomorrow for a growth scan, so I'll try to post more in the afternoon once we have updated weights, etc. Thanks again, as always, for the prayers, thoughts and love!