On Tuesday, April 13th, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. with pain in my abdomen. It felt like gas, so I went to the bathroom. I had a bowel movement, so I thought that was that. However, the pain wouldn`t go away. It started to increase, and it came in waves. At 6 a.m., I texted my husband, Adam, who was in the next room, with this: "!!!!" He came into the room to see what was up. I told him I was in major pain. He laid down next to me and tried to get me to relax. It wasn`t working. I told him I needed to go to the hospital. Our daughter Arden was still asleep, of course, and I thought we could wait until she woke up. I went ahead and took a shower. Afterwards, my husband took a shower. By then it was nearly 7 a.m. I told him we couldn`t wait to wake up Arden, so he got her up. She wasn`t too happy about it, but she soon got over it. He gave her some milk and was taking his time changing her diaper. I was in so much pain. I was literally screaming every few minutes. I told him I couldn`t wait any longer. We had to go now! On the way to the hospital, my husband was trying to talk to me. I couldn`t concentrate on anything he was saying. I was trying to breathe and scream at the same time.
We got to the hospital around 7:30 a.m. I went to admittance and told them I thought I was in preterm labor, and that I was carrying twins. I bent over the desk in pain and screamed. The lady took my drivers` license so she could fill out the paperwork for me. A nurse came and got me and took me to a room. She had me give her a urine sample, which wasn`t the easiest thing to do at that moment. Afterwards, I changed into the hospital gown and got on the bed. She put the monitors on my belly to see how the babies were doing. They were doing just fine...it was I who was in distress! Finally, she checked my cervix. I was at 6 cm with a bulging bag! I wasn`t prepared for such news. All I could say was, "This is not good....this is not good..." My husband and daughter finally made it to the room, and I shared the news with him. He started to call family members. Of course, they were going to try and stop the labor. No one wants to have babies at 29 weeks! A little later, the doctor came in to check my cervix. I was already at 8 cm! This labor was progressing fast! I was in so much pain. I started shaking, because that`s what I do when I`m in shock. They asked how I was planning to give birth to the boys, and I said it depended on their positions. They did a sonogram, and at least one was breech. Emergency c-section it is!
By this time, family was on the way, but they had no clue that I was actually going to deliver the boys this morning. A nurse had to take Arden since family hadn`t arrived yet, and Adam went to the OR with me. I got a spinal, and went numb really quickly. They laid me down and put the sheet up so I couldn`t see anything. By that time, Adam came in the room. The doctors did a couple checks to make sure I was numb. I was told I`d feel pressure and pulling. I felt nothing. I literally laid there thinking "are they doing anything?" as they were pulling my insides out. That was fine with me! Grayson came out rear-first, and I heard him cry. Rogan came out feet-first. He was up so high, they really had to tug on his little feet and legs. He had quite the bruising afterwards...poor guy. I threw up after that. I didn`t get to see them. They were sent directly to the NICU. Adam went with them, and I stayed to get sewn up. The incision itself was stapled up. I then got pushed to the recovery room.
I was trying to take everything in, but it was hard. I just wanted to sleep. After an hour in recovery, the nurse actually pushed my bed to the NICU to see my boys before going to my room. I was so glad I got to see them. I found out they both weighed at or around 3.5 lbs, which is amazing for 29 week twins! I was so happy the nurses and doctors in the NICU were pleasantly surprised by how big they were. I then got wheeled to my room where I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days. I went to the NICU whenever I wanted to see my boys. I`m amazed by how many milestones they`ve already overcome. I was discharged on my birthday. On our way out, I stopped by the NICU and actually got to hold Rogan while Adam held Grayson. It was the best birthday gift I`ve ever received.
I love my boys! They truly are a blessing. It was hard leaving them at the hospital, but I know there`s no better place for them right now. They`ll come home when they`re ready, and I`ll be here waiting for them.
Grayson Lear
April 13, 2010
8:33 a.m.
3 lbs 8 oz
15.5"
April 13, 2010
8:33 a.m.
3 lbs 8 oz
15.5"
Rogan Emerson
April 13, 2010
8:34 a.m.
3 lbs 10 oz
16.5"
The photos below were taken Saturday, April 17th.
Daddy and baby Rogan.
Rogan the little cutie!
Mommy and baby Grayson.
Grayson the little cutie!
He's no longer wearing the oxygen tubing on his nose!