And Then There Were Five... {Birth Story}

I'm not gonna lie to you - this labor story might make you roll your eyes.

Thats how fast and "easy" it was - fast and "easy" as in it was less than three hours from start to finish.

Just know that if I sound like I'm bragging about my labor story, in all likelihood I probably am. After having Kendry four years ago I've come to be envious of those "fast and easy" labor stories because his was anything but. Oh, I know his labor didn't rank up there with the real doozies (i.e. 48 hours of labor followed by c-section or the like); but with the exception of the epidural, all day contractions and two hours to push out a 10+ lb baby do not an "easy" labor make.

This time around was a completely different story.

But first, a photo of me at 34 weeks, just two days before I went into labor.

Now allow me to walk you through the timeline.

Friday, May 10, 2013 @ 3:00 p.m.
I was enjoying Day 3 of my maternity leave and taking it easy because I'd been feeling a little off most of the day. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law arrived with my niece and Kendry in tow and we all headed outside to the back patio to enjoy the sunshine.

4:30 p.m.
I got too hot and uncomfortable outside and moved inside to the couch to put my feet up.

5:00 p.m.
I noticed my usual sporadic contractions were actually coming continually 5-6 minutes apart, although they still weren't painful. I tracked them for 30 minutes before admitting to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law that Justin and I may have to head to the hospital for some monitoring.

5:45 p.m.
I finally concede to calling my doctor about the contractions. Not two minutes after struggling to get myself off the couch and find the phone, my water breaks.


{CUE HUSBAND PANIC MODE!}

6:00 p.m.
We kissed Kendry goodbye, leaving him in the care of my sister-in-law, and departed for the hospital. Gritman Medical Center is about 35 minutes from our house. Needless to say, hubs put the peddle to the metal. Me? I closed my eyes and tried to keep my muscles relaxed, which wasn't too difficult since the contractions were still 5-6 minutes apart and didn't hurt yet. And with my eyes closed I couldn't see just how fast Justin was driving.

6:40 p.m. (ish)
We pulled up to the hospital, where they were expecting us. A quick wheelchair ride and I was checking into my room, getting hooked up to monitors. At this point I was still chatting with the nurses between contractions. After getting heart monitors for both boys the head nurse examined me and surprisingly announced that she thought I was already fully dilated.

Say what?!

I should note that Justin wasn't in the room at this point; he was still checking me in. Poor guy had no idea how quickly things were progressing until the doctor came in with her gown already on and they starting adjusting my bed so I could push. Thats when Justin got a little lightheaded and requested a chair. What I wouldn't give to have had this whole incident video-taped just to watch a play by play of Justin.

7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
My room was suddenly bombarded with nurses, the anesthesiologist, the ultrasound tech and the on-call pediatrician. There were questions about the gestation of the babies, did they have the steroid shots, etc. Although it is general practice for twins to be delivered in the operating room as a precaution, we were told there wasn't time for that.

Crazy, I tell ya! And yet there I was, still chatting and making jokes with the hospital staff between contractions - just like in the movies.

7:33 p.m.
Pushed through two contractions.
Welcome to the world, Jack Steven!

7:39 p.m.
Pushed through two more contractions.
Welcome to the world, Cohen Rodger!

Both boys came out crying and breathing incredibly well. Neither had any need for oxygen during our entire five night hospital stay. Due to the unknown cause of my preterm labor, the pediatrician started the boys on an antibiotic as a precaution. After a blood culture came back with a good report on Monday, they ceased the antibiotics.

On Wednesday we were headed home.

The birth story still feels so surreal, but we are so very thankful things went as smoothly as they did.

Now the real craziness begins...

Be-Four We Know It

To our precious Kendry Dru:

Today you are four years old.

You have been anticipating this day for quite some time, and in recent weeks have repeatedly issued an invitation to Mommy and Daddy: "Let's go sit and talk about my birthday."

And we have. Many times.

Because you love to talk, and I hope that never changes. Sure, sometimes its exhausting - like the mornings you squeeze in 34 questions in the mere 10 minutes it takes to drive to daycare - but we love watching your mind work as you try out a new vocabulary word or expression.

Like just the other day when you replied, "Well, I don't know what to tell you, Mom."

It took me a minute to realize that you stole that one from me. 

Smarty pants.

 

The young boy you are becoming emerges more with each day, and we cherish the few precious toddler characteristics that remain.

You still sleep with the same three baby blankets.

You still love to give kisses.

You still let Mommy kiss your owies.

You have the most beautiful sprinkling of freckles across your nose and on sunny days you enjoy telling me when another freckle has popped through.

You say "I love you, Mom/Dad" several times a day - more on days when you are being naughty and know it.

You are wearing 5T clothes and size 12 shoes. 

You love playing memory and doing floor puzzles.

Your favorite shows are Wonder Pets and Super Why.

You would eat everything with a side of ranch dressing, if permitted.

You already act like a proud big brother when we talk about "your babies".

 

We pray that you never doubt our incredible love for you, even when it feels like your little brothers have usurped your place.

We pray that you come to see what a joy it is to have siblings - at the very least so you can roll your eyes with them when Mom and Dad embarrass you throughout the years, because siblings get it.

May you always remember to be kind.

May you never lose your sensitive spirit, your love for reading, or your courage to break into song in the middle of a grocery aisle.

May you always keep your energy and enthusiasm for life, even if it does peak at 6:00 a.m.

We pray that you walk each day with the knowledge that God loves you and He has amazing things in store for you.

We love you, bud.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

 

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Spring has sprung, the dogwoods are in bloom, the hubs' grass is already looking marvelous and almost every day I find myself saying:

"Self, putting in the back patio was worth every. single. penny."

 

All together now: "Three cheers for no swollen ankles!"

Yet.

{2}

Wave goodbye to my Mountaineer and roll out the soccer mom red carpet; we have officially converted to the mini van.

In all honesty, it doesn't feel nearly as dorky inside as it may appear outside - and I've got 16 drink holders to prove it.

{3}

Fancy a spring craft?

Kendry made a bird feeder out of a cardboard tube, peanut butter and bird seed.

Then he painted a little bird house to go with it.

The bird feeder was gone in less than 24 hours, courtesy of the squirrels.

{4}
Carport addition progress:

Adios, orange door and ugly astroturf stairs!

View from new side door:

View from kitchen:

Door to Kendry's new bedroom:

{5}

How cute are these hard workers?

{6}
If horizontal stripes are only flattering on the most slender of body types, answer me this: why do they make so many darn maternity clothes with horizontal stripes?

Most of my current wardrobe makes me look like an escaped convict.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. When you have a total of 8 shirts and pants to rotate - a number that continues to dwindle with each passing day - you take what you can get whatever fits over your belly.

Just tell me how to stop dropping food down the front of my already limited clean shirts.

{7}

God bless the kind woman at Costco Optical who called me 'so tiny' (twice!) when I went in to pick up Justin's contacts. I was smiling the rest of the day after that compliment, even though I feel anything but tiny right now.


Or maybe she was only nice to me because she thought I was a robber in my horizontal stripes.

{8}

Pondering what to do with this aged beauty now that she is no longer needed atop our basement steps:

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

{9}

Kendry's two new favorite lines:

"Ahhhh, this is the life!"

It sure is, kiddo.

and

"Well, I don't know about that."

For example:
ME:  "I thought you told me you wanted to take a fruit snack instead of a granola bar today."
KENDRY: "Well, I don't know about that..."

Once again, I have no idea where he comes up with this stuff.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

An incredibly hard-working hubby.

Not only is my handsome fella' putting in a 40 hour work week, but he is currently working the addition to the house all by himself and still manages to keep up with our meals and dishes, all so I can get off my feet and keep these babies bakin'.

Did I mention he recently made homemade granola bars?

Then he surprised me with another coconut creme pie from Rosauers.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am one lucky gal!

{30 Weeks}

Well, well, well, the final stretch has arrived at last.

And boy am I feeling it!

Confession:

Fixing myself up and finding maternity clothes that still fit for the simple act of taking a quick photograph of the belly doesn't rate as a pregnancy thrill for me at this point, but I do it for posterity...literally.

And for you, of course.

Before you judge me for sounding like a grumpy prego, allow me to share this little tidbit of information with you: I had my 31 week appointment this morning and measured in at 40 weeks.

That's right, I said 40 weeks - as in the size I was when I delivered Kendry, my 10lb 5oz baby.

Let's take a quick look back at that, shall we?

{5/5/09}

These days you will find me a little tired and very uncomfortable, but still counting my blessings. The little boys in my belly are as active as ever and I can't wait to meet them; but first we need them to bake for at least another five weeks.

30 weeks:

And in case you are curious, the green crinkle shirt still fits. Sorta.

10 weeks:

20 weeks:

30 weeks:

I may be uncomfortable but I still have a sense of humor.

Progress on the Home Front

I know you've been itchin' to see the progress on our carport addition, so without further adieu...

Exterior

Next up on the outside is painting the new siding to match the house, without making it look like an obvious addition. We're still brainstorming the best way to accomplish that.

Interior

See my new washer/dryer hookup?  Woot woot!

As for the inside, Justin is working on the demo - pulling off the exterior siding, popping out the kitchen window, and stripping down the wall along the basement stairs, which will eventually be just a half wall so as to open up the whole space. The electrician will be coming shortly to do all the wiring before Justin proceeds with insulation and drywall.

Kendry is taking his job on the work crew very seriously.