The Twins Are Here

I went in for a doctor's appt on Monday, November 16th in the morning. After an ultrasound to see how the babies were doing I saw the doctor. I was having a few contractions here and there but nothing major. My doctor check my cervix, looked at me and said, "Well, I can feel a foot and you are about 4 cm dilated." So off to the hospital I went for a c-section. Which because it was not scheduled was classified as an emergency c-section. I left the clinic at 11:45am and was in the OR around 1:30pm to get prepped to deliver. I was 36 weeks 2 days or 36 weeks 6 days depending on what time frame you wanted to go by.


Eli David and Ellie Lynne were born November 16th at 2:05pm and 2:06pm by c-section. Eli was 5 lbs 1.7 ounces, 17.5 inches long, with a 12.75 inch head. Ellie was 4 lbs 3.2 ounces, 16.5 inches long, with a 11.75 inch head. Both looked healthy and had a good set of lungs each.

At about 9pm that evening they took the babies back for assessment and they discovered Ellie had a blood sugar level of 17. Which is very serious. She ended up in a isolette with IVs in her hand to give her dexstrouse (sugar water solution)to raise her glucose levels. At the same time they were worried about an infection as I was running a low grade temp. Things calmed down for the night and both babies were able to stay in Thief River Falls.

Tuesday evening Ellie got worse as her IV started to fail. Altru Hospital in Grand Forks was notified and came to transfer Ellie to the NICU in Grand Forks. By Wednesday morning around 7am I was called and notified that the transport went well and Ellie was settled into the NICU and was stable but serious.

34 weeks 2 days

So this post is long over due!

I am currently still pregnant with the twins. But have been on bedrest for nearly 2 months and strict bedrest for a month. At the beginning of October I had a 6 day hospital stay for preterm labor (PTL). It was a bit scarey but everything turned out fine and I have been able to stay at home since being released. I have been uped to twice a week doctor visits to monitor me and watch if there has been any progress. So far nothing to report. I have two more weeks of bedrest left and then once I hit the 36 week mark, which, is November 14th I will be able to stop taking the Nefidipine which has been keeping any contractions to a minimum and I will be so happy. That medicine often makes me dizzy and causes hot flashes as well as a few other not fun feelings. I think I can say I am now prepared for what Menopause may bring in another 20 years. As of the last baby measurements that were about 3 weeks ago Baby A was 3 pounds 12 ounces and Baby B was 2 pounds 14 ounces. Which, still holds my belief that A is a boy and B is a girl. The weights are all within normal ranges.

So for right now we just get to wait this out and by God's graces I will be able to keep these babies in until 36 weeks. Continued prayers are always appreciated.

Twin Belly at 27 weeks 4 days

Here is my belly! It grows so much and so fast with two babies inside! I am measuring 36 weeks already. I have been told to be on bedrest. Nothing is in immediate danger of deliverying early just little signs and the doctor wants to keep things on the good side. Babies are growing well at 2 lbs 3 ounces and 1 lb 15 ounces. My clothes are getting small fast now!

 

First days of school

 

Here is Kjerstin on her first day of Kindergarten! She is so excited for school.

 

Here is Kehan on his first day of preschool. He too loves school and is so excited when he comes home.

 

This is a favorite picture of Kjerstin and Kehan walking down to the bus on Kehan's first day of school. The held hands all on their own and waited in the driveway just like big kids!

Where or where did my babies go? I guess it is a good thing the twins are on the way because the other 3 are growing up!

Kjerstin turns 6 years old!

Kjerstin turned 6 years old! I can't believe how the time has flown by! Before we know it she will be 16! Thank you to all who traveled to our home to celebrate over the past couple weeks! It is very much appreciated!

3D picture of each twins' face

Here is a picture of a 3D ultrasound I had done with the twins. I believe I was around 25 weeks. It was so much fun to see these pictures and what their little faces look like. Enjoy!

 

 

Twin belly at 22 weeks 4 days

So it has been roughly 7 weeks since I last took a picture of my belly. Here it is in all it's hugeness! I am and have been measuring 7 weeks ahead of the Twins' gestational age so I am about 29.5 weeks size here. Everything is going well. The headaches seem to have gone away for the most part I haven't had a migraine in over a month so that is a very good thing. Babies are growing well and my body is keeping them put without much help. I just rest a lot and like to nap. Too bad 3 kids don't bode well to getting many naps, but they like movies so I get to rest with my feet up during movie time. I need to get to 32 weeks to give the babies a better outcome and it seems I will. After 32 weeks my goal is 36 weeks so 10-13.5 weeks left.

 

Someone is wishing for teeth

 

Kjerstin has lost her front teeth in this picture. A couple days later she lost another one on top. It has to be close to a record because she lost all three teeth on top with in a week of the first one falling out. She is very excited to loose her teeth and even went to town with me to spend her Tooth Fairy money. Now on to the Orthodontist Aug. 18. Her teeth are coming in really messed up. So the Tooth Fairy will indeed be spending more money to get her straight teeth!

Kehan took 3rd place

 

This is a picture of Kehan getting his trophy for 3rd place in his second pedal tractor pull. This was during the Pennington County Fair. He still loves both of his "Piston Cups". We can't call them trophies because to him they are Piston Cups. Don't know what a Piston Cup is? Rent the Disney movie "Cars" then it will all make sense.

My belly with Twins (15 weeks 3 days)

Here is a picture of my belly many have been waiting for me to post. I don't look very cute today and the sun was in my eyes but I have to say my 5 year old did a pretty good job of snapping a photo for everyone to see. Yes, I know I am huge already only another 24 weeks and 4 days until complete! But with twins they most likely will be earlier than that and most likely earlier by weeks. Let's pray that I can safely keep them in until at least Novemeber!

 

Mimicing an old photo

 

Here is a picture of Quinten and I posing infront of a Ford Model A owned by my Uncle Darrel. The reason for the photo was to mimic a photo of one set of my Great Great Grandparents. This was taken at my sister LeighAn and her new husband Paul's wedding. Sadly I was running around with the kids and have now pictures of the wedding just a few from the dance and none with Paul and LeighAn together.

Visit with an Old Friend

 

 

A friend my Camp and High School came to visit all the way from Arizona so we drove, Ashlyn and I, to Roseau, MN to have a quick visit. I figured if she drove all the way to Minnesota from Arizona I could drive 1.5 hours to see her and 3 of her 4 children. It was a good visit and it was way to short but it was a beautiful day to spend outside with the kids.

Relay for Life (Locks of Love)

 

 

On June 5 Kjerstin and I both had 10 inches cut off for Locks of Love during the Red Lake County Relay for Life. This year Red Lake County raise over $74,000 I believe. It really was a lot of fun and Kjerstin was so excited to cut her hair!

Kehan's 4th Birthday

 

Here is a picture from Kehan's birthday. My little man is now 4! It is hard to believe that they really do grow up fast, even though there are those days when you just wish they were older! You have to love the sweet kisses a 4 year old can give because they just might disapear and never surface again in a few years.

Doctor's appt

On Tuesday the 26 of May I went in for a Doctor's appt. Everything is fine one baby had a heartbeat of 172 and the 164. Somedays I still can't believe I am carrying twins. Nor that in a matter of less than 6 months I will have TWO new babies! God is good. Although there are many days when I don't know how I will keep up. Help will certainly be welcomed! I have also decided to use cloth diapers with the twins, at least while we are at home I will most likely use disposables on outtings. Here are the ones that I ordered. I also choose to just get the factory 2nds because I can handle a dirt spot on a diaper that will be covered up by clothes and well just think of the useage of the product they most certainly will get dirty at some point! www.sweetdollbaby.com I figured I should try to save as much money as possible and this should help even if they are not used 100% of the time it will be a few less diapers to buy.

A and B

So, I have been very lazy about posting on the blog. Here are the reasons why. Does that picture explain it all?

 

Doctor, Doctor, and one more Doctor

Doctors have been a common theme this month.

Starting back on March 4 Kjerstin started running a fever around 104.2. Mortin took it down but she ran the fever for about 5 days. No other real symptoms a little runny nose and a small cough nothing major. She did not go to the doctor.

March 9th Ashlyn started running a fever, 103.8. It ran a course for about 3 days. With one flare up a couple days after it stopped.

March 12 Kehan started running a fever that afternoon. He was 103.9. I took Kehan in the next day a Friday. One, because it was Friday and if something was going to happen it would happen on Friday night, Saturday, or Sunday. I was being proactive and Kehan is my child with a reactive airway. To me it was preventive medicine. In the end the doc said it was a virus his airways sounded fine. He gave me a Rx in case he got worse. He ran the fever through Sunday, March 15.

March 16 Ashlyn jumps to 103.5 in the afternoon. Quinten starts feeling sick.
March 17 Ashlyn wakes up and is at 103.5 again, or still I guess. I make and appt for her with the doctor. Prognosis: ear infection and some throat infection (she had a puss pocket on one of her tonsils) Zpack for the next 5 days. Quinten got some meds too.

March 18 I go to the doctor to check on my blood pressure still being affected slightly from Ashlyn's pregnancy. Well let me rephrase that. I developed High BP during that pregnancy and it was lingering post partum and some days it is still high. I am glad to say that I have been off meds for a year and all is fine. My BP is still slightly elevated when I was at the doctor it was 128/86 not bad but not really great either. We ran some tests and the doctor proclaimed me a very healthy woman! He said he would not want to put me on medication. So just a bit more exercise when I can fit it in and a clean bill of health for me.

March 19 Kehan starts screaming about his ear hurting, no fever. I gave him Mortin and 3 hours later he was screaming about it again. I had daycare kids at my house so my wonderful Mother in-law took Kehan to the doctor for me! Double ear infection!

Now at the end of March everyone finally seems well. I pray it continues like this and the cycle doesn't repeat itself!

I hope everyone reading this had a better month of March health wise than my children and husband. Really you'd think I'd been the one sick as I am wiping the runny noses all day!

The Blizzard out my door...

I that you can actually see my driveway in this picture but that is only because the wind is blowing so much that it blew the snow away in that area. Notice the drift on my front porch and that you can't see much beyond the trees in our yard. Yesterday we got at least 5 inches of snow and it started snowing again this morning. I imagine we will end up with at least another 5 inches again today. Our driveway is probably 7-8 inches deep if not more. I watched Ryan plow through it a few minutes ago with his truck. I wish he had a blade on it to clean it away, but then Quinten wouldn't be able to get his tractor out and use is big snow blower!

 

Weekend with the kids...

On Thursday Quinten, my brother Scott, Paul and his buddy Greg, along with my uncle Darrel and a couple of his buddies went up to Lake of the Woods to fish. I got my nephew Dillon on the exchange. It was a great time! The kids really enjoyed themselves and I enjoyed spending lots of time with a nephew I don't see very often! Here are a few pictures of the craziness that 4 children can bring.

 

All the craziness in the car after McDonald's.

 

Dillon got to pet his first calf at Grandpa Brad's farm!

 

All the kids playing outside at Grandma Lana and Grandpa Brad's farm just down the road from our house.

Kjerstin lost her first tooth!

Here is a picture of Kjerstin's new hole in her mouth. She looks like she is not happy because there were a few tears but she was laughing through her tears she was so excited for this to happen. She has been waiting for a year or so for a tooth to fall out. This was a very exciting night! My little girl is now on her way to being a big girl. Where did the time go?

Some California Pictures

 

Kjerstin meeting Sleeping Beauty

 

Kjerstin and Kehan at Huntington Beach

 

Kjerstin and Kehan at the San Diego Zoo

These are a few pictures from our California Trip. If you would like to see more of them and are on facebook you can see them in my photo albums. It was a great trip and the kids had a lot of fun.

Project Linus Make a Blanket Day 2009

We had a great turn out on Saturday Feb. 7! Through out the day there were around 15 volunteers that came through to help make blankets and most stayed all day! Thank you to all who helped! We collected about 40 blankets. Those 40 blankets are only enough to supply our local hospital for 2-3 months so if you can keep making blankets and drop them off at Oklee Quilting or Sjorberg's Cable in Theif River Falls. If you are not from our area please contact your local chapter of Project Linus and donate! www.projectlinus.org

 

Ashlyn's First Hair Cut!

Before...

 

During...

 

 

After...

 

Now it doesn't really look like much was done but she did get about an inch off the back to even things out and her hair feels much thicker now and the ends are even!