First Bath

Lucy and Reid are 1 week old today. Gran is here helping us and the babies got their first bath at home. It went pretty well, but both of them cried until they got their clothes on again. We had to take the babies to the doctor on Monday to check Lucy's jaundice. Lucy weighed 5lb 3oz and Reid weighed 5lb 5oz. When we left the hospital, Lucy was 5lb and Reid was 5lb 3oz, so they are gaining weight. That gives me a little piece of mind.

Well...

I kept thinking I would get around to posting the birth story pretty quickly after our return from the hospital. But let me tell you, this nursing thing has me whipped. I remember with Hampton always wondering if I was doing it right and if he was getting enough to eat, but I thought that would be better with my second (and third) child. I was wrong...it may be worse. I nursed Hampton for 11 months and had to use the shield the whole time. I am determined not to use that silly thing again. I think the babies are doing great, but I just wonder if they are eating enough. They are so tiny. Lucy latches just fine, but she doesn't eat as much as Reid and can be finished in less than 15 minutes. Reid on the other hand, pulls off about 100 times during his 45+ minute feeding. And to make the feeding even longer, he wants more as soon as he's finished, rooting like crazy. I am learning that I have to remind myself that they are two separate babies and they aren't going to do everything the same. Lucy is just going to be smaller than her brother and she may not need as much food.

Aside from those common new mommy worries, we are doing great. Recovery wise, I feel like a million bucks, but I don't think I've ever been this TIRED! Ben is such an amazing Daddy to all of us! I love him more and more as I watch him intentionally parent our children to know and love the Lord. He has offered more help than I expected him to and has not hesitated to care for the twins no matter what time of night they need him. I LOVE YOU BEN!!!

PROUD DADDY

Ben's mom has been here since the babies were born and she has been a LIFESAVER!!! She has fed bottles in the middle of the night (btw, at night I wake up and pump and then give the babies bottles...much faster than trying to nurse), gotten up and played with Hampton every morning, washed seemingly 100 loads of laundry, cooked some yummy meals and 2 fantastic pies and even sent Ben and me to lunch by ourselves. I don't think we could have made it without her! Thanks Rosie!!!

Hampton is crazy about his babies, but only gives them attention in spurts. He is very much into playing with his toys and Gran. When he got up from his nap yesterday, Reid was on the floor on a blanket. Hampton is not allowed to touch the blanket when the babies are on the floor, so he lied on his tummy and rested his little head in his hands while he talked to his little brother. He kept saying in his soft sweet talk-to-the-babies voice, "It okay, Weid. What you doin' Weid?" While chatting with Reid he heard Lucy and said, "What dat noise?" as he ran over to check on her. When he got up, Reid started fussing a little bit. With a concerned look on his face Hampton asked, "What wrong wit Weid?" " I think he misses his big brother." Hampton looked over at Reid and held up his finger and whispered, "I be wight der in just a second." Sure enough when Hampton went back, Reid focused in on Hampton and settled right down. Hampton looked up with a smile and said, "I make him happy." What a tender, precious big brother.

We are doing great and loving life as a family of 5. We are overwhelmed with gratitude and love for all who have already invested into the sweet lives of Lucy and Reid through prayer, food and company. Thank you for loving us and our children!

LUCY JAMES

REID MATTHEW

Our amazing doctor

Missing 1 proud big brother

THEY'RE HERE!!!

Our sweet babies joined our family early Wednesday morning. The whole experience has been very different from Hampton's arrival and has been an absolute blessing. I am working on the complete birth story with pictures, but wanted to make an official announcement :).

Lucy James was delivered at 2:29AM. She weighed 5lb 7oz and her apgar scores were 9-9. Reid Matthew followed his big sister at 2:44AM and weighed 5lb 9oz. His apgar scores were also 9-9...two precious babies as close to perfect as they come.

We are all doing very well and hope to go home tomorrow morning. Our time at the hospital has been very restful, but we are ready to be home with Hampton! He is very proud of his babies and is so tender with them. We had some visitors earlier tonight and when they entered our room Hampton said, "Come see all my babies!" He is precious and I can't wait to be home with him.

As I have spent time thinking about our new life, I grow more and more excited to raise these babies. So far they have very different personalities, and are both so sweet. I could not be more thankful and excited to be a Mommy of 3.

My cup runneth over!!!

Stats

As of my doctor's appt on Tuesday, both babies are head down and growing. He showed to weigh 5lb 10oz and she weighed 5lb 5oz. I have gained about 33 pounds, my waist measures 43.5 inches and I was 80% effaced and dilated to about 1.5 cm. I am more ready for these babies to come than ever. I am uncomfortable and growing very weary. Some day soon, let's hope...

We are working on memorizing Psalm 1 as a family. The first line is supposed to be, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,..." When I asked Hampton to say his Bible verse for me today, he started, "Blessed is the man who does not walk...he have to run in the counsel of the wicked."

35 Weeks and Counting

Sometimes I ask myself why God has been so good to us! I am 35 weeks now and have had very little restriction and no complications. The babies are growing and moving like crazy. I have reached the point of no return...if I go into labor now, there's no turning back. Dr. H has requested that I rest on my side as much as possible, but that makes my lower back and hips really hurt. I get really stiff and can hardly stand after lying down for very long. I am having contractions throughout the day and especially at night. They are growing more and more painful, but at my appt on Monday (3 days ago) I learned that those contractions are not doing anything. I'm not dilated at all. That's good news for the health of the babies, but not for my aching body. Dr.H reminded me how blessed this pregnancy has been and how thankful I should be for such an easy and healthy pregnancy. My prayer is that these babies come on their own before 38 weeks...join me! I didn't take many pictures of my growing tummy with Hampton and now I wish I had. So...here are a few, oh so embarassing, pics of my tummy now.

Hampton did not understand why I wasn't smiling for the picture, so he offered to smile for me. He is so excited to meet these babies. I hope he's still excited when they come home to STAY :).

Quick Facts

I am officially 34 weeks. Things are going well. I am having quite a few contractions and they are getting more and more painful. I have started to swell and am unable to rest enough to reduce the swelling. At our appointment 4 days ago, everything looked good. The babies still have plenty of fluid. Our baby girl weighed 4lbs 5oz and baby boy weighed 4lbs 7oz. They still have a lot of growing to do, so I need to make it as long as possible. Dr. H said that I really need to make it until at least 35 weeks. If I go into labor before then, I will be put into the hospital in order to stop labor. After 35 weeks, they will not stop labor. We are "being greedy" after 35 weeks...everyday is very valuable. He also said that, unless there are health concerns, they will not intervene at all until after 38 weeks. Based on the way things are going right now, he is confident that I will go into labor on my own before then. I am thinking they will come sometime between January 14th and 21st. My prayer and goal is that they will both be healthy and able to come home with us with no NICU time. We'll see...