The Babies are Here!

So this is a VERY LONG OVERDUE post! Wow, the last month and a half has been a whirlwind. I don't even know where to start.

Friday November 18, 2011

Before Dusty's work holiday party. Little did we know this would be our last picture as a family of 2!

My last post at 34 weeks we were scheduled for our 35 week ultrasound on November 21st. That weekend I packed our hospital bags. Call it instinct or just pure luck but I am so glad I was prepared. At our ultrasound the tech started with Baby A (Mason's) measurements as she normally did. Quickly I could tell by her silence that something was not right. She began explaining that Mason's abdomen was quite small for 35 weeks, only measuring 30. She immediately went over to Mallory's side and her abdomen was significantly larger. She went back to Mason and checked the blood flow from his placenta through his cord. She then began to explain that it was abnormal and basically in reverse. Our sweet baby boy was on a forced diet and was compensating for his vital organs by weight loss in his tummy. According to the ultrasound measurements, he was a whole pound smaller than his sister. This is a common complication with twins. She wrapped the main checks up quickly and went and got my high risk OB. While we waited the tears flowed as I told Dusty I knew they would want us to deliver that day. I was nervous and scared for our tiny little babies. Sure enough he suggested we deliver and after a quick call to my doc, they were on the same page. That was it, our babies were coming that night!

Because Mallory was still breech, I was scheduled for a c-section at 10 pm that night. Dusty and I went home loaded our bags and the carseats, went and had a nice big lunch at Furrs, and then I was admitted to the hospital just after noon for monitoring until the surgery.

After visits from family and friends I was taken into the OR just before 10 that evening. I have never had surgery but oddly enough was more nervous for the babies than I was for myself. After my spinal and some prep Dusty came in the room. And just a few minutes later out came Baby A and then our little Baby B!

Mason Alan Burger

November 21, 2011

4 lbs 11 oz

17.25 inches

Mallory Grace Burger

November 21, 2011

4 lbs 13 oz

16.5 inches

We expected some breathing troubles but after evaluation it was clear the babies needed a little more help than the hospital nursery could provide. While in recovery the pediatrician came in to inform me that they would be transporting the babies by ambulance to Medical Center Hospital's NICU.

I was devastated because I knew that they would not allow me to go but I just wanted what was best for the twins. So about 4 am that morning (with all of our family still waiting and praying) the NICU nurses took the babies to Odessa.

First pictures in the NICU.

It was heartbreaking to see my babies intubated and hooked up to monitors. Dusty and his parents went with the babies to the NICU while my sweet friend Lacye spent the first night of recovery with me and my dear sister the second night. I was so thankful for those girls and their willingness to sleep in a yucky hospital to keep me company!

The babies breathing issues quickly resolved and we spent the next two weeks helping the babies learn how to eat and maintain their body temperatures. It felt like forever but we are blessed that they did so well.

Some of the hundred pictures taken while in the hospital!

On December 5th we were finally discharged!

READY TO GO HOME!

Home at last!

Since then the babies have been doing great! I will update more later with pictures of our first Christmas and other fun things. We are so blessed with 2 healthy babies who are now over 8 pounds each!!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for our family over the last couple of months. We appreciate all of our family and friends!! More updates and pics coming soon!

34 weeks and Nursery Pics

Week 34 Highlights

Month: 8

Babies Size: Honeydew (19-20 inches long!)

Weight Gain: 30 pounds

Belly size: 45 1/2 inches

Movement:

Both babies are so strong now and move A LOT, especially at night!

Babies position:

We think that Mason is still head down and Mallory is still head up but we will see next week!

Cravings:

No more cravings. I am officially out of room so I eat whatever sounds good and as much as I can fit in my stomach. :)

Symptoms:

HUGE...that is all I have to say. I am just feeling HUGE.

Favorite baby moment:

Feeling the babies move simultaneously and talking to them! Getting so excited!

45 1/2 inches

Sorry for the month long drought in blog posts! I have been very busy between trying to finish everything for the babies and trying to get as much rest as possible at the same time. We are in the home stretch now and everything looks great. My most recent doctors appointment the twins heartbeats were perfect and I am still growing which means they are growing! I am now measuring OVER 40 weeks! So I am officially the size of someone who would have already delivered their singleton baby! Luckily I am still feeling good and although I am certainly feeling the discomforts of the end of pregnancy, my weight gain has not been to extreme for twins so I feel like I can make it several more weeks just fine!

We have not had another ultrasound since my last post but it is scheduled for next week. I am praying that the babies are still on track for their growth and no complications are found. I will keep you updated!

So as for what I have been up to in between staying off my feet... organizing and decorating. LOTS of it. I am happy to say the babies rooms are finished and we have everything we need. (and more!) So here are some pictures of our preparations for babies!

The Nursery

Mallory's Crib

Mason's Crib

Dresser for lots of clothes!

Playroom

Fun art in the playroom and my electric recliner :)

Had to have some TWIN fun...

Lots of books and a few baby toys stored away

The never-ending tunnel of baby stuff

Mallory's clothes

Mason's clothes

More baby gear!

We were so incredibly blessed by SO MANY PEOPLE in preparing for these two little ones. Thanks again to everyone who showered us with love and things for the twins. We feel so prepared and appreciate the generosity of everyone who gave to us so selflessly! We love you all!

I am so very excited to meet our babies and now that the work is finished...we wait. The babies need to stay put for at least another week and will not stay in past December 16th. So the big day is around the corner! Stay tuned for more updates! :)

Week 30 and New Sono Pics!

Week 30 Highlights

Month: 7

Babies Size: Eggplant, over 17 inches!

Weight Gain: 23 pounds

Belly size: 44 3/4 inches

Movement:

Mason moves all the time mainly under my left rib. 

Mallory moves a lot at night in the lower right corner of my abdomen. 

We have active babies!

Babies position:

Mason's head is down front and center with his body curved way to the left side.

Mallory is fully breech (for now) with her head centered and body curving just to the right of my belly button.

Cravings:

COLD milk, sometimes even out of a frosty mug! 

Tomatoes with salt. I can eat a whole container of cherry tomatoes!

Symptoms:

Same ole contractions but less now that I am not working. 

Still have lovely morning sickness but good meds to help with that!

Favorite baby moment:

Seeing our big babies for our 30 week ultrasound. They look like babies now! :)

44 3/4 inches!

What are the babies and I up to these days? Trying to ORGANIZE and finish the nursery and playroom. We have so much stuff because of all the loving and supportive people in our lives. We feel so blessed!

Sweet friends threw Dusty a diaper shower and now we are stocked up on lots of diapers and wipes for the babies! Thanks to all the guys who came and showered Dad!

The "limo" all put together and ready to roll with the twins. 

Thanks to my hostesses for the stroller and to the Kalivoda and Scott families for the car seats!

My babies will seriously never go naked! Loads of clothes, towels, and blankets that have been "de-tagged" and ready for a gentle Dreft washing!

Stocked up on bath stuff for the munchkins! Complete with rubber duckies and all!

We had our 30 week ultrasound yesterday and in the words of Dr. B, our babies are "PERFECT"! I have prayed for the last month that this sono would go well and the babies growth would be on track. Thank you Lord for answering our prayers! Here is the latest...

• Mason weighs 3 pounds
• Mallory weighs 3 pounds 3 ounces
• Mason measures 30 weeks
• Mallory measures 30 weeks 4 days
• Both babies anatomy is developed and normal
• Both babies fluid levels are within normal range
• Mason is head down
• Mallory is breech
• I am now measuring 37 weeks, normal for twins
• Both babies have HAIR on their little noggins!

Love you both my little sweeties!

Mason's little face

Mason's profile

Mallory's face

I spy with my little eye, two beautiful little baby faces below. Complete with sweet little eyes, noses and lips. Do YOU see them??

Week 28 and Showering the Babies!

Week 28 Highlights

Month: 7 - Officially in the THIRD trimester! Yay!

Babies Size: Over 14 inches and over 2 lbs each

Weight gain: 20 pounds

Belly size: 43 inches

Movement:

Lots of jabs below my ribs and on my bladder!

Babies position:

Mason is still on my left and Mallory on my right but I have no clue what positions anymore! :)

Cravings:

Chili cheese fries from Michael's Charcoal Grill and cookies!!

Symptoms:

Braxton hicks contractions, tons of back pain, very breathless. I have baby parts everywhere!

Favorite baby moment:

Both babies getting hiccups at the same time! Little thuds on both sides of my belly. It was entertaining!

43 inches!

Just a few updates from my last post. I only gained about 2 pounds in the last 2 weeks so luckily my belly has not been growing so rapidly! But now that the babies are putting on a lot of fat I expect a lot of growing over the next couple of months. At my last appointment I was still measuring 7 weeks ahead of a singleton mom which is great! That puts me measuring about 35 weeks now, so almost as big as someone full term. YIKES! That is ok, keep growing little guys! I also had my 24 hour series of betamethasone shots last week. This is a type of steroid administered to help the babies lungs mature faster and is given to women who are at high risk for preterm labor. I am very glad my doctor requested it. We want to do everything we can for our babies should they come early! I also am officially at home on maternity leave on modified bed rest. After several long episodes of contractions my doctor requested I stop working. I am now at home focusing on doing everything I can for these babies and I am pleased to have this time to take care of myself and them. We have our next ultrasound at 30 weeks and it cannot come fast enough. Can't wait to see my babies again!

This past weekend was our big BABIES SHOWER weekend. 10 of my very best friends all hosted an amazing shower for me and the twins. Most of our family and friends were able to be there and we were incredibly blessed by everyone. These babies were showered with so much love! It was absolutely perfect and was exactly what I had dreamed it would be! Thanks to all of my hostesses and everyone that came too! And to everyone that didn't make it and sent us sweet gifts, thank you too!! We love you all! Now for some fun pictures from the big day!!

A special day that I will never forget!! :)