Addison and Jacob – The Beginning
When we decided that it was time to have another baby and give Madalyn a playmate we never expected the surprise we would be in for at my seven week appointment. When the sonogram technician said 'I have some news' all I could think was 'I already know I'm pregnant.' When she said 'it's twins!' I was in happy shock for weeks. Jonathan saw the sonogram pictures and just stared for awhile until it sunk in, then immediately started planning for a new car – Men, lol! Things seemed to be going well until our 24 week appointment, the technician seemed to be taking extra long and when she said that the Neonatologist would be stopping in and that it was routine for all twins we knew something wasn't right. The umbilical cord to Addison was not getting the correct blood flow, instead of one continuous flow, it was stopping on and off. The specialist said 'If you were 30 weeks you'd be heading to the hospital to deliver right now.' But we had two babies to think about and we prepared ourselves for a balancing game of when it would be OK to pull them out in hopes that it would be in time for Addison but far enough for Jacob to stand a chance. A million prayers went up for the twins, thanks to a lot of great people and friends out there, and the waiting game started. Lots of appointments followed and at the 29 week appointment we thought 'prayers answered' - the specialist was happy that Addison was still growing and even thought it may just be how the cord formed and made my next appointment one that didn't need to check so thoroughly. Little did we know that it was really going to start going downhill. At the 31 week appointment that was supposed to be quick turned into a very long scary one. Addison hadn't grown since her 29 week appointment and where there had been absent flow, the blood was now going backward. I was sent for painful in the butt steroid shots to help their lungs mature faster and a non-stress test to see if the babies were coming out that day or if we could wait a week for the steroids to have more of an effect. The stress test looked good so we could wait a week and at 32 weeks 1 day, out came two cute babies by c-section. Our tears flowed along with them as we heard the second cry. Addison was put on oxygen and Jacob was looking well as they whisked them from the room. We started our very long stay at the neonatal intensive care unit, nicu, where I sat staring at the twins for long hours every day. Those on Facebook got a play by play of what went on, more for my sanity than theirs, lol. Within a few days Addison was off all breathing help, she was just a tiny but mighty little girl. Jacob, on the other hand, started struggling to breathe within a few hours after birth. My little man was happy in the womb and his lungs didn't appreciate coming out early. For two days straight things got worse, his poor little chest was going so fast it looked like he had run two miles and they were doing everything they could to help him. Finally his left lung partially collapsed and a chest tube was put in to help. Things got better after that and he slowly improved and later the one nurse admitted that he really gave her a run for her money as they kept him going. Jacob was one week old before I finally got to hold him, what a great feeling! The day I went into the hospital and found the two of them had been moved to the 'well' side of the neonatal intensive care unit was an amazing feeling! After 26 days in the nicu and Jacob was heading home on a few machines! It was a tough day as we had to leave Addison behind because she still wasn't big enough to come too. Four days later when the nurse said that if she reached a certain weight today she could come home the next day I was so happy I almost jumped out of the chair I was sitting in with Addison. The awesome nurses did what they could to stuff her full. When I called and heard she had hit the mark, we were ecstatic! After 31 days in the nicu our whole family would be together, it was such a relief and joy! The twins are now doing great. On September 1, Addison reached 5lbs and Jacob hit 6lbs, it was a day of celebration. Madalyn loves her babies and helping with them, when asked if people can take them home, she firmly says 'No!'. As soon as she comes home from daycare she has to check on them to make sure they are ok, she is the best big sister they could ask for! A big thanks to everyone who said prayers, helped out, sent cards and presents and especially the nurses who cared for the twins and made sure they came home! Our lives will forever be blessed and crazy!
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