When Kolby was 3 I caught him trying to fish candy out of the garbage can at the hockey arena.

Not embarrassing

AT.ALL.

Just thought I'd document that little tidbit ;)

EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING.

Laying in bed, I hear it first in the distance.

A soft thud.

I strain my ears because I know what is coming.

Thud, thud, thud... the quiet footsteps grow louder.

I can hear the pitch of the steps change as they move from the soft carpet to the cool linoleum, and then back to carpet.

He is getting close now.

Waiting patiently, I can finally hear his breathing as he enters my room. Moving silently from the door to my bedside, straining his eyes to see in the darkness.

He carries the softest blue blanket, usually a couple pieces of lego, and as always... his hair stands on end atop his head. I wait for it, as the thinks I am still asleep.

"Mommy" hes whispers so softly that even I can hardly hear.

"Mommy"

"can I be awake if I promise to be thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis quiet" he says, stretching his tiny arms out as far as he possibly can to either side.

"Yes baby. " I reply.

"oooh, kay" He says in a sing song voice, and then he is off.



This is how my day starts...
EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING.

Love you Kolby Andrew!

August 20, 2011

It is January 23rd today, and I'm still trying to document what I can remember from the babies first months, I've been far too busy until now, so I just hope my memory doesn't fail me! I'll put all the posts in chronological order still, so that they're easier to follow :)


I took Knox and Kullen to the ER because they were quite Jaundiced. This was the start of a 4 day stay in the hospital, under the Billi lights for both of the boys... By the end of our hospital stay they had both lost over 1lb and were the skinniest little peanuts I ever did see!



Cliff Note version:

Kullen was down to 5lbs 9oz, and Knox was down to 5lbs 11oz when we were released from the hospital. We started them both on formula now -to get their weights up, but still breastfed too.

Knox's first night under the lights resulted in mom getting a whopping 15 minutes of sleep, every time the poor little guy moved in there he would freak himself out and flail around ... I ended up having to 'restrain him'

Sunday night after asking the nurses SEVERAL times if we could test Kullens Billi again, because he was more yellow now than Knox... Tyson finally came in and took him down to the ER. His Billi was through the roof, and into the lights he went as well.

I just remember how TINY you guys looked in those big incubators, all naked except for your styling shades...

AUGUST 17,2011 One day old

Well. It is January 2012, and I'm still trying to document the early days after babies arrived... so this is going to be the cliff notes version of Knox and Kullen, Day 1

-Knox had a little trouble breathing just after birth and had to have some 'Kangaroo time' with momma, I didn't mind one bit!

-Boys boys got to room in with me that first night!

-Found out they are AB-

-Had their blood sugar monitored several times a day

-Kullen had the first bath...Mommy missed it but was told he did not like it one bit...Knox seemed to enjoy his

-Both of you had to have car seat tests done to make sure they could keep their O2 sats up well enough in their seats so we could leave the hospital

-Knox was a great eater but quite sleepy... Kullen refused to eat... also very sleepy...and the nurses refused to help me... or listen to me that you were NOT eating AT ALL. I discovered you were BOTH tongue tied...asked several medical professionals, and they ALL said it wasn't a problem...despite the fact that you wouldn't eat...The nurses pushed formula rather than help me get you to latch/ stay awake for a feeding.

-At one point both babies were being quite fussy, so I put them naked, side by side, and wrapped them together...they snuggled up to one another and calmed right down

-6:00pm , February 17...approx 26 hours after you were born... We were released from the hospital...You guys were rock stars! I have never been more excited or terrified of anything in my life, than that 3 hour trek home with two 36 week infants. Yikes!

Happy Birthday!

August 16, 2011

5:00am: Woke up to get ready for the day

6:00am: Grandma arrives to follow us to the hospital, we head out

8:45am: Arrive at the hospital and are escorted to the Induction area.

10:00am: Have a cervix check prior to starting the induction. I am already 4 centimeters!!

10:30am: We're all checked into our labor and delivery room, We have met our Doctors, Dr. Tsui and I believe Dr.Campbell. As well as our Nurse Laura, and met a couple people that will be on the babies NICU teams. Laura starts me on a drug to induce labor. Starts with an O. cant remember the name.

12:00pm: I get my epidural BEFORE the pain even gets bad. Can anyone say AWESOME!? They do another cervical check and I am only 5cm. At this point I'm discouraged and think this is going to be one LONG labor as I've only went 1cm and contractions were almost constant. I think this is also the point where they break baby A's water.

From here on out I don't remember times... There was music on the radio... a couple foot rubs... and Laura was kind enough to let me chew gum even though I wasn't supposed to in case we ended up needing a C-section. At one point Baby A was having some decels so almost instantly the room filled with people. they put one of those little monitors onto his scalp... and everything looked perfect once again. Turns out, Baby A just wanted Laura's attention. I kid you not. EVERY SINGLE TIME she left the room he would have a decel and the alarms would start ringing... If she stayed in the room, all was good!

3:30pm: after staying 30 minutes past the end of her shift Laura finally left after determining babies were going to be stubborn and NOT be born during her shift. Literally 5 minutes after Laura left I told our new nurse (sorry, her name escapes me right now) That I was starting to feel some pressure. a few minutes later Dr Tsui was in the room and doing a check. I was 10cm! She asked me to give just a little push and see what happens...at which point she excitedly tells me to stop NOW unless I want baby A born right here right now, without any of the other doctors or the NICU teams!

3:40pm: the people start to flood in, there is a flurry of activity as both NICU teams prepare for the babies and both Doctors get all of their gear on and get the bed ready for me to push.

I'm going to guess here and say 3:45pm... they tell me to push with the next contraction.. I think I pushed twice during that contraction and Kullen Benjamin was born at 3:47pm... All I could say is 'Does he EVER look like Kyler'

I didn't get a chance to hold him right away as the NICU staff whisked him away to assess him (he was the anemic twin)

Dr. Campbell breaks baby B's water and informs us that Baby B has done exactly what he is supposed to and dropped right down... They seem shocked it went so well... and tell me I can already push again with the next contraction... It seems like forever before there is another. Finally I can feel the contraction start and it is time to push- again... and Knox Greyson is born with that contraction at 3:52pm, five minutes after his brother.

This time Daddy is able to cut the cord ( he wasn't allowed with baby A) They sneak me a quick peek and Knox is off with the NICU team as well.

Kullens NICU staff calls over to tell us he is a whopping 6lbs 9ounces (That is HUGE for 36 week twins) They bring him over to me and tell me he is doing GREAT... He is a little pale and that when I see Knox it'll be clear who the donor and recipient twins were. Knox's NICU team calls over telling us he is 6lbs15ounces! Everyone is completely shocked by

a)how smoothly their birth went
b)how HUGE they both are and
c)how well they are doing.

Dr. Tsui informs us that it NEVER goes this well and she is just amazed.

NICU team 2 Brings Knox over, he is doing great as well, and I am able to hold both of my baby boys together for the first time! Holding both boys I knew what the NICU team meant when they said it was obvious who the donor and recipient twins were... Here I have pale Mr. Kullen, and Mr. Knox looks like a tomato! They detected the TAPS soon enough that there were absolutely NO problems aside from the drastic color difference.

Coming soon, The babies first 24 hours, and home coming!

Life.

Life gets very busy when youre expecting twins. It gets even busier when you have infant twins... So no explanation should be needed regarding my LOOOONG overdue posting.

August 2011, a very busy month in our house.

We went for our routine MFM appointment in Edmonton on August 11, 2011... the appointments we had been going to bi weekly since 20 weeks to monitor the babies... On August 11th was the first time we had had a less than stellar 'review' from the doctors.

Up until this point we were always told how EXCELLENT we were doing. On this day we were told that there were some concerns regarding baby A's bloodflow to his brain and they wanted us back in four days to check on them again. I left the appointment wanting to cry, we didnt know if there was a problem or not... but it was a big hit for me to go from being told every appointment how great the babies looked, to suddenly there may be a problem.

August 15th, 2011... we headed back up to the city for our followup... the shock of a possible problem had worn off by now and we were expecting to hear everything looked great and there was indeed no need for concern. After a very long ultrasound in which the tech struggled repeatedly to get any blood flow readings from baby A, and assuring us it was nothing, and then an even longer wait for the doctor... we were told that babies would need to be born the next day due to what they figured was TAPS . Twin Anemia Polycythemia sequence. A form of the TTTS which is what we had been watching for all along...

We drove the 2.5 hours home to pack a few things and make arrangements for the boys as we didnt know how long we would be in the city and how much extra care the babies would need once they were born... We were told to expect them to need blood transfusions and a NICU stay... so we were most definitely worried...and just wanted one more night at home with our other three babies :)

To be continued. I do after all have 5 kids to watch, so I have to keep blogging short! Coming soon, The big birthday!

Ready or not...

Today's post is going to be short and sweet. Ready or not... these babies will be here soon...

My main thought regarding that?

BABIES. as in plural.

I'm not sure that the shock/disbelief will ever wear off.

Sure I'm used to the idea.

However.

Last night as I lay in bed... with the pack n play set up bedside for when they make their arrival. I once again could not believe it is twins. Literally. How did this happen? LOL. I see them every two weeks on the ultrasound...I have two of almost everything... The boys have names. And yet I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that very soon I will have not one. BUT TWO babies sleeping(hopefully) in the pack and play beside me. I've always had a hard time envisioning that there was indeed a tiny human being in my belly... now to know there is two in there. Still shocking. I'm not sure the reality of it will really sink in until they are in my arms... so for now I'm stocking up on baby stuff, and catching up on sleep.

In other news. Keaton and Kolby are at their Grandpas for the week so it has been just Kyler and I since Monday... It's pretty quiet- which I suppose is a good thing considering how noisy I'm sure things will be before I know it!

It's been a long time coming!!

A new blog post that is! Wow. Where to start? It has indeed been a very long time... and I’ve been a very busy lady.

So first for some updates!
1) I am 33weeks and 6days along. Up 34lbs. And my waist has grown to a gigantic 49 inches!
2) At our last ultrasound (which, if I am counting correctly is ultrasound #11) The boys were both doing great still, and measuring in at a whopping 4lbs 11ounces and 5lbs 3 ounces!
3) We have not had a SINGLE complication this pregnancy... no high blood pressure... no gestational diabetes...Pre-eclampsia...significant growth disparity or signs of the dreaded TTTS... Nothing.
Which I am SO thankful for considering the risk we are at with Baby A’s 2 vessel cord and them sharing a placenta
4) A few ‘interesting’ things we’ve seen at ultrasounds? One baby’s face right on the other ones butt. Baby A cracking baby B in the face repeatedly with his elbow... and Baby B was kicking his brother in the face at the last ultrasound.


How am I feeling?
Hmmm. Not sure! I feel great considering I’m carrying at LEAST 10lbs of baby right now! If anything my biggest issue is space... the babies are running out of it and things are starting to get quite painful. But I am not one to complain considering how much harder this pregnancy COULD have been on me. It’s just in the last month that I’ve really felt a need to slow down ( as hard as that may be for me!) Right around the 20 week mark I had some issues with severe pelvic pain that had me on the couch for a week or so... Then in June when the weather started getting really hot my feet started turning blue... Both of those issues thankfully went away. My current issue is the belly! If I lay too reclined on my back it is so heavy now it cuts off blood flow to that main artery that runs down your spine... we discovered this when during a NST my blood pressure plummeted to 70/40 or so If I remember correctly. SO- fun stuff! Not that you all care about these things... I just want to have a record of EVERYTHING so I don’t ever forget 

Are we ready?
We are as ready as we will ever be I suppose. How do you really prepare for Multiples? The nursery is ready... I’m stocked up on everything possible... so I think now it’s whether or not we’re mentally ready... which I am not- I’m still in the ‘I want my sleep and sanity’ phase. The boys all seem ready. Kyler talks to my belly daily telling babies he wants them to come out now... Keaton cant wait to see what they look like, and Kolby just loves to tell the babies he loves them. Tyson keeps saying he is ready and cant wait to see them... but I can already hear him complaining at 3am when I drag him out of bed to help me. LOL.

Have we picked names?
First names, Yes. We had Greyson and Garrett, Liam and Noah, Knox and Kayle, We decided on Knox and Kullen. Middle names still to be determined.

So that is sort of where we are at now. Any questions? Leave a comment and I'll try and answer them! I'm going to try to do a little blogging each day as an attempt to get caught up on the last couple months before babies get here... which could be any time!