Since Rehtaeh can't copy and paste....here we go =)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Everyone! I'm absolutely overwhelmed with the
phone calls (I returned at least 15 a day from the hospital), the emails (I see
1350 in my inbox at the moment--- only about half are spam!), the gifts (could
baby clothing BE any cuter?), the enthusiasm, the INCREDIBLE Shalom Zachor (I
heard over 85 people walked in pouring rain!)------- if you called or emailed
and I did not get back to you promptly, PLEASE understand---- this update
should tell you ALL about the most exciting week of our lives!!!
Tuesday January 9th, 9 days past a tax deduction, dangit, Baby A (GIRL!) was
born at 11:03 am and Baby B (BOY!) was born at 11:05 am. Everyone was SHOCKED
that I made it to my scheduled C section appointment and that my water did not
break beforehand. It was a fairly typical C section--- I had a spinal put in,
a nice long interview beforehand, a catheter, all sorts of blood work, blah
blah blah. The big excitement was that I threw up 4 times during the ten
minute procedure. They were great about bringing me pans to barf in and I was
good about letting them know it was about to happen. :) Adam got to see both
children immediately and cut the umbilical cords. They were whisked off with 2
teams of preemie docs to be evaluated. For the next 5 hours, I started
re-gaining feeling in my lower half. For a while I could move my legs but I
couldn't wiggle my toes--- it was a very interesting feeling. They wheeled my
bed into the NICU (called the special care nursery) so I could meet my
children. Both kids got placed on CPAP machines to help them breathe. That
night I got a decent night's sleep--- because of the catheter it was the first
time in months that I stayed in bed ALL night long without getting up!
Next day, the catheter came out, I had my first hormonal crying moments, I got
to spend more time with the kids--- couldn't walk to the nursery but could go
in a wheelchair....... between Wednesday and Friday MAJOR improvements
happened in both children. Our daughter went from GRUNTING while breathing to
a nasul canula (more comfortable breathing), BACK to the CPAP, BACK to the
nasul canula, and then finally off ALL oxygen. It's amazing to see her not
hooked UP to anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally get to see her face now and
feed her with the bottle! She's having lots of trouble sucking and is MOSTLY
being fed via nasul tube, BUT takes a small amount of formula at each feeding
too. I pull down on her chin and remind her to put her tongue down-- but she
is stubborn and keeps her tongue up mostly--- so she's still learning.
Meanwhile our son is a champion feeder and burper and is off all oxygen now AND
eating 100% via formula. He does not have jaundice. She had it for a couple
of days (used the bili lamp) but is now fine.
They do both need more time in the NICU---- he is transferring to an open crib
tonight for the first time-- he's been in the incubator. That's one tiny toe
out the door! And she has to learn to EAT before she can come home. So daily
visits and working hard with the formula bottle are important!
For those of you who are Jewish, you'll appreciate how special this Shabbos
(Jewish Sabbath) was. Bikkur Cholim brought me a TON of food which I kept in
the fridge behind the nurses desk. I ate and davened on my own which was
strange, BUT..... during feeding times I would wheel (OR WALK-- more on that
in a moment) to the NICU to feed my children and SING Shabbos zmiros with them!
I got to be the one to give them the first Birkas HaBanim-- Adam is so
jealous! Meanwhile Adam and his parents had Shabbos in the community--- the
Shalom Zachor leftovers FILL our kitchen, my goodness!
So how did I get from wheeling to walking? Usually by the third day after a C
section, I wouldn't be out of breath-- but-- it turns out I was anemic and
needed 2 units of blood. Once I had a 6 hour infusion last night, I was A
THOUSAND percent better and could walk around the entire floor!!! I haven't
walked more than bedroom to bathroom (or parking lot to doctor's office) in
MONTHS, so that was great. It was so special today to WALK to see my children!
After Shabbos, Adam and his parents picked me up and I'm back at home!!! No
idea yet when either child is coming home--- but meanwhile, we'll go back EVERY
DAY to visit!
Being a mommy is the most incredible feeling in the world!
Our daughter was named by Adam in synagogue this morning: Reena Yocheved.
Reena means joy in Hebrew, and Yocheved was Moshe's (Moses') mother in the
Bible, and for those of you who are Jewish, you'll note the consistency with
this week's parsha, even though we chose the name MONTHS AGO! Reena is after
Adam's grandmother Ruth, and Yocheved is after Adam's grandfather Irv
(Yitzchak). They had a wonderful marriage and have SO many qualities we'd love
Reena to emulate.
Baby Boy will be named at his Bris (Brit Milah, Jewish ritual circumcision).
We HOPE to be able to plan that for Tuesday (on time) or a few days after....
but not TOO much later...... If it will be Tuesday, we won't know until
Monday--- the doctors are making the call on Monday. We are preparing to make
100 phone calls and plan the entire event in one day if the need should arise.
Whenever it takes place, we're hoping to use the Agudah building (Torah
U'Tefila) as it's the only place in our neighborhood with no stairs and I'm
still recovering. :) More info to come!
And a note from Mama K....I've seen the pics....those are two of the most
precious, adorable babies I think I've ever seen. There's one of Reena with
her eyes open, looking right at you....got me sitting here in tears.
Click Here to read the entire article...
