I was really expecting to have one more week of updates, but the babies had other plans. Andrew and Kaitlyn were born on February 10th, 2014, both weighing in at 5lbs and 9oz. They spent thirteen days in the NICU and then went home to finally meet their three big sisters. Best. Experience. Ever.
I had an ultrasound scheduled for 11am. My MIL came with me and we had a great scan and chat with the sono tech. I had seen her just about every other week during the pregnancy, so we had gotten to know each other pretty well. The babies looked right on track (and Kate was HEAD DOWN!!), and she mentioned that maybe I had started to dilate, but it was hard to tell. She gave me a hug and wished me luck, since it would be my last scheduled u/s. We walked down to the exam room and the nurse checked my vitals and then said I wouldn't need to get undressed, because my dr wasn't planning on checking me. My MIL both said that maybe I should, since I had been having some contractions and since the tech had said I maybe could've started dilating. (I still have nightmares wondering what would have happened if he hadn't.) So, he came in, and said, "You need to go to the hospital." He said it so calmly it took me a second to understand and I stupidly said, "Why?!" He responded with, "You're almost at a 6. You need to go NOW." Wait. What? *FLASHBACK: This is EXACTLY what happened with Oliver. No joke.* Needless to say I was in a bit of a shock. I immediately called Andi and told her to head this way!! Dan was at work, and they had a 3 1/2 drive just to get to the airport! I called Chris on the way out the door and drove home to get my bag. My mom met us at the house and she watched the boys while we went to get checked in.
Thankfully, my dr knew we were hoping to get Andi and Dan here before the babies came out, so I just got hooked up to the monitors and didn't start pitocin right away. That afternoon was the first day of bad, icy weather to hit, and the Atlanta airport was already cancelling flights. Andi and Dan were speeding (Literally! They got pulled over and from what I heard as soon as Dan tried explaining why they were in such a hurry, the cop let them go. I'm sure 'We're having twins, no, not my wife, our surrogate' was a first for him!) Their flight wasn't scheduled to land here until 11:30, so my dr had the nurses pump me up on fluids so I wouldn't go into active labor. I was still at a 6, but no strong contractions, and he thought maybe we'd even be able to wait until Tuesday morning. By now, it was about 4pm and I was staaaaaarving. All I'd had for breakfast was two tiny Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. And he expected me not to eat until the next morning??? UMMM NOPE.
My nurse was my hero. That wonderful woman snuck me in the most delicious turkey sandwich that has ever been made. And it was gone in about 15 seconds. Along with two chocolate chip cookies. She and I both could've been in trouble, seeing as if I had to have a csection (especially if it was an emergency and I had to be knocked out), you aren't supposed to eat for 12 hours. However, she was pregnant too, and agreed that denying a pregnant woman food is just a bad idea all around. (He ended up getting on to me for convincing her to let me eat, but laughed when I finally said, "The past is the past, we can't change it now!" He just told me to stay away from other women in labor :) ) Andi and Dan finally made it to the airport about then and were able to get on a flight that had been delayed, and their new arrival time was 8:15!! My contractions had started to pickup so them making it before the birth was a little more realistic now. We were all really worried the babies wouldn't hold out til midnight.
Right about 8pm, their flight landed. (I saved one of Andi's texts that said, "We're still waiting to deplane!! Move people!!!!) I was almost to an 8 and the nurses, (and Chris, his mom, his aunt, and my friend Arielle who was taking pictures) said I should go ahead and get the epidural. I probably would've gone natural, because I still wasn't feeling anything, but since there was still a chance of having an emergency csection, it was better if I had one before going in the OR. Seriously, the two worst parts of labor for me are epidural and the DANG blood pressure cuff they keep on so dang tight! There ended up being an emergency csection right as he was cleaning my back off, so I got all mentally prepared and then had to sit and wait and do it all again. Torture. Finally, he got it all in and working, and not too long after, Andi and Dan walked in!!! HALLELUJAH!! We got to talk and catch up on the drama of them getting to the airport and then the nurse came in with theirs and Chris' scrubs and it was go time!!
They wheeled me down to the OR, got me on the table, and the pulled out the sonogram machine so they could see Kate after Andrew was out, to know which position she was in. Somehow between being in the room getting monitored and checking that screen, that little stinker had FLIPPED!! She was back to head up!!! I started to panic, but my dr said he'd try to flip her once Andrew was out. So, he said to just start pushing! I had one push and he told me stop, because none of the pediatric nurses were in there yet. *AGAIN FLASHBACK: With Oliver I had to stop mid push because he was almost out and my dr was in the room by himself. He ended up SCREAMING down the hall to get nurses in the room!* It felt like half an hour, but Chris and I guess it was only 5-10 minutes of waiting for the nurses. If you want to know awkward, try laying with all your biz out for show, while everyone is just standing around, not sure what to do or where to look. Super great time. After they got there, Andrew was out at 11:06 and proceeded to pee, twice!, all over my dr. Then, my dr broke Kate's water, which SPLASHED on the floor, (Chris was shocked out how much water came out and joked that my dr was baptized now). I happened to look down and could only see his head and I asked Chris if his whole arm was up in there trying to get Kate to flip and he just nodded and said he couldn't see his elbow. Awesome. Answer to my prayers, my amazing dr got her out feet first at 11:09. With only slight tearing to me :) It didn't take Andi and Dan long to realize she's going to be the sassy one! They headed up to the NICU with the twins and I got cleaned up and rolled back to my room. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I was so proud of these two little babies I got to bring into the world, and was so happy for their sweet parents. It was so bittersweet while the twins were in the hospital. I hated that they were hooked up to so many monitors, but I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with them and their parents during that two weeks. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Andi and Dan were beyond generous. They allowed me to have a bracelet to get into the NICU and see them whenever I wanted, and even rearranged their plans to make sure I got to hold and feed them at least once a day. I will never EVER forget their kindness. Even now they still amaze me with how much they have made me and my family apart of theirs. They send texts and pictures just about every day. Every person I talked to about being a surrogate always asked if I thought it would be hard when the babies left. From the beginning, I knew they weren't mine and I never had the wish that I would get to keep them, but watching them leave was pretty hard. More so because I was going to miss their parents just as much. Andi and Dan asked me to be "Aunt Jeni", which I will answer to with pride, and hope they now how thankful I am, to have been on this journey with them!!!!
I can't believe it's already been a month. Love these little ones!
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