May 31, 2012 - Welcome Twins!

Welcome Adam and Kylee! Adam is older, born at 6:53pm, 1 lb, 5 oz, and Kylee was born at 6:54pm, 1 lb, 6.5 oz.

Adam David

Kylee Elizabeth

May 31, 2012

Today marks week two in the hospital for Emily and the twins, a small victory.

Emily is completely dilated now and we saw on a sonogram today that Kylee's cord and one of her feet are now through the cervix. She is experiencing several contractions an hour at this point. They are administering medication to try to slow down/stop the contractions.

Here are the beautiful silver banks Adam and Kylee's Aunt brought them back from Ireland.

Thank you to all for the prayers, love and positive energy - it helps more than we can express. We are continuing to take things as they come, sometimes one hour at a time.

May 30, 2012 - Really!?

Well today we had some less than optimal news. The good news is that Kylee's foot is no longer dropped into the cervix. However, the bad news is that Kylee's cord has now dropped down into it. Yes, the last time this happened it was Adam's cord. They seem to be in competition for who can worry us more!

They are going to administer Magnesium tonight to stop contractions and soften the uterus. It is going to be a very difficult night because of the side affects of the treatment. We are back to a critical situation right now.

The continued prayers, love, and positive energy have gotten us this far and have been a tremendous help to all. Please keep them coming - they are greatly appreciated and needed right now. Thank you to all who have been constantly sending prayers and love.

May 29, 2012

Mom and babies are doing well. During monitoring both babies were kicking and moving around. All is well at the moment. Another day! Each day is a gift!

Daddy's Mom, Dad, Grandma and Sister are home! Daddy, Grandmas, Grandpa, and Great Grandma are all gathered around Mama right now and enjoying listening to dual heartbeats!

Thank you for the continued prayers and positive energy. It is much appreciated and definitely helping all of us!

May 28, 2012

The news yesterday was a much needed pick-me-up for all of us!  Although Kylee's foot is now in Emily's cervix, the situation isn't nearly as critical as Adam's cord being there.

I got to see Adam and Kylee on the ultrasound.  Adam is now 1 pound, 7 ounces and Kylee is 1 pound, 6 ounces and they are developing on target.

The Healing Garden

Emily and Eric had a great day after the news they got.  Emily got moved to a bigger room yesterday, one nearer to the OR just in case.  It is a semi-private room and has a small couch in it. She had a view of the Healing Garden outside the hospital but now her view is a beautiful mural.

Healing Garden Dedication

Thank you to the entire high-risk pregnancy staff at Sutter Memorial for the incredible jobs you do every day.  The teams in the high risk pregnancy wing are remarkably compassionate, caring, sensitive, efficient, and just generally awesome.  They deal with life and death situations on a daily basis.  They celebrate the small victories with their patients and families and are deeply saddened when the news is less than optimal.  Thank you to all those who are so instrumental in caring for Emily and her babies!

View of Mural

May 27, 2012 - Some Good News!

I got to the hospital this morning as Emily was having a sonogram. Adam's cord has miraculously retracted back into the womb!!! Emily is still dilated and now Kylee's foot is in her cervix so they are by no means out of the woods if Kylee decides to give a good kick, but the dangers are exponentally less than they were 24 hours ago.

We thank everyone for the prayers, love and positive energy being sent to Adam and Kylee - we know it is a factor in this latest development. If you have any spare prayers, please keep them coming, they are greatly appreciated!

Of course we must continue to take things one day at a time. But, today is a good day!!!

May 26, 2012

We made it through yesterday, one day closer, one day at a time.  I spent the day at the hospital yesterday and am getting ready to go over there this morning.  Emily and I spent the day playing cards and she enjoyed visits from some of Eric's family.  Eric spent the day on the phone and texting with Emily, studying, and taking a three hour on-line mid-term for school.  Her sister and I brought in dinner for her and we had a very nice dinner together.

Although they are keeping Emily in a semi-private room, the hospital is trying not to occupy the other bed while they wait for a private room.  They want a clear path if things become critical so they have every opportunity to do whatever they can if needed.

I never cease to marvel at the strength of Emily and Eric.  Emily had a moment last evening before I left when the fear began to take grip.  But she gave herself the moment and then took herself right back to a positive place.  I am so proud of her.  Eric is a rock.

Eric's parents, grandmother, and sister are away at the moment in Europe.  It has been a very difficult time for him without them here and very difficult for them not being here.  They are on their way home and should be here in a day or two.  I know it will help them, Eric and Emily so much to have each other close by.  In the meantime, Eric's brother-in-law, uncles, aunts, cousin, niece, and nephews have been holding down the fort with their love and support.  

Eric's Air Force colleagues, superiors, friends and spouses have been amazing!  They are an amazing support network for each other.  As Eric put it, his colleagues sent out the bat signal the other night and the Air Force responded!  It looked like an entire wing of the Air Force was at the hospital the other night.  There is a waiting list of people anxious to come visit Emily and do whatever they can.  Their support has been incredibly generous and means so much to Eric, Emily, and their families.

The prayers, positive thoughts and energy being sent are incredible, and they work!!!  Please keep them coming!  

May 25, 2012 - Week 24

Thank you all who have been praying and sending positive thoughts and energies.  We so much appreciate it and it is helping more than we could ever convey.  Emily and Eric are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from so many people.

Adam's cord has dropped through the cervix.  It has put both his and Kylee's lives in greater jeopardy.  This could trigger full labor and we have been told their would be little chance for survival if that were to happen right now.  The doctors have discussed the options of sacrificing Adam for Kylee but anything that happens or is done right now puts Kylee at greater risk too.  If labor begins, they may be able to deliver Adam and not Kylee.  With the cord exposed, there is great risk of infection and they tell us if that happens they will both likely not survive.

Today marks week 24 and they have made it this far.  I truly believe it is due in part to all of the prayers and love being sent to all of us and the positive energy being sent to Adam and Kylee.  They are already miracles and we believe they are fighters.

As one can imagine, we are devastated by the news and in shock.  However, we have all decided that no one can predict what the future brings.  Since we got this news we have had several people reach out to us who have had babies delivered at 23 weeks and little over a pound and they are thriving, healthy, productive boys, girls, men and women.  These stories are encouraging and have helped us.

We are not taking it one day at a time at this point, we are taking it one hour at a time.  Every hour is an hour longer they have.  This is a most difficult journey and we thank each and every one of you who is on this path with us right now and holding us up.  We are believing in, and praying for, a joyous ending.

Introduction

Welcome to Twins Update.  Carrying twins, at 23 weeks, Emily entered the hospital on Thursday, May 17th 1-2 cm dilated and having sporadic contractions.  With so much happening so fast, and so much to come, this Blog was created to keep everyone updated on her and the twins' progress.  We know we are in for a roller coaster ride.  We thank everyone for their prayers, love, and positive energy being sent to Emily, Eric, and the Twins, Adam and Kylee.

May 22, 2012

Happy Mama - bath, hair washed, bagel breakfast, window seat... Today life is good today!

Yesterday was a good day for the most part.  Emily got her hair washed, we had bagels for breakfast together, and she got to move to a bed with a window view.  Life is good!

The babies are over a pound each right now which is very encouraging.  When Emily entered the hospital, Adam's head was against her cervix.  Then, the two moved and Kylee's feet were precariously close to her cervix.  Yesterday, the two of them started moving around again and they both cooperated and moved away from her cervix.   Emily has been given medication to help speed up development of the babies' lungs in the event they are born prematurely.

Emily has had difficulty breathing for several days and had to revert from a nasal mask to a full mask  because her blood gases were getting so low.  She is lying at about a 10 to 15-degree angle with her head lower than the rest of her and her feet elevated.  Not a great position to be in 24/7!

We spent the morning together and after breakfast, we played gin together.  Yes, I won.  Emily's spirits are great - she is very positive and joking around.  I am so very proud of our daughter, watching her be so strong and not giving in to the panic this ordeal could so easily conjure up.

Today she spent the morning with Eric, her husband, and the afternoon with a good friend from high school, Jen so it is another good day.  Each day is a gift, each day is one day longer she carries the babies. 

After several tests, her lungs are clear, there are no blood clots anywhere, and her heart is normal.  She had another breathing episode this afternoon so the mystery remains why she is having difficulty.

Thank you so much from myself, my daughter, and our family for all the love, prayers, and positive energy so many have been sending our way - it is greatly appreciated and helps tremendously! xoxo