Cosette's diaper

The whole story (revised)

September 8, 2009 I gave birth to Nora Jane and Cosette. We were constantly blessed throughout the entire pregnancy. We had many people praying for the babies and my well being. The blessings from these prayers did not go unnoticed. I truly was very blessed and had only a few minor problems during the pregnancy. On August 26th, I wrote this to a friend in a letter ,

"Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I truly feel at peace about how things will turn out. I know that God is in control and things will turn out just as they should. I truly have been blessed this entire pregnancy. Many women who carry twins never even make it to 34 weeks - much less 34 weeks without having to be on bed rest. So, I am counting my blessings and leaving the rest to God."

Since having the twins I have realized that I don't even have the slightest inkling of just how truly blessed we were and how closely my Father in Heaven was watching over me and these two little girls.

Tuesday morning, September 8th, I went in for a routine doctor's appointment. After doing another ultrasound, checking my blood pressure, and a couple of other routine labs Dr. Westmoreland said that she felt comfortable waiting another week and 2 days to deliver the babies. After this she checked my cervix and found that I was already dilated to a 7. Since I had felt few contractions up to this point she didn't feel it wise to send me home to await stronger contractions. The new plan was for me to go to the hospital, get an epidural, break my water and have the babies. Since I was already dilated to a 7 and all had been normal at the visit we both expected it to be a quick delivery. However, by the time I came over to the hospital my blood pressure was up. During routine labs done before receiving anesthesia they found that my platelet count was way down. Normal platelet count runs between 100k and 150k, mine was around 43k. They also found protein in my urine. All theses things together were a red flag for preeclampsia and hellp syndrome. Due to the danger of receiving other forms of anesthesia with my platelet count so low we opted to do a c-section with General Anesthesia. After the decision was made I was immediately taken into the operation room.
John said that they brought the babies out after about 15 minutes in the OR.

When I came out of the anesthesia the first emotion I remember feeling was panic. No one had told me anything about the babies. Were they okay? Where were they? After what seemed like an eternity I was able to ask John and find out that they were both fine. John told me that Nora was 5 lbs 9 oz and Cosette 2lbs 14oz. They brought Nora Jane into the room later that evening. Since Cosette was so small she had to stay in the NICU. I didn't get to see her until I was off the mag drip and had been in the hospital for 2 days.

Because my blood pressure had been so high the doctor put me on a mag drip immediately following the C-section. The mag drip made me feel like I was living in a dream world. I didn't know what was real and what I was actually just dreaming. I was relieved when my blood pressure was regulated enough to stop the medication. I was in the hospital for 5 days.

We were able to bring Nora Jane home with us but had to leave Cosette in the hospital. It was heart wrenching not being able to bring her home with us. I am anxious to have her here, to be able to care for her every need and give her the love that only a family can. I pray that she will grow quickly and be able to come home.

It was only after coming home and speaking with my doctor and a few friends who are nurses that John and I began to recognize just how serious my condition could have been to myself and the babies. On Friday my doctor told me that she could definitely see God's hand in the safe delivery of the twins. Apparently, if I had come home instead of going to the hospital there was a good chance that I would have begun to have seizures. This would have put the babies lives and my life in grave danger.

Before doing the c-section Dr. Westmoreland told us that she didn't feel as though she had any good options. She felt that her only choice was to do the C-section with general anesthesia. However, general anesthesia is dangerous for the babies. Thankfully, the team of doctors in the OR knew what they were doing and both were born safely. Later I learned that an epidural was not an option because of my platelet count. With the count being so low my blood would not clot. It would have built up on my spine, causing pressure and a need for immediate spinal surgery. Even if the condition is caught quickly is can still cause paralysis.

I am sure that I still don't even have the slightest comprehension of the many ways in which Heavenly Father was watching over us that day and throughout the entire pregnancy. I will infinitely be grateful for the miracles that He has seen fit to perform in my behalf. I look at these two little girls and am awed at the fact the I am the one who was chosen to be their mother. In the 12 short days that they have been with us my life has already been tremendously blessed. Every time I hold them I feel and see God's love. Truly there is no greater gift that to hold and care for God's children!

pictures

Here is a link to some pictures my dad took of the babies

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=dougwhipple&target=ALBUM&id=5379911506075939009&authkey=Gv1sRgCNT32KuRjvuWLg&feat=email

the first day

Yesterday we were finally able to meet the twins!

We'll post more information about the babies and the delivery later, but for now we are pleased to be able to post these first few pictures of the newest members of our family. And as the drugs they have given Laura have not yet worn off, we have not yet reached an agreement on their names. So for now, we will use the scientific notation: 2.5.4 and 2.5.5




Yes, I have chubby hands. But the point of these pictures is to illustrate how tiny 2.5.5 is. She weighed in at a whopping 2 lbs 15 oz. That is my wedding ring in the second picture and it would fit around her bicep!

The rest of these pictures are of 2.5.4, who has been able to spend most of the time so far in the room with us. Sydney brought the older kids (2.5.1, 2.5.2, & 2.5.3) up to the hospital for their first chance to meet the twins.

Baby update

Two weeks ago I went to the doctor for my normal check-up. During the ultrasound we found out that baby b's growth had slowed down tremendously. Also, we could see her heart beating but she wasn't moving or practicing her breathing. So, the doctor sent me over to the hospital to be monitored for the day. Thankfully, both of the babies began moving and breathing and I was able to come home without any intervention.

This week I again had an ultrasound. It showed that baby b had not grown at all. Dr. Westmoreland, however, said that she wasn't concerned about this because week to week ultrasounds are not accurate in assessing growth and because their movement and the blood flow through their umbilical cord and the placenta looked perfect. She said that that was a more accurate way to measure fetal well being.

With that news I was encouraged that I might not need to deliver until at least 36 weeks. She did say that I am already dilated to a 4. I could deliver today or it could be a week or two from now. I pray that my body will be strengthened to carry them until they can be born healthy and strong. I have no doubt that we have been continually blessed through the prayers of others during this pregnancy. It has been mostly uneventful, for which we are grateful.

It has been a blessing to feel Heavenly Father's love for these two babies that I carry inside of me. What a wonderful blessing to be given the opportunity and responsibility of raising two more of HIS children.