To My Four Boys Turning 6 {Your Birth Story Part 2}

January 29th, 2013

{Continued from Birth Story Part 1…}

But in even those uncertain days, God’s faithfulness was ever present.  He guided our decisions and our wondering hearts through the storm. 

We were warned that one or more of you may not survive from week to week, but you continued to surprise us all with your growth and development.  We held our breaths as we waited to find 1, 2, 3, yes all 4 beating hearts blinking strongly on the ultrasound. We were referred to one of the best perinatologist in the country, Dr. Sumners, to oversee our care for the remainder of the pregnancy.  He highly recommended a surgery called a Transabdominal Cerclage to help prevent preterm labor, and thus increase your chances of survival.  It was a difficult decision to undergo surgery at 13 weeks, but there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to try and save your lives.

On the day of my surgery, I found out that all four of you were BOYS.  I wish you could see the “I just won the lottery” look that your daddy had plastered all over his face.

My recovery was painful as I was starting to grow and stretch, all while trying to heal a hip to hip incision, but your daddy commented on me being “tough” every day, and took excellent care of me.  Covington Grandma came up to help and feed us too.

Post surgery, I took it pretty easy, and tried to enjoy the 2nd trimester as much as possible.  I tried to eat lots of protein to help you grow. I downed a lot of orange juice, chocolate milk, protein drinks, and milkshakes.   My favorite meal was Taco Bell soft beef taco and a nacho supreme without tomatoes {$2.27} – not exactly health food, but I could stomach it!

Your daddy and I went to a class on expecting multiples to try and wrap our minds around the possibility of bringing you all home.  {Although I tried to guard my heart as much as possible.}

Registering for your baby showers had to be done via the electric cart.  You know your Mama, always keeping it classy. I was a terrible driver and nearly sent the shoppers running.

At 22 weeks, you were still all surviving and getting stronger by the day.  We had a scare that landed us in the hospital overnight with contractions.  You see, I was measuring full term, and my belly was getting irritated with all of you cramped in there.  Each day I had to measure my contractions at home with a monitoring system and call in to a nurse to make sure I wasn’t having too many or I would have to return to the hospital.  People from church dropped in to keep me company, help clean, and take me to weekly doctor appointments.  It was an enormous blessing to be served by the body of Christ.

Each week we were getting closer and closer to your viability.   As hard as it was to lay on my side all day{it’s much tougher than it sounds}, I was just thankful for another day at home in my own bed and on our couch, even if that meant having a horizontal Christmas. 

We decided at week 28, I would voluntarily be admitted to the hospital, so they could closely monitor Brooks and Clark {our mono-amniotic trouble makers}, and delivery immediately if they caught them in distress.  

The hardest days of my life were ahead of me…

{Continue to Part 3…}