Our BIRTH Story

9 weeks ago, Scott and I got to meet our tiny little miracles: Bennett and Clara.  They arrived at 34 weeks, 3 days (much earlier than we had hoped or planned) but by the grace of God, they are as healthy as can be.  We are blessed.

On Tuesday, November 27th, I was on my way to physical therapy when I started to feel strange.  I had a lot of swelling, rapid weight gain and just an overall sick feeling.  I went back and forth on whether or not to call the doctor...but I did and I'm glad.  I skipped PT and went in as soon as the office opened.  My doctor ran a few tests on me and after finding protein in my urine, ordered a 24-hour collection.

Wednesday, November 28th was our 8-year anniversary.  We had a nice lunch together at Season's 52 and wrapped up the evening with baby care class at Baylor Frisco (romance at its finest!)

On Thursday, November 29th, I went in for my regularly scheduled appointment to see how everything was progressing.  I was extremely swollen at this point and slightly concerned that I'd be put on bed rest.  I packed a bag just in case.  

After my appointment, my doctor decided to admit me to Labor and Delivery for monitoring until my 24-hour urine collection results came in.  He thought I might have a mild case of preeclampsia.

As Scott and I sat in the waiting area, we both felt that we'd be sent home shortly.  A nurse took me back to a room, hooked me up to monitors, and left us alone.  After a while, my doctor stopped by to check on me and decided to have me stay the night.

The next morning, we waiting around for results but they never came.  We were cursing LabCorp (the off site testing facility) and this point.  It had been over 24 hours since they received my collection.  What on earth was taking so long?

At 10am, I had my last meal.  The nurse cut me off, just in case.  Scott and I both still felt like we'd be home soon.

At 2pm the in-room phone rang.  It was my doctor.  He said that my results were way higher than he expected, that I had SEVERE preeclampsia, I was at high-risk for stroke or seizure and we had to get the babies out of there.  He scheduled my c-section for 5pm since inducing could take up to 2 days and we didn't have that kind of time.

Scott and I couldn't believe that our babies that we longed for (for years) would be in our arms within hours.  We called family and friends to share the crazy news.  Friday, November 30, 2012 would be Bennett and Clara's birth day.

My last picture pregnant!

At 3pm, my nurse came in and started my IV of magnesium sulfate to keep me from having a stroke or seizure.  It made me feel very sick, very quickly.  I was instantly irritable and uncomfortable (especially after the catheter...ugh!)  

5pm came and went because our doctor was stuck in traffic.  At about 5:40, the nurse came in to tell me he had arrived and that we'd be starting soon.  It was go time.

I was wheeled down the hall and into a very big, very bright, very cold, very loud room full of people.  The anesthesiologist inserted my epidural.  I was certain I was going to feel something I shouldn't during surgery.  They strapped my arms down and started poking around to see if I could feel anything.  I could...but it didn't hurt.  

Minutes later, they were cutting me open and the anesthesiologist kept checking on me to make sure I was comfortable.  I don't know if "comfortable" is the word but I was fine.  My arms were shaking like crazy and I was definitely having an out-of-body experience.

At 5:54pm, the doctor said, "Here's your little girl."  I thought, "Nope, you've got it wrong, baby A is a BOY."  Apparently, Miss Clara was easier to get to, so she came out first.  Just 1 minute later, at 5:55pm, Bennett entered the world screaming his little head off.  

Baby A, Clara, weighed 5lbs 6 oz and was 18.5in long.

Scott holds his little girl for the first time.  It was love at first sight.

I meet my beautiful girl, Clara Louise.

Baby B, Bennett,  also weighed 5lbs 6 oz and was 18.5in long.

A proud daddy meets his son.

I meet my sweet boy, Bennett David.

After a few pictures, they were whisked away to NICU and Scott followed them.  Bennett was breathing fine on his own but Clara needed a little assistance.  She spent the night on a CPAP machine.

Precious footprints.

Clara spent 9 days in NICU.

Bennett spent 6 days in NICU.

Our beautiful babies were FINALLY here--safe and sound.  That day, our lives were forever changed.  God is good.