We survived the first week!

Wow the first night was crazy! We were pretty much up the entire night, which I know is to be expected. We went to Babies R Us the next day (Ryan stayed in the car with Clayton and Chloe) and made the best investment ever...we bought two Snuggle Nests and the best swaddle blakents! Since then the Clay Man and Chloe Bug sleep great! They get up to eat every 2.5-3 hours and then go right back to sleep. We are keeping them on the same eating schedule, which is definitely helpful. Ryan and I have developed a little routine which allows sleep for both of us. I am so thankful he has the entire first month off with us. I couldn't imagine doing this alone!

Here's our week 1 highlights:
- Mommy and Daddy are getting some sleep!
- Went to the pediatrician, Dr. Kramer...babies are doing great! Chloe is now 5.4 pounds and Clayton 6.2 pounds and they're coloring is perfect.
- Went on our first walk as a family
- Went to the park with Roxi
- Went to a friend's house for 2 hours

Clayton Joseph and Chloe Grace are here!

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After what seemed like forever Clayton Joseph and Chloe Grace Carlos are here! They arrived on May 5th. Clayton was born at 7:38am, weighed 6.2 pounds, and was 17.5 inches long. Chloe was born at 7:39am, weighed 5 pounds,and was 17.5 inches. Both babies are perfect! Chloe did have to spend 2 days in the NICU for observation because she was grunting, but she needed no assistance and was able to join us on Friday.

Here's the story...

For the last week I had been doing all sorts of silly things to induce labor like walking the massive hill by our house. I spent so long trying to keep the babies inside of me and now I was trying to hurry them into the world!

I had an OB appointment on Tuesday, May 4th. It was the first appointment that Ryan had to work, so my mom came with me. I was determined to not come home, so I got everything ready. I dropped Roxi off at Ryan's parents' house, got my hair done, and ate a good lunch. I was 37 weeks and 1 day, which is full term. I would be induced in 5 more days at 38 weeks. I was so ready! Unfortunately my OB, Dr. Clayton was not really feeling my pain; however he kept asking me about my contractions. I had been having very painful contractions and back labor for the past 10 days, but it was never consistent enough to go in to the hospital. While at the appointment, though, I had several contractions that were 5 minutes a part. During the internal examination, Dr. Clayton stripped my membranes, which was extremely painful. Once he did that and heard about my contractions he decided to send me over to labor and delivery "just to see how things were going." By the time I got there I was 4 centimeters dilated and 100% effaced. Contractions weren't quite as regular, though. He called the nurse after about 30 minutes of me being monitored and based on what she said decided to admit me! I was so excited...I just knew I wasn't coming home again without my little peanuts!

Poor Ryan had to race to the hospital from work during rush hour traffic. I decided to hold off on getting the pitocin, epidural, and water breaking until Ryan got there. While we waited my contractions picked up and were coming every 2 minutes. He finally got there after about an hour and a half. The pitocin was started first, then the water breaking, and then finally the epidural! Oh my goodness that is a wonderful drug! My weeks of back labor disappeared and I was a happy girl! Right about that time the whole family arrived, both sets of grandparents and siblings. Since it was going to be a long night we decided to announce the babies' names. Everyone was so surprised. We attempted to get some sleep, but I was way too nervous and excited to sleep! Unfortunately, my labor stalled at 8 centimeters, so Dr. Clayton decided to do a c-section.

Once that was decided, everything happened so fast. I was brought into the OR to be prepped while Ryan waited for me. It must have felt like an eternity for him. There seemed to be a million doctors and nurses in the room getting everything ready. Once things were set, Ryan came in and the procedure started. Ryan got to watch the entire surgery. He says it was the coolest thing he has ever seen (you will have to ask him for details). The anesthesiologist held a mirror so I could see both babies be born...it was so incredible! Once Clayton and Chloe were born and I was sewn back up we went to a recovery room. I was extremely nauseous, which really stunk because it was hard to enjoy the whole experience. Chloe was then taken to the nursery for observation and then to the NICU to be more closely monitored. Poor Ryan was a mess as he ran from her side to mine to make sure we were both okay. She did great, though, and joined us 2 days later. Clayton was able to be in the room with us the whole time. I never imagined that I would be able to have my babies in the room with me...God is so great!

I started moving well right away, but was extremely anemic. Dr. Clayton thought my body would recover, but it didn't, so I had to have a blood transfusion on Saturday. Once I had the transfusion, I started to feel like myself again!

We came home on Sunday, May 9th...Mother's Day! I couldn't have dreamt of a better gift!

Ryan and I are so in love with Clayton and Chloe. They truly are a gift from God that we waited for for so long. We sometimes just stare at them in total awe of the lives we created. Thank you everyone for your support, love, and prayers!

Oh my goodness...I have TWO FULL TERM babies in me!

We are officially 37 weeks today! I can't believe it. I truly never thought it was even a remote possibility for us to make it full term. As long as nothing unexpected happens, these little peanuts will be coming home with us. I am so excited and cannot wait to meet them. My discomfort level has definitely hit a peak and my emotions are running wild, but it will all be worth it when our two little miracles come into the world. I go to see doctor tomorrow and we will definitely be discussing induction. I am hoping things have progressed enough since last week taht he just sends us over. What a happy Mother's Day this is going to be for all of us!

Wow...36 weeks!

By the grace of God we have made it to the point where my OB said I could start dancing again! Yeah right now that my feet are huge along with my ever growing belly! On Thursday I measured at 42 weeks, was 2 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and baby boy is pressed firmly in my cervix at -2 station. I get pretty regular contractions every evening for a few hours, but then they stop. I'm hoping at our appointment tomorrow (Monday) I will be even more dilated and he'll just send us over! I'm totally amazed and so grateful that we made it this far. I truly never imagined it would be a possibility. According to my doctor we should be able to bring the babies home with us! We started this baby journey in January 2007...3 years later we are days away from meeting our precious little miracles! Thank you everyone for your love, support, and prayers.

We made it to 34 weeks!!!!

Yesterday we saw our perinatologist, Dr. Azarat, for the LAST time! We officially graduated! The office couldn't believe we made it to our 34 week ultrasound. Baby boy is weighing 5 pounds 2 ounces and baby girl is weighing 4 pounds 5 ounces. He's going to be big like his daddy and she's going to be petite like her mommy. Even though she's a bit smaller, Dr. Azarat said she is perfectly fine. He loves making fun of how small I am. He was so proud of how far we made it as are we! His goal is for me to make it to 35 weeks.

We also saw our OB, Dr. Clayton, today who is equally as happy with everything. Per my request I am continuing Procardia, which is the contraction medication I've been taking. It seems to be working really well. So, if I make it to next Monday, I will continue on the same dosage and then he will ween me off starting Monday. I measure at 39 weeks. I now don't have to call him until my contractions are 7 minutes apart. His goal is for me to make it to 36 weeks, but he definitely won't let me go past that. So we will for sure have babies in less than 2 weeks! I will be absolutely shocked though if we make it that far, but who knows at this point!

Both doctors would prefer for me to continue bedrest because they want me to bring the babies home with us, but I was given permission to move a little more and to just listen to my body. So, I am doing a little bit more here and there around the house and going on an outing a day or a little walk...never thought I'd be so excited to walk into a store as I was to go to Michael's the other day!

So, I imagine our next update will be to share that the babies have arrived, but you never know...we could actually make it to the 36 week mark!

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this next week!

We are HOME! All of my tests came back great the other day...my cervix length improved, amniotic fluid test came back negative, preterm labor test last week came back negative. My OB and perinatologist both felt that it wasn't necessary for me to continue bedrest at the hospital, so they sent me home to continue bedrest at home until Monday when I'm 34 weeks. Starting Monday I am officially off of bedrest and can increase activity slightly! I'll stop preterm labor medication in about 5 days and we will let nature take its course. Now my OB is hoping to get me to 35-36 weeks! He's very pleased with everything, so we are too!

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers...next time I'm admitted it will be to deliver these little peanuts!

The picture is of Roxi taking care of me in my hospital room. Hoag allows doggies to visit their mommies in the hospital, so I got to see my little caretaker twice! She was so excited and jumped right on the bed with me!

32 Weeks...we made it!

I was admitted on Tuesday to Hoag Labor and Delivery following my cervix appointment. My cervix had gone down from 1.4 (last week) to .88. That number translates to about 80% effaced, but no dialation. After being admitted and hooked up to the contraction machine they found that I was actually having a lot of contractions, but most were mini conractions due to an irritable uterus (very common with twins) and then some were labor strength. I was given a shot to stop the contractions along with an oral medication which I take every 6 hours. Additionally, I recieved 2 steroid shots, 24 hours a part, to mature the babies' lungs. At 3 in the morning Wednesday I guess I was getting more contractions, so I had to have another shot, but since then things have quieted and my doctor is pleased. I had another extensive ultrasound on Wednesday and my cervix is still measuring the same as Tuesday, which is great. My perinatologist said it's just a matter of mechanics...the babies are getting big and can only go down. They are both head to head with their heads down totally in position on my cervix ready to meet everyone! The ultrasound will be repeated on Monday and unless my cervix grows from .88-2, I'm here to stay until delivery or April 12th when I am 34 weeks. We hit the medical milestone of 32 weeks, but 34+ is ideal because the babies would possibly go home with us or just be in the NICU for a few days. I had another preterm labor test done Wednesday (super painful, but the last one!) and it came out negative! What does that mean at this point...it's meaningful if I continue to do nothing, but if I start moving around, babies could come at any moment considering my 80% effacement.

So even though it stinks to be in the hospital now instead of at home, I am actually feeling much better since I am being watched so closely. My contractions are monitored 24 hours a day and the babies have a non-stress test for one hour stretches in the morning and evening. So far so good. We did have to repeat the 1 hour evening test on Tuesday for 3 hours, which stunk, but all is great! They are not in stress at all at this point, which gosh, they shouldn't be considering their mommy does nothing but rest all day!

The nurses at Hoag are amazing...they all speak English which is quite helpful and they are so kind! I am very lucky to be at such a good hospital.

So, I guess it's Easter at Hoag--so funny how quickly life changes because this time last year we were leaving for Puerto Vallarta and had just had our second in vitro. Stay tuned...I think we could have babies in the next 10 days or so!

I had the best surprise too on Friday...Roxi got to come visit me in my room! Hoag totally allows dogs to visit their mommies and hang out as long as you want. She jumped right on my bed with me!