I thought that it would be appropriate to tell you the story of your birth today, my original due date.
We went to the doctor's office for a routine ultrasound on Tuesday, January 4. It was my second day back from Christmas vacation. I had taught second grade all day and left early for my appointment. I didn't even say good bye to my class because I would see them on Wednesday.
The ultrasound was fine and you both looked great. Baby B (girl) was moving around a lot and Baby A (boy) had his head in my pelvis. The tech measured my cervix and it was shortening. The doctor put me on bed rest starting immediately. I begged to be able to go to school and get lesson plans prepared for the rest of the week. She said that I could go as long as I was sitting down. I finished the plans in record time and headed home. Daddy was so good about getting me meals, bringing my clothes downstairs, and getting me anything I needed. I settled in on the couch and prepared for weeks of resting.
On Thursday, I called the doctor because I had been bleeding. I went to the office and everything looked fine. I went home and then started having contractions every 5-6 minutes. I called the doctor and she sent me to the hospital. I called daddy at work and all I could say, through my crying, was that I had to go to the hospital. He sped home and took me in. With the help of magnesium, my contractions stopped and I was sent home on Sunday.
Grandma Melanie came on Monday to help out. She took good care of me too. I went back to the doctor on Thursday and Dr. Menapace sent me to the hospital because my cervix was shortening again. I got there and prepared to settle in for weeks of bed rest.
I started getting contractions again (every 5-7 minutes). I was given magnesium on Thursday, Saturday (Where I ended up dilating to 1cm while daddy was skiing up at Crystal Mtn. He came right home when I called him.), and Monday. I would have contractions, get the mag, contractions stopped, mag was reduced, and contractions came back.
By 5 am Tuesday morning I was having horrible contractions. They couldn't give me any more mag because it would get dangerous for me. I tried taking a sleeping pill, ignoring the contractions, pretending that they weren't happening and finally told the nurse. They took me to labor and delivery floor (again- The nurses had gotten to know me by this point.) I knew that I would be delivering you today because they put me in a really big room.
I was given something for the pain and that helped me rest for about an hour, but the contractions didn't stop. Daddy wanted to go to work (because he had missed so much in the past 10 days) but the doctor told him that he shouldn't go in. I am glad he stayed with me. The high risk doctor told me that there wasn't anything else they could do because my placenta was probably separating from the walls of my uterus. I told her that I couldn't do this any longer because I was in such horrible pain. My body was exhausted. My doctor decided to check me and found out I was dilated to 6 cm. She said it was time. Daddy called the grandparents, I got an epidural and the room was set up for your arrival. Not in that order, but all within 15 minutes. All of the grandparents arrived and we visited a little while before you were born. When it was time for me to push, they all waited in the hall.
Dr. Gary broke my water, I pushed a few times and then Baby A was born at 12:54 pm. We heard you cry when you were placed on my belly before you were given to the NICU staff. The doctors watched Baby B on the ultrasound monitor to make sure your head stayed down. Dr. Gary pushed on my stomach to line you up and then broke my water. After a few pushes, you were born at 1:00 pm. We heard you cry and you were placed on my stomach before you were given to the NICU staff. Daddy and I were both crying because we were excited, happy and scared about everything that was happening.
The grandparents came back into the room and they were so excited to have seen you go by in the transport isolettes. I was supposed to tell the name of Baby B (girl) and daddy would tell the name of Baby A (boy), but he started crying so I shared your names. William Paul named after your grandpas (Your daddy's dad is William and my dad is Paul. Grandma Pam's dad was also named Paul and many family members have his name as a middle name. So Will your middle name has triple meaning.) Erin Eva had her first name picked out by Oma (mommy's grandma) and your middle name is mommy's middle name, grandma Melanie's middle name, Oma's middle name and your great-great grandma's first name). Everyone started crying when they heard your names because they were so special. At one point, everyone was on a cellphone sharing the exciting news of your birth. We stayed in the room for a few hours while I ate, cleaned up and waited for the okay to go visit you two. It was strange to be there celebrating your birth without you.
When we went to the NICU to see you for the first time I was so exhausted. I could barely comprehend that I had just given birth to you and that you were so premature. I knew that you were mine, but the whole experience seemed so surreal. You were still supposed to be moving and growing inside my belly until today, May 1. From this point on you have read the rest of your story. Daddy and I are lucky to have had the opportunity to watch you grow and develop outside of the womb. One of our primary nurses once told me that premature babies come into this world early because they have something great to accomplish. We believe that you two have already accomplished so many wonderful things in our lives (and the lives of so many others) in such a short amount of time. We are proud to be your parents and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you! We love you Will and Erin!
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| Our last picture before we became parents. |
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