They are one week old...

I cannot believe it has already been a week since they came into this world...our twins...

We are still kind of shocked that first we were able to conceive twins, but after all the precautions we took with my cervix, they still came early. To my obgyn and perinatologist we are a mystery...my body just likes to do its own thing...

But through all of this, we couldn't be happier to have them! They are truly our miracles including our rainbow baby Caleb...we have been through so much and finally God blessed us with 3 after 3 losses.

So on Sunday morning we received a call we did not want to get saying that our little Brayden had a tear in his intestines and had to have surgery. Of course I cried even though I knew this was a possibility. His first surgery...

They ended up putting a drain in so that all the bad stuff can come out and for them to be able to flush his system. Thankfully so far it's working but we need to wait to see if it heals properly bc if it does not heal well or even too well, they would have to go back in which can be worse for him. So now we wait and see...he had to have his breathing tube put back in which had come out a couple days after his birth.

My little Aiden is doing well...he also has a round belly, but according to x-rays no tear...thank goodness...but it can still happen which we pray will not...they stopped his feedings to see if it will settle down. They also tried again with PICC lines on Tuesday...they couldn't get it in him a few days before and he got stressed to the point that he stopped breathing for a bit...this time with the help of a specialist was able to get it in even though it wasn't in the location they were anticipating but at least now they don't ave to worry about trying to replace the IV.

Yesterday...technically...they had their first head ultrasound. The results showed that my little Brayden has a small bleed on the left side of his brain...the nurses assure me it will go away but need to speak with their primary doctor to get some details. Aiden on the other hand was normal so for him we don't have to worry about another scan til next month while Brayden needs another next week. We really do hope it's nothing.

So that was pretty much our days the last couple of days...until next time!

Brayden and Aiden

Hello everyone! It has been a year...15 months to be more accurate since our son Caleb came into the world. He is such a joy and is constantly learning.

Well we ended up getting pregnant again after not being able to for a few months because I found out I had Graves' disease. Once I got diagnosed and started medication we got pregnant! Not only that but soon after found out we were having twins! We were in shock and couldn't believe that happened to us! Of course went back to our perinatologist, for a cerclage and started the bedrest journey again at 13 weeks. Yes we had our ups and downs like last time...another thing we found out was that they were 6 days apart which my doctors were surprised about also.

Well last week, I was at 26 weeks and in the morning started getting these shooting pains in the groin area...called the doc thinking it was just sciatic nerve pain and that's what the on call doc thought too but after I hung up the phone thought it wasn't right bc it kept coming back frequently. So I woke up my husband and he had to wake up Caleb and off we went...

We got to l&d and they settled me in and found out I was contracting every 2-3 minutes! We were very surprised...so they gave me magnesium sulfate to try to stop the contractions and that didn't help. They then gave me a steroid shot for the babies lungs. We waited a little longer and then talked to the on call doctor and she said we needed to go ahead and get the babies out and the cerclage before the cerclage started to tear...so off we went to the OR after getting an epidural...both of us worried and scared that they wouldn't make it.

At 12:25 and 12:27pm our boys arrived! Brayden was baby A and weighed 1 lb 15oz and Aiden (baby b) was 2 lbs 13oz. We got to hear them cry although the neonatologist told us they may not...it was such a relief to hear them cry. They were also so very tiny!

It has already been a roller coaster ride for us...still cannot believe they are here now. They are my little fighters! And this blog will now be dedicated in sharing their journey in the NICU.

Aiden has already had some run ins with trouble with apnea and he has a heart murmur.
Brayden has been great until today when he started to have necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) and has a tear in his intestines. He had to have surgery and had to have a small area opened in his belly to get drained and flush out all the bad stuff. So now it's a wait and see...

They also both had jaundice so they have been getting photo therapy treatments.

Other then their progress I will update on the things I get to do for them. So far I was able to touch them and put aquaphor on their tiny bodies so that it is kept moist.

So thank you for continuing to follow our family. I will post as often as possible...hoping to post every day but you know how life can get busy.

Until tomorrow!

He is here!!!

I know I am late with this post but he has finally arrived!

Caleb Jefferie Han
Born on April 5, 2012 at 10:08am
7lbs 1oz and 19 1/2 inches long!

Pictures to come...

The delivery was a scary one...I went to get induced on Wednesday night after seeing the doctor that day...he thought that since they did not know if I had gestational diabetes for sure and I have been dilated for a bit it was a good idea...

So my hubby and I had a nice dinner at Cheesecake factory..lthen headed to the birthing center...

They then started me on pitocin and that night I started contracting regularly and it was getting stronger...

That morning at around 9:30 my OBGYN came in and broke my water...things then sped up quickly...contractions were coming one after another and before we knew it I went from 4 to 10 cm...but bc of one huge contraction, my little one's heart rate slowed..lactually they could not find his heart rate but then it could be because they had me on my knees at the point...I was in so much pain even with IV Meds I thought I was going to die...they put a oxygen mask on me...

At this point there were 2 doctors and several nurses in the room and they decided to send me to OR and were ready to do a csection...

They sent my hubby to put on scrubs...but before a csection my OBGYN decided to have me try to have this baby naturally so he told me to push and push hard really fast...before I knew it Caleb was coming out and just in time for my husband to see him coming out...he then got a chance to cut the cord and got to hold our baby boy!

I am so thankful that my OBGYN gave it one last try to have him naturally...

Afterwards, recovery has not been easy...almost had a blood transfusion done because he came so fast and I just kept clotting, but thankfully the Meds they gave me worked...

Thank you to all who followed our journey through pregnancy...it has been hard, but now that we have our little man it has been so worth it.

I will be updating this blog from time to time so stay tuned but I wanted to share my journey because I know there are others who are going through what I went through and those who will be going through it and I want others to be able to get information about cerclage which I could not really find.

So until next time...

38 and 39 week appts

So last week...I was at 3 cm still...

Today I went in and was dilated to 4 cm and then doc suggested inducing tonight! Yes tonight! So we are going to have a nice dinner and then go into the birthing center to start this process!

I will soon be able to share with you all our baby! So excited!!!

37 week appt...and no he is not here yet!

So we made it to 37 weeks...almost 38 weeks...and saw my OBGYN today...the office was a little surprised our little one has not made an appearance yet...

So today had a normal OBGYN appt without an ultrasound...heard the baby's heartbeat...got my belly measured...and then he did a cervical check...I am 2-3 cm dilated...and my doc said he could be in there for another week or so...

Oy! I am so ready to see him already as well as a lot of our friends and family...

We will see...

Ditch the Stitch Day and 36 week appt!

We made it! It is Ditch the Stitch day for us! Oh and on a side note it is my birthday as well...

So at 2:30 we had the cerclage taken out! It was pretty uncomfortable with the speculum and did feel something...probably the thing that snipped the stitch...but it did not take that long...

The OBGYN also did check on the baby and we got to see him again! Doc thinks he is probably going to come either tonight or tomorrow...hoping he decides to wait until next week to arrive but who knows!

We were shocked to hear the doctor say today or tomorrow so my hubby has been scrambling to get everything done...

Also to celebrate we went out to eat and do some shopping!

Next time you hear from me is hopefully to tell you the good news!

34 and 35 week appts

So I did not get a chance to update last week...after my baby shower I needed some time to recover...

So last weeks appt was very uneventful...I did not even get to see the baby...first time without an ultrasound...it was just hear the baby with a Doppler and get mt stomach measured...

Today's appt I was not expecting to see the baby but doc said, "let's just look at the baby for fun to see how big he is..." love my doc bc of that! So ultrasound said he was at 5 lbs but doc believes he is at 6...I do not care...as long as he is thriving!

I also found out that whenever we feel the baby's body...like a big bulge...it is bc I am having Braxton hicks contractions...so doc wanted to take out our cerclage a little earlier then expected...so now our Ditch the Stitch day is on March 15 which is on my birthday...what a birthday present huh? I just hope he decides to wait until the following week to come though...

So next time I write will be after my stitch comes out! Yay!!!

33 weeks and more...

On Thursday went to my OBGYN appt and this time with my friend who came in to throw me a baby shower.

We got to really see our little one and he is 4 lb 11 oz...and has a cute chubby face!
He then checked my cervical length and was at 3.6...hopefully after this weekend though it will not get any shorter bc of my baby shower.
However there was one thing that did not go the way I wanted...my blood pressure was high enough that my doc made me come back today to recheck my blood pressure. Thankfully it was okay today.

So this past Saturday had my baby shower...it was so much fun...Playing games and chatting away...I missed meeting up with friends...

Oh and we have an official date for taking our cerclage out...Ditch the Stitch date is March 16!

Until my next appt...

32 week appt!

Had my weekly OBGYN appt today! It was a good appt and was not with my doc...

My cervical length is at 3.8...this is good at 32 weeks...

Also baby is 4 lbs! He is growing well!

The downside of my appt was that my fasting blood sugar has been a little high for a few days so if I cannot get it down this weekend I will need to go on insulin shots. I really do not want to...I already have so much going on with this pregnancy but I guess for a healthy baby I need to do all I can for his health.

Onto 33 weeks!

31 week appt

31 weeks...almost 32...cannot believe we are so close now to the finish line...I am so excited but also nervous at the same time because we really do not know what to expect when it comes to the stitch coming out and then when our baby boy will want to come out and not knowing what labor will be like although I went through it twice before but this will be a little different bc we will have a bigger baby...but my biggest worry is how I am going to know when I am in labor...hopefully there will be a lot of big signs telling me I am going into labor...

So my appt today was so much better than last week!

My cervical length was at 3.7! I had a feeling it was longer bc I did not have as much cramping like I did last week...so I am happy about that.

Also despite of my GD diet I gained 2 lbs and this is due to our little one's growth spurt! He is now 3lbs 12oz...I know that the ultrasound is not accurate with weight but at least I know the numbers are increasing telling me he is growing! He is almost 4 lbs but after reading about birth weights vs ultrasound, it seems most are off by a pound usually birth weight being bigger so he can already be at the 4 lb mark...

So hoping to go full term if we keep going at this rate but who knows what will happen once the stitch comes out...

30 week appt!

We have made it to 30 weeks!!!
I cannot believe it!

So went to see my OBGYN...my cervical length has shortened to slightly over 3...I am a bit worried bc I am not supposed to go below 2.5, but hopefully after my 17p shot tonight it will lengthen.

I probably just over did it this week with my longer shower and also playing with our baby's first ride! His stroller which is pretty cool!

Other than that my doc wants to me to ditch the stitch at 35 weeks instead of 36 or 37...in his office so it would be cheaper for us then going to l&d and doing it...so that is in 5 weeks! I am very excited!

I did not find out how big he is now but when my doc came in, our baby's knee was sticking out pretty high...found out it was his knee...lol!

29 week appt

Had a wonderful OBGYN appointment! My cervix is at 4...grew a little from last week...also no funneling! Yay!

Also our baby is weighing 3 lbs! 42 percentile!

Also I myself did not gain weight...thanks to my new diet...which I really dislike...

2 more days and we are at 30 weeks!

Until next time!

28 week appt and glucose test update

So I had my 28 week appt on this snowy day...all is good with baby...he is 2 lbs 14 oz and on track with his growth...cervix is also okay at over 3.9...a slightly shorter then last time but nothing to worry about...

Well to update you on my 1 hour glucose test it was 194 when it should not go past 140...so I was supposed to do the fast and then 3 hour test but bc myself and my OBGYN were worried I would get sick and it is not good for the cerclage that we decided to forgo the test and go straight to testing my blood sugar and controlling my diet as if I had gestational diabetes. So after my OBGYN appt and meeting with a nurse on how to use the glucometer, I went to see the dietician.

I am not sure why I was so worried but I can do this diet thing...some adjusting is needed but I only have a few weeks of this pregnancy to go...

Oh and after I got the results last week I started to eat better and even lost 2 lbs...how cool is that! I am on bedrest and cannot exercise but just watching what I eat I lost weight...that is how high your metabolism gets while pregnant...

Until next week!

27 week appt and glucose test

So today had our 27 week appt! Everything looks great! My cervical length is at 4.2 and my OBGYN did not have to do a transvaginal ultrasound yay!

Our baby also weighs 2 lbs 6 oz...thought he would be bigger bc I feel huge!

Then I did the 1 hour glucose test...was not expecting to do it today bc OB said at 28 weeks but I said okay...I mean all I ate this morning was some bread with cream cheese...

After reading so many things about this I thought the drink would be gross but it was not bad...I just hope I passed it though bc I do not want to wait there for 3 hours.

So the appt was great!
Now onto 28 weeks on Sunday!

26 week appt!

So had my 26 week appt today...the last couple of days were a little stressful bc I started having unusual discharge...and even called my doc last night but he was not worried so I just waited until today.

Well my cervix seems to have a mind of its own...but today in a good way bc my cervix from internal to external is at a little over 4! It got longer! Woohoo! After last week I was freaked out but all looks good! Now I just need it to keep behaving...and doc said no more transvaginals unless I have bleeding! Another woohoo! Those transvaginals are not comfortable...so I have stick with my bedrest...now onto week 27!

Did a quick abdominal ultrasound like usual...he was moving around so much that he could not get a measurement but got a great shot of our LO's bottom ;) I love how my doc gives me all these pics...soon will have a great scrapbook of all these sonograms...

So I had another first with our baby...felt him through my stomach...think it was his head...nice and round...freaked me out a little bc it was just there for a while and then moved when I changed positions. Could have been his head or bottom...

Well I am so relieved after this appointment...hopefully it stays long...
Oh and our baby was not breeched at this appointment but I know he flip flops...

Until next time!

25 week appt

So had my 25 week appt today...

First the day through me off bc I usually have an earlier appt...but good thing bc it was slippery in the morning...second, my regular OBGYN was not there bc he is on vacation...

Well I went in and got the usual done with weight and blood pressure check...just gained 1 lb! Woohoo! And blood pressure was at 120/75 which is good...so far do good!

Then she proceeded with the transvaginal and looks like I am funneling again...ugh! And this time I think it has gone down farther...so that got me a little worried but my cervix is still at above 4 which is good...I think the funneling may be due to the fact that I have been sitting up more this week instead of laying down as I should...do I need to watch that...

She then checked the baby with the abdominal u/s and he looks great! He was staring at us the whole time so could not get a great shot of him but he is 1 lb and 13 oz...I thought he would be 2 lbs by now but that is ok...

So let's see how things turn out next week...

24 week appointment

So it is now 24 weeks! Well 24 weeks and 5 days to be exact! We are officially at viability and now in our 6th month! Went to the doc and told him about my Braxton Hicks contractions. I went into L&D a few weeks ago bc they were coming so frequently but now I look back and think it was due to being dehydrated...

Well he did the usual ultrasound...yes I am one of the lucky ones who get to get a ultrasound done at every visit bc of the cerclage...anyways, we saw my son...he has gotten big! About 1.8 lbs! Almost 2 lbs...but he is not too big...he is at a 43 percentile...so he is about average...

We then heard the heartbeat which is at 155!
Afterwards he mentioned that he was breeched at this point...but he told me not to worry because he will likely turn around in the next few weeks...guess he is not ready to come out yet ;) which is fine with me...

Finally he measured the cervix...he normally does a transvaginal but after measuring he said he did not have to bc my cervix was measuring at 4.9 almost 5! Woohoo! That is what I needed to hear!

So all looks good so far...the shots and cerclage are doing its job!

You do not know how relieved I feel...hopefully it stays that way! But have to take it a week at a time!

Until next week!

23 week appt

So I went to my OBGYN appt today and currently my cervix is at 3.43 cm...it seems like it has shortened a little but he cannot be sure bc last week I was measured on a different machine last week so this is why he wants to see me the next 4 weeks to make sure my cervix is not shortening anymore...I really hope not or I am going to have to be hospitalized and put on bedrest there.

On Sunday I will be at 24 weeks which is viability but need to make it to 28 weeks for the best chance at survival for our son...I am hoping 4 weeks goes by fast...faster then it has so far...being on bedrest seems to make the days go by so much slower...

Hoping for a longer cervix next week or at least no more shortening...

22 weeks pregnant - perinatologist appt

I cannot believe it! The day has finally come...our last perinatologist appt! I could not sleep last night because I was worried something bad was going to happen...as you know 2 weeks ago was supposed to be our last appt with our perinatologist but my cervix started to funnel from the inside so we had to see him again this week to see how the follow-up would be.

Well yes we still have the same funneling but nothing worse so we were told today that we do not have to come back. Now if something were to happen before 36 weeks yes we would have to go to that hospital again but we are hoping for the best! So being at 23 weeks this Sunday means we still have a ways to go...first goal is to reach 24 weeks for viability and then to reach 28 weeks for the best chances for the best chance at survival...but I need to stay positive for our son and just keep doing what I am doing which is bedrest.

Oh and this also means no more 3D pics :( oh well...we will just have to wait for him to arrive.

So now I just have to go see my OBGYN...every week for a few more weeks and then a little less often as we get closer...

Now to focus on Christmas...cannot believe it is almost here!

20 week perinatologist appt

So on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving I had my 20 week perinatologist appt. I went with my mom and sister this time. The appt started out great seeing the baby and especially seeing my mom seeing the baby. She was so amazed on how technology can allow you to see so much. She even got see 3D pics and was even more amazed. She even got to take home pics of the regular and 3D pics! I am glad I got to experience that with her!

After the anatomy scan, we saw how my stitch was holding up. I was not expecting to hear the news that I heard. My cervix started to open up from the inside :(
My peri does not seem to be that worried though...he said that that is what is to be expected because of my history of my cervix opening early and even though the stitch is a little loose closer to the baby, the stitch is still holding on the outside. My cervix still is at 4 which is good! However I need to see him again 2 weeks...this was supposed to be my last appt with him...but oh well what can I do if my cervix is not cooperating.

I got sick on Tuesday with vomiting which the doc says could have contributed to it opening...

Well...last night I started having several contractions...I started having 1 or 2 a day a couple of weeks ago...which I figured was Braxton Hicks contractions, but last night I had several within an hour so I decided we should go in...do they hooked me up to a monitor to closely check and had me stay overnight. As I figured would happen, when I was being looked after it does not happen...so today saw my OBGYN and he told me next time that happens to call him first so that he can call my perinatologist ahead of time and head to the other hospital (where my peri is located)...then I got discharged.

So this week I see my OBGYN and hopefully he can give me some good news...and need my uterus to settle down and no more contractions!