SO, after we finalized the names, we went to bed. Around 2:00 am, I woke up with some stomach pains, and after a few minutes, I realized I was having contractions. It was the first time that I had pain with my contractions, so after a half hour or so, I called the nurse in. They put me on a monitor and eventually decided that I needed to be moved to a labor and delivery room. When we got down there, I started feeling really bad. I was having chills and feeling like I had the flu. They took my temperature and it was around 102. A few doctors decided that because of my temperature, there was a risk for infection and they needed to get the girls out as soon as possible. By 5:00 a.m. I was in the OR prepped for a c-section and Ella was born at 5:52 and Eva was born at 5:53.
The hardest part for me was not being able to see my sweethearts for two hours after they were born. They needed to get the girls stable and I needed to be stitched up. After I recovered for a while, they wheeled my bed up to the girls' room. Seeing them for the first time was wonderful, what a miracle they are. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were pretty rough for me. I started feeling better on Wednesday and was discharged from the hospital (after a month of living there!) I thought I would feel so happy to leave there, but I cried the entire way home. Leaving my babies at the hospital was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I felt like I was abandoning them, and even now it makes me a little sad to think about it. I'm sure I will get used to the feeling and it will become more normal, but it's still so fresh.
Meeting Eva for the first time
Abriella Anne Oftedahl (3 lbs. 6 oz.)
Eva Marlene Oftedahl (3 lbs. 1 oz.)
As for an update on the girls, they are both doing very well and have been doing pretty well since they were born. When they were born they were both treated with antibiotics through IV because of the threat of infection. They have a feeding tube that goes from their mouths directly to their stomachs, as they are so young and do not have the suck/swallow reflex. They started out getting most of their nutrients from an IV, but with each day that passes, they are getting more breast milk and less IV. They also had nasal canulas (cpap) which supported their breathing for the first few days. Today was the first day they came off of those and did really well! Eva has had a few episodes of apnea where she stops breathing for a few seconds and her heart rate drops significantly, but always brings herself out of it. They aren't concerned yet because it's pretty normal for premies. Other than that they were both jaundice and had to use bili blankets to get their biliruben levels lower. They've been off of the blankets for a few days. Overall, they are doing well! We know the NICU has it's share of ups and downs, but we pray that they continue to thrive. They are strong and have been fighters since the beginning.
Holding Eva for the first time
They expect the girls to be there for another month or so and Brett and I now adjusting to our new lives. We will spend as much time at the hospital with them as we can. I will most likely spend part/most of my days there and Brett will join me after work for a few hours. We also have so much to do around here that we will try to get everything ready here for them when they come home. After three months of not being able to do anything, I am enjoying my freedom again. We will continue to keep you all updated and I hope to continue to bring good news! As always, thank you so much to you all for your prayers, calls, texts, gifts, cards and support. It would have been hard to get through this without you, so thanks. Here are some pictures of our girls!
Ella during a bath
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