Marleigh and Natalie's Birth Story (Part 1)

I shared the day before and the day Kade was born, but it dawned on me that I have not really shared the girls' birth story, so here goes.

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Monday, January 19, 2009, I was SO excited.  Marc and I were taking the day to go to Wichita to register for our baby shower.  I was thrilled to have the whole day to go through all things baby and make a wish list! 

Our first stop was Super Target over on Maize Road.  I was a little disappointed, because they were rearranging the baby department, so it was a little disorganized.  Feeling a little frustrated, we kind of just rushed through, thinking I could update the registry online at a later time.  Instead of spending a couple of hours in Target, we only were in there about 45 minutes. 

We ate an early lunch, then headed to the mall to look for maternity clothes.  I was only 25 weeks along, but with twins, I was very quickly outgrowing my clothes.  I remember being in Dillards, by the shoes, and I started to feeling a little cramping.  I just chalked it up to being on my feet too long.  I sat down for a few minutes, and felt better, so we headed to Motherhood Maternity.

I only tried on a few things, and the cramping returned, so I told Marc that I thought it was best we cut our trip short and head home.  I NEVER thought I was in preterm labor, just thought I was pushing myself a little too hard. 

As we neared South Hutchinson, Marc asked if we needed to swing by the doctors office.  Again, I still had no idea I was in preterm labor, so I said no.  Marc insisted I at least call and talk to one of the nurses.  Jan said that since we were in town, to go ahead and come in.  I told her I felt ridiculous, because I was sure everything was fine.  We arrived at the doctor's office, and were immediately taken back.  They found both of the girls' heartbeats, and they sounded great.  I breathed a nice, big sigh of relief.  I can remember saying, "I'm a little embarrassed that I wasted every one's time."  Then Dr. Cullan suggested checking me, just in case.  That's when our nightmare began.  I was dilated to 4.

Instantly, I burst into tears. It was WAY too early for the girls to be born.  Dr. Cullan called the hospital (just across the street), and told them I was on my way over.  Marc pulled the pickup up to the front doors, and they wheeled me out in a wheelchair.  I was in a complete panic. 

Basically, as they were wheeling me into the hospital, they were starting an IV, and getting me changed into a gown.  They started magnesium sulfate to try to slow the contractions, and gave me a steroid shot to help the girls' lungs mature.  They then loaded me up in an ambulance to take me to Wesley in Wichita.  Marc was planning on following the ambulance in his pickup, but Dr. Cullan told Marc he had to go in the ambulance, too.  He thought the girls might come on the way to Wichita. 

The drive to Wichita was a blur.  The contractions were getting stronger.  I was crying and praying.  We entered Wesley through the emergency entrance, but went straight up to labor and delivery.  They hooked me up to monitors to keep tabs on both mine and the girls' vitals.  Their heartbeats remained strong and stable.  Miraculously, my blood pressure remained very low.  All the doctors and nurses kept telling me to just relax.  

Shortly after we arrived, a NICU doctor came in to visit with us.  At the time, all I could think of was, "Relax?!?  You just told me the odds of my babies surviving and having special needs if they were born now.  And I'm supposed to relax?!?"  At the time we didn't know Dr. Dorn from the man in the moon.  But at that point, I was not a fan.  Why would you come tell us all of these horrific things?  (Of course, we grew very close to Dr. Dorn over the next few months, and absolutely LOVE him, now.)

By that point, a lot of our family arrived.  Most of them dropped everything and ran.  How blessed we are to be surrounded with such selfless family.  The rest of Monday night, I spent on complete bed rest.  The contractions kept coming every 15-30 minutes.  Needless to say, there was no sleeping that night.  Poor Marc must have been terrified as well, but he never showed it.  He was so supportive.  He isn't one for bodily fluids of any kind, but didn't bat an eye when he had to help me use the bed pan. 

Tuesday, the contractions started spacing out a little more, but by now the side effects of the magnesium were kicking in.  I am so thankful for mag, because it eventually stopped the contractions and gave the steroids a chance to work on the girls' lungs, but it was tough.  Tuesday night, I didn't sleep at all because of the side effects from the mag. 

Wednesday morning rolled around.  I was still having some contractions. They are only able to give you 48 hours of magnesium because of the nasty side effects, so I was getting a little anxious.  Amazingly, my contractions stopped on Wednesday afternoon.  The took me off of the magnesium and we were on pins and needles for a couple of hours, waiting to see if the contractions returned.  They didn't, so they moved me to the long term ob floor on Wednesday evening.  This would be my home until the girls were born.  Hopefully at least 6-7 weeks minimum.

To be continued.....

HELP!!!!

I was trying to jazz up the look of the blog.  I had no clue what I was doing.  I made a few changes, and never intended to keep them, but somehow I did.  Not sure how I did it, and not sure how exactly to fix it!

Anyone out there want to help me out and either fix/design/do SOMETHING to this poor blog to make it a little more attractive? Please and thank you!!!   :)

Just a couple things....

Kade had his 9 month check up.  He is still doing well, but a bit on the heavy side, although they are not concerned.  He is off the charts in weight and head circumference, and in the 95th percentile for height.  He hasn't really started pulling himself up on his own, but I'm sure it is difficult because he is 29.5lbs.  He is still the most joyful little guy.  :) 

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Marleigh has gotten to the point where I trust her to play in her bathtub while I am not in there.  I always leave the door open, and poke my head in every couple of minutes to check on her.  I can always hear her laughing and playing.   A couple of weeks ago, I heard her yell, "Mom!!!"  I immediately ran to the bathroom, panicked.  She was just fine.  She was playing with a small little bowl.  Looking up at me with a big smile she said, "Look, Mom.  Baby Moses is floating in his basket in the river!"  After I recovered from my mild heart attack, I had to laugh at her.  She pushed that bowl around for the longest time, singing some made up song about "floating in the river".  Oh, how I love her!


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Happy Friday!!!

Taylor Swift has nothing on Marleigh! :)

Daddy did some great video work!  :)  Marleigh LOVES to sing!  

Pictures!

Kade was all about Breckyn.  The feeling was NOT mutual.  Ha! 

Cousins playing on a beautiful spring day. 

Kade loves swinging with Mommy. 

We had some friends over for an Easter Egg Hunt.  Brady, Marleigh, and Kenzie had so much fun together!

So happy! 

Marleigh and Brady taking a cruise around the backyard. 

Probably my favorite picture of the day!  :)

Hunting Eggs at Papa and Gigi's house with Luke.

Had to make sure and check everywhere!  That Easter Bunny is tricky! 

Luke and Marleigh with all their eggs. 

Easter Bubba

Not the best picture, but the best we could get with four of us in the tractor. 

Pushing silage with Papa at Ward's. 

Kade's first tractor ride.  He LOVED it, wanted to touch everything! 

What we've been up to.

The last week seems to be a bit of a whirlwind!

Last Thursday, my Mom had surgery to repair some herniated discs in her lower back. Shannon and I met Mom and Dad in Wichita for her surgery.  Mom had been in pain for quite some time.  I am so thankful that she finally had surgery to get it corrected.  She had a rough day or two right after her surgery.  She was sick from the anesthesia and pain meds, but I think she is over the hump.  Praying she heals quickly and takes it easy!  It will be 3 months before she'll be able to do much of anything at all. 

Friday was my birthday.  The big 3-1.  I honestly don't feel that old!  High school doesn't seem that long ago until I say it out loud.  I have been out of high school for 13 years.  WOW!!!  The Sunday before my birthday, my Mom had Marleigh out to her house.  They made me an early birthday cake.  Marleigh was SO proud of it.  She couldn't even talk when I got there to pick her up because she was so excited.  I love that doing things for others brings her so much joy. 

We packed so much into the day on Saturday!  In the morning, I went out to my parents' house to check on Mom and get her some medicine.  Then, we had some good friends come over for lunch and the kids had an Easter Egg Hunt.  After our afternoon nap, we took the kids to a nearby town to a new bar and grill.  It was delicious!  We stopped by some friends' house afterwards for a little bit.  We arrived home just in time to get the kids bathed and to bed.  Then a few minutes later, we had some other friends from out of town stop by to visit for the evening. 

Sunday, we went to church, then out to my parents' house for another Easter Egg Hunt and lunch.  Marleigh and her cousin, Luke, had so much fun! 

Last night, Marc took Marleigh out to the silage field to ride in the push tractor with Papa.  She was wound for sound when she got home.  "Mom!!!  I rode in Papa's John Deere tractor.  We went up and down.  Up and down.  Papa let me drive!  I drove like this.  Vrrrrrrrrrr...... Up and down! Dad says I can go again tomorrow!"  (She's gotten into the habit of calling us "Mom"  and "Dad".  :(  Sounds incredibly grown up.)  After dinner, I went out to help my Mom with a few things around the house. 

Needless to say, we have had so much fun lately!  Bring on summer and more good times!!! 

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A few other exciting things have happened. 

Marleigh has worn big girl pants since Saturday with only 1 accident!!!  I am over the moon proud of her!  :)

Kade drank out of a sippy cup last night.  Seriously.  He needs to slow down.  He seems to be growing up over night! 

I've got a Marleigh story and some awesome pictures to share, but those will have to wait til next time! 

Never a dull moment at the Johnson house

Marleigh had been really getting used to playing outside.  Then it rained for a couple of days straight last week.  On the second night, I found her with her little face pressed up against the sliding glass door.  She turned to me with the most pitiful face and with the most pathetic voice asked, "Mommy, is it going to rain for forty days and forty nights?"  I had to hide my smile, as I told her that, "No, sweetheart.  It won't rain for forty days and nights."  At least I know she is paying attention when we read our Bible stories! 

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Kade is REALLY keeping us on our toes.  That little boy has a sixth sense for getting into things he shouldn't!  He'll sit and play so good until you turn your back.  That's when he makes his move!  If you catch him in the act, and tell him no, he pauses for a moment, smiles over his shoulder, then continues to do whatever it is he shouldn't be doing (pulling lamp cords, opening drawers, trying to pull the cable out of the wall, picking up the floor vents, I could go on...).  He sure is lucky he's so darn cute, and has such a great personality.  :)  Here's what he was up to the other night.

He did this himself.  

And then continued to play. 

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Lately, we've been really making a conscience effort to turn the TV off while we are sitting down as a family for dinner.  We talk about our days, and just generally try to enjoy our time together.  Most evenings, Kade is laughing and grunting in his highchair.  You can't help but smile if you sit and watch him.  Marleigh eats a little, sings a little (we're working on what is appropriate dinner behavior), and makes Kade laugh by playing peek-a-boo with him.

Tonight, as per the norm, Kade was laughing and smiling.  Daddy commented, "Bubba, you should dress up as a cheese ball for Halloween, cause you're always cheesing!"  Marleigh laughed, then asked Daddy what she should dress up as.  Daddy responded with, "Marleigh, you should be a Princess."  Without missing a beat, Marleigh turned to me and said, "Mommy, you should be a witch!"   Marc had just taken a bite of food and about choked on it.  I'm not quite sure how I should take that one.  Maybe Mommy should try being a little bit nicer, and put on a little make up!  :)