Birth Story
At around 11 am the contractions started getting stronger…and about every 3 minutes…I called the Dr. office and they said its probably a good idea to come in. Well Brian’s at work and far away in Bellevue, so I called my dad and he picked me up in the huge Yukon. That was fun to get up in to! I didn’t really bring anything with me because I figured it would be “false labor” and I’d be back at home soon, ha. They checked me in, it was kinda fun to be there this time since it was OK to be there! Contractions are a GOOD thing at this pointJ. They called Dr. Kratoska and she said to just hang out and see…story of my like the last few months!Later that evening everyone came up to the hospital and were expecting babies soon!! Dad and Brian were SO excited that we’d have 7/17/07 babies and even bought newspapers, etc…but things weren’t progressing very fast. I was about 4 cms and contractions weren’t very regular, and my water hadn’t broke. Another call to Dr. Kratoska and there was talk of sending me HOME, WHAT? I lost it. About the same time poor Nancy walked into the room. She tried to console me, but I was beside myself….how in the heck am I going to go home!!!?? 4 cms dilated and I can’t even walk at this point. I was very upset to say the least. SO mom dad and em went home for a while and Brian crashed on the couch. I think he was out getting something to drink about an hour later and I was lying on my side…I felt this POP, felt like a rubber band snapped inside of me. I thought hmmmm wonder if that was part of my stitch that they didn’t get out? Then GUSH. MY WATER BROKE! My fist thought was THANK GOD they aren’t sending me home now! YAY! My second thought was whoa, that’s a strong contraction. Now is when the contractions really began. Holy cow, those hurt! The nurse came in after several calls that MY WATER BROKE! and confirmed. Brian showed back up…and couldn’t believe it-he had that little sparkle in his eye and said, looks like were having babies soon!!!
At around 11 am the contractions started getting stronger…and about every 3 minutes…I called the Dr. office and they said its probably a good idea to come in. Well Brian’s at work and far away in Bellevue, so I called my dad and he picked me up in the huge Yukon. That was fun to get up in to! I didn’t really bring anything with me because I figured it would be “false labor” and I’d be back at home soon, ha. They checked me in, it was kinda fun to be there this time since it was OK to be there! Contractions are a GOOD thing at this pointJ. They called Dr. Kratoska and she said to just hang out and see…story of my like the last few months!Later that evening everyone came up to the hospital and were expecting babies soon!! Dad and Brian were SO excited that we’d have 7/17/07 babies and even bought newspapers, etc…but things weren’t progressing very fast. I was about 4 cms and contractions weren’t very regular, and my water hadn’t broke. Another call to Dr. Kratoska and there was talk of sending me HOME, WHAT? I lost it. About the same time poor Nancy walked into the room. She tried to console me, but I was beside myself….how in the heck am I going to go home!!!?? 4 cms dilated and I can’t even walk at this point. I was very upset to say the least. SO mom dad and em went home for a while and Brian crashed on the couch. I think he was out getting something to drink about an hour later and I was lying on my side…I felt this POP, felt like a rubber band snapped inside of me. I thought hmmmm wonder if that was part of my stitch that they didn’t get out? Then GUSH. MY WATER BROKE! My fist thought was THANK GOD they aren’t sending me home now! YAY! My second thought was whoa, that’s a strong contraction. Now is when the contractions really began. Holy cow, those hurt! The nurse came in after several calls that MY WATER BROKE! and confirmed. Brian showed back up…and couldn’t believe it-he had that little sparkle in his eye and said, looks like were having babies soon!!!
Now I always watched the baby story and made fun of the women who get an epidural right at the moment they can…not anymore, bring on the epidural I said. Little did I know that even that wouldn’t’ go right for me. By this time my parents are back…for another try at Grandkids birth. The anesthesiologist came in finally and told me to sit up and bend over as much as I could. Um I am, no bend over. I am!! I was so “full of baby” I couldn’t’ even bend over. He put in the epidural and at first it worked, but about an hour later…half of my stomach HURT with contractions, then the other half, it was strange and evident the epidural wasn’t working. I begged the nurse to call him back…all the while “breathing though” contractions. I hadn’t taken any kind of Lamaze so I had no idea what to do, I just tried my best to get through them and focus on my 2 babies! I don’t think Brian ever really realized that this WAS labor. Kinda funny. He hung out on the couch and asked if I was ok every once in awhile. Gotta love him. Finally the anesthesiologist came back in and blamed me for moving too much and making the needle fall out. Um excuse me. I CAN”T MOVE! Whatever dude-just put it back in. After 3 failed attempts, Brian is turning white as a ghost I’m freaking out because it hurts so bad to breathe even sitting up and he was once yelling at me to bend over….you bend over buddy….anyway, FINALLY he got it in right and immediately the pain stopped. THANK GOD. Now this is what I’m talking about, I can handle this! Let the contracting begin. On second thought I think I’ll sleep for a while! It was getting late at this point…I’m guessing around midnight? So everyone went home AGAIN…and gave up the 7/17 wish. Brian and I both caught a nap till around 3 AM. I woke up and was having MORE contractions… I’m thinking ok here we go, but the nurse checked me and I was only 7 cm. Ugh. Parent’s come back up to the hospital…and about a half hour later, Dr Larson and a nurse come rushing into the room. Uh oh. Baby B’s heart rate was dropping. They made me flip to my other side…apparently she had moved over and was on top of Baby A. My mom later told me my belly was lopsided the entire time I was in labor. SO they put oxygen on me and watch Baby B closely…Dr. Larson looks CONCERNED, so I start to freak a little. She starts talking c-section. At this point I’m so tired and worn out and wondering where I’ll find the strength to push out 2 babies and worried that this sounds fine to me! I didn’t argue. As soon as the decision is made there is a flurry of nurses and doctors getting me ready. I remember asking for my glasses so I could see what was happening, and telling Brian to grab the camera! So here we go! I could see the relief/worry on my parent’s faces as they wheeled me out. I hear that Dr. Kratoska is on the way, that’s reassuring! Thank God that last epidural worked because otherwise they would have had to put me out for the birth. The anesthesiologist (new nicer one) started putting more and more meds in, until I was completely numb. Dr. K. comes in and pretty quickly starts the c-section. Baby B’s heart rate is back up, so that’s good news. My concern now is how we make sure Baby A and B get named the right names, I reminded Brian of this over and over! He looked scared, but did well. He didn’t look over the screen thing they put up but stayed right by me. Pretty soon we hear “here comes Baby A”, and there she was. Perfect screaming, loud, arms flailing, little Klaire at 4:47 AM. Brian and I looked at each other in awe. We were parents just like that. But no time to be in the moment. Here comes the next one!! Baby Grace was born one minute later at 4:48…again a perfect screaming little bundle of baby. They were finally here! The relisef and joy was overwhelming. They are perfect and we are a family. Brian took some pictures, and soon was off to be with the girls as they were admitted to the NICU. They finished my surgery and I was off to recovery. By this time all the family was back up to the Hospital. It turns out that when a nurse went out to the waiting room to tell them everyone was fine, she told them the names! It took them all awhile to realize those were the names of their newest family members!!!!!!!! Klaire Elizabeth (6 pounds) and Grace Rose (5 pounds 14 ounces)! The next few hours are a bit of a blur, I was in recovery for a couple hours, then a quick peek at the girls in the NICU, then to my room, and they told me to sleep but I couldn’t! Our babies were only in the NICU for about 4 hours to be observed, Brian got really good in these few hours giving tours as a proud new daddy…then they were moved to the regular nursery! We were so proud! They were both breathing just fine and even ate a bottle right away! 
I remember the first time they wheeled those two isolettes into my room. I have to admit I was scared to death. I thought to myself-um I didn’t tell them to bring them in??? ha! Well I better get ready they are ours to keep! The fear let up a little when I held my precious babies. There is no better feeling in the world. We had a lot of visitors over the next 4 days. I always welcomed the help as I was pretty sore from surgery and was having a hard time getting around, I think it’s partly because I was immobile for 3 months before their birth and completely out of shape! They continued to do wonderfully. Grace had a bit of a sucking issue right at first, but with a little extra help and prodding she kept up with her feedings. 
They had to do a car seat study before they were allowed to go home, something they do with every baby not born full term. Grace passed the first time, but little Klaire’s oxygen levels went down for just a few seconds so she had to retake it. She retook it the day we were to go home and I was so nervous! I wanted to take them both home the same day!! She passed! And off we went, an instant family of 4!
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