Our Miracles!

The Birth of Eden Violet & Pryscilla Kennady

Nov 18

I had a check up and had done a Dr. ordered 24 hr urine test. My blood pressure had been increasing already and then when I went in for the check up it was even higher. She was thinking I was in the beginning stages of preeclampsia. I was 33 weeks 3 days I think. She sent me over to L&D testing at the hospital for more tests and to get the urine analyzed really quickly. So my husband and I walked over and settled into a room for about 3 hours. They monitored the babies and took a lot of blood from me. After about 3 hrs they came back to and said everything checks out, "you're blood looks good, and your urine only has 60 grams of protein which is well within the limits". So I got released and put on Dr. orderedbed rest to keep my BP low.

Nov 19 (My husband's birthday)

I felt funky all day. I wasn't seeing spots or having headaches (the sure signs of preeclampsia) but I just didn't feel right. My mom was over that day helping to clean our house. I asked Brian (my husband) to run me up to CVS so I could check my pressure. At this point also I hadn't slept in 3 days because of the HUGE belly and feeling bad. My bp was high. As we were getting back in the truck my phone rang and it was the Dr. saying the lab misread my test results and I was preeclamptic!! I actually had 6000 grams of protein. So my liver was spilling it! She told me not to get in a hurry but to go home get my stuff together and head up to the hospital to check in. Her hopes were to hold me to 34 weeks, which would be Saturday, Nov 21st. So Brian and I checked in then settled in for a few days.

Nov 20

In the hospital getting monitored, family came to visit, watched some movies, and read some books I was getting nervous for sure!! It's more that excited nervousness. I didn't sleep a wink!!

Nov 21st (Happy Birthday Girls!)

The C-Section was scheduled for about 10 am. My family and friends got there for support and to see the babies.. I got wheeled back to the OR around 9 they prepped me and then an emergency section had to go before me. After that was our turn.. I was so nervous!! Then at 11:45 my Dr. pulled the first baby (Eden) out and she weighed 4.8. Words cannot describe the feelings the closest I can come is that I was seeing God before my eyes, I was in such awe!! At 11:46 came baby B (Pryscilla) and she weighed 4.1. They wrapped them up and brought them in to us for picture time. Holding my girls for the first time was so unbelievable, I fell in love!! What a blessed moment.

The girls were wheeled down to the NICU, not because of any specific problems just because they were preemies. I was in recovery for 12 hrs following their birth so I didn't get to hold or see them again until around 12 am that night. Very special when I finally did..

Nov 22-25

The girls have their own room in the NICU which has been really nice for us when we visit them, it's very private. They were both hooked up to IV's for nutrients, Eden had to have a feeding tube so she didn't have to waste her energy on feedings, and they both were having lots of apena and brady cardia episodes which was pretty scary!! The nurses would have to walk over to their beds to wake them up. They just forget to breath because their brain isn't mature enough yet to remember. It was just day to day to let them try and "catch on" to what they need to be doing: breathing, eating, pooping, peeing, and regulating body temperature. Each day one would improve a little and the other would lag back and then it would switch the next day. This period was tough but at the same time they never needed to be on oxygen and all of the Dr's were so positive just saying that all of this is completely normal for 33-34 weekers. But it of course drove me nuts. They also both lost quite a bit of weight Pryscilla dropped to around 3.6 and Eden 4. We went to visit them for thanksgiving then actually got to enjoy it with family which was amazing, I really wanted my turkey!! :) Also, throughout this whole period and still now I pump every 4 hrs. I know my milk is helping to make them stronger faster. I've been doing pretty good I think but there was about a day in there when I got 0 mls and it hurt like hell!!!

Nov 26th

Happy THANKSGIVING! I did get my turkey and so did the girls via breast milk!!!

Nov 27th

The Dr's started the girls on caffeine to stop the apnea and brady's. So far since starting we have not had any episodes!! YAY!! We started to see improvement and it felt so good! It's so funny how just the little things excite you like crazy. Eden started bottle feeding and I was there to feed her first bottle, it was an amazing feeling I was so proud of her. They both came off of their IV's that were delivering fats and lipids because they started gaining weight and eating more each day. They are starting to regulate their own body temperature.

Nov 28th

More of the same, feedings are going really well. The Dr. keeps moving it up every day and by the 29th they will be at full feeds. Eden weighs about 4.5 now and Prysce 4 lbs. They are doing really good and we couldn't be happier. I got to give them "baths" last night which was so much fun. Each day I'm doing a little more with them and getting more comfortable. I think they may be coming home by the end of next week, which is much shorter than we all anticipated. I just pray they keep on the same track.

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11/21/2009 Happy Birthday E & P!

Lucky Number 21!!!!! My Scorpio blackjack babies will have a lucky number for their birthday...

Dad was hoping for two lil' scorpios (just like him..Brian's birthday is 11/19) and he got his wish!

Surgery is set for 10am 11/21/2009. Its 12:44 am and I can't sleep for the life of me...just knowing how drastically our life is changing tomorrow brings on the nerves! Brian is actually sleeping on the little couch right next to my hospital bed snoring right now, I'm a little jealous. He needs the rest though. Today was great my mom spent a lot of time here with us, my dad stopped by and dropped off some reading material for me (Sarah Palin's new book), Kendl, Brian, Beka, and Presley stopped by too. Beka and Kendl brought some cute little hats, onesies, and shoes as baby gifts. Brian bought fajitas for our "last supper" and then I ate some yummy cookies for my "last desert". I had to stop eating and drinking anything past midnight..so I gorged right before my cut off time.

I can't wait to meet my little angels and pray they are healthy and strong. I hope they grow fast and get to come home soon. This all happened so fast, but I know it's God's plan and I have completely put it in his hands. Thank you so much for all of your prayers, thoughts, and support throughout this pregnancy. Love you all!! I will post pix and news regarding the delivery as soon as I can.

Maternity Pics!

33 Weeks 5 Days: Hospital

Well we are officially in the hospital to have the babies. We checked in yesterday 11/19/2009 on Brian's birthday. My lab results were misread and I am preeclamptic (high blood pressure). So the three of us have been monitored yesterday and today and the girls got steroid shots to help progress their lung development. Tomorrow morning is game day. 11/21/2009!!! It's not completely official but about 99% at this time. Looks like our babies will be Scorpios just like their daddy. Thank you for all your prayers throughout this pregnancy, as well as your continued prayers and support.

I have such mixed emotions right now. Excitement and Anxiety being the two biggest ones... :)

I also wanted to mention that my Grandma (Mema) will be arriving back in Houston from her trip to the Holy Land. I promised we would wait till she got home, looks like I kept my promise! And Brian and I are a new Aunt and Uncle to Brian's brother's new baby boy, Ben, who was also born yesterday 11/19.

Congrats Kami, Keith, Andrew, and Ben!!!!!

Update: 33 weeks and 3 days

Brian and I went to the Dr. today to check blood pressure again and it was even higher than last time. So the DR checked us into the hospital for more tests and to check my protein levels for preeclampsia. We were there for about 3 hrs and everything came back great (bloodwork and other tests). So the increase in blood pressure is due to the fact that I'm carrying so much weight in my uterus and my body is starting to have a hard time holding it. They also monitored the babies and, except for the fact that baby P didn't want to monitored and kept kicking it off, their heart rates were perfect. The nurse also monitored me for contractions. I was having slight contractions, but couldn't feel them and they were really far apart, but still there which is just another sign that my body has about had enough. So I was sent home and put on bed rest. Our next appointment has been moved up to Friday at 9am. At this point it really is a waiting game.

Happy Birthday to Mema!!!!!

Week 33 Appointment

We had our week 33 ultrasound appointment today. The girls looked really good! Baby A weighs 5.1 lbs and Baby B weighs 4.6 lbs. I can't believe I'm carrying around almost 10lbs of baby. It's taking a toll on my body for sure at this point. My blood pressure was up today and I have to do a 24hr test that will screen for protein (which could be a sign of preeclampsia and would require hospitalization). I am hoping the spike in blood pressure is just due to the fact that I have a lot of extra weight. Regardless of the outcome, the babies are just about ready to make their grand entrance into the world and should weigh enough to be able to come home pretty quick. On the ultrasound, Baby B was "sitting" on Baby A's face... poor Baby A, :) . I'll keep everyone posted on how my test comes out and if I'll be going into the hospital this week or if I'll be continuing my time on the couch. Love you all A!!!

Nursery Pix

11/11

"11:11 is a code that will awaken the mind and change our evolution of consciousness"

Thank you to all the men and women who have fought, are fighting and will fight to preserve our freedom. We appreciate YOU...

Today is 11/11 and is a really special day, 11:11 has spiritual significance to me and I have felt the Holy Spirit all day. Thank you for all of your prayers for me and the girls. Mema is in Bethlehem today praying for all of us and the girls. I think it is so special and fitting that they would be there today, I will always remember and tell the girls one day about it. I just know they are going to be such spirit filled girls, I can feel it!!

Here is a link to the church in Bethlehem that Mema is visiting.

Girls Weekend

This past weekend was a special one for me, my mom, and sister. The guys all went hunting as it was opening weekend. Friday afternoon my mom and I drove to El Campo to see my Grandma off before her 16 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We helped her organize her travel bags, visited, and shared some apple pie and poppy seed rolls. Saturday morning, after we woke up, was photo shoot day for maternity pictures. I figure I'm only going to be pregnant once I better get some pix of this big belly and show it off a bit. They turned out better than I ever thought! Special thanks to Kendl for putting up with me and still managing to get some really good pictures!

The three of us went to the Hungry Elephant for lunch and ate way too much then went to Kendl's first wedding dress fitting. That was so much fun and she looked insanely gorgeous! Although, I was wearing down by that point we made it to a few stores to get me some comfortable hospital clothes and ended up at the nail salon to get manicures and pedicures. There was a lady that overheard I was having twins and walked up to ask if they were identical? She told me she had identical twin boys and said if she can give me one tip it was to journal each day because they really do the strangest things!! Her boys are 29 now and she wishes she had a journal to recall all of the details. I will definitely take her advice.

That was the end of our girls weekend as Brian picked me up Saturday night but it was so much fun and I'm thankful to have had the time with mom and K. Thank you mom for the weekend. You took such good care of me and we had so much fun too. Thanks for putting up with me! Love you...

3 Weeks to go!!!

Our couples baby shower was great fun and I'm so happy that it went so good. Brian and I have everything we need now and are ready for our little baby girls to make their appearance. Overall I have to thank God for the success of my pregnancy because I am 2 days away from being 32 weeks and the girls are still both enjoying their cozy dark living quarters inside my belly. They've stretched me to the max, so it is roomy in there, and I didn't get one stretch mark along the way so big plus. My summer bikini awaits me!!

A day after our last baby shower I woke up with that stabbing pain in my side, and immediately started having flash backs to week 18! I cried to myself thinking how great things had been going and now this. So I followed the same procedures as last time for a couple days..icy hot patches, Tylenol every 4hrs, heating pads, and ice packs but nothing was working this time. About the same time I started getting a rash on my back that was itchy and tingly. I called Dr. Faro and she told me to come in because it was too close to the end to take any chances. She took one look at the rash and asked me if I'd had chicken pox; then proceeded to diagnose me with shingles.

I have to say that having shingles was the worst pain I've ever been in. Ever..and at 30 weeks pregnant...OH JOY. My Dr hooked me up with all the medicine I needed to kick the virus and kill the pain and sent me home to recover. Well being me and always doing what I want...that weekend was Halloween and we had already made plans to go to Victoria and enjoy trick or treating with Presley and I wan't going to let even shingles stop me. Their street is adorable. The neighbors get really involved. A handful of people turn their garages into mini-haunted houses and my favorite house has popcorn, punch, and this year cotton candy!! I'm such a kid! Anyway, I couldn't resist so we made the trip and in a role reversal my lovely Beka took care of and waited on me. Thank you!!

My follow up appointment and ultra sound was on November 4th. My sister went with us for the first time and baby E gave her a beautiful profile to see. I think she enjoyed going and it was wonderful to share the experience with her. We were all amazed to find out that the babies weighed in at 4.1 and 3.7 oz. A small difference at this point. It's crazy that they are 4lbs now! Its been a "long" stressful road but actually short when considering the time I've known I was pregnant. I feel lucky about that too, not only did I get a 2 for 1 deal but it was short! I found out I was prego on June 8th and the girls will be here three weeks from now. I'm so thankful for the shortness...pregnancy is no joke!!! I'm very ready to have my body back to myself but feel very special to have been chosen to house my two precious little girls.

The shingles are healing thank goodness, I am ridiculously huge, it's hard to move, Brian has a monster to deal with 1/2 the time (and may I add, has withstood my moodswings much better than I would have expected), my ankles and feet are swollen!! I don't know who I am when I look in the mirror. With all that being said, I know every second of this is worth it. I will see my babies in just days! I do have one last request though...I would like to eat lots and lots of turkey, if they could wait till right after Thanksgiving that would be perfect in my book. Although, not sure we will make it!

To the babies living inside of me: "please girls stay put until after Nov. 26th then hurry as we are ready to meet you!! If we don't make it though we'll still get turkey so no worries. Daddy keeps watching you tube of twin baby girls giggling and laughing. He can't wait to hear you laugh!! And believe me he is quite the funny guy, you both will be rolling or maybe you two will make him roll, we shall soon see!! Love you both"