Happy Birthday Babies! April 17th

When I got into the Operating Room - the nurse (Nancy) helped me get on the table and our nurse anesthetist worked to try to give me a spinal block.  He had to poke me a few times because he couldn't get the needle in.... it seemed a little traumatic at the time but in hindsight it really didn't hurt that bad.  It was more a combination of it hurting a little, being so uncomfortable as you try to round out your back with a giant uterus and your nervous and your afraid it won't work at all.  But it did go in - and they laid me down and put in the catheter, propped me on a block and strapped down my arms.  They put up the drapes and let Ruth and Shane come in.  I was nervous and trying to be funny.  I told the NA that I wasn't trying to be glib - but covering my nerves with humor.  He said he was impressed with my word choice under medication.  He was showing me photos of his red-headed children when a horrible wave of nausea came over me and I was trying to wait for a break in his story before I mentioned the nausea... but I was certain I would vomit - so I had to interrupt.  He added something to my IV and I felt instantly better.   

I think it was at this time that Ruth and Shane were admitted into the operating room.  I was glad they were there and Shane was glad that Ruth was with him for moral support.  They couldn't see much over the drape and Shane didn't try to look.  Ruth did look over a few times - and especially at the end.

I was quite worried that I would be able to feel things because I could feel the pressure of people touching me.  Dr. Steve Robison had Dr. Matt Robison assist him.  At one point I did remind them that I could feel what they were doing.  Dr. Robison asked me, "can you feel that?".  I couldn't and our NA told me that Dr. Robison had put a huge clamp on my stomach and if I couldn't feel that I didn't need to worry.  Shane and Ruth were good company and support.  I still felt the need to entertain the room a little bit even with the oxygen mask over my face. 

I have heard friends say that once the baby comes out that you feel so much better almost instantly as far as the pressure of them.  I can not express how literal this experience this is - at least with twins and a c-section.  It was such an instantaneous relief from pressure.  I practically felt like bursting into song.  Something grand and sweeping - like dancing around the room singing, "The Hills are Alive..."  But I couldn't - my arms were still strapped down.  Perhaps that is why they strap down people's arms like that.   

Baby A was born first - Sargent Slade Williams at 5:05pm.  He weighed 4 lbs and 13 ounces and was 18 1/4" long.  It was great to hear him cry.  Dr. Robison showed him to me - but from my vantage point all I could see was the bottom of his feet.

An entire minute later, at 5:06pm, Baby B was born into the world.  I was very glad to hear her cry - as we were all worried about her having dropped of the growth chart. 

Charlotte Dee Williams and she was 2 lbs 12 ounces and 15 3/4" long.  Smaller even than was predicted.  Dr. Robison held her over the drape so we could get a peek at her and then they passed her through the same window that our son had gone through to the Resuscitation Room.  I really think they should call it a different name.

Again - let me say what an amazing physical relief to have those two babies lifted off my diaphragm!  I couldn't really believe that they were here.  We sent Shane to be with the babies and Ruth stayed with me.

Ruth stood up at that point and was very interested in what was going on.  She was so amazed at the size of the GIANT fibroids that she forgot to take a photo of them.  Six weeks later she is still kicking herself for not taking a photo.  She asked Dr. Robison some questions and I remember that she was impressed / curious that he was using a straight needled to close.  I also recall him saying in response to the hospital having a different type of dermabond than he normally used, "that I will make it work - I learned how to roll with things like this in Iraq".    While he was closing one of the nurses came in and told me that everything was fine with the babies and told me their weights.

They took me into recovery and Shane went to see the babies in the NICU and to tell our support team in the waiting room that everything was alright.  In addition to those already there, my long time bestie - Michelle Clements Harris was there, ,along with Krista and Phoebe Smith, and Ashytn Larson.  Cole was also there.  Shane went out and told everyone the babies names - it had been our "hot secret" for 7.5 months.     Shane really liked the name Slade and I really like my maiden name, Sargent - so we did a combo for our son.  I have always liked the name Charlotte and about 10 years ago a friend of mine had a toddler they called Lottie (Charlotte) and I liked it all over again.  And, my dear husband was raised in Charlotte, NC.  Dee is my dad's middle name and Shane's mother's name.    Doctor Robison came out into the waiting room and said hi to Cole and Byron and I think that my mom introduced him to some people - if I'm remember what people told me correctly.    I waited in recovery for what seemed like forever.  My nurse, Nancy, took good care of me.  A few people came back to seem me for a few minutes at a time.  I was nauseated and they came me phenergan which made me even more sleepy and out of it than before.  Shell got a real kick out of how crazy I was acting.  I kept saying something to the fact of "I'm sorry I'm acting so crazy" but I couldn't help myself - I was aware that I was out of it but couldn't quite wake up enough to stop.  It seemed like forever until my husband came to see me.  I had the nurse go look for him.  He and Anna were changing all my stuff to a new room and that took a little bit of time.  I was staring to think they he had gone out to dinner with some friends or something.  I had to stay in recovery for about an hour.  Stevan and Angie came back there and Anna brought me some photos of the babies to see on her phone.  My mom came back and Leah came in for a few minutes to see me too.  Ruth had to get back to work.  After my hour they wheeled me on the gurney through the NICU to see the babies.  I was so out of it from the phenergan that I couldn't really keep my eyes open and I kept saying to the nurses, "I'm sorry that I'm acting so crazy".  I saw the babies in the isolates and was able to reach in and touch them.

  It was great to know that my Aunt Karleen was helping with the babies and helping Shane in the NICU.   The babies did great.  They did not need any surfactant, nor did they need to be on the c-pap.  They both had IV's, received antibiotics - in case of infection being the cause of their being so small (they didn't have an infection) and for the first 24 hours were on room air with a little force in a nasal cannula.  And they were being kept warm.

Here are some additional photos of the new born babies.  They don't really look that little in the photos because there isn't anything to give perspective to their tiny size.  But they were tiny!

Sargent Slade

Charlotte Dee

Sargent Slade

It was quite a night!  I really can't remember a lot of it.  The babies had to stay in the NICU of course.  They never got to come to my room - but I was able to take an Ambien and sleep - other than to get up to start to pump.  Nothing like pumping for 15 minutes in a total drug and exhaustion induced stupor to get 1 or 2 tear sized drops of colostrum every 3 hours!   Shane spent the night that first night and was helpful to have there since I had the IV and the catheter and was so drugged.

What an experience!

A day of decisions - April 17 (first half)

I wanted to be ready when Dr. Robison did his rounds and so I got up and washed my face and put on my make up.   I couldn't eat breakfast until we had a decision from Dr. Robison in case we decided to do the c-section.  Baby A was still very breech - so the option for a vaginal delivery was off the table.  Shane went to work and was waiting for me to call him with an update.  Dr. Robison came and sat with me.  He said that he was very worried and had consulted with 5 different doctors about the situation and about baby b dropping off the growth curve.  I told him that I wondered what was the upside to waiting until Friday to do the c-section if baby b was in danger.  He wanted me to talk with Dr. Jenkins (NICU doctor) about the risks of babies born at 34 weeks and 4 days gestational and then decide from there.  He wanted me to think about it and pray about it and if we felt like we should wait then he would try his best to support us to make that happen.  But he felt like we should do the c-section that day.   I told him that I already thought we should do it since the risk was so scary for baby b - but would talk to him.  We determined that unless there was some downside from Dr. Jenkins (Robison had made arrangement for Jenkins to come talk to me) that we would do the c-section sometime late that afternoon (like 4:30pm) and so if I hurried I could eat breakfast (which was really important to me at the time - I was starving!!). 

Dr. Jenkin's came down and consulted with me.  He told me all the statistics about the babies being born that early (all seemed pretty positive) and that they may have to give the babies surfactant or put them on the c-pap machine but probably not the ventilator since I had received the steroid injections at week 25.  He was very kind and informative.  I asked him if there would be any major upside to waiting 3 days to do the c-section (and he said no).  I asked him if I was his wife and these were his twins if he would do the c-section today.  He said "I would have taken them last week".  So our decision was confirmed.  We were having babies today!!!

I called Shane and he said he would get off work at noon - go home and change and come up.   I called both sets of parents and Anna to inform them.  I called Ruth to see if she could come and be in the operating room with us.  I wanted her to stay with me while Shane went with the babies - so I wouldn't be left alone.  She made arrangements with work to be there. 

I took a long and leisurely shower (I figured it might be the last long shower I would be able to take in a long time).  I even shaved my legs.  Washed and blew-dry my hair and tried to relax.  I was tired from not sleeping much the night before.

Shane came to the hospital once he got off work.  He brought some essentials to be ready for the arrivals of Baby A and Baby B.

Grandpa Romrell came to visit me before the c-section.  This is a horrible photo of the both of us - but it is the only one that we have.  Garth and Amy came to visit and well Michelle Harris, Anna and Karen and my mom.  Cami Romrell came to visit and brought me a little gift from a girl in her office that has been following (through Cami) our story as well as a bread-pudding-bar from Great Harvest.  I couldn't eat it then - but I did eat it a couple of days later in the middle of the night while pumping.  It was delicious and I wish I had more at this moment!

Stevan Sargent and Cole Williams came up to the hospital (Stevan works across the street and Cole works down the hall) and helped Shane give me a blessing prior to surgery.  It is very nice and appreciated to have so many worthy Priesthood holders in our family and circle of influence.

Just before the appointed time for surgery - Ruth got there and she and Shane changed into their outfits and I got fitted with the special pump socks that keep circulation going and blood clots at bay as well as the IV and I drank the disgusting acid neutralizer.  The rest they would do in the O.R. (catheter and spinal block).   

This final belly profile pose is a horrible quality photo - but the only one we have!

We had some great support and visitors.  I hope I'm not forgetting anyone - It was an overwhelming moment and I was covering for my nervousness and anxiety by trying to be funny.  Those people included in our support team just before we went in were Anna and Byron and Karen.  Rachel and her kids were there and my mom and dad walked in (my dad gave my a big hug and kiss and actually started to get emotional.)  My mom started tearing up as I was walking out and I told her she was more emotional than I was!  I felt like I had a full audience as I walked out of that room and across the hall into the operating room.  I was glad that the nurse gave me a bathrobe to wear to cover the slit in the back of my hospital gown.  I felt scared and nervous and I wonder if that is what the babies felt as they left a different team of family support on the other side of the veil as they officially entered mortality.  I can imagine people who have loved us and gone on before us anxious to help them be on their way.  I imagine that if it was permitted and possible that Mark Andrew would be there as well as Grandpa Sargent and Grandpa Call.  Maybe Uncle Newel gave Sargent Slade some basketball tips and told him how to properly hit a golf ball.  And while I didn't get a chance to know them I would image that Bertie Cole and Grandma Marie would want to make sure they had a fine farewell for their trip.   I was so grateful for a good support system.

A final visthit to Dr. Robison (while pregnant) - April 16

Monday morning... Shane had started his set of 4-on that morning and I had an appointment with Dr. Robison at 10:45am.  I had my sweet dad take me and drop me off and he went and bought stamps and groceries for me while I was in there.  I knew it wouldn't be the fastest appointment because the stress tests were always so long.  I was nervous about the baby girl having dropped off on the growth chart and my Aunt Karleen had come by over the weekend to bring me some "calm" tea to try to help get my blood pressure down and I could tell that she was worried about the baby girl dropping off the growth curve as well.  Darla (Ultra Sound Tech) re-did all the measurements - and although the cord blood flow looked good and the amount of amniotic fluid looked good... the little girl was still at the 4th percentile and the little boy had gone up to the 43rd percentile.  Dr. Robison came in for the duration of the ultrasound and while I was having the non-stress test on the babies he came in and sat with me during that as well.  I told him that I was quite nervous about the little girl's growth having dropped off and he said he was nervous about it too - and had been worrying about me all weekend.  He wanted to admit me to the hospital to be on the monitors for the duration of the pregnancy.  They would watch things closely and if things changed they would do the c-section tomorrow or at the latest by Friday.  He was worried about fetal demise on baby b and I agreed that we needed to be on the monitors full time at that point.  I asked him if he could consult with Dr. Jenkins (he is the NICU doctor) and told him that Karleen had pointed out that he also had perinatology credentials .  He said that he would.

I told him that this was really going to mess up the shower that Anna (and Sheila and Krista) had planned for me - and he laughed with me and said they could have the shower in the hospital room.   It was scheduled for the upcoming Saturday.

Dad picked me up with all my groceries and stamps (I still haven't found where I put those books of stamps - but there are 80 stamps somewhere in my stuff) and I told him to take me to the hospital.  I got checked into EIRMC into Labor and Delivery.  They were waiting for me and we got on the monitors.  I sent my Dad home to put away the groceries and he and my mom called me from my house so I could walk them through packing a bag for me to bring up.  I called Shane at the jail and we determined that he would stay at work until we either made a decision or until after his shift - so that he could be gone when / if it counted.  It was relieving to be on the monitors and to be able to continually hear the babies heart beats.  It was interesting to me that despite the visitors I had and even though he couldn't do anything for me - I really just wanted Shane there with me.

Angie and Karleen came to visit me in their scrubs during their breaks from work.  Angie works in day surgery and Karleen in the NICU.  Karleen had the nurses staff on alert in the NICU and had talked to Dr. Jenkins about it.   We were trying to determine what would be the benefit of waiting till Friday to deliver verses the risk to baby b of waiting if she wasn't getting bigger.

Shane came up after work to see me.  His parents were there to visit when he got there. 

It was a long night and  I didn't get much sleep - despite my ambien!  The monitors and the continual automatic blood pressure cuff interrupted the sleep a lot as did my excitement / nervousness / worry about the day or days ahead. 

Hanging Curtains - April 13th

My Dad made us some wall cornices to hang curtains and my mom made curtains out of the same fabric that is the ruffle on the bumper pads and the quilts for the nursery bedding.  We still need to get the little frames to go on the wall behind each crib - but we would be lost without so much help with me on bed rest..... 10 weeks and counting!!!

Glad to see that the cribs are sturdy enough for a grown man to climb on them!!!

Baby Shower #2 - April 12th

Thursday, April 12th - was a baby shower hosted by my sisters and mom.  It was held at the Beck's House and was for my aunts and cousins on the Romrell and Sargent side of my family and some lovely ladies from my home ward. 

It was lots of fun to get out of the house in regular clothes (although tent sized) and big-girl shoes.  Shane had helped me (he has a much stronger opinion when it comes to clothing that you might think) order some maxi-dresses to wear to these baby showers.  I had outgrown most of the maternity clothes - unless your personal sense of style is to let a portion of your pregnant belly-skin show!).

It was so fun to visit with my extended family and ladies from my home ward that I have known for 40 years.  It was so sweet to have support from so many people and to feel of their love and enthusiasm.  I behaved my "bed-rest" rules and stayed on the recliner and didn't get up to hug and greet everyone - although I felt like I should have done that.  We received lots of generous gifts and gift cards and got many packs of diapers and wipes.  My Romrell Aunts (all 10 of them) and my Romrell Grandparents went in together and got us BOTH car seats.  Such an amazingly generous gift.  I know how pricey these things are! 

I also talked to my Aunt Karleen (she is an RN in the NICU) about our IUGR and she was concerned and called me later with more advise from Dr. Jenkins (the NICU doctor) and helped me formulate some additional questions for the doctor.  It is great to have an additional professional advocate in our corner.

Here are some fun photos from that evening....