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Just a quick update before I take a nap. Recovering from the c-section is tiring, not to mention all that has gone on in the past 36 hours. I’m doing ok, I’ve been up and walking and the IV’s have been pulled. I get to have a regular lunch today rather than some broth and Jello. My belly looks so deflated. The OB came in and commented on how fast I’m recovering. She said that when they were delivering Loen her placenta was in pieces. They were surprised that she had been moving or that she had adequate blood profusion in utero. Loen had an infection and that is what caused me to go into labor. For as upset as I was that I couldn’t keep the babies in longer, I am VERY grateful that Loen is alive. Since I wasn’t showing any signs of infection there was no way to know she was in distress especially with how active she has been. If I had not gone into labor when I did our outcome could have been much much worse. She is a fighter. I’ve been able to pump some breast milk for the babies. Again, that surprised the doctors, they thought I wouldn’t be producing anything for the first 24 hours. I’m glad my body is able to quickly shift modes and provide what the babies need. Even though they wont be taking it for awhile the NICU will freeze it for when they can. Tadd is also hanging in there. He can get anxious and a little high strung at times but has been amazing throughout this whole ordeal. After the c-section yesterday our nurse said she was a wreck and then looked over at how calm Tadd was and that relaxed her. He has been handling so much and with such strength. He is definitely our rock.

We spoke with one of the neonatologists about an hour ago. They are very straight to the point but in a kind way. No one gives you false hope, they just go over the facts. They want the babies to be as calm as possible this first week because increased blood pressure or stress can cause their brains to bleed, so both of the twins are sedated. They did an ultrasound of both of the twins brain this morning and there wasn’t any evidence of bleeding, which the doctor said was good. They will repeat the ultrasound at 3 and then 7 days. They are concerned with the 3 day ultrasound. We were told this is their honeymoon period. Things could look good for the first 24-48 hours but then they usually go down. If they were to have a brain bleed it would be around the first 3 days. Hence the “roller coater ride” they keep telling us about. Here is how they are doing for their first 24 hours:

• Loen: We still haven’t been able to touch her. Any kind of touch stresses her out and causes her blood pressure to go up and down. So they are trying to “group” her care. Doing what they can all at once and then letting her rest. They had to stop earlier because just a little movement upset her. She will be getting a spinal tap later today to rule out meningitis. Due to the infection they are probably going to replace all of her ‘old’ blood with a transfusion. The doctor said she will survive the infection and it can actually be helpful to her as it will cause her body to mature a little faster. She is on the ventilator with only room air but has severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The respiratory technicians have been closely monitoring her and she has had 4 doses of surfactant to help keep her alveoli open. They said she looked a little puffy from retaining the fluid they are giving her in her IV. I couldn’t tell because she looks so tiny to me. She has perfect little hands.

• Derby had a good night according to the night nurse. They have both of the twins on dopamine to help with their blood pressure and Derby was off of his for several hours last night. He had to go back on it this morning to keep him stable. We didn’t get a chance to touch him today, we don’t want to do anything that can increase his blood pressure. His chest x-ray looked better than Loen’s. He too is a little puffy from retaining fluids but other than that he is doing ok. Which is the best that we can ask for.