Welcome to the world Baby J!

 Late last night my sister Lisa and her fiancee Paul welcomed their baby boy into the world.  He is adorable!

Jonathan Stephen
07-07-2012

7 lbs 7 oz 

20.5 inches

Her older boys, Pearce (9) and Luke (5) came up to meet their new baby brother today.  I wish I could hold that cute little guy.  Living in another state from my sisters really kills me sometimes!  I can't wait to meet him!
Today I showed these pictures to Hank and on the way to church he kept asking "where is Jonathan?"  Then he was pointing to the spare seat in the van and saying "Jonathan will sit right there."

-a

The day we met Ruby & Charlotte

It's been over 5 weeks since we first laid eyes on our sweet Ruby and Charlotte and I'm just now getting the time to sit down and document that day.  Here it is...

Last family photo as a trio!  The day we went to the hospital.

Once we knew I was getting induced, my mom made arrangements to be here the day before we went to the hospital so that she could take care of Hank for us.  This was the first time both Brett and I were away from Hank overnight at the same time.   Maybe we need a vacation!?!

On Thursday night, I think I slept maybe one or two hours.  I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that I was about to go into labor the next day and all of the unknowns that labor could bring.  It was just so crazy to me to know the exact day our children were coming and that I wouldn't have to wait around and be surprised by contractions starting.  And honestly, I was nervous about the physical pain of labor too.  With Hank I didn't have an epidural and it wasn't so bad (it was bad, just not super super bad) and I was so happy I did it without medication.  This time my doctor suggested that I get an epidural since it was a twin delivery and there could be complications.  The possibility of complications had me scared.  I really didn't want a c-section.  I tried to pray as much as I could that night so I could be at ease.  It definitely helped.  

On Friday morning, I called the hospital at 6:00am (as requested) to confirm that they had space for me and still could take me at our appointment at 7:30am.  Of course, they didn't have space and said they'd be in touch later in the morning.  And so our day of waiting began - this was the theme for the day.  We finally got the call around 9:45 telling us to come on in.  I was so excited but instantly nervous and a little panicky because I couldn't believe we were actually going to meet the girls very soon.  As we grabbed our bags and said good bye to Hank that morning, it was so emotional.  I held Hank as long as he would let me because I didn't want to forget what it was like to have him as our only child and I wanted to give him one last special hug before he had to share me.  (OK that's enough about that.  I am going to start crying as I type this!)

We rolled in to the hospital around 11 am and we were ready to get things going!  Unfortunately, we did a lot more waiting that day.

Hanging out, waiting for the show to get on the road!

I can't really remember why it took so long but I didn't get my epidural until around 2:45pm.  I had decided to get one based on more information the on-call doctor provided me.  I don't know why I was so against it with Henry.  But this time I was pretty scared of being able to feel it all so I went for it.

Around 4pm they started the pitocin.  Long story short...the epidural didn't work and despite having complete feeling the contractions caused by the pitocin didn't hurt!  They were no more painful than all of the contractions I had been having forever before this.  They kept gradually increasing the pitocin but I wasn't dilating any further despite all of the contractions.  When I checked in to the hospital I was dilated to 6cm and I was still the same.  Around 7:45pm finally somebody made a decision and got me another epidural so they could crank up the pitocin.  Once that epidural went in I couldn't feel a thing and shortly after that the doctor came in and broke my water.  Breaking my water got the ball rolling.  I dilated to 10cm within an hour and a half.  At 9:30pm the doctor checked me and said it was time to go deliver the twins...I was ready to push!

Dad ready for the OR

I had to deliver the twins in an operating room instead of in our labor and delivery room because it was standard procedure for twin deliveries.  As a result, Brett got to dress up in a fancy outfit for the birth.  I got a little hat like his too.  They rolled me in to the OR and got me all set up in there.  Within a few minutes, the nurses asked me to push once.  They all started freaking out because they could already see Baby A's head.  They got the doctors in there right away.  A few pushes later, Ruby Genevieve (Baby A) was born at 10:01pm.

Ruby Genevieve  (Baby A)

Once Ruby was born, they did a quick feel on the outside of my stomach and they could tell that Baby B was still in the head down position.  They didn't have time to do an ultrasound to verify because Baby B's heart rate started to drop and they asked me to push even though I wasn't having a contraction.  After a couple of pushes, Baby B moved around and her heart rate was back to normal.  A few pushes later Charlotte Piper was born at 10:07pm.

Charlotte Piper (Baby B)

Dad keeping an eye on Ruby after delivery.

Leaving the OR to go back to our room.  It was really sweet to get to hold both of my babies together for the first time.

Ruby and Charlotte together back in our room.

The birth of our daughters was so amazing.  Two babies!  It is still crazy to us, even now 5 weeks later, that we got two babies that day.  They are both so perfect and we couldn't be happier with them.  We are thankful that God blessed us with happy, healthy babies and that the delivery went so well.

-a

Introducing Ruby and Charlotte

Ruby Genevieve and Charlotte Piper have arrived!

Ruby Genevieve Paulson
October 7th   10:01 pm   6 lbs 3 oz   19.75 in

Charlotte Piper Paulson
October 7th   10:07 pm   5 lbs 15 oz   18.5 in

Thank you for all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers.  Everyone is doing great.  Ruby and Charlotte are as perfect as can be and they have already stolen our hearts!  As you can imagine, life with two newborns and a 22 month old is busy so it has been hard to steal a moment to update the blog.  I have lots of pics and posts planned and I'll get the blog updated soon!

We are falling  more in love with this new family of ours every day!

-a

Baby girls update - 38 weeks - it's go time!

Tomorrow I'll be 38 weeks and it is going to be an extremely exciting day!  We were hoping to avoid any kind of intervention and let the twins come naturally but since I am about 6 cm dilated and 80% effaced (and the whole high risk pregnancy thing too) we really want to make sure that they are born in a hospital and not anywhere else (such as at our house or on the way there - my labor with Hank was very fast).  After talking it through with our doctor earlier this week we decided the best thing for us was to get induced once we hit the 38 week mark, which is considered full term for twins.

We can't believe their birthday is finally here.  We are so excited but we can't help but feel a little nostalgic for our nice little predictable life we have going right now as just a trio with Hank.  Things are never going to be the same, but of course once we see our sweet little girls tomorrow we are going to be so glad our lives are changed forever.

Pardon the camera phone belly shot.  The real cameras are packed away in the hospital bag and I'm not about to start pulling things out of there!  I hope this will do for those of you who've been begging for one more shot!  Please keep us in your prayers and we'll get some pictures of the newest additions up on the blog soon.

-a

Big brother practice

This morning while I was getting ready in the bathroom I look over and see Hank entertaining himself by changing his baby doll's diaper.  (Yes, my little boy has a baby doll!  It's a little boy doll and it's totally cute.)  He sat there with his train and a new dump truck pulled close to him.  The baby doll was being pushed around in the dump truck most of the morning before this.  He must have decided that the baby needed it's diaper changed.  Once he decided he was done he gave his baby a big hug!  I think this little guy is going to be a perfect big brother.

-a

Baby girls update - 37 weeks

STILL COOKING!  At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday we discovered I was almost 6 cm dilated.  You'd think those babies would be out by now but alas, they have made themselves a nice cozy little place in there and apparently are quite content.  I know it's a good thing because every day they get bigger and better but now that I know I am so far dilated the waiting is killing me!

Like I mentioned before I have contractions all the time but they aren't the super painful or close together kind so no need to go to the hospital yet.  They are just very intense and real uncomfortable at times.  Since I am so far dilated when the real contractions do start I am now afraid of having these babies in the car on the way to the hospital.  We have an ongoing debate around here as to which car it would be better to have the babies in.  Brett's car or the new van???  I kid.  I kid. 

I have another doctor's appointment on Tuesday so we'll see what the status is then!  My ultrasound on Friday showed that everything is looking good and both babies are still in the right position so we're really just ready to get the show on the road.  Of course, when they are ready they'll be ready and we know that God has this all in His hands.  But...we can't wait to have those little girls in our arms.  I'm falling in love with them more and more every day and I haven't even met them yet!

-a

Baby girls update - 36 weeks

The girls are still cooking and today's ultrasound showed that they are getting bigger.  Both are estimated to be over 5 lbs each, but Baby B seems to be the biggest.

We are extremely happy to have made it to 36 weeks.  We feel like we are so much closer to bringing home healthy babies!  We are so blessed to have overcome all the hurdles that have popped up so far and we keep praying that the girls continue to do well.

I am getting really anxious and can't wait for them to get here! 

-a

Baby girls update - 35 weeks

Last Friday I hit the 35 week mark.  It was an eventful yet uneventful week.  Eventful because at my doctor's appointment on Tuesday I found out that I was already 4 cm dilated.  Therefore, the rest of the week became uneventful because my doc put me on bed rest.  Since then we've been juggling childcare for Hank and I've been trying to stay on the couch.  I would say I have had about a 75% success rate with this attempt at bed rest.  I'm not cut out for not getting up and around.  Add a toddler to the mix and there's just no way. 

I think learning that your babies might be here sooner than you think and also having to be off your feet at the same time is a mild form of torture.  The urge to nest is at a fevered pitch around here and my lovely Brett is being such a trooper and trying to help get things done that I can no longer do.  I even asked him if he would - get this - sew something for me and he said yes.  I was completely joking about having him do it (I cheated and completed two sewing projects this week - I was sitting down, does that count?) but the fact that he said yes without even flinching was so amazing!  This is why I like this guy.  He is the best partner!

My doctor wanted me on bed rest just to try to get the twins to keep cooking until the end of this week when I hit 36 weeks.  We'll see if we can make it.  So far so good.  I can tell you if they came right now I would be more than delighted.  It's hot here and if I go to the hospital, I get to hang out in the A/C.  Also, I have contractions ALL THE TIME.  They aren't the you-need-to-go-to the-hospital-right-now kind but they are so annoying because they make me uncomfortable and it's been really hard to sleep more than an hour or two at a time at night.  But enough complaining.

Soon enough we'll have two new daughters.  We are getting excited!

-a

Baby girls update - 34 weeks

Today I'm 34 weeks along with the twins.  We are SO EXCITED to have made it to this milestone.  Only 6 weeks left to go.  Our goal has been to make it to 36 weeks, with a stretch goal of 38.  If I hit 40 weeks please do yourself a favor and stay far away from me - it's not going to be a nice time around here.  My body is feeling every bit of these girls and I can't imagine how it's going to feel as I get bigger in the coming weeks.  But it will all be over soon!

All of the doctor appointments went well this week.  Today's ultrasound took forever because as the girls get bigger there isn't much room for them to move around and it's getting harder for the sonographer to find everything they need to look at.  I saw both of their sweet faces today on the screen and I can't wait to see them on the flip side.

Here's the long awaited belly shot.  I figured I needed to get one up here quick in case they make a surprise early appearance.  I have finally hit the size I was at when I delivered Hank at 4 days overdue! 

-a

Doing work for the girls

My boys recently got to work putting together the changing table we are going to use in our room for the girls.  Hank jumps at the chance to help with anything that requires a screw driver or tools.  Needless to say, this project took twice as long as it should have - thanks to Hank's "help"!!

Things are coming together little by little around here.  Hopefully, we'll have it all in order once the twins actually come home!

-a

Baby girls update - 32 weeks

Another week down!  We had good results at our two ultrasounds this week.  The fluids are still looking OK but we are most excited about their growth - which has been something we have been worried about since all this extra monitoring started.  They are both measuring right on track and Baby A is now bigger than Baby B by a smidgen.  Baby A is 4 lbs 1 oz and Baby B is 3 lbs 15 oz.  (In case you were doing some quick math...yes I am carrying 8 lbs of babies now.  That's how big Hank was!)  They are both measuring around the 50th percentile again.  We are so, so, so happy and are feeling much better.   

The perinatologist is pleased with their stability and feels that we can start coming in for ultrasounds once a week from now on rather than twice a week.  But...since I have hit 32 weeks now their standard procedure is to have high-risk patients come in for a non-stress test (NST) for monitoring twice a week.  The NST monitors the babies' heart rates and me for contractions.  So....I am back to coming in 2-3 times a week...hoping to double up my ultrasound and NST appointments on one day to ease the babysitting burden!

Sorry for the lack of photos lately...the babies are so smooshed in there that it's hard to get cute ultrasound photos of them!  But I can tell you they are so sweet to look at.  These little girls are so cozy and cuddly together!

-a

Baby girls update - 31 weeks

We had two more ultrasounds this week and at both appointments the fluid levels looked OK for both babies.  We are very happy about this and so thankful to have one more week completed.

We have two more appointments next week including an ultrasound on Friday to estimate their growth.  We are praying that both babies have been growing strong!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support!

-a

Baby girls update - 30 weeks

I've mentioned before that the twins are considered a high risk pregnancy because they are sharing one placenta.  Well, that high risk is now in full effect.  At one of my perinatologist appointments a week and a half ago, the ultrasound showed that Baby A's amniotic fluid level is very low and Baby B's fluid level is very high, setting off alarms for the doctors.  (I'll spare you all the medical terminology but basically both babies can suffer significantly from getting too much or too little of the nutrients from the placenta.  The first indication of a problem is with the fluid levels.)  We have been to several more doctor's appointments since then and so far, the fluid levels are still very different between the two babies but we are within an acceptable range.

We will continue to go to the doctor for ultrasounds twice a week from here on out to keep an eye on the babies and to check their fluids and growth.  The goal is for the discrepancies to stay within an acceptable range so we do not have to do anything drastic...like deliver them super early in order to prevent one or both twins from suffering complications.  (Last week we were kinda freaking out for a few days thinking we may have to deliver them!  2.75 lb babies?  No thanks, we like them a little bigger.)

We have made it to 30 weeks with the babies still in utero and we're praying for at least 4 or 5 more.  The babies are still looking good but each day is a milestone at this point.  We're not ready for the girls to make their debut yet! 

Thank you for all the well wishes, prayers and love!  It's working!!
 
-a

P.S. We wanted to do an update here on the blog since many of you know a lot of what has been going on.  We'll post updates periodically to let you know how things are going or if anything changes.  xoxo

Cozy nest

The maternity pillow makes a nice cozy nest for a little boy that is supposed to be helping me make the bed.

-a

Yes, please

 

Thank you.  I will take that spot.

-a

Baby girls update - 26 weeks

Baby B

She has her chin tucked into her chest.

Baby A

She has her chin raised and her little nose is smashed up against the dividing membrane.

I'm 26 weeks now.  Here are two pics from the ultrasound I had yesterday.  The girls are growing well and everything continues to look as perfect as can be.  They weigh 1 lb 15 oz each, putting them both around the 50 percentile for growth.  Nice and average.

-a

Girlies are lookin' good

Baby A! 

Baby B! 

I had another ultrasound today and the girls are lookin' good!  We finally got profile shots of both of the babies so I was really happy to get that!  Those kind of shots are the best in my opinion.  I have to go every two weeks for ultrasounds since they are sharing a placenta and are considered a high risk pregnancy.  It's a bummer to have to go to the specialist's office so often but it is definitely a nice feeling to get reassured that everything is on track.  Baby A and Baby B are both growing well and they are the same size - about 1 lb 1 oz each.

I'm 21.5 weeks right now and I am getting large.  I'll post a pic of my belly eventually!
-a

It's a girl...and a girl!

Hi.  I'm 17.5 weeks pregnant.  With TWINS!  And we just found out today that they are GIRLS!  This is the best shot the ultrasound technician could get of both of them at the same time.  When she captured this image, Baby A reached her arm out and it looked like she was hugging Baby B (I labeled it for you!)  Both babies are looking strong and as perfect as can be.  We are very thankful!  I love ultrasounds because it makes me feel like we are really seeing our babies and we get to know them a little more.  Today it was so amazing to see all those arms and legs flying everywhere and to see them cozying up together.  At one point the screen was filled with four tiny feet all playing footsie.  I loved it.


To get everyone up to speed and to answer the most frequently asked questions we have received...
My due date is Oct 21.
We found out we were having twins at my 9 week appointment and we were shocked to say the least!  Brett's eyes popped out of his head when he saw it on the ultrasound screen.
These girls are identical twins because they are in one placenta (vs two placentas).  It's officially a high risk pregnancy (but not super high risk) but we aren't worrying about it since it's really out of our hands and in God's.
This kind of twinning supposedly has nothing to do with heredity.  It happened because of my crazy splitting egg.  Randomly, Brett's Dad is a fraternal twin and there are some twins on my mom's side of the family.
Yes, we are freaking out.  But every day it gets a little more real and we feel more and more blessed.
I've cried both tears of joy and tears of panic.  Brett is acting very calm in all of this.
We are looking for a bigger home but we aren't too worried if we can't find something we like before the babies are born.  Newborns don't take up too much space and we know we can make our current place work for a while.
I feel like I am so much bigger than I was at this point with Hank.
I can feel them move.  I felt them for the first time last week and this week I have felt little flutters every day.  That has been exciting!
Hank is noticing my belly.  He likes to lift my shirt, stick his finger in my belly button, then laugh hysterically.  He also likes to rest his head on it.

We are so excited to add two more children to our family.  We may not have been planning on adding so many at one time, but it's what God has in plan for us so we'll take it happily.  From here on out we're just praying for a healthy pregnancy, healthy me, and healthy babies.  Please keep us in your prayers!

We can't wait to see Hank as a big brother and I can't wait to see Brett with his daughters!

And there you have it.   We're having twins. 

-a

Maxwell Oliver

Maxwell Oliver Chen
May 22, 2010 5:05 pm
7 lbs 6 oz 20.5 inches

Max is here! Hank's new friend has finally arrived. We met Max this afternoon and he is beautiful. Look at those lips! Sandy and Leon are in love with this little one and I can't wait until he gets home from the hospital so I can go over there and hold him for more than just a few minutes!!

-a

Little man in the mirror

Today we hung out at Sandy's and waited on baby Max to get here. While we waited, Hank entertained us by giving himself kisses in the mirror.

No Max today. My prediction is this Saturday.

Hank has been getting more and more interested lately in the little man he sees in the mirror. While at Courtney's house in Texas he was swatting at himself instead of trying to kiss himself. Court, if you were wondering how those tiny hand prints got on that closet door, this is why!

-a