Busy, Busy, Busy

 We have been very busy over here the last two weeks. The babies were on a 3 hour feeding schedule to make sure that they were getting enough to eat and when it takes anywhere from 45-60 minutes to feed both babies, that doesn't leave much time for anything else! Their feedings continue to go better and they are slowly gaining weight. They had another doctor's appointment on Friday and Chase weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and Arianna weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces!! They got back to their birth weights!! Also at that appointment, the doctor told us to start letting the babies feed on demand, or every 4-5 hours during the night! Chris and I were super excited for this, but what did the babies decide to do that night...they decided that they needed to eat every 2-2.5 hours! So much for getting some more sleep! Last night was actually our best night ever. They only got up twice! Once at 12:00 and at 3:30!

 Babies first walk

 We are taking many naps during the day

 Chase

 Arianna

Hanging out in our bouncy seats

We are home!!!

Yesterday the babies were both discharged from the hospital. The doctor was very pleased with both of their weight gain and feeding over the past 24 hours. Their weights are still a little bit below their birth weight, but they are both slowly gaining it back. Feeding continues to get better every day. Last night was definitely an adventure with having to feed them every 3 hours! 

A rare moment when they are both awake at the same time

 Welcome home Chase and Ari!

They are both so tiny in their car seats!



Chase and Ari's "BIRTH"day

Here is the info on Chase and Ari's birthday. On Thursday, I had another routine OB appointment at 4:00 in the afternoon. Chris was unable to make it to my last week's appointment with his new job, but was able to get off early to bring me to my appointment, and its a good thing that he did. Well, we were sitting there waiting for Dr. Griffiths to come in and around 4:30, the nurse checked in and told us he was delivering a baby upstairs, but would be down in 15 minutes. Well, he came down and checked me out. He told us that I was 7-8 cm dilated and to go upstairs, we were going to be having some babies!

We headed right upstairs to the birth place and got all settled in. The nurse checked me out and thought that I was more like 6 cm dilated. This was around 5:30 pm. I was having contractions, but wasn't really feeling anything. I had to have 4 hours of antibiotics before I delivered, so Dr. Griffiths wanted to take things slowly to make sure I got that all in. At around 7 pm, the nurse checked me again and there was no significant progress from her last check. At this point, she thought there might be a possibility of us going home. Chris and I were pretty shocked at this and scared to go home, so I started walking around to hopefully speed things up and little more.

At 9 pm the nurse checked me again and now I was 8 cm dilated. We were definitely staying and having these babies! All that time, I was having contractions, but they weren't that bad, just some mild tighting, so I didn't have any pain medications.

At 11:30, the doctor came in to check how things were going. I was now fully dilated and ready to deliver. I was able to walk down to the operating room (I had to deliver there since I was having twins, just in case they had to do a C-section) and got prepped to deliver. The doctor  broke baby A's water shortly before midnight and almost right away, baby A was right there ready to deliver! Too late to get an epidural! After 1 hour of pushing, Chase David Peterson was born at 12:54, followed very shortly by his sister, Arianna Jane Peterson at 12:59!

We were able to hold each baby and spend some time with them before they were brought to the special care nursery to be monitored. The reason they are in the special care nursery is because they were born at 35 weeks, 4 days. They needed extra monitoring to make sure they are maintaining their breathing on their own and they also were in bed warmers to help maintain their body temperatures.

They are able to spend more time with us in our room now and as of today, they are off their heart and breathing monitors!! They are currently having some difficulty with their eating, which is very typical for their gestational age, but we are working on and everyday it is getting better! I was "discharged" from the hospital on Sunday, but am able to stay here in the same room to work on feeding. The doctor thinks that the babies may be able to go home by mid to late this week, depending on how they are eating and gaining weight. Their weight is a little bit down from their birth, which is also very typical for a newborn, but since they are so small, they really don't have a lot of weight to lose, so its important for them to start gaining weight and are feeding well before they go home. 

 Arianna Jane Peterson

8.5.11 at 12:59 am

4 pounds, 9 ounces 18 inches long

 Chase David Peterson

8.5.11 at 12:54 am

6 pounds, 2 ounces, 18.5 inches long

 Proud new daddy!

Chase and Ari together!

They're Here!

Chase David Peterson was born on 8.5.11 at 12:54 am. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and is 18.5 inches long. His sister followed shortly after at 12:59 am weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces and 18 inches long. They are doing great! Just have to figure out this feeding on their own thing.

More info to follow when I have more time!

35 weeks!!!

We made it into August! Today I am at 35 weeks! The babies and I continue to do well. Chris started his new job last week, so I have been on my own at home for a week now. He is close by (in Eden Prairie) so if something happens, he can be here in no time (hopefully!). The big news from last weeks doctor's appointment is that I am now dilated to 3-4 cm and baby boy is in the -2 station. So any day now, but hopefully they wait another 1-2 weeks! That's it for now!

35 weeks!