Update on the Babies and Me

I know I usually post baby updates pretty promptly but was a little delayed this time.

We had our appointments Wednesday morning. The babies are doing great. Fluid levels still have not changed but doctors feel that as long as they don't get worse then things will go fine. As I had mentioned on my previous email, there were some concerns about preterm labor. As you progress closer to labor your cervix gets shorter. In a week and a half mine went from 2.6 cm to 1 cm which is definitely not good. In order to keep that from progressing any further the doctors suggested a stitch be put in my cervix to keep it closed. By 11 am I was admitted to Spartanburg Regional and put on various medicines and watched overnight. I was examined the next morning and doctors decided to go ahead with the stitch. The procedure went very well (although once they started they found out I was already dilated one cm) and the doctors are very pleased with it. I was examined this morning and with the stitch in place they were able to lengthen my cervix back to 1.5 cm. Last night was rough with some pain and complications with some medications but after seeing the doctor at 8 am we were back home by 11 am. Our prayer now is that the stitch stays in place and keeps my cervix closed. The doctors are not concerned with the health of the babies since they are doing so well. J.J. now weighs 7 oz and Jordan weighs 9 oz. They are growing so well. With the various obstacles we have had to deal with we (and the doctors) are rather confident that the babies will definitely arrive early. Our milestone will be 32 weeks (the week after Valentine's Day). If the babies can wait til then they have a high chance of surviving with no long term effects of their prematurity.

We are home now and resting. Neither Matt nor I have slept much in the last new days and are looking forward to a slow restful day tomorrow. He has been helped me so much in dealing with all of this and is taking such good care of me. I am on bed rest again with only getting up to to go the restroom, shower, and sitting up to eat. (The blessing is disguise: I won't miss any Duke basketball games on tv. hehe) We are so grateful for your thoughts and prayers. We will return to the doctor next Wednesday morning and they plan to gradually add back some activity for me.

As a side note we got a surprising phone call today when the twin to twin transfusion specialist, Dr. De Lia, called the house to check on me completely unaware of the week's events. Its rare that you hear of a doctor (whom I've never actually seen but only talked to on the phone) calling someone at home just to see how they are doing. After talking for a little while and getting updates, he feels confident that the babies will do just fine and that we'll never have to travel to Milwaukee for treatment. That is definitely a prayer answered!

Thanks again for your concern. We really do appreciate it and we know we are thought about.

Crystal