Welcome Lennox and Paxton!

We welcomed Lennox and Paxton into the world today!  I started having contractions yesterday afternoon about 1:30pm.  I was given my Procardia medicine and when that did not help I was given to shots of "Turb".  This stopped the contractions for about 2-3 hours.  When they started back up again I was given three shots of Turb.  This stopped the contractions for another hour or two.
The contractions started up again about 3:30 am, I was told that I was 3 cm dilated and that I was headed back downstairs to Labor and Delivery to start Magnesium.  At this point, I was really nervous because I had been told horror stories about Magnesium and how awful it makes you feel.  But was also told that Magnesium worked 99% of the time unless you were in active labor then it wouldn't do anything.  I was given two bags of Magnesium and was hot and still having contractions -- basically the Magnesium was doing nothing except make me hot.  After a couple of hours of Magnesium and my contractions continuing, I was told I was 5 cm dilated and that the Doctor had decided the best course of action was to have these babies.  I was rolled back into the operating room and given a C-section.  And as they say the rest is history ...

I'd like to introduce you to Lennox Charles Schwartz, born 4.30.2012 at 8:51am weighing 2lbs 11oz.

Lennox

And also to Paxton Michael Schwartz, born 4.30.2012 at 8:51am weighing 1lb 14oz. 

Paxton

Both boys were breathing on their own when born.  Paxton was eventually put on a vent because his blood gas levels weren't where they wanted them to be.  As of about 5:30pm this afternoon, they had taken him off the vent and were letting him try it on his own with oxygen. 

So as it seems for now, both boys are doing good.  We have a long road ahead of us, as the boys will probably be in the NICU for 2-3 months.  

It was time for these boys to make their debut into this world!  After having the C-Section, the doctors found that Paxton's placenta was smaller than Lennox's and it has several infarctions (these are places where the placenta tissue had died and no longer supports life).  They also found that Lennox's placenta had begun to tear away from the uterine wall (probably to cause of all of my bleeding for the last couple of weeks).  Needless to say, after these findings it was clear that the babies needed to come out, if they had stayed much longer I'm afraid our outcome would not be the same.  

Sorry for the long post!  Thank you again for all of thoughts and prayers.  We just ask that you keep praying for these two sweet, sweet boys who have a long road ahead of them.

Relaxing

We've made it to 27 weeks and 1 day and we are still cooking!  The babies are doing good and I am adjusting to my new life as a lady of relaxation.  Between visits from friends and family, I have so far been able to find things to do to make the days go by pretty quickly.

This is a picture Brent sent me the other day of Conley relaxing while watching the news.  I guess I am teaching him something each time he comes to visit -- seems like he has mastered the whole relaxation concept.

26 weeks and 6 days

We've survived one week in the hospital and we're still baking!  I don't have a lot of new information to update, but I did just want to post and let everyone know that we are still baking.  Tomorrow we will hit the 27 week mark!  Thankfully, the boys are still looking great.  They monitor us 2-3 times a day -- the boys for heart rate and movement, and me for contractions.  I am still having some bleeding and a few contractions, but nothing like the first few days I was here.  Still have our eye on next Thursday, when we will hit 28 weeks -- we'll be able to breathe a little bit easier and then hopefully start aiming for the 30's.

Brent and Conley are doing well.  They are adjusting to their new life sans Mommy!   I am so thankful that Conley wasn't a Mommy's boy and is super easy and laid back -- it has definitely made it a lot easier being here.  I'm also thankful for having such a great husband -- he has stepped up and taken care of everything without a single complaint!

Again, thank you for all of the calls, visits, thoughts, and prayers -- these have made this week bearable!

And the journey gets exciting...

We've started this blog in an effort to keep all of our friends and family updated on our journey to bringing these sweet boys into the world.  


Early Wednesday morning, Brent and I quickly rushed to the hospital because I woke up bleeding and contracting.  Needless to say, this is the last thing a pregnant woman wants to see at 25 weeks.  We were quickly admitted and everyone at the hospital began trying to figure out what was going on.  At first, everyone was convinced that my water had broken -- at 25 weeks this was a depressing diagnosis, as there are lots of complications that can occur.  So I was put on antibiotics, given steroid shots to help the babies' lungs develop, and given a number of medicines to stop the contractions.  We received consults from a perinatologist and the staff in the NICU.  The NICU consult was difficult -- basically if we were to deliver at 25 weeks we would be looking at an incredibly long, hard road.  


After two days, three ultrasounds, and hours of monitoring, the doctors have since decided that my water is not broken (THANK GOODNESS!!).  They have ruled out placenta abruption as the source of the bleeding (AGAIN THANK GOODNESS!!).  They believe the bleeding is due to cervical change --My cervix basically shortens and lengthens.  


I have been moved to a room on the antepartum wing and over the last 24 hours have had very few contractions and my bleeding has pretty much stopped.  At this point, my Doctor feels like I will most likely remain here until we deliver these boys.  Today we are 26 weeks and 3 days ....


Right now we are taking it day by day, as every extra day these babies bake increases our odds of bringing two healthy baby boys home.  Our longer term goal right now is to make it to 28 weeks -- survivability dramatically increases at this point, as the number of complications decreases.  But ultimately, we are praying and hoping that we make it to 34 weeks.  At 34 weeks, the babies lungs should be fully developed (thanks to the steroid shots) and they shouldn't have to spend much time, if any in the NICU.  


We really have appreciated all of the calls, texts, emails, and prayers!  AND so let the countdown begin.....