Sleeping Beauty

How I found Evan this morning after changing his diaper. I went to throw the diaper away in the trash and came back 5 seconds later and he was out. Amazes me how he can go from being awake, squirmy and mad at me for changing his diaper to completely content and asleep. Must take after his mama...can sleep anywhere and at anytime.

Dog Gone Cute

We have officially graduated...the boys are no longer wearing any newborn clothes. Evan had been wearing a few 0-3 month outfits here and there but now both boys can no longer wear the newborn stuff and are in all 0-3's. Who knew I would be so sad to pack up their teeny tiny clothes.

As sad as I am I love all of their 0-3 stuff. Most everything I bought before they got here was 0-3 and being the lover of fashion that I am I'm liking that we have a whole new wardrobe to dress in. We were in some super cute dog jammies today and I have to agree with the words on the chest...the boys were "dog gone cute."

Today the boys and I spent the day just hanging together. My parents, who have been visiting from California, were in Dallas hanging out with my brother and his family. Jeff's family left after lunch and Jeff went to work, so it was just me and the boys. Jeff taped Confessions of a Shopaholic and the three of us hung out and watched it together. It is one of my favorites and I could watch it over and over. The last time I saw it was in the theater and I was pregnant and didn't even know it. Had I been told the next time I watched it would be with my twin boys, I would never have believed it...how wonderfully times have changed. Below are a few pictures from today...

Evan

Ethan, annoyed I was making him do tummy time.

Tummy time...Ethan in the background being lazy and Evan with his newest favorite thing to do...pushing off and rolling to the side.

Spending some time on our backs.

Evan and Brinkley

Ethan

Evan showing a sort of half smile/smirk...sporting a little dimple like his daddy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I have TONS of pictures to post and will hopefully get them up soon...

I Could Not Ask For More

Lying here with you

Listening to the rain

Smiling just to see the smile upon your face

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive

These are the moments I'll remember all my life

I have all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

Every dream I've had's come true

Right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be

Here with you here with me

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive

These are the moments I'll remember all my life

I have all I've waited for

AND I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE

This is one of my favorite songs and says so perfectly how I feel about life right now. These boys are the miracle of my life...a perfect gift given to us in God's perfect time. How could I ask for more this Christmas...Loving every minute of spending our first Christmas as a family of FOUR!

Six Weeks

Evan and Ethan with Dr. Rister

I had my six week post-partum check-up today...hard to believe the boys are already six weeks old. I have a feeling I will be saying this their entire lives, but really it is going by so fast. The boys came with me to the appointment to have their picture taken with my doctor. I wanted one taken in the hospital when they were born but too much was going on to remember.

In sleeping news, we had a great night last night...I hesitate to even put it in words for fear that we will the have our worst night ever tonight. But, it is what it is and I'm sure it was just a fluke. We fed the boys last night at 12:30. I had a few things to get done before going to sleep...a load of laundry, Christmas stuff, etc. I went to bed around 1:30 thinking I probably had anywhere from 2-3 hours of sleep ahead of me. The next thing I know it was 6:00 this morning...Hooray!! I forgot what it was like to sleep that long. I had to check and make sure the boys were still breathing, it freaked me out just a bit to have them sleep that long. Like I said, I'm sure it was just a fluke. I definitely didn't and don't expect them to go that long each night being this young, but it gives me hope of what's to come in the future. God must have known that I really needed the sleep...I feel like a normal person today, AND since we were already all out, we went to an early lunch at Chuy's...could today get any better?!?

One Month

I took the boys' one month picture back on December 9th but it's taken me awhile to actually post it. This is the best I could do...they aren't really looking at the camera, but I still think they look pretty cute. I love their little outfits, one of my favorites...to me they look like two little jailbirds.

Where we are at one month (or a few weeks after, since we are 6 weeks on Monday)...

Evan...He is sooo observant. From day one he has been content to just be wide awake looking around at everything. He will sit and stare at the t.v. when we have it on, I guess looking at all of the movement and colors. He is our little chunky monkey, I can already tell he is much heavier than when we came home. He is about to be out of his newborn clothes and is already wearing a few 0-3's. He makes some of the funniest faces I have ever seen...pure entertainment all day long (I will be posting some of them soon). He is getting really good at tummy time, his neck strength amazes me. When burping him he is constantly picking his head up to look around at everything. He is not a huge fan of the swing, would rather be held or in his bouncy seat. He has his cranky moments but really he is such a good baby...very chilled out. He is Jeff's "mini-me" with dimples and all, I am hoping his blue eyes stay.

Ethan...Poor baby has had some reflux issues which has made him not as content of a baby as Evan. He has inherited the nickname "spitter" due to all that he continues to get all over himself and whoever is feeding him. We started him on Zantac this week which seems to be helping. He seems less in pain...still spits up a ton, but as long as he is not in pain I can deal with the spit up. He likes the swing, but still not as much as his bouncy seat. Tummy time is frustrating for him, but I think it is due to the fact that he used to spit up every time I would lay him down. Still his neck strength also amazes me and he loves to look around when being burped. He is our littler one of the two babies. He has gained weight, just not as much as Evan and is still wearing newborn clothes. If you compare pictures I think he looks just like me as a baby. LOVE his chubby little cheeks.

Both boys LOVE their bouncy seats...really the best place I can get them to sleep right now, and with two we are doing whatever works. I am slowly trying to transition to their cribs, but they have never been huge fans.

Both hate being changed (diapers and clothes) and will scream until you are done and holding them. Both also haven't been too fond of baths yet (crying through the whole process), although Ethan did better tonight. I tried for the first time getting the bathroom really warm with a little plug in heater, I was hot but it seemed to help a little for naked babies.

Their Soothie pacifiers (the ones from the hospital) are the only ones they like. I have tried others but nothing works as well. Evan can hold on to his much better and for longer. Ethan always loses his and will scream in frustration until someone puts it back in.

We are on a feeding every three hours schedule during the day and then let them go as long as possible at night, which is usually about 4 hours (sometimes 3 1/2 and every once in awhile 4 1/2).

Both are completely unaware of the dogs. They could be barking right next to them and neither one moves or cries. Moose loves to lick them (which we try our best to prevent, but in our house it's bound to happen sometimes) and that doesn't even phase them.

They both love being swaddled but are little Houdinis and can get their arms out pretty quickly. Jeff is a much better swaddler than me and can get them wrapped pretty tight...I don't have the patience.

I love holding them and talking/singing to them...my favorite thing by far is to sit and rock them in their rocking chair. I could sit there all day.

Below are a few more pics I took on their one month birthday...

With their dogs from Jeff's parents for Christmas. Every boy needs a big floppy stuffed dog, especially if you live in our house. I am going to try to use these each month in their picture to help show their growth. Can you see Mr. Observant on the right thinking seriously is she done yet...cracks me up.

Evan with his dog.

Ethan checking out his puppy.

Evan...could he get any cuter?

Evan, letting us know he was done with the pictures.

Ethan, also done for the day...

...but calm and resting soon after...be still my heart.

My Babies

Just a few of my favorites taken by my dad while he was here. The first two are of Ethan and the second two are of Evan...

November 9, 2009

So...finally the story of the boys' birthday. By far this has been the most surreal, amazing, miraculous moment in my life. It was a long three years of getting here, with many ups and downs, lots of tears and questions of why life wasn't happening how I thought it should...but, now that Ethan and Evan are here, I couldn't imagine it being any other way. They are two perfect, beautiful blessings from God who I fall in love with more each day...praising Him for doing immeasurably more than all we asked or imagined. So, without further ado, the story of the boys' birthday...

Sunday, November 8 I hadn't felt Evan move all day. He was the one up higher in my ribs and moved all of the time, especially at night. I didn't think much of it during the day because most times if I didn't feel him move for awhile he would go crazy later at night. We ate Bush's chicken for dinner and I had a huge Dr. Pepper thinking it would get him moving, which it didn't...and then drank some of Jeff's sweet tea, with still nothing. It was probably around 9:00 that night that I truly began to freak out. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for the next morning but didn't want to sit in bed all night worried that something was wrong. I called my doctor who happened to be the one on call for the weekend and he said to come up to the hospital and he would put me on a monitor to make sure the babies were OK.

So, we went to the hospital and spent what seemed like an eternity at registration (even though I had already pre-registered and should have been able to go right in). I was told since I wasn't an "emergency" it would take a few minutes (really like 45) to get me in the system and have my paperwork ready. I wonder when not feeling your baby move all day became a non-emergency. I finally got back to a room, got all hooked up, and heard both baby's heartbeats...the best thing I heard all day. It was such a relief to know that everything was perfectly fine with the boys, and...as soon as the monitor was hooked up Evan began moving all over the place (typical that my child was already being difficult, but extra reassurance to me that all was OK).

While hooked up to all the monitors, the nurse also checked my blood pressure which was 138/85. All throughout my pregnancy it had stayed so low (100/60) and had only elevated slightly at my doctor's appointment the week before. I was told we would worry only if it got to 140/90. The 138/85 seemed close enough to me to be concerned plus combined with my horrible swelling, I was ready to be done. My doctor walked in the room to check on me around 12:30 that night and asked if I was ready to go home since the boys were OK. I was so not ready to go home, I was secretly hoping he would just say I could stay at the hospital but knew it was just wishful thinking. We talked about my blood pressure, which had reached 148/96 by the end of the night, and even though I was really concerned he wasn't at all.

I was scheduled to be induced on Friday, November 13 if I hadn't gone into labor on my own. I wasn't too happy about having to wait until Friday, being so uncomfortable. Also having babies on Friday the 13th didn't excite me too much. There was a small chance that we were going to be able to get in on that Wednesday, so our doctor checked to see if an OR had become available (which is required for all twin births). He came back and said that everything was still booked for Wednesday, but since I was already at the hospital and checked in, he would keep me overnight and induce me the next morning. Seriously, besides knowing the boys were OK, this was the best news I had heard all night.

So, Jeff went home and got all my stuff, while I got settled in my room. Typical me, I hadn't packed my hospital bag. You would think at 37+ weeks I would have had everything ready to go. I did for the boys just not for myself. Luckily I had made a list the week before of everything I wanted to have. By 2:30 that morning Jeff had brought back all I needed, our family was called to let them know what was going on, and I was settled and ready to go for the morning. I tried to sleep, knowing that we were starting early and it would be a long day, but really I barely slept...how could I knowing I was finally going to meet my boys.

Monday, November 9, 2009...

5:00 a.m. - I got up and took a shower and got ready. I at least wanted to look presentable (and little did I know that with all of my complications it would be the last shower I took until Thursday...GROSS, I know...but I was so weak I couldn't get out of bed).

6:00 a.m. - All of my blood work was done and my IV put in to get ready for the pitocin at 7:00.

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Pitocin was started at 7:00 and I began to slowly have contractions. My nurse (who was awesome) told me I could have my epidural at any time since I was already dilated to a 4. I held out for awhile thinking I would at least wait until my doctor came to break my water. The contractions, although not that bad yet, did get stronger. I remember thinking good heavens I can't believe people actually do all of this without any drugs, because I wasn't that far along and was already in pain. I also remember thinking if this is how I'm going to feel it's going to be an extremely long day. I finally called the nurse's station around 8:30 to tell them to go ahead and do the epidural...I wasn't waiting any longer. My doctor came in and broke my water around 8:45 and the anesthesiologist came in right after to do the epidural.

9:00 a.m. - Epidural was in...LOVED my anesthesiologist. I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing and it ended up not being bad at all. The greatest thing was that I immediately felt nothing and the rest of the day was wonderful. I sat in bed and watched my contractions come on the monitor all day and felt pretty much nothing. I felt a little bit every once in awhile but basically I happily hung out with Jeff and my friend Cathy, who came to help and keep us company. My other concern of the day...ordering the boys' Christmas stockings from Pottery Barn. It was the last day to get free monogramming and shipping, so amidst all of the contractions, epidural, monitoring of me and the babies, etc. I had to make sure Jeff had everything ordered...priorities people!

Jeff and Me...happy from the epidural and that I had a popsicle...the little things in life that make you happy.

11:00 - I was already dilated between 7 and 8 cm. I didn't really believe my doctor when he said I was that far along. I guess I just pictured a day of labor that went slow and lasted forever, not one where I was meeting my boys by dinner time.

By about 1:30 I was dilated to 9 cm. Jeff got into his scrubs and by 3:00 we were ready to go to the OR to have the boys. We ended up having to wait a little longer though...another lady (pregnant with twins and scheduled to give birth on Wednesday, the 11th) came in bleeding and had to have an emergency c-section. We could have still gone to the OR to have the boys but there was only one anesthesiologist and one technician available and in case of complications my doctor wanted to have them in the OR with us. So, we waited for the c-section to be over, meanwhile I started pushing for about 15 minutes in my room.

I didn't push for very long when my doctor decided we should just go the OR. Ethan was face up instead of face down and his heart rate was dropping every time I had a contraction...not enough to be a huge concern for my doctor but enough for him to say let's go to the OR so he could help get them out. I thought he meant c-section but he just meant by using forceps...get excited! I'm not quite sure what time it was when we went to the OR, probably sometime in the 4:00 area...everything happened pretty quickly once we headed to the OR so my recollection of the rest of the day gets pretty fuzzy.

I remember getting in the OR and getting up on the operating table, being told to push with each contraction and seeing both boys born, cleaned up, weighed, etc. I remember asking my doctor if Evan had stayed head down after Ethan was born. I asked my doctor if I had torn and he said oh yes (sorry if that's too much info) and that my epidural got an "A" because all that happened could not have without a perfect epidural. I got to hold Ethan while Evan was being cleaned up and then one of the nurses took our first family picture.

This picture was basically one of the last things I remember. After it was taken I started to feel really nauseous and weak. Jeff noticed me not responding to him and losing my grip on Ethan, so he asked one of the nurses to take him from me. At that time, Jeff saw my blood pressure had dropped to 60/30 and soon thereafter I got a shot in my leg and a drug through my IV. Jeff remembers the anesthesiologist telling him that it would "bring her back." He thought back from what? I came back a little and somewhat remember them moving me to a bed to go to the recovery room, almost throwing up when I had to move and then everything going dark...I could see all of the nurses and my doctor talking but heard nothing. The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room and Jeff and my doctor trying to talk to me which Jeff tells me was an hour or two later. The boys were born at 4:37 and 4:48 p.m. and I stayed in recovery until 8:45 that night. I finally got to see Ethan and Evan again around 9:30 which is the first time I actually got to hold Evan and really see him.

I ended up losing a lot of blood during the birth...around 3 times what a normal person would lose. Usually with twins you lose a little more blood, but combined with the fact that I tore (sorry, TMI once again) and with my size, my body just couldn't replace it fast enough. I was so weak that I almost passed out every time the nurses tried to get me up and out of bed. Jeff basically had to do everything, diaper changes, feedings, etc. I couldn't do anything. By Wednesday of that week I had to have a blood transfusion...the number for normal blood volume is 12, mine was 6 after the birth and it had gone down to 5.6 by Wednesday morning. Even with the extra blood my levels only went up to 7. I was better by Thursday, but still incredibly weak. After taking a shower and getting ready to go home I felt like I had run a marathon.

It took a few weeks to actually feel like my normal self again. I had my mom and aunt here, so with Jeff and the two of them doing most everything, I was able to rest and recover. Now 6 weeks later I am feeling great and loving taking care of my boys. I definitely have my emotional moments (usually after not getting enough sleep at night) when both boys are crying, I'm living in spit up clothes, can't remember the last time I took a shower, and all I want to do is go to Wal-Mart (which on a normal day, I usually hate). But really, I can't imagine life getting any better than it is right now. We prayed and waited what seemed like forever for the boys to get here and I am just beyond amazed every day that God chose me to be their mom...we are SO SO blessed!

Pictures Galore

Hello all...sorry for the lack of posts, we have been a little busy around here trying to get used to life with two little ones. It's hard to believe the boys are already 3 weeks old. Three weeks was an eternity while pregnant and now that they are here time seems to be flying by. I am slowly working on some new posts with pictures, including one about the boys' birthday. Meanwhile if you visit our Smugmug site I uploaded a bunch of pics today...with more to come since my dad took about 500 when he was here.

Evan Thomas Burchfield

And now a short clip of Evan Thomas Burchfield.

Summary of everyone's status. Ethan (Baby 1) was born at 4:37 pm, November 9. He was 6 pounds 13 ounces and 19 inches long. Evan was born at 4:48 pm. He was 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19 1/2 inches. Both were perfectly healthy and big boys. The nurse used the term "monstrous" twins to describe them.

Amy was strong all day. As some of you know she had a tough time after delivery but I can say she's in much better shape today. She can't get up, but she is mentally fine. The doctor will come later today to check on her and we'll see then if she needs a blood transfusion.

But overall, everyone is healthy and we couldn't be happier. It's been a very long journey and we love our friends who have supported and prayed for us the whole way.

Ethan James Burchfield

Jeff here for a recovering Amy. Here is a quick video of Ethan (Baby 1) in the delivery room. Have a video of him when he first was delivered as well as one for Evan, bloody and all, but I am having trouble getting them to post as they are a little longer. I'll try to add some other videos later.

This and That

So, I'm up at almost 5 in the morning because I can't sleep. Instead of tossing and turning, which is much more difficult with the belly, I'm up and on the blog. Thought I'd share a few pics of the fur babies...

Moose yesterday...chillin with his bone.

Monkey See...Monkey Do.

On the baby front...everything is still good. No more progress, still at a 3 and 90%, which makes me think they aren't coming anytime soon...I was hoping for this weekend so they could be born on Baylor's 100th Homecoming and with all our friends and family in town. They are completely happy to just chill in the belly though...my theory is they can hear the dogs barking and me always yelling at them to be quiet and would much rather stay where it's comfy and not so scary and loud. My sciatic nerve has decided to act up which has made getting around this last week not so fun. Jeff's dad calls Sawyer "waddle waddle" and I'm thinking we can both now answer to that name. The dogs definitely enjoy it because I haven't left the house all week, except once last night to get food. Jeff has been great helping me around the house and bringing me lunch during the day. It has made life so much easier...I did try to wipe the dogs' feet off yesterday morning from all the rain and once I got down on the ground I couldn't figure out how to get back up...only a few more weeks though at the most. I am so, so ready for them to be here.

Come Take a Tour

The boys' room is pretty much complete. There are a few things I still want to do but am not in any huge hurry. We kept things very simple...a few sports pictures and stuff on the shelves. I wanted sports stuff but didn't want it to be too overwhelming. It is definitely a room they can grow into. So, here are the pics of our "non-babyish" (as my mom would call it) nursery...

The view when you walk in the room. I found the rug first and pretty much centered the room around it. The paint color is Valspar (Lowe's) Jekyll Club Pulitzer Blue...by far the hardest thing about the room. It took FOREVER to decide on this color. The curtains are also from Lowe's and I LOVE them. They are chocolate brown velvet and lined, so I can close them and make the room nice and dark for sleeping time.

View standing at the closet, bathroom is on the right.

View sitting in the rocking chair. When my parents come in November we are going to do a photo shoot with my dad and hang some of the pictures he takes above their names. After much research about bedding and SIDS and hearing from most of my friends that they removed their bumpers pretty early, we decided not to go crazy on the bedding...plus I could never find anything that I absolutely loved that went with the look I was going for. I got the crib skirts and sheets from Carousel Designs.

Rocking chair and ottoman from my grandparents. I could seriously sit in it all day long.

Dresser/Changing Table

They each have their first Baylor bear waiting for them.

Comfy shag carpet (Rosenberry Rooms) which is now a favorite sleeping place of all the dogs.

Shelf and cabinet behind the rocking chair...still a work in progress.

Sign painted by my friend Paige. I love it and think it goes perfect with their room.

The benefit of teaching kindergarten for 7 years. We will start reading before bed from the moment they get home.

Clothes hanging, washed and ready to wear. I have more folded in the dresser and about 4 or 5 outfits already packed for the hospital...I can't decide what I want them to wear home, plus I think it is always good to have many choices (my whole closet usually goes with me when we travel).

So, that's it. I LOVE LOVE how it all turned out. I sometimes just go sit in the rocking chair and stare at everything. All we need now is for the boys to get here!

34 Weeks

Just a quick update on the boys...I am working on a whole bunch of posts with pictures to come. Our appointment went great on Monday and everything looked perfect at our ultrasound this morning. Evan is about 5 3/4 pounds and Ethan is 5 1/4 pounds, which is an estimate because he is SO low that we couldn't get a measurement of his head. The 11 pounds of baby is making me quite tired, who knew you could be so out of breath going up a flight of stairs. I am doing a lot of resting while getting a few last minute things done. I am dilated to a 3 and am 90% effaced. Jeff was going to Houston tomorrow and Thursday for his dad's knee replacement surgery, but our doctor said in so many words that it might be a good idea not to. Not that they are going to come while he's gone...we hope they stay cooking a while longer...but our doctor said why risk it and not be here when they are born. So, that's where we are...just hanging out and waiting for the boys to get here...

Ultrasound Update

No pictures, just an update on the boys after we saw them this morning...which I need to add was REALLY early (for me). I can't remember the last time I had to get up and be ready before the sun was shining...oh how the times are soon going to change. All looked well. Ethan is 3.1 pounds and Evan is 3.6. Jeff and I are convinced though that Ethan's size is closer to Evan's...he is positioned really low and in my right side which makes it much harder to get good measurements on him. Evan has flipped so both boys are head down, but kind of diagonal and still sort of stacked on each other. The good news is my doctor said today that they will probably stay in this position because of having less and less room to move around...so at the moment, no planned c-section and we can try for a regular delivery. I am starting to have appointments every two weeks and will have another ultrasound to check their growth at 34 weeks...counting down the days till November...

Curves Shower

The ladies up at Curves gave us a shower last Friday...it was so fun to get to go to my first shower. We got lots of fun stuff for the boys...it just makes me more and more excited for them to be here in November.

The only shot of me opening up a gift...I have a ton more but I am either making some kind of face or in the middle of talking...not very flattering.

Jeff showed up for part of the shower. Tami is between us. She is one of the ladies who threw the shower and made the adorable diaper cake in the first picture. I also have some super cute burp cloths she made for us awhile ago that I need to post pics of as well.

All the gifts from the shower.

The three pics below are up close views of the monogrammed blankets and towels we got for the boys.