The Birth of Armor & Ronin
On
February 6th, 2014 I went in for an appointment to see my MFM Doctor in
order check on the position of the Boys and to make sure they were not
under any stress, because I was tentatively scheduled for induction at
37 weeks on January 8th, 2014, due to pre-eclampsia.
(Last month of pregnancy and pre-eclampsia).
The
night before our appointment Josh finally let me get out of the house,
and we made the trek to Waffle House; which is only about 7 minutes from
our house. We’d been having late night Waffle House rendezvous for the
last half of my pregnancy. I craved eggs the entire pregnancy and who
can beat scrambled eggs and hash browns at 1:00am in the morning? Haha.
Little did I know this would be our last trip to Waffle House as an
“Expecting couple”.
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One of my last "Belly" shots!! |
The morning of the 6th, I got up, showered, squeezed
into my shoes and pants, and actually did my hair for the first time in
weeks. Outside of our Waffle House trip, I had not been out of the house
for many, many days, because I was on bed rest. I was excited about
getting out and putting on clothes, because lets face it, when you are
on bed rest, you basically live in pajamas all day, every day. Before
leaving the house Josh said “Do you want to load up the bags again”? I
say “No, there is no reason that I would be staying since we are
scheduled for Wednesday, I’m not 37 weeks yet”. He stares at me and says
“Are you sure” and I say “Yes, I’m certain”. So I didn’t have him put
anything in the car, but he did put his bags in the car just in case.
Such a smart guy, lol.
We got to the appointment and luckily did not have to wait as long as
normal. And as usual, I got called back to leave a urine sample and get
my blood pressure taken. At this point in my pregnancy trying to pee was
a difficult task. I sat on the toilet for what seemed like forever and
finally managed to get a little bit of urine out. And, then as I was
trying to set little cup on the counter, I spilled it all over my pants,
every last drop. I immediately burst into tears, threw down some paper
towels and just cried. I was so upset. There I was 9 months pregnant
with twins, barely able to bend down and I’m mopping up my pee and
trying to towel dry my pants. When I walked out to get my blood pressure
taken it was a whooping 165/123 - Ahhhhhh. So, soooo high. We
immediately got situated in a small room and hooked up to the monitors
to check out the Boys. I was only hooked up for about 20 minutes for
monitoring and the Doctor came in. He said “So are you ready to have
some babies”? I looked at him and said “Yea, I can’t wait until
Wednesday”. At this point, Josh, fully understands what the Doctor means
and I’m completely oblivious as to what he really means, lol. The
Doctor then says “It’s happening today”. Insert “wide eyed, shocked
face”. I then look over at Josh and giggle, because he was so smart to
put his bags in the car. I asked the doctor if I could go home and get
my bags and he politely says “No”. Then we started to discuss how this
show was going to go down. He of course immediately recommended
cesarean, to which I politely replied, “No”, because Baby A was very low
in a head down position and Baby B was only transverse with his head
hanging out on my lower left side. The Doctor pondered for a few minutes
and decided to let me go for vaginal birth!! I was so excited to have
this chance even though I was pregnant with twins.
The Doctor said “Good Luck” and said to head over to Labor &
Delivery and they would be waiting for us.
As soon as
he left the room, Josh laughed and said the look on my face was
priceless. I then grabbed my phone and called, Sheila, my mother in-law.
She answered and I said “Its happening today”. I could hear the
excitement in her voice and she said “Yea!! I’ll be there soon”. We
gathered ourselves and made our way across the Hospital to Labor and
Delivery. Jen, my sister in-law and also our Birth support for labor and
delivery, called as we were finding our way to L&D, she was so
excited and it only added to my own excitement and anticipation. The
walk over was exhausting on my hugely pregnant body.
We
made it to L&D at 3pm, signed all the paperwork, answered tons
of questions and then I got a fancy wheelchair ride to my room. We’d
gotten there so quick they didn’t even have the bed in the room. So I
spent that few minutes trying to text my best friend, Anna. My hands
were shaking and my brain was going super fast. I think all my text said
was “we're in L&D, its happening today” and then I set my phone
down and didn’t pick it back up for several hours. As soon as I set the
phone down the bed came and I was handed a gown. I changed clothes,
hopped in bed and started answering tons of questions while also getting
an IV put in. Then Josh’s, Mom, showed up! Shortly after she got there,
Jen, arrived and then we sent Josh back home to feed the dogs and get
my bags. A little while later my best friend, Anna, arrived!! I was
surrounded by those who loved me and I felt so secure and so ready to
get the show on the road.
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Josh is ready!! |
From 3pm to 6pm the time was spent trying to get both
babies on the monitors, together, at the same time for a specific
amount of time before I could receive any medications for induction. It
was frustrating at times, because once we’d get everything set, I would
have to pee, and then it was another 15-20 minutes of trying to get them
back on the monitor. It was pretty easy to get, Armor, since he was
head down and in mostly in the same spot each time. Ronin, on the other
hand was being a little nija, I felt so bad for nurse, Violet, who had
to try and find him each time, haha. I kept apologizing for Ronin and
his antics, and my overwhelmed bladder, because at this point was I only
dribbling out a tiny bit of urine each time I made it to the bathroom,
and had a constant feeling of my bladder being full.
Around
7:00 pm my Midwife came in to finally check me down below, and I was
shocked to learn that I was dilated to 1 cm and 80 percent effaced. I
felt great and so happy that things were already happening. I was
finally able to receive cytotec, which was small tablet to help thin out
the cervix. Within the hour I started to feel small, manageable
contractions. At this point I was told I could finally have something to
eat since the induction process can take a while so, Anna, and Jen,
went out and found Jack-n-tha-Box. I just wanted something super
filling, and fattening, hahaha. So had the burger and fries and then my
Midwife came back in to check. At this point it was about 10:00 pm and I
was dilated to 2 cm and 90% effaced. Since my body was responding well
my midwife decided that she wanted to go ahead and insert a balloon
foley. The balloon was placed into my cervix to help it dilate and I was
told this could take up to 12 hours.
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Last Belly Photo!! |
Around 11:00 pm Jen and Anna headed home, sheila had
left an hour before. Once they left, Josh, got the Ipad out and we
started to watch “American Dad” while watching the show I started to
have more contractions, they were starting to feel a lot more intense,
yet still manageable as long as I closed my eyes and breathed through
them so, I told, Josh, that we needed to turn it off and I could not
focus on the show. The nurse came in and offered me an ambien for the
night to help me sleep since we had a big day ahead of us. I got the
Ambien, Josh got situated on the tiny little couch/bed (not made for
6’2” tall people), the lights were off and all I could hear were sounds
of beeping machines and my blood pressure cuff going off. Since my blood
pressure was so high, they had it going off every 30 minutes. In order
to keep, Ronin, on the monitor I had to be in a sitting position, they
nurses wanted me on my left side, but then we could not keep him on the
monitor so, in turn it made my blood pressure stay high.
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Josh helping me through contractions |
So there we are, balloon in, contractions coming and
going, husband tossing and turning on the tiny couch, and me unable to
sleep even with the Ambien, because of contractions, having to pee and
my blood pressure cuff going on and off. At about 3:00 am I told Josh to
go home and get some real sleep so, he left and after that I was wide
awake and feeling a bit loopy from the Ambien. I was making trips to the
bathroom at least every 30 minutes and it was becoming very
uncomfortable, because I was getting to the point where I could not
release any urine at all. I was starting to get upset, and worried, and
at one point I just cried sitting on the toilet. At about 6:00am I made a
trip to the bathroom and as I was walking to the toilet I felt like I
might pee on myself so, I just stood there, let it go and peed all over
myself, it was embarrassing, but so much relief came after. I threw my
hospital gown on the floor and mopped it up, apologized and told the
nurse and she said “Congrats, don’t worry - do you feel better”. I felt
so much better.
7:00 am hit and the nurses switched shifts, so my new midwife for the
day came in to check and see how much I had progressed with the balloon.
She checked and tugged on it and it came almost all the way out!! She
pulled it out all the way, which was totally uncomfortable, but I was
now 90% effaced and dilated to 5 cm. I was excited that it did not even
take 12 hours. After that she said I could take a shower so, that I
could feel refreshed and I did. Once I got back into bed from taking my
shower my contractions started to get intense again. I started to get a
little nervous, because no one was with me yet, I started to become
afraid that things would suddenly happen fast so, I texted, Josh, and
let him know my contractions were getting more intense and that I was
dilated to a 5. He said he’d be on his way soon.
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This is what Love is!! |
While waiting for him to arrive my Sheila and Jen
arrived, then Josh got there and we were all just kinda hanging out
while I had regular mild contractions. The midwife came in around
10:00am and they decided to go ahead and give me some pitocin. That got
my contractions going even more.
Toward the end of pregnancy my midwife and I talked about planning to
get an epidural at some point, in case I needed to have a c section.
Since Baby B was transverse there was always a possibility for one, and
if I didn’t have an epidural in place and c section was needed last
minute they would have to knock me out, and I was not cool with that so,
we agreed it was a good idea to get one at some point. I wanted to
labor as long as possible before getting it.
After
receiving the pitocin, my contractions picked up to the point I asked,
Jen, to go and heat up my rice sock pack that I made for labor. I also
asked the nurse at what point should I ask for the epidural. The nurse
said “When you get to the point that you can’t sit still during your
contractions”. The contractions were becoming more and more painful, I
was using the rice pack, Jen, was rubbing my back and hips, I was then
up and hanging onto, Josh, swaying back and forth. The pain was
intense!! At about 2:30ish I asked for the epidural and I probably
waited a little too long, because they were back to back, no breaks in
between the contractions. Anna, arrived as I was in the middle of full
on contractions, she said the little line on the monitor was all the way
at the top and it wasn’t going up or down, it was just a straight line
across, lol. I will just say… trying to sit still for an epidural while
you’re having hard core contractions was CRAZY… the most intense thing
I’ve ever been through in my life. Thank God for Nurse Violet, she held
me in place and let me squeeze the shit out of her shoulders, its as if I
was hanging on for dear life.
Once the epidural was in, Sheila, Jen and Anna got to come back in the
room. The nurse also mentioned that once I had the epidural in they were
going to give me magnesium, because of my high blood pressure, she said
it would probably make me feel bad, flu like… Yuck. It made me feel
really, really hot. I had them turn the air down in the room and I’m
sure I was causing everyone else to freeze to death. The epidural was in
and from this point on it was all very smooth and calm. I had my
Husband at my side, my super woman support team and a few more were on
their way.
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Test Pushes |
Around 7:00pm the midwife came in to check me and I
was 100% effaced and dilated to an 8!! They decided to break my water,
but Armor was so low when they broke it, nothing, but a dribble came
out, they even scratched his little head. He was so ready and my water
wasn’t going anywhere!! She came back at 9:45 and I was READY!!
Completely dilated and completely effaced. I could feel my contractions,
but they were not painful, it was just an odd pressure sensation. At
that moment she said it was going to be about 45 minutes until the
midwife was able to come in so, I was going to labor down and wait. I
was a little frustrated, because I was so ready for the little guys to
come. At about 10:45 ish my nurse came back and said it was still going
to be a little longer and that I she was going to let me start doing
test pushes!! I was so excited. Everyone cleared the room except for
Josh and Jen. I did test pushes and moved Baby A (Armor down pretty
quickly). Josh and Jen both got to see his head and I was even able to
reach down and touch his head. The midwife came in at about 11:30 we did
a few test pushes and then I was crowing!! They notified the Operating
room that we were on our way.
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Armor - Born at 12:01 AM 1/8/2014 |
As they were wheeling me down to the OR my midwife
asked if how I felt about having the babies on two different day, ahhhh.
I said “No”. We all laughed, but I was super serious… Normally I’d
think that kind of thing was neat or fun, but in that moment I was not
going to let them be born on separate days after carrying them together
for 9 month. When we got in the operating room, they got me on the bed
and we all watched the clock. As soon as the clock hit midnight I gave
one beautiful push and I felt his head come out, then one more tiny push
and he was completely out at 12:01AM!! They immediately put him on my
belly and I just lost it. I cried “Oh my god”. There was my sweet Armor,
all purple and quiet, resting on my belly with his little cone shaped
head and swollen eyes. I placed my hand on his little back and rubbed
his head and just cried… It was incredible, beautiful and the most
amazing feeling in the entire world to finally meet this little person
that was growing inside my body. After a few minutes they took him off
of me,, because he wasn’t breathing and we needed to find the position
of, Ronin. Josh cut his cord and they swept him away to other side of
the room and Josh followed. Armor, weighed in at 4lbs 13oz and was 17
inches long.
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Ronin - Born at 12:25 AM 1/8/2014 |
The doctor then started feeling my belly to see
where, Ronin, was and unfortunately he’d stretched out across my whole
belly. The Doctor tried to turn him from the outside of my body and that
wasn’t working so, then he reached his hand into my body and tried
moving him that way. Talk about an insane and out of this world feeling.
I could see my whole belly moving around, it was very strange. I felt
scared, but not necessary worried… It was just such a strange
experience. While this is happening I kept asking Jen and Josh if, Armor
was okay, because he still had not cried. They assured me that
everything is okay. The Doctor kept grabbing Ronin’s back and then he
said, “All I can grab is his arm, this isn’t going to happen, we need to
do a cesarean”. I immediately told him, Thank you for trying”, because
not all Doctors will try a breech extraction and I was just so thankful
that he did give it a shot. In that moment the entire room and mood
shifted. It went from casual vaginal birth, to serious, We need to get
this baby out birth.During this time more people started filling the
room, they put the sheet up and start pumping medication into me, and
finally I hear this tiny little squeak from across the room it was,
Armor. Finally I heard him cry, finally I felt relief and ready to
deliver, Ronin… I believe they had to use some sort of machine and
oxygen to get him going and when he started to cry and I cried, and Josh
said “He’s starting to pink up”. Jen came over and said “He is fine”,
then shortly after, Josh came over with, Armor… He was pink and wide
eyed, he was absolutely beautiful. They made Jen and Josh step outside
of the room for a little bit while they got me completely prepped for
the surgery. I just remember lying there, shaking my ass off. The amount
of drugs they pumped into my body caused me to shake uncontrollably.
This is where things get a little foggy. Jen comes over and stands
beside me and It feels like I’ve been on that table for an hour, I ask,
Jen “Have they cut me open, and she shakes her head, Yes. Josh is with,
Armor and I’m there shaking like a leaf on a tree. Jen says they really
had to work hard to get, Ronin out. They even cut me up and down instead
of sideways, to give more room. All the sudden the room is quiet and
then excitement erupts, Jen, screams out “Oh my God, Crystal, he’s
huge”. They literally pulled, Ronin, out by his feet… head last and was
born at 12:25 AM, just 24 minutes after, Armor..
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Proud Dad!! |
He came out and screamed right away, such a
beautiful sound to hear. Again, I lose it and cry… I do not see him
right away. They take him to the other side of the room and clean him up
and weigh him really quickly, then, Josh, brings him over. He is also
wide eyed and absolutely beautiful. When Josh brought him over I was
shaking so bad I didn’t want to hold him, I feel bad now looking back,
but I was afraid of scaring him or not being able to hold him, to be
honest I was sooo messed up from all the drugs pulsing through my body
that I could not think straight. Ronin weighed 6 lbs and 2 ounces and
was 17 inches long just like, Armor. All the nurses said “He was
stealing all the groceries”, lol. Josh takes, Ronin, back over to where,
Armor, is and he is just in awe of his Boys. Jen hangs out with me and
as they begin to sew me back up I start to get really sick so, Jen, held
a little plastic bag next to my head so that I could throw up. Jen was
amazing and I’m eternally grateful that she was there for Josh and I.
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Incredible moment |
I barely even remember being moved back into my room,
but as soon as I’m all put back together, they wheel me back to my room
and I remember waking back up from a tiny drug induced nap to family
being in the room. Sheila and my Mom are in the room when I wake up,
they are holding both Boys, it’s so funny to think everyone held the
Boys before I did, lol. I start to wake even more. Next my Brother and
sister come into the room and then Anna, Sarah and Sennicca. I’m so
messed up that I'm fading in and out of sleep. I mean after all I had
not slept since Monday morning and it was now Wednesday morning. Finally
they bring the boys over to me for me to hold. I’m still shaking
uncontrollably, but Josh insists that I hold the Boys and that it will
help. They place, Ronin no my chest first and my body immediately stops
shaking… I look at, Ronin’s little face, wrap my arms around him and
began sobbing. Meeting him was amazing, beautiful and surreal. I could
not believe he was mine, that after all that time… I was finally holding
my one of my babies. Next, Armor, is placed on my chest right next to,
Ronin. I can’t even fully explain how amazing that moment felt and still
feels to me. I was in awe of their beautiful faces. I felt like it was a
dream and it was, it was a dream come true and I was literally having
the best moment of my life. I sat there crying and snuggling my
beautiful Boys and then nursed them…
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In Looooooove!! |
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It was truly an amazing experience, pregnancy and
birth... And I was surrounded by the best and most supportive people in
my life. Even though I had to have a cesarean for, Ronin… it was the
most epic and amazing birth experience I could have ever asked for, I do
not regret anything about my birth experience, not one thing, except
maybe feeling so messed up on all the meds they pumped into my body.
Josh and I were surrounded by love and support and we felt so great
having our family and friends right there by our sides. Josh went home a
while later to get some real sleep and Sheila stayed with us the whole
night, as I drifted in and out of an exhausted sleep, she is truly
amazing and the best mother in-law a girl could ask for!! The Boys both
had Jaundice and low sugar at birth and Armor spent an entire day under
the lights to help him with his jaundice levels, but overall were super
healthy even at 3 weeks early. I feel so empowered as a woman to have
had this amazing experience... It was worth every tear, heartache, loss,
and worth all the pain I ever endured along the way...
They
were born on January 8th, 2014 at 4lbs 13oz & 6lbs 2oz and both
17" long! I am beyond blessed to have them in my life and I feel so
incredibly lucky to have them after such a long struggle to become a
Mother.
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