Sorry for the delay in posting. Been a bit busy lately. Hmmm, wonder why.
George and Abigail had their 2 week check up on Tuesday. Both are behaving as they should for their age developmentally. Both have surpassed their birth weights as well. George is up to 8lbs and Abigail is up to 5lbs 13 oz. Way to go, kiddos! And kudos to Carrie for delivering such fulfilling meals.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
George & Abigail's First Photo Shoot
Only a few seconds to write, but wanted to share a quick note about the babies' first professional photo shoot. Our good friend Trina Gibbins, who is a fantastic photographer in Norman, took the babies' pics for our birth announcements on Monday. Absolutely hilarious session...thankfully Trina and Brock have good senses of humor and didn't mind all the poop and pee all over their house...and in between their toes and down their pants... Between Abigail's persnickity demeanor and sly little glances and trying to nurse on George's face or punch him in the head, she captured some great shots. She truly caught their personalities. The naked baby ones turned out great!
Check Trina's blog spot for preview glimpses. That's George's mug on the entry entitled "The first of many babies to come". www.trinagibbins.blogspot.com
Check Trina's blog spot for preview glimpses. That's George's mug on the entry entitled "The first of many babies to come". www.trinagibbins.blogspot.com
Monday, September 17, 2007
Abigail, the Superstar!
When we were in the hospital, we were approached by the Oklahoman (our OKC newspaper) who wanted to do a story on jaundice in newborns. They thought it was neat that George and Abigail were newborn twins and had been tested for jaundice using the transcutanious bilirubin test. Fortunately, neither were clinically jaundiced even though George looked a bit yellow. Because Abigail was the only baby awake when they came to do the story, she got to have the full spotlight!! Check it out!
http://newsok.com/article/3126409/
http://newsok.com/article/3126409/
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The longest night...
Whoever said that parenthood is the hardest job of your life....we believe them now.
Life around our house in the past 24 hours has been very challenging. Social worker that I am, I must preface it with strengths in that they are beautiful cuddly babies and we have had many good days and nights in a row. Until last night....
Abigail and George took turns with their bloody murder screams literally all night. It is tough to think rationally when their ear-piercing shrills do not subside. We tried everything we knew at least twice short of driving around the block, and when Grammy (Debbie) came in to the house at 7am, the screaming continued until 2pm today. We think they might be having their first growth spurt, the only logical explanation for their cries. At this exact moment, they are sleeping soundly, exhausted from their all-nighter, and adorably angelic in their pack-n-play in the living room listening to the cheers of the Longhorns.
Tonight I shall indulge in a dark beer to thicken my milk and hopefully help them to sleep.
Surely we couldn't have two difficult nights in a row.....
Life around our house in the past 24 hours has been very challenging. Social worker that I am, I must preface it with strengths in that they are beautiful cuddly babies and we have had many good days and nights in a row. Until last night....
Abigail and George took turns with their bloody murder screams literally all night. It is tough to think rationally when their ear-piercing shrills do not subside. We tried everything we knew at least twice short of driving around the block, and when Grammy (Debbie) came in to the house at 7am, the screaming continued until 2pm today. We think they might be having their first growth spurt, the only logical explanation for their cries. At this exact moment, they are sleeping soundly, exhausted from their all-nighter, and adorably angelic in their pack-n-play in the living room listening to the cheers of the Longhorns.
Tonight I shall indulge in a dark beer to thicken my milk and hopefully help them to sleep.
Surely we couldn't have two difficult nights in a row.....
Monday, September 10, 2007
Weighing in...
We had our first "outing" today to the pediatrician for the babies to weigh in. Abigail is up to 5 lbs. 1 oz. and George is 7 lb. 6 oz. They are eating well and growing quickly!! George's bilirubin test for jaundice came back negative--praise for that! He is still a bit yellow but it will reduce with exposure to sunshine.
We are sleeping better, all four of us. Judie and Jerry are here helping out with the adjustment home. Between plumbing projects, lawn mowing, grocery shopping, and building a ramp for our shed, let alone taking care of the babies, we are trying to find the normalcy of life with multiples.
The babies are beautiful and full of personality already. George is laid back most of the time and Abigail is positively fiesty and full of spunk. Both love to cuddle! They are alert after feedings and make so many different facial expressions. Abigail is already trying to hold her head up on her own. I am certain they are advanced!!
We are sleeping better, all four of us. Judie and Jerry are here helping out with the adjustment home. Between plumbing projects, lawn mowing, grocery shopping, and building a ramp for our shed, let alone taking care of the babies, we are trying to find the normalcy of life with multiples.
The babies are beautiful and full of personality already. George is laid back most of the time and Abigail is positively fiesty and full of spunk. Both love to cuddle! They are alert after feedings and make so many different facial expressions. Abigail is already trying to hold her head up on her own. I am certain they are advanced!!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
We're home!
We finally got to come home on Saturday. Carrie had a bit preeclampsia that the Midwife wanted to keep an eye on. Friday night was a turning point. We started waking the babies up every 2 hours for feedings so they began falling asleep immediately after. So we got to sleep as well, and weren't quite as worked up since they weren't crying non-stop.
Now we're home and still on schedules and things are going relatively well. Got to sleep quite a bit last night as it was nice to be in our house in our own bed.
Now we're home and still on schedules and things are going relatively well. Got to sleep quite a bit last night as it was nice to be in our house in our own bed.
Thanks to everyone for your positive thoughts and prayers over the last many months, they have meant the world to us. We couldn't feel more loved than we do now.
Some more pics:
Wearing the Going home outfits at the hospital
Sleeping together in the hospital cradle
Abigail getting hungry, trying to feed on Daddy's nose
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Birth Day
Quick write up of the story of the birth of George Christian and Abigail Bess Jankowski.
Labor day had come and gone. Carrie had a great day, with fewer contractions than she had had in weeks. Went to sleep around 11:00pm only to be awoken at 1:30am by Carrie saying her bags of water had broken, but her contractions really weren't that close together. Five minutes later, she had a big contraction. 2 minutes later another. And thereafter every 1.5 to 2 minutes, each lasting around a minute, and very intense. This was definitely it. Began packing the car. More very intense contractions, really rushed to get the car packed. Called our Doula and told her we were heading to the hospital and she needed to get there. Got Carrie in and began driving. Was driving relatively fast (80 mph), but knew it was going to be quick when Carrie told me to get going even faster. Turned on the flashers and took it to 85-90mph up to OKC.
Got to the hospital around 2:45am. The delivery rooms in the OU Med Center are on the 4th floor and the parking garage is connected to the 3rd floor of the hospital by a long walkway. Got up and luckily there was a wheelchair at the elevator from the garage. The contractions were one on top of the other, and Carrie was very insistent on stopping to use the restroom as she really felt the urge to go to the restroom. She hopped out of the chair as we neared the restroom and I gently urged her not to push and she very reluctantly agreed and hopped back on the chair and got a ride up to admitting.
Arrived and no one was present at admitting so had to wander (very hurriedly) down the hall to find a nurse who may help. Immediately went back to a room and they got the monitors on and the contractions were very consistent at 1 min apart and very intense. Our Doulas Karen and Erica showed up shortly thereafter and were quick to jump in and help out. And they were absolute life savers with helping massage Carrie's back and legs so I could focus on her face and talk her through the contractions.
As everyone knows we wanted to deliver these babies naturally, unfortunately the nurses and doctors who were on call thought we were nuts. And pointed it out. Repeatedly. Over and over until I let one of the nurses know that we WERE having these children naturally and would not have any more talk about epidurals, to which one nurse left the room and I don't think ever came back.
Upon arrival Carrie was dilated to 4 and 80 percent effaced. The Nurse called the Midwife and told her to head on up, and hurry. Fifteen minutes later Carrie was a 7 and 100 percent effaced. Nurse called Midwife. Told her to get there, now.
We then rushed to a labor and delivery suite and poor Carrie was told to get out of the triage bed and into a labor and delivery bed. She got moved over and it was non-stop contractions. We really had to keep her from pushing at that point as she really had the urge then. Our midwife showed up and started to take control. Unfortunately, our OB/GYN was on call the next night, so he didn't have his pager on, and the hospital didn't have his home phone number. So we had to use the on call OB for the delivery.
We later found out that when the on call dr. arrived and found out we were having twins, she informed our Midwife that she was taking over and we were doing it her way, and that Midwives had no place delivering twins. How rude.
We were told that the on call dr was of the opinion that if the top baby was breech, that she was just going to go in and get them by C-section, no discussion. Luckily the ultrasound machine she was planning to use wouldn't boot up, and the Midwife, who had very astutely continued monitoring and checking Carrie, said she hit a 10 and was ready to deliver the first baby as an internal lip was all that was holding Squirt in.
We rushed to the OR, per hospital policy for the delivery and Carrie was forced to move onto her back on the OR table. The small metal one, with big honking stirrups, under the big bright lights. They let her wait for a contraction to end and over she went. Also our Doulas, which we employed for the entire process weren't allowed into the OR as the on-call anesthesiologist resident would only allow 1"guest or family member" in the OR. As there was no time to argue our Midwife had no time to force the issue or go above his head, so we dealt with it.
Then the dr.s began moving in with the diodes and ultrasound machine. The Midwife slipped in gloved up and moved the lip down and Squirt began moving down. Carrie began pushing and the Midwife put pressure in all the right places and about 20 minutes later at 5:11 am George emerged. Coolest part was getting to put my hand under his head as he cleared the birth canal to help deliver him.
The on call dr then jumped in to check the position of Peanut. Luckily she had tried to follow Squirt out and had dropped her head, but didn't get all the way into the birth canal. So after some external version, and a hit of pitocin to restart labor, her head slipped into the canal and she shortly thereafter her bag of water burst and she eased on out. Much quicker than George, Abigail emerged at 5:31am. No drugs needed. And Carrie didn't tear at all. Hopefully we changed the minds of the on call dr and anesthesiologist, and were able to show them that natural births can and do happen for twins and that medical intervention is not always the answer. Maybe next time they'll be less quick to try to force drugs and surgery.
After the placentas were delivered, we went back to the labor and delivery suite to wait on our overnight room. We were back there by 6:15am and both babies were very alert and awake and nursed by 6:45am.
Carrie was the champ, but we couldn't have done it without the Doulas and our Midwife. They were awesome and really helped keep the situation under control and moving. They were great at allowing me to focus on Carrie and talking to her had keeping her calm, which she said really helped her get through it.
It really was a blur, but in the end, we have two fantastic babies who are healthy and a wife who is recovering well.
I'm still totally in awe of Carrie and her ability to put herself out there for our babies. What a great Woman! She completely rocks!
Labor day had come and gone. Carrie had a great day, with fewer contractions than she had had in weeks. Went to sleep around 11:00pm only to be awoken at 1:30am by Carrie saying her bags of water had broken, but her contractions really weren't that close together. Five minutes later, she had a big contraction. 2 minutes later another. And thereafter every 1.5 to 2 minutes, each lasting around a minute, and very intense. This was definitely it. Began packing the car. More very intense contractions, really rushed to get the car packed. Called our Doula and told her we were heading to the hospital and she needed to get there. Got Carrie in and began driving. Was driving relatively fast (80 mph), but knew it was going to be quick when Carrie told me to get going even faster. Turned on the flashers and took it to 85-90mph up to OKC.
Got to the hospital around 2:45am. The delivery rooms in the OU Med Center are on the 4th floor and the parking garage is connected to the 3rd floor of the hospital by a long walkway. Got up and luckily there was a wheelchair at the elevator from the garage. The contractions were one on top of the other, and Carrie was very insistent on stopping to use the restroom as she really felt the urge to go to the restroom. She hopped out of the chair as we neared the restroom and I gently urged her not to push and she very reluctantly agreed and hopped back on the chair and got a ride up to admitting.
Arrived and no one was present at admitting so had to wander (very hurriedly) down the hall to find a nurse who may help. Immediately went back to a room and they got the monitors on and the contractions were very consistent at 1 min apart and very intense. Our Doulas Karen and Erica showed up shortly thereafter and were quick to jump in and help out. And they were absolute life savers with helping massage Carrie's back and legs so I could focus on her face and talk her through the contractions.
As everyone knows we wanted to deliver these babies naturally, unfortunately the nurses and doctors who were on call thought we were nuts. And pointed it out. Repeatedly. Over and over until I let one of the nurses know that we WERE having these children naturally and would not have any more talk about epidurals, to which one nurse left the room and I don't think ever came back.
Upon arrival Carrie was dilated to 4 and 80 percent effaced. The Nurse called the Midwife and told her to head on up, and hurry. Fifteen minutes later Carrie was a 7 and 100 percent effaced. Nurse called Midwife. Told her to get there, now.
We then rushed to a labor and delivery suite and poor Carrie was told to get out of the triage bed and into a labor and delivery bed. She got moved over and it was non-stop contractions. We really had to keep her from pushing at that point as she really had the urge then. Our midwife showed up and started to take control. Unfortunately, our OB/GYN was on call the next night, so he didn't have his pager on, and the hospital didn't have his home phone number. So we had to use the on call OB for the delivery.
We later found out that when the on call dr. arrived and found out we were having twins, she informed our Midwife that she was taking over and we were doing it her way, and that Midwives had no place delivering twins. How rude.
We were told that the on call dr was of the opinion that if the top baby was breech, that she was just going to go in and get them by C-section, no discussion. Luckily the ultrasound machine she was planning to use wouldn't boot up, and the Midwife, who had very astutely continued monitoring and checking Carrie, said she hit a 10 and was ready to deliver the first baby as an internal lip was all that was holding Squirt in.
We rushed to the OR, per hospital policy for the delivery and Carrie was forced to move onto her back on the OR table. The small metal one, with big honking stirrups, under the big bright lights. They let her wait for a contraction to end and over she went. Also our Doulas, which we employed for the entire process weren't allowed into the OR as the on-call anesthesiologist resident would only allow 1"guest or family member" in the OR. As there was no time to argue our Midwife had no time to force the issue or go above his head, so we dealt with it.
Then the dr.s began moving in with the diodes and ultrasound machine. The Midwife slipped in gloved up and moved the lip down and Squirt began moving down. Carrie began pushing and the Midwife put pressure in all the right places and about 20 minutes later at 5:11 am George emerged. Coolest part was getting to put my hand under his head as he cleared the birth canal to help deliver him.
The on call dr then jumped in to check the position of Peanut. Luckily she had tried to follow Squirt out and had dropped her head, but didn't get all the way into the birth canal. So after some external version, and a hit of pitocin to restart labor, her head slipped into the canal and she shortly thereafter her bag of water burst and she eased on out. Much quicker than George, Abigail emerged at 5:31am. No drugs needed. And Carrie didn't tear at all. Hopefully we changed the minds of the on call dr and anesthesiologist, and were able to show them that natural births can and do happen for twins and that medical intervention is not always the answer. Maybe next time they'll be less quick to try to force drugs and surgery.
After the placentas were delivered, we went back to the labor and delivery suite to wait on our overnight room. We were back there by 6:15am and both babies were very alert and awake and nursed by 6:45am.
Carrie was the champ, but we couldn't have done it without the Doulas and our Midwife. They were awesome and really helped keep the situation under control and moving. They were great at allowing me to focus on Carrie and talking to her had keeping her calm, which she said really helped her get through it.
It really was a blur, but in the end, we have two fantastic babies who are healthy and a wife who is recovering well.
I'm still totally in awe of Carrie and her ability to put herself out there for our babies. What a great Woman! She completely rocks!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Introducing...
They're Here!!!
Weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz - George Christian Jankowski (aka Squirt), born Sept 4, 2007 @ 5:11 AM.
And at 5 lbs 5 oz Abigail Bess Jankowski (aka Peanut), born Sept 4, 2007 @ 5:31 AM.
According to all reports everyone is doing great, I think Matt's hospital couch is a little lumpy - but other than that we have two happy parents and two beautiful babies. Thanks be to God!
Weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz - George Christian Jankowski (aka Squirt), born Sept 4, 2007 @ 5:11 AM.
And at 5 lbs 5 oz Abigail Bess Jankowski (aka Peanut), born Sept 4, 2007 @ 5:31 AM.
According to all reports everyone is doing great, I think Matt's hospital couch is a little lumpy - but other than that we have two happy parents and two beautiful babies. Thanks be to God!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sapphires are BEAUTIFUL!
Ha! Ha! So here it is September 1 and my belly is still growing. Our doula pointed out that sapphires are the birthstone for September and would make a beautiful mother's ring. Needless to say, I quickly shared that with Matthew who was not amused. ;)
We never in a million years thought we would be here watching college football with the babies still in utero. Maybe if Oklahoma and Texas play well today, the babies will decide to come out so they can root on their two favorite teams! Or if I cheer loud enough, it will startle them and send them out to join us!
This past Wednesday marked the victory for the babies on the friendly bettin' calendar of expected arrival date and genders. They outlasted everyone's predictions! Thank you to those who participated and let the lesson be learned, never bet against a Jankowski! The twins had their first deposit of $33 made into their savings account!! That should at least pay for 1/2 of a college textbook that they can share...
I had a cervical stretch done yesterday by our midwife to help promote the commencement of labor. I had stronger, though still not significant, contractions yesterday and this morning, so we are hopeful that it might have worked. We have also scheduled an induction for next Friday which will hopefully motivate them to come out on their own before then. At least there is an end in sight.
Come on babies, come out to cheer on the Horns and Sooners!
We never in a million years thought we would be here watching college football with the babies still in utero. Maybe if Oklahoma and Texas play well today, the babies will decide to come out so they can root on their two favorite teams! Or if I cheer loud enough, it will startle them and send them out to join us!
This past Wednesday marked the victory for the babies on the friendly bettin' calendar of expected arrival date and genders. They outlasted everyone's predictions! Thank you to those who participated and let the lesson be learned, never bet against a Jankowski! The twins had their first deposit of $33 made into their savings account!! That should at least pay for 1/2 of a college textbook that they can share...
I had a cervical stretch done yesterday by our midwife to help promote the commencement of labor. I had stronger, though still not significant, contractions yesterday and this morning, so we are hopeful that it might have worked. We have also scheduled an induction for next Friday which will hopefully motivate them to come out on their own before then. At least there is an end in sight.
Come on babies, come out to cheer on the Horns and Sooners!
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