Happy 8th Birthday my loves!

The birth!!! A twin home birth. It can be done!

So I am finally writing the conclusion to my birth story. I apologize that it's taken me 10 MONTHS to write. But hey that's twins.
Those last two weeks I had contractions constantly. Finally on the 7th of November I had had enough. After a few hours of contractions that ended up going nowhere (for the 3rd time)I called my midwife and asked her to break my water. At about 10 pm (after dancing and them some castor oil. Eek) she broke my water. Now I will tell you I was disappointed because I had imagined this smooth coherent delivery but after the water broke the contractions came on strong. So no baby playlist and no playful banter, I was in pain and concentrating. My husband was my birth partner. My sister was our helpful support. I had my main midwife Joey. Her assistant midwife an extra midwife for the extra baby and a studying midwife, so 4 total. And my dear friend Sarah doing the birth photography. I will be honest the pain was endless awful and all consuming. BUT so worth it. I thought since this was my second and third delivery the babies would come faster but after a few hours I was so exhausted they say I was sleeping between contractions. Now you'd think I would have given myself a good nights sleep before this but being 36 weeks along I was not sleeping anyway. They were so big I had to sleep propped up just to breath normally. Anyhow. I was originally planning a water birth but when I tried it I didn't last too long in the water. My belly was so big it was buoyant. It was hard to breath. So I labored mostly out of the birthing pool. My husband was spectacular. He was with me the whole time. And my whole birth team was constantly reassuring. Finally at about 7 am Baby A (Una Luna) was just about here. The whole time my team was reminding me to breath and relax(through painful back labor which they helped massage) and I was reminding my self to think open. Although they say I never asked to be taken to the hospital. I sure thought about it lol that and the wonderful epidural. Somehow I managed. At 7:14 am on November the 8th I caught Una Serafina at 6lbs 2 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. She was gorgeous. And just like her US pictures. Like a normal delivery the pain increased with crowning but It did all go smoothly. So after 9 hours I was done. BUT just like life with twins. It's never done when you want it to be done lol more then 3 hours later at 10:53 Baby B, Inanna Selene was born breeched with one foot first. Kicking her way into this world. She was 6lbs even and 19 1/2 inches. While she did need some rubbing up she was just as beautiful and alert as her sister. Now exactly like life with twins right when you think it should be over it's not. My contractions had died down from exhaustion so I finally had the pitocin to deliver the placenta. But thankfully that was it. I was so tired but absolutely glad things went the way they did. At their own time and pace and not hurried along by doctors or strapped down in an uncomfortable room. All the measurements where taken. No vitamin k no eye ointment. No one ever rushed my babies off without telling me. It was just like it should be. My support was there but it was just that, support. Support to what was perfectly natural and normal, even though it was two. Now looking back I wouldn't have done anything differently. Every situation is different but for me I went with my instincts and it led to a wonderful homebirth with two healthily daughters.
So that is my twin home birth story! I am so glad it went well. Good luck to anyone else out there. Just go with what you know it right :)

34 1/2 weeks. We can almost have our home birth!

Im in such a good mood! With only a week to go before we can feel relaxed to have the babies come when ever. and after fighting a fever and body aches last week. Im back to my old self. :) Im very excited.
I dreamed last night that I didnt feel my contractions and baby a just came right out. (right dont we all wish lol) anyhow she was just like a dolly proportionate and SO pretty. with a perfect combination of me and tony. half and half just like the creamer. lol
Im trying to play as much DooWop and Oldies to them as I can so they have my taste in music. and Im trying to dance around so they have a sense of rhythm lol I also found that dancing was an effective sleeping technique with johnny so I want them to get use to the rocking motion.
 Contractions are coming every day. and it feels I have a bag-o-babies instead of a pregnant belly. it feels real hard and this last US there were baby parts  every where all smushed together and they look chubby so I have the good feeling that they are over 5 lbs already!!!! I had chosen their first outfits in preemie size but who knows if they will fit. :) Im excited to meet them soon
Tony and I met our 2nd midwife last monday and she was so nice and positive. I am trying to get some final reading done in Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth and Birthing from Within. and tony is reading the last bit of The Birthing Partner.
My good friend Sarah is going to do the birthing photography so I am awfully excited about that since she just had a home birth not even a year ago.
I think everything is coming together! and Im so relieved.... Ill write again soon.

32 Weeks along. We're getting there

So in the last month our babies have grown so much. at my last ultrasound they weighed 3 lbs each. I think when I go in on monday for another one. they will be around 4 lbs each!
Ive really have just been taking it one day at a time. the carpel tunnel has gotten better. but I am even more tired then ever. its really about getting alot of rest now... and if I dont my body makes me. Johnny Started kindergarten so its worked out perfectly and I get plenty of time to myself

the 1st week of my 8th month has been so emotionally shocking. realizing that it can happen any moment and that it will definitely happen in 4 to 6 weeks is exciting and scary.
The girls have been great! moving all the time. I wish my husband had some thing that was constantly nudging at his intestines as a comforting reassurance that we are having children lol but of course lucky him just gets to feel the big kicks on his hand.

Since last month Braxton hicks contractions have become an everyday thing. they are so uncomfortable but I just try to breath through it. I went to my first meeting of Moms of Multiples early September and it was so reassuring! they were all so positive and nice. another meeting in 2 weeks. Speaking of reassuring I saw the midwife yesterday and she said that everything is looking fantastic and that I shouldnt worry about preterm labor that if it was coming something would have already happened. Both girls are vertex (head down) so everything is looking great for a home birth in a month or two!
Tony and I talked about names and we really like the names Ina and Una. Inanna Elise and Una Esmee although tony is completely committed to the names I dont think Ill be positive till i see and hold them. :) I cant wait!
Here are some pictures on how the belly is growing.

its even bigger now. but i havent uploaded those yet.

And a few fun things we've done is birthing art

my motherly monkey



and  how I see myself as a pregnant lady









and Tony and I went to Baby boot Camp On base.
the funniest part was him wearing the empathy belly and seeing him trying to get comfortable lol It was fun and informative. and I needed to go over somethings again since its been so long for me since Ive taken care of a baby.  But we are pretty confident now.

We've even set up the crib and co sleeper figured out the stroller and carseats. :) all the baby clothes is washed with baby soap. all their blankies are folded and ready and we are stocked up on 3 packages  of preemie dipers 4 boxes of newborns and 5 packages of 1 and the to huge boxes of wipes lol

 life is great and we are all excited. ill write again soon.

I cant believe I havent written in so long! probably since ive been honey mooning :D

I am 26 weeks as of yesterday! I have been feeling great for the last two months but I feel the 3rd trimester creeping up on me.... oh goodness is the belly BIG!

Ive been so wrapped up in doing things this summer I forgot to write. and Ive been too tired to stay up on the computer...
two weeks ago (at 24 wks) I had my Baby Shower Luau! it was wonderful... my great friend Karoline put it together and my sisters and mom came out to visit.

I think that it was the best possible choice to do it in my second trimester. I still had energy to write thank you notes and do more shopping... we basically have everything we need for the first 6 months now. And I dont see how I could have done it in a few weeks.
for the last month ive been pushing myself.. not giving in to sitting down or not cleaning the house.. but I just feel now like im running out of energy a lot faster. I need breaks often. My belly has just been getting so heavy. It feels like in the last 2 weeks they have grown so much. Im worried if theyve dropped already... but im going to continue to stay positive. I have an ultrasound tomorrow and a midwife appt next week... I hope all is well.
well thats all Ill write again.

June 23, 2011 - 18 Weeks

At 18 weeks they are the size of bell peppers. :)

changing direction

Today I am 4 months along! Im very excited. A few problems have come up from a month ago. My body is trying to adjust for the babies. I get low blood pressure and I get all woozy,  I think I may have carpel tunnel and I now have aches after standing a lot or at the end of the day. I am really getting bigger. I look right now like I looked at 7 months along with johnny. There is 9 inches of baby in there but im just growing out. lol

Last night my whole right arm went numb. It wasnt the first time but it was painful... so I called my OB this morning and the nurse told me to go to the ER that I could be having a stroke. .... I told her that I couldnt be having a stroke for the last two weeks. Up till now I have been trying to give them a shot you know.. saying ok maybe this is better for the babies..  but now I realize its really not good for ME. I spent  6 hours in the ER about 3 weeks ago and all they told me it was low blood pressure and that its normal... I am not looking to sue my doctors........ I am not looking to be any ones medically complicated story.... and I know twins are complicated and different but they aren't anymore hazardous to your health then one normal baby. at least thats how im taking it now... I know im having "problems"... but ive decided to just go with the midwife I was originally going with. But just to be safe I will continue to see the perinatal specialists for ultrasounds. It makes perfect sense. because if worse comes to worse... Ill just go back to the negative OBs and deliver in the OR room. But now I am so excited to go with my originial plan of a home birth.
I have scheduled my first appointment with Joey (my midwife) for the 28th. and although it will cost a few hundred more... I am so positive and think my instincts have pointed me in the right direction :D