Liam and Liliana are here!

I have to keep this short because I'm way behind on my pumping schedule.

As expected when we were dashed off to CPMC on the Tuesday before last, 5/13, our beautiful twins were born via c-section that day. Both of them are now home with us and seem to be thriving. We feel so incredibly blessed.

Liam Patrick Nolan was born at 4:39pm and weighed 5 lbs and 11 ounces. Liliana Rose Nolan was born at 4:40pm and weighed 5 lbs and 1 ounce. They are so tiny but so perfect. We stayed in the hospital for 4 days afterward and then we all got to come home together, what a blessing. Twins so often end up with stays in the NICU and we were very lucky that both of our twins were able to avoid that. I imagine in retrospect I was lucky to have the bout of "preterm labor" because during my stay in the hospital they injected me with steroids so that the babies lungs would develop more quickly in case they were born prematurely. As it turned out, we made it to 36 weeks and 2 days, so they are technically premature. I have to admit they looked so tiny to me at first it was a bit startling.

I'm happy to report that, as of last Friday, they had regained all their birth weight and added a couple of ounces each, thanks to the diligent 3 hour, round the clock feedings administered alternately by my Mom, Emmett and myself. Wow, this twin thing is definitely a handful. :-)
Perhaps more relevantly, they were a bit too little to latch (according to the lactation folks) and since they are premature you can't wait to get them to latch before feeding, so we are struggling a bit with the breastfeeding thing. Since I still want so badly for them to be breastfed, I am using the breastpump 8 times per day to pump the milk and also try to build up enough of a milk supply to feed two infants. It makes for a pretty exhausting day. But so rewarding when I look into the eyes of my precious babies. :-)

Which brings me to my first sentence...way behind on my pumping schedule.

Thank you to everyone who wrote or called to keep up with us, it is so nice to feel so cared for.

I'll close with a picture of my little beauties taken today.

Love,
Melissa

Last Ultrasound!

Well, here are a couple of shots from our last ultrasound. The top one is Liliana with her face pressed up against her brother's head (how cute!) and the bottom two are our little Liam, who seems to like having his photo taken the last couple of months.

The bigger news is that today may be the BIG DAY!!!! My blood pressure is up a bit and I spilled protein in my urine (for those who are well versed perinatal terminology) which are all signs of possible pre-eclampsia. Rather than take any risks, they have asked me to come into the hospital today for a probable c-section. So here we go...we made it to 36 weeks and 2 days which is pretty darn good for twins!

Will keep folks posted if something changes, otherwise say a little prayer for me and the babies as they enter this crazy world.

Love,
Melissa