Our twins are here!
I can hardly believe it’s been a week since these sweet little ones’ arrival!! It’s been one incredible week, to say the least! Below is a shortened version of their birth story. If this is not your type of thing to read, feel free to skip ahead to the photos! :)
On Tuesday last week, I checked into the hospital to be induced. The journey was nothing as I anticipated. I had expected the induction process to be fairly quick and eventful. Instead, the labor process was very slow and I found myself wishing I had brought books and things to keep me busy! I was also shocked that I was never in terrible pain during labor, as I had expected to be. The worst “pain” was the awful itching from the rash on my belly and arms! I received an epidural about half way through, after the doctor broke my water. My pain was very manageable, but the nurses kept being shocked that I could talk through contractions…so I figured it would get super painful very soon. I had NO idea an epidural would make my entire lower body numb – what a strange, out of body experience! To turn me or adjust me, the nurses had to pick up my legs to move me. WEIRD.
Around midnight, I suddenly began feeling a ton of pressure and quickly called in my nurse. Sure enough, I was fully dilated and ready to meet these babies! Even though both babies were still vertex (head down), I had to be wheeled into the operating room to deliver them, just in case they needed to do an emergency c-section (standard procedure for multiples). I guess I had a glorified vision of what the OR would be like…I certainly didn’t envision a room with the brightest lights I could imagine and having to lay on a very skinny metal operating table while pushing. At this point in the morning, I was starving. Like I could eat five big macs, and coming from a girl who would never choose to eat a big mac, this said a lot! Needless to say, I began this next process exhausted and so very hungry – certainly not the best physical condition to have to push two babies out!
Pushing was also nothing as I had anticipated, and for some reason I really struggled getting enough air. I felt like my head was going to burst each time I had to push…apparently I’m not so great at taking deep breaths and then having to hold my breath! Grant was INCREDIBLE during this time. I absolutely could NOT have done it without him and the way he coached me perfectly. He was so gracious as to give me ice chips to munch on in between contractions. It sounds like a little thing, but that was SO needed. I remember telling the nurses at one point to feel free to yell at me to push harder and not be so kind about it, as I was SO ready to get baby A out!! After an hour and a half of pushing, baby Madeline finally arrived, the most inexpressible moment ever! She immediately cried, which was then immediately followed by my tears :)
However, rather than be focused on her, I knew I had to focus on the next task at hand: deliver baby B. Unfortunately, my body decided to contract down, which meant I had to be given an increased dose of pitocin. I had expected baby B to be relatively easy, after baby A paved the way, but the opposite was true for me. By the time I began pushing for Abram, my body felt completely exhausted and the contractions were spread far apart. I began doubting I could do it. My mental and physical strength were completely drained, to the point where it took so much work to even open my eyes. The look on my doctor’s face was one of awful concern throughout this process, and little did I know, I was only minutes away from having a c-section, as Abram’s heart rate was beginning to sky rocket. I praise God for giving me the strength needed for little Abram, and I sobbed immediately after his birth, out of complete exhaustion and utter gratitude that I had avoided a c-section!
Madeline Paige was born at 2:06am and weighed 6lbs 3 oz, and Abram Nyle was born at 3:46am weighing in at 6lbs 7oz. Two perfectly healthy babies!
What an amazing, beautiful journey that was nothing as I had expected….just like my pregnancy! I will forever be grateful for Grant’s incredible support and encouragement as well as the best doctors and nurses I could have ever asked for. I feel utterly blessed by these two babies, amazed that God has entrusted them to us!
Enjoy some photos from their 2nd day of life, taken by Amber at Bella Baby Photography :)
First up…Madeline!
Madeline has my dimples, though you can’t see them in these photos!!!
And here’s brother Abram! I am THRILLED that he looks JUST like Grant! :)
He has the squishiest cheeks ever!
Amazing. I truly can’t believe they are ours. That we have TWO babies! And that they are so beautiful.
LOVE.
My heart about bursts with joy every time Grant interacts with these two. He’s an amazing father already!
Tina - What a blessing those two babies of yours are! I loved reading your story, how amazing that you were able to deliver those healthy babies naturally! So so so over the moon happy for you two:)
Linda - Oh Allison! AMAZING!!! BEAUTIFUL!!! WONDERFUL!!! Your babies are GORGEOUS!! Really, they are perfect little baby models and you are going to have the very best time filling up your hard drive with a KAZILLION photos of them!!!! Congratulations to you and Grant! So glad you shared your story, and praying you are getting some rest while enjoying every moment with Abram, Madeline and Grant!
Blessings and Hugs,
Linda
Elaine - Congratulations once again! Loved reading about your pregnancy and now about the birth. You have been blessed with a couple of beautiful babies and they have been blessed with wonderful, godly parents. So happy for both of you and I’m sure the grandparents are all absolutely overjoyed! May God continue to richly bless your family with continued happiness and good health!!!
Gail - oooh Allison! I LOVED reading your birth story! BLESS YOU for getting those babies out the way you did! I was so exhausted after Dean, I can only imagine having to push a SECOND out! Don’t you wonder how women do it WITHOUT drugs? I mean, it’s hard enough (physically) WITH them! And I hear you on the breathing. I would feel like I was about to pass out with every push. And that blood pressure cuff on my arm drove me INSANE!
SO proud of you and those babies are just a BEAUTIFUL sight! You are absolutely right — Abram is Grant’s clone! Can’t wait to see your baby girl’s little dimples!
Shauna Maschmann - Congrats!!! Your birth story is SO similar to mine! I carried to 37 weeks, was induced because my water broke and didn’t immediately go into labor, got the epidural and had my little girl first around 11:00 pm. I also remember how bright and harsh the operating room was, but had to be there just in case. I had to have oxygen from all the pushing. However, it only took 20 minutes after my daughter for my son to come, but still felt like an eternity! I also broke out into a horrible rash all over my belly, legs and arms. I remember going home with 2 babies just after 2 days-so overwhelming! My twins just started Kindergarten this year. It’s so much fun every day with them. Hope you’re finding time to get some rest! They are beautiful!
Aunt Susan - Allison, I was crying almost as soon as I started reading this account. Thanks so much for sharing it!! It just makes me more proud that you are my niece….and that Grant and the twins are part of our family. Hoping that I will be able to come and see you all for a couple hours on my way back to Texas….Oct. 14th would be the day. Both Madeline and Abram are so sweet!! Love to youall!!!
leigh ann - I LOVED reading this beautiful account of the arrival of sweet Madeline and Abram! We rejoice with you and Grant, what an amazing blessing!
Julie - Yay, praise God for a healthy delivery! I cant get enough of these pictures, your kids sure are cute!!
Melissa Jill - I loved reading this Allison! Thank you for sharing! Bless your heart — pushing for 3 HOURS!! I couldn’t believe it when I saw your babies’ birth times on FB — I thought most twins were born minutes apart. You are amazing for delivering them both naturally!! And they are beautiful!! xoxo
Stephanie Dean - What a beautiful story. They are so beautiful. You can tell that they will have such a special relationship.
Angela - Oh how I loved this story! So beautiful. And good job, mama! You did an amazing job! These little babies are so cute…makes me want another! Praying you get lots of rest during these fun/exhausting days!
Shelley - Ah! Love the photos, especially those snuggly shots of them! They are beyond adorable, congratulations again :)
Allison George - You are officially my hero! I cannot believe you managed to give birth to both of them naturally! They are beyond adorable. I’m with your mom. A photo a day seems like a fun challenge! Congratulations again to you and Grant!
Virginia Gray - What lovely answers to all our prayers throughout pregnancy and delivery. Praise be to our wonderful God. Everyone looks so healthy and contented.
L.N. - I’ve been reading your blog for a while and have really enjoyed seeing a lot of the photos! What beautiful blessings you have…God bless and congratulations! These are absolutely precious! (and their names are pretty awesome, too!) :)
Ashley - Congratulations, Allison! Your babies are beautiful and I loved getting to read your birth story. Praising the Lord for the safe arrival of your sweet babies!