Thursday, January 19, 2012

Birth Story

Our really sweet and wonderful friend Ashley is adding a new collection to here portfolio of photography. Usually she shoots weddings and engagements, in fact she did the photography for two of Dryw's sister's weddings. She is AWESOME at what she does and asked if she could tell our birth story via photography. Of course we obliged!!

Because I had a C-Section she was not able to be in the room when the babies were born for pictures, which is how it would work for traditional birth stories. Instead she was at the hospital the day the boys were born and captured the moments that I would never even think to get!! Once the boys came home from the hospital she was able to capture those moments as well. It is a two part story but you can read about it and see the pictures Here.

Thank you so much Ashley!!! We are so glad you were able to share our day with us and tell our amazing story!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Best Christmas Gifts Ever!!

First off let me say that I am really terrible at keeping up with my blog...sorry to those who read it (if anyone still does!) Be prepared...this is a LONG post!

This year Christmas seemed to come so fast!! I was not prepared in any way for the events of this Christmas. Thanksgiving came and went and I was very excited for several reasons: 1) I love food and love to eat it, especially Thanksgiving dinner (YUM!), and being that I was pregnant it was a good excuse to eat more and no one would judge me! ;) 2) November 23 marked my official last day of work before I started maternity leave (YAY!) 3) Black Friday shopping!!

After the Thanksgiving holiday I was starting to mostly prepare for the arrival of our twin boys. Since I was now off work I could take care of the nesting problems I was starting to have and get down to business in our apartment and finish the nursery for the boys. During the first week I cleaned out the bathroom cabinets, cleaned out the hall closet, cleaned out my closet and donated tons of clothes and shoes to D.I., deep cleaned as much as I could with help from my little sis cause I could no longer get down on my knees and clean the floors (that is the best way to do it!), and started piecing the nursery together. Dryw would come home every day and I was excited to show him what I had accomplished each day. To my surprise he was not as excited as I was, in fact he would get mad at me and tell me I was doing too much and that I needed to rest. Who was he kidding?? If I didnt do it then who would?? Certainly not him...right ladies? ;) During this week of nesting I had my usually doctors appointments. It was during one of those appointments that I mentioned to my DR that I had been very itchy all over, not to mention the swelling that I had been dealing with since what felt like the 2nd month, was getting a lot worse. My legs literally looked like tree stumps! She sent me for blood work and recommended a lotion I could use for the itching.

During my second week of maternity leave I decided I needed to wash all of the baby clothes in dreft so I could put them away in my OCD manner in their nursery. I also decided that it was a great time to wash all of our laundry as well. So I packed up all of our laundry including all of the clothes for the boys and headed to my In-Laws. (We dont have a washer and dryer in our apartment and it is much cheaper to do laundry at my In-Laws instead of a laundry mat). On my way there I received a phone call from my DR telling me that my blood test results came in and that the enzyme levels in my liver were elevated, she was prescribing a medication that would help with this problem, but also wanted me to go get fetal monitoring done. I didnt think much of it, I mean I was carrying twins, I expected something to be elevated! I put off calling to make an appointment to get monitored for a couple hours while I did laundry, but something (or someone) kept telling me I needed to call. So I did and it was a good thing I did. They only did monitoring on Tuesdays and Fridays and being that it was a Tuesday they could get me in that day. I asked for the latest appointment I could because the OCD in me had to finish laundry before I went. As usual, I was running late so I threw all of the clean clothes in my car, ran home to change really quick (the plan was to shower but I didnt have time), and went over to the hospital for monitoring. (sorry this is so long, but we are getting to the good part!)

While laying on the very comfy (NOT) bed and being monitored, the nurse noticed how swollen my feet were. I told her that was nothing and she should look at my non-existent knee caps. When she pulled up the leg to my sweatpants she was shocked by how swollen I was. She decided to take my blood pressure and once the reading came up she looked at me like she was looking at a ghost. She asked me how long I had had high blood pressure and I said I havent. It hasnt been high ever and it has been fine this whole time. She checked the machine, did it on herself, used another machine, but the reading was still very high. If I remember correctly it was 163 over 110. (I am not very good with what this means, but apparently that is REALLY high for someone who has never had problems. So she decided I needed to go to labor and delivery to see them and it just so happened my doctor was there when I go over there. She decided I should get monitored there, get some blood taken and see what happens. Well folks, that was the beginning to an end! I called Dryw but he was on his way to the Temple with the youth so i told him I would keep him posted if something was going to happen because I was not sure if they were keeping me, so I called my mom.

The day then went from an average laundry day and turned in to a huge blur. My blood tests came back and the enzyme levels were elevated even higher, I had pregnancy induced hypertension (AKA Preclampsia), and a thing called cholestasis. The best medicine for all of these is early delivery. Now at this time I was a few days shy of being 34 weeks pregnant. As soon as I heard they were going to have to take the babies I freaked! I was not done cooking them yet! Being that I was only 33 weeks they decided to give me a steroid shot to mature the lungs of the babies and told me if I did not have them within the next 24 hours that they would give me the second round of steroids for the babies. Our prayer was that I would at least make it another 24 hours. Every hour seemed to go by so slowly, but yet so fast at the same time. I made it the 24 hour period and received the second dose. Each time the nurse came in we anxiously awaited any news from the DR on when the babies would be delivered. What went from possible having an emergency C-Section that Tuesday night went to an up in the air, it depends on A,B, & C game. (Thank you to everyone who played the waiting game with us!).

Finally word came and the C-Section was going to happen Friday December 9. That morning seemed pretty slow and I thought I had prepared myself pretty well considering I was about to have major surgery (my first form of surgery ever!) As soon as the clock struck 11 it was like the world was ending! The nurse came in and threw a pack of "special" clothes at Dryw and told him to get dressed, handed my my "party hat" and had me put it on, she hooked my IV back up, and said "Ok, you ready?" WHAT....NOW???? Oh man, I so was NOT ready! It happened so fast! They wheeled me in to the OR and because I was receiving a spinal and not an epidural and it was being done in the OR, Dryw could not be in there with me. I was FREAKING out! I am so lucky that the staff at St. Jude are so wonderful, they totally made me feel comfortable and I think by the time we left the hospital every one of the nurses had waited on us at some point and knew us by name. The spinal felt nothing at all like what I thought it would feel like, in fact it did not hurt one bit. The IV is WAY worse! Once I was on the table and ready to go Dryw was able to come in, and the show was about to start!

It seemed like FOREVER but it was not very long at all, maybe 45 minutes (since there were two of them), but at 12:18 and 12:19 p.m. Maverick Grant and Gavin Cole Waite were born. Once I was all sewn and stapled back up they took me back to my room to recover. Because the boys were born premature, they had to go to the NICU, something I was prepared for but did not want to happen. Maverick was 4lbs 15 oz and Gavin was 3lbs 14 oz. They were little guys, but they were doing very well. Maverick had to be on the CPAP machined for about 18 hours to help him with his breathing, but Gavin was a little fighter. He did not need any help breathing. They both were off of the IV fluids within a couple days of being born and they were maintaining their temps and eating well fairly quickly. I attribute it to the steroid shots I received and the answer to prayers pouring out from everywhere and everyone (thank you to to those who had us in their prayers!)

Sadly because I was on medication fro the high blood pressure I could not go in and see the boys in the NICU until I was off the medication. They were born Friday afternoon and I was not able to see them or hold them in person until Saturday evening...I was dying. That by far was the hardest part of this whole thing. St Jude has a really wonderful thing called the NIC View. They have cameras set up so you can watch your babies in the NICU 24/7 (minus the times when the DR is doing his check ups on them), so I was able to watch them from my room and we were able to give the log in to our friends and families so they could watch them as well. It was a really great tool, especially once I was discharged from the hospital I could watch them from home when I wasnt there with them (which was hardly ever! I was there so much I could have been a nurse!! JK.) The NICU staff was AMAZING!!! They knew us by name and we have pictures with each crew. It even got to the point that they wondered where we were if we werent in there because they were so used to seeing us all day every day!! They really became like a family for us and out little guys. It was their goal to have the boys home by Christmas if they were doing well enough to be released. Again, an answer to prayers because Thursday December 22 as I stopped by to drop off some breastmilk before visiting hours, they told me that we would be able to take the boys home that night! I almost fell over!! I could not believe it. They were doing so well and the DR was impressed with them and said they could come home. We were so excited!!

Needless to say it was a very Merry Christmas to us this year. I cant imagine a better gift or in our case, gifts!!

Here are some pictures...not many though...I dont like the ones we have of them with their IV's in and in their incubators--it makes me feel so bad for them and so sad and helpless. So here are some better ones. No joke we have like 1300 pictures of them so far...but I am only going to share a few. More will come--I promise--(eventually!) ;)





Gavin





Maverick





Look how little Maverick was






Gavin holding daddy's finger...makes him look so tiny!! (I guess it is beacause he was!)










Mommy and her boys!!!




First family photo! Gavin has a question!! :)

Friday, August 19, 2011

WOW...

So here is the first "official" pregnancy picture...I feel HUGE!!! I am 16 1/2 weeks along here. (Remember there is 2 in there...dont judge!) Plus I had just eaten...my belly seems to get a whole lot bigger right after I eat! I am glad that I am starting to actually look more round, it is helping to justify that I no longer fit into any of my pants!!! (so sad!!)

I swore I was going to take a picture every week from week 1 of pregnancy, but between being so nauseous the first several weeks, working full time, and trying to be a wife, the plan didnt really work out that way. I hope I can get better at taking more frequent pictures. I would like to see the progression...but I am SO scared because I know I am going to get HUGE with twins!!





Thursday, August 11, 2011

And we go from 2 to 4....

This year has been really trying for Dryw and I in more ways than one. We have really learned a lot about each other and about the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. We are starting to see a silver lining in the near future and hope that we can stay worthy of the many blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us.


One of the biggest blessings (or maybe I should say two) is that Dryw and I will be expecting our first AND second babies this January!!! Yes, we are expecting TWINS!!!!!! I am SO excited! Dryw is over the moon--he couldnt be happier!! I am almost 17 weeks, and yes I do have a bump (that picture will have to be in the next post-not sure what happened to the one we had??) Yesterday we found out the gender...we are expecting 2 boys!! Oh wow, I have my hands full...I am officially out numbered!! Dryw is already making plans: soccer players, future missionaires, etc. He is so excited! Now we just have to decide on names...let the name war begin!!!


Here are some ultrasound pics to tide you over...if you have never seen one with twins its kind of crazy!!! They are too big now to get their full bodies together in 1 shot, so we got just their heads. So fun!!!


The next project....turning our office/2nd bedroom into a nursery. Oh man, my OCD is going to be hard to handle...poor Dryw!!!




Their heads together.


Baby B (that is his name until we can pick one). He is facing towards us, very alien looking, but still so darn cute!! Let me tell you, I think this one is going to be our problem child. He was not shy about showing us his stuff, we could tell right away he was a boy. He was letting it all hang out...just like his dad...we are in so much trouble!!!



Baby A is going to be my sweet one I think. He was very shy and reserved. We had to coax him into showing us his goods!! Poor little guy!! I cant wait to see how their personalities match what we see in the ultrasounds!!





We couldnt be more excited. We can't wait until they are here and we can just hold them. We are so lucky to be blessed with such sweet spirits! Any guesses on how many trips to the E.R. we are going to make?? After all, they are Dryw's sons....








Saturday, April 16, 2011

TBD

Yes....I need to post something...please be patient!!! A post to come soon!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Slingshot....Engage!!!!

Last Summer Dryw, my little brother, my Mom, and I all bought passes to Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City. They were having a sale where you could buy a year pass to both parks for $99. The very first week of having the passes we had already used out money's worth...we were there just about every day.

We have had a ton of fun with our passes and it makes for lots of fun, easy, and cheap date nights. During the winter Dryw and I would catch the last hour of Knotts and ride almost every major roller coaster there. They have a new ride called The Excelerator. It is so much fun!!! It takes off super fast and goes straight up and around and straight down...it is gnarly!!!! One morning Dryw, my little bro, and I rode it about 5 times in a row. We switched seats every time and came to the conclusion that the very back seats are the best.

Right when it takes off and gets to the top and drops down, if you are sitting in the back row it feels like a slingshot and the weight of the front of the roller coaster snaps the back end down. It is so much fun...you have to try it for yourself!!!!!

Last week our passes expired so Dryw and I decided to go for the last hour the park was open and get one last slingshot in. We waited in line for about 15-20 mins (so good for how long the line can be) and engaged in our final slingshot of the year.

Just before we got on The Excelerator. We also we able to get on Supreme Scream...another one of my favorites, especially at night!!!!
We decided that we had to get a funnel cake...especially with the famous Knott's Strawberries on it. It was so good!!! So rich...I decided that even though the Strawberries are so yummy, I favor the plain funnel cake with powdered sugar

It just looked so good!!!!!

Not sure what is going on here...lol


It was dark and I was far which is why the picture didn't turn out very well...but I wanted to have something to document our night at Knott's. (If you look closely you can see The Excelerator...crazy looking right???)



Fabric Shopping!!!!

Recently the boundary lines were re-drawn in our Stake and our ward became the home to a lot of young couples!!! Dryw and I were very excited because we were one of the few in the Ward up until this point and we couldnt wait to make new friends. Dryw has no problem making friends but I can sometimes be a little shy and a little bit of an introvert at first...but once I get to know people I can be load an obnoxious and a complete goof ball... I am so glad my husband has no fear and made friends quickly!!! I am starting to get to know some of the other girls and they are so much FUN!!!! I have been playing bunco with them once a month which is so much fun, and recently some of us went to the LA Fabric District to look for some quality fabric for less!!!

I have never sewed but always intended to learn and I thought this would be a great way to not only get to know some of the other girls but to also get motivated to learn. I can be crafty but I am so busy and my brain gets so scrambled with every day life on top of ideas that it all seems to mesh together and I cant seem to sort it out!!! So with the help of some of the girls I am going to learn how to sew and I have a feeling that once I get the hang of it that I wont be able to stop...Dryw is a little frightened to see what might happen if I learn...he may NEVER get to spend time with me!!! lol... I just hope all of the ideas I have in my head can come to fruition and that I will be able to master the art--even just a little bit!!!

Here are some pics from the shopping day:

Getting ready to start the shopping adventure...
I dont think LA was prepared for the swarm of LDS women this warm Saturday morning...
With children and goodies in tow we all headed back to the cars to grab some lunch

You can't go to LA and not eat at the original El Cholo's...so yummy!!!! The Enchilada Suiza is (are) to die for!!!

Some of the fabric I bought...I cannot wait to see how this turns out!!! I have a special project in mind for these pieces and once it is complete I will be sure to publish a post!

I am also excited for these pieces. Again, pictures will be posted when it is completed...
Let's hope I can learn well enough for my projects to turn out half way decent!! (I can't wait for our student/teacher session!!!)