Happy Birthday!

It has been a week now since I heard the most magical sound of my life; it was delicate and light yet full of strength and life.  It was the sound of one of my babies crying; a sound I didn't expect to hear at 25 weeks 6 days gestation, but there it was clear as a bell!  Baby A, our Twin-to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) donor, came out first at 1 pound 12 ounces letting the whole world know she was here.  She was followed just one minute later by her sister, our TTTS recipient, at 2 pounds 3 ounces who was quiet but equally as strong.  Each of them so tiny, but each of them nothing short of miraculous.  

Introducing Baby A! (We have chosen to keep their names private on public sites)

Introducing Baby B!

At 1 lb 12 oz and 2 lbs 3 oz, respectively, they truly are tiny.  Absolute perfection, just itsy bitsy.

I wasn't expecting them to be born that soon and I really wanted to keep them inside me a little longer.  I argued with the doctor trying to squeeze out at least one more day, but she wanted me to be around to be a wife to my husband and a mother to all four of my beautiful children so she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. As much as I wanted to protect them, I knew she was right.  All I could do was trust God and His perfect timing.

As it turned out, His timing truly was no less than perfect; Baby A had the cord wrapped around her neck and with no amniotic fluid to make her weightless it was causing her quite a bit of trouble.  There was also a massive clot floating around from all of the internal bleeding which could have taken all three of us out at any given moment, so yes, it was perfect timing.

God had also heard my prayers and gave us two babies born alive, healthy, strong and stable...and he added "feisty" to the mix, perhaps to make sure I knew He was there; in the past week both of our girls have earned, and rightfully so, the reputation among the doctors and nurses as being feisty.  Feisty is good (granted I'm not the one trying to maneuver tiny tubes or change their diapers!).  Feisty means they are strong.  Feisty means they are tiny little warriors protected by God's holy armor.

Such personalities! One of our early ultrasounds with Baby B all stretched out...on her sister's head who was curled up in a tight little ball.

Our Baby B all stretched out in the sun (or bili light)...

Our Baby A curled up in a tight little ball...somethings just don't change!

Over the past week in the NICU they have had more ups than downs.  Both needed considerable support breathing and started off with nitric oxcide, but both graduated down to oxygen support and then down to room air and are each working very hard on their own to breathe above their ventilators.  They each hung out for a few days under the bili light which finally was turned off today.  They also just started on colostrum care and appear to be very good eaters.  Baby B has a heart murmur and is on her second round of medication to help her heart function normally.  Baby A has had a blood transfusion and is getting a second one today.   It is a two steps forward, one step backwards dance, but they are still charging forward.

This has been such a joyous and terrifying experience.  I love them both with all of my heart and soul and knowing that God loves them even more than I do has helped bring me peace during the scary times.  I have complete faith and trust in Him to protect these precious little babies and make their paths smooth and I'm looking forward to bringing them both home (in about 4 months) to start the next chapter of our lives.

Thank you everyone who has been praying for these little lives.  Scripture tells us that whenever there are two or more people praying asking for the same thing it will be done for them, so I ask that you please join me in saying the prayer below.

Matthew 18:19-20

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.

Mark 11:23

Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  

Inspirational Quote:

First two became one, and then with God's blessing, one became two. ~ Me

My Prayer:

Dear God, I know You can do anything because You already have; You took one baby and turned it into two tiny miracles.  Thank You.  You have protected these little lives every step of the way through this journey and You have delivered them into this world equipped with the strength, courage and love they would need to survive.  Thank You.  
There truly is nothing you cannot do so I ask with complete faith and trust, without any doubt in my heart, that You take this mountain of obstacles which lies ahead of both of these babies and you throw it into the sea leaving their path smooth so that they may thrive not just survive.  Thank You for Your bountiful blessings, thank You for your endless love, and thank You for Your unwavering protection.  I love You and I trust You.  In Jesus' Name Amen.