On Monday February 4th, I delivered Edyn Carmel at 8:55 am and Harrison Lee at 8:56 am via c-section at 37 weeks. Edyn was 6lbs 4oz and Harrison was 6lbs 2 oz. Edyn spent a short time in the nicu due to low blood sugar, but Harrison got to stay with us the entire time we were in the mother/baby unit.
I was released from the hospital on Friday February 8th and we all went home after 19 days in the hospital. My blood pressure was 150/90, so I was told to check it several times a day and call my ob if it went above that. That night it was up to 170/100, so I called my ob the next day. I was told to take a water pill and come in for an appt on Monday. That night at bedtime, I noticed that there was something wrong with the right side of my face, some slight paralysis. So I called my parents to come up to help with the babies and Andrea and I raced off to the hospital wondering if I was having a stroke or if I just had bells palsy.
I was admitted into the ER faster than ever and put on a magnesium drip. My blood pressure was 190/120. I then had a cat scan and an MRI by the next morning which showed that my paralysis was not brain related. They said I was dealing with 2 separate problems... Bells palsy and postpartum preeclampsia. The preeclampsia was supposed to go away with the delivery of the placenta. But apparently, in 1% of people, the preeclampsia sticks around! Lucky me! If I had a 1% chance of winning the lottery, it would never happen!
This all resulted in a 9-day stay in the hospital for a grand total of 28 days!! The whole time, the ob and Mfm doctors were trying to get my blood pressure under control. Finally, they called in a kidney doctor who was able to figure it out. He put me on a med called lisinopril which worked like a charm! I was finally out of the hospital for good a few days before my birthday. So I got to spend my 30th at home with my two munchkins! Best birthday yet!!!
Since I left the hospital, I have had a follow-up appt with the kidney doctor. Luckily my blood pressure seems to be slowly getting lower on its own. So I can take less medication. I had been taking 2 different types of meds for a total of 4 pills a day. Now I'm down to 3 pills a day and I'll probably be down to 2 pills a day very soon. Although it seems to be getting slightly better, the doctor already said that with my family history, I may have high blood pressure now permanently. If not now, I will develop it later on in life. I should mention that i had never had high blood pressure prior to pregnancy... And actually my blood pressure in pregnancy was normal until i was admitted in to the hospital at 35 weeks. I also had my postpartum glucose test which showed that I no longer have diabetes. At least that was only a pregnancy thing. As far as my other "problems".... The cholestasis went away on its own and now the bells palsy is gone too.
I missed the babies soo much in the hospital that I'm pretty sure I got more than a few false high blood pressure readings just from that! I felt like I was missing so much with them. I obviously knew that I had to get well in order to enjoy them, but I would just get so sad sometimes being in there away from them. Luckily Andrea and my mon would bring them in for a few hours every day. But it wasn't the same as being home with them. Because of all that, I decided to extend my maternity leave by 3 1/2 weeks. Also due to my extended stay in the hospital, trying to breast feed them would have been stressful for all of us. So I had to give up on that. However I am pumping, and supplementing with formula, so they are getting half breast milk and half formula.
The good news is that we are all together now and Edyn and Harrison are doing great!! They are just over 8lbs now and are outgrowing newborn clothing already. They have such cute little personalities. They make the funniest faces and noises. And they love to snuggle! I just love them to pieces!!
There are soo many funny stories about them that I would love to share, most involve peeing, pooping, colic, breast milk, spitting up, sneezing, etc...but it would take hours to share them all. And I don't have hours to spare anymore!
Edyn and Harrison have been such a blessing. They have changed our lives forever in the best way possible. I love them with all my heart! And I would do anything for them. A friend of mine said that you don't realize how much your parents love you until you have a baby. Because you just feel such unconditional love for them that you can't really put into words. That's exactly how I feel about my sweet little babies. :)
I know we're in for a wild ride... Especially over the next few years. But I wouldn't trade it for the world! <3
