More pics

Here's some more pics of the kids. One is of our friends, the Burton's (thanks for the lasagna guys!), and then a couple other random pics including some shots of their first St. Patties day - no Guinness this year, but they still had a good time.

Delivery Story

Ok so it is my turn to post on the blog, Troy has done a wonderful job posting updates, but didnt go into detail on the whole delivery and how things took place so I will take the honor of doing so. If I start to mispell words, it is due to the lack of sleep!!
So at the last ultrasound, the Dr. noticed that the babies werent gaining as much weight as they should have gained at that point, so he ordered some tests to check the heart rates of the babies and to check they umbilical cords to see if they were getting enough nutrients to the babies. Both tests came out normal, but the Dr. still was concerned because of the unknown reason why they werent gaining. So he gave me steroid injections to mature the babies lungs, and we planned a c-section for the following thursday, March 5. So on Sunday, March 1, I went in for another scheduled fetal heart monitor test, just to make sure things were still good. I woke up that morning with horrible pain from my sternum radiating to my back, it was hard to breathe and very uncomfortable, with no relief. I went in for my test and told the Dr. about the pain. He didnt seem too concerned, but wanted to take some blood tests just in case. So I had my blood drawn and was sent home, and was told they will call with results. We walked through the door at home and I just had laid down on my bed, when the phone rang and it was the Dr. saying get back to the hospital now, were are taking the babies tonight!! So I panicked, Troy panicked and then we called our parents and they panicked!!!! my blood tests showed that I was begininng to have HELLP syndrome, which is a very scary thing that can happen in pregnancy, that can kill babies and mommies. Your liver starts to shut down and your body rejects the babies. My liver tests were 3 times the normal levels and my platelets were dropping quickly. It was time to get the babies out!!! So we went in for a c-section at 10:15 that night and delivered the most perfect, beautiful babies!!!! Not to mention that they were healthy, thank GOD!!!!! I was waiting for their first cries, Kamryn let out a huge cry, which was music to my ears, but after Rylan was out, it took him a second to cry, but finally I heard it!!! I got to quickly see my beautiful babies and then they were taken to the nursery with daddy. I was sent off to recovery, where I was determined to move my legs quickly so I could go see my babies, sure enough when they asked me to move my legs I lifted them right off the bed, that spinal didnt hold me back!!!!
So the next couple days were still pretty serious for my health, I was at risk for having seizures or strokes from the complications of the HELLP syndrome. I was put on magnesium, which is a horrible drug, for 2 days. It made me very loopy and my coordination was completely gone(I know, nonthing unusual there). My blood tests finally started to improve after a couple days, but I had to stay in the hospital for a week, which was fine with me, cause my babies were there anyways. I am much better, and havent had any effects from the c-section!!! We have so much to be thankful for and our babies are just amazing, I have the best job in the world, being a mommy!!!! Thank you all for your prayers and support, we wouldnt have made it without them!!!!

Sleep? We don't need no stinkin' sleep . . . .

We had our first doctor visit with the kids today. Everything looks good. They are passed their birth-weight, and the doctor doesn't normally expect babies to reach their birth-weight until 2 weeks, so they are ahead of schedule.

Having them home is great. Katie and I are adjusting to sleepless nights, but its definitely going to take some practice. They do pretty well as far as staying on a similar schedule, but we have had a few instances where as soon as we think we have them both down, one wakes up, which wakes the other one and we're back to square one.

Here's some pics of their first night at home and some new outfits that they wore to their first doctor appointment.

Home sweet home

We brought Kamryn and Rylan home today! Getting the car seats in, getting the babies into the car seats and keeping a very excited Fletcher away from the babies were all part of the chaotic but enjoyable process of getting the kids from the hospital to our house. So far everything is going well -- pretty much the same as the hospital but at least its at our home. Feed, sleep, diaper change, feed, sleep, diaper change, and on and on . . .

I'll try to post some new pics tonight or later this week.

Almost home!

Got word from the doctor this morning that he fully expects us to be heading home with the kids on Monday. They are both eating very well, gaining weight, and ready to get out of the hospital - Katie and I are more than ready to be done with that place too!

This is a picture of our 8 month old God-son, Dominic (Dom Dom) meeting his new buddies. And, yes, he is that big and they are that small. It was pretty funny watching him stare them down trying to figure out what he was sitting next to.

More pics to come when we finally get them home, hopefully tomorrow.

HARD TO EAT WITH ALL THESE FLASHES IN MY FACE!

Closer to home!

Well, we are inching closer to getting to be at home. Katie is being discharged today. The babies are feeding very well from Katie and from the bottle. The tubes in these pics are feeding tubes, but they haven't been used for their last few feedings. They are keeping them in for the "just in case" situations. As soon as they start to gain some weight we should be ready to take them home.

Last night was one of the most fun nights we've had with them. They were both awake and very alert (I can't believe how alert they are for only being 4 days old). We had them laying by each other and they would stare at each other, and then turn to look at us. They were responding to our voices and seemed to be amazingly aware of who we were and who they were laying next to. Pretty incredible to watch.

These pics are from after they went to sleep after all the fun. They definitely seem to have a deeper calm about them when they are next to each other.

No more IV's!

The kiddos are off the IV's, Katie is off the drugs -- just got to get the kids on the boob now and we are on the path for getting home! They are spending most of the day in the room with us today which is awesome because its really our first chance to have them side-by-side for an extended time and with Katie coherent enough to know what is going on.

The pics with my finger and hand are with Rylan. Their heads literally fit in the palm of my hand. Crazy how tiny they are!

Pics and update

Well, this evening has been a slew of good news. First, they told us Katie was being taken off the magnesium, which is the drug they've had her on for the liver problems she was having. It was making her very woozy and ill-feeling. They took her off it and within an hour she was no longer cross-eyed and could sit up some without wanting to puke. :-)

Then they came and told us that Rylan was off oxygen, and both babies were close to being done with the IV's. In fact, they basically turned them off and are only leaving them in just in case they need them again - this way they can avoid having to poke them again. Both babies spent a few hours with us in our room tonight. They have made huge strides in only two days!

I've posted some pics from the last day or two. I'll post more as we get some.

KAMRYN FAITH and RYLAN SCOTT

Kamryn Faith Braga and Rylan Scott Braga arrived Sunday, March 1. Kamryn was first weighing in at a wopping 4 lbs 13 oz and 17.5" long. Rylan came second and beat out big sis by weighing in at 4 lbs 14 oz and the same length, 17.5".

This is some video we got the night they were born. They've already changed a lot since then so we'll post more pics and video later. Mom and babies are doing well -- just looking forward to leaving the hospital soon and getting home!