Almost three months ago . . . How it all began!

Wow! I was looking through the blogs that I have posted and realized that I haven't posted our story of how Sophia and Ethan came to join us in this big world. So here goes:

On August 30, I had a blood clot when I went to the bathroom, just before eight in the morning. I was a little worried, but I had a doctors appointment scheduled later that day at 11 am so Mark thought it would be okay. I was still worried so I decided to call the doctors office for some advice. They said that it was probably nothing but I should come in and get it checked out. I got there at about 8:15 am. When Dr. Driedger checked me out, I was already 2 cm dialated! He sent me to the hospital, mostly to try bed rest as he thought that might slow the process down or stop it completely. I went home to get Mark and we drove Drew to his grandparents. On the way to the hospital, my contractions started and soon were 2 to 3 minutes apart. Then we got to the hospital and were settled into a room to get checked out. I was also given a shot of steroids in the butt just in case the twins were born, to help their lungs develop faster. I was given a suppository to help the contractions to slow down and maybe stop the labor. It didn't work!!

We had been at the hospital for a little over an hour. My doctor and the medical staff were trying to arrange us to be transported to Vancouver because the nursery at MSA was quite full. I was getting worried because my last labor was really short and I didn't want to give birth in the ambulance on the way over, especially because I new I would need a C-section as both of them were breech! Then my water broke!! That was the deciding factor to stay in abbotsford! A nurse checked me out and Baby A (now known as Sophia) kicked her! The nurse jumped back, surprised, which made me jump. Mark and I wondered what was wrong! It was all quite funny. At that point there was no going back.

Soon my doctor arrived and the process began for my C-section. My labor was getting worse but not unhandable. I was more worried about getting the babies out before it was too late for a C-section. In the operating room, people were a buzz getting ready (Mark said later that there were about a dozen other people there - doctors, nurses, anest., etc. for me and for the babies). I felt more calm once they did the spinal. I was told this was better than putting me totally under, plus I'd get to see the twins right away. Mark really didn't want to be in the room as I was being cut open, but he was. He held my hand through it all and came close to my face . We talked about names for our children. It was a great distraction. We were told that they were probably two girls, but when they came out the second one was a boy! I was right! More about that later. And just like that we were a family of 5! We were quickly handed the babies. Mark showed them to me, and then they were whisked away for testing etc. But we were told they were doing okay. Sophia Grace and Ethan Brian were born at 11 am, weighing 4lbs 3oz and 4lbs 5oz!

A couple of weeks before they were born God had given me a dream. It was in a park like setting and Jesus was sitting on a bench holding my babies. One wrapped in pink and one it blue. He told me that he was holding on to them, taking care of them until it was my turn. That picture has given me a lot of peace, especially during the next weeks that they had to stay in the hospital. So when we were told 2 girls, I was a little disappointed because I was sure that Jesus had been holding one of each. I still had the feeling that it was one of each. Then I knew that God had given me that message. It is amazing how he takes care of us. At the time I thought it was related to dealing with a hard pregnancy, but now I know that it was meant for more than that.

Sophia had to stay in the hospital for just under a month and Ethan just over a month. It is sure good to have them both home with us now. What a great gift to bring them home! Now they are growing so fast, and at 3 months old are about 12 lbs each. Now I better head to bed as they are both sleeping :)