So Shaun and I went to visit the babies two times yesterday.  We held off on holding them in the afternoon so we could hold them in the evening.  But the day nurse told the night nurse the wrong feeding time so by the time we got there they had had all of their diaper changes and mouth care done and were back to sleep so we couldnt hold them.  I was pretty upset.  It is the thing I look forward to the most and it really makes me feel like I am contributing to their care.  So today at lunch I am definitly holding one of them!! 

They are still doing fine.  Conor only needs to gain another 300 grams and he will be in an open isolette.  He is regulating his body temperature good now but has no body fat to keep it.  That is why he needs to gain another 300 g. 

Keira was upset when we got there yesterday from her assessment.  When they put their hands up to their face, it means they have had enough stimulation.  Sometimes when you hold them they will do this and it means it is time to back into the isolette.  Most of the time when she hears my voice she tries to open her eyes, it is so cute.  She wasnt doing that yesterday as she really just wanted to be left alone.  Hopefully today is a better day for cuddles!

Yesterday afternoon I went to visit Keira and Conor on my own (Shaun was trying to install a new mother board in the computer at which I am no help!).  I got to hold both of them again.  They are only allowed to be held once a day.  Conor once again looked so scared.  It is so cute when he looks like that.  But he would just stare at me like he was taking me in.  The nurse said that at this stage they cant see very well but they do get to know the shape of their mom and dad as well as the voices, which they probably already recognize from being in the womb.   I held Keira as well but she pretty much slept the whole time.  She is so pretty!!!

Last night both Shaun and I went in to help with the feedings and changings and such.  We need a lot of practice w/ those poopy diapers.  I think it took us about 10 min to change Keira.  We would get her clean and then just before taking the dirty diaper out from under her she would pee again.  I guess better her than Conor as Conor would spray it all around!  Im sure we will be experts before long. 

Their weight right now is:  Conor – 1,647 grams          Keira – 1, 522 grams

Keira’s weight is less than what she was at birth but she has had steady growth and I guess its normal for them to lose weight and then gain it back.  I finally was able to buy something for her myself today.  I bought her a cute little knit sweater and hat.  I know I will be getting a lot of stuff but I hadnt bought one thing myself and I want them to have something from me!

I was at the hospital this morning and we will be going back tomorrow night.  Shauns mom (Susan) will be meeting us there.  She has been great through all of this, making sure I had edible food in the hospital and visiting lots.  Im so glad we have family here, just wish my family was here as well.  My mom came out for a visit on the weekend and I dont know when she will be back w/ my dad.

Keira and Conor have Arrived

So on Monday morning (June 16) Conor and Keira decided to come into this world.  I had been admitted to the hospital on Saturday night because my contractions that I had been having for the previous 10 weeks increased from 4 an hour to every 5 min.  They gave me a steroid shot just in case the babies decided to come (this helps w/ the development of the lungs if given w/in a 48 hour window of delivery) and did a non stress test on me the whole night which made for a very uncomfortable sleep.  By Sunday night my contractions slowed to 4 an hour (there were no pain w/ these) but they said they would like to keep me in hospital for at least 3 more days, possibly longer.  It was strict bedrest and I was only allowed to get up to go to the washroom.

They gave me 2 sleeping pills as I hadnt really had any sleep the night before.  The nurses told me if there were any changes in my condition to let them know as I would not be delivering in VIctoria.  The plan was to send me to Seattle b/c all the beds in BC were full.  So off to sleep I went.  I woke up at 2 am to go to the washroom, and came back to bed.  THere was nothing to indicate I would soon meet my babies.  But 2 min after crawling back into bed my water broke.  I called the nurse immediatly.  While they started preparing me, I phoned Shaun (well tried to, he was sleeping and didnt hear the phone)  I finally had to call his brother to try and call shaun to wake him up.  I did finally speak to Shaun on the phone and told him to remember the passports but the nurse said there was no time for that, thank goodness!

I remember shaking uncontrollably because I was so scared.  As soon as Shaun got there he changed into scrubs and off to the OR we went.  I got an epidural (love those!! as I was starting to have the painful contractions) and had a c-section.  There are big chunks of the evening missing for me b/c of the sleeping pills.  I do remember seeing Keira to my right being cleaned up and hearing her cry.  Conor they quickly showed me as they left the room w/ him.  My placenta had torn from the wall and he had swallowed a lot of my blood which wasnt a good thing. 

About an hour after lying in the recovery room, they wheeled my bed into NICU to see my babies.  I was able to reach out my hand to Keira and she wrapped her little long fingers around mine.  Conor I could see but wasnt able to touch. 

Conor Michael Sim was born at 3:39 am weighing 1,592 grams (about 3.5 lbs) and 41 cm in length.  Keira Hannah Sim was born at 3:40 am weighing 1,590 grams (yup only 2 grams diff) and 40 cm in length.  Cadence, my baby angel was born at 3:41 am and was over 1 lb and looked like a baby at 24 weeks.  I did get to see Cadence later that day and I am glad I did.  She looked like a miniature version of her sister.  It still breaks my heart that she isnt with us, harder now than it was when we first found out she had gone to Heaven.  We are having her cremated and Shaun and I are going to have our own little memorial for her. 

Keira and Conor are now both breathing on their own and have been since late Monday.  Conor was a bit jaundice so he went under the light for a day.  They are now both gaining weight and being tube fed.  We go to visit them twice a day.  Last night when I held Conor, he was wide awake and making grumpy faces.  It was so cute.  I dont know who they look like yet but they do have their dads feet.  Their fingers are so long and so are their feet.  I cant wait to dress them up!!!  The nursery is pretty much set up for them though I need to organize their clothes better.  They said we can expect to bring them home around my due date which is Aug 22.  Its hard to have them away but nice at the same time as it allows me to recover from the c-section.

I will try to post updates on them here every couple of days.  I am so happy to finally be a mom!!!