Bratcher, party of five!

He's here! She's here! Lucy's here! Everyone is here!!!!

We don't have any adorable group photos yet because, well, we just brought Miles home and we have twin newborns now! :) 

What we do have is adorable pictures of the sweetest babies and toddler that ya ever did see. We called, we questioned, we took notes, we shared thoughts, we got our information from the NICU staff and since Miles did not need support for anything- although he's a pokey little eater- he was discharged today! We let the staff know when we would be ready so they could be ready too. We headed over to Norton's for what we hope is the last time and gathered our baby and his things! Such an awesome experience. He got to ride solo in the backseat, which will probably be the last time, haha! 

  We knew he was a cuddle-er from the beginning but we really got to experience his love for a good snuggle today- we stayed home, we relaxed- the babies slept soooo much and Lucy played and practiced her "inside voice." Spoiler alert, she has no volume control and we are all going to suffer. HAHAHA!
  We really just let today happen. It was an easy, breezy, take your time and chill kind of day and it was lovely. 

Well, don't make a plan! ;)

     So last year on July 11th, I shared the news that our frozen embryo transfer from June did not work. Brokenhearted, we were supported by family and friends thinking positive thoughts and sending those healing vibes our way.
So fast forward 364 days.... and we have the two little embryos that could! 
That's right, they're here!

Happy Birthday on July 10th, at about 3:30 am to these precious babies! 

For those who want the scoop- here we goooooo! 

We were out later than usual watching the all star baseball game at Wendy's house. We got home about 11:00, Lucy fell right asleep- I jumped in the shower. So after a shower, I felt like I hadn't dried off well enough as my legs were still wet- as big as my belly was though, this was not a big deal and I really didn't care. HA! Until my mucus plug was on my leg- if you don't know what that is, don't google it- just know it's a sign of starting labor. :) 

I cleaned up, sat in bed and assumed I had some time as that was the only sign of labor. Well, 5 seconds later, puddle. Then drip, drip, drip. That was my water breaking, not shower water. Again, no urgency- I just needed some confirmation that this was actually happening. We never got to this point with Lucy! So as I'm repeatedly cleaning up drips and making it to the toilet to avoid any messes- I let Matt know that I'd like to get it checked out and the ER is the only option at this time of night. I call Gran, she's on her way- also not worried (or at least not sounding worried) and came over to sit with snoozing Lucy. We grabbed our bags and hit the road- with a towel on the seat because, ya know, new car. HAHA!

 We arrived at the hospital at 12:45, they were ready to send us up to labor and delivery and I just wanted to make sure that indeed my water broke! We hung out and got everything ready to roll- decided the c-section was happening soon enough. Again- no sense of urgency- but at this point, you would think a hospital would put a little pep in their step, right? So if these kids are as chill as Lucy, I can just thank everyone for acting like having babies is no big deal....

We prep, prep, prepped and we headed to surgery. This birth experience was way different than Lucy's! I was aware and "all there" for all of it! Science is cool and a little bit scary. Miles was born at 3:27am and Callie was born at 3:29am!

I was out of surgery by 4:15am. We were able to recover and then hang out with Callie while Miles was being evaluated. His first ten minutes into the world were impressive and then he decided that breathing normally was going to take more effort than he wanted to invest- silly kid. So a transport team came in from Norton's Children's hospital and evaluated and supported his breathing- they transported him across the river to Norton's (which made everyone cry) at 7:45 and set him up in this deluxe room with constant monitoring and sweet nurses that instantly fell in love with him (of course.) Callie was super chill and hung out until they decided to weigh her and evaluate her. They did do x-rays of her lungs to check for fluid as they found that was part of Miles' problem- she was cleared and weighed 7 lbs, 2 oz and 20 in long. Later, we were told Miles weighed 7 lbs 7 oz. So the reverse of the prediction from the ultrasound technician. Healthy size babies, right?

    

Sooo, I am still waiting to cuddle my guy Miles- it sucks. Callie is more than a little snuggle bug though, filling in for two babies. She is nursing like a champ, bossing nurses around like another little certain, someone I know... and looks very similar to big sis! 

I am watching Miles on a live camera feed from Norton's- how cool, right? While Matt is running back and forth from Floyd to Norton's to check on everyone and update me on things concerning Miles. Currently, his breathing tube has been removed, he's getting a little bit of oxygen to keep him breathing at a regular rate but he is doing it all on his own! We are hoping to be discharged from the hospital soon so we can head over to there and see him. There is a possibility that he could be discharged before me, so that would be awesome too. Callie will be ready to roll before any of us, so no worries there. I am trying to take it slow- we all know how that goes though and I pushed way too hard Thursday and regretted it... so back to taking it way easy. 

I am a little bummed to miss out on some fun activities that I had planned with Lucy, but thankful Gran and Beth are taking good care of her! She is convinced that Callie is her "cutie baby" and she needs to hold her the whole time she is here. She is great at being gentle- but is way too confident for a two year old with a newborn. Ha! She wants to get Miles too, but thinks he is at a boy hospital because this is a hospital for girls. Hehe! 

I adore her love for "cutie baby" and the way she tells her, "its okay, you're so cute" when she makes her little baby peeping sounds. <3 

This is bro/sis FaceTiming session. Matt is able to video chat with me from Norton's- which is helpful. 

We are more than ready to be together!! (And also get home of course!) They are almost too cute to handle, but who would've thought any different, right? 

I made it! (and 35 weeks!)

I am tired, but I made it!

Slate Run hosted a social-emotional learning conference in the brand new building that ran from last Saturday night to the this Saturday afternoon. I was a ""helper," which means a little bit of everything. Setting up, tearing down and attending dinners and lunches while also attending the conference and presenting a break out session on conflict resolution in the classroom. I was honored to be chosen as a helper and super delighted to present at the break out session. It was pretty awesome I also met a ton of people including other helpers and people attending the conference that were just as excited about learning and listening as me. It also helped that I had at least 160 other people looking out for me and my babies, all in one big room! Seriously, there could not be a more caring, supportive, and helpful group that BIG- to make me feel like I could handle anything (including stairs and public speaking)! There was only one day that my feet swelled up and I neeeeded to sit or lay. Other than that, the week was smooth and fun. A really cool, personal thing about this conference is that I also attended it (in Orlando) when I was pregnant with Lucy. It's the best feeling knowing you are around the positive energy and I just know the babies are soaking it in like Lucy did. <3 The conference was also kind of like my final obligation before the babies get here. I have doctors appointments every week, but nothing else I MUST do. :)

    My last doctors appointment was Wednesday of the conference and I am telling you- I could feel the well wishes. I did not pass out during the ultrasound, yea! And I was totally composed as the tech delivered the news on how big these babies are right now..... So the ultrasound is an estimate- but right now we are looking at Miles weighing 7 lbs 2 oz and Callie weighing 7lbs 11 oz. Which is why I struggle with stairs and talking for more than a couple minutes at a time. Haha! The ultrasound tech admitted she has never seen twins so big at this point (35 weeks) and sincerely wished my good luck making it until the c-section we scheduled. My doctor was not as surprised as she compared it my first giant baby, hehe. She actually said she was glad I had such big first baby to make room for these two! She also said, big doesn't mean developed and that they need to keep cooking. We didn't change any of our plans. If they decide they want to come earlier, I'll just meet my doctor at the hospital and we will make it happen.....except she's out of town until July 15th. Sooo anytime after that is fair game.
And still no good pictures of them. I think they are exactly squished enough to not have good profile pictures, which makes me want to see them even more!!! They are moving and grooving like crazy- they push so hard it hurts! So I know they are strong! :) 

There is just no sugar-coating it. I am as big as a pregnant lady carrying twins that weigh over 7lbs each. Which is to say, I am ginormous. I'm totally okay with it as long as we aren't sitting in a booth at restaurant.... ha! I am still addicted to Zesto's ice- 3 cups a day at least and I have zero hesitation about it!
Huge thanks to my sis (who also attended the conference) for bringing me a cup daily, thanks to Matt for doing basically everything ever at the house this week because I was almost never home and thanks to Gran for keeping Lucy  - that was really tough because I missed her a ton and she missed me like crazy too.
So today, after the conference and a nap, we got to hang out at the pool for a little bit and enjoy each other's company after missing each other all week!

Thirty three weeks...almost thirty four!

   

 
    I am scheduling appointments EVERY WEEK now! So I feel as if I'm living my life waiting on the doctor to ask me if I have any questions. Luckily, summer break for me means I can easily schedule these appointments and chill out while I wait. It's a good time to sit too, because apparently my idea of summer break is to make a to-do list of at least ten things to get done every day. (And I conquer it every time!) The rain is holding me back slightly on the outside chores, but other than that- I am getting stuff DONE. And wearing myself out at the same time because my personal assistant is too short and her attention span is about 2 minutes.....

    I've had two appointments since the last update, we haven't measured again yet (thats next weds) so they have been pretty uneventful. We listen for heartbeats and then talk about delivery and discomfort. I can assure- without a medical degree- that these pumpkins are growing!! I am growing like Violet on Willy Wonka! I am measuring 43 weeks- so basically the biggest I was with Lucy. But I still have more than a month to go...... no joke, this is getting uncomfortable. And passing out if I lay on my back is new too....
    I love being pregnant. Especially after our struggle. I love that I can feel them- basically any time of day. I love that I can tell which baby is which, that is the neatest! I do not love that my belly runs into things and it hurts soooo bad when it does. My skin is amazingly elastic but man, so much is growing that I do not even understand how it keeps stretching. It also leads to constantly being uncomfortable. 
     So five more weeks to be exact. If I can make it that long, we have scheduled a c-section because that is what is safest for me and my babies. I know lots of people have intense beliefs about delivering babies...yay for having something to pursue! My doctor has the knowledge and skills to keep me and my babies healthy- so yay for c-sections! :) 
   I wish I had updated pictures but the ultrasound tech is super serious about listening to heartbeats only and never even checking out their cute little faces or printing pictures of their sweet profiles. :( Maybe I will have a different tech next week...

  Next week will be pretty eventful, as the Conscious Discipline Conference comes to town in our brand new building! I will be helping with the conference- it is the satellite version of the conference I attended in Orlando the summer I was pregnant with Lucy! I feel like that makes it extra special. Starting these babes out with the same social-emotional start that Lucy got! :)   
Huge thanks to Beth for helping my unpack and organize about 80 boxes that were moved from our temporary school site to our new building. I have been making sub plans and materials as well as setting up my new classroom- as if things weren't exciting enough, right? 

    Lucy has been super helpful too. I mean, a little taller and she'd make a great personal assistant. She is living up the "summer break" life and having me slow down has actually given her more chances to be independent- which she is rocking! She's swimming like a fish (with puddle jumper floaties) on her own, she's buckling herself into her car seat, she helped clean windows and doors today, she will be starting a once a week preschool program in August- she's big stuff, just let her tell you.