Our "Cherubs"...

by Amy
(Connecticut)

We always knew we wanted to start a family of our own so we decided to start trying to make it happen right after we were married in May '04. By the end of '07 we were wondering if it was in the stars for us to have children.

We found out we were expecting on January 21, 2008. The projected due date was September 22nd.

On February 4th we found out that we were carrying twins! Adrian's smile couldn't have been any wider. And when the doctor said "let's take a closer look, just to make sure there aren't any more in there" I thought to myself if there's more in there I'm gonna roll right off this table. *chuckle*

April 28th we found out...two BOYS were on the way! Adrian was such a proud Papa!

At a doctor appointment on May 14th, which we thought was going to be just another appointment, an ultrasound showed complications and we were sent to the hospital's Labor & Delivery floor. We were admitted for an overnight stay and on May 15th we were sent home on strict bedrest...no more shopping, no more preparation, no more work, no more anything.

On June 2nd we went for an ultrasound to measure the babies. We were 24 weeks along at that point. "Baby A" (Alex) was 2 lbs. 1 oz. and "Baby B" (Andrew) was 1 lb. 12 oz. First they told us they were above-average sizes for that gestational age. Then they told us the complications leading up to that date put us in a position where we were going to have to work with the doctors to prevent preterm labor and that we'd be heading, right then, via ambulance, to Yale New Haven Hospital to continue bedrest indefinitely.

On June 27th we were released from Yale, no changes from the time we got there to that point, and we headed home. That in itself was an answer to our prayers...26 days in the hospital an hour from home, Adrian, and my family was starting to take it's toll on me mentally.

I woke up at 9:30am on June 29th with contractions 4 minutes apart. My mom called the ambulance and we were on our way to the hospital. Four shots and one pill of medications to try to stop labor, not to mention 11 and a half hours of contractions as close together as a minute, and at 9pm the doctor said we were prepping for an emergency c-section.

WELCOME ALEX @ 9:29pm ~ 3 lbs. 1 oz., 15 1/2" long

WELCOME ANDREW @ 9:30pm ~ 3 lbs., 16" long

I was brought back to my room to begin recovery and we were told that as soon as they had the boys stable they would come up and let us know how they were. At 1:00am the NICU doctor came into the room to tell us that the boys were being taken to Yale New Haven Hospital within the hour because they needed more serious medical attention. Adrian could go to the NICU to see them before they left for New Haven but I couldn't get out of bed. I didn't get to see Alex, he needed to go first because he was having a much harder time than Andrew at that point. Andrew was brought to my room in an isolette so I could see him, literally, and then he was out the door also.

Three days later I was released from the hospital. Barely able to move, let alone walk, I was at Yale New Haven a few hours later to see the boys, Alex for the first time. Although they both had to work very hard to get well, Alex seemed to start getting better slowly while Andrew was the one that ended up having to fight the hardest battles. We weren't able to even touch them for the first week. They were at Yale New Haven for a month.

On August 1st the boys were transported back to our local hospital.

Alex came home September 30th. Andrew came home September 3rd.

At the boys' first pediatric appointment together the doctor called them "cherubs". How appropriate. These two precious angels are answers to our prayers.

They are getting so big so fast and are thriving. We know we have been blessed and thank God every day.


Read more about Preemie Twins

Learn about Preterm Labor With Twins