Here they come....

Ready or not you are admitted to the hospital.  

  On June 23rd, I went in for my regular doctor appointment, and my blood pressure was still very high and the pre-eclampsyia was getting worse.  If it was just affecting me that is one thing but they did and ultrasound and found that the amniotic fluid was less then 3.  On a scale from 1-10 it was pretty low.  Most women have their babies with the amniotic fluid around 7.  We headed back to the doctor's office and waited to see how to proceed.  Thankfully a week before the Dr. Taylor had said to us get ready to go to the Hospital have your bags packed.  As we where there I knew that the time for them to come was coming near I just didn't know how near.  After talking with Dr. Moran we headed over to the hospital.  I was admitted to the 9th floor because I was now high risk (even higher then just with twins) and they watched me very closely.  The nurses gave me a steroid shot to help with the babies lungs and they were really hoping to get both in me by the time they were going to take the babies.  We had many visitors.  Trent Parker came to give me a blessing.  Beth Webb and Teresa stopped by to entertain me. Laney brought lunch.  Kati brought Declan.  I spent most of the time on fetal monitors trying to make sure that the babies were ok.  On Thursday my blood pressure went down but they brought in a neo-natal specialist to see how the babies were and their fluid was now less then one so he said we will proceed with the c-section on Friday.   Thursday night at midnight I stopped eating and drinking and fell asleep pretty easily considering what I was facing the next day.  Friday morning they came in and gave me an IV and started to prep for surgery.  I was scared but excited.  I had made a playlist of all my favorite relaxing songs.  I wrote in my journal and just waited.  At 12:30pm the nurse came and got me and we headed to the OR.  I was given an epidural and laid down on the table.  The doctors came in and were still prepping.  The team of Doctors and nurses were really afraid I would throw up so I had 3 different kind of anti-nausea medicine and they were watching me very closely.  Dr. Lucas was on my left and Dr. Moran was on my right.  I was really scared at this point and only wanted Bruce.  At 1:03 pm they started the surgery.  Bruce was allowed in once they had started.  I was so glad to see him and grabbed on very tight to his thumb.  Everything was strapped down.  I was convince my legs were going to fall off the table and that they were bent but the Doc's kept telling me that they were strapped and that they were straight.  At one point in the surgery Dr. Moran leans over the cloth and with blood on her mask and a smile on her face tells us it is going great.  It was a bit surreal to see blood on someone else like that.  

At 1:28pm Tyler Michael Pritchett entered the world - I couldn't see him but he came out screaming.  At 1:29 pm Emma Rose Pritchett entered the world and she also came out screaming.  Bruce was able to go over and see the babies.  They kept trying to show them to me but with the glasses and the drugs it was really hard for me to see them.  They took them right away to the NICU and I was off to recovery.  I don't remember much but I do remember being fed Ice Chips and I was so happy to have something to drink.  That night Bruce was able to head down and see them. Krista came to the hospital and took awesome photo's which were so good for me because I couldn't go down to see them for a while.  Trent Parker and Bruce gave the twins a Father's blessing and a blessing of healing - which Bruce will have to post.  

So there you have it - what a wild ride and I am so grateful to all that helped to bring my bugs safely into the world!!!!

Here is a view from the front door of CMC Main

Admitted to the hospital. I think I had fluid everywhere at this point.  Room 9209 - 9B

Tyler Michael Pritchett

Born: June 25th, 2010

Height: 17 inches long

Weight: 4lbs 8 oz

Funny Fact - He had a lot of hair....

Emma Rose Pritchett

Born: June 25th, 2010

Height: 17.5 inches long

Weight: 4 lbs 7 oz

Funny Fact - She was so little but appeared to have big feet.  (That's my girl!!!)

All packed and ready to go

         The morning of the 19th Bruce went to a training class at the hospital about infant car seats.  I was supposed to go but couldn't - I was on bed rest.  The doctors put me on bed rest after some test results came back with unusually high results.  I am dealing with preeclampsia.  For more information you can click this link:

http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/preeclampsia-eclampsia

          When we were talking to the doctor about the test results on Wednesday, he told us that I would be retested on Friday and to have our bags packed because I might be admitted to the hospital on Friday if the test results were worse.  I was scared and nervous.  At that point I was just 33 weeks. However, we did have an ultrasound that day (Wednesday), and both babies looked awesome.  Baby A (the boy) was weighing in at 4 lbs. 3 oz. and Baby B (the girl) was weighing in at 4 lbs. 7 oz.  What a relief to have such healthy babies at this point.  There are still some risks, but the complication rate is pretty low.  As for the bed rest, I am really behaving myself so I haven't been admitted to the hospital.  Also on Wednesday night (the night of the ultrasound and talk with the doctor) Trent Parker came over, and he and Bruce gave me a priesthood blessing that my body would be able to carry the pregnancy to term.  So many people are praying with us right now and I am so grateful. I really want these babies to be healthy.  Thank you for all of your support.  I am seeing the doctor every other day now and it is just a waiting game . . .  I will keep you all posted!!!

Hospital bags packed.  Now they get loaded into the Jeep before every Doctor appt.

Car seats loaded and installed in the Jeep.  I can't believe that in a few short weeks we are going to be putting our babies in there and hopefully taking them home.

Another view of the car seats.

Happy Birthday Bruce!!!

     Happy Birthday, Bruce!  This year it was a bit different for the big birthday because we are moving, so gift cards were the presents of choice.  We had a wonderful dinner at Mickey and Mooch and then went to the Eagle Court of Honor for Thomas Crowley.  I promise next year we will do it up in style once again.  Just think: this was the last birthday before the twins arrive.  

Beautiful Cake from Krista - this was one of three she made for the party.  What a friend!!!!

At Mickey and Mooch - our favorite steak house in Charlotte - on Bruce's birthday. 

Yes I am very pregnant :)

     Photos from the party.  We had about 70 people over on Saturday to celebrate.  We did burgers and hot dogs, and I asked everyone to bring a side dish to share.  For games we did a water balloon throw - I filled about 150 balloons with water then counted to 10 and let the kids run wherever and throw them at each other. I really liked it when the dads got involved.  Next it was time for the kids to color the candy bags (for holding their candy from the pinata).  Last was the pinata.  Bruce wanted to hit it first, but something really funny happened - I spun Bruce around and directed him towards the pinata but didn't get out of the way in time for the bat to start swinging and Bruce nailed me in the hip.  He felt horrible but really I was fine - he totally missed the babies, thankfully (plus it was a plastic whiffle bat and he wasn't swinging all that hard)!!!!

     Tasty Treats provided by Krista.  You saw the cake above, but she really outdid herself.  Good thing I tested negative for gestational diabetes because everything was so yummy!!!

     Thanks for coming and celebrating this fantastic man.  I love you Bruce and am so grateful to be with you!!!!!  Next stop, the birth of the twins . . .

Nursery is finished - just in time to move . . .

     Right before Bruce's birthday party we finished the Nursery.  Here are the cribs with bedding washed and put together.  We were going to change the wall color to a silver green but with us moving I am just going to leave it the way it is.

Cribs

Hutch with all their fun books, lovies, and stuffed animals.  

     I love the Nursery and have been sitting in there thinking about what the babies are going to be like.  We have a special iTunes playlist and sometimes I just sit there and cry with anticipation.  What a softie I am.

Trip to Utah

     A couple months ago Krista told me she would be flying out to Utah in May to do a wedding for her friend, and she asked me if I would go with her and hold one of her babies during the flight.  She paid for my ticket, which was so nice!!!  Here is her post from our trip and yes, the boys were amazing.  Of course when I told Bruce of the plan he said well if you are going I am going . . . so off we went. Krista and I flew out on Wednesday May 19 and Bruce came on Friday May 21.  

     The trip went by really fast and there were a lot of things that came of it.  First, Bruce was offered a good job, and second, he finished all of his Utah CLE courses for the year.  It was the Wednesday after he got to Utah, and we were driving back up the canyon to Midway where we were staying with Krista's sister and he started telling me about the offer.  My first reaction was "All I can say is I am not opposed to the idea. . . ."  Then on Thursday he had more meetings and more offers, and by Friday we had called a realtor back in NC to get the house ready to show and now we are moving back to Utah by Sept. 1.  

      I know what you are thinking: "but aren't you having twins in a few weeks?" and the answer is yes.  We will have the twins in NC and then when I am ready and they are ready, we are flying out to Utah to start a new life.  This would have been an emotional decision even if I weren't pregnant, because we have LOVED living in NC and I am really going to miss this place!!  Thankfully I will still have to do Pilates Continuing Ed., which I will only do in Charlotte or somewhere I know Laney will be.  Plus, a lot of people travel from NC to UT to visit, so we won't be totally out of the loop.  I have no photos to add, but I can say this: on to our next journey!!!!!

     On a different note, my family threw me a shower while I was out there and it was so fun to be with my in-laws, aunts, and cousins.  I come from such a crafty family and was given some really awesome stuff.  Thanks to all who helped pull it together.  I wish I had pics to go along with this post but I didn't remember to pull out the camera.  :(  

Ashley P. Graduates

     We are so proud of our niece Ashley!!!  She graduated from Timpanogos High School.  It was wonderful to be there and support her on her big day!  We love you ASHLEY! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Ashley and a good friend.

Ashley receiving her diploma.  This was the best shot I got of the action. We were on the wrong side :(

Getting a hug from Grandma Pritchett.  

Awesome shoes.  I love that this girl can walk in those shoes. She is a girl after my own heart :)

Ashley and Friends.  The funny thing about this pic: Bruce said wow good picture of Ashley and Steve. I looked at him and said that is not Steve.

The Pritchett family minus Buddy and Ciara.  We missed you guys!!!

Huntersville Shower

     Showered again.  The Huntersville Ward threw a fantastic shower for me.  I remember when we were first telling everyone that we were expecting twins, and one of my good friends said "we are just going to have the biggest shower for you ever!"  She was right.  So many people came out to celebrate this special day.  Thanks to Sherri F. for providing the home, Krista for coordinating everything and sending out the evite, and to Angie who made the diaper cake and party favors.  I am sure many more people were involved and we are so grateful!!!  

     Here is the cake Krista made - yes I said made!  This girl is so talented, how you make a cake like that I will never know.  I love all the details and boy was it delicious!

     Here is a photo of the Diaper Cake. Angie can make anything look good - I mean, this is made out of diapers.

     Gifts - Here are all the clothes that the little ones got from the shower.  It's hard to see how big the piles are, but if you look closely you can see how the piles are higher than the two car seats they are in front of.  It was so fun to see all the different styles, and it made me really excited to dress my little friends up.  

     I truly feel blessed and celebrated.  I wish I could express myself better, but I just have a full heart and love the people in the H-Ward!!!!