day 10: picture debut

Ramsey and Arden - 6 days old

day 1-9: the birth story

The early morning of March 19th anxiety and excitement mixed with anticipation and fear wrecked havoc on all potential sleep before the big day. At 5:30AM we all gathered at the hospital... all a little drowsy but all wide eyed with excitement and anticipation of meeting the two little arrivals soon to come. My mother, sister, Jeramie, and I met at the entry of the hospital. With bags in hand and smiles on our faces we trekked back to the birthing center. We signed in and shortly after was shown our room where we all settled in for the long haul.

By 6:30AM, I was settled in bed and the pitocin was kicking in. I was only dilated about half a centimeter... this is going to be a long day. Now we just had to wait. By 8:00AM, my doctor arrived and checked me out... wow I have only dilated half a centimeter by this point. My doctor went ahead and broke baby A's sac. I was not expecting the rush of fluid that just keep on coming and coming. Oh the joys of pregnancy...shortly after I got my epidural. Hours and hours tick by slowly... My doctor was expecting to be back in only a few short hours... pitocin bag one... bag two... has come and gone... 12 hours has passed with little progression... Doctor comes in and I am only around 2 and a half centimeters... we decide to sit it out. Sister and mom are taking turns going to the hotel to take naps... Jeramie is passed out in the chair... and time is droning on. I am beyond starving and thirsty at this point and they are all drinking and eating non-stop in front of me... It is torture... Finally I get the ice cubes. We watched TV... American Idol was on when my doctor came in. Jeramie and I blamed it on my sister haha we don't watch that lame show I swear :D still nothing significant but we decide to just ride it out. We watch a movie laughed and talked. My sister snuck me a couple of sour patch kids to suck on and spit out... oh how good that little flavor was... and then I conned my nurse into giving me a popsicle... grape flavor it was soooooooooooooo good. I have never had a better popsicle in my life. March 19th had come and gone and we were nearing the 24 hour mark. My doctor called me at 3:45AM for a progress check... after 3 bags of pitocin and 2 changes of epidurals, I was only 4 centimeters dilated... my body does not absorb drugs... it just doesn't work. we have given up all hope. All this torture for nothing. 15 minutes later I was whisked away to the operating room. The C-section began... I felt the incision... they upped the meds... Jeramie was in there with me. His eyes starring at me with tears balancing on the lip of his eyes... I was trying not to yell as they ripped through me. They didn't want to come out... two people are pushing on me to get them out... first one appears... nothing... no sound. I hold my breath looking at Jeramie for something... some kind of answer. He said nothing through this whole process. After a few seconds which felt like years I hear a eeeh she is alive. Arden Magee Fletcher was here March 20, 2008 at 4:18AM. 5 LBS. 10 oz. 17 3/4 in. long. 2 minutes later at 4:20AM Ramsey Todd Fletcher arrived screaming full blast. He was 4 LBS. 13 oz. 17 1/2 in. long. They were both rushed back to NICU. I had a short glimpse and passed out... snoring on the operating table as they sewed me up. They are here.

We stayed for a total of 7 days in the hospital. Arden was diagnosed with TTN and we struggled with that until the last day. I didn't get to hold her until she was 5 days old. We also had a bout with jaundice which we are still fighting to get rid of fully.
Ramsey was also in NICU but got out fairly quickly... against all odds... he stayed in my room most of our stay. He developed jaundice as well and we are still fighting to get him well. I developed a massive hematoma at my incision area 3 days after the surgery. Shortly after my incision opened and began to weep. Thursday I went to the doctor and she cleaned it out as much as she could and I have to go back on Monday. Another area of my incision has now began to open so... they are hoping, as well as I, that my incision doesn't completely open up, making it difficult to heal... besides walking around with my stomach completely exposed. YAY.

Besides that the swelling is beyond insane. I had no swelling during pregnancy and have never heard anyone talk about swelling afterwards... ummmmm all I can say is it sucks... I fear that I am going to get stretch marks from the swelling alone... stretch marks on the feet... that will be interesting. The kids went to the pediatricians on Thursday, took blood test for jaundice... came back on Friday and repeated it and then we have to go back monday morning and do it again. I thought I was miserable and in pain while I was pregnant... I feel a million times worse now. My doctor was just like... you can never make anything go easy... but to the contrary... breast feeding has been amazing! I pumped breast milk for Arden while she was in NICU and she took to breast feeding amazingly! Ramsey did an amazing job, as well. My milk came in super fast at a high volume... all the nurses were impressed. So that, that went perfect and my kids had a short visit in NICU and I was able to stay with them the whole time... so I was luck there as well.

With all that said my poor mom has seen more of me than she has since infancy and then some. Oh the joys of labor and all that you see. Haha. I hid myself from my sister at the beginning and she was holding my breast trying to get Ramsey to feed at the end. I was whipping out the boobs all over... I had nurses touching my boobs and touching my crotch non-stop. All I can say is, with giving birth all modesty goes flying out the window.

day 6: daddy's smile

We are out!!!

Daddy is carrying Ramsey and Arden had to be carried out by staff... she was still considered a patient until she was escorted out of the hospital... she did not realize none of us had yet left the hospital, we were only officially discharged the previous day.

day 6: homeward bound

Ramsey and I were discharged from the hospital last night. A perfect birthday present for daddy. We were moved into the parent's care room in NICU so that we could be closer to Arden. Jeramie and I spent a lot of time with the kids last night. Arden would come in for an hour every 3 hours for feedings. They were great last night. We just watched movies, feed and changed the kids, and sleep in 45 minutes intervals. I have been blessed with two awesome, laid back kids that have taken to breast feeding like it was nothing. They are awesome but I am sure with home life adjustments we shall also see change in them as well...

Arden is being discharged today. She had her hearing test this morning... failed with her left ear and after retesting she passed. THANK YOU GOD!!! I was a little freaked out at first. Right now she is doing her car seat stress test and then after that she will get her Hep B vaccination and then we have to wait for her meeting to have her discharge approved and then we are off. YAY. We are staying in a hotel to reduce travel time. The kids have a 8:30 appointment with the pediatrician. Friday I have a doctors appointment to check everything out and then we are bound for Austin.

We are almost home and then reality can set in!

day 4: arden's touch

I got to hold arden this morning for the first time. I held her for her feed and additional time. A total of an hour and a half. I am so happy. Now I get to breast feed her for the first time at 2:30 :D

day 1: the new arrivals

Arden Magee Fletcher and Ramsey Todd Fletcher graced us with their arrival on Thursday, March 20th 2008. Arden entered the world with great resistance at 4:18 AM and her brother, Ramsey, followed shortly after at 4:20 AM.

Absolutely everything about this planned induction managed not to go according to plan.

birth story coming soon...

36 weeks: hours to go

2 hours until we go to the hospital... can't sleep... completely nervous! Should we wait... are they ready? Am I ready? I still have to pack a few things before we go. my little ones will be here today!!!! crazy.

35 weeks: a twin mother birth story ... my worst nightmare come to life

Hi to all, well i posted 2 weeks ago regarding my 36 wk scan and the (naughty) flipping of baby b to breech after being vertex for so long. I had my drs appointment the next day. He had said all along he woud induce me at 36 wks, so i was all set for a date that week.

Instead he says, oh, we'll let you go til 37 wks, that was until he gave me an internal and found i was 2cm dilated, he then said we'll induce you on friday (29th) if you don't go before hand.

I was incredibly excited, especially when he said don't go home, make sure you stay close to town ( we live 45min away from the hosp). But having no contrax, and feeling fine, I finished shopping and went on home.

By 7pm i was making dinner and started having contrax 5 min apart without warning. My appetite went straight away, I rand my hubby and said i think this might be it, crap, i should've listened to the doc! Luckily my mil was already at my house so the boys were taken care of while we made the dash to the hosp.

All i could keep thinking in the car was..."what if i feel like i need to push? Crap! " I was feeling pretty silly about not listening to my dr right about then. The contrax were staying five minutes apart but getting stronger. It was dark. It was raining. And it just didn't seem like my dh was driving fast enough, and i was starting to panick about giving birth to one vertex and one breech baby in the car.

We arrived at the hosp, 4cm dilated and was declared in labor. The admitting midwife asked the position of the babies and i told her yesterday they were vertex and breech. A resident came in and wanted to confirm by u/s and lucky he did as baby b had flipped back to vertex since yesterday, and i HADN"T EVEN FELT A THING!!!!

An epidural was given (my first )and wasn't as bad as expected...but that could've been from the very cute anethasist (whatever) that adminstered it trying to distract me with his delicious blue eyes ( how could i have been thinking of sex in my state????!!)( I was very greatful to the pampering nail and waxing i'd had just that day!!!)

Relief was great, even though the contrax were not hurting really. I could lay on my back without feeling like i was suffocating for the first time in several months!

I sent dh to a motel as things were progressing slowly and slept some awesome medicated sleep. I had several examinations thru the night and a catheter put in, all of which felt like nothing at all. I was in bliss...epidurals were the stuff!!

By thursday morning though i had not dilated any over night and my cx had all but stopped. They decided (hooray) to break my waters. Things were getting slighly uncomfortable before that and there felt to be something happening down there like the catheter was falling out but the wives assured me, i couldn't feel anything, but they would bump my epi up a little if i wanted. Of course, i wanted to, if there was any chnace that baby b was going to turn after delivery, i wanted the lot before it was to late. so she gave it to me, though i'm sure she didn't believe i was getting feeling back.

Hours later I had only progressed to 6cm, by now feeling WAS BACK. I could feel everything, cx, examinations and the catheter. I was not happy, esp when the wives kept insisting, i shouldnt be able to feel anything.

After insisting and crying silently in agony after yet another excruciating internal and the doc trying to strip my membranes...after figuring out they had not broke my waters sufficinetly b4, and that that had been delaying my llabor, they broke baby a's membranes again and readjusted the catheter (which HAD been coming out as a new m/w revealed).

By now i was allowed all the epidural i was allowed and in total disgust, I was feeling everything, and feeling very ripped off that i had had the dreaded needle in the back and was still experiencing full blown labor.

Things moved along very quickly after that. DH handed me the gas and i sucked that baby so hard i think i nearly passed out...heated carts decked out with the lot were being wheeled in, and i vaguely noticed the room filling up with lots of gowned people...but i was no longer interested in how many people were in attendence...

I have exp labour b4 with no drugs, but this seemed to hurt a **** of alot more.

Bella Anne was born at 2.28pm with one long push weighing 5 pound nine ounces and was 48cm long with a head circ of 32.5 cm. She came out screaming and i instantly burst into tears with the arrival of my first daughter(third child). I held her briefly and saying i was unable to hold her whilst giving birth to baby b, handed her over to be taken care of. The cx were so unbelievably strong, i was scared i would drop her .

Baby b was an entirely different story. The moment they broke her waters she spun to breech. Vaguely i noticed a scurry of activity and panic and i found myself sitting up inconfusion(unaware that she had turned... no one had spelled it out the the laboring woman in pain) asking what was wrong.
My ob had been in theatre doing a c sect so the young asian registar who looked like he was just out of med school was delivering, and suddenly he was hitting panick buttons calling for the other ob on call.

All **** seemed to break loose, he was fishing inside me literally, franticly trying to turn the baby, and oh my god, i have never endured such pain in all my life. I was pleading for him to get his hand out of me, it felt like he was ramming his arm inside me with all his might, i was screaming with agony, and my only other clear memory of these three minutes was looking up at my dh in agony to see he had tears rolling down his face, watching me helplessly cry out.

They told me to push and i did, i wanted it to be over, He pulled her out by her feet, being unable to turn her, and Brianna Ellen was born after 2 pushes.

She was layed onher back, on my chest and was not moving, i asked in a panick what was wrong with her, they rushed her to the table where they bagged her and gave her o2, and after being initially stunned, she was fine.

Brianna was born just five minutes after her sister at 2.33pm weighed 5 pound 10 and a half ounces, 49 cms long hc of 33.5 cm.

From her hips down she was black , and i mean black, from the bruising of the footling breech delivery, but other than that both babies were healthy. Bella breast fed straigh away, and bree followed.

The delivery of Bree had been HORRIFFIC. I felt like i had been raped by a football team and then a mack truck. I was wishing i had had a c sect, following the failure of my epidural (which the following day the delivering dr appologised for, as he clearly realised i should not have been able to feel that delivery and be in such agony as i was) That made me feel better.

But the best thing was, although, as bad as it had been, it had been neccessary for the safe delivery of bree , and he explained to me, that he had to deliver her so quickly, because the placenta was risking coming away, and she would've had no oxygen supply. I thanked him for delivering my girls safley to me. That was all that mattered in the end.

35 weeks: the day and events of March 19th

March 19 is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 287 days remaining until the end of the year.

March 19 is usually the last day of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the last day of the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere.


Events

1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China
1687 - Explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, is murdered by his own men.
1831 - The City Bank of New York becomes the site of the first bank robbery in United States history ($245,000 taken).
1861 - The First Taranaki War ends in New Zealand.
1863 - The SS Georgiana, said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, was destroyed on her maiden voyage with cargo of munitions, medicines and merchandise then valued at over $1,000,000. The wreck was discovered on the same day and month, exactly 102 years later by then teenage diver and pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence.
1865 - American Civil War: The Battle of Bentonville begins. By the end of the battle two days later the Confederate forces have retreated from Four Oaks, North Carolina.
1915 - Pluto is photographed for the first time but was not recognized as a planet.
1916 - Eight American planes take off in pursuit of Pancho Villa, the first United States air-combat mission in history.
1918 - The U.S. Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time.
1920 - The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time (first time was on November 19, 1919).
1921 - Italian Fascists shoot from the Parenzana train at a group of children in Strunjan (Slovenia): two children are killed, two mangled, three wounded.
1931 - Gambling is legalized in Nevada.
1931 - The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra played its first concert in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1932 - The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened.
1941 - World War II: The 99th Pursuit Squadron also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-black unit of the Army Air Corp, is activated.
1942 - The Thoroughbred Racing Association is established in Chicago.
1943 - Frank Nitti, Chicago Outfit Boss after Al Capone committed suicide at the Chicago Central Railyard.
1944 - World War II: Nazi forces occupy Hungary.
1945 - World War II: Off the coast of Japan, a dive bomber hits the aircraft carrier USS Franklin, killing 800 of her crew and crippling the ship.
1945 - World War II: Adolf Hitler issues his "Nero Decree" ordering all industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities and communications facilities in Germany be destroyed.
1946 - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion become overseas départements of France.
1954 - Joey Giardello knocks out Willie Tory in round seven at Madison Square Garden in the first televised prize boxing fight shown in color.
1958 - A fire in a loft building in New York, New York kills 24 people.
1962 - Algerian War of Independence: A ceasefire takes effect.
1962 - Bob Dylan releases his first, self-titled album.
1969 - collapse of 385 metre tall TV-mast at Emley Moor, UK, because of icing.
1972 - India and Bangladesh sign a friendship treaty.
1978 - UN Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 were passed, calling upon Israel immediately to cease its military action and withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory (Operation Litani), and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
1979 - The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business via the cable television network C-SPAN.
1981 - Three workers are killed and five injured during a test of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
1982 - Falklands War: Argentines land on South Georgia Island, precipitating war.
1987 - Televangelist Jim Bakker resigns as head of the PTL Club due to a brewing sex scandal; he hands over control to Jerry Falwell.
2002 - U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda ends (started on March 2) after killing 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters with 11 allied troop fatalities.
2004 - Äänekoski bus disaster - A semi-trailer truck and a bus crash head-on in Äänekoski, Finland. 24 people are killed and 13 injured.
2004 - A Swedish DC-3 shot down by a Russian MiG-15 in the 1950s is finally recovered after years of work. The remains of the crew are left in place, pending further investigations.
2004 - Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian is shot just before the country's presidential election on March 20. See 3-19 Shooting Incident.
2007 - Airbus A380 makes first flights to United States.


Births

1434 - Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, Japanese shogun (d. 1443)
1488 - Johannes Magnus, last Catholic Archbishop of Sweden (d. 1544)
1534 - José de Anchieta, Spanish Jesuit missionary to Brazil (d. 1597)
1590 - William Bradford, Pilgrim and First Governor of the Plymouth Colony (d. 1657)
1684 - Jean Astruc, French physician and scholar (d. 1766)
1721 - Tobias Smollett, Scottish novelist (d. 1771)
1734 - Thomas McKean, American lawyer and signer of the Declaration of Independence (d. 1817)
1739 - Charles-François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance, Third Consul of France (d. 1824)
1749 - Princess Louisa Anne of Wales (d. 1768)
1778 - Edward Pakenham, British general (d. 1815)
1813 - David Livingstone, Scottish missionary and explorer (d. 1873)
1821 - Richard Francis Burton, British explorer, diplomat and author (d. 1890)
1823 - Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria d. 1914
1824 or 1828 - William Allingham, Irish author (d. 1889)
1829 - Carl Frederik Tietgen, Danish financier and industrialist (d. 1901)
1848 - Wyatt Earp, American policeman and gunfighter (d. 1929)
1849 - Alfred von Tirpitz, German World War I Admiral (d. 1930)
1851 - William Henry Stark, American business leader (d. 1936)
1860 - William Jennings Bryan, 41st United States Secretary of State (d. 1925)
1861 - Lomer Gouin, Quebec politician (d. 1929)
1864 - Charles Marion Russell, American artist (d. 1926)
1865 - William Morton Wheeler, American entomologist, myrmecologist, pioneer in ethology (d. 1937)
1871 - Schofield Haigh, British cricketer (d. 1921)
1873 - Max Reger, German composer (d. 1916)
1883 - Walter Haworth, British chemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1950)
1883 - Joseph Stilwell, U.S. general (d. 1946)
1888 - Josef Albers, German artist (d. 1976)
1888 - Léon Scieur, Belgian cyclist (d. 1969)
1891 - Earl Warren, 14th Chief Justice of the United States (d. 1974)
1892 - James Van Fleet, American general (d. 1992)
1894 - Moms Mabley, American comedian (d. 1975)
1900 - Frédéric Joliot, French physicist, Nobel laureate (d. 1958)
1904 - John Sirica, American judge (d. 1992)
1905 - Albert Speer, Nazi official (d. 1981)
1906 - Adolf Eichmann, Nazi official (d. 1962)
1909 - Louis Hayward, British actor (d. 1985)
1909 - Attilio Demaria, Argentinian footballer (d. 1990)
1910 - Joseph F. Carroll, US Air Force Lt. Gen. and Founding Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (d. 1991)
1914 - Leonidas Alaoglu, Greek-Canadian mathematician (d. 1981)
1914 - Jay Berwanger, American football player (d. 2002)
1914 - Fred Clark, American film actor (d. 1968)
1915 - Robert G. Cole, American Paratrooper of the 101st, 502nd division (d. 1944)
1916 - Eric Christmas, British actor (d. 2000)
1916 - Irving Wallace, American novelist (d. 1990)
1917 - Dinu Lipatti, Romanian pianist (d. 1950)
1917 - Laszlo Szabo, Hungarian chess player (d. 1998)
1920 - Tige Andrews, American actor (d. 2007)
1920 - Kjell Aukrust, Norwegian author (d. 2002)
1921 - Tommy Cooper, Welsh comedy magician (d. 1984)
1923 - Pamela Britton, American actress (d. 1974)
1923 - Henry Morgentaler, Canadian gynecologist
1924 - Mary Wimbush, British actress (d. 2005)
1925 - Brent Scowcroft, US National Security Advisor
1927 - Richie Ashburn, American baseball player (d. 1997)
1928 - Hans Küng, Swiss theologian
1928 - Patrick McGoohan, American-born actor
1932 - Gay Brewer, American golfer (d. 2007
1933 - Philip Roth, American author
1933 - Renée Taylor, American actress
1936 - Ursula Andress, Swiss actress
1936 - Birthe Wilke, Danish singer
1937 - Clarence "Frogman" Henry, American musician
1937 - Egon Krenz, President of East Germany
1939 - Joe Kapp, American football player
1942 - Richard Dobson, American singer and songwriter
1943 - Mario J. Molina, Mexican chemist, Nobel laureate
1943 - Mario Monti, Italian politician
1943 - Vern Schuppan, Australian racing driver
1944 - Said Musa, Prime Minister of Belize
1944 - Sirhan Sirhan, Palestinian-born assassin
1945 - Stefanos Kiriakidis, Greek actor
1946 - Paul Atkinson, British musician (The Zombies) (d. 2004)
1946 - Bigas Luna, Spanish film director
1946 - Ruth Pointer, American singer (Pointer Sisters)
1947 - Glenn Close, American actress
1947 - Marinho Peres, Brazilian football player
1952 - Harvey Weinstein, American film producer
1952 - Warren Lees, New Zealand Test wicket-keeper
1953 - Billy Sheehan, American musician (Mr. Big)
1953 - Ricky Wilson, American musician (The B-52's) (d. 1985)
1954 - Indu Shahani, Indian educationist and Sheriff of Mumbai
1955 - Bruce Willis, American actor
1956 - Yegor Gaidar, Russian politician and economist.
1962 - Ivan Calderón, Puerto Rican baseball player (d. 2003)
1962 - Jim Korderas, American professional wrestling referee
1964 - Yoko Kanno, Japanese composer
1966 - Andy Sinton, English footballer
1966 - James "Big Jim" Wright, American record producer
1967 - Vladimir Konstantinov, Russian ice hockey player
1969 - Gary Jules, American singer and songwriter
1969 - Connor Trinneer, American actor
1971 - Nadja Auermann, German supermodel
1971 - Kirsty Williams, British politician
1973 - Bun B, American Rapper
1975 - Vivian Hsu, Taiwanese singer, actress and model
1975 - Brann Dailor, American drummer
1975 - Matthew Richardson, Australian rules footballer
1975 - Antonio Daniels, American basketball player
1976 - Zach Lind - American drummer (Jimmy Eat World)
1976 - Andre Miller, American basketball player
1976 - Rachel Blanchard, Canadian actress
1976 - Alessandro Nesta, Italian footballer
1977 - Jorma Taccone, American writer and comedian
1979 - Hee-Seop Choi, Korean baseball player
1979 - Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player
1979 - Christos Patsatzoglou, Greek footballer
1980 - Vida Guerra, Cuban-American swimsuit model
1980 - Mikuni Shimokawa, Japanese singer
1980 - Don Sparrow, Canadian illustrator
1981 - Kim Rae Won, South Korean actor and model
1981 - Kolo Touré, Ivorian footballer
1982 - Bradley Jones, Australian footballer
1982 - Matt Littler, British actor
1983 - Ana Rezende, Brazilian film director and musician (CSS)
1983 - Matt Sydal, American professional wrestler
1984 - Tanushree Dutta, Indian Actress
1985 - Ernesto Viso, Venezuelan racing driver
1999 - Tatum McCann, American actress
2007 - Prince Abdullah bin Ali, Prince of Jordan



Deaths

1238 - Duke Henry I of Poland (b. 1163)
1263 - Hugh of St Cher, French cardinal
1279 - Emperor Bing of Song China (b. 1271)
1286 - King Alexander III of Scotland (b. 1241)
1330 - Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent, English politician (executed) (b. 1301)
1406 - Ibn Khaldun, Arab historian (b. 1332)
1623 - Uesugi Kagekatsu, Japanese samurai and warlord (b. 1556)
1637 - Péter Pázmány, Hungarian cardinal and statesman (b. 1570)
1649 - Gerhard Johann Vossius, German classical scholar and theologian (b. 1577)
1683 - Thomas Killigrew, English dramatist (b. 1612)
1687 - Robert Cavelier de La Salle, French explorer (b. 1643)
1697 - Nicolaus Bruhns, German organist and composer (b. 1665)
1711 - Thomas Ken, English bishop and hymn-writer (b. 1637)
1717 - John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, Scottish royalist
1721 - Pope Clement XI (b. 1649)
1796 - Hugh Palliser, British naval officer and administrator (b. 1722)
1816 - Philip Mazzei, Italian physician and friend of Thomas Jefferson (b. 1730)
1871 - Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger, Austrian mineralogist (b. 1795)
1897 - Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie, French geographer (b. 1810)
1900 - John Bingham, American politician and lawyer (b. 1815)
1900 - Charles-Louis Hanon, French composer (b. 1819)
1914 - Giuseppe Mercalli, Italian volcanologist (b. 1850)
1916 - Vasily Surikov, Russian painter (b. 1848)
1930 - Arthur Balfour, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1848)
1939 - Lloyd L. Gaines, American civil rights activist
1942 - Clinton Hart Merriam, American zoologist (b. 1855)
1943 - Frank Nitti, American gangster (b. 1883)
1944 - William Hale Thompson, American mayor of Chicago (b. 1869)
1945 - Friedrich Fromm, German Nazi official (b. 1888)
1950 - Edgar Rice Burroughs, American author (b. 1875)
1950 - Walter Haworth, British chemist, Nobel laureate (b. 1883)
1974 - Anne Klein, American fashion designer (b. 1923)
1974 - Edward Platt, American actor (b. 1916)
1976 - Albert Dieudonné, French actor, screenwriter and novelist (b. 1889)
1976 - Paul Kossoff, English guitarist (Free) (b. 1950)
1978 - Gaston Julia, French mathematician (b. 1893)
1979 - Richard Beckinsale, English actor (b. 1947)
1982 - Randy Rhoads, American guitarist (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne) (b. 1956)
1987 - Louis, 7th duc de Broglie, French physicist, Nobel laureate (b. 1892)
1989 - Alan Civil, English French horn player (b. 1929)
1990 - Andrew Wood, American singer (Mother Love Bone) (b. 1966)
1992 - Cesare Danova, American television and film actor (b. 1926)
1995 - Yasuo Yamada, Japanese voice actor (b. 1932)
1997 - Willem de Kooning, Dutch-born painter (b. 1904)
1999 - Jaime Sabines, Mexican poet (b. 1926)
2001 - Charles K. Johnson, President of the Flat Earth Society (b. 1924)
2003 - Michael Mathias Prechtl, German illustrator (b. 1926)
2003 - Émile Genest, Canadian actor (b. 1921)
2004 - Mitchell Sharp, Canadian politician (b. 1911)
2005 - John De Lorean, American automobile engineer (b. 1925)
2007 - Calvert DeForest, American actor (b. 1921)
2007 - Luther Ingram, R&B soul singer and songwriter (b. 1937)

Holidays and observances

The first day of Quinquatria in ancient Rome, held in honor of Minerva.
The swallows return to Mission San Juan Capistrano in California.

Liturgical feasts
Roman Catholicism and Church of England - Saint Joseph's Day for Saint Joseph of Nazareth, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, father of Jesus; patron saint of Belgium, a good death, carpenters
hence also (alternative) Father's Day in Spain, Portugal, Belgium,Italy
Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain.
Saint Landoald
Saint Adeltrudis (d. 670)

35 weeks: Doctor's visit

I had my doctor visit today. The babies look great... and the little man flipped back to head down position. They are now both vertex. We are hoping my little monkey will stay that way. They have had two NSTs and each time he has flipped. So I guess that was one positive thing about the L&D trip. So they look awesome and doctor Reed is very happy with their progress. Me on the other hand... not so good. The contractions are causing me severe pain... as everyone knows I have been fighting not to have surgery until after the kids come. I was having contractions in the office so there was no hiding it. Of course she piped up about being a real trooper and kids should be fine if they come today and Jeramie was like, "when can we induce? " and I am like, "uhhhhhhhhhhhhh what???". So she and Jeramie scheduled it for the 19th. She is skipping a conference to do the induction. She said most likely I will go before then but the 19th will be the latest and no matter what she will be there to deliver. So I guess I have my count down for the little ones. In 9 days at 36w4d. I am hoping they just come on their own... the idea of induction is just weird to me. My cervix is still 1 cm and really high. So we shall see.

35 weeks: the BIG FREAK OUT... our first trip to the L&D

The day had come, contractions were plentiful ever increasing. Walking to lying down, position to position, bath to back rub, water, water, water... inconsistent to consistent to inconsistent to consistent... increasing, increasing, increasing. Denial, denial, denial to emotion bound with exclamation of "I am not ready yet". Forced phone call... 7 minutes apart. Come in to be safe. Oh shit - leaking fluid better go.

Arrival, paper work... Do you want an epidural? Circling... circling... circling... yes! yes!! yes!!! Off to triage we go... Urine sample, hooked up to the machines... casually informed... your doctor is OUT OF TOWN...Ok that is it, they are staying in!!!! NST... wow kids are actually behaving. They look great. Test for amniotic fluid... inconclusive... purple-ish... next test.... swab. Hours ticking, contractions, kicking, miserable, thirty... sister on the phone... sister on her way... Checking cervix... at this point everyone has seen way to many crotch shots... Dilated 1 cm, still looking good... They aren't coming today... can I just freaking leave now??? Keep on ticking. Test result negative... test results might have bladder infection. Prescriptions called in. Dr suggest to calm contraction pain... ambien to help you sleep and relax... WTF???? ummm no thanks... Demerol offered instead... umm did you not read my medical file at all??? Asthmatic, Gallbladder/Liver, oh and I AM PREGNANT WITH TWINS!!! I can deal with the pain... and force myself to sleep... okay well good luck... could be a day... could be a week... the contractions are not being very productive at this point! Finally released.

Bath to back rub tylenol to forced sleep, contraction finally starting to ease. Happy international women's day! They stay in another day. Doctor appointment Monday.

35 weeks: it is official

35 weeks!!!! If the babies come they come!!!! No more threat of pre-term labor!

34 weeks: doctor's appointment and biophysical

ok so... ultrasound tech has been miscommunicating with the doctor the whole time. We were always worried about baby A (boy) being breech and not having a vaginal delivery. Duh this whole time she has called him baby A because he is on my left side... when Baby A is the one that is coming out first... lowest position. So Baby B is really baby A and she is in the head down position with her head on my cervix ready to deliver. :D That is the good news.

As for contractions... I am now starting to dilate or open slightly... so the last few days of contractions have been working on my cervix. She said my cervix looks good and she felt my girl's head. Our doctor said she will not stop labor from this point on. They will come when they are ready. After checking the cervix I started bleeding for the first time... that was freaky but normal... I know. I just hope they stay in for a bit longer!

I talked to her about all the itching and she thinks it could be the beginning of puppps... awesome, add it to the huge list of pregnancy side effects. I don't have a rash really but she wants me to come in on monday to check on the progress of the itchiness. I also asked when she is going to take measurements of the little ones so she is going to do that monday as well as do the group b strep test.

Besides that I had no weight gain this week. :( oh well my appointment was in the morning today.. usually in late afternoon...

will post u/s pics later. nap needed!

34 weeks: aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

omg loofah's are a god send... I looovvvvveeeee them! :D

34 weeks: what the...

For the last few days I have itched all over... the hands and feet are the worst. I have blood spots from scratches all over especially the belly... very attractive. It is driving me insane. I have been pretty tolerable thus far through all the pregnancy bumps in the road but this is hell! Research as to the cause... which usually renders comfort, oh so did not with this one... Cholestasis of Pregnancy otherwise known as F%^KING MISERABLE HELL for pregnant women if this is what it turns out to be. I have 1 week 3 days to safe zone... 2 weeks 3 days to goal... come on god give me a break here... besides that the duck waddle phase has now turned into an obese duck waddle phase. Waddle waddle... Absolutely pathetic to say the least. Trying to roll out of bed is sheer entertainment for on lookers. I am sure you will all enjoy this. :D This will be the last pregnancy... so you better enjoy it while it last.

34 weeks: contractions like crazy...

Last night at birthing class they started... CONTRACTIONS!!! Our teacher checked me a few times even though I was like, "no I am alright... just braxton hicks... just kids moving like crazy"... while thinking f#ck this hurts and my pancreas is killing me at the same time! That theory of you can't feel two pains at once is bs, to say the least. Well I came home, laid down, drank a ton of water, switch positions, took a bath, ate some cereal (figured if it was coming I needed energy) and nothing stopped them... They were 10 minutes apart for over an hour... then they started to dissipate. Thank god!!! Today I awake with my stomach balled up and they have been sporadic through out the day but here again I reach that time of day and they are beginning to become more consistent with cramping. So I drink water, took a shower, laid down... I have 1 week and 4 days to reach the safe zone of 36 weeks and 2 weeks 4 days to reach the goal of 37 weeks (full term for twins). I am not ready, they are not ready, and I am not ready... :D These practice contractions are starting to really freak me out! I think I have been avoiding the thought of them coming out of me by trying to keep them healthy and inside me... reality is starting to hit. I am ready for my epidural!

34 weeks: wooooohoooooooo

34 weeks with 3 weeks to go! The count down continues!