Home for the past 3 weeks!

This has been my home away from home for the past 3 weeks. I can't believe the boys will be 3 weeks on Monday. All in all they have progressed really fast for all of the health problems they have had. Just 3 weeks ago both boys were on C-pap machines not being able to hold their oxygen Sats. Brody was often comforted with Morphine. Taylor could not figure out how to suck, swallow and breathe; which made eating more than a chore to learn. When the nurses told me they were worried as well it made the days seem like they would never end. At times it would get very discouraging to see other babies come and go. This is one experience I will never forget.

My emotions have defiantly been on a roller coaster ride. Trying to divide my time between home, Audrey, Dennis and the babies has been challenging. There are often times of feeling guilty being away from one of my kids. There were days when I just wanted to scoop up the babies and run out the hospital doors and head for home. I have also felt so blessed with all the help. Audrey has been well taken care of and loved by family members. It has made this experience easier knowing your first baby is being well taken care of.

With all of my fingers and toes crossed.... Brody should be able to come home tomorrow!! I have been told this multiple times. I have often showed up with a diaper bag and high hopes to get to bring one baby home just to find out he had a set back and he was not going anywhere. This has been more than frustrating. Taylor should only be a day behind Brody. They have had to prove themselves of being able to wake up on their own wanting to eat. They boys were suppose to complete the first 24 hours with their feeding tubes in but both boys decided to pull their tubes out yesterday. They have eaten all of their feedings for the past 24 hours.

Brothers

Brothers! Who can resist these two. Taylor on the Left and Brody on the Right.

Taylor now weighs 5lbs 2oz. Brody weighs 4lbs 13oz.

Three great men in my life! I am one lucky girl.

Taylor still has no interest in eating. He will latch on but will not suck or swallow. The nurses say he is acting like a normal preemie. One day his "light" will go on. It is something that will just click for him. I hope that light comes on quickly. I am anxious to have him home.

Taylor

Update

Brody got off of all air support today!!! Yeah Brody. This is a huge milestone we needed to pass. Last night both boys moved to an open Crib. Brody did great and could hold his temp. Taylor could not so he went back in the isolate bed. Both boys started nursing today. This is our next step. They both did really well.

Brody and Taylor got a bath today.... well a sponge bath but it was still fun!

Audrey finally got to come see her new brothers. She never never gets sick maybe once a year, maybe. Anyways, she happened to get a cold right before the boys were born so Audrey had to wait to come see her new brothers. It was so exciting to have the whole family together. Audrey loves her new brothers. Honestly who could not resist such cute little guys. When Audrey got next to the bed Brody got a huge smile on her face. Everytime she would say something he would smile. It was a familiar sound to him and defiantly melted my heart. Audrey called her little yellow outfit a Bell princess dress... funny kiddo.

I am so excited to have these two little boys in my life. My heart is full of gratitude that Heavenly Father would bless our lives with these little guys!

Brody with no more C-pap machine or tubular up the nose! Great Job Buddy You can see some red spots on his chin from the tape. He HATED the feeding tube down his mouth so he would pull it out every time. Poor guy

Audrey looking at her brothers for the first time!

Checking them out. She was asking what all the cords were for.

Brody on the Right Taylor on the left. This was the first time they got to be next to each other since they have been born.

Just after bath time. They were sitting under the warmer warming up together. I love love love these little guys!

Taylor Michael Coatney

Taylor Michael was born first at 11:41pm. He did quite well at the beginning. Taylor was actually able to hang out in the room with me when Brody had to go to the NICU right away.

Taylor decided that he did not want to breathe on his own either so he went on the "C-pap" machine as well. He was able to come off the machine fairly quickly. Since he was the first born he was able to work out most of the fluids in his lungs during labor.

Taylor is a really happy baby. He will start to cry the second his diaper is dirty. He is up to 12cc's of food. His food is pumped through a NG tube. Right now his goal is to up his intake on food.

Brody Scott Coatney

Brody Scott was born second. His sac was broken right before he came out. When he was delivered the sac was stuck around his head full of fluid. He was born with what they call Wet Lung Disease.

Brody is on a "C-Pap" machine that helps him breathe. His lungs were immature when he was born. Wednesday was a rough day. The machine was doing 54% of his breathing with his Sats on sitting around 80% so he really was not breathing very much on his own. He started a fever in the evening. Dennis came down with Jeff and administered a priesthood blessing to help him out.

As of now he is down to 21% on the machine. He is able to hold his SATS around 95% which is great. It looks like Brody will start weaning off the machine and may be off of it tomorrow evening.

I finally got to hold Brody today. It was a precious moment which made today a great day. They took off his "C-Pap" machine for a few moments to clean his face and give his nose a break. We would massage his head where the straps were and he got a huge smile on his face. I can't wait for him to get off this machine. Brody was born at 4lbs 14oz and currently weighs 4lbs 11oz. He has a lot of swelling in his eyes so his weight will go down when the swelling goes down.

How it all happened...

I went in on Monday morning for a doctors apt. I was having contractions on Sunday night but they were not consistent. On Monday morning I was having contractions again so the doctor decided to monitor me and decided I was in labor. My doctor broke my water at 2:30pm. I was at a 4-5 according to her. When the main doctor came in at 4:00pm he decided that I was not in real active labor and I was only a 3-4... This was depressing news. To think you are further along and then to go backwards was depressing. It seemed like it took forever to get from a 3 to a 6. Once I got to a 6 It was a matter of minutes and I was ready to push. My first epidural made a big "window" on one side and my right leg was more numb than I could stand. With the chance of having a C-Section I decided to have them re-do the epidural. After my second epidural I was so numb. I could not walk until 7am the next morning. This was annoying because I could not go and see the babies but It was good because I seriously could not feel anything. When the staff told me to push I told them I could not tell if I was pushing or not so hopefully I was doing it right. I only pushed for 20 minutes tops with both babies!!!

Taylor Michael was born at 11:41pm. He was able to come on my chest for a few minutes. Taylor started off really well. and was able to stay with me for a little while.

Brody was born and 11:48pm. They sat him on my chest and then decided he needed to go down to the NICU right away. It was sad to not really see him but I was glad that I had Taylor to hold.

All in all it was a really good delivery. I have healed really quickly and I am so thankful for this as my life is really busy right now.

The Boys are here!

Introducing

Taylor Michael Coatney

November 15th 2010 11:41pm

5 lbs 1 ounce.

And

Brody Scott Coatney

November 15th 20:10 11:47pm

4lbs 13oz.

The babies are doing ok. Everything went well. I will post more tomorrow and give everyone an update but for now here is a sneak peak.

opinions Please

Dennis and I have been thinking hard of the seconds babies name. I am pretty sure we have it narrowed down to three with a middle name picked out. What is your favorite?

Taylor Cole

Justin Cole

Jonathan Cole

Here is my delima, I have always like the name Taylor for a boy. So has Dennis. In fact if Audrey was a boy we would have used Taylor. I think now though it is used more as a girls name than a boys name. I am worried because Brody is such a strong name. What do you think? Am I analyzing this too far?

Also, we worry that Jonathan is such a long name to be paired with Brody. Again should I even be worried about this?

HELP!!!

34 Weeks

Today I hit 34 weeks. I am so so done. I am measuring 40 weeks. The babies are measuring around 4 pounds. My body aches, especially my back. I am done being pregnant. I think everyone reaches a point when they are done and I am there. I have been having contractions. The doctor think I will not make it much longer. November 22nd is my induction date if they are not here yet. I am grateful that most of my weight gain has gone to my stomach and not all over my body. Though Dennis said my stomach is in bad shape. I can't see that low so I can't see what he is talking about which is probably a good thing. I thought about taking a picture of it but who would want to see... not me! Both babies are head down which is nice so I can try a regular delivery. Though I have to deliver in the operating room incase of complications. I am excited to meet these two. We do not have a second name picked out yet.... This is defiantly stressing me out. But other than a name and packing my hospital bag (I know I know) we are ready.

Baby Bedding

I made the baby bedding. I was really nervous that it would not turn out but I think it turned out okay....

One Baby Blanket.

Monkey swinging from a vine.

Second baby blanket monkey with a palm tree.

Crib Bedding. I made the bumper and crib sheet to match the blankets. The fabric is a velour and I want to crawl in. Audrey wants to sleep in here as well.

Happy Halloween

This year Audrey decided to be a Lady Bug. I have to say she made quite a cute little LadyBug. We went to Brian and Jaime's ward carnival and trick-or-treat. Audrey had a great time. She got a ton of candy and had fun playing the carnival games.

Mommy Daughter Time

Dennis went on a hunting trip for the weekend. Today Audrey had a primary program practice that she was begging me not to go to. She even tried making me popcorn and said she just wanted to hang out with me. During our conversation Dennis called and told her she did not have to go. He suggested that I take Audrey and go do something fun just the two of us. I am so glad he did. I have been wanting to take Audrey up to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and I thought this would be the perfect time. Audrey was in heaven...seriously that girl has prayed for the butterflies in her prayers for the last 2 years. When we got inside the butterfly house it was priceless. Her face lit up with excitement and pure joy. You were not suppose to touch the butterflies. She was told that if she held really still a butterfly might land on her. She kept getting closer and closer it was killing her not to hold one. She finally got one to go on her hand and that made her month. I am glad I got to spend this time with her before the twins get here. I am really going to miss the one on one time we have had for the last 4 1/2 years. Thanks for the special date Audrey. I love you so much.

Audrey was having a conversation with the butterfly.

She really wanted to touch the butterfly....

Again trying to convince the butterfly to land on her....

She told me was putting her hand below him incase he fell

Audrey put her hand out and did not move hoping and hoping the butterfly would crawl on her hand...

She won it did.... She was in heaven...

Pictures of some butterflies

My favorite time of the year

I look forward to the pumpkin patch all year long... Yes I know it's just a pumpkin patch but to me there is so much more to it. It is about getting the family together, smelling the yummy carmel popcorn, sticking the kids in the wheelbarrows and taking them for a ride (well Dennis and Brian takes them for a ride!) Seeing the animals, the corn maze, looking at all the huge pumpkins, knowing that fall is finally here, looking at the cute fall decorations, and eating some yummy carmel apples and fudge, listening to the sweet innocent laughter of the happy children! Here are a few pictures to show you what I mean...

The Coatney Cousins (missing Rylee and laney) Yes I know no one is really looking but audrey..hey its my blog

Sydney, a good friend Ellie, and Audrey

Audrey picked out two pumpkins for her brothers!

Audrey and the cute spider

Audrey, Katie and Emily

After the pumpkin patch we all headed over to at the coatneys house where Dennis, Brian, and Jeff built a slingshot. It was really fun to watch. The pumpkins went far! We also enjoyed some homemade stew, and made Smores. What a great evening!

Dennis shooting a mini pumpkin...

Audrey got in on the action as well.