Dealing with PUPPPS

Four days after I had delivered the girls I embarked on another new adventure. I contracted PUPPPS. PUPPPs will usually effect women who are in their first pregnancy, carrying twins, and is usually at its worst during the third trimester. I called my doctor and I spoke with an assistant and they said that there was nothing I could do, especially when I was breastfeeding the girls. They told me to take Claritin and wait it out. There was no way! I was itching so bad, I was unable to ease it. I slept with ice packs and pasted on baking soda paste all over my body. NOTHING WORKED!

One morning after a violent itching episode that resulted in torn skin and lots of tears, Mike asked me if he should call his uncle who is an OB/GYN. I expressed to him that I wanted him to call that minute! He did. After speaking with Mike's uncle Ken, and we sent him the pictures of the rash, he confirmed that it was PUPPPs. Mike asked his uncle if there were any steroids that I could take that would not be harmful to the babies. Uncle Ken, looked it up and found that I could have Predinsone. He prescribed it and I picked it up the next day. Within one day, the itch was gone, within four days the rash was completely gone.

Thanks to uncle Ken, I was able to sleep and hold my babies and feel like a mommy again. Thanks uncle Ken you are a God-send! I don't even have any scars or spots where the rash was and I look normal again. 

The Colburn Girls Have Arrived!- 1 Week Old Today

Today marks 1 week since the birth of our girls- Juliana Grace Colburn and Olivia Judith Colburn. Here is their birth story.


On April 3, 2010 at 4:40AM I was feeling a little different. So I got up out of bed, after a little bit I felt my water break. I called for Mike and in less than 5 secs he was up going around the house trying to gather everything for the hospital. I told him to calm down, since I was not sure if I was in labor. I was not having any contractions and all my hospital stuff was in the car a week ago. I decided to call my doctor and make sure that I needed to go to the hospital. He called back and told me to head there. So, I causally put on my clothes and decided to take the dog out to go potty (Mike still going around the house trying to get everything together- which I still wonder what that was).

It was 5:15AM when we headed to the hospital. 5:30AM we were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for a nurse to come check me in. She walked us back to the triage room. There she proceeded to take a test to see if my water had really broken. While checking me she actually finished breaking my water and found that I was 3 cm. dilated. That is when I really started the contractions. They were instantly 2 minutes apart. The nurse told me "well, I guess you are going to stay and play with us today." Excitement filled Mike- as I was unable to feel much but pain. The nurse tried to place the heart monitors on my belly but she could not get a steady heartbeat on Olivia. She was hiding behind Juliana. They ended up taking an ultrasound to check what the heart rates were. The girls were in the 140s.

After the ultrasound, at 6:15 the nurse wheeled me into the room. By this time my contractions were about 6-7 pain level. I was introduced to two other nurses: Connie and Teresa. They were very sweet and helpful nurses. They too had to try to find the girls heartbeats. Within the next 2 hours my pain level shot up to a 8-9. I was sweating and trying to think of a really pleasant place to be. All I could think about is water and island and actually not picturing it, but focusing on the words water and island...funny. When I thought that the pain was too much, I asked for an epidural. The anesthesiologist came in and asked me tons of questions about my health and made the comment "I haven't seen anyone this healthy in a long time." That made me feel like I did something right. Within 30 minutes I was sitting up on the table getting my epidural. No one told me that it would be a painful process. Even though they numbed my back, they hit a nerve that sent my leg and arm flying, and I hit the nurse, holding me, in the chest.

Once I had the epidural I was pain free. We had a couple friends come and visit us while we waited for the babies to come. While waiting we lost Olivia's heartbeat again and the nurses decided to call my Dr. Hinton in and he told us that he was going to put an electrode on Juliana so we could get a monitor on Olivia. He told us an electrode is a sensor they screw in the surface of Juliana's head to monitor her. While he inserted the electrode Dr. Hinton checked to see how far I had progressed. I was dilated to 5 cm. This was around 10:20AM. We asked the nurses when they thought I would deliver. They projected, 4PM and 4:30PM, but Dr. Hinton projected 2PM. By this time, I was really hungry. I had not eaten since 10PM the previous night and I was not allowed any food, drink or ice chips.

We waited and time really flew by, except the fact I still was hungry. I looked at the clock it was 12:50PM. I felt a little ache in my right side and asked the nurse if that was normal. She decided to check me and I was fully dilated and 100% effaced. I was ready to push. They called Dr. Hinton. He came in and said "What's taking you so long? Everyone is waiting for you...even NICU is there waiting." 

Dr. Hinton

At 1:00PM they were rolling me into the Operating Room to deliver my girls. Once I got there, I noticed there was 16 people (4 from NICU for each baby, 2 nurses, 2 residents, 2 anesthesiologists, Our doctor, and Mike). I told Dr. Hinton that this was a production...he agreed with me. Right away Dr. Hinton took an ultrasound to see if the girls were still head down. They were in the perfect position. I was on target for a vaginal delivery.

Once I started the contractions, I was allowed to push. It was such a great experience. I didn't have any pain and the whole birthing atmosphere was lighthearted and entertaining. At one point Dr. Hinton almost fell off his still when his foot hit the release lever. Everyone, including myself started laughing. Within 40 minutes of entering the OR I had delivered Juliana Grace Colburn at 1:40PM. She was 4 pounds 13 oz and 17.5 inches long. With my next 2 pushes, I had Olivia Judith Colburn at 1:47PM. She was 4 pounds 14 oz and 17.5 inches long. It was perfect. I was so pleased to see them and the best part about it was they scored 7/8 and 9/9 on their APGAR test. No NICU for them. I was able to take them home with me that following Tuesday. God is so good. He gave us two beautiful girls that are healthy.

  Juliana Grace Colburn

Olivia Judith Colburn

 

Dr. Hinton and the Girls

 

 
Today they are a week old and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with them. I promised them that I will do everything I can to be the best mother I can. I promised to be there for them as long as God allowed me. I want them to know my love for them can only grow. Both Mike and I feel ultimately blessed and we are excited about introducing them to everyone. 

32.5 Week Ultrasound

On Tuesday, March 16, I went in for my ultrasound that weighs and measures our girls. Once I made myself comfortable on the table, my stomach was sticking straight up. It looked like a mountain. The tech began my ultrasound by measuring the stomach of baby A. My baby was measuring perfectly. The tech decided to take the heart rate while on baby A. We both were a little shocked to see the heart rate at 120. That was low for this stage of life. She decided that she would measure baby B and come back to A later. After getting the measurements and heart rate of baby B, which was 147, she went back to A and found her heart rate to be 152. Much better than before. The tech told me that she had been sleeping and that was a resting heart rate.


Next she wanted to check the movements of both babies, but they seemed to go back to sleep. She used a vibrating instrument on my tummy. It sent vibrations through the amniotic fluid. The babies started kicking like crazy. I was told I have really good sleepers and hope they only will continue this when they are born.


After all the measurements, it was time to find out what each of the babies weighed. The tech went to the back to use the doctor's measurement scale. She came back to inform me that the babies were 4 pounds each and they were only grams apart. She was amazed at how close their weights were. What a great blessing.Once I was done with this appointment, I went to my ob/gyn to my other appointment. My doctor there informed me that if the babies were to come now, they would do very well. I am very excited. Although they could come now, I really want to wait to have them at 37 weeks. I want them to be completely ready, but only God knows when that truly will be.  As far as on my end, I am ready with my bag, my babies' bag, and car seats in the car already. (I am currently 33.5 weeks today.) I am so excited to be so close to seeing my babies.

31 weeks 4 days

Everything is going great so far with the girls. Today, I was able to have a check-up ultrasound to make sure the fluid levels in each sac are equal. So far they are, and the girls are moving well. I was pleasantly surprised when the tech told me that they are still head down. One little girl was faced down and the other little girl was face up. Unfortunately, the presenting fetus is the one that is facing upward. Now my prayers are that she turns down before she is born.

Today, I chose to measure my stomach to compare the measurements to about 4 days ago. I have gained another 1/2 inch. I will find out next week what their weights are. I can't wait. The doctor also told me I will be going to the hospital to be monitored for 30 minutes 1 time a week. I am so ready to have these girls here. I had another contraction today from being on my feet too long. Not fun. I had to leave lunch on the counter and sit down for about 15 minutes, then it went away. Everything is fine though, just a part of the process to get these babies ready to come out. Soon, Mike and I will be sharing with you pictures of our baby girls. The count down begins.

My Growing Girls

Went for an ultrasound today and saw my healthy little girls. They both are doing well and getting so big. They can't really get pictures of them both at the same time anymore. The girls are positioned head down, like they have been for the last month or so. Their weights were 2 pounds 10 ounces and 2 pounds and 13 ounces. The doctor said there is a 7% discord, but nothing to be worried about. I will be going for weekly ultrasound for the next 3 weeks. After then, the doctor said that the twin to twin transfusion is less likely. I will be 32 weeks.

It is getting so close and I am starting to feel a little anxiety. I want them to be here, but I just want to be sure that I am going to be the best mommy I can to these girls. The back pain is piling on here and the pull in my shoulders is terrible, but I know this is only going to last for another 6.5 weeks or so. It is so exciting to be able to say I have my own children. What a great chapter in life that God has given me. I only pray that my girls will continue to grow healthy and strong. Our prayers are that we won't have to have them in the NICU for very long. This will only happen if their weight is at least 5 pounds. If God wanted me to have these babies, He will take care of them. So excited to see them and share them with friends and family.

Poked and Prodded

Today, I went in to the doctors for a normal check up routine. I did however know I was going to have a glucose test done. The first thing I did this morning was drink a nasty 8 oz orange drink with about 50 mg of sugar in it. An hour later I was getting my blood drawn for my test. Once I was done with that I was taken back to get the heart rate of our baby girls. The heart rates were 142 and 157. What a beautiful sound and very exciting to know that they are doing just fine. Just when I thought that my visit was over. I was informed that I needed to get a shot. This shot was because I have a negative blood type and it would ensure that everyone would be safe at delivery. Since I am started my third trimester, I begin seeing my doctor every two weeks. This is very exciting since the end it drawing near. :) I can't wait to see my little girls and share them with friends and family.

Nursery in Process

For the past few months Mike and I have been working on getting the girl's nursery ready. We have devoted one day out of the week to work on something. Right now I am in the process of washing clothes, blankets, and sheets. Who knew that the laundry would start before they come. We have been so blessed to have wonderful friends and family that have helped us get everything we need for these little ones.