More Pics of the Big Day

Thanks to Dan for the post about our little girls on the same day they were born! Now that I'm home from the hospital and starting to function halfway, I'll try to keep up on the blog. I wanted to post some more pics of the day they were born. We are so blessed to have these two little miracles in our lives! Thanks for all the love, support, and congrats we have received from family and friends.

Scrubbed up and ready to go! Baby A--Bailee Vera Anderson, 4 lbs. 12 oz. born at 5:38 pm
FYI...My guts are spilled over the other side of that blue sheet
Baby B--Rylin Vida Anderson, 5 lbs. 3 oz. also born at 5:38 pm
Rylin weighed exactly what Makee weighed When I came out of surgery, I was greeted by our family. But I was most happy to see these two faces!

Daddy and Rylin Rylin and Daddy

Daddy and Bailee Bailee and Daddy

After the babies were thoroughly checked out and taken to the NICU, Dan was able to take my parents and his parents down to meet their new granddaughters. Nani and Pappy meeting Ryling for the first time Ama and Papa meeting Bailee for the first time BaileeRylin Rylin

I was so sick after my surgery, I wasn't able to see my little girls until the next day. But bright and early the next day, Dan took me down to see them. We got to hold them for the first time! They only had to be in their isolettes for about half a day. They have been able to keep their oxygen levels high, their body temps up, and they have not had a problem with their jaundice. Rylin in her isolette
Daddy holding his little Rylin for the first time Me holding my little Bailee for the first time Daddy holding his little Bailee for the first time Me holding my little Rylin for the first time Rylin Vida

So I thought I would write about the birth of these two little girls. I was scheduled for a C-section on Thursday, July 2. But I went in for an ultrasound and non-stress test on Friday, June 26. The non-stress test looked great, and the ultrasound looked like the girls were doing fine. But after my doctor reviewed the results from the ultrasound, she noticed that Bailee's growth had slowed down quite a bit. Because of the risk of stillborn, and all the risks that could come from waiting another week to deliver, my doctor felt like we should take the babies that day. So that was it! Daniel and I spent the rest of the day with Makee and then checked into the hospital at about 3:00 that afternoon.
By 5:30, I was numbed up and laying in the operating room next to Dan. That is the weirdest feeling! I felt like I was an alien being disected. But it didn't hurt one bit. It was weird to feel all the tugging around in my stomach as they were working to get the babies out. My doctor said, "You're going to feel some pressure!" and suddenly I heard a baby cry. They brought Baby "A," our sweet little Bailee (we had already named the girls while they were in my stomach) for a quick look before they took her to check her out. Then in the same minute, I felt a litte more pressure, and then heard another little cry. They brought Baby "B," our precious little Rylin over so we could see her. I was so overwhelmed when I saw our two perfect little girls.
I've been so worried that I wasn't going to love these little girls as much as we love Makee. I don't know why, it's just been a worry. I love Makai more than I could ever imagine. And I think because I love Makai so much, seeing my little girls for the first time, I felt this incredible love for them immediately. It's so true that your love only grows more when you have more children. People always told me that is how it goes, but I didn't understand how it could be possible until I saw them for the first time.

I was talking to Daniel yesterday, and he told me that he didn't think I understood how scary and high-risk my pregnancy was. I know there were many risks, and I was worried. But he knew a lot more than I did from talking to many experienced people who have dealt with our type of pregnancy. There are so many things that could have gone wrong. I'm glad I didn't know or fully understand all the risks, and I'm kinda glad he didn't tell me. We were talking about how truly blessed and watched over we have been. Faith and prayers are real. The priesthood is real. Heavenly Father watches over us and knows our needs. Miracles are possible. I can't believe we have made it through this journey, and I can't believe we have two perfect little girls that are so healthy. Now we just need to get them home!
Bailee and Rylin have been in the NICU for about a week and half. For the entire time, their only problem has been eating. They have been too tuckered out to eat from the bottle every single time. So they put some tubes in their noses that go into their stomachs. The girls were being fed through the tubes about every other feeding. But in the last couple days, they have really turned a corner. They have both been eating so well! Rylin was doing so well that the nurse decided to take out her feeding tube and feed her solely with the bottle. As soon as she took it out, Bailee pulled hers out on her own! I told the nurse she just wants to go home with her sister! So although Bailee is a little behind Rylin, the nurse decided to leave her tube out to see if she can eat on her own. So far, both girls have been eating completely on their own without the tubes. They have to eat for at least 48 hours on their own while gaining weight before they can go home. If all continues to go well, we will be able to bring Rylin home tomorrow! And we will be able to bring Bailee home in a couple days at the most. It was breaking my heart to think of leaving Bailee at the hospital without her sister, but I can handle it knowing that she is only one or two days away. I cannot believe how well both of them have done. They are little fighters! I can't wait to get them home to meet their big brother.
Oh poor little Makee has had a rough time! He had a really hard time while I was in the hospital. I missed him so much, and I think he missed me. He's been shuffled around from house to house, and it has been really hard on him even though he's at places of the people he loves. Since I've been home, it's been so nice to be able to spend some time with him. But it's been hard because I still can't do much, and I can't lift him. When he wakes up in the morning, or wakes up from his naps, I have to wait until someone can get over to pull him out of his crib. I know it's going to be a little hard on him when the girls actually get home. But it will be good to get into a schedule and be home with our entire little family. Mak has been so sweet since I've been home. He is constantly coming up to me and giving me loves. He's been such a good boy, especially considering that he has no idea what is going on, and his whole schedule has been turned upside down. We were showing Makee some pictures of his sisters, and he was smiling and looking at them. Then he said, "Buh-Bye!" when he was done looking at them. He won't be able to say "Buh-bye!" and make them disappear when they are here! I know he is going to love his sisters. I'm really looking forward to these next couple weeks because Dan is taking them off, and we will get to spend time together with our three little kiddos. Life is good!

Bailee Vera Rylin Vida