The Twins Have Arrived!

We are so thrilled to announce here on our blog the long-anticipated birth of our twin daughters, Emmeline and Elizabeth, on April 22, 2009.  I (Andrea) can't seem to get the pics in the order that I want but oh well, here they are anyway!  So I will share a bit of the birth story...

I went in to the OB Tuesday, April 21st in the morning to find out I was dilated to a 3, 75% effaced.  The OB told me if I wanted to she could break my water the next morning.  After discussing it with Jordan we decided to make the appt and get the show on the road.  I was much relieved though to go into labor on my own that night at about 11:00 PM.  With each kid my labors get longer so I was not worried about getting to the hospital anytime soon.  My contractions continued all night and we went in at 8:30 AM where I learned I was dilated to a 4.  I kept laboring as they hooked me up to the monitors and IV, etc, then learned I was at a 6 and 100% effaced.  At that point they broke my water and I got an epidural (only my second one with all the kids I have had).  It was great!  Before long I was ready to have these babies and was wheeled to the OR in case they had to do an emergency C-section.  The nurses were so intrigued I was opting for a vaginal birth with twins they called in their buddies, thus bringing in an audience of 15 people to watch the birth!  By this point I could care less though, anxious to meet the babies.  They came easily, 4 minutes apart and beautiful.  Let me introduce them...

Tired MamaBorn first...Emmeline Sue, 5 lbs, 7 oz 19.5 inches, born at 4:58 PM.  Elizabeth Anne, 6 lbs, 3 oz, 19 inches long, born at 5:02 PM.  

Pic taken before getting into the car to go to the hospital.  Ahhh, what a relief it is not to be pregnant anymore!

The ladies all bundled up. Lizzy on the right, Emmi on the left. 
Proud Daddy, already in love with his ladies. 
The nurses let Jordan bathe the babes in the nursery.  He loved it!

I stayed at the hospital for 2 days after the babies came.  My mom stayed with me both nights to help with the babies while I tried (quite unsuccessfully) to get some sleep.  It is so wonderful to have my family here!!  We are so thrilled to have these babies here and are absolutely in love with them, as are the other children.  What a blessing it is to have them.