Finally here.

Early morning, September 28, we welcomed our two precious little ones. Things pulled together rather quickly for a first time delivery, I think, and they were in our arms about 7 hours after the first contraction.

3:30 am, 5 pushes, and our little man was born. I cannot lie, during labor I was thinking how can they be worth this?! But as soon as that boy was out and the midwife laid him on my chest, I couldn't hold back the tears, and just wept with my arms around my precious son.

3:51 am, just a few more than 5 pushes, and our daughter was born. Her heart rate was dropping quickly during labor, so she was taken right away to be cleaned up and APGAR tested. A couple minutes later Peter had them both in his arms.

We waited until the next day to name them, knowing neither of us could think straight at 4 am.

When Peter came back to the hospital later Wednesday, our little girl wasn't with me. Shortly after birth she had stopped breathing, turned an awful blue, and was hurriedly taken away by midwives. I was later informed by a group of pediatricians that she was in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit being monitored.

Peter was able to go up to see her, and brought back a picture for me to see since I hadn't had much time with her. We talked about names, and though a lot of things were not certain, one thing was: our little boy was to be Sebastian Grey.

We looked at pictures of our daughter and crossed name after name off of our list, settling on Katharina (pronounced Kat-uh-rina) McCallum.

And so our twins were named. Grey is my father's mother's maiden name, and McCallum is Peter's father's mother's  maiden name.

On Wednesday, 28 September they were born.

Sebastian Grey

at 3:30 am

5 pounds 3 ounces

18 1/2 inches long

Katharina McCallum

 at 3:51 am

5 pounds 8 ounces

19 inches long

We spent 7 days in the hospital, with no diagnosis on Katharina's apneas. The one conclusion that seemed most probable was that the magnesium sulfate I was given during labor because of high blood pressure affected her.

But we're home now-- happy as could be, our little family of four. Katharina only came home with an apnea monitor that we turn on when she's sleeping in her crib (cot), or whenever we're not right near her (which is never). Peter and I didn't know it was possible to love these two so much. We absolutely adore them. And that's an understatement.

Katharina is a bundle of pure smiles and joy. She's so patient, rarely cries, and sleeps like an angel. Sebastian is a feisty little boy that hates having his diaper changed, loves skin-to-skin, and keeps us all entertained with his silly faces.

Both are incredible feeders and sleepers, and have taken to the Baby Wise routine on their own, always putting themselves to sleep in their bed, and waking [almost ;)] just on time for feeding. (Praise God). They love a tight swaddle, a long snuggle, and have both discovered their thumbs.

We could watch them for hours on end, and love to compare their differences and similarities. Before they were born I was concerned it would be difficult for them to develop their individual identities and that we would struggle with referring to them as one, as "the twins". But already I am seeing that is not the case. We love different things about each one, and already they both express themselves in totally different ways, and we are loving that.

And now, a few pictures upon request:

Last belly picture!

Sebastian-- just a few hours old.

Second time snuggling since birth.

Honest truth, having a child in an incubator in the NICU

is unbelievably hard. It was the most emotionally

 and physically taxing thing we have ever experienced.

Your mind can't help but go to things like, How long does she 

cry? Why does she cry? Does she know who I am when I visit?

Does she miss her brother? Can she smell us? Do we comfort her?

Will we ever have as strong a bond as her brother and I? Does

she know we didn't put her here? Does she recognize my voice?

Katharina was all smiles the first time we put her next

to Sebastian when she was released from the NICU.

It was a teary-eyed moment for all of us.

This is one very proud daddy. . .

. . .and his very happy daughter.

getting ready to go home.

Grammy made a welcome home sign and had
a huge lunch on the table when we got home.

A few last things: 

They had pictures taken today

I lost 42 pounds in less than a week

A blog post is coming on our hot new wheels