"Trying" to get new pictures of the twins...

So school was still in so it was just the five of us at home. William and Murphy were growing bigger and I felt guilty that I hadn't even thought about taking pictures. So I put them in the outfit a friend of mine (Thanks Chelsea - a fellow mom of twins) gave us and laid out a blanket and took a couple of pictures. I should really take some photography lessons from someone. Anyhow, Murphy started out crying. William was trying to pick his head up so he could look the other way. Gehrig and Emma wanted in on the action and in the end Murphy and William fell asleep. I think I got a few cute ones. You will notice their little Wubbanubs. I bought these because I thought you could exchange the binkies and keep the little stuffed animal but it is sewn in there. Initially they kept pulling it out of their mouths but they are getting kind of good at keeping it in their mouths now...that is unless Emma steals it.

(William in front and Murphy in the back)

(William and Murphy)

(Emma and Gehrig getting in on the action.)

(Every time I ask Emma to smile for a photo she gives me her super hero pose. Here she is with her muse Gehrig.)

(William and Murphy tuckered out...it is a hard life to be a model.) :)

Okay....so more than 3 months later...

The babies have been born...surprise. Okay I know you all knew that but how can I leave it out? As most of you knew I had been hospitalized for kidney infections and kept spiking 103-104 degree fevers. The babies tolerated it very well so they weren't in any hurry to have them born. My doctor ended up sending me for an ultrasound to see if they could get a good view of my kidneys and they found out that the babies has squished my bladder down to almost nothing, and my left kidney was taking on fluid and possibly had stones.

Well, Friday the 3rd of April came and the doctor finally agreed that it was time for the babies to be born. At 1pm she was going to come break my water. It was closer to 2pm when she actually got there and the nurse was about to set up medicine to start my contractions but wanted to see if I would like an epidural beforehand. I usually like to pretend to be brave and then give in after a couple of hours but after Andrew's reminder that I always wish I had had it sooner I decided what the heck. Why wait? If you haven't figured it out yet I am absolutely all about modern medicine. :) Anyhow before they could call the anesthesia people they found out that I need new labs. Fast forward 30 minutes and a bunch of contractions later (without the medicine I might add) and the tech is finally there to draw my blood. I am rapidly progressing and they are afraid if they don't hurry with the labs the anesthesiologist won't be able to give me the epidural before the babies are born. Can you say panic? The contractions were really strong and fast and I thought I might be able to have one baby natural but definitely not two. I immediately started freaking out. Luckily only a HALF HOUR later the anesthesia nurse comes and tries 6-8 TIMES to give me an epidural. She is wiggling the needle around and finally I told her that "I think you are killing me and you need to stop." I might have screamed that I don't know...I was having contractions and she was only making it worse. Luckily after 30 minutes of trying she decided to agree and paged her boss. They made me lay down because in the nurses words, "I am not paid to deliver your baby" and they were trying to get the doctor on the phone because I had progressed to a 9. After that an actual anesthesiologist came and gave it a couple tries with no luck. I am really feeling like it is near the end and I can absolutely feel everything. The doctor gets there and they decide to do a spinal block and rush me to the OR. In case you don't know, most hospitals have policies for delivering multiples. Ours required it be done in the OR.

So I am flying down the hall and Andrew is kind of out of it because NONE of our previous deliveries have ever been this quick nor have we had to go to the OR. The doctor had told him to go get scrubs on and he went into the room and just kind of stood there for a minute not knowing what to do. Luckily the anesthesiologist was kind and said to throw his clothes on the floor and hurry and put the scrubs on because he was going to miss it.

Just as he came into the room I pushed once and William was born and three minutes later Murphy was born breech. It was a little traumatic for him coming down that way. The NICU nurses took care of him for a half an hour and then he got to join his brother with us in the room. It all happened so fast it is definitely a blur...maybe it is better that way.

(Murphy Fred Sproul)

(William Ted Sproul)

The next day Satchel Gehrig and Emma got to come see the babies. They were all very gentle with them. Emma I think thought I looked pretty strange. I definitely think I did. Wouldn't you if they had you on bed rest then pumped you full of IVs? I will not be posting any of the pictures of me just to spare you the nightmares, but enjoy all the pictures of the kids and some of our visitors.

(My mom and the boys)

(My sister Breezy and Murphy)

(My MIL Valerie - no, she doesn't have the swine flu..she just wasn't feeling good and didn't want to give it to the babies. :), Gehrig, William, my friend Renee, and Emma.)

(Big Brother Satchel and Murphy)

(Big Sister Emma and William)