Monday, May 17, 2010

An amazing mother and an amazing story!



As I was holding Mckenna tonight, I was looking at her and thinking about how blessed we've been to be able to take two healthy babies home, who were born so premature, and who weighed about 1.5 pounds at birth. It's a miracle. I'm thankful to God, who no doubt blessed our babies to be able to survive without major problems, and who helped them to be healed when they were very sick at times in the NICU. However, I also know that without Karisa's heroic effort, the kids would never have made it to the point where they are now - home and healthy! She fought amazingly hard to not only keep them in the womb for two weeks after her labor started, but also to help keep them around once they came into the world.

When we arrived at the hospital on November 30th, we had no idea that Karisa wouldn't be leaving until the babies were born. What she thought were just pregnancy cramps turned out to be contractions, and our doctor immediately turned her over to a "high risk" team of doctors, who would try their best to keep her from delivering for as long as possible. At less than 24 weeks, the babies would need a little more time in the womb for a good shot at surviving- particularly for their lungs. The high risk team wanted at least 48 hours, in order to give her two separate steroid shots, which would rapidly develop the twins' lungs while still in the womb. However, each day that they stayed in the womb would give the kids a better chance of survival. That same night, they immediately started to work on Karisa, giving her the first steroid shot and starting her on magnesium sulfate - powerful medicine used to try to minimize the contractions. They declined her in the bed so that her head was lower than her feet, in order to keep gravity from working against her and pulling the babies through. Unfortunately, the magnesium had a powerful effect on her body, making her naseous and also making her physically shake and quiver at times. Several times during the nights I would hear her whimper and moan from the pain she was in... it was really sad, but there was nothing I or anyone could do. Although she was in pain with contractions, tipped slightly upside down, and quivering from the magnesium sulfate, she made it through that crucial 48 hour window for the doctors to be able to give her both rounds of steriods!

After the second day, they finally let her lay flat on her bed instead of her normal declined position. That helped her to be a little more comfortable, but she still had the magnesium pumping through her body, and she was still having contractions. At this point, fluid had entered her lungs because she had been upside down for so long, which presented a new problem and required new medication. Much to the astonishment of the doctors, who originally told us that the babies would be born within two days, Karisa made it two weeks on her hospital bed before an infection forced the doctors to pull the babies out!

During those two weeks, we could write a book about all the strange things that happened, ranging from the two competing doctor groups trying to sell us on the rights to take care of the babies in the NICU, to failed operations to end the contractions, to visits from hospital personnel inquiring whether we wanted to attempt to save the kids at birth or "let them be comfortable" while telling us all the negative disabilities that premies can have.. the list goes on and on. On one occasion one of the treatments caused Karisa to have an allergic reaction and shake so badly that she had to be physically held down on her hospital bed, so that her water wouldn't break. She endured constant magnesium sulfate flow, 100% bedrest, fluid in her lungs (for two of the days), and possibly worst of all -- facing the fact that the babies may not even survive once they were born, after all her she would try to go through to save them. Despite all the obstacles, she kept her mind on the goal of having two healthy twin babies, which we now have, thanks to Karisa!

Once they were born, I could write a separate blog on all the things she's done to make sure that they stayed alive and healthy while in the NICU..... she stayed at the NICU nearly all day every day, helping to care for and hold the babies when they were big enough to be held.. she also played an instrumental role in helping to save Mckenna on Mckennas' worst crash (Jan. 6th) by advising the main doctor early and often that she thought Mckenna had an infection (the doctor brushed it off at first, saying that Mckenna was just displaying normal premie volatility).

Connor, Mckenna, and I all want to thank you for fighting so hard to be able to have the babies, and also for working in the NICU with the doctors and nurses once they were born. You saved their lives more than once during the last five months, and we thank you so much! We love you and owe you big-time, and think you're amazing!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Grandma time!!



Eric's mom, Ruth, came out to help us when the twins first came home, and man were we grateful! It is a scary thing when you take your kids home for the first time, and once home you realize suddenly that you have no idea how to be a mom. It was so nice to have her help and guidance and an extra set of hands during this transition time. Grandma was so nice she would even take the night shift for us so we could get some sleep. It was so fun having her out her to visit and help with the babies. Connor and Kenna really miss her and hope she can visit again soon. Thanks again Ruth, you were such a great help! Oh and happy mothers day!

Typical Day in the Burns Home


The typical day in the Burns home.....craziness. Ha, ha..Eric and I have been so excited to have the twins home. We did not realize how incredibly busy it would make us and how much it would change our lives. It is a wonderful thing to have them home though...at least most the time (jk). This morning I was thinking about all the supplies and time we spend with them on a typical day, so here's a rough estimate:

15-20 diapers
32 bottles (2 every 3 hrs for pumping, and two different ones for feeding)
countless binkies due to colic
8 hours of feeding time (both feed about 7-8 hours a day and take 30 min to eat)
2.5 hours of pumping time for mom each day (I pump because kids can't breastfeed)
average of 3 doctors appointments a week
4-6 outfits a day... due to spit-up or...see the first item on this list...
zero free time - we've wanted to update this blog for about a month now.
lots of smiles!
2-5 hours sleep for mom and dad
immeasurable love and fun!

Things are crazy, but we are so grateful to have two healthy babies. It really is such a miracle and we love these guys so much. They are now about 5 months old (although really like a 6wk old baby) and are both really doing well. Connor is about 10 pounds now, and Mckenna is about 8 and 1/2 pounds.





Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!


This weekend Eric and I celebrated our one year anniversary! We were so excited because my mom took the kids and we got to go to a hotel and get away and relax a little bit. It was sooo nice to get away!
Man has it been a crazy and exciting year! But it has also been the best year of my life. Over the weekend its been fun to think of the past years events:

May 9th: married for all time and eternity in the Mesa, AZ temple.


May 11th: Almost missed our honeymoon cruise because we forgot our birth certificates. Got faxed as they were shutting cruise ship door. Thanks to my mom, and thanks to Eric's sister, Allison.



End of July: Found out we were pregnant!

August: Eric's emergency hospital stay and appendectomy.

September: Found out we were having twins. One boy and one girl! Dad was really excited and mom was really scared (but also excited!).



November 29: Started having contractions. Went into the hospital after Eric gave me a priesthood blessing. I thought I was just paraniod and that they would send me home. Found out I was in preterm labor, was dilated to a four, hundred percent effeced and had a bulging bag!

Begining of December: Spent two weeks in the hospital in preterm labor on bedrest. This was a miracle since when I went in they thought I would have the baby right away. They originally told us 24-48 hours, and I made it two whole weeks!! I really attribute the reason I was able to stay pregnant to the prayers of everyone around and blessings I received. Thank you everyone for all your support, love and prayers. Also thank you all the nurses for all your support! Couldn't make it without you all!

Dec 12th: Our two beautiful twins made there debut into the world at 25 and 1/2 weeks! The begining of our long nicu stay.




Dec 18th: Mckenna's heart surgery. We were so scared!


Jan 6th: The day we almost lost Mckenna to a very scary infection. One of the worst days of our life! Again thank you everyone for your prayers.


Months of Dec, Jan, Feb, March, and April: babies long nicu stay were they went through many challenges of brain hemorrage, heart surgery, infections, procedures, gi issues tests and so many things!

April 15th: Day we got to bring Connor home

April !8th: day we brough Mckenna home




So now we celebrate our one year annivesary, with two five month olds and a busy but very full life. It has been the best and hardest year of my life! Thank you babe for marrying me! Your support and love has gotten me through these hard times. I am so lucky to have a man like you!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Busy Times

We've had both kids home now for almost a month, and what a month it's been. Sorry about the lack of communication, for those who regularly visit the blog to see the babies! We will post a lot of pictures soon. Both kids are doing very well, and keeping mom and dad very very busy. Connor and Mckenna are both starting to smile a little bit, which is hilarious to see because it requires so much effort! As soon as we get a good smile on camera, we'll post it on the blog. We have a lot of pictures we'll post and even some videos soon, hopefully....when we get some free time. I know it's probably no news to seasoned parents out there, but I can't believe how busy these babies make things at home!