God's Provision on Delivery Day

We are so happy that the boys are finally here! They are so sweet and healthy! However, the day of delivery was quite a scare as most of you already know. It is nothing short of a miracle that I'm still here. It's been two weeks today and I decided that the best thing was to just blog about the story of what happened that day.

The morning of the c-section my platelets were low and I had pre-eclampsia. I started receiving steroid shots 2 days prior to delivery to boost the platelets but it was unsuccessful and was looking like they would have to knock me out for delivery. However, the anaesthesiologist did allow me to stay conscious for the c-section so I was able to meet the boys once they arrived. Below is a pic of their first few mins of life!

After getting the little boogers out we went to the recovery room. We thought everything was fine. I smiled for my first picture holding the twins. We sent the picture below out to family and friends and told them everything was ok and baby and mom were healthy. But shortly after sending the message circumstances changed.

The recovery nurse called my doctor (Dr. Roger Gower from Greenville OB) because I was bleeding too much. She tried to knead my stomach to make my uterus contract but it was unsuccessful. I remember fading in and out while all of this was going on. The doctor came and agreed that I was losing too much blood so he recommended putting a balloon in my uterus to stop it. So, they wheeled me into the operating room again. I think it worked for a little bit at first but then they decided it needed to be blown up more b/c the bleeding was still excessive.

Dr. Gower finally said that the balloon was not enough and I needed to have a hysterectomy. He asked for my consent and I willingly gave it. What was my choice? I wanted to survive this thing and wanted him to do whatever it took. I barely remember this conversation and was still going in and out. That was probably the last conversation I remember until midnight.

There was a little bit of a hold-up before going into the operating room b/c they were waiting on a decision to be made of where to do the operation. My anaesthesiologist made the call to leave the OBGYN OR and head downstairs to another surgery floor. We were told later that the decision to move floors ended up being a decision that was critical to my outcome. Once we made it downstairs an excellent medical team filled the room. I remember one nurse looking me in the eye and saying.."Girl you are gonna make it..we WILL take care of you!" I remember thinking..."Is this serious?"

So they began the hysterectomy (only taking my uterus) but my low platelets did not help the situation. I lost so much blood that I pretty much had a total blood transfusion by the end of the day receiving 16 units of blood.  They determined I was DIC which means a patient does not have enough blood to live.  I also was experiencing kidney failure.  They had to transfuse blood into me so fast that I had a large amount of fluid in my lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema. I remember waking up and feeling like I was drowning alive. They kept telling me to breathe but I just couldn't. I felt like I was in a bath tub being held underwater. They swiftly made a decision to intubate me again and I was told that my excellent anesthesiologist stayed by my side and made that life-saving call. He took care of me every step of the way and is one of my hero's that day.

They were able to get the fluid on in my lungs under control with the intubation. Once I was wheeled to the recovery room the family was able to come see me. Apparently, I was almost unrecognizable because I was so swollen.  Josh said my neck was swollen out to my chin and my eyes were little slits. 

By midnight I was taken to the ICU and that is when I finally started to wake up. I remember hearing nurses talking about me and saying things like..."Her husband is amazing and has taken such good care of her." And..."This couple has really been through it today but the family stayed strong.". I had NO CLUE what they were talking about. When I looked out the window I was blown away that it was pitch black dark and midnight. The last thing I remember was around noon. Where did 12 hours go? What happened to me? I was in TERRIBLE pain and sooo confused.

Josh stood by my bed and told me that the Lord wanted me to be here. Then he proceeded to tell me that there were many close calls in the operating room and it was a miracle that I was still alive. The staff told me that Josh almost became a single dad that night. I was a little horrified but still so out of it that it didn't really sink in.

The bottom line of why all of this happened was because my uterus decided to "go to China" (as one doctor put it). Having twins was just too hard on my body and my uterus was stretched beyond what it could take. The low platelets just made a bad situation worse.

I am still processing all that happened and learning to be the mother of 3 kiddos. The boys and Ivy are the easy part. My body reaching full recovery is the hard part. I can't wait for the day when I am myself again. It's been a long three months and I still have a long way to go.

I am beyond grateful for my family and the fact that I am alive. There are honestly no words to express the gratitude and thankfulness in my heart. I give the Lord all of the credit and glory that I am here today. I am humbled by how many people were praying for me and believe that it was instrumental in my outcome.

Below is a funny picture of the boys. Can you guess which one has my personality and which is Josh? Caleb is the little one with his mouth wide open.

And here is a picture of the most amazing OBGYN doctor. He is one of my favorite people and I am so thankful he was the doctor on call that day. All of the nurses agree that he handled the situation with great wisdom and saved my life. The Lord definitely used him that day!

The Lord was with me that day and used the staff as His instrument to keep me here.  It was a day the Lord reminded us of his power and provision.  I'm so glad to be in His hands always!!