Paityn & Conner Have Arrived!!!

Paityn and Conner are here!!! I want to give their birth information and share a few pictures with everyone. After being admitted to the hospital on bedrest Tuesday...the babies decided they did not want me on bedrest. Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. I went into labor. Paityn and Conner were born Thursday, October 28, 2010. Paityn Elizabeth Macat was born at 6:10 a.m. weighed 5 pounds 1/2 ounce and was 18 1/2 inches long. Conner Ross Macat was born at 6:16 a.m. weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces and was 18 inches long. Both babies were born crying and are breathing on their own and have not needed any breathing assistance. Paityn has been taking all of her feedings by bottle and is doing great! Conner took a few feedings by bottle but did not tolerate them as well so he will be receiving his feedings through a tube. Both babies are a little jaundice and are receiving phototherapy lights. All of the NICU staff says that they are both doing great for being born at 34 weeks. I should be released tomorrow and will begin trying to get things ready for when the babies come home. Below are a few pics!

Mommy holding us for the first time!

Daddy holding us for the first time!

Conner Ross

Paityn Elizabeth

Hospital it is!

Today we went for a growth ultrasound and a check up with Dr. Bonds. During the growth ultrasound we found out the predicted weights of the babies. Paityn's predicted weight is 5 pounds 2 ounces and Conner's predicted weight is 4 pounds 8 ounces. After the growth ultrasound we headed to see Dr. Bonds. I am currently dilated 5cm and my cervix is thinner than last week. She said things are progressing but very slow so she has no idea as to when I will go into labor. With me being 5cm she said she did not feel comfortable sending me back home and having me be so far away from the hospital. She said I would need to be admitted to the hospital for the rest of the pregnancy. Before heading to the hospital Dr. Bonds told me I could go out to eat before having to settle with hospital food everyday. I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Olive Garden!! I think I savored every bite :) Hahaha. After lunch we headed to St. Joseph's and got checked. I am now in my room where I will stay until it is time to head to labor and delivery. Myself and the babies will be monitored everyday to check heartbeats, contractions, etc... Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers sent our way! Love, Casey & Matt

Big Belly=Jack-O-Lantern

Ever since I became pregnant all Matt could talk about was how he could not wait until Halloween so he could paint my belly like a giant Jack-O-Lantern. Not knowing how much longer we have...he decided to take advantage of time before we go back to the doctor tomorrow :)

33 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 33 Weeks

Dilated: 4 cm

Effaced : 80%
 
Baby Changes:


Baby's now the size of a honeydew!

You are one hot mama -- literally. A 20 percent metabolic rate increase throughout pregnancy can leave you begging for a cool breeze no matter what the weather is like.

Things are heating up inside as well: Baby may grow up to a full inch this week alone, and his brain is developing like crazy. Pretty soon, he'll be able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Also, his bones are hardening, and he's started to keep his eyes open when he's awake.
Information from: www.thebump.com   

Best Moments of the Week: Watching the large ripples and roles across my belly.

Movement/Positions: Paityn is currently low, head down, and on the left. Conner is head down again and on the right/top.

Food Cravings: Pickles and salty snacks.

What I miss: Sleeping throughout the night and being able to lay on the couch.

Sleep: About 3 hours at a time.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our new little babies!

Bed Rest: 8 Weeks

Beating All Odds

It is crazy to think back to Easter Sunday, the day we found out I was pregnant, and then to think of how things have changed to get us to where we are today. So many things have changed since then...especially my belly :) It is amazing at how our 2 babies have already made such a huge positive impact on our lives, our families, and on our home. We are so honored that God chose us to have twins. Also, it is a miracle that I am still pregnant. Today we went for another check up and got good news once again. Paityn and Conner are definitely holding on and are not ready to come into this world just yet. I have not progressed any in the last few weeks and our doctor is thrilled! She told us that if she would of bet on how long we would make it...she would have already lost her money! We are beating all odds against us and we know all of it has to do with the power of prayer :) Dr. Bonds scheduled another growth ultrasound for next week to check on the babies' weights, measurements, etc... so we just pray that we make it until then! I am beginning to have more contractions with majority of them being braxton hicks contractions which are completely normally during the 3rd trimester. Overall I am still pretty comfortable for the most part and know that my minor aches and pains will all be worth it when we have 2 healthy happy babies to hold in our arms.

Maternity Pictures

A little over a week ago we got permission from Dr. Bonds for me to be up and out of the house to do some maternity/family pictures since I made it past 30 weeks. I was allowed a total of 2 hour to be up and out of the house. We went downtown with Gabri Means, owner of Photos by Gabri http://photosbygabri.com and got some great pictures! She did an amazing job and was so willing to work with us. She knew I had to sit for majority of the shots since I am on bed rest and was very creative with coming up with ideas for us :) Thanks Gabri!! Below are a few pictures!

Home Sweet Home!

I thought I would title this blog "Home Sweet Home!" because we were lucky enough to come home yet again after a check up at the doctor. All is continuing to go well. I am still dilated 4 cm and 80% effaced, which is where things were last week. We were very happy to hear that things had not progressed any further so our sweet little babies can continue baking in the oven for a while longer! We are still on a day to day basis so if all goes well then we will go for another check up next Tuesday. Thanks again for all of your prayers sent our way! You are the reason we are still going :)

Scarecrow Festival & Mommy Time

Well this weekend I did not get to see Matt very much since he had to work at the Scarecrow Festival in Chappell Hill. I was sad that I did not get to go because I love shopping for the house or yard and especially wanted to go this year to look for things for the babies. Although I did not get to go, Matt brought home a present that his mom (Nana) bought for Paityn. She officially has her first tutu!!

 
Since I have been on bed rest, now for almost seven weeks, I have only seen my mom a few times because she had major surgery the day after I was put on bed rest. On Sunday, she came over and spent the day with me. Just the two of us :) It was nice to see each other in person and just hang out for the day! Even though we talk on the phone everyday, it was much better to talk in person.

Out of everything...there is always something positive!

Today Matt and I went for a growth ultrasound and a check up with Dr. Bonds. The ultrasound went great! Paityn's predicted current weight is 4 pounds exactly and Conner's predicted current weight is 3 pounds 5 ounces. Conner has turned yet again and is breech...but the good news is that he still has enough room to turn head down if he wants too :) Both babies are healthy and looking great! Right after the growth ultrasound we headed next door to the doctor. While visiting with Dr. Bonds we found out that I am now dilated 4 cm. Our first thought was, "Oh...now we are going to the hospital!" but we then received good news!! Although I am 4 cm, my cervix is not completely thinned or in the labor position yet so we were able to come home! I am still on strict bed rest and she said we basically will take things day by day now. Each and everyday is another blessing from God and we are thankful that we have made it this far. Thanks again for all your wonderful thoughts and prayers!!

BES Baby Shower!

I want to start out by saying THANK YOU to all of my BES friends and family! Matt and I feel so blessed that I am able to work at such a wonderful school with such great people. It means a lot to us to have such support and prayers that have constantly been sent our way during my pregnancy. Yesterday, the baby shower was great! It was so good to see and talk to everyone via Skype (thanks Mrs. Tarbutton for coming up with the idea!!!!) Thank you to the hostesses for putting everything together and for the yummy cookies!!! Also, thank you for all of the wonderful gifts for Paityn and Conner! We are now more prepared for their arrival thanks to you guys :) I don't think I would have made it this far without everyone standing behind me! I cannot express in words how thankful I am for that!! Today, I am 30 weeks, so we are very excited that our first goal has been met!!!

Thanks You!!