Welcome to the world Seren and Mekai!

Blessed. From above. Undeservedly so.

Our first experience with parenthood was overwhelming and amazing and we would just sit in awe of our little Demani. The second time around with two fragile creatures so fresh from their place of creation is just as awe-inspiring. Mathwon and I will just look around our home and go from one angels face to another and be so acutely aware of how blessed we are and in the same moment of the awesome responsibility we have to these three. The tension created by these feelings certainly keeps us on our toes.

The day of the arrival of Seren Aliya and Mekai Declan began like the days in the recent past - a bit tired and uncomfortable. The contractions that I had been feeling in the last day or so were different and more intense than Braxton-Hicks contractions. I was a bit bummed that I had yet another doctor appointment to go to at 1:30pm - I had hoped I wasn't going to need it. The ultrasound went well, as did the non-stress test. During the non-stress test I had a few minutes where I was very uncomfortable and it kind of made me wonder....fast forward a few minutes to 3:30pm to seeing Dr. Nicholson and he checks me and says, "Did you bring your stuff with you?" We said no. :) He said you are 100% effaced and 4 cm dilated. He said that with being a second time mom and with twins that things could move fast. He said go home and get your stuff and be back in about an hour. He had said I could go ahead and go upstairs but I didn't want to - I wanted to make sure I had everything and hug my little man. So we came home and scrambled to get everything done and I began to have really strong contractions. I sat on the birth ball and tried to smile and laugh with Demani bear through the discomfort. The last contraction I got before leaving the house I was holding on to mom and swaying.

We got to the hospital at about 5:15 and I was beginning to really feel it. Our friend, Jolene, who is also a midwife, met us in the room. When she saw me she said, "Oh, this is different than it was an hour or so ago." I just nodded. She helped me get into my sundress :) and to the birthing ball. Soon I heard my music playing and Mathwon reading scripture to me. The doctor came in to check on us around 5:45pm and asked if I wanted to be checked and I said yes because I felt that things had changed. He checked me and much to all of our surprise I was 8 cm dilated! WOW that was fast! It took a whole day and a half to get to that point with Demani!! Dr. N said, "Let me cancel my patients and go get changed!" It was a celebratory moment because we knew that the pain would be over soon and that the babies would soon be here!

I got back on the birth ball and with the support of our doula, Monica, and Jolene, Mathwon and nurses I continued to labor. The contractions were intense but I don't think there were as painful as they were with Demani. Soon , I was helped into bed and they broke Seren's bag of water and soon with several pushes she was born at 7:02pm. I was able to hold her until the cord quit pulsating. Meanwhile they were using the ultrasound machine to check on Mekai. Dr. N told me he was posterior (like Demani was) and I kind of panicked and they all assured me that everything was okay and that I could do this. Dr. N said that his heart rate had dropped a little bit and so he wanted to try something. He tied a knot in one of the baby blankets and instructed me that I was to hold on to the blanket and pull up with the contractions and push and he would be holding the other side of the blanket. It worked amazingly well and Mekai made his appearance into the world 22 minutes after Seren did. I held him until the cord quite pulsating and Mathwon cut the cord. Mathwon and I were just kind of stunned that this part of the journey was over already. I remember having the thought, "well that wasn't so bad, maybe I could do this again!!" :)

All of our praise goes to God as we look back on the last few weeks of our pregnancy. We were able to get moved (with loads of help from friends!), Mathwon's dad painted until the sight of a paint can made him tired, my mom arrived to help with the move and with Demani and the twins. We are so thankful that the timing had worked out as well as it did. And then for the birth to go as it did....amazing.

So now we find ourselves the tired, blessed, and at times overwhelmed parents of 3 under 2 and it's going amazingly well. We each have our moments but over all everyone is making the adjustment either to the world or to the fact that we are now a family of five.

Thank you for your prayers. They've been answered. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.

To see the picture of the twins from the hospital follow this link: http://www.lourdes.com/just_for_patients/our_babies/default.aspx

And for those who are interested...the origin and meanings of the twins names:

Seren - Welsh - means "star" Aliya - Hebrew and Swahili - "to ascend"
(I am told I am part Welsh:)

Mekai - Hebrew - means "who is like God" Declan - Gaelic - "means full of goodness"

And now....photos!


I know it is sideways...sorry!

Daddy and Demani wore their matching shirts today and went to the Discovery Center together!

I've been trying to upload pics for the last few days from the other camera with no success....I'll have to keep trying!