The Birth of Elzi and Lillian Buchanan

Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I am still trying to adjust to traveling back and forth to the hospital twice per day, organizing gifts and preparing the nursery, and of course, pumping every 3 hours. I'm pretty tired, but getting into a routine.

I guess I need to describe the birth of the girls before giving an update their current status.

On the morning of December 17th, my parents and Ben's parents joined Ben and I in my hospital room as we awaited 10:30. My nurse, who was great, started to get me ready around 9 or so. I was getting pretty anxious as we approached 10 o'clock, and it was not until 10:45 that the nurse and anesthesiologist came in my room and said, "We're ready." I was very nervous as they wheeled my bed out of the room and I left my family behind.

When I got to the OR, I was prepped for surgery. Once they were confident that my spinal had taken effect and all medical staff were in place, they sent for Ben. I was SOOO happy when he finally arrived. He sat beside me and held my hand as the operation began. Because Elzi had made her way to the bottom of my belly over the last month or so, she was the first to be delivered. She immediately began crying when they pulled her out. They held her over the curtain, so I could see her.

Next, they explained that Lillian was breech, so they were bringing her out very slowly. When they finally got her out, we did not hear her. They said she was a little stunned, and a few seconds later, she began to cry, too. They also held her over the curtain, and then took her out of the OR to where the baby teams were set up. Ben and I could hear them crying loudly through the OR door.

After a few minutes, they told Ben that he could go and see them. I told him to go ahead, and after a short time I heard, "We have a surprise for you, Mom." I was totally surprised when Ben came around the curtain holding both girls. He was able to sit down for a few minutes, so that I could look at them. It was so wonderful and comforting to see them both, and I was able to relax as they finished my surgery.