life in a retirement community: Livi Jo and Lucy Cate

Yesterday, I unexpectedly welcomed my very own real-life version of Mary-Kate and Ashley to this world. After we changed Mary-Kate and Ashley's names approximately a thousand times we decided on Livi Jo and Lucy Cate. Livi's namesake is Livi from The Good Dinosaur that is the name Travis picked out, and Lucy's namesake is obviously I Love Lucy because who doesn't love Lucy! The girls decided to make their grand entrance 8 weeks early at 32 weeks. Knowing my track-record: am I really in labor? ... yes, you are totally majorly in labor, there was no stopping them.

Mid-morning on Monday, when I felt a little jab in my stomach, I, of course chalked it up to gas combined with an achy back. I decided to start working on some content writing and watch a Hallmark Channel movie ... I'll be honest I mostly watched the Hallmark Channel movie because the jabs persisted. Obviously, the only thing that could fix it was a popsicle. My miracle on a stick lasted about an hour, and then everything came back full force.

Lucy Cate Warren - Lucy is wild, hence her baby Einstein hair

After being on bed rest for 8 weeks, I was determined to keep former Mary-Kate and Ashley in for at least 6 more weeks, so I ignored all signs and decided I could will the pain to go away on my own ... so that totally worked until about 3:30 (sike ... it never worked). Stuck in after-school traffic on my way to pick Elle up, my medically-educated-better-half persuaded me to call the doctor. I didn't want to end up on an even more extreme bed rest, so I refused at first, but then a jab caught my attention, and a car was trying to change lanes and backed everyone up and I was stuck, so I reluctantly called. Reality began to set in when they made me come in for a check. I was flat out scared. Warning skip this sentence if technicalities gross you out. I was at a 4 in the office, and by the time I was wheeled over the labor and delivery I was at a 6. Plan A - stop contractions ... apparently my little popsicle remedy was ineffective and jabs were actual contractions ... was thrown out the window. Plan B - transport me to a hospital with a NICU was thrown out of the window due to weather and my fast progression. Leaving me with Plan C - deliver babies ASAP.

Livi Jo Warren - Livi is calm and mellow totally opposite from
the womb.

Although Plan C is rarely anyone's favorite plan. It was God's plan, and He was definitely taking care of me. My doctor was still there, my anesthesia friend was on call and to top it off I had a happy surprise, my friend's mom was my nurse. I knew everyone who was taking care of me! I was in great hands and everyone forgave me for breaking my brave face to momentarily flip out from time to time. Who knew spelling Travis's middle name could be so emotional.

Angel 1

At 17:32 and 17:34, which in case you didn't know that is equivalent to 5:32 and 5:34 pm, we were welcoming Baby A and Baby B. Logically we opted for the trusty alphabetical order to determine the names of Baby A and Baby B - Baby A weighed in at 3 lbs 11 oz and 17 in and Baby B weighed in at 3 lbs 10 oz and 17 in. Unlike Mary-Kate and Ashley, Livi and Lucy are genuine rock stars. They were breathing on their own and didn't have to be intubated last night. In fact, they were only given a nasal cannula. They have started breast milk through a tube today. I haven't gotten to hold them or truly look at their faces yet. I saw their profile and touched their hand though a window in their transport case right before they were airlifted on Angel 1 to Children's hospital.

I am 99% confident that Elle has no idea what is going on. I am also 99% confident that these girls don't like me because they have figured out how to shorten my maternity leave since I had strategically figured out how to include Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks into my time off! Silly girls! I guess Elle will remain my favorite ... totally kidding, you can't have favorites with your own kids ... right?! Or can you?

In a community that I was reluctant to call home, I have been blown away by the number of people who came to visit or have reached out to checked on two precious little girls that aren't even at the hospital with me. In the past two days, I have realized that I am home and this is home for my family. We have truly been blessed with an amazing set of friends and church family.