Sorry that it’s taken me so long to continue that post from February! The babies are 9 months old – growing and bringing so much joy to our days. 🙂 They definitely keep us all busy – but my goal is to post more frequently and continue to tell the story of how we’ve been handling life with 4 babies. (Spoiler Alert… we have a TON of help.) But for now, let’s get back to October 24, 2013 – when I left off, we were heading into the operating room for Chrissy’s C-section.
In addition to all of the normal staff required for a C-section delivery of twins – we also had Christine (Ohio Health PR), Misti (writer for The Dispatch – our local newspaper), and Chris (photographer for The Dispatch). They had been following our story since the middle of the summer and we agreed to let them into the operating room. Misti wrote a heartfelt story about our journey and Chris took some amazing pictures and put them together in a little video, including some audio clips from the births. I definitely recommend taking some time to read the article and check out the video when you have a chance.
By the time Joby, James, and I went into the operating room – Chrissy was already prepped and laying flat on the table. We all took our places – I was right next to Chrissy, then Joby, then James. Dr. Lindauer told us that the times it takes to get to the babies and deliver them is much less than the time it takes afterwards to put everything back in place and sew up. 😉 I remember just feeling like I was living a dream – still couldn’t believe that we were about to meet our babies. And amidst all the excitement, I was also a little nervous. I know that a crying baby is a breathing baby – so I was just hoping to hear 4 cries as each one came into the world.
Meeting Our Boys: Before we knew it – it was FINALLY time to meet our baby boys!! When Dr. Lindauer lifted up our first son – words can’t describe how we felt. After all this time, I couldn’t believe we were looking at our son. We didn’t share the names ahead of time, so we told the room that this was “Charles Kortlandt” – but we were going to call him “Charlie.” Charlie was crying when he came out and Chrissy said he sounded like a chicken. 😉 The nurses took him over to one of the little newborn stations to get him cleaned up. Then it was time to meet our second baby boy – when Dr. Lindauer held him up, he was actually holding on to a little piece of cloth! We let everyone know that this was “Thomas Sellman” – but we were going to call him “Tommy.” He also was crying and looked kinda angry – but I would be too, if someone pulled me out of a warm and cozy womb. 😉 After Tommy was delivered, both boys were over on the newborn stations with the nurses. I had been holding Chrissy’s hand and felt a little torn. Even though I couldn’t wait to be with my sons, I didn’t want to let go of her hand after everything she had done for us. Since she knows me so well, she knew what I was thinking and encouraged me to go see my boys.
I did finally let go and went over to meet and touch our baby boys. It was just surreal to know that they were ours – after all this time, we finally got to meet them. The nurses were holding up a little mask with air (such technical terms, I know) a few inches from Charlie’s face. Tommy was doing well and didn’t need the air mask – I remember him holding onto my finger!
After Dr. Lindauer was done stitching up Chrissy, it was time to head out of the OR. Charlie and Tommy rode out of the OR in the arms of their Aunt Chrissy (the nurses told me in advance that it was hospital policy that she carry him out – which I was fine with). And the proud mommy and daddy followed. We did manage to get a photo of us with our boys in the OR – with the girls still in my belly! 😉 I felt relieved that our boys were here and hoping that our girls would arrive safe and sound as well.
Tommy, Daddy, Mommy, & Charlie
Meeting Our Girls: Once we got back to the prep/recovery room, it was time for them to finish prepping me for my C-section. Dr. Lindauer said that my blood pressure was pretty high and asked if I was nervous or anxious. I remember saying something like, “I don’t know – I guess it’s a pretty big day!” My feet has become pretty swollen, too – so she said she was wondering if I was starting into the early stages of preeclampsia. But the solution to that is delivering the babies and that’s what we were going to do – so it really was a non-issue. Since the recovery/prep room is the same – we got to spend a little more time with Charlie, Tommy, Chrissy & James. The nurses were continuing to check the boys’ scores and at some point decided that they needed to take Charlie to the NICU as a precaution. I wasn’t super worried about him and figured they were doing what was best for him. I remember doing a little skin-t0-skin with Tommy while we waited. When it was time, they took me back first and said that Joby would come in later. I was a little nervous about getting a shot in my back – but it really just felt like a bee sting. They told me that they would lay me back down quickly and they did. It was weird to think that they were going to cut me open and that I wouldn’t feel a thing. Joby joined me and sat next to me – we were ready for Round 2!
Just like before, it didn’t take very long for Dr. Lindauer to find the girls in my big belly! It is definitely a very different feeling to be laying there on the operating table, instead of just sitting in there watching. Before we knew it, our first daughter came out crying (which was a relief) and Joby told the room that this was Grace LaVelle Johnston. I remember taking some deep breaths and thinking, “only 1 more to go!” And a few minutes later, Dr. Lindauer held up her sister – who was also crying. Joby let everyone know that this was Hadley Somei, who we planned to call Haddie. Once I heard Haddie’s cry, I just felt so relieved that all babies had arrived safely and remember having some tears streaming down my face.
I wasn’t able to get up this time around (of course) – but Joby was able to spend some time with the girls as they stitched me back up. Grace also had the air mask thing – except they actually had it on her face, instead of just holding it a few inches from her face like Charlie. They told us in the OR that they were going to take her to the NICU straight from there. Since she came out crying and was breathing on her own – I again wasn’t overly concerned and trusted that the nurses were doing what was best for Grace. Haddie was doing well and didn’t need to go to the NICU. When I was all stitched up, they rolled me out of the OR with Haddie.
Daddy with his girls – Haddie & Grace
Looking back, it seems so crazy that at that point – all 4 of our babies were all over the hospital. Charlie was in the NICU, Tommy was in the postpartum unit with Aunt Chrissy, Grace was en route to the NICU with her Daddy and Haddie was heading to the recovery room with me. I was just glad that they were all here! 🙂 Haddie and I hung out in the recovery room together – I had to stay there until I could lift my hips up by myself. The hospital was working to have Chrissy and I be put in rooms that were next to each other. (We had asked if we could have a joint room – but they said that no rooms were really set-up to house two beds.) I remember there being a bit of a delay in me being released from recovery because they were waiting on people to vacate the room that I was going to be staying in. Joby stopped back down to check on us and we made our official Facebook post to announce the arrival of our quads. Needless to say, Facebook was blowing up with family and friends that were beyond excited about the arrival of Charlie, Tommy, Grace, & Haddie.
The rest of the day was kind of a blur! By the time Haddie and I made it to my room – Charlie was already back from NICU. He and Tommy were chilling in the room next door with their Aunt Chrissy and the rest of the relatives that were there. My parents and Joby’s parents were there – along with a few of my husband’s aunts/uncles. Uncle Jamie (Joby’s brother) and Aunt Kelly were there as well. And later that day, Uncle Jason (Joby’s other brother), Aunt Tiffini and proud cousins – Jack, Chloe, and Henry – all came to meet the babies. Unfortunately, Grace ended up spending the rest of the day in the NICU. When we called for updates, they said she was fine – just waiting on paperwork and a doctor to clear her. We heard that triplets were delivered after us and figured that the triplets were probably taking the attention (as they should) from the NICU staff. Finally, around 9 o’clock at night – they delivered Grace to our room and I got to hold her for the first time! It truly was the BEST DAY EVER!!!
1st Family Photo: Grace, Daddy, Haddie, Charlie, Mommy, & Tommy
#johnstonquads 