Home Sweet Home!

Please read the next sentence in a low monotone voice... DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THIS POST, BLOG READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
WOW after three long days, " Jenny and the Jets" are finally home, and it's most excellent to have them here. The hospital staff at West Lincoln are truly amazing and they treated my wife and babies like the only three people in the place (They weren't - in case you were wondering). Thank you SO MUCH ladies; all nurses should be like you. :)
Ok so it all started early (and I mean early) Tuesday morning. To say the least neither of us slept well in anticipation of coming events, and we both felt totally exhausted and very run down upon arriving. I must admit that arriving at 7 am only to wait until 8 to get things going was a tad disappointing. I really would've appreciated the extra hour of "sleep" (I use that term loosely), but c'est la vie! So Jenny's C-section was scheduled for 9 am however due to the massive influx of babies, they were born at 10:22 and 10:23 respectively.
The longest part of the pregnancy must've been the 20 minutes I patiently sat waiting to go into the operating room. I was dressed in scrubs from head to toe anxiously watching the door to wait for my invite into the big scene. Upon entering the room I was told I could touch nothing blue which left me little room to squeeze by. I pinched my hands together and made my way behind the impersonal blue curtain where only my wives head existed as if it was floating in space. It reminded me of the In Living Color skit, The Head Detective (youtube it if you don't get the reference). I was also disappointed that Jenny didn't announce me as Dr. Reed upon arriving in the O.R. as previously discussed. It was somewhat unsettling to see my wife with her arms stretched out and strapped down as if she was being crucified or on the torture table to be drawn and quartered. Thankfully this wasn't the case...WHEW! The surgery lasted a few brief minutes until I heard the first cry, and as our eyes welled up I said to Jenny "that's a beautiful sound to hear, isn't it?". One minute later we heard a second cry and we both let out a big sigh of relief and watched them place our second baby on the warming bed. As they wiped them down we just stared in awe of God's crowning creation, and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. They truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. It's sure great to witness such a beautiful thing but I readily admit that I much preferred Gavin's natural birth over this organized massacre. Not only did I find the C-section barbaric and impersonal, but also highly anticlimactic. I felt more anxiety for my wife then anything else, but her courage and strength often astonishes me, and never ceases to amaze me. Thank you Jenny for all you go through in giving us such beautiful children. :) The worst part of the whole ordeal was getting up to see Gracie and glancing over only to see the placenta hanging out of my wife, and blood rushing down her sides to the floor. EWWW GROSS!! I would've preferred not to see that, and I carefully exacted my every move from that moment on to make sure that unwholesome sight never entered into my field of view again. The nurse then asked me if I wanted to cut the cords to which I promptly and casually responded "no thanks", and everyone laughed. After a short moment I reconsidered and decided to go for it. I really didn't see the point (I'm so anal sometimes) as they were already removed from the placenta, and I was merely cutting off the extra slack. However, since I didn't cut Gavin's cord I decided to go for it and take it off my bucket list. lol From there I was promptly ushered out to remove my scrubs and wait again in the long dimly lit hallway. Before long they were rolling my two beauties towards me to head down stairs. What a fantastic moment! Still I was consumed with thoughts of how Jenny was doing after the ordeal. I really can't believe people actually ask for a C-section instead of just trying it the way God intended.
Ok now for the deets (details). The main event was held on April 12th 2011... In the Pink corner weighing in at 5 lbs 5 oz, with a full body reach of 18" Gracie Elizabeth Reed, and in the other pink corner (yes there is plenty O pink to go around) weighing in at 4 lbs 14 oz with a full body reach of 17.5" Emily Sophia Reed. (ok maybe I do watch too much UFC) That's right two beautiful healthy baby girls, and we're stoked to finally have them in our arms. Both of them did fantastically well in all of the preliminary tests and passed everything thrown at them with flying colours. Way to go girls!
After three long days at the hospital we're finally home and the first night was as smooth as butter. The babies are so content and never really cry at all. If things stay like this, it will be as easy as pie.
It's funny we were both hoping for another son and didn't know what we'd ever do with a girl. Well, now we've got two and they're incredible, and we're so glad God gives you what you need instead of what you think you want. I couldn't be happier to be the Daddy of twin daughters and can't wait to see how this adventure unfolds. It's going to be an absolute blast. I honestly didn't know how I could love another baby as much as Gavin, but like the Grinch, I felt my heart grew a couple sizes bigger that day.
Ok I know what you're thinking...SHUT UP SHANE and show us some pictures...
Enjoy!
p.s. for those of you who’ve offered to bring meals we’d kindly ask you not to because of my allergy. I will be home with Jenny all month and love to cook so we’ll be just fine and we appreciate your kind gesture.

Gracie (left) Emily (right)
















Home Sweet Home!