Westin's Surgery

Well.... I have been terrified of this day for a while. Westin has surgery on Thursday. We have to be there at 6:00am and surgery is scheduled at 7:30am. We met with Dr. S. today and he walked me through some things. We registered with the hospital etc. and it took a million and a half years to get everything done. I had to miss rehearsal today with my Girls....ugh I was not happy about that. I only get to spend so much time with them and I was not happy to be stuck in a waiting room.

I have a million different emotions going on right. First my sweet perfect babies smile is about to change. I am so excited for him but sad too because he has had that perfect smile for 4 months.

I am terrified about my little guy going through surgery. I just keep praying that God will protect him, but I can't help and wonder "what if" I just keep praying that God to please not take another child from me (Selfish right? We should all wish to be in God's Kingdom) But I want more time with my babies. I think its total legitimate fear considering Luke's passing.

I do ask for prayers. Please pray for Westin, for his surgeons and that everything will go perfect! And please pray for me, this mommy is trying to be brave, and faithful but it has proven to be a hard task this go round.


My prayer for this week: "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand & says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" Isaiah 41:13


Below are some pictures of Westin's progress ...

Happy Birthday Westin! 

Westin Before his appliance 

Westin Before Appliance 

Westin with Appliance but without the nose piece

(and I guess his eczema was acting up) 

Westin with Appliance and nasal addition about halfway through his treatment 

Westin One week before Surgery 

A post of Pictures

Meet Tatum and Westin 

Baby A: Westin Anthony born at 8:03am. 5lbs 12oz 19 3/4 inches 

Baby B: Tatum Nicole born at 8:05am 5lbs 11oz   19inches 

Jenni Meeting Tatum and Westin 

A PERFECT Team and the best friends we could ever ask for!!
Thank you Lord! 

Our Amazing OB/GYN she is truly one of my heros!!

On that morning we woke up and had to be at the hospital at 6:00am. They took Jenni back around 7:30ish. Once Justin, Thaddeus and I got dressed in our Pillsbury doughboy outfits we made our way to the OR. At 8:03 sweet Westin arrived. I will never forget the moment I saw that sweet face. I remember being relieved that he was healthy and crying. Ay 8:05 came Tatum my sweet girl :) From that moment we left Jenni. Thaddeus went with Westin and me Tatum. After they did the usual clean them off etc. We knew Westin was going to have to go to NICU so they let me Thaddeus and the twins go back in the OR and spend some time with Jenni and Justin before Westin went to NICU. I think they let us back because we knew his issues was going to be eating not anything life threatening, but that's just my theory. After our time with Jenni Thaddeus went to NICU with W and me to transition with T. That's when my family got to see Tatum. After transition we got to bring Tatum in to NICU so that I could see Westin too. I won't ever forget that moment. Over the next couple of days Westin was on a feeding tube and learning how to use a bottle with his cleft and Tatum went under the Billi lights on day 2 for jaundice. Westin spent 2 weeks in NICU and came home with us!!

For Jenni's story I wil let her post. Let's just say thank goodness she is okay, and that we had some wonderful nurses, doctor and Him!! 

Pops, Me Thaddeus, Lulu, and Dede all with Tatum...Westin was in NICU still 

Me feeding Westin  

Tatum and Westin in the hospital! 

Jenni and Tatum

So life since then...

I will start with Westin. He got off his feeding tube about 4 days after he left the hospital. From then he has done SO well. He has a incomplete bilateral cleft palate and lip. So what is that? It is where his lip is not a full cleft lip and his palate is only a partial. He has his hard palate in tact the soft one is the part that will have to be repaired. YAY thats great news because this means he will have less surgeries. Right now he has an appliance put in and it reshapes his nose. This means he will not have to have reconstructive surgery on his nose. His first surgery to repair his lip on September 22nd. 

Tatum is doing great! She has had an Ear infection,  Strep throat and her ears pierced!! 

Last week at the doctor Westin weighed 11lbs 6oz and Tatum weighed 11lbs and 1oz. I have posted some pictured below!! 

Westin and Tatum baby dedication at Community of Faith 6.18.11

The Twins newborn pictures and birth announcement below!  

 My Sweet Koenig girls and my babies!! 

I will post more pictures and updates soon!! 

-K

9 hours left

First off I never thought I would get to say that! Tomorrow is the day! We are scheduled to be there at 5:30am and they should be here some time around 8:00am. I want to thank everyone for your prayers, support and love throughout the journey, and though this is not the end and simply a new chapter we are so thankful!

Whats it like at out house tonight.....hmmmm well for about an hour after I got hom from dinner/work I walked around my house, yep for a full hour I could not figure out what to do and I could not wrap my head around it all. Bags are packed house is pretty clean...am I forgetting something???

I have cried tears of joy tonight just so thankful that tomorrow I get to be a mom again! Tears of sadness last time I did this I had my Luke and I know he will be watching every moment with us....he is a reason I get Tatum and Westin. I cry for my puppies, man they have no idea what is coming in the next couple of days... they have been my babies for 4 years, culture shock for them right? The simple thoughts of next time I do ....(fill in the blank)....I will have babies! I will get to celebrate mother's day this year....I did last year in a sense but I get to hold and love on my babies, my little miracles....well I guess "our" Thaddeus is included somewhere in all of this right ? ;)

Then I cry in awe and gratefulness for Jenni. My very best friend is having babies for me and my husband tomorrow...how many people get to say that. How many people get to take the tragedy of a loss and turn it into the most amazing miracle and blessing in the world. Jenni, though you will read my note to you tomorrow thank you, Thaddeus and I love you so much!!

I will leave it on this note. On Sunday as Thaddeus and I were having our last lunch as not having kids  after church we were sitting next to a couple at Newks. They were talking about how the Loss or death of a child can ruin a marriage....Thaddeus and I looked at each other smiled and both agreed that we totally disagree with that statement. Our love and marriage is stronger then I could have ever imagined because of the loss of Luke.

Please pray for tomorrow, pray for sleep for all of us tonight, a smooth csection for Jenni tomorrow, and healthy babies!!

Thank you Lord for our journey, our story, our loss that turned into a blessing. I am so very thankful for each step of our journey!! Will post updates later!!!

-k

9 days left or 13 days left!!

So on Monday this week Jenni went to Norton's. Her blood pressure was high so she had to monitor her urine for 24 hours...fun right? She also had to have blood work just to ensure she didn't have PIH (Pregnancy induced Hypertension). Thankfully Jenni passed all the tests, yay! NO BABIES TOMORROW!!!

We go see Norton tomorrow and we will find out more details on if we will keep the twins date to May 3rd or possibly move it to April 28th or 29th! Please pray that twins stay healthy and gain a little more weight in their last 9 or 13 days inside their fluffy mattress home! Please pray for Jenni she is still throwing up....yep she is 36 weeks and still vomiting 24/7!

I have put the twins car seats in the car...I will post pictures later!!

Thanks for the prayers, love and support!!!
-K

33 Days left!!!

33 more days!!! That means 5 more Monday's...5 more weekends...and they are pretty jam packed. I have my Studio Company shower this weekend. Next weekend we have our Maternity pictures with Ms. Krissy Alexander. The next weekend I have competition, then Easter, Company class placements and then BABIES!!!  

The nursery is completely done! I need some pictures to show everyone! 

We went to the Doctor on Tuesday 

Westin is 4lbs 0oz

Tatum is 4lbs 6oz

They are getting big! We had our NST today at Methodist and it went perfect. 

We have 4 more appointments at Dr. N's and 1 more appointment at Dr. H's!! I love all the countdowns because it feels so real. I have a feeling that the next 33 days are going to go by slow!! 

Prayers for continued growth for the twins, for Jenni and our families!!! 

Jenni & Elizabeth. Getting the NST done at Methodist! 

Jenni & I working on the Nursery

Westin's first pair of Sperry's

Each of them already has 8 pairs of shoes each :) 

At their 1st concert seeing Rascal Flatts 

The belly at 30 weeks!! 

My beautiful cake and m&m's with Tatum and Westin's names on them!! 

My mom, Kate, Sandi & Me! Love my neighbors!!! 

The twins "Target mom" 

My Hostesses! 

Faye, Jenni, Me, Belinda, Sharon, and Lauren

My lovely Koenig Ladies!! 

Adrienne, Taylor, Me, Angela & Andee

49 Days left!

Wow 7 weeks from today we will have two beautiful babies in our lives. Okay so I cry just thinking about it. Today we saw Dr. H. and had some fun facts shared with us. Please see the Stats below:

Westin is weighing 3lbs7oz

Tatum is weighing 3lbs15oz

HOLY COW they are big. Starting at 34 weeks babies tend to increase their weight by a half a pound each week. So that means at 34 weeks that they will potentially be at the minium 2lbs heavier. Not to mention that we are still 3 weeks from 34 weeks :) So who knows how much they gain over these next 3 weeks ;). Poor Jenni I hope my kids don't make her that miserable, you know? Today one the babies kicked so hard we could see it on the outside, and I got to feel it too :) 

I have a shower this weekend! Very excited and looking forward to it. I will post some pictures from my 1st shower too! 

In the mean time please pray for the following: Prayer for continued growth & development of the twins. Prayers for Jenni as she continues to work and wait hand and foot on new mommies at the hospital. And lastly for me, lots going on and would just love some general prayers!! 

Until next time
-K

Jenni & I at the shower

Me and my fabulous hostesses for my Family shower

My sister, Lauren, Aunt Donna & Aunt Lisa

Yes is was Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann themed (aka Hannah Doll we are "recruiting" Tatum early ;)

75 days left!!

We went to see Dr. H. this Wednesday. We were there for 4 hours almost 5 hours. But that aside the appointment was great. Westin weighs 2lbs 8ounces and Tatum weighs 2lbs 5ounces. I can't believe they already weigh over 2 pounds! Westin doubled his weight in just one week! They are already so big :) Luke was only 13 ounces when he was born so 2lbs is HUGE in comparison and that's all I have to compare it to!

My 1st shower is this weekend! It is my family shower, my 2 aunts and sister are hosting it and I am so looking forward to it!

The twins will be here in 75 days! I can't believe it 75 days I am so excited!!! Today I ordered Westin's bottle, it's called the Haberman bottle made by Medela. Pictured below! This will help him feed with his cleft.

Blessed vs. Mad

So we went to Texas Children's today and met with the Specialist that will be working with Westin and his Cleft. Today we brought our ultra sound pictures and she said she could almost guarantee that he has a Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate & Unilateral Cleft meaning it extends to the nose. We have trouble seeing it and in fact we go the high risk dr tomorrow for an additional U/S. (We go to her once a month). I have attached some pictures for everyone so you know what to expect when he is born in terms of looks wise. He will be able to eat normally he will have some special bottles, he will be able to go home if born on time and this is not life threatening. His measurements are all right on schedule which tells us there are no underlying syndromes :) So here is our time  line:

One week old: We meet with pediatric orthodontics specialist Dr. B. Westin gets fitted for his appliance that will mimic a palate which will just help him eat better!! 

Our pediatric plastic surgeon is Dr. S! Which I have heard in the best!!! 

3 months old: Surgery One, he will undergo the 1st of three surgies to repair the nose, palate and lip. We do not think it is going to affect his nose based on the pictures we have seen but just in case! 

6 months old: Surgery #2

9months old: Surgery #3

So by that time he will be completely repaired. At 1 yrs old he will start meeting with a speech pathologists to help pronounce hard consonants. 

He will have cosmetic surgeries to accommodate his growth of his face at ages 4, 10 & 16. He will get braces at age 10 just to help keep his teeth in the correct spot. 

All in all after being a Texas Children's today and seeing all the bald kids and their smiles and good attitudes and this sweet little bald boy wearing a hat and singing and playing the guitar I have realized that what Westin has is not life threatening and though I wish he was not going to have to have surgery I am relieved that of everything that could go wrong this is it and for that I am very very grateful! The pictures they showed me today were beautiful before and after pictures!! So I am very confident his scare will be very small! I am attaching pictures because some of the pictures on the Internet are worst case scenario. He will look different at birth and I want everyone to be prepared to see that. My biggest fear is that people will stare at him and not love on him as much as Tatum so if you could please give them equal attention I would appreciate that! 

ON THE PICTURE PLEASE REFER TO THE LEFT SIDE ON THE PICTURE VS. THE RIGHT. THE LEFT SIDE OF BOTH PICTURES IS WHAT THEY ARE THINKING HE HAS! WE KNOW IT IS NOT THE RIGHT SIDE BECAUSE HE HAS THE CUTEST THADDEUS NOSE, THEY ACTUALLY BOTH GOT T'S NOSE, THANK GOD :) Aren't we so lucky we live in Houston and have access to the best drs!! 

Ready for things to go perfectly!! I am hoping that we will stop getting stepped on while we are down! I am very very very ready for things to go right!! (Don't get me wrong 2 healthy twins through IVF and Surrogacy is a huge miracle in itself) I am just saying I would love a decade of great news all the time :) 

We could use Prayers on the following please: 

Continued Growth & Development of the twins

Jenni's health & Strength

For me, this is a lot to take in! 

For my family we have had it tough lately! 

For my students (mostly the older ones) That they don't think every pregnancy is dangerous, high risk etc. Poor things might say they never want kiddos!! 

And prayers that our family stops becoming negative statistics :) 

Thanks! 

This is the palate! Please refer to the LEFT SIDE not the right

Cleft Lip, Please refer to the left side not the right! 

Accepting the Unexpected

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Justin and T waiting for appointment.....they love sitting next each other!

My sweet flowers to cheer me up from my sis Lauren and her boyfriend Chris!

Me and Jenni...only waited an hour this time :)

Sweet Tatum not cooperating ( yes she has a nose see pictures on past blog)

Sweet Westin!! Look at his perfect nose :)

So we went to the High risk Dr. H. on Wednesday and the appointment was not really what we expected.

We found out that Westin has a birth defect known as a cleft lip. I almost fainted in the room when she said that. I got light headed, dizzy and my heart started racing.....after a couple of tears and just sad because this is my precious little boy and I can't help or hold him right now!

So he will be born with a cleft lip and we will meet with some pediatric plastic surgeons at TCH and he will have surgery between 3-6 months of being born. It may take one surgery or two but we wont know more until he is actually born. The bad news is, that he will have to have surgery. The good news is that he does not have a cleft palate, they are both healthy and growing like crazy. For that I am thankful and feel so blessed!

On the other hand we got a great picture of him! Which was so exciting because we hadn't really gotten any pictures on 4D of him! Tatum was not as cooperative she did not feel like having her picture taken on Wednesday!!

Here are the stats!!

Westin:

141 bpm

1lb. 7oz

His legs measured 26weeks and 5 days!!! Holy Cow he has long legs!

Tatum:

152 bpm

1lb. 5 oz

Her legs were measuring 25 weeks and 3 days! Yay! She will have long legs too!

All vital organs are there and they are healthy! I delivered Luke at 23weeks and 6 days which is this Tuesday! I will be glad to make it to 24 weeks!

Please pray for my sweet babies and that they continue to grow and develop! Pray for Jenni as she carries our sweet miracles and please pray for me just for my continued faith in knowing that this is Gods plan and he has chosen us to live this "story" and for that we are thankful!!

Thanks, Kristin

Let the Fighting I mean painting begin!!

We saw Dr. N. this past week. Jenni's uterus is measuring at 29 weeks :) We are actually at 22 weeks! They used the doppler for heartbeats! Westin's was 141bpm and Tatum's was 146bpm. Just perfect! Next week we see Dr. H. and then back to Dr. N. then to get another 4d ultra sound! Lots of doctors visits coming up! Jenni gets to do her blood glucose test in 2weeks! I am so so excited :) I didn't get to do this while I was pregnant so I am excited to make it to that step. The 2nd half of pregnancy I am looking so forward too. I delivered Luke at 23 weeks and 6 days so I am excited to embark on the journey of pregnancy that I have not yet experienced.

Even though I do not experience it 1st hand I get to watch it!

I am getting so so excited that we have worked on the nursery a lot the past couple of days! I have not hung anything on the walls yet we are saving that for this weekend! It has been so much fun :)

19 week appointment with Dr. N! We are so so grateful to have an amazing OB like her!

Justin and Thaddeus did all of the painting. I supervised ;) and Jenni helped touch up! It was a long I mean fun process but it looks great! It is blue and pink stripes around the entire room. On top is a black painted border and then we added a damask pattern paint to the black! I have included some pictures below!!

This is the children's retreat, babyland has taken over my house! Oh and I might add that recital costumes have arrived making things even more chaotic!!

Justin and Jenni hard to work!

T being meticulous with every detail!

Me and M man! We got so much work done ;)

Jenni touching up!

Close up of final product!

Beds, strollers, carseats oh my!!! All their matching stuff!!

Westins bedding!

Tatum bedding!

Thanks for your prayers!

Until next time- Kristin