Brayden and Alyssa's Journey

CandiD - 12:39pm Mar 27, 2008 EST

After trying to conceive unsuccessfully for over two years, I took the fertility drug, Clomid. On the lowest dose, on the first try, we had success! My husband and I were thrilled. But our real surprise occurred a few weeks later, when at 8 weeks, I went for my ultrasound and surprise!!! It was twins! It was pure shock and excitement! Things seemed to be going well. It was summer and I was enjoying my first trimester at home (I'm a teacher). I went for my first appointment to the Maternal Fetal specialist at 18 weeks. We were thrilled to find out we were having a boy and a girl! But we were also told that my cervix was short and funnelling. I would be checked weekly for change. By week 19 it had continues to shorten, and I was told I could no longer work. And at week 21 I was sent to the hospital to remain on bedrest indefinitely. I hated it! But I knew it was best for my babies. I had contractions on and off, but they always stopped. At week 24, I was given a series of steroid shots to help with the babies lung development. It was a good thing I did. My contractions began again, and on November 1, 2006, at 24w 5d, I gave birth by emergency C-section to Alyssa Li and Brayden Alexander. Alyssa weighed 1 lb 9oz and Brayden was 1 lb 8 oz. They were so tiny and frail. I had never seen anything so small. I was amazed at how developed they were for such tiny little babies. They were sent to the NICU at Womens and Babies Hospital in Lancaster (also where I was on bedrest and delivered), put on the ventilator immediately and remained so for some time. When they were three weeks old, they were both sent Hershey Medical Center to undergo surgery for PDA ligation. They were back in Lancaster within three days. There was some improvement after the surgery. It was a long journey. We had many ups and downs. Brayden was on the vent much longer than Alyssa. We worried about them always. There were infections, blood transfusions, medications.... They both had ROP and Alyssa's required laser surgery to correct. It was successful. I was thrilled for every little step! I can't tell you how excited I was on the day I went into visit and found them both together in a big open crib! It was the first time they really had seen each other since the womb! They continued to improve daily. On February 15th, 2007, after 107 days in the NICU, they came home. It was one day before my original due date! They were on oxygen for a few weeks and apnea monitors for a few months, but it was absolutely amazing to have them home!
Today, they are almost 17 months old and are happy, healthy, big kids! Alyssa is 21 1/2 lbs and Brayden is almost 23! Yes, they are slightly delayed, but catching up very nicely!
It was an incredible journey, and I don't wish it upon anyone. But I would do it all again to have these two wonderful little miracles!