Home Sweet Home for the Sandridge Family!!!!

Taylor Grace and Savannah Hope are 3 weeks old as of today! Thankfully, they both were only in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at St. Mary's for less than a week due to minor reasons. We brought Taylor home on Monday, May 19th and Savannah came home two days later on Wednesday, May 21st (my dad's birthday). Words cannot describe how refreshed and joyful Dan and I feel to finally be at home together with our healthy beautiful baby girls as well as our 3 year old golden retriever, Micah! It has been quite the adjustment to say the least with being new parents of two newborn babies, but Dan has been super dad. I was still in pain when I first came home, so Dan and our parents really helped us out a lot during the first week. This is the third week, and other than lack of sleep and feeling like I am feeding non stop, I am feeling very good physically. I still have a ways to go to get back in shape and I am really looking forward to using our jogging stroller this summer with the girls. They are so beautiful and it still is amazing as we look at them to know that they are our children and that they both fit in my tummy. We had our first peditrician appointment last week and the doctor said the girls are perfect...that truly melted our hearts after all we have been through with my pregnancy. They continue to grow and change so quickly that I am sure Taylor is now over 6 lbs. and Savannah is probably close to 5 lbs. which we will find out at our next weight check appointment next week. The girls started out in one crib, but they are both very strong and like to kick and move their arms and feet so they began to move so that one would be kicking the head of the other as they were lying in their crib. Now, we have them in their own cribs, which they are content since they are young enough not to know the difference.

I had a family baby shower last weekend when I introduced the girls to family and I have another shower this Saturday. We have been blessed by so many people and I am excited to continue to show off our girls to various friends and family this summer. Thank you again for all of your continued prayers and support every step of the way. At this time, it is a challenge for me to post new blogs weekly, let alone answer the telephone or email, but I will do my best when ever I get a spare moment. Dan and I will continue to take lots of pictures and post recent photos on the blog when we can, so continue to check our blog if you are interested in seeing our girls grow.

Enjoy some of these recent photos of the girls below and God Bless you and your family!

Love,

Jenny & Dan

Taylor with Daddy

Savannah is smiling in her sleep!

Taylor is on the left and Savannah is on the right for both pics above

Grand Entrance into the World

Wow, the day has finally come!!

This last Thursday May 15th ended up being a day to remember. We were originally scheduled for an induction early Thursday morning, but we decided to cancel, figuring God had a better plan. I had actually been praying about when Jenny would deliver when we first got into week 37. I felt like the Lord said "not today...Thursday." I assumed He meant that same Thursday but it ended up being a week later.

Jenny went to the hospital to have the babies monitored at 1pm. The babies weren't very active like they have been in the past, so the nurse had Jenny on the monitor longer than usual. Our neighbor, Heather, took Jenny to the appointment as I was working in the Milwaukee area at my in-laws finishing some painting. I had just finished painting the last room at about 2pm when my phone rang and I heard, "well, it's time! My water just broke!". Jenny's water broke in the doctor's office while she was being monitored! I of course left everything and sped home to switch cars and rushed to the hospital. About ten minutes after her water broke contractions started about 2-3 minutes apart and never let up. Everything moved at a very rapid pace and within about 2 1/2 hours she was ready to start pushing. We rushed to the OR and within minutes Jenny had pushed Taylor out! Savannah, true to form kept things exciting by turning around and 4 minutes later was delivered feet first! Jenny was truly amazing. She delivered the girls so fast that the anesthesiologist didn't even know to come back until everything was over. Taylor Grace was born at 4:58 pm. She was 5lbs 12 oz. and 18 1/2 in. long. Savannah Hope was born at 5:02 pm. She was 4lbs 9 oz. and 18 in. long. Both are beautiful miracles and we hope to bring them home very soon. They are currently doing very well in the NICU and we are adjusting to our new roles as Mommy and Daddy. Please pray for continued health for the babies, quick recovery for Jenny, rest for all of us, and a speedy exit from the NICU to our home. Below are a few pics of the girls. We love you all and are so appreciative of your prayers and support. It has made all the difference in making this a truly amazing time in our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Dan, Jenny, Taylor, and Savannah

ps The first two are Savannah and the last two are of Taylor!

Week 38 & No Baby News Yet!

God must have a sense of humor because we have now broken another record for making it to 38 weeks after all of the earlier complications that we went through! The joke has been that since I have consistently told the girls to "stay inside" they must be confused as I now tell them that it is okay to come out. So, far everything looks great with the twins as well as myself so we continue to wait for the Lord's time for their arrival.

Since returning home, I have regained a lot of strength back (I still have a ways to go) and my spirit has been uplifted as it has been so refreshing being back at home. I have been able to take short walks with Dan or my neighbor as well as experience "nesting" by getting the nursery ready for when we do bring them home. My tummy is so big and I feel READY to have these girls any moment now!!

So, please continue to pray for patience, perserverence and health for Dan, myself and the girls as we await their arrival. Stay tuned in the days to come.

Blessings and love,
Jenny

We Made it to FULL TERM - Week 37!!!

Wow...I am just more and more amazed at the blessings we continue to receive as we are now at full term! This past weekend was a very special time for Dan and I as after being on bed rest for 3 months in the hospital, I was able to celebrate my birthday at home with family and friends!

The girls have become famous during this pregnancy...we made at least the Madison and Milwaukee local news last Wednesday, April 30th! I had two interviews with Channel 3 and Channel 15 as well as a phone interview for the News Talk 1310 AM Radio Station here in Madison because I broke the record for being the longest maternity patient on bed rest at St. Mary's Hospital! I hope that my story and this beautiful testimony impacts others, especially women in a similar situation that there is always hope for a miracle! We have a DVD with each of the news interviews to share with the girls when they are older. Feel free to check out the news' stations Web sites to view the footage.

I have now been home since last Wednesday evening and I am gradually regaining my strength as I move around the house and walk up stairs etc. I still have a ways to go, but little by little my muscles are improving! I go to the hospital 3 days/week to have the twins' heart tones monitored and so far they are very healthy! It is neat to return to the hospital since that has been my second home for so long because I know all of the staff and that is comforting for when we do return for the labor and birth. Dan and I know that this is a significant week and we believe that they will arrive sometime this week. We are working with a Doula (a labor/birth assistant) as we still plan to have a natural birth with the on call OBGYN and we will definately deliver in the OR at St. Mary's Hospital since that is protocol for any birth of multiples.

I also want to thank all of you who have sent me cards, gifts, flowers, food, baby clothes etc. Dan and I definately have felt your love and support every step of the way! We ask for your continued prayers, especially this week for a spontaneous and healthy natural labor and birth in God's time! Please also pray for strength, perserverence and complete health for our girls and a smooth recovery for me!

We love you all dearly and we will keep you posted on the twins' arrival in the days to come!
Blessings to you and your family,
Jenny

Homeward Bound!

It is Week 36....a HUGE milestone!!!! I had another ultrasound this morning and both babies look great! I am happy to announce that our bigger girl is 5 lb. 14 oz. and our smaller girl is still our peanut at 4 lb. 9 oz. Both of their hearts look normal as well as the dopplers and they are still head down...so a natural birth is what we have planned.

So far, my cervix is not dilated and my water has not broke. My doctor thinks that I will make it to at least next week, which is term. Both Dan and I believe that it will be another week or so and our babies will be born healthy at term...another part of the Lord's miraculous testimony!!!

Another fun surprise is that since everything looks stable, my doctor has approved me going home tomorrow for the duration of the pregnancy until it comes time for me to deliver. I will still return to the hospital 3 days a week to have the babies monitored for a short time. It is just amazing that I can finally return home after 3 months of being at the hospital on bed rest. My birthday is this coming Saturday, May 3 and I will get to celebrate at home and all I want for my birthday are two healthy babies born at term (not on my birthday, though).

I will continue to post updates even from home as we get closer and closer to the actual birth. I can't thank you enough for your love and support and most of all your prayers during every step of the way. Please continue to pray for the girls and Dan and I especially as we near the end.

Love and Blessings,
Jenny

3rd Move due to Flooding...It's Just Hilarious!

Greetings,

Due to last night's rain storm, this morning I had water leaking down the walls and from a light on the ceiling, so there was a large puddle on my floor. So, for the 3rd time I had to move to a new room today...the adventure continues! Thankfully, none of my belongings got damaged and I moved to a larger room on the other wing of the 1st floor with a double bed as well as a nice view of the garden! I am now in room 1130 and my direct phone number is #608/259-3006.

This will be my new home for now, hopefully for not much longer as May is just around the corner!

Have a wonderful weekend and as always thanks for your continued prayers and support!
Jenny

Week 35 Update

It's week 35 and only two more weeks to go to make it to term which is beginning at 37 weeks! Everyone is blown away on how far we have come...our girls are true fighters! As of Saturday, I moved back down to my old room on the first floor. I have had my window open and the tree outside my window is budding as well as the flowers and shrubs in the garden. Yesterday, my brother took me for a short wheel chair ride to sit outside in the garden for a while...it was so refreshing to feel the warm breeze and sunshine!!

I have continued telling the girls that we are going to get through the next two weeks, so far they have listened to their mommy. Our hope is to have them born healthy at term and weighing at least 5 lbs. as well as skipping the NICU.

As we come down the home stretch during the upcoming weeks, I ask for your continued prayers for the Lord's timing, health, smooth natural birth as well as strength and perserverence for all of us!

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather this week and stay tuned for future updates.
Blessings,
Jenny