The Studs
Daniel Jeffrey Rejholec (AKA: "Baby A" or "bubble blower"), 5lbs 11oz
Michael Eugene Rejholec (AKA: "Baby B"), 5lbs
The Studette, Mom
The Story
So here's how it happened, see. Tuesday 7/29 at 4:05 in the afternoon I received a text from this beautiful lady letting me know that she wasn't feeling too hot and the sooner I'd be home the better. So, "I put the pedal down, to make some time."
Melody was just a couple days shy of 34 weeks along, and earlier that day she had a checkup where the doc said she was dilated to a 3-4 and partial effaced. He encouraged her to try to keep them in a couple more days (to 34 weeks).
When I got home, it was obvious that Melody's contractions weren't the normal Braxton Hicks she had be dealing with for a couple months. We took the kids across the street to a neighbor (thanks neighbor!) and headed to the AF hospital. We did get pulled over for going 35 in a 25, but the cop hurried us on our way.
In triage Melody was measuring a 5 and 100% effaced. Game time! Baby A was head down, and Baby B was breech, so Melody opted for a vaginal delivery. Flipping Baby B around wouldn't be a walk in the park so Melody was medicated.
We had a little scare when Baby A's heart rate dropped and then they couldn't find it. People came rushing in as they do and the broke the water and put a sensor on Baby A's head. His rate came up and calm again.
Around 7:30p Melody was ready and we went into the OR to deliver. A couple docs and 8 - 10 nurses were all ready and prepped. Melody delivered Baby A (Daniel) around 7:50pm. They then began to move Baby B (Michael) to head's down, but soon his heart rate dropped in the 40s. They gave it a few minutes and then they had to resort to a c-section. They had Michael out in less than a minute. Quite amazing. He was quite blue, but luckily Melody couldn't see. After a few minutes he started looking good.
At this point I left poor Melody to be put back together and followed the babies downstairs. Melody got to see them for a brief moment as the nurses held them close to her face.
AF Hospital only has a level 2 NICU. We knew this, but needed to get to the hospital quick and expected them to make 34 weeks. These nurses are AMAZING. They did everything they could to keep the boys at AF. I watched for hours as they tried different things and it was such a close decision, but the head neonatal genius doc said to move them to UVRMC in Provo. So at 3am we were awoken and the Life Flight peeps brought the babies in to see mom before they left.
Poor, beautiful, kind Melody. That was so hard, and it is still hard as she is recovering in AF (from both kinds of deliveries) and the babies are Provo. She is amazing and doing what she needs to as she longs to be with her babies. Melody should be out in the next 24 - 36 hours and will be able to visit the boys then.
Melody's parents, sister, and I were able to take the kiddos down to Provo to meet the babies this morning. They are doing amazing. Just improving. Michael (the smaller of the two) hasn't been on a CPAP all day, and Daniel is, but is down to 21% oxygen and 7 pressure units (whatever those units are) and will likely be off CPAP soon. So CPAP forces air into the lungs to keep them open, so you know.
After they start breathing on their own, feeding and growing will be next.
Can I just say a couple things. First, these boys are awesome, and we are so so excited to have them in our family. Second, Melody is the greatest mom and a very strong woman. What an example. And Lastly, we have great family and friends that have been very concerned, praying, helping, loving, and we thank you for your kindness.
I'll be off work for a while helping out. And trust us, we won't hesitate to ask for help as we need it.
Oh, and the reason you're here:
