They're Here!

Yes!! After 37 weeks and 2 days of waiting Kennedy & Kaitlyn have arrived on the scene! I apologize for taking so long to get this posted, but do you know how hard it is to find wi-fi connections in Meridian!?

Here's the facts:

Kennedy Lynn Knippers

6 lbs, 1 oz. ~ 19.5 Inches ~ 6:58 pm

Kaitlyn Jean Knippers

5 lbs, 3 oz. ~ 18 Inches ~ 7:01 pm

This pic was taken only a few hours after they were born, and no it is not posed! Yes, they were naturally holding each other's hands!! Talk about a twin sister connection! (BTW, Kennedy is on the left and Kaitlyn is on the right.)

To bring you up to speed on how this week came about, Monday, June 16 was the beginning of VBS at our church. Jason was at work when Wilma (Melissa's mother) called his cell about 10:00 am. Melissa was not feeling well (she had been having pains all night) and had begun vomiting several times during the morning. Jason talked to Melissa and told her to call Dr. Purdy's office and see what they wanted her to do. They wanted her to come to the OB floor at Rush for observation. A c-section was scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th, but needless to say we were all ready for them to come on and get here- especially Melissa.

They determined Melissa was dehydrated and they started treating here with IV fluids. They had her discontinue her three medications she was on around the clock to control the contractions (remember we had been to the hospital 4 times since April for pre-term labor). However, this is normal (we are told) around the 37th week anyway. 

So it seemed that she was going to be treated for the dehydration and released. (You mean we have to come back and go through this all again!?) However, around 2:00 or 3:00 her contractions started coming back with a vengeance.  Dr. Purdy was not on call, Dr. Seale was. And while we were glad Dr. Seale was there (we've always liked him), of course Melissa was somewhat upset that Dr. Purdy would not be there if something did go ahead and happen.

Well, something did go ahead and happen. Around 4:30 pm, we found out that Dr. Seale had scheduled Melissa for an emergency c-section. She was definitely in labor and being at term, there was no more need to wait. Now, while we were all glad to hear this, we also did not have any cameras, no video camera, nothing as we went to the hospital more for vomiting and not contractions. So, pics will be somewhat limited at first, but trust me, we will post everything we have.

Around 6:00 pm, to our joyous surprise, Dr. Purdy pops in the door. It seems that Dr. Seale had stopped by his office and let me know he was fixing to do a c-section on Melissa. Dr. Purdy had nothing else going on so he said he would do it with Dr. Seale assisting. God answers prayers!!! Dr. Purdy is fabulous (Dr. Seale is pretty good himself!) and if you are in need of an OB-GYN in East Central Mississippi, you need to se him. Thank you Dr. Purdy!

So, they continue to get Melissa prepped and around 6:30 she is wheeled back to the OR. Lynn, Jason's mom, was able to get to the hospital around 6:00 pm so she was in time for the delivery. And at 6:58 Kennedy was born followed by Kaitlyn at 7:01 pm on Monday, June 16.

Melissa and the girls are both doing fabulous. We have to go back tomorrow (Saturday) for a repeat blood test for the girls' Billy Rubin (sp?) level (to test for jaundice). But as far as we can tell, they are both looking great.

Everyone came home Thursday (which was a very sleepless night!) and we are beginning to settle in to a routine. Obviously, we will continue to post (as long as we have an internet connection! LOL)

Thank you so much to all of our friends, family, and church members for your prayers, gifts, food, and support. They have all been felt very much.

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