A little late for an update, but we've finally gotten a few minutes to post an official update.
Introducing - Jax Michael Bunger and Ella Ryan Bunger
Introducing - Jax Michael Bunger and Ella Ryan Bunger
Friday the 26th, we went in for a scheduled c-section, because Jax was still breach. It was kind of a weird experience for us both as we made it to 38 weeks, well beyond expectations, and without a single contraction, water breaking, labor, etc. So it sort of felt like going to the drive-thru and asking for a couple of kids.
They brought me in after she was all set up (spinal in, curtain up, etc) and let me sit by Crystal's head. They did let me stand up and look when they pulled each one of them out and take a few pictures (won't post those here of course). They also let me come around the curtain after Ella was already delivered and see Jax's little feet pushed up against his unbroken sack, right before they delivered him.
Ella Ryan was born at 9:21am and weighed in at 6 pounds 8 ounces, and 18" long. 
In the nursery, they checked them all out and ran their tests and all the other good stuff, as well as a visit with mom in recovery and back for their first baths. As c-section babies, without being pushed through the birth canal, they typically retain some amniotic fluid in their lungs and in their tummies. The nurses and delivery pediatric doctor were both worried about Jax, both because he was small, but also because he was "grunting", struggling to get that fluid out. His cleared up quickly, but around 3 hours after birth, Ella was still doing a little grunting of her own. Just about that time, our pediatrician came in during his lunch hour to see them, and she had her first episode where her oxygen level "desaturated" below what they like. At that point, he talked to the neo-natal unit and asked for a consult. That doctor then came down and recommended admitting her into the NICU for closer supervision. We were later told that he thought Jax would be up there shortly as well (they even saved him a bed in the NICU next to her).
The meds really kicked Crystal's butt (as she's a drug pansy), and she couldn't hold anything down for 12 hours after the surgery. At the 12 hour mark, a little nurse (literally) and I attempted to get her up per recommendation and to the bathroom to clean up some. There, she had lots of pain and got sick again, which caused even more pain, which then caused her to pass out, not once, but twice. So that was not a fun episode to go through, but looked worse than it was apparently. She had lost a lot of blood because of the twin delivery, and also hadn't had anything to eat since late the night before.
The doctors recommended that Jax stay in the nursery that night and just be brought to our room to feed, as they were continually monitoring his body temperature, blood sugar levels, etc, thinking they'd have to send him upstairs to the NICU as well.
Well he toughed it out and hung in there. And Crystal started to feel better and get some liquids, then soft food, then finally "real" (hospital) food down. Jax was released to room-in with us full time. We still could send him to the nursery to watch as we visited Ella upstairs or to get a few hours of sleep. After 4 days and a little weight gain, they released him to be discharged with Crystal. He was a favorite with the nurses and they spoiled him rotten. Many of the nurses/doctors told us that often times the smaller twin is the one that toughs it out and is scrappy because he/she has been fighting the whole time in the womb. I guess that's the same for us, especially with Ella outweighing him by 2 lbs.
So now on to Ella...let me start by saying that we've been so very impressed with the level of care at Seton, and especially in the NICU. Not sure how to thank them for what they do everyday for these little babies. Last night, we had to leave the hospital without her and come home and bring the Jax-man home. She is having some sporadic “episodes” where she gets worked up either crying or while eating (picture all sucking inhales, without any exhales) where she “desaturates”. Basically, she has to be reminded to breathe during an episode. They are not sure what was causing it, they first thought she had a little tear in her lung. After an x-ray, they determined that she didn’t have any tears. Long story short, they ordered an EKG to look at her heart and what was going on with the blood flow. Everything was good, except she showed a little high pressure and higher than normal blood velocity between one of her arteries – which they characterized as pulmonary hypertension. Anyway, it’s a common issue for preemies, but not for term babies like her. So they just kept her to watch her and care for her closely. A few days later, they re-ran the Echo and also did a CT scan to rule out any bleeding or anything in the brain. Basically one of the neonatal docs said that it’s perplexing because a baby with a perfectly good heart and lungs shouldn’t be having that problem. The 2nd EKG looked improved and the CT scan was completely normal. So, the test mostly just ruled things out, and we’re just waiting for her to grow out of this problem.
Fast forward to yesterday morning (Wednesday) and they removed her supplemental oxygen tube in her nose and continued to monitor her. She’s done well since and hasn’t had any episodes lately. She passed her car seat test and hearing test (she’s a little genius like her little brother), and is ready to go home in the morning (Friday – 7 days old now) once all of her doctors discharge her formally in the morning. So we’re really excited for that and for her to get home with the rest of the family.
Here are few family pics…
Dad and Miss Ella
Ella with Mom and Dad
Jax and Proud Papa in the nursery with Grandparents looking on.
Mom and Jax
