I went to the birthing class with Chris and Aimee where I met their awesome midwife, Ellen. Chris said that I would really like her as she was a "hippie". This leads me to believe that he thinks I was once a hippie, ha! Ok, I guess I was a bit of a hippie in my day:) After class she saw Aimee and we left there thinking that the twins would be arriving any day.
We had a false alarm one night. That was an experience. It was really cold here and I couldn't stop shaking walking into the hospital. Don't think it was all the cold weather but a bit of nervousness. Chris was trying so hard to be calm and collected. It was really cute watching both of them. After awhile they had Aimee walk around the unit. We all three walked and walked and walked. She had contraction after contraction but to no avail. They sent her home about 3 a.m. Actually, it was a good trial run for all of us. We realized what we needed to do for the real thing.
Chris and Aimee put he girls (I am referring to the foster children) in respite care for a week. Respite care is where a family cares for them while the foster family goes out of town or whatever. Please don't think I am being cold by referring to them as "the foster children". Due to privacy issues I can't use their names or post any pictures. I have fallen in love with them and will be sad to leave them when I go home.
After Aimes was told to walk, honey we hit the streets. We walked around the block, we walked in the mall, she walked around the block again with Chris. Hum, I was beginning to think we had some stubborn little baby girls in there.
Finally, on Thursday, January 15th, we headed to the hospital. Chris and Aimee honored me by asking me to be with them during the labor. We went to the labor and delivery room which was awesome. Sure has changed since I had my children. It was a large, beautiful room complete with huge tub with jets, built-in bed for the daddy and a large chair that folded out for the grammie. Aimee endured intense contractions that were very close together all night. She was awesome. The next afternoon at 2:47 OLIVIA MAE WICKERSHAM entered this world. She was 19 inches and weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz. At 2:57 SARAH ROSE WICKERSHAM followed her sister into this world. She was 18.5 inches and weighed 4 lbs. 13 oz. I stepped out at the last minute. I was scheduled to pick Aimee's mom (Sherry) up at the airport. I decided that I'd better leave because I had never driven to the airport and was a little unsure of myself driving in the big city of Phoenix. About 5 minutes after I left Aimee called and said, "where are you?" The nurse and Ellen had been looking for me. As it turned out, the two grandmas got to see their new twin granddaughters at the same time which was kind of cool. We were hugging and crying in the airport like two ole babbling grammas, ha!
Aimee was holding Olivia when we got back to the hospital. Of course, both were beautiful. Little Sarah had been taken to the nursery. She had some issues because she was small. We saw Sarah shortly thereafter. Sarah was also beautiful. They were both so tiny. I can't even describe the feeling that I had when I looked at them. Those of you that are also grammas know the feeling.
On Monday, Aimee and Olivia got to come home. On Sunday evening, Chris and I picked up the foster children and brought them back home. It was quite a hectic household in one respect but in another it was calmer than I thought it would be. Aimee settled right into being a mom and Chris was the perfect daddy as well.
We were all concerned about Sarah. We were told that she was going to be fine, she just needed some time. It was hard for me to leave her at the hospital so I know it was really difficult for Chris and Aimee. We had up and down days. Chris went to the hospital every morning after dropping the girls off at day care and school. Aimee went in the afternoon and then one of them went back in the evening. Sarah progressed and was able to come home quicker than we really expected. Now both girls are here and all is well.
Oh, did I mention that I am having a wonderful time holding, feeding, changing and loving on my sweet baby granddaughters? I'm trying to savor every moment now as my time to leave is drawing near. I miss Pat and Jessie and home but I know that when I leave it will tear my heart out. I know that Chris and Aimee will post lots of pictures and try to blog as much as possible. That will help, but Phoenix is SO far away:( I am enjoying my time with Chris and Aimee. Chris has become quite a cook, I am impressed. I'm taking some of his recipes home.
Well, time for yoga and a little exercise before I start my day. Namaste.
