Twenty-One Six

From the Twin-Daddy:

Today we reach twenty-one weeks and six days.  To anyone who might be expecting a premature child, this is a number that may have some meaning to you.  The earliest human infant ever to survive is Amillia Taylor who was born at 21 weeks, 6 days when her mother went into pre-term labor.  Knowing how early she was, Sonja Taylor lied to her doctors about her gestational age in the hope they would fight on Amillia’s behalf, but the greatest fighter in the story is Amillia herself who was only 10 ounces at birth.  Blessed with rugged skin beyond her natural age the doctors were able to stitch her injuries and she was even strong enough to cry on her own.  Kept in NICU for four months she needed some minor surgery on her eyes, and she survives today without any other serious issues.

Real Men Love Tough Women.

Here is my personal tip of the hat to all the tough fighting girls out there and especially Amillia who will turn five years old this year.

For us, passing this day means that every new sunrise gives our sons a better chance.  We are very much looking forward to June 17 which is our Homefree Day and provides us with a 90% probability of survival.  Even at our final childbirthing class we are the gestationally youngest couple there, and last night everyone there talked about how glad they were to make it past week 28.  In fact, these couples seemed to have transitioned from worrying about making it to the finish line to worrying about what it would mean when they got there.

One of the other fathers there said, “Oh dear, this is actually happening, isn’t it?”

Yes, yes it is.

Babies Countdown – The Double Header

As socially awkward as it is, I have added a new item to the list.  Mary will be going in to get fitted for a nursing bra in mid-July, and my little blog countdown helps us to remember stuff like this.

126 days until September 8

• Today is our next OB-GYN appointment.
• Wednesday, May 12 is our next appointment with the Perinators.
• Thursday, May 20 and the twins become viable as early as 24 weeks.
• Thursday, June 17 is Homefree Day. 90% of twins born at 28 weeks survive and that number only gets better from there on out.
• Sometime in mid-July Mary gets fitted for her nursing bra.
• Thursday, August 12 and we hit our goal of 36 weeks minimum. From here on the twins could come at any time.
• Thursday, September 9 and we hit 40 weeks. This is our due date even if we expect the twins to possibly come sooner.
• 4 Weeks Post Delivery – Look for baby smiles.
• Sometime After the Delivery – 4.5 months of the Twinsanity Interval.