Separate...but not quite equal

This is Aunt Keka, filling in for Jenn and Kevin as they are still in the hospital in Cincinnati.

Jennifer and the twins underwent their first surgery today. A small hole was created in Jenn's stomach, about the size of a pen tip she says, and a laser was inserted into her placenta. At that point, nine connections between the little ones were severed, two of them quite large. The babies are more like fraternal twins now, as they are separate. But, they will, of course, still be identical.

The surgery went extremely well and lasted only one hour and 45 minutes. Within 20 minutes of completion, Jenn was on the phone and sounded quite well. She was amazed at how it all went, and kept repeating that there were 12, TWELVE!, doctors that helped with the surgery. I know that she and Kevin both feel very well taken care of.

The reports from the doctors were positive. Baby B looks incredibly good. He/she is growing at a great rate and appears to be healthy. Baby A, however, is still critically small. He/she only has 20% of the placenta which is not really good, but like Jenn says, "It's better than 10% or 5%!"

Oh...and Jenn had her first epidural. She says, and I quote, "Why did I never have one of those before!" Apparently, Jenn is rethinking natural childbirth.

The next 24 hours are of the utmost importance. Jennifer and Kevin will stay overnight and tomorrow they will see how the babies have adapted to the separation. If Baby A survives through the night (which we all have faith he/she will!) then there are other things to be concerned with (such as early delivery) but...Jenn and Kevin are content to worry about those things as they come. Right now, they are only concerned with the next, well I guess it's 12 hours now.

Oh...and Nina and Pawpaw Jacobs were at the hospital too. They drove down Monday evening to be there for Jenn and Kevin and their little grandbabies, of course. Nina delivered the "play by play" over text messaging. And Pawpaw just passed the phone around! Both are very relieved that, at this point, both babies and especially Mommy (Jenn) are doing well.

Jennifer and Kevin will meet with the doctors tomorrow to get a more thorough report on the condition of the twins and their outlook for the rest of her pregnancy.

I said to a friend of mine today...these little guys/girls (did you really think I was going to tell you???) have been through more before birth than I have in 29 years! Think what stories they will have to tell! They underwent surgery when they were negative years old! Crazy.

Dawson and Lane...the forgotten kids--just kidding Jenn--have been spoiled rotten over the past few days with Lori, Aunt T, Aunt Marybeth and Aunt Lola. Dawson is telling everyone that his Mommy is in the hospital...but just to make her babies feel better. And Lane is...well Lane is 11 months old. He has no clue. But he's still smiling.

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll
smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.-- Anonymous