Ruby Anne Gardner arrived first on Thursday, June 26 at 2:36 am weighing 4 lbs. 10 oz. and 17 3/4 inches. Julia Berlin Gardner came next at 2:38 am weighing 5 lbs. 3 oz. and 18 1/2 inches. They look nothing alike but are both beautiful! Both girls are doing great, but are still in the NICU for a little while to monitor some breathing issues. They made it to 35 weeks!

I called in Wednesday having contractions 7 minutes apart and they told me to just watch them and call back if they got worse. They did, and were coming every 3 minutes apart by about 7pm so I called back and of course they told me to come into the hospital to be monitored. Of course we were pros at this by now, this being our 5th trip to the hospital. I was convinced this was a false alarm yet again, but Lance said we needed to go get checked out. By the time we arrived the contractions were a little worse, but not horrible and they checked my cervix- nothing... so the nurses were all laughing as were we, and we thought we were going home. Ha ha.

As soon as the nursing staff was changing shifts, my contractions returned fast and hard. The Dr. returned to check my cervix again, just in case and lo and behold I had gone from nothing to 2.5 in an hour!!! We decided to hold off and see if the contractions would stop and if I would continue to dialate. Within the next hour, my contractions got a lot more difficult for me and I was in PAIN! So the Dr. decided enough was enough and he wasn't going to make me suffer anymore.

Everything after that happened so fast, as this was a planned c-section. I was so nervous I was shaking like crazy! Next thing I knew we were in the operating room, I threw up, and the girls were born. What a scene! But they are both here now, I am now only hurting from my recovery and we are all happier for it! The girls are in the NICU, mostly for observation, and will probably have to stay even after I am discharged. We expected this, but please be in prayer for their continued improvement in health. We are so excited to have them here and so thankful to all our friends and family who have supported and cared for us!