"THUNDERCATS ARE GO!!"

The boys made sure I new they were coming, and boy did they not cooperate. I was joking with my friend Myrian, how this pregnancy never went according to my plans. I am a kind of person that likes to have a plan, and when things do not go according to plan I want to know WHY?! Every year I buy my agenda, and I do use it!! Well, my agenda was full of notes of my monthly plans until I gave birth. NOTHING if what I wrote since I got pregnant, went according to my penciled in notes!

It was 11 p.m. on the night of February 23, and I was told I will be on strict bed rest and will not go home until the boys were born. I was in labor for 24 hours, not one drug I was given was working to stop the contractions. I was even put in a position in the hospital bed in which I was elevated kinda upside down. NADA. Half of me wanted boys out, but other half did not because of the boys only being 28 weeks, they needed to cook some more. I was trying to be brave Blanca, and opted for no medication for pain..yup that lasted until about 3 p.m. the following day, I WAS REALLY MAKING USE OF THE NURSE'S CALL BUTTON!

Around 11 p.m on the night of the 24, I was 8 cm dilated, and the Doc determined it was time to deliver. I was told I had a good hour before they came to get me, and that way I can get mentally prepared. They lied to me, 15 minutes later they came to get me. What happened next was very fast. I had a C-section because having the boys in a regular delivery will aggravate Louie's opening on his back. I was wheeled in the operating room, I thought I was going to pass out. Finally, ready for delivery and at 11:41 p.m. Joaquin is out; 11:42 p.m. Louie follows. Joaquin was really quiet, but Louie was very disgruntled he was out. I heard him scream and I saw him kicking!! I thought maybe the drugs were really messing with my mind, since I was told he would not walk. Each boy had about 5 people working on them and they took them right away to the NICU, I only had seconds with them when they were born...I had asked my husband not to leave me alone at at all, I briefly closed my eyes and he was gone. I was like, "WHAT THE HECK?!" I did not want to fall asleep, I had a fear I will not wake up ever. I was trying to figure out how can I stay awake until I got back to my room, so I asked the Anesthesiologist who he rooted for, Cubs or Sox...He said Cubs. I am so glad that was his answer because that interesting conversation kept me awake until I got back to my room.

I was not able to see my boys until 24 hours later, I called the NICU to check on them and the first thing the nurse told me is that they are ok and Luis was moving his legs, a lot. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so happy, but he was not out of danger yet. He was scheduled for his back repair the following day. The risk was high, the Docs will "fix" him, but some nerves will run the risk of damage, and his leg mobility would decrease. 4.5 hours later, he was out of his surgery. Everything went fine. I went to see him, and he was moving his legs, again. I have never been so happy in my life, I gave God his praises and thanked him for really taking care of both my boys. A month later, he had his shunt surgery, he did have mild hydrocephalus; but once again, the Docs "fixed" my baby. One thing did happen that kinda scared the beejesus out of me. Luis developed dysphagia. Because of multiple surgeries and the intubating, his throat muscles got a bit weak. When he ate, he aspirated therefore he would choke up a lot. Since I had informed myself about Spina Bifida, the eating issues really got me scared and I was a wreck. Thankfully, after a swallow study, Docs determined it was dysphagia, and we thickened his breast milk with cereal, hence the chubby cheeks!

I do not want to say that the NICU stay for my boys was a blur, because I hated leaving them there. But, I know they were better there than with me. My boys, Thanks to GOD, were never in a situation in which they were sick. They were born premature, but complete. They both hit their milestones, got strong and came home. Joaquin did develop a hernia after he came home, very common for preemies, but had it repaired and has been great since then.

Luis is due for his second Spina Bifida clinic, but the first visit was so positive! He will be getting physical therapy once a week, as soon as Early Intervention finds one and speech therapy to make sure he continues on track with his feedings. I am happy to inform that with some bracing and therapy, my little boy WILL WALK!!! We will know if there are any problems in relation to Spina Bifida as he grows up and start hitting his developmental phases, but to be quite honest, I have a perfect baby. I do have my days in which I am so sad because not one mom wants their children to have any challenges growing up and then I get to thinking about the future and how much he will have to face but, I Will not have had it any other way.The hardest part for me was my pregnancy. God doesn't send just anyone a special needs child, I am glad he choose me and that he gave me beautiful boys.

I have made it a point to make it my mission to bring Spina Bifida Awareness. I hope to start with a small fundraiser, and hopefully in the future Spina Bifida can get all the awareness it deserves. Our babies are not mentally defected babies, they are just babies with a few extra Dr.s appointments. I will use facebook as one of my forums to bring awareness and also keep everyone on Joaquin and Luis Journey. Currently, the babycenter.com moms and I are working on writing a letter to Oprah to do a show on spina bifida. We know it is a long shot, but ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.