We are here!!! Caroline and Fisher born November 3rd, 2011

We are so excited to announce Caroline and Fisher are here!!!  What we thought was going to be another "dress rehearsal" at the hospital turned out to be the real thing at 37 weeks. Caroline and Fisher came at 10pm on November 3rd.  Caroline came first weighing 5lbs 8oz 18 inches and Fisher came shortly after weighing 5lbs 3oz 19 inches. Our babies were delivered by c-section with no complications.

After the c-section we got settled in and were pampered by the wonderful staff at Wesley. Thank you to our friends and family for bringing food and flowers to brighten our hospital stay. 

After getting the babies home Raegan's blood pressure spiked and she had difficulties with her vision. This led us back to the hospital for another 2 night stay. The doctors diagnosed her with postpartum severe preeclampsia (which usually happens during pregnancy, not after). This hospital stay was not much fun due to the stress of being away from Caroline and Fisher and concerns for Raegan's health. Raegan was so committed to breast feeding we had folks making milk runs from the hospital to the house every few hours. Thank you, Grandma Carol and Grandpa Gene for taking good care of our babies! Raegan's follow up MRI of her brain and lab results have all came back negative. Praise God!  Thank you for all of your prayers.

Fortunately we were all healthy through the Thanksgiving holiday and didn't have to make any trips to the hospital. Caroline and Fisher got to meet all of their out of town relatives and had lots of visitors. My dad and his new wife Suzie were married the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Grandma Carol and Grandpa Gene watched the babies for a few hours so we could enjoy the wedding.

Now catching up to this week Raegan catches a cold and starts to get a fever Friday. By Saturday morning she heads to the doc office. In his examination he discovers that she is having pain and discomfort in her abdomen and side. He recommends she goes to the ER to get a CT scan of belly. The results showed appendicitis and by 10pm her appendix were out!  She is home now and recovering well. 

In the midst of the unfortunate health scares and hospital runs, we have been blessed with two very special gifts this month.  We are so grateful and love getting to be parents.  Caroline and Fisher are healthy and doing well. We couldn't be more thankful and feel so blessed to get to be their mommy and daddy.  It's amazing the amount of love you have for your children.  Thank you, God for the gift of two precious babies.

We want to thank our family and friends for your kindness and generosity this past month. The meals have been amazing and so helpful!  We appreciate the flowers, baby gifts, willingness to help, phone calls, and emails.  We are behind on our thank you notes and baby announcements. Please know how thankful we are for your kindness.

Here are some of the newborn pictures taken by Tim Davis.

Fisher

Fisher

Caroline

Daddy's hunting boots

Mommy's ballet shoes

36 Weeks, 2 Days

Hi friends and family!

We have a c-section scheduled for Tuesday, November 8th at 11:30am.  I will be 38 weeks!  This means our babies could be 6-7 lbs by then. Such a blessing! We've made a couple of trips to the hospital this past week thinking it's time for the babies to come, but after several tests they are perfectly happy and healthy inside of me!  I pretty much lay around because I'm carrying so much weight and I don't hurt as bad if I'm up and moving.  Thanks so much for all the visitors and food you all have dropped off.  We really appreciate it! 

Matt and I are so excited for Caroline and Fisher to arrive!  We are so grateful for your prayers, love, and support.  I've had such a healthy pregnancy and my 5'1" frame has successfully carried two big babies :)! 
Joyfully,
Raegan and Matt

32 Weeks

We went to the doctor today and everything looks great!  Our baby girl measured 4 lbs 4 oz. and our baby boy measured 4 lbs. It's hard to believe there is over 8 lbs of baby in me. Dr. Feuille checked to see if I'm dilated today and I'm not, so that's good!  I've been off work since 28 weeks, but still been able to get out and about a little.  As of today, I'm officially homebound and need to move from the couch, to the recliner, to my bed. He told us today that they used to put patients at this point in the hospital. I love visitors, so please come by anytime! We are SO EXCITED to meet our babies, but pray they will stay happy inside of me until 36 weeks!  Just 4 more weeks to go precious babies!  We love you so much!  Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support!  Blessings, Raegan and Matt

Maternity Pictures and 30 Weeks Update

We had fun getting maternity pictures taken a few weeks ago!  Bella Brane even got to be part of the photo shoot.  Tim and Jackie Davis took our pictures.  They have quadruplets who are seven years old!  Quads make twins seem like no biggie! 

I went to the doctor today for a sonogram and weekly check-up.  I am now 30 weeks.  Our son measured 3 lbs. and our daughter 3.1 lbs.  We can't be more thankful for big and healthy babies!  Dr. Feuille said they got a perfect score of 8 out of 8.  We could see from the sonogram that Fisher has hair!  Caroline doesn't seem to have any hair yet, but I'm sure she will be in pig tails in no time.  Both babies are head down and feet in my ribs.  I'm starting to slow down quite a bit, but continue to have good reports from the doctor.  I'm getting the normal signs of having 6 pounds of baby in me and 2 placenta's...achey legs, carpel tunnel in my hands, heartburn, and back pain...but the good news is my blood pressure is great and overall I feel really good! 

You might have noticed me referring to our babies as Caroline and Fisher...I think we have made a decision!  Caroline is named after both of our mom's, who are both Carol.  Fisher comes from my maiden name.  Caroline's middle name will be Priscilla, after my middle name and my grandma's first name.  Fisher's middle name is still undecided, but we have three possibilities which we are still discussing. 

We've been working hard to get their room ready.  I tell you what...your shopping cart sure does fill up fast at Babies R Us when you have two to buy for!  It's been fun washing clothes and blankets, then putting away in a special spot. 

Hope you enjoy the updates.  We enjoy getting to share with our family and friends!  Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support.  Blessings to you and your families. 

Love, Raegan and Matt



Pictures of Shower Hosts & Nursery Painting

Thank you so much for all of the amazing gifts and for showering us and our babies! 

Matt and I are so grateful for all of you! 

Thank you, Chapel Hill Kids!  Our babies received over 50 very special books from a group of very precious kids that we love so much!  You will all have to come read to Caroline and Fisher.

Miss Patti painted Caroline and Fisher's room!!!  We love her bunches!  This is Caroline's side of the room with pink flowers :).

Fisher's side of the room (he will have a deer added to the painting - Matt told Miss Patti to make sure the deer has a 10 point rack :)

We are now 29 weeks!  I'm definitely slowing down quite a bit.  Dr. Feuille took me off work last week, but not on complete bed rest.  The babies weigh approximately 2.5 lbs each and are healthy!  We go to the doctor once a week now.  Please pray the babies want to stay in at least until 36 weeks.  I have a feeling they are going to want to stay right where they are at...nice and cozy!  Blessings to our family and friends, Matt and Raegan

27 Weeks

This is a close up of Baby A's (our girl) lips and nose

Close up of Baby A's (Girl) face

Close up of Baby B's (our boy) face



Profile of Baby B's Head

We are now 27 weeks and doing great!  These sonogram pictures are from our appointment a week ago.  Each baby weighed approximately 2 lbs 2 oz.  Their measurements looked perfect and they are growing at the same pace.  Thank you so much for your prayers!  Doctor says the babies and mom are doing really well!  We want to THANK the beautiful friends that hosted our baby shower's this past weekend.  We were blessed with three shower's!  THANK YOU to Sandra Middleton, Anne Allen, Julie Shaw, Nancy Wallace, Mary Lou McKenzie, Corey Johnson, Melissa Hanson, Cara Fisher, Rachel Biggs, Patti Yetter, Marcy Morris, Laura Fuller, and Jennifer Carlson for making the shower's SO SPECIAL!!!  We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity as we start our family!  I will post shower pictures and some tummy pictures soon!  Please continue to pray with us.  Love, Matt and Raegan





23 weeks

Our Senior Pastor showed this video during his sermon last Sunday. You've got to watch these two precious British twins reciting Psalm 23.  I've watched it over and over.  Pastor Jerry from our church told me he can see two little Brane twins reciting Psalm 23 someday :). 

We went to see Dr. Feuille yesterday.  He measured my tummy and I've grown 3 inches in two weeks!  We didn't have a sonogram, but got to hear both heartbeats.  I was a little concerned because I kept feeling our little girl on my right side, but not much on my left.  Doc said our boy is up against my spine and sitting on my colon...which I will let you guess what that does to me :).  He said the babies are getting big enough now that they won't be able to flip flop sides or move around too much. 

Matt felt our little girl for the first time on Wednesday.  I've been feeling them for a couple of weeks, so I was super excited he could feel her kick!  Mom got to feel her this evening.  I think our little boy is going to be a little harder to feel until he gets bigger.  He's nice and cozy behind his sister. 

Matt and dad put together the baby beds this past weekend.  When I called him to see how it was going, he answered the phone, "Bob the Builder."  While working hard on the baby beds his cousin Clay sent him a picture of a nice bass he had just caught.  I'm sure he would have rather been fishing, but he put together two beautiful baby beds.  Grandma bought our bedding for the babies.  Isn't it cute?  Can you tell I am nesting away :)?

I've been very healthy and feeling good!  Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Hope you are enjoying the blog.  It's fun for us to get to share with you!

Please continue to pray with us from Prayer with Purpose:  90 Days of Prayer for Your Unborn Child

Day 50 - Love for God's Word/Fingers and Toes

Day 51 - Love of Justice/Healthy Legs

Day 52 - Mercy/Healthy Arms

Day 53 - Respect for Self, Others, and Authority/Healthy Stomach

Day 54 - Confidence/Healthy Skin

Day 55 - Faithfulness/Healthy Liver

Day 56 - Strength and Courage/Healthy Kidneys

Day 57 - Purity/Reproductive System

Day 58 - Kindness/Healthy Nose (sinus)

Day 59 - Generosity/Healthy Lungs

Day 60 - Peaceful/Healthy Hips

We want to thank the Graves Family for the glider chair, Sandra Middleton for road-tripping to KC with mom to get baby furniture, Scott Rosell for picking up baby furniture in Dallas, Lilly family for donating baby necessities, and the Olsen family for giving us double stroller. See pic below :).  We are so grateful for your kindness!!!  Thank You!!!

Blessing and Love, Matt, Raegan, Our Babies, and Bella Brane

20 Weeks

Bella talking to the babies

Today we had a full sonogram exam and visit with Dr. Feuille.  I'm now 20 weeks, and Dr. Feuille said my body will feel as if I am 8 months pregnant with single baby.  Everything looked great on our sonogram!  Both babies are growing like the doctor wants and are very active.  Yeah GOD!  The sonogram tech said the girl is sitting on the boys head.  She also said our girl is faced down and legs toward my ribs and our boy is the exact opposite - head towards my ribs and feet down.  It's amazing to watch the sonogram and see the babies moving.  I've been feeling the babies more and more each day. Overall I've been feeling great...just getting used to growing and growing :).  The only problem I've had is congestion over the past few weeks, but it is getting better and never turned into a severe infection. 

We will see Dr. Feuille every two weeks until the babies are born.  It's fun to get to have so many sonograms!  We found out some fun news that our friend Shara will be scrubbing in with Dr. Feuille when the twins are delivered.  Thanks, Shara! 

We had our Vacation Bible School June 20th. It was an amazing week!!!  God is so good!  We had 320 kids and almost 100 volunteers!  VBS is my favorite week where we get to use the entire church and throw a big party for HIS KIDS!!  Thanks to so many amazing volunteers the babies and I made it through a busy week! 

Matt is staying busy with work, trying to go fishing with his buddy Clark (who is also about ready to be a daddy) as much as he can before babies come, and enjoys golf in the evenings.  We had fun celebrating 4th of July with friends.  Matt and I laughed because we actually made it to midnight hanging out with friends! 

I've been eating tons!  Matt has been fixing some yummy dinners (and he gives great foot massages too!).  The babies especially love dad's homemade macaroni and cheese :).  They also love grandma's banana cake and Orange Leaf yogurt. 

Mom, our friend Lindsey, and I went to Babies R Us to register for the twins this week.  Lindsey was so sweet to help me figure out what all I need. After 3 hours I sat in the middle of the store a little overwhelmed :) and achey feet, but we accomplished our mission! 

We are so grateful for your prayers and support.  Please continue to pray with us. 

From Prayer with Purpose: 90 Days of Prayer for Your Unborn Child by Jenica McMaster:
Day 15 - Peaceful/Healthy Hips
Day 16 - Joy/Good Sleeper's
Day 17 - Perseverance/Cardiovascular Systems
Day 18 - Humility/Pediatrician
Day 19 - Compassion/Nurses
Day 20 - Responsibility/Wisdom in Parenting
Day 21 - Contentment/Obstetrician
Day 22 - Faith/Intestines
Day 23 - A Servant's Heart/Nervous System
Day 24 - Hope/Financial Responsibility
Day 25 - Passion for God/Digestive System
Day 26 - Self-Discipline/Skeletal System
Day 27 - Prayerfulness/Muscular System
Day 28 - Gratitude/Lymphatic System
Day 29 - A Heart For Missions/Endocrine System
Day 30 - Patience/Healthy Back
Day 31 - Obedience/Urinary System
Day 32 - Goodness/Healthy Ears
Day 33 - Gentleness/Ease of Delivery
Day 34- Forgiving Heart/Relationship with Siblings
Day 35 - Good Judgement/Protection from Illness
Day 36 - Wisdom/Good Eater
Day 37 - A Heart for Worship/Future Spouse
Day 38 - Growth in Grace/Education
Day 39 - Discernment/Life Experiences
Day 40 - Reputation/Future Friendships
Day 41 - Respect for Parents/Child's Father
Day 42 - Christian Witness/Grandparents
Day 43 - Knowledge of Scripture/Financial Responsibility
Day 44 - Gift of Encouragement/Safety
Day 45 - Love for Family/The Mother
Day 46 - Salvation/Healthy Eyes
Day 47 - Love/Healthy Heart's
Day 48 - Honesty and Integrity/Hospital
Day 49 - Self Control/Healthy Muscles
Day 50 - Love for God's Word/Fingers and Toes

I will post some of our of sonogram pics shortly.

With love and blessings, Matt and Raegan Brane

Gender's announced today!!!

                                Sonogram pictures from June 16th, 2011

                                                  Mom is 16 weeks

 A head shot of both babies.  Baby A is the girl and Baby is the boy.  I'm sure they are already starting to connect!  It looks like they are facing each other.  Precious!

 This is a profile of our boy.  He is 1 oz. larger than our baby girl. 

Here is a profile of our baby girl.

We are excited to share we are having a boy and a girl!!  We had a full OB Exam today, including measurements of Baby A and Baby B, along with the gender announcements. Baby B was announced first, and he was a boy.  Matt was beaming with JOY, and then Baby A was announcement.  Baby A is a girl!!!  It was pretty funny because Matt did a small discouraged sigh...I didn't know, but he had it on his heart that he wanted two identical boys.  OF COURSE, he's super excited and filled with happiness.  I told him I would never tell our daughter he was disappointed he was having a girl ;).

We are so thankful for two healthy babies.  The girl is 5 oz. and the boy is 6 oz.  This makes them slightly bigger than expected :). Their measurements looked perfect! Sonogram tech said they are each the size of my hand.  We are so grateful for your prayers!  God is so good! 

Baby Boy Brane got his first camo hat today, and Baby Girl Brane got her first pair of camo shoes today (with pink stitching)...THANK YOU, UNCLE TYLER!

We got to see Erin and Clark Moeller today at the OB.  It was fun sharing baby moments together. Erin and I are excited for our boys to have many fun adventures together!  She says every time our boys get a new fishing pole or gun, we get a new handbag.  I think that's a great idea!

Today, I got a new pair of comfy shoes for my swelling feet and a huge body pillow to make sleeping more comfortable.  Matt and I are laughing right now, because we can't see each other in bed because the pillows are so big.   

Please continue to pray with us (from the Bk. Prayer with Purpose: 90 Days of Prayer for Your Unborn Children by Jenica McMaster):
Day 8 - Respect for self, others, and authority/Health Stomach's
Day 9 - Confidence/Healthy Skin
Day 10 - Faithfulness/Healthy Liver
Day 11 - Strength and Courage/Healthy Kidneys
Day 12 - Purity/Reproductive System
Day 13 - Kindness/Healthy Nose (Sinus)
Day 14 - Generosity/Healthy Lungs

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers! We are so thankful to have such great family and friends!

Love, Raegan, Matt, Bella, and the Twins :)

Babies in Belize

Greetings from Belize!  The twins are enjoying their time in Belize.  We are having fun celebrating grandma and hearing fishing stories from dad and grandpa!  The guys get up at 5am to fish all day, and the girls and the twins :) take walks on the beach, hang out by the pool, and explore the island.  We get around on the island by golf cart or water taxi.  The roads are very bumpy, so we don't take too many golf cart trips because mommy worries the babies don't like the bumps :). 
The babies like all the yummy fruit and fish!  The coconut ice cream is very yummy too!  Mom needs lot's of calcium for the babies so ice cream is very necessary ;). 

Matt and I go to the doctor the Monday after we get back from Belize, so we will have more pictures for you and an update from the doctor.

Please continue to pray for strong and healthy babies.  We love you!!!

Nurse Practitioner, " Let's take another look at your baby...(gasp)...oh my goodness...there are TWO! You have two babies!!!

Those are the words we heard when we found out we were having two baby Brane's!  It was the biggest and BEST surprise of our lives!!!  Before the sonogram our nurse practitioner commented on what she would be looking for including heart flutter, movement, and how many babies there are?!?!  She said she loves to see the husband's face when she makes that comment.  Matt and I both looked at each other and said we've never thought about more than one!  Well, God had other plans in mind :).  It's better than we could have imagined!  I like how He surprised us!  The N.P. found the first baby (not knowing there was a second) and took lots of pictures and we were both smiling big and in awe!  After about 5 minutes she wanted to get a different view of our baby, and that's when she GASPED and said, "I think there are TWO...there ARE TWO!!!  You have two babies!!! Matt thought she was joking because of her earlier comment, but she wasn't joking and said she would never make that comment again. My legs started shaking and I bursted in tears and couldn't stop crying.  Matt looked at me once and asked why I was crying so much.  I had so many unexpected emotions. I asked the N.P. if my body could do this and what does having twins mean...honestly, I was in shock.  After the shock I couldn't stop crying because I was so grateful God gave us two babies!!!!  We get the privilege of loving twins forever!  I remember getting in my car after our appointment and listening to None But Jesus by Hillsong.  There is none but Jesus that could give us this very special blessing and He is the One we can depend on during this time of new emotions, new beginnings, and overflowing JOY!!  I just know Carol had a little something to do with this up there :)!!!! 

Matt and I hope this blog will be used to give our friends and family updates on the twins and to join us in prayer for our babies.  Thanks for being a very special blessing to our lives.  We are grateful for your love, support, and encouragement in our first two years of marriage and now the exciting journey with our twins!   Matt and I are always saying how grateful we are for the many wonderful relationships we have in our lives. We all need each other.  Thanks for being a part of our lives.  We love you. 

Today, I am 13 weeks.  We went to the doctor yesterday.  Matt got to meet our OB for the first time.  We got to hear both heartbeats and see both babies!!!  One great perk with having multiples is you get to have sonograms every couple of weeks. Doc said no aerobic exercise and get ready to get big!!!  He said to embrace it or not look in the mirror :). I'm trying my best to embrace!!!  I will say the recommended 50 lbs on my small frame is a little scary, but bring on the ice cream :)!  Our doc also said hormones with twins are doubled and never really go away during the pregnancy...Matt just smiled real big :).

This coming week we are looking forward to celebrating Grandma Brane's 80th birthday, Austin and Jennie's wedding, and traveling to Belize to celebrate mom's 60th birthday.  The babies will be going on their first of MANY fly fishing trips. We hope grandpa and daddy catch some BIG tarpon!  By the way, the twins are already being named after fly rods if they are boys and you might have heard Jimmy and John mentioned :).

We would be honored and grateful if you would pray with us.  We were blessed with a book written by our friend Jenica McMaster titled, Prayer With Purpose:  90 Days of Prayer for Your Unborn Child (Children).  I highly recommend this prayer journal for your personal use, friends, and family!  You will see what I mean :).  From Jenica's book:

Prayer for this week -
Pray for Salvation/Healthy Eyes
Pray for Love of God (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your strength, and with all of your mind." Luke 10:27 This is one of my favorite verses)/Healthy Heart's
Honesty and Integrity/Hospital
Self-Control/Healthy Muscles
Love for God's Word/Fingers and Toes
Love of Justice/Healthy Legs (I secretly pray for a love for Africa :) like mom)
Mercy/Healthy Arms

I don't know about you, but I love having a prayer outline and scriptures to help me pray. 
To purchase this Prayer Journal visit http://www.prayerwithpurpose.com/ or
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1001181