Born on the 4th of July!!!

Sorry for the delay in an update...my hands have been busy! :)
So, if you haven't gathered, Delaney and Addison have arrived. Here is the story...

On July 3rd, I started noticing contractions around 3:30pm. I didn't freak out/run to the car/head to the hospital because I had lived through this countless times before. So, I just went about my daily business. At 6:30pm, I was still having contractions. Hmm. They had never lasted this long in this type of pattern. I found a notebook and started writing down when they started (and mentally timing how long they were lasting). At that point, after an hour, it seemed that they were falling into a pattern of 8-11 minutes apart, a minute long. Hmm. Interesting.
I ate some great dinner at 7pm (Adam's sister, Jen, made ginger chicken for me to help bring on labor...but I think I was already in labor by the time I ate it). Kept timing contractions. Hmm. They were getting closer together. Finally, after much hesitation, I called Adam's mom and told her that I thought we should head in to the hospital to get checked out (remember, this was after 2 trips to L&D where I was sure I was going into pre-term labor and I just was not). She agreed that it wouldn't be a bad idea, so we grabbed our bags, loaded up the girls and headed to Adam's parent's house to drop off the kids. While we were there, I was getting contractions every 3-4 minutes. We headed off, but I was doubting myself the whole way to the hospital.
In triage, the checked me (between 3-4cm dilated, 70% effaced), and hooked me up to the monitors...3 total...one for contractions and one for each baby. Sit there and wait an hour. No fireworks on tv because our triage room didn't have NBC. After an hour and noticing that I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes, they came back to check me. Over 4cm, 80% effaced. A few minutes later, a nurse came in and told me that she was going to be my L&D nurse. WHAT?!?! We were staying? I couldn't believe it. I was thrilled.
We arranged for the epidural, I walked to my room from triage and got the IV started, hooked up to more machines. Shortly thereafter, my epidural was placed (they really only take 5-7 minutes to place...I don't know why books say it takes 20+ minutes).
Boring part...laboring. In the middle of the night. ZZZ. I did get nauseated, so I had some meds to take the edge off, but of course, they cause drowsiness. Fell asleep. Had the most difficult time staying awake for the next 3 hours. When I woke in the morning, I noticed that my contractions had all but stopped (one every 10 minutes). At 6am, I was given Pitocin. Things started up again. By 8am, I was ready to go. But, I got bumped back out of the OR (have to deliver there with twins 'just incase') because another mom had a baby that was having heart decels. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Finally, was wheeled back a bit after 9:30am to have the babies. Set up took forever, or so it felt. I got sick after I was wheeled onto the delivery table, but I think it was mainly because I was so nervous about the babies being healthy.
Finally started pushing. After 4 contractions, Delaney Suzanne was born at 10:16am. Full head of hair, big hearty cries. I kept asking if she was ok. I was so nervous. But, she was great! Weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces! WHAT? After the shock of that all wore off and the doctor had Addison in place (they broke his water, pushed him down, put a scalp electrode on him and we were ready to go), he was born in 2 contractions. Addison Joseph came at 10:23am, another full head of hair, stunned to be in such a bright place, but crying nonetheless. He was great, too, a whole 6 pounds, 2 ounces! It was amazing, laying there in the sterile OR on a delivery table that I felt like I could fall off of at any minute listening to my two babies cry, the last two babies I will ever have. I cried, Adam cried, the medical team was excited.
I dared to ask the question...will they get to come back to my room with me? The NICU nurse sent down to assess them looked at me and said, "Yes, they are healthy and will go straight to your room with you." Oh, tears of joy. What I wanted so much to avoid the entire pregnancy was avoided and that quick sentence made me feel so amazing. Cleaned up, headed back to the room. Smiling from ear to ear. Two healthy babies. Amazing. God listened to my prayers.
Family poured in to meet the newest members. I felt exhausted but exhilarated. The following day, both of the babies and I were discharged by our doctors and we were all home by dinnertime. And, the best part, Adam and I (and our newest additions) were home all day long for Hadley and Gretchen's 3rd birthday the following day!
Life is good. It is really good.
Will post pictures later.