In the "Oven"

My pregnancy with twins was a wonderful experience!  I had family and friends that surrounded me with lots of excitement and support.  That would be my first bit of advice to someone who is pregnant with twins:  develop and expand your relationships.  I needed people to celebrate with me and to encourage me - actually more than I thought.

Almost immediately after discovering that we had TWO in the "oven," I checked out every book I could find about having multiples.  Yes, I am that kind of person!  I read the stories about chaos and thought "not my home."  I read the advice about getting help and thought "would be nice to have dinners made, but I can handle it!"  I listened to friends with twins and didn't believe it.  Yes, I was CLUELESS!!!!

I did do something right.  I ate the right things and stayed active for the first 8 months.  I felt great and gained just what I needed.  The last two weeks were very hard as my body began to buckle under the pressure.  I had the infamous elephant ankles and spent most of the time on the couch with my feet up.  So, if you are pregnant with twins, eat right and stay active as long as you can!  Your days on the couch are just starting!

Such a beautiful time and a wonderful memory to have!  Loved all the attention at the doctor's office and all the ultrasounds!  Loved being "special" and "different"!  Loved the challenge for the nurse to find the second heartbeat when Baby A was up in my ribs.  Loved feeling the different movements that now I can see reflected in these people in front of me.  Loved the excitement of preparing our home for two babies.  I hope I will always remember...

In The Beginning

It has been over a year since we first heard that we were going to have twins.  Such a dream!  And, we still look at each other and say, "There's two of them!"  The uncontrollable laughter has died down, but the shock of it all is still sinking in.

In the fall of 2009, we were surprised to find that we were pregnant at all.  Like most of the country, we were in a time of financial turmoil and unsure how we were going to survive.  We visited several friends in Charlotte, and I felt "weird."  We came back home, and I spent a few days in the bed.  I thought it was just a virus or something.  In a few more weeks, Michael looked at me and said, "You aren't pregnant, are you?"  "What?!"  I took the infamous at-home test, and he had guessed right...

So much more to share about God's provision during our financial difficulties, but I will wait on that for another time.  We didn't tell our family and friends about the pregnancy until Christmas, and this was a wonderful time when others celebrated with us.  Of course, we still thought it was just one baby.  There was no immediate twin family history, no desire or dream for twins.

In January 2010, we had our first ultrasound.  I was eager to find out a more accurate due date and to see if they could determine the sex.  The nurse had me come into the room by myself, and she took all the measurements.  While she was working, she began to giggle and said things like, "This baby is really active."  I was just eager to get off the table and to the restroom and to get to the fun stuff, like seeing the baby and finding out the sex.

Finally, the nurse let me relax and brought in the family.  She gave me the news right before the family came in, and I seriously thought she was joking.  My husband came in and looked at the screen which was showing the two babies, and he jokingly said, "So, what are we looking at?"  The nurse came back with, "Two stomachs."  My husband paused and said, "I think I'll sit down now."

We both sat there in complete shock as the nurse showed us the babies on the screen.  She was pretty sure it was a boy and a girl.  We were pretty sure that God was playing a funny joke!  As a matter of fact, when I called my mom to share the news, she didn't believe me at first!  Not one baby, but two!!!!

For those who have just found out you are having twins, enjoy the moment and the shock of it all!  It is a beautiful thing.  Life is going to change in a big way, and my advice is to enjoy this time and this miracle.