Okay. So. Wow.
I mean, wow.
That’s about all I can say. Wow.
We had our 20-week ultrasound on Friday. You know, the one where they take all the baby’s measurements to find out if it has any chromosomal anomalies or health/medical issues. But really, it’s the one when we find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. So there we all were in the ultrasound room – Doug, the kids, and me. The tech turns down the lights and starts moving his magic ultrasound wand over my bare belly. Doug says, “All right, kids, any last guesses whether it’s a boy or a girl?”
The tech says, “Looks like you can have a boy and a girl.”
“What?” I say.
“You’re having twins.”
Doug laughs, his nervous oh-man-I’m-in-trouble-now laugh.
I stare at the screen, unable to process what I’m seeing. “But – but that’s impossible!” I feel like I’m dreaming, or underwater, or in a movie. This doesn’t feel real. It can’t be real.
But it is. Even I can tell that there are two babies floating around on that screen…which means there are two babies floating around inside of me.
You’d think, being the worrywart I am, that I’d have considered this possibility a long time ago. And I did. But the in-office ultrasound at 11 weeks clearly showed just one baby. (When I told this to the tech, he grumbled, “They” – meaning the doctors and midwives – “shouldn’t be allowed to have those” – meaning the Fisher Price ultrasound machines they use for office visits.) And at my 16-week appointment there was just one heartbeat. So I went blithely off to California and Mexico and came home to my ultrasound and never suspected that there was an extra baby hiding in there.
I am going to be the mother of twins. Twin boys, no less! I am going to be the mother of not three but four children. Four! (I am also probably going to be insane and institutionalized before I’m 40…)
The good news in all of this (and no, I do not consider twins good news; those of you who do must have boatloads more energy than I do and don’t need much sleep, and I have nothing to say to perky people like you except go away) – anyhoo, as I was saying, the good news is that the babies are healthy. They each have their own amniotic sac, placenta, and umbilical cord, which, apparently, is a good thing. And they are the right size for their age.
Still, there are two of them. Hence, wow. What else can I say?
Of all the things you could say, I think that ‘wow’ is pretty tame! We are looking forward to these two new precious boys, and will be thinking up good names for them – ‘Thing 1 and Thing 2’, ‘Stop That’ and ‘Put that Down’ or just ‘Dude’ – and of course that works for 3 of the 4, so it wouldn’t matter what their real names are.
I’m sure that you will be a wonderful mother to your growing family and that God will grant you the energy and grace that you need. Just invest in some earplugs, a sleep mask, and a good lock on the bathroom door.
C.
The other good news about those lucky boys is that they are being born into a loving family. (Plus there is a criique group eager to meet them!)
I agree. Wow! seems like a pretty tame response but also quite appropriate. Looks like we’ll be working on two quilts, eh? And wow, there will be two new sets of twins at church (now we’re growing geometrically!). God surely has a plan here – perhaps that’s why He’s given you such a large circle of friends. Blessings on you all.
Wow! Kimberlee! That is amazing news! I am sure you are overwhelmed right now, but may God grant you peace and joy as you begin thinking and preparing to be a mother to four precious children! Congratulations to you and Doug!
Sarah
OH MY! Kimberlee! WOW! (heh!) Oh my!!
“Twins” actually popped into my head as I started to read your blog – before I scrolled down & read the rest, that yes indeed you are having twins. WOW!!! Blessings on you NOW and in the FUTURE!
I am still in shock.
I think I am going to have to move in for the first year.
No. Wait. On second though, maybe you and Jack and Jane should come here and leave the twins with Doug for the first year.
Yup, that’s the perfect solution.
Congratulations! What incredibly exciting news! The Lord gave you a double portion of blessing. I will be praying for safety and health for all of you. Praise the Lord!
Last Friday at dinner I told Brian, “boy have I got news for you, Doug and Kimberlee had their ultrasound today,” and he said, “are they having twins?” Way to steal my thunder!
Yeah, wow is something of an understatement, even a week later I’m not sure what to say. Luckily you do have many many friends that love you very much and will be happy to help. I’ll be a new mom myself when you give birth, so I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but I do hope to be there for you in whatever way I can. In any case, I think this is good news for my daughter — now she’ll have two more fantastic fabulous Iretons living nearby that she can be best buddies with. And now for the pithy unhelpful advice you’ve been waiting for: “Kimberlee, be joyful because having twins mean there’s twice as much for you to love!”