It is nearly four in the morning. Lately my body has decided to wake up around 3:30 and stay awake until 5:30, sometimes 6:00. I have a lot on my mind.
In January, Spencer and I found out another little spirit was going to come live with our family. Though not at all planned, throughout the last couple of months we were getting used to the idea of having 4 children. I wasn't sick much...just the occasional nausea and lack of desire to eat anything protein. We were able to keep it a secret from EVERYONE except Callie. (We weren't even going to tell her until Spencer wisely said that he knew I'd need someone to talk to, confide in, etc. and she was SO happy for us, it was a good thing I told her.) We didn't tell our moms, families, friends, or boys.
On March 16th we went in for our first doctor's appointment. When I picked Spencer up at work to go with me he told me what a busy day at work it had been and that he may get a few phone calls that he'd have to deal with during the appointment. I said, "I can go alone if you need to stay at work. I'll be fine." I mean, I thought the appointment would be like the others I'd been to when expecting a new addition. But Spencer said that being at the appointment was way more important than work, so on we went.
Because I had felt good and actually haven't even put on any weight (I may have even lost) I was mentally prepared for the doctor to tell me that I wasn't pregnant at all. In fact, I asked Spencer why we were even there. It all felt a little silly to me. We visited with the Doctor in his office (which I think is the NICEST thing ever, to visit with your doctor and express concerns, etc while fully clothed and not sitting on a bed lined with paper.) I even told the doctor and nurse that I wouldn't be surprised if they said there wasn't a baby inside of me.
The doctor took us in to the Ultrasound room and I got dressed in the unflattering gown. The doc came in and tried to flip on a soft light and turn out the rest but the bulb burned out so he told me, apologetically, that he'd need to crack the door to let just a little light in. I was fine with that. He put the gel on my tummy and placed the wand on top and started moving it around. I glanced at the monitor and said, "See, there's nothing in there." To which the doctor got a BIG smile on his face and stopped, pointing at the monitor and said, "Actually, there's one...and there's another." What? Twins? Complete shock!!! I think Spencer muttered, "Are you kidding me?" but I can't be sure. I couldn't really comprehend anything from that point on.
The few things I remember: Most expectant mothers carry twins only to 36 weeks. I'm 11 weeks along so I'd say I'm pretty much finished with my 1st trimester. My official due date (if I were to miraculously carry them until 40 weeks) is October 3rd so we're planning a late August, early September delivery. (As a side note, Emily is due August 10th so the cousins will be very close.) I have to see the doctor a lot more than I ever knew. Monthly until 20 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 24 weeks, weekly until 28 weeks, then bi-weekly until delivery. We'll have numerous ultrasounds throughout to make sure both babies are developing at the same rate. And the doctor told me that anything I had learned from my previous pregnancies, I could basically throw out the window because this was a whole new ballgame.
We decided to tell our families immediately. Both moms got called within 30 seconds of walking out of the doctor's office. Siblings have all been told. Spencer decided that we should tell our boys the same night. (He had a valid point that as soon as I start showing, I'm going to get huge fast, so we can't really delay much longer.) Gavin and Owen were excited. Gavin guesses that there is one girl and one boy. Owen said he thinks it's two boys, (Heaven help me.) Cam wasn't as excited. In fact he felt pretty bad about it. I told him it was okay to feel bad because I knew eventually he'd be happy. When I dropped him off at school the following day I told him that we weren't ready to tell people in our ward yet. I needed a little more time to digest. Since there is a little girl in his class who is in our ward, I asked him not to tell anyone. He asked if he could tell his teacher and I thought that would be a good idea, so she'd understand why he was grumpy and preoccupied in his thinking. I guess sometime between getting out of the car and getting in to the school, Cam decided he was okay with it now and he could tell a few people. He ended up sharing the news with some kids at school (he can't remember who or how many) and the majority of the neighborhood. In fact, my 1st counselor in the Primary called me while I was teaching piano lessons and left a message that she needed to talk to me ASAP...she'd heard the news from one of the little boys in Primary who'd heard from Cameron. So, although I am still trying to come to terms with this news on my own, Cam has told the ward...
For the record, this wasn't our plan. We got reminded today that Heavenly Father is completely in charge of our lives. We may have a say in the matter, but ultimately, He is in control. Go ahead and laugh (it's the most common reaction)...and pray that there are four little pigtails in our future!!!
This is what an ultrasound with multiple children looks like. You can vaguely see the line separating the two babies. There are two tiny bodies in there too.
11 months ago
