Selected excerpts from Christine’s pregnancy journal
8 weeks: Obstetrician appointment today – Dr. Tan thinks he may have detected two heartbeats!! He referred me for an ultrasound next week to confirm. Jonathan and Corbin were at the appointment with me and they were in so much shock, I thought I’d have to be the one to drive home.
9 weeks: Ultrasound in Whitman – The technician was wide-eyed when I brought four men into the room, but we were the ones who were wide-eyed when we left. It’s official — we’re having twins! Even though the perinatologist had warned me about the possibility, I never really thought it would happen. Jonathan and Brendan have started discussing names, but we won’t know the babies’ genders for at least another month. We’d been referring to the baby as Peanut — now it’s Peanut and Pumpkin.
I’ve been unusually exhausted, and I worried that my lupus was flaring up, but there are no rash or body aches. A quick internet search told me that fatigue is very common in early pregnancy, and my doctor confirmed it. He said it should be better in a couple of weeks.
14 weeks: This morning I was downstairs, ducked into the guest bathroom, which I don’t normally use, and couldn’t open the toilet lid. It turns out Brendan has started childproofing, even though the babies won’t be here for several more months, and the babies won’t be able to reach the toilet for nearly a year after they’re born. I’ve made him promise to wait a few more months before he locks things up and bolts things down.
16 weeks: I’ve never liked olives, but last week, I tried one off of Jay’s plate, and today, over the span of several hours, I’ve an entire jar of them.
17 weeks: Peanut and Pumpkin are boys! Bea, Rosie and I are going to be outnumbered three to seven in this house, but that’s fine with me. Jonathan now calls the babies Mr. Peanut and Mr. Pumpkin.
26 weeks: Just as the sun was nearly down, Jay did a photoshoot with me on the beach. The babies seemed to be posing for the pictures, too, because they were active the entire time.
28 weeks: The nursery is ready. Brendan and Corbin jumped on painting duties as soon as I okayed a color. The cribs arrived last week, and today the glider chair was delivered. I’m both excited and nervous about the idea of sitting in that chair and nursing twins. I hope they’re patient with me as I figure things out. Ten more weeks!
29 weeks: I wonder how many people have had their baby shower in a bar? Caz threw a party for us (for you, Peanut and Pumpkin) in Rusty’s, during the day when it was closed to the public. My mom and sister flew in to be there, along with Sheila, Becca, Valerie, Lacy Wright (who recently announced that she’s pregnant with her second child!), and Maddy Lewis, who made a beautiful cake for the event decorated in baby blue icing.
The moms at the party shared their experiences with me and offered a lot of tips. Sheila asked about my health, as she always does, and I was so happy to be able to tell her that everything’s going smoothly. Now that we’re getting closer to delivery day, I’m being monitored every two weeks, so my doctor will be on top of any issues that may arise.
35 weeks: I. Am. So. Huge. I was warned twins often come early, and even though I want them to grow big and healthy inside me, I’m really looking forward to having them come out. I’m fascinated that my skin could stretch as far as it has over my enormous belly. I’m definitely ready to pop!
During my weekly appointment to measure the amniotic fluid (there’s still more than there should be, but everything seems to be okay), the technician took the ultrasound into 3D mode again, and I got to see the babies’ beautiful faces. I can’t wait to meet them!
Today, Roscoe and Rosie disappeared for a while. Jonathan finally found them sleeping in the middle of the floor in the nursery. I think they’re excited, too.
36-37 weeks: Welcome to the world, Henry and Theo!
I’m overwhelmed with emotions I can’t even name. The babies are finally here, and they’re healthy, but it’s been a rollercoaster ride of an experience. I was hoping to give birth the traditional way, but after nearly a day of unproductive labor, the doctor urged me to get a C-section. Everything happened very quickly after that, and soon our precious babies were born.
The elation was followed by fear, though, as Henry was whisked away to the NICU. He was a few ounces smaller than his brother, and the doctor wanted him to have extra monitoring for a couple of days.
I’m still processing the intense contrast of happiness at their arrival and frustration that I couldn’t be with them, because I was recovering, too. Knowing Henry was nearby, but that I couldn’t see him right away in the NICU, was almost too hard to bear. His daddies were with him, though, taking turns around the clock, and that made me feel like things would be okay.
At least one of my men was always with me, too, and with Theo, and now, at last, we are all at home together. It’s hard to believe I lived happily by myself for so long, and now I’m elated to be part of a family of seven — ten, counting our furry family members.
If Jay and I had our baby years ago, we’d have been okay, and it would have been wonderful, but we also probably would have struggled. Now, I know that Henry and Theo will have everything they need, including, most importantly, more love than they will ever know.
©2022 Stephanie Brother
