Your 1 Month Birthday!!

Hi Girls,

Well, today is your 4 week birthday! It is hard to imagine you've only been with us 4 weeks - in many ways it seems like you came just yesterday but it also seems like you've been here forever. Today, Erin you pooped and peed on me in the morning - thanks! Evelyn, you are snoozing in a laundry basket right now. You were both in it, but Erin got a bit fussy and is now in her bouncie. I have attached a photo of you both in your laundry basket.

I am sorry this e-mail has taken me so long to write - and it might be a lengthy one. So, grab a diet coke or whatever you drink and follow me down memory lane...

October 9, 2005 - Let's have a baby!

After much discussion this was the day Dad gave the sign-off on trying to have a baby! I was excited and nervous at this prospect. But, hey it might take a while so why get ahead of myself... (or it might happen right away and we'll have twins!)

October 29, 2005 - What the heck is this test saying?

Early this morning we took our first pregnancy test and low and behold it was a negative. Not a huge deal, since we only tried to have you for a month. But, after Dad went to work just as I was going to throw it away I took another look and it was positive - a very faint positive. My advice to you is buy a digital test - you probably won't even have the ones available to you that we took. Anyway, I showed the test to your dad and your cousin Jimmy's 1st birthday party and he was still not convinced. Driving home we stopped and bought another test and that also showed a very faint positive. He was becoming more convinced...

November 18, 2005 - What!

Today was our first ultrasound. We were so excited to make sure everything was going okay. The ultrasound tech was very nice and showed us a little embryo - our baby! Then, as we were watching it, we literally saw another embryo cruise by. Then, your Daddy said "there is only one, right?" The tech said "No, this is your second baby - you're having twins!" My only response was "What?" I was stunned. Dad and I never thought we'd have twins - it was the shock of my life - the most surreal experience ever! Dad was so excited - he freaked out a bit over the expenses portion, but he was just thrilled!!

We went to Michigan that weekend with friends (Lisa & Kent) and did not tell them - or anyone else for that matter. It was our secret. But, over that weekend we saw twins everywhere - and on TV was Parent Trap - it was all very funny. In fact, time after time Dad or I would just start laughing at the thought we were having you both! And, the fun part was that nobody else knew why we were laughing!

December 11, 2005 - The Cat is coming out of the bag...

Tonight Dad and I had dinner with my parents (Granny Jeanne & Grandpa Pat). At dinner we gave them an early Christmas present. I think my mom knew before she opened it. Anyway, we gave them a stocking hook inside a beautiful box from India. They were so excited to have a new grandchild on the way. Then, I passed them another hook telling them they'd be needing to get two stockings and they about flipped. My mom kept asking if they are sure there are two and we really just could not convince her. My mom had told my dad about my arrival by giving him a stocking hook - so this was extra special.

December 18, 2005 - The Cat is even further out of the bag...

Today we had brunch with Dad's family - and they were also so excited at the news. They were especially excited because you are the first little ones in a long time - and the first grandchildren for this set of grand parents.

December 25, 2005 - It's official, everyone knows...

Today we told my brothers and sisters-in-law by showing them the ultrasound photo and having them figure it out - they all flipped! We also told my cousins and basically everyone on my side of the family. They could not believe we were having twins.

Friday, February, 2006 - Our 2nd Ultrasound...

Today we had another ultrasound and your grandparents (on Dad's side) were with us to share in the event. It was so cool to see your little bodies growing and to know you were healthy.

And time goes on... During this pregnancy I saw the doctor 23 times I can count - that's a lot!!! Dad and I participated in classes for labor and delivery as well as new baby care - we tried to do everything to make sure we knew what the heck we were doing!

Thankfully, I had a great pregnancy. My doctor said I was the poster child for a twin pregnancy. I did not have bed rest and really was healthy throughout the entire event. So, despite being healthy, you must also understand I was HUGE!!! I could definitely not see my feet. I would have Dad help me get out of bed in the morning. People looked at me toward the end and I think they got nervous. It was fun and pretty funny.

I did not have any real cravings - although during the first trimester I had quite a few BLT sandwiches from Jimmy John's - not sure if they'll still be in business. And, I had no taste for Taco Bell or Chinese food. But, they are okay now.

So, along comes June - and we think you'll be coming any day. And ... the days just keep coming! Of course you are not due until July 9th, but twins always go early - so you should be here early or mid June. Nope - you had other plans. I thought the doctor might induce me, but of course not.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - False Alarm...

Well, I thought I was feeling funny today. My feet got HUGE and we just thought it might be time. The doctor told us to go to the hospital and after 4 hours of tests and monitoring the doctor said - I could move you along tonight, but I am going to send you home. At your appt on Friday you'll be scheduled for delivery next week. Okay...

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - So, this is a contraction...

Today I had lots of contractions throughout the day - but nothing that warranted my going to the hospital or anything. I laid low and was eager for Friday to come!

Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Contractions keep a coming...

Today I felt funny from the minute I got up. I told Dad to go to work and prepare himself to be home for a while - I knew it would be his last day. Reluctantly he went to work (and was later told by co-workers he should not have listened to me, but stayed with me!) Granny Jeanne was very worried about me, so she came over and we had lunch at Olive Garden - I could not eat a thing! And, we watched Brokeback Mountain - a funny movie to watch with your Granny Jeanne! Anyway, throughout the day I was having many contractions and they were getting closer and closer together.

So, Dad missed his usual train and was going to drive with a friend home. This was not the best day for him to be home late! I was home alone and having lots of contractions!! He got home at 7pm and I asked him to time them - they were about 5 minutes apart - we called the doc and headed to the hospital. Of course, the car had no gas, so we had to stop and get some. Dad pumped while I had contractions in the car. Not only did he have the fill the entire tank (a Jeep's large tank) but he had to make it land on an even number - it was not the time to tinker around!! We got to the hospital at 8pm and when they checked me, I was already dilated to 6cm. That's more than half way there. We knew this was the time, so we called the grandparents and they all headed over to be part of the event. I got an epidural around 10pm or so and that made things much more manageable. We wanted Granny Jeanne to join in the deliver of you, but the hospital said no, as the room would be filled with hospital personnel.

Friday, June 23, 2006 - WELCOME!!!

At 1am I was ready to push so they got the surgical room ready. It took an hour... You had to be born in a surgical room just in case there were any problems. So, at 2am we started pushing. It really was not painful - just the most exhausting thing I have ever done. During this time I was in complete solitude. I had Dad rubbing my leg and cheering me on. But, I was very internally focused. I kept me eyes closed and really heard very little. I had no idea what all was going on in the room - I did not know there were 14 people in the room! This lasted over an hour and then the coolest thing ever happened. At 3:14 I pushed out little baby A - soon to be Erin. They whisked you away so very quickly... I could not hear you cry which made me nervous - and I had to ask if you were a boy or girl as I did not hear them announce it. Then came another set of contractions. It was then I pushed out baby B - soon to be Evelyn. Dad was so excited. He thought it would take another hour - but not under my watch. I gave it everything and out you came!! Again, you were whisked away very quickly. Since you were small, they wanted to make sure everything was okay. Several minutes later they brought both of you to your dad and me and it was so cool to see you both together - outside my body. It was amazing. I thought I'd cry, but I didn't - I just was so excited, exhausted and relieved to have it over. I am not much of a late night person, but this was one night that I did not sleep a wink. I was so wired when it was over that sleep was the last thing on my mind. All the grandparents (except Dave's mom who was in Wisconsin) got to see Erin - Evelyn was in the NICU for a short time. They all thought she was a beauty and just perfect. And, when they saw Evelyn later in the day they thought you too were perfect and beautiful!!

A funny story from this evening is that my parents left their dog outside the house when they scurried to the hospital. The neighbor got worried and called the police who then came to their house and searched through it - not knowing what went wrong and where my parents were. Good think it was June and not January. But, the dog was fine and it made a good story.

Over the next few days we all hung out at the hospital. In the beginning Evelyn had to be monitored because you had difficulty keeping warm. They put you in a little isolate - I called it your microwave. But, soon enough you were strong enough to stay in my room and it was from then on the four of us. Dad stayed with us every night at the hospital and that was so nice.

Sunday, June 25, 2006 - Welcome Home!

Today we started our new life outside the hospital. It was so nice to get in the car - and have it filled with kids! We went home and started to figure out how to be parents.

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You two girls are the best ever. You don't fuss too much and you are the apple of our eyes. We could not be happier to have you in our lives and thank each other and God for your presence.

Well, those are some of the things I remember from the 37 weeks and 2 days I carried you inside and the few days after you were born. Much of what I have written may not seem exciting, but it was the most memorable time of my life - and June 22nd and 23rd was the most memorable and most life changing days ever. Dad and I keep taking about it and thinking back to some of the funny stories. During our 3am feeds on Friday mornings we relive the experience of you both being born.

We love you both so much - I don't think either of you will ever know just what you mean to us. You have brought us closer to each other and we thank you for that. We will try our best to be great parents. I am sure we'll make mistakes, but you will be our top priority. Whatever you are doing today, please know how much we love you and how proud of you we are!

All my love,

Mom