Today is a special day for me, though I have a couple of sons who would just as soon not think about it. I will never forget the excitement of giving birth to Bill, who looked by all intents and purposes to be a very, very big baby (this was before the day of ultrasound testing) and then having this tiny squirming live wire, weighing less than 6 lb. placed in my arms. Not a big baby, but definitely a beautiful one nonetheless - even if he was all skin and bones at the time and looked like a wrinkled little old man.
I had barely started to relax following his birth when the nurse was holding up two fingers to the doctor who said, "I know." "What's going on?" I asked. I felt left out on something. Then the nurse looked at me with a big grin and gave me the news that there was still another baby waiting to be born that morning. I was having twins!
Brent was in the waiting room. He just about passed out when Sean was born so he opted out of this experience this day, and oh, how I wished he had been by my side to get that news. They finally brought him back after Dan was born a half hour later but didn't tell him anything. He came in tentatively, a little worried because the delivery had taken so long, not sure whether he had a new little daughter or a new little son, or if there were complications or what.
"What is it?" he asked. "Sons" I said.
"Ah, another baby boy," he said.
"No," I said. "Boys"It took a minute for it to sink in for him, as well. Sons with an "S". Twins! Two for the price of one (which for everyone who has ever had multiples, we know is a total misnomer). He started to float. He was so excited. We both were. In today's world of aided conception, multiple births are a little more common than they were back in the day our sons were born. Twins were a rarity, more than two a very unusual occurrence. We were thrilled. And both of them have been great blessings to our lives from that day 37 years ago until now.
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| Dan the day he got his new eyes, Nashville, with his new car. |
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| Mike and Bill, July 11, 2011 |
We love you both! Happy Birthday! Thanks for making August 24th such a special day in my life.
Also, just for the curious, here's a sneak peak:
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| Arnie and Brock lifting the corner cabinet into place. |
The doors and drawers aren't finished yet. We'll get them in a few weeks, but the counter top guys are coming to do the template this morning. Dishwasher and fridge are being delivered this afternoon. Sink's been ordered and is in the process of being shipped. Still debating on the color, although it does look a lot lighter and much more subdued with the cabinets in place. Just wondering about sage green instead ... a lot will depend on the counter tops, which I'm also debating right now.
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| Jeff Cunico, Brock, and Arnie working on the kitchen ... |
Acch! Why can I not make up my mind!
7 comments:
I never knew the story of Bill and Dan. I seriously had no idea that having twins was a surprise to you. That is amazing and so lucky! Now, don't laugh at my young immature mind, but did they not have ultrasounds or did you just choose not to have one? Did the doctor even know you were having twins or was he surprised too?
And I'm excited for your kitchen to be done so that you can make lasagna, make anything for that matter :)
That is simply amazing and happy birthday to them!!! :) I'm just as naive as Erin in not realizing that ultra sounds weren't common practice. I would have DIED if someone told me that we were bringing home a second baby after all ready delivering the first! You are an amazing lady Aunt Julie! And your cabinets will look beautiful. I am a fool for olive or sage green personally! ;) Good luck!
A surprise? WOW! I knew they didn't do ultrasounds but I thought they could at least give a pretty good guess about when there was more than one baby. What a scary but delightful treat that must have been.
No ultrasounds back in those dark ages. It was still in its infancy. The doctor actually x-rayed me with Sean to make sure my hips were going to allow for his passage through the birth canal. But since I had already successfully delivered one baby, no x-rays for these.
At one check-up he asked me if we had twins in the family. I said no, and asked him why he was wondering. He said he heard two heartbeats, but they were beating in such close rhythm he suspected it was just an echo. I should have had a clue - I was HUGE, but typical woman that I was, I was just embarrassed that I was such a pig and had put on so much weight (40 lb - the doctor had even put me on a 1,000 calorie diet because I was gaining so much weight.) And I allowed no pictures of my enormous belly - that was the part I regret the most now.
The funny thing was a short while later another woman in our ward, Karla Nielsen, also had a surprise set of twins. Different doctor.
I can't wait to see the finished room! Hurray for a new fridge and dishwasher - no more washing dishes in the bathroom sink and tub! HOORAY! OH, and happy birthday story Bill and Dan! xoxoxo
You are a saint for adding another to the bunch just 13 months later. Thanks! I'll keep him.
Kitchen looks great, well the rim of the cabinents anyway! And now you get to fill your shelves. That'll be fun unpacking things that have been packed away for 3 years. OR just go buy new stuff!! JK
How fun to see the work taking place in your kitchen. Now I can't wait to see the "rest of the story"! Hope it won't be long! Then to maybe get to actually be there & have you cook a fabulous meal in it! Always something to look forward to - right? And happy birthday Dan & Bill! I had forgotten the story of the big surprise they presented! Aren't families fun?
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