Shock & Awe

For the most part, telling people about the news has been a wonderful experience. Some family and friends have broken down in tears of joy the instant we told them. Others have had a little different reaction. So, here are my top five most unexpected responses to the news “My wife is pregnant with twins!”

5) “You’re kidding, right?”

4) “Huh? Well, it’s about time.”

3) The evil chuckle (from a friend that has twin girls)

2) (spoken like it’s consolation to bad news) Well, at least you’re getting your money’s worth…. One hospital bill, two babies. Oh, and two tax deductions in one year!

1) “Twins? What a headache!”

Higher Math

Over the next 2 weeks my wife had a series of blood tests to monitor the pregnancy hormones. The numbers were great! In the first test we were looking for 50, we got 120. “Yay! Good job, honey!” The second test benchmark was 110 and she got 215. “Woo hoo! Honor roll for you, baby!” The third test’s goal was 200ish and she posted an amazing 430. “My baby’s mama rocks! Oh yeah!”

Okay, so I’m no math major, but these test numbers appear to be following a pattern. But it’s surely not what I’m thinking; that’s too obvious. These are just numbers, right? Now it’s time for the first ultrasound. We’re hoping and praying that we can see our baby, and maybe even hear his/her heartbeat. So, here’s a pic of the ultrasound. That’s right… do not adjust your monitor. There are TWO babies in that ultrasound! ! ! ! !

Here are some video clips of the babies of the ultrasound. You can see and hear the heartbeats, even at only 8 weeks! Who knew?

Click here to see a video of Baby A

Click here to see a video of Baby B

In the beginning…

In late 2007 my wife and I started the process to perform In vitro fertilization. Here’s a very brief recap of that procedure:

The month of November was filled with daily shots; sometimes one a day, sometimes three. I played the role of the shot giver, and my wife played the role of the pin cushion. In the first week of December my wife underwent egg retrieval. As the name implies, this is the surgical process by which they remove eggs for fertilization. In the second week of December was the transfer procedure. This is the less than surgical procedure to implant one or more embryos (fully fertilized) back into the mother-to-be. The photo to the right is of one of our embryos in the blastocyst stage. Isn't he/she cute!?

Okay, so we have all the ingredients we need to accomplish pregnancy and they’re where they need to be. Now it’s time to wait and see if everything sticks. So we waited. And then waited some more. What’s this? Oh, just more waiting. How could nine days feel like nine hundred? Wait just a bit longer.

Finally, we get to pregnancy test day. It’s a blood draw at the Dr.’s office. We’re not taking any chances with home pregnancy tests. This is too important. The entire day we’re both on pins and needles. “I want to know now! No, I don’t want to know. What if it’s negative? I don’t want to know. No, I must know now!” Then, the phone rings; it’s the doctor and she has the test results. The call from the doctor goes something like this:

Dr: Great news, your pregnancy test is positive!

Wife: Really? That’s great! Really? But, well, are you sure?

Dr: What do you mean, “Am I sure?”

Wife: How certain is this test? Are you positive?

Dr. Well that’s sort of what the word “positive” means. As in “I’m positive that your pregnancy test is positive”.

Wife: So like on a scale of 1 to 10?

Dr: Well, we’re looking for a number over 50 for a positive pregnancy test. Your number is 120.

Wife: So that means I’m really pregnant?

Dr. Yes, 120 means you’re definitely, positively, absolutely pregnant! But that’s not all that 120 means…….

Intro

After almost three years of disappointment, doctor’s appointments, tests, procedures, and further disappointment, I have just recently been blessed by the news that my wife is pregnant! I give God ALL of the glory for hearing my prayers, and for granting this deep desire of my heart.
As you can probably glean, this has been a difficult situation that has tested my patience, and at sometimes, my faith. However, I claim the truth that “that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us” 1 John 5:14-15
My plan is to use this blog to share my story with you. But my prayer is that through this you see the author of your life’s story and His desire to know you and love you.