21 Years Ago Today

Roughly three months into our marriage Robin and I felt like we wanted to start on our family right away. We had heard of other couples trying for their first child taking five or six months to get pregnant so we thought we would start in November and see what happens. The first month off the pill Robin missed her monthly time but we thought it was probably just the effects of being off the pill. But another week went by so she decided to go get a test at the doctor. I remember sitting in the waiting area wondering if my life had just changed when she walked out with this smile on her face and informed me that she had a little baby on the way. I wish I could say what my reaction was or that it was appropriate for the setting but I don't remember much of anything after she told me. I was probably in a little bit of shock and I really didn't know what it all meant. The months cruised along, we started telling family that we were expecting and we went to all the appointments at the doctor one goes to and then came the ultrasound. The doctor told Robin he wanted an ultrasound to check and make sure everything was good with the baby and also because sometimes babies like to bring a friend along. I don't think either of us gave it much thought that we could have twins. It's just not something you think about. So we entered the room and they put gel on her stomach and started looking around in there. I wasn't the old pro I am now so I didn't recognize what I was seeing on the screen. The ultrasound technician said, "Did the Doctor tell you you were measuring big for your months?" We said, "Yes." "Well that's because there are two in there!" I don't remember anything else that happened that day or really for the next few days. I just remember the utter shock I felt. It was a happy shock but the thought of twins just blew me away. When we found out we were having one it changed everything. Now with twins it had happened again. We continued on to May and went to another appointment where the doctor informed Robin that she was too small. She needed to put on some more weight for the good of the babies. My mother had just given us a homemade ice cream maker so we put it to good use. We made homemade chocolate, pina colada, vanilla and several other batches. By the end of the month both Robin and I had put on ten pounds. We continued to have many ultrasounds week after week until we got to the 36th week which was in July. It was the 21st of July when we went in for our final ultrasound. The technician told us that the amniotic fluid was low. The then told us to come back the next day to most likely be induced. We went home and made our final preparations for our new babies. While we did so we talked late into the evening and had a great time with each other. What seemed like just a few minutes after we finally went to bed Robin woke me up to tell me her water had broken, we needed to get to the hospital right away. It was about 3 AM. We gathered our things and headed up to the hospital. I again had this surreal feeling. Like I was watching it all occur out of body. Almost a numbness as I took it all in. I was definitely excited but for what, I had no idea. The concept of babies and fatherhood was just a foreign concept. The doctor wasn't even at the hospital as the day progressed. He had gone to a fair with his family. A few hours before the babes arrived Robin began feeling a fair amount of pain with her contractions. They called for an epidural and while in the middle of receiving it another contraction came. The pain went away like a miracle. Now Robin only felt pressure during the contractions but not pain. The epidural worked so well that Robin was able to fall asleep. I hadn't eaten anything yet that day so I ran over to McDonalds and grabbed drive thru. As I pulled in to the hospital I heard a little voice in my head, different than my own, which said, "We're coming Daddy, hurry back." I rushed in expecting to see Robin in delivery but she was still sleeping. When she woke up she said that something felt different. She felt pressure. I ran out and got the nurse who came in and checked her. I watched her check Robin and lo and behold there was a head. I could see the dark hair on it. I was pretty excited and told Robin I saw our little baby. The problem was, the doctor wasn't even there. The nurse went to call him and make preparations so I took the opportunity to touch that little head. It was the first time I touched one of my children. They gave me a white jumpsuit and whisked Robin away to the c-section room just in case. Our first baby would be born head first, but the second was coming feet first, which meant the doctor would have to pull the baby out by its feet. We were very lucky to have a doctor willing to do that kind of delivery. Dr. Judson was the best. He finally arrived in his shorts and tennis shoes and very calmly got his robes on to do the delivery. Elizabeth was born very shortly after he got there. She was 6 lbs 3 oz and had dark beautiful hair. She wouldn't cry though. The doctor kept patting her butt but she wouldn't cry so he handed her off to the respiratory team which took her into a different room to work on her. She was breathing but she just wouldn't cry. She was so small and pink and perfect. I can't remember the rush of emotions I felt as I stared down at that little miracle. I didn't understand then how much my life had just changed. Suddenly I heard a call from the delivery room to come back. I left Elizabeth and came back to see the doctor with his arm in the birth canal, trying to get a hold on Ashley. At first he grabbed hold but said he had gotten an arm and a leg. Then he reached again and got both legs. He began to twist and pull until eventually two small feet emerged. They were even smaller than Elizabeth. He kept pulling and pulling until finally out popped the head. Little Ashley wasted no time and cried her lungs out. Just a few seconds later we heard Elizabeth letting loose in the other room. It was almost as if they were waiting for each other. After they worked on her they handed me Ashley so she was the first child I held. As I walked her to the nursery she was very alert and looking straight up at me. That was it, I was wrapped around both of their fingers from then on. In the nursery I got watch them have their first baths. Ashley didn't like it, Elizabeth didn't mind as much, she just grunted as they washed her up. They put Elizabeth and Ashley in the same incubator which I thought was really special. After a little while the babies could finally be taken to Robin. She was so happy to see them. It was such a special day. Made even more special as these two angels have grown up. I realize now just how special that day was, how it changed everything in my universe. I am so grateful for my two sweet girls who made me a Daddy. I love you Elizabeth and Ashley.