When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I was the happiest person on the planet. Literally. I don't think I've ever been so excited in my life. I've wanted twins my entire life. In that moment, a dream I thought could never come true because twins don't run in my family, was actually coming true right before my eyes (well, and in my body)!
A little while after I knew I was pregnant, and carrying two very healthy (according to ultrasound) babies, I found out my friend was pregnant. I was so excited for her. We basically followed each other in everything we do (marrying men named Eric, having miscarriages before our first borns, having our first borns born two weeks apart), so it was only fitting that we were also pregnant together, again. However, the farther along she got in her pregnancy, the more and more she found out her baby had no chance of living for more than an hour or so outside of the womb, if that. And here I was, about to have TWO healthy babies. TWO. Why was I allowed to have two babies, when she couldn't even have one? My babies are born on the EXACT same day as the daughter of one of my friend's daughters. She would post on Instagram about how her daughter had turned a certain age, and I would think, "oh, that's right! Mine too!" Unfortunately, at only 16 months old, she was diagnosed with a rare type of brain cancer. Right now, she's battling for her life and I pray she makes it. And there I am left wondering AGAIN, why am I allowed to have TWO perfect, beautiful children all at one time and my friends can't have just one? The day the twins were born, my second twin's cord prolapsed, cutting off all of her oxygen supply, and a crash c-section was performed. When a crash c-section is called, the doctor has one minute or less to get the baby out before mom or baby die. This is different from most emergency c-sections where you're prepped and ready to go for a c-section sometime that day. I had no idea there was any difference at all. I know lots of people who have had emergency c-sections, but not crash c-sections. A crash c-section is obviously EXTREMELY time sensitive. It also ends in an x-ray being completed to make sure nothing was left inside of you because they didn't count everything ahead of time. It was extremely traumatic. I can't emphasize that enough. Luckily, my second twin is still here today. Luckily, I had a wonderful doctor who made the best of a bad situation. I have her to thank for the safe delivery of my baby girls. My two baby girls. Two girls I got to have at the same time...making me one lucky mama. And again, I ask you...why? How did I get to be so lucky? And why can't all moms be just as lucky? Let me tell you something. I can't answer that question. I'm not sure anyone can, or that I will ever understand the intricate workings of human life. But what I can tell you is...hug those babies so tight, and NEVER EVER take them for granted.How blessed are you to have two wonderful little angels at one time? SO blessed. Extremely blessed. I hope you know that. And I hope you take several minutes of every day to remember that and tell them how much you love them. Tell them how much they mean to you and that you don't know what you would do without them. And while you're at it, tell your singleton children that too. Because they really are life's greatest miracles, and you just happen to be one very lucky mama to get two of them at once. Double the blessings mamas!!
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jackie Hall*The “Two to Kiss, Two to Love” series is a helpful series for all you twin mamas out there! If you have a twin related question, comment below, and I’ll answer it for you!*